Chapter One- An unexpected if enthusiastic walk
A sudden sound followed by gust of wind was heard across the courtyard of an ancient shrine alerting a brown haired young woman in the garment of shrine maiden that somewhat was amiss, to her surprise she saw a black haired young man lying on the ground by the torii gate.
"Are you alright!? she said, running toward the figure laying on the ground.
"Uggg what was that place , where am I? I said as I heard something, trying to dispel the dizziness.
"Sir, can you stand? You are on the grounds of the Hakuba Shrine" said the girl trying to help me get up.
"Yes, thank you, just give me a moment so the world stops spinning, Hakuba Shrine you said? That sounds somewhat familiar" said the young man.
I took the girl's hand and stood up taking stock of my surroundings, as she said I was indeed in what looks like a rather ancient if well kept japanese shrine which was weird because the last thing I was at the airport in London on my way back home.
Feel a bout of nausea return as I got assaulted by a memory of loud noises, screams and falling concrete, then I don't know how to describe it reality just shatter around me like glass and there were overwhelming colors, lights, the conflicting sensations of hot and cold, far and near at the same time and the taste of…white at the end of it?.
I feel something calling to me, that I could grasp that something, I close my eyes and follow that feeling. In the stone, the buildings, it's all around me.
Suddenly I feel a warm energy suddenly fill my body as if I was bathed in warm sunlight dispelling the aches of my body and above all information, this place was indeed the Hakuba shrine, I feel if a pull harder I could feel know its history, I feel a pool of…white power? radiance? inside of it I can see symbols of different sizes floating around in the when I focus on the two bigger ones information flows into my mind one is the concept of sealing and the other is purification. Also I feel that something was sealed here, a pulsing massive mass of red and black power, mostly black thought. Something BIG and NASTY.
That nagging feeling of familiarity was back.
"Thank you for your assistance. My name is…Ferio, Ferio Vaglantiz, can you please tell me what time is it? I noticed that the moon has risen and last thing I remember it was noon" and is a rather prominent full moon but I remembered that just yesterday it was a crescent moon.
"Yes, my name is Hakuba Mina I am the daughter of the head priest of the temple, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance" She give me a respectful bow and took a moment to search for something in her pockets, taking a smartphone with a horse keychain "Its 9:48 pm sir, in about five minutes first solar eclipse of the 21th century it's going to take place" said the girl rather excited.
"Solar eclipse?" Ahh that feeling that I forgot something important from before came back with vengeance sending a chilling feeling running down my spine. Lets try asking something.
"Say Miss Mina, you won't happen to have a silver haired friend would you?"
"You mean Soma-kun? Did he say something rude to you?" said the girl, giving a rather tired sigh as if this was a common occurrence.
"N..No… he did not" I try my level best to suppress the rising panic attack, even if I put all the clues together it can be real that I somehow got Isakaied to Castlevania specifically at the beginning of Aria of Sorrow.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, looking up and I see that the eclipse is commencing signaling the beginning of the game, I feel conflicted should I run? Whatever power this isekai trip granted me it's really worth it to thrown myself into the FUCKING CASTLEVANIA even with out Dracula there monsters and that madman Graham, on the other hand danger and opportunities goes hand in hand. Loot, and more importantly connections, this is a modern world I can not live casually without proper documentation, ids and other things,
If I help in some capacity maybe I can request assistance from whatever agency Alucard works for, but it can't be that bad if he is involved with them.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Mina looked to the side and smiled as she calls to a silver haired guy in his late teens wearing a white trench coat over a black shirt and jeans as he was crossing the Torii.
"Soma-kun"
"Mina" He answered warmly at the girl, then his eyes landed on me, sending me a rather cold unfriendly look "Who are you?"
"Calm down kid I just a lost traveler, your cute girlfriend here was helping me get my bearings, I quite lost at the moment you see"
"It's not like that we are just childhood friends" said the girl blushing while sending "discrete" looks that obviously went over the head of the guy like a proper MC that he was.
"Hmmp" was his reply, truly this guy is a font of sunshine.
"Kids" I said, looking toward the almost complete eclipse and with a sight I Iook at both of them.
"Roll for initiative"
"Wha.."
And then everything went white.
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These awakening on unknown ground after a blacking out episodes are becoming a rather disturbing trend that I can do without in my life. As I was coming through I looked at Soma resting his head on Mina lap, lucky bastard. We were laying on an entryway paved with white stone and statues of knights dotted the way towards castle doors. Ornate things of fine dark oak covered in carving of the denizens of the night, not the most welcomed sight but amazing nonetheless . To our back a closed portcullis of thick wood and iron.
"Where am I...? WHOA! What... happened?? I heard Soma beside me.
"So you've decided to join us... Did you have a pleasant nap? said a rather handsome man in an immaculate black suit with a red shirt.
"Not at all good sir, the floor is quite hard. I have to extend my complaints to the castle management" I pause to look at the kids. "Not all of us have the luxury of a lap pillow after all" I said point at the withs while laughing.
I can only laugh at the sputtering denials at my back as I look towards the man.
I admit in my heart of hearts that I had to resist the urge to squeal like a fangirl. I mean that is Adrian "THE ALUCARD" Fahrenheit Tepes immortal warrior mage and one of my childhood heroes.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" said Soma. "It's OK, Soma. His name is Genya Arikado…" responded Mina trying to calm her friend.
"Skip the introductions. I have a few questions, and I need answers now."
"Go... go ahead…" Said the teen trying to stand up
"Why have you come here?" Question the dhampir
Why? Well, Mina and I... Hang on, where are we?
"We are in Castlevania or more colloquially known as the castle of Dracula aka the penetrator" I said rather cheekily.
"It's the impaler, and how do you know that?" said the man "Semantics and I just happen to be a fan of the Belmonts" it's my only response.
"Huh? Dracula's Castle? Are you telling me we are in Europe?"
"No. We are inside the solar eclipse." said the Alucard "Inside the eclipse?! You're insane! Do you think I'm a fool?!"
"Soma-kun! Listen to him, he's telling you the truth!" Yes Soma listen to the centuries old warrior that grew up here.
Since I know what 's to happen, I try to feel that pool power that I feel back at the temple, it's there but feel rather…distant for lack of a better word. It looked like a small white star in my mind's eye.
Thankfully it looks like it answers my call for it. I concentrate on it looking for the symbols that I saw before, the concepts of sealing and purification that I felt before. I take a look at the purification concept since it looks more immediately useful in combat.
"What the heck are you talking about? Give me an explanation!" exclaims a rather agitated Soma.
"Well, it's like this... Huh?! An enemy!" The dhampir tried to explain when right on queue a bunch of wild skeletons suddenly appeared, some were winged spearmen, others armored swordsmen. But the more amazing thing is that they got the drop on us….somehow. Alucard-sama I know it's part of the plot and all but how in the blazes they sneaked upon you.
"Damn! Protect the girl!. SOUL STEAL!"As Alucard cast his iconic spell I could help but notice things about it , things that I somehow know are the concepts of SOUL, ABSORPTION and DEATH, as well a swirl of black energy I felt as a bunch of data got imprinted in my brain making my mind reel.
The spell destroys most enemies but most it's not all as few skeletons survive and attack us.
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Call in upon the power purification. I picture it like white wave of destructive energy coming from my hand like a shotgun.
"Get rekt assholes" The power reacts to my desire to protect the kids pulling from the pool of white to the concept of purification to myself and finally to my hand. I like to say that my first spell was all badass and annihilated all the enemies in a torrent of LIGTH but one of the flying bastards manage to dodge at the last moment. And worse it went for Mina.
"Hyaaa!, go back to where you came from!'' Screamed Soma as he swung his pocket knife cutting through the ribs of the flying monstrosity. Must be some knife because not only he cut through bone but the mofo practically disintegrated.
From the crumbling remains of the skeleton a red orb of light comes out and slams into Soma's chest.
"So it has awakened." said Alucard in an even tone "What? What was that?" asked Soma, still reeling from the experience, really the boy is handling his first mortal combat experience like a champ "The spirit of the creature you killed has just entered your body. You have the power to absorb the abilities of the monsters you kill."
"Wh... why... why would I have that power...?" Because yer a wizard Soma thats why. "You have gained the power. Now you must go to the Master's chamber." said Alucard as a matter of fact.
"For what reason?" said Soma, worry and mistrust clear in his eyes. Alucard looked at him straight into his eyes "Do you not wish to return with your friend to your own world?"
"Of course I want to go back.". Alucard then pointed in the direction of the highest tower in the castle "Go to the Master's chamber. Then, you will understand everything"
Looking towards us with worry Soma said, "But I can't just leave them here like this."Ohhh worrying about me too, what a nice kid, must be because I saved his friend. "No need to worry about them. I'll put up a protective barrier. But death will most certainly find those who stay here too long."
"Don't worry haa haa, Soma I got PO...haa..wer of my own so we will be fine" I said trying to reassure the kid. Thougth pant didn´t help much selling that idea "The... then I…"Yes. Only you can save her from a painful death." said the dhampir "And you, what will you do?" said soma with clear dislike dripping from his words.
"I, too, have things I must do within these castle walls. Go. Set forth! Both your own life and hers are at stake." With that said Alucard begin to walk towards us, his steps measured and composed "Come over here I will cast a barrier that will keep you safe"
Soma lookend in our direction, well Mina direction one last time then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to firm his resolve. "Be careful Soma-kun" Mina said, worry evident in her voice. Truly a good girl. He nodded at her and started walking towards the giant doors of the castle.
As Alucard prepares to cast the barrier I notice something glimmering in the place where I destroyed those skeletons. I took a closer look and saw some motes of light.
Focusing on them my sight suddenly change I could SEE, colors of power, tiny pieces motes are shards of concepts similar to the ones I felt back at the temple but infinitely smaller and boy there were many, BONE, ARMOR, IRON, SPEAR, DEATH, among others there were also wisps of a black energy, probably demon power or something. As I extend my hand towards these fragments all the shards flew towards me in a manner not dissimilar to what Soma experienced before.
Wherever I put my eyes I could see the concepts of everything like they were labels, how they interact with each other, giving power, taking it , changing it in a rhythm I could not comprehend. I could see a lot of black and red power being very prevalent around the area but I see some wisps of green coming from what at a distance looks like some form of garden. Looking down I got the same feeling I got at the temple but its the opposite, its black, I still try to reach towards it and pull. Instantly I felt something pull back and I pull once more harder this time. This back and forth continued for some time until I felt something give and I connected towards the source. That being the castle entrance I felt an awareness towards the place but is tenuous at best.
The coppery smell reached me, the wet and warm in my face. I wipe it with my hand, noticing the deep red of blood . Suddenly I feel a pressure building in my head and a familiar sense of dizziness assaults me once more. It seems I over extended myself. I close my eyes and feel my awareness pull back and then everything is back to normal.Well as a normal being in what could be considered a dominic world.
"Vaglantiz-san are you alright? Asked Mina with a worried tone "I will be fine. I didn't take gaining superpowers as well as Soma did"
"I will cast the barrier now, don't move" Alucard began to make gestures and a circle of white light began to appear around us. Even without the sight I could see some of it I got the feeling of PROTECTION and VEILING tied together with a string of white power similar but different to the one at temple.
"It's done, you should be safe for now. Mina, wait for that young man. He should return later. If you excuse me as I said before I have matters to attend to in the castle" said Alucard turning towards the door without waiting for an answer.
"What a day" I said as I sat on the ground nursing. I close my eyes and steady my breath. "Ok Ferio let's figure out these powers" I mutter to myself.
What are my clues? I look at my memories starting with the whole isekai trip, the nothingness, that vast infinity, then my meeting Mina. Now that I think about it, everyone should be talking in japanese but while I know some moonspeak it is not to a conversational level and everyone is understanding me when I speak.
What else?, I got that power from the temple that looks like a pool of white, the concepts, what's else,I can somehow understand Alucard SOUL STEAL, the entrance of the castle that looked black to my new senses. And there is How All of these feels strangely familiar, like when I get the clues that this is Castlevania.
How is isekai, that place, colors, places of power and seeing magic tie together…
A memory resurface "I tap 3 islands to summon Jace…" ehhh, could it be?
I suddenly stood up saying "Miss Mina can you help with something". Mina looked at me startled at my sudden move. "Sorry, I just want to try something".
"Ano…, what should I do? Said the young miko in a confused tone. "The ability I gained allow me to saw the concepts that forms things, I want to see how that differs to a living person, don´t worry this it is a perception power an observation if you will"
Focusing on Mina I can see some concepts such as WOMAN and PRIESTESS but some of them are too little to observe so I try to open the sight more gently this time. I think I succeeded this time. My vision changed from 720p to to 4k with all the settings in ultra. I can now see more than the concepts themselves. I can see the framework of how they aggregate to form the existence of Mina.
I feel a small star appearing in my consciousness, focusing on it. I get the information for a Untrained young adult japanese shrine maiden. I just got a pattern, I bonded to a land and cast a spell…kinda.
I grin as a realized that not only I isekaied I also a planeswalker. This is gonna be fun.
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Hello folks Elferio here
Where to begin, I have been a lurker for some years now, been trying to make some stories here and then but I was never quite satisfied with how they turned out and not posting anything. A friend told me to just write and look for feedback and reactions of the readers and go from there. I was binging on anime (Frieren and Mushoku Tensei) when I got hit by the muse and like it the idea of journey to gather magic spells but I wanted more than just a world or a single system I always liked stories like A Nascent Kaleidoscope or Multidimensional Merchant, traveling, interacting with various setting, figuring out how power work from the perspective of a different setting.
So I settled on a Planeswalker character, I always liked the power set and of course the freedom to come and go to different planes making it ideal for a progression/exploration story. With these I wanted to make a character that can become competent moderately fast but not instantly op.
I chose Aria of Sorrow as the first world because one I have been avid Metroidvania fan, 2 the setting can provide a good initial conflict, if "average kid" with a isekai mc power manage to conquer the castle in arguably a single night a planeswalker surly can as well…hopefully.
I will be grateful for all the feedback and advice that you guys can give.