"I see." Alex felt a slight sense of disappointment. He lowered his head, his fingers absently twisting the hem of his tattered shirt: "Then I'll head over first. Elias, you can just perform the Divine Descent later."
The fire within the angel's eye sockets flickered tenderly as he softly called out:
"Alex."
Then, the magic was dispelled. The white light surrounding the body of Elias gradually vanished.
The tall skeleton collapsed in an instant; each bone detached in mid-air, emitting crisp clattering sounds before turning into a rain of bones falling downward. The stark white bones collided and scattered across the rotting wooden floor, forming a jumbled yet familiar pile.
Alex heard his voice and looked up again, only to witness the scene of the falling bone rain. He froze for a moment, then immediately knelt to begin gathering the bones of Elias. Every knuckle and every fragment of a rib was picked up with cherished care, a smile unconsciously curling the corners of his lips.
