"Oh, How the legends have fallen,"
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The two stood a mere five metres from one another, yet it felt like a chasm continents-wide that separated them.
Everyone but they tensed at their words, or lack thereof. Why were they just standing still? Why did they insult each other the first chance they got? Why was there no follow-up after that first line? Did they know each other?
Turns out, they were half-correct. Insofar as the people standing there were concerned? They hadn't a clue. But, if you were to add on their respective relics, it wouldn't be wrong to claim they'd known one another for multiple millennia!
And at that moment, when their eyes met, and those six words left their mouths: they would find themselves being sucked into the artefacts that possessed them...
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Connor felt like fainting.
"Oi! Nostradamus ya old wanker!"
"The fuck do you want, Darwin?!"
"Why'd the fuck did that bitch Fate choose a baby like him as your successor?! He's a weakling!"
"Hah! Like your own's any better; he's as weak as a twig, and no amount of Aite's piss'll fix it!"
"Why you piece a..."
"Motherfucking piece a...."
Pause.
"Oi fledgeling! Who do you think is right? The great me, or that bumbling bag of bones?"
"Oi fledgeling! Who do you think is right? The great me, or that bumbling bag of bones?"
To reiterate, Connor felt like shit.
"..." And you couldn't really blame him; his soul was abducted from his body Fate-style, and the moment he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was two old men acting like children. And after a bit of back and forth, it came to this, "I think you both are correct in your own ways," He answered.
"I see; seems like the younger generation is getting a bit smarter," The man— Darwin, he presumed, grumbled to himself before walking off to who knows where.
"I guess I can excuse my successor for wanting to evade such a question..." While the other, Nostradamus, stayed and kept staring at him... silently.
"U-Um... Hello?" He waved hesitantly, large purple question marks floating idly on his head. To be honest, he didn't really know what to do in such a situation. At least Fate was semi-directing the conversation when she "whisked" him away; this guy just stared.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
'Great... a mute. Wonder what that Darwin guy is—'
"I see. So that's your role in life, huh, child?" Nostradamus's words broke him out of his musings.
Paying attention to the man, Connor saw him lightly shaking his head before he spoke, "Tell me, why do you want to kill Aite so bad?"
"Huh?"
"I can see your Fate," He smiled, "You want to kill Aite. Why?"
'Well, that's easy,' He thought, "Because he killed my family,"
"Ah, but your family isn't the only ones he's killed, but you don't see them looking for revenge, do you?"
Both of them turned to find Darwin, Don Khai trailing not far behind.
"Yo," They greeted nonchalantly.
"What'd you say?" Connor focused on Darwin, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"What? That your family ain't special?" He scoffed, "Hate to tell ya this kid, but they really ain't,"
He stopped, one hand placed lazily in his jacket pocket and the other readjusting his hat, "He's Aite, but more than that, he's Corporis, the law of the body. Every single organism, when they die, die because of him. So don't think that just cause he decided to kill a few early makes them worth a—"
"Son of a bitch— Don't you dare continue!" He grew increasingly incensed, walking rapidly towards the bearded fellow.
"I'll tell it to you how many times you want," Yet he seemed unfazed even when Connor's sword was pointed at him, "Your. Family."
Connor gritted his teeth as he glared at him, "...Ain't. Special."
...
...
-Clang!-
Connor dropped the sword, its blade harshly landing on the floor like a clap of thunder.
He bowed his head, the black locks of his hair hanging over his eyes, "G-God... Damnit..." He struggled not to cry, but the tears kept coming anyway.
He wanted to stab him— wanted to run the damn thing through his heart and out his back before decapitating him just to spite the bastard.
But he couldn't do it. Not when the beastly cur was right, and Connor'd just be proving his point if he tried...
"But you, on the other hand, are,"
That was unexpected.
"?" Conner listlessly looked up: slight curiosity shone in his tear-ridden eyes.
"You hold one of the most powerful reiterations in existence," Darwin exclaimed, "Not even empires can hold a candle against The Book of Fate!"
Connor knew what he said was correct. Theoretically, he could decide the fate of the most important people in the world or even destroy the entire realm. But that wasn't what shocked him:
"Reiterations?" That was weirdly specific wording, and he certainly picked up on it.
"Reiterations," Darwin reaffirmed, "After every generation, the gods would change their artefacts, and would give it the necessary strengths and weaknesses based around their champion,"
"And I hold something unique even among them?"
"Precisely!" He roared in a fit of hearty laughter, perhaps impressed with his common sense, "Almost no one else was given such authority before! That Book literally holds all of Fates power! And I suspect I might know why—"
He wasn't able to finish, though, as they were interrupted by the coughs of Nostradamus.
"What is it? I was about to get to the good part!" Darwin scowled annoyedly at him.
"That's quite enough; revealing anymore will permanently alter his Fate. Allow him to find out for himself next time he meets her,"
"..." Again, he wanted to complain, but seeing the other's cautionary glare, finally decided against it.
"Bah! You old thing and your damn stupid foresight," He stomped off to Don Khai, "C'mon kid, let's catch up!"
"Y-Yes, murshid!" And he rushed off.
After the two of them were out of earshot, Nostradamus addressed Connor.
"I apologize, child, but it wouldn't be good if he said any more; I hope you can understand,"
Connor numbly nodded.
He sighed, "Well, it doesn't matter for now. What matters now is how you're going to get stronger, isn't it?"
This struck a chord with him, and he started to pay more attention.
"I believe The Book's already informed you on how to get it stronger, yes?"
It didn't take him long to realize what he was talking about, and he nodded.
"Then why are you so weak?"
"..." Connor was silent.
Nostradamus merely smiled, "If you're reluctant, let's find an alternate way to get stronger, hm?"
"How?" He looked on impatiently, an eager smile on his face.
With the same smile on his face, Nostradamus grappled Connor to the ground before gripping him in a chokehold, "Like this!"