Stars See Me [Interstellar] | Chapter 256 | An Embrace in the Void | Novela.app

So, what came after that? After the relief? After the void? What lay beyond it all? Raytin remained silent, retracting the scope of his perception. He knew that beyond relief lay no further relief, and beyond the void, there was only more void. For those living in the world, indulging in the void was never a good option. It solved nothing; it only dissolved the self. He understood this perfectly well. He was simply... tired. Evenheiler frowned. Kneeling beside Raytin, he let out a soft sigh beneath the radiance of the halo behind the other man. He knew what Raytin had endured. A responsibility that heavy surpassed all imagination. He could not perceive its full extent, but he knew that no one could remain indifferent to such a mountain of death and hatred—not even Raytin... especially not Raytin. And so... Evenheiler reached out. He stroked the crown of Raytin’s head, his long hair, and the spine encased in combat armor. He recalled the smile of the youth from the past—bright and hearty, revealing a canine tooth, carrying an indelible air of adolescence. He remembered a question he had once asked... *“Raytin, how long has it been since you last smiled?”* He didn't know. He didn't know how long it had been since this man, who now allowed himself to be touched, had last shown a smile. Nor did he know how many mountains of pressure and hardship it took to grind such a person into his current state. Back when Raytin was still just a child in his eyes, they had chatted and read together, commented on the affairs of the world, shared almost every thought, and repeatedly questioned their life choices over the same brand of terrible-tasting juice... He had always wanted to play video games with him, but while the boy was still in school, he hadn't wanted to interfere with his studies. In the few days after graduation, his attempts to set it up failed, and after that period passed... he never had the chance again. Neither of them ever had the chance again. Even though those memories were preserved perfectly, displayed before his eyes years later with a twisted, eerie obsession. It was like a thin phantom of the past, frozen under the sunlight within a shadow that no one touched. When he had first seen that shadow, he felt only terror and alarm. But now... Evenheiler leaned down and opened his arms. He embraced Raytin. *...Finally,* he thought. This single word was like a soft sigh, much like the name "Enan Valen." It settled in his heart, just as he finally understood... That young man from back then had respected him, cared for him, and gazed at him with sincerity. He had truly, honestly intended to spend the rest of his life with him. Thus, after "Uncle Enan" departed, a piece of that radiant soul remained forever in his most hopeful days. At that time, Raytin was young, capable, brilliant, and possessed a promising future. He could have chosen any means to possess everything, but he didn't. That had led Evenheiler to mistake him for a saint. But no. The later Raytin was cold, ruthless, paranoid, and twisted. From his thoughts to his soul, he seemed beyond saving, leaving both the world and himself scarred and broken. That had led Evenheiler to believe he wasn't a saint. But was that... also a misjudgment? Evenheiler hesitated no longer. He held Raytin tight, tighter than ever before—and at this distance, he released his perception, pushing it to its limit, to the extreme. In the first second, he was struck by a massive surge of negative emotion that made him shudder violently. Grief, agony, self-loathing, despair, fear... and everything beyond. Every malice, every pain—some long known to man, others never before perceived. They were eternal, complex beyond the reach of human language. They manifested in Raytin’s heart, a miracle wrought by the perception of a "Limit-Breaker." A miracle that could be called a form of torture. The total mental perception lasted only a second. Just one second later, Evenheiler let out a pained whimper. He nearly screamed, but survival instinct forced him to contract his perception. Silver starlight surged inside and outside his mental form, casting a gentle, soothing balm upon himself. Even though the spirit-thoughts of the victims who had caused Raytin such agony had vanished along with the "Immovable" state he should have possessed, the marks they left behind were still so deep... Evenheiler realized with despair that the person in his arms was being tortured—an almost infinite torture. It was an endless punishment falling upon a sun that had been worn down to its limit. This once warm and gentle celestial body was now flickering out because it would not show itself mercy or forgive itself, even if its decline was for the sake of protecting the rebirth of endless stars. And he, Evenheiler Kahn, had been fortunate enough since a long time ago to be one of the stars in this sun's eyes—the one closest to him among the heavenly host. But from the very beginning, he had been the one dragging the other down. Back then, he could still use his abilities to provide comfort and sedation when the young man’s mind was in chaos. What about now? Now, he could do nothing. Evenheiler trembled as he held Raytin tight. He understood that nihility now. For such a soul, such a life, and such a long-drawn-out torture, the eternal sleep of the void was a mercy. If that future truly came to pass, if death caused life to dim like those eyes until it was extinguished—that would instead be a relief, a liberation. What was this? What was everything they had gone through? A story? An honor? A chaotic tragedy, or an unpoetic—agonizing—fantasy filled with heavy burdens, loss, and pain? Evenheiler held Raytin tightly. From just that one moment of perception, he nearly wept for him. But neither of them had bodies now, and thus, they lacked structures like tear glands. To weep from the bottom of one's heart as a substitute for extreme venting—such an act was now a luxury. Yet the person in his arms remained silent and still. Raytin did not even tremble. He merely moved his fingers slightly before letting them fall back down, powerless. "...It's fine," Evenheiler heard a voice, sensing the exhaustion within it. "Give me... a little time." *Give me a little time,* he said. Evenheiler knew this was how it should be. A person who could endure such pain and still converse normally would surely resolve everything if given a little time. But: "No," he said, expanding his perception once more. "No." Simultaneously, a golden light ignited in his eyes—a simulation of "Immovable." He began to output his own energy, unhesitatingly propping up a defense that scattered golden stardust. But this time, he failed to sense any emotional response from Raytin. He was being shut out, unilaterally. Even with the presence of a mild "Immovable" state, anxiety surged in Evenheiler’s heart. "Share it with me," he said. "I can simulate your power... I am better suited to bear your pain than you are..." His voice paused, his tone softening slightly. "Don't torture yourself... Raytin." To this, the person in his arms gave no reaction, merely leaning quietly against his chest. A repulsive force from an unknown source began to emerge. Evenheiler felt it. His perception told him that this chaotic storm was nearing its end—probably. The moment the repulsion erupted, the energy barrier surrounding them would take a massive hit. Evenheiler’s energy, carrying the "Immovable" property, was sufficient to handle it. But now, outside this barrier that was already more than enough, thick golden flames were still burning. And his energy was not enough to expand a larger barrier to encompass these powers that were essentially a part of Raytin. "Withdraw your energy! At least stop burning yourself!" Evenheiler shouted angrily. He was extremely anxious, yet "Immovable" forcibly kept his emotions within a certain range. "We’re about to hit an impact... Raytin! You never make mistakes; you mustn't start now!" The call was in vain, as was the command. This man was already in so much pain; he shouldn't add any more burdens for any reason. In almost an instant, realization and impact arrived simultaneously. Evenheiler steeled his heart. Silver starlight exploded outward, and a protective barrier large enough to shroud Raytin’s released energy manifested. A massive concussive force appeared, throwing them out of the storm. The silver starlight flickered and vanished. Evenheiler’s energy was drained once more, and his form even emitted a faint sound like breaking glass. However, this time, his healthy spirit-thought began to repair itself automatically, leaving him only briefly dazed by the pain. The transition of time and space occurred simultaneously. They fell into an unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar planet. They were captured by some force it emitted. During the descent, Evenheiler used all his strength to perceive it. He realized this was the ruin of a civilization. Cities grown upon giant crystals lay collapsed on the planetary surface, magnetic storms roamed where the atmosphere should have been, and heavy snow covered the entire world. Squeezing his spirit-thought to the limit, he drew power—new power, every scrap of it. He used it to occasionally manifest a flash of golden light to offset the electromagnetic storms in the air and any other potential threats. As the massive energy bodies fell, they dragged a long tail of flame, with stardust scattering behind them, making them look like a meteor descending from the heavens. *This imagery isn't exactly auspicious,* Evenheiler thought. He held Raytin tightly, no longer imposing any of his own expectations or emotions upon him. They slammed into the planetary surface. Even though both were effectively weakened, the surging energy of a "Limit-Breaker" and an "S-rank" still caused a clean wave of light to explode across the planet's face. An area the size of Eurasia was leveled. Under Evenheiler’s precise energy regulation, the waves of force were partitioned. Ultimately, the impact did not cause the planet to crack apart; it merely lowered the elevation of the entire region by several hundred meters. Once everything settled into silence, Evenheiler let out a long breath, even though he didn't need to breathe. He attempted to perceive beyond the planet, releasing energy to establish a "visual" sense, hoping to figure out his and Raytin’s location from the star charts. —But there were no stars. Outside the magnetic storm layer, there was only a starless darkness. In the next moment, a crimson radiance descended from the depths of that darkness. ***