Chapter 38: I Give Up

Chapter Thirty Eight

Dwaine clenched his hand in frustration as he stood completely still, his entire core of existence shuddering violently beneath an amount of pain powerful enough to flood an entire planet... if not more.

That was how much pain he was bearing, and yet, through it all, he wasn’t thinking about the pain. He wasn’t afraid of it either. What he was afraid of was being unable to move on, of no longer being able to accompany his friend.

Dwaine’s gaze remained fixed on the figure standing several steps ahead of him. Orion. He was just a young little kid, after all, young enough to be his grandson, even. If he stopped here, what would happen to him? How would he survive this trial? Dwaine had no idea, and that was exactly why he wanted to remain beside him.

He wanted to watch Orion conquer this trial. He wanted to see him survive this endless nightmare and finally make it out alive. But if he stopped here... if he died here, how would he be able to see Orion survive this? How?

Dwaine forced himself to take another step, then another, and another. Each movement was an act of rebellion against the absolute torture assaulting the very foundation of his existence. Yet after those few steps, he stopped once more.

He wanted to walk forward. His mind commanded his body to move, while his heart begged his legs to continue, but without anyone needing to tell him anything, Dwaine already knew the truth.

He could no longer move forward.

This was the end.

Dwaine’s hand clenched tightly, and his teeth gritted together so hard that blood spilled from the corner of his mouth as he forced his leg to move.

But it didn’t.

His leg remained completely still. He had reached his limit, and sorrow filled his face.

"I can’t go on," he said, barely above a whisper.

Dwaine sighed and shook his head before looking toward Orion, who had already crossed about five or six steps ahead of him.

A small smile appeared on his face as he looked at Orion’s back. Maybe... maybe he shouldn’t be so worried about him after all. In terms of pure determination and drive, the kid’s willpower would probably dwarf even his own.

The fact that Orion was still walking ahead while Dwaine could no longer move was already a testament to just how terrifying his willpower was. He would probably be fine.

Dwaine’s tense nerves gradually calmed, and a smile appeared on his face.

Meanwhile, Orion took another step. His teeth were gritted together under the absolute torture ravaging his existence, yet he still somehow found the strength to try making a joke.

"Old friend, why are you so slow? Even a snail is faster than you at this point."

He turned his head, making an annoying face in Dwaine’s direction.

He knew Dwaine wouldn’t be able to see it, but that only made it more fun and irritating for him. Yet when Orion turned his head to taunt Dwaine, his expression suddenly froze before he frowned.

The reason was simple. Dwaine wasn’t following right behind him like Orion had expected. Instead, he was standing several steps away, looking at him with a small smile on his face.

"Hey, what?"

Orion stopped walking.

"Funny. Get over here."

He waited for Dwaine to join him, but Dwaine didn’t move. Several minutes passed, yet Dwaine remained in the same place.

"Come over here. What are you playing at now?" Orion asked, grumbling under his breath about how old Dwaine was getting.

Dwaine shook his head, and then, without any context or preparation, he dropped the bombshell.

"Sorry, friend... I have reached my limit."

Orion blinked, then shrugged.

"If you’ve reached your limit, just break it. Come on. You’re making me wait under this terrible trial. Let’s get going already."

He beckoned for Dwaine to come over, but Dwaine’s smile was filled with many complex emotions: pain, grief, sadness, regret, and many others.

Yet he didn’t feel only negative emotions. There were positive emotions within that smile as well, including relief, happiness, and pride.

He was happy that Orion had not reached his limit.

And judging by Orion’s character and determination, Dwaine didn’t have to worry about him losing his drive or giving up. The kid was simply too stubborn for that.

Finally, Dwaine felt proud of him.

He doubted there was any kid out there with such outstanding willpower and perseverance. Even his awesome grandchild might pale in comparison to him.

"I can’t keep going anymore," Dwaine said, looking down at his feet before raising his gaze toward Orion.

"You keep going. This is where we part."

Orion’s raised eyebrow slowly changed into a frown. The reason was simple: from the way Dwaine was talking, he wasn’t joking around.

"Hey, come on, pal. Let’s keep going. Don’t forget... as long as we keep walking, we haven’t lost."

Orion’s voice became slightly more urgent.

"So stop all this joking already. You’re far past the age of playing pranks. Let’s get going."

Dwaine didn’t say a word. He simply stood there, silent, thinking about what else he had to say before his time was up.

Seeing his silence and the look on his face, an expression that seemed to scream that he had truly given up and would even welcome death, Orion’s heart trembled.

"No."

His voice suddenly became louder.

"Don’t stop. Come over here now!"

His voice was loud and angry, but beneath that anger was something far deeper.

Terror.

He was scared. Scared of losing his best friend.

Dwaine remained silent for a while, contemplating everything. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, he shook his head and smiled.

"You know what? Consider it your luck for having met me."

His smile widened slightly.

"I am awesome, after all."

Orion’s eyes twitched.

"Hey! Stop joking around and come over here now, or I will come to get you."

Dwaine didn’t move.

Orion’s expression became increasingly frantic. He was already preparing to move backward and drag Dwaine with him, completely forgetting that doing so would mean going against the first rule of the trial.

He would be wiped out.

But at that moment, he forgot about the law, the rule, and everything else. All he wanted was to get to his friend’s side and knock some sense into his head.

Before Orion could move and forfeit his own life, however, Dwaine opened his mouth.

"Freeze."

The moment that word left his mouth, the silver necklace Dwaine had gifted Orion as a symbol of their friendship suddenly released a brilliant silvery shine.

Orion felt it immediately.

His entire body locked in place. He couldn’t move, not even the smallest limb. His entire body was completely trapped.

"You..."

Orion cursed, feeling helpless as he glared at Dwaine.

"Release me! Right now!"

Dwaine looked at him and rubbed his head awkwardly.

"I would do that after I am gone."

His voice was soft and gentle.

"For now, just listen to my last words, okay?"

"No!"

Orion’s voice cracked.

"Release me and let’s keep walking!"

His eyes had reddened at this point, not because of the pain. The pain was still overwhelming his core of existence, but that wasn’t what made his eyes red.

It was the realization that he was about to lose his dearest friend.

Dwaine shook his head once more and sighed.

"I am sorry once more... but this is really where we part."

Dwaine rubbed his head.

"Sorry I tricked you as well. I have no choice."

A small chuckle escaped him, probably in an attempt to lighten the mood, but no mood was lightened.

Not at all.

How could it be?

He really had no other choice. Dwaine had already foreseen his death a long time ago. He could tell that he couldn’t make it.

And knowing that Orion might get erased because of him, he had no choice but to give Orion the restricting chain, tying him to one place so that he couldn’t come after him.

Dwaine paused, his blue eyes remaining fixed on Orion. Then he continued.

"I wanna say thanks... a lot."

His voice became softer.

"I am also quite lucky to have a friend like you."

He smiled.

"These years of journey have truly been one of a kind."

He chuckled at his own words and nodded.

"Really... it is nice knowing you, Orion Stormblade."

"Please..."

Orion gritted his teeth, his eyes trembling.

"Please stop this."

His voice was barely holding together.

"Stop this... stop this..."

But Dwaine didn’t stop.

For a moment, his eyes flashed with pain. Then he shook his head and reached into his pocket.

He brought something out.

It was a locket.

Dwaine’s hand traced along its surface fondly for a while, his fingers moving across it as though memorizing its shape one last time.

Then he smiled. A sad expression appeared briefly on his face before vanishing.

"Sorry, Ray..." he muttered.

Then he threw the locket toward Orion.

It landed on the ground in front of him.

"I will entrust you with this."

Dwaine’s voice was calm.

"After you make it out, please give it to my grandchild."

He paused.

"Tell him I wish him a happy birthday."

Orion’s gaze trembled. He shook his head desperately, refusing to accept what seemed to be happening.

"Come on! Take it and give it to him yourself!"

His voice rose.

"Why are you entrusting it to me?"

He shook his head harder.

"I wouldn’t! So take it yourself now. Come on!"

Orion’s voice cracked.

"You old fool..."

His eyes were already red.

"Don’t you dare give up!"

His voice was filled with raw desperation. He didn’t want to lose Dwaine.

No.

He really didn’t want to.

Dwaine smiled and continued speaking.

"Also... I should probably tell you this before I depart."

His expression softened.

"You are one hell of an awesome kid, Orion."

He paused.

"You might even be close to my grandson."

Orion’s expression trembled.

Dwaine then waved his hand in a final goodbye and spoke the word that was an absolute taboo in this trial world.

The moment he said it, everything seemed to become silent.

"I give up."