Chapter Text
“I Know this is wrong…”
“I know I shouldn’t be doing this… wanting this.”
“This path already, shouldn’t even be possible.”
“…But I can see it. That it IS possible.”
“That I can change it. Will change it.”
“The ending of the Legend, the prophecy.”
“With this: I can see the thread of fate in my hand. All I need is to weave…”
“An ending where our heroes needn’t pay the ultimate price, however painful the alternative may be.”
“...It won’t matter, if objects burned can spare who does.”
“And scars can fade in place of fatal wounds.”
“Then fire shall rage till world’s end and Heaven will gaze no longer.”
~ ঌ ঌ ঌ ~
Two teens sent to fetch chalk fall into another world, entirely in their school closet. Kris Dreemurr, the only human living in Hometown. Along with Susie, a monster with a brutish reputation. She was the reason for the chalk’s disappearance. As the girl unexpectedly found the material to be quite appetizing. When she was caught eating it by the human she threatened them into not saying a word. Yet Kris simply remained silent. As they were picked up by their collar and slammed against the lockers, silence. When the closet door opened to an unnatural darkness that unnerved both them and their bully, silence. As they wandered inside and both fell from an unknown height, silence. Even when they woke up on an unfamiliar floor, skin now blue pigment, their sweater now armor, their pencil now a sword. Not a word was uttered. The silence might not have even been their own.
Another being lived in the human’s body. A “human” SOUL of supernatural properties. The invader had commanded Kris since the moment they woke up that morning. Moving them, telling them what to speak and who to. Controlling the human quite like a puppet. Yet the SOUL hadn’t the faintest idea why. So it just kept moving them, exploring with them. Maybe there was a reason it was here? They wandered through a hidden landscape of ashy ground among cliffs overseeing pillars of… something. It did not quite know. Quickly they had found Susie. She had changed as well. Hair and skin were a brighter color. Her jacket was now black and sleeveless, accompanied by spiky armbands. Now reunited, and then quickly parting again, they progressed not much further before being attacked. A rather round silhouette standing atop a pillar upward the two. Looking to be waving only to actually assault the both of them with spades thrown like arrows. So they dodged and dashed away from the projectiles and slid down a cliff away from their attacker. Walking away from the bottom of the cliff they had found themselves inside a town.
Rather what could be a town. It was barren. Bluish black buildings of a medieval decor. showing no light in their windows amongst an already dark land. Shops with no goods or keepers. Bakeries without a baker. Residences without residents. Plazas without a single soul. Kris knocked on each building’s door, there was never an answer. The echoes of their footsteps sounded deafening amongst the silence. The only activity was beyond the plaza. As something pierced into the sky. Some unfathomable geyser that seemed to spew darkness like water. It looked massive, stretching so high that its endpoint was not visible. But it seemed to originate from a lonely castle overlooking the lonely town. Kris and Susie approached the keep. There, the first two heroes of Legend would finally meet the third.
~ ঌ ঌ ঌ ~
The two scaled stone steps from the plaza that lead into a courtyard in front of the castle’s doors. An emblem lay in the yard’s center. A shield with a circle near its center, a wing on each side of the circle, underneath on the shield was three triangles in a line. The middle triangle pointing upside down. Kris recognized the symbol immediately, the SOUL did after seeing it inside Kris’ room. But only Kris knew that the emblem was the DELTA RUNE. Susie hadn’t paid it any mind, only looking up towards the castle itself.
“A castle? Why the hell is there a castle inside of a supply closet?” Commented the monster. Then, as if spawning from the very darkness itself, a hooded figure strolled into the yard’s center. Their body being completely enveloped by a dark cloak.
“Welcome, warriors… !” Spoke the figure, now standing in front of the castle gates. “Who’s there!?” Susie shouted, suddenly alerted by the stranger. Her teeth barred and she froze in place at the top of the steps. Fists instinctively balling.
“Do not be alarmed… I am not your enemy.” Reassured the stranger. “Please step forward… both of you.” Extending no hand he beckoned. Kris stepped forward. Susie, despite high nerves, relaxed and stepped forward. Both were now on the same floor as the stranger.
“Welcome. I am the prince of this realm… The KINGDOM OF DARKNESS.” He raised his head to look at the two directly. His hood still conceals his face however.
“Kris, Susie… There is a legend in this realm. A legend that says… Two HEROES of LIGHT will one day arrive. To fulfil the ancient prophecy foretold by space and time… Please heroes… Will you listen to my tale?”
The figure remained motionless. The silence of his kingdom only amplified as his cloak fluttered in the wind. Susie simply stared, unsure what to make of this yet. But Kris, commanded by the SOUL, gave an answer. With a monotone voice, as if speaking was a muscle seldom used.
“Yes”
So the prince told the heroes his legend. One about hope and dreams. About the Light and the Dark. The legend told across time and space. The legend of DELTA RUNE.
It told that for millennia beings of the DARK and the LIGHT had lived in balance. Peace being brought to the world. But that balance would one day be broken. Bringing world ending calamity. That the sky would run black with terror and the land would crack with fear. And so the earth with a pounding heart shall draw her final breath. And only then, at World’s end would three heroes rise.
A human, a monster and the prince from the dark.
With shining hope only these three would be able to seal the fountains of darkness. Banish the Angel’s heaven. Restoring balance to the world and preventing its annihilation.
“But today.” Continued the prince. “As the fountain of pure darkness here continues to give this land form… Another has been made in the east. Disrupting the balance between the Light and Dark. Kris, Susie, thank you for listening to my tale. I believe, deeply, that you two are the Heroes of the Legend. That despite whatever foes you may face… You shall have the COURAGE and POWER to defeat them all. DELTA WARRIORS! Please won’t you take hold of destiny…?”
Kris did not answer. Susie, who decided to actually listen to the fairy tale. Did.
“Uhh… nah.” The monster said flatly. “W…what?” Asked the astonished prince.
“Me?” Continued Susie. “Some warrior hero? Sounds kinda cool but… you’ve got the wrong person.”
“S…Susie did you not hear what I said?” Checked the stranger. “If you don't, the world will…”
“So what?” Interrupted the monster. “If the world gets destroyed… Not any of my damn business. It might actually be pretty fun.” Susie said quite casually, not even bothering to make eye contact. She just didn’t care. Maybe she just didn’t believe it? Or maybe she just cared more to go home. Or at least to go somewhere else. The prince was completely caught off guard, failing to figure for such a level of apathy. He stood silently for a moment. “Anyway Kris…” The monster continued. “If you wanna stick around to play pretend with this weirdo...”
“WHAT!” Snapped the stranger. Interrupting Susie who immediately turned her head back to him. “Do you not even believe me!? Why else would you actually…?”
But before the prince could finish his heated thought. He had been distracted enough for the human and monster’s previous assailant to make his boisterous entrance. A higher pitched cackle was the only warning given as out of literally nowhere a round boy that looked like a playing card had rammed into the prince with his fiery bike. Sending him flying into the wall with a burst of flames.
“Ho ho ho!” laughed the spade. “So the Heroes are fighting each other! Trying to do my job for me!” Said the boy. Upon closer look, despite his violent actions he was wearing a bright toothy grin with his tongue out. The demeanor didn’t feel malicious at all.
“Who the hell are you?” Asked Susie, who had been mildly entertained by the Prince’s collision.
“I’m…” Began the attacker, who promptly, and quite impressively, spun his bike on its wheel before finishing his statement. “The Bad Guy! So, you clowns want to seal the dark fountain huh!? And, still picturing you as clowns, save the world from eternal darkness huh!?” Susie was about to say otherwise until the boy continued speaking. “Don’t try to deny it…! We both know you’ll head east! It’s your only way home! But I LANCER won’t let you go there! I’ve even got a flawless two part plan to stop you. One, I thrash you. Two, you lose.”
“Hmm. Nice plan kid.” Suddenly said Susie, now approaching the attacker. “Really?” Lancer asked, earnestly touched. “Yeah.” Continued Susie. “Mind if we use it on you instead?”
*Lancer busts in!
Her teeth barred like an animal as her eyes looked like they could kill. She lunged to swing her fist only to find something fly out of her pocket and into her hand. Quickly it changed shape. Some dark pinkish thing flying into her fist and quickly morphing into the handle of an axe. The blade striking the ground before her fist that was now holding it could. The boy quickly backpedaled, narrowly avoiding the attack. Kris ran besides Susie, now finding a sword in their arms. Lancer then raised his hand. Spade bullets appeared above his head, ready to shoot.
He swung down his arm and the spades flew. They aimed directly for Kris, but when the spades closed their gap a heart shaped light illuminated from their chest. Then Kris found their body to be dodging and weaving the projectiles as if by second nature. As if by the SOUL’s second nature. After Lancer fired Susie took the opportunity to rush and slash him with her axe. Lancer backpedaled again but the monster had already anticipated it and aimed behind him. The strike connected and the boy was slashed across his abdomen and briefly knocked off his seat. He corrected and this time started to pedal around the two, attempting to flank them.
“Don’t know how I got an axe but, like, that’s cool.” Commented the monster before readying for another swing. The SOUL’s perception was different in battle, seemingly having the time to contemplate decisions for minutes when time passing was nanoseconds. It was able to give commands it didn’t quite understand. It could easily make Kris strike the boy with their blade. Yet It didn’t even want to fight. When it saw a rather unique but kinder option. It chose it.
*You tell Lancer you can’t tell the difference between his clothes and his body.
Susie briefly glanced at Kris in bewilderment before delivering another devastating axe swing. Despite the painful blow from the monster, Lancer was immediately delighted by the compliment. “Oh you make my feelings do wheelies! Sweet wheelies!” He cried before pedaling again with vigor. Circling the two as he shot spade after spade at them. This time they connected, hitting both Susie and Kris. Susie winced in pain from the strikes to her arms and Kris from the blows to their chest. Following another exchange where the SOUL simply chose to guard, sword morphing into a shield, the opponent spoke: “So what are you guys doing after this?” Lancer innocently asked. He truly seemed precious in spite of the attempted thrashing. The SOUL then decided to warn Lancer about Susie’s next strike. It didn’t want to see him get hurt, and if it could dodge Susie well enough it wouldn't either. Maybe this fight could end peacefully?
They continued to trade blows. Yet truthfully the only ones attacking were Susie and Lancer. Kris kept trying to compliment Lancer to erode his fighting spirit with diminishing returns. As Lancer now finds the flattery insincere. It dodged and weaved the best it could with each attack but Kris still found themselves getting hit. And because of Kris’ warnings Susie couldn't even hit back anymore. Blind unyielding pacifism versus dozens of spades gleefully hurled in their direction.
Yet the prince who had collided into the wall watched the exchange. As Susie and the boy exchanged blows. How Kris seemed to only raise their sword to change it into a shield. Or not raise it at all, in a foolhardy attempt at diplomacy. He furrowed his brow and watched as the cage would be continuously rattled and struck while refusing to use its blade. There was a burning in his chest. He stood up from the ground.
*Ralsei joined the party!
The prince dashed next to Susie after she had now swung and missed for the third time because Kris kept insisting on warning the enemy of her strikes. He extended two hands out of his cloak, black sleeves over his arms and bandaged gloves over his hands and fingers. Then he pulled them toward his chest, holding his hands together as he muttered something directly into his palms. Before throwing his arms back out and above his head as something sparked from his palms when he lifted them into the air. Kris could only watch as the prince casted without any input from the SOUL.
*Ralsei cast FIRESHOCK!
Instantly Lancer’s entire body was coated with flames and burned instantly. He yelped as the attack threw him off his seat. He got up and patted down the flames before getting back on the bike, which was now entirely on fire, before riding away with his tail between his legs while muttering under his breath. Susie put away her axe as Kris did so with their blade.
*You won!
*Got 0 EXP and 32 D$.
Even through the tousled hair covering half her face, Susie’s eyes had visibly widened. “Damn, that was actually pretty cool… but, uh, bit much” Said the monster, dusting off her hands after the battle. Though she genuinely seemed taken aback, a hint of concern in her voice and expression. There were burn marks where the bike’s wheels had been. A trail of quickly fading soot leading out of the courtyard where the boy likely tumbled down the stairs. The prince had since pulled their arms back into their cloak. He stared at the trail where the boy had escaped. The burning in his chest grew.
“Are you two okay?” Asked the prince. “I should introduce myself properly. I am…”
“Okay can you take off that getup?” Interrupted the monster. “I could only hear you clearly under there when you were yelling.”
The prince paused for a moment. “Very well.” He conceded, unclasping his cloak and letting it fall to the floor. Revealing himself to be wearing red robes that cut off just above his knees, on his chest the robes had a black emblem in the shape of a flame. Black sleeves covered his arms with bandaged gloves completely enveloping his hands and fingers. He wore a large orange scarf that wrapped around his neck and over his head as a hood. His face and legs were unnaturally concealed by darkness but the gleam of his glasses and silhouette of his mouth were visible from inside the hood.
“I am Ralsei. It is wonderful to finally meet you two. Together, I believe we can…”
“The way out is East right?” Interrupted Suse, now for the third time.
“Yes, together we can…” The prince tried to continue.
“Got it.” Said Susie, clamping down the conversation. She turned around and began to walk down the steps. “See ya at school Kris”
“Susie! Hang on! Just wait and let me…” Pleaded the prince.
“Like I said. You got the wrong person…” She stated simply before leaving with little care to the events.
Ralsei stood there mouth agape. He held out his hand, thinking of what to say. What he should say, needs to say. But a hero with no care or interest made pleadings and arguments completely worthless. He brought his hands to his face. Pushing up his glasses and covering his eyes in frustration. Whatever plan he had was sidestepped. With a grimaced face he brought his arms down and folded his hands behind his back. He turned, now with a neutral expression to Kris. The human had just stood and watched.
“Guess it’s just us… Kris. I have been waiting for this day my whole life… Where I finally get to meet you two... Even if our first meeting was rocky. I’m so happy you both are finally here!” He smiled with tired eyes, a true bit of warmth emanating from him. “We should follow Susie, she… won't be able to leave without us.” The prince then walked behind Kris. “You can lead the way.”
She won’t, why? The puppeteer wanted to ask but couldn’t. Quickly it learned its speaking options were limited unless prompted. The human was led out from the courtyard and back into the lonely town, Ralsei following behind. Nearing the town’s entrance, they went left, and across from the cliffs where Susie and they had come from. Both almost passing what looked to be a training ground, a well-used one at that. A fence on the far side and the Delta Rune in its center. The floor was covered in soot and scorched marks that varied in size. Some appear small and feeble, barely searing the ground enough to leave a mark. Others were massive as if full cans of petrol were suddenly set aflame and left the ground utterly scorched black. Ash would be carried by Kris' boots when they walked over. Up against the wall was a dummy. A very badly charred dummy. Looking like it had been blazed numerous times and melted over and over. Its integrity was thus laughable, and it threatened to collapse at any moment. It was a miracle that it somehow still supported its own weight. Whatever it was before was unrecognizable, only burns remained.
“Wait Kris.” Ralsei suddenly said, prompting the human to stop and turn around. He still had that smile on his face. “We’re going to face a lot of foes. So, I should probably teach you how to fight!” The prince glanced toward the dummy. For a moment, not even, a flicker of a second his smile quivered before he looked back and continued. “There’s something you should really know about it. How we defeated Lancer… was wrong.”
The SOUL was confused. He couldn’t have thought pacifism might have been a better option. Ralsei had literally thrown himself into the battle. Casting the spell that had sent their enemy running.
“The other Darkners, the other beings of Darkness…” Ralsei continued, now looking Kris in the eyes before continuing. “The ones we encounter will serve either themselves or villainous masters. I saw you try and ACT with Lancer. You're very kind for trying to avoid fighting… but it wasn’t going to work. Even if you did convince an enemy to stop… their loyalty would be fickle. If they were easily swayed away from the enemy’s side they could be swayed back easily as well. Darkners who attack Lightners ultimately serve themselves. When they’re meant to be serving you.”
Ralsei clasped his hands in front of himself, leaning forward. His eyesight was now locked with the human’s; his smile was gone as his face became stern.
“Convincing is not enough to win against them. They’ll just abuse your kindness the same way Lancer did. Cruelly attacking you when you were just being nice. Simply beating them isn’t enough either. They’ll just run away. Away from the consequences for betraying Lightners and for denying their responsibility to serve them as Darkners… So, there is something else we must do, to return them to their purpose… And…”
The prince raised his hand and opened his palm. Instantly a meager fire was conjured within his grasp. The partial outline of his face beneath the hood of his scarf was illuminated by orange light, smiling once more.
“I have the power to make them serve you forever.”