• "Calypsa you could've easily saved him. You loved Kiba.... And happily stood by while he practically commited suicide to save you."
    "Not suicide. Honorable sacrifice."
    "And an unhonorable girlfriend."
    "I could have saved him, true, but at the price of my life. I am aware that I am somehow a valuable asset to this post-apocalyptic world. And Kiba was very wise for only fifteen years of life. He offered up his life. A substitution. I am eternally grateful for that. But I know that was how he was to die."
    "Selfish coward! I used to love you! I used to think you were so noble, but... Nnngg.... Grrraaaahhhh!"
    The white Akani wolf snarled and snapped at me. I stayed calm, drugged with melancholy. She bit at me and savagely leapt, our motions like a dance. For each thrust of her lethal jaws I had a manuever to dodge and step back. I spoke, projecting my thoughts in the echoing canyon below.
    "Are you aware of your role, Akani? You are the white wolf, after all. This will all turn out peacefully and well. Calm, Akani. I implore your patience."
    "Traitors earn no honor! No respect! No PATIENCE!!!"
    I merely swerved with a gentle caution. She had mastered Rain, and it poured now. I had control of Earth and Lightning. As we went towards the cliffs end, I shot vines up from the ground, which bound her to her place. I sat next to her. She still bristled and growled beside me in her earthy web.
    "Look. Do you see that? The earth, the forest, the waterfall. All of the elements need each other. Use the core elements. Earth, Fire, and Water. The earth is seen as opposition to Fire and companion to Water. And the Earth does need Water to grow. But if not for Fire, Earth would grow wild and dominate the core elements. There would be no balance. Water needs Fire and Earth. If not for Fire, Water would not be able to eternally nuture the earth and watch it replenish every spring. And if not for Earth, the water would be useless. It would have no life to support. Whether plant or animal, there would be nothing to support. And Fire needs earth to destroy and burn off anger. And if not for Water, Fire would grow wild and become the unbalance.
    You must understand that everything, even death and destruction, is a part of the great cycle of balance and peace."
    I released her. She was thoughtful, sad, even.
    "Why are we the heroes? Why do we have to suffer? This world can't be saved. How are we useful?"
    "Because of our fears and insecurities, we are bound for courage. No one that is heroic is a hero."
    "So... When we are... When we appear heroic... Even though we... When we become real heroes..."
    "When we become true heroes, we will not be needed. We will become mere war leaders in this. We are not the keys to ending the war. Just to in a series of the many to come, conquer, and be replaced in the great cycle of balance and life."
    "So we have to sacrifice the meaning and love in our lives? For a fate we'll never see? A hope we'll never know?"
    "That is when we will be replaced. When, as heroes , we will eliminate all the purity in our lives. We will become the greatest sacrifices. Then we will be nothing. It is about being able to become nothing, at the reward of nothing."
    And I sealed my eyes, along with the truth of my words. All of my life... Had become useless.