Chapter Text
Warrior.
Saviour.
Hero.
Legend.
Myth.
Puppet.
Liar.
Failure.
Betrayer.
Villain.
Gabriel, the boy who fell the spider.
Gabriel, the squire who rid sewers of slimes.
Gabriel, the soldier who beat the Great Raid.
Gabriel, the hero who saved the prince's daughter.
Gabriel, the Warrior of the Order of the Stone.
Gabriel, the Avenging Paladin.
Gabriel, the Keeper of the Northern Gates.
Gabriel, the Dragonslayer.
Gabriel, the Murderer of the Realm.
Gabriel, the Footman of Tyranny.
Gabriel, the Blood Knight.
Gabriel, the Stage Veteran.
Gabriel, the Disgracer of the Faith.
Gabriel, the Fool of the Order.
Gabriel, the Liar of the End.
Gabriel, the failure.
Gabriel.
Gabriel.
Gabriel!
GABRIEL!
"GABRIEL!"
The light was burning. Like looking straight at the Sun. But the fortress didn't have any windows, so how could...? Unless he had passed, and the Aether's light was too great.
"Oh, he's alive! He's awake, look! I told you he wasn't dead!"
Either these angels were particularly bad at their jobs, or he was still a part of the mortal plane.
Gabriel knew which scenario he would have preferred.
"Holy crap, it really is him! Wait, what do I- should I- no, wait..."
His vision was coming back to him, but his feeling was lacking. Eyes, check. Hands, check. Legs, check. Torso, check. Feet, check.
Good. All good.
He turned up to see three figures around him. Light skin, brown hair, dark jackets. Two men, one with a beard. One woman. All young. Easily as young as that Je-
Jesse. He got thwacked through that portal. Was the boy alright? He had sent him on this journey to the Temple of the Order. He had to go through the portal network, and make it through the other side. Had he even been to the nether before? Would he even be able to keep hold onto the Amulet? What about those who went with him? Would they try to sway him away from the journey? Would they try and take it for themselves?
Ivor followed him. Ivor got through the portal. If he had gone this mad, there's no telling what he could have done to the boy! He could have taken the amulet! What in the world was he planning? He might be able to find Soren and-
"Woah, sir, breathe! Breathe!"
Gabriel felt a dull sensation on his left shoulder, the numbness gradually subsiding. He saw big-beard kneeling to the side, both hands grappling his side. "You're freaking out, sir. Don't worry, you're totally safe now. Just focus on your breathing. In, hold for five, out, hold for five. In, hold for five..."
He actually tried to slow his breathing. He expanded his chest as much as he could, until he felt a sharp pang strike down his left side, "Ah!"
"EEP! Don't hurt him!"
"Yeah, he might get-!"
A strained "Guys, quiet." came out of the bearded fellow. Gabriel's cheek collapsed into the boy's chest, now gasping faster, but it still felt as if no air was soothing his breast. "Don't take big breaths. Small breaths, hold them. Hold them for five, let them go. Hold for five, take another small breath."
It was a wonder his hearing was still working with how much his other senses were deprived. He tried to hold for five, but had to breathe out at three. Then he tried again. Breathing out at three again. Then four. Then four again. Then four again again. Then five. Holding for five. Breathing out. Holding for five. Breathe in. Focusing on counting numbers was a good enough way to occupy his mind.
His senses were coming back in full. His vision was still unfocused, but the stranger's arms were around him, fires were burning away, and there was blood and ash in his mouth. Aside from his decreasingly crazed breathing, the space was silent. Unbearably silent. Gabriel expelled a single "Thank you," pushing away the shroud of silence for a single moment before it rushed right back in. "Thank you." Weaker. The silence was expelled and returned faster.
He saw the man- no, the boy, nod. Tired eyes, but a kind smile beneath. He turned to the other two, also close by, worry and concern wracking their features. How lucky was he that such helpful souls had found him in this moment of weakness? How much of a drain was he for relying on their good will?
He looked around, saw he was at the entrance of the fortress, facing away from the gate. Dawn had just broken, the hot sun blaring down on the plains. Not an animal in sight. Not a villager in sight. Not a person in sight. All with a torched and torn-apart town in the distance. The fields were pitted with shredded-up soil, burning debris, and remains. The remains of those who were fleeing in the dark.
Gabriel had little to eat last night, but what little he had came right back up.
"Woah!"
"Ahh, crap!"
Some of the spew spilled onto the poor lad he was leaning onto. He couldn't help but feel a little bad. Maybe he should get up. The old man shifted in the boy's grip, trying to put weight onto his knees, but the youngsters reacted quicker than he expected.
"Okay, okay. Dude, help me out here."
The other boy approached him from the right, and the two adjusted to support both his shoulders. With loud heaves, both managed to stand up, if slightly bent under the heavy armour. Being lifted, his side was once again stretched, and Gabriel had to plant his boots into the broken stone path beneath.
"Sir?" The girl was in front of him, holding a clear bottle up front, "I've got some clean water, if you want it. It's as cool as I could find."
Politely enough, Gabriel asked, "May I?"
The girl stood still for a moment, responding after a short pause, "Oh! Uh, yeah, of course, sir!" Undoing the lid, she pressed the neck to the warrior's chafed lips. "Just, err... pull away when you've had enough."
He didn't pull away. He didn't have enough. It was never enough. He was never enough. The water was a strange comfort, more than just a thirst quencher. Things seemed less bad. More simple. Like the end of the world hadn't just been unleashed. The bottle disappeared abruptly. Emptied, by Gabriel's own gullet. The girl, bottle in hand, stood uncertainly. "I can go fetch some more, if you'd, uh... like that, sir?"
Truly the water was too good for his less dry, still bloody mouth. A deep breath later, he replied, "Please, if you would." The girl moved her leg to turn, but stopped as he kept going, "Your name, though! I would, um..." Gabriel turned to the boys supporting both his sides too, "to know all of your names, would be the greater gift."
The girl spoke first. "Oh! Well, I'm Maya, sir! It's so cool to meet you!"
Gabriel turned to the bearded fellow who first helped him, "Gill, sir." Simple and quick. He then dragged his chin to the other shoulder, and faced the clean-shaven lad. "And you?"
The boy's eyes grew to saucers, and the pupils shrunk to specks, "Adriel, sir!" Huh. Interesting na- He physically facepalmed himself, "No, uh Gaben sir, I- uh! No!"
He would have laughed had his body been hurting less, "Aiden, sir! It's a pleasure and honour! I'm like- we're like, big fans, Gabriel sir!"
Ah. Big fans. There was always a place in Gabriel's heart for big fans. They had big hearts of their own. And they were the only ones left who didn't see the true state of his own.