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Cycles Upon Endless Cycles
Two beings observed each other. Truthfully, neither had been expecting any form of meeting at the time and their respective worlds had nothing to do with their immediate counterpart. But nevertheless, this impromptu meeting by sheer chance has occurred and they were quite curious of one another. One was a colossal worm, both grand in sheer size and power. The other was a skeleton, nothing but bones except for its eyes which held intrigue and mischief. Two eldritch creatures of incredible power yet completely calm and still as they sized each other up. They did not see each other as threats but instead as nothing more than strangers who have stumbled upon one another.
The skeleton was the first to react, offering trinkets and equipment to the worm the way a merchant would present their wares. The worm examined each item with childlike curiosity before passing over to look at the next. Finished looking, the worm returned its gaze to the skeleton who seemed disappointed that this was not a customer. Even so the skeleton offered another item to the worm, a small book that began to open.
The worm eyed the book with enraptured interest, seeing the pages flicker and display some kind of knowledge not even it has ever witnessed before. Battles, mysteries, treasure hunts, maps, guides, and countless more things. The book seemed to have no shortage of information of a strange, far off world that seemed as grandiose and mysterious as the one it resided in. This knowledge was far beyond that of the countless foolish civilizations that so eagerly threw themselves into the Void, doomed to repeat the Cycle regardless of their attempts to break free or prolong it.
The skeleton in turn was given information about the world its counterpart inhabited. While not expecting a return on its gift, the being was enraptured for it has been so long since something relatively new has occurred. The rise and fall of civilizations, humble creatures surviving and becoming entangled in matters far beyond their comprehension, an endless cycle of life and death, the choice between life and oblivion… It was both familiar and new. The skeleton has seen countless Heroes, adventurers, fools, and thieves all strive either for powers beyond their control or to undo mistakes of the past only to hurl themselves into the same traps repeatedly.
Seeing how both worlds share a constant, the beings came to a silent agreement. The end and repeat of two separate eternal cycles was close at hand. Perhaps this iteration would bring them to an end or perhaps they will continue their endless battles. To the eternal beings who have seen it all the details on what was about to occur mattered little, something new was going to happen even if it were for a moment. For they have both existed for longer than they could remember and were quite bored with seeing the same things play out time after time. Might as well see how this would turn out…
Saint was tired. It was always the same thing over and over and over and over again. Wake up somewhere in an Iterator Facility Grounds, find the Echoes with their wisdom, clear out the grounds of the Iterator and whatever stubborn thing that clung to the past, heed the call of the Rubicon, attempt to cross over, get sent somewhere else regardless of obedience or defiance towards the Void Worms and their control over the Rubicon. Saint despised the Void Worms, the Cycle, and the various nightmarish landscapes that the Iterators have called home for so many years. Saint had become exhausted the first time it Ascended an Iterator and was denied the chance to rest and that feeling has only grown with every single time it has been casted back to finish its purpose. Now after hundreds of Iterators, Saint was unsure if even the feelings of exhaustion existed anymore.
In many ways, Saint has learned to appreciate the world even with the nightmares and the constant denials of rest. Saint has seen it all and thensome, constantly being reminded that the Cycle was far greater than any mere civilization. Facility Grounds overrun with Rot, mad Iterators, overgrown cities, the snow, and so much more. Saint is and was the herald of the end of this Cycle and would constantly be thrown further down the Rubicon before being allowed to reach the other side and rest. And through it all, the world merely continued onwards, always changing and spiraling down into the Void with the passing Cycles yet constantly existing as if nothing at all happens.
Which is why whatever this was was not something Saint was familiar with. After putting Looks to the Moon and Five Pebbles to rest and another failed act of defiance towards the Void Worms, Saint woke up again. Only this time something was different. There was still snow and ice covering the metal stones and an endless expanse of buildings out in the foggy distance. But even after a number of cases of despair induced madness Saint has never recalled waking up on a beach plateau next to a statue like this. Was this a new twisted version of the Rubicon or had Saint finally and truly lost all reason after so long?
Once long(?) ago there had been a humble warrior who heard the call of adventure. Armed with blade and courage, this warrior went forth to discover and to become a Hero like the stories of old. And become a "Hero" they did with all the narrow-minded, stupid, self-destructive, miserable foolishness that came with such a title. Having faced weapons of war, the greed of knowledge, and the horrors of progress, they carried onwards in the search of...something. An idea? An artifact? A reason? None of it mattered as the Hero just continued to cut a path forward until they had found an unimaginable power that resulted in immortality and oblivion. And with this “gift” the world tore itself apart and the Hero became the Heir, a warden and a prisoner between the world and the Far Shore. Forever stuck outside the bounds of time until a new Hero answers the call and becomes Heir to the Heir.
It was all quite complicated. Perhaps the Ruin Seeker was actually the original Hero or someone else entirely. Maybe they were the true monster who kept the timeless battle going or maybe they would find the so-called “Golden Path” if such a thing even existed at all. Maybe it was all pointless or there really was some form of progress. Did any of it matter? A new Hero rises to the challenge, the Hero faces the Heir, and they either give up after enough defeats or succeed and become an Heir to the Heir and wait until the next Ruin Seeker comes to repeat the process. That was what the Ruin Seeker understood if the Book of Guidance were any indication. Perhaps they were the Heir, on their first adventure before the endless cycle started because of their own discoveries, or maybe they were someone else entirely who got caught up in something beyond them. Either way, they had heeded the call of adventure and were well on the way of becoming a Hero.
Which was why this situation was completely unusual. The Ruin Seeker has been killed in battle several times before only to wake up near the Hero Shrines without fail. After another failed duel against the Heir, this was no different than any other time for they woke up next to a Hero Shrine. Only this time, the Hero Shrine was on a beach, on the top of a mountain, overlooking a landscape no different than the upper levels of the Ziggurat. Not even the Book of Guidance had any explanations, missing pages or not. Was this a trick of the Far Shore?
Both Saint and the Ruin Seeker noticed each other. Their confusion quickly gave way to surprise and then to caution. With muscles tensed, they began to circle around the plateau they found themselves on, eyes never leaving each other as they moved carefully and deliberately. After several seconds of posturing and listening to the wind, they ceased and merely examined one another. One was well equipped while the other radiated power. Both could tell that a fight between them would be unlike any other they have experienced and that for all their skills, tricks, and abilities neither would find victory to be easy. Saint could not Ascend a being that already existed outside of the Cycle. The Ruin Seeker could not win against a being that eclipsed the Heir in every aspect save for appearance. Both knew this and merely examined each other, waiting to see what would happen should the other act first.
For several seconds, they continued staring at each other before letting out huffs of exhaustion. It was clear that neither wanted to fight and that they were both tired. This place, a bizarre hybrid of both worlds, was the most peaceful place they have been in after experiencing so much. If this was a dream, neither wanted to wake up. There was no danger, no immediate threats, nothing to disturb them but themselves. After so much this strange, incomprehensible situation was the most peaceful moment for both in a long time.
The Ruin Seeker moved first, leaning against the Hero Shrine and huffing as they slid down tiredly. It was strange to actually be sitting down. Not laying on the floor from a blow or rolling to dodge from something or even finding the most comfortable stone surface to sleep upon but to actually sit down. After several seconds, the Ruin Seeker noticed that the other being was sitting nearby as well. With a growling stomach, the Ruin Seeker let out another sigh and pulled out a potion flask. While not food or a traditional drink, the potion did its job on healing and keeping malnourishment at bay. Taking a swig, the Ruin Seeker greedily gulped the potion down before offering it to the strange being sitting nearby.
Saint grabbed the bottle and sniffed it curiously. Taking a tentative sip, Saint found the flavor to be reminiscent of fire eggs. The flavor was quite rancid but Saint drank it anyway. It felt invigorating as old aches and pains, both real and phantom, disappeared. How strange… It also was filling somehow which was a welcomed benefit. But even if the drink did none of this, Saint would have drank it anyway. Saint could not remember the last time anyone or anything outside of an old, tired, equally exhausted Iterator had offered a form of thankless comfort just for the sake of it. Returning the bottle, Saint sat down next to the stranger and stared at the mixed landscape.
Both simply sat and enjoyed the silence as they looked at the landscape. A bizarre mix of two separate worlds, both filled with untold secrets and dangers waiting behind every corner. From a distance such a scene promised adventure, discovery, and wonder. Both the Ruin Seeker and Saint knew better and what those things truly meant. They had their fill of adventure and were tired. What good would a new world be if it was filled with just as many horrors and misery as the last? No, just sitting up here on this mountain-beach with a stranger was good enough.
A sudden gust of cold wind blew something near them. Saint recognized it as a pearl, one that has somehow survived the ravages of time. Picking it up, Saint examined the rare treasure before snorting and throwing it aside. Whatever useless knowledge was on the pearl was just that, useless. Saint could not read it and not even the Scavengers were interested in such trinkets any more, more focused on food and means of keeping warm. The Cycle was coming to an end and Saint was one to ensure that what came before either passes on or is left to be buried for the Void to consume.
The Ruin Seeker picked up the ball and examined it. It was light for its size, the size of an ice bomb yet half the weight. The Ruin Seeker threw it up and caught it before getting up and putting it into the Hero Shrine fire. Surprisingly, it did not get sacrificed but instead merely burnt away into golden embers, granting no powers or knowledge. Noticing their companion gazing at the sight, the Ruin Seeker brought out the Book of Guidance and handed it over. After a curious look, the Book was handed back and they both sat back down. The Ruin Seeker honestly could not blame their companion for losing interest. The Book of Guidance was a curious thing but it was filled with unintelligible words, confusing markings, and only seemed to push the Ruin Seeker towards things that were better left alone.
They both resumed sitting on the ground and staring off at the distance. No words were spoken for none were needed. Two tired, weary explorers finding peace and comfort in each other as they merely rested. They understood each other and the terrible burdens that come from enlightenment and discovery. This was a strange and unexpected meeting, but not an unwelcome one. As sleep began to claim them, they were able to rest easy knowing that for once in a long, long time they could do so without their destinies bearing down upon them.
The skeleton and the worm noticed that the convergence of their worlds was coming to an end. While their little exchange was short and the meeting of their respective champions even shorter, they both parted ways satisfied. They found what they had been seeking…
And so the cycles continued from where they left off. A Hero would rise as would a civilization. An Heir would fall alongside the decaying ruins. For countless ages these eternities would continue ever present and ever repeating. As the sun would rise it would set, the cycles would repeat.
But in the end it would all come to an end. One Hero would become something more than merely an Heir to the Heir. One Saint would finally put the last lingering remnant of a forgotten past to rest. Two tired, exhausted souls bound to eternity would finally be free to rest. For while eternity is to last until the end of time, there will come a time for everything to end.
The mistakes.
The horrors.
The regrets.
The pride.
The foolishness.
The cycles.
The Void and Far Shore.
Even time itself will come to an end.
And for a Ruin Seeker and a Saint, their cycles end as they sit next to one another, silently accepting the peace of the long awaited end of their cycles.