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Noli had always been a lonely deity.
It had always been far too powerful for anyone to seek any sort of companionship toward it. And if anyone Did try, it had always always for their own benefit.
Although it initially had hope of making bonds, as the years began to go by with more and more people learning to Fear and Avoid it, it had began to lose hope. Until eventually, it had given up altogether. Despite the ache in its chest that its pride had refused to acknowledge.
It was a deity. It didn't need companionship in the long run, anyway.
Those were the words it tried to convince itself with for a long, long time. Despite how much it had began to falter as time passed.
It will get used to being alone. It just needs a little more time.
Halloween.
It's absolute FAVORITE holiday that the mortals had created. And for once, that wasn't actually sarcasm.
It could basically get free candy just by asking, and also some very easy kids to scare! If that isn't the sign of a good holiday, then it didn't know what is.
It was just meant to be the usual Halloween of tricks and treats.
...So then,
Who was this douchebag, standing infront of it with his hand held out, as if he wanted for it to shake it? Introducing herself with a smile that would've almost seemed believable if it weren't for the fact that it simply seemed Far too nice?
...It doesn't know. Or, maybe it did and it just refuses to remember his introduction. Either way, it had quickly flew out of there, completely ignoring the strange, flaming skeleton as they yelped in surprise and asked for it to stay and chat, which of course it didn't listen to. Hopefully, to never meet again.
...But not before taking some of the candy that was with him. The guy looked like she had enough to go around, so it wasn't that big of a deal.
... Unfortunately, luck was not on its side, as usual. As it heard a familiar, annoying voice began to greet it once again.
That's annoying. Didn't this guy see it Really wasn't interested whatsoever? Most usually give up the first time it refuses them, too!
And he still has that infuriatingly kind attitude, too. Can't he see that it's not falling for it already?!
Whatever. Just like before, it's not gonna stick around for long. And just like last time, it quickly snatched something on their person. They'd be a complete idiot if this didn't deter them.
It could hear him saying the same things as last time, but who cares? Not it!
Dear Roblox this guy was seriously stubborn.
It hadn't been that long since their last encounter, maybe about a week or so, which likely means that she was following it somehow. Maybe it should start leaving less traces next time? If it constantly had to deal with stubborn weirdos like this guy, it would go insane.
It tunes out whatever he was trying to say to it. Seriously, go AWAY already! This guy completely ruined its motivation to cause havoc here! Gahh, whatever! Its just gonna steal something of his like last time and go!
If she keeps seeking it out like this, then it's CLEAR she doesn't value her valuables! Especially since he just keeps it on him like that! Stupid skeleton.
As it flies away though, it notices What exactly it stole.
It was... Oh.
Oh!
Well, maybe that whole encounter wasn't so bad after all. Who knew that guy had some good taste in literature?
Strangely enough, after that encounter... there seemed to be some kind of routine beginning to form between them.
The skeleton- Yorick, it was willing to finally call him now- sought it out. Trying to speak to it, and it took something from his person and ran off without acknowledging anything she said.
The things it stole from him were varied, but eventually started to become exclusively literature. Which greatly pleased it, but also made it start to realize that Yorick was actually letting it steal from her as some... way of tribute, it guessed?
Which...
Felt wrong.
It got so much, yet he seemed fine with receiving absolutely Nothing in return.
After it had realized that, it had began to give Yorick some small things in return, too. Other offerings it received from some... incredibly annoying ants.
Perhaps it was dumping useless trash at Yorick, but who cared? Atleast he can't complain about not getting anything anymore. Not that... he even did in the first place, strangely enough.
He actually seemed happy the first time it dropped some random thing into his hand.
Well, whatever. Not its problem. It's happy, she's happy. Win for everyone!
This continued for a while.
He gave and it took, and it gave and he took.
It was a perfect routine. One that shouldn't have been broken.
And yet... its curiosity got the best of it.
For the first time, it had decided to stay. And finally ask the question that's been plaguing its mind since this arrangement of theirs started.
"Why?"
The answer it received?
He thought it had seemed lonely.
…
It hummed, taking everything in as Yorick excitedly toured it around their manor.
As much as it hated to admit it, Yorick was Much more impressive than it gave them credit for. Seeing dozens upon Dozens of rare items, gears, books and trinkets in just about every room of the manor. All of which were clearly incredibly well taken care of. Which it had found all natural, due to Yorick's nature.
...It didn't know when it had begun to see Yorick's kindness as genuine, but.
It's not complaining.
Its become a frequent visitor of Yorick's manor, now, Much to Yorick's delight. Particularly, the library. Turns out, they both have a great fondness for literature. Something it slapped itself for not realizing immediately, considering Yorick's name and speech patterns, but whatever.
Due to this though, their little exchanges have been happening less and less. But it really didn't matter, considering that it had everything it needed in this manor.
Well…
That WAS until Yorick had suddenly disappeared. And it wasn't for a day. Not two, not three, not even for a week!
No, he'd been gone for a MONTH at this point! How did it know this? Well! Around the… 2nd or so week, it had begun to basically make itself home in Yorick's manor. It figured that since it was practically spending most of its time reading over there instead of its… ‘Home’, which was the Tempest, it might as well move in!
At first, it didn't mind. But as time went on, being completely alone in its manor, it eventually began to grow frustrated. Where WAS she?! Did the idiot get herself killed during one of her hunts?! Or, or…
Was he like the others, who had aimed to try and take advantage of it?
…No. No, can't be. She just wasn't that kind of person.
Right?
…
Maybe it should go look for her.
It took several days for it to find them. But when it finally did, it practically Lunged at them, shaking and yelling at them.
It had taken several minutes for it to calm down enough for him to explain that he was still simply out for a hunt. It was just that this one needed a Lot of patience.
It had scoffed and stubbornly insisted that it join him on the hunt. To which he agreed… with some reluctance.
Though, due to its extreme impatience and the frustration it still felt at the fact that Yorick was gone for so long, it had somehow managed to catch the thing Yorick was hunting on the same day.
…A frustration it felt fading away after it saw Yorick's happiness.
Maybe, this is how it could repay him for the books this time. Since they stopped doing those exchanges of theirs.
Is what it thought, but…
Yorick actually liked the hunt. And its presence made it far too easy due to its speed and other's difficulty in perceiving it.
Why he preferred the hard way, it could never fathom. But doing this on their own made them happier.
So.
That, left it alone. Again.
It'd complain, but. Really, it makes it feel Off. The fact Yorick gives so much and it gives too little. Leaving them alone to their own activities isn't that big of a deal, really.
Really, it's not.
…It would appreciate some way to contact each other, though.
But, it tried not to think too hard about it. Despite how long Yorick takes, they always came back. So it'll just drown itself in books until they come back!
It didn't know that this time would be different.
A month passed. It finally finished reading every book in their library.
Two months passed, it began to clean their collection from how it observed Yorick doing it. It definitely isn't as thorough or as professional as it liked, but it'll learn.
Three months, it's good at that now. It's memorized every nook and cranny of this manor now. And the outside.
Four months. It began leaving more, causing havoc like it did in the old days. It missed this, but there was someone else it missed more. It can still be patient.
Five.
…
Maybe this whole thing was a mistake.
It sat on the roof of the manor, looking down at the land it's completely familiarized itself with.
It was beginning to call this place home.
But now, even the thought of spending another second in this place makes something inside it Twist.
She didn't care about it? Fine. It won't come crawling back. She never deserved its company anyway! Never deserved ANYTHING it gave her, not those times it helped her hunt not when it helped him get whatever thing he wanted it to help get- he didn't even deserve those WORTHLESS OFFERINGS!
It paused.
Taking a deep breath, it slowly stood up.
Taking one last look at his resting place, it grit its teeth before flying off. Planning on never looking back again.
It's back at the Tempest.
It should be glad that it's Home, it really should.
But…
Damnit.
When it meets that skeleton again, it'll make him REGRET ever-!
…No.
Stop thinking about them.
It doesn't deserve to keep occupying its thoughts anymore.
You know what?
It's gonna find something better.
…No.
It's gonna make something better.
And then, it can forget about him. Like he forgot about it. And they can both live their lives! Free of the other!
It hurts.
IthurtsithurtsithurtsithurtsithurtsithURTS-
But-
It can't stop now, can it?
Not when it's already made it this far.
It just.
Needs.
To endure-
And EXCISE-
. . .
It crumbles to the ground, red filling its vision.
Despite the pain coursing through its body, it still forced itself to cradle the being beginning to form in the pool of red.
It had lost its right eye, but it had been worth it.
On this day, it will never be alone again.
On this day, the elder tree now has its own little sapling.
On this day.
This lonely, lonely day.
The Spiked Devil
Was Born.
Having a kid was really a strange thing. Especially when... they weren't Exactly a kid. Grew up pretty fast, it seemed.
Maybe it was due to the fact that they formed from its eye? That was its best theory, at least. But the kid never really gave it much time to wonder. They were surprisingly a handful, despite how strangely... distant, they seemed from it.
Which- hurt a little, sure. But eh. Maybe it's just some kind of rebellious, teenage independent phase or whatever it was mortals had. Doesn't really make sense to it but it's the only reference it has. It hasn't really Met any deities who had a kid like it did, so...
Though.
Sometimes, it felt an eye staring at it. With so much intensity it almost felt as if they were glaring at it! Which... was impossible, wasn't it? What reason would they have to glare at someone who was their parent?
...Was it not doing enough, or something? It thought it had this whole parenting thing in the bag despite the initial problems, but apparently not.
There's one thing that's been troubling it lately. And for once, it wasn't ASPX's strange behaviors.
That church in its home. One it and ASPX had known about for quite some time now, but was pretty helpless to do anything about.
Really, how did someone even build that here? Actually no, wrong word.
How did a Player built this thing here without being given permission by it? A 'game' which is the Home of a Deity?
It... has yet to figure that out. And that Frustrates it. ASPX, even moreso. Perhaps because they have more attachment to this place than it did, somehow.
It isn't risking trying to go in there and Ask, too. It's met quite the number of obsessed weirdos that worship it, but somehow that hooded guy takes the cake! Though, it honestly feels kind of insulted that he does. In THAT outfit? No thank YOU! Even IF it doesn't particularly Like any cultist it meets aside from the things they offer to it.
Anyways, getting back on track...
Looks like there's another poor soul who stumbled across the place. ASPX definitely wouldn't be happy.
HeadAmongThousands, huh.
For some reason, the username strikes a cord in it. But it doesn't really know Why.
...Maybe it can spend some of its freetime watching him later. Not like it had anything better to do anymore... And ASPX was already pretty damn independent. Soooooo.
It remembered something. Something that caused it to realize exactly Why that name struck a cord with it.
Yorick... knew a surprising amount about it that it itself didn't even know about. One of those things, or course, the event that allowed players to get the voidstar. Or well, some knockoff imitation of one anyway.
It required players to figure out a haiku in one of the mysterious object's descriptions. If it recalled correctly, mysterious object #4's haiku was...
'Dios Achilleus:
One head among thousands when
Illium died in fire'
Wasn't that a funny coincidence?
Maybe this Thousands kid isn't so different from the cultists he hangs around with.
...Wait.
What do you mean he has a job?!
It's been a while. But somehow- it... doesn't feel all too well.
It's been having a bad gut feeling as of late. One that constantly makes it Anxious, which pisses it off.
It was a deity. It didn't have to be scared of anything.
Yet why...
Why does it still feel such an overwhelming sense of dread?
It was suppose to be perfect.
It was suppose to fix everything.
And yet.
And yet-
What happened? What was it doing wrong?
Why, why is it that everytime it keeps trying. Trying to make a difference in its life- Something goes wrong?-
…
Despite what they will do, it cannot help but speak these words regardless.
“I'm so sorry.”
Its sapling.
Its poor sapling-
They never deserved to come from such a rotten tree.
It had been a few weeks since those… so called ‘Spirit Hunters’ had awoken it, as well as the other spirits trapped in this godforsaken game. And it already felt as if it was losing its mind.
Because it TOTALLY wanted to be trapped in an INCREDIBLY bare bones game with the people that caused its DEATH! Yup!
God, it hated these people. Trying to investigate something far beyond what they could comprehend, uncaring of the fact that they desecrate the graves of the spirits trapped within.
…And it ESPECIALLY hates the fact that it knows that regardless of what it does, how many warnings are given to them, and whatever kind of paranormal activities they experience-
Nothing would ever get them to turn back and forget about this place.
But-
Whatever.
Why did it care? These were just complete strangers who decided of their own accord to poke a sleeping bear. Or would it be more accurate to say sleeping spirits?
It's not its problem what happens to them.
Except, it was.
...These fools were its entertainment, after all!
Its recently learned that it, *DESPISES* the cold.
Maybe it was due to how cold it constantly was, or maybe it's because the snow is so strongly associated with hoodie over there that it's grown to absolutely Despise it. Either way, it was gonna go sit by the campfire. Uncaring about how uncomfortable the 'seats' were. Or how the campfire barely produced any heat whatsoever.
It sighs, curling up.
Was it wrong, to still miss him?
No matter what it tries to do, that bastard still sneaks sneaks back into its thoughts. Its kindness and odd manor of speech far too vivid.
It hated it.
It hated the fact he was its first true Friend.
What... the fuck.
Who was that?!- No.
What was that?
It's tolerated a lot of bullshit since being trapped here.
The spirit hunters who are kind of fun to mess around with if it ignored their attempts to get answers and worse, befriend it? Fine. Tolerable. Even if a few of them kept staying up and wasting their life on this.
Those cultists? Manageable. Even if it hated them for being the cause of its death. Hell- even that hooded guy was tolerable on a good day!
But, this?
That complete abomination that claimed to be from the same inky well it came from?
No.
Hell no.
One day. For ONE. DAY. Can't it just rest for once?! Can't it just close its eyes without having to worry about anything in here?! It's not asking for much, really!
It's just-
Ugh.
Okay, it's fine, it's Fine. It's literally died before, it can handle some- transparent png looking freak! Yeah!
...Yeah.
It was eerily quiet as it hugged the bloxpin teddy gear by the campfire.
It was so confident before. But now look at it, hugging this stupid plush by a campfire that barely did its job of warming people up.
It felt pathetic.
To be reduced to such an extent, where was the deity from before? What happened?
Could they even be considered one in the same anymore? It sure didn't. The thought of being one in the same as that being fills it with such a strong sense of disgust, that it just wants to-
It's snapped out of its thoughts as it hears the presence of a player nearby.
Quickly putting away the gear, it sat up and ran at the player to silence them. But they had reset their avatar right before it did.
Coward.
...They better not have told anyone.
Today was it's birthday.
Really, it couldn't bring itself to care anymore. It's been over a decade, after all.
...But it seemed like 2 people cared, despite not being close to it at All.
Some baby goat who keeps drawing all over the place and a hare who keeps bothering it.
...
It can't.
Even if it tries to force itself, it just can't bring itself to care anymore. Not that it even Wants to.
It's just an act. Some people are willing to play the long game and do unnecessary things that waste their time if it means their plans come to fruition.
That's just how things work when it comes to it.
At the end of a world, it sits alone in a place so violently against it.
Whether it accepted its fate or not, didn't matter.
Because something wanted it to live. For one reason or another.
It's been resurrected. It should feel alive. It is physically.
But it was so, so tired.
. . .
It's been quite some time since her resurrection.
Her life so far... hadn't exactly been very eventful. Then again, the days have all been blurring together for a while. So it's hard to remember if something Actually interesting happened or not.
Though... probably not. It's just been cooped up in its own section it created in the Tempest. She didn't want to go out, but she also really, really didn't want to stay. This was the best compromise she could find.
Though, on the bright side of things, she actually... found herself being able to sleep for once.
Of course, nightmares still plagued him, sometimes. But... that was fine. It's certainly more manageable than living through it, that's for sure.
But.
So much still felt missing.
There's pieces of him that he will never be able to get back, no matter how much he tries.
Maybe he should just come to terms with that already. He's already come to terms with a lot of other stuff, after all. It's just another one to the pile.
And if they can't come to terms with it, then they'll just distract themselves or something. They need an excuse to... go outside again for once.
Something broke her carefully managed routine of normalcy.
A Guest. They seemed quite young, though, that may just be because they seemed a bit scrawny. A little too thin for her tastes.
Despite her better judgement, she took them in. He's still weak, after all this time.
They seemed shaken as they ate. Eyes anxiously darting towards him every few seconds as they ate or really just did... anything around honestly.
Was she really that scary? Or was the kid just a wreck.
...Eh. Doesn't matter much honestly.
The kid left a bit later. Unsurprising.
But what was surprising was that they just.. kept coming back. Still looking a bit afraid, and very hesitant, but that seemed like the default expression on this kid.
Though, all of that is probably not as surprising as the fact that she keeps letting them come back.
Did she really learn nothing from before?
Apparently, yes.
...Well, she really doesn't care whether she lives or dies anymore. He's just kind of been... drifting through the days since he came back to life anyways, this is probably a nice change of pace.
Or more than that, considering the kid actually makes her want to start seeming as presentable as he used to be back then.
She doesn't know when this started happening, but somehow... the kid, Sixer, managed to convince her to go out sometimes. Even if they didn't realize it.
Even if it was just to simple things like, adding to his wardrobe. Or stealing some perfume. Maybe a scarf or two as well since the kid gets pretty cold in the Tempest, but you didn't hear that from him.
Point is...
Things, actually felt like they were getting better for once.
A feeling they don't know what to think about, considering their history.
Maybe they shouldn't think too hard about it.
They should just focus on making sure the kid's alright, really.
On one of their outings, they... found something INCREDIBLY strange.
Some fat orange cat that, for Some reason, explodes. The hell?
Wh- Why is this thing in a place like this? Are 'Adopt and raise a cute baby' games really that serious??
Oh who was she kidding of course they were. God knows the amount of people using the admin commands to terrorize the roleplayers here.
She would know, she was 'people'.
But, hm.
Maybe... he could take it with him. He might... be terribly allergic to cats, as he's beginning to find out, but. The kid would like it! So it wouldn't be all too bad.
Anddd lo and behold, he was right. The kid did love it. Though, it did kind of scare them how the kid managed to lift that thing so easily. But- Eh. She's seen weirder.
She's snapped out of her thoughts as the kid 'speaks', asking her Why?
For the first time in a while, she lets out a laugh.
"Consider it little gift from me to you, kid. Someone to keep you company when it gets tough and I'm not around."
She can't always be there for them, after all.
Maybe she should've.
Then she would've been able to take the kid away sooner.
But...
This wasn't the time to try and think about the What Ifs.
They're here.
SEND WORD
...
He can't run away from this.
Not anymore.
It's been a while since the safehouse was created.
It's pretty much been... what? A year now? Time sure passes quick. Which was surprising considering every day in this place felt like forever with all the work she has to do.
... Speaking of work, Halloween was beginning to come up.
Despite the... Somewhat unpleasant memories now associated with the holiday, they still felt excited. They've managed to scrounge up some extra supplies to put up decorations around the safehouse, as well as some materials needed for- you guessed it! Costume making! They can't exactly trick or treat the traditional way, but hey. Atleast he can get a good laugh at whatever they come up with!
Something seemed off in the safehouse.
Namely- where the hell WAS everyone?! He knows they're all here. He's made Sure they were all back from their expeditions before Halloween!
Was there something happening upstairs or something...?
Ugh. Looks like it'll have to find out.
She stopped levitating and began to walk upstairs to see what the commotion was about. As she made her way up though, she heard a familiar voice that made her heart Drop.
...
It couldn't be.
Despite the dread they felt, their legs began to move on their own. Practically Running up the stairs to see if it really was who they thought it was.
Everyone paused as they all noticed him.
Everyone but one.
It's face lit up, possibly literally upon seeing her.
It ran up to her, greeting her as if it was seeing an old friend, while she remained frozen.
The moment it touched her, she Flinched.
It froze at that, and immediately took a step back. Looking puzzled and worst of all, concerned. As if it didn't know Why such a reaction happened.
...Did it really not know?
Did it really think, that after so long of NOTHING, he'll just let it back in his life like nothing ever happened?! Like it didn't just leave it behind?!
. . .
But-
Despite his hatred, his anger-
There was still a part of him, a part he tries so, so hard to bury, that actually seemed happy to see it.
God.
They were coming back down to their shop.
The others shouldn't see them like this.
Yorick shouldn't see them like this.
And yet... it still happened.
She closed her eyes, the tension in her body reluctantly fading away as, for the first time in over a decade-
She doesn't feel so cold anymore.
As they watched the shopkeep fall asleep in Yorick's arms, the survivors all exchanged a look towards eachother.
Guest had been the first to act. Walking towards Yorick and doing their best to try and get their message across. Thankfully, it did.
And after that, it didn't take long for everyone to act as well. And soon enough, a sort of pillow fort had been set up near Noli's shop.
They know Noli hadn't slept much since the beacon had malfunctioned. She denied it, but it was clear it was to keep watch so that everyone would be safe.
This is the least they could do for her after everything she's done for them.