“Why must we rule and let the others be ruled..? I don’t understand it..”
A young boys voice touched the leaves around him ever so gently.
“That is simply how it is. Without our guidance, they would have no direction in their lives. Without them to give direction, we would lose ours as well.”
A much older voice spoke. Despite the voice being louder and much deeper, it barely made itself known to the world around it.
It was a voice that one could hear clearly, yet never feel bothered by. As if it was always meant to be there. Part of the background, like the soft barely noticeable breeze.
“I don’t know...it seems a bit strange to me..why can’t we and they just find our own directions without having to rely on each other..?”
The young voice said hesitantly, the leaves quivering with his uncertainty.
“Why..? Well you see..no one has ever tried doing that. Besides. It would disrupt the system we have built up. Everyone’s lives would be plunged into chaos and disarray.”
Relieving silence of its duty as much as it was part of silence itself. The older voice explained with certainty.
“But don’t you think a world where everyone does what they want rather than depend on someone else for answers is..more fun?”
A hopeful smile creeped into the younger voice, playing with the thought.
“...Fun? I cannot imagine ruining the rhythm and security of everyone’s lives being fun. It would be against everything we stand to protect.”
Lecturing, the older voice sighed silently at the naiveness of the younger one.
“You’re right…” The younger voice relented. “Though..imagine a world where everyone could just..follow something different. Reach for something they feel close to. Maybe even create something..!”
“Them..? Creating..? That would be amusing. How could something as weak as them create anything of worth. I doubt they could manage to create something as simple as an insect.”
The older voice dismissed that suggestion lightly.
“Well not like that..! I’ve seen them make things though..fascinating things..! made from stones and trees and other living things!”
Excitedly, the younger voice was retelling of the wonders he had seen.
“That does sound interesting..maybe you are right..” The older voice softened slightly, but upon noticing the grin of the younger one, he put up a slightly resistant attitude.
“But. It still does not mean that we must throw our system away. It is what lets everyone live in peace.”
“Yeah..but atleast you get it..! Sister thought everything i spoke of as childish and delusional..”
The younger voice sulked.
“Now now..she is simply..well versed in our ways. And she does not spend her time idly watching lesser beings..” The older voice became slightly deeper than usual.
“Ah..forgive me. But it is so difficult to concentrate on the studies when there are things of much interest down below..”
The younger voice became smaller with each word, perhaps due to guilt or shame of not properly engaging their duties.
“...I understand. You have always been curious. The things you do speak of are things to take of note..i will attempt speaking with the others of it. Perhaps your ideas can be implemented in some manner into our system. If i do manage that. I would be proud that my son was the first to inspire change into our system for the first time in...ever since its creation.”
Despite not seeing the owner of the voices. The sounds of their breathing and words indicated in a strangely inhuman manner, that they were smiling warmly.
One was an excited young smile, hoping for the unknown.
The other a calm, proud smile, simply wishing for the other to smile as well.
“Thank you father!” The younger voice chirped to his father.
---
“.....I did not expect..to meet you here….father.”
Trying his hardest to keep calm without success, Hikaru gritted his teeth to try and slow his breathing.
“I hAvE BeEn hErE sInCe i wAs iMprISonEd. wHeRe ELsE wOuLd i bE..mY deArEsT SON”
Once again invading everyone’s minds. The voice of the thing inside the darkness, or which was the darkness, spoke to Hikaru.
“...I had hoped you were buried somewhere inside the core of this world. Hidden away beneath layers of molten rock.”
Hikaru finally managed to get control of his breathing. It was still shallow and fast, but atleast now he was able to speak fairly coherently.
“yOuR rAgE sTiLL bUrNs tHaT StRoNgLy inSiDe you..hAs TIME nOt qUenCheD yOuR bLoOdlUsT..?”
The voice spoke in a slightly disappointed tone. Although tone applying to something expressed in pure thought was something difficult to grasp.
“It will always rage inside me. For as long as yours does, i shall never calm the flame that will burn away your corruption.”
Clutching his chest, Hikaru stared right into the two spaces of complete black. Whatever forces caused them to absorb the mana and light around them, also caused them to absorb the light from Hikarus eyes. Essentially robbing him of his sight. Despite that, his eyes never left the two spaces of dark, that were the eyes of the being he was speaking to.
“mY fLaMe hAs oNlY gRoWn lArGeR iNsIdE mE. I hAd hOpEd yOu woUlD hAvE ACqUiReD tHe SAmE MindSeT As ME.”
The voice rumbled loudly through everyone's minds. Luckily, everyone except Hikaru had fainted by now. If they had not, they would have likely gotten close to death simply from having the being’s voice echo at such a strength through them.
Hikarus nose was bleeding from its intensity, but his body stood firmly, if shakily, in front of it.
“Well I hope your flame keeps you warm. Because that is all you will have for an eternity. Until you either revert to what you were before..or you weaken enough for me to finish you off.”
Drawing his sword, on which the ribbon was shaking in wild fear, he pointed it into the darkness.
“....i sEe..tHeN i mUsT ReGretFullY tEll yOu tHaT i dO nOt pLaN to StAy hErE lOnG eNoUgH fOr tHaT tO hAppEn.”
“...If you are talking about sister's attempts to free you. Then i must also regretfully inform you that i..and my companions..will personally stop her. Without all of the relics. Nothing will free you of the chains crafted by the collective effort of all higher beings.”
Hikaru sheathed his sword, thrusting it into the sheath with a bit too much force. Tearing his leather sheath.
“...cOmMenDaBle. HoWeVer..hEr efFoRtS wErE nEvEr to FrEE mE..FrOm ThEsE..cRudElY MadE ChAiNs..”
The clacking of metal chains echoed through the empty darkness, shaking the airship.
“sHe WoUlD oNlY qUiCkEn mY FrEeiNg MYseLf..bY gRaNtInG mE cOncEntrATed MaNA..eVen wIthoUt heR..i wIlL aCqUiRe mY fReedOm..iN tIme..mY sTrenGth oNlY gRowS..”
At those words, the absorption of the mana increased in power. Slowly moving even the airship along the flow of mana, moving toward the being.
“.....How is this possible..!? The chains should seal all of your strength..! You shouldn’t be able to move, much less absorb the mana of the world..!”
“...It iS nOt..tHe mAnA oF tHe wOrLd. iT iS tHe mAnA of tHe..lesser...beIngs..i hAvE sTrUck a DeAl wIth thE lesser BeIngs aBoVe. I GRaNt oNto them mIniSculE knOwlEdgE..GranTing tHem thE aBilitY to leVitate pEbbles..iN ReTuRn..tHey supPly me..wItH tHe ManA oF aNy BeIng whO eNters iNto tHe mOuNtAin waLLs Meant tO trAp me. NOw tHey oNly TrAp mY littLe kEys to FreEdom.”
The chains kept clanking loudly enough for Hikarus ears to ache in pain.
“ ...No...That cannot be. an entire country’s worth of mana..that enormous amount..how long has this country been in existence..over that long period of time..how much..how much have you been able to accumulate!?”
Hikaru slowly added his knowledge together. Releasing something that made his heart beat out of rhythm.
“eNoUgH tHaT wItHiN a lEssEr BeIngs lifetIme..i WiLl haVe brokEn tHrough tHeSe chainS..”
The two spaces of complete darkness disappeared for a few seconds, before reappearing again. As if the being had closed its eyes for a bit.
“yOur sIsTer uNdErstAnDs..wHy Can’t YoU aLsO..hAvinG ThEir oWn Child tUrn Against them is sOmEthIng No PArEnt wishes fOr..”
The voice got solemn, less powerful and intrusive in everyone’s minds.
“...You dare! You dare say i have turned against you!? Was it not the other way around!? You turned your back to me and my sister. Then you brainwashed her with your honeyed words. You dare say that..! you DARE..!”
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Drawing his sword, Hikaru headed for the edge of the airship.
“You dare...say i have turned my back. When you have not given your decisions any second thoughts!? Despite having a near eternity of time here!? You are the one who keeps your back turned to me.”
“sOn. yOu dO nOt sEe tHe bIgGer pIcTuRe..”
“No. I do. Because i was the one who told it to you. Except i grew up and understood its flaws. Yet you followed a child’s dream and made it extreme.”
“iT wAs nOt aNy Child’s dream. It wAs MY cHild’s dream. iT wAs. a GoOd Dream. tHe oNly ThIng ThAt FinAlly madE SeNse. ThE oThers dId nOt See it. yet yOu aNd i DiD. i Will fuLfilL mY pRomIse. tHat dream ShAll bEcOme a REALITY!”
The mana in the air shook from the power of the voice. The air was uncomfortably still as the voice travelled only through mana.
The mana shaking, was enough to move the ship back towards its original floating space, before it got slowly sucked in toward the being again.
“...Even if i wanted to. I would never agree to that foolish idea. I now have someone i care for. I will not let you ruin the world they reside in.”
“..iN tHe nEw wOrlD tHerE wilL bE bEtter lesseR bEinGS to ChooSe from. oNes tHat aRe Truly FREE.”
“...She is free. More free than me. Definitely more free than you. More free than other higher beings. She is what will bring this world the freedom to follow its own way. Whether i encourage it or not. I will prove you wrong. “
Never having felt this determined in his life, Hikaru stood his ground against a being that had the ability to erase him from existence without lifting a finger. Determination was a weak word. What Hikaru felt was a combination of his complete and utter trust in Yuri, and his conviction of following her despite her actions, because to him, her actions meant something more than mere thrill seeking as they did to Yuri.
Her each and every action was the personification of his childhood dream.
Actions unhindered by the logic set upon this world by the gods of old.
Actions that followed nothing except what her own heart felt worth following. A loose red string in a cloth rug made of different variations of grey, all equal in their uniformity to create an image that no one would bother remembering.
Yet now. The oddity of the red string would sit upon the minds and memory of any observer. To Hikaru, Yuri was the one person who gave this world any meaning.
She was a personification of his childhood dream. Someone who was free to do as they wished.
“YoU belIeve a singLe leSser beIng is oF mOre value thAN an EntIre nEw wOrld of Free bEings..?”
The being seemed amused.
“ThEn lEt uS seE..mY soN..whiCh of Us will bE fIrst to AchievE a WorlD that iS Free..”
The air began to shift around them. The mana was no longer getting absorbed in a uniform manner. It was raging wildly. The source of this chaos would normally be unknown. An anomaly that should not happen.
This time however. There was an obvious source right in front of Hikaru. A being that should not exist in the realm of mortal beings. Yet was still forcefully imprisoned here.
“I won’t accept any of your dares or games. I will make sure you do not escape. And that is that. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Hikaru coldly dismissed the being, despite their airship shaking violently enough for it to get torn apart.
“TrY yOur BesT. FoR if yoU fAil. I wiLL maKe sure to FirSt comE aFtEr thiS leSser bEing yoU conSider FreE. I WiLL shOw you thAt even shE is NoT fRee oF her faTe. bEing thE firsT steP foR a wOrlD wherE alL fuTure bEings arE fRee frOm eveN the ShackLes of Fate ITSElf.”
The two spaces of complete darkness slowly began to dim as the being finished its sentence. The air raging harder the dimmer its eyes got.
“Don’t you dare touch YURI!”
Hikaru found himself walking toward the edge, the muscles in his legs tensing tightly for a jump. His nerves had snapped, once this immortal being, who was someone he at some point considered dear to him. Threatened someone who was truly dear to him.
“I will not let you attempt to escape your rightful chains. I will make sure you are stuck here. Until this world dies naturally, and everyone here abandons it. Leaving you here alone. In a dead world. With only a single free being. If you call being alone free.”
Hikarus face twisted with rage. His emotions which had been kept under lock and key, were now boiling to the surface. Emotions of anger and betrayal he had not felt in many years.
Yet he stopped before he jumped. Not because he suddenly felt a clarity of mind. It was because there was something stopping him from jumping. A weak force pulling on his arm.
“..Hikaru..don’t..leave..”
Yuri had somehow managed to stand up, her entire body barely holding her up. Her grip on his arm was so weak that he could likely shrug her off with a literal shrug.
In his mind, her grip felt as steady as that of a steel chain wrapped around his arm.
He could not move. He couldn’t deny her request.
“It’s okay..Hikaru..i won’t let that thing..do anything to you..”
Yuri squeezed his arm in a reassuring manner, misunderstanding the reason for why Hikaru was upset, likely because her mind was still dizzy from the beings intrusion.
“...Of course. You are the great Yuri after all, no?”
Hikaru smiled as his rage slowly melted away. He glanced back into the darkness, but the presence of the being that was his father was now gone.
Yuri grabbing Hikarus arm [https://kalbobzone.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/lurking-shadows-2.jpg?w=748]
An especially powerful wave of raging mana infused wind hit against their airship. Almost flipping it upside down.
Yuri slowly shook her head, her mind finally clearing.
“Ugh….Hikaru..what’s going on though...my head is all fuzzy..”
She sleepily rubbed her cheek on Hikarus arm.
“Why is everything shaking..”
Her mind still putting everything back together, she looked around her realising where she were.
“Oh yeah! The monster..! I heard it talk!”
“....Indeed. I will explain things to you once we are out of the risk of being stuck here forever.”
Hikaru referred to the strange winds about to tear their airship apart at any moment.
“Make sure you do! Because i didn’t get any treasure!”
Yuri ran over to the lamps, increasing their burning and filling the airship balloon with hot air, quickly lifting it up.
“Hey wake up, you idiots! You missed the show!”
She kicked at the unconscious Ahab and Helgi who moaned in pain while grabbing their heads.
“Ugh what was that...my head's splitting open with pain..” Helgi slowly got up.
“Come on, hurry and help me out, you weak minded Helgi! I felt fine almost right away!”
Bragging she kept quickly turning up the heat of the lanterns one by one.
“...Probably because there isn’t much of a mind to feel pain in there anyway..” Rubbing his temples, Helgi walked past the unconscious Ahab and began binding ropes that had come apart due to the monstrous winds.
“What was that!” Yuri squinted at Helgi.
“I said your brain is small! Small!” He yelled at her.
“Why you! i’ll show you small!” She began kicking loose wood and metal toward Helgi, who did the same, while they both struggled with getting the ship in proper working order.
“Alright, i think i got it!” She said, as the airship quickly began to rise up through the darkness, toward the world above them.
“Well done.”
Hikaru was leaning slightly over the edge, looking down into the darkness, as if he was unsure of something.
“Now that we’re free from that wind...Hikaru. What was that thing..that you talked to..? You seemed to know each other? But i was slightly out of it so i missed most things..”
She came up behind Hikaru, and stood next to him.
Around this time, Ahab began to wake up, mumbling questions. He was shushed by Helgi who was carefully listening, awaiting Hikarus response with squinted eyes. He had heard one thing that he was sure of. Hikaru called that thing his father. Something that the gods he met while travelling to this world, mentioned. ‘
It was of high importance to him, since it was related to his promise. his contract that he signed in exchange for being allowed passage to this world.
So he listened.
“That thing. Was something i had mentioned to you before. When i mentioned the only beings seeking the godly relics. A fallen one. One who used to be a god. But is now forced into the mortal realm. weakened. It was also...the one i called. My father.”
Hikaru said that last word with such disdain, it almost sounded like a derogatory term, instead of a familial one.
“Oh..i see. So you hate him?” She asked lightly, wind flowing past her hair while they quickly ascended.
“More an it than a he. And more than hate. I believe what i feel is closer to disgust. If i do not stop him. He will end up breaking free of his shackles. He will try to fulfil the perverse dream that used to be mine. If anything it is my responsibility to stop him. Since i am the one who granted him his seed to madness.”
His voice was heavy. Whether it was guilt or hatred, was difficult to tell. Although it was easy to tell how much it weighed upon his heart.
“I see..i did manage to hear a bit about that..could you..tell me more..if that’s okay?”
She asked carefully, she felt true concern for Hikaru, concern and curiosity. She knew nothing about him or his past, yet they were close companions. What kind of mediocre leader is she.
“Mm..i might as well tell you. Since now all of you know my father to be a monstrous figure. As you know. I am not human. In fact i am older than most ancient cities in this world. My father, my sister, and i. We were banished. From the realm above.”
Hikaru spoke slowly and precisely, his tone perfectly clear. He wanted Yuri to know this.
“...An ancient god..” Ahab mumbled before being punched by Helgi to quiet down.
“No. I never did fully achieve a status of god before my banishment, neither did my sister. Despite my lifetime being ancient compared to yours. My memories only stretch a human lifetime or two. I ended up losing a lot of memories during my days as knight.. That is the reason i did not know of this being the sealing place of my father.”
He clutched the metal edge of the airship, squeezing it.
“It all made sense. The mountain walls made to trap him in. The hole meant to keep him from contact with any mana or creatures. If only i had realised this before.”
He cursed at himself.
“Hey you couldn’t have known, at least you do now right?”
Yuri tried to be positive.
“If i had noticed a lifetime ago, i might have put a stop to his mana collection. Who knows how much strength he has managed to accumulate..it all made sense when i give it thought. Even with a godly relic, floating this many islands is impossible without proper technique. Which he granted upon the people trying to settle in this protected space. letting him slowly grow in power without being disturbed..”
“Hikaru. Stop beating yourself up over it.”
She held his bigger sturdier hands between her smaller more fragile hands and squeezed.
“You know. I never had a family. I never had a father, i wish i did, i really do. But my luck wasn’t that strong apparently”
“..I’m sorry about that Yuri” Hikaru looked down.
“No, i’m not saying this for pity. I’m saying, i may not know how it feels like to be betrayed like you were by someone that close to you. What i learned during my younger days as the scum of society, is that humans..or i guess in this case, any intelligent thing, are like cogwheels. Society works by each cogwheel moving each other cogwheel in some way. So for example, if you were the cogwheel that made your father become horrible. It wasn’t your fault.”
She squeezed his hands more.
“How am i not at fault for being directly responsible for creating this monster.” Hikaru spit out.
“Because..” She gently stroked his hands “Even if your cogwheel hadn’t done it, another persons cogwheel would eventually reach his through a chain reaction. It would have happened anyway. Things that can happen will always eventually happen.”
Holding his hands, Yuri looked at Hikarus eyes..
“I don’t know why or how your father betrayed you. But know this..i would never ever betray you.” She held his hands closely against her chest.
“So don’t feel down because of a weird thing that can’t even talk using real words. Because you have me!”
She smiled warmly at him while still squeezing his hands against her.
“..Thank you Yuri..” He felt the world brighten around him from her simple touch and smile.
“..You can let go of my hand now Yuri”
“Huh? Oh sorry!” She hadn’t realised she was still squeezing his hands and let go, slightly embarrassed.
“Sorry, your hands were just so firm and i wanted to hug them and see how nice they would be embrace..um i mean, in case you have to rescue me by carrying me of course!!”
Flustered, Yuri looked away, feeling her ears heat up.
“Ah. Indeed. Your hands were also incredibly soft..and incredibly gentle..”
Averting his gaze, Hikaru felt a strange feeling coming over him, which he tried to shake off.
“Um. Anyway! Don’t worry about not noticing your father being here. Because even if he has collected as much power as a nuclear bomb, there is a way we can stop him from collecting more mana and seal him for good!”
Announcing this mostly to hide her embarrassment, Yuri stood proudly in front of Hikaru, looking at him and at the rest.
“What is a nuc..lair..bomb?” Hikaru tilted his head “And how would we accomplish something like that. Resealing a being that powerful, would take several gods working together. It is impossible for us..”
“Non non non! You’re thinking about this the wrong way, Hikaru! You’re thinking about sealing his magic by using binding magics, right?”
She waved a finger in front of her.
“How else would one …”
“Easy! From what i’ve seen, mana acts as a sort of atom! While atoms can easily pass through solid material. like flesh and water. What about..if it was several kilometers worth of rock. The mana would get stuck, right? Which means.no more absorbing magic!”
She nodded proudly.
“Yah can’t mean..” Ahab walked up from behind Helgi.
“You can’t be serious..” Helgi widened his eyes.
“Yuri surely this is not what i believe it to be.” Hikaru wanted to sigh, but ended up smiling.
“We are going to blow up all of the islands and the surrounding mountains so they block this hole forever!”
She said happily, excited over her idea.
Helgi and Ahab collapsed backwards in shock.
Hikaru kept smiling. This was truly what he liked about Yuri. She was always..unpredictable. If this wasn’t freedom, what was.
“And people say i don’t take care of my companions.” Yuri smirked while looking up at the light slowly approaching above them.