Chapter Text
There was no light.
_ could not see amidst this vast darkness.
There was no sound.
_could hear no movement reverberating __self?
Feels…empty.
But what is whole? Filled?
_?
Is Self __?
CRACK!!
A world of light and sound suddenly rushed into __ mind. All that _ could see, hear, feel, and sense entered __ like information and data. Everything was spinning, converging, and retrograding. So many things that _ now understand, yet so many for __ to understand. The first input, a flash of light in the streak of twisting lines shone above me(?), and I(?) felt the rumbles of ringing in my(?) ear. I(?) could now feel the outline of my(?) self, with the softness on the outside layers, and the toughness beneath that exterior. I(?) could feel each of my(?) limbs and phalanges move at my(?) command.
Then, I(?) felt the rain, eons of droplets from the clouded dark sky landed on my(?) body, remaining in place briefly, then slid down the curves along my(?) outline. Each touch took a little from me(?).
Was it warmth? Was it a part of me(?)? Did what it took belong to my(?)self to begin with?
Their coldness seems to rob something from me(?) with every landing, with every sliding motion. What was taken soon became no longer mine(?), but a part of the earth below.
I(?) was on the ground. It was cold, wet, and immovable. Behind me(?) was a tree, its petals seems to wave slowly, yet rapidly at the same time, blooming in a foreign pink. It seemed warm, but it did not feel warm. Emanating a sense of tenderness, that seems so foreign and false.
A Shadow loomed above. Accompanied by another.
Then I(?) saw the shadow. Is that shadow me(?), am I(?) the shadow? Negative, the shadow is different from me(?).
I am not the shadow, the shadow is not me.
Looking up, the shadow could be briefly seen when the same bright light flashes in the sky, giving away the shadow’s face and appearance. The figure had purple locks that were neatly braided beside its (?) frame. it(?) was tall, and slender, but a certain stiffness and toughness could be seen by its(?) stature. Light amounts of floral decor flown on its dress. A long naginata with sharpened edges was held tightly within its (?) hand. It glowed with mighty power. Refined, noble, and pristine.
It(?) is not me.
I saw its eyes, looking directly at me. Its purple hue matches the figure’s hair, clothing, and weapon, but the cold blue glow that shone from within its pupil implied everything that I needed to know about it.
Powerful. Elegant. Eternal. Superior. Transcendent.
「人形の器は目覚めているようです。」(“The puppet vessel seems to be awake.”) The figure spoke, as I listened. I could not comprehend all of what it said, only a few words in between.
Was it real? Is what I heard real? Is what’s real, the reality of the world?
A second figure came into sight, it was the same as the other, but different at the same time. Despite having a softer color of pink as its appearance, I felt scared(?). This other one felt more dangerous, I felt small. Weak. As if it could swallow me whole. My every move was marked beneath their gaze.
The second figure turned to the first, as it spoke to the other, never taking off its glare toward me. 「この人形の器は成功したようです。これをあなたの魂の器として使いますか?」(“This puppet vessel seems to be a success. Will you use this as your soul's vessel?”)
「いいえ。」(No.)” The mighty shadow said plainly, with its cold purple eyes staring deep into me, looking somewhere beyond me. 「こちらは不適切です。使いませんよ、まったく違う感性を身につけたようです。人形の器は目に涙を浮かべている。侵食の痛みに耐えられないのだろう。」(“This one is inappropriate. I won't use it, it seems to have developed a completely different sentience. The puppet vessel has tears in its eyes. It will not be able to withstand the pains of Erosion.”)
Inappropriate? Me(?)? Tears? Mine(?)? Am I(?) wrong? It is a transcendent being, better, stronger, smarter than I(?). So something must be wrong with I(?). Transcendent must be right .
「そんなことはどうでもいいんです。次は、もっと自分らしいものを作ってください。そうすれば、もっと使えるようになる。さて... どうするんだ？」("Whatever. Next time you should make it to be more like you. So, you would be able to get more usefulness out of it. So... what are you going to do with it?") The pink figure playfully responded to the transcend one, a small appearance of a tail forming behind it.
Am I(?) it(?)? Is me(?) not I(?)? _ don’t understand.
The purple figure remained silent to the pink figure’s question, eyes still fixed on __. The pink figure walked closer, and a smile(?) slowly crept up its face. It raised up one hand, and a bright purple-hued ball of energy began to form between its fingertips. 「それを取り除きたいですか?このようなものは後で私たちに厄介な頭痛を引き起こすだけなので、私たちは賢く、それがそれ以上大きくなる前にそれを取り除く必要があります。」("Want me to get rid of it? Something like this would only cause us annoying headaches later, so we should be smart and remove it before it grows any further.") It said, as it aimed the sphere of light towards __. The light stirs and glimmers, taking the form of a creature, prepared to pounce on its prey. The figure flicked its fingers subtly, and quickly, sending the light creature twirling at __. _ felt something, _ didn't want to be hit by it. That unknown feeling felt heavy and suffocating. As of binding __, _ could not move at all, unable to dodge.
That was Fear. But _ did not know yet.
It was fast, the creature of light darted toward __. _ see it, yet can’t keep up. As it was just about to strike-
「やめよう。処分するのはやめよう。自分に似合わないから、このまま人間界をさまようことにしよう。」("Stop. Let's not dispose of it. Since it doesn't fit me, just let it go wander about the mortal realm." ) The purple figure spoke. As the creature disseminates before __ eyes into countless little sparks. They looked bright, yet soon faded as they fell.
The Transcendent being walked closer, at a pace that showed no sign of hurry or concern. It reached its hand towards __, _ dared not move nor make a sound. Its hand reached behind __, to the back of __ neck. A pattern was traced, using three symmetrical zig-zagging strokes. As the Transcendent’s hand finished the last stroke and departed its touch from __, _ felt colder. A small part of __ wished to feel the slight warmth of their hand again, and another part of __ felt something was lost once again.
「え～っ！このまま放置するんですか？その神通力は封印したんじゃなかったんですか？珍しいな、えい.」("Eh! You are going to let it go? You only sealed its divine powers. That's rare of you, Ei.")The pink figure said, with a slight hint of annoyance but the voice maintained its velvety quality. To this, the other said nothing in return. “Ei” simply turned their back, and began to walk away. Giving up, the pink figure shrugged and followed “Ei”, without a single glance back toward __ on the ground.
Am _ being left behind?
Their steps gradually became washed over by the rain. The gentle, the quiet, the cold, the booming rain. Until they could no longer be perceived by __ eyes. As _ stared blankly, into the clouded sky, as the light in the sky continued to roar, as the wind hurriedly blew past my frame, rustling the pink tree above __.
A sense of fatigue swept over __, __vision hazed, and could not maintain __self upright. The rain continued, without rest. The Light above seems to fade as well. But the coldness remained.
_ don't like this. This rain. This wind.
That light. That sound. That shifting tree with petals of pretentious pink.
_ felt cold. Feeling that emptiness again. As the sights, and sound slowly fades.
All was dark for __ once more.