In a cave somewhere far away. . .
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*Asher(?) looked completely drained and void of emotion... their body is still surrounded by flames, waiting to sear anyone or anything that comes near. Which was why they had hidden in this place. The rocky walls of the cave had scratch and scorch marks in some places, while the ground — that was once full of forest floor moss — had been reduced to ashes. The flames fluctuated depending on their mood as they laid restlessly in the small enclosed space...*
Asher(?): ... How long are we going to stay here?
Asher(?): as long I want...
Asher(?): you’re not really thinking of going back when... whatever this is, dies down... do you? You really think they’ll have you back after everything we di-
Asher(?): Shut up!
*An explosion of purple flames its tour from the middle of their body! Bellowing out of the cave and scorching the ground and surrounding trees. The wildlife nearby scatter in a frenzy, their suprised and angry caws, chirps, and howls echo through the forest... the flames slowly reside as Asher(?) tries to once again get their breathing and emotions under control...*
Asher(?): ... Not so different from him now.
Asher(?): get to freaking point of what you’re trying to say!... I don’t have the energy for any of these... mind games!
Asher(?): What I mean is...
Asher(?): We’re not so different from the old man himself; what did you call him? “The Shadow Keeper”.~
Asher(?): ...
Asher(?): You know we were wondering how long we could keep this charade up... Lie about what really happened after you were replaced, what really happened in the beginning... You and him...
*The whispers in their mind start up again, with an intensity they hadn’t experienced over the past three days of isolation in the cave...*
Asher(?): Are one and the same.~
Asher(?): ...
Asher(?): You had one main mission... To collect as many “souls” as you could... in the end, you ended up betraying him. All because you got too close to those humans.~
Asher(?): ... T-that’s not true...!
Asher(?): you know it is... He erased your memories of him, so in case you got caught it wouldn’t lead back to him... All you had to do was lead those humans straight to him.~
Asher(?): Besides, you felt that pull at the fair... The feeling of being close to who you truly are...
Asher(?): Who... Who I truly am?...
Asher(?): Don’t we know?...
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Asher: ...I was always a shadow monster...
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Transmission complete!...
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