Ragnarök, Eternal Tragedy.
Chapter 65: Whatever it takes

Chapter 65: Whatever it takes

Amari jolted awake, his body snapping upright as a cold sweat clung to his skin. His chest heaved, each breath ragged and uneven as his wide, panicked eyes darted around the dark room. For a moment, he didn’t know where he was—the nightmare still clung to him like a heavy fog, the echoes of terror making his heart pound.

The faint outlines of the other boys sleeping in the room came into focus, and slowly, reality settled in. He exhaled shakily, running a trembling hand through his hair as he tried to calm himself down. It had just been a dream. It wasn’t real. He repeated the words in his head, over and over, willing his heart to slow.

The sudden movement had stirred the others. One by one, they lifted their heads groggily, squinting at Amari in the dim light.

"You good?" Johnny mumbled, his voice heavy with sleep.

Amari hesitated, his voice rasping when he finally responded. "Yeah. I’m fine."

"Bad dream?" Kenneth muttered, his tone casual as he buried himself under his blanket. "Don’t worry, those fade away eventually."

"Yeah," Maverick chimed in from the corner. "Everyone’s had their share of nightmares around here."

The others grumbled in agreement before settling back down, their breathing evening out as they drifted back to sleep. But Amari couldn’t. He lay back, tossing and turning as the dream’s images played on repeat in his head.

Finally, with a frustrated sigh, he gave up. Quietly, he slipped out of bed, careful not to wake the others, and made his way outside.

The cool night air greeted him as he climbed to the rooftop. The world felt still, almost peaceful, as the first hints of dawn began to creep over the horizon. Amari perched on the edge of the roof, his knees tucked to his chest as he stared at the streaks of orange and pink breaking through the darkness.

The sound of footsteps behind him made him glance back. Kenneth appeared, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he sat down beside Amari. For a while, neither of them said anything. They just watched the sky lighten, the quiet stretching between them.

"I still have them too," Kenneth said finally, breaking the silence.

Amari gave him a curious look, his brow furrowed in question.

"The nightmares," Kenneth clarified. His voice was soft, almost resigned. "I still get them. Every night."

"Every night?" Amari repeated, his tone caught between disbelief and sympathy. "How do you deal with it?"

Kenneth shrugged, exhaling slowly. "I don’t know. I just... let them happen, I guess. I deal with it by not fighting it anymore." He sighed, his gaze distant. "Sometimes, that’s all you can do."

"Wow," Amari said, his lips twitching into a faint smile. "That’s... really encouraging."

Kenneth chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, real funny."

"No, really," Amari said, his tone softening. "I mean it. I think that takes strength—just letting yourself feel the pain and still getting through it. That’s... strong."

He reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Kenneth’s shoulder. The gesture made Kenneth grin, a glimmer of mutual understanding passing between them.

"Yo!" Maverick’s voice called from below, shattering the moment. "Time to get ready for school!"

Back inside, the boys busied themselves preparing for the day. Maverick and Kenneth rummaged through their belongings, handing Amari some of their old clothes. He accepted them reluctantly but couldn’t deny the relief of slipping out of his tattered, worn-out rags.

The new clothes fit him perfectly—snug but comfortable, as if they were made for him. Amari looked down at himself, a small, genuine smile breaking across his face. He caught his friends’ encouraging looks and felt a flicker of warmth in his chest. For a brief moment, he was reminded of Apollo and Conrad, how they used to look out for him, care for him. The memories stirred a bittersweet ache, but he held onto the warmth.

As they walked to school, the bustling streets of Algoria came alive around them. The scent of fresh bread and roasted nuts filled the air, mingling with the chatter of merchants calling out their wares. They passed a fruit stand piled high with vibrant produce, and Shylo’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

The vendor was distracted with another customer, and Shylo took his chance. Quick as a flash, he swiped two apples and two pears, slipping them into his bag. Johnny followed suit, snatching two more apples. Both of them disappeared into the crowd with practiced ease.

When they regrouped, Shylo handed out the stolen fruit, grinning as he passed an apple to Amari.

"Where did you get these?" Amari asked, his brows knitting together in confusion.

Johnny smirked, waving his apple in the air. "We stole them, of course."

"You stole them?" Amari’s tone was sharp, disbelieving.

"Yeah. What’s the big deal?" Johnny replied, unfazed.

Amari stared at him, disappointment flickering across his face. "What if you get caught?"

"Easy," Maverick said with a shrug. "Don’t get caught."

Amari shook his head, uneasy with their nonchalance.

"By the way," he said, changing the subject, "why are we even going to school? You guys clearly don’t need it. And I’m sure as hell not interested."

"We’re in school because we want to join the Wachter’s Guild one day," Shylo explained, his tone serious for once. "And school’s the only way to make that happen."

Amari frowned. "The Wachter’s Guild?"

Johnny sighed dramatically. "You really don’t know anything, do you?"

"No, genius. I’m not from here," Amari snapped, pointing to his head.

"The Wachter’s Guild is basically the law around here," Shylo said, ignoring the jab. "They take on all the dangerous stuff—missions, threats, you name it. And they get paid big for it too."

Amari’s mind wandered briefly to the heroes he’d heard about as a child. "Now I get it," he said quietly. "I think one of them helped me once."

Shylo nodded. "You have to hit certain ranks to take on certain missions. The bigger the threat, the better the pay."

"And if you guys don’t make it?" Amari asked cautiously.

Milo nudged him playfully. "Then we figure something else out. Simple as that."

Kenneth shot Amari a smirk, his voice low and deliberate. "We’ll do anything to survive, brother. Anything."

The chilling edge to Kenneth’s words left Amari silent.

(A few months ago.)

The sun hung low in the sky, its fading light casting a warm glow over the riverbank where Amari, Conrad, and Apollo sat. The quiet rush of the water filled the space between them, their casual chatter blending into the stillness of the evening.

Apollo leaned forward, his eyes shimmering with determination. "I want to be the greatest hero Algoria has ever seen," he declared, his voice firm but brimming with youthful ambition.

Conrad raised an eyebrow, smirking as he leaned back on his elbows. "You? Greater than Saint Laurant? No chance."

Apollo didn’t flinch. Instead, he sat up straighter, his confidence unwavering. "Twice as great as him," he said, his tone bold.

Conrad laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the trees. "Twice as great? Please. Amari, back me up here—do you believe this guy?"

Amari hesitated, his gaze shifting between the two boys. He smiled softly, his tone careful but sincere. "I think... if he really wanted to, he could," he said, offering Apollo a small nod of encouragement.

Conrad scoffed, shaking his head. "You’re both ridiculous," he said, his grin wide.

"You’ll see," Apollo shot back, his voice steady despite Conrad’s mocking tone. "I’ll start by joining the Wachter’s Guild, then I’ll rise to the top."

Conrad snorted, waving his hand dismissively. "Yeah, right. You think they’ll just hand you a spot? Keep dreaming, hero boy."

Apollo didn’t falter. He fixed Conrad with a determined stare, his hands clenched at his sides. "I’ll be a hero," he repeated, his voice firmer this time. "You’ll see."

Conrad rolled his eyes, his smirk unfading. "And what happens if you don’t make it?" he asked, leaning in slightly, his tone dripping with skepticism.

Apollo’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening. "Not making it isn’t an option," he said firmly. "I’ll become one of them no matter what. No matter what it takes."

Amari watched him with quiet awe, his own insecurities melting away in the presence of Apollo’s unwavering conviction. "That’s... cool," he said softly, his voice tinged with admiration.

Apollo grinned, his confidence shining through. "I know, right?"

As the sun dipped below the horizon, their conversation faded into the evening air, leaving behind a feeling of determination—one that would linger with Amari long after this moment passed.