The sun now hangs directly at the peak of the sky, yet its golden light cannot fully penetrate the thick fog enveloping the ruins of the Philistines. The city appears to be frozen in time, tightly wrapped in the remnants of a long-forgotten history.
Fitran and Beelzebub walked slowly through the cracked and moss-covered stone streets. The atmosphere around them felt eerily silent—as if the city itself was holding its breath. Fitran observed the debris scattered on the streets, traces of a life that once filled this place.
"Do you remember when we used to joke about places like this?" Beelzebub suddenly said, her voice softly unraveling in the silence. "We swore we would explore all the ruins in the world."
"We can still make new memories, even in the shadows of history," Fitran replied with a faint smile, though a heaviness lingered in his heart. "Every step we take here is part of our story."
"This city doesn't want us here," Beelzebub murmured, her eyes tracing the shadows behind the ruins. She could sense a rejection emanating in the air.
"It's not the city that doesn't want us here," Fitran answered calmly. "But something that once resided within it."
They paused for a moment, gazing at the massive wall ruins that separated the outer part of the city from its center. The structure stood strong yet severely damaged, as if a great force had struck it, causing most of its structure to collapse.
"Even though this place is full of darkness, I still miss our adventures," Beelzebub stated, her tone carrying a longing for the spirited times they once had. "I just hope we can find something valuable here."
"And we will, Beelzebub. Every fragment we see here has a story worth telling," Fitran replied, winking at his friend as a boost of hope for them. "We are not alone; we will always support each other."
"Fractured Wall of Echoes," Beelzebub whispered, recalling a name she had heard in the whispers of history. "It is said that this wall can return the echoes of the past."
Fitran stepped closer to the wall, his fingers touching the rough, cold surface. He felt a subtle vibration coursing through his fingertips—not from magical power, but from memories still alive behind the stone's surface.
Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and
Fitran stepped closer to the wall, his fingers touching the rough, cold surface. He felt a subtle vibration coursing through his fingertips—not from magical power, but from memories still alive behind the stone's surface.
"There are moments when we feel as if we are trapped in the scrolls of time," Fitran said, his voice almost a whisper. "You feel it too, don't you? The unbroken connection with what has passed?"
Unconsciously, he closed his eyes and heard voices that suddenly emerged in his mind. Voices full of laughter, cries, and soft whispers. Fragments of life from a long-dead civilization.
"Don't let fear stop you," Beelzebub added, "behind every memory lies a lesson. We just need to take the time to listen."
"This stone lives with memories," Fitran said, slowly opening his eyes. "It remembers everything that has ever happened here—like the human heart that never forgets its pain."
Beelzebub moved closer, placing her palm beside Fitran's hand. Her eyes widened for a moment, startled by the strange sensation that suddenly overwhelmed her. She felt a deep sadness, a loneliness that pierced her soul, yet also a warmth that was foreign to her.
"When we share this burden, it's as if we become one with all that has ever existed in this place," Fitran continued with conviction. "We can understand the entire story, its pain, and its beauty."
"It's… painful," she whispered with a trembling voice, her hand almost pulling away, but Fitran gently held it.
"Wait a moment," Fitran requested, his fingers gently grasping Beelzebub's hand. "Listen deeper."
Beelzebub nodded slowly, closing her eyes and trying to accept all the memories stored in that wall. Gradually, the sensation that had initially been painful transformed into something calmer. She began to distinguish the voices, understanding the stories told in the echoes.
Beelzebub nodded slowly, closing her eyes and trying to accept all the memories stored in that wall. Gradually, the sensation that had initially been painful transformed into something calmer. She began to distinguish the voices, understanding the stories told in the echoes of memories.
She saw a faint shadow of a silver-haired woman standing before a large altar glowing with golden light. The woman appeared happy yet full of hope. However, her joyful expression slowly morphed into horror as her body was shattered by a force she could not control. The memory vanished instantly, leaving a piercing pain in Beelzebub's chest.
"You know, there are moments when we get trapped in memories, as if caught in a web of time," Fitran said gently, looking at Beelzebub with empathy. "But remember, not all bad memories will define us."
Beelzebub opened her eyes, her breath quickening. "What was that?"
"Memories from past rituals," Fitran explained. "They tried to create new life from something that should not be able to give birth. But failed… time and time again."
"Sometimes, I feel this burden is too heavy to bear alone," Beelzebub confessed, her soft voice trembling. "It feels like I'm constantly running from my own shadow."
"Never think that way, Beelzebub," Fitran replied, gently taking Beelzebub's hand. "You have me by your side. We will face those shadows together."
"Will I end up like that?" Beelzebub's voice trembled, filled with doubt.
Fitran gazed deeply into her eyes, his expression calm. "I won't let you experience that. You are not alone this time."
Beelzebub took a deep breath, trying to calm her irregular heartbeat. She nodded slowly, trying to trust Fitran's words, even though fear still gripped her heart.
They stepped away from the wall of echoes, continuing their journey through the increasingly damaged streets toward the city center. Before them stood a grand structure that loomed majestically, though most of its buildings were in ruins—the Temple of Reversal, which had once been the center of spiritual life for the inhabitants of the Philistines.
Their feet stopped at the stone steps of the temple. Fitran looked up, gazing at the entrance filled with large cracks, as if time itself was trying to devour it. In silence, he felt as if their steps had already been etched into the history of this place, trapped in the shadows of memories that never die.
"This place is waiting for you," Fitran said, glancing at Beelzebub, who stared at the temple with a mixture of hope and fear. "Every crack in those walls is a silent witness to the struggles and hopes that swell between us."
"Do you think I can do it?" Beelzebub asked hesitantly, her gaze fixed on the altar that appeared faintly from the temple entrance. The expression on her face showed deep doubt, her inner self battling between confidence and the haunting shadows of the past.
Fitran took her hand, holding it tightly. "It's not about whether you can or cannot. It's about whether you truly want to do it." In that grip, Beelzebub felt warmth that gave her spirit, as if Fitran became an anchor in the midst of the storm of doubts that assailed her.
Beelzebub looked at Fitran, as if seeking strength in him. "I want to try. I want to be human, not just for myself—but also for you." Beelzebub's voice trembled, and in her heart lay a sincere hope, a desire to prove that she was more than just a shadow behind the past.
Fitran smiled faintly, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Then let's face this together." With those words, confidence began to flow within Beelzebub, as if all the pain and fear that had settled in their hearts began to fade little by little.
They ascended the stone steps slowly, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the silence of the temple. When they finally entered the altar room, the air inside felt heavier and colder, as if this city held all its burdens of failure in that place. For a moment, they stood in silence, savoring each other's presence, weaving hope amidst uncertainty. They knew that whatever happened, they were not alone.
Before them lay the Babylonian altar, a stone structure adorned with ancient glyph carvings that emitted a dim golden light. In the center of the altar was a large circle carved with complex symbols—the Void-Chalice, which had once been the core of a failed ritual centuries ago.
Beelzebub moved slowly, gazing at the glyph circle with mixed feelings. She stopped at the edge of the altar, hesitantly extending her hand, almost touching the surface of the glyph that radiated a strange warmth.
"What do you feel, Beelzebub?" Fitran asked, his voice soft yet attentive, reflecting a closeness that had developed between them throughout this long journey. Beelzebub's confidence began to melt, as if Fitran's words became a bridge between their two intertwined souls. She wanted to answer, but only a whisper escaped her lips.
"Is this the altar that can change body and soul?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Fitran replied calmly, standing right behind her. "But there are no guarantees of success—because every soul has its own way of accepting this change."
Beelzebub took a deep breath, her heart racing faster. With the courage she gathered wholeheartedly, she touched the glyph with her palm. Instantly, the golden light surged brightly, enveloping her body in a swirl of gentle yet powerful energy.
"When we embrace change, we also embrace one another," Fitran reminded Beelzebub that this change was not just hers, but also part of their journey together. This emotional approach gave Beelzebub new strength to keep moving forward, even though the path was full of uncertainty.
Beelzebub felt her body beginning to change—her skin, which had always felt cold, slowly began to feel warmth. Her heart, which had previously been silent, started to beat softly, a rhythm that almost made her cry with joy.
"Fitran…" she whispered, her voice filled with wonder and happiness.
Fitran moved closer, extending his hand and gently touching Beelzebub's face. "What do you feel now?"
Beelzebub looked at him with tear-filled eyes, her breath quickening with a feeling she had never known before. "I… feel something very warm inside me—something that… is alive."
Fitran smiled gently. "That's what humans call hope."
"Is this what you always call love?" Beelzebub asked, her voice trembling. She tried to delve into the depths of her own feelings. "I don't know how to feel it properly."
Fitran nodded, his gaze full of understanding. "Love is a journey. Nothing is perfect at first. We just need to let ourselves feel it."
Beelzebub lowered her head, tears slowly streaming down her cheeks, the first time in her life. "Fitran, I'm scared… but also very happy."
"Don't be afraid, Beelzebub. Every step you take brings us closer," Fitran replied in a soothing voice, pressing his forehead against hers. "I am here with you."
Fitran embraced her tightly, feeling Beelzebub's body now filled with human warmth. "That's love. You just got to know love."
They stood for a long time at that altar, wrapped in the golden light that seemed to celebrate the rebirth of a soul. Yet far in the darkness that enveloped the city, a pair of red eyes watched them from behind the shadows—deciding that it was time to put an end to the happiness that was not allowed.