"How did you...?" One soldier stopped mid-sentence as Ethan and Oliver swiftly knocked them all out.
"Took you long enough." Livio deactivated the Shesha.
"You can't complain about my acting." Ethan smirked.
"Before getting pierced by Timba's lance, I used my ability. The lance passed right through my mist form." Ethan spun the lance in his hand.
"And I shielded myself with my wind barrier. That idiot thought he actually hit me." Oliver brought out the herbs.
He placed the herbs inside each of their mouths, then took three soldiers' armor and covered them with black cloaks.
"Now, I'll use my condition." Oliver gathered the air filled with their scents.
He stored the collected air with their scent and bound it to Tima and his friends. Whenever Oliver wants, he can slowly release that air into the surroundings with their scent, confusing enemies with scent...based abilities.
"What was your condition again?" Livio sheathed his katana.
"I can't use my ability for a day. Instead, I can store collected air drenched in our scent and release it under someone else's armor when I command." Oliver stretched his arms.
"And why do we need this?" Ethan asked.
"Yemen will see through our first deception with his enhanced sense of smell," Oliver explained.
"Oh, so this scent will keep him occupied. He'll think he's outsmarted us, but....…" Livio grinned.
"Let's go." Oliver lifted the unconscious soldiers with his ability.
They planted the cloaked soldiers in different areas of the forest surrounding them, ensuring they could be spotted easily. Then, they waited from a tree branch.
"They're here," Oliver sensed them approaching.
When the soldiers surrounded the gate, Ethan spoke. "My turn."
He transformed himself and the others into mist. They silently dropped Timba and the remaining two soldiers at the far end of the group surrounding the gate.
Since Ethan's mist form doesn't exist in a tangible way, no one could sense, feel, or even remember them until the ability was deactivated.
"Let's go," Ethan whispered as they flew away, carried by Oliver's ability.
Present:
"Yes, everything worked out perfectly." Oliver turned around.
"So, where are you going?" Ethan looked at Livio.
"I have a destination on the compass—100 kilometers from here." Livio examined the wooden device in his hand.
"Are you going to miss us?" Ethan's voice wavered slightly.
"Who the hell would miss bastards like you? I'm actually relieved I don't have to see your crying faces anymore." Livio smirked as he pulled out a leaf from his collection of twenty stored in his inventory.
Oliver did the same.
"Goodbye, bastards." Ethan spread his arms.
"Hnnnn." Oliver and Livio smirked before stepping forward.
They embraced.....one final hug.
"We should get going." Oliver was the first to take off into the sky.
As they parted, something shimmered in the sky, but Oliver didn't turn back.
"See you." Livio took off.
I never had brothers, and now I know why. Because I was destined to meet them here. We may not share blood, but the bond we forged will be forever etched in my heart. I will live and die as a member of our group. People may forget our fallen friends, but I will make them remember through me. Goodbye, brothers.
Livio vanished into the air.
Nothing in this world lasts forever. Doing good will never make you a hero.....it only brings complaints and trouble. And yet, people still choose to do good. They risk their lives for others. People cry for them, show them empathy….... and then, after a few days, forget them. So why do people do good?
I asked myself this question so many times. And I finally found the answer...because it's for their own satisfaction. They die knowing they will be forgotten, blamed even. But the ones they protected will live on. It was never a battle of life or death; it was always a battle of victory or defeat. And in the end, the one who dies is the one who truly wins.
Ethan slowly dissolved into mist and vanished.
A gentle breeze swept across the grass. The field now stood empty.
The grass had been the first to welcome them, and now, it was the first to bid them farewell. It did not speak, yet its presence carried a silent, profound message...one of sorrow, beauty, and finality.