"Halt!" The guard shouted as he blocked the door with a spear. "State your business." He commanded, eyeing the traveler, the storm worsening as rain fell heavily and thunder roared in the sky.

The traveler wore a brown weather worn cloak, though his garments underneath seemed fairly new. The cloak covered the majority of his body, it's hood drawn over his head. He did not seem tall, not even reaching till the guard's chin, who was on the shorter side himself. The only thing visible under the cloak happened to be a serpent. A black snake coiled around his neck, it's inky black tongue sticking out from it's jaws every few moments.

"I wish to see the queen." He informed, shivering slightly from the cold rain and breeze.

"Why do you wish to see her?" The guard questioned.

"A little bird told me she will be participating in a war, and she doesn't has enough strong allies." He informed, his voice also shaky.

"No one has been given that information other than very few trusted allies," the guard mumbled, half to himself.

"Why do you think I am aware of it?" The traveler inquired.

"My best guess would be you killed one of the individuals who possessed this information, or one of your snakes happened to hear of it, snake charmer." The guard stated as he pointed his spear at the traveler.

"Snakes can't hear," he mumbled.

"I am no fool," the guard spat.

"They can't hear as well as us," the traveler informed.

"Show your invitation if you wish to enter," the guard ordered.

"Fine, you caught me, I do not have one," the traveler sighed. "Just know this, I could kill everyone inside and walk away if I wished to, so how about a much cleaner way in? Would be beneficial for both of us."

"Are you threatening us?" The guard questioned.

"Who knows." The traveler mumbled as he turned away.

"Are you certain you can kill everyone inside?" A girl's voice questioned from behind the guard, right after the sound of the door opening.

"I can," the traveler answered. "I do not wish to speak to you however, unless you are the queen."

The guard stepped aside, allowing the owner of the voice to walk out. A girl, possessing ruby red hair and similarly colored irises inspected him. She wore a long red dress, a golden tiara embedded with rubies sitting on her head. "Yes, I am the queen. My subordinate me you were snooping around, and I just heard what you said. I simply wished to confirm if you were stating the truth."

"I don't think you are the queen," the traveler mumbled.

"What?" The girl exclaimed in shock.

"First of all, why are you even here? Who let this kid in?" He questioned the guard. "Neither is she powerful, nor is she the queen, why is she even here?"

"I am the queen!" The girl exclaimed before the guard could say anything. "Don't speak like you are much taller than me, you also look like a kid," she pointed out.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I am not that weak at the very least," he scoffed.

Lightning struck the ground right beside the traveler's leg, startling him and the guard. "Spark, don't attack him, he is here to help us," the queen called out.

"He was insulting you." Spark mumbled as she appeared out of the same door. Her short golden-yellow hair fluttering in the strong wind, along with the black ribbon tied over her head. She inspected him with her blue eyes, sighing in disappointment after a few moments.

"I believe you have ascertained as much," the traveler scoffed.

"Yes, I won't stand a chance against you under normal conditions," Spark sighed.

"So, you will help us right?" The girl questioned.

"What is stopping me from killing you right here?" He questioned, raising his hand in front of him, a snake shaped sigil on the back of his palm.

"That would be very cruel though," the girl mumbled.

"Huh?" The traveler tilted his head.

"Killing a girl that can't even defend herself," she answered with a shrug. "The kingdom won't last long either as there are no other heirs to the throne," she sighed.

He eyed her, his red eyes glowing under his hood. After a few moments he pulled his hood back with a sigh. "I will help you, but what do I get in return?" He questioned, running his hand through his hair, a mix of black and white.

"What can we give him?" The girl wondered.

"A small territory maybe?" Spark suggested.

"That would be a bad idea, if he can't rule it well the people living there might suffer," She sighed. "So... Do diplomatic marriages work here?" She questioned Spark, running her hand through her red hair.

"Ruby, that's a bit too far," Spark mumbled.

"I am not interested in any of that," he sighed. "My only condition is that I will be allowed to do whatever I wish to do, I won't be under your command in any way."

"That is completely fine," Ruby accepted with a smile. "I wouldn't want you following my commands anyways, I am truly horrible at combat related things."

"I can confirm that statement," Spark sighed.

"My name is Ourobos, it is a pleasure to be your acquaintance, or so I hope at the very least." He mumbled as he walked away.

"Where are you going?" Ruby questioned.

"As I said, I will be free to do as I wish, I will simply help you with combat." Ourobos answered, pulling his hood over his head as he walked through the storm.

"Should we just let him go like this?" Ruby questioned Spark.

"That is his condition, and you accepted it already, can't do anything about it now." Spark sighed as she pulled Ruby inside. "Get in now, you have been standing out in the rain for too long."

"Right, right." Ruby chuckled as she followed Spark inside, the guard closing the door behind them.

---

"This is quite rare indeed." The Creator mumbled, his all black body and clothes blending in with the starry void. A small purple orb rested in the air in front of him, lighter and darker hues mixing in with each other and emitting a dim glow.

"Well, I suppose your circumstances are not quite as rare as your current condition." The Creator sighed, placing both his hands under the orb and allowing it to gently descend into them. "There are many who feels they have lived a fulfilled life, only to find something they wished for in their very last moments.

"It seems the worlds like you, the reason you have been given this extra time. I can understand why, your soul truly is beautiful. I haven't seen many souls this kind and strong before, yours might just be one of my favorites."

The Creator walked through the starry void, stopping abruptly. "My apologies, it is quite hard to navigate a limited and defined space when it all appears to be a starry void." He punched towards nothingness, his fist colliding with a sort of wall and smashing right through it.

The area behind appeared to be much brighter, a ceiling of bright stars not very high above. The Creator raised his hand upwards, brushing it against the ceiling as he allowed the orb to float in his other hand. Lighter colors surged through it, causing the orb to glow brighter.

"It is quite the spectacle in my opinion, you should cherish it," He sighed. "This was your last life, it is truly unfortunate it happened to be so short. Perhaps the worlds themselves felt sorrowful on seeing it end so fast, and so they gave you some more time. You have not moved in your actual body for a long time, and I believe that artificial image you are familiar with would be far better than it regardless. Power is nothing for you to worry about here, you need only focus on yourself.

"The memories you are making right now, and the ones you make in that extra time, they will be nothing but a dream to you. There are no restrictions in a dream, so once you wake up in that dream, dance to your heart's content. I believe there is someone who would truly love to share the stage with you, and perhaps you could show her something greater than anyone has ever seen. These will truly be your last performances, so leave a mark no one will forget, Yuuki."