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The pieces were in place.
Everything was ready.
Now all Aventurine had to do was play his part. One last facade, before he departs from this broken land.
(He could finally be free of this Inhertly Injust Destiny.)
But, of course, fate hasn’t had enough of him yet.
“Your bluff isn't fooling anyone. If you could really do that, you would have done so earlier.” Acheron noted confidently.
Getting cocky now, aren’t we? “You wanna bet? Sure, I'll bet with you. I'm betting that it'll be a sweeping victory for me, by detonating an unprecedented explosion to prove that the vow of Harmony is a complete and utter joke.”
”...You won't do it.”
“Of course I can. It's just another gamble.”
Acheron narrowed her eyes, catching onto his scheme. Her hand was on her blade, yet, she didn’t make any move to stop him. Aventurine’s grin only widened.
So eager to see me fall?
With the stakes being higher than ever before, he continued on.
“The dice are cast — Ladies and gentlemen, ready to unveil your cards? The Architect's flawed stone...Of no value at all. I'm putting down the bet. I'm taking the gamble-” Aventurine left hand found its place behind his back, as if telling the right to have the spotlight. All or nothing, one last time. Do it one last time! “-I'm claiming the win. I'll let fate spin the wheel, a daring gamble. Walking the brink of death... for rebirth. All for the Amber Lord!”
As the fight broke out, a little boy was watching from behind the curtains. He smiled softly.
”Good luck, Kakavasha.”
“Even on a losing streak, as long as people still have hope, they'll keep throwing money on the table... The chance, no matter how small, the potential is what you hang onto. That's what justifies the gamble!” he roared, desperate to egg the trailblazers on more.
They were gaining on him, five on one was no fair fight. But Aventurine was used to it. After all, it wouldn’t matter how many people were here to witness it. Whether it be five, twenty, or even one, Aventurine would still be slain from the Nihility’s blade. That’s what he wanted, that’s what he came here to do. That’s how he was going to prove that “Death” was real in the dreamscape. Ignoring the twitching of his left hand, Aventurine continued his losing battle.
As the fight carried on, the little boy was still there, observing his older self. The child figured he would be good at acting, because nobody else noticed that he was scared.
“All or nothing…” the child mumbled to himself. “Maybe I should do that too when I’m older!”
“Everybody's like that, down to the last player.“ Aventurine spoke out loud, trying to seem less exhausted and broken than he actually was.
“So why can't I be happy too? Why can't I feel that free?“
The battle was coming to its close, Aventurine knew that without a doubt. But, he still had one more trick up his sleeve. Like hell he was going out without a fight.
“Always hide your ace with a straight face... I'm starting to get a bit impatient with you all.” he tched. One final trick, one final act, onefinalbet- “Friends, to fully relish this— I'm betting every last chip! Only by casting aside reason does one truly gamble... "Emanator"— I know you'll match my wager, Right?” The golden chips he had at his disposal were finally let loose, in all their glamor and glory. Falling out of the sky, the chips passed through all of Golden Hour, for all the people to see. Aventurine made sure the chips were harmless, but nobody knew that, so his bluff was still going strong. He needed Acheron to think that this was a threat, so she could swing her blade.
The Emanator took the bait, and in a split second, the blade was about to strike Aventurine down.
His plan worked, all the gambles he took during his short, yet miserable life, were leading up to this moment. All those little actions and memories were preparing him for this moment. Aventurine should have been ready. So...why?
…Why was Aventurine scared?
Why was he thinking of Veritas? Why was he thinking of all the golden times he had with that pretentious, stuck-up, asshole of a man? When did he fall for him?
(Aventurine knew the exact moment he fell for Veritas. He would never say it, though. It was one of the many secrets that he would be taking to the grave.)
Realization hit him like a truck.
I want to live-
The world blacked out.
As the purple haired girl struck down future him, the little boy became sad. He didn’t need to know what expression his older part was wearing to know that he wasn’t ready to depart. But, nobody wants to leave a dream, so he can understand where future him was coming from.
Walking out of the theme park, he spotted a man with purple hair (The boy vaguely thought about how cool it would be if he had purple hair) and a pained expression of his face. Their hands were clutching their phone. ”Aventurine…”
Walking up to the man, the little kid touched him on his back. “Are you alright, mister?”
The man spun around to meet the kid, clearly not expecting there to be company.
”What did you say?” His eyes had hardened, but there was still sadness in voice. Now that the child got a good look at the newcomer, he realized that he -well future him- knew this man.
“Um, I asked if you were al-alright.”
“I’m…doing fine.” The man eventually got out, giving the young one a look of recognition. His eyes then narrowed. “I’m more concerned about your well being. Aventu-Child, where is your family?” he questioned.
”They're not here, my family left a while ago.” The little boy said, eyes downcast. “But that’s alright, because eventually, everybody has to wake up, even if they don’t want to.”
The man's eyes softened. “Indeed they do.”
Sigonian eyes peeking up once more, the boy saw a photo of a hat of the man’s phone.
”Mister, are you looking for that hat?”
“Ah, yes, the hat…” The man said, as if forgetting it was there. “I suppose I am. It belongs to a friend of mine, he forgot his hat here.”
“Does your friend have pretty eyes like mine?”
”Correct.”
He perked up. “Then I can help with that!” The kid said, raising his hand while bouncing up and down. “My friend also had really pretty eyes and a hat like that." he said cheerily.
"Where did your friend leave it?"
"I saw the hat by this really big screen all the way over there!” The child said, pointing towards a crimson gash. He paused for a second, because nobody except him saw where the hat flew off to. The boy made it his mission to help this stranger-not-really-because-that-he-knows-this-guy-when-he-is-older recover the accessory. "You won't be able to find it on your own, though. But I know where it is! Can I take you over?" He said, raising his left hand.
"Very well, then." The man said, accepting the offer by holding on to the young ones hand.
As they were beginning their travels, the little boy introduced himself. "My name is Kakavasha, Mister. I'm currently [blank] years old, and I live with my sister [redacted]." Multicolored eyes looked up at the man curiously. "What about you mister?" Kakavasha asked, figuring it would be better to know this mans name.
"I am Doctor Veritas Ratio of the Intelligentsia Guild. But, you are allowed to call me Veritas."
The kid's eyes brightened up. "A doctor..." He said, wondering out loud. "Then you must be really smart!"
The doctor's eyes widened slightly for a moment, as if he heard that phrase before. Just as quickly, his face then contorted back into its unemotional expression. "Perhaps I am. Perhaps I'm not. The word 'smart' can be defined as very different things."
Kakavasha giggled. "You're funny, Mister Veritas."
Mister Veritas didn't respond to that.
"Were you there when your friend went up on stage?"
"Huh?" The young child said, looking up from the little origami bird perched on his finger. (Kakavasha found a little origami bird, and immediately became enamored with it. "I never had a pet in the real world, but I can have one here!" He said, when Mister Veritas asked. The bird, detecting the boy's happiness, perched itself on his finger, and the child immediately squealed in delight. The bird has been playfully chirping ever since.)
”Your friend, did you see him preform?”
Kakavasha’s eyes lit up. “Yea I was there! I saw the whole thing.” He declared smugly.
“Did he do well?”
“Mhm! It was really really good!” The kid paused, remembering how anxious future him was right before he got on. “He was a little skittish, though, before going on.”
“I’m absolutely positive that it’s didn’t affect his show, he’s quite a good actor.” Mister Veritas said, a little more earnest than he was before.
“He did, and nobody even saw the twitching in his hand.”
The man stilled for a second, before continuing on. “Are we almost there, Kakavasha?” He said, voice a tad bit sad.
Kakavasha understood why Mister Veritas was trying to change the subject, the topic of older him and his insecurities were very sensitive. But, wouldn’t Mister be the one to address them? He’s here looking for a gamblers hat, after all. But the child kept his mouth shut, he didn’t want to sadden the man even more. “Yea, we are super-duper close! Just a little bit more.”
“And we've made it!" Kakavasha declared.
Looking around, the boy realized that the battle has been long since done. Scorch marks and chunks of ice were little around everywhere. The gash in the middle of the big screen was even bigger than before.
”So desolate and barren, I thought Aven-our friend had better taste than this.” Mister Veritas huffed. “Zero points.”
He giggled. “Me and Chirpy will look over here!” Kakavasha yelled, sprinting towards an enormous piece of ice.
“I’ll join you. It’s more preferable if we stay together.” The man responded, matching his own stride with the younger one’s.
Playing with Looking through the rubble, the child heard Mister Veritas make a choked noise.
”Did you find something?” Kakavasha asked, looking up from his little rock castle.
On the man’s hands, there was a broken mask. The kid immediately recognized it as the mask future him wore during the battle. But, upon a second glance, he noticed that there were 2 dark streaks of something dark. Observing it once more, the boy realized that is was tear marks.
“Aventurine…” The man’s breath hitched, fighting back those tears again. His eyes were glossy and wide. “He-he was scared.” Mister Veritas whispered.
It was then when Kakavasha realized that his older version never shared his genuine feelings to anybody. Bigger him only let people see his right hand, the one that was confident and brave, thrilled and ready to risk it all. But never his left hand. The hand that was always trembling behind his back, scared and nervous, forever holding his insecurities. All the people saw the right hand, but they didn’t even try to glance at the left. But Mister Veritas did. Mister Veritas saw a glimpse of the left once, and decided to make it his problem to try and empathize with future him. If anybody analyzed the mask, they would conclude that the streaks were chipped paint, or blood stains that couldn’t be washed away. Yet Mister Veritas was not anybody, he saw the streaks and instantly knew those were tears. He cared for the Stoneheart, and cared that he was scared before he died. And because of that, Kakavasha chose to give Mister Veritas comfort.
“Everybody is scared before they die, aren’t they? A blessing from the Mother Goddess can’t change that.” The child started, petting his bird. “I saw our friend before he went up stage, and I saw how he hesitated. I know for sure that he wouldn’t want to go. But, that doesn’t mean he was happy living either.” He paused, figuring out how to organize his thoughts correctly. “I didn’t know him for long, but, let me guess. Is the man with pretty eyes going to be executed as soon as he makes a mistake?”
Veritas said nothing, proving the little one right.
“I thought so.” The boy sighed, the continued on, noticeably more amused. “But, he fooled everybody with his act! Nobody knew that he was already planning to die. People think they’ve gotten him figured out, yet they don’t realize he got the last laugh!”
Veritas looked at the little boy with something bittersweet in his eyes. He noted how the tears were coming back. “Of course Aventurine used himself to win once again, that damned gambler.” He huffed. The tears were finally coming down his face, yet Mister Veritas did not acknowledge them.
Was my comforting not good enough?
“I assume you’re going wherever Aventurine is too? You are his past, after all.” he observed, and sure enough, his body was fading away.
“Huh-Oh!” Kakvasha exclaimed, surprised to see his his knees and below gone.
Not yet, I still have a job to do!
“Wait! Please don’t cry.” He pleaded “As you said, I am the younger version older me, and I’m going to meet him before he goes. I can make sure he’s not sad when he departs!”
Veritas wasn’t buying it, because he raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"How do I know you’re truly going to do what you say-“
"I pinky promise!” The little boy said defiantly, raising up his left pinkie. “Let’s do it quick before I go!”
"A pinkie promise…” Veritas trailed off looking at the extended pinkie. “…I wasn’t aware Sigonians knew of it.”
"My sister was reading to me a light novel this one time, and the pinkie promise came up! The pictures explained what it was and how to do it, so we learned how to do it.” he cheerily said. The words came out easily enough, the little boy was always ready to talk about light novels.
"You’ve read a light novels?” Veritas asks, in a surprised tone.
"I've read a ton of light novels!" he paused, then continued shrugged sheepishly. "Well, it’s really [redacted] who does the reading, but I enjoy looking at the pictures! My favorite series is called ‘Violet Evergarden’, you should totally look it up when you have the chance.” The boy suddenly remembered the very important pinkie promise that was about to occur, and put on his game face. “Now, Mister, can we do a pinkie promise?”
“…I suppose I’ll do it with you-“
“Perfect!” The boy took the man’s pinkie into his own and closed his eyes. “I pinkie promise to Mister Veritas that I will comfort older me before he walks off.” he whisper-yelled, opening his eyes. “I’ll make sure of it!"
A pinkie promise was made.
And in those last moments before the boy drifted off, Veritas asked “Will I ever see him again?”
The child giggled. I get why future me likes you, Mister! “I think you’ll find out soon enough. Have a good dream, Mister Veritas!”
Veritas didn’t offer any formalities to the child. Instead he gently patted the child’s head and gave a curt nod.
And with that, their act was completely over. With a boyish smile and bright eyes, Kakavasha truly exited the stage.
In his wake, laid a hat with a peacock feather.
Aventurine didn’t know what expect when he woke up.
If he was being fully honest to himself, Aventurine didn’t expect to wake up at all.
Yet here he was, talking to Nihility’s Emanator with a big fucking black hole behind them.
Fate really wanted to joke around a little more with him, didn’t it? He implicitly sighed to himself.
Story of my life.
Aventurine was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard said Emanator ask a question.
“…Have you never wavered?” She asked hesitantly.
The conversation they were having was nothing short of personal, at least on Aventurine’s part. She figured out his scheme and plans, and how he was going to execute it. She got every damn part right. It was unnerving, to say the least.
”Wavered? Of course I have. But I can only bank on my own good fortune.” he paused. That's really all he had in this world, wasn't it? No family, no possesions, nobody who cared, no even his own fucking name. “Because other than that, I have nothing.” He then continued on, noticeably softer.
Aventurine didn’t know if his answer was enough to satisfy Acheron’s thoughts, but he sure hoped so.
“Wake up from this dream and go to where you should be. Your gamble…is not over yet.”
When she finally turned away, Aventurine was alone. He took this as an opportunity to get a good look at the manifestation of IX.
Everything here was an endless, vast, and empty void. This whole place was clad in black and white, with Aventurine and the Emanator being the only exceptions of color. The black hole was the only thing here that stood out, as far as he could tell.
In other words, creepy.
It was in these moments where Aventurine realized he didn’t want to be alone. The quiet was unsettling enough to make the hairs on his spine to stand up straight.
I’m not ready.
In a sad attempt to stall the inevitable, Aventurine called out to her one last time.
”…Before we part, can you answer one more question?”
Acheron stops mid-stride, and turns around to look at him. The relief he feels is immeasurable.
Yet her piercing gaze does nothing to calm his bundle of nerves, but at least he isn’t alone again. Aventurine feels the need to lower his eyes so he doesn’t have to meet hers, but represses the urge. He wants to call out to her, to tell her to stay.
Please don’t go, don’t leave me here.
Instead, he swallows down his words and asks:
“As someone who has traveled on that road, can you tell me…” The final question before I go Emanator, how will you answer? “Why are we born into this world if it's just to die?”
Silence. But then-
”I don't think this, and never have. Nor do you.”
He huffs, of course she would catch on to his thoughts. But he needs her to stay a little longer, he’s still not done.
”How can you be so sure?” He argues back, mustering up the little confidence he still has left. “The Nihility envelops you and I... and everyone.”
”And because of that, it’s pointless.”
Aventurine sighs once again. Turning to face the black hole, he says “You’re…very perceptive I’ll give you that, Emanator. It’s a little funny of how you can read my thoughts so easily.” She says nothing to this, so out of pure curiosity he asks, “Did Nihility give you that gift, or have you gained it on your own?”
“…You may find this difficult to believe, but you and I are alike in more ways than one.”
Aventurine’s laugh was empty and hollow. “Alike? Don’t make me laugh.”
”Do you…find that difficult to believe?”
He snorts. “Is it never not hard to believe? You’re-“ He turns around to gesture towards Acheron.
"-An Emanator for one, But you're also stoic, determined, and resolute. Never threatened or scared, even is the face of adversity.”
You are everything I wish to be.
“I’m-” He motions towards the branding on his neck. “The last Avgin of the dead planet of Sigonia, nothing more than a slave soon to be dead by the hands in the IPC. The Mother Goddess’s blessing can only get me through so much, and I’ve used the last of its luck for my little…act back in the park. Everything about me is just that. An act.”
“Yet many have fallen for it.”
Aventurine stilled. Even if others fell for it, the facade he created means nothing if he can’t fool himself. “…To be fully honest, I’m surprised they even took the bait.”
“I’m not,” Acheron starts, stepping towards him. Subtly eyeing Aventurine up and down, she continues on. “Everything you’ve done in Penacony has been nothing short of spectacular. From the Family’s invitation letter to the events in the theme park, you dictated every twist and turn so it played out to your advantage. In those actions alone, anybody can see that you’re a cunning, unpredictable, and brave gambler.” She pauses, a flash of understanding adorning her expression.
“But…you don’t care about any of that, do you? Instead, you recognize your failures and mistakes, focus on them, relate to them. Not letting anybody get close, so they won’t have to burden themselves with your ugly and filthy past.”
Aventurine's eyes widened. He opened his mouth, then closed it shut. Tried again, yet the words failed him once more. Acheron took it as her cue to carry on her monologue. “People like you and me, we’ve lost…everybody we loved. Thinking that we were the disease, that we were the ones who caused it. That maybe, just maybe, if we weren’t born, they would still be alive and laughing.” His lips were starting to tremble, and the tears were begging to come out. The image of his dear family chatting and laughing around the table has always been his dream, has it not? It didn’t matter if Aventurine was sitting with them or not.
The Emanator could not hear his thoughts, seemingly stuck in her own. “And if we begin to feel that…warmth for others again, then they’re going to get hurt by us, too.” She snapped out of her trance and looked at Aventurine. Her eyes were resigned and dejected, but there was also a hint of something liberating in them. A tear slid down his cheek. But still, Aventurine hopelessly held on to his crumbling composure.
“Yet, what never occurred to us was that it wasn’t our fault.” The composure crumbled even more. He bit his lip to stop any noise from coming out.
“Just because fate decided to give us some fucked up trauma and guilt, that doesn’t mean that we were the ones who caused it. We are allowed to care and love for others, and others are allowed to care and love for us. A certain someone already does.” Acheron said, eyeing Aventurine’s pocket.
It took him a second to realize that there was still something left in his possession. Something that he hadn’t thought about till now. “Open the paper, read the writing.” She laughed softly. “I’m sure whatever he said will help you find the answers.”
With shaky hands, Aventurine pulled out the piece of paper. Meeting her eyes, she nods Aventurine on, as if excited to see his reaction. Slowly tearing his eyes back towards the paper, he hesitantly unfolds it and reads the words.
The impossible in the dreamscape is not “Death”, but rather “Dormancy”
Do stay alive. I wish you the best of luck.
Aventurine reads it once.
Then he reads it again.
He reads it again and again and again, until the words are forever etched into his memory.
A memory resurfaces. A memory of his sister, of a death, of a promise.
”Everybody deserves to have a handed reach out them, Kakavasha. When the time comes, I promise with all my heart that there will be someone to extend out theirs. "
[Redacted] died, her last words a broken promise.
But, her brother is still alive. On the brink of death in a manifestation of Nihility, yes. Nevertheless, they still are breathing.
[Redacted] died, yet her broken promise was never broken, just lost.
But Veritas Ratio was the one discovered it, the one who carried it out.
The one who cares about me.
With that knowledge in his mind, the gambler realized that it was long past due time to fulfill his part of the promise.
Aventurine sharply inhaled in,
Kakavasha softly breathed out.
And he cried. He cried, the years of sorrows and pent up emotions were finally coming out at full force. The fact that there was somebody (Veritas Ratio, of all people) in the cosmos who genuinely cared for him was something he never would expect. He cried harder.
Acheron took the last step towards Kakavasha and embraced him in a hug. He cried even more, trying to stifle the sobs so he wouldn’t soil her clothes. His attempts were proving futile. “It doesn’t matter if my clothes get wet, Kakavasha. What matters is that you…are truly alive.” She whispered delicately.
Kakavasha sobbed and cried until his tear ducts were ran dry. The paper was long since ruined when he eventually stopped. His hair and makeup were unkempt and ruined, but he didn’t mind.
“Thank you.” He said, pulling away from the embrace.
“As Acheron the Watcher, it is my duty. To guide souls reluctant to become one with it. But you…are a different case. It’s not yet your time. And when your time is up, meet me here. Tell me all about the life you lived.”
”It’s a deal.” He said, shaking the Emanator’s hand.
Walking away from her, Kakavasha briefly stops. He still has a question, more for her own sake than his own.
“Acheron.” She hums in acknowledgment, telling him that she is still there. “Before I go, can I have your name? The real one, that is.”
“…”
“I would give you mine, but you already know it.”
“…”
Kakavasha chuckled, maybe him and her were more alike than he originally thought. Abruptly, he felt another consciousness insert themselves inside of him. Words that didn't quite sound like Kakavasha's started to come out of his mouth.
"...Perhaps my existence will vanish in the next moment... and nobody will remember this conversation or your answer... But I believe... that your name should be remembered..." His hand reached into the darkness, clutched a nonexistent object, and brought it to his chest. "And this universe... will remember it as well."
And with those words, the other consciousness disappeared. It was only then, when he realized what he just said.
"I-uh, ahem." Kakavasha said, his flushed cheeks glaringly obvious as he cleared his throat. The quiet quickly went into a state of tension. “Apologies-“
"…Mei." He barely heard a voice from behind whisper, as if unsure of what they were saying.
Kakavasha’s eyes widened. He spun around and looked at her, not believing what she said. “The fuck?” He winced, that sounded harsh even to his own ears. But he was about to walk into a humongous black hole, so sue him for sharing his honest feelings before he’s gone.
The Emanator, of course, was not fazed by his choice of words.
“Raiden Bosenori Mei. That's-” Her breath hitched, as if remembering something she didn't quite want to. "That's my name."
Her piercing gaze was gone by this point. What replaced it was a slight, yet freeing smile, vivid eyes, and a lone tear falling down her cheek. She let out a shaky breath, and Kakavasha realized that she probably hadn't said her real name in a long time. That makes the two of us, doesn’t it?
Free. Now that Kakavasha thinks of it, that’s what he is, from now on. He can now live for the sake of, well, living.
A weight both that hadn't known they were carrying was finally lifted off their shoulders.
He smiled. "Well, I wish you nothing but the best in life." Turning around once again, Kakavasha raised his left hand up high and bid adieu.
"So long, Miss Raiden Bosenori Mei." He called out, treading through the shallow water. "May your journey be forever peaceful, and your schemes forever concealed."
"Goodbye, Kakavasha. May death be the end of your boundless dream…reuniting you with the warmth of the sunlight once more."
Right before the abyss of the black hole, stood a little boy.
“You look like your ready to go, but you still seem nervous.” The younger him said.
Observant from the start, weren’t we? ”Well, that’s because I am nervous.”
Young Kakavasha starts to bounce up and down in place. "I can help with that!"
"Oh? What do you propose?"
"Let’s put our palms together, one last time."
And with that, the Sigonian hand-palming tradition was preformed, never to be completed again in this era. The people doing it, of course, knew that this was the final one. But that made it all the more special, didn’t it?
”Our paths will cross again beneath Kakava’s shimmering auroras.” The child said, watching the older him walk towards the black hole. As the boy faded away with a peacock’s hat in his arms, the Kakavasha of the past grinned.
”Farewell, Kakavasha.”