This thread was made to hold side stories that couldn't be immediately slotted in within πΈπ πΌπ§πππππ ππ₯ π₯ππ ππππππππ₯ βπππ, a pm story written in a sci-fi fantasy universe by @song and I. Each one of these posts are meant to build upon the backgrounds and histories of its diverse cast of characters as well as the lore of the galaxy and its resident species, cultures, and factions. As such, the timeline of these posts might not be particularly congruent as most of them are self-contained, but they all serve a purpose in detailing the canon, core memories of its characters.
Note to future self. Make cool ass gif for this thread.
I never thought that I'd miss the day we said goodbye.
Do you love me?
"I love you, Freyja..."
Oh, the lengths I'd go to keep you safe.
What I'd give to see you wake up again.
The God of promises was a deity of conviction. His blades and bullets acted as physical manifestations of his promise to the childhood best friend that rejected him. Try as he might to move on, Vyn still found himself caring about her. Rejection did not corrupt the happiness he felt during their good times together. Earthly distractions could do little to take away the pain he felt when he reminisced about the bad. He was forced to live with his history and instead of choosing to forget it, he incorporated it into his being and made it his strength. The blessing of divinity mattered not. It did not make him strong nor did it ensure his promises would be kept. Vyn saw holy power as a crutch for effort. Where he did pride himself however was in his diligence to uphold his own promises through the constant improvement and maintenance of his own abilities, regardless of however hard it could be. As a result, he was one of the few kami capable of fighting on the front lines.
"Is that all you got, you divine lapdog?" The enemy monk threw a flurry of strikes enchanted with mana, though none would land their mark. Parrying with his blade and dodging with his body, Vyn avoided the potential damage through the use of proper footwork and well-trained perception. After centuries of diligent study and practice, physically speaking, he was well beyond average for a kami. Many along his divine cohort would often joke that he was far more fitting to be an angel of combat than a god. However, despite his discipline with his body, he never skimped on his responsibilities. To the few that truly knew him, he was a touch above the rest. He had to be in order to uphold the promises he made as a child. Vyn was going to protect the people he loved no matter whether they felt the same back. "Your choice in words matches your skill in battle. Both are unrefined."
"Unrefined my ass. You're barely keeping up with me!" While Vyn might have taunted his enemy, he refused to underestimate his opponent. With both eyes, he recorded the pattern of his movements and attacks, creating a predictive model using what he learned over the course of his studies to determine the best course of action once his foe granted an opening. Remaining defensive and taunting him while he was responsive would open the monk to making mistakes, eventually leading to his demise. "Unlike you, I will uphold my promises regardless of who stands in my way..."
"And unfortunately for you, you stand against me."
"Blame the Goddess of luck for pitting you against me. Pray that she would grant you better odds in your next life."
"Tough words coming from someone who couldn't land a single stri-" Finally finding his moment, the duelist's fencing blade slipped from one hand to another, striking the monk's face before he could finish his next line. Even if he lacked the future-sight ability of his superior, he had the experience to understand when someone was growing comfortable with him. By believing that the god of commitment would fall under any particular fighting schema was to underestimate someone dangerous. It was here where he excelled. The lax reputation of the kami had served as a boon. "All I needed was one mistake to make you fall. I pray that whatever promises you've made were worth your sacrifice." Drawing his blade from between the monk's eyes, he closed his eyelids shut before muttering a quiet prayer. Vyn never took joy in taking the life of another. It was an unnecessary loss only made possible as the result of an imperfect world.
As he pulled away to wipe the blood from his blade, he thought to himself. If it were any other life, Vyn doubted he would have needed to strike his opponent down. Perhaps they could have been allies or friends. Maybe in another world, they could have been family. Behind every life stood a history of unconscious promises and behind every violent death existed a past full of broken oaths. It was hard to take pride when he knew he was the reason why fathers wouldn't be able to go home. He was the reason why mothers became widows and children became orphans. The only way to make up for being the reason behind those deaths was to have an oath that was worth beyond all that his victims could make. To that end, he held his childhood friend and his little sister above his regrets. Even if Juli would be at odds at times, by doing this, he hoped she would never find herself on the battlefield. By killing those who would disrupt the peace, Vyn hoped that Freyja would be able to wake up to a world of peace. It's the least he could do for the women that gave him strength.
"Bravo, Sigvyn. To think you were able to make it this far."
"But alas, this is where your story comes to its end."
"What do you mean, Lokir?" Vyn rose from the corpse and turned to his romantic companion. "Love, why are you here? Weren't you assigned to Rafaela's unit?" Ever since Freyja rejected him, while his heart stubbornly refused to let go, his mind had attempted to move on to other alternatives as a way to heal. While passing flings have left him empty, the one who was closest to filling the void was his boyfriend, Lokiir. However, upon looking up to him, he realized something was wrong. Lokir was meant to be stationed with the other angels. He was never meant to join the front lines alone with Vyn. "What are you-"
"Truly, you are a wonder to behold." Lokir drew a magical arrow from his quiver, loading his bow as he took in the strength of the wind. "If not for the value Ares placed on you, I would have made you mine. However..." Drawing his bow, he aimed it towards Vyn's head. "...There are some things worth more than you, my beloved prince. Thank you for being my sacrifice." Firing his arrow, it struck Vyn in the eye, the damage to his brain sending his body crashing down next to the corpse of his fallen foe. Tainted at the tip, whatever poisoned he used counteracted the healing properties of divinity. Once he saw his target drop, Lokir hilted his bow around his shoulder as he approached Vyn's body, taking a picture to send to the rival that took his best friend away. "Don't worry. You can rest in peace now. I will tell your friend and your sister that you died fighting valiantly." The arrow vanished, reappearing in Lokir's hand.
"Well, that is... If I choose to remember you in the first place."
I don't love you anymore.
"What do you mean? What did I do wrong? What did I do to deserve this?"
"Were these feelings a curse?" Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: Ιͺα΄ α΄Ι΄α΄Κα΄α΄ α΄Κα΄α΄α΄Ι΄Κα΄α΄Κα΄ | α΄α΄Κκ° β» β || β· βΊ
Waking up in a dream-like state, Vyn had found himself standing on a crimson beach lit by a sunset that remained still in the sky. He felt as though he existed within the frame of a painting, a character to be marveled at from a viewpoint he could never see. As he looked down at the dark tide, he felt a hand at his shoulder. "Now's not your time yet, Sigvyn." It was a new voice, one that sounded both alien yet recognizable at the same time. Turning around, he found his shadow standing beside him, refusing to leave him alone. While it might have appeared as a manifestation of dark energy, it felt familiar. This wasn't the first time he spoke to himself nor would it be the last either. However, to have his soul exist separate from his body was an experience he had yet to go through before now. "You still have promises you have left to keep. Responsibilities that you must uphold."
For the first time in his life, Vyn disagreed. Even at his most diligent, he kept running into failure and rejection. "Why me? Why couldn't there be someone else who's forced to take this fate? Why is it that, no matter how hard I try, it feels as though my passions always work against me." He lowered himself down onto the sand, taking in the cold sun's wavelengths as the water embraced his loose clothes. "Wouldn't it be better if you found someone else to torture? Someone tougher or better than I?..." He sighed, tired of it all. "Just leave me be. Grant me grace and let me find peace in death." Slowly, his shadow began to transform in front of him, shifting its outline towards that of what truly lies underneath the surface. "Oh... Its you. Of course it had to be you." In front of him stood the reaper of the kami, the feared primordial that brought the eternals their end. "So. Am I finally dead? The only times I see you around is beside the dead and dying... So, are you hear to reap me or are you going to torture me like they have?"
Sitting beside him, Revelations treated Sigvyn as a friend. He didn't greet him with his usual attitude or apathetic remarks. Instead, he offered Sigvyn a hand on the shoulder and a drink to share. Between them, a dark portal opened in the floor, revealing a cooler that came from his realm: Hades. "Vyn. I'm not here to reap your soul. You're too important to take away." His voice was seasoned with sympathy, aware that Vyn's soul was seeking reason. "I'm here to remind you of what you came so far for. You... Are my friend. You've upheld your promises to me. It's only right that I do the same for you." Tossing him a can to drink, Revelations had opened his own to drink alongside him. "You're not alone. These feelings you have, they make you strong."
"Then why does it hurt so bad, Revelations? What's the point in needless suffering?"
"Everything comes to an end, Vyn. Both good times and bad."
Revelations took a sip of his can, watching as black birds flew over the horizon. This was a part of his realm. While it might have signaled the end, it was a world that knew peace. It was a place where weary souls could find release from the stresses of the mortal coil, a resting place for all regardless of what good or evil one has committed in their lifetime. "All things that choose to exist have an expiration date. I'm here to make sure that the end comes at the right time. Not before and not after." He turned to his drinking partner. "And I believe that your war will soon come to an end. You will know peace, Vyn. I will make sure of it."
For a moment, the two gazed at the sunset in the silence. Sigvyn's mind was preoccupied with all that came before. He lived with purpose from childhood to the present. Even through his betrayal, his heart remained resolute in its convictions to Juli and Freyja. Now that Lokir had shown his true colors, his pact with his ex lover was broken. Gone was the trust that took eons to develop. Revelations was right. All things do come to an end. "It would be wise for you to remember."
"Every new beginning comes from another beginning's end."
"I believe your life has just started, hasn't it?" Revelations could tell the difference in his eye. While the other was made blind as the result of his injury, the near fatal wound was enough to rattle the kami's heart. "You've realized what matters to you. What promises are worth fulfilling and which ones are not." Finding their time soon coming to an end, he closed his cooler. There was little point in wasting time now that his message was delivered. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the skies revealed the stars above. In darkness came light. From the end came new beginnings. After watching many succumb to finality, willingly or not, the reaper learned what being alive truly meant. While the message would always differ between souls, the theme was always the same. "Life's too short not to pursue what we wish for ourselves.Everything else is just a meaningless distraction."
Sigvyn finished his drink. It was much more flavorful than anything he could have imagined heaven being capable of. Revelations had granted him a mercy he rarely did with anyone else. It was a sign of respect, a thank you for all he did for the reaper in the past. "You know, I find that you and I are quite alike, Sigvyn." Rev lifted himself from the sand, reaching out to pull his friend to his feet. "People fear us. They are scared of what we exhibit. Yet, through us, they find strength. Through us, they find peace." Tapping his body to seal his wounds, the reaper left his mark on his eye, granting the kami his blessing. "Don't doubt your worth. No matter what anyone else says, you are worthy of love." As Rev faded away, the world around Vyn had blurred. Thankful for their time together, Vyn nodded his head in agreement with his words. His feelings were beginning to return to him.
"Thank you for the kindness, Rev."
"Thank you for giving me a second chance."
"I promise I'll never leave you alone. Not for as long as I live."
"Took you long enough to wake up. Whoever fucking poisoned you must really hate you."
"But I'll pray for you all the time, if I could be by your side.
I'll give you all my life, my seasons." Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: κ±α΄α΄κ±α΄Ι΄κ± | α΄‘α΄α΄ α΄ α΄α΄ α΄α΄Κα΄Κ β» β || β· βΊ
"Honestly, Lance. You should really give the contest a try. I think you'd have a great shot at it."
"But... I don't have a band."
Relaxing in the quiet that came during Midnight's Rider's lockdown, while Fate and Io were out and about taking part in the convention, Lance and Able were spending time together with Veil over drinks at the bar. It was an evening to themselves, a moment in time where they could listen to Lance's music. "Besides, everyone there is competing for a contract with a label. It's only going to be the best of the best." The pianist struggled with his anxieties, nervous that his music won't find its audience. He remembered the first time he played for a small crowd that cared little. Their silence was deafening, though he tried his best regardless to focus on his own music. While he had grown comfortable performing in front of small crowds and familiar faces, it was another thing entirely to perform in front of crowded arenas and massive theaters like she did.
"And? So what? Fuck those guys." Able scoffed, not giving his anxiety a chance to root itself within his friend's psyche. "You're here to play, ain't ya? Fucking play. Don't worry about how good other people are at performing or what the crowd would think of you. You could make music. I know you can." The demon placed a hand on Lance's shoulder. "So make music." While he might have held disdain for most strangers, to his family, Able was supportive. He held confidence in Lance's musical abilities, well aware of just how beautiful his sound truly was. "Didn't you say something to Jin the other day about that yourself? That everyone has a song? That includes you too dummy. All you gotta do is perform it."
Veil took a sip of his glass before speaking up, agreeing with Able's thoughts. While Lance's voice and melody were both quiet, combined, he had a sound that could move sirens. "Able's right, Lance. Don't sell yourself short." Looking down into what remained of his drink, he stared at his own reflection. "I've seen and met countless musicians from across the galaxy working for Rana and her family. Musicians from all over, different types, different species, different genres, you name it." He recalled his youth when he would travel around a lot more, protecting Rana as a child while her parents cut deals with various others. "And you know what I found out about them all?"
"You could tell when someone isn't feeling their music, when their songs aren't genuine, or when their sounds are fake for the sake of clout." He lifted his eyes towards the shark, offering his gratitude for all the work he put in off hours as well. "And I don't see any of that with you. You really look and sound like this means a lot to you. Regardless of how other people feel about it, this sound is yours. Treat it like it is and be proud that you were able to discover it." Placing his hands on his own chest, his fingers stroked the mark of his master's brand on his body.
"It took me losing Rana once to discover my own voice."
"And not everyone is fortunate enough to find their own in their lifetime."
Veil hinted at Lance's discovery of his purpose. In the war-torn galaxy recovering from its massive conflict, many among the stars were more focused on their own survival instead of their desire to thrive and pursue their dreams. Their circumstances forced them into acts of desperation, as a result, many artists sought fame and fortune through their works rather than doing it out of a passion to create. For Veil, being around Rana's parents had led him to scenes void of happiness and hope. It was easier to manipulate those who had not than those who had enough. By using their needs as a tool and even driving it up artificially at times, they secured leads where they had none before. It was a terrible tactic, but he understood. However, while he assisted them, he found few people that stood out in his journeys. Those who were able to live beyond that of necessity in even the most dire of straits which never left his mind.
"Honestly, I think you should share what you have here even if you'd think you'd lose. Your honest feelings are much more potent than you realize, Lance. They are what make your music your own. Combined with your talent behind the piano, I'd say its more than enough to gain an audience." Veil held his glass up to Lance, offering him a toast. Pausing in his performance for just a moment, he clinked the glass he had above his grand piano against his drinking partners. "Thank you guys. I guess... It wouldn't be so bad to give it a shot." The shark's tail waved as he scratched behind his head, embarrassed at their genuine compliments. "But what about the band? I can't join in by myself."
Smirking, Able used his magic to summon his demonic guitar to his side. "What do you mean? You live with one!" His hands began to follow after Lance's notes, playing his music as though it was the product of an alt-metal artist. "I could play electric and Tai could play piano also, but he could be a great lead singer or backup. If you haven't heard that fairy sing, you gotta. Swear that fucker is cheating magically." The demon gave a hearty laugh, before returning back on topic. "All we need is a bassist and a drummer and that should be more than enough." Veil nodded his head. "Well, we're in Noctua. It's likely that the campus has some drummers and bassists that are looking for a band themselves. How about, once this lockdown ends, we both help you with finding people to fill out the rest of your band? What do you say?"
"You'll both do that for me? But... I wasn't hired to do that."
"Of course you idiot. The moment you got recruited here by Io, you became a part of our family."
Lance hugged both of his friends. For the longest time, his journey to becoming a musician he could be proud about was a lonely one. After Tsuna left and his job was lost, he suffered to make ends meet while performing for those gracious enough to listen. Though he made a few friends in his travels as he hitchhiked from one station to another on the way to Noctua with nothing more than his magical keyboard and the clothes on his back, they were only passing faces in the moment, doing the bare minimum to have him perform. To have his new workplace and his new friends suddenly go above and beyond for him had nearly brought him to tears. "Thank you... Thank you so much. This really means a lot to me."
"Yeah, yeah. We're heroes and all." Able smirked, gently punching Lance in the shoulder. "Save the gratitude and groveling for after we win, got it? I want you to sign my shirt before you get famous." He snickered, before hugging back just as hard. "We're here for you, alright? I'm not gonna let some fuckfaces who know how to play a note fuck with you without going through me first."
"We're not going to leave your side, Lance. You're just a part of this home as we all are." Veil knew of Rana's excitement when it came to their newest hire. She gushed about him when they were alone, bringing up how fascinating it was to have someone so normal within their midst. By being ordinary, to the others, Lance was extraordinary. By being himself, the shark had won them over. "We handle these things together as a family... And I'm not going to let you prove Rana wrong with who she put her faith into." He smiled, well aware of everything the girls gushed about him during their girls night out. "But I do have a question, why do you play the same song? I hear you often singing the same lyrics over and over again. Not that it's bad, it's beautiful. It makes me wonder why you would continue to practice it when you're already so good at it."
"Because it reminds me of the people I decided to take up piano for." The source of his creativity. His muse.
Relaxing once her image revisited his mind, Lance spoke calmly. "I learned how to play for the most beautiful girl in the galaxy. If you heard her voice, maybe you'd even agree with me." He closed his eyes, remembering every inch of her smile. He recalled the feeling of her cool hugs and the sounds of her lovely whispers. "To be byher side again, I'd give her all my life. All my seasons. It's a song I've made for her even if... I was never meant to share a future with her in the first place."
His eyes did not cry nor did they stir. Lance has seen her image with comfort, caring little of their current distance apart. "I was lucky enough to be hired by her parents to watch over her... And I can't imagine anywhere else where I was happier. I hope that one day, I could become a musician that's good enough to play alongside her again. I hope I could be someone she could be proud to have met." The two boys remained quiet as they listened to him speak. His heart was open, overflowing with its pent up emotions. "And I learned how to play because it's what my father would have wanted for me." Lance continued sharing more of his reasons why.
"He was my hero."
"If he was still around, I think he would be smiling. Maybe his soul is still listening to me."
Oh, the lengths I will go to keep you safe. What I'd give to see you wake up again, Freyja.
Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: κ±α΄. α΄ΚΚα΄α΄α΄| α΄ΚΚα΄Κ, α΄Κα΄ α΄Κα΄α΄α΄α΄Κ β» β || β· βΊ
Can you feel the light inside?
Can you feel that fire?
Oh, fire, fire
"Is that all you got, Vyn?"
"Was this all your love for Freyja worth?"
Okay, I am just a box with the light of thunder in me
Gratitude sit under the hubris that's on my sleeve
"I never knew you were this weak. Maybe I should add your sister to my harem of trophy wives next if I knew it were this easy." The god of war taunted Vyn as he crawled from the ground, angering him further so he could duel the god of conviction at his best. There was something raw about beating someone who felt just in their cause, even if they were weaker. "Get up. I'm not finished with you yet." Ares waved towards Vyn, gesturing to him to continue fighting. "Unless, you're willingly sacrificing your beloved and your family for your life. Then fine. Run. Flee. Escape from your fate and leave them to someone who could breed them properly. I doubt your pitiful convictions mean much anyways."
"What's the use of a promise if you're not strong enough to keep it."
"You wallow in shame attempting to be something you're not." Lightning irradiated from Ares' spear's tip, threatening Vyn with another painful dose of reality. After getting struck with it several times over the course of a few minutes, he was wary of its sting. Ares knew he had a blind spot. His gamble using Lokir against him had proven worthwhile. Even if the god he recruited to betray Vyn had failed in his murder, it was more than enough to weaken the god who could prove a match to the forgotten king. Ares was not going to fight this god fair. If he was going to maintain his perfect record, he had to use Vyn's honest nature to his advantage. "Learn your place lesser god. You will not beat me, nor will you ever defeat me." Standing in between him and the castle that held his sleeping goddess, Vyn rose to a knee. "You're a stain on your father's legacy. The god of hope will see you as a disgrace to his name."
"Do us both a favor and turn around. The only thing waiting for you ahead is a painful death with no afterlife."
"That I can promise you." While the winds of heaven had blown strongly across the battlefield as the result of a passing storm, Ares stood steadfast, unwavering in his stance. He was a weapon befitting the title of the god of Raf, the king of violence, and the warrior god. He was powerful, getting stronger with every prayer made by a soul wishing for his favor before battle. With the reunification wars happening so recently, many became converted to his cause. He was invincible, even by divine means. Knowing his resilience against nearly all forms of damage, Vyn was well aware of the contrast in power. They were realms apart in strength, yet despite this gap between them, his promise kept his feet pointed towards Freyja's castle, unwilling to stray in their direction. Until death was ready to take him, his convictions would keep lifting him off the ground of which he was sent down repeatedly.
"Still willing to fight? Either your brave or foolish, Sigvyn. Though your wounds suggest the latter."
"Freyja and Juli deserve better than you. I'm not going to let you touch them."
I don't, like the, way that this is lookin' Mirror got me, thinkin' about my bookend
I just need this time to myself to figure me out-out Do I keep the light on or do I gracefully bow out?
"What did you say?!" Keeping his hand on his blade to approach his opponent with a combative stance, Vyn kept up appearances while holding himself off from revealing his trump card. Even though it was a blow to his pride to be willing to resort to such a human tactic, if it was necessary to keep his promise, he would do anything. To be considered an oathbreaker was unacceptable. He would rather succumb to a fate where he would lose his divinity for forsaking his divine right than fail in his promise to the two he loved most. "You heard me." Pulling off his mask to spit blood in Ares' direction, Vyn aimed to disrespect him. A wound to any god's pride would cease their thinking. If he became predictable, they would be able to coordinate a plan.
"You're a failure of a lover, a friend, and a God, Ares."
"What true warrior god would seek to use underhanded tactics such as bribing one's lover for the sake of killing them?" Attacking Ares' warrior pride, Vyn's eyes were drawn to the sudden surge of lightning. His words were getting to him, as much as Ares attempted to hide his true feelings behind his helmet. "You wound me. Why wouldn't you fight your own battles? If you had such a problem with me, take care of it yourself. Wasn't that one of your core tenets? Why subject your followers to a rule if you can't follow that rule yourself?"
Sensing lightning coming from above, Vyn sidestepped the strike. Ares' anger was intense enough to see in advance. "To think, even I would need to teach you a lesson on following your own commitments. A warrior would never cease in their purpose. If you wish to serve as a proper example, do so." Vyn drew his blade, revealing human handiwork. "My followers worship me obediently because I do. If this is the example you set for your people, your followers are nothing more than a band of unruly marauders."
Ares threw himself at Vyn, colliding his spear with Vyn's blade. "Talking tough for a dead kami." He cursed, using his overbearing strength to force his own blade back against him. "So you'd choose to break the rules of heaven and use the devil's lesser handiwork for what? For something as foolish as love? Cynical. You forsake your oath to heaven. If I won't serve as your end, then heaven's court will."
"So be it. I will sacrifice everything that makes me who I am if it means, Freyja and Juli will be free of you." Finally seeing an opportunity, Vyn pulled the trigger on the blade, sending a surge of blue energy towards Ares' helmet. It shot fast, echoing across the heavens. Even if Ares managed to dodge the attack, his face was scarred by human technology. Finally revealing his hand, a portal opened up from behind Ares. "Oh... So you're the fucker who put Raf and Gabriel together. Wow, you look uglier than I thought in person." The human hero had made his presence known.
Him. The terrorist of Heaven had breached Heaven's Gate.
"Like my personal touch on your face? Think of it as revenge for getting your dog to mark mine."
The petty hero wasn't over Gabriel's branding of the roman numeral III on his cheek. While forced apart from Rafaela, he made the most of his time being a thorn in the kami's side. However, it was surprising to the warrior god to see Vyn be the one to introduce heaven's greatest enemy into their realm. It was meant to be their only safe haven from the most menacing of humans. To have him there was to see the god of commitment commit to the ultimate sin. "I told you before, Ares. I'm not going to let you touch them."
"Some promises mean more than others. To those that mean the most to me, I'm willing to forsake anything..."
"...Even Heaven itself."
Hidden underneath his armor on a chain bound around his neck was the cure to Freyja's illness. It was a human invention created by Sen himself. In exchange for working with Sen at a chance at revenge against one of the main gods who caused his torture, the human hero promised to create the remedy to her eternal sleep. Both had seen value in each other's words and acts, leading to a formidable pact to be created between two unalike species. "Vyn. Get going. I'll handle this fuck for as long as I can and inflict as much damage as I could." Sen turned on a bubble shield resistant to electric magic as well as divine energy. Looking at his watch, he noted the time counting down before another portal was to draw him back out. "Save your girl with the time you have left. She's gonna miss you and I don't want you to leave without being able to tell her goodbye. Trust me. You'll regret it." Seeing himself in Vyn, he offered the god his finest regards before turning back to Ares. "This is for Raf, you conniving divine bitch."
Taking off with his wings, Vyn rushed towards her keep, flying as fast as he could despite the impending collision with her wooden windows. He knew it was only a matter of time before Heaven found out about his sins against the kami and casted its judgment on him. Even with the human hero's help, he had a few minutes left. As such, he was going to make the most of it.
Breaking through her window into her bedroom, Vyn collided with the wooden floor covered in splinters. "Shit..." The many wounds Ares inflicted on his body had made it difficult for him to land with grace. Though with the time component in mind, he didn't have a moment to waste to reel in pain. His adrenaline was more than enough to serve as a worthy painkiller while blood dripped on the floor behind him. Approaching her sleeping body, the wounded god reached into his armor to draw the flash that held her healing solution. "Forgive me if the taste isn't to your liking." Unscrewing the cap, he carefully held her mouth open as he spilled the medicine down her lips. "There." He sighed in relief, before sitting on the bed beside her.
As the medicine made its way through her body, it rejuvenated her with energy that was beyond cosmic. Aether had flowed through her veins for a moment, giving her body a cyan glow for a short moment before it ended. Seeing her eyes move underneath her eyelids, her past lover and best friend reached towards her right hand and held it with both of his. "Good morning Freyja. Welcome back." His blood ran down her skin as he held her. "I don't have much time left in this world before I'm banished, but I wanted to tell you that I missed you and that I love you."
Watching his body glow, he knew that the greater kami of order were beginning to track his location. He was discovered to have broken one of the testaments of Heaven. "I cut a deal with a human in exchange for your mind to return to your body, and I'm so happy it worked." The clouds below them rumbled as Ares and Sen fought nearby. "Promise me to take care of Juli for me in my absence. She deserves someone she could trust... And I trust you." Looking into the eyes of the kami who taught him passion, he withdrew the necklace that her medicine was attached to and wrapped it around her neck. "Keep her and yourself safe from Ares for me, alright?" Seeing his own body become translucent as the kami had prepared to banish him for his misdeeds, he brought his face close to offer her his last regards. His eyes were shining, watery from the tears he held back to avoid wasting time. It was clear that he was at his most genuine, acting on the passion she instilled in him so long ago. Hugging her and closing his eyes, he pressed his head against her own like they used to when they were kids.
"You don't have to love me. I don't expect you to, nor do I need you to."
"But I love you. That's my truth. Take care of yourself, Freyja. Goodbye."
In a flash of light, he disappeared. The god who became her best friend; The god who learned how to love and was rejected by her; The god who managed to keep his promise of coming back to her after the war ended was gone. Left behind was his necklace, made using the vines and flowers of the forest they called home. It was a birthday gift that reached its heartfelt recipient.
Can you feel the light inside?
Can you feel that fire?
Amnesia - a partial or total loss of memory. Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: κ±Κα΄α΄‘ α΄α΄ α΄Κα΄ κ±α΄Κ. κ±Κα΄α΄‘ α΄α΄ Κα΄α΄‘ α΄α΄ ΚΙͺα΄ α΄| α΄α΄’α΄ΚΙͺ β» β || β· βΊ
"Hey Vio, you ever wonder what the heavens are like? I heard it's wonderful."
"Calli, paradise is where you are. I'd rather spend an eternity with you than anywhere else."
"Everything else doesn't matter to me." As the two watched the sun dip below the horizon, Calliope, Vio's adopted, had struck conversation to idle away their time together. Hidden from their responsibilities to their recovering village, the pair relaxed in a field of tall grass free from the ruined skyscrapers that would ordinarily pollute their view of the sky back home, enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze and bathing in the afterglow of the sunset. It was here where they found their little slice of heaven, the only piece of the galaxy they felt like they could call their own. "I'd hold time if I could." He smiled, stroking the natural debris that collected on her strands. "For you, I'd reach out and hold the sun still so I could enjoy this sunset with you forever."
"But Vio, don't you ever think about the galaxy out there? I'm sure there are worlds that beat ours!" Calli eyes were starstruck, watching as the clouds parted to reveal all that the sun above failed to mask. To the girl that had yet to see space herself, there was a universe out there full of opportunity and adventure. Behind every star and station above was another memory waiting for them to make. Free from the fears of being in a galaxy at war, her innocent and naive eyes were full of hope. "I can't wait til I learn how to fly so I could take you everywhere." She responded to his head pat by grabbing his hand, massaging it with both of her own and squeezing it to remind him that she was there. "Maybe if I showed you that the galaxy isn't such a scary place, you won't be scared anymore."
Shaking his head, her guardian appeared content with the life they led here. "I don't think there's anything left out there for me, Calli. I apologize if that's not what you want to hear, but this is my home now." While it may have been a barren planet once reputed to be the capital world of humanity, he didn't feel at fear here. His world's soft and gentle weather that knew no natural catastrophe, while boring, had given him a sense of peace. He didn't have to worry about some alien species harboring hatred over him for things well beyond his control nor did he have to concern himself with the dramatic politics that came with being human. Here, he was free to be who he is without consequence. Here, he wouldn't be punished for how he felt or how he acted. Here, with Calli, he felt like he had all he needed. He had a purpose. He had a home. He had safety.
While the kami might have stripped his mind of its memories, forcing him to live as one of the people he crafted a deal with, Vio's soul did not forget what he lost. Hidden in dreams and revealed in nightmares, he saw their faces. He heard their voices. He knew their names. Though, whenever he would seek to remedy his mind, the people who meant the most to him were always out of reach. This was his divine punishment, to relive his memory in his sleep only to forget them once again. If the galaxy could force him to succumb to a fate like this one, then it was not a place worth exploring. At least, he wouldn't have any more nightmares if he chose to dwell here, or so he believed. "I don't need to know what the stars have to offer me when I already have enough." His voice appeared strained this time.
"But maybe you could find someone nice too." "Someone like the nice lady you keep calling when you're sleeping."
"W-what are you talking about?" Vio was confused. "Are you talking about the village elder? I get it if I say her name sometimes when I sleep but-" Calli shook her head. "Freyja. I hear you mumble sometimes about her. You talk to her lots when you're sleeping. Who is she?" His eyes had glowed faintly for the moment. "I'm afraid, I don't who you're talking about, Calli." As he searched his mind for that name, all he could come up with was blanks. "Then why are you crying, Vio? Don't tell me you're hiding something from me! Its not nice if you are! You told me you'd always tell the truth! You promised!"
"I promise I'm not. I just..." Her guardian reached towards his cheek, feeling tears drop outside of his intention. "... Maybe its just allergies. Don't worry about it okay?" His heart sunk. Try as he might to learn magic that could aid him in his sleep, the dreams had always came back to him in full clarity. No drug, spell, nor prayer had seemed to make his pain go away. The only solace he found was that, when he would awake, he wouldn't remember. "I'm sorry if you got the wrong impression of me, but it's not what it looks like."
"I never met a Freyja..."
"...I'd be lying if I told you I did."
Violyn's eyes spoke with conviction. His voice was unfettered by the masking of his honesty. This was what he truly believed. "The only Freyja I know of is the god that the demons and angels worship, the Goddess of Passion and Fertility. I don't think it's her who you're talking about." Sitting himself up, he scooched over to Calli's side, finally seeing the sun give way to the stars himself. Rising above the horizon was the sight of the frost moon, the blue orb in which many frost demons had pledged allegiance to. "Besides, I doubt she'd take an interest in someone like me anyways." The mere thought of a kami being so absorbed in an ordinary mortal's affairs was an alien idea. If a kami were ever to greet him in person, he presumed it would be to bring upon the apocalypse, let alone for any other much more cordial reason. "She'd have much more pressing things to worry about."
With the stars above, he knew that their time alone was up. It would be soon that their village elder would signal in the sky for their return and he would be damned if he came back empty handed. "Now come on, Calli. Let's grab something before we go home. Unless, you're interested in getting yelled at, that is." Her guardian extended a hand down to pull her, picking her up from her rest. "Aww... Already? Fine." She grumbled, stretching her limbs. However, before she could gather her bearings, she noticed that the sky they had grown accustomed to had a few new stars which were growing evermore brighter. "Vio? What's that?" Sensing impending dread, immediately Vio grabbed her to shield her with his body. "Calli!" The strange stars above had sparked with flame, breaking through the atmosphere of the planet. Whatever was coming was going to land near them. Throwing the both of them into the ground, he reduced their exposed surface, only to be met with an explosion that rocked the ground nearby them.
Divine Comets. They were the sign of arriving paladins.
Heaven's Anointed Enforcers.
To humanity, the paladins weren't a fond sight. Even though they held humans within their ranks, their main purpose was to serve as the will of the Divine, regardless of if that same will worked to the detriment of the progress of their own species. Once their deployment pod had crashed-landed on the human planet, a squad made up of the non-angelic vanguard had made their presence known. With a sudden burst of air that came with the opening of their door, a team of paladins were met with the sight of two humans, one covered in scrapes and debris from their pod's sudden impact. "Halt! Lest you want the kami to judge the fate of your soul." It appeared that even now, Vio was not offered the mercy of peace. His punishment was to be served in full despite whatever life he led.
"Great. Out of all the times they had to come..." He cursed his fate, being careful not to speak too harshly to avoid inducing anxiety in his adopted or anger in the strangers too soon. "Lay low and stay here okay? I'll make sure you get out of this safe." Lifting himself off the ground, Vio approached the paladins as they drew their rifles and blades his way. "Relax. I'm not here to fight needlessly. What do you want?"
Upon seeing him unarmed, the paladins began to approach. The wolf leader of the small team walked in front of their pack. "By decree of the god Ares himself, this planet and all who inhabit it are now considered under the dominion of Heaven." Believing himself to be superior to the human, the wolf licked his lips as he gazed over the pair. "And you and your friend there look like a delicious offering. You're under arrest for obstructing the will of the divine." Turning to his companions, he gave a tilt of his head, causing one of them to draw two pairs of cuffs. "Capture them but don't hurt them. I want to have my taste before anyone else does." As the paladins approached, a shaft of light materialized at Vio's fingertips, forging a spear of light and thunder.
"Don't you fucking dare take one step closer."
"I promise you, it'll be the last step you take."
Chemical The President of the Gaming Club
#d36563
Are we still friends? Was it my fault? Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: α΄Κα΄ α΄‘α΄ κ±α΄ΙͺΚΚ κ°ΚΙͺα΄Ι΄α΄ κ±? | α΄ΚΚα΄Κ, α΄Κα΄ α΄Κα΄α΄α΄α΄Κ β» β || β· βΊ
Please leave a message after the tone.
"Chem, she's not gonna pick up."
Resting his head on the desk in his bedroom, the incubi president of Noctua's gaming club gave an exhausted sigh. With his phone on speaker relaying the result of his call to his closest companions beside him, all they could do was offer their sympathies and advice to help him move on. "I don't see why you're that into her anyways. I'm sure you know the main reason why she joined the gaming club in the first place... Like most of the girls and guys who choose to sign up, right? Your club's reputation for being THE place where you could find others down-to-fuck isn't based on a lie you know?" Sitting on the desktop beside him was his sister, Azure, the succubi, kickboxing champion known for being down to earth with those around her.
She shook her head, watching as a pool of dark tears drenched the surface of her brother's dark-wooden desktop. "Just be happy that you didn't get too involved with her before she showed her true colors. Besides, you gotta have higher standards for yourself." She patted him on the head, reassuring him of his value. "You're not as bad as you think, Chem. Trust me. There are wayyy worse guys than you.If she wants to be with multiple incubi, so be it. Good for her, but that's not what you're looking for! You told her what you wanted before getting into a relationship with her and she agreed to your terms."
"If she's so selfish that she'd cross your boundaries and she can't recognize what you want, she ain't someone worth crying over."
"All she did was prove that she can't make you happy. No one who truly loves you would leave you like this."
"Zure's right, dummy." His club's sleep-paralysis demon vice-president placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on now. Let's get you outta here before you start trying to call her again." Falling victim to cheating himself, he understood well what his best friend's heart was going through. It was unfair, but it was reality. The faster he could help Chemical move on, the better it would be for everyone around him, especially those within the gaming club who stayed true to its original tenets. "Maybe it's for the best that she didn't pick up anyways. I wouldn't want you hearing some other incubi's voice come from the other end of the line."
Try as Nox might to convince his best friend to get up, he couldn't. The fire Chem wielded in front of others which inspired a desire to chase their passion had dimmed after finding out about his partner's infidelity. "But... She was one of my closest friends... Nearly as close as you guys are to me. If it wasn't for all of that... She would have been a part of us. Are we still friends even if it doesn't work out?... Would she still like me if I told her I don't want this?" HIs own self doubt had tarnished his confidence, draining him of his energy and satisfaction with himself. "Was it all my fault? Should I have been better?" He buried his head deeper into his arms, keeping his head away from the light of the moon. He didn't want the dark lords which guided the stars to see him at his most shameful. "I just... I wanted someone to call my own. A best friend that I could love and make happy. Was that too much to ask for?"
Extending his arm forward, Chem reached towards his half empty bottle to take another sip, knocking it down and spilling its contents on the floor. "Shit." He wasted his primary method at dulling the pain. "I'm pathetic, aren't I? For asking way too much of her." Lifting his head, he banged his forehead back down on his desk as punishment for his sorry state. Though, as much as he might have given up on himself, his two companions did not. Azure and Nox turned to each other, silently nodding their heads as if they both agreed on a plan before picking up Chem from his broken-hearted stupor.
"Hey! What are you guys doing?!"
"What does it look like?We're getting you out of here. Duh."
Each of them were much stronger than the incubi. Combined, Chem stood no chance at resisting their control of his body. He was at the whims of their brightest intentions, both eager to help him out with getting over his loss. "We're gonna get you out of here so you could cry your heart out with a full stomach. Come on, stop fighting already." Helping Azure deal with her resisting brother, Nox grabbed his legs while she slung him over her shoulder. "Maybe we could find you some nice lapin girl or girl bot along the way too. Aren't those your types?" With Chem's body suspended over the ground, his mind wasn't able to focus on hanging in depression. "Az! Let me go!" He bickered, fruitlessly struggling against her muscles. "I'm not gonna be able to move on if you drag me with you! Besides! I'm not even hungry and I'm not in the mood to meet anyone ne-" Getting pissed, she squeezed him between her forearm and her shoulder. "ACH!"
"Then I'm starving and I'm taking you with me whether you like it or not. Nox, you in?" The shadow demon nodded his head, grabbing Chem's phone to take with him. "Hell yeah, let's bounce." He ran over to her side, patting the back of Chem's calves. "Relax, Chem. Don't think we're just gonna go to the closest Maccas again. I found someplace wayyy better. You might like it a lot too."
Using Chem's phone to grab the directions, he tossed it over to Azure to catch with her open hand. "What's this? A cafe?" She tilted her head, curious about the recommendation. "It was a high rated one run by a few heroes apparently. Heard that there was a bougie arcade and a really good bar installed on it too." He gave a smug grin, proud of his own discovery. "Like hell I'm gonna miss out on eating at someplace like that. Come on, Chem. Cheer up. If you gotta drown your sorrows, do it at a place that'll serve you much better drinks than here." He reached towards the spilled bottle, noting the brand. "I'm sure, everything they have on sale beats Slam. Gosh. Slam? Really Chem?" Nox spoke with sympathy and understanding, more wary of Chem's feelings than his sister was. "Drinks are on me, okay? I'll cover all of us. At least, we could enjoy our time and hang out like we used to, right?"
"This place looks better than the shitholes we usually hang out at. Good shit, Nox!" Azure gave him a fist bump. "A sparring gym too? I wonder if they host events. Maybe I could use it as an excuse to see all the high tech shit they got on board... You think I could beat one of the heroes in a sparring match?" With their plans set in motion, they closed the door to their apartment behind them. The three were childhood friends that went way back together. First meeting each other in an elementary school in Hell, ever since, they've grown inseparable. Even after their parents passed away, they found family in each other. For them, Noctua was just another chapter in their life to experience together, both the good and the bad. "You fucking wish. My money's on the heroes but... I don't think that'll stop you from trying." Despite his heart being blown out, Chem couldn't deny that he wasn't alone. Even at his lowest, he was still a part of a family who deeply cared for him. Muttering under his facemask to avoid stroking their egos, he shed a tear before relenting in his struggle against his sister's grip.
'... Thanks guys. I don't know what I'd be without you.'
With the Reunification Wars now coming to an end and most of the stars within the galaxy now aligned with the empress' vision, the orca pirate had leaned on a guard rail gazing at the skies above, taking a smoke break away from her crew. Without the rain of artificial thunder booming over the atmosphere, the galaxy at peace was able to display its beauty in all of its magnificence. Back when she was nothing more than a child with a wanderlust for the stars, she remembered how much her mother would talk of all the constellations that decorated the skies over their home planet. Behind every star pattern were many worlds far different from her own, each brimming with life of all kinds never before seen nor imagined by the curious child.
"She would have killed to see a sight like this one." Akua muttered to herself, taking another puff of her e-cig. Her mother was the one who taught the young orca how to dream big. As a single mother who tried her best to fulfill the role of two parents, she hoped to instill a sense of ambition by teaching her about how vast the skies would be to potentially inspire a thirst for exploration. Though, Akua doubted that she would have entertained the idea of the person who she chose to become. Inspired by Levy, Rio, and Sen, Akua chose to live a life of no regrets, pursuing happiness and fulfillment with aggression; Even dueling and winning against many she shouldn't have been fighting in the first place. "But it's not like she'd miss me anyways."
Before Akua left her home to sign up for the imperial navy, she remembered the argument that two got into. It was over something petty like finding someone meant for her. While she understood where her mother was coming from when bringing up her criteria for a partner, Akua didn't want anyone else to dictate her fate at the time. She was rebellious. In that pursuit of wishing to choose her own destiny, she unfortunately hurt the woman who meant the most to her. Sighing at her own regrets, she took another puff to take the edge off. "Maybe she'd forgive me if I came back and apologized. Oh, who am I kidding, I'm a fucking wreck."
"Apologize to who?" The sound of her boss' voice surprised the orca. "Gah, what the fuck!" Drawing her pistol towards the sound, she saw Levy's eyes and dorky smile illuminate from her shadow. Gasping to recollect her breath, Akua hilted her weapon before placing a hand on the guard rail. "Mother of kami, Levs. You gotta calm down with that. Someone else might blast you!... Again." Dressed as a gothic lolita with a pirate hat, Levy hopped out of her shadow. She cared little for the thoughts and opinions of others. Out of everyone else in the navy, both hero and otherwise, she was arguably the happiest. "But whyyy? I like surprising you, Akua! Think of me like a gift!" The ghostly doll hopped onto the guard rail, balancing on its edge as though it was a tightrope. "Besides, I like your shadow anyways! It's really cozy in there, you know? A lot warmer than Mr. Grumpypants and Timmy!"
Akua turned away to avoid revealing weakness to her captain through her glimmering eyes. Holding back a tear, she sniffed the tides of her salt back to avoid them breaching her barrier. The orca hated feeling so vulnerable in public, especially in front of someone she respected. However, she wasn't the type to lie either. There was strength in honesty. For the pirate, it was a tenet of her warrior code. "Sometimes I think about her whenever I look at the stars like this. Makes me wonder whether we're sharing the same sky."
To avoid ever hurting anyone the same way she did her mom, Akua aspired to live and act out the genuine feelings of her heart. Taking no moment again for granted, she became the face of her crew, someone that Levy could trust as her second-in-command. "I've heard that she got hurt in a fall while I was gone. Lost her ability to move. I send her money to take care of the bills and all, but even then... I really hate the feeling of disappointing her by being me, you know?" Her tone dropped further, the more she thought about her. It was clear that this was one of the orca's biggest insecurities. "I'm far from perfect. Every time I think of her, I keep thinking of how far away I've strayed from what she expected."
Levy was quick to note the change from her typical demeanor. In front of others, Akua was a soldier who did nothing but smile or get pissed. To see her so vulnerable, sharing the truth that she was sad over nostalgia; It was enough to make the undead heroine serious, even if it was just for the moment. "I don't think you've disappointed her, Akua. Didn't you say that this was a sight she would have killed for?" Levy looked up at the passing of a massive star, shining brighter than the moon of their planet. "Well... Yeah." Placing a hand on the orca's shoulder, the haunted doll pulled her into a hug and patted her on her back.
Akua stared down into her commander's eyes, curious as to what is motivating these kind words. She was known for her pranks. "Don't... Fuck with me right now, alright? Now's not the time." Shaking her head and refusing Akua's assumption, Levy reaffirmed her stance. "I'm not." Her eyes traced over Akua's scars, well aware of all she gave to help this planet find peace. "You've brought her a world where she could live in peace. Can't you see that? Take a look around you." Nearby, the orca found parents walking with their children past craters in the ground. With lanterns held tightly in their little hands, she could see that the locals were preparing for a festival.
"These kids. These parents. This world? It has a future thanks to us. Even in your home world too, don't forget that." Feeling tears run down her shoulder, Levy had found her words reaching her mark. "There, there. It's okay. I'm here. If you ever need a reminder of just how special you are, I'm here, Akua." A moth child approached the two girls with a couple lanterns in hand. "H-hey, you two are the heroes, right?" Before Akua had a chance to refute, Levy smirked and nodded her head. "Yeah, we are. What's up little guy?" The child offered the lanterns as gifts. They were handmade, created while the battle raged for their planet. "These are for you. Promise lamps! I uh... Made extra for you so you could join us! All you have to do is make a promise, light the lantern, and let it go! I'm sure whoever you're thinking of would hear it."
"Well, you heard him, hero." Returning back to her typical bubbly self, Levy whispered a promise to herself before lighting her candle. Holding it above the guardrail, she watched as the other lanterns nearby had drifted towards the direction of the passing star, as though the star was going to take their promises with them into the cosmos. "Hurry up, Akua! I don't want you to miss out!" The moth child and his parents did the same, lighting their own lanterns and letting them go before handing the orca their lighter. Closing her eyes, Akua walked towards the edge by Levy's side, whispering to herself as she let her regrets go.
Running towards his old friend and dropping the cleaned fabric, Able grabbed Sev's wrist forcefully, turning his palm upward to look underneath the vampire's arm. "... Sev. You were thinking of her again, weren't you?" Unlike the newer members of the crew, Able knew the true purpose of Sev's long, airy robes. He didn't wear it for comfort. He wore them to mask the bandages wrapped underneath. His hidden canvas was littered with signs of his pain. Written into his skin were painful memories of his family and his old crew. Once bringing him happiness, they were now contorted into additional hooks for his mistakes and regrets to cause him grief. His intense assassin training had made him resilient to physical pain; However, after being taught to love, he was just as vulnerable as anyone else to emotional trauma. He didn't deserve to lose his family, not like that.
The woman who taught him how to love in which he wished to make his wife and the mother of his children was gone. The only daughter he parented who was rescued from a terrible home was dead. His old friends were missing and his old crew were written off as casualties in a betrayal gone wrong. None of it was what he asked for. All he wished to do was to retire in peace. Try as he might, he couldn't escape the feeling that this fate was his fault for becoming complacent. Was it wrong for him to love? Was it wrong for him to set aside the goals of his masters to pursue a life of his own? Was it wrong for him to seek peace now that the war had come to its end? These tormenting thoughts haunted his mind and no one else knew this better than the demon holding his arm. "Don't worry about it, Able. Its... Its just the blood wine.I'll clean it up after I'm done here. Promise."
Seeing the hero he followed for most of his life be reduced to such a state, lying in order to make the last member of his original family feel better, it made Able angry. He knew how much Sev lost. He was there fighting alongside the last of his crew in his final stand against the forces that sought to break them. Yet even now, despite all they went through together, of both highs and lows, he still chose to follow his best friend. After seeing the miraculous feats Sev was able to accomplish by pursuing his dream, the summoned demon mercenary sought to bring forth that dream into reality, even in the post war. "You and I both know that's fucking bullshit." He growled, uncaring about Sev's sensitivity. His heart pounded in his chest as he grasped Sev's other arm, revealing the tanto he hid on his body as it fell to the floor. "Was this what they would have wanted? People got hurt for you Sev. Some even DIED for you! Just so you could see a world without war and live out your dream. They didn't sacrifice themselves... For this." Able's mind immediately thought of Hecate.
Sev grasped Able's wrist, gripping it with righteous anger. "I've failed them. Me! If they were with any other hero, they'd still be here." As he tried to put pressure on Able, he was quick to notice that his muscles lacked the same pressure that they used to. The wounds inflicted onto him during his final battle had left their lasting marks on his flesh, stubbornly refusing to let him go. If not for the prescribed medicine, its constant aching would have been enough to make his loss never leave his mind. All it took was one loss, one lapse in judgment, for his life's work to break into pieces. "I wasn't strong enough then... I wasn't strong enough to stop her from leaving or strong enough to protect my daughter..."
"I'm too weak. I know that... And I have to make it right." Cursing his own weakness, Sev reached towards his knife to return his mind back to normal. He planned on using a technique instilled upon by his masters to resist temptation and increase control. By defiling one's own body ritualistically as punishment for failure, his mistake would relent in its chains over his mind, or so he thought. No matter how much he could punish himself, the pain never went away. No amount of shed blood would bring back his loved ones. Though, before he was able to reach any further, Able constricted his hero's movements. "So this is your fucking way? Huh? You think hurting yourself is gonna do anything to bring them back?" His best friend had echoed the harsh truth of his soul.
Sev threw Able back, his fists clenched from the anger directed at himself. No therapy or drug could save him. Chasing everything that could dull the pain, Sev couldn't stop himself from waking up into this reality. Every morning was another morning away from his family living the dream of his dead daughter. With every day that passed was another day he grew further apart from their memory. To Sev, it felt like a sin to be alive. "I should've died then, Able! I should've... I don't know why I'm still here anymore." Able grumbled, lifting himself from the ground. "I don't have the fucking answers... But." Without giving Sev a chance to react, Able threw a punch at his chin, knocking him to the ground before shooting more blows to his cheek. "Pain isn't it. If you wanna be hurt, fine. Let me hurt you. Let me show you how fucking pointless it is. If you're so fucking mad at yourself, take it out on me!"
After the first blow landed, Sev's brain went on autopilot. Instead of using its resources to hate himself further, he began to throw back blows of his own, striking Able in the liver, chest, and neck. Once made subject to Sev's anger, Able's body ragdolled against the nearby chairs and tables, becoming bruised all over. This was more than a sparring match. This was Sev at his most frustrated. Finding this to be a battle taken seriously, Able grabbed a nearby chair and crashed it over Sev's body, causing the metal to fragment once he met his mark. Though Sev recoiled for a moment, he quickly recovered and used his gravity magic to slam Able against another cafe table, sending him through the reinforced steel. Their brawl was less of an even fight and more of Able being Sev's punching bag despite landing a few hits in between. However, with time as the cafe was made a mess, Able recognized that relieving Sev's stress would get him back to a state where he was willing to listen. If it worked for himself, it must work for the hero too.
"Don't say you're sorry. I understand." By the time they were finished, both men were sprawled on the floor, looking at the ceiling together. "Besides, if I couldn't take your punches, am I really worthy of being called your best friend? What's a friendship without a few fights, right?" Able chuckled as he withdrew a cig from his jacket, lighting it up before puffing it in the air. Before Sev could mention anything about it, Able was quick to react. "And don't tell me I shouldn't fucking smoke in here. Give me a break, won't ya? My body hurts all over and the cafe's a mess." He lifted his head towards his vampire counterpart, rolling his eyes. "I expected you to hit me, but to use goddamn magic, Sev? Now that's unfair. Next time, I'm shadow punching you if you pull some shit like that again."
"... Thank you, Able." The demon raised a confused eyebrow. "For what? Making you mad?" Sev shook his head. "For bringing me back. I don't think I could have done that without you." Seeing his hero return back to the way he was, Able's voice grew compassionate. Leaving his usual snark at the door, he placed a hand on his shoulder and slid himself over to the vampire's side. In truth, Able saw Sev as the crew's father. He was there for them at their lowest, recruiting them into a home they could make their own while giving them a chance to become a part of something they could be proud of. He never let them fight their battles alone either, doing the best he could to support them whether that be as a friend or as a mentor. While the galaxy might have been full of heroes, to his new family, he was the only one that mattered.
"Don't mention it. Just don't forget, you're not alone. You got me and you got the other guys all rooting for you too. Don't give up and don't treat yourself this badly again, okay? Unless you want me and the other guys to jump you back to normal again." Able's threat had allowed his humor to pierce the veil of loss, reaching Sev's heart and causing him to smile. "Of course, Able. Thanks for reminding me. I'll be sure to let you and the others get a few hits in before I send you all through a wall or floor." With the air around them now finding its calm, the demon's voice had reduced itself to no more than a whisper.
Queen Asteria The Eleventh Hero, The Pale Queen of the Lyraea
#f8eaee
"I got bored, what can I say?" Ι΄α΄α΄‘ α΄Κα΄ΚΙͺΙ΄Ι’: α΄Κα΄ΚΙ’Κα΄α΄Ι΄α΄ | Κα΄α΄ α΄ΙͺΚΚα΄Κ β» β || β· βΊ
Who told you what was down here? Come along if you wanted a peek
I've seen your face around here Come alone, tell me under the table. What do you seek?
Behind every star lies opportunity for life. For as long as light and heat was in proximity, the kami assumed that there was enough for life to exist. However, deep inside the dark lie countless astral bodies long forgotten by the creators of existence. Behind every collision of one space rock with another, every supernovae bringing an abrupt end to all that unfortunately resided within its radius, every space battle where massive ordinance had cracked the very crust of which planet lie within their crosshairs, came space debris which untangled from their home system's gravitational well. It was these countless, roaming, unassuming rocks of which no living organism took much value in where the undead had decided to make their home.
Souls forsaken by the kami of their people, refused access to heaven or hell whether by their own choice or the choice of the divine, were known colloquially by the other resident species of the galaxy as the undead. While called the same, their kind varied greatly. Every species, for as long as it had the potential to manifest a soul, could be turned undead. Forced to live an empty existence, instead of choosing to waste the rest of eternity away, these people had instead decided to indulge themself into their passions with full intensity. For many, it was a night life with no consequences. Undead don't get hangovers. They don't get addictions nor do they have to worry about little things like disease, hunger, or exhaustion. As a result, many of their stations and planets are known to have a very active entertainment industry where the party is rumored never to end.
For a rare few on the other hand, their passions, now unfettered by the limitations of the living, had led to undead prodigies to exist within their midst. From undead humans came many scientists pushing the forefront of what's possible for their species. From undead beastkin came legendary mercenaries who feared no death nor pain. From undead fae and elementals came magic that allowed the impossible to be possible. From undead angels and demons existed an odd pact where, brought together by a shared infinity, they chose to set their differences aside regardless of what Heaven and Hell decided for them. If the divine and the hellion refused to accept their souls into oblivion, then they would create an oblivion of their own design, free from the influence of those who knew little about their fate. Regardless of their shared fate however, there still existed disagreements between them. There needed to be leadership in order to unite the otherwise unruly band of passionate pleasure-seekers and there was none better than Queen Asteria.
Adopted by a powerful undead angel and demon couple ruling a pocket of empty space, Asteria was quick to learn the strength of order and the power of chaos. While the two ideas contrasted greatly from one another, by gaining an understanding and a respect for both, she developed her own system of ordered chaos. Where angels, demons, fae, and vampires had failed in unifying the undead under one banner, she was able to attract undead of all kinds to her pocket of space by offering a system they could fit well in. It appeared easy enough: In exchange for any redeemable service, she offered a home and safety.
Her home, once an empty rock colonized by large mushrooms that fed off of passing stardust from nearby comets, eventually grew into a fortress world where most of its development occurred far underground. Fed by a constant sea of light and color from the roots of the giant mushrooms above which fed into powerful hydroelectric dams, they had created a heaven within the remote void where only the most powerful and influential knew of their existence. Seeing how much their daughter was able to accomplish within such a short period of time, her parents relinquished their titles for her to inherit alone: The title of Queen.
In the many centuries of peace that made up their golden age, jokingly named by her people as the Pax Necromana, she grew bored. What was wealth and power to the lady that never lived without it? What was there more to gain by remaining there in her neon palace, their perfect figurehead? While her people were undoubtedly loyal and her city was prospering beyond any other undead stronghold, Asteria's ambitions had turned her eyes to the stars. Where the light graced the living was where her curiosity began to lie. Listening to the rumors of war, she became engrossed with inner-galaxy politics. While her people failed to change much within a century, the organics that sought ambition were rapidly shifting week by week. It was an engaging storyline that had yet to begin, an opportunity to make memories begging to be taken.
Upon hearing of the fantastical tales about the galaxy's "heroes", she felt emboldened to become one of them. Too excited to wait any longer, the queen put out a recruitment ad for all who were willing to make history alongside her. Though, while she expected a few hundred to heed her call, instead, a great number of souls were driven by her summoning. This was the first for many since she called them to the Lyraea that she genuinely asked for help. Given all that she did to transform their eternities into a future they could look forward to, it was only right that they would pursue her dreams further as a way of showing their respect and gratitude to their undead queen. Driven, she sent several fleets towards the side of the war she thought was more interesting, the one being led by the slave that was soon to become empress. After hearing tales of the vampire couple, the human and his hidden angelic rendezvous, and the tale of the two dragons, she sought to meet them herself.
"Why would I do that when they're in on it?" Standing underneath the shade of a purple tree under lavender skies, Rio and Levy sat against the tree's trunk. "Maybe a lie like that might work on someone like Ex. Maybe even Raf, but me? Nah. You're not gonna make me look like an idiot." The eleventh hero was known for pulling pranks and masking the truth under a thousand white lies. It was a part of her nature to tease them. Having so many of the galaxy's powerful in one place was a dream come true. They were all exactly as the rumors spoke of them to be, in character and in ability. "Well, suit yourself. Don't blame me when you find out you're wrong~" Levy stuck her tongue out and winked.
"What? You're telling me that you have a palace." Nodding her head, Levy reaffirmed Rio's guess. "Yup! It glows in the dark too!"
"And the people there, they call you and treat you like a queen?" Nodding her head again, Levy smiled. "Yeah! They're a lot more respectful than you think!"
"So if you're a fucking queen, why the hell did you decide to come here and fight? Can't you just oh... I don't know. Stay there and give orders like every other normal noble?" Levy chuckled, finding her reaction adorable. Even though she appeared as one of the youngest of the heroes, Levy was arguably around the same age as Sev, living for generations beyond those who existed today. "I got bored, what can I say?" She scratched her cheek, revealing her easy-going nature that she only showed those she trusted in private. "I saw you guys out here having so much fun shooting things and blowing things up and I wanted to join! Heard your stories and decided I wanted to make them with you guys too!"
"Bored? You were fucking bored?" Rio did not understand infinity. While her human brain knew of the concept, to actually live it was something alien to her. "Isn't there some other sort of hobby you could have done that wasn't dangerous... Like uh... Quilting or knitting?" She brought up the first thing to mind, only to be met with the sight of a handmade handkerchief. "Did it. It was cool for the first fifty or so years but... It wasn't exciting." Rio thought up another. "What about gaming?" Levy shook her head. "Hundred years, never again. Some stuff is cool but like, have you ever played with an undead human? If no, then don't. They'll ruin it for you." She shivered at the past memory, aware of how much toxicity could grow over infinity. "Writing? Drawing? Sculpting?" Levy nodded her head over and over again.
Welcome to the playground, follow me Tell me your nightmares and fantasies
Sink into the wasteland underneath Stay for the night, I'll sell you a dream
Hidden under the darkness of storm and night, the heroes stood in a field of snow awaiting their final orders from their empress. Standing in front of them was the outline of the final stronghold of the last emperor, a reality bender that ruled the galaxy for ages under an iron fist. With his rule in contention, slave princess Galena marched forth through the blistering storm. Through the herculean efforts of her heroes combined, those lucky enough to be assigned to her on this special mission were able to deliver their powerful empress close to the final bastion that stood in the way of peace in the new age. However, with the storm afoot, there was not much they could do. They only had one opportunity to take their enemy by surprise. Should they waste this moment, it was likely that there wouldn't be a second chance without greater sacrifice.
Careful not to throw away this opportunity, the heroes thought of the best course of action. Among the first to speak up was Sebastian, however, as though willed by the kami who supported her vision, the empress stood steadfast in her faith in her choices. Unlike her enemy's own ranks, these heroes were not chosen from mere nepotism or self-interest but rather merit. As such, they came from all over the galaxy, holding a host of different opinions, breaking away the once strongly held belief that unity between these vastly unique races was a pipe dream. The men and women that stood in front of her were proof that her vision could become reality. "I'm sure you understand how much work had gone into this moment. Take pride that your brothers, your sisters, your people, and your friends have granted us an opportunity to change this galaxy for the better. I trust in you all with my life."
"You trust us, princess? Is that some sort of joke? I doubt that we're well prepared for this. He's a fucking reality bender." Sen brought up his hesitance. Still bearing the mark of his failure, he understood that there was never too much caution. Surprises existed in every corner, potentially influencing the battle without one's knowledge. "We'll deal with it, Sen. Like we always do." Rio crossed her arms. "If a reality bender's limits is their imagination, then I don't think we have anything to worry about." She turned her gaze towards the castle. "It doesn't take much to come up with a fucking tower. If you have the power to rival gods, make something cool with it, you know? Not something as basic as... This." Instead of seeing it from a logical point of view, she addressed their enemy from an emotional point. "Besides, don't you think you'd be proud of getting one over Gabe? You know damn well, he'd fume if you got credit for this kill." Sen chuckled, shaking his head as he relented. "I guess you're right. If it means, he could stay mad. Fuck it. I'll bring down this asshole myself."
"Well, either we die old or we die fighting one hell of a battle." Val's clones stretched his arms for him, each bruised and battered from the fights until now. "I don't plan on leaving after coming all this way, empress. Promise me that Flan will get taken care of if something does happen to me and I'll promise you that I won't go out without a fight. Oh! And I expect my fucking name on a wall after this is all said and done." Ex on the other hand had his avatars repaired after their short rest. "If anything happens, I'll be sure to take care of her for you, Val. I swear it." Giving his bonded brother a short fist bump, the two beastkin eyed the top of the tower. "But if you go down before my bots do, I'm totally judging you for the rest of my life." Val chuckled, finding his challenge cute. "In your fucking dreams, Ex. Your bots would never outlast me. Never in a hundred thousand years."
Gemini raised his mecha's banner, planting it into the ground in front of him. It bore the insignia of the empress. "My wife did not die for us to stop here, Sev." His voice was stricken with pain, causing Rio to grow silent. "Neither did many of your own family. Even if death does come for one of us, I won't let the sacrifices of those who left before go in vain. Whether you wish to come with me or not, I'm not stopping here." Sev nodded his head, aware of just how much pain he was going through. "Too much patience is a turn-off, you know? Unless, you wanna disappoint Yan, Sev. Don't you think she wants the father of her kids to be the hero of the galaxy? One of the few lucky men that helped the empress take down the big bad evil?" Nine smirked, appearing from behind the leg of Gemini's mecha before lifting herself up to sit on his shoulder. "Or what about your daughter, Thea. I'm sure she wants to live a normal life too, no? If we beat this emperor down, you'd be able to be with her sooner!"
The vampire mercenary placed a hand on Gemini's mech's shoulder before walking to Galena's side. "Well, we only get a chance to make history once. Why waste this moment? Whether we win or lose, we'll live on forever through stories like the vampires of old." While Six might not have been as open with his emotions, he understood Gem's thoughts. His wife had died during the war, leaving its victory as the vampire's only purpose in living. "If the dead are watching us now, we should aim to make them proud. Doubly so if your family is still alive to watch you, Sev. I pray you never understand what it's like to lose someone so close to you." Ten rolled his eyes at the sight of the heroes convincing those too afraid to push forward. While it was quaint, he hated the idea of sharing his family's name with that of the lesser species. "How about you stay behind and leave the big fights to the better brother, Seven." He stretched his arms against his staff, preparing his catalyst for heavy use. "If you're so scared, don't worry. I'll ensure that our family's legacy is written in the data logs for you."
Salem looked up at the stars above, aware that Rafaela's, Gabriel's, and Levy's fleets were doing their best to distract their enemy enough to grant them this opportunity. "Jun, June." The duo tilted their head, both eyes showing different colors hinting that both of the vampire twins were awake. "What is it? |What's up, Salem? What do you need?" Handing his sketchbook over to the vampire knight, the artist lended them his beloved. "If I don't make it, do me a favor... Please put this sketchbook alongside my others in the Rider." Hidden inside his drawer were sketches of the many worlds he visited during their campaign along with many scenes of his homeland. "I don't want her to find out the truth of what happened to me otherwise if the day comes where I can't see her again." The twin souls nodded their head, taking his book and storing it within their armor as though it was a treasure. "Of course. Only right after you kept June safe.| Oh shut up. I saved him too! | Well, I owe him regardless, dummy. Rest easy, Salem. Your friend is safe with me."
"Don't you have a sister to worry about too, Khaine? The one that designed your armor's aesthetics?" The lapin mercenary hung his rifle around his neck, sitting on a nearby icy rock to take a break from the long march. "She'll be fine whether I'm around or not. Besides, I doubt she'll hold the best opinion of me after going against her request to not come alongside for this mission." He sighed, leaning back against the rocky outcropping. "... I think she'll miss you if you're gone. Don't be stupid okay?" Cleo sat beside him, her eyes glowing with every word she spoke. Unlike the rest of the party, her robotic frame didn't need the same level of protection from the cold. "And if she won't, I will. You still owe me dinner after this." Khaine chuckled, finding her attempt at humor despite her deadpan nature cute. "Oh, so that's the reason. If I die, I'm gonna haunt you harder than Levy does already." He shook his head. "Don't worry. I won't make it easy to kill me. Promise."
Iso stood ahead of them all, turning back to the black armored prince. "So what will it be, Sev? You're gonna fight with us or not? I'm not gonna let Korra call me a pussy for wimping out on the final battle so I'm going whether you're coming or not, but I'd like it if you came." The proud dragon spell sword beat his chest in respect, causing the other heroes to turn towards him. It was a rarity among the dragon species to offer such a display to anyone that wasn't of their own species. "No other warriors in the galaxy could command my respect as much as you all. I'm fortunate to have met you and should I meet my end, I could die with no regrets." Sev nodded his head. "If Yan and Thea's happiness lie on the other side of him, then there's no other way but forward." Sev brought himself to his knee, bowing before the princess. "I will bring your dream into fruition, empress. But promise me that your dream would have a place for all of us to live a new life in peace; Our friends, our families, our lovers and companions, and all who follow too."
"Of course. Your people are my people. For my people. Everything."
Appearing in front of the heroes, the reality-bending, fae emperor clapped his hands at the sight of his enemy uniting the species of the galaxy against him. "Bravo, Galena. Bravo for coming this far. But I expected more of you, for being my kin." The princess drew her blade with her companions following in suit. "The powers that dictate the fate of this galaxy have forsaken you, father." He shook his head, finding the thought of their resistance amounting to something amusing. "So you think this is more than enough to stop me? With your impure blood and these so-called heroes? Fine. Come now. Prove your resolve and defeat me. Let me show you how wrong you truly are for turning your weapons against me." His eyes began to glow with a violet surge of mana. "We could have ruled the galaxy together, but alas. Prove that your vision of the galaxy surpasses my own." As he did, her eyes began to glow with the color of her own: Scarlet as the human blood of her mother backed by the massive power of her father.
"Your reign has come to an end. I will make sure of it."
Hidden under dark clouds of passing spring rain, a prince and a princess shared a bench that offered shelter from the weather. They were not members of a species resilient to the changing of time and nature. Born into a world where many knew eternity, these two were given the rare opportunity to grow old with each other, taking value in their limited resource of firsts. Humanity by itself was a rarity amongst the stars, an existence to be seen as both a curse and a blessing by the other residents of the galaxy. With a unique understanding of finality, this mediocre and fragile species had brought forth a reality of its own, motivated by time or the lack thereof.
If they cannot survive in an extreme environment, they would seek to change the very environment itself in their favor. Instead of trees and barren landscapes, they sought the safety of sprawling cities and massive stations. If there was something that needed to be changed, they were the first among every species to adopt it, welcoming ingenuity and shifting the status quo for all else. As a result, they were among the soonest to explore the stars since their inception, foregoing their limitations and bringing forth a destiny of their own. While many would seek to deface all that they created, many advances that the galaxy had taken for granted were the result of a human finding a problem and fixing it. Whether it be scientifically, militarily, sociologically, culturally, or more, they were the forerunners that led the rest of the universe forward. Discomfort had delivered them direction. A lack had kept them from being complacent.
It was this imperfect human tenacity to exist and create a fate for themselves beyond what was deemed possible by working together which brought the kami to fear them. It was this leveraging of time that made the beings that knew eternity, both demons and undead, wish to work with them instead of against them. It was this compassion for others that weren't their own which brought the beast kin to ally with them, sharing culture and mixing genetics to bring about the golden age of humanity. If not for the jealousy of the powerful fae realms and the vampire kingdoms, it was likely that the galaxy would look very different today.
The princess gave her best friend a look of shock. "Why? Why you?" She placed her hand on his shoulder, her eyes conveying a look of worry. Princess Galena was well aware of the strength of her people. If he was sent to battle against them, it was likely that this moment might be the last she would see of him. "My people need me. They need someone to look to for courage and strength. I pray that you never have to do the same." Dominic withdrew a necklace from his shirt, placing it in her hand. It was the other half of her own, a physical manifestation of their sibling-like bond. "Truth be told, Gale. I don't know if I'm coming back. Whether we win or not, things are going to be different between us and I don't want to force you to be my friend if you're ordered to wield your magic and sword against me."
The princess clutched his necklace before forcing it against his chest. "Dom, I will never turn against you. Don't make me do this. Don't make me take this away from us. We deserve better." Afraid, her arms trembled as she fought off his resistance. "You were the one who taught me how to fight; How to wield my sword. Hells, you were the one who taught me how to live. Why this? Why can't we be friends?" The prince was well aware of his best friend's naivety. Her purity was something he wished to protect no matter what. Placing his gloved hands on her own and clutching her fingers closed on his necklace, he politely refused to take his gift back. "Sometimes, the galaxy has a way of making things impossible." He thought of his dad who perished in battle during the first war between humans and vampires. "If you still wish to be friends, then promise me this..." She nodded her head enthusiastically. "Anything. Anything as long as I don't have to fight you."
"Stay true to yourself and never lose your way."
"You have a beautiful heart, Galena." Speaking her full name, Dominic wished to make his genuine feelings known. "You seek a world of peace unlike many others in your court. If anything, dreaming of that alone leads me to believe that you would make a great queen one day." He smiled, pushing her hand back gingerly to avoid riling up her innocent anger. She had every right to think this unfair, yet despite her feelings, reality would not change. They were destined to be split apart, separated by the selfish ambitions of nobles who failed to think about the sacrifices of families, friends, and lovers in their pursuit of galactic hegemony. "A queen of mercy and grace. One that recognizes people not for their species but rather their accomplishments and the qualities of their heart. Don't you ever lose that no matter who stands in your way and I promise... That I'll be your friend from now until the eternity after forever."
"I did as you asked, Dominic." The empress stood in front of a quiet grave, still dressed in the armor she defeated her father in. "The galaxy knows peace now... But I'm sorry that I couldn't attain it while you were still around. I'll have to live on your dream... without you." Sinking herself onto her knees, the empress began to sob. "You've done what you could and you kept your promise. Don't blame yourself for what had happened in the past when it was never your fault." Sev placed a hand on the same shoulder Dominic did. "I know... I know that now." She lifted her helmet to face the graveyard without fear. It was thanks to her heart, her endless ambition, and the people who wished to see her dream through that brought forth a galaxy where second lives in the peace could occur. "But... I miss him. I miss him so much, Sebastian."
The armored gravity assassin lifted her to her feet, leaving behind a flower alongside where the other heroes had done so already. "Wherever he is now, I'm sure that he's proud of you. The afterlife is full of souls grateful for your work." Sev gave a silent prayer to the fallen. His grave wasn't the only one that decorated the lands around them. Filled to the brim were all the souls that met their end chasing the same destiny that he and the heroes had during the long campaign. "I'm sure that out of all of them, he would be the first to greet you with a smile on his face."
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