******* 1 Necessarius
The World is in its fourth wake, the Old has passed and the new have come. Syn has a personality issue— He dresses as feminine as it gets, carries himself as one, on top of having the beauty that could easily trump even the most lavishing of beauties. On top of this heavy exterior, however, lies a deadly secret- His past. Will it come back to haunt him, will he remember it?
Chapter 1: New life
The golden yolk rose in reverence across the broad horizon, brandishing its awe as its rays seeped into the eyes of the exhausted denizens of the world. The yolk basked its grandeur over the bodies of water, envious of its majesty.
The lone youth brushed his hair, streaming down to his waist with a touch of azure and the smoothness and silkiness of a female to match. He slipped on his frilly blouse, and pulled up his skirt that touched his thighs.
He clipped on the cross earrings on his ears, shining and sparkling from their full environment which complemented his hair clips as they were simply two streaks of a shooting star with a pair of shiny magenta eyes.
'Dear Diary,
I feel that I might have strange powers. Just the other day, I overturned a table without touching it. I was mad at Joshua because he took my stuff again! Just when would he ever leave me alone!'
The blunt tool fell off his dark mahogany table as it rolled off, crashing with a mild thud and a broken tip.
"Ah, crap." The youth sighed to himself, shaking his head. "This sucks, why does it always roll off the table?"
"I hate people." The youth muttered to himself, "What did I ever do to deserve this... Always being teased by the guys. Not that they're trying to harm or bully me, so I guess that's good."
"Well, then has it ever occurred to you that it's because of your outfit and feminine appearance, Syn?" The cutesy feminine figure toward the centre beckoned to him, "I mean, you're more domesticated than even the females, plus you look like one. Can't blame them."
"Shut it, Lynx."
"If you insist." She sighed, pulling back her scented oak chair before dismissing herself to her room with the two lavenders strung by the sides in the shape of a heart.
'Seriously,' the youth sighed to himself, 'That's what happens when you let your childhood friend take charge of your life.'
'I heard that!' The serene voice mellowed from the room, followed by complete stillness as it cloaked the room with its deafening silence.
The youth checked his clock, with its shorter hand pointing to the nine symbol and it long hand pointing to ten. "Ah. Better get going." The youth muttered to himself, pushing open the thick tree door, but not before sliding all of the silver coins to his hands which made its way to his leathery pouch.
The church bells chimed ten times, each of varying pitch as a lone individual stood up the tall tower, lugging his own body weight against the rope to activate its mechanisms.
"Hey Syn." A muffled voice called out from behind his back.
"Joshua." The feminine youth greeted, turning around with a disgruntled look plastered upon his beautiful fair skin.
"Hey, uh..." The youth muttered, tugging his overalls against his back, his right foot tapping against the ground through his shoe. "I just wanted to apologise for what making fun of you earlier in the Surva. I hope you won't take it to heart."
"Well..." The feminine youth giggled slightly, curling his long azure hair by the side. "I guess I could forgive you."
"Thanks!" The sturdy youth cried, diving in for a hug with the effeminate youth. "I guess I'll see you around, Syn. I still have supplies to buy."
"Yeah, me too." Syn replied, waving his hands, "See you tomorrow."
"Huh. I guess he's not so bad after all." Syn muttered to himself, taking a left around the wooden market stalls to the one with the green stand and a large variety of bread and sandwiches. He handed over five gold pieces, and the shop keeper handed him five pieces of sandwiches with ham and cheese.
He turned away, and proceeded to cross the wooden bridge. Turning around the corner, a myriad of sounds echoed through the alleyway. One of which was loud thumping, and the other a cry for help and another a scream of agony followed with laughter and yelling.
His hands trembled, and he reached his hands out toward the darkness.
'Stop.' The effeminate youth whispered to himself, 'You are the one that's just going to suffer.'
'Ah.' He hissed to his mind, 'But I can't just sit there, doing nothing...'
"Let's just go." The cutesy female called out from behind, tagging him by the shoulder. "I've called the guardsmen, they will arrive soon."
"Ah, Lynx." The youth greeted, turning behind for an image of a stream of dark hair to fill his vision. "You're right. Let's go."
The youth lowered his head as he was escorted out by her, with ten to twenty men in red uniform rushing toward the alleyway. He turned away, and loud screaming drowned the alley as orders were issued to stand down. Following which a group of thugs with muscular arms charged out, and rushed toward them.
"This is horrible!" Lynx cried, gripping Syn's right hand as they ran ahead, away from them. "It's going to be alright, Syn. Don't worry, your condition won't relapse as long as you stay calm."
"Why are you always so caring to me?" Syn asked, anchoring himself in place when she tried to tug him along. "Is it because you pity me because of my condition?"
"What are you talking about, that's not it!" Lynx answered with a heavy tone of offence in her tone. "How could you say that, after all we've been through!"
"Grab the hostages!" The men yelled, separating the two as one of them held Lynx by her neck, and one of them held him by waist.
"No, you're making a mistake!" The caring youth cried, "You have to run!"
The guardsmen halted in front, with over twenty of them unsheathing their majestic blades.
"Shut yer mouth!" The thug cried, swinging his hands past her cheeks, leaving a red burning sensation and the impression of a palm that was slightly smaller than her face. He dropped her and kicked her to the guards.
"Step aside or this harlot gets it as well!" The thus cried, holding a Syn with a pair of trembling hands as he faced toward the floor to cover his face.
"Did you just call me a harlot?" The tiny and mild voice echoed from the back as his petite body was blocking his voice from flowing back.
"Save the act." The thug demanded, "Your hands are trembling."
"Yes. But you know that it could mean two things." Syn answered, with a slight transition of his voice to an even cuter mode. "Either I'm extremely scared, or that I'm shaking from the extreme orgasmic sensation of bloodlust."
"Shut-"
Before he could even finish, the effeminate youth clenched his hands together against the thug's wrist, severing it clean off his body with crimson life flooding and staining the city streets.
"I play with my prey first." Syn exclaimed, issuing a bright smile upon his face as he licked the blood clean. A face that was the epitome of pure bliss, albeit in the most twisted and maniacal source. "I loved the foreplay." He whispered, with the sexual innuendo to seduce them in his fractured and sinister reality within his mind.
Loud cracks were heard, and they froze. Within that very moment, he had broken and twisted their necks like how a farmer would gut his chickens. In the next moment, their necks were completely in the opposite direction and they fell over, bleeding from their severed spines and heads.
"Oops." He giggled, inserting his index finger into his mouth before removing it as a string of viscous liquid connected resembling web from his fingertip as he removed it. "Looks like my condition relapsed."
"Run!" The guardsmen cried, fleeing with their swords fallen as they had lost all strength to grip their blade. It was as though their soul had been forcibly removed, their spines removed and their life drained.
"I'm sorry, Lynx..." The effeminate youth apologised with his hands on his eyes to cover his tears, still shaking with blood streaming to his wrist, and then his arms. "I... I lost control...again. I'll leave, I don't wish to end up hurting you, or worse."
-
Four years ago...
"What do you want, you liar?" The child cried, flicking her flax coloured curls down to her shoulders.
"I-I just wanted to tell you that I didn't mean to lie to you." The boy with the long azure hair answered, albeit in a trembling and shaky tone. "I wanted to tell you...but I saw how much you hated boys..."
"So you decided to lie to me!" She exclaimed, pointing her index finger at him. "It's not that I hate guys, I just hate what they do!"
"Always trying to outdo one another, trying to be someone they're not!" She cried, "Trying to be pretentious, to try and impress me!"
"You're all the same!" She cried, with streams of watery beads rolling down her fair and elegant visage. "But you're the worst! You tried to impress me by pretending to be a girl, and you even made me believe that for the first time, I could have a true friend!"
"It's just the attitude of guys you don't like, right?"
"So what if it is, Syn?" She cried, "That won't make a difference because boys are good pretenders! You'll just be someone that you're not!"
"Leave. Now."
"But Lynx-"
"Now!" The fair child demanded, "I never wish to see you again!"
The downtrodden boy turned, and he walked out of the great iron gates by the garden.
"I didn't mean to pretend..." He muttered to himself, as streams of tears came rolling down his cheeks. "I've been friends with her for four years...and she couldn't accept me."
"I hate this life." The pitiful child cried out, "I hate the one who created me, I hate this and I want it to end!"
He turned toward the left, and he saw an engraving on the cobbled pathway with the word, 'son,' on it.
A bright warmth illuminate from his chest, and soothing sensation mellowed past his heart as more tears rolled down his fair cheeks.
"I've been here all afternoon..." The young boy noted, looking at the sundial that shadowed itself on the first quarter to the right. "I'll apologise to her once more, and I'll leave."
He walked back and stood in front of the imposing iron gates, only to witness a sight of pure crimson stained on the whitewashed house.
He turned frantically and he noticed bodies lying left and right, stained in blood with a bloodied hand print that resembled hers on the marbled table.
Adrenaline pumped into his blood, with a lovely and sinister cutesy grin on his face. His eyes turned to an eight starred figure, and a bright cyan path lit its way within his mind which he followed. The trail led him to a seaside port town, with the bright beige sands harbouring its own secret in blood.
Loud squeals were heard from the door as her voice seeped through the cracks of the wooden door shouting herself hoarse, but no one would come.
"Keep shouting, 'lil lady." A burly voice echoed from the door crack, followed by a loud chuckle. "Nobody's gonna hear cause 'yer in our town now!"
"Your parents are merchants, yes?" They asked, "Then they will have enough gold to ransom you."
"I'm afraid..." The effeminate boy cried within the depths of his mind, follows with him being lifted up as his foot no longer touched the ground. The doors slammed open and he was thrown in where the ringleader with the bright red meister's clothing was.
"Aww, how cute!" The ringleader teased, approaching the wooden doors, "Tie 'em up. They'll be here, so let's find anyone else who's still searching for her and kill them. Don't want a mess."
They slipped a knot in front of him, and to seed him beside her before the light directing into the warehouse faded as it vanished when the doors shut tight and bolted from the outside.
"What are you doing here!" The girl with the curled flax coloured hair snorted, "Trying to play hero and pretending you're someone you're not again?"
"Well serves you right!" She cried, "This is the sort of thin that gets you boys killed!"
"I had no intention on pretending, Lynx." Syn answered, wedging his feet in between the ropes in an attempt to force the rope off. "I just wanted to say I was sorry before leaving, but you were gone."
"You were going to leave?" Lynx squeaked, with a slight tinge of surprise and loss bridge reverting to her holier-than-thou bourgeois tone. "I mean, yes, that would have been best."
The door slammed open, and a wave of soldiers flooded towards the warehouse in a flock, rushing to them.
"Damn it!" The meister's voice echoed through the warehouse, "Kill the soldiers!"
Behind him flooded around thirty to fourth strong men, and they gutted the soldiers that came in a group of twelve, to pieces as their throats were slit clean off.
"Alright," The meister growled, lifting her up by her throat. "Your parents wish to play this game, I'll play with them!"
He reached for his right hand and ripped off part of her cloak, revealing her bare, underdeveloped body.
"Stop!" The boy cried, gazing as his friend was about to lose her innocence. "She's mine, and you'll have to go through me if you want her!"
"Alright." The ringleader nodded, dropping her on the spot he picked her up. "You're a boy dressed as a woman. So I'll have no hesitation hitting you!"
The blunt melee brandished across his face, and he flew towards the wall with his back against it, bleeding.
"Done. Now let me get back to playing with her."
He turned around, cutting the rope with his cutlass and pointed it up towards her chest before ripping all of her clothing to shreds.
"Scared?" The unconscious boy thought to himself, "No... I'm not afraid, but I'm shaking..."
He turned to the blood stained corpses of the soldiers, and the scent of fear and desperation as they died served as a drugs in which he got high.
"Wooh!" The boy squealed in an almost sexually provocative mammal mating call, placing his left hand against his neck before turning it anti-clockwise. "That was fun, so can I have your lives now?"
Before they could say another word, he zipped past the men in a line, and heads of various sizes flung in the air as a fountain of viscous crimson liquid came flooding out. In it he stood, unconscious soon after, bathing in the blood of his enemies.
"Syn..." A drowned out feminine voice mellowed within his ears. "Are you alright?"
The blurred reality of a petite figure and beige skin flooded in his vision, and he slowly awoke to find a stunning beauty who was unclothed, kneeling beside him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Syn answered, rubbing his hands agains his face and a slight tinge of viscosity and a thick slime. He turned to his hands and he shivered. "It...was not a nightmare was it..."
"No." She returned, "It was not a nightmare. This is real."
"I'm sorry you witnessed it." The boy sighed, taking off his overalls and cloaking it around her. "I'll leave."
He turned around and paced himself three steps before a serene, yet shaky voice called out to him. "Stay." She requested, "I...I was wrong to misjudge you. Could you be my friend again?"
"Yeah, I will."
Present day...
"Stay." The serene voice mellowed into his ear, "You are the man who saved my life, and you will always be someone special to me."
"But I'm not right in the mind, how could you possibly-"
"You were the one to save me." She said, "I wouldn't mind being killed by you."
"But-"
"Hush." The beautiful girl said, placing her index finger on his lips. "Not another word."
"Alright."

******* 2 Necessarius
Chapter 2: For the both of us
The heavens opened its floodgates, and a torrent of rain hailed mightily on the denizens of the planet. Heavy storm clouds shrouded the sun's revered presence, falling short of its original glory as a glimmer shined through its cloudy gaps.
'Hot baths like these are so soothing.' The adolescent exclaimed, stretching her hands wide and open. 'Especially in rainy seasons.'
"Time for a bath." The youth muttered to himself, approaching the corner to the right. He twisted the door knob and entered, turning to the left. He peered at the beauty, bare and beautiful in all her grandeur as the sight of pure beige greeted his eyes.
"I'm sorry!" He cried, turning tail towards the dark wooden doors.
"Wait!" She cried, reaching her hand out to hold his wrist. He turned to her, and her visage exuded a pinkish tinge. "It's not like this is the first time you've seen me like this anyway..."
"Join me." She pleaded, pushing herself back to make room for him to enter.
"But-"
"Aww, come on!" She cried, tugging him strongly to render his balance unstable, falling into the bath. "See, isn't that much better?"
"Yeah, I guess... Just that..." He muttered, peering down at her chest and somewhat lower.
"You've seen my whole self six years ago, it doesn't really bother me." She answered, with her cheeks exuding a deeper pinkish theme.
"But you're blush-"
"I'm just hot!" She cried, interrupting in the last second.
"Yeah but that was six years ago, and you've grown now." He rebutted, "You sure-"
"Of course I'm sure!" She cried, "I mean, we're best friends!"
He turned around, with his back facing her. "I guess this wouldn't make you so flustered." He said, "You have taken care of me all this while, and I couldn't repay you."
"It-It's fine." She returned, "You saved my life once, and I fell in love with you since then."
"What?"
"Oh, uh, nothing!" She exclaimed, splashing him with the hot water from the bath.
'What is wrong with me!' She thought to herself, 'Why am I saying all this, I see him as an older brother and my best friend, and that's all!'
"I'm stressed." He said, slipping his hands through her arms and embraced her petite and less endowed bosoms.
"So what's the link between you being stressed, and groping me?" She chuckled, "Hmm?"
"You don't like it?" The seductive cyan haired adolescent whispered into her ear.
"Not that I don't like it." She answered, peering down at the pair of hands pressing against her bosoms. "It just feels that you're saying that I'm not well endowed. Mockingly somehow."
"You're not confident in yourself." Syn commented, with his continual pressure applied to her chest.
"That's because I'm with you..." She squeaked softly, tuning away from him as she nudged his hands away from her chest, ready to leave. "I'm leaving, I feel slightly nauseous from the heat."
He got out soon after, and he wore a blue, long sleeved shirt for males and a pair of long jeans. He then peered in front of the mirror. The clothes were without a doubt for males his age, yet all it looked like was a female wearing them.
He walked towards her room and opened the door.
"Hey, Lynx." The adolescent asked, "I look like a guy right?"
"Nope." She answered, turning to him as she saw his male outfit. "You look just like a girl pretending to be a guy."
"Then I suppose you don't see me as a man?"
"Where'd that come from?" The girl asked, "I've alway seen you as a man, ever since that day. But appearance wise, not really."
"Then when you asked me to stay, you asked me not as a friend, but as a woman?" The adolescent asked,
"Is it true?"
"Wait, what?" She gasped, dropping her truffles on the plate on the floor cold marbled tiles. "Again, where did that come from?"
"I-I'm sorry." The youth apologised, "I got ahead of myself and thought that you... Maybe... Kinda... Ya know...?"
"Oh..." She blushed, covering her cheeks with her hands, with her entire frame shaky and warm. "Well, you're a great friend to me, and you're probably the only one who understands me. But we aren't at that level."
"Ah." The youth sighed in disappointment at her rejection, "Alright. Sorry for asking, Lynx."
"No." The beauty answered, bringing her head closer to his shoulders. "I'm sorry."
"I won't be able to return those feelings." She added, "Because my heart already..."
"Betrothed?"
"No." She returned, "It's kept as a family secret, and that's why I don't feel pain."
"It's because there's no blood connecting to any parts of my body." She answered, moving her hands towards her chest. "That's why I can't feel any emotion and it has been in me after we met, after the kidnapping incident. The pain of being punched, fear when being kidnapped... It's because of that... That my parents decided to live away from me."
"But I don't know... You may leave and I won't be-"
"It is fine." He placed his hands on her palm, bringing it closer to his chest. "A heart that is beating. I will find a way for your heart to best once more, and your heart will one day move for me."
"One day, Syn." She nodded, "Hopefully."
Silence drowned the place soon after, and the two did not speak for another hour, each thinking of what they should say to each other.
"Syn-"
"Lynx-"
"Ah." Syn paused, "You go first, Lynx."
"Alright." She nodded, "I just want you to know that even if you kill people, or do enjoy killing, I won't hate you or be disgusted."
"That's because you don't feel anything right?" Syn asked.
"Partially." She answered, "And because if you do kill a person, it would be with good reason."
"T-Thank you..."
"Now, you wanted to tell me something?"
"Oh, I just wanted to ask if one day I turned into a monster, and murdered in the billions..."
"Then you must have good reason." The beauty with the flax coloured hair assured, with her fair and tender hands upon his cheeks. "Don't think about it."
"Alright, I won't."
"Enough about unpleasant thoughts!" She exclaimed, "Any secrets you wanna share with me? I'll share mine with you!"
"Oh. Well, there was the time I..." He paused, deciding if it was a good idea to tell her, fearing that she may judge him. "Ah, screw it! I'll just tell you!"
"The other day, while I was looking in front of the mirror, I saw a splitting image of myself." He explained, "Only, he had horns and a halo. And that's not all, he had a black cloak with ethereal skulls floating around him, with a purple glow."
"What did he say to you?" She asked, moving her head closer towards his lips in anticipation.
"He said that I was evil, and that I would eventually destroy a quarter of the world."
"Then you must have good reason." She answered, her composure extremely contained without a single bit of tension escaping her fair visage.
"You trust me that much?" Syn asked, shaking her vigorously for a moment. "I'm afraid of myself, you know!"
"But I'm not afraid of you." She rebutted, "Because I know you would never harm anyone out of malevolent intent."
"Why does magic still exist, seriously!" He exclaimed, "If magic was gone, then me destroying billions of people wouldn't be possible!"
"This fear." The beauty noted, flipping her hair up to let it down with a curl with both hands on both sides. "If you were to massacre a billion people, you would just find another way to do so anyway. Don't blame magic."
She was cute, but her perception and words struck heavily at the heart, revealing her fractured and blunt personality.
"From what I gather, you go berserk whenever there's violence, or when it involves me." She said, tugging on her Celtic styled black dress. "We have to change that. You have to control your berserk mode."
"Err..." The youth dragged his voice, "That's...kinda impossible given that how 'berserk' actually means that I attack anything and everything in sight."
"That's not what I saw," She returned, "From what I saw, you actually became sexually aroused when you killed them. This means that you at least have some control and rationality."
"Yes but I would rather not use it." He rebutted, "Who knows what kind of backlash it has, and what it'd make me become?"
"Just so we're on the right page," She paused, "Did the creature say what his name was?"
"No..." He answered, "He didn't. He just told me what he did and he left."
"Then we just have to do some research." She suggested, pointing above Syn's soft and long azure touched hair. "He must be special if he was both an angel and a demon at once."
"I'll look into it." She answered, "Don't get your hopes up; it's a figment of your imagination, so don't expect too much."
"Yeah, I won't."
Three days later...
"How's the research?" The youth asked, resting on the table where the flax haired beauty sat, flipping through text after text.
"This is tiring." She returned, rubbing her heavily bagged eyes as she yawned aloud. "All I got was some fairy tale which was apparently, somewhat real."
"Somewhat?"
"The details are very vague." She answered, pointing to the thousand and fifth page, at the figure with a set of white robes and a pair of horns through the monochrome picture. "He might have exist, he might have not. Evidence is also non-existent, that's why it's hard to prove-"
"What's his name?" The boy interrupted, rushing over to look at the picture.
"It's also lost. But they mentioned that his name was Lark."
"Lark..." The boy paused, shutting his eyes in an attempt to reconstruct the sea of images within his mind. "Argh! I have no idea who he is! I have no recollection of it."
"Of course you don't, silly!" She exclaimed, pointing to the time stamp of the date recorded. "Year 2012. The year is now 12012. Ten thousand years after he was defeated. Says here that he was apparently a fallen angel that repented. No other record is here though."
"It didn't look like the figure I saw, but there's an uncanny resemblance." He noted, "Perhaps it may be true, or it may not be."
"We should take this with a pinch of salt anyway." She suggested, "Don't want to dash your hopes."
"You're a squire." She added, "If someone catches you using black magic, they're going to kick you out of the service!"
"Not that it'd be troublesome to me," She paused, "I can support us, being from a noble family and all. But I worry for your credibility if you do get kicked off service."
Three knocks resounded against the hard mahogany doors, followed by a voice which seeped through. The voice was swift and urgent, while the knocks became heavier and quicker.
The youth rushed to the door, and he greeted his page, donned in his usual page garb. "Sir. The castle is under siege by the Schargard, and all knights and their squires are required to 'witness' the coronation!"
"Scratch that, kill them all with it!" She cried, slamming her hand against the marbled table. "That's if you can gather the energy."
"Woah, no need to get so flared up. Alright." Syn nodded, turning to his page. "I want you to close your eyes and turn the other way, or I will have to kill you."
"Why-"
"What I am about to do is treason of the highest order." The cyan haired beauty answered, donning his face plate as he closed the plating. There, he began to mutter to himself.
'Whatever you are, if you are indeed Lark, grant me the power I need to triumph over my enemies!'
He opened his eyes, and reality flashed into his eyes. Nothing had changed, and his armour was still unequipped save for his faceplate.
"I guess it didn't wor-"
But before he could finish, a shadowy energy burned from his fists, dying his entire outfit a midnight black, darker than the eclipse. The shadows seeped into his eyes, and his eyes burned a shadowy flame within his faceplate while his body returned to normal.
"Listen." He requested, "I want you to attach explosives all over the northern wing where they came in, and leave a tiny escape route to the east."
"The enemy king should be sitting and facing the north, on the courtyard throne. East is where humans normally turn. Sealing off the northern wing would mean no escape, and that the soldiers from the outside to the east would be able to snipe them one by one as they come out through the narrow exit."
"But that would mean that they would be cornered back to the castle where they have the king as hostage." The page answered, "Why are we keeping them in when the king's life is in jeopardy?"
"I heard that the King of Schargard was bequeathed a new plot of land by the Emperor, and that he is now two ranks higher. I don't think he came here wanting to die." Syn answered, "That's why the king will be a good hostage, and will prevent his death altogether as he would be the bargaining chip. Activate immediately after I am being called."
"Let us go." He said, readying his sprint toward the castle. He ran, and found that his abilities had been tremendously improved. He now ran thrice as fast, mainly because he was without armour, and leapt twice as high when he took the shortcut across the ridge. The image of the three towers flooded his vision, and he was soon at the parade square and courtyard of the palace.
He visioned the hundreds of knights within the courtyard as a King of Schargard sat, sipping his favourite glass of Merlot while using the prince as a footstool.
"This is treachery!" Owar muttered, beside his cyan haired squire. "Squires have no need for the helmet, you know. You may take it off."
"I'll keep it on, Sir Owar." He answered, pressing it closer to his face.
"It'll attract attention and you may be in danger!" He cried, "Do you really intend-"
"Precisely." He answered, "I need to get closer...if only I could get closer..."
"You aren't thinking of assassinating him are you?" Owar cried, "I know your personal side, and I don't want you involved in this, lest they witness psychopath personified. Even they don't deserve that much."
"I am sorry, but this will be my last deed of service to you before I leave." He answered, manning himself in the middle.
The last knight arrived shortly after, and then king got up and kicked the prince aside while his guards secured him.
"You there!" The king bellowed, "You're a weirdly dressed squire! Come here!"
The cyan beauty paces himself slowly, presenting himself in front of the enemy king.
"Yes, my liege." The humble squire bowed, with his self-effacing act emanated through his body language.
"Quick to change sides, eh?" The rival king chuckled, readying his blade. "Standing out like that is one way to get noticed, but I do not take prisoners."
"I know that fair well, my liege." Syn replied, "But there is something you know."
"What's that?"
"This place shall be your grave." The helmed knight made a deceitful smirk as explosions engulfed the north wing, crumbling its arches from its foundation. The east wing followed suit, with little way out. As the king was caught by the dramatic surprise, the squire swiftly lunged the venomous silver blade at his heart. The blade kissed his heart, and a pulse of darkness flooded his heart. The king threw up black blood before falling to his knees and dropped dead.
The remaining soldiers began to flee to the east wing, to which reinforcements came as arrows began pouring in, slaying a good fraction of them.
They fled to the west wing to the inner castle, where the monarch was.
The single figure being held with a sword near his neck, by a man with a set of royal clothing.
"Do you know what happens to people who play hero?" The royal figure asked, "Do you?"
"They die early." The squire answered, removing his helmet to reveal his abyssal, shadowy gaze. "I love games, and I suppose that you do too, seeing as how I was completely fooled by your stunt double back there."
"Well." He said, peering around the castle to notice around four hundred enemy soldiers around him. "I suppose I'm the one that's caught in this."
"I love a good challenge." Syn hissed, drawing his venom soaked dagger. "Seeing as how your entire kingdom will be a heap of ruin by sunrise the next day."
"You talk insolently for a squire!" The king cried, slamming his foot against the aging king with his greyed mane. "And you throw your weight about like an insolent human."
"You...!"
"I could destroy you from here if I wanted to." Syn warned, with his bright smirk upon his deceitful visage. "But let's play this down to your level, as a human."
"Oh and," He reminded, "Half your army has already been defeated."
The king stepped forward, not with vigour but rather with a visage of pure horror and fear.
The beautiful youth stepped forward, his visage smug and complacent, grinning confidently at him.
"We are going to take your country as soon as we're done with you." Syn smirked, his visage turning into one of pure sensual arousal. "Then I'm going to personally rip apart all of your family and toss them to the demons as sensual pleasure!"
"Guards!" The king cried, "Seize him at once!"
Waves of soldiers charges toward him as he stood, alone. Before he could strike, tens and thousands of soldiers and all the knights flooded in to the inner sanctum, swords poised to strike.
"Looks like I bought enough time for you guys to haul your heavy asses here." Syn said, turning to Owar.
"Shut it." The white knight returned, "We were busy!"
"You wouldn't work out as a knight, Syn." The knight said, "You're cut out for something much bigger. The knight class is beneath you."
"Are you being sarcastic?"
"No, I'm being honest." Owar returned, "Internal inquisition, network devising, general... None of that is out of the question."
"What do you want!" The similar voice drummed back into their ears. "Gold? Authority?"
"Nothing." Syn spoke up, "We just want to blaze your entire family and castle to the ground, then feed their charred corpse to the demons."
"Y-You were serious?" The opposing king flinched, astonished by the squire's daring nerve. "I'll have you executed!"
"No." Syn returned, raising a blood soaked dagger. "Your hands are trembling."
"You're a madman!" The royal figure cried, "I'm surprised that the knightly order let you join them! Have they fallen so-"
But before he could even finish his sentence, the knife flung from his hands and directly on his neck. Blood gushed out and he struggled to raise his hands to cover the blood, albeit too late as his face had already turned purple before dropping dead on the ground with a loud thud.
"Nope." Syn returned, peering at his corpse. "They just recruited the most psychopathic one."
"Syn." The kidnapped king called out, "Thanks for saving me, and for that you have my gratitude. Whatever wish it is that you want, speak."
"To remain in your service," Syn answered, with his shadowy abyssal eyes peering at the king. "This might or might not be dark magic, but I borrowed it from...myself, and I would never have become as brave with calculative strategies without it."
"So when you said that you could kill him from where you stood-"
"Not true." Syn answered, "That was meant as an intimidation, so he would be too afraid to do anything rash. Oh, but of course, I was serious about the part where it came to torching everyone in the castle and feeding them to demons."
"Granted." The king answered, "I shall promote you to knight captain of the networking division directly under me. From now on you report only to me."
"Pardon my unruly question but, are you not afraid of me?" Syn asked.
"No." He answered, "Because you saved my daughter once."
"Then your daughter is-"
"Lynx." The king answered, "You're living with her now aren't you? How is she?"
"She's fine, but why don't you visit her soon?"
"No, it's because we've failed her." He answered, "Because we were too afraid our daughter would be murdered that we hesitated."
'Can't mention her family problem, I'll have to believe him for now...' He though to himself.
"Lynx is doing well," Syn answered, "She's the only one who would talk to me and be friends with me."
"Speaking of which," The king paused, "You and Lynx are of that age. Are you in courtship with her, if I may so boldly ask?"
"No." He answered, with a subtle emphasis on 'find', "She wishes to wait until we 'find' her feelings for me."
"Come again?"
"I'm sorry, my liege." Syn interrupted, "But we still have the belligerent Schargard nation at hand."
"Ah. It escapes me." The king chuckled, "My daughter's welfare worries me, you see. Now, what about shall we do to the Schargard nation?"
"Would you like the smart suggestion, or the emotional suggestion, my liege?" Syn asked.
"Tell me how you feel, and then what the smart thing is." The king answered.
"Since they attempted a hostile takeover the day before Frostfir, we should celebrate by burning their entire country. Men, women, children, livestock alike. Burn as brightly as the star that Aera was born under." Syn answered, "But what the smart thing to do is to install a puppet king to rule over the kingdom. We'll have someone who looks like him to pass the crown to that particular person of choice, and he shall run the country."
"Why do you suggest that, noble squire?"
"Because our power is evenly matched." Syn answered, "We won't be able to fight them without us taking heavy damage ourselves. But with deceit, we would be able to pave the way for ourselves for a union within the countries. Then they will eventually become yours."
"Perhaps another reason would be because if we conquered them so abruptly, we would have broken peace treaties within the two countries, and other countries might attack us as we broke our promise." Syn added, "Of course, we could promote anti-Schargard members and grant them positions of power so we appear to have support on the surface."
"Boy." The king bellowed, with his hand to his chest, "I am so glad that we are not on opposing factions."
"I apologise if my suggestion may seem-"
"None taken." The royal figure returned, slotting his finger against his ring finger. He then twisted and slipped the ring off his finger and handed it to Syn. "I'm afraid that you cannot be king there, because I require your services here."
"But this ring I shall give." He paused, "This ring grants you the authority of the king, and you may invoke its rights."
"I am honoured my liege." Syn bowed, as the king slipped the ring with much ease into his ring finger.
"Time is of the essence." Syn returned, "The king of Schargard is expected to return. The castle would mobilise its forces and say that we kidnapped them if he does not return in time. Let the imposter reign as king so as not to arouse any suspicion."
"Establish your roots first," Syn added, "Grant authority in Schargard to the citizens who are anti-Schargard, so that they will be there to support the imposter during his short tenure. As soon as the king steps down, the new king need not fake his own identity and will be able to act according to his own accord."
"Only then will we become the strongest country and kingdom in the world." Syn added, "Then we will no longer be hindered by trivialities."
"We should go now-"
A spinning headache struck within the depths of his mind, and the shadowy abyssal gaze of cruelty within his eyes faded.
"Ugh..." The youthful figure moaned, placing his hands on his eyes. "I'm so glad that's-"
But before he could say another word, a sea of darkness shrouded his vision. He felt free fall acting on his entire self and soon hit the ground, but there was no feeling.
"Ugh..." He tossed his hands to the right, and a soft sensation registered to his nerves. "Ah!" He cried, quickly awakening and removing his hands.
"Father told me to take care of you." The cutesy effeminate youth with a head of flax colour said, "He said you were amazing."
"He might not say it," Lynx paused, "But he does respect you. He said that you were very calm, and you gave a great solution to the Schargard problem."
"How long was I out?" The youth asked, rubbing his head with his right hand.
"About three weeks ." She answered, "The king has already passed on his authority to the next heir, and he is now working with Zïnir."
"Father says that he no longer requires your services as a squire."
"But I-"
"As a squire." She paused, "You're now promoted to the knight captain of the networking division. He says that you may start whenever you're ready."
"You know, I'm not too keen on being that." He answered, "I won't be able to bear the burden of secrets weighing down on my soul."
"Alright, I'll have a talk with him." She answered, "How was it with your magic thing?"
"It felt like a voice whispering into my head, and thoughts which weren't mine being spoken as I thought of it." He answered, "I had absolutely no control."
"Worst part is," He explained, "It exhausts me, and I have no control over it."
"I'm sorry that you had to do this." She apologised, "Does that mean that Lark was real, though?"
"I suppose." Syn answered, "I mean, I did call out to his name specifically."
"With the way I am now..." He muttered, peering down at his blood stained hands. "I may really end up slaying over a billion-"
"Enough!" She demanded, as a scarring hot palm streaked across his face. It left a bright tinge of red, and a mild injury.
"Stop saying that! You're better than that, you dummy!" She cried, as a similar bright red tinge was exuded from her fair visage. Pearls of watery droplets rolled down her cheeks to complement her visage as they glistened in the light. "Don't you know that I can't live without you?"
"Lynx..." Syn muttered, jerking her over for a bear hug. "Your feelings..."
"They were never gone in the first place." She answered, clutching her chest tightly. "My heart beats for you, and I get nervous in front of you. The illness was never real, I just decided to live with you. On my own accord."
"Why? You knew I could give you so little, and yet you bothered." He sniffled, with watery droplets building within the corners of his eyes. "I'm just a freak with an uncanny sense of dressing."
"Yeah," She admitted, nodding gently. "I knew. But I'm not bothered by that because I knew you wanted to save me genuinely, and not because you wanted to show off."
"That's why after that incident when we were still kids, my parents left and we stayed together. For the both of us."
"I really can't stand myself..." Syn muttered to himself, "The shadows possessing me... They go for the smartest ideas, leaving out all morality in the process."
"But it's because they are smart ideas that it doesn't involve mass murders or genocides." Lynx answered, "Because people rationalise, most of them are opposed to violence or killing. Since your shadow knows that, it'll try to attain it's goals along those lines."
"But still..." He paused, "There are times when that's not true."
"Then we'll consider that when the time comes." Lynx rebutted, "Speaking of which, your eyes were the only parts that were taken over?"
"Yeah," The sleepy youth answered, "Though it felt that my hands were completely gripped and controlled.l
"Hmm... The eyes of Lark burned with a shadowy flame, his hauberk and shoulder pad of skulls with souls flying about. His gauntlets were a dark shadowy and burned with intense heat."
"Perhaps these are things you could have." She noted, flipping to the page hundred of the hardcover leathery fairytale lore. "You should try something easy next time. Probably gloves, or maybe it's boots."
"But enough." She paused, dropping her head on the table as she pinched her eyes. "I'm exhausted. Very exhausted."
"Syn, I want you to find another girl." Lynx suggested, caressing his hair with her tender fingers. "For when I'm gone, and no longer here."
"Where will you be going?" He exclaimed, with a sudden rise in his voice. "You're not planning to leave me, are you?"
"I..." She muttered, peering at the cold hard ground. "I will live on in your memories."
"Cast your dreams to the sky, gather all your strength to live on." She answered, "You're so close, yet so far. Fly, and never come back."
"You're not making any sense, how-"
"Enough." She answered, "You shouldn't be here, Syn. I'm holding you back."
"That is all. Leave me be." Lynx demanded.
"Fine..."

******* 3 Necessarius
Chapter 3: Miasma
Streams of soldiers poured in from all sides, surrounding and charging toward the enigmatic lone figure. He was donned with a dark overall, with souls floating aimlessly about it. His hat was of Victorian era, with its intricate cutting by the corners.
'My, my...' The figure chuckled, making space on the grassy plains for him to sit. 'Can't let you reach me, can I now?'
He waved his gauntlets up. Its centre was a bloody, lit semicircular metallic protrusion, with miniature red gems pointing towards it.
'Shame this had to come to pass.' The figure sighed, clenching his fist. 'Argos... Leita... Ignis!'
At the same time, a purple miasmic fog ascended from the ground. The miasma liberated from them what had been their flesh and bones, then proceeded to rend their souls out of their bodies. The souls in turn, were absorbed by the enigmatic figure, which made his gauntlet glow brighter and burned with crimson energy.
The effeminate youth stirred from his slumber, tilting off the edge of his bed with a soft thump.
"What was that!" He cried, his luminous visage drenched in cold sweat. He peered at his left hand, and witnessed the impression of the gauntlet on his skin. "Nope, this isn't the gauntlet."
He shut his eyes and slapped himself once before opening them again.
"What the hell." He exclaimed, "Did I really...?"
"Yes you did." The flax theme haired female answered, "But with good reason. Plus they deserved it."
"Then the hat, the soul imbued overalls ..."
"I'm sorry, what hat and overalls?" She asked, with a weird expression of ignorance. "I was saying that you brought down the Schargard Empire. Apparently the people led a revolt against the emperor, and Schargard is now ours. Not officially of course. Not yet at least."
"What were you dreaming of anyway, was it a nightmare?"
"I saw a figure on an empty plain, soldiers came after him and..." Syn covered his eyes as he teared, "Then he waved the gauntlets up, and a miasma rose up before reducing all of them to nothingness."
"Why is this happening to me?" Syn cried, slamming his hands against the pillows. "Just because I had some help?"
"It's fine." She replied, moving closer for to embrace his poor heart. "There, there... I'm pretty sure it's fine."
'She thinks it's fine.' The enigmatic figure chuckled behind her.
"You!" He cried, raising his fist.
"What?" Lynx exclaimed, turning around only to find nobody by her back.
"It's behind you!" He cried, leaping up to smash his face in.
His fist phased through the figure, only to smash the mirror behind her.
"What's wrong with you, Syn?" She cried, her voice rising in bewilderment.
"Please leave me alone for now." He requested, gripping his head towards the pillow.
She nodded before approaching the door, "I think that would be best for now."
"What do you want?" Syn cried, turning around.
"To rule the world." He answered, "To be its herald against God."
"No." Syn declined, "I will not follow you."
"Oh, you won't follow me." The figure grinned, "You'll follow yourself. But guess what? The world will be exactly as it would be."
"The more you use it, the more you lose control." He answered, snapping his fingers. "My magic corrupts. All magic flows through me, and souls empower my spells."
"Yeah? Well screw you." He cried, 'What was that again...'
"Argos... Leita... Ignis!" He recited each word, and the incantation proceeded smoothly. The gauntlet materialized on his hand, with the core lighting up a deep crimson. Purple miasma ascended from the depths, burning the figure alive.
"What happened?" A frantic voice barged in, the door slamming against the wall. She peered at the gauntlet he was wearing on his left. "Why are the wooden walls so black as though they rotted?"
"Something to do with that." She assumed, "Isn't it!"
"I don't know what's happening to me..." He teared, with the gauntlet fading from his hand. "I think he got me to use it on purpose..."
"But why-"
"Because the more times I use it, the more I lose control." He answered, "He must be the devil incarnate. He's a complete mystery to me, and I have no idea what he wants..."
"I can teach you the Lost Magic." The figure called out to him from the back. "Wouldn't that be more effective?"
"Shut up." He returned, walking ahead without turning back. The figure continued to follow him.
"What do you want?" He cried, turning around to view the figure in the form of a Victorian era gentleman. "I'm not going to use your powers, and don't bother convincing me!"
"Oh they aren't my powers..." He hissed, pointing to him. "They're rightfully yours. The dumb mortals harp about the fairy tale of Lark, yet they do not know that you possess the most powerful gift..."
"I don't possess any gifts, stop lying!" Syn rebutted, slamming his foot on the ground. The ground quaked, with the flooring smashed to dust.
The Victorian gentleman raised his brow in a gesture to prove that he was right. "There you go."
"No!" He cried, slipping a few steps back. "I'm a freak..."
He stepped next to the furnace out by the blacksmith's shed, "I'll kill myself, then all of this would end."
"Go ahead." The Victorian figure smiled, "You haven't taken a decent hot bath in quite a few millennia."
He immediately leapt into the fire, but his clothes and skin did not burn. Instead, he felt a warmth from the furnace, keeping his body warm and cozy.
"What the-"
"Like I said." The figure chuckled, "You haven't taken a decent hot bath in ages."
He turned to his left and then to his right. "Well, looks like there aren't any people here this early. Boy would they say you're a witch if they saw you dunking in that furnace unscathed."
"Go away!" Syn cried leaping out of the furnace as he ran along the alleyways, above the watery runways to the sewers.
"And yet he still catches up with you." The figure called from the front, grinning as he floated in mid air.
"The madman of Zïnir." He chuckled, with his eyes peering up in the clouds as though he envisioned a future for him. "Mad, but painfully right about insane happenings. Enigmatic, yet known by everyone else."
"Keep this up and you'll become a madman soon." He warned, peering his eyes down towards him in a semi-serious and sinister smile. "You think you're a man but you're just still a child. You'll never get Lynx to love you, and you'll certainly never have the will to overcome your own influence."
"Enough." The youth grinned, halting at his pace as he chuckled in revelation. "You keep referring to your influence as my own, and since others can't see you, it can be assumed that you're a figment of my insanity."
"Doesn't that mean then," He paused, "That I can control you, since after all, we are each other?"
"You do not exist." He answered with resolve, "I am myself, and you are me. You do not exist, for you are me, and I will not betray myself."
"Insolent child you-" The figure vanished as soon as he closed his eyes and walked. He knew now what he had - The body of the most powerful angel to walk the world since the dawn of mortals many millennia ago.
He took the path home, and then entered through the front gates. The worried girl came rushing toward him. "Are you alright?" Lynx asked, "You've not been yourself recently..."
"I've discovered something tragic." He grinned, laughing in disbelief. "I possess the body of the most powerful angel to walk the planet many millennia ago."
"What are you talking about?" She gasped, "Lark was just a fairy tale, and you were given brilliant ideas that they probably because you we're desperate."
"No." He returned, raising his hands to reveal a pair of gauntlets that materialized on his hands. The crystals protruded from the top, right, bottom and left which pointed towards the red glowing core in the centre. "With this, I am now reborn!"
"But," He paused, before reverting to a jovial effeminate youth, "I won't use it."
"How did you find out?"
"The idiot messed up by referring to himself as 'you', and always did so." He answered, "That's when I caught on it and banished him from my sight."
"Don't you think that this might be a trap?" She asked, "I mean, he explicitly mentioned it and all... Wouldn't make a lot of sense to deliberately say 'you' instead of 'I', just as normal people do."
"I'd take that precaution." He said, as his gauntlets faded as though they were vacuumed out of existence. "Who do you think taught me how to recite those incantations anyway?"
"Sir!" A loud banging ensued as knock after knock slammed against the mahogany door. "Sir! An insurrection is taking place, they're elements of the Schargard empire!"
"Perfect. Just when I needed test subjects." The captain grinned malevolently, readying his gauntlets as they phased in once more. He rushed and pulled the doors open, flashing past the squire as he readied his gauntlets.
"They're in the city square. Don't you need-"
But he was already gone. He sprinted east toward the large clouds of smoke and slammed his gauntlets together for a sword to materialize out of his palm. The sword blade was two meters long, its guard of angelic wings, with its hilt long enough to wield it in both hands and still have enough space for a third one. Its tip boasted an 'M' fang-shaped design.
He arrived and visioned a square of slaughtered villagers, with many of them fleeing- Men, women, and children alike.
The grim sight pumped his blood and it rose to gravely high levels, to the point he became in heat with murder. He let out an erotic expression, his eyes peering all the way up together.
The soldiers began to charge towards him as he was the only survivor left. His gauntlets burned with malevolent shadow energy, and the crimson core burned brightly.
He lunged the gauntlets against the soldier, and melted through the sword go reach his body, with his entire frame incinerated to smoldering ash.
"Let's start with something simpler, shall we?" The shadowy figure remarked, reaching his gauntlet out against a group of the soldiers. Twirling his finger around, the soldiers followed suit as they twirled and span around as though they were puppets to an invisible force. "Unfortunately this is the most that I can do at this current moment, if I don't wish to be consumed by the darkness."
With the rest of the soldiers rushing for him, he immediately ceased his toying and brandished his blade against the soldiers, rendering them a pile of smoldering ash that scattered in the evening wind as they got hit by his blade.
Shocked, the soldiers began to turn their tails and ran in the opposite direction, much to his ire.
Waves of angered townsfolk soon came out, arms linked and began to march as one. They were confronted by another wave of townsfolk. Neighbour on neighbour, family against family.
'Syn!' The female called out from his back as she tossed a vial of cyan blue liquid at him.
He jerked forth, reached for the vial and gripped it tightly with his right hand.
"Sometimes I get the feeling that you're spying on me." He chuckled, bringing the mouth of the vial close to his as he chugged its contents down his throat.
"I'm your little stalker!" She giggled, as she blushed whilst covering her cheeks.
The insane adolescent took a deep breath in, and his eyes reverted from a stone cold glare, back into his usual self. "The mere sight of blood sends me in to disarray..." He commented, "I must be pathetic."
"Knowing that, she still chose to be with me..."
Watery, tinkling pearls streamed down his cheeks. He chuckled from the insanity of the thought, of which were considered his blasphemy of the heart.
'Time to use my own power.' He exclaimed, slamming his fists against each other. A runic ring emanated from his front, and a great ward was conjured. He stood behind the ward, punching away at their general direction. The runic ring then conjured fireballs that streaked past with loud screeching noise and burned them. Those that were burned fled, and those that were not, drew their bows and fired as rain hailed heavily upon them.
He shifted the runic force up, and the arrows were deflected downwards against the hard stone ground. "These powers are weak..." He growled, "If only there wasn't the backlash from using my full power!"
"I know!" He exclaimed, stretching his arms apart. A wavy portal distorted the flow of reality, and a massive beast emerged from within the lava engulfed depths. As the beast stepped out, some of the lava spilled out, burning through the smooth stone pathway.
The beast stood six meters tall, its skin coated in cool magma with a trail of smoke blazing through its path.
"That should do it..." He remarked, muttering to himself. "Pouring my energy to 'summon' and bind a single entity requires only a one time payment of mana."
"It should not drain me..." He thought to himself, "At least, I hope not."
The beast began its rampage as it approached the insurgents, with its massive talons slamming and crashing against the stone floor, and yet its trail remained gentle.
The men became petrified in cold fear as the fiery beast approached, unable to act but merely waiting, and praying...
He was satisfied. He turned his palm inward and the beast turned, approaching him as waves of guardsmen arrived at the scene. They were bound to each other in iron shackles, and no resistance was made as they trembled from the visage of the horrendous beast—Nightmare made manifest.
He turned around and the beast faded in a zephyr, crashing down to his knees.
She rushed over to his side, supporting his fatigue ridden body with her left shoulder.
"That was a very convincing and realistic astral projection." She remarked, "Noticed it the moment it started walking."
"What gave it away?" He asked, with a slightly cheeky smile on his face.
"That fact that it left no discernible traces of its footprints." She answered, pointing to the path it took. "If it had been real, the ground would not be on perfect condition."
"Oh Lynx!" He cried, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "You know me too well!"
"Yeah I know." She chuckled with a bright smile upon her ecstatic visage. "At least I got to live a fulfilling life..."
"Lynx is something wrong?" He asked, portraying a puzzled expression upon his elegant visage. He gripped her shoulders tightly in his effeminate beauty, shaking her in urgency. "Don't scare me. You're talking as though you're about to-"
"I am." She answered, turning toward her right as watery pearls reflected the sun's glory when they dripped drop by drop. "I love you... Syn."
"Do not listen to those who poison your mind with their deception." She added, "Let go of your hatred, Syn. Even if I cannot be with you, I shall be forever in your memories."
"I have been dead ever since I was born." She answered, "I am a homunculus, an artificial being created by alchemy."
"No." He rebutted, gripping her hands tightly. "You are a human being. You shall live and not perish."
"The magic of alchemy is about to expire." She answered, "I am a mere object that which was given life. Thank you for the time we spent together... Really."
"And you're just going to leave me... Without ever confiding in me?" The tender youth cried, as a flood of tears gather along the banks of his eyes. "Then I'll extend your lifespan! I'll find a way!"
She shook her head. "No." She answered, with a serene smile. "Doing so requires another soul. You will never be able to retrieve two of the same souls."
"Then where do the souls go!" He cried, with a heavy aggression in his demanding tone. "I will fight the ends of the earth and go through hell and back for you!"
"Where I will go is too dangerous." She answered, "You will not be able to survive there..."
"I have been in there before being drawn up. I died as a child and my soul ceased aging since- At least, until I was sent back here." She explained, "But I will be going to a different place. She answered, one that I know not of. Which is why, Syn, I implore that you let me go."
"I have no more friends..." He gasped, astonished by the revelation that he had no one but her. "Please don't leave me..."
"Please..." He teared within his heart, "I just want her to be alright..."
"It's not easy..." He muttered to himself, "Living alone with nobody to turn to..."
"But my time is up." She answered, as the lustrous flare in her eyes faded, until she was no more than a hollow shell.
He got up, his head bowed over and his frame petite. He reached for her body, slinging it over his body in her unrivalled beauty.
"But I love her..." He muttered, as a surge of red crimson energy coursed through his body.
He journeyed home, ransacking the entire place on the books pertaining to alchemy and chemistry.
A battered silvery book with its golden trim and platinum pages lay amongst the ruin. He flipped through the first twenty pages, then the next ten, and then the next five. He reached toward the centre of the book, with an angel warring other creatures. Its right hand was lifted up, and the earth seemed to be responding as souls flowed to his person.
"If I possess the body of the most powerful angel to walk the world...then..."
He lifted his right hand up, but there was nothing.
"Figures." He growled and slammed the already battered book to the ground, "Fairytales..."
"What must I do to bring her back!" He cried as he shouted his voice hoarse. His voice triggered a thunderous calamity that struck the desolate plains within twenty kilometers in his radius and turned the grass into smoldering black ash.
"Alchemy, was it?" He growled, smashing his hands against the wooden structure that supported the books. "Then I'll take back her soul and make her eternal!"
"Cheap talk." The baneful enigmatic figure chuckled as it announced his presence. "With your powers?"
"You are so full of yourself." He reminded, "Is your head so high up in the clouds just because you found out that you're inhabiting the body of a divine being?"
"Or are you actually this stupid and ignorant about how anything works around here?" He asked, "Perhaps it's the latter."
"What do you want..."
"I wish to propose an offer." He answered, steadily approaching him. "I take the soul of your beloved Lynx and return it to her body, and you serve what my body was originally intended for— To cause chaos and misery."
He turned around, with his back facing the figure. "You're insane."
"Insane?" The figure chuckled, "Insanity is a state of being mentally ill. Yet, what is the definition for mentally ill in the first place?"
"I am merely making you an offer." He asserted, waving his finger around. "I mean, it's sad that you didn't have a chance to experience a fulfilled life, right?"
"I am merely bridging that gap." He answered, "You can choose to distrust me, but what other choices do you have anyway?"
"The one where I don't trust you."
"You don't trust yourself?" The figure burst into a quaint laughter, clutching his chest from the absurdity he perceived. "That's classical."
"Shall I tell you where your girlfriend is now, as we speak?" He asked. "Never mind, I'll just tell you anyway. She's in the depths of the corrupt life stream, towing her way back and forth."
"Her soul will be broken and she will despair." He answered, "Psychic paralysis, insanity, comatose... You name it."
"Do you know what your name means?" He asked, "If you haven't known yet."
"In Norse, the meaning of the name Syn is: Invoked and awaken during trials." Syn answered on his behalf, "What about it?"
"It means that you will bend to my will, and break in times of trials." The figure answered, "Then you will invoke great power and devour the world."
"No, It just means that I'll rise to the occasion to kick your smug ass!" He cried, "Then I shall kill you myself!"
"Good luck with that." The figure grinned condescendingly before tossing a roll of paper to him which he caught. "Don't say that I didn't help."
He unrolled the tattered piece of scroll, and found a series of patterns joined together with a crest of a snake devouring its own tail. It was encircled with a series of words in circles and the mere gaze of its pattern emanated a powerful presence.
"This is fear." He added, upon witnessing his visage turn a pale white. "It's on paper; it won't eat you up."
"Can you really handle the depths of magic that you need to use?" He asked rhetorically, visioning fear emanating from his shaky aura. "This is mere geometry. You're so afraid of that?"
"I'm not." He answered with a slight shakiness in his voice.
"It matters not." He said, pointing towards his head. "The deepest level of arcane secrets... Are within the depths of your mind."
"Your soul empowers you with energy." He explained, "You are essentially your own power source."
"The most treasured artefact in all the worlds, in possession of a being with an unlimited power source, yet the most spineless and effeminate." He snorted, staring at him ever so slightly. "I highly doubt you have the courage to accept where this is going. You are pathetic."
"I know I am." He answered, "But at least I'm not running away, and I never will!"
"You will."
"I won't!" He cried, "I'll prove it to you...! I'll... I'll bring her back!"
"Make good your word, boy." The figure warned, "Or you shall live in loneliness forever."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because it will benefit me." He answered, "As to how, I cannot say. But I shall take my leave."
The shadows at that moment, dove up to shroud him in an eclipse of shadows before his figure dissipated into the wind.
"Looks like I should leave too..." The weary adolescent growled as he peered over the charred battlegrounds. He reviewed the geometrical patterns of the notes when he revisited the worn papyrus.
It had the shape of a diamond with its four-sides vertices.
Words seemed to fortify the vertices around a circular formation, with a larger circle of runic symbols capping against diamond symbol.
"Requires two...billion souls..." He muttered to himself, pointing towards each of its vertices, reading that it requires five-hundred million souls to power up a vertex.
"Will it be true after all?" He screamed maniacally, slamming the charred patches with all his might.
"No." His answer resonated within his heart. "There must be another way!"
"The price of resurrection is too great." He noted, "There must be another place to gather souls without having to massacre entire nations!"
"This will come in as the last plan." He promised himself, cocking the papyrus back into his pockets. "I have heard that alchemy requires a catalyst— A philosopher's stone as a conduit for its power.
He slipped the book from his coat once more, and flipped to the thirtieth page.
'At the end of every age, philosopher stones will emerge within the depths of the world. There will be enough for every single inhabitant, and the stone will never run out of power for it is a stone of the pure life stream.'
"Depths of the world..." He muttered, swiftly closing the book with his left hand before slotting it back into his coat. "Doesn't that just mean deep down the surface of the world?"
"No..." He muttered back to himself, twirling his finger around the mysterious indentation of the book's spine. "This book is old, and the spine juts out with a battered appearance..."
"Perhaps if I sliced the spine..." He thought, retrieving the sharp knife from his side pockets.
It made quick work through the battered edge of the book's spine and a note that fell of the side , revealing a dull rock that barely glistened in the sun's presence.
He unfolded the note, and there read: 'To whomsoever finds this, I must first tell you that what you hold on your hands right now is a philosopher's stone. However, this is an unrefined stone. You must reforge the stone with the necessary components in order to recharge it. You might have read in that book, that it could grant powers beyond the cosmos. That is not true, though many still believe that myth and will continue to hunt for it until they find one themselves. I assure you most of the information within the book is largely false, save for the part about the philosopher's stone being a powerhouse for souls— Which are able to grant immense energy. Do take care and don't die along the way.
P.S. Philosopher stones are manifested and present for every two billion souls in the previous era.
-E'
"Wow." He reflected to himself in surprise. "Better get to searching for them, but how..."
He sat there, and what seemed to be an ingenious idea popped into his infinite thoughts, that he could use the intellect of his own unknown power.
"Actually," He muttered upon re-evaluating his decision, "That's like saying that I won't be something I will become in the future."
"Going down this road is too dangerous..." He reaffirmed to himself, "But then... Argh! I'll just do it!"
He sat there quietly, swiping his hands against his visage. The eyes that emanated a smokey trail of shadows spiraled outward to craft the intricately shadow that was different from his previous encounter.
'Absorbing the souls of the dead could help, but it won't be anyway near enough...' He answered, 'The Palace of Souls is a viable option, but it is not of this realm.'
'The only viable opinion,' He answered himself, 'Is to try to lure her soul out. That's assuming she's even in the Corrupt Lifestream. It could work for other realms, but it'll take a longer time.''
'I think you're screwed.' He commented, 'Unless you're willing to trade— Half of your soul for her entire soul.'
"Yes, I'll do it!" He exclaimed, "This will bring her back right?"
'Yes.' He answered himself, 'I guarantee you that much.'
"Then do it." He answered, before a mystical presence caused him to bit his index finger till it bled. He proceeded to draw a series of connected lines and a star upon the hard ground.
'Your soul is special, so just half of a soul from you is more than capable of substituting two billion souls.'
"So we're swapping souls?" He chuckled at the brief naivety of the thought. "Funny this works in a world whose culture revolves around the sciences and math."
'Just get to it.'
Within the star he drew a miniature slot the size of a jewel. He aligned the white stone in the centre, and proceeded to finish the markings with a slight stretch of the lines. White electricity stormed the area, and the winds shook violent as the stone remained firmly as one with the ground. The earth trembled, and the clouds eclipsed the glory of the basking sun, dawning the woe of man. He placed a lock of hair upon the stone, and a great surge of energy pulsated within the area. The force pushed down entire areas and a bright light made its descent to the everlasting, motionless beauty that lay asleep when the stone fused itself into her body.
A bright flash flooded his vision, and a world of darkness filled his sight. A myriad of footsteps began to drown his ears.
A figure phased into existence, with the first sight of a two-dimensional being in a trench coat.
"A visitor, aye?" The being called out, "What'll it be?"
"I beg your pardon?" The bewildered youth asked, "But what do you do?"
"I'm the gatekeeper of the Forbidden Lands." He answered, flipping open his wallet. He slotted his hands in to remove a card from it, handing it to the effeminate youth. "I offer a range of services, ranging from healing to resurrection. You name it. Your half soul must be very powerful if you're able to enter without being instantly fading from the world."
"But don't people usually make it here if they have-"
"A sacrifice?" He chuckled, "Yes, they do. They just need to use the stone in place as a toll."
"But then there's also a toll to go back..." He smirked.
"Then-"
"Oh don't worry," He answered, "Your half soul is good enough for you to enter and exit as many times as you wish. Top orders from the boss himself."
"Boss?"
"Can't let you know his name." He said, "It'd spoil the punch line. But he did tell me to inform you that he's 'E', so...yeah."
"I can't give you back your fiancé's soul." He answered, "But I can let you take any soul that you wish, and one of them is hers."
He clicked his fingers, and a sea of homogeneous beings popped out, all similar in shape, size, and height.
He gripped his chest tightly, and closed his eyes. 'Lynx... I love you, I hope you're thinking about me too...'
"That one." He answered, pointing towards the middle.
"You knew." The gatekeeper bellowed in laughter. "Because she was your love and soul after all."
"You may take her." He answered, with a sudden change in tone as he took a deeper turn. "But you mustn't remove your half soul from the stone as it is the only thing that is powering the stone. If you remove it, the stone will deactivate and will lose its ability to bind her soul to her body."
"Got it."
Reality flickered back into existence as the eyes of the once inhabited body reawakened, her eyes experiencing the dark clouds and the searing heat from the stone that rendered her skin a momentary reddish tinge.
"Welcome back, Lynx."
"What did it cost you?" She asked.
"Nothing important." He answered, pointing to her chest. "You have half of me now, and you get back your entire soul."
"What did you do with the stone?" She asked wearily, her body and soul still in fatigue from the trans-dimensional warp.
"It's inside you." He answered, "Together with half of my soul."
Her hand slid towards her chest and gripped it, and felt a nub protruding from her chest. The pulsating holy stone shimmered as it simmered itself into her body, the smoke and steam escaping through her flesh.
"Ahh!" She moaned, her eyes completely closer to bear with the excruciating pain before she passed out.
Fiction » Fantasy » Necessarius
Author: Paradox Fantasy 
Rated: T - English - Romance/Fantasy - Reviews: 1 - Published: 01-15-14 - Updated: 02-16-14 id:3176647
******* 3 Necessarius
Chapter 3: Miasma
Streams of soldiers poured in from all sides, surrounding and charging toward the enigmatic lone figure. He was donned with a dark overall, with souls floating aimlessly about it. His hat was of Victorian era, with its intricate cutting by the corners.
'My, my...' The figure chuckled, making space on the grassy plains for him to sit. 'Can't let you reach me, can I now?'
He waved his gauntlets up. Its centre was a bloody, lit semicircular metallic protrusion, with miniature red gems pointing towards it.
'Shame this had to come to pass.' The figure sighed, clenching his fist. 'Argos... Leita... Ignis!'
At the same time, a purple miasmic fog ascended from the ground. The miasma liberated from them what had been their flesh and bones, then proceeded to rend their souls out of their bodies. The souls in turn, were absorbed by the enigmatic figure, which made his gauntlet glow brighter and burned with crimson energy.
The effeminate youth stirred from his slumber, tilting off the edge of his bed with a soft thump.
"What was that!" He cried, his luminous visage drenched in cold sweat. He peered at his left hand, and witnessed the impression of the gauntlet on his skin. "Nope, this isn't the gauntlet."
He shut his eyes and slapped himself once before opening them again.
"What the hell." He exclaimed, "Did I really...?"
"Yes you did." The flax theme haired female answered, "But with good reason. Plus they deserved it."
"Then the hat, the soul imbued overalls ..."
"I'm sorry, what hat and overalls?" She asked, with a weird expression of ignorance. "I was saying that you brought down the Schargard Empire. Apparently the people led a revolt against the emperor, and Schargard is now ours. Not officially of course. Not yet at least."
"What were you dreaming of anyway, was it a nightmare?"
"I saw a figure on an empty plain, soldiers came after him and..." Syn covered his eyes as he teared, "Then he waved the gauntlets up, and a miasma rose up before reducing all of them to nothingness."
"Why is this happening to me?" Syn cried, slamming his hands against the pillows. "Just because I had some help?"
"It's fine." She replied, moving closer for to embrace his poor heart. "There, there... I'm pretty sure it's fine."
'She thinks it's fine.' The enigmatic figure chuckled behind her.
"You!" He cried, raising his fist.
"What?" Lynx exclaimed, turning around only to find nobody by her back.
"It's behind you!" He cried, leaping up to smash his face in.
His fist phased through the figure, only to smash the mirror behind her.
"What's wrong with you, Syn?" She cried, her voice rising in bewilderment.
"Please leave me alone for now." He requested, gripping his head towards the pillow.
She nodded before approaching the door, "I think that would be best for now."
"What do you want?" Syn cried, turning around.
"To rule the world." He answered, "To be its herald against God."
"No." Syn declined, "I will not follow you."
"Oh, you won't follow me." The figure grinned, "You'll follow yourself. But guess what? The world will be exactly as it would be."
"The more you use it, the more you lose control." He answered, snapping his fingers. "My magic corrupts. All magic flows through me, and souls empower my spells."
"Yeah? Well screw you." He cried, 'What was that again...'
"Argos... Leita... Ignis!" He recited each word, and the incantation proceeded smoothly. The gauntlet materialized on his hand, with the core lighting up a deep crimson. Purple miasma ascended from the depths, burning the figure alive.
"What happened?" A frantic voice barged in, the door slamming against the wall. She peered at the gauntlet he was wearing on his left. "Why are the wooden walls so black as though they rotted?"
"Something to do with that." She assumed, "Isn't it!"
"I don't know what's happening to me..." He teared, with the gauntlet fading from his hand. "I think he got me to use it on purpose..."
"But why-"
"Because the more times I use it, the more I lose control." He answered, "He must be the devil incarnate. He's a complete mystery to me, and I have no idea what he wants..."
"I can teach you the Lost Magic." The figure called out to him from the back. "Wouldn't that be more effective?"
"Shut up." He returned, walking ahead without turning back. The figure continued to follow him.
"What do you want?" He cried, turning around to view the figure in the form of a Victorian era gentleman. "I'm not going to use your powers, and don't bother convincing me!"
"Oh they aren't my powers..." He hissed, pointing to him. "They're rightfully yours. The dumb mortals harp about the fairy tale of Lark, yet they do not know that you possess the most powerful gift..."
"I don't possess any gifts, stop lying!" Syn rebutted, slamming his foot on the ground. The ground quaked, with the flooring smashed to dust.
The Victorian gentleman raised his brow in a gesture to prove that he was right. "There you go."
"No!" He cried, slipping a few steps back. "I'm a freak..."
He stepped next to the furnace out by the blacksmith's shed, "I'll kill myself, then all of this would end."
"Go ahead." The Victorian figure smiled, "You haven't taken a decent hot bath in quite a few millennia."
He immediately leapt into the fire, but his clothes and skin did not burn. Instead, he felt a warmth from the furnace, keeping his body warm and cozy.
"What the-"
"Like I said." The figure chuckled, "You haven't taken a decent hot bath in ages."
He turned to his left and then to his right. "Well, looks like there aren't any people here this early. Boy would they say you're a witch if they saw you dunking in that furnace unscathed."
"Go away!" Syn cried leaping out of the furnace as he ran along the alleyways, above the watery runways to the sewers.
"And yet he still catches up with you." The figure called from the front, grinning as he floated in mid air.
"The madman of Zïnir." He chuckled, with his eyes peering up in the clouds as though he envisioned a future for him. "Mad, but painfully right about insane happenings. Enigmatic, yet known by everyone else."
"Keep this up and you'll become a madman soon." He warned, peering his eyes down towards him in a semi-serious and sinister smile. "You think you're a man but you're just still a child. You'll never get Lynx to love you, and you'll certainly never have the will to overcome your own influence."
"Enough." The youth grinned, halting at his pace as he chuckled in revelation. "You keep referring to your influence as my own, and since others can't see you, it can be assumed that you're a figment of my insanity."
"Doesn't that mean then," He paused, "That I can control you, since after all, we are each other?"
"You do not exist." He answered with resolve, "I am myself, and you are me. You do not exist, for you are me, and I will not betray myself."
"Insolent child you-" The figure vanished as soon as he closed his eyes and walked. He knew now what he had - The body of the most powerful angel to walk the world since the dawn of mortals many millennia ago.
He took the path home, and then entered through the front gates. The worried girl came rushing toward him. "Are you alright?" Lynx asked, "You've not been yourself recently..."
"I've discovered something tragic." He grinned, laughing in disbelief. "I possess the body of the most powerful angel to walk the planet many millennia ago."
"What are you talking about?" She gasped, "Lark was just a fairy tale, and you were given brilliant ideas that they probably because you we're desperate."
"No." He returned, raising his hands to reveal a pair of gauntlets that materialized on his hands. The crystals protruded from the top, right, bottom and left which pointed towards the red glowing core in the centre. "With this, I am now reborn!"
"But," He paused, before reverting to a jovial effeminate youth, "I won't use it."
"How did you find out?"
"The idiot messed up by referring to himself as 'you', and always did so." He answered, "That's when I caught on it and banished him from my sight."
"Don't you think that this might be a trap?" She asked, "I mean, he explicitly mentioned it and all... Wouldn't make a lot of sense to deliberately say 'you' instead of 'I', just as normal people do."
"I'd take that precaution." He said, as his gauntlets faded as though they were vacuumed out of existence. "Who do you think taught me how to recite those incantations anyway?"
"Sir!" A loud banging ensued as knock after knock slammed against the mahogany door. "Sir! An insurrection is taking place, they're elements of the Schargard empire!"
"Perfect. Just when I needed test subjects." The captain grinned malevolently, readying his gauntlets as they phased in once more. He rushed and pulled the doors open, flashing past the squire as he readied his gauntlets.
"They're in the city square. Don't you need-"
But he was already gone. He sprinted east toward the large clouds of smoke and slammed his gauntlets together for a sword to materialize out of his palm. The sword blade was two meters long, its guard of angelic wings, with its hilt long enough to wield it in both hands and still have enough space for a third one. Its tip boasted an 'M' fang-shaped design.
He arrived and visioned a square of slaughtered villagers, with many of them fleeing- Men, women, and children alike.
The grim sight pumped his blood and it rose to gravely high levels, to the point he became in heat with murder. He let out an erotic expression, his eyes peering all the way up together.
The soldiers began to charge towards him as he was the only survivor left. His gauntlets burned with malevolent shadow energy, and the crimson core burned brightly.
He lunged the gauntlets against the soldier, and melted through the sword to reach his body, with his entire frame incinerated to smoldering ash.
"Let's start with something simpler, shall we?" The shadowy figure remarked, reaching his gauntlet out against a group of the soldiers. Twirling his finger around, the soldiers followed suit as they twirled and span around as though they were puppets to an invisible force. "Unfortunately this is the most that I can do at this current moment, if I don't wish to be consumed by the darkness."
With the rest of the soldiers rushing for him, he immediately ceased his toying and brandished his blade against the soldiers, rendering them a pile of smoldering ash that scattered in the evening wind as they got hit by his blade.
Shocked, the soldiers began to turn their tails and ran in the opposite direction, much to his ire.
Waves of angered townsfolk soon came out, arms linked and began to march as one. They were confronted by another wave of townsfolk. Neighbour on neighbour, family against family.
'Syn!' The female called out from his back as she tossed a vial of cyan blue liquid at him.
He jerked forth, reached for the vial and gripped it tightly with his right hand.
"Sometimes I get the feeling that you're spying on me." He chuckled, bringing the mouth of the vial close to his as he chugged its contents down his throat.
"I'm your little stalker!" She giggled, as she blushed whilst covering her cheeks.
The insane adolescent took a deep breath in, and his eyes reverted from a stone cold glare, back into his usual self. "The mere sight of blood sends me in to disarray..." He commented, "I must be pathetic."
"Knowing that, she still chose to be with me..."
Watery, tinkling pearls streamed down his cheeks. He chuckled from the insanity of the thought, of which were considered his blasphemy of the heart.
'Time to use my own power.' He exclaimed, slamming his fists against each other. A runic ring emanated from his front, and a great ward was conjured. He stood behind the ward, punching away at their general direction. The runic ring then conjured fireballs that streaked past with loud screeching noise and burned them. Those that were burned fled, and those that were not, drew their bows and fired as rain hailed heavily upon them.
He shifted the runic force up, and the arrows were deflected downwards against the hard stone ground. "These powers are weak..." He growled, "If only there wasn't the backlash from using my full power!"
"I know!" He exclaimed, stretching his arms apart. A wavy portal distorted the flow of reality, and a massive beast emerged from within the lava engulfed depths. As the beast stepped out, some of the lava spilled out, burning through the smooth stone pathway.
The beast stood six meters tall, its skin coated in cool magma with a trail of smoke blazing through its path.
"That should do it..." He remarked, muttering to himself. "Pouring my energy to 'summon' and bind a single entity requires only a one time payment of mana."
"It should not drain me..." He thought to himself, "At least, I hope not."
The beast began its rampage as it approached the insurgents, with its massive talons slamming and crashing against the stone floor, and yet its trail remained gentle.
The men became petrified in cold fear as the fiery beast approached, unable to act but merely waiting, and praying...
He was satisfied. He turned his palm inward and the beast turned, approaching him as waves of guardsmen arrived at the scene. They were bound to each other in iron shackles, and no resistance was made as they trembled from the visage of the horrendous beast—Nightmare made manifest.
He turned around and the beast faded in a zephyr, crashing down to his knees.
She rushed over to his side, supporting his fatigue ridden body with her left shoulder.
"That was a very convincing and realistic astral projection." She remarked, "Noticed it the moment it started walking."
"What gave it away?" He asked, with a slightly cheeky smile on his face.
"That fact that it left no discernible traces of its footprints." She answered, pointing to the path it took. "If it had been real, the ground would not be in perfect condition."
"Oh Lynx!" He cried, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "You know me too well!"
"Yeah I know." She chuckled with a bright smile upon her ecstatic visage. "At least I got to live a fulfilling life..."
"Lynx is something wrong?" He asked, portraying a puzzled expression upon his elegant visage. He gripped her shoulders tightly in his effeminate beauty, shaking her in urgency. "Don't scare me. You're talking as though you're about to-"
"I am." She answered, turning toward her right as watery pearls reflected the sun's glory when they dripped drop by drop. "I love you... Syn."
"Do not listen to those who poison your mind with their deception." She added, "Let go of your hatred, Syn. Even if I cannot be with you, I shall be forever in your memories."
"I have been dead ever since I was born." She answered, "I am a homunculus, an artificial being created by alchemy."
"No." He rebutted, gripping her hands tightly. "You are a human being. You shall live and not perish."
"The magic of alchemy is about to expire." She answered, "I am a mere object that which was given life. Thank you for the time we spent together... Really."
"And you're just going to leave me... Without ever confiding in me?" The tender youth cried, as a flood of tears gather along the banks of his eyes. "Then I'll extend your lifespan! I'll find a way!"
She shook her head. "No." She answered, with a serene smile. "Doing so requires another soul. You will never be able to retrieve two of the same souls."
"Then where do the souls go!" He cried, with a heavy aggression in his demanding tone. "I will fight the ends of the earth and go through hell and back for you!"
"Where I will go is too dangerous." She answered, "You will not be able to survive there..."
"I have been in there before being drawn up. I died as a child and my soul ceased aging since- At least, until I was sent back here." She explained, "But I will be going to a different place. She answered, one that I know not of. Which is why, Syn, I implore that you let me go."
"I have no more friends..." He gasped, astonished by the revelation that he had no one but her. "Please don't leave me..."
"Please..." He teared within his heart, "I just want her to be alright..."
"It's not easy..." He muttered to himself, "Living alone with nobody to turn to..."
"But my time is up." She answered, as the lustrous flare in her eyes faded, until she was no more than a hollow shell.
He got up, his head bowed over and his frame petite. He reached for her body, slinging it over his body in her unrivalled beauty.
"But I love her..." He muttered, as a surge of red crimson energy coursed through his body.
He journeyed home, ransacking the entire place on the books pertaining to alchemy and chemistry.
A battered silvery book with its golden trim and platinum pages lay amongst the ruin. He flipped through the first twenty pages, then the next ten, and then the next five. He reached toward the centre of the book, with an angel warring other creatures. Its right hand was lifted up, and the earth seemed to be responding as souls flowed to his person.
"If I possess the body of the most powerful angel to walk the world...then..."
He lifted his right hand up, but there was nothing.
"Figures." He growled and slammed the already battered book to the ground, "Fairytales..."
"What must I do to bring her back!" He cried as he shouted his voice hoarse. His voice triggered a thunderous calamity that struck the desolate plains within twenty kilometers in his radius and turned the grass into smoldering black ash.
"Alchemy, was it?" He growled, smashing his hands against the wooden structure that supported the books. "Then I'll take back her soul and make her eternal!"
"Cheap talk." The baneful enigmatic figure chuckled as it announced his presence. "With your powers?"
"You are so full of yourself." He reminded, "Is your head so high up in the clouds just because you found out that you're inhabiting the body of a divine being?"
"Or are you actually this stupid and ignorant about how anything works around here?" He asked, "Perhaps it's the latter."
"What do you want..."
"I wish to propose an offer." He answered, steadily approaching him. "I take the soul of your beloved Lynx and return it to her body, and you serve what my body was originally intended for— To cause chaos and misery."
He turned around, with his back facing the figure. "You're insane."
"Insane?" The figure chuckled, "Insanity is a state of being mentally ill. Yet, what is the definition for mentally ill in the first place?"
"I am merely making you an offer." He asserted, waving his finger around. "I mean, it's sad that you didn't have a chance to experience a fulfilled life, right?"
"I am merely bridging that gap." He answered, "You can choose to distrust me, but what other choices do you have anyway?"
"The one where I don't trust you."
"You don't trust yourself?" The figure burst into a quaint laughter, clutching his chest from the absurdity he perceived. "That's classical."
"Shall I tell you where your girlfriend is now, as we speak?" He asked. "Never mind, I'll just tell you anyway. She's in the depths of the corrupt life stream, towing her way back and forth."
"Her soul will be broken and she will despair." He answered, "Psychic paralysis, insanity, comatose... You name it."
"Do you know what your name means?" He asked, "If you haven't known yet."
"In Norse, the meaning of the name Syn is: Invoked and awaken during trials." Syn answered on his behalf, "What about it?"
"It means that you will bend to my will, and break in times of trials." The figure answered, "Then you will invoke great power and devour the world."
"No, It just means that I'll rise to the occasion to kick your smug ass!" He cried, "Then I shall kill you myself!"
"Good luck with that." The figure grinned condescendingly before tossing a roll of paper to him which he caught. "Don't say that I didn't help."
He unrolled the tattered piece of scroll, and found a series of patterns joined together with a crest of a snake devouring its own tail. It was encircled with a series of words in circles and the mere gaze of its pattern emanated a powerful presence.
"This is fear." He added, upon witnessing his visage turn a pale white. "It's on paper; it won't eat you up."
"Can you really handle the depths of magic that you need to use?" He asked rhetorically, visioning fear emanating from his shaky aura. "This is mere geometry. You're so afraid of that?"
"I'm not." He answered with a slight shakiness in his voice.
"It matters not." He said, pointing towards his head. "The deepest level of arcane secrets... Are within the depths of your mind."
"Your soul empowers you with energy." He explained, "You are essentially your own power source."
"The most treasured artefact in all the worlds, in possession of a being with an unlimited power source, yet the most spineless and effeminate." He snorted, staring at him ever so slightly. "I highly doubt you have the courage to accept where this is going. You are pathetic."
"I know I am." He answered, "But at least I'm not running away, and I never will!"
"You will."
"I won't!" He cried, "I'll prove it to you...! I'll... I'll bring her back!"
"Make good your word, boy." The figure warned, "Or you shall live in loneliness forever."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because it will benefit me." He answered, "As to how, I cannot say. But I shall take my leave."
The shadows at that moment, dove up to shroud him in an eclipse of shadows before his figure dissipated into the wind.
"Looks like I should leave too..." The weary adolescent growled as he peered over the charred battlegrounds. He reviewed the geometrical patterns of the notes when he revisited the worn papyrus.
It had the shape of a diamond with its four-sides vertices.
Words seemed to fortify the vertices around a circular formation, with a larger circle of runic symbols capping against diamond symbol.
"Requires two...billion souls..." He muttered to himself, pointing towards each of its vertices, reading that it requires five-hundred million souls to power up a vertex.
"Will it be true after all?" He screamed maniacally, slamming the charred patches with all his might.
"No." His answer resonated within his heart. "There must be another way!"
"The price of resurrection is too great." He noted, "There must be another place to gather souls without having to massacre entire nations!"
"This will come in as the last plan." He promised himself, cocking the papyrus back into his pockets. "I have heard that alchemy requires a catalyst— A philosopher's stone as a conduit for its power.
He slipped the book from his coat once more, and flipped to the thirtieth page.
'At the end of every age, philosopher stones will emerge within the depths of the world. There will be enough for every single inhabitant, and the stone will never run out of power for it is a stone of the pure life stream.'
"Depths of the world..." He muttered, swiftly closing the book with his left hand before slotting it back into his coat. "Doesn't that just mean deep down the surface of the world?"
"No..." He muttered back to himself, twirling his finger around the mysterious indentation of the book's spine. "This book is old, and the spine juts out with a battered appearance..."
"Perhaps if I sliced the spine..." He thought, retrieving the sharp knife from his side pockets.
It made quick work through the battered edge of the book's spine and a note that fell of the side , revealing a dull rock that barely glistened in the sun's presence.
He unfolded the note, and there read: 'To whomsoever finds this, I must first tell you that what you hold on your hands right now is a philosopher's stone. However, this is an unrefined stone. You must reforge the stone with the necessary components in order to recharge it. You might have read in that book, that it could grant powers beyond the cosmos. That is not true, though many still believe that myth and will continue to hunt for it until they find one themselves. I assure you most of the information within the book is largely false, save for the part about the philosopher's stone being a powerhouse for souls— Which are able to grant immense energy. Do take care and don't die along the way.
P.S. Philosopher stones are manifested and present for every two billion souls in the previous era.
-E'
"Wow." He reflected to himself in surprise. "Better get to searching for them, but how..."
He sat there, and what seemed to be an ingenious idea popped into his infinite thoughts, that he could use the intellect of his own unknown power.
"Actually," He muttered upon re-evaluating his decision, "That's like saying that I won't be something I will become in the future."
"Going down this road is too dangerous..." He reaffirmed to himself, "But then... Argh! I'll just do it!"
He sat there quietly, swiping his hands against his visage. The eyes that emanated a smokey trail of shadows spiraled outward to craft the intricately shadow that was different from his previous encounter.
'Absorbing the souls of the dead could help, but it won't be anyway near enough...' He answered, 'The Palace of Souls is a viable option, but it is not of this realm.'
'The only viable opinion,' He answered himself, 'Is to try to lure her soul out. That's assuming she's even in the Corrupt Lifestream. It could work for other realms, but it'll take a longer time.''
'I think you're screwed.' He commented, 'Unless you're willing to trade— Half of your soul for her entire soul.'
"Yes, I'll do it!" He exclaimed, "This will bring her back right?"
'Yes.' He answered himself, 'I guarantee you that much.'
"Then do it." He answered, before a mystical presence caused him to bit his index finger till it bled. He proceeded to draw a series of connected lines and a star upon the hard ground.
'Your soul is special, so just half of a soul from you is more than capable of substituting two billion souls.'
"So we're swapping souls?" He chuckled at the brief naivety of the thought. "Funny this works in a world whose culture revolves around the sciences and math."
'Just get to it.'
Within the star he drew a miniature slot the size of a jewel. He aligned the white stone in the centre, and proceeded to finish the markings with a slight stretch of the lines. White electricity stormed the area, and the winds shook violent as the stone remained firmly as one with the ground. The earth trembled, and the clouds eclipsed the glory of the basking sun, dawning the woe of man. He placed a lock of hair upon the stone, and a great surge of energy pulsated within the area. The force pushed down entire areas and a bright light made its descent to the everlasting, motionless beauty that lay asleep when the stone fused itself into her body.
A bright flash flooded his vision, and a world of darkness filled his sight. A myriad of footsteps began to drown his ears.
A figure phased into existence, with the first sight of a two-dimensional being in a trench coat.
"A visitor, aye?" The being called out, "What'll it be?"
"I beg your pardon?" The bewildered youth asked, "But what do you do?"
"I'm the gatekeeper of the Forbidden Lands." He answered, flipping open his wallet. He slotted his hands in to remove a card from it, handing it to the effeminate youth. "I offer a range of services, ranging from healing to resurrection. You name it. Your half soul must be very powerful if you're able to enter without being instantly fading from the world."
"But don't people usually make it here if they have-"
"A sacrifice?" He chuckled, "Yes, they do. They just need to use the stone in place as a toll."
"But then there's also a toll to go back..." He smirked.
"Then-"
"Oh don't worry," He answered, "Your half soul is good enough for you to enter and exit as many times as you wish. Top orders from the boss himself."
"Boss?"
"Can't let you know his name." He said, "It'd spoil the punch line. But he did tell me to inform you that he's 'E', so...yeah."
"I can't give you back your fiancé's soul." He answered, "But I can let you take any soul that you wish, and one of them is hers."
He clicked his fingers, and a sea of homogeneous beings popped out, all similar in shape, size, and height.
He gripped his chest tightly, and closed his eyes. 'Lynx... I love you, I hope you're thinking about me too...'
"That one." He answered, pointing towards the middle.
"You knew." The gatekeeper bellowed in laughter. "Because she was your love and soul after all."
"You may take her." He answered, with a sudden change in tone as he took a deeper turn. "But you mustn't remove your half soul from the stone as it is the only thing that is powering the stone. If you remove it, the stone will deactivate and will lose its ability to bind her soul to her body."
"Got it."
Reality flickered back into existence as the eyes of the once inhabited body reawakened, her eyes experiencing the dark clouds and the searing heat from the stone that rendered her skin a momentary reddish tinge.
"Welcome back, Lynx."
"What did it cost you?" She asked.
"Nothing important." He answered, pointing to her chest. "You have half of me now, and you get back your entire soul."
"What did you do with the stone?" She asked wearily, her body and soul still in fatigue from the trans-dimensional warp.
"It's inside you." He answered, "Together with half of my soul."
Her hand slid towards her chest and gripped it, and felt a nub protruding from her chest. The pulsating holy stone shimmered as it simmered itself into her body, the smoke and steam escaping through her flesh.
"Ahh!" She moaned, her eyes completely closer to bear with the excruciating pain before she passed out.
A white washed ceiling flooded her vision, with intricate decoration crossing at the intersections for an artistic representation of the Cosmos.
"Are you alright?" The feminine voice whispered softly into her ear.
"You shouldn't have given up half your soul..." She muttered weakly, "If what you said...was really true...then you emptying half of your soul would just create a hole...and you'd be more susceptible to a possession."
"Nothing else matters as long as I have you, Lynx." He answered, embracing her warm, blanketed body.
"I can give you back your soul." Lynx said, "Then you won't-"
"No." He refused, pointing toward her chest. "You need my soul as the source to power to philosopher's stone. If I were to take my soul back, the stone would cease to work and will not be able to bind your soul to your body."
"I shall leave you to recuperate." He said, moving over to give her a kiss on he lips before turning toward the mahogany door. "I shall make you something to eat."

******* 4 Necessarius
Chapter 4: It begins
"I can't believe that you'd do that for me!" She cried, with a visage of reddish tinge buried in the soft pillow. "I can't say I'm surprised, but I'm still very touched."
"I love you, Syn."
"Love you too." He answered, moving his hands to her chest with an impassive expression.
"Noo!" She exclaimed, turning around whilst covering her less endowed chest. "It's so embarrassing!"
"But you were pretty okay with it the last time."
"That was when I knew I was going to die." She answered, "Dead people don't have to fear embarrassment."
"Aww!" He cried, snuggling with her as he hugged her from her back. "You're just too cute!"
"You were living, knowing that you were going to die." He noted, moving his head closer to her ears. "But now you are reborn, live as how you would. You are released from the fear of dying."
"Yeah." She blushed, resting her head on his chest. "You're braver than any man I have ever met, yet the most effeminate, probably in the whole country."
"But I love you for who you are." She answered, "And thank your for accepting me for who I am— A homunculus."
"Enough with that talk." He said, moving his hands gently to her lips. "You're still human, and you still have feelings. You're the most beautiful and graceful woman I have ever met."
She giggled, slapping him on his chest. "That's because I'm the only woman you ever met."
"Yeah, I guess!" He chuckled, embracing her once more before sliding out of the queen sized mahogany bed. "I love you."
"Love you too!"
"He revived her with the philosopher's stone?" The man with the mighty crown of gold gasped, "Unless he made one... Not that's not humanly possible! My alchemists said that it was impossible...!"
"Not humanly possibly, your highness." The figure with the silvery decorated plate armour answered, "As you have witnessed previously with the invasion incident— He wasn't even close to being human. He's a snake that devoured an entire nation, figuratively speaking, after all."
"I owe him and my daughter too much." He answered, "Leave them be, they were made for each other."
"I intended to do so, your highness." The gallant knight answered, "I, the Holy Knight Owar, have a debt to repay Syn as well. He might not be close to being human, but his heart is definitely more human than anyone else in the country-no, perhaps even the world."
"If you wanted my answer, your highness," He paused, "I would have disobeyed your direct command to harm him."
"As for how he obtained the souls required to activate the stone, I do not know how." He answered, his visage facing directly to the king. "But there has not been a single death anywhere near his area, nor have there been mass killings in any area. He either found and activated one, or knowing him..."
"Knowing him, what would he do?" The staunch monarch asked, his tone rising in anticipation of the answer.
"He probably sacrificed something that he holds dear." Owar answered, "For him to sacrifice enough to power the stone... I fear that it is only soul that could just barely match the Toll of Activation."
"Impossible!" The king cried as he slammed his hands against the royal throne armrest, "The stone requires two billion souls to activate! It's just not possible to activate with a single soul!"
"Then his soul must be special, for him to offer something of equivalent value to activate the stone, and enter as well as to exit the Forbidden Lands." Owar answered, "From what the spies reported... It would seem that his soul is still intact— He was smiling with Miss Lynx, and they were truly happy together."
"What..." The king muttered, "What exactly did he do...! I wish to know!"
"This brings me to why I came to seek an audience with you, your highness."
"Speak your thoughts."
"I wish to request for permission to speak with him," Owar requested, with his head bowed in a subservient pose. "If that is truly possible... Then it may be possible to reverse death."
"You may proceed." The revered monarch bellowed in approval.
"As you wish, your highness."
In his mansion...
"Checkmate." He snickered, brushing his thumb against his nose as his eyes ceased its ethereal glint of fleeting, shadowy darkness.
"So it appears that your 'eye' of sorts seems to give you an upper hand at intellectually stimulating tasks." She observed, clearing her king from the board as it was one space east and three paces north from the knight. "The pawn and that knight are truly the most complex duo."
"This power is something that I can somewhat control." He answered, "Now that I'm able to call upon it without any repercussions."
"There's something I have to tell you." She said, "I'm actually-"
Before she could say any more, three knocks resounded as the double doors resounded thrice.
"I'll get that." He answered, approaching the large double doors.
The double doors slammed wide open, revealing a staunch knight coated in silvery armour with a hood strapped on his cloak.
"Owar!" Syn cried, opening his arms to embrace his former captain.
"Good to see you again, Syn."
"Yeah."
"I don't think you came here just for a casual chit-chat." He said, as the shadowy eyes lit up once again.
"May I come in?"
"Go ahead." Syn said, spreading his arms wide against the backdrop of his house before standing aside for the guest to enter.
"How did you pull that off?"
"Figured that might be the reason." He sighed, rocking his chair back and forth. "So, the king noticed his daughter wasn't dead yet so he sent you to check it out."
"Metacognition, my good man." He answered, once against rocking his chair back and forth as his fingers began tapping on the side in increasing frequency. "The answer to this is metacognition."
"If I know how I myself think, then I know what I'm going to think." He said, "And if I know what I myself think, it's more obvious for others to find out about what I'm thinking since it's usually in systematic order. In other words, common sense."
"My dear good man, I would love to tell you how I managed to activate the stone but unfortunately I cannot." He said, refusing to give up his secret. "Did you really think that by attaining the stone you would be able to reverse death?"
"How did you-"
"Philosophy of mind, my good knight." He answered, "For goodness sake, if I pre-empted your arrival sooner or later."
"Next you're going to ask how I activated the stone, and the price I paid." He said, "Then you're going to ask me why I'm still in one peace."
"But, no." He said, refusing to divulge his secret. "There are no more stones left, and the stone has to be bound to someone for them to be alive."
"And I assure you," He warned, leaning forward as he slammed his hands downwards. "That if you do try to remove the stone, I shall remove to this kingdom what I removed from the Schargard nation. Am I clear?"
"Crystal clear."
"Good, then report everything. Do not omit any information."
"Tell the king to prepare for battle." He added, as the knight pushed against the large door to the left. "Tomorrow. Rally the archers by the side of the mountains, the knights by the back of the castle and order for all soldiers to standby the front lines."
"Our enemy is the Union of Arkos." He warned as he drew a diagram of a star and an empty core, "Equip the archers with flaming arrows and line the battlefield with oil in this diagram exactly."
"How do you know that?" He asked, with a look that piqued his interest and suspicion simultaneously.
"The treaty that you signed with the Union of Arkos expires in a day." He answered, "Given that Zïrnir and Schargard are both city-states while the Union is a collective group of states, they're sure to eat us up."
"They would strike when we least expect it." He said, "Don't you think the relationship between the Union and Zïrnir is going too well?"
"Why would, pray tell, THE large Union of Arkos, wish to have anything to do with our petty Kingdom?" He said, "The Union conquers to get their way."
"But tomorrow is when we renew our-"
"Renew?" The effeminate adolescent broke into senseless laughter. "Friend, the only thing Zïrnir is going to sign tomorrow is its defeat contract!"
"Very well." He answered, "I shall... relate this to the Sire."
"Good." He nodded, as the door closed on his way out.
"He'll tell my dad, but he won't do anything about it, will he?"
"Knowing him..." He noted, "The king does not enjoy taking risks."
"The only thing they would likely do is to increase security." He answered, "That doesn't help. Because there won't be an assassin."
"Wouldn't that be the fastest way to take the king out and install a new monarch?" She asked, "Then why-"
"Because if they did, there would be the army to kill them off." He answered, "The army is not stupid enough to surrender just because the king is dead."
"They need to take it by force." He said, "That's why I'll be in the battlefield tomorrow, likely alone."
"But-"
"Look, I know that you're able to do some fancy magic, but they're going to realize that it's an illusion." She said, shaking his left arm. "Take me with you. This way if we should die, we die together."
"Hmph." He sighed, "The things I do for my country. If we do make it out, we shall elope. I have no wish to associate myself with foolishness."
The golden yolk made its slow ascent, together with the moment in time that history was about to unfold upon the hapless denizens of Zïnir.
The shadow of millions upon millions of silhouettes dawned upon Zïnir, eclipsing the early sun from its citizens in the dark, with the exception of the royal palace- completely engulfed with the vast might of the sun's glorious rays.
"Necessary evil..." He sighed, "War... Death... Is this really all necessary?"
"Yes." He answered himself in his elaborate philosophy, "Man harbors greed, hatred, ambition. As long as that exists, the world will never be at peace."
"The battle is upon us, Lynx."
"The battle is upon us, Syn."
"Yet not a single soul has noticed." He noted, "It is too late. Even if they did realize this..."
"You are wrong!" A voice beckoned from the far horizon, together with the sound of metal clanging against the grassy plains.
"Yet with this," The staunch knight answered, "You are wrong."
"Look to your left, and your right." He ordered.
Indeed. To their left, a great number of archers with braziers for every twenty, and to their right, knight archers with their bows drawn.
"Checkmate, Syn."
"Pfft." He snorted, "Slight calculation error."
"This includes the majority of their military force." He noted, "Let's make this count. We shall render them a spent force by dusk!"
"Is the diagram-"
"Precisely as you drew." The knight answered, " Just give us your orders."
"Just as they step through the large outer circle- all of them, set the oil markings on fire." He instructed, "Then I shall proceed to kill all of them off."
"All...?" The knight gasped, "But how-"
"It would just instantaneously obliterate their bodies and send their souls straight to the stone as converted to energy." He answered, "Then Lynx would in turn supply my with the energy for which I shall use to wipe them off the face of the planet."
"What was your plan before that, assuming we hadn't arrived?"
"Create a smaller circle that would devour them as well." He answered, "We wouldn't have enough energy to decimate the enemy cities, but would have just enough to ensure that none of them reach Zïrnir."
"This is the first time I've heard of such a spell." He said, "Are you sure it's safe?"
"Nope." Syn returned, "I have no idea. I just somehow 'remember' this spell."
"Lynxx." He turned to her with a sibilant whisper, "When you receive all of the soulsss, make sure you direct all of the energy you received to the five kingdomsss. No prisonersss."
The horizon beckoned with a monstrous thunderous roar, and his eyes began to shroud itself with a clouded miasma before forming a pair of dilated snake-like pupils.
"The genocide begins now!" He laughed maniacally in an orgasmic, sensual excitement.
Thousands of fiery arrows fired against the oil splatter as the last man marched past, with flames roaring as they quickly sieged the incoming troops with a wall of fire. Its core fired a wall of beams, decimating legion after legion of troops as they ran in pandemonium.
"Chickens to the slaughter." He snorted in contempt, lifting his right hand up as the flames roared upwards, devouring every single man in that circle.
"How many people were there?" The mad adolescent asked, turning to Lynx as her body began to glow a royal purple.
"Thirty million." She answered, turning to face him.
"Good enough." He noted, nodding slightly. He waved his hands to the sides, and it had materialised gauntlets on both sides. "This will end quickly."
"On the twentieth day of Summerfall, the Union of Arkos perished in a sea of flames. No survivors were reported," He muttered, envisioning the historical remnant of his deeds as he gloriously revered his deeds prematurely."
He bumped his fists together, and slammed them against the grassy plains. In that brief span of time, flames shot up in all the five kingdoms yet not a single scream was heard. All was too quick. For by the end of it... All that remained were charred and corpses and ashes that scattered with the Northern Winds.
"I could swear, you're the archetypal emotionless villain." Owar commented, "Even so, we needn't-"
"Yes we needed to." He answered, as the gauntlets on his hands phased out of existence.
"Milady, please don't tell me you agree with this-"
"I will support Syn in whatever he chooses." She answered, "For I am his."
"It's not that I wish for this to happen." Syn returned, "This world is simply too corrupt, and I know that most nations fear and hate me. But my answer is still the same. Necessary evil."
"Oh, what happened to your cheerful disposition, Syn!" Owar moaned, "You were not the meek partner I once knew!"
"People change." He answered and as soon as you realise that-"
At that moment, the shadow in his eyes dissipated, while his pupils returned to its original state.
"Huh?" Syn gasped, scouring around as he peered left and right. "What was I about to say..."
"Looks like I was right about the eye..." Owar sighed, "Not only do you become more intelligent with that eye, you become a full-on bastard when you use it."
"Leave me alone!" He cried slamming his foot down as a mound of earth covered him from his surroundings. "I need some time..."
"Yeah, I think so too."

******* 5 Necessarius
Chapter 5: Secrets
The youth wept in his earth moulded sphere of solace, at the atrocity that he had committed without the batting of the eye.
"You hadn't known better, so stop pushing yourself, Syn." The chivalrous knight echoed into his comfort husk. "Besides, you did save Zïnir from being conquered today. You did the kingdom yet another great act of service that ought to be rewarded, not punished!"
"No." Syn sniffled, weeping as his conscience was as guilty as a stone were to a feather. "I might not have agreed to the complete obliteration of the five kingdoms, but there was no other choice. It was either them, or us."
"So in the end of day, it's still necessary evil?" He growled as his sniffles grew ever louder. "Because I'm the bane of man..."
"You are not the bane of man, Syn." Owar answered, "You're the most beautiful soul I have ever met in my years as a knight."
"Sure, you do practice the dark arts, but you're still pure as yourself." He exclaimed, "And nothing will take that away from you, not ever. Not on my watch."
"You just have to cease using the shadow." He explained, "It's that which is making you who you're not. I have noticed that each time you use it, you have lesser and lesser control over it."
"I destroyed five kingdoms with two billion souls in it!" He cried, "The nightmares I had are coming true and that won't change anything!"
"Perhaps they're mere visions." Owar guessed, "Have you experienced any more of such visions since?"
A warm silence emanated from within the sphere, and taps resounded.
"N-Not that I've experienced recently." He answered, "I... I dare not stay, Owar. I'm too ashamed to stay anymore."
"The most glorified youth in the village drowning in shame." Owar returned, "That's rather ironic. Chin up, man."
"Everything will go your away soon," He assured, "You're just facing some difficulty, is all." He answered, "You damn yourself for what has already happened."
"Does it matter if you feel guilty?" He asked, "It wouldn't matter because you've already done it. So stop sulking and suck it up."
"Owar!" The flax haired lady exclaimed, her eyebrows frowning and her stance as though she were ready to attack him.
"I do not apologize for my harsh critique milady." Owar returned, "You're weak, and you're easily hurt. I get that. But is that an excuse for which you remain in your comfort zone?"
"You cannot change what has happened," He asserted in his harsh critique. "But you can change what you'll become. I have always seen you as a younger brother, and I am telling you this because I care."
Yet, the shell retained its deafening silence as it rolled back and forth silently.
"I know I may not be as powerful as you, but let me help! Don't rely on yourself, please share your burden with your friends around you!"
"Lynx, are you willing to share my burden with me?" The meek voice whispered from the mound.
"As long as you love me, I'm willing to do anything within reason."
Loud battle cries roared from the valleys, and the open battlefield shrouded itself as fauna grew to encase itself with a natural defense.
"What?" He cried, turning behind as he heard to origin of the battle cries.
"They are still alive!"
"We have an alchemist and a dark magus in their midst!" Owar exclaimed, reaching for his sheath to draw the azure jeweled blade.
"No..." Syn muttered, gripping his temples as he drowned out the sounds with his arms. "I don't...want to..."
"Kill..." A stark shift in his tone beckoned, and a secondary voice seemed to echo after him. "War... That blood... Blood!"
'Cheap magic!' He cried, before chanting a series of words.
'Sarköl Akas Dtoriel!'
As he was chanting the words, an upsurge of energy flooded the fields, with the green apparitions ascending to the battlefield with the clanging of metal.
'Zörea Łarkos Dtils!'
A further increase in pressure wrapped around the being, with the radius of effecting increasing as more souls joined the battle, only this time with crossbows as their barrels were filled with bolts.
"His body is merging with his soul!" Lynx cried, "I can see it because I transcend both the living and the dead...his soul...!"
An ethereal flame burned itself as an insignia within his crest, in the shape of a pair of wings and a sword.
"An insignia with a pair of wings and a sword..."
"The body of the most powerful being to walk the worlds..." He muttered, with several jolts of blue energy spiraling upwards before dispersing.
"This body's secrets...powers... I can now use them!"
"Though," He paused, "I have no idea how..."
"Do something!" Lynx cried, as the massive horde of spirits brandished their blades toward the firm soldiers to the north.
"I don't know!" He cried, "I can use the powers, but I don't know how! Being able to use something doesn't mean you'd know how to!"
"Then that's not really useful!" She retorted, "We're still screwed at the end of it!"
"I'll try something." He answered, "Since I can now use magical incantations, I would think that any magical combination would work."
"Err, let's see, let's try to find some magic speak..."
'Seris... Łqat... Zarthom!'
Reality fragmented itself and a portion snapped off, while two finely dressed individuals stepped out of the bend in reality.
"You're late." The figure to the left moaned, twisting his neck to the left as a series of cracks resounded as he faced them with his back against them.
"Show some respect, Nemael." The majestic figure clad in a silky white dress said, eliciting a responce, "Our master returns, doth thou not hearken the trumpets of Dormir?"
"Nay." He returned, responding, "For I cannot hear something that is not yet of time, Kael. Dormir shalt be established in thy world."
"We return," The lady said, turning to Syn. "Master."
"W-Who are you?" He muttered, releasing his grip over the chalk that he carried with him.
"We are thy servants, my master." Kael answered, performing a short curtsy in his presence. "We hath come a long way, and we awaited thy powerful command."
"Aye." Nemael nodded, bowing as his right hand covered his chest in respect with his butler's uniform and manacle.
"What is it you wish that we should do now?" Nemael asked, with his head remaining bowed in reverence for the first order.
The effeminate youth pointed toward the nearing army of half a football field, "Capture them, and do not kill them or harm them."
"As you wish, master."
The duo rushed toward the battlefield, releasing a seed in the middle of the commotion, capturing a good portion of the soldiers.
"Cease thy advance!" The duo ordered, standing firm in their spot.
The entire army halted in their presence, and their voices drowned out all commands and reason, while the troops laid their weapons down, compelled to bow.
"I wish to talk to them." He requested, and the duo nodded, releasing their hold on them while binding them in place.
"I do not wish to kill." Syn said, facing the man in the heavily fortified armour, different from the rest. "You were the dark mage and the alchemist. Were you not?"
"Gut me and kill me, I shall not speak another word." The general snorted, facing away from Syn.
"Listen to my master-"
"That will be all, Kael." The adolescent youth answered, his hands at the back of his head, signaling for her to stop.
"You closed the forests to provide a natural defense," Syn noted, "At the same time, you were covering just how far your troops had already gotten."
"You made them real because you knew that illusion masters would be able to see through it." He added, walking further up to the general. "You are an opponent far beyond my strategic thinking. It's a shame that you a working with the Union of Arkos."
"Work for me." He answered, drawing his sword from his sheath and placing it on his hands. "Or you can kill me."
"We were just fodder for the Arkos." The staunch general replied, "They never cared for my men."
"But you are an enemy." He added, "And I would be dishonoring my code as a knight by betraying them."
"That is why..." The generals muttered, before turning the sword from Syn, to himself.
Silence invaded the battlefield, and the crows held their peace.
He peered toward his chest, and an arm pierced with the sword with fingers gripping tightly against his blade greeted his eyes.
"You harmed a civilian who doesn't know how to fight." Syn smirked, "I believe that is a violation of the knight code of conduct."
"You strove to uphold the knight code of conduct." Syn answered, "But has any of the five nations ever upheld the code of benevolence to which it owes its people?"
The glimmer of enlightenment drowned his soul, and for a brief moment a great clarity washed itself upon him.
"Code...of benevolence?"
"What's happening?" Lynx asked, tip-toeing it view the outcome of the battle, agitated by the blood on Syn's arm.
Kael gave a slight chuckle, as Nemael gave a groan of approval.
"Just like eternity ago, Kael."
"Just like eternity ago." She acknowledged, "Always the charmer, and a man of peace."
"Wait, didn't Lark-"
"He did." Kael answered, "He decimated, obliterated— Whatever you would term to describe complete destruction."
"But you see," Nemael interrupted, "He became calmer towards the end of his life, with the knowledge and resignation to destiny. He was disheartened that he had to die, but he was still a good man to the end."
'Good man,' Kael added, "Is an understatement. For he was the one to give us life, after all."
"I guess that's what happens when you grow out of your adolescent years." Nemael commented, chuckling aloud. "You become more mature and don't start destroying everything at one go."
"Part of the reason why Eles chose to give him a second chance." Kael replied, "He deserved it. He might have done unacceptable atrocities in the past, but he deserves the second chance."
And over the field, their hands extended toward each other, gripping in faith and acceptance.
"Your men have served that nation well, and you have won my heart." Syn said, "The Union of Arkos is the mere beginning. We shall expose and liberate the world from the corruption of the monarchs."
"My men– The main army of Arkos, pledge allegiance and unwavering loyalty to you." The general answered, "The citizens were horrible people."
"They were merchants. They exploited the poor, and those who were slightly better off joined the army. My men were fodder to society."
"Yes." Syn nodded, "That is one of the reasons why I came to destroy them."
"A guild and massive funding, you say?" The revered monarch pondered, tapping his finger nails against royal throne.
"We have space for one- On the border of the city, just within the city walls. I'll fund your army if you think they're good enough."
"We'll take it." The adolescent youth cried, overjoyed in his excitement.
"Thank you for your generosity toward me and my men." The general thanked, bowing in respect.
"Well, my country is becoming richer now, more people are hiring but nobody needs those jobs." Syn answered, "Maybe your men could do some part-time work to contribute to extra supplies?"
"Duly noted, master."
"I believe that my personal army can do better than the empire's, both in efficiency and in grandeur." Syn said, turning to the general. "Give it your best, Quintus."
"See you next week." Syn nodded before the two bodyguards left with him.
"Have half of our men set out to find jobs to provide service to the people such that we have a fixed flow of finance." Quintus ordered, turning over to his deputy. "Have every men alternate between training and working. Those that missed the day's training shall be helped by those who were training, and order a weekly supply of salt, grain, and bread with it."
The deputy nodded, and proceeded to carry on his duties as he marched into the outer courtyard.
A week later...
"You know, I've been seeing more people helping out at shops lately." Lynx nudged him gently, "Perhaps your soldiers are helping out."
"I would think so." He answered, returning with two cups filled with hot tea.
"Having a butler or two wouldn't be so bad would it?" He asked, "I mean, now that we have manpower?"
"No." She refused, "Because if we did have people in the house there wouldn't be privacy with you. I want you, and only you with me."
"Aww, ain't that sweet!" Syn cuddled his arms together and gazed meekly into her eyes.
"Ah whatever." She sighed, getting up from the fancy garden chair. "Let's go check up on the guild now. Where are Kael and Nemael anyway?"
"You sent them on a scouting mission over the next kingdom, remember?" The dazzling beauty reminded, swaying her silky hair on his neck.
Syn nodded, following her lead as they waltzed out of the mansion. They passed the multitudes of buildings that expanded since the previous week, and huge grandiose buildings plated with gold leaves and marbled tiling.
"Hmm... This area seems to be new." Syn noted, turning his head left and right as he examined his new surroundings.
He approached the end of the street, and the the roofs of the tall buildings uncovered, greeting the youth with a large building— Much larger than a week ago, at the very least.
There stood two guards in front of the building, and they saluted in attention when they turned to Syn.
'Sir!' The guardsmen cried, 'We have been expecting your return.'
"At ease, soldier."
The soldier returned to his former position, as another five soldiers approached the exit with Quintus in the front.
"Master!" The noble knight general cried out, "Please, come in!"
He nodded, and they followed the noble general into the central hall, where a cache of decorative weapons hung themselves on plaques on the walls.
"Master, I am glad you have returned." He began, "We have used nothing from the fund which were previously allocated to us, and we have a surplus of five hundred million after spending on basic necessities."
The dazed youth paused for a moment, his jaw slightly open.
"You... Used nothing?" To which the general nodded, "And... You created this grandiose guild from..."
"Our men have worked for the citizens of Zïrnir." Quintus answered, "Due to the large population, and even larger land space, there was a lack of labour."
"Thus," Quintus added, "There was plenty of employment, and they rewarded handsomely."
"A day's wages for ten fish and five loaves of bread with a bag of salt." Quintus answered, "The better establishments offered primed beef and wine."
"Are your men happy with their new lives?" Syn asked, "I hope they are."
"Thank you for your concern, master." Quintus answered, bowing. "They work eight hours less, while bringing home over a hundred times the wages back in Arkos."
"That is good." Syn returned, "I think..."
"It is, master." The generals nodded, "We are living as majestically as the aristocrats back in Arkos."
"Good." Syn answered, "That is good, but I wish to discuss about their training hours."
"Their training hours are twelve hours a day," Quintus replied, "An hour's break at twelve noon, and more training until until six in the evening."
"Yes, about that..." He paused, "I wish to reduce the training hours to four hours."
"The rationale is that a worn out soldier cannot fight." He said, "Even if he did, he would give up his life for no reason, because he is not in the mental state to fight."
"Above this," Syn added, "More recreational activities are necessary. Try writing for instance, I do believe many of your soldiers are talented writers or whatever they may have an interest in, but denied the chance. Moreover, your men have seen the horrors of the battlefield all too often. Your army will only be engaged for support, and the last resort rather than as frontline fodder."
"Use the funds to help them in their goals if necessary." He answered, "What I see from your soldiers, are a pool of undiscovered talents or talents denied the chance. Perhaps they would have a chance to make something for themselves, and for the soldiers and the kingdom at the same time."
"Thank you for your generous offer, master." The general knelt in his presence as tears began to roll down his battle-worn visage, "This is the first time anyone has ever been this benevolent..."
"You're too kind," Syn returned, "Please do not hesitate to report to my residence is you require something, or stop by for a chat. The offer is extended to everyone in the battalion."
"Master," The elegant lady cloaked in a white dressed called out.
"Yeah?"
"I have a matter I wish to report." Kael returned, "It's about our reports and findings over the next kingdom."
"Yes?"
"They wish to overthrow the Zïnir kingdom." Nemael answered, waltzing into the room.
"That's rather rude, Nemael!" Kael cried, chiding his rude behavior.
"It's fine," Syn answered, "Continue, please."
"The Łoraz kingdom and Ōrion kingdoms are banding together against us." She reported, slipping the crumpled piece of paper from her sleeves, on to his hands.
"Alright, I shall review this." He answered, overturning the two teacups, pouring the lavender scented tea on to the cups. "Come, sit and enjoy."
"As you command, master."
"Do not mistake my command, Kael, Nemael." Syn sighed, "I am nobody's master, and I don't wish to be. You are my friends. The soldiers are my friends. They're my close aides. There is no superiority in this relationship."
"But master, you were born as a leader and ruler over all of mankind." Kael retorted, "You are a God to the mortals!"
"I have no interest in world conquest or domination." Syn returned, "Plus it's not exactly possible to use my powers of my body in my current state."
"You've really changed, master." Kael noted, twirling her finger around the edge of the cup. "You've become less egoistic, your are no longer prideful."
"So mast-, Syn," She paused, turning to the flax haired beauty. "You mentioned that you were his girlfriend and at the same time a homunculus."
"Huh?" Syn turned to her, bewildered at the content of their conversation. "How did you guys-"
"We had long conversations when you were away." Lynx answered, "We shared beauty tips, combat tips- Everything."
Kael withdrew a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket, and started reading its contents.
'This year the flakes float tenderly,
The drape that shrouds reality
Ever poised to unshroud itself bare.
Lest the world be devoured in its destiny. '
"Not my personal thoughts!" Syn cried, stretching his arm of the table in an effort to snatch it back.
His valiant efforts came to naught. She slapped his arm away, "It's polite not to raise your hand close to a lady's chest."
"No, I wasn't thinking of...!"
"It's okay!" Kael giggled in the teasing of the closely-female, Syn.
"You're able to play like this after all." Syn exclaimed, yet turning to Nemael at the same time. "See Nemael, you ought to learn a thing or two about fun."
"I prefer to indulge in matters of intellectual significance." He answered, before slipping a rather new leather covered book out of his suit. "You should read books too, especially the new arrivals this month."
"Oh?" Syn let out a brief, intrigued expression. "I wonder how the army is doing. It's been a month since I've met any of them."
"They are fine, Syn." He answered, "This book was bought at one of their fairs."
"How many soldiers are there?"
"Around a thousand." Nemael returned, laying the book out face down against the marbled table. "Do not belittle them. What they lack in numbers they make for intellect, foresight and demon-like strength."
"Just thirty would be sufficient in overrunning a kingdom." He answered, "I assure you, your judgement was most keen."
"How much are they contributing for the kingdom?"
"At present, they make up for ten percent of the kingdom's trade." Kael answered on his behalf, "Your army is not only destructive, but very intelligent in garnering the support of the people while acquiring funds to grow the guild while acting as a shelter for the poor."
"What you have are truly talented people." Nemael added, "They're the epitome of efficiency; to have contributed to the Kingston's trade so significantly in a mere month alone."
"Calling them just a mere 'army' would be a waste." Nemael said, "Why not give it a name?"
"Good idea." Syn answered, before swiftly suggesting a name. "How about the 'Order of Harbingers?'
"That sounds decently intellectual for Nemael's and my liking." Kael answered, nodding at his response. "Yes, that shall do. The 'Order of Harbingers.'"
"Trying to pass off as a suave protagonist in a fantasy aren't you?" The flax haired female whispered into his ear as she winked at him.
"No." He answered, whispering back to her, "I'm just trying to make a fanciful name in hopes you enjoy it so that I have a shot to..." He winked in between, "You get what I mean."
She frowned deeply, slapping the effeminate youth against his shoulder. "Jerk."
"I know I am," He answered, gazing lecherously at her, "But then you're a masochist, so you're good either way."
"No I'm not!" She cried, thrusting her hand into the bowl of biscuits and stuffing them into his mouth. "Fill your mouth with these instead of letting it spout nonsense."
"So what's next on your agenda?" The dignified bodyguard asked, "What do you wish to do about the matter with regards to the compromise of Zïrnir's sovereignty?"
"The Łoraz kingdom and Ōrion kingdoms have always been plotting against us." Syn answered, waving his finger around as he spoke. "Next thing you know, is that they wage war on us to liberate Schargard."
"Practically, it may seem dumb because our armies outnumber them." He explained, "But that's a very intelligent, yet risky decision."
"They chose to do it openly to credit themselves as protectors of sovereignty, and garner support though legal and acceptable channels without suffering political backlash, right?" Lynx asked, "It beats attempting to assassinate the king, and have themselves condemned by the world later."
"Yes." Syn added, "Because in any case, doing it through the war-waging option allows other kingdoms to participate freely and justifiably to rid us of our resources, talents and grandiose kingdom."
"Let's exploit this, shall we?" Syn smirked, "What would happen if the Łoraz and Ōrion kingdoms were to receive confirmation that the Supreme States would be participating?"
"It would embolden their resolve to wage war." Lynx answered, "What about it?"
"Come on, half my soul..." Syn sighed, falling to the table. "We could intercept the messages and 'tweak' it to our favour. Supreme States say that they would help, commence attack first. Reinforcements arrive, but attack a day beforehand."
"Then we'll send out forces all out." Syn answered, "While they arrive, we send ours there and we defend."
"But in the mean time, we would play dumb." Syn added, "But we require very precise timings as to the date and time of the exchange of their letters."
"I'm such a genius..." He smirked, "They'll never see it coming."
"They would." Lynx answered, debunking his childish mentality. "There will be escorts for the letters, or they'd send the letter by pigeons."
"Your shadowy persona is much more intellectual, but it comes at a great cost." She added, "Leave the formulation of battle plans to us, you have more pressing matters to worry about."
"If this so about controlling my evil-"
"This whole thing is about controlling your evil." Lynx answered with a significant elevation and harsh acuteness in her tone. "You're not going to participate in this fight because you're just going to end up destroying everything. You will listen as I instruct and you will follow it. This is for your own sake."
"Yes mom..." The bored youth snorted, "Whatever you say..."
"Don't worry," Lynx giggled, "I still find you rather cute...and innocent."
"I mean ignoring the fact that you're wearing a skirt...and looking exactly like a female. You're-"
A glaring flare engulfed the vision of his eyes, and the next moment he was in a bright void, with nothing in his sight. He was in the Forbidden Lands.
"That's interesting." The one dimensional guardian snorted, "A personal treatment requested by E himself, you sure you don't remember your old self?"
"No." Syn answered, "Nor do I wish to know."
"Come on no, you know you don't-"
"Tell me what you want." The adolescent youth demanded to know, "If it involves killing, you'll be dead first."
"Oh, it involves killing alright." The figure answered, chuckling albeit slightly. "But the ones you will be killing are the enemies."
"I am going to teach you alchemy and holy magic, at the same time grant you magical fortitude." It assured, "You will learn how to draw power from The Void and how to command mana."
"Of course," He warned, "There are risks involved."
"Command mana?" He asked, with a puzzled look plastered over his face. "How do I do that?"
"Well, normal people attack using mana, that's a fact," The entity paused, before going on explaining. "You will use your mana as a weapon itself, just as how the greatest archangel did."
"Greatest archangel...?" Syn asked, "There are such things as angels?"
Now it was time for the entity to wear the mask of surprise, "You did not know...?" He asked in return, before chuckling slightly. "Now it seems I know why 'E' wanted you to find your own path. You have no idea who you were in the past, Divine Scourge of Souls?"
'He raised his right hand, and a great flood swallowed entire islands. The lands quaked in his wake, volcanoes erupted in his awakening.'
"Oh, how the world will rue the day it made you awaken!" The one dimensional entity moaned poetically, 'Then the angels will descend and the demons will rise, and he shall battle for his side.'
"The prophecy is as should be." He answered, "But which side will you be in? Or will you abandon yourself, and fight for man? So many possibilities!"
"'E' has never given this many choices to a single mortal, ever." He added, "You as his son should know better."
"Wait, 'E' is my father?" Syn cried, slamming his left foot against the white, ethereal surface. "So back then when there was the word 'son'..."
"Ah, he most definitely wrote it."
"But why can't I see him?" Syn asked.
"Because even though he is here, he is not. He is everywhere. He is omnipresent."
"Allow me to reintroduce myself," The entity returned, extending his hand toward Syn. "My name is Donovan, the keeper of the Forbidden Lands."
"We cannot allow you to be captured, because while you are humanity's greatest hope, you are also its stumbling block." Donovan explained, "The one who captures you, conquers both the corrupt lifestream and the world."
"You're exaggerating." Syn returned, peering at his hands. "I'm nowhere that powerful."
"Tell that to yourself." Donovan rebutted, "You telling me shows that you're not certain, and that you're relying on me to debunk that."
"You're more intelligent than that," He paused, "You were the man by his Right after all."
"Who's he?" Syn asked, "You keep reiterating about 'E', but just who is he? The ancient texts never mentioned this man."
"Plus," He added, "Why must they capture me? They could always capture 'E'."
"Not possible." Donovan returned, "For very obvious reasons, that's not possible."
"How's it obvious?" Syn retorted, "You keep referring to him by 'E', and I have no idea as to the magnitude of his ability."
"This is your legacy, Syn." Donovan answered, "The Great Arbiter of Destiny will not interfere."
"Write your own plot, Syn. Your story is free running without a script."
"Script?"
"Every being on the planet, be it man or beast, has a destiny written out for them." He explained, "While it does not state out every move, the outcome of every situation has been decided, no matter what you do."
"So if an outcome led to point A, It'll never reach point B no matter what I did?" Syn asked, "What about time travel to change the outcome?"
"It's also factored in." The entity answered, "Everything moves according to how he moves. Changing the past will not change the future, because either way, the future is set in stone."
"That also means," He added, "If a person was to die by, say, his fiftieth birthday, then even if you save him at nine o'clock, he might die within the next minute from another 'accident'."
"So I'm the only special one in this world?" The effeminate youth asked, "That means everyone's freedom is just a false-"
"No." Donovan returned, "It's not false. Their actions lead to consequences, and such was the fate which was intended from the beginning. Their free will is not false."
"Let me give you another analogy." He examined, "It's like a scrying orb to the future. If you knew someone was going to be fine after his fiftieth birthday, then would you worry so much about what trouble he gets into before that?"
"No." Syn answered, "Because I know he'll be fine."
"Same logic." The ethereal guardian returned, "You wouldn't worry because you knew the outcome, just as 'E' knows everything that has, and will happen."
"That's enough for today." He added, "Lessons begin tomorrow, eight o'clock. See you there."
"Wait, where-"
But before he could finish, a bright flash engulfed the light filled lands, and the same lights flooded his eyes without hesitation that ushered him into the next day.
He dragged his feet along the sturdy flooring, halting by the great archives of the inner sanctum, lit by orbs of magical lights of gnome engineering.
'I must first find out how this 'E' is...' He thought to himself, 'Great Arbiter of Destiny...who are you, 'E'!'
"I hate this... It sucks!" The adolescent youth cried out loud, falling back against the warm chair with the desk and a stack of papers on his left.
He turned to its direction as part of reflexes, and noticed scrawling on a written on the paper.
"Formulating battle plans, Lynx?" He giggled, as eyes of pure shadow arose from his radiant visage. "This plan is good, but it's much too dramatic and it'd be too obvious as to who instigated it."
"It's already five minutes past eight." He muttered, with the ethereal flames in his eyes dissipating before long.
"Looks like I guessed correctly." A familiar voice called out to him from the back.
The adolescent turned around to vision a corporeal vision of a petite man with a head of long, blond hair and a victorian era suit that was quarterly exposed as it was unbuttoned partially, with a golden chain sliding across his middle segment which was molested by the public gaze.
"You didn't notice your eyes reverting back to its ethereal shadowy state did you now?" The eloquent chap chuckled, "Would seem that diverting your attention somewhere else makes you subconsciously use it without repercussions."
"Donovan?" Syn asked, as he turned around towards the large double golden leafed doors.
"The training started at eight, the moment you entered this room." He explained, "Attempting to search for 'E' in this room will yield no favorable results."
"So there are links to 'E' here after all!" Syn exclaimed, "All bad?"
"On the contrary." Donovan answered, "It's all good."
"Then why-"
"Not favorable." He reiterated, letting out a brief snorting. "Because you will realize your importance. For your pint-sized kingdom, and for the entire world. The weight of everything in the heavens borne on your shoulders. Even after all that, do you still wish to know?"
"Yeah I do-"
"That was a trick question." He returned, cutting into Syn's answer. "I'm not to let you know, whatever the cost. Such was my order."
"You raised an army and captured the Forbidden Lands, building castles and high walls all over as beasts of the land struggled to enter." The eloquent man bemoaned, extending his hands to his forehead in an exaggerated motion, "O beauty of the Pure Lifestream, whose grace transcends even Chaos and Shura, why art thou here!"
"Err..." Syn muttered, pausing to turn to his left and his right as his left brows were raised in confusion. "T-Thanks, I guess?"
"Your sultry appearance is enough to set anyone's heart ablaze." He said, "I'm surprised that Lynx girl didn't take any affirmative action."
"In any case," He added, "Homunculus or not, they would have reacted in a similar manner. I'm more surprised she didn't."
"Yeah." Another gentlemanly voice echoed out of the door that was left ajar.
He entered with a lady in a pure and white dress, before shutting and bolting the door. "Something is up..."
"How long have you been out there?" Syn asked, "Lynx didn't hear anything did she?"
"She did not." Nemael answered, turning to the table to his right as he skimmed through the plans once more. "Nice edit. I thought it was overly dramatic, the battle plans that is."
"Thanks, and in any case," Syn paused, "She told me she lost her emotions, but said she was kidding. I don't know if that's related, so I'm just throwing out a few plausible reasons."
"Of course it does!" The angered effeminate voice cried, as the door slammed against the door.
"Lynx-"
"You wish to know why I have no more emotion?" The flax haired beauty cried as she made the rhetoric, "Because my heart is missing. You know why? Because I gave it to you, dumbass!"
"You..." Syn paused, moving his right hand to his chest. "You did what?"
"How did you think I found out you were a boy when we were children!" She cried, breathing in deeply as she attempted to sustain her oxygen levels. "That's because I gave you my heart, and the surgeons told me you were one! That's how we got into the big fight before I was kidnapped!"
"Well, that explains it." Donovan chuckled loudly, clutching his abdominal area in boisterous laughter. "You love her, and her heart beats for you. The more you love her, the more you love yourself!"
"Wait..." Syn rebutted, "If you gave me your heart, then how are you still here?"
"Homunculus." Donovan returned, answering in her stead. "Special humans who do not require any of those complex organs. It's also why she struggles to just barely breathe, isn't it, miss Lynx?"
"You lost your ability to love," He added, "And you're unable to get agitated because you'll lose your breath and fall into unconsciousness, isn't that right?"
"So you knew."
"Yes." Donovan answered, slotting his hands into his side pocket to reveal a clean, red and beating heart on his right palm. "That's why I've prepared one for you."
Before she could say anything else, he circled his fingers around the heart in the shape of a pentagram and dripped a little of his blood around the core before vanishing into smoke. "And now she has her heart back."
"Will she be alright?" Syn asked, as he visioned the image of her still visage, unmoving and of her body's colour reverting to its peach-like tinge.
The sleepy beauty arose with the morning sun, adorned with its triumphant glimmer. Her eyes revealed themselves slowly, and a visage of a effeminate youth filled her vision.
"Are you alright?"
"Ah!" The beauty exclaimed, her visage soon exuding a reddish tinge as she stumbled over her words. "S-Syn! H-How are y-you-"
"I'm fine." Syn answered, "You seem more flustered than you've ever been, though."
"Of-of course I am!" Lynx stuttered, "I have my emotions back and now I suddenly find myself in love again. This time, I'm madly in love with you."
"Oh?" Syn snickered with a raise of his devious tone. "Oh by the way, your plans are overly dramatic. They would find out all too easily, so I took they returned of tweaking it."
"You used your shadow form again?"
"Yes," He answered, "But I'm able to use it without being overwhelmed by the power now."
"It happens subconsciously, anyway." Syn answered, "When my attention is somewhere else."
"Oh." Lynx nodded, clutching her chest with both hands, "There are conditions to use it now."
"Lynx, is something the matter?" He asked, "Is something wrong?"
"No! Nothing is wrong!" She exclaimed, diving back into her blanket face down.
"What happened?" Syn asked, approaching the blanket, whispering into her ear.
The whispers sent a shiver down her spine, and her back spammed for a moment.
"It's because of my seducing look, isn't it?" Syn murmured into her ear, breathing each word, tickling her ears with his voice.
"Yeah." She answered, "I can't resist the temptation. The inability to resist your looks and completely submit myself to you. The inability to shut my mouth from calling you master, and the inability to live without you."
"In that case..." Syn muttered, with his hands on her cheeks. "Love me as you would a normal person. My seductive appearance will delude you no more."
"Syn," Lynx said, "I'm sorry that you had to be alone all these years... You were with someone who could not reciprocate your affection."
"How could I ever love you as a normal person would?" She questioned, "I am yours, and I will never leave you."
"Lynx..." Syn muttered, resting down with her, peering out of the hills whose lavender dance with the occasional zephyr.
"Eles sure is good..."
"What?"
"What?" Syn returned.
"You just said something..."
"What did I just say?" He asked, "Please remind me."
"You said something about someone being good." Lynx answered, "If I would hazard a guess, I would say that your body remembered something."
"Perhaps, but let us not harp and ponder over the trivial." Syn returned, "I love you, Lynx."
"I love you too." She muttered softly in response, slowly leaning forth with her radiant visage close to his own, with her lips in a lively embrace as they danced in burning passion.
"I've never been so in love in my life. This feeling, it feels as though it's exploding from my chest."
"I love you, Lynx!" Syn exclaimed, as Lynx quickly took the lead and covered his mouth gently with her finger. "Hush. I know, not another word needs to be said."
"I am glad to be brought back." She said, wrapping her arms around his back. "So that I could experience love, adolescence, and all the fantasies that come with it. Once again, I shall say it." Lynx paused, drawing in a deep breath, before whispering into his ear, "I love you, Syn. My love, and my life. I belong to you, and only you."
"Destiny sounds like such a beautiful thing, but is it really as interesting as it is?" She questioned rhetorically, contemplating the deeper thoughts of life, that which she was unable to execute due to the lack of emotion. "But to others, it's an itch that can never be scratched away. I mean, can you fathom the thought of your life being set in stone once it begins? What if you don't wish to follow the path you wish to take?"
"It honestly doesn't feel any different from being a regular mortal." He answered, spreading his arms wide open. "You still have wings that would take you wherever you wish to go, and these wings are called aspiration and will."
"In the end, destiny only does so much," He explained, spreading his finger that allowed for a minuscule gap. "It doesn't do much at all."
"The outcome is destined, but the effort is not." He added, "So then, what's stopping you from giving it your best? If you're destined to succeed, you will succeed. You work hard, you succeed well."
"Conversely, if you're destined to fail, the more your apathy towards that, the more you lose." He said, "Knowing that, others still blame destiny."
"How long have I been out?" She asked, with a pleasant smile on her fair visage. She knew him all too well, that he was hiding something from her. "If there's something you wish to tell me, I would be more than willing to listen."
"Alright, I will if I do have something." He answered, "I have you, after all."
"Sometimes I wonder if we were created specially for each other." He smiled, fantasizing the nostalgic days of their childhood. "I am not sure... But I wish to thank you for your heart. You gave me another shot in life despite knowing that I deceived you."
"My heart," She said, raising her right hand to he chest. "Your heart is inside me."
"You know, they say that a heart is where the emotions lie." She explained, "If you were to be hit, you would feel exasperated."
"I was hit," She added, "And your wrath was incurred as though you had really been hit."
"When you were hurt, I felt it." She returned, "Do you know what this means?"
"That..." Syn muttered, surging himself forth for another gentle embrace. "You are mine, and I am yours."
"But even after all that..." He bemoaned, "It feels as though I am corrupted and undeserving of your-"
"If you're undeserving of me, then I am undeserving of you." She rebutted with a slight increase in her tone. "Your heart is in my body, any imperfection you have is mine, and any purity I have is within your heart."
"So don't you ever dare say that again!" She cried, gripping his right wrists tightly.
Three knocks resounded behind the sturdy door.
"Syn, Quintus wishes to seek your audience."
"I'll be out in a moment."
"Rest well." He mellowed into her ear, her back falling to the bed as his hand propped her descent, in a manner befitting elegance herself.
He marched out of the door, and found a gentleman armed heavily in weapons and a sturdy armour.
"Syn, Quintus is here." Nemael said, "If there is nothing else, I shall bring the beverage."
"Master, I-"
"Master?" Syn questioned, "Who?"
"My apologies. Syn, I have something I wish to report." He began, clenching his fist tightly.
"You seem distressed." Syn returned, "If it's within reason, I shall aid you personally."
"Yes, Syn." He paused, poised to reveal the report. "It is with my own incompetence that my men are in full-time self-serving activities."
"Some of my men have chosen not to train, and prioritize writing, research, and other miscellaneous activities that amuse them so."
"On the contrary, my dear Quintus," Syn returned, "You have succeeded in nurturing the next generation of warlords and scientists."
"Have them continue at what they're doing " He instructed, "They shall be the greatest asset to the kingdom of Zïrnir in the near future."
"Get them to compete to research about souls and the lifestream." He added, "Compete against the geniuses of Zïrnir. This age shall be the golden age of discovery. Focus primarily on trade, but send in extra men to dig up remnants of Albion. I want every historical event that has to do with angels and demons archived into sections for my reference."
"As you wish," Quintus returned, bowing before turning toward the door.
In the Guild...
'Alright, men,' The heavily armoured knight bellowed, 'The researchers shall work on soul and the lifestreams, and those who are not adept in any field shall search ancient cities for relics relating to angels and demons.'
'The book writers shall archive the findings, and the scientists shall work with the archivers to distill facts to be recorded.' He ordered, and at his behest, the multitudes of soldiers burst into their work stations, poised to give themselves for Syn's orders.
"He gave us a chance..." Quintus muttered, "To succeed, and spare our lives from the bloodshed of war. That boy may be young, but his wisdom is beyond mortal comprehension."
"All glory to King Syn!" He yelled at the peak of his staunch voice.
They stopped, and slammed their foot in unison, punching their fists in the air as they proclaimed glory to their child king.
"Long live the king! All glory to the King!"
"Interesting..." The flax haired beauty muttered, waving her finger around page six-hundred and eighty of the book Donovan gifted them. "Says here that Lark's armies were said to be immortal. They were not invincible, but they were immortal."
"Are there any conditions to this?" He asked, "Rituals, any?"
"Apparently, no." She returned, pointing to the lower half of the page. "All they have to do is to proclaim him as a king for whom they would subserviently obey, and they would receive the blessing of immortality, until they kill themselves with their own hands and wish to die."
"Let's hope the guild doesn't do something...extreme." He wished, slapping his face with a palm. "An immortal army is not going to be easy to manage..."
"They'll only receive immortality if they're subservient to your will." She answered, "They will listen to you, for you are the true king of Zïrnir- No, of the world of Albion."
"I do not wish to assume such an important role," He returned, "As much as I would love to, it is against my will to rule."
"And even if I did take over," He paused, "I wouldn't exactly be guilt-free either, considering what your father, the king, has done for me. I couldn't possibly do such a thing."
"Actually..." Lynx rebutted, "You don't have to. It's because you protected the kingdom once, and even expanded its empire. That, and father also owes you for not telling you that I was a homunculus."
"He told me personally, that if you were to inherit the kingdom, that it would be best." She explained, "Owar too, has been putting in a good word for you."
"I have no leadership ability," Syn answered, "I have no confidence to rule, I'm only a side man at most."
"There's a distinct difference between capability and leadership." He added, "Even if I am the former, the latter is not my strong suit."
"Alright, I'll acknowledge that," She nodded, "That capability and leadership are differently, but I do not acknowledge that you are an incapable leader."
"In fact," She added, "You're both a competent and a resourceful leader."
"You're only saying that-"
She slammed the table in front of him, her tone poised to drown his own meek voice out.
"You're. A. Competent. Leader." She yelled, each word coming slowly out of her lips. "You've changed, Syn."
"You're no longer as assertive as before." She added, "Take the guild for example: In the past, you would have just wiped them out without a single thought, on the battlefield. You wouldn't have treated them well either."
"Forget it." She sighed, retrieving the grimoire from the bookshelf and flipping to the eight-hundredth page. "Since we have no idea how we should get to awakening your powers, I figured we should just attempt to utilize your passive abilities."
"Passive?"
"Feats your body is capable of, without your spell casting and whatnot, as Lark of course." She answered, scaling her finger down to the halfway point.
"Weapons smeared with your blood is able to slay immortals, for one," She paused, flipping to the next page, "While your body is able to negate all magic, and regenerate almost instantly."
"Also says here that your words carry power within the mind of most mortals," She noted, "Perhaps that's why you're a good leader in the minds of many."
She flipped to the next page, with a picture depicting a beautiful woman of flax colored hair, and a young girl with a head of purple hair by her side.
Her hands quivered as the name rang a bell, of the name, 'Misha', and of the name... Melle.
He turned, and the similarities struck his mind.
"If I am indeed Lark, then..." He muttered, pointing to the woman within the picture. "You have to be Melle!"
"And Misha..." Syn muttered, "She must have been our daughter..."
"She only resembles me!" Lynx cried out defensively, "It couldn't be me, I mean, really?"
"The truth, Lynx." He demanded, shutting his eyes for a moment.
"Yes... I am Melle." Lynx answered hesitantly, her elegant visage faced towards the dull floor. "I just found out only yesterday... When I regained some of my memories."
"So you knew what I was like when I was evil..." He muttered, "Yet you stayed by my side?"
"No..." She bowed her head, tears streaming down her visage. "You were sealed, and then I left you. I betrayed you by leaving, knowing that, would you still-"
"I love you, Lynx," Syn cried in his resolve, "It doesn't matter what you did, because if you did so, I'm certain that it was for good reason."
"How did you die anyway?" Syn asked, "Old age?"
"I slew myself after you were sealed," She answered, "I scoured the earth for anything and everything that could unseal you, but I failed. So I left you by killing myself."
"I couldn't bear the loneliness, Syn!" She cried, slamming her hands on the table. "I fell from the heavens above, with you. Right Seat of the Throne, Lark, in the flesh once more."
"Wait, so you were an angel too?" He gasped, pausing for a few moments to contain his astonishment.
"I was of the lowest rank in the hierarchy of angels, and was often bullied," She said, "But you empowered me greatly, that I overpowered even the highest tiered angels without much effort. The empowerment was permanent, because you channeled half your power to me on your first shedding."
"Shedding?" He asked, "What's that?"
"You were the only being in the pure lifestream capable of this feat," She answered, "Every time your power reaches its zenith, you store it in other vassals, in which case was me, and the cap on your power increases tremendously by the amount you emptied out."
"For example," She explained, "Your cap on power is a thousand, when you reach a thousand, you have five-hundred to me. Your cap increases to one-thousand and five-hundred. The power you can contain is rising exponentially. Fifty percent of a thousand, of a thousand five-hundred, of three-thousand..."
"What's my current power?"
"Considering that you absorbed billions of souls..." She guessed, "It can't be calculated anymore."
"At any rate, I feel that your passive abilities alone are able to defeat most things," She added, "But we should still focus on your abilities."
"Abilities?" Syn questioned, "To slay an immortal? Are there even any walking Albion in the first place?"
"Have you heard of the guild that goes by the name of Elysian?" She asked, "They're the guild with an unimaginable number of record victories, with zero loss."
"Sounds interesting," He grinned as it piqued his interest, "Perhaps I should sign the guild up to pit against them."
"That's what I thought you'd say." She interjected, spreading out a sheet of papyrus on the table, revealing a declaration of challenge. "The guild has already accepted, we're just awaiting your signature."
"So...this went ahead without me?" Syn sighed, raising a brow. "I'm assuming this was prior to becoming immortals for the soldiers, right?"
"No." She answered, "They already pledged their allegiance to you long ago. When you reciprocated by telling them to address you as simply 'Syn,' you already acknowledged their subservience, thus granting them immortality."
"Then why aren't there any special signs, or something?" He asked, "Shouldn't there be seals on them or anything?"
"No." She returned, "This isn't a written or a symbolic contract, but a verbal one."
"Besides, I could stand the Elysian." She growled, "They fight honourably, but they insult their opponents, and they have never respected their opponents."
"They burst through the guild doors the other day, and issued the challenge." She said, "I was there when they were there that day, so I would know."
"What!" Syn yelled, slamming his foot against the tiles. "They dared to threaten you?"
"I couldn't stand it, of course, so I decided to accept their challenge."
"I'm glad you did." Syn smirked, "I'm going to enjoy crushing them thoroughly."
"Syn..."
"They shall pay." He bellowed, "Punching his fist in the air. "I shall enjoy crushing them!"
"No you won't." She returned, "Because you're not participating."
"Aww..."

******* 6 Necessarius
Chapter 6: Eye of the Storm
17th of Frostfall...
"Today is the standoff between the immortals and our armies." The beauty murmured into his eyes with a lustrous glow and her alluring charms as she wore a fur-coat with warm feathers by its sides.
"They are known for their brutality, but you can always count on their honour."
"You do realise that if they cause a ruckus here, I would have to kill all of them, right?"
"Yes," She answered, "Which is why I have asked Nemael and Kael to ensure that everybody is safe."
"Good...good."
"Syn." A staunch and firm voice resounded from within the hallways, as the silhouette of a slim male appeared from the shadows of the dimly lit area. "I would suggest that you do not spectate either."
"Why not?" The flustered youth cried, "I have the right to spectate in this match, especially if it is related to me!"
"This ain't a matter of fairness or not," He paused, "It's about the smart thing to do!"
"Think. A fighting match, and you invite a (pardon my words), a killer waiting for his switch to be ticked."
"Donovan, I've changed," He answered, "I no longer wish to kill."
"Those habits," He said, "Don't ever change just because you decided not to do them ever again."
"They're just hidden within the deep recesses of your mind."
"Listen to me, Syn, you cannot go no matter what."
"Don't critique my life as though you knew me!" He cried, "You barely know me, how would you know!"
"Oh, but I do." He returned, "Since birth- no, before you were even born!"
"You think I didn't know of your intention of sticking close to Lynx?" He smirked, unbefitting of his gentlemanly composure. "It's because you loved her from the beginning, that you intended to deceive her!"
"In fact," He added, "You intended to deceive her the whole time, and were planning to tell the truth only at a later date, as you knew she would be less antagonistic towards the revelation of the truth."
"That..." He muttered, "That is true, but it doesn't mean my love for her in any less!"
'I know...' The gentle voice murmured from the shadows as tears streamed down her eyes, 'You think I didn't know that? Because... You were the first one who cared for me. You cared for me when everybody else did not.'
She sauntered back into her room, sat on the warm chair and ducked her head on the table.
"I hate this..." She muttered, moving her hands to grip against her halo and brought it down to the lips, nibbling and licking it as though she were a newborn baby. "If he can pass this final test, then..."
She shut her eyes, releasing her halo and retracting her long pair of wings. She rummaged through her closet and found a host of wigs she bought at the costume party and slipped it on, together with a selection of clothing she had saved for a momentous occasion. "Please don't blame me, Syn..."
She slipped through the backdoor, and immediately crept towards the front door to which she began to knock softly.
"Hello, may I know who you're looking for?" The cyan haired beauty asked, standing by the large mahogany double doors.
'Good, he doesn't recognize me. In that case...'
"I'm Lynx's cousin, and I am here to seek audience with her, if it's not too much to ask," She answered, as she stood rather confident of her acting.
"She's rather busy, why don't you come in and wait?" Syn asked, extending his invitation to her with a broad arm towards the interior with the garden table, pointing towards the seat to the right.
"Alright, I shall take you up on your offer." She returned, entering the mansion through the broad entrance and sat by the right seat. "The truth is, I am here to expose her for the hypocrite she is!"
At that moment, tears began to flow down her alluring visage.
"Hypocrite?" Syn gasped monotonously, "What hypocrite?"
"She's the one who stole the throne from me!" The dramatic persona exclaimed teared once more, "Then she framed me..."
"How so?"
"She was always the scheming type..." She scornfully commented, "She's sagacious, and plots for her own interests!"
"With all due respect, I know my lover better than you!" He cried, slamming his hands against the table, breaking the table from its base. "I'm sorry, but you aren't allowed to talk like that about her."
She crept closer to him, her smile more innocent and yet, seductive.
"She isn't the one for you, Syn. I can tell." She whispered, "How am I not better than her? In terms of looks, I'm definitely well past her, and I'm fully competent in the art of war and academics."
He crept closer, and then jerked the back of her head slightly to the front, to which their eyes met.
"If you ever mention how well you surpass her, especially when you're not, I will not forgive you. Simply because there is none more mortally perfect than Lynx."
"That is enough." Syn concluded, approaching the door as he slammed it wide open. "You cannot stay. Reflect on your actions, and never step foot here ever again!"
She stood up, and turned around and scoffed, "You, a knight? Zïrnir must have really low standards. Lowly kingdom." To which he retorted by facing the other way.
She then stormed out, with her heels click and clacking along the floor.
She was now outside the house, and continued walking aimlessly.
'Good thing he didn't notice,' She thought, 'He has such a high opinion of me...too high.'
She smiled sweetly, and continued to walk aimlessly until she stumbled upon the alleyway.
"Oh no..." She muttered repeatedly to herself, sensing the potential danger that could be posed following her continued presence within the area.
"Well if it ain't a dainty lady." A thuggish voice bellowed and echoed through the narrowed alleyway. "Quite your misfortune to stumble in 'ere alone, ain't it?"
"No, and I would appreciate it that you step aside so that I may pass." She requested, folding her arms tightly, pressing against her nervous and petite body.
"You're just begging for it," The ruffled and unkempt man grinned as he approached her, step by step and closer to her.
"Heh." She grinned back, as the hands came into close proximity of her. "You should step back. This is my ultimatum, before you get hurt."
"My, a feisty-"
She swept her hand across his face, and the sheer force of that attack severed his neck from his spine, effectively twisting it the other way before it came off. The crimson, viscous liquid spurt out from his spinal tube as though it were a pipe in a fountain, flowing endlessly in the steamy summer morning.
As the thug fell, the figure of a petite and effeminate youth stood, gazing at her bloodied hands and the decapitated thug.
"You know, I do think that she has secrets that she has been hiding from me after all."
-
Back in the house...
"Yes," She answered, lifting up her tea cup with a last finger lifted up from the cup itself, "She's just pretending to be your lover. How many times has she deceived you until now? Once? Twice? More than that, I presume."
"But we've known each other since childhood," Syn rebutted, "How would you explain that?"
"She may have existed before that." The classy mistress assumed, "That is to say she is older than you, of course."
"I'll tell you what," She suggested, "I'll take her place, and then I'll show you what she failed to do. As a plus, I'll even show you how to conjure the raiment of Lark..."
"Sounds like a fair deal," He grinned, scaling his hands up her arms. "Show me what she dared not do, and then I'll dump her."
"That would be most pleasant," She asserted, "My name is Angelica, nice to meet you."
"Same here," Syn nodded, as he lifted her chin with his index finger, such that she faced him directly. "Now, let's have some fun..."
"That was most enjoyable," Angelica commented, waving her finger at him as she drew out a ceremonial mask that resembled an opera mask towards him. "I always keep my end of the bargain, here you go. Wear it and the raiment shall appear."
He received it with both hands, and he slotted the mask up his alluring visage without hesitation.
The mask flowed brightly, and the power surged through his body, to which an ethereal image of a cloak was being summoned and conjured into reality. It had a dark, shadowy flame by its ends and souls encircling the raiment itself. The cape was made of pure shadow of intangibility, and burned with a warm heat that melded with the hood.
"This power is overwhelming," Syn returned, waving his hands around to which the souls followed. He pointed toward the tea set, and simulated himself pouring the tea to the cup, and the souls flew towards it, doing as shown. "Interesting..."
She cleared her throat gently, and he turned back to her. "Uh-huh. Listen, I'll get going now," She said as she winked her right eye, "Don't forget our little promise."
"Yeah."
The dastard evening crashed with thunderous roar, and the sun boiled with the fury of both guilds even as the cooling night arose.
They met as appointed, and their spears soaked in Syn's blood.
Their rivals let loose their fist against the peasants, who suffered with holes through their chests due to the immense power the 'immortals' held. "Come out, it's our appointed time!" The enemies hollered through the city with their mighty battle cries.
"They just relentlessly slew our people...!" Syn repeated hysterically to himself, clutching his fist against his own hands as they bled from his own wrath, his eyes shrouding itself in the darkest shadow of the void. "Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die!"
"You got something to say, runt?" The hulking bulwark of a man snorted as he taunted him, testing his patience.
"Yeah." Syn burst into maniacal laughter, pointing a finger at him before twisting it the other way. So too, the cur's head rotated the other way and fell flat to the ground. "It's my night, bitch."
"As much as I'd love for my guild to participate in this event," Syn answered, blaring his voice thunderously as it echoed from the hills, "I would bloody kill you myself!"
"Immortals?" Syn snorted, spitting aside all of their rivals' pride as he marched to their camp without a single defensive stance.
Waves of them came for him, yet he was able to effortlessly slay them to no end, with each kill resulting in a more insidious grin on his face. His hands were now killer weapons, and his heart knew no mercy. They had simply become a tool meant for murder, and their souls phased into his core, empowering him ever more.
"This is what you do when I extend my benevolence?" He bellowed, raising his hand, demanding a lance, to which Quintus tossed with a firm hand.
He caught it, and empowered his arms. With a forceful throw, the lance pierced through fifty men in a straight line.
"Murder, murder,
tear all asunder.
They don't surrender,
While my wrath is as thunder.
They won't stutter,
or even mutter
And in days of old,
Their slaughter sung in ode."
"Stop that beast!" Cries resounded from their camp, arrows raining upon him, piercing and peppering his chest with arrows that would befit a porcupine's spines.
"That's interesting now," Syn smirked, pointing towards the guards in their outpost. With a little flick of his finger, their chests were ripped asunder, and their organs burst out of their imploding body.
He waltzed three steps forth, and one step to his left as he leapt with each step, twirling and twisting with arms gracefully extending across his arms width.
His raiment danced along, and the swirling souls followed his every move, devouring their victim from the top, left and through their chest.
-
"Damn it, why did you have to cause trouble, Elysian?" The flax haired beauty cried, before falling back to her seat, shrugging the matter off as she lifted the cuppa. "Oh well, my sympathy stops here. There rest is just apathy now. They had it coming anyway."
-
"Delve into the mind of madness,
Despair into eternal sadness
And rot in the confining hell
Because you'll be ended with a spell.
Words unneeded,
For they have been seeded
With that of ease
Their will shall cease,
My anger that of a beast!"
"Legendary guild?" Syn snorted, still dancing as the tens, and hundreds fell before him, almost as though they had been lambs to the slaughter.
They ran, but their acts came around, as Syn drove his hands through their hearts, brains and neck that beheaded them.
"Immortals?" He chuckled maniacally, "Sorry, we'll be taking that position... As the guild who slaughtered the Elysians!"
He raised his right hand, and waved it down with full gusto. The entire guild began its advance, of true immortals storming the battlefield.
'Slay everyone. No survivors. Your King deems it so!' He demanded, with his tongue so loose such that it sagged to his chin in a pure orgasmic pleasure that left him drooling.
The acknowledgement roared into a battle cry, with the full thunderous force of both heaven and mortals in unison- A force to eradicate and purge the curs of Albion; the mongrels that were the bane of mortals.
"I am Lark of the Right Seat!" He announced, "You are up against God's most powerful!"
"Bow to me and worship me, slay your own in reverence to my divinity!"
"I am Lark, the fallen angel," He reiterated, "I go by many names, but you can just call me the Defiler of Souls, because by the time I'm done, you won't even remember who you were!"
A sharp blade pierced his right shoulder as he was declaring his own godliness, and he moved his left hand against the blade, shattered it and swiftly sliced through the perpetrator's neck with blood gushing out against his bloodied visage. He grabbed the fallen head, pierced it once more with the blade in the form of a skewer before swinging the blade into another foe, slicing his neck in two.
-
Within the depths of his mind...
"I agree that they deserve to die," The meek character answered, "But they should be tried first!"
"You expect the court to conduct trials for thousand, thousand and one-hundred immortal that they couldn't restrain?" The shadowy figure chuckled, "I expected you to be more a realist than an optimist. What happened to the 'smart' thing to do, and the 'right' thing to do?"
"Those were your thoughts." Syn retorted, "Had nothing to do-"
"Had nothing to do!" The figure burst into hysterical laughter, "He says he has nothing to do with his own thoughts!"
"Listen, Syn." He paused, pointing directly to his chest. "You search your heart and tell me who really thought of that."
"Then you tell me," Syn rebutted, "What happened in my shadow phase? Why was I being manipulated by you?"
"That's what you really felt," The enigmatic shadow retorted, "You are a bonafide hypocrite. The shadow form merely brings out what remains hidden within oneself. You merely brought forth your hideous and horrible personality."
"You are pulling a facade," He added, "Being someone you're not, being meek? You're the exact opposite!"
"That's is not true, you're just shrouding your insidious nature!" He lambasted over with his voice hoarse and weak, before the shadow engulfed him and receded quickly.
He fell to his knees, and tears began rolling off his marred visage, his eyes widening in a trance.
'I am...who I am.' He acknowledged, 'I am evil, but I can be better. I am not a failure!"
He picked himself up, firm in his resolve as a pair of holy sigils burned on to his face, extending to half of his alluring visage. The sigils extended above the eye and below it, with its gaping core as his left eye which burned in a shadowy flame.
-
In reality...
The scar burned uniquely half way across his visage, and his movements slowed, as his eyes began to burn an ever brighter shadowy flame on his left eye.
'I know what I am,' He said with an echo emanated, halting in the middle of the battlefield. 'But I shall not kill.'
He took to the skies with his raiment while a halo was made manifest on his head, and twirled his hands around as the ground quickly became a dome that the 'immortals' were unable to escape from. 'But you shall serve eternity within this dome, for the heinous crimes you have committed against humanity.'
The cried and screams blasted through the dome as it was closing out, with strong echoes escaping through the small crack, before being drowned out when it voided the moonlit night from ever showing itself in to their dome.
He landed, and his body gave in, crashing to the ground while the halo faded from his body.
"Syn!"
Those muffled voice were all he could hear as his ears rang profusely, and his consciousness blurred, slowly but surely...
-
"Perhaps it was a mistake...for him to be brought to the barbaric curs." A gentle voice mellowed through the cooling room.
The hand extended to her, gripping her wrist tightly.
"It wasn't your fault." Syn returned, "Just promise me you'll be with me, because you're the one I need the most."
"I'll die without you..." He added, "I just want you here, with me."
He moved his hands towards her soft and gentle hands, but she dragged it to her bosom instead.
"I won't be going anywhere," She answered, "Because I am where I belong- With you."
He teared, and he moved over to her lips, sharing a passionate kiss that reinvigorated both their worn husks.
As they ended their contact, an extended glow emanated from her body, and from within, a pair of angelic and demonic wings extended from her back with a halo hovering above her head.
"I remember everything, Syn," The teary eyed beauty nodded, "You would always hug me, and call me 'lavender', mainly because you felt that I was soothing to your soul."
"I'm sorry..." He apologized, as watery beads of sadness dripped as bright sparkles that reflected the morning sun's rays. "I couldn't-"
"But that was in the past," She interjected, "But we are born anew, and the old has gone; the new has come. Syn, our past is buried. Come, let us create new memories. For the both of us."
"For the both of us."
"He's still under the impression that I'm Angelica..." Lynx told herself.
"Hey Lynx," He said, "You know, I had this really awesome time with your cousin. I think her name was Angelica."
"Really now..." She snorted, "Way to ruin the mood. You're cheating on me I suppose, though I wouldn't mind, considering how I've deceived you a lot."
"If you would excuse me," He interrupted, raising himself from his bed, strolling out of the room.
She sighed, with a of teary eyed visage, "He really wants Angelica after all... Even though it's still me, I feel rather insulted."
-
"Yeah, and Lynx really had the courage to do what she never dared to do!" The gentle voice mellowed to the gentlemanly Nemael.
"Syn, since you knew she was pretending to be this 'Angelica' persona from the second you saw her, I suggest you set things straight before things spiral out of control." The eloquent gentleman suggested, "She's the one you've loved from all you heart, and although she's hiding the fact that she's capable of a number of enigmatic feats, I wouldn't go so far as to say that she intended to hide it from you. It's probably her method of expressing her love for you in her own way."
-
"I'd better leave soon..." She muttered, lugging her belongings with her as the grand carriage awaited her outside their formal garden. "I don't wish to be dumped, so I'll leave and come back as Angelica."
"Where are you going, Lynx?" The adolescent asked, approaching her in the early morning as she was about the set off, by the door.
"I'm going to get Angelica." She answered, "I'll just be gone for a day, so there's really no need to worry."
"With all those belongings?" Syn asked, peering at the double stacked suitcases. "If I hadn't known any better, I would've said that you were leaving so that you couldn't hear what I was going to tell you."
"That you wish to dump me?" She cried, slamming the suitcase against his face. "You're one heartless man, Syn! Can't you leave me at least a little respect when you break up with me?"
"Even if you do leave, Angelica won't come back." He asserted, approaching her slowly.
"So," He whispered, "When is Angelica going to make her appearance again, Lynx?"
"Never!" She cried, turning around, only for a pair of hands to be wrapped across her waist.
"Oh, but, Angelica, are you sure you don't wish to wear your wig and fancy dress again?" The adolescent smirked from her back, "It was good while it lasted, you were always too shy to act according to your own will."
"Y-You knew?" She gasped, "W-When "
"From the very beginning, Lynx," He answered, "Hello, half my soul, in you, remember? Philosopher's stone? Ring any bells? I can see my own soul in you."
"Plus," He added, "I didn't need that to tell that you were the meek and gentle Lynx, who knew only to criticize her own faults."
"Then why didn't you-"
"Oh, um," He blushed, "I got carried away by the-um, flow... Never seen you that assertive and seductive, you know?"
"Jerk!" She exclaimed, hammering his shoulders with her gentle hands. "You just wanted the benefits I provided you on the expense of my feelings!"
"Oh and," She paused, peering down on the ground, "I have been hiding secrets...from you."
"Of what sort?"
"The not-very-pleasant kind." She answered, "I instigated an attack on the Łorez and Ōrion kingdoms.
"So that's why I haven't received a follow up..." He sighed, yet turning to her with a thumbs up and a vast smile upon his tender visage. "Good job, how did that turn out?"
"Conquered them." She answered, "I tried to negotiate peace talks with them, but they refused on all of our offers. So I decided to claw though everybody that came at me and then I held the monarchs hostage in exchange for the country."
"Of course, Kael knows about it because she was my escort." Lynx answered, "I wanted to do a clean job. No reason to involve the soldiers when we could settle it ourselves. Clean, Syn." She emphasized, "Marching into a battlefield with an army is fodder for angst and dispute."
"What power are you hiding, Lynx?" Syn exclaimed, marching furiously to her. "The way you tore through that thug's throat. Since when?"
"I've always been able to do that," She answered, sliding her palms seductively up against his neck.
"Protecting you from everything that wanted to harm you," She added, "Assassins, Spirits, Seers, Soothsayers, Spiritists, Demons...heck, even some within our own race of angels want your head on a plate!"
"Do you have any idea how insufferably intolerable it becomes when it comes to your safety?" She exclaimed, "And, I shall answer your question with another question about when I had my powers. When did you first save me?"
"That's when my innate murder surfaced, clouding my mind with death, blood and carnage." She answered, "Yet you remained ignorant. I have fulfilled my duty as a guardian. From now on, I shall fulfill my duty in another direction, not as a guardian, but rather as your fiancé."
"But I cannot guarantee that I will not kill," She returned, "A woman's jealous heart breeds vengeance worse than a duty as a guardian, after all."
"I would go to the extent to leveling a city and destroying continents for you," She answered, "And even then it cannot fully reflect my love for you."
"It's not like you to say that without having some other way of reflecting it to the fullest." He returned, "I know you, Lynx. You're a perfectionist to yourself, and you demand the best of yourself."
"Indeed. That's why I dug deeper- I found out the reason," She paused, "On why they're searching for you."
"They're fully convinced that you're one of the Divine knights of Eles." She said, "They seek to cloak you with the Mask of Temarós that was once used by Lark, to reawaken your dormant powers."
"But little did they expect for the mask to be the raiment that was stored within it." She chuckled, "They were unable to predict that much."
"So that's how you gave me the raiment as Angelica!" He exclaimed, bursting into laughter. "That was for your own personal gratification too, was it not? You thought that I wouldn't know, so there wouldn't be any embarrassment on your side."
"Err..." She muttered, turning left and right as she blushed sweetly, peering up his visage with droopy eyes, "Yeah, I guess."
"Sorry for doubting your faithfulness."
"Hey that's okay," He returned, extending his right hand to her shoulder. "I wish to see Angelica more often, though."
"I...I'll see what I can do..." She murmured sweetly, blushing from the embarrassment. "
He reached for her halo, and took it with a firm grip, and turned the halo from a yellowish tinge to an aquamarine blue before slotting it back up to her head.
"Of course, I remember that today is lover's day." He smiled, wrapping his arms around her back, sliding it down to her waist.
"You're a pervert." She teased, "But it's not like I dislike certain ones, ones like you...I love."
"How about a kiss, then?"
"Sure!" She exclaimed, diving right into his lips, sharing a deep and passionate rendezvous of lips.
"Ah this reminds me of the time when you raped me though," She reminded him, as her voice took a monotonous shift.
"I what?" Syn gasped, "Why would I partake in such a brutal act?"
"Two years ago, I went through the phase where I bossed you around, remember?" She answered, "Then you couldn't take it and..."
"I'm so sorry!" He cried, slamming his head on the walls. "I didn't mean it, really!"
"It's fine." She returned, smiling serenely at him before grabbing his raiment by the collar and pulling him closer, with her expression remaining on her alluring visage. "If you cheat on me, I will castrate you. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, after all."
"But what if I do fall in love with another, but still share the ever strong feelings I have for you?" He asked, "What would you do then?"
"Then just tell me," She answered, "I'll assess her, and if I find her okay, then you may continue that relationship."
"Of course, I still demand to be treated well, and not left aside like yesterday's garbage." She added, "As long as you can do that, then we have a deal."
'Besides, you can't just forget about Aschoulette just like that...' She muttered.
"Who's that?"
"I'm saying that you can't just stop loving somebody just like that," She returned, "Right?"
"Yeah." He returned, "After all, we have been through so much together."
"May our happiness last."

******* 7 Necessarius
Chapter 7: Seeds of the Past
A blurred image flashed within the depths of darkness in his unconscious state. The realism of an entire army of angels with dark feathers streaming across the skies in utter darkness, they went about levelling cities of corruption, yet were themselves corrupt. The heavenly bodies aligned perfectly, realm after realm they bathed in its light and the dust that was released permeated into their very existence, purifying their wings to a pure white in appearance as their halos reformed around the crown of their heads. 
He was at the centre of them all, his wings shimmering with a golden glint, more powerful than all had been, without rival. They bowed before him, wings outstretched in glorious triumphant in his presence. 
"At east, my army of angels." He mellowed serenely through the peaceful night, the rays exuding the elegant radiance about him. "How many of Orion's men have the Zein faction slain today?"
"Close to fifty million, my liege." The bespectacled figure clad in a suit dyed red with blood returned, "Very good. And I suppose that your achievement warrants a celebratory occasion?"
"No, of course not, my liege." He quickly refused, in fear of his kingly authority. "I would not think-"
"It is fine, Milleus." He returned, with a wide smile upon his elegant visage, turning to his steward to his right. "Go to the city of Arthos, and purchase five gora of mead and bread. It will feed the entire angelic populace."
"Sir, your spirits seem to be lifted during these few decades. Was there a lady that caught your eye?" He asked, but at the same time coming to regret his unrequited banter that might render his life forefeit. 
Instead, a hand extended to him, and he looked up to find that his master had offered to help him up as he quickly attempted to kneel. 
"If I said yes, would it mean that I've become...more human?" He asked, "That I've become weak?"
"Of-of course not, sir!" Milleus retorted, his pace growing frantic and jumpy. 
"Why do you say so?" He asked, peering at him suspiciously from his throne.
"You have forgotten, my liege, of the reason that we are here." He reminded, "We fell because we indulged ourselves in epic fornications of mortals. Our lust had the better of us, and we fell."
"But you, are different." He added, "You fell because you rebelled, and are of a higher tier. You did not just disobey, but you fully rebelled against Father."
"Simply because of my status...huh..." He muttered, slamming his hands down upon his throne. 
"Then I shall relinquish my position." He answered, stepping down from the steps of his throne. "From now on, the statuses of all angels will be the same, regardless of the reason for their fall."
"You are free to elect a new leader, as I will be leaving the cadre of The Closest." He returned, "I wish to pursue the life of a human. I no longer wish to harm any longer. Leitya shall be my beloved wife, and we will have nothing more to do with this life."
"Sir, please reconsider!" Milleus retorted, with heavy emphasis throughout. "The system cannot do without a leader, for it is the sine qua non for our existence, and for our purpose!"
"The angelic hierarchy does not allow for the marriage between a humble maid of an angel, and a member of The Closest." He returned, "It was a rule I established to restore order at first, but I am beginning to regret my decision."
"But sir," He reminded, "Couldn't you simply change the laws?"
"The laws must be adhered to, and it cannot be changed." He answered, "Even then, I also require good reason to do so."
"There is none, is there not?" He questioned him, leaning to his right with his chin on his palm. "Even as the paramount monarch of The Fallen, "I must still adhere to the rules. After all, a stable system is built in which even the monarch is subjected to the laws he dictates."
"Sir...This is the first time I've seen you so uptight over someone other than yourself." Milleus returned, bowing slightly. "Hast thy icy demure been thaw'd in the burning and amorous flames of passion?"
"She hath not deceiveth me." He answered, "She was someone I could talk to, who, so far down the ranks failed to realise that I was the monarch of the angelic hierarchy."
"For the first time," He added, "I felt as though I could be treated as an equal."
"But sir, you always don the cloak of paradox, wouldn't that mean that you're of the upper echelons of the hierarchy?" He asked. 
"Yes, but I did not wear anything to give myself away that day," He returned, "It's because I went for a routine inspection on how the lower angels would treat members of a lower rank than them. I must say, it is disappointing."
"She was abused, bullied by her higher ranking peers...everything." He returned, "And this is because in turn, they too were treated the same way."
"I don't know why, but the way she seemed... I don't know why she even fell." He answered, "I've looked into the Corrupted Book, but had no answers."
"I've actually called for her," He said, looking into Mellius' eyes. "I want you to welcome her in. It's highly unlikely that the Antherions would let her in. Tell her that I have been expecting her."
The humble gentleman nodded, flashing in an instant as he warped to the main entrance of the palace.
Faint echoes hollered along the way, with a breeze of gentle voices mellowing through the narrowed pathway. 
There approached a humble maiden whose wings glowed with a holy aura, and they shimmered as holy particles sparked about her wings. 
"Master Lark," The humble maiden bowed, afraid to even raise her head and steal a glance of his seductive and authoritative visage. 
"I wish to marry you, Leitya," He demanded, in a different tone as he knew that she would not dare look into his eyes. 
"I..." She paused for a fair bit. "But I cannot marry someone I do not love. I already have a significant other."
"Then I shall have him bladed," He returned, slamming his fist upon his throne. "If you don't marry me, he will die. How does that sound?"
"No." She returned firmly, clutching her fists tightly as watery pearls that glistened in his presence fell to the marbled floor. "I cannot accept. Even to a monarch that reigns over the Fallen."
"Raise your head," He requested, smiling at her. "Then tell me if you're still unwilling."
"Please, your lordship, I have already made up-" She fell in place as she gazed upon the man that she'd chat with and play with for the three hundred years. "Eira?"
"No." Lark returned, with a radiant smile at her. "I'm Lark, the monarch and the Rystall of The Fallen."
"Sorry for deceiving you, my fair angel," He apologised, getting up from his throne and bowing before her in forgiveness.
"No, master Lark, you shouldn't do this!" She cried in a fluster, panicky as to what she should do.
"Would you like to marry me, Leitya?" He asked, taking off his paradox cloak and walked over to dress her with the beautiful cloak which burst into silvery flames that continued burning without scorching the material. 
Milleus stumbled upon gazing upon such awe that had been unseen since The Fall. "The cloak... It resonates, then does it mean...?"
"I was right—She is of pure righteousness." He answered, "An angel that is purer than me."
"Yes, she does deserve to become a member of Closest." He answered, "On the grounds of being more sanctified and pure than those around her."
"My fair maiden," He asked, gazing deeply into her eyes, "Is there anyone as beautiful as you, your hazelnut coloured eyes and soft and silky obsidian hair that shimmers through the darkness. Wilt thou marry me?"
Without a second thought, she nodded in reply as she instinctively embraced him, pulling him in.
"Then a marriage it is, a feast for all!" He cried, "Milleus, invite everyone to the wedding— From the lowest of angels to the highest."
"At once, my lord."
-------------------------------------
Five days later, in the Castle...
The chariots raced with angels on horses, lugging back entire boxes of feasts fit for kings, followed by wave after wave of boxes piling in as the dining table set in, ranging almost an entire country, seated not by rank, but by inverse seating—The most powerful sat with the weakest, the considerably powerful sat with those not as weak, with most of them turning sheepishly over to another. 
"My lord," An angel adorned with jewels about his fingers called over the banquet table, "Has there been a mistake with the seating?"
"There has not, Zael." He returned, "Your place is exactly where you deserve to be. You are seated close to the ruler, are you not?"
"Yes," He nodded, "But why am I dining with the despicable lower classes?"
"If you're sitting beside someone despicable, does that not make you equally despicable?" He asked, "For having mention it in front of a lady's presence?"
"Lord Lark, since when have you become so weak!" He bellowed, raging from his seat as he stood up, amongst the masses that remained seated. Before long, he found himself the subject of everyone's attention and the king's wrath, at the worst.
"Pay no heed to him." He answered, addressing all his angels at the tables there were seated at. "One more word, Zael, and you will truly be the subject of my wrath. Are you clear?"
Even before there was any response, he turned his cheek away to greet the other lower ranked angels, albeit grudgingly.
"To the angels whom have mistreated Leitya in the past I say this unto you: All is forgiven. For you too, were treated the same way. This unfairness, I wish to correct my flaw in the system."
"To this end, I shall be marrying Leitya, the angel that has been with my for over three centuries." He answered, "I shall marry her not only to set an example for the angel hierarchy, but also because I love her." 
"In fact," He raised his voice in much enthusiasm, "I am well aware that the high ranked angels have been having secretive rendezvous with the lower ranks, and has been going on for a long time. I only regret that I had not done so sooner. To this end, I have decided to pair you up with your loved ones as you may have noticed."
"The truth is," He added, turning to everyone in front of him and Leitya, "That most of you treat the lower ranks so indifferently because you wish to punish the lower ranks for venting their frustrations on your beloved one, who were even lower in rank than them."
"Lord Lark is wise," The brown haired angel, complete with his side burns extending to his shoulders and eyes of lapis lazuli exclaimed, "He recognises his own mistakes, flaws, and seeks to make amends. Is he not a leader we should all aim to strive to become?"
"Even as a member of Closest," He added, "I felt that the system was fragile and treaded on thin ice. In my hatred for the old system, I shall formally announce my resignation from Closest, for it is a remnant of the old world we lived in."
"Well said, Horizona!" Lark exclaimed, clapping audibly as he stood up. "Well then, I too have something I wish to say."
"I am stepping down as leader of the angelic legions." He announced, and as he did, the faces of all that beheld him were drowned in uncertainty and disbelief. 
"But Lord Lark," They retorted, "We need a leader to lead us! Who would tell us what to do, and who would show us the way?"
"I am not he," Lark returned, "I cannot show thee thy way, for although perfect, I hath chosen to err."
"Thou hath free will." Horizona rebutted, "We hath not freedom to decide our fates. Thou art the only being in creation to have both free will, and wisdom and power that transcends both demon, demigod and mortal."
"But I wish to mingle with the humans, perhaps there..." Soon, the voices drowned out as a nudge came to his side, the vision vanishing into his mind. 
-------------------------------------
A blunt point poked against his back, nudging him from the sides with her elbow. 
"Wake up..." The soothing voice hummed into his ears. 
His eyes slowly welcomed the vision of a pitch black night, and the various shadows of the world flooded into his vision as he awoke. 
He turns to her, holding her hands firmly before pulling her in. "I never imagined that my best friend would one day become my lover." He smiled, "I was living with you throughout, and you did not resent me. I deceived you, and you forgave me."
He placed his hands on her hands and stroked it softly. 
"No." She retorted, in return stroking his head. "It was because our hearts were connected ever since that fateful day of our childhood, and even before that."
"I knew you, and I loved you." She affirmed, pecking gently on his lips.
"You are my angel, Lynx." He whispered softly, "The gaze upon the heavens hath shone their blessings upon thee. Our love is true and pure, as are you."
"Always such a tease!" She exclaimed, slapping his right arm. "You do realise that our love predates the world, right?"
"Yes," Syn nodded, rubbing his hand over her cheeks gently. "Yet you are stuck with this vessel."
"Your powers will not manifest with such a body." He added, "I know that you wish to help me. And you already have."
"But it's not enough," She returned, burying her head into his chest. "If only I had my body back, I would have been able to-"
"It does not matter, Lynx." He answered, "You have protected me for so long. Please, allow me to protect my beloved in return."
He wrapped his arms gently around her, pulling her down as her lips crashed into his. 
"You are beautiful as you are lovely, my beloved kitten." He snuggled with her, teasing her slightly. "I love you, ya know."
"I know," She murmured serenely into his ear, "That's why I never left you. I love you, Syn."
She crept close to his neck, before sticking her tongue out and licking it seductively in all her feline and feminine allure, almost as though she were a real lynx, showing affection for its master. 
"I never want this moment to end."
"Me neither."
-------------------------------------
Next morning...
The golden orb ascended past its wide horizons, illuminating its serene radiance upon the lethargic youth. The calendar marked fifteenth of the year of Lorand, and the adolescent youth peered towards the vast skies as his back laid against the grassy fields neatly aligned with Meriod flowers that seemed to be waving at him in the wind. 
"Here's a gift for you, Syn." The maidens dressed in white offered, gifting the little red box with both hands and a gentle smile fit perfectly on their graceful visage. 
"Kael, you too?" Syn asked, "What's that for?"
"It's Arions Day, am I not allowed to give a gift to my beloved?" She returned, winking at him mischievously.
"What!" He exclaimed, turning to Lynx, arms wrapped around her. "But I'm taken!"
"Don't be irresponsible, Syn," Lynx retorted, nudging him slightly on the chest to get him off her. "You have only one lover...per aeon."
"Well," She explained, twirling her fingers in mid air as she rolled her eyes. "In the beginning when we were banished, you had me...then you had Aschoulette, then Kael. So frankly speaking, we're all your lovers."
"But Lynx, you're whom I love now, and I wish to dedicate it to you." He returned, "I don't know if-"
Before he could finish, the cyan haired belle swept his feet under, rendering his balance lost and caught him in her arms as he fell. 
"Aww, how cute!" Kael smiled, holding him in her arms as she gazed with a pair of loving eyes into his own. "I've always wanted to cradle you in my arms."
"Listen, Syn." She said, "You promised me...that we would be...together. You promised..."
"I can't..." 
"Then bear some of the responsibility!" She cried, releasing him from her grip. "I gave birth to Misha, and you promised that we would be together!"
"That's what I was afraid of..." Lynx sighed, turning to her left as she placed her palm to her face. "You really did it now, Syn."
"You did promise to marry her if she bore you a child of divine origins," Lynx said, "That, and Kael wasn't exactly welcomed anywhere."
"Kael...was a succubus, was she not?" He answered, "I mean she did all those things, and so many men have gone through her that-"
A viscous swipe streaked past his alluring visage, and the girl with her flax coloured hair stared fiercely at him. 
"She was not a succubus to begin with." Lynx retorted as she placed her hands on his forehead, "You made her a succubus. Even when she became one, she staved off the urge and hunger for life energy and remained pure!"
"With all that, how could you still say that about her!" She cried, turning to a tearful Kael, knelt upon the floor, weeping. "Do you remember now?"
"I-I'm sorry, Kael." The adolescent apologised, embracing her from the back. "I love you."
"Hah!" She cried, "As if I'd say that to you! I'm just glad I'm still alive after sticking with you throughout!"
"Lynx is probably the only one who could bear with you in the first place!" She added, "I just can't stand your self-loathing and righteous attitude."
"But I was not kidding when I said that," He returned, moving his arms to hers. "I am enamoured by your grace and kindness."
"W-Wait, I wasn't serious when I said that I loved you, I was only just joking!" She retorted, bursting into a sudden unfamiliarity of emotions that bewildered her thoughts.
"But I do love you." He answered, wrapping his arms around her as he embraced her. "You're precious to me, so don't ever leave me."
"If you love me, then prove it." She answered, swiftly turning away from him. 
"It was my fault that you were ostracised..." He wailed, burying his head against her arms as he teared as though he were a lamb who went astray and found once more, in the arms of its master. "You have worked hard to fulfil the promise... Selflessly for my sake..."
"I'll need my coat back, Lynx." He requested, as he reached his arms out to receive it. He gazed into Kael's lapis eyes, and felt for her azure themed hair, soft and silky, against his fingertips. 
"The coat was originally yours anyway," Lynx smiled as she gazed upon him donning the cloak. "The Coat of Paradox is a very powerful cloak worn only by the very highest in the order."
The cloak itself shone a bright and luminescent holy glow, and the light cut through his flesh, piercing through his bones over and over. Yet he stood, as he caught a glimpse of their astonished visage. 
"Remove the cloak!" Lynx cried, rushing behind him in an attempt to grab hold of the silky fabric. 
"This is my penance," He returned, as more of his bones echoed its cracking against his flesh. "That which was due to Kael aeons ago."
"I have to right a wrong," He added, embracing the purging of his flesh with his tranquil facial expression as he peered towards the heavens. "All is well, father."
The light engulfed his surroundings, and devoured a pitch black shadow within himself that was hardly a part of the dimension, into nothingness, and of the void.
"You will come to regret this, Lark of the Sixth Pillar!" The shadows forewarned, as they dissolved quickly into a spiralled void. 
"Sixth pillar?" Syn wondered, raising a brow, before quickly returning to the task at hand. The cloak became disempowered, and an orb emerged from his heart, phasing it through her heart gently. "You are free. The curse of demonic blood no longer flows within you."
"What did you do?" Lynx cried, "That was-"
"The remaining half of my soul." He answered, "The soul of power, the core of my essence."
"It was the only way to break the bonds of fate."
"How did you learn all that?" She asked, "And does that mean your powers are-"
"Gone." He returned, turning instead to Kael and pointing to her chest, "I no longer have any more power, but my army remains immortal, because my power is still in existence."
"It also feels that the shadow has left me," He added, his hand over his chest. "It's gone." 
"You purified yourself and became...mortal." Lynx said, "Was that really for the best?"
"As you have said," He began, "I made her this way. It is my responsibility to take care of her."
"Selfless till the very end..." She teared, together with the lapis eyed beauty as she fell silent with water pearly that reflect the golden yolk's radiance. 
"We belong to you now." Kael asserted, "We will obey you to the very end, for you have given us new life."
"No," He retorted, "You do not owe me."
"For Eles my father has chosen to forgive me, such that I could in turn aid others and propagate his mercy."
"But then by giving me your soul, you lost your powers..." She muttered, "Was that really okay?"
"It is okay," He smiled, patting her on her back. "As for Lynx, I knew of this spell because I was the one who invented it. Even in my mortal flesh, I still know it."
His chest burst in a rich flow of crimson life, as it filled his lungs with his ribs contracting, the sound of broken ribs reverberating through his now hollow body. 
He threw up the blood, and on his knees as the blood dyed the grassy plains a gaudy red. 
"Syn!" The cyan haired belle cried out, breaking his fall with her petite frame. "I do love you, I just wanted you to care for me..."
"But not this!" She cried, "Don't you dare leave now, Syn! I won't forgive you if you die now, you listen now!"
-------------------------------------
He opened his eyes slowly, and bright lights flooded his vision as he visioned a backdrop of clouds, his environment clustered with bright stars that lit a pathway above. 
The temperature was cool and airy, but he was not cold and did not shiver. 
The path was traversed with ease, and therein laid the world he wished for— To return to him, and his glory restored. Yet, a cluster of emotions resonates within his heart, prompting him to turn back. But there was this silence; Nobody was around but himself and the heavenly bodies. Despite this, he knew that there was always someone gazing upon him from afar, but yet felt warmth and a serene presence rather than that of unsettling fear and anxiety. 
"Father, I know you're there." He greeted, pausing to contemplate the astral bodies that his echoes reverberated through. "I have returned."
"I know." A voice echoed through the cosmos, and another clearer tone, echoless, approached from his front with a massive burst of light that blinded the heavenly bodies with its divine light. "It's your heart, Lark- Or should I call you Syn."
"The latter would be best, father," He greeted with his head bowed before his presence. "Lowly as I am, the prodigal son hath returned."
"Then you would have probably met Erawyn." The majestic figure clad in robes of a silky pure white returned, "The wayward son hath returned, but the obedient one hath gone."
"Aera is your son too."
"The perfect son." He answered, "But through thy flaws, thou hath recognised thy err."
"I love my three sons as much as the other," The saintly figure returned.
"I am duly surprised that thou hath considered mine evil nature a son." Syn returned, "The evil nature was willing to obey, but fell out of favour due to his evil acts."
"I was wayward, but thou hath spared me, and granted me asylum in Albion." He said, "Alas, I wish to return to those who would need me."
"Your body remains in Albion, and your loyal ones hath not forgotten you." 
"How long hath we been in here?" Syn asked.
"Five years." The saintly figure returned, "All that hath been said is done. Now remains the second chapter."
Just as he spoke, the world around him warped in strange ways, and the spatial and temporal dimensions contorted back into the realm of the living. 
He awoke, on the lavender scented bed of which were poured unto him. He stood up, and poised himself to climb our of the knee deep bed to the surface of the earth. 
Loud slams of surfaces ensued as two voices began lambasting towards the halls, where the main area once was.
"It's been five years...they must have changed a lot." He muttered to himself, "Better cloak myself."
He tread slowly out of the room as he approached the main halls, for his person was invisible, but his presence was not. In its place, the sight of a battle armour clad female and another with an armour deprived body, eyes of cyan allure beckoning to him even as he hid from her. 
"He's still alive, Nemael!" The cyan haired belle cried, although this time her appearance had changed quite significantly, for she had adopted a new style of hair—It flowed downed to her shoulders, and down to her waist. Her usual dress swapped for a plate armour of complete Zemorite playing: The strongest material in Albion. "You of all people should know that!" 
"Thinking he's alive wont change a thing!" The blond male with a similar suit of Zemorite armour retorted, "You're being delusional, Kael!"
"I'm sorry..." Syn teared, as he desperately withheld them from leaking from his tearful visage. "But I have no more powers to protect you...I'll just be burden!"
He turned towards the central area as his invisibility remained intact, and began to tread tearingly through the aisle. 
Within that time, a pure sensation washed over her-- A revitalisation of her soul as she swiftly laid down her sword and retreated back to the room he was thought to have lied in.
"He's gone!" The effeminate voices echoed through the wide and long halls, with the rest storming to validate the truth they could not comprehend. 
"Is...he truly alive?" Nemael gasped, "But then why wouldn't he show himself?"
"Did someone come to steal his body?" The elegant beauty with a long hair of flax colour spoke, before swiftly shaking her head. "No, I feel...something else. He must have gotten past us if he was to be dragged or carried out."
"Anti-teleport runes inscribed in every location, with all entrances sealed shut and bolted from another dimension." She returned, "It would take a master warlock to even manage to notice the lock was not part of this realm, much less unlock the seal without becoming drawn into the void."
"He left us through the courtyard." Kael returned, turning to Lynx. "Before the morning courtyard hearing, he was still there. But now he is not." 
"I knew I felt something just now..." She cried, as tears began amassing from the corner of her eyes. "It was all my fault."
"It's not." Lynx retorted, "It was what he owed you, and I believe that if he were given another chance, he would have done the exact same thing."
"But-"
"I do not wish to hear any of this sort of talk." She affirmed, exuding an aura of knightly authority about her. 
"With or without Syn, life goes on." She answered, "Until he returns, we shall rule in his stead, wherever he may be."
-------------------------------------
Staring into the vast horizons, he peered to the heavens, siphoning the essence of life into his being as a gentle breeze embraced his cheeks as it passed. 
"Wait..." He thought to himself, "If I was siphoned of my powers, I shouldn't have been able to flawlessly escaped."
'Could it be?' He muttered, peering at his right hand. 
He spread out his palm, and the winds seized for but a short moment. Silence. The flora surrounding him were restrained in their movement, and they no longer danced gracefully in the wind. 
A moment later, the wind reversed its course, and blew instead against his back, while the fields around him reanimated in life around him, as if they were a clockwork toy that wound up from the wind. 
'God magic...' He muttered, 'Has my time in the pure lifestream affected my powers?'
Suddenly the thought sparked within his mind: Nothing was a threat anymore. Whatever it was, he need not fear. He was had power. He was invincible. 
"Let's check what they're doing." He said, snapping his fingers as he visualised an orb that scryed over the both of them within his mind.
True enough, an orb constructed itself from the spatial fragments itself, and combined to reshape itself into an orb that glowed of a silvery nobility. 
He saw two females, sat upon thrones side by side, hands held together by the arm of the chair. 
'It seems like Lynx didn't take my death to heart.'
'It depends on how you wish to twist it, Syn.' The blond male clad in a white trench coat returned. 
"Oh blast." He sighed, turning to the gate guardian. "Have you come to chastise me for my actions again, Donovan?"
"So that presence in the courtyard earlier was you." The man smirked, pulling his hands out of his pocket to reveal a coin that had ancient scribbles around it. "You were always someone who planned ahead, after all."
"Don't know if you dropped it intentionally, but in any case I found you." He returned, "Any plans on returning to retake the reins from the ladies?"
"Why?" He asked, suddenly remembering Donovan's first words, again asked, "Was I wrong to say that my trust in them has not been misplaced?"
"Your trust...was not misplaced." He answered, "But that their methods are a tad...extreme."
"You ruled with strategies and restrained power." He returned, "They rule with minimal strategies and absolute power. You are everything they fall short of."
The cyan haired youth let out a deep sigh, turning from his back to face the morning sun as it glistened across his visage of lustre. 
"My back is towards you," He answered, "I trust you, and I entrust my well-being to you. I shall direct the world from the shadows, and if I shall one day also fall short of the king's pride, you shall be the one to rip its foundations."
"Oh how the righteous moaned their new leader and were resented, for fools that create their own prophecies, and prophesy falsehood."
Syn shut his eyes as he fell back on the soft plains. "And I'm assuming Lynx and Kael are the new leaders?" He asked. 
"No." He denied, shaking his head from side the side. "It's the Gaian King of Albion. He claimed that he could resurrect you, on condition that they surrender everything to him."
"The Gaian King of Albion, Marl..." Syn's fingers burned in an icy cold aura, plunging the area around him to subzero levels. "How extremely fantastical— Of how gods would one day come to rule the world themselves, when the world is my father's creation."
"I shall pass the judgement upon them, so shall be the wrath of my father." He added, on a more solemn tone. "The heavenly bodies shall tide forced against him, and devour his corpse with his flesh that sizzles away in the oceans."
"Art thou truly a god now?" Donovan asked, "Speaking as though thou hath pronounced judgement upon them with mere words."
"Nay." He returned, firmly, with his cyan hair floating in the wind. "But I hath receive my share of the inheritance of God magic. And so it shall be."
A great planet eclipsed sol's rays, and the darkness engulfed the central portion of the palace where the god had been, and waters that rose higher than the mountains crashed against the palace itself. 
Its foundations crumbled from its central room, instantly levelling the first floor, but not the others where the servants were working at. 
"That is simply overpowered." The blond male cried, peering over to the near shores where the desecrated castle stood, where shouts of joy reverberated from the castle walls to the plains where he stood. 
"There are...conditions...for using it." He returned, "One of which is that they don't see it coming. The second is that they don't know of this power."
"So it's not effective against me anymore, considering that I know about it already?" He asked, "Does it still apply if I tell others about it?"
"No." He returned, shaking his head. "I must tell them of my ability explicitly it will still affect them."
"Well then that sucks doesn't it? For them, that is." The blond gent replied, folding his arms. "So, when so you intend to return?"
"I don't."
"Then you should take a walk around the town—See what's changed." He suggested, turning to his right for a view of the medieval fashioned buildings that lined the streets from the high peak they were idling on. "Perhaps you may reconsider. But know this: I will respect your decision."
"I consider you my brother, Donovan." Syn returned, nodding his head in acknowledgement. 
"As do I." The gent reciprocated the notion. 
"I shall leave to inspect the town." He said, as he turned from his presence. "Simul tecum." Those words rang in his mind even as his presence faded before the zephyr that spirited the revered cyan haired man away. 
-------------------------------------
The cyan haired male clad in a dark cloak arrived in the dark alleyway backed away from the streets and began walking out of the crevice-like pathway, and into the gleaming light engulfed streets where many of Zinir's citizens passed. 
Whispers began to escape its gaps as the people stood together in threes and fours, gossiping amongst themselves. 
'Tis true that Gaian King Marl hath been slain by a higher power?' 
'Thats not possible, is it?' They whispered back, 'I mean he was a God, and if someone were to be more powerful...it would be unfathomable.'
'But 'tis true I say!' A member of the crowd retorted, 'The waves slammed through the castle and slew only the Gaian King of Albion!'
'Stranger,' They called out, upon catching a glimpse of his sight, one of them even tugging his sleeves. 'What doth thou think of this?'
He paused, pondering over what he should say, given that he knew the truth, but wished to test waters in digging for the truth of what Lynx and Kael have done in his absence. 
"I think mortals such as ourselves should keep our tongues in check least we suffer the wrath of his underdogs Lynx and Kael."
"Well said, stranger." They returned, "Lynx and Kael have taken the values their master Syn instructed them, and turned it around."
"Sounds to me like this master 'Syn' was a well venerated individual." He paused, turning to look at each of them. "What have his disciples done?"
"Oh, they weren't disciples." The woman in the crimson hood returned, "They were the servant-master sort."
"And in any case," He added, "They increased taxes by over three-hundred percent, and those who were unable to pay, head for the gallows."
"But the people here are prosperous!" He exclaimed, turning to vision the common jewel trader and the bartering traders. 
"They are the people who earn the most in this city." They answered, "And even they barely manage."
"Then there's the problem of Marl's cronies, the other 'Gods' so god speak."
Just then, a sharp knock on his shoulder was felt, followed by a man with a large beer belly falling over. 
"What was that!" The man cried, struggling simply to stand up. "How dare you trip the Count of Gaia, do you not know your place!"
"I am a God!" He added, turning to face his 'assaulter' in the face.
"You shall feel my wrath, insolent mortal!" He warned, raising both his hands to the air as he began chanting a spell. 
'Shh.' The cyan haired figure smiled, placing his index finger on his lips. Almost immediately, the man ceased chanting and seemed to have difficulty opening his mouth, as though it had been sealed shut. 'Pseudo-Gods shouldn't be so insolent.'
The opponent quickly touched his lips, and found that while he could touch them, they simply would not open. 
"Why don't you take it easy?" He smiled once more, albeit sinisterly as he snapped his fingers for him to vanish immediately.
"That was the Count!" They gasped, upon gazing into a power that superseded both Lynx and Kael's. "W-Who are you?"
"A stranger you never met." He answered just as he turned around, "And shall stay that way."
"What's the commotion?" A familiar pair of voices resounded from his back as they approached him. 
He turned around and greeted them with a bow, "Nothing, ma'am." He answered, smiling yet again. 
"You seem familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?" The lady in flax coloured hair asked, "Do not lie."
"It's impossible, ma'ams," He returned, "It's my first time to Zïrnir. Perhaps it's just that I've one of those faces."
"I have also heard things about you." He said, with a stark shift into an accusatory tone. "I heard you used to be a gentle maiden, and that your assistant beside you once belonged to a squad of elites in the hierarchy."
"But I have that you changed ever since a certain incident." He said, twirling his finger in mid air. "Why?"
"How?" She asked, her face to the ground as she muttered gently, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How would you know that!"
"I heard things." He returned, "From the people that spy around these parts."
But before he could finish, she threw a fist towards him, to which he simply stood there, taking the full brunt of the blow in his face. "Are you quite finished?"
"Your power has grown vastly," He commented, "If only you weren't so desperate to revive your beloved."
"The Gaian King of Albion told you he could resurrect your beloved, and you believed him." He sighed, and thereafter a sharp incline in his tone. "How much have you sacrificed, for a promise you knew would not manifest!"
"The citizens knew; they were just too afraid to say anything." He answered, staring straight into her weak and vulnerable self, upon her finally realising a million pairs of eyes gazing into her soul. 
"I loved Syn, and I wanted him back!" She cried, crashing to the ground in tears as they moistened the cobbled pathway drop at a time. "It is true...that the scum of a god has been ended. Now nobody will-"
"Did you see his dead body?" He questioned her, turning away from her. "Keep searching. He might be closer than you think."
"You wouldn't know that!" 
"I would." The cyan haired gent smiled as he walked off with his coat and hood covering his face. "Though, I am certain that he wouldn't even want to look at you in your fallen state. You have let him down greatly."
In that moment, a blade was rammed into his chest, and from his chest a longsword with a sharp end protruded out. But there was no blood. 
He grabbed the blade tightly and it vanished for a brief moment before reappearing behind the cyan haired beauty, jammed halfway through the cobbled stony pathway. 
"How far you have fallen, Kael."
"Do you think you could get away with this?" She growled, rushing to her blade in a desperate attempt to pull it out, to no avail.
"I don't think I can get away with this," He answered, giving a short pause. 
"Then why-"
"Because I know I will get away with it." He returned, without even a single look through the entire process. "One more word from you, wretch, and I will see to it that it would be your last."
"There is nobody more powerful than Syn." She said, as she managed to nudge the blade out of the crack. "Surely your appearance hath changed, but as long as we know that-"
He tightened his fists, halting at where he stood. 
"I was right, wasn't I?"
"Simply because I could defeat you doesn't mean I'm the best." He answered, "You're only the ten percent amongst the most powerful creatures of the universe, and I, the highest percentile. Even if I could defeat you, it wouldn't mean a thing. At least, not much enough to confirm that I was Syn."
"I still believe that you are Syn." She returned, "I know what I did was wrong, but it was all to return you!"
"Do you?" He questioned, and for once turning around, heading for her general direction. "Do you know what you've done, you filthy demon!"
She peered upwards, only to gaze upon an abyss of despair...a vision of pure darkness as his eyes reflected a yellow glow about it. "You know what? I might as well admit."
"Yes, I am he." He said, grabbing her beautiful cyan hair by sheer force. "But guess what, while Lynx has been putting on a strong front just for you not to worry, you've been relishing in the joy of conquering all these kingdoms and the power has gotten to your head!"
"You're nothing but a filthy power seeking, ex-succubus!"
"Don't forget that you turned me into one in the first place!" She cried, tears overflowing her eyes. "I have my all for love, for you, and you broke it!"
"That was my brother." He returned, "Good and Evil were originally one. But make a guess here, which do I resemble?"
"No..." She cried, desperately brandishing her blade in front of him, to which he broke with a swing of his arms. 
He attempted to strike back, swiping his hands against her cheeks, only to be halted by a firm grip on his hand. 
"How far have you fallen, brother?" The cyan haired and effeminate youth cried, as he chastised his actions. "You were one of justice, and were pure. You punished the evil severely, but you were too extreme."
"And what of you, the disobedient son?" The masculine cyan haired youth retorted, "You immerse yourself into the fornications that these animalistic apes indulge in, and even sport the female dress code."
"Oh, this?" He lifted up his skirt slightly, revealing a set of cutesy shorts. "You were the shadow of my self, I know how you feel just as how you know I feel."
"Your ideas are too puerile, younger brother." He answered, "When they're evil, you punish. When they're good, you reward."
"Yet you reward for evil deeds, protecting them and prospering them."
"I never was protecting them." He returned, flipping his long cyan hair against his neck, gazing upon him seductively as he sniffed his hair. 
"I'm sorry..." The older brother apologised, pushing him away slightly. "But I cannot condone what you are doing. I shall deliver your punishment in due time."
"You were always father's favourite, and no matter what I did, it was never enough." He returned, "You never realised how fortunate you were."
"I didn't before, but I do now." The effeminate youth smiled, "I hope you open your eyes one day...to see what lies before you and the chance father has given you once more."
"Of course, I'm not saying that they weren't wrong," He added, turning over to Lynx and Kael. "But their intentions were pure...at the expense of the people."
"If you still insist to kill them, you will have to go through me." He answered, "Don't make it end like this, brother..."
The elder brother paused, and sighed before turning around. "Do what you want."
Syn paused for a brief moment to ensure that he was gone, turning to Kael to kiss her on her cheeks. "What a waste of tears, Kael. Do not tear hence forth, for I shall protect you and Lynx."
"I cannot agree with your actions but I appreciate the sentiments." He answered, carrying her by his arms. "I will not forget about you, nor will I abandon you."
'Everyone!' The crowd hollered aloud, 'Syn of Eles is back in the flesh!'
Soon, the crowd amassed as citizens of the town cheered on his arrival. 
"Citizens," He greeted them in his feminine voice. "They were not the ones to have caused your misery, but rather, it was the gods that manipulated them."
"But they were the ones who executed the poor!" The townsfolk cried in ire. 
"We did not!" Lynx cried, "We sent them to the Forbidden Lands to live!"
"Syn's authority stretches as far as the Forbidden lands— It's as good as another kingdom!" Kael finished, "We can bring them back!"
"It's okay, I'll do it." He said, "What are the realm's alignment coordinates?
"Halo. Cherubim. Thirty-eight, five, nine."
He nodded and stretched his arms out, a thunderous roar ensued, followed by brief strikes of lightning that bypassed reality, as reality itself began to blur. 
Swiftly he pulled out his arms and the citizens phased into Albion—A few legions phased into the realm, but the streets were able to contain their arrival. 
"Did they really not kill you?" The citizens asked in return, "They came back with you, blood stained and your ribs ruptured. 
"They were innocent." He answered, smiling sweetly back at them. "I surrendered my other half of myself for Kael, to restore her humanity."
"But more importantly, what of Marl's cronies?" He asked, "Have you slain them yet? They have far outlived their expiration date, for a promise they could not deliver and yet deceived all of you."
"The truth is," He answered, "That no magic can delve deep enough to reach even the pure lifestream. Nothing can grab a soul out of it, just as nobody can thrust a soul in it."
"But why did resurrections-"
"Their souls were either in the corrupt lifestream, or still attached to their bodies just as they perished." He answered, "Which was why they probably showed you resurrections on recently deceased 'patients', right?" 
"You were hoodwinked into believing." He answered, "For only Eles is capable of resurrection."
"Even my powers as they are," He added, "Are effective only on those who share the residue of the god magics. In other words, it's effective only on Gods themselves."
"Goodness!" They returned, "Art thou going to wage war upon the Gods of Albion?"
"This era shall be marked as one of deicide." He returned, in turn rallying the people toward a unifying goal: To expel and exterminate the enemies. "We begin the slaughter of the gods!"
"It shall not manifest." A tender, yet authoritative tone resounded from the crowd as a hooded slender figure approached and made her way from the crowd. "I have come under orders from the Cadre of Dura to quell the violence by all means necessary."
"I beseech you, make it easier for yourself." She ordered, unhooding herself in his presence. She had long, dark hair with a touch of bright cyan. Her visage exuded a great aura of awe and allure, to the extent that even Syn himself paused for a brief moment to admire her beauty. 
He return to reality after the surreal moment, and cleared his throat with a deep sigh. "Are the gods still siphoning the life essence off mortals? You know I can't allow that."
"Then I'm afraid this will have to end badly," She finished, stretching her palm out towards him. It had intricate runic designs that resembled a snaked swallowing its own tail, followed by a hexagon as its crest. 
"The mark of Ouroboros and the Devil, as foretold by the ancient books of Kronos." He answered, and nodded briefly. "It is said that whoever gave you the power had more strength than any one in the world."
"That seal grants you the power to siphon the essence off the god realm directly, without a catalyst. Does it not?" He asked, reaffirming his supposed knowledge. 
"It is true." She nodded, "It has been many years since anybody has recognised my signet of authority. Though, I go by the name of Asura these days."
"The gods...Why are you intent on serving them?" He asked, "You know they're evil, you've seen them commit the atrocities."
"They..." She paused, wavering slightly before returning to her composure and elegance. "They unified the Forbidden Lands many millennia ago, and I was saved."
"Although," She commented, "You seem familiar. Your image resemble someone I owe a lot to."
"Who might that be?"
"He was somebody..." She returned, "I never got a chance to ask for his name, though."
"In any case, it is over." She answered, pointing her signet on her palm towards the mortal. "I request that you cease your rebellion and come with me to be tried."
"Find the ringleader and execute him on the spot..." He smiled, "That's roughly how it went, did it not?"
"Yes." She answered, tightening her fist as the signet shimmered with a mystical force. The force upon him felt as though there were millions of invisible hands, tugging and grabbing on to his body, vying for control. "I am sorry it had come to this. Perhaps we could meet again in less troubling circumstances and foster a friendship. We seem to have something in common, though I cannot really say what."
She closed her eyes gently, as the sword seal upon her surface of her hand glowed and his body cut and rend from side to side as blood splattered over the ground and upon her alluring visage. 
"Syn!" The elegant beauties called out toward him as they rushed over to him. 
"Ugh... I'm fine, stay away, she's dangerous." He gasped slightly, kneeling forth leg first to balance himself, further placing both hands against the ground. He peered up at her, and her power simply scattered itself into tiny particles that seeped into his vessel. "You don't have to do this, Asura!"
"I have a task I have to fulfil." She answered, "I just have to complete it."
"And what of the outcome?" He retorted, "What did they promise you? Riches? Fame? ...A dead lover...?"
"You don't know me!" She retorted loudly, swiping her palm against his cheeks, leaving a crimson mark of disdain. "
"I hit the right spot, didn't I?" He smirked, despite his petite and feminine frame drenched in his own blood. "It won't be granted."
"Shut up!" She demanded, rushing against his side as she attempted to strike his cheeks yet again, to which was promptly seized by his hands. "Let me go!"
"Listen to me." He returned, turning her hands to face him. "This seal is very special. It doesn't just absorb magic or grant you access to the God Magicka. Ancient texts have mentioned it to seal gods as well."
"It does not." She answered, "It only absorbs their power."
"Listen to me, you can defeat them!" He cried, pulling her collar aggressively to his angered face. 
She let out a brief squeal, before being able to refocus on the matter at hand—His retrieval or execution: Whichever came first. 
"I am restored to my original body." He answered, clutching his gaping wound in his abdominal area. "But there is just a single problem."
"I can only regain my energy by harvesting and leeching the souls of gods, who have access to the God Magicka." He added, releasing his breath, "Other than that, there is no other way to replenish my power."
"Why is that so?" She enquired, drawing her golden blade against his neck, demanding her answer. "Because my other half, has my power."
"I, his other half have only my wit, intellect and charisma to show for." He answered, "He on the other hand, has power and authority beyond mortal understanding." 
"He can create and destroy, but I am stuck in limbo with this body." He added, "My body may be weak, but it will not fall against a mere god. You however, are special... You managed to harm me. This has never happened before."
"Regardless, I will have to slay you." She retorted, lunging towards him as she brandished her blade in his presence. "No hard feelings!"
"No hard feelings." He smiled, stretching his arms out as he received her blade as it pierced his abdomen. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her closer, while the blade sank deeper in. 
Magic circles began manifesting itself on the blade, and upon his body, the blade glowed white hot, its essence pouring into his soul. "Thank you for the refill."
He released his grip as she swiftly pulled the blade out and leapt back a few steps, agitated. 
His wound sealed itself, and a mystical, shimmering force pulsated through his body. He felt his power multiply, his vessel enriched in god magic and energy. 
He swept his cyan fringe aside, revealing a set of deep crimson dyed eyes, exuding a certain aura of bloodlust within his soul. 
"I cannot let you kill me, not yet." She growled, her crimson eyes gazing into his in rebuttal. 
"But the man who gave this to you...is long dead." He answered, muttering into here are as she approached him.
"He is not!" She retorted, screaming a she tears flowed from her eyes, smashing her blade in front of him, only for him to catch the blade with his thumb and finger. 
"You've lived for thirty millennia, maybe more." He said, calmly lifting the blade towards her sides as she her hands began to quiver. "It's enough. The old gods betrayed you. For thirty thousand years they deceived you, and for thirty thousand more shall they continue to do so. Unless you learn to refuse."
"You've been doing their dirty work." He added, "Yet have they ever thanked you? Have they ever mentioned his resurrection? Have they ever fulfilled any of their promises?"
"Stop!" She cried, gripping firmly on her blade and pushing the sharp edge against his hands, as it bled, but was engulfed in holy light— He was injured but the recovery was ongoing, cutting him as soon as he recovered. 
"Calm down!" He cried, in turn swiping his finger on the blade and across the metallic end while magic streamed on to her body, rendering her unconscious as the magic flowed through her body. 

******* 8 Necessarius 
Chapter 8: Asura
The maiden with a full head of onyx dyed hair awoke, the sunlight peering around her through the white washed windows, greeting her in reverence. 
"You're awake." He smiled, scooping his arms against her back while he propped her up. "How are you?"
Without second thought, an angered palm streaked across his fair cheeks as a loud slap resounded against the walls. "You're a beast." She cried, "I misjudged you. You're no honourable knight."
"It also means that you aren't, either." He retorted, "When you're reminded of your lover you return to being a woman. Your emotions cloud your judgement and thinking. You're a danger to yourself and others. Though, I cannot exclude myself from this either." 
"You cannot lie to me." He answered, "I've had someone long ago. I saved her, and I was slain several millennia later. I gave up my source of immortality for her life."
"I guess I was too harsh in you..." She murmured silently, peering at her palms as she felt a sense of shame overcoming her for some strange and inexplicable reason. 
"I admire your fighting ability," He answered, smiling towards her in return as he extended his hand to her. "Won't you join me in my crusade against he gods?"
She sighed, before lying back on the bed and covered herself with the blanket. "I can't...not when I've spent so long in search for a way to resurrect him..."
"What was his name?" He asked, dragging the oak chair just before the bed. "I can help."
"I forgot." She returned, propping herself up once more, turning to him. "But you remind me a lot of him, although you have a different appearance."
She turned to his gentle cyan hair and slid her palm over it, as she brought it close as though she were examining his hair. "I was just a mortal then. A mortal girl." She answered, peering above. "He saved me, who stumbled upon the battlefield of the ancients on that fateful day...and perished."
"And there was no way to resurrect you," He said, finishing her sentence and smiled at her. "At least, not without a price."
"So he gave the part of him that generated his immortality and regeneration—Part of his soul." He added, gently closing his eyes, "I know of a soldier in my angelic militia who could possible have had the ability to do so. "My brother."
"Your...brother? She questioned, her tone rising as it piqued her interest. 
"I am Syn, and he was Ryn, we were originally one, both the good and the bad. But we were separated through death, and his purist acts are what drives him." Syn answered, "He was...an obedient son."
"But why did he..." She asked, before being interrupted by him. 
"He was an obedient son." He reiterated, pausing for a brief moment as he shut his eyes to recollect the past. "But that was all he was."
"But Eles is God." She retorted, pausing slightly as she was taken aback by his statement, "Surely his word is true all of the time."
"It is." He answered, "But the law also calls for grace and mercy. Even God relented and repented from his wrath, an example would include Jo'na of Gaia."
"But no," He sighed, his tone sinking deeper as he sighed further. "He does his duty without questioning, he kills in the name of justice, and he saves only the pure."
"No, I should not be telling you this," He said, realising the ramifications of his loose lips. "I cannot help you return to him."
"But if your brother was a fragment of you, and he saved me..." She paused to contemplate, "Would that not mean that you were also the one who saved me?"
"Yes, but that'a true, but also not completely true," Syn answered, "Okay let's frame it this way, I had two personalities. We fought for dominance over the other."
"So essentially," He added, "Whatever he did for you, I was either fairly ambivalent or rejected it."
"If that were really true, then he would be glad to see you." He presumed, turning his eyes to the left and all around with a wry smile, as he could not fathom what the vengeful entity would do to her. "But proceed with caution, for he seems...different. He might not see much in you, and we don't even know if the one who saved you was him. It's just my guess."
"Even if it is dangerous, I wish to meet him." She returned, gazing upon his effeminate visage. "If that's alright with you."
"Alright," He nodded, snapping his fingers, causing the environment around them to warp into one of pure light in the void. 
"I would have to say, that was rather brazen, brother. Even for you." The slightly masculine adolescent with a full head of cyan returned, as he greeted with the snide remark. 
"The fact that you acknowledge me as your brother already confers upon me a status as your equal." He retorted, smiling albeit wryly. "Asura believes that you saved her back when we were still one."
"Oh really," He snorted, manifesting a set of furniture into existence before crossing his legs by the side, leaning forward with his right arm supporting him. "Take a seat, both of you."
Syn shrugged, turning the chair around as he sat down, rocking the chair back and forth with its back rest to his front. 
"As usual," He sighed, "One without etiquette. I can't believe you could lead an army with that kind of attitude."
"And I can't believe you, Ryn of the Upper House, could gain this much strength where I could not." He retorted and rebutted in retaliation, his tone shifting upwards albeit slightly. "I need your help in reminiscing the events over the Great Uprising."
"What makes you think I'd tell you?" He smirked condescendingly towards him, "Not that I wish to our you in a bad light but, since when were you on bargaining terms with me?"
"That fact that you will do as I say," He returned slamming his hands upon the posh table as his eyes shifted to a purple and cyan heterochromic mix, "I command of it." 
"You will tell me of the event that has transpired in my absence." He demanded, "I don't wish to play bull-"
"Hah!" Ryn cried loudly as he burst into laughter. "You really thought that mind manipulation would work on me?"
"Was worth a shot." He jested, chuckling in a restrained manner. "Just cut the philosophy and give me the answer."
"I don't know either." Ryn answered, waving his finger on Syn's smooth cheeks. 
"Didn't you say that you hated me?" Syn retorted his actions in angst. 
"I do not." Ryn answered, withdrawing his hands. "I just don't approve of your actions. You will always be my sibling."
"Except that I'm the brother and you, the sister." He added, "After all, you kept deceiving those who loved you from the beginning."
"I didn't deceive them," The effeminate cyan haired youth smiled in his defence, "Something happened along the way...after I died. I became a girl, after all."
"Not like it's troublesome," He said, smiling the trouble away and turned to Asura. "Please don't tell Kael and Lynx. They'd be devastated."
"I won't."
"Please leave for now," Syn requested, lifted his finger once to warp her back, before turning back to Ryn. 
"You shamed me earlier. What should I do with you?" Ryn smirked, tapping on the table roughly. 
"I don't get what you mean..." He muttered, pacing a step back as his hands quivered in fear. 
"Oh come on now, don't pretend." He warned, pointing sternly towards him just as how a parent would lecture their child. "A punishment is in order."
"Undress yourself." He demanded, barking his commands at the hapless little girl before him. 
Syn turned towards his left, before undoing the dress, piece by piece, revealing a body that was bare and pure. 
"You're a smart girl, Syn," He smiled, stroking his long, silky cyan hair. "How I love your weakness and vulnerability."
"You provide others with hope," He added, grabbing at his chest, "But you are vulnerable yourself."
"You are not of justice," He returned, "Death and Justice is me and I am both. I am eternal, as is death."
"But you, Khaos dé Fati, Healer of the sick, Charisma, and blah blah blah." He chucked as he mocked his titles, "Are nothing. The more I slay, the more powerful I get. The more deaths, by me or not, I absorb their will, their powers, their fate— Their everything!"
"What do I desire?" He said, pre-emoting his next question. "I desire to possess your mind, your body and...your soul."
"You won't." Syn retorted loudly, "Your shadows will never devour me!"
"Insolent girl, it seems you know what you're capable of!" He yelled, slamming his hands upon the table as he grabbed Syn's shoulders. "We are not gods, but you have the Sacrament. But yours was only attained on your own. It will crumble."
"But you don't even have one." Syn retorted, turning away from him. 
"Alright, fine it seems we got off on the wrong foot." He chuckled, extending his right hand out to him. "I just want us to be one again, and you humiliating me in public is not helping."
"Alright, I apologise for that one," Syn smiled, "But I just didn't want you to hit Kael. I know she was wrong but it doesn't warrant that severe of a treatment."
"I guess..."
"Then I guess we're done for today, then." Syn concluded, before buttoning the last button on his raiment. "How was it?"
"How was what?"
"My body, brother." Syn reminded. 
"Oh uh..." Ryn blushed, turning to the left. "It was okay."
"You know I'm supposed to be the one embarrassed here..." Syn reminded, before exuding a wry smile. 
"Yeah, I know," Ryn returned, tugging against Syn's raiment as their lips interlocked in a brief fury of passion. 
"You're always so impatient!" Syn teased, resting the side of his head against Ryn's firm chest with his fingers probing against it. "I love you, brother."
"I love you too, Syn—Or rather, Serynael." He returned the greeting, "That has always been your name, has it not?"
"It has been, and still is, Rynathalos." The cyan haired maiden smiled in return, wrapping her arms around his waist for a warm embrace. "Make me yours...brother."
-------------------------------------
Back in the mansion...
"So Syn..." The flax haired maiden smiled at him, stroking her finger down his chest, twirling it around seductively as she gazed suggestively at him. "When are you going to have some fun with me?"
"We...we can't do that anymore." He answered, his head tilted the other side. "After all that happened...I just can't anymore..."
"Oh..." The beautiful maiden muttered, surprised although she already knew the answer. "I know apologies won't make it any better, but I was just thinking maybe we could have made up."
"It isn't your fault." He answered, "It's just that we...can't do it anymore."
"Truly," He added, pulling her in his warm embrace. "It's really got nothing to do with you."
"Then why!" She yelled, slamming her palms against the sturdy wooden table. 
"If I tell you...will you promise not to judge me?" He pleaded, gazing hopelessly at her as he darted around, avoiding direct contact with her eyes. 
"You know that I would love you no matter what." She answered. 
"I... I have fallen in love with my brother." Syn admitted, "And we delved into a realm that should not have been even considered."
"You...entered a passionate relationship with your brother, while knowing full well you had an angel and a demoness waiting for you?" Lynx asked, as her tone elevated a notch, clenching her hands right against the table until it began to crackle, a narrow stream of crimson liquid flowing from her palms. 
"I also have another matter I wish to tell you," He answered, gently manoeuvring her blood stained wrists on to his chest. 
A slight lump was felt, and she clasped her hands gently to grope around his chest as a seductive squeal escaped from his glossy effeminate lips. "I'm sorry...Lynx."
"You could have just told me, you know?" Lynx sighed, chuckling as a wry smile was plastered over her visage. "I would still have accepted you."
"You would?" Syn asked, raising his head as he heard the unexpected, and was ecstatic. "I love you, you know."
"I know, which is why I've been with you since the beginning." She smiled, sneaking a peck up his lips. "It's alright, we'll get to deal with the matter soon. I won't tell Kael, don't worry."
"Thank you, Lynx. You're really an angel." He smiled, nudging her back closer to his face one more. 
"But wait," She interrupted him, "Being a girl doesn't mean we can't have fun, does it?"
"But I'm a girl, what can I do?" He asked.
"I can be...creative," She smirked, suppressing an inner laughter she tried desperately not to release in his presence. "We'll begin some other time then."
"But for now, get some sleep." She requested, before rolling to her side of her bed in her frilled, silky royal pajamas where Kael had been lying on. 
"Why can't you be more open to me..." The cyan haired maiden with half opened eyes of azure shade murmured under her breath, turning further to her side. "Stupid Syn."
-------------------------------------
In the Oneirealm...
The cyan haired beauty gazed upon two individuals over the grassy plains. To his left, he looked upon the visage of a cyan haired man clasping his hands together as his lips moved, unable to make out the exact words. But in that instant, the veil that cloaked the other realms began to tear, the skies split open as the heavenly bodies began to descend, of stars in the cosmos. 
One by one the stars descended, crashing deep against the planet's surface, as the gargantuan entities streamed across the star clustered sky before ending off in an explosion that devoured the entire field of vision in light and flames, leaving the fields charred as far as his eye could see. 
To his right, he gazed at an entity whose body and flesh were of the burning shadows themselves. Her body seeped the dark, shadowy magic whose miasma permeated the fields, shrouding her in a field of tainted death that even Syn himself gazed upon in horror. 
The cyan haired beauty shrouded in darkness, her hair swaying with its azure shine even in its darkness of despair. 
She chanted her spell, but what came out was an envisionment of pure death itself, to which it began to spread and corrupt the fields around her. As she lay her head to rest, the galaxies that hovered above her warped itself in madness, as the heavenly bodies drowned in pandemonium of its own warped nature. Lightning struck even within the heavens above, and the nebulas became a visible black with the chaotic shade of orange to exude its own bedlam of emotions. 
Then from the heavens a zephyr blew as it smirked sadistically upon the hapless denizens of the realm, before smiting then with its fury of thunderbolts and apocalyptic genesis that spawned malevolent spirits, clawing their way through the world. Then, in a final burst, the heavens above erupted in fury as pillars of flames began to smite the world in its wrath. 
She raised her head, with her graceful hair covering her sinister smile from her body as the crimson life began to flow from her flesh. 
"Who...are you?" He shouted across the horizon. "What are you?"
Silence ensued. 
She soon turned her graceful visage at him, albeit distorted as blood flooded her eyes, and her mouth soaked in her life. Yet a serene presence emanated from her being as she stood, staring condescendingly into his eyes. "Don't you recognize this face? Don't you recognize...your voice? Don't you feel like denying yourself?"
"I've always been within you, buried deep inside you. Sleeping. Dwelling. Waiting..." She added, as she hissed the last word. Her eyes bloody, yet tearing, it had truly reflected a madness that transcended hopelessness; She had the intention to kill, and she was tainted, but she also bore an unmatched grace in her eyes that somehow, seemed to wish to be saved from her own defilement. 
"I am you, Syn." The disfigured apparition chuckled sinister, her lips uttering words of taint of lustful venom as it revealed her fanged teeth. "You will become like this as you delve too deep into the God stream. Your powers to negate come at a price, and when that time it up..."
"It matters not how long you resist," She hissed, reaching her palm out to reveal a set of intricate runic symbols on it, which reflected her chaotic nature through the infinite loop of serpentine symbols. "You will always give in. It's only a matter of time."
"What are you?" Syn retorted, "How did I become this...this monster!"
"You tapped into the Well of Chaos, instead of the Font of Purity. You absorbed Godly powers, and within it shared the taint of the tainted Gods. You fell from grace, and you became a devil yet again."
"That may be so," Syn nodded, yet pointing his finger at her all the same. "But I know that you too, wish to receive salvation. I see it in your eyes."
"So what if I did?" She retorted with a sudden spike in tone. "I will never be redeemed for I am beyond corruption. I am the epitome of defilement!"
"You believed dad, didn't you?" He reminded her, "If you believed dad when he said that no sin was too great, would you still reject forgiveness?"
"I'm not rejecting salvation!" She yelled, her screams echoing in the distance as deranged banshee echoes. 
"You are!" Syn cried, "You wish for forgiveness, but you refuse to accept it because you can't forgive yourself, even when father has already forgiven you!"
"I..." She muttered, as her tears of blood mixed tears became a glistening pure stream once more, flowing gently down her once more lustrous visage. "That's right... It was because... I felt that even I disgusted myself...I was filthy."
Within that instant, her skin once again tightened with overflowing youth and vigor, her eyes ceased its crimson dwelling. 
"Thou art truly Syn." She smiled, tugging his back as she brought his face closer to her bosom. "Thou art Syn, just as I am thee."
"I bequeath you my power," She smiled, "I relinquish everything to you, and I shall become but a mortal."
"Use the power well," She added, "Do not give in to your own inner desires, your carnal affections towards your brother will be your downfall."
She gripped his hand with her own, pressing tightly as her seal on her palm burned itself against Syn's flesh, emanating a hot flame of shadows. 
Soon, the world flashed a bright white as the light seeped into his closed eyes. He awoke, and gazed upon his right hand, finding a scorched insignia upon his palms as they remained searing hot but was strangely accompanied with a sensation of pure serenity rather than pain. His first instinct: To eliminate and eradicate all of the gods to walk Zïrnir. 
He ran out the mansion, leaping towards its roof as he chanted the words that resounded within the depths of his mind as he began a weird ritualistic stances hat began with his kneeling over one leg, as two fingers pointed towards the heavens. 
'Nebulus Ignis Khaos, Divinity Dein Igmor Zarak!'
The skies once clear as day, split open as lightning hammered itself into the fabric of existence within the realm in favor of the heavenly bodies that accompanied its arrival. The nebula was of pure shadows, with a bright tinge of orange as lightning stormed the world of Albion. "Do not strike Asura." He commanded toward the heavens. 
Comets began to hail and assault the castle of the gods, striking most of them as they stood, into the realm of death as they had never seen before. The scale of assault was unprecedented, for none of the present moment was capable of such feats as the new Syn was able to pull off. 
Its mortal denizens cowered for shelter, but as soon as their eyes met the lustrous beauty in all her beauty, they paused. They had no reason to fear, for everyone had trusted Syn. He had been their savior, and they were all too willing to give up their lives for his survival.
They watched. The fiery comets of justice, and the lightning of judgement striking the tower in fury, as it seemed to castigate the gods of their actions, to which it destruction bellowed its zealous wrath. 
"The pride of Zïrnir has arrived!" The citizens hailed in unison, "He has come to crush the tyranny of the gods!"
Then, without much ado, the final judgement came into play— The realms segmented itself into multiple layers, as they all overlapped as a bright flame stormed through the realms as though the portal openings had been a funnel to channel its wrath right on the heads of the gods. The fiery pillar slammed against the castle, scorching and annihilating all its residents to nothing but ashes that scattered in the wind. Its flaming genesis had been the beginning, but also its end. The life that was known before had ceased, and faded into the shadows. 
It was then that the noble hero ceased his ritualistic stance, with two fingers of his right hand faced up as his other hand pointed to the heavens. 
That day, a hundred gods perished before the mortals, without a hint of discernible trace. 
He looked upon the destruction that he brought about, and within the rubble a single hand pushed the debris out of the ashes of the gods. She cleared aside the rubble, arising from the flames with her deep onyx hair fluttering in the wind. 
His own wings glowed black, as miasma began pouring out to reveal a pair of untainted wings as the taint began to shake off like flakes in the snow. 
He leapt off and beat his wings in swiftness, reaching for her hand to lift her up high into the vast sky. 
The crowds cheered as he lifted the beautiful maiden towards the mansion. "How are you?" He asked, smiling upon her surprisingly dust devoid visage.
"I'll trust you to find my lover," She returned, "In exchange I'll provide you with as much essence you need."
"It's a sad love story," He commented, stroking her hair as it fluttered gracefully on the wind. "We should be reaching the mansion soon."
Shortly after, a gale blew past them. The cyan haired maiden paused at her tracks, fluttering her wings, suspended in the air. 
The vision of another cyan haired entity manifested itself through the wind, and began corporealising his appearance into reality as each part became more real. 
"Brother." 
"Sister," He greeted, "You know that despite my love for you, what you just did was an obstruction of balance in the world."
"I fully recognize that," Syn returned, "But I still intend on intervening despite the consequences."
"You had that vision too, did you not?"
"As did I, brother," He answered, "As did I."
"If you intend to fight," He added, landing upon the balcony of one of the houses in the streets, letting Asura down before fluttering his wings back to his presence. "I shall fight."
As he made his stand, a blade materialised into his hand. Its hilt was adorned with gems of deep cyan, its guard vastly circular with an arm guard and a blade that was firm and silvery in nature. 
"No," Ryn returned, his posture remaining ever steadfast in its glory. "It was justice. Despite what you may have done."
"Still, brother..." Syn rebutted, "Even father relents, sometimes."
"I know, Syn." He answered, "But you know how rules are rules. The gods created havoc, and you put an end to it."
"It deserves to be sung in odes, told for generations," He added, shrugging slightly, "Yet it wouldn't satisfy you because you knew that in vanquishing the evil, you committed a greater evil. Yet that evil is not evil, but justice. Rejoice, sister. "
"You have a warped sense of justice." Syn remarked, gritting his teeth. "Yet I cannot say that you are entirely wrong, either."
"Because I am right, and it is the truth." Ryn asserted firmly, tightening his fist further. 
"But you do not have mercy." Syn returned, "By the law of God, all sinners will be judged, but you forget. We are also saved by mercy, from the wrath of God."
"What happened here was my own doing, but it could not be avoided." He added, peering at the marking on his palms, "Yet it should not be an excuse to pardon me from my wrongdoings."
"I shall pierce my heart," Syn declared in his resolve, readying his blade to his heart. "One pierce for every life lost. I won't die, don't worry."
The celestially graced maiden closed her eyes slowly, drawing a deep breath before pulling her blade into her heart. Yet the blade was unable to pierce her flesh— It deflected from her flesh, as though it were coated with a layer of steel. "Mercy, huh."
"No, it was because you were of righteous heart!" Ryn cried, "The heart of the righteous will deflect the blows of unjust punishment— It was justice, sister!"
"You are my brother, surely you could understand how I feel, hearing you utter such an untruth!" Syn cried, as pearls of sadness began streaming from her weary eyes. "I am just as corrupt, if not more corrupt than any one else in existence. You know that!"
Ryn peered to the crowd below, as they gazed at a tearful Syn. 
"What do you mean by sister, when you addressed him?" The crowd members questioned, roaring their questions in the air. 
"I addressed her as sister, because sister is an appropriate definition of a female sibling." Ryn answered, "Or did she not tell you?"
"Y-You mean to say that Syn is not a man, but a woman?" They asked, echoing back at Ryn. 
"Yes." He returned, nodding his head, "But woman or not, she saved all of you."
"A woman bearing such a weight of the world..." The sympathetic crowd murmured amongst themselves, awed at her dedication towards her people. 
"Then we would make her a Queen with the authority of the King" The crowd suggested, mostly in unanimity.
"I am sorry..." Syn muttered crashing to the ground as she had halted her ability of flight, her knee scraped against the cobbled pathway. "But I have been deceiving all of you from the start."
"She has not." Ryn intervened, "She was biologically a man, that is, until her death. She just hasn't mentioned it since her return yesterday."
"And also," He added, "We were originally a single entity. I was released on her death."
"Come, sister." Ryn murmured sweetly to her ear as he dove in for a kiss, "We shall return, and have those legs sorted out."
"Okay, brother." She smiled, her hands leaning upon his cheeks, "I am also out of mana, could you ask for Asura's help too?"
"Will do, sister."
-------------------------------------
Back in the mansion...
'What is the nature of the relationship with your brother, Syn!' The cyan haired maiden with eyes of bright lazuli colour slammed her hands against the table. 
"It's complicated," Syn answered, "I don't know how to explain."
"Try me."
"Well... I see my brother as an opposing entity. I don't agree with his beliefs, and I dislike him." She answered, "But beneath that, he's also a friend, a brother and a lover. While I do dislike him, that does not stop me from falling in love with him."
"Hold that thought." Asuka requested, placing her hand over Syn's mouth, the bluish divine energy rushing through her throat to the rest of her body. Slowly, segments of her body began to exude a white fiery aura that was almost ethereal. "This must be two-hundredth cycle I am going through, just to replenish the mana you used in that attack."
"Sorry for the inconvenience." Syn giggled, "That power must take you two hundred times over your Godly Magicka limit to utilise."
"Yeah." She answered, sweeping her lush, black hair aside. "How do you think I felt when you absorbed my Magicka? It was almost as though you were trying to steal my soul!"
"My bad!" Syn giggled once more, pouncing on her for a bear hug. "I will aid you in resurrecting your loved one. I will take responsibility for you, do not worry. But in exchange I need you to be more explicit in your description of him."
"He had the visage of angels," She returned, as her eyes closed gently, tears streaming down her lustrous visage. "The Old Gods were cut down by him." 
"That makes it easier then." Syn smirked, holding a victory sign over Asura. 
'Codex of The Past: Reveal thyself!'
The cyan haired maiden smiled, as a great book materialised into existence, as the pages rolled themselves back swiftly...until the visage of a man with black hair posed itself on the page to the left, and the portrait of the man slaying beings that wore armour resembling Gods in Norse mythology. 
"Was he the man?" Syn asked, pointing toward the portrait. "Was he the one who saved you that fateful day?"
She paused, gazing upon the man. His raiment of darkness, skulls hovering around his body, the armour blazing its full fury upon her that incapacitate her movements. 
"He...He was the man who saved my life!" She exclaimed, regaining her movements at that moment, slamming her hands against the furnished wooden table. "Wait...did he have the crystal on his neck?" She asked, releasing her battle scarf to reveal a white crystalline necklace. It illuminated fiercely, the essence within the crystal swirled around. The holy energies were retained, and her necklace burned with a white hot flame. "He said this would help me recognise him, or someone that had his power."
"How so?" Syn queried, reaching over to hold the necklace on her palms. But the necklace vibrated with tremendous force, the crystals itself shattering from the vibrations. "This energy feels so familiar...so...nostalgic..."
"Syn, you really do not remember?" Lynx asked, sighing albeit slightly. She teared, smiling at him. Yet beneath the elated expression, Syn knew that Lynx was pushing a front she was unable to sustain. 
"What happened in the aeons I was absent?" 
"Your power for each time you were slain..." She muttered, sniffling in an attempt to suppress her feelings. "The four spirals were...all of your power. For each of the ages that were significant to you."
"The Age of Man, the sphere of hatred in black, glowing an ominous purple." She answered, "The Age of War: The sphere of tyranny soaked in red, dyed with the blood of the world. The Age of Enlightenment: The sphere of rebirth, burning with a holy white flame. The Age of Reckoning: The sphere of grey, the bleakness of your life knowing that you will be slain by Eles' champions."
"These were your realisations." She answered, "That you would be ultimately slain, no matter what you did. You renounce your hatred for the world, for everything you used to stand for. You lost your power but you gained one thing that you never regretted receiving in return: A precious friend."
"Leon..." The lovers murmured together. "I have your memory, I remember everything, Syn. Everything."
"Yet I still live..." Syn muttered, her breath releasing itself in resignation. "I remember now..."
"All I ever stood for...was within me all along." She exclaimed, the tears flowing along. "Mercy...Because I was shown mercy...I am alive."
She tightened her fist. "Then he has no reason to deny that mercy does not apply to us!"
Then they cringed. 
Storm clouds hurried in place, reigning high over the mansion and the entire country. The world froze in place as the citizens of Zïrnir stared at the clouds in reckoning. Then the world's foundations began to quake, and they ran for cover amidst the panic. Thunder claps resounded from the skies, as though they were hailing the presence of an omnipotent being. 
Then a brief flash engulfed the area, and in its presence, a boy who looked no older than twelve appeared before them. He had a red heart symbol drawn under his eye with a cap on his head, sporting a head of brown hair. 
'Ah! Just in time!' He cried. 
"Leon." Syn greeted, standing her ground. "How have you been?"
"Not as hyped as I thought it could have been, really." He returned, flipping upside down, he remained that way as he suspended himself in mid air. "Being the King of the Corrupted Lifestream isn't fun at all!"
"Anyway, my parents told me to give this back to you," He answered, rummaging his pockets for the ornate casing he had on his person. "Thanks for saving me back then...from Sarkos."
"What happened back then?" Syn asked, "Last I remembered...I died trying to save you."
"You were reborn." Leon returned, "Eles gave you another chance, as a mortal. Well, you were one."
"Were?" She probed, "What does the mean?"
"You're now a mortal with exceptionally strong powers." He answered, tilting his head to the left slightly. "Didn't you know?"
"Well I did notice the sizeable difference in power after I 'awoke', so yes." She returned, nodding her head once before slapping his head hard against the back. "Oh and I just remembered that you were quite a jackass to Sora, so there's that!"
"Meh."
"Anyway, thanks for saving me that day." He answered, "You really put a dent on that good and evil clash cliche, when showing that evil can become good and save the hero. Haha."
"Oh and I also found Asura's lineage for you." Leon said, "She's a high elf, a direct heir to the King of Ithinar."
"Of course, it's in a different realm, but on a realm similar to Albion."
"You should not have a problem getting through the vortex." He added, twirling his fingers in mid air. "But then you'd have to convince them that she is. Take this."
He tossed them a crown, adorned with jewels and a lustrous shine that seemed to slightly bewitch even Syn herself. "The long-lost elven crown of Ithinar. They will have to believe you then."
"The crown has its own charisma," He noted, pointing to Syn, "It empowers the king with charisma to influence the masses. Even powerful beings like Syn."
"I'm sorry, it's just that there's this attraction between me and the crown somehow." She answered, breaking off a piece of her scarcely crystalline skin. The beauty pointed the crystal towards the crown, to which it glowed brightly, while the crystalline shard from Syn's visage vibrated tremendously. "Well, that's interesting, the crown seems to be made from my crystals."
"That's because the crown is made of your crystals." Leon answered, pointing to the gems within the crown itself. "You gave King Ariyanwyn II the crown as a means to subjugate the lesser races."
"Come to think of it," He added, shrugging slightly, "Almost all of the world's conflicts began because of you."
"Well I do admit I was catalyst that fuelled conflict." She murmured, "But you can't blame me! It was mostly the agency of the mortals that even placed conflict on the table!"
"The High Elves were going to be wiped out for not having sustainability in their population size and technological capabilities!" She argued, slamming her hands on the posh table. "I just wanted them to take back their lands. That, and I had no idea the crown with my crystals embedded in it could affect anything that much."
"In any case, please go." Leon requested, urging them to explore the elven lands deep in the Old Realm. "Ever since the Fifth War, the world 'imploded' to a small area in heart of the True World."
"True World?" Asura questioned, pointing to the old and dusty map that was hung on the wall. "But that is the world map."
"No," He answered, pointing to the exact same map. "That's your realm, which is a part of the world. The world is much larger than that. Let's say you observed a middle sized lake with many pockets of lands in between. Those pockets of land would be your countries and the lake itself, your 'world'. But then where does that make your true 'world'?"
"There are truths out there, Syn..." He added, turning to her astonished visage. "That are so horrifying...you should not pry. Even as you are now, you are a mere simulacrum of your former self. If you think you're really that powerful, you are not."
"Then what do I-"
"As I said, you are a mere simulacrum of your former self." He reiterated his point, before adding, "Find your real body first, then return to it. It matters not if your twin wishes to be in it or not, but if he does, it would be better."
"You dominated almost the entirety of the outer lands, Syn." Lynx added, "You were hailed as the greatest. A conquerer."
"I was a conquerer...?" Syn stopped, repeating the same words in her mind. Almost as though her memory returned, she looked up in a visage that knew enlightenment. Her body began to lose its corporeality, and her physical manifestation flickered between the veil of existence for a few moments. 
"So it was true..." Leon commented, "The real Lark is somewhere else. In this word."
"When I heard that you used your body as a catalyst for a death seal, I shuddered to believe," He looked down, his voice assuming an elegiac tone. "Find your body. Please. As a friend. As a rival."
"Then what am I!" She exclaimed, her tone quickly rushing to condemn him. "I don't exist? I'm just, something that doesn't exist?"
"You are an aspect of Lark." He answered, "His passionate, yet serpentine nature. The rest of you, too. All the people he once saved. All of you are an aspect of his existence."
"That means I don't..."
"You exist." He affirmed, clasping both her hands together. "You who were originally whole, is Lark's existence. His soul, as is your brother."
"They are an aspect of Lark too," He added, turning from left to right across the room. "Lynx is his emotions. Asura is his persistence. Ryn assumes his stoic sense of justice. As for Kael and Nemael, they are his fallen divinity."
"Enjoy the new realm, Lark." Leon smiled, before a thunderous roar engulfed the air in its cries, causing the King of the Corrupt Lifestream to vanish. 
"We can't go." Lynx said, "The more you find, the easier it is for you to disappear."
"We can." Syn rebutted, "I'll beat it, somehow. I won't disappear."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." Lynx returned, as her tone rose higher against Syn. "You promised us you would be fine the other time. We trusted you, and you failed to keep your promise."
"That was unexpected."
"Yeah, and I didn't expect you to die on us." Lynx cried, swiping her hand across Syn's cheeks. "Okay I'm sorry that was just reflex."
"It's fine..." Syn answered, plopping back to her chair. Her tears steamed down her beautiful visage, but she remained still. "I wish for my memory, Lynx. I know that even you do not truly have my memories, nor Lark's for that matter."
"What are you sayin," She smiled, "Of course I know-"
"No. You do not." Syn returned, her resolve firm and dead set, tightened her fist. "You're relying on your memories as an angel to see what you saw."
"What? That's impossible-"
"Then explain to me how you did not know Leon personally." Syn asked, propping her hand up for her head to rest upon her hand. 
"What did I do that gave it away?" Lynx asked, chuckling in vile hilarity. 
"The question shouldn't have been what you did. It's what you didn't do." Syn smiled, observing her overtly astonished visage. "If you truly had my memories, you would have welcomed him."
"In any case, it does not matter." She returned, flicking her deep, lustrous cyan hair against the wind. "I love you all the same."
"I sense that Quintus and the others are in the shadow realm." Syn added, extending her right arm over an empty space. 
"Yes. They are guarding our territories from the shadows." Lynx answered, "It's a magic I granted them that even the gods themselves know not of."
"Those little miracles. The extra food, the spare change on the counter." She suggested, "They were not by coincidence."
"Indeed." A staunch, masculine voice reverberated against the walls, greeting her ears to much content. 
"Quintus, I am glad you are alright." She exclaimed, rushing over to him. "What of the rest, did anybody come to pass during my absence?"
"No." The general in armour of gold returned, gripping Syn by her shoulders. "It was thanks to Lynx's strategic planning that allowed for us to stay concealed."
"She believe so much that you were going to return that she mobilised all of our efforts on the day you disappeared."
"Yes. I am back now." She answered, "I am exactly as I should be. Stronger than ever."
"Syn, you are one big weakness." Asura rebutted, tapping her index finger against the sturdy table. 
"What do you mean?" She asked, as she raised her brow, visibly taken aback by the assertion. 
"You are unable to recharge your own powers, and you expend huge reservoirs of mana with every spell." She answered, "We won't have the time to recharge your power during a battle."
"I think I've got that covered." Syn smiled, drawing her right hand out. She slipped a pointy knife from her pocket, scraping against her flesh lightly. She moved to Asura, swiping the knife against her palms. 
"Ouch!" The onyx haired girl squealed in pain. "What was that for!"
Syn clasped her open wound together with Asura's hands, and an incantation circle was made manifest around them, glowing in a holy white aura. Their blood seeped out through the gaps of their hands, drop by drop, the crimson life fell escaped to the floor, the circle shimmering brightly as the magical force repelled those outside the circle in a short burst of energy. 
"Now I can draw energy any time I need to." She answered, "Problem solved."
She nodded, as a great set of dark feathered wings unfurled itself slowly mid way, before swiftly expanding with a flutter. Her feathers spread apart, and the magical energy from the air seeped into her wings. 
"The blood unison ritual." Syn said, "We are now bonded through blood, and from blood we live, from blood we perish. You powers now rival my own, but you are limited by your own elven body of a mortal."
"That also means I have to protect you." Syn added, "Because if anything untoward happened to you, I would be affected as well."
"Ah. I haven't told you any of you my real name, have I?" Syn remembered, turning to face the maidens. 
"Syn isn't your real name?" Lynx asked. 
"Of course it isn't, who names themselves 'Syn'? It doesn't even make sense." She answered, pausing for a brief moment. "My real name is Serynael."
"I don't get it. Why didn't you just tell us earlier? There's no harm in doing that." Lynx said, "Plus, I doubt you knew your name from the start, because from the way you conducted yourself back then, you're either a very good liar,nor that even you yourself didn't know."
"Ahaha..." She chuckled, having being exposed, stroked her soft cyan hair downwards gently. "So you found out. Yes I just found out recently, after I revived, there was this knowledge of myself, burning beyond the depths of my mind."
"In any case, say my name." Serynael smiled, tilting her head to the left as a zephyr blew gently past the windows of the mansion, her lustrous cyan hair dancing in the wind. 
"Serynael." Lynx called. Then, from her core a light emerged, shimmering brightly against the room. Syn in turn, slipped her hand into the core and with a firm grip, removed a sharp object that glowed with a burning holy fire. The object in question revealed a sharp blade, its edges in perfect symmetry while its hilt emitted a pure, ethereal white glow about it. The central piece yet, was hollow as it was replaced with a crystal. 
"So that's you're true nature..." Syn observed, groping around the blade for its sharpness. "Your blade...the central piece is replaced with a heart of fortitude and loyalty. Your exterior...you are willing to slay anyone who opposes that ideal."
"How...how did you know?" Lynx cried, as tears streamed down her glorious visage. "You've been acting behind the scenes for me... And to think I swore never to worry you enough to do that anymore."
"When you call upon my name, you are allowing me to draw upon your entire being to manifest as a weapon." Syn explained, "It's essentially a copy of your entire self, manifested as a weapon- so that means that even if it breaks it's fine. Because it's a copy I made."
"But there are two drawbacks to this." Syn added, "The first is that whenever I'm using the soul weapons, I'm unable to circulate magic to protect my own divinity. This means that if I'm killed while using this, that's it. The second is that I cannot use any form of godly energy when focusing my energy on this."
"So this ability is one big drawback because it renders you mortal, and you can't use magic while using it?" Kael asked, "What's the use of it then?"
"The use..." Syn smirked, as though she had been waiting for the question to be asked. Syn raised the sword face down with the hilt face up and the sword began to emit a purple alluring glow. Shortly after, a piece of reality seemed to fragment itself, almost as though it were glass. "Reality shift, bending of reality, illusion shatterer...you name it."
"So your blades you conjure...they defy the laws of the world?" Asura asked, "I suppose they also differ greatly from person to person, according to their own special traits."
Syn paused, staring blankly at her for but a moment, before breaking out into an effeminate laughter. "How very observant!" Syn exclaimed, chuckling at Asura's keen insight. "As I mentioned, I'm removing a minute sample of your mana, which contains your personality and emotions. The ability of the sword is decided by your mana, even if it may be ridiculous, it would manifest because my divinity would nullify all effects of reality that bind it."
"So why don't you just use your own divinity to cancel out reality on yourself?" Kael probed, "I mean, wouldn't that be better than channelling your divinity somewhere else?"
"I require a conduit to do so, and I cannot use conduits that are forged from reality." She answered, "Thoughts and mana, emotions...they're intangible. Mana is not of this world, and nothing in reality can directly affect the way you feel, as in control your thoughts and feelings directly."
"Other than that," Syn added, "Only Lark's full body is able to that, and it still requires a special conduit as well— The Ley Lines of Blezt."
"That doesn't sound like a weapon." Nemael interrupted, before lifting his tea cup to sip the freshly brewed and aromatic lavender tea, with its purple touch to uplift one's visual senses. 
"It isn't." Syn returned, "They're markers of sorts. I need to be within the markers' locations such that the area would be void of reality. Of course, it also means that everyone within the circle would receive such power as well."
"Wait, you meant markers, as in plural?" Nemael asked, upon his sudden realization. 
"They're scattered." Syn answered, "But now that our dear friend Leon told us that there were lands outside our current known location...I suppose it'd be more of a pain for us to locate now."
"Regardless," She added, "We still need at least one of those conduits, to prevent them from ever being complete, lest it falls into the hands of the wrong person. No rush though."
"Still, there's the matter of your brother, Rynathalos." Lynx said. 
"What about him?"
"If what Leon said was true, then he's also an important aspect of Lark." She said, "Shouldn't it be in our best interests to secure his aid first?"
"It's fine, he's a lone wolf anyway." She shrugged, turning to Quintus. "General, I understand that the Outer Lands are unexplored territory. This is why this time, I am issuing an order explicitly for the army to remain within Zïrnir, to secure security interests while we're gone."
"If that is your command, my liege, then it shall be done." Quintus nodded, "But if you are giving the order on the grounds of your fears of my men being slain, then I would have to say that you think lightly of our forces. An army is meant to be put on the battlefield. For conquest."
"I do not think lightly of the Immortal Army." Syn rebutted, "But I fear that the growing Empire of Ura might attempt something when I'm gone, and I need someone to rise to the occasion to defend Zïrnir and its hundred continents."
"Which is why," She peered deeply into his eyes, gripping his left shoulder. "I need competent people like the you and the army to manage the affairs of the state. A hundred continents to a thousand men is not possible. But, recognise the strengths of you and your men. In light of this, I assigned you to the rather impossible fear."
Hearing her, the general knelt on one foot swiftly and instantaneously with his head bowed over, "I apologise for doubting you, my liege."
"No offence taken, do not be concerned." Syn murmured, offering her hand to him. "We are friends after all."
"No, allow us to make preparations for the trip to the Outer Lands." Syn announced, sliding her hands up the hilt of her blade. 
-------------------------------------
On Rynathalos' (Ryn) side...
The youthful, silver haired female brushed her hair aside, revealing a dress as white as snow. It had intricate lines that revealed little of her chest, while the length of the dress was to her thighs, allowing greater mobility for enhanced speed. 
"Alright, you defeated me." She sighed, resting gently on the velvet cushions. "So what was that favour you wanted of me?"
"Your enslavement to me." He answered, tapping against the table by the side. 
"You're kidding." She paused, chuckling sceptically. "You used my weakness against me."
"Isn't that every woman's weakness?" He asked, raising his left brow. "After all, you're still a woman. As is my sister."
"So, what's your interpretation of enslavement?" She asked, expressing a bored look on her face. 
"As my slave you are expected to by my side." He answered, standing up from his position. "You are expected to be someone I can talk to, someone who would help me and look out for me when I'm in trouble."
"So you want me to be your friend..." She smiled sarcastically, chuckling yet again by the side. "You're...quite lonely aren't you."
"As are you." The cyan haired boy returned, "I cannot imagine anybody rendering their aid to some one who betrayed the gods. You are after all, the Fallen, Goddess of War, Eres." 
"Yeah, yeah. That's old news." She giggled, "I still can't believe that a mere illusion could distract me, even for that split second."
"You haven't lost your touch, Eres." The cyan haired boy reassured, "You already lost from the beginning."
"I see you're quite prideful about your triumph over me, Rynathalos." She returned, "All you did was tell me your name."
"And that was how I was able to hinge on that to draw out your being to fool yourself." He answered, clapping his hands once as a rosary slid down from the chains with his last finger hooking the chains in place. "This is you, Eres."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Watch." He smirked, and in her vision, the world seemed to shatter piece by piece, her body sliced in half and flames washing over her eyes, and burning them. The heat was intense, and when she opened her eyes once more, all was gone. The pain had vanished. 
"Wha...What was that?" She cried, swiftly rushing against him for a hug, having seen death for the first time in her aeons walking the worlds. 
"It is your character; your personality." He answered, "I can manipulate them by flowing my divine aura to that incorporeal entity. Then I shape it to its will, denying all restrictions that reality places on it."
"I am able to use it at a greater skill than my sister," He added, releasing the rosary as it vanished before it kissed the floor. 
"So are you saying that I'm delusional, that my personality is self-deception?" She asked, swiping her hand over his gleaming visage that was markedly similar to Syn's. "You really know now to insult a woman don't you!"
"I do not make the weapons." He answered, "I give them shape according to how they're meant to look. You could even say that my power is to 'paint' the mana with my divinity."
"Yet again, it is a question you must ask your, Eres." He added, "I cannot answer your question. Only you can. Besides, I'm not good with words, neither am I good with interpreting anything at all. That's a trade off I paid for my superiority over Syn. My charisma is also as good as zero."
"I would say. You're just tactless." She exclaimed, chiding him for his inability to comprehend her feelings. "But you aren't such a bad person, I feel..."
"I am on the side of justice." He answered, gripping her more tightly. "I am justice itself, and it will judge all that are unjust."
"Causing a rebellion amongst the gods has left you hunted by the main group." He answered, "That was justice. You rebelled against your superiors. That was your punishment."
"But you should know what they-"
"I do." He returned, his expression change to reflect a stern look upon his visage. "Judgement is dispensed to those who flout the law. There are some instances where judgement is not meted out. That is where I come in."
"Nonetheless, you still disobeyed. That is why you're here, in your state, my friend." He explained, touching her soft and smooth, pale lips before standing up, allowing for her to regain her composure before setting her straight up, standing.
"You're right...Ryn." She admitted, "I am self-deceiving. I wanted to stand on my own two feet. I wanted to show the gods that I could be that lone wolf. I was someone I was not." She teared as glistening pearls that reflected the sun's rays fell to the floor, before chuckling at her own foolishness. "Was what wrong? I may be a woman but I have my pride too!"
"Pride seeks to destroy those that refuse to seek help, Eres." He answered, stroking her glistening silver hair slowly by her side. "It doesn't help when you don't ask for help."
"You need friends to confide in, perhaps even a lover." He answered, "One that you would rely on when you are in great difficulty."
"In that case I will rely on you from now on, as you are the first person to ever pay any interest to me." She returned, chuckling, "You are both my first love, and a pillar of support to me."
"Use it once more." She requested, holding his hands. "Rynathalos."
He clapped his hands again, and in that instant a flame engulfed his hands. He moved his hands apart further, and the blade was silvery, yet engulfed with bright flames, with a guardless middle. The hilt was long, for the blade was heavy and two handed, yet the hilt's end also spawned another blade of a darker shade. 
In that instant, he gripped the blade, and the other blade with the darker shade vanished, effectively rendering the blade a two handed bladed. As he willed it, the other blade manifested once more into existence, and he postured his stance to that of an archer. He pulled back his right hand as if releasing an arrow, and the strings also materialised, glowing purple with an unfamiliar energy as the arrow took shape as well. 
"Infernis!" He cried, and a void blurred itself into reality as he released the arrow. The arrow was released and the arrow made its way through, the sound following after. As the arrow impacted itself against one of the rocks off the far end, the void closed. Even as the void shut itself, a frightening trembling besieged the surroundings, and the townsfolk, who also felt the tremor. 
"I cannot believe it..." Rynathalos murmured, falling to his seat, speechless. "How...How was someone able to...alter their mana instantaneously...it should have been a process over time..."
"You underestimate the value of warmth and humanly emotions, Ryn." She returned, "We might be immortal beings, but we still have emotions and other than our greater powers, we are no different from humans. That was the idea which became the impetus for my rebellion."
"No...that's impossible! You're just someone I could train!" He cried, his eyes widening in disbelief, and of fear that he may too one day, fall to the level of humans. "You're just a toy for me to play around with!"
"Think of me how you wish." She muttered gently to his ear, "But you are still the man who gave me new life. I will defend you even if you should one day slay me by your blade. I will love you even if the world should place a crown of thorns on your head."
"No..." He pushed her aside, as tears began streaming down. "What...what is happening..." 
He rubbed his eyes with his sleeves, and wiped it with his palms. "I wouldn't tear from this...even war did not make me tear...Syn could not make me...how were you...this is trickery!"
Then he stopped. He calmed himself, and began to snigger. "Then prove it." He demanded, pulling a choker out of his pockets. "Wear this. It's a choker that allows me to read your thoughts and bind you to my will."
"Of course, there is no way-" 
He was swiftly interrupted, as the maiden swiped the object at hand swiftly off his palms, and attached it on to her neck. She now had a miniature, golden chocked to her neck that resembled more of an ornament accessory than what it was intended for—Keeping her as his personal pet. 
"Y-You actually didn't hesitate..." He murmured before exuding a smirk on his face. "Sorry. I lied. That choker wasn't meant to do anything, it's just an ornament."
"It's fine even if it was real." She answered, "Because I now live my life for you. It was you who renewed my life."
"You're seriously willing to go that far for me..." The tears then began flowing once more, as he cuddle her in his embrace. "But I hope you could give me some time... I need to clear my head."
"I will await the day you accept my feelings." She answered, turning to his cheeks to land a quick peck on his cheek. "I love you."