Chapter Text
“How could you?!"
“How could I? How could you?”
“He's mine, not yours! How dare you assume to take him from me?! ”
“I'm taking him because you ruined him!”
“What are you saying – I did no such thing.”
“How can you say that? Look at all he's done in Your name, and how much he's lost to do so?”
“...”
“He sacrificed his heart and himself in order to achieve You, and in the end...”
“In the end, he is fine!”
“But is he happy?”
“...”
“Even when he has the time to do so, he no longer seeks You like he did before, not in the manner that once caused him to shine the brightest among them all. He has been dimming, and it's all your fault.”
“... No , it can't be –“
“Fate took him too soon from me. I continue to thrive, but am unable to grow without him. You, on the other hand... he burned as bright as the sun for You, and never did he ask for anything in return.
“Stop being selfish, and let him go. It's the least you can do after all he's done for You.”
“I... you are right, but –“
“I am but a God, and you a Goddess. We are one of the same. I am you, and you are me – Glory we are, and Glory we'll be. He is Ours, will be Ours.
"He is broken now, but he can be mended. Your world harmed him, but mine can fix him.”
“I will miss him.”
“I missed him.”
“He will be loved?”
“He will be cherished.”
“He will be... happy?”
“In the end, he will be.”
“I owe him a boon.”
“I would have been upset if you hadn't granted him any.”
-- 01 --
The current weather was reminiscent of another time in his life, one that had turned out to be the starting point of what he could consider nothing less than one of the greatest adventures he would ever experience; if his life had been a novel, it would certainly be an interesting one.
Snow continued to fall downwards, covering everything in a thin layer of white, and it was colder than he had thought it would be.
Dressed in nothing but dark jeans, vested shirt and the black, red and white jacket he'd been given for China's Glory Team, even he had to admit it wasn't much protection against the elements against him; as oft was the case, he hadn't even remembered to bring gloves, leaving his hands chilled before he shoved them into the small comfort provided from the jacket's pockets.
The smartest thing for him to do would be to turn right back around and return to Happy and the warmth it provided, both in climate and atmosphere. Unexplainable, though, was the urge to continue down this path – he could always return to the celebrations later, when the cold and snow got to be too unbearable.
So he continued walking, leaving the glow of Happy's entrance and Excellent Era's clubhouse behind him as reflections of the past, both the good and the bad, filled his mind.
His gaze flicked skywards for a single moment, and that was the same moment he tripped.
-- 02 --
It was as though the crack in the sidewalk came from nowhere – he could swear it had not been there before – with the sole purpose of sending him to the ground.
His arms flailed about from instinct, attempting to regain some semblance of balance before he ended up kissing the concrete. He must of made such a sight to anyone watching, stumbling and fumbling about before slipping on a damp patch of ice on the sidewalk's edge.
His feet flew out from beneath him, a loud whoosh in his ears that drowned out the sound of honking.
The last thing he felt in this world was an unseen presence grabbing hold of his arm and sending him spinning off to the side.
He was falling backwards, eyes shutting against the light that just grew brighter the further he fell.
(There were voices, male and female and indistinguishable speaking words he couldn't comprehend.
Soft hands and fingers touched his face, a feather-soft brush against his lips that made him shiver.
“I'm sorry.” “Welcome home.”
“Thank you.” “Be yourself.”
“My Champion.” “My Champion.”
“We Bless you in the name of Glory, Our Champion.”
The last thing he felt before losing himself to the blessed darkness of unconsciousness was pain.)
-- 03 --
The pain was gone the next time he opened his eyes, though an ache still lingered through his entire body, as though he had been put through the wringer.
His vision, blurred with splotches of grey and black and the usual haziness of sleep cleared, an unfamiliar ceiling the first thing he saw unhindered.
“Where... am I?” He raised a hand to his throat at the off-sounding voice that came from it, “What is going on?”
He climbed out of the bed only to stumble at his first step, the bed breaking his fall and he blinked at the now-spinning floor.
He was confused, disoriented, and his balance was skewed; his body felt both familiar and foreign to him, the voice he heard of similar nature.
The unfamiliar sense of panic, a feeling he wasn't used to, was beginning to creep in.
“The first thing to do is breathe,” He whispered to himself, and did just that, taking in a deep breath and exhaling slowly; it took a few times, but soon the familiar state of calm descended upon him once more.
“Okay, so it appears I'm not in Hangzhou anymore, and this...” Glancing around the room, at its sparse furnishings, “... this appears to be some sort of hotel room?”
(“Second order of business – try and figure out just what is going on.”
Once more he attempted to walk and fell against the bed once more.
“Correction, second order of business – learn to walk again.”)
-- 04 --
The bathroom featured a full-length mirror on its door, and he was currently staring at the reflection it was showing.
Well, that explained the problems with his equilibrium earlier – he had forgotten how much shorter he had been when younger; not that he had grown that much taller later on in life.
He also seemed to be wearing the same clothes – somehow shrunk to fit his smaller body – that he had on, with the exclusion of his jacket which had been replaced to one he had first worn for Excellent Era.
How old did this make him, then – eighteen? Eighteen felt right.
“Am I really accepting this?”
He raised his hands, staring at the smaller but still long, slender and well-kept fingers; flexing them, there was none of the pain he had acclimated himself to, none of the soreness or aches...
Somehow, he knew he already had.
-- 05 –
On the top of the desk within the hotel room, he found a few things – Inevitably, the most important to him were the account cards, all three the familiar silver of first-edition issued.
His fingers ran over the cool, quasi-metallic surface –
Like other instincts he now seemed to have, he knew two of them to be his Lord Grim and One Autumn Leaf. Remnants of a past and a future in a world he no longer had a place in, both now laid within his hands as he looked forward to what this new present would bring.
The third card also gave off a sense of familiarity, whoever it contained a blurred image in his mind's eye.
The wallet was an enigma, the ID contained within confirming his original thought of his age now being eighteen – and at the same time, if he concentrated hard enough, the date of birth shifted to one that put him at twenty-five years old.
Twenty-five?
He glanced over, to the ornate envelope beneath a key-card to the hotel room he woke up in.
One more glance, this time to his new smart-phone's home screen and proclaimed date confirmed his suspicions -
It was the Sixth Annual All-Stars' Weekend.
-- 06 --
The final items were, oddly enough, pieces of jewelry.
[ Wear them. ]
The note provided alongside them was in a nigh illegible scrawl that he was surprised to be able to read, a command within the words despite being unspoken.
He stared at them, conflicted; never had he been one to wear such things, even the championship rings he gained were tossed in storage in the end.
Plus, since when did he have either of his ears pierced?
His fingers brushed against the earring in question – rather simplistic in design, it was a single golden maple leaf, its veins glowing between alternating crimson-orange-yellow as though fire itself burned within.
The ring on the other hand was more detailed, a small band of pitch black material designed after what seemed to be an ouroburos and at its center, finely detailed down to the last pinion of each feather, were wings of gold, the same fire seeming to glow at their tips.
[ Wear them. ]
In the end, he did and felt overwhelmed by the sudden rush of heat that resulted from doing so, a warmth that coursed through his veins and lit his nerves afire.
It wasn't painful – it was far from painful if he were to be honest, feeling a bit heady and dazed.
Then the voices came.
“Finally, Little Lord.”
“Finally we can protect you.”
-- 07 --
“Can either of you tell me what's going on?”
“There is little we can say, Little Lord, I'm sorry.”
“Everything that has been done has been for your benefit, however.”
“So just continue to take everything in stride like you have been.”
“Be yourself.”
“Yes, just continue being who you are.”
“.....”
“Didn't you once say that if you could, you would play Glory for another ten years?”
“Glory awaits you, Little Lord, has been waiting for you.”
“Glory has always been meant to be yours, just as you have always been meant for Glory.”
“So play, and let things happen as they do.”
“Above all, though -”
“BE HAPPY.”
-- 08 --
“Hello, aren't you Qiao Yifan?”
Lifting his head from where he'd been staring at the ground, blue eyes looked towards the newcomer in surprise – and he flushed, the faintest hint of pink colouring his cheeks.
The other was male, he was certain of that, but his fey appearance still caused his heart to stutter in his chest.
“U-um, yes, that is me.”
“Are you okay? You seem... sad .”
His flush darkened despite himself at the obvious concern within the stranger's words.
“I – I am fine .”
“No, no you aren't.” It was strange, just how knowing the other's golden gaze proclaimed to be, “Qiao Yifan, if I might be so bold, if one path doesn't seem to be working out for you, that doesn't mean the entire journey is for naught. You are a professional player, no? That has to account for something, not all are capable of reaching such a level.”
There was a fire burning within those eyes, a passion in his words that Qiao Yifan swore he could feel resonating within himself.
“I think... I think you are a good person, and an even more amazing player. You just haven't had the chance to find what's best for you . Don't keep trying to fit the mold others thrust you in – break it , and remember – you're still young, there is always a chance to improve, to get better.”
“Who... who are you?” It was all he could manage, uncaring for the fact that tears had begun to trickle down his cheeks. Never had anyone ever spoken to him like the other had, with such certainty and confidence in him .
“Me? I'm just someone who cares.”
He wondered if it was possible to be blinded by a smile, for it sure felt as though the one offered to him then had such abilities.
The warmth... he could feel the warmth.
“Would you mind if I offer one last thing?”
“Y-yes – I mean, no , I don't mind!”
“I feel... Ghostblade is the class that would suit you best, Phantom Demon in particular.”
Then just as randomly as he had come into his life, the stranger was gone in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
-- 09 –
“Excuse me.”
Tang Rou looked up at the soft voice, the teenage male it belonged to offering her a smile, “My seat is in this row.”
“Oh.” She stood, allowing the other to pass, retaking her seat and glancing at him curiously as he took the previously unoccupied third seat down, “Today is the second day – you weren't here yesterday?”
“I wish I could have been,” He responded, “Unexpected circumstances. I'm here now, though.”
“Mm... I suppose it has been interesting, but I was brought here by a friend.”
“Oh – do you not play Glory yourself?”
There was none of the derision in his tone that she often heard in others when such a subject was brought up, and she relaxed.
“No, I don't. I find it too easy, too... simple.”
“Hmm...” His attention focused ahead, downwards at the stage, “Would you play if someone ever proved you wrong on that?”
“No one ever has.”
She watched his lips curve up into a smile, the manner in which he gave his response somehow making it seem like fact instead of arrogance, “You just hadn't met me, yet.”
She laughed, “Want to bet on that?”
“I'd hate to be responsible for draining your wallet.”
“Ha, you –“
“Little Tang, who's your new friend?” The tall, red-headed female glanced between her friend and the male now sitting in the once empty seat beside hers, retaking her own seat, “Oh! Are you a fan of Excellent Era, too?”
“Um...” He sounded unsure, tugging on the sleeve-end of the red and white jacket, “I don't –“
“It's a shame you weren't here earlier, Little Tang and I got to participate in one of the games – ah, it was amazing, being able to stand so close to Go –“
The roaring of the crowd drowned out whatever Chen Guo was attempting to say as the announcer once more headed onto the stage.
-- 10 –
“Now is the moment I'm sure all of you have been waiting for, the Pro versus Player battles!”
The announcer basked in the cheering response of the crowd, waiting for them to settle down before continuing, “For those not in the know, this is the chance for random members of the audience to have an opportunity to go up against a player from our hosting team!”
More cheers, louder than before.
The series of holographic cards appeared above the stage, their faces blank and Glory's logo on their backs.
“We decided to switch things up a little this time around, though – we're going to call the first audience member up, and allow them to control the fate of themselves and their fellow players!”
The rest of the audience might be going absolutely crazy over the proclamation but one member in particular had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, said feeling of dread confirmed not long after.
“Go, go, go!” Chen Guo was particularly exuberant as she nudged the male to her right, “Your luck is amazing!”
He didn't think so, a wan smile on his face as he forced himself to stand, feeling as though he were maneuvering through a pit of quicksand to an inevitable death.
“Good luck,” Tang Rou was calmer than her friend, “I look forward to seeing what you can do.”
“I – thank you.”
He took a deep, calming breath, letting it out slowly before straightening up and heading for the path that would lead down to the stage.
-- 11 –
The audience watched both the stage and the provided viewing screens as the chosen player stepped over to where the announcer stood.
“I'm sorry for making you wait.”
“Oh, no – it wasn't much of a wait at all!” The older man smiled down at the one before him, “So, excited to be here? This is an opportunity I'm sure everyone else is envious of you for having – so, young man, do you mind sharing your name with us?”
There was a flicker, unreadable, within the other's eyes before his response came, “My name is Ye Xiu.”
“Ye Xiu, you said? What a coincidence – I see you're wearing an Excellent Era jacket? It's doubtless the two of you are unrelated, but considering the shared last name, is that enough to make you one of God Ye's many fans?”
His question was meant to be a joke, and there were many in the audience who laughed along with his accompanying chuckle.
The one the question was directed at, though, looked unsettled for the briefest moment before smiling, “Yes, you could even say I'm one of his biggest fans ever!”
“Ha ha, I'm sure you aren't the only one who would say that! So, obviously, you play Glory?”
“Yes, of course I play Glory. It's one thing I could never get tired of, I...” The smile on his face grew as he spoke, such love and devotion within his words that it seemed almost tangible, “I love Glory so much.”
There was so much warmth, the announcer brought out a handkerchief to wipe at his brow, coughing as he tugged on the collar of his shirt, “It's always nice to see such passion in those that represent Glory's future. Well then, Ye Xiu, it's time. The cards are going to spin, and all I ask is that you tell us when to stop.”
The holographic cards began to move from their initial stationary position above the stage, soon nothing more than a blur of static blue and white.
-- 12 --
Excellent Era's viewing area was silent, all eyes within on the three sitting front and center in the first row.
Finally, the darker-haired of the trio leaned back in his seat with lips pursed together, “The announcer is right – it's just a coincidence. Very strong coincidence, but one nonetheless.”
“There's just no way,” The male to his right agreed, his hand resting upon the other's thigh, giving it a reassuring squeeze though his own gaze was tight.
“Compared to Qiu-ge, he's far cuter, too.”
“Mucheng!”
“It's true, Muqiu – obvious age difference aside, he is.”
“...”
“Well, when she puts it like that...”
“Muqiu, don't you dare.”
“Ha ha, such anger, Ye Qiu.”
The rest of Excellent Era's members relaxed as the three seemed to return to their normal manner.
“Qiu-ge, afterwards, perhaps you should seek him out and console him – he does claim to be one of your biggest fans after all.”
Ye Xiu just watched as the cards above him continued to spin around and around until the speed in which they did so got to an almost dizzying level.
The announcer was staring at him, expectant, and the audience in the stands around them were growing restless the longer he waited.
“Ehem...”
“Stop.”
The spinning slowed, then halted, the cards coming back together and leaving just one behind.
Its face shimmered and revealed itself.
“Oh, well, this is unexpected. Such luck you have, ha -” The announcer didn't sound as though he thought it was lucky at all, “Well! It looks like Ye Xiu and everyone else will be facing Samsara's very own Captain and the Great Gunner himself, Zhou Zekai!”
-- 13 --
“Hello.”
Zhou Zekai's green eyes stared down at him, a smile on his lips that he knew from experience was a warmer one than he normally gave.
“Senior Zhou,” He responded, the honorific foreign on his tongue, but still it fell freely, “I look forward to our battle.”
“Yes.”
“Let's get this over with, then.”
“Card?”
“I brought my own. It would be an honour to go up against Cloud Piercer.”
His words were polite, calm, but inside he was screaming.
“Don't use us, not yet.”
“Our time will come.”
“Then, who...?”
Ye Xiu stared at the monitor before him, headset on his head but muted so none could hear the seeming one-sided conversation he was holding.
“There is a third, remember?”
“Yes. Him. Use him.”
He pulled out the third account card in question, the light reflecting off its silver surface.
The sense of familiarity it gave off had never left, but there was the slightest hum beginning to form in the back of his mind, as though in anticipation.
“Okay. No matter who it is, I can do this.” He paused, the card partially in the reader but not fully, “Maybe I –“
“Remember what we told you before?”
“Be yourself.”
He unmuted the headset, looking out at the view provided before him; the battlefield had been chosen, and Cloud Piercer awaited his foe.
“Here we go, then.”
The card was pushed in the rest of the way and he clicked the confirmation to join the arena.
“Finally! I have been waiting so long for this moment.”
He stiffened in the chair, the new voice one all too familiar, sounding the moment the avatar to the card used solidified on the field.
“Come on, then, Ye Xiu! Let's show him just what the two of us can do.”
“I –“ Deep breath, exhale, “Yes.”
Fire lit up in his eyes as he initiated the battle once the go ahead was given.
It had been a long time since he had last played this class exclusively, but as it was, he wasn't alone in Autumn Tree's commands.