"... so I just simply told them to just NOT do that but... they still did the thing." Galenu spoke to Varani beside her as they both were walking down a trail in the forest. "I do hope... one day to own a bakery though it is hard with me being a low blood and all."
"Hmm, I think you should not worry for that kind of thing." Varani replies. "As my master once told me: even if the world is a hard and cruel dealer of fate, always look forward to the positive side of life because it will always find a way to turn towards your favor."
Galenu chuckled from the retelling of the saying. "Yeah... maybe. Then... I will eventually open up my own bakery!"
"That's the spirit!"
"Also... speaking of your master... you have not mentioned a lot about yourself." The yellow blood curiously said. "How come?"
Varani didn't expect a question like this to come up. If anything, she had hoped to avoid it entirely, to not look back on the past. "Well... it is quite complicated..."
"I-I mean...! I don't want you to talk about if it makes you uncomfy..."
"No... no. I think... I think I should. Perhaps help me to get some closure." The blind troll says. Both of them eventually stopped at a clearing within the forest. Finding a toppled down log, they both sat on it to rest, Varani needing to reach her hands out to find it for her to sit on.
"This was before I became blind so... thankfully I still remember some visual representations." Varani said and continued. "... I... lived on the side of the mountain on the eastern part of Alternia. A large village. So beautiful. During the spring the cherry blossoms would bloom and it would look... stunning. Like a whole other world. I had my lusus but I was primarily raised by my master, Heroli Psinto. They were... quiet. Very hard to read and would not tell you right away if you mess up something. I had a friend who I grew up with, too who was also under master's apprenticeship. Her name is Kirina Zanshu. She... was a trouble maker but... I don't know. She was... a good friend."
"We both were training to become shrine protectors. Supposedly a spirit that is worshipped in our village would grant good fortune, harvest, luck, and among other things. Not just protecting the shrine but the whole village. We... never had threats or get attacked. We were a quiet village and got along with other nearby towns and villagea just fine. Until... one day... me and Kirina went snooping around underneath the temple, finding a cave behind a waterfall that was locked away. We found a sword... the one I have now. Longer katana, basically. But we then felt rumbling within the cave. At that moment, I didn't know that Kirina took the sword when I went back up to the temple."
"We got back up and were greeted from an unexpected attack from an unknown enemy. Apparently they were searching for something... we didn't know what it was but I was told my master to go hide and to take Kirina with me..."
"You hid?" Galenu added after Varani's pause.
"No..." The red blood answered. "Something inside me told me to go out there... and fight. I did the best I could... if anything it was enough to kill off the leader that lead the attack, forcing the rest of his attackers that were alive to flee. But... during that battle... I lost my master... and my friend, Kirina... and my sight..."
Galenu frowned from the mentioning of that. She was afraid that it would lead to something negative. "I'm... sorry I asked. I didn't mean for you bring up something you didn't want to retell..."
"No it's fine..." Varani reassured her. "If anything... it is good I get to tell it to someone. I have wanted to keep it hidden, hoping to not feel hurt from what was taken from me but... in a way, it was good to help me. To not hide it anymore and to finally move on with the weight of that memory not hanging on my shoulders."
"Then... I guess that's good?" Galenu says questioningly.
"Yes. it is a good thing." Varani, once more, reassured the yellow blood with a smile.
"By the way... how are you able to find your way around and such?" Galenu asks.
"Simple. I'm psychic!" The red blood excitedly answers. " Despite my sight being lost, I heightened my psychic psionics for me to... "see" in a way. Able to make out outlines of objects especially people and animals."
Cylion lived in a small, quaint village in the middle of a forest area. Everyone knew each other. The lusii being sure to take care of the children they are guardians of to keep them out of trouble. Even Cylion. As a little girl, she was always curious and often times gets herself into trouble more often than a normal child should. Somehow she always finds a way and her lusus, batmom, has to try and control her. Though even if she is kept under watch, trouble tends to find a way to seek her out on its own.
The village has lived a peaceful life for so long until that moment where bandits suddenly attacked. They burned the village, stealing valuables, and capturing certain trolls to put into slave labor. Cylion's lusus thought ahead, grabbing the little girl and hide up on the tall trees, hoping to wait for the bandits to eventually leave once they have finished. Cylion held onto a tree branch until one beneath her foot sudden gave way, snapping off, startling her as she held on. One of the bandits below heard the noise, looking up and pointing up. "Oy! We got a live one up ovah there!" One of them said.
The lusus' fight or flight instincts kicked in, grabbing Cylion by the shoulder and attempted to fly away. "Don't fucking let that girl get away!" The bandit leader ordered. One of the bandits took aim with their rifle, shooting the bat lusus on the wing. It caused the lusus to drop, making a rough landing that caused it to lose its grip on Cylion, the girl skidding across the ground a couple feet away from her lusus.
Bruised and scratched, Cylion tried to crawl to her lusus until she was picked up from the bandit. The little girl struggled to break away from their grip, screaming for her lusus as a bag was put over her head.
Much later, Cylion is put into a slave labor camp, her wrists and ankles in shackles, in line as the head troll examined each person. Cylion was next, stopping in front of the tall adult as they looked at her. "Grey colored eyes." They said. The troll took Cylion's hand, taking a knife with their free hand, placing the blade on her palm and making a cut. Cylion winced in pain, tearing up as the palm of her hand started to bleed. Bright red blood was shown, jerking her hand away. "A mutant. Now that is quite intriguing. Put her in with that cyclops kid."
Cylion was then moved to a cell she had to share with a boy. Arriving at the cell, she was pushed inside as the cell door closes and locked behind her. She turned around, grabbing onto the metal bars and tried to budge her way out but with no luck. "You're wasting your time." A voice is said.
"H-Huh?!" Cylion turned around, startled by the voice until she sees a boy in a corner.
He hugged his knees, sitting in the corner and looked at the girl. He only had one eye, the other is a false eye that is fully teal colored. "Ya ain't gonna escape. You're here forever..."
"Wh-what is this place...?"
"Slavery... makin' us work for the soldier people."
"... But... I-I... I... I don't wanna be here..." Cylion began to sob, collapsing to the floor on her rear, tearing up.
Over time, the girl was put to work but was the main target from many guards, making her work harder to exhaustion where many moments she would collapse. Lately, it would seem the rest of the guards began to become more aggressive to the rest of the slaves. All the trolls have begun to speculate that Cylion is the source to the sudden aggressiveness of the guards. "Curse" began to spread from person to person, making all other slaves to stay away from her even during the lunch hour in the courtyard.
Cylion has noticed this but wasn't aware of this talk. They all tend to quickly stop talking once she walks pass them. During one day in her cell, she sat quietly in the middle of her cell until a stone was thrown at her. "Ow!" She looked from where the direction it was thrown, looking at the boy with false eye. "What was that for?!"
"This is all your fault!" He said.
"What?"
"The guards were mean to begin with but now they've been more mean lately ever since you came in." He explained. "You're a curse!"
"N-No I'm not... that's stupid!" She tried to plead her case.
"Then why are all more mean all of a sudden? Especially to you."
"I'm... I-I'm just..."
"You're a curse!"
"I'M NOT A CURSE!" She screamed.
Suddenly the cell door was slammed, startling her as one of the guards came in to stop the argument. "Hey! You two shut the hell up!"
"B-B-But I... I-I-"
"I don't give a shit what it is. Last thing we need is to hear you two flap your lips." They said, leaving the cell. Cylion didn't know what to do, feeling another small stone hit her, looking back at the kid as a sinister grin was across their face, looking at Cylion.
Overtime, Cylion has grown a distrust on everyone, already figuring that she can't speak to anyone for help as this curse rumor has spread to everyone, not wanting to do anything with her. She needed to get out. She needs to escape. Though no one will help her. It's gotten to the point that she was nearly killed during an accident that occurred from a machine. A piece landed on top, crushing her as she tried to get out, the soft ground beneath her was slowly going to turn into a sink hole. Everyone all stood and watched as the little girl finally got herself out as the ground was soft enough for her to sink lower to crawl her way out of the machine piece. She ran away from the spot as it eventually turned into a sink hole. Shocked and afraid, she looked at everyone with wide eyes, seeing everyone's expression of displeasure to see her still alive. At that moment, she was truly on her own. Alone. An outcast.
She has to escape.
A couple sweeps later, Cylion was in the middle of running through the forest, having escaped the slave camp as other trolls was heard behind her, chasing after her. Panting and keeping her distance, she tried to think of a plan on trying to have them lose sight of her. It wasn't long until she heard a familiar screech in the distance. Quickly stopping herself in a clearing, she looked up and sees a figuring flying overhead. A large bat. In fact, it was one she was able to spot by the hole on the wing. Her lusus. "M-Mom!" Cylion called out, waving her hands. She waited for the lusus to hear her, flying around over the clearing, looking down and lets out a surprised screech. Cylion simply smiled but quickly turned to a frown as she heard the trolls still trying to find her. She got herself to run, hoping that her lusus will follow her.
Going deep into the forest, she kept her pace, looking up occasionally to see her lusus is keeping up until eventually the large bat got next to her, rapidly flapping its wings. Her lusus then flew above her, slowly lowering herself and grabbing onto Cylion's shoulders, bringing her up and maneuvering herself pass the trees as she carried Cylion above the tree line. Losing sight of the men chasing after her, she was flown back to the village she lived in, fully built back up ever since the day it was attacked. Cylion was gently put down as she turned to hug her lusus, not even believing that actually made it and to see her lusus still alive after all this time. Tears went down her face, crying onto her lusus and not wanting to let go. She was free. Finally free.
- - -
The Demon Is Born
Sweeps later, Cylion decided to take her lusus, her belongings, and live alone in a hive she built by hand alone, away from everyone, isolate herself. During that time, she found books to read until she found one that piqued her interest. The front cover had a pentagram, a symbol she was familiar with but wondered why it's on the cover of this certain book. The pages were all in a different language, not something she is familiar with until one page that was actually in Alternian.
Cylion read it out loud to herself, wanting to have something to do for her time and eventually noticed a sigil just formed on the floor in front of her. Growing concerned, the sigil began to glow, causing her to step back as the floor cracked open on the sigil it's opening up on, an arm peered out from the crack. Claw-like hand was seen as a figure rose up from the depths and came into view. A large creature, hooved feet and bat-like wings. Horns similar to trolls but the skin color was a darker grey. Their three eyes opened up, looking at Cylion and let out a deep, gutteral growl. "You... summoned me." It spoke.
"Wh-who are you...?!" Cylion demanded but was cautious.
"Do not be afraid, my dear. I do not harm those that are defenseless." It gives a grin, looking around at their surroundings until looking back at the girl. "It has been so long since I have surfaced up to the mortal realm. This world, however, is... different."
"What... what are you..?"
"A demon... an abomination within the fiery realm of Hell. My name is Kalo R' Tash. What is yours... miss?"
"Cylion... I-It's... It's Cylion Cytone..." She nervously responded.
"Miss Cytone... A lovely name... familiar. Though I cannot place my finger as to why it is... I... have an offer for you."
"What is it...?"
"You summoned me... and I can sense... fear. No... not fear... there's a deeper cut within your mind, is there?" The demon spoke and slowly walked to her as she slowly crawled away until she was stopped by a wall behind her. "Am I not wrong?"
"... M-Maybe..."
"We can talk, dear. I am... usually blood thirsty but you are an exception for now. We can... help each other. Do you... trust me?"
Cylion was silent. The mention of those words left a chill down her spine as memories of what she went through shrouded her mind, thinking she have forgotten all about it but she can't escape it. "... Fine." She looked up and replied to it. The demon grinned, Cylion telling her trouble tale of her time at the slave labor camp, not knowing what to do with her life ever since she escaped, lost without a goal.
"Such a tragic past." The demon said. "Perhaps... I can make you an offer... Do you still hate them?"
The question was something she had to stop herself and think. Wasn't until she reminded herself of the hell she went through all those sweeps ago and anger grew within. Immense hatred. "Yes... I hated all of them."
"I can sense it. An anger festering so deep within that you wish to wrap your hands around their necks, squeezing tightly until every ounce of their last breath eventually fades."
"... Yes..."
"Perhaps... I can make that happen."
Those words instantly got her attention, looking up at the demon. "I'm listening..."
Few months pass as the front entrance of the slave camp was quiet, the guards stood idly by, keeping watch until one spotted something in the distance. A lone troll came into view as one guard muttered to the other about it, both looking at them with caution. Cylion was the lone troll. She continued walking until one guard asked her to stop as she was barely a yard away from the front gate. "Who are you? What's your business?" One guard demanded. All of a sudden, a gash appeared on the guard's throat, blood spurting out as they collapsed to their knees, covering their neck to stop the bleeding but slowly died from the blood loss. The other guard was horrified, raising their rifle and aiming at her direction. "Wh-what the hell happened to him!?"
Cylion slowly turned to look at him, staring directly at him. From that moment, the guard has never felt more fear until he looked at her eyes. Pure anger. Pure hatred. It was enough for the guard to suddenly freeze, losing their grip of their weapon as it drops from their hands. He only blinked once as she was suddenly in front of him, getting grabbed by the throat and lifted inches from the ground by an unknown force. The guard struggled to breathe, trying to grab what was around his neck but feeling nothing there. Wasn't until he heard her speak. "My business..." Cylion began. "Burn my past to the fucking ground." Those words were the last he heard as his neck snapped, the body falling limp to the ground. Eventually, a horde of demons peered out from the forest behind her and began their attack on the camp. The main gate fell, fire was sparked as the main guards were unprepared, killed off one by one. The demons mutilating them as Cylion walked through the camp with no trouble and used her magic, that was taught to her by the demon she summoned over the months, and killed any guard that got in her way.
The slaves were all hearing the sounds of screaming from within their cell area, not knowing what was happening outside. It wasn't until the steel double doors was bashed through and the demons surrounded the front of the main cell area as Cylion was let in. All the trolls stood up until one she instantly recognized walke up to the cell door. "H-Hey... are you... are you getting us out?" He said. It was the same troll with the false eye.
"You... I remember you so well." Cylion said.
Confused, the troll with the false thought hard until he stared her long enough to see it was her. The same girl that he has messed with for a curse rumor that spread around. "I-It's you! H-H-Hey! Get us out! Come on!"
"Why should I?" She asked. "Do you know what I remember? Distrust... From you... from fucking all of you. Each... and every person here."
"C-Come on... Y-Y-You had to understand that it was a j-joke all this time... r-r-right?" He pleaded.
"Really? A joke...? Do you see me fucking laughing?!" Cylion yelled, a darker aura was felt that it seemed to have sent a shock wave that knocked every troll back. "I was nearly killed one time... and you all watched... You all... fucking watched..." She looked directly at the false eyed troll, anger was the only thing he sees in front of him. "Do you... even know my name?"
"It's... U-U-Uh... i-i-i-it's well..." The false eyed troll stammered his words, panicking.
"Of course you didn't. None of you knew... All you were worried was a fucking curse... that never... existed. You just wanted to put the blame on someone for your sorry shitty existence. And now once you stare at death... you act like you deserve a rope to escape the hole you're in and ride the chariot to freedom."
Everyone was quiet and soon Kalo the demon walked in, standing beside Her. "What do want us to do, dear Cylion?"
Cylion looked at all the trolls, thinking to herself. One thing is certain, her anger and hatred can't be swayed. She made her decision. "Your service has been grateful, Kalo... Kill them all." She said and it was enough for all the trolls to begin to panic. "Paint the walls with their blood."
"It has been a pleasure working for you, dear Cylion..." The demon replied.
Cylion turned and walked away, hearing the screams behind her until it eventually faded as she got far away from the place. She stopped for a moment, turning to look back to see the place in a blaze from a distance. The roars and howls of the demon horde was loudly heard from the burning camp, echoing throughout the forest, a sign that their work is finished. "Ashes... and nothing more." The only words she said as she continued to head to the direction of her home.
Long ago came a little girl! An orange blood that wanted to become queen of Alternia!
She would always play with dolls and pretend to being the ruler. Having trolls always wear something cute and to always be super nice to each other.
But the other kids picked and made fun of her for this. She would cry, hugging her dolls for comfort.
The little girl got older and now wanted to become a teacher! She wished to teach little boys and girls everything.
But the other trolls doubted her and told her she would never be a great teacher or have kids pay attention to her. She would cry again, hugging her dolls for comfort.
The girl got older. No longer seeking any wishes that she knows would ever come true.
She disappeared one day and eventually disappearances of trolls started to surface.
Until one day, one troll ventured out into a dark forest and eventually got stuck onto a spider’s web.
Large enough for a normal sized spider to even weave.
Then, the woman that disappeared all too long ago came up to the crying troll.
Then many dolls appeared from the dark. Some intact. Some broken. all moving on their own like magic.
At that moment, the woman said to the scared troll, “Want to play with me and my dolls?”
Hours passed and soon, Morita, possessing Cilrus’ body, finally arrived to meet Cylion once more. The dark witch knew she was coming back. Behind them was her girlfriend, the demon succubus, Tyranix, who has been skeptical of the spirit and their promises but more so worried about Cylion than anything. “Came back with that lousy girl again.” Cylion commented.
“How do you expect a spirit to pick up a regular object with limited powers?” Morita replied. “Now... here it is.” Going into the satchel she had on, she takes out the rooted heart, showing it the dark witch.
Cylion’s eyes widened. She read the stories of such a magical relic but to really see it with her own eyes was a sight to behold. “That... that’s...”
“The Rooted Heart.” Morita grins, tossing it to Cylion in which they caught it. “It’s powers were mysteries in many books mostly because such a thing was talked about but never seen in person. Though they don’t know it’s true potential besides... me.”
At that moment, Cylion knows of the spirit’s true form from before. “What does it do?”
“Give eternal life!” Morita exclaimed with joy. “That, and my ticket of ridding myself off of this body and retaining my original form.”
“Then... what happens with... them?” Cylion questioned.
Morita groaned, though she should at least try. “Right... start the ritual and let me handle that issue.” Cylion didn’t question it and walked away beginning the process. Meanwhile, Morita walks off a good distance away and exits out of Cilrus’ body as the goth troll collapses to the ground, breathing heavily as if they were submerged in water for hours.
“Wh-what the hell?!” She screamed.
“Calm down, will ya?”
“C-Calm down?! What are you doing?! What is your plan?!”
“I’m getting to that.” Morita says, floating around Cil. “Now, I’m giving you an option and maybe one of these you won’t even like.”
“Why should I listen to you?” Cilrus says.
“Because if you want stay alive, I suggest you take my fucking offer.” The goth troll stayed silent. “Now... I want you to join me. I’m giving you this option of not perishing with the rest when I create a new world. You deserve that, don’t you? A fresh start. That’s what you want... right?”
“Wh-what do you mean YOU create the new world? Wasn’t that The Singularity’s plan? Aren’t you just doing it for her?”
Morita merely chuckles and slowly gives an insidious grin at Cilrus. “Perhaps... you don’t see the full picture still.”
“Who the hell are you?! Is your name really Morita?!”
“Maybe... I can show you.” Extending her hand out, she touches Cilrus’ head and once again possesses her. “Just... watch.” Morita walks back to Cylion who was already in the process of the ritual. Morita began helping, muttering spells to speed it up.
Wasn’t long until a familiar voice called out a name. “Cilrus!” They screamed out. Both Morita and Cylion turned to the direction of the voice and see Yevine. “Cilrus!“ The girl ran, wanting to stop this but then stopped, seeing what she thinks is Cilrus but because of her clairevoiyance, she sees the spirit using Cilrus’ body. “You... What have you done to her?!”
“Wh-what do you mean by that?” Morita says, trying to play it off.
“You are not Cilrus... You’re that spirit she talked about. Get out of her body! Stop whatever this is!”
Not wanting to make anymore excuses, she lets Cylion continue with the ritual, leaving the sigil and going up to Yevine. “How did you figure out to find us here? Hm?” Morita questioned.
“I-I’m a clairevoyant. I felt something was wrong... and I just... went to this direction. I care about Cilrus... memory or no memory... she and I shared something together.” Yevine explained but stepped back a little. “And I’m not letting you use her in this damn ritual!”
Morita merely grins. “How cute...” In one hand, a blade materializes, shadow-stepping towards the girl and stabs them with it. “I’m not going to be interrupted anymore.”
Yevine felt the pain but speechless as to what has happened as she slowly looks down, seeing the blade embedded into her. Morita slowly takes the knife out of them as Yevine stumbled a bit, bright red blood coming out as the girl places her hand over it and looks at the blood on her hands. “Cilrus... I-I’m... sorry...” Cilrus’ ex collapsed to her knees, trying to crawl, reaching out with one hand to grab onto Cilrus but soon her whole body just falls to the ground, being still.
Morita only smiled deviously but this was enough for Cilrus gain control, screaming as the spirit was forced out and the goth troll went to Yevine’s body. “Yevine!” Cilrus screamed, kneeling down and carried her body, shaking her gently. “P-Please... wake up... Don’t die... please...” Her voice already shaky, desperately wanting Yevine to still be alive. “Please... I-I can’t do this... I c-c-can’t do this alone...”
“You don’t need to, you know?” Morita added.
Cilrus quickly looks up, angry, tears going down her face. “Why would I trust you?! You killed her!”
“Just... watch.” At that moment, the ritual was done. A beam light shot out into the sky from the sigil, the ground vibrated as the spirit went into the large source of light. Soon, it all stopped and beam fades. In the middle, of where the sigil used to be, is a large, black crystal that started to crack and crumble away. Piece-by-piece, the crystal broke apart which was enough to leave both Cilrus, Cylion, and Tyranix in awe from this spectacle. Wasn’t until that a body was exposed from within, the crystal continuing to crumble away until the whole form was revealed. They let out a single breath, inhaling, and slowly exhaling. “It’s been so long...” They said, opening their eyes and turning towards Cilrus.
At that moment, Cilrus noticed the horns being similar to hers along with her symbol on their outfit. “You... Y-You’re...”
“I am your ancestor, Cilrus.” They responded. “But I am more so known as The Singularity... in the flesh.”
“You... A-All this time you...”
“I have been stuck on that plane of existence for too long. Long ago, I had a following, not large enough to be an army, but to them, they were loyal to me and they were willing to join me in the new world I wanted to create... including... your ancestor, Cylion.” The Singularity then glanced to the dark witch.
It was hard enough to believe what she heard. Cylion was shocked, not knowing what to even say. “You... knew my ancestor?”
“Yes. The Demoness. Perhaps there’s a reason why you took into the life of learning the dark arts after all but nonetheless, she was good friend of mine... tragic what happened to her. The Fleet knew of my plans and wanted to end it. I had made a back-up plan if I were to die... obviously... I did. The Demoness suffered a tragic fate. She tried everything she can to stop them... but... I... don’t wish to talk about it.”
“My ancestor...” Cylion began speaking to herself until she finally pieced it together. “Is that why you came to me? Because you knew that The Demoness would have a descendant?”
“You are quite observant.” The Singularity smiles to Cylion “And yes. Thanks to you, I have regained my original form and I continue where I left off all those sweeps ago... which now brings me to you...” She then turn towards Cilrus, still carrying Yevine’s body but was then lifted off the ground by an unknown force.
“L-Let go of me!” Cilrus screamed.
“I’m giving you an option, my descendant.” She begins explaining. “You can join me. I break our ties together because I no longer need you to keep myself alive but... you will gain a bit of my powers to regain your own life. You can live. No fear of dying. And you can live your life in my new world. A peaceful world without any violence. Without any hate. You. Me. Cylion. And many others that are worthy across the universe to join this world and live in peace. There, you can officially start a new life. Start fresh and leave the worries of what or who you really are behind.”
“What if I refuse?” Cilrus asks.
It was enough to annoy The Singularity. “Then I break my ties with you. And you die right here.”
“Then I won’t join you. Fuck you.”
With that, Cilrus’ ancestor merely let out a sigh seeing as she failed to persuade her own descendant to join her. “Then so be it.” The Singularity cuts the spiritual link between them and Cilrus’ throat slit began to form, blood began spilling out as the goth troll struggles to stay alive, choking on her own blood and fell to the ground. Eventually, she stopped struggling and her body has gone still. The Singularity lets a deep sigh and turn towards Cylion, walking pass her and opening a portal. “Follow me.” She says to them, walking into the portal.
“You go in, Ty.” Her demon girlfriend was cautious but went inside and Cylion was about to do the same but stopped, looking over at CIlrus’ body and then at Yevine’s. She feels a bit of guilt. Why would she? Two people she doesn’t know at all but she feels this whole confrontation felt wrong. Either way, the dark witch wants to help The Singularity and more so after knowing the relations of them and her own ancestor. She leaves her home, entering the portal.
“Leave him out in the forest. The electric shock he got in his head would’ve fried him for sure. If he’s somehow alive, he won’t make it out in the wild for long.”
“And what of the girl? She practically helped him trying to stop our plans.”
“Keep her alive... she has some use. Of course Calrin doesn’t know about that.”
The sound of knocking is heard which woke up Calrin instantly, looking around in his room as he lets out a groan. Getting off of his bed, he quickly goes to another room, turning on a small candle light and takes out some contacts, putting them on to hide his actual blood color. Heading to the front door, he grabs his machete, just in case, and opens the door to seeing two Fleet soldiers along with the kid that he knew. “Sorry for interrupting in the middle of the night. But we have been seeing this little guy being nosey when they should know the place is off limits.” One of them said.
“Okay... So why come over here?” The lime blood questioned.
“Well, they said that they live with you and don’t have a lusus.” The other said.
Calrin gives a puzzled look and looks down at the kid who just mouthed “I’m sorry” to him. “Sorry. Don’t know the kid.”
“What?!” The kid said.”
“Kind of figured.” The first soldier said. “Then they’ll be staying with us.”
“But...”
“... But what?” The other soldier said.
“I am willing to let him stay.” Calrin quickly suggested.
“But you are not their guardian.”
“Does it matter? Do you have better ideas on what to do with the kid? Perhaps keeping him locked up like some kind of prisoner is your best option just so you don’t have to deal with some kid.” The lime blood began lowering his tone. “I’m willing to hear your options, as they always say... the Fleet are here for us. Or is that just some misconception.”
“What did you say?!”
“I’m saying just give me the kid and you can continue on your boring lives playing soldier.”
One of them was about to walk towards him but was caught off guard when he got a hand around his neck while the other tried to pull out a gun but was met with a machete pointed at him. “Wh-what the hell are you doing?! You can’t harm a Fleet soldier and think you can get away with it!”
“Really? Then let me make this clear... to both of you.” Calrin began to explain. “I don’t abide by rules. Certainly not ones run by a tyranical leader or a trigger happy military. If you tell me to shoot... I’m not going to fucking shoot. If I say leave me the hell alone and leave this kid with me... you best be listening to that than to your superiors... it’s your choice... but I think the three of us knows which choice is the best one.”
The one soldier struggled from the firm grip of Calrin’s hand around his neck, gasping for air as the other soldier weighed his options set before him but was focused on Calrin’s eyes. Eyes of fearlessness. As if telling him that if he were to try and retaliate, then the lime blood wasn’t afraid to fight back and die for it. It was scaring the soldier, enough to just pick the easy option. “We’ll leave! Keep the kid!” Calrin slowly nodded, letting go of the soldier he had a grip on and pushed them away from him as the two walked away while the other just rubbed at his neck.
Calrin then looked down at the kid. “I told you not to be prancing around their base. Get inside.”
The lime blood walked back inside as the kid followed. “But you have no idea how cool everything is in there! They have like BIG metal things and and a thing that was this big and-”
“I don’t care. And why did you lie about your lusus? Why mention me?”
“I... My lusus is...” The kid lowered their head and in that moment, Calrin knew what they meant.
“Oh... so you’re alone now.” The lime blood didn’t know what else he could say. He’s not great with conversations and certainly not great with lifting up the atmosphere. “I’m sorry for what happened...”
“It’s... it’s fine...”
Thinking for a moment, he knows he doesn’t want the kid to be left alone and with the Fleet knowing where he lives, it’s best that perhaps they should stay with him. Better than leaving him out in the wild. “Listen... you can stay with me.”
At that moment, the kid lifted their head up, eyes beaming with happiness. “Y-You really mean it?!”
“Yeah... but... you have to get used to the jobs I’m gonna put you through.”
“Yeah! I can do it!”
“Good.” Calrin puts away his machete. “You’ll get to learn to hunt tomorrow. First thing in the morning.”
“Fear. It’s... one way I can describe it. You never think about it in the heat of battle but... when you do... you just... freeze. Frozen in fear... it was different the other times. I guess... because I had him by my side. I have went through worse. I was shot at. Got bruises, cuts, all that. Though you feel... unstoppable! Y-Y-You get it? Only because he was with me...” Lemoru said, part of his head covered in bandages as he speaks to a psychiatrist after the incident.
The troll merely nodded to his wording, jotting down notes on his journal. “Your fellow soldier-”
“Friend...” Lemoru turned to look at him and correct them. “Not a soldier... a friend.”
“My apologies... your... friend. His name was Jeroti Gyatun. Correct?”
“Yes... I call him Je Gy to shorten it.”
“He was in your battalion. Correct?”
“Yes... w-... we became sworn brothers, in a sense, when I got to know him.”
“Can you say you felt like you already knew him, in some other life or... from a different time? Describing your friendship with him?”
Lemoru was silent, holding onto a badge that was stained with blood. Not his own. He merely brushed his thumbs over it. “Yes... someone I would meet at a bar and have a beer with... he... he was a good friend.”
The psychiatrist takes off his glasses, placing them on a table in front of him. “Corporal Xenett... what you did was admirable on the field and-”
“Is it?” Lemoru interrupted once more. “How, what I did, was admirable? In what way?”
“Well, I mean, you set out a charge on an enemy base when your battalion was pinned. You did so for the sake of the Fleet.”
“No... no, no, no! NO!” Lemoru kicked the chair he was sitting on to the side, already feeling rage building up from this pointless praise. “What I did was a fucking suicide mission. What I was ordered to do was send myself, along with the rest of my battalion, out to be killed! D-D-Don’t just fucking sit there and say what I did was something to be proud of when I told my commander that we were outnumbered and outgunned. We stood no chance... and I insisted to make a full retreat, rethink our strategy, and then attack when the time is right and when we had better odds...”
“But... you succeeded. Under those overwhelming odds.”
“At what cost? Hm? Tell me. Tell me the cost? What we found... nothing. We merely pushed the enemy back and that. Was. It... I lost... so many friends... over fucking nothing... especially one... I promised to buy a drink for... and... now what...?” Lemoru began sobbing, sniffling as he just grabs the chair he kicked, setting it upright and sat on it, staring down at the floor as he tries to hold back his tears.
The psychiatrist stayed silent, putting on his glasses. “I recommend you take a step back once you fully recover... not physically but mentally.”
“I’m not going back.” Lemoru uttered.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m not going back. I’m done. I’m discharging myself.”
“Wh-what?! But you got promoted!”
“For what?” Lemoru says as he got up once more. “To send myself out to nearly die? No... no, no, no, no. I’m not taking that bloody promotion. When that promotion is stained by the friends I have lost to get that.”
“Corporal Xenett... you, as soldiers, know the stakes when you go into battle-”
“Not soldiers... people. Soldiers... implies us being nothing machines. We’re expendable when we become soldiers... we don’t become... people when we are out there, risking our own fucking lives- GOD FUCKING DAMN IT! MY FRIEND IS DEAD!” Lemoru screamed, his eyes widened as the psychiatrist stayed silent. He composes himself and takes off his uniform, tossing it on the ground. “I’m done. I’m leaving. Tell the commander, who killed his own men, that he can take that promotion for me and he can shove it up his ass.” The teal blood marched out of the psychiatrist’s office, still holding the badge in his hand.
- -
THE PRESENT...
- -
Lemoru sat at his desk, staring at the badge he held in his hand. “So much for the promise...” The teal blood said to himself. “Fear is a fickle mistress... works in ways that we can’t comprehend during the moment. Fear... fear... of losing someone close to you. Someone that you could put your life on. I remember you told me that Je Gy.” He merely smiles, until hearing a knock on his door, snapping out of his trance and puts the badge away in his desk. “U-Uh... come in.”
The door opened and a women slowly enters. “A-... A-Are you detective Xenett?”
“Yes, I am.” Lemoru answers and gestures to the chair in front of his desk. “Please. Have a seat, ma’am.” The woman was hesitant but insisted and slowly sat on the chair as Lemoru rests his hands together on top of his desk. “What can I do for you, miss?”
“Well... I-I need protection...” She says, feeling frightened by the idea. “I... I think the guy on the news is planning to kill me...!
“Breaking news: The cult serial killer has struck once more but this time it appeared to have set a resident building on fire in a peculiar way. Nothing has come up of how this was caused whether it was a regular blaze or something psionic-made is still unclear. Three bodies have been found within the charred ruins but it’s unclear if they can be identified. All three are presumed dead and follow the same ritualistic killing as the previous victims. We’ll report more as we gain more info later on.”
Lemoru finally arrived at the crime scene as a few trolls with hydro psionics put out the remaining fire that was lit before he got there. Already it has drawn a crowd. Many trolls with their phones out and recording as well as a news crew on scene. The police are doing there best to keep people back as the teal blood walked onto the crime scene and before the three corpses before him. “What do we got here?” He said to a police officer.
“Same MO.” They responded. “All three victims having their innards gutted out. Heart missing. We would want to believe they did the same arrangement with the guts but... well... the place is burned down.”
“I would imagine they might have done it. Though it doesn’t make sense to me...”
“What, sir?”
“Why burn the place down?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Usually with some killers, they want you see their handy work. So... burning the place down wouldn’t make any sense... hmm.”
“Well, maybe they want to change it up. Feel sorry for these three. It’s gonna be hard to identify them with how burnt they are.” The officer zipped up the body bags and went along with the other officers trying to keep back.
Meanwhile, Lemoru was still stuck in thought from the missing puzzle, looking over at the charred ruins of what used to be a building. Walking over to it, he looks over at anything that could be a sign of something. “It doesn’t make any sense...” He whispered to himself. “Why start burning buildings now? the previous times they leave their victims out like in an arrangement for me to see, never like this. There must have been some struggle...” The teal blood looked around and then spotted a familiar face. One that he’s tired of seeing. “You’ve got to be kidding me.
The detective walked over to a familiar brown blood who was watching over at the crowd of people behind the police line until noticing Lemoru walking towards him. “Ey! How’s it going bud?” They said joyfully.
“Why...?” Lemoru responded with annoyance. “Why do I find you in anything where I am doing an investigation? I’m getting tired of this, Mr. Donovk.”
“Hey. It’s Axxiom.” The brown blood corrected. “And it’s not fault thatI just happened to be in the neighborhood!”
“Yes, happen to be in every murder case that I’m half suspecting you to actually be said murderer coming back to the crime scene.”
“What?! I would never!”
“You...-” Lemoru paused, letting out a sigh and calms himself down as he just covers his face with his hand and drags it down, feeling stressed out as it is from everything. Today is one of those days. “Forget it... I’m just... I’m not thinking correctly and you being where I am every single time is not helping with my anxiety.”
“I don’t mean to make ya anxious. Like I said, I’m just in the neighborhood.” Axxiom explained.
Lemoru sat next to him, taking out a cigarette carton and taking one out. “You’re girl friend isn’t with you today, huh?” Lemoru slightly teased as he reaches into his own pocket to get his lighter.
“Salemm. And she’s not my girlfriend.” Axxiom takes out a cigarette of his own along with a lighter, offering it to Lemoru.
The teal blood notices, hesitating for a second until taking it, putting the cigarette into his lips and lit it with the lighter given to him, handing it back. “Whatever you say.” Lemoru says, taking a drag of his cig and letting out a puff of smoke. “I’m getting too old for this shit...”
Axxiom lit his cigarette, taking a drag of his own until catching what the detective said. “Why not quit?”
“I’ve thought about it... many times. If I quit... perhaps my nightmares will go away. I still have the same one... it’s just... stuck to me.”
“What’s the nightmare?”
“... One of the first cases I’ve done. I was chasing down a killer that has been attacking women. There was one who believed she was the next target and made me an offer to be her protection. At first... I denied it... but... I don’t know. Something about her made me decide to accept her offer. I stayed with her and I... felt at peace... her company was bliss. I haven’t felt that kind of comfort in so long... one day, I was out getting something. I was outside of her home until I heard her scream. It was pouring out and I quickly ran to go save her but it was dark. I caught the killer and we both had a struggle... I got him restrained but... I was too late... the flash of thunder illuminated the room and I saw the women’s body. I keep having that same nightmare... I try my best to save her but I’m always too late...”
Axxiom’s eyes widened from listening to the story, not expecting that level of a sad story. “Fuck... didn’t know this happened. Why didn’t ya tell me?”
“Because you make it very hard for me to trust you given the previous circumstances you were in.”
“Hey, those guys pulled the punches on me. I defended myself.”
“On several occasions.”
“I’m a punchable guy! What can I say?”
Lemoru let out a sigh of annoyance, taking a drag of his smoke, looking off at a random direction. “I can’t quit... not now. I want to protect people... but I’m always one step behind...”
Axxiom merely shrugged. “It’s your life. I think you should quit while you still got the option. Rebuild yourself, find peace, get therapy, all that crap to help recover your mind.” The brown blood took one last drag of his cigarette, dropping it on the ground and puts it out with the bottom of his shoe. “Just think about it.” He pats the back of Lemoru gently and walked off, waving goodbye behind him as he leaves the teal blood to his own thoughts.
Lemoru sat where he is, sighing softly, taking a final drag on his smoke and merely uttered a few words. “... I’m sorry I couldn’t save you... I’m sorry...”
Choices... they are difficult to make, aren’t they?
The same nightmare. The same internal struggle of wanting to escape the past. It eats away into the skin until it eventually devours one whole and their life is forever changed. Screams echoed in the distance as the girl kept running, panting with each step she takes as her foot makes contact to the ground. Where she’s running to? She doesn’t know. An escape is all she wants. Eventually, something bright shined in front of her vision, getting closer and closer as it appears to be a doorway. Not making any thoughts on whether it’s safe or not, she’ll take it over anything and ran towards it, entering it.
As she made it through, she noticed her surroundings to be a white room. Looking around, it doesn’t seem to be a room she recognized. Looking at herself, she noticed that her body has changed to her normal look instead of her past self. Seeing a mirror, she walked up to it to seeing her reflection. No face paint.
“Ah! You’re finally here.” A voice said out loud as the troll turned to look at a woman next to a piano that was not there before. “Please, Orelia, is it? Come sit down on that chair and have a chat.”
The girl wore a white suit that matched the whole setting of the room. Even the color of the piano was white. “How... h-how did you know my name?” the indigo blood questioned.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on you for quite a while. You intrigued me.”
“Where... are we?”
“You are dreaming. I have an ability that allows me to look into people’s dreams. Why I have that ability is beyond me but I have been using it to try and help those that are troubled.” Soon, the woman began to play the piano, a simple symphony and continued to speak. “You... are going down a dark path, dear.”
“What the hell do you mean? Who are you?” Orelia snapped back.
“No need to be hostile, my dear. I am here only wanting to help.” She smiles. “My name is Varani Xolphi. I am half-troll, half-ghost.”
“What are you? Like some kind of... thing in dreams?”
“Oh no, no, no! I am indeed in the real world. As I said, I have the special ability that allows me to see into people’s dreams. In the real world, I am blind but I am able to utilize my telekinesis to see people’s forms by their aura. Does that answer your question, dear?”
“Um... I guess... but that doesn’t answer as to why you think I’m going down a dark path or whatever?” Orelia says, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
“Orelia, my dear, do you know what vengeance is?”
“Of course I do.”
“And do you know that often times seeking vengeance can have dire consequences? You may succeed but what will it cost to finally get to that goal?”
Slowly, hearing this more and more caused a burning fire to build up inside Orelia and already she was fed up with it and grabbed Varani by the collar, lifting her up. “You have no idea what shit I went through! You don’t know! You don’t know what that bastard clown did to me!”
“Even so... is it all worth it?” Varani questioned back, unfazed by the other picking her up against her will. “Orelia... I do not know what may have happened to you, I do not know what you look like, but you building up your rebellion, an indigo blood, no less, making others believe in a cause against their oppressors... it’s inspiring.” She merely gives a small smile which only left Orelia a bit shocked with how this girl is handling this. “You’ve done so much... but letting your past eat you up inside... it’s not healthy for you... vengeance is a one-way street, dear.”
“Shut up!” Orelia lets the troll go, taking a few steps and turns away from them. “I’ve suffered... so long by his hand... to the point that I wasn’t the same person anymore when I finally broke free... and ran... still... he haunts me... even though I escaped... I feel like I’m in an endless corridor... stuck with him behind me chasing after me...”
“Orelia... I’m only warning you, it’s not too late to stop this. You’re trying to become a vigilante, luring out your abuser, while at the same time being the rebel leader that people look up to you to be. You can’t become both.” Varani sat back down on the piano chair as Orelia teared up, not wanting to hear anymore of this but can’t help only to accept it. “You said... that you became someone that even you couldn’t recognize. What about now?”
From those words, it caught Orelia by surprise and turned to look at them, wiping away the tears going down her face. “Wh-what do you mean?”
“Who are you? Are you Orelia? The rebel leader that many look up to and eventually will bring freedom to those oppressed by a dictator? You... being one of the beacons of hope, strength, and courage to bring down the evil and have Alternia be equal? Or... are you The Silenced? The Clown Killer... The Carnival’s Reaper... taking out every subjug until you finally get to find your abuser? Can you answer that question, Orelia? Do you... know who you think you are?” Varani finished.
Orelia was speechless, trying to come up with an argument but felt... scared to. If anything, she’s now thinking about that question to herself.
The blind troll merely lets out a sigh. “Very well then.” Standing up from the piano chair, Varani lets the down the cover to protect the keys of the piano, ‘looking’ back at Orelia. “I want you to keep my words in mind. You’re a good person, dear. I can feel it. Not just as a person but also as a respectable leader. There’s not many rebel leaders that are high bloods... many low bloods are often times skeptical. Again... I do not know what happened to you in the past, but I can sense immense hate for the person that put you through the pain and suffering you’re still going through. Even if it’s not physical but psychological. That I can understand... still... just... remember what I said. Don’t throw your life away, dear. I will say this, people on the side of evil... don’t get to live for very long. Eventually, karma will come. Death is very persistent on that notion.”
The indigo blood became quiet. Something that she hasn’t been for so long and she’s usually very chatty. Now though... Orelia is at a lost for words.
“Well, I should let you wake up.” The red blood says with a bright smile. “It’s a pleasure speaking with you, Orelia. I do hope I come across you one day in the real world. For now though, just remember my words.”
As Orelia closed her eyes and opens them, she was staring up at the ceiling of her room. Blinking a couple of times, being sure it was real, the indigo blood shot her body upwards, sitting herself up and looked around, reassuring her first confirmation but even noticed that her hand is trembling. The words that was told to her has been on repeat in her head since then and it still is as she just sat there. Alone. Causing her to rethink what she has been doing all this time.
