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Prologue - Radiance...
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Huh…?
Where... am I?
All that enters my vision is a blank, white overcast...
Yet as this unorthodox, white domain revolves around me... I began seeing varying colored orbs of light suddenly appearing, seemingly out of nowhere...
A whole new spectrum of colour dawns upon me, as I gaze, absentmindedly...
I will myself to reach towards one of the lights, but no sensation greets me.
Correct that; I can't feel any part of ‘me’ moving at all...
Hmm, it appears that I don't have a physical body.
How inconvenient...
Yet as I focused my will on the orb directly, a sudden jolt of warmth cascades through me; stimulating my senses with a gentle, comforting feeling...
I become extremely fond with this new sensation, as I will myself around and probe the other levitating orbs of light.
When my curiosity was finally sated, I began to notice something...
It appears that every colour holds a different atmosphere; like an etched mark that they each give off. Holding no obvious purpose, these lights simply just... exist, I suppose?
Some feel isolated and cold.
Others radiate with overwhelming heat and passion.
This one colour feels extremely evil and sinister, as if it would corrupt anything it touches.
Amazing...
As I try to wrap my thoughts around the enigma that is my existence, I slowly began delving in the euphoria of what my senses could perceive.
At one point or another, I began contemplating and thinking about my being and why I’m even here. Am I simply bound up, forever to walk along this plane of light?
Hah...
I began walking once again... simply for the faintest hope that I might discover an answer on my path...
Time trickled slowly, like sand within an hourglass; indiscernible and endless...
I continued walking, as mental exhaustion built up within me. I soon decided to stop delving within unnecessary thoughts and focus on searching...
At one point of my journey, I forgot why I began walking to began with. Yet I continued walking forward, step by step...
I walk... without desire.
I walk... in silence.
I walk... alone.
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...
Huh...?
Who... am I?
Wait...
As if my mind suddenly exploded... a relapse of memories and feelings flood through my being, swelling my conscience. I run through a variety of emotions as I attempt to comprehend what just occurred.
Yet before I could solidify my consciousness... a new feeling suddenly runs through me; one that I can only describe as pure terror...
A horrific sensation; as if my mind is being constantly thrashed around, as bolts of darkened light pierce my being, causing my consciousness to rupture.
Agh, it hurts...! It's trying to... destroy me from within?!
I try to resist, but the constant pain in my mind prevents me from accomplishing anything…
I soon stop my futile efforts, as I feel my shattered spirit slowly diminishing within the darkness...
Every sensation is soon cut off, including the pain...
I feel all my thoughts slowly begin to leave me...
As the colours fade to nothingness once more, the being’s consciousness gradually seeps away into the vortex of white and black, leaving nothing behind...
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Mortal Realm
???
"Argh...!”
“Who is this?!”
“Oh wait, it's me...?”
I don't remember being able to speak...
Actually, I don't remember having a body at all...
Hmm...?
That's... unusual.
Ack!
A loud, crackling sound greets me, followed by a unnervingly painful sensation delivered to my lower body.
It feels like the same pain I felt in the... that place... with all the... things?
Huh... I can't remember where I recall this sensation from; though it feels extremely similar.
Ack!
The same sound rings again, accompanied by the same recurring pain.
The pain stops after a brief period, so I begin slowly attempt to familiarize myself with this new body.
I first realize that I have two long extensions by my sides, which each have five narrow joints attached.
I will myself for them to move and surprisingly, they did!
I swing them around wildly in joy, but I soon feel one of the extensions hitting something very solid.
Ouch.
I'm rewarded with a stinging pain on my right extension, along with a thick, liquid-like substance that seems to be leaking from it.
Oops. Let's be a bit more careful with my new, err, current body, shall we?
I forgot to mention, but wherever I am, it's completely dark; making it hard to see anything. The silent darkness slightly frightens me, though I don't understand why.
I can also feel two other extensions located on the lower section of my body; similar to the ones on my side, though slightly different. I will myself to try to move them, but a sudden jolt of pain causes me to rethink that idea.
Huh, so those two extensions must be broken or something, I guess?
So... what should I do?
Before I could think up a feasible plan, a sudden wave of... instinctual urges washes through me. It’s hard to describe, but similar to the feeling I felt in that... place.
I find it extremely hard to resist this urge, as I feel my mind and body slowly shutting off...
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Maybe this will solve my problems...
Let’s hope ssszzz...
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Hah?!
I can feel my consciousness and senses returning to me, but it doesn't seem like I'm in the same place as before.
A towering, luminous orb explodes within my view, before dispersing the light into a lofty canvas of bright colours.
As I focus on the magnificent view before me, I start to feel a gentle brilliance revolving around me...
I begin to perceive small construed bits of knowledge engraining itself into my mind...
Unusual...
As if tipping the scale, a vast amount of information suddenly overflows and roots itself within my mind. I can feel a spark; a bright spark of enlightenment, as it graces me with its wisdom and acknowledgement.
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I can see a sparkling blue river which runs down the mountain; which feeds into a small and elegant pond, surrounded by a cluster of large, towering trees.
I can see animals of all types gathered around the pond, nourishing themselves with its crystal pure dew.
I can see a giant, encompassing orb of light, drawn in the azure tinted skies; providing its warmth for the solid earth below.
I can see the soft grasses and plants swaying to the tune of the wind, seemingly dancing under the giant star’s rays.
And within it all, I can see a small, humble house of wood; centered in all of her majesty.
(Note: ‘her’ as in Mother Nature.)
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Feeling an indescribable sense of attraction towards it, the spirit manifestation slowly floats its way inside. Upon entering, the spirit is graced with the beautiful sight of a young woman, carefully cradling a white ball back and forth; seemingly fragile.
On further inspection, one would discover the ‘white ball’ was actually a child, one with deep blue eyes and a cute, rounded face.
The young woman gently rubs the child’s tiny nose, causing it to giggle in joy.
The two comforted each other, as the light breeze from the forest chimes a harmonious melody within the enclosure...
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On a bright sunny day within the mountains, one would be able to see a young woman and a child sitting by a small pond pondering over something...
Flick!
"How many times have I told you, not like that - you have to hold the length steadily and slant the length towards the opposite side; allowing you to properly monitor your target while aiming."
"Ouch... for Ver’s sake mom, the fletching on this one is done horrendously, and it's terribly difficult to nock the arrow properly."
"Fine. We’ll get a new bow for you, but you'll have to fletch it yourself."
"Whaaaat?! I can barely tie a simple string... and you're asking me to fletch an entire bow by myself?!"
"Calm down Cael, I'll teach you, of course."
"How long will that take?! A year? Two?! I don't have any time to waste! I have to beat father by my coming of age!"
"Tch... I don't understand why you're so volatile with him - always trying to surpass him in everything. Don't you think you're mature enough to grow out of it already?"
"No! He refused to teach me any magic, even for his genius son!"
"Hah... you're just like your father; completely and utterly arrogant. How about this - if you can properly learn how to wield the bow by the following moonfall... then I might consider guiding your path in the arcane, alright?"
"Yes! Yes! Deal! I'll be sure to master it by this week!"
"Ohohoho... now don't get ahead of yourself. I'd be rather impressed if you could master just the basics within a month, kiddo."
"Hmph, don't underestimate a genius’ talent!"
"Heuh... it's going to be an interesting month."
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Within the vast expanse of towering mountains, two figures can be seen on the peak, standing before a pure white marble tower...
Flick!
"Hah... I swear you take after your father’s stubbornness almost perfectly. If only you could direct some of your, let's say ‘talent’ shall we - to concentrating on practicing; then maybe, just maybe you'll ‘almost’ match up to your mum’s capabilities."
"Jeez mom, don't patronize me…*mutters* and you call me arrogant...?"
"What was that, Cael? If you could demonstrate your ‘oh so amazing talent’ - then I'd be sure to praise you. Until that ‘lucent dusk’, you'll have to accept being addressed as an overzealous little brat."
(Note: a ‘lucent dusk’ refers to the day when a mortal ascends.)
"Tch… fine."
"Good. Now focus… brat."
"I'll try..."
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The day is bleak, the trees withered away, the skies dyed a blackened grey, yet two figures still linger within the plains of crystal white...
"Estel… the demons..."
"Hah… fine. Let's get Cael and leave."
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I can taste the stagnant chilling air lingering about. It’s metallic and rough… unnaturally so. Why does winter have to be so cold…?
I quickly hasten my steps to catch up to mom but I feel my body tense up, and my thoughts go hazy. The stinging cold pain assaults my body as I desperately try to call out...
"Help..."
"Cael?! What's wrong?!"
I hear rushed footsteps as I'm suddenly picked up from the ground. A gentle warmth soon embraces me, causing me to relax and quietly dose off...
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I feel the warm sunlight gently embracing my face as my eyes gradually began to open.
"Mom? Dad?"
I hear no reply as I start to panic. Scanning the cave I'm inside, I find not even a sliver of life. I decide to check outside as I slowly walk towards the opening near me.
"Mom...?"
A bright red stain. Blood. Drawn within the white canvas is a heavy stain of blood...
"Mom!? Dad?!"
Where are you...?! Why did you abandon me...?
I'm sorry...
I'm sorry...!
I'll listen this time; I'll do whatever you ask of me so please... please come back...
Why did this happen to me?! What did I do wrong?!
Why me...?!
Why...
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