#divine even if that means sealing myself away for an eternity. even if i will never know happiness the way i did again'????????

[lanayrutower]

i'm about to throw hands with this yt poll.

this is the zelda version of that twitter butch post to me.

#the best zeldas arent even here!!! if og 'i was like 8 y/o when i SHATTERED the triforce and hid it ALONE in a monster infested land' zelda #and st 'the only one with a character arc u see play in real time & goes from i'll wait here to i will STAB malladus with my own 2 hands #and alone if i have to' zelda were here they'd obliterate the competition. maybe not in votes but just in terms of correctness #BUT EVEN IN THIS CASE. ur not voting for ms. 'i saw my family home and kingdom be systematically destroyed over the course of 7 years & #stood back up said no & changed my ENTIRE self to try to save everyone largely on my own for 7! years! as a child!! only to at the end of #it all be the only person who can truly empathise with the hero who had his childhood stolen from him and return it even though i will #never have mine again'???????????? #or even ms. 'i was normal & happy & loved until i wasnt and i learnt i was the orchestrator of my own and everyone else's misery because im #not even myself & im so much bigger yet lesser than who i thought i was and if i cannot be divine then i will be less than worthless i will #be a blight who couldnt execute the plan i had tossed everyone into and they will have lived in my lie and died for nothing so i will be #divine even if that means sealing myself away for an eternity. even if i will never know happiness the way i did again'???????? #i cant say anything about twipri. i barely remember her bc i watched that playthrough ages ago and she was barely in the game idk what ur #voting for #but botw???????? /BOTW/????????????????? #girl wasnt even the best princess in her own game and she only had one other competitor smh #(<-THAT'S A JOKE. THAT'S A JOKE. I AM JOKING.) #this whole thing is half a joke. i love botw zelda (dont look at me like that. i do) and i get why she's winning but like. come on. that's #way too big of a divide. how are oot and skysw losing that much. botw zelda's voice alone should have cost her half her votes #WKSHDKSDHKKA #anyway this whole thing is for funsies so dont be weird on my post ok <3? ive had a shit three days and if being fake mad at a silky video #game poll makes me laugh then that's fair ok? and if you're weird i have the license to explode you with my mind and curse your family for #3 generations ok <333? #freya talks loz

[fatefulfaerie]

Guilt

Fic-art trade with @rebuildingkonohaonceagain !! You sent two pictures so here is 2,000 words. I hope you like it!

Trigger Warning: mention of death

The whirring of guardians always made Zelda feel at ease, the way their inner-workings clicked, the way their mechanisms whistled. It was something Zelda felt she understood, and something that gave her great hope in their prospects of victory.

Her pride in the prowess of ancient Sheikah technology could be seen in the way she looked at them now, smiling at their apparent perfection. 

The blush on her cheeks, however, came from the knowledge of who was standing behind her, pensive in his duty and yet ever-vigilant of danger. He saw no danger in these skulltula-like machines, and thus allowed Zelda to run excitedly to peer at them with no word of caution passing his lips. Zelda loved looking down from the bridge of her study and seeing the Sheikah’s progress with the Guardians. Although she often felt Hyrule doomed with her sealing power still locked deep inside her, her hope returned when she saw the Guardians or the Divine Beasts.

“Amazing,” she remarked. “We’re at a point now where we can actually control them.”

Zelda turned around to face Link with a smile.

“At this rate, we’ll be well-positioned to defend ourselves, should Calamity Ganon return.”

Link’s expression moved slightly out of its neutrality, betraying Zelda’s expectations of her knight, and yet she welcomed the tease of emotion with open ears.

“Are you sure about that?” Link asked.

Zelda felt something grip her heart, like the cold hand of an Icy Moblin.

“Of…of course I’m sure,” Zelda said. “What…”

“I mean who are you kidding?” Link asked rhetorically, with an edge to his voice Zelda had never heard before. “We all know we’re missing a pretty big piece of the puzzle. Everything else is in line except you. Do you not care about the kingdom?”

Zelda’s eyes stung with betrayal and the cold hand seem to pull her heart down, farther and farther into unknown caverns below the castle.

“Of course I care, Link, what…” Zelda said trying to find her breath. She backed away in fear, her hand meeting the cement ridges of the bridge. “What has gotten into you?”

“I’ve trained all my life,” Link continued, his brow furrowing in his rising anger, “tired myself to constantly better for Hyrule to what? Serve a Princess who sees the Calamity as a joke? Who frolics around and pretends to pray to goddess statues? It’s time to wake up, Your Highness. Own up to your failures and we might even get out of this alive.”

“Link, I…” Zelda said, shaking her head. “You know better than anyone how hard I…”

The ground suddenly shook violently beneath them, Zelda looking down with wide, green eyes to see the bridge under her feet crack.

“Come on,” she heard Link say as he grabbed her hand and started to run towards the innards of the castle, towards perhaps more stable ground.

Yet the floor buckled beneath him at his next step, Link slipping off the bridge, hanging by the hand that connected him to Zelda’s.

They both looked down to what Link was hanging over and Zelda didn’t quite understand what she saw.

It was a large hole, with Calamity Ganon swirling in his own malice like a fish in a small pond of blood.

Link looked back at Zelda, whose gaze was panicked as she started to lose her grip on Link’s hand. She gritted her teeth trying to get a better hold, but it was no use.

Link’s gaze, in contrast, was rather settled for someone whose life was in danger, as if he weren’t surprised in the slightest.

“This is your fault,” he said before Zelda accidentally lost her grip.

“No!” Zelda exclaimed, reaching down with tears in her eyes as Link fell, lost to the darkness of the calamity.

Zelda stood up quickly onto what remained of the bridge, Calamity Ganon’s burning yellow eyes and pig-like snout rising to face her, it’s wispy red and black emanations trailing behind him.

Zelda, with panting, heavy breaths and cheeks endlessly replenished with her tears, held out her hand palm-first towards Calamity Ganon, wishing with all her might that luck would grant her the sealing power she sought, if not the endless years of prayers to cold and unyielding goddess statues.

Yet no power came, even on repeat attempts extending her arm.

Calamity Ganon gave a growling chuckle, smiling insidiously at such a failure.

“Finally,” he said in his groveling voice before surging forward with an open mouth. Zelda crouched in defense, her last resort before darkness succumbed her as well.

She didn’t know where she was falling from or to, nor how long she had been falling or long she had until she met the ground. She had no idea how she was changed from her royal blue dress to her white prayer dress, or what to do about it as the wind whipped through her long, blonde hair, almost tugging at it.

She felt almost dead, like she could fall, float, drift, drop for a hundred years until time became eternity.

She felt herself torn apart, like the Ritos, who pluck the feathers off their deceased before offering the body to the goddess Hylia.

She felt herself chocking on rocks and dirt, like the Gorons, who bury their deceased in the rich grounds of Death Mountain.

She felt herself rocked by unforgiving waves, like the Zora, who dispatch their deceased on a small boat lined with violets.

She felt herself dissipate, like the Gerudo, who burn their deceased to ashes and make them one with the sands.

“Zelda,” She heard a voice echo, surprised she could hear it, surprised someone could still know her, remember her.

“Zelda!” She heard again, louder.

“Zelda!!”

Zelda jolted awake to Link shaking her, Zelda grasping her hands on his arms as she gasped for air.

Her green eyes were absolutely panicked, looking everywhere but at Link, her head twitching like a shaking leaf.

“Zelda,” Link insisted. “Zelda, look at me!”

Link placed his warm hands on either of her cheeks, suddenly aligning her gaze with his with a soft gasp. Her shaky breathing calmed as her eyes filled with recognition, as her ears heard the cracking of a nearby campfire, as her skin felt a blanket fall from her shoulder to her lap.

As soon as Zelda distinguished the line between nightmare and reality, she hurriedly embraced Link, diving her head into the crook of his neck.

“It’s okay,” Link said, clutching the back of her head, her blonde hair entangled in his calloused and yet gentle fingers. “You’re okay.”

He held her and he rocked her as she cried into his tunic, whispering over and over into her ear soothing words that assured her safety, and his safety, and their safety, and their victory, their final long-awaited victory after a hundred years of insurmountable loss.

Link ended up leaning against a nearby tree as he held her in his arms, neither caring at all that their proximity would once, a long time ago, have been scandalous. Their titles were something they were glad to throw away.

Zelda drew circles on Link’s chest as he stared at the campfire, his head leaning on hers.

“Was it like your nightmare last night?” He finally asked, after probably hours of Zelda being awake. Zelda had observed that Link was good at knowing exactly what to say and when to say it.

Zelda nodded against his shoulder, her green eyes sad and frankly haunted, despondent as she lamented her nightmare.

“How do you feel now?” Link asked, looking down at her with a soft, blue gaze.

“Better,” Zelda answered quietly, as if she could barely manage to find her voice. “Safer.”

Link kissed the top of her head before leaning his own head on it again.

“Good,” he said.

A distant cicada started to chirp, Zelda immediately sitting up, ears penned and alerted.

“It’s okay,” Link said as he softly rubbed her arm with the backs of his fingers. “It’s just a bug.”

Zelda’s shoulder deflated from their tense state as she took a calm exhale. She nodded and yet didn’t return back into Link’s hold.

“I don’t think I can do this,” she said.

Link’s gaze moved downward.

“I suspected you might say that,” Link said. “The good thing is that Dorephan doesn’t know we’re coming, and neither does Sidon, turning back is an option. We can always visit Zora’s Domain later.”

The fire crackled as Zelda considered Link’s words, and yet her mind veered off in another direction.

“Do you feel as I do?” Zelda said, turning her head to her shoulder. “This…guilt?”

Link nodded, sitting up.

“I do,” Link responded. “But then I remember what we were able to do because we survived.” 

Zelda turned around to face Link, who was distracted by her beauty in the light of the fire until he saw in deep pain in her green eyes.

“Do you ever think I should have died instead of them?” Zelda asked. “Do you think it’s what I deserve? For failing them?”

“No,” Link said with sunken blue eyes and a shaking head. “No. Zelda, we all did the best we could. You know better than anyone how hard it was to unlock your sealing power. Everything was in place. We just ran out of time.”

“So…” Zelda started. “You don’t…blame me?”

“Of course not,” Link answered. “Why would I blame you?”

Zelda lowered her gaze.

“I’ve ran through it all a hundred different ways in my head, over a hundred years and, the loss is always my fault. A hundred different ways it could have gone, a hundred things I could have done different and…it’s always me.”

Zelda looked up at Link, who was shaking his head. He even graced a small smile.

“See, that’s where you are wrong.”

“Am I?”

Link chuckled, bowing his head before he raised it again.

“Who possessed the Guardians?” Link asked. “Was it you?”

“No,” Zelda said matter-of-factly. “That was Calamity Ganon.”

“And the Divine Beasts? Who possessed those?”

“Calamity Ganon,” Zelda answered, not sure what the trick was, what sort of test this was.

“Who came completely unannounced from beneath the castle and started attacking Hyrule by summoning all sorts of monsters?”

“Calamity Ganon,” Zelda answered again. “Link, what are you even getting at? Of course he--”

“Oh,” Zelda, realizing what Link was doing.

“Who saved my life by awakening her sealing power?”

Zelda sighed.

“Me.”

“And who, may I ask kept Calamity Ganon trapped inside the castle for hundreds of years, thus allowing Hyrule to flourish and grow because they were protected.”

Zelda was starting to blush.

“Me, again.” She said.

“And who finally sealed him away once and for all, bringing Hyrule to peace?”

Zelda rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

“Me.”

“Nope,” Link said jokingly.  “That was all me.”

Zelda scoffed and hit him playfully, them both giggling and laughing.

“All right, I get your point,” she said with a smile. “How do you always know what to say?

Link shrugged.

“Maybe it’s part of being the chosen hero,” Link said, Zelda glaring at him in disbelief with a tipped head. “Hey, you never know.”

Zelda laughed and her heart felt full as she looked into Link’s eyes, that were just as joyful and warm as hers.

They both smiled at the unspoken invitation between them before mutually leaning into each other, meeting their lips in an indulgent kiss that expressed their love.

Link cupped Zelda’s cheeks as they rescinded with a smile borne straight from pure happiness, admiring her for a lingering second before he spoke.

“It’s your choice,” Link said. “Whether we continue our journey to Zora’s Domain. It doesn’t make you weak to wait until you are ready.”

“I know,” Zelda replied, placing her hand where Link’s was on his cheek. “But I’ll have to face Mipha’s father and brother eventually. I would have trepidations no matter what…I think I just need to work through this.”

“Then I’ll do anything I can to help you.”

#zelink #zelda #link #botw #breath of the wild #calamity ganon #hyrule

[dragonrajafanfiction]

Tokyo Tower (Part 5) Butterfly Effect

Please enjoy this! :D I’ve changed a lot about this scene to cut out the irrelevant and pointless parts and keep it focused on the MC and the characters we want to see! @rurifangirl by request

“You think I would use the perfect evolutionary medicine on my own daughter and use her to create the perfect dragon race?"

"The so-called perfect evolution is the ultimate evolution that can maintain divine wisdom. Even if she evolves into a dragon, she is still your daughter. With her obedience to you, she can destroy the world for you, which is the reason you have been raising her so far."

“And if you get God's fetal blood, you'll use it on yourself?"

"It seems that only using it on myself is the safest way. I wanted to try it on Chime as well, but that boy is too hard to control, a viper's heart hidden under a feminine appearance!"

You speak the words but your playful manner has gone and been replaced with a numb realization that so long as Herzog was alive, you’d never find peace. You had a sisterhood and love with Renata but she was shot in front of you. You had just found love again before Herzog had Chance assassinated. And now that you had finally taken solace in a man like Ruri Kazama and bonded as a sister again with Erii, here he was threatening them both.

It would never end. Next would be Caesar, Chu Zihang, Lu Mingfei and then, once he was finished with you, you would be next. The man was a bottomless pit. He had no attachments, no empathy. Nor could he have them even if he wanted to. He’s whole life’s view was eat-or-be-eaten. There was no such thing as balance, no such thing as co-existence.

What he liked to call evolution was nothing but eternal slaughter, breathtaking in its scope. It was hard to believe someone like him could exist. You were horrified and amazed. While you have made decisions to kill others before, for the first time, you’re confronted with someone who had to die in the most absolute of terms.

You speak up again after listening for a bit. “Herzog and Erii were both exposed to dragon blood and started to turn into dragons, but were unable to complete the process. He says they were semi-evolved. Half-evolved. Bondarev has the raw materials Herzog needs, and Herzog has the methods and research to create the evolution medicine. They have agreed to work together.”

You didn’t believe they would really work together. At the first opportunity they would fight to the death. There was very little difference between these two men and the deadpool sphinxes in the mural hall of Genji Heavy Industries. Cannibals.

 "Damn it! How did the Tortoise get here?" Caesar suddenly snarled.

 "Brother!"

Caesar and Ruri Kazama spoke almost simultaneously, both in horror, but the messages conveyed in their tones of voice were completely different. Ruri’s uncontrolled dismay showed that Chisei was still special to him as his brother. Caesar was more concerned about the success of the mission.

“We haven’t had time to blockade Tokyo Tower yet! Tachibana Masamune might still escape!” Caesar shouted.

"Quick! Seal the elevator and the iron ladder! Brother may not have a chance to win against the King General! He will underestimate him!" Ruri Kazama said urgently.

While Caesar was concerned about Tachibana escaping, Ruri Kazama wanted to keep Chisei out of the clutches of Herzog.

"Calling Ruri! Calling Ruri! Change of plan! We're going up the tower now to intercept the King General, you stand by for a kill!" Caesar called loudly.

There was only rustling background noise in your headset. Ruri Kazama's voice disappeared. Caesar switched between different channels, and there was no answer from Ruri Kazama in each channel.

Ruri Kazama might have turned off the communication device or discarded it, in any case, he was detached from the communication network.

“I knew we couldn’t count on that guy!” Caesar yelled in annoyance.

Just like that, the entire operation was in disarray. You didn’t know what happened to him. Maybe an assassin had found him. Maybe Ruri was already dead! “Wait! He said we should stop Chisei!”

Caesar’s voice brooked no arguments. “Ruri Kazama withdrew from the mission. It’s up to us, the commissioners of the Cassel Academy, to carry out the mission of the Secret Party. Since both the King General and Tachibana Masamune have personally admitted to wanting to resurrect the White King, then they have already committed the felony of being enemies of the entire human race and have to be wiped out right now! MC! Lu Mingfei! Prepare your rifles!”

You hesitate. Ruri Kazama specifically told you that not even Chisei Gen was certain to be able to kill the King General. While Caesar was strong and clever and resourceful, he couldn’t rival Chisei's pure brute force. You look down at your sniper rifle in dismay. You heard the King General say that he was a semi-evolved dragon. This rifle was absolutely useless! You throw it down and turn and run.

Mingfei turned his head. “MC! What are you doing!”

The fastest way down the building was the stairwell and you leap down flights at a time. You feel like you were too slow no matter how fast you run! You burst out of the ground floor exit door and streak across the Tokyo Tower’s main plaza. You don’t see Chisei anywhere but you urge yourself to go faster! Lighting flashes and illuminates the black veins on your wrist and black veins peeking out from the collar of your shirt. They pulse like tentacles. You’re running unnaturally fast, fast like a demon, like a werewolf, pushed by the superhuman force of your dragon blood. You didn't need to use blood rage this time. Your condition really was deteriorating, bit by bit. Now Blood Rage was only a thought away.

You reach the stairs faster than any sprinter and start to climb up as fast as you can!

Then you hear footsteps behind you. You whirl to confront who was following.

In the dark and the wind and the rain, you were once again facing Chisei Gen.

Chisei Gen came stepping through the storm, his windbreaker flying like a battle flag in the gale. He was looking up high into the sky, his pupils flowing with the color of molten iron. There is no need for him to sneak. He is an emperor, the absolute emperor. Any opposition he faced he would simply crush with absolute violence.

So you shrink and make yourself as small as possible. “I can’t fight you. I can only tell you that you’re making a mistake! Don’t go up there!”

“What are you doing here?” The sword Onimaru glittered like pure ice in the rain.

“We received intelligence on this meeting from your brother. Caesar and Chu Zihang are also on the way to kill Herz… I mean, the King General and Tachibana for crimes against the Secret party. The King General is a half dragon. Chime didn’t believe you could defeat him and wanted us to stop you from going up.”

At the mention of the name ‘Chime’, Chisei’s eyes burned bright in the dark and the pupils narrowed to needles! He moved like the wind, crushing you against the iron stairs. The metal risers slam into your back leaving deep bruises. Pain explodes in your legs and you realize that he’s broken them. You scream and seize his hair, the only way you feel you can detain him. He’s amber reptilian eyes burn into yours. He snarls low. “I’ll interrogate you later.”

“Fine.” You sob, shaking, pale, and sweaty with pain. You release him. “Go die. Chime is the only one who cares about you anyway.”

Chisei’s eyes widen and then suddenly distance and dim and, for a moment, they revert back to their dark natural color. He looked so much like his brother in this state -- soft, sad, lonely. Those eyes were full of pain and regret. The rain ran in rivers down his face like tears. So little got to him, but those words did.

He straightened up over you and rushed off, flying up the stairs like an eagle, leaving you on the stairs in a curtain of rain. Your legs hurt so bad you want to swoon and every time you look down the world spins and you want to throw up.

“So… how’s it going?”

“How did I know you were going to show up?”

Z sits on the stairs and sighs deeply, holding an umbrella over your head. “Because I’m always by your side. Unlike some people.” He moves his hand to rest it on your hair and then retracts it. “I really do support you. You’re important. And I would rather things have gone my way with our relationship. But, like I said, I can’t make you do something like that. Like the genie in Aladdin. I can’t make you love me.” He chuckled. “But… like the genie, I can fix your legs. And I’ll do that.”

“Why… would you help me? I’m so confused.” You lift your head from the cold metal step. He was still in his fashionable suit and leather shoes.

“I didn’t tell you much when I was courting you, you think I’m going to tell you things now?” He laughed. “You’re doing amazing things. At least, I think you are. Hard to tell.” He turned to look at you with his golden eyes, then his eyes lift up to the stairs where Chisei disappeared. “It’s like the butterfly effect. Tiny little changes that don’t seem to matter have a cumulative effect. Now I’m curious. Hm…” He laughed, musing to himself. “Anyway. Your ride will take a few minutes to get here. In the meantime, I have to let you stay wounded so you don’t wander off and die prematurely. When it’s time to go. You’ll know.” Z stood up and walked away, stepping off the staircase and walking through the rain with nothing but open air beneath him until he vanished out of sight.

You lay on the steps, taking one breath at a time. It was hard not to moan but surely no one heard you over the torrential rain. Your mind drifted to Caesar Gattuso who would probably kill you even if you survived this. Or at least fiercely scold you. He would ask you what you were thinking, running off and confronting a furious Chisei Gen alone. You should have known he’d crumple you like paper. Caesar’s supposed to be the only one with the harebrained ideas.

You wondered what you were thinking. And you recall Ruri Kazama’s desperate words.

Brother!

It wasn’t just any exclamation. Chime was terrified of losing Chisei. His twin brother.

You hear a sudden loud bang, like there was a car collision right above you. As you look, a dark shape looms towards you. You feel a sudden jolt of fear! Metal bits and shredded dark pieces of cloth are raining all around your head and you hear the rattle of machine gun fire from the stairs!

“Ouch! … oh… Ow! Ow!”

A man-shaped thing was moaning while dangling by a rope between the shadowy metal struts of Tokyo tower. You recognized the voice. “Fingel?”

He sighed, whimpering. He was spinning while holding on to a thick rope. “Oh hey girly. Fancy meeting you here.”

“What happened?”

“Uh… the King had an escape plan. A big ol’ metal blimp! Bigger than mine! Haha!” He flinched. “Ow.”

You push yourself upright and suddenly realize that your pain is gone! You look down at your legs. 

They were fine.

At that moment, far more ferocious weapons than assault pistols boomed on the far roof of the building. It was Mingfei!

“The King’s escaping?” You grip the hand rail and pull yourself up. Your legs are wobbly, like you’d been sitting for hours, but they didn’t hurt.

“Yeah… I’m… I’m done here.” Fingel wearily groaned. “I want ramen… and more of that miso soup. I think I’m going to get out of the way. Good luck!” Fingel suddenly started sliding down the rope.

“Hey get back here! I don’t… I don’t have any weapons!” You lean against the hand rail to look down but he is already gone. You grumble to yourself. “Dog with no morality.”

“You can always join meeeee….” Fingel shouted from below.

He was right. You could go home right now. But Ruri was still out there. He might need your help. And… your legs were fine. You sigh deeply.

Chisei was an idiot. He didn’t listen. He never listened. He had a set path, a script to follow and he was following it without delay.

But Chime loved him. 

You push away from the railing and turn away from Fingel and dash up the stairs. You climb on healed legs until you reach the top of the stairs. The outer observation deck was completely covered in broken glass. Every window had been blown out. Chisei Gen was standing on the observation deck with submachine guns but he didn’t even notice you. He was staring into the distance and you follow his gaze.

The King General’s blimp was still aloft, but it was disabled. The man was hanging on by a ladder and buffeted like a limp doll in the wind. Immediately, something like a light black hawk took off from the rooftop of the building next to him, the gusty wind pounding its wings, carrying it to the sky. When the lift was exhausted and this strange bird reached the apex of it’s climb, it turned violently and swooped down like thunder and lightning.

it was a black glider, and under the glider hung a dressed-up Ruri Kazama!

 He was wearing a dazzling kimono, his robe and sleeves danced in the wind and rain. He carried his cherry red sword in his hand. Even without makeup, his plain white face was as beautiful as a supreme heavenly maiden, but with a lion-like smile.

He came in full costume to kill!

The blimp’s rudder was broken. It couldn't dodge and everyone could only watch Ruri Kazama's performance. The black wings hid the General from everyone’s eyes and no one knew his last expression. Whether he changed that mask-like smile.

 Ruri Kazama brushed past the hanging ladder and cut off the King General's head with a single slash.

That was not the end of it. With his gliding wings, he expertly whirled around the King's corpse in a very tight circle, and the second slash cut the king in half at the waist. The third cut severed the hanging ladder. The King's body fell in pieces in the pouring rain, and Ruri Kazama waved his sword in the air to remove the blood on it, and his glider carried him into the buildings ahead.

This was the real trap with no way out, where the strongest bloodline ability cannot be brought to bear. Ruri Kazama understood that Herzog would never entrap himself in the tower. He already guessed that he would have an airship prepared to escape, but, because Ruri did not trust anyone, he didn’t say anything to anyone.

Not even you.

The air was filled with his laughter after he had won, like the laughter of an actor on stage, so exaggeratedly contrived, but hollow and sad. He hated Herzog so much. Your mind fills with questions. Why did he hate him so much? How many years did he prepare to kill this man?

“Chime…” Chisei’s eyes were full of questions and confusion too.

He finally noticed your presence and stiffened, hand on his sword. But you don’t move. “Do you believe me now?” You ask.

Chisei’s hand released. “How.”

“Oh this?” You shake one leg at him. “The ghost of my dead boyfriend came and healed me.”

Chisei’s gaze unfocused and you realized that you meant Z but Chisei was thinking of Chance. “I won’t ask your forgiveness.” He said.

“Good.” You bark a laugh. “I guess that means you’re not a total idiot.” You cross your arms over your chest and smirk.

Chisei sighs, but he smiles a bit. “Even in a dire situation as this, you make me laugh.”

“I have a feel for a dragon’s sense of humor. If the dragon is laughing, it cannot eat you.” You tilt your head slightly.

“And why are you here?” Chisei looked past you.

Moving like a shadow and completely unnoticed by you, Sakura Yabuki stepped forward. She had been at your back, ready to kill you if needed. You feel a sudden chill, but the danger was already over before you noticed it.

"As a result of a discussion with Crow. It was expected that you would come to the special observation deck, so I decided to send men to protect you." Sakura's answer was curt, "I was the only one suitable for the job, so I came."

Lithely muscled, tall, in a black bodysuit and face half covered, Sakura Yabuki was made to live in the shadows. You’d only seen her a few times on your arrival, but hadn’t seen her again since. It was probably a good thing. She didn’t seem to be the type who let you see her at all, unless she was the last thing you ever saw.

What stands out to you though was that subtle humor. Your eyebrows raise. She was funny!

You hear a soft grunt. Bondarev was holding his chest. He smiled that winning smile up at you. “MC. Long time no see!”

Anger rose from the soles of your feet to the top of your head and you stare down at him, fiercely judging. “What’s done is done. I’m not into revenge.”

“Yes… I will… face the judgement of God.” Bondarev hung his head slightly.  “Chisei… let this girl go. She’s caught up in it. She’s innocent.”

“Cut the crap, Bondarev.” You say in sharp blistering Russian. He looks up at you again, eyes wide. “You’re not going to fool me. The minute I turn around, you’ll have me killed. This will end in blood because you don’t know how to live any other way.”

For a moment, Bondarev’s blue eyes sparkled. His Russian was smooth and unbothered by his injuries. “You’ve… learned Dr. Herzog’s lessons very well.”

Your lips quirk up in a smile. 

Chisei’s eyes bounce from your face to his. “You … know each other?”

“Long story.” You back away from all of them, hands raised. “Do what you need to. I won’t interfere.”

"We must hurry up and get someone to clean up the scene," Bondarev said.  "...and call a doctor for me."

"You've been taking some kind of drugs, haven't you?" Chisei Gen asked.

In the low light, you noticed an abnormal sheen on his body. It was the play of the light on small ivory scales.

"It's worse than that, it's preserved fetal blood, but with serum therapy, it's no problem to live for another few years or even a decade." Tachibana smiled, "Maybe enough to live to attend your wedding."

You glance at him and he meets your eye. Why would he mention that in front of you? Speaking in English, a language you would understand... Did he think you didn’t know about the serum treatment? He knows you’re dying and is dangling that in front of you. But you’re covered. Caesar would make sure to knock him off his throne and give you the leadership of Japan and the serum treatment without the constant threat of death. You respond to his look with a derisive snort and an unpleasant grin. You drawl in Russian. “No, thanks.”

The rain was still falling. The wind was sweeping across the special observation deck and carried a faint cry to your ears.

‘Tachibana’ froze for a few seconds and a great fright came into his eyes. He retreated step by step towards the interior. Chisei and Sakura also retreated with him. The majestic wind and rain seems to hide something more terrifying than even the King General.

Surprised, you turn to look for yourself.

A black shadow rose slowly from below the observation deck. The heavy rain hit its greenish-gray scales, breaking into a shining white mist. It unfolded several meters wide wings gently waving them in a graceful rhythm. A long snaky fish tail slowly stretches below its body.

Its long, dark hair is disheveled in the wind and rain, hiding its pretty female face. The corners of its mouth moved slightly, as if to laugh out loud, but what came out was a baby-like cry, and its mouth was full of thorny sharp teeth.

Flying Deadpool.

Not one but a group. They rose up from all directions, as if they were flying snakes in ancient frescoes, a sight that in the legends of all ancient civilizations heralded cataclysm.

#Dragon Raja

[theswordofpens]

Empress of Divinity

Gentle one,

To whom can I compare thee?

You’re divinity in motion,

Gazing upon this humble man

With the glowing eyes of desire.

Sadness has no place within that beautiful sunset

In those hazel eyes.

When you snap your fingers,

I’m at your command.

You're filling me with all your charms.

When you hold my hand,

I understand the magic that you do

And know the ways of your sorcery.

You've got your spell on me.

Your love smolders within me

Like fire in my blood.

You’re as lovely as a summer day,

Sweet like the morning dew,

And softer than a summer night.

Now I find myself wanting

For you to kiss me once more.

Oh to make this queen of angels sigh,

For surely she lights up darkened worlds.

I wish you’d never stop saying my name,

Your voice is the sweet sound of heaven’s choir.

You make me feel so brand new

When you gaze up at me.

You’re a part of my new dream.

If you only knew

How I love the way you move.

You’re on my mind,

And what a tale my thoughts could tell.

In love I am falling.

I’d like to stay in this feeling forever,

With your hand in mine.

Each night I ask the stars,

“Who would’ve thought a man like me

Could taste her lips of wine?”

From tonight until the end of time,

I wish to touch the sky with you.

You put the spark to the flame

With your soul of fire.

Like a river flows surely to the sea,

I will adore you until eternity.

For I wish to sail the seas of your beauty,

Night breezes seem to whisper your love to me.

You’ve got the way to make me happy,

With your sweet seducing sighs

Casting rainbows in my mind.

I thought love was only true in fairy tales,

But I do know that I love you.

I can’t hide the way you make me feel,

I can't control the quivering inside.

Seeing you sends chills up and down my spine,

Making my heart stand still

And come all undone.

You look lovely as can be,

So sweet the bees envy your honey.

You always have my unspoken passion,

For you make me feel just like a king.

What kind of love is this that you're giving me?

To do the things you want to do

Brings me a smile.

In your touch there is Heaven,

And in your arms I find Paradise.

You’re the breeze after the storm is gone,

And love grows wherever you go.

I treasure you like a hoard of gold,

Every jewel sparkling like your eyes.

I adore you - come what may.

My love must be a kind of sightless love.

Blind am I to the world and her daughters,

For I can’t see anyone but you.

Some wish for fortune and fame,

Seeking every diamond and pearl in the world.

But to be truly loved by you

Is more than all of these things.

I want to be the only one that makes you come running,

And I want to run my fingers through your long black hair.

I want you to know the meaning of being sanctified.

So many times I want to hold you oh so near,

And give you all the love I have inside.

Even if we grow old,

What lies between us grows new.

I feel you touch me in the pouring rain.

It’s more than what mere words can say,

For you’re as gentle as the evening breeze.

I listen to the wind of your soul,

A lover unlike no other.

More than just a dream come true

Heart hungering and soul thirsting only for you.

How many heartaches must I have withstood?

For my heart would beat in secrecy.

It's in you that I've learned to love.

You make the birds sing harmony,

Always sunshine whenever I look at you.

We'll be holding on forever,

Writing love letters in the sand.

I know your image of me is what I hope to be,

But you’re better to me than I am to myself.

There is no one compares to you,

For you rock my world.

I look at you and I fantasize

Of loving you with the freshnessn of a spring day

And satisfying your heart’s desires.

I never knew how complete love could be,

You write love with every wanting touch

And feed me love and happiness.

You give me your love so sweetly,

Your special smile warming the coldest of days.

Meeting you was my destiny,

As you’re all the future I yearn for.

Our hearts they beat as one,

A thousand nights of kisses sealing our bond.

You are my tantilizingly sweet surrender.

My heart has a mind of its own,

Aching for you to dance with me.

This is love that I’m feeling,

For the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush.

Your burdens I will bear,

I will hold on to what I need.

I can stand up and face the world,

Take ev'ry drop of rain,

And wash all your troubles away.

I’ll cover us in a blanket of love,

And every kiss we share will be never ending.

I’m not ashamed in sharing love I keep within,

So here is the soul of which you've taken control.

I could never match your worth.

You’re as constant as the Northern Star,

My guiding light through the storm of life,

Finding my way back home,

To be into your arms once more.

#autumn love poetry #autumn poetry #autumn #love poem #poetblr #beautiful poetry #poets of the fall #poets #poet blog #dead poets society #writeblr #artblr

[toho-literature]

The Grimoire of Marisa: Pages 10-17 - Reimu Hakurei’s Spell Cards

Dream Sign “Evil-Sealing Circle”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Often seen, movement stress type

Reference Level: ★★

A Spell Card where your movement is restricted by amulets. You're bound in place by the amulets and slowly strangled to death.

The fast charms aren't aiming for you, so it's not as difficult as it looks. Why doesn't she just aim them straight at you?

Bit of a tangent, but the amulets that Reimu uses for evil-sealing are booby-trapped. They look like gift envelopes with "full house" written on them, which makes you want to grab 'em, but there's nothing especially interesting in there. It's just a trap.

Dream Sign “Duplex Barrier”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Confirmed during the Eternal Night Incident, theatrical type

Reference Level: ★★★

A Spell Card with a mysterious power that turns space inside-out. I'm jealous.

If I had an area enclosed in that barrier, my magic's range would also widen.

I indirectly asked Reimu about it, but it was pointless. Apparently, a barrier is a boundary line between things, and having two barriers on top of each other is equivalent to a world with no boundaries. If you can find the gaps in space that are hiding just about everywhere, you'll be able to set up a duplex barrier.

In other words, she's bad at explaining things.

Boundary “Duplex Danmaku Barrier”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Confirmed during the Eternal Night Incident, theatrical type

Blowhard Level: ★★★★

A large-scale version of Duplex Barrier. This time I'm trapped in the inside part of the barrier too.

Honestly, the regular Duplex Barrier is stronger and more scary. This is the kind of thing people mean by 'a tactician getting caught up in his own schemes'.

Untitled “Flying Mysterious Shrine Maiden”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Rare, theatrical type

Reference Level: ★

A desperation Spell Card that Reimu whips out while in an unconscious state. Hardly ever seen.

She never looks at you while the spell card is in effect, so you're limited to retreating.

Her attack is omnidirectional danmaku with no blind spots, just sprayed everywhere at random. She's not looking, so I guess that's bound to happen.

Y'know, I always think this, but I don't see the benefit of not looking at your opponent during a battle. Feels like it'd just be a disadvantage, but...

Divine Spirit “Fantasy Seal -Blink-”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Long distance marathon

Reference Level: Only Reimu can do it, so it’s no good as a reference

Reimu herself only moves in a straight line, but somehow she completely surrounds you. Just as you think she passed behind you, she pops out from in front.

The tengu and Sakuya do something similar, but for the tengu, it's just speed, and for Sakuya, it's just teleportation. Reimu's technique isn't something cheap like that. You probably don't get what I'm talking about, but I don't really get it myself.

Reimu says that "you can't normally see the boundary that this barrier encloses, so it looks like there's countless copies of the enemy." Is it like a small world that loops around on itself? Or maybe it's something like two mirrors facing each other?

Reimu has lots of Spell Cards like this. They don't aim directly at you, so it's like being made fun of.

Divine Spirit “Fantasy Seal”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Often seen

Reference Level: ★★★★

A Spell Card that forcibly seals you with bullets of light that ignore the laws of physics.

It can supposedly exterminate any and all youkai, no questions asked.

Apparently, it's a wonderful light that youkai hate more than anything, but even for humans it still kinda hurts.

But what is "sealing," anyway? Putting stuff in a rice jar?

Holy Relic “Yin-Yang Kishin Orb”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Mainly used as a trick at parties

Size: ★★★★★

A Spell Card where she throws a giant yin-yang orb that was tucked away who-the-heck-knows-where. Unusually heavy lifting for Reimu.

Getting hit by the yin-yang orb hurts. Like, physically. 'Cause it's a plain old, hard, heavy ball.

The orb she uses in this spell card is particularly hot and heavy, but a human who gets hit with it won't get squashed flat or anything.

Divine Arts “Omnidirectional Oni-Binding Circle”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Often used when angry

Fun-to-Watch Level: ★★★★

A Spell Card in which mysterious powers take away your freedom of movement. Apparently it's for binding demons, but it binds humans just as well.

Once this technique begins, all freedom will be lost until Reimu stops it. But because Reimu can't move too, capturing this spell card is easy. All you gotta do is watch from a distance.

But do I have the self-restraint to stay still and do nothing while Reimu's sitting there like an idiot? That's the biggest problem.

“Fantasy Nature”

User: Reimu Hakurei

Notes: Rare, theatrical type

36th Stratagem Level: ★★★★★★★

Reimu becomes completely impossible to touch. She enters a visible "invisible man" state.

It's her ultimate secret technique, apparently, but it looks like she just closes her eyes while the danmaku fires itself towards the enemy automatically.

By the way, this wasn't even a Spell Card at first, but I gameified it by giving it a proper Spell Card name. Otherwise, there'd be no way to win.

This is the one single Spell Card that can only be used via the innate ability Reimu was born with. Hence the name "tensei”.

#oh zun and your pop culture references #also marisa what's with your rating system?? it's all over the place lol #touhou gom #grimoire of marisa #the grimoire of marisa #reimu hakurei #hakurei reimu #spell cards #touhou #touhou project #project shrine maiden

[shinjukuspiritcommittee]

Sunrise with You (+minor update)

7000 words and counting... this little passion post definitely set me back more than I’d like to admit. But then again, I’ve never really felt this passionate about writing in a while. I have a number of people to thank obviously. Like the devs at LifeWonders for making such a world where these kinds of fanfics are possible. And you, dear readers for giving me a platform to share these cheesy stories and for indulging me so much. Seriously, you guys are the best! And I think it’s about time we let that one guy out of his cell... 

~~~

Sunrise with You (Peace)

~With the endless game finally at an end, and the past behind you everything felt… fresh. Everyone in your life was no longer bound by the rules of any game and could live as they wanted. Even the wall that closed you all in no longer stood in your way. Weirdly enough you couldn’t sleep so you had stayed awake staying off at the night horizon. The Tokyo skyline seemed to go on forever with no boundaries to hold you. Just what did lie out there in the world? It was all so exciting. But then, the door to the roof opened and you turned to find…

Zabaniyya

~“Oh, Summoner. It’s unusual to see you out this late.” You explained you had trouble sleeping. Tomorrow was a big day after all. “It will be indeed. Even now the heaven’s give me a sense of peace…” He murmured. The two of you remained stargazing for an immeasurable amount of time, but you knew sunrise was only a little while away now. You then started to ramble a bit. You didn’t know why but you wanted to clear the air as much as possible. You also expressed how much of a relief it was knowing you finally have a place to call home… “I understand the sentiment. To be quite honest, the world beyond those walls always felt… alien in a sense. Just how far does it stretch? Where does it end? If anything, these horizons only seem to grow with each passing moment…” You muttered his name, unsure of how to comfort him. “Lately, I’ve been considering something… Lord Arsalan would always desire me to make a decision of my own but for a long time it felt impossible. Could one such as myself really yearn for a life beyond penance? A torture specialist really living a life of his own?”

~You finally told him that regardless of his past he was still Zabaniyya and every decision was for himself. Even divinity allowed those with their own wills determine their own fate, after all. “Yes, you may be right. And I believe I finally did something about it.” You asked what he was going to do. “That’s… well, remember that day we vowed to one another? Even though it was fake the idea never quite left my mind. What if we were to one day pledge ourselves to one another and just… run away? Be reborn in our own way. Would a life like that be truly acceptable?” For what it was worth you told him it was his decision to decide that. “I see… I feel I’m understanding his teachings after all.” But since he brought it up, now might be a good time to finally ask… you asked him to hold out his hand as you placed an important keepsake in his hand.

~“This is…!” He held Sal’s ring, the same ring he entrusted to you when everything was over. Since it was powerless he teased you to give it to someone special. Those words couldn’t ring more true now. “I’m… I’m speechless.” Was all the fallen angel could say. “Or rather… I’m still afraid to accept this.” You finally just came out and said that you wanted to be by his side and to make a future together for a change. But only if Zabaniyya desired it. He was silent in contemplation for a moment. As the sun rose Zabaniyya pulled you closer to his side and held your hand in his. “Perhaps this is too good to be true, and perhaps I am indulging myself like I did all that time ago. But this once, it no longer matters to me. I feel… genuine happiness knowing you are right here with me. And just as you pledge to me, I swear my oath and gratitude to you. This body, this heart and soul of mine- loves you with every ounce of my being.”

Gunzo

~“You’re still up?” You confirmed it for him and he joined you on the roof. “I couldn’t really sleep either. I tried jogging a bit but that barely did anything.” Gunzo sighed. “I thought maybe I might get tired looking up at the sky instead.” You told him you had a similar idea. “Well, I guess two great minds do think alike.” You sat with Gunzo staring up at the stars and the horizon. You were up for quite a bit, unsure of how much time passed but you enjoyed it. You made sure to tell him that. “Oh, same here. I like doing these sorts of things when it’s just us. Um… what do you think it’s like? Out there I mean.” You told him you weren’t quite sure, and that all you could say for certain was that it was big. “That’s a relief… I can’t quite wrap my head beyond the idea that there’s a whole world yet to be seen. It’s… scary… I’ve grown up here after all, it’s where I met all my friends too. I can’t just leave so easily.” You agreed it was scary to step out into somewhere unknown.

~Gunzo laughed. “The others would probably just laugh at us for being scared, right? It’s over something so simple too…” You did remind him the world could expand an eternity. “Don’t remind me. But, weirdly enough… I wonder what they do in other places? Do others play rugby? Do they take it as seriously as me? Where do I even start?” Gunzo shook his head. “No, I… I have to finish school here at least. Then I can worry about studying abroad like my seniors. Or maybe I’ll get a job… ugh, this is so hard…” You reminded him to take everything at his own pace and that rushing himself would get him nowhere. “You’re right… I’m glad I’ve got you here. I think I’d be pulling my own hair out right now if… n-no forget I said anything.” You took a moment to think and finally decided to give him that.

~“A-A ring!? Hold on, what are you-!?” You told him to hold onto it as a promise ring, and you confessed then and there. You might have broken Gunzo then and there as he simply couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of your statements. “Is… Is this a joke…” He asked before you confirmed it’s the real deal. It was then that all of his emotions came up at once and he pulled you into a tight hug. The embrace was very tight, but loving and genuine. “Please… Please tell me you aren’t joking…!” You reconfirmed it for him and used the L word to seal the deal. As the sun began to rose he started crying a bit in your arms. “Having you… knowing you… heck, LOVING you was the one thing I always felt sure about in a long time! I… I need you to keep me balanced otherwise I’d always forget certain things, be rather clumsy still and get ready to be apologized to a lot! I’m… I’m sorry for needing you!”

Takemaru

~“Hey.” The oni greeted you with a warm smile. You asked what he was doing up so late. “Well, I just finally finished a project I was doing with the rest of my guildmates. I let the others go on ahead to bed, just couldn’t sleep, ya know?” Takemaru walked to your side. “Mind if I stargaze with you a while? I just need some air…” You nodded and proceeded to look up at the sky. Each star seemed to immaculately twinkle tonight but somehow it felt familiar. “Heh, it’s crazy. It’s like no matter where we go, the sky is always the same. It just expands forever. No matter how far from home I am, I always feel like I can get back somehow just by starin’ at the stars.” Takemaru chuckled a bit to himself and crossed his arms. “Still, the past few years have been great. But I’ll be leavin’ again soon, I want to study abroad and learn about all different types a’ architecture. Maybe I’ll get some inspiration for the home I want to make for myself.” You told him that sounded hard but not impossible. “Heh, maybe. But I do know one thing. I want to build my home right here.”

~You were a bit surprised at that. “C’mon it’s not that surprisin’. My friends are all here, along with all the people who were nice enough to a guy like me, even you…” He trailed off. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts so you asked him what was on his mind. “Hmm… I was just thinkin’ about the future. This place really is like a new home to me. I couldn’t just leave it behind so easily. You especially made sure a’ that. Thanks.” His face reddened a bit but he kept a comforting smile on his face. You thanked him for giving you the chance in the first place. It was a nice change to be on the giving end for once. “…Uh, t-there’s one last thing…” He fumbled with his words a bit. Without saying much else he held out his hand to you and in it was a wooden ring. “I-I want you to have this. J-Just as a keepsake of sorts, i-it’s not anything official but… it would mean a lot if you kept it.” You were shocked to say the least as you took the ring from him. It was even your size. “Just promise me you’ll wear it as often as possible, even if it breaks I’ll come back and fix it right up!” You smiled and told him to take it easy. In fact you were a bit embarrassed since he beat you to it as you handed him a ring of your own.

~All Takemaru could do was stare at it with utter shock. He trembled as he stared at it, the Oni’s face turning a whole new shade of red. “Y-You serious…?” You nodded and told him he was someone who mattered to you a whole lot. You couldn’t just let him leave without telling him how you felt. Takemaru winced with that statement and before you knew it you were pulled into a tight embrace where he stroked the back of your head gently as the sun began to rise. “I love ya too. No, I love ya so much. I promise to come back to ya as often as possible. I can’t wait to start our lives together. Do you like kids? How many kids should we have? Oh, and our home is gonna need lots and lots of pets and- well, let’s take it slow for now, ‘kay?”

Moritaka

~“Hey there.” Moritaka greeted you. “Another night under the stars together…” He said as he joined you. “Sorry if this sounds sudden, but do you have any plans for the future now that we’re free?” You told him you had a few ideas and said you wouldn’t mind hearing any of his. “Well, first I intend to finish my studies in Tokyo. I see no need to rush out like the others do to be quite honest. But after that’s all done I wish to broaden my skills around the world. I want to see new things and places. Tokyo has given me so much, I can’t wait to see how much stronger I can become beyond the walls.” He explained with genuine excitement. “If I meet more people and test my skills against new foes, then I can definitely grow out of being filial…” You told him that it was an admirable goal. “Thank you.”

~“But first, I have to make sure I have all I can from here first. After all, there’s still so much in Tokyo I have yet to see and experience. But thanks to you and all our friends I’m not worried. At least, not anymore.” You told him that he helped you feel bolder after spending so much time together, and how dependable he is. “S-Stop, you’re making me flustered again… a-actually, I don’t mind this time. In fact, it’s rather nice to get a compliment such as that from you. Thank you.” Moritaka’s face went from embarrassment to a more somber one. “There is one worry I have though… I’m afraid that in my pursuit for a future, I may leave those I care about behind. I don’t want to do that… I wish you- … you all could stay by my side.” You may not be able to speak for the others, but there was one thing you knew for sure as you handed Moritaka a precious keepsake, the ring Salomon entrusted to you to give to someone you cherished.

~Moritaka was stunned. “W-Wait, me!?” He was shocked, furiously flustered and downright confused. “Surely you of all people could give this to someone else!” You told him it was your decision to make and that this was what you wanted. “I don’t understand you sometimes…” He sighed while smiling. “Thank you my fr-” Moritaka shook his head. “Thank you, my beloved. Yes, that’s right. My beloved. I never realized before but, this was probably what I wanted… I was just to afraid to say it…” You gave Moritaka a pat on the head and brushed your hand against his cheek fur. While you rubbed his cheek he brought his hand to yours as the sun began to rise. “This joy I have… did you know it all along? Or perhaps someone is watching over us… let’s see the world together, side by side. My feelings for you ever grow deeper, my beloved.”

Shino

~“You should be resting, it’s quite late.” He told you. You tried explaining you couldn’t really sleep and wanted to get some air. “Fair enough. If you’ll excuse me I’ll get back on my patrol.” Patrol, this late? “Yes, even with our victory, peace is still relatively young. Not to mention any remnants out for your head.” While he had a point, you don’t think they’d be a problem anytime soon. “Better safe than sorry.” Well since he was going to be up now might be a good a time as any to stargaze. “What part of patrol do you not understand? Oh, never mind. Fine, I’ll indulge you a little.” He blushed as he conceited to your request. “Perhaps there won’t be any issues if I stay for a few minutes.” And you both did just that, watching the sky and feeling that night breeze brush right by.

~“When was the last time I saw the sky like this? It must’ve been… that night before…” He pondered aloud. You asked him if he’s still thinking of “her”. “Yeah… ah! Forgive me, that was rather insensitive of me… you seem all prepared for tomorrow and I’ve still got my head in the past. I know she would disapprove of such talk as well.” You didn’t mind the talk since it was something important to Shino, it wasn’t something that could be forgotten so easily. “Maybe not, but… there is one way I think it’s been made possible.” Just what would that be? “Being close to you, of course.” It must have been because of him seeing her inside of you somewhere. “No, not that. At least, not anymore. For a while she was the one I’ve been longing to see ever since that day I failed. I desired to apologize and repent for my failure. She was the one I longed to see most. If I had been reborn then surely she must’ve… But I quickly realized how fruitless of an endeavor that was to even begin with, especially now that I know who it was I’ve been searching for all this time.” Oh? “Don’t make me say it…” His ears drooped as he blushed visibly under his fur and turned away. You told him you wanted him to say it, while presenting him with a ring

~Shino stared in shock at Sal’s ring. “T-This isn’t right… I’m just a lowly beast! Why would you want to make their mistake…?” You asked him if he thought this whole thing was a mistake. “N-No I didn’t… ugh…” He smiled and finally turned to face you as the sun rose. “I did say I’d indulge you a bit. B-But please don’t make this a regular occurrence.” He took your hand with the ring in both of his and looked straight at you with a serious expression. “I promise to never fail you, no matter what may come. I wish to keep this dream going just a bit longer, maybe even the rest of our lives. I know with you… the pain in my chest truly leaves. That’s why I am swearing to you, here and now. Not as a beast or as an image of someone else, but as the one you see before you. Please accept me, my beloved.”

Jambavan

~“W-What are you doing out so late? Shouldn’t you be getting your rest?” What about him, shouldn’t he be resting too? “A-About that… It seems Leib somehow talked me into finishing all of the previous work again…” You made a snide comment about Leib’s work ethic and bad practices as Jambavan’s expense. “I-It’s really not like that. Leib has definitely been putting a lot more effort into work as of late, but I think it’s so he can spend his days of freedom slacking. Then again he constantly worries about me nowadays. I’m not quite sure how to handle that on top of the work I was already doing.” Comments aside, you asked Jambavan to rest with you a while. “Sure, I was taking a break anyway I would appreciate the company.”

~You and Jambavan admired the vast sky together and just let the moment take you away. “Even after everything, it’s hard to imagine it’s all coming to an end… It feels like only yesterday I was running around tirelessly helping my guildmates and Alice, that now that I have the freedom to truly choose what I want to do for a change that… I’m downright scared.” You asked him if he truly had no plans for the future. “N-No it’s not that… the truth is, I wish to help as many as I can. And the only way I feel I can do that is if I become a well-versed doctor. To do that, I’d need to seek study outside of Tokyo. Which means I’d have to leave everyone who’d be staying here for a while. Alice, my guildmates, you…” You told him you understood, but it was clear the decision broke your heart a little. It was all for the sake of pursuing his dreams. “There’s… something else too… since I’m leaving I’ve got no use in hiding it anymore. I… I’ve absolutely fallen for you.” Jambavan told you boldly. “Sometimes I lie awake wondering if I’m going mad thinking about you. You’ve become someone… irreplaceable to me. One that can’t just fit as a friend in my eyes, but something more. I just felt you needed to know that before I left. That’s all…” Jambavan’s words surprised you, but made you incredibly happy all the same as you now had no reservations about giving it to him.

~“A-A ring!?” Jambavan gasped with shock. “I-I hope you’re not just throwing that thing around… wait, it’s… for me?” You nodded. “You’re serious…” His eyes began to water as the sun began to rise. He couldn’t contain his emotions anymore and Jambavan reached for you and pulled you into a tight embrace. “It’s… it’s such a wonderful gift! I love you so much! I just… I hope you’ll be alright if I leave…” You told him you’ll be supporting him every step of the way. “I-In that case I… I hope you don’t mind me being a bit more bull headed from now on! Of course I’ll be supporting you too in whatever you want to do. Thank you for showing me I can stand on my own two feet for a change…”

Hati

~Hati walked onto the roof and practically ignored you as he came to stargaze. You commented on the gentle breeze and clear sky. He didn’t seem particularly interested in speaking. So you tried shifting the topic to how late he was. Even then he still remained silent, staring up at the sky. You were starting to get a little frustrated with his silence. Still nothing. Fine then, if he was going to act that way you may as well up and leave. “Wait.” He said, while now looking down at his feet. “I don’t want you to go.” Then why won’t he speak to you. He hesitated. “Because I can’t…” What did he mean by that?

~“Every night the thought of the moon drives me mad until I see it and puts me at ease. For a while, it’s all I could think to do. I thought it would work this time but… it seems as though I can’t…” Was something driving him mad. “Yes. At first I thought it was my beloved Gabriel. While he still has my heart hostage with her music and compassion, I don’t think that’s what’s driving me mad anymore.” He seemed sad. “I… I think you’re the one driving me insane…” W-What? “The way you smile, the way you’re always putting others first, the way your skin is so soft, the way you smell- the way you… well, just the way you are hasn’t been able to escape my mind! Is this a new kind of love!? I thought the moon would calm me down but you… you just have to keep being you and never letting me have a moment of sanity! Just what’s wrong with you!?” He snapped. “Why did you have to go and make me love you!?” He now turned to you. “I don’t want to hurt you… I… I’m scared…” His feelings weren’t something you could control, but maybe there was a way you could put his fears at ease… with this…

~“What are you saying!?” Hati asked with confusion. “Weren’t you listening, why do you-” You told him you had fallen for him too. In fact hearing that those thoughts drove you mad filled you with joy rather than messed you up. It was weird but… you wanted him to have you for a while but were always afraid you’d play second fiddle to his moon. “Ah… I’m… I’m sorry…” He said with a deep breath. “I love you too much to ever want anything bad to happen to you. Which is why we can’t… if Gabriel is my moon, then you are undoubtedly the sun that gives me light to my life… will you…” The sun began to rise. “Will you still have me even if I were to hurt you?” You told him that would never happen, but your feelings are the same. Instead of words, Hati pulled you into a gentle embrace and closed his eyes, finally seeming to calm down. “Thank you, I… I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t… you.”

Kurogane

~“Oh Junior, you’re still up?” Kurogane addressed you as he joined you on the roof. “I’m guessing you couldn’t get to sleep either. It’s alright, I won’t tell anyone you’re up here.” You asked what brought him up here. “Me? Well…” He turned to the sky. “I do this sometimes. Reach for the stars and space is the final frontier after all, right? To me, it feels like the end goal that gets closer each day. Plus I just like the way the stars twinkle on nights like this. With a view like this, do you blame me?” You guessed not and you both began to ponder what space was like, from zero gravity to the constantly shifting temperature. You were a little scared of it but that only seemed to spur Kurogane further into going to space and conquer your fears.

~It made you wonder what he intended to do after everything the Crafters were repairing was all done. “What I’d do? Huh… I never slowed down to think about that. I guess I’d need to enroll into a college somewhere. I could just apply somewhere here in Tokyo and leave later. Actually, as much as I want to I don’t think I can ever reach space…” But why not? “You remember how I lost my arm in an incident a long time ago? Well, what if they don’t want me heading up there because I’m technically missing an arm. It probably wouldn’t be the safest plan.” You told him that defeatist nature wasn’t his style, and his prosthetic looked just like the real deal. “Oh, I’m not giving up. Even if I can’t make it to space, I want to be a part of a team that can get people there. With that at least I think I can say my dreams have been accomplished.” Well you told him you had faith he’d make it to space no matter what. No one could stand in his way, especially if he keeps training his mind and body. “Right! Thank you, I feel even more fired up now! Is your optimism something that comes this easy? I wonder if we could find a way to channel that…” You were a bit nervous at that suggestion. “D-Don’t take it literally!” Kurogane laughed nervously. “I’m just… glad I have you is all.” You were glad too, and you wanted your senior to know that, especially with how reliable he was.

~You handed Sal’s ring to Kurogane. “This… Why?” Well, you rely on your senior. Especially now more than ever now that you both have a future to craft. “I see…” He smiled. Kurogane wrapped an arm around you as the sun began to rise. “In the end that’s what I want. I don’t ever want you to feel like there’s nothing we can’t overcome, Junior! With my ingenuity and your drive there’s nothing beyond our reach! Not even the stars!”

Daisuke

~“Oh, Bro- erm…” Daisuke stopped what he was saying as he came up to you. “I…” he cleared his throat. “I couldn’t help but notice your restless nature earlier, so I decided it might be a good idea to check on you. Then you went and disappeared…” You apologized for disappearing suddenly but you really wanted to see the stars in the sky. “Ah, yeah…” He said, realizing that the stars were out in full view tonight. “Tonight really is pretty…” You two didn’t speak for some time as you grew lost in the sight. “Staring up at these make me really worried sometimes…” Worried, how? “That one day the real stars are gonna get forgotten and left behind. Not just the ones up there, but the whole reason I became a wrestler in the first place. Will his actions be forgotten? And would I ever be able to inspire others the way he inspired me?” It sounds like he’s been wrestling with these thoughts for a while. “Yeah, I- hey wait a minute! Are you making fun of me!?” Not particularly but you couldn’t resist the joke. He just made it too easy sometimes.

~“Ugh, you’re the worst sometimes…” He laughed. “Then again, I guess that’s why we make such a great team. You help me when I’m being too dramatic and I thank you for it. Really, Brother- uh…” You asked him what was wrong since he seemed to be holding back. “Lately, I’ve been wondering if calling you my soul brother is the right thing or not. It’s not because I think you and I aren’t still like that… we are, it’s just… we’ve seen so much together and “Brother” feels out of place now… but, what is this feeling…?” You pondered it yourself and asked him to explain a bit more. “W-Well, whenever we’re close m-my chest pounds like it’s about to burst. Standing next to you gives me more confidence as myself rather than as Taurus Mask… and… I just don’t want to lose you… I can’t… I don’t understand… No, I do understand. It… It scares me…” You smiled and told him that was entirely natural as you handed him your keepsake.

~“Wait, what is this?” He asked with genuine surprise. You told him you wanted nothing more than to be his partner both on and off the ring. That standing by his side has given you new feelings too, and most of all… he was your star that gave you hope again. He was absolutely speechless. You were worried you broke him in some way until he shook it off. “No, I won’t…” He grunted. “I won’t freak out again! I need to keep on being your star after all! You need to keep looking up to me and I don’t want to lose that trust you’ve put in me. Daisuke got as close as he could to you and held your hand all the while the sun began to rise. “From now on, we’re a tag team duo! I’ll keep the solo flying to a minimum, just for you. Not just because I’m your star, but well… you’re MY star too.”

Tsathoggua

~Having his minions open the door for him, Tsathoggua stepped out. He stretched and yawned as though he had just woken up from a trademark nap. “Eh? What are you doing up so early?” You quickly spun this around and told him he was just up too late. “Not really. When you play MMO’s sometimes you just have to be ready for the long haul, so I’ve trained myself to be up as late or early as possible. But, I guess I can’t do that anymore…” He seemed downtrodden by this fact and you asked him why he looked so upset. “Hakumen says that with the walls around town gone, we’re gonna start getting more and more guests at the Casino. And with such a large number of guests coming she said she might make me start working. Can you believe it!?” Well, it wasn’t that far fetched necessarily… “Seriously, me!? Do I look like the host type to you!?” You did tell him he was still courteous to whoever visited him and that no matter what he always went out of his way for you. “W-Well… I tend to make exceptions… Guess I got no choice now, sadly. I might as well try getting in a slightly better shape… you think they make any good fitness games?” The two of you pondered video game ideas while under the gentle gaze of the stars.

~Which reminded you to ask how Tsath felt about the walls. “There’s tons of games I can get express delivered now.” He put plainly. “I’ve always wanted to try the games they have overseas, cuz while we have plenty of good ones over here there have been rumors saying the games in the west are so different. I want to play em all.” An… admirable goal if nothing else. “…Thanks…” He murmured while looking away bashfully. You noticed his distress and asked him what was wrong. He remained silent about it for a moment before finally answering with another question. “…How many co-op games do you think have been made?” The question confused you, but with so many people in Tokyo alone there had to have been a good number. “That’s… good. Maybe… we could play some of them together sometime? If you have the time for it that is…” You said his name, completely taken off guard  with the question. “Aaaaaaah…” He groaned out. “No amount of Visual Novels have prepared me for this…! Not even the hardest difficulty quests made me this nervous! Are there seriously no guides for this kind of stuff!?” He cursed to himself. You were starting to get an idea and realized what he was trying to say. So as a response you handed him a precious treasure.

~“A-A ring already!?” He gasped in shock. “H-Hold on, I don’t think I’m quite the guy for that stuff so fast! And- oh? A… A promise ring?” Tsathoggua seemed to relax at your explanation. “That makes more sense, ehe… um. C-Can I… hold your hand? I… I don’t think I know how to right now…” You took Tsath’s hand in yours as the sun came up and you both finally looked up at it together. “Is this… what you call a good ending? Or maybe it’s the start of the sequel? Either way, I’m glad it’s with you.”

Someone who deserves more credit

~“W-Why are you so surprised!? Don’t give me that look!” Li Cho barked at you. “Gimme a bit a credit, will ya!?” You apologized and asked why he came up to the roof. “I-It helps me think. I didn’t think you’d be the type to be so suspicious.” He huffed and you sighed. You told him to give you some credit and offered a spot with you to stargaze. “Sure. I’ll scare that loneliness away for ya!” You played along and pretended to be afraid of the man-eating tiger scaring away people. “H-Hey!” He snapped, face blushing furiously. “I can be super scary for real! Don’t joke about those things…” He seemed more embarrassed than angry so you agreed to keep the teasing to a minimum. “Thanks. Actually, now that I have an audience what say I serenade you with some of my lovely words, hmm~?” You responded dryly by saying just reading them would be enough. “Heh, is my musical talent too much for you to handle then?” What musical talent? “That’s just cold!” After getting all the snarky remarks out of each others system, he did read you poetry that he wrote himself and with the atmosphere you couldn’t help but be swept away by the imagery.

~Once he had finished indulging himself by showing off his poetry, he took a deep breath. “S-So, it was awesome… right?” You told him it was very good. “Just good, eh?” He chuckled. “Y’know, I did write all these before the walls around us came crumblin’ down. So maybe that’s why they don’t sound as good? But, that’s just me making up excuses and not fixing the damn things…” You told him there was no rush now that you all weren’t operating on a time crunch anymore. “S-Sure, but I still gotta take care of student council work alongside my studies. So it’s definitely gonna be hard to find the time right now.” You reassured him that you’d both be able to make it work. “Heh, I guess.” It then hit him. “Wait, us?” That’s when you dropped the facade and handed him the ring.

~“Y-You’re just messin’ with me right? P-Please say you’re just playin’ around!” He seemed panicked. “There’s no way I can do this!” You asked if this wasn’t what he wanted. “O-Of course I want it!” Li Cho replied. “There’s just… no way you’d ever want a beast like me…” His tough guy act seemed to crack just a bit. “There’s no telling when I’m prone to snap or lose myself completely. I… I don’t want to hurt you if that happens…” Then what was stopping him from not doing it? “Eh?” He was still him under all that fur. No amount of appearances could change what was inside. “Inside, huh?” He pondered this for a moment. “I get it… Fine then.” Li Cho pulled you close to him and nuzzled your neck as the morning light came to view. You told him that Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom. “Heh… since when did ya become such a poetry buff…? Did you really memorize that just for me? Maybe… Maybe I won’t lose myself if I have you there… I want to rewrite our lives.”

HorkeuKamui

~“My Hero, you’ve done it.” Kamui praised you as he quickly joined you on the roof. “Not only have you completed your own goals of saving all your friends, you’ve also torn down all the walls between the people and have found a way for so many to connect.” You said while that was true there was still a lot you wouldn’t know. Would the rest of the world be so accepting of everyone from Tokyo? Besides, it was only thanks to everyone working together that you accomplished these things. “Very true, indeed. However, you are the individual responsible for bringing such individuals together. That alone is worthy of some praise. I’m proud to have you as my Hero.” You asked him to dial back the praise since you were starting to get flustered. “My apologies. It’s just… you’ve done what many others considered to be impossible. That alone has my admiration and joy.” You thanked him again but still couldn’t shake your flustered emotions. As a way to relax Kamui agreed to watch the stars with you, which was certainly relaxing.

~After a while, Kamui seemed lost in thoughts. His look went from glad to pensive. You took notice and asked him what was wrong. “While I am glad that we have reached such a point in time, I can’t help but feel a little… lost.” He admitted. “With so many content, is there even a reason to call you my Hero now? Is there a purpose for a Hero’s sheath if there is no longer any Hero? If not, then where does one such as myself go? I’ve dedicated my whole existence to raising a Hero properly that I have not realized if I had succeeded… what’s left? Can I even continue, knowing that my own selfish pursuit ended so many lives?” You were afraid that you didn’t have all those answers for him. Those were things he’d need to solve on his own. “I’m well aware. But still, I feel fulfilled all the same. I have you to thank for finally satiating my insatiable drive…” While you didn’t have many answers for Kamui, you did have one important question to ask. You handed him something that helped you through the darker times and asked if he’d be willing to stay by your side. As more than a sheath… as HorkeuKamui, the wolf that snatched your heart.

~“Your heart…” Kamui paused for a moment. He smiled realizing what the situation meant. “I see… yes, your heart. With you… I am willing to make such an important oath. Not only will I treasure your heart…” The wolf pulled you into a gentle embrace and gently stroked your hair as the sun began to rise, signifying the start of something wonderful. “I will safeguard it with my life. Not only that, but I also wish to entrust you with my own. After all, I have nothing but boundless love for you… My Dear.”

Wakan Tanka

~“There you are, my friend.” Wakan Tanka greeted you with relief. You returned his greeting and asked if he had been searching for you. “Yes, actually. I couldn’t help but notice how restless you’ve been as of late so I wanted to make sure you were alright. I’m glad that you’re okay, guess my worry was just overreacting.” You thanked him for his concern. “Yes, but… it’s weird. Why was I so upset in the first place? Maybe I just wanted to look at the sky again…” You asked him if the stars at night helped him relax. “At first, they made me sad… but now, I don’t have a reason to be sad anymore. Would you mind if I saw them with you again?” You told him you’d love that and both watched the stars, reminiscent of that time on the beach…

~“So… this is the end of the road for the game in Tokyo… or rather, it’s the start of a new path for everyone to take…” He pondered aloud. “Seeing everyone talking about the future with such hope makes me happy. Really happy, even. Is it even allowed to be this happy for your friends?” You told him you saw nothing wrong with such joy. “I would agree, but… I can’t help but feel sad… knowing that everyone’s ready to move on and leave behind the place that brought us together in the first place. Would they remember all of the good times we had, or just the bad ones?” There wasn’t a guarantee that all the memories would be happy, but you can give him comfort by offering the idea that the happy ones would win out. “I think you’re right.” He seemed a bit sullen still. “For a long while, I would remember the sky in my world. I always thought it was beautiful and made everyone glad they saw it. All but them. They would stare at the sky with such sadness in their eyes, and I couldn’t help but feel sad too… but, looking at the sky now. Maybe it wasn’t sadness… maybe it was their own happiness that made them cry?” There was no way to know for sure now. “Yeah. That person is no longer with us. Instead I have someone who brings me both immense joy and sorrow.” Really, who? “You, of course.” He put bluntly. You were shocked by Wakan’s bold claim. “You make me feel more things I would never have hoped to dream. I don’t understand all these feelings you give me… One moment I’m sad about you, but then you go and make me extremely happy. Then all I can think about is being next to you and… I just turn into a mess of feelings!” You just told him that’s how love works as you handed him a sign of your love.

~“Love…” Wakan asked. “Is that really all there is? A word so simple could have such a chaotic feeling?” You nodded. “…Hey, can I see your hand for a moment?” You gave him your hand as he clasped it with both of his, with him now wearing the ring you gave him and his warm smile making the rising sun shine that much brighter. “I promise from now on that neither road we walk will be lonely. I promise to share this burden and blessing of life that we live. And I also promise… to show you just what my love is capable of doing. I promise to you that it can open a path where we can both be equals, side by side in the same direction. Only… if you’ll let me walk beside you til we pass on to the next…”

If not, then who?

~Weirdly, no one came through the door. You could have sworn you heard something. “Geez Master, do none of your friends really care about us!?” You jumped in surprise as Salomon now stood beside you. You quickly asked what he was doing here. “Master, how come you’re always so mean to me!?” You didn’t mean it like that! You thought that he might’ve… “I told you I’d always be with you! I don’t wanna leave you, Master!” Salomon cried. “I was scared… but, it was almost like taking a nap… I think? I dunno any more than you do! I just… I’m happy to be able to see you again.” You shared in that sentiment and wondered when the last time you two had spent a night together like this. “Too long!”

~“But seriously, does no one care about you this late?” You told him that wasn’t it. “Oh? Ooh, Master. You sly fox. Perhaps you’ve strung together one too many hearts instead of no one at all?” You couldn’t deny the number of people captivated by you, but you were positive there was more to it. “Sure, sure. Though you try to keep cool, deep down I know how passionate you truly are. I always knew one wouldn’t be enough. You’re just too wild.” You asked him to stop or someone might hear. “Heh, I know…” He gave you a cheeky grin. “You just make the cutest expressions sometimes, Master. I couldn’t help but tease you a little~.” Despite all the teasing, you did miss him. You felt it was an appropriate time to give that back…

~“Oh, this?” He pondered. “It… It’s worthless to either of us honestly. I let you keep it as a way to remember me. But now that I’m here it almost seems wasted…” Not entirely. You could use it to make an everlasting vow to trust in Sal more from now on. And… and to promise to keep him close. You don’t want him going anywhere without you from now on. “Oh Master…” The sun began to rise as Sal brought his head to rest on his arm and smiled at you mid air. “Sometimes you take even me by surprise. Still, that’s what I like so much about you. All that there is to do is ask: Where to next?”

~~~

So yes, as of this moment onward I can finally feel confident releasing projects involving Li Cho. I know not everyone will like it and it hasn’t felt that long since i made that post saying i wouldn’t. But I feel I’d be doing a disservice to Housamo’s main message if I kept that sort of content ban up for any longer. Thank you all for being so patient with my while I made this and worked up the courage to finally post Li Cho content.

#zabaniyya #gunzo #takemaru #moritaka #shino #Jambavan #hati #Kurogane #taurus mask #Tsathoggua #he who shall not be named #Horkeukamui #Wakan Tanka #Salomon #tokyo afterschool summoners #housamo #fan written endings #Headcanon #HC #sfw #fluffy #romantic

[polly-chan]

The story of Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania style videogame developed and published by Team Cherry. It introduces a very interesting lore, telling the story of a Knight without a past on a quest to save the abandoned insect kingdom of Hallownest.

In this meta I want to analyze the lore of the entire game, which is very interesting and addictive. Obviously this article is full of spoilers for those who have not yet played the game. Also this analysis is based a lot on what I found written in the Hollow Knight wiki, even if I had some personal reflection.

In the Kingdom of Hallownest there are many different important primordial higher beings, god-like bugs who have lived since the beginning of time, and others who are more recent but who are nevertheless divinized by the inhabitants of the Kingdom.  However, for a better analysis we must first introduce a summary of the Hallownest’s history in game.

The Hollow Knight (the one who gives the title to the videogame) is a Vessel chosen by the Pale King to seal away the Radiance and save Hallownest from the Infection. As wiki says, they were the child of the King and the Queen of Hallownest, birthed in the Abyss to be infused with the power of the Void. Because of that we consider them genderless and their birth condition was also supposed to leave them without a mind, will and voice. Thanks to this particular condition, void creatures are the only ones that can contain the Radiance, since the Radiance feed themselves with the light of dreams also distorting them as if they were physical entities.  However purity of the Hollow Knight was misjudged because they created an emotional bond with the Pale King who raised them.

“Regardless of their impurity, the Hollow Knight was trained and raised, eventually becoming  a fully grown Vessel. The Radiance was sealed within them, and they were chained within the Temple of the Black Egg where they were expected to contain the Infection for eternity. However, because of the aforementioned impurities, the Radiance could still exert influence. It ultimately resulted in the resurgence of the Infection and the Kingdom falling into ruin. Over time, the Hollow Knight disappeared from the fallen Kingdom’s memory. Only the Memorial in the middle of the City of Tears testifies of their sacrifice to save Hallownest. After some time, the Radiance’s power broke out of the Hollow Knight, cracking their shell and fully infecting them. This event was the catalyst that brought the Knight back to Hallownest. The Knight can free and fight the Hollow Knight after killing the three Dreamers who sealed the Black Egg’s entrance” .

The fate of the Hollow Knight is linked to the end of the game chosen by players, because there are different finals:

-          by killing the Hollow Knight the Knight takes their place in sealing the Radiance;

-          by entering their mind with the help of Hornet the Knight can chase away the Radiance;

-          by defeating Absolute Radiance at the peak of the Pantheon of Hallownest the Infection vanishes forever  and the Hollow Knight can then be seen walking out of the Black Egg’s temple, freed from the Infection.

Now let’s move on ti analyze the main divinities in the game’s lore.

The Radiance:

“The light. Forgotten. The plague, the infection, the madness that haunts the corpses of Hallownest… the light that screams out from the eyes if this dead Kingdom. What is the source? I suppose mere mortals like myself will never understand”.

The Radiance is a secret final boss and the Absolute Radiance is her final form. She’s one of the higher being god-like bugs above mentioned, opposed to the Void, her ancient enemy. She gave birth to the Moth tribe and because of that they revered her. Unlike the individualist society of Hallownest the Radiance offered unity to bugs at the cost of a mind incapable of thought.

“After the Pale King arrived in Hollownest and expanded the minds of his new subjects, the Moth Tribe turned their backs in the Radiance and worshipped him instead. In doing so, the Radiance was almost entirely forgotten, Yet traces of her memory remained, such as a statue on Hollownest’s Crown. Her memory started spreading throughout the Kingdom, by then in its golden age. Soon, all of Hallownest began to dream of her, appearing to them as a blazing light. These dreams could break the minds of bugs and eventually enslave their wills to hers. But the King and his subjects resisted her memory, which started to manifest as the Infection. The Pale King attempted to stop the Infection by sealing the Radiance within a Vessl. These creatures, infused with the Void to be without a mind and a will, were to be able to withstand the Radiance’s influence. The Hollow Knight was chosen, raised and grown for that purpose. The Radiance was sealed within them, and the Vessel chained within the Temple of the Black Egg. However, the Pale King failed to realise the Vessel’s impurities of mind. Because of this, the Radiance was still able to invade the dreams of bugs. She ultimately wiped out the Kingdom of its inhabitants, whose King had vanished, but left the rest of the land untouched.

Time passed, Hallownest turned into a myth while the Radiance remained sealed. Her influence finally started to break out of the Hollow Knight. She regnited the full power of the Infection, threatening again the land of Hallownest and prompting the Knight to return to Hallownest”.

I found the use of light as a villain very interesting. In fictions light usually wins over darkness as god wins over evil, but in the Kingdom of Hallownest she’s the real enemy, since, in real life, the bugs follow the light blindly. However I’d like to introduce a theory now.

We can consider the Kingdom of Hallownest as built on three levels:

-          the higher level is the outside world on the surface and from which the light comes through: this maybe recalls heaven, but as we said for the bugs is more comparable to hell. The vision of something which comes from a otherwordly dimension can drive everyone crazy;

-          the middle level is the realm, with its inhabitants;

-          the lower level is the Abyss: in fictions the Abyss usually recalls hell but that’s not totally true for Hollow Knight because of different reasons:

i)                    we can find the corpse of the Vessel used and thrown away by the Pale King, but it’s also the place that gave birth to our heroe, so it cannot be considered totally negative;

ii)                   the game tells us that the Kingdom of Hallownest is a tribute to all what bugs have been in life and this fills with a different meaning this place;

iii)                 we can find the Void into the Abyss and thanks to them we can defeat the Radiance forever.

So, in other words, in Hollow Knight’s lore the meaning of heaven and hell is reversed.

If we consider this theory true, we can finally appreciate why Radiance chooses to punish Moth tribe: another recurring theme in the narrative is the God who punishes men who turn their backs. Moth tribe chose the Pale King because he promised wellness, an earthly value, forever. This is clearly a sin and the tribe deserves to be punished.

The Void:

The Void is the substance of The Abyss, most of them is found in a sea at the bottom of the Abyss, but multiple beings exist who consist of Void themselves. The Void is “the power opposed”: it has the ability to oppose the light based Radiance and Pale King, who are both describes as light. When the Knight acquires the Void Heart and learns about their past the Void is unified under their will.

Since the Void completely leaks any kind of emotion and the hope It is capable of containing the Radiance, who feeds herself with dreams as if they were physical entities. Its nature of nothingness allows it to be filled with something  and that’s why having been raised by the King made the Hollow Knight feel love and become imperfect.  

The Pale King and his Queen:

“The old king of Hallownest… he must have been desperate to save his crumbling little world. The sacrifices he imposed on other… all for nothing”.

The Pale King is considered to be a higher being who used to be the monarch of Hallownest, mate of the White Lady and ruler of the White Palace. We find him dead on his throne in the White Palace. I am sure he died of despair for not being able to find the bathroom in that absurd place he called home and whoever has played that level will agree with me. I mean, the architect should be sued.

As wiki says, he’s an ancient Wyrm who wandered through mountains and across the wasteland until finally stopping by Kingdom’s Edge. Once there, the Wyrm shed the skin and transformed himself into the Pale King. He reduced his form in order to match the bugs of Hallownest.

Contrary to what is commonly said, I don’t’ think he is a higher being for real. I think he was a mortal bug like all the others, but remaining mostly closed in his Palace he was deified by his subjects. As a matter of fact, while the Radiance has never stopped giving her people the light she promised, the Pale King has not kept his promises and if he really was a divinity he would not have died. He symbolizes the earthly power and the aura of divine that hovers around monarchical figures, who do not mix themselves with their subjects, they often make promises that they cannot keep remaining enclosed in sumptuous palaces.

Moreover, the children whom the Pale King and the Queen gave birth to are just vessels, which are mortal remains and not divine spirit: it’s the difference between the mortal body of Jesus Christ (given to him by his mortal mother) and his immortal spirit (given to him by the divine father). In the same way, the Knight possesses the mortal remains of their parents but infused with the spirit of emptiness that characterized their divine nature.

Anyway, the Pale King gives to his people free will, while the Radiance claims intellectual slavery.

The Knight:

“An enigmatic wanderer who descends into Hallownest carrying only a broken nail to fend off foes” – official manual.

The Knight is the protagonist of the videogame. A discarded Vessel, child of the Pale King and the White Lady, born in the Abyss with Void inside their shell. Like the rest of their Vessel siblings is genderless. They embody emptiness: they are not created by anyone except by emptiness itself. They are a messianic figure who bring peace to the Kingdom.

Nightmare King Grimm:

“The expanse of dream in past was split,

One realm now must stay apart,

Darkest reaches, beatin red,

Terror of sleep. The Nightmare’s Heart”.

Nightmare King Grimm is the Dream form of Tropue Master Grimm: “Through dream I travel, at lantern’s call to consume the flames of a kingdom’s fall”. As wiki says, The Grimm Tropue is a mysterious travelling circus from the Nightmare realm to wherever the Nightmare Lantern has been lit by acolytes. They gather Nightmare Flames from ruined lands to fuel the sinister being enslaving the Troupe, the Nightmare’s Heart. The Nightmare is the dimension where the Nightmare’s Heart rests. The Nightmare’s Heart is the proper host of the Nightmare, as the Radiance is the host of the Dream. The Nightmare’s Heart is a higher being responsible for the Ritual of the Grimm Troupe, Grimmchild and Troupe Master Grimm are its spawn.

#hollow knight #team cherry #lore #videogame #indiegame #soulslike #meta #analysis

[calvinistwoman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_wfnir1hQ4

(The following is an audio transcript from the above video featuring John Piper)

Is the Calvinist-Arminian debate overblown? It’s a question today from a young man, a listener to the podcast who writes us this: “Pastor John, hello! I’ve argued about predestination and free will with fellow believers for years. I’m a five-point Calvinist. But lately these conversations have grown tiresome to me. No amount of debate seems to settle all the questions. And I recently read a letter by C.S. Lewis where he called the Calvinist-Arminian debate pretty much pointless because it only answers questions about this life, answers meaningless in eternity.

“He wrote, ‘Both the statement that our final destination is already settled [Calvinism] and the view that it still may be either heaven or hell [Arminianism], seem to me to imply the ultimate reality of time, which I don’t believe in. The controversy is one I can’t join on either side, for I think that in the real (timeless) world it is meaningless’ (Collected Letters, 2:703). I think Lewis raises a fair question: Is this whole debate time-bound? And even within time, I find myself more and more asking, What is the real-life fallout? Is the practical and spiritual value of Calvinism for this life significantly better? If so, how?”

Oh, Lewis, Lewis, Lewis! My friend! My mentor! Let’s start here. There is a huge difference between saying, on the one hand, that fruitless debates have grown tiresome — which I can totally understand and would not encourage — and saying, on the other hand, that I’m not seeing the real-life fallout or the practical spiritual value of Calvinism in this life. Those are radically different sentences and the last one is tragic — tragic. And I hope such a theological, personal malaise doesn’t fall on me, and I hope it can be lifted from our young friend.

Philosophy and Exegesis

So, first let me say a word about Lewis — bless his heart and rest his soul in heaven — and then about Calvinism and time. That’s the issue that he raised: time. And as I go along, I will try to show for our friend the preciousness of these things.

I have read more of C.S. Lewis than any other author on the planet except Jonathan Edwards. I love C.S. Lewis. He has made a great difference in my life. But one thing you will look for in vain in all the writings of C.S. Lewis: careful, serious biblical exposition. We have no idea how he did it (I presume he did it); we have to guess how C.S. Lewis read his Bible because he does not show us, which means he comes at biblical-theological questions more philosophically than he does exegetically.

This is certainly the case when it comes to Calvinism versus Arminianism. As far as I can tell, he simply sweeps aside dozens of specific, clear biblical sentences with the philosophical wand of timelessness. Nobody who reads the Bible carefully, and seeks to submit to the Bible’s own logic — not an alien philosophical presupposition — will be content with Lewis’s way of handling the issue of Calvinism and Arminianism. It cannot satisfy if you’re a Bible-saturated person who takes sentences — real, live, meaning-carrying sentences — seriously when you read the Bible.

Let’s just pretend that I’m now talking to C.S. Lewis about the five points of Calvinism. Here’s what I would say to Lewis. Four of them, Mr. Lewis, do not address the time issue at all. And the fifth one addresses the time issue because God made it address the time issue. God put the pre- in predestination. Man didn’t decide to do that; God did that, and he had good reasons for doing it — not to be swept away by the wand of timelessness. So let me take them one at a time.

1. Dead in Total Depravity

The issue is: At the point of my conversion, was I dead? Was I dead? Was I utterly incapable of seeing or savoring Jesus Christ as my supreme treasure? Answer: yes, I was. I was dead, blind, spiritually incapable of believing on Jesus. First Corinthians 2:14: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God.” No way. I’m stiff-arming them totally in my deadness and fallenness and blindness. They are folly to me. I’m not able to understand them. They are spiritually discerned, and I don’t have the Holy Spirit. I hate God, and I love myself, and I am in bondage.

The question is not one of time. And the answer makes all the difference in the world about whether you praise yourself or praise your God in speechless wonder that you are now a lover of Jesus — that you can see the light of the glory of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). John Piper now sees the light of the glory of the gospel.

How did that happen? If you think you were only partially incapable of faith, and just needed a little divine nudge, your amazement, your humility, your worship, your reverence will be hindered. How dead and how helpless were you when God saved you? Come on, Lewis. Come on. Talk about 1 Corinthians 2:14, talk about Romans 8:7, talk about Ephesians 2:4–5, talk about 2 Corinthians 4:4. Don’t give me your philosophical wand of timelessness. Talk to me about the deadness of the human soul.

2. Awakened by Irresistible Grace

The question, Mr. Lewis, is, What happened on that bus ride that you described in Surprised by Joy — the one that you began as an unbeliever, and to your own amazement, you ended as a believer? What happened?

The Bible is not silent about what happened. It is not left to your philosophical speculation. It goes like this: “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

God did a creative miracle in your life, Mr. Lewis — just as much as when he called the universe out of nothing. He took out the heart of stone and put in the heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). He raised you from the dead and seated you in the heavenly places with Christ (Ephesians 2:4–6). He opened your eyes to give heed to the truth, and in the very moment when you passed from death to life, God was decisive — not you. You did not impart life to your dead self. This is not an issue of time, Mr. Lewis; this is an issue of worship. To whom will you give glory for your decisive passage from unbelieving death to believing life?

3. Purchased by Limited Atonement

Here the question is not time. The question is whether the new-covenant miracle that happens to every Christian when their dead heart — our dead heart — is replaced with a new heart was definitely purchased for them by the death of Christ, but was not so purchased for everyone. That’s the issue. Everyone would have a new heart if it was purchased the same way for all.

Jesus called his blood the “blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus called it “the new covenant” (Luke 22:20). And what the new covenant promised was that the old, unbelieving, rebellious hearts of C.S. Lewis and John Piper would be sovereignly replaced by God with a new, soft, believing heart, and that the law of God would be written on that heart so that we do from the heart what we’re called to do, like believe and obey. We don’t write it. He wrote it.

This was all secured when we were purchased by the blood of the new covenant. When Christ died, he secured a perfect, complete redemption, including the undeserved mercy of our conversion and faith. This is not a question of time; this is a question of what Christ achieved for his people on the cross. Did he lay down his life for the sheep (John 10:11)? Did he ransom the children of God (John 11:52)? Did he ransom for himself a people scattered among the peoples (Revelation 5:9–10)? Or didn’t he? That’s the issue.

4. Secure in the Perseverance of the Saints

This is not a question of timelessness or time. This is a question about whether you and I will wake up a believer tomorrow morning. Will I? And I cannot imagine for our young friend who wrote in this question anything more immediately relevant to me when I go to bed at night or think about it all day long, than the answer to the question, Will I wake up a believer, heaven-bound, tomorrow morning, or won’t I?

Jude is so blown away by the glory of God’s sovereign keeping that the greatest doxology in the Bible is crafted to extol this work of God’s sovereignty over our fickle, so-called “free will.” If God left me to my fickle free will, I’d be out of here. “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it — prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it” — chain it, bind it, keep me.

Here’s what Jude says: “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless . . .” He’s going to keep you and present you blameless because he is sovereign. If he doesn’t do it, it isn’t going to happen. And then he says, “. . . to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24–25).

That’s how amazed Jude was that God would not let him go. God wouldn’t let him fall into unbelief. God would not let his vaunted free will have the last word. This is not a matter of time; this is a matter of sweet assurance that tomorrow morning I will wake up with a heart for God.

5. Awestruck by Unconditional Election

Here we meet time. Ephesians 1:4–6:

He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace.

Paul’s aim here is to inflame the praise of the glory of the grace of God. That’s his purpose. That’s the goal of Ephesians 1:4–6. The sovereign saving grace of God that is based not on our so-called “free will,” but on “the purpose of his will.” Paul intends to put God’s saving grace outside our control so that, when all history is said and done, the song of the ages will be to the praise of the glory of God’s free, invincible grace, so that no human might boast except in the Lord.

And I would just say in closing that if these five realities are not humbling, emboldening, stabilizing, worship-inflaming, sacrifice-empowering, joy-igniting, what we ought to do is not ignore them, but get on our knees and cry out for the eyes of our heart to be opened.

#calvinism #john piper #cs lewis #calvinist #tulip

[numba99]

False God

This is 6000% based on False God by Taylor Swift I highly recommend you check the song out before reading if you don’t know it because 1) its so good and 2) it sets the mood for this perfectly. Also this kinda short?? but idk it just felt right I didn’t want to drag it out. I hope you can enjoy anyway! May consider doing a series of songs off Lover with different players, but we shall see!

Warnings: angsty, mentions of fighting, smut but it’s like more sexy than explicit you feel me

A whirlwind. That is the only way you could describe the past few months. It started innocently enough, both of you slipping into the same Uber from opposite sides. Chris swore it was the one he called, but the driver confirmed it was for you. But he was sweet and you were going the same way anyway, so you decided to split it.

Some how in that ride you managed to capture each other’s hearts. There was something so magnetic about him you couldn’t help but want to know more. The way he smiled at you you knew he felt the same. The rest of the summer was spent running around exploring the city, though it was more about exploring each other. Days in quaint museums, with your nights free to find quiet rooftop bars to escape the hustle and bustle of the booming city below. They were always your own little oasis for the evening, a sweet slice of paradise for just you two. No matter how crowded they were, it always seemed to be a space so intimately yours.

Never in your life had you felt something so pure, yet so intense for someone. You’d always been a take it slow type of person, but with Chris, nothing seemed to come soon enough. It was like you’d known him your whole life, like you were put on this earth for each other. You had never really been a religious person, but you swore both of you getting into that Uber had to be divine intervention. 

It was easy in the summer, when days melted together like the colors of a July sunset painted across the city skyline. When nothing came between you two but the golden sunlight that shone through his apartment windows. He's different now - or maybe it was just the circumstances that were. His schedule was beyond crazy, and yours wasn’t a cake walk either. He had long, hard days training, topped off with relentless games. You were in grad school, grueling over your work and trying to find ways to squeeze in working so you actually had some money to your name. It was incredibly hard on you both, no matter how hard you tried to keep things the way they were.

With the change of the seasons the world got dark and so did he. So did you. Now the window is a distraction for you. Staring out, you wonder if the people in the street had lives this complicated. If anyone understood how you felt. You reasoned it was likely someone did, yet your pain felt so uniquely your own you couldn’t fathom they idea of anyone else relating to what these last few weeks were like. 

You and Chris fought like crazy now. Over what? You couldn't even pinpoint a reason. It was everything and nothing. Even worse were days that you had nothing to say to each other. The silence was so crippling, like a pile of bricks on your chest. And then he was gone, whisked away for days on end leaving you in a cold empty apartment that felt more like a cell than the haven it once was. It was too much time on your own to think about what you’d done. Moving in with a guy you barely knew after just a summer of dating because you were in love. Or so you thought. You liked to think it was love, it sure did feel that way. But maybe you were just drunk on the idea of each other and the sweet novelty of it all. You didn't like to dwell on that idea for too long. 

There were still good days of course. Days that made you so sure it had to be love, because nothing else could make you feel like this. His laugh, his touch, his lips, everything. Absolutely nothing in the world could match the way Chris made you feel. You wanted to make it work, no matter how crazy or stupid it seemed.

You knew others weren’t so confident. You heard the scoffs, the backhanded comments about young love not being enough for real life. Life isn’t a summer romance, that much you knew, but with each snide remark you swore to yourself you’d make it work. Not just to prove them wrong, though that was a nice bonus, but because you so badly wanted to be with Chris. You had your fair share of summer romances, short flings that burn themselves out before they even really caught fire. But Chris, Chris was different. Even now the fire still lingered inside you.

He felt it too, that much you were sure of. There was nothing else that could explain the passion that still ignited the space between you. Even after your worst fights, one of you would find yourself crawling back to the other. The second your skin touched it was heaven, nothing else mattered. His lips fit yours so perfectly it was unimaginable that they weren’t made for you. How someone acted like a stranger, while also feeling much like home never made sense to you.

Tonight was no different. You’d gone to bed early after Chris came home quiet and distant. You didn’t know what to say - nothing felt right and you didn’t have the energy to fight, so you retreated to the bedroom. That seemed to be the only safe place for the two of you now. Just like clockwork, he came in after you no more than a half hour later. He wordlessly slid next to you, lips connecting to yours. Just like that, everything was right again. The fire that had been dimming inside you roaring to life as his hand slid around your waist, pulling you on top of him. 

You were used to this routine, though it never got old. Your bodies tangling together as clothing seemed to melt away. No matter how close you got, it never seemed to be close enough. Everything was so slow, savoring every inch of each other and stretching the minutes into small eternities. 

He kissed down your body, focusing most of his attention to your hips. His lips moved in silent prayer against your body. You gripped his hair as he kissed you in a way that felt like worship. He lived for that, you squirming in ecstasy as he made quick work of you. You gasping his name like it was the only word you knew was music to his ears.

And when he was inside you... God there was truly nothing like that. You felt so full, but more importantly you felt so close to him. You never really knew where his soul ended and yours began. Neither of you could look away from each other, the eye contact so intensely intimate it enhanced every little pleasurable sensation that flooded your body.

After you laid in his arms. They felt so safe and secure, and yet you couldn’t fight tears that suddenly filled your eyes.

“What is it y/n? Did I hurt you?” Chris asked nervously, pulling you up to face him.

“No,” you sniffled, trying to figure out how to articulate what you were feeling, “I just- I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

“Losing you,” you managed to squeak out before you broke into a sob. You hadn’t realized just how much you were holding in these past few weeks. Chris just held you, silently rocking you while you very much ugly cried against his chest. 

“I’m sorry,” you managed when you were finally able to compose yourself. “I just don’t wanna lose you.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Chris replied, “I know I haven’t been myself. It’s just a lot I guess. I haven’t been with anyone in so long I forgot how hard it is to balance.”

“Is it too much?” you asked, scared for his answer.

“God no,” he shook his head quickly, “I mean, I know we have a lot to figure out, but I love you. More than I could ever put into words and I-” his voice broke, and now he was crying too.

“Chris,” you murmured, wiping the tears from his cheek, “It’s okay.”

“It’s not,” he replied, “I can’t believe how bad I let myself get. You don’t deserve that.”

“We’ve both been dealing with a lot, we’re not perfect,” you said, “But I love you and I want this with you forever.�� You motioned to the two of you, still very much tangled in each other. “But maybe with a few less tears.”

Chris cracked a small smile, which was as beautiful as ever. “We are gonna be okay,” he stated it with such finality there wasn’t a part of you that doubted it. “We are going to get through this. Our love is special.”

You squeezed his hand, loving the familiar warmth of it in yours. “It is,” you agreed, “Nothing can break us.” 

“Absolutely nothing,” Chris confirmed, sealing it with a kiss. Maybe it was niave of you, but you believed him. You believed in the two of you and what your love could do. No matter how hard things got, you and Chris had each other and that was all you need. For the first time since the weather had cooled everything felt like it was going to be alright.  

#Chris Kreider #chris kreider imagine #nhl fanfiction #nhl imagines #new york rangers imagine #new york rangers smut #Chris kreider smut

[rotzaprachim]

the closest to heaven that i'll ever be (Kanej Guardian Angel AU)

From @elorcaning‘s prompt of Kaz just being an idiotic human getting in trouble all the time and inej is his guardian angel just trying to keep him from dying while doing stupid shit, which I thought was a BRILLIANT idea and kinda ran with. At 1 AM while on jetlag so I Apologise. 

Props to @kettvrdams for not killing me when i sent an incomprehensible WIP for her to beta. All accidentally unfinished sentences and spelling errors are entirely My Own Fault 

On AO3 - 1816 words, Teen

In her illustrious career as a guardian angel, Inej has learned several things. The first is to believe in the fundamental good of all people- well, almost all people. Almost. But really, she likes to think the best.

The second thing is that no matter how hard she tries- and damn, she really tries hard- humans will still find ways to screw their own lives over, and even if her role is supposed to be more hypothetical or spiritual than anything, she always finds herself getting involved in more practical ways.

But still she thinks, as the poor Dutch farm kid tries to eat fertiliser from the container for the third time, only to be shooed away by his older brother, that this is going to be a challenge.

--o0o--

“Organised crime? Really?” sneers a figure in the corner of the precinct station with their dark hood pulled down low. Kaz glances around. There isn’t anyone else around aside from the beat cop who’s just let him out of the holding shell with a glare and a kick to his good shin.

The figure pulls their hood down. It’s a girl about his own age. Looks like a university student, with a purple jacket and a rain slicker.

She holds out a plastic Albert Hejn bag. Ah. So this is what it’s about. Per Haskell, Pekka Rollins, whoever the fuck it is this time, want him to move something. Cash, drugs, fucking tulip bulbs for all he knows. He doesn’t really care, as long as he’s alive on the other side of it.

But it isn’t really heavy enough to be either of those things.

“You haven’t eaten anything in over twenty four hours.”

He doesn’t know how she could possibly know that, but when he looks inside, what he finds is a cheese sandwich and a bottle of orange juice. Sealed, so it would have been goddamn hard to hide a USB or whatever it is Pekka wants out of the country inside.

“Who sent you? Pekka? Ferry Bouman? Sonny Castillo?”

“Are those the only things your mind goes to?” Now the girl just sounds annoyed.

“I’m not in the habit of beautiful girls meeting me in police precincts without having some other angle they’re working. So what is it? Who do you work for?”

Beautiful girl. He didn’t mean to say that. He’s a lot of things, but a flirt isn’t one of them. Yet even in the yellowy light of the precinct, he can tell that's what she is, with her heart-shaped face and the fan of her oil-dark hair.

“Eat your damn sandwich” she says, and is gone before he can say anything else.

--o0o--

“Don’t get too involved,” says Zoya.

“The job description is guardian angel, ergo, I guard.”

--o0o--

Organised crime. Really. Perhaps not in the highest echelons, and it’s fucking Amerstedam, but still, organised crime.

Sometimes she really doesn’t think he’s organised enough to get mixed up in organised crime.

--o0o--

“Genuine Givenchy. Also got Rolex watches, Hugo Boss shirts-” he offers the middle-class housewives out on a girl’s trip to Amsterdam. The back of the florist’s he’s operating out of is packed with genuinely decent-looking fakes. It’s also on Sonny Castillo’s territory.

“Best space brownies in Amsterdam,” he promises a group of tipsy Erasmus students from Manchester with a smile that’s the image of sincerity. The coffee shop is on Ferry Bouman’s territory.

“Now this is a real Vermeer,” he tells the new-money-oil-don looking for a bit of old-school, Cultured, flash for his new penthouses in Dubai and London. The art gallery is on Pekka Rollins’ territory.

--o0o--

“He’s going to get himself killed,” Inej tells her boss.

--o0o--

“You think I can’t smell a rat, Brekker? You don’t fucking think I can’t tell when some bastard ratfuck tries to fuck me over?”

There have been many points during which Kaz thought his ass to be well and truly cooked. Almost drowning in the harbour in Rotterdam when he was twelve was certainly one of them, but it was also far from the last.

But now he’s got a gun to his temple and there’s no more talking he can do, not one more trick more trick up his sleeve or one more secret he can leverage into five more minutes, ten more minutes, another day to make things right.

There’s just him and a dark alley at the edge of the city and the freezing rain, pelting down and soaking him to the bone. And the angry hands slamming his face into the alley wall, over and over again, until blood runs down his face and chest and the rainwater tastes salty.

“Please. A week. No, a day, I’ll make it up-”

“Like last time you promise me, huh? Promise me twenty thousand? And then I find out you shelling out ten thousand Euros to Ferry Bouman to keep selling on Pekka Rollin’s turf. He ain’t gonna forget this, boy-”

“Ten thousand. I can get you ten thousand, you know I can-”

He sees the flash of a gun being raised, can almost feel the air change as the man pulls back the trigger, and then-

Like a flash of lightning, the moment after the fireworks go off. Light everywhere, the snap of sound of thunder, condensed, and then-

In the moment after the light, Kaz can’t see a thing. And then he can: the three grunts Pekka sent after him, lying in an alley, and the remains of several guns, incinerated to crisps. And the flash of something, a person maybe, going around the corner.

“THE FUCK ARE YOU?” He screams into the pouring rain, but no response comes back.

--o0o--

Sometimes, Inej wants to scream at him so loud he can hear it.

“And what were you expecting, exactly? Why can’t you just. . . .” she thinks of the words she hears people using, these days, “stay in your darn lane? You waste your mathematics scores dealing. You waste your German scores on conning tourists. You just . .. you waste your life.”

He’s had the pinched face of a businessman, and an older man, since his parents died. Since his brother died, and he spent his youth pinballing between foster homes and getting increasingly involved in things that the Korps Nationale Politie tend to take a rather dim view of. In all that time, though, she’s rarely seen fear on his face like this. She almost wants to reach out, across the train, tuck the edges of his carefully slicked-back hair back behind his ear, but she doesn’t.

“Why couldn’t you have just . . . stuck to selling overpriced marijuana to tourists or designer knockoffs from behind a tulip stand? Forging Vermeers? Stealing actual Vermeers?”

--o0o--

It’s only when he gets off at Utrecht Centraal that he notices an unfamiliar weight to his jacket pocket.

A neatly folded wad of cash. He flips through it gingerly. Twelve thousand euros.

--o0o--

“You can’t save his ass every time. Otherwise, he’ll never learn, and he’ll go beyond the point where you can save him.”

“But if I don’t save his ass now, he’ll die before he can learn.”

“Ah. That’s the eternal conundrum, isn’t it? Of the teacher and of the guardian angel.”

--o0o--

It’s not a particularly big country, but every time the train ride seems to last all day, and stretch into the night. Inej, at least, doesn’t need to buy a ticket. He buys flowers at Amsterdam Centraal. Changes trains at Maastricht and then again to a rural line, until he gets off at a station that’s nothing more than a strip of concrete alongside the track in a rain-soaked wheat field. There’s no taxis, no buses, only a long road through the countryside and the remainders of a life he’s tried to forget about at the end of it. He unfolds his walking cane and gets a move on.

On a hill, on a farm where the apple orchards have gone to seed and the roof of the house fallen in:

Annemarie and Jawad Rietveld. And a scratched out stone for Jordaan Rietveld.

He leaves the flowers, not particularly giving a fuck about the fact that he could be shot, right here and now, by Pekka Rollins, because this is Pekka Rollins’ land, even if it was Jawad Rietveld’s land first, and then Albert Rietveld’s land before that, even if, on a day so far removed from Kaz’s present life that it feels like someone else’s life entirely, Kaz thought that it would be Jordaan Rietveld’s land in the future.

He feels, in a way, her presence before he can see her.

“I know you’re there.”

She sighs and makes herself visible.

“It’s you. The girl on the train.”

“I don’t think so-” she says, taking on a heavy Flemish accent just in case he remembers her from the police precinct in Groningen. “I’m from Ant-”

“You. Your face.” I could never forget you face, he thinks. The police precinct, and then the train to Utrecht Centraal. A rare sunny day in this pit of gloom and rain, and the way that the sunlight hit her lashes, the curve of her cheeks, the splash of her dark hair, made him think that it was impossible there wasn’t something divine and benevolent in this life, and this world. “Police precinct up North. Gronigen. Train. Amsterdam. Everywhere i go you’re always-” He thinks about pulling the shiv from his pocket. Anyone so interested in following him certainly has ulterior motives, and yet-

“What are you? Why are you always- there?”

“I don’t think, Mr. Brekker, that your . . . theological opinions would permit you to believe me when I tell you what, exactly, I am.”

He shrugs. “Grandson of lapsed NHK’ers and Javanese Sunnis. No god helped them a whit. I don’t think God, if they ever existed, ever looked at this drowning spit of dirt.”

“I think there are many who wouldn’t disagree with you. Some of them, like myself, being of a divine persuasion.”

“Why are you here?”

She doesn’t answer, just turns towards the graves. A light rain has started to fall.

“Do you think you’re following the path they’d be proud of?”

--o0o--

“You know I count as a fucking mature student? Mature.”

Even she has to laugh.

“I’m fucking twenty three. Twenty three. I got carded trying to buy a beer yesterday.”

“But now a student.”

He flashes his new, shiny plastic student card at her. The photo on it still looks like a mugshot.

“What are you studying?”

“Politics. International Relations. How different can the European Council be from the mob, really? Common Agricultural Policy, pay off Europol, work some backroom deals to get shit done.”

Inej resists the urge to burrow her forehead in her jacket sleeves. There are, it turns out, many, many ways for a human to get themselves killed, on this world.

#my writings #kanej #kaz brekker #inej ghafa #six of crows #six of crows fic #guardian angel au #modern au

[pamphletstoinspire]

Novena to Saint Maria Goretti

Recited from; June 30th through July 8th

Feast Day: July 9th __________

Novena

The word Novena derives it name from the Latin word “novem” meaning “nine.” A novena can be either a private or public devotion in the Catholic Church to obtain special graces. __________ Novena to Saint Maria Goretti

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Said Daily)

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, * ( Have Mercy On Us) God the Son, Redeemer of the world, God the Holy Spirit, * Holy Trinity, One God, * Holy Mary, * (Pray For Us) Holy Mother of God, ** Holy Virgin of virgins, ** Mother of Christ, ** Mother of divine grace, ** Mother most pure, ** Mother most chaste, ** Mother inviolate, ** Mother undefiled, ** Mother most amiable, ** Mother most admirable, ** Mother of good counsel, ** Mother of our Creator, ** Mother of our Savior, ** Virgin most prudent, ** Virgin most venerable, ** Virgin most renowned, ** Virgin most powerful, ** Virgin most merciful, ** Virgin most faithful, ** Mirror of justice, ** Seat of wisdom, ** Cause of our joy, ** Spiritual vessel, ** Vessel of honor, ** Singular vessel of devotion, ** Mystical rose, ** Tower of David, ** Tower of ivory, ** House of gold, ** Ark of the Covenant, ** Gate of Heaven, ** Morning star, ** Health of the sick, ** Refuge of sinners, ** Comforter of the afflicted, ** Help of Christians, ** Queen of Angels, ** Queen of Patriarchs, ** Queen of Prophets, ** Queen of Apostles, ** Queen of Martyrs, ** Queen of Confessors, ** Queen of Virgins, ** Queen of all Saints, ** Queen conceived without original sin, ** Queen assumed into heaven, ** Queen of the most holy Rosary, ** Queen of Peace, **

Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord! Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord! Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants, may enjoylasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of theBlessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enterinto the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Saint Maria Goretti Novena Prayer (Said Daily)

Saint Mary Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate, even at the age of twelve, to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race, which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially the youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus, anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of Thee, (mention your request) and may we one day enjoy with Thee the imperishable glory of heaven. Amen. __________

DAY ONE (June 30)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Most lovable little Saint, who valued your purity above any earthly gain, and who sealed this choice with a martyr's death, obtain for me also a strong love of this virtue, so consoling to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The pleasures of the world create many temptations for me. I turn to your powerful intercession in Heaven, so that with your help I may remain ever loyal to God, no matter what the price. In danger inspire me to repeat with you, "No, it is a sin!" Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above), followed by

Our Father - [Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.],

Hail Mary - [Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.],

and

Glory Be to the Father - [Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.],

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY TWO (July 1)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Saint Mary Goretti, model of loving obedience to parents, teach me to imitate your example. Help me to overcome all selfishness and stubborn pride, draw my parents to Thee, then lead me to accept this authority as the Voice of God in my life. Help them to direct me aright and enable me to obey their every wish. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation! Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY THREE (July 2)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Little Saint Maria! You were ready for the moment of martyrdom because your short life was given over to daily and heroic self-denial. Your great love of the Sacred Hearts made all this possible. Teach me to love Jesus and His Blessed Mother, so that I too will be inspired to daily self-denial. I am inclined to pamper myself, to gratify my senses, and to excuse myself from all penance. This keeps me from being a true follower of Christ. Help me, lovable Little Martyr, to a sincere practice of self- denial, so that I may be your worthy follower and thus gain Heaven for all Eternity. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above) Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY FOUR (July 3)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Little Saint! Your days were spent in the filth of the marshes, willingly helping your desperately poor parents and family. Obtain for me the grace to accept my present circumstances in life, no matter how difficult or humiliating they may be. "Just one little drop of water" as the only request that fell from your parched lips during those last horrible hours of life. How much I demand, how unhappy I am when I cannot have my share of the world's conveniences and gaudy attractions! Teach me by your heroic example to be content with what I have, to be grateful for the blessings God has already showered upon me. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY FIVE (July 4)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Little Saint, I depend a great deal upon the help of my friends in time of trouble or sorrow. I look for their approval in many things I do. I am disconsolate and lonely when they desert me. Through your powerful intercession in Heaven, obtain for me the grace to place all my confidence in God. Only by walking constantly in His presence and depending upon His help, will I have the courage to stand up for His laws, even though it may mean loss of friends, criticism and complete removal of worldly comfort. Help me to look for all of my strength in Him. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY SIX (July 5)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Little Saint! Help me to greater love of my Faith. I have many God-given opportunities to study it but, sad to say, I neglect them. I am even critical of the Priests, Brothers and Sisters who offer their lives that I may better know and love my holy religion. Dear Saint Maria Goretti, teach me to be thankful for these graces which you did not have. Make me proud of my Faith and ready to die for it, if God should require that of me. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY SEVEN (July 6)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Little Saint, never was Jesus more welcome in a human heart than in yours. The Great Day of First Communion could not come quickly enough. In borrowed clothes and head crowned with flowers of the field, you knelt to receive Him into your soul, so rich with Innocence and Love, and this after months of keen anticipation! O Powerful Intercessor with the Lamb of God, inflame my soul with your "ardent longing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist." Obtain for me the grace to put aside laziness and indifference, so that I may often, even daily, allow myself to be consumed in the "burning Furnace of Charity." Teach me what true Love really is! Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY EIGHT (July 7)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Little Martyr! To the last you followed your beloved Jesus! He, while hanging upon His Cross of Suffering, uttered through parched lips, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!" And you upon your bed of pain, burning with fever, forgave your murderer with the words, "I too, pardon him... I too, wish him to join me in Paradise! Grant me the grace, O Heroic Saint, to be charitable to others! Much of my time is spent on vengeful thoughts, seeking how I may pay back to others the harm they have done to me. Teach me to forgive, so that I may not only gain Heaven, but also lead others there who might otherwise be doomed to Hell. If I am to follow Christ, help me to imitate His Charity, even as you have done. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

DAY NINE (July 8)

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Dear Saint Maria Goretti! Once again I turn to you, and beg of you in the words of Our Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, that "serenity of spirit and deep joy which is the heritage of those who are pure of heart." Help me to turn to Our Blessed Lady, confident in the hope that she will take my hand as she did yours, and lead me on to Paradise, my heavenly country, there to enjoy with you and Her, the company of God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost for all Eternity. Amen.

Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin (Above) followed by

Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Recite the Prayer to Saint Mary Goretti (Above) followed by

Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, (As above)

Saint Mary Goretti, Pray for us!

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. __________

Click below for Novena Pamphlet to Saint Maria Goretti

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_bd9b989de3c44349ad2e43be07bb76bc.pdf

All Novena Pamphlets

https://www.pamphletstoinspire.com/novenas

#novena to st. maria goretti

[wickedvalentine-blog]

- Accursed Blessing I. -

Act I – Tribute of the Divines

A child was born, pure of human senses of judgement, duty and knowledge. At his cradle came to give their pledge, three goddesses of heaven, sisters of Celestis.

The child wandered in dreams as the sisters gathered around. Intrigued by the purity profound; the lost treasure of kings and queens.

The youngest sister stepped out, caressed his head, her snow-white hair gently touched his joined hands. Her name is Alba, an angel of forsaken lands; it was a goddess of words staying at his bed.

“Sleep, child, while there is still a dream to cherish. Once you are awake, a dreadful path you will tread, pained and lonely, you will miss your warm bed. But do not fear it, you will neither fail nor perish, for we will watch over you. I, Alba of the lands forsaken, will be with you as you reawaken, to guide your hand through the world written anew.”

The goddess of book and quill, ever so bold, leaned forward and kissed the child’s cheek. He is small and frail, but no longer weak, the gift of writing would shine down on his dark road.

Alba... her realm is travelled only by few, for who would willingly wander alone? Wanderer explores the land forlorn, forever old and forever new. Still the goddess uses all her might to help her children on the forsaken road, at its end, the promise of joy tenfold, the divine delights dwell, for which mortals fight.

Although she is youngest of the three, Alba’s powers exceeds all and any. With her thought a world is created, and with it many as well faded.

-

The eldest looked at the sleeping boy wondered whether she gives her pledge. “Another gift would make his spirit foil, but his senses sharpened like an edge.”

Aura, goddess from the house of melodies, full of friends, free of enemies, doubted her decision more than ever, wished to save the child from painful endeavour.

“Can we make a perfect human of this child? One wild of nature and calm of mind? There will always be a price to pay for talent, that is the way of fate, unwanted and ambivalent.”

Aura knows more than anyone how success is failure’s son. Her fair hair and voice angelic... although divine, she is a cursed relic. Through pain and loss the voice goddess rose. Now at the cradle she stands fighting her own moral laments.

She looked at the middle sister blankly expecting her move to provide a decision. She approached the child and watched, her eyes saw more than a kid, a dreadful vision.

-

Atra, the goddess of visions and memory, her blood red eyes saw a lot of pain, war, love and treachery, her torment never was in vain.

Her gift is to see more than meets the eye, and remember the stillness of the world around. Once the time of art is nigh, a memory to a canvas is eternally bound.

“Alba’s gift was more than enough. We already interfered beyond our limits. His life will be dangerous and rough should Fate ever hear of this.”

-

Unfortunate this sentence was, an unexpected turn of the cause. Fate made her appearance in the room, a failed progeny of doom.

Strange powers bound the sisters powerless as the Fate took over their place. She came here to curse the child, not to bless, to turn his righteous pride into disgrace.

“So it is a gift you wish for... Fear not, I shall provide a suitable one. As for the gift you received before, keep it, your life had just begun.

I give you a gift of eternal pain, knowledge of what could have been had your trying not end in vain and your dreams so close to be seen but never close enough to grasp, I promise you will cry and gasp in agony begging me to help this useless insignificant whelp! And I grant you the curse of the soul-wrecked; you shall know and fear of being imperfect! Go now, Alba’s young apprentice, the gifts of her sisters you shall forever miss.” Fate and the goddesses faded away, left the child a high price to pay for a life neither asked for nor wanted. What lies ahead is a story, tragic and haunted...

Act II – A kiss, my beloved...

The child grew up in great haste, his gift is still unfound but not in waste. Alba, in her kingdom imprisoned by fate, grieved and cried, forced to watch and wait.

She wished to help the kid right away, to banish the dread and dismay. Alas, there was nothing in her power to escape the heavily guarded prison tower.

-

Six times the winter came and went, bringing sadness in every moment spent. Loneliness sank its vicious teeth into the skin, and the kid started thinking: what could have been?

Laments sent out a silent cry, thus far the child did not wish die. Once upon time, on a lonely wintry night, the child went to sleep, only to wake as a knight.

In a dream, often shrouded in mystery, he met a girl – to his life the greatest victory. The moon shined brightly upon those two, love-struck, they immediately knew this encounter is above fate and nature, an adventure for the chosen ones to tread and wager. The dream was coming to an end, no more than their eyes have met. Yet, they both knew what was in their mind, a wish for kiss, the sweetest of its kind. The sealing of lips was nearly made, but alas, sooner this dream had to fade.

The child woke up cast out from heaven once again, back into reality, the hell’s harsh and dissonant den. But this time he entered without a frown. In tears of joy he could swim and drown.

For years the child wandered the halls of hell, what he was thinking, no demon could tell. His heart like the one of a dog, loyal, relentless and lost in a monologue, awaited his mistress with tempered belief, his heart hidden well from any thief.

Sixteenth winter had passed since his birth, the child started doubting his true worth. No miracle brought the two lovers together, from angel’s wing falls the last feather.

Fate smirks and grins at her triumphant trickery, douses the flames of hope to induce misery. Alba still trapped along with her siblings, sends her children to do her biddings.

“Go forth, daughters of affection, I place my apprentice under your kind protection. Go forth, be swift! Free him of the guilt and unveil my gift!”

So the two daughters hurried, hardly breathing, the two muses emerged in the world of the living. In a place once filled with love and light, they found the child, wounded from the fight.

Act III – Honour turns to horror / Monarch of Hell

Now they were three on this journey of tragedy. The muses told him of the gift in his soul, a way to fend off his perilous agony, one that is worthy of its toll.

With quill and blood he wrote, but never ceased to wonder: where is the colour and where is the note? Doubts slowly started ruining his mind asunder.

“Unneeded or unwanted am I? I break down for no reason why. As if cursed was this gift weighing me down, As if fate itself wanted me fall and drown.“

The muses looked at each other anxiously, to them he was still like a family. They revealed fate’s curse, unknown to him, laments turned his feelings dark and grim.

-

Fate has won both the battle and war, swept away his hopes with no remorse. When there was no place to go anymore, the child shut himself behind iron doors.

There his mind fell into dark depths into hatred, lust and laments. No more did he wish to live and create, no more time to waste, no more time to wait. “There’s a battle to be waged once again, this time all my anger I shall unleash along with pain! Brace yourself fate, I will tear apart your wings! You will regret the day you moved my strings. And should I die, I care not. Life never was the place I sought. Death walks with me as a friend, who sees to it that I shall end with a smile on my soul and face as I slay the one who upon me bestowed disgrace.”

Fate and the child - each other they still loathe, a war’s end needs the death of both. They have yet to cross swords and blades, and when the child´s life-light fades the Pale Lady takes them both to hell where their story I can once again tell as I did so many times before, and yet, you all read and listen without bore.

Act IV – The Chaos Walker

“Alba... heed my words, for I can no longer heed yours. I, the chaos walker of the real worlds, have lived through enough wars. Your gift I will no longer use, your ideas I will no longer follow. Find another child to abuse with your hope that brings sorrow.”

Is this what I really wish for? Anxious and uncertain chaos doth be... It is both all and every and neither, nor, a spiral of colour which no one can see.

I wish to be no more the fire that heals and water that burns, bloody peace and merciful war, the kindness given and meanness that returns, silent cry of a loud, deaf person, white pawn on a square of a black king, the remedy that will worsen and the venom that can heal everything.

Here I stand – the chaos walker. I, the child who in darkness grew older, and swore vengeance upon the thread weaver and the strong currents of fate’s river.

Years passed, tears were shed. To nought but darkness my path led. The light of my long lost heart is hidden in the words of my art.

Alba, answer me, for your cursed child became a monster most unkind. Would you let this weary soul yield as it threw away pride and kneeled?

Act V – Archdemon Faust

Many times I stumbled just to survive. My actions like thorns on a rose, will hurt those who wished to adore, and all who upon me wearily repose.

How can I ever undo my mistake? Welcoming the body and heart of a dame different from the one fated... All just to survive and keep sane...

This thorn... I don’t want her to bleed, nor by a fact that I find it not a mistake. It was to remain sane - and the same person whose name I used to take.

Perhaps it is too late for me to see another day, even if a brighter one. I had to become the evil side of nature - by losing to the truth, I have truly won.

As a demon, I’m seeing only myself. I gaze upon my own needs neglected, and mercilessly follow what it needs to have one’s life corrected. And now less than a human I am called? The same shadows we all bear inside; what they suppress and neglect I decided to no longer hide.

Tempered by confinement remade by a dystopian world; I have taken on a new name - Faust the archdemon of nature. Still I am a mirror to whom you vent, the same lover to whom you’ve curled when you realised love is just a game that gets better the further in you venture.

 Come see me in the darkness where you needn’t light to see that body gives us joy regardless of poor ugly me.

Embrace the evil of freedom where in mind you can find that we’ll get what we want and still remain in heart kind; for it is now we know what is true - the nature’s call we no longer heed. In life upon lust we want to feed, and by death, we’ll have all we need.

#poetry #epic #the longest piece of art I have ever written #Vick Valentine #Future Memories #I dare you to read it...

[kernel-logs]

A Merciful Hero’s Thesis

Meanwhile, at a sealed forest in a deep realm... A Hero is focused on deep meditation inside a room his Wife and he made. In this room, Time passes differently, the TimeScale value has changed. This allows the room speed to slow the time inside. A marvelous machine, indeed.

"I didn't come here to solve 0 possibilities, or 1 possibilities, but to solve the Infinite Possibilities." ~ The Author of this Thesis

Beforehand...

I must say, I want to realize what has been going around. I don't really want to take a look now of how much time I've passed here with the time alterations. It's been some weeks in the reality, yet, I'm afraid to look at the value displayed on my system screen. It's hard to explain, I could say that usually everyone is capable of "sensing time", the flow of time, the "intrinsic happenings"; yet, I don't feel like I can do it properly inside this room. This thought has come to me multiple times, and I'm sure I have written about this as well. I also mentioned that this is also in some way, Scary. And every new small log I do inside this room tends to be repetitive. My theory, is mostly because all these ideas are different rivers that reach to the same sea.

I think most of you will end up reading everything I've been writing inside this room. Even you, My Love, and eventually, my own children. I have my own way of organizing my ideas, such as my files and the way I configure all this writing. For some reason, my files are not connected in a linear way. I'm not sure why is the reason, every time I save my files and try to reorganize my data in my hyper-computer they seem to drift away from each other, as if they don't want to collide themselves. If that makes sense to some of you. These files are indeed, connected, and they are meant to be. Let me remind you that the reason I came to this particular universe, in this particular planet, in this particular place, for our special time-gimmick room, was to try to use the Divine Knowledge that every Hero possess and find a way to stop the Eternal Conflict. Specially with the rumor that came to my Wife and me, where other Heroes have fallen to become Villains. There's also a personal reason for this, because I love my friends and my family, and since I'm a Husband and Father, I committed myself to take this even more seriously that I used to do.

The Scary feeling

I mentioned how Scary could this Time-room be. My love, in most of our iterations together, there is this tendency where I am older than you. If we take this fact and project this into the future, and suppose we live long-lasting lives, it will mean that I will die before you. Of course, there's many ways where this could be different, being older doesn't necessary mean that you will die before others, but this weight has to be considered. Now, let's add this room to the equation. Time is different here, you will notice that being exposed to this room will mean that I will grow even older than you, even if you were originally older than me (in those iterations where you are were older, my love). While I know that in reality I've been here for weeks, I understand that weeks inside this room could even be years, it's Scary to think that my body could, say, be 10 years older once I leave the room. What if you don't recognize me? Or even worse, what if, when I leave this room, all of you are Dead? And it would be ironic that by having a lot of time in advantage, it would mean nothing if I failed my quest before it even started to commit my plan.

The Pristine Condition.

If I've been talking about altering the TimeScale. Then you will probably be wondering about Time travel. You heard, read, seen this topic before. I'm positive. This is not new for you. In practical terms, altering the TimeScale is different from actually being a Time Traveler. When we alter the TimeScale, you are actually taking every bit and pixel in your environment and slowing or increasing its processing time, that's the simplest way I can describe it for now. As you can see, we can say, in a way, that this just handles Time and NOT Space. However, Time traveling is actually Space-Time Traveling and adding a new variable to our systems indicates higher complexity, the simplest way to say it would be that at minimum, it duplicates our efforts.

I will elaborate more on the matter. But first, I want to talk about Perception. And I'm also believing that you are probably thinking that I'm taking a detour and I will talk about non-relevant topic. Which is also important to understand why I am talking about this.

I want to talk about Perception and at the same time, while I previously talked about Time Travel, I had this expectation that You would think I'm taking a detour from the Time Travel topic. That's my personal Perception, my point of view, my internal context allows me to create and manipulate my ideas to reach an specific conclusion. This first comes from our senses. In our discoveries, the majority of the current species list have 5 major "physical" senses; this is, Taste, Smell, Touch, Hearing and Sight. Even Flora have senses, and have more than Animals, they might not have the typical senses like Animals, but they have ways to sense things, they can detect Light sources, I would assume, how Pixels mutate their wave lengths to create a new Light Color. They can also sense Gravity, a Universal force, they use the gravity input and process and adapt their systems, this way a plant can grow properly. Any entity that has any way to sense something will then get the capability to have a personal context. Our senses receive raw data from the Objective Reality, you know the actual Unequivocal Reality. Then our cells have to process that data, and encode it to our understanding, thus, creating our Perception, our own Subjective Reality.

You are currently reading this thesis, by using your Sight. Yet, I'm not sure if you are completely understand what these words are here. While your Sight allows you to read and transfer this "raw data" to your mind,. During the decoding and encoding process, plus by adding your own personal experiences and context, it will then create a gap on the fidelity of the knowledge that I want to transfer to you. Even I'm having issues with this, since I've deleted and re-written this sections many times, so you can understand this knowledge in its Prestine condition. This is, to its original, clean, fresh, raw condition. What would happen if I disperse this Knowledge? If I split it? Do you think this would be in its Prestine condition that I want to share with you?

The Shapeless Parable

Imagine this situation. A meteor falls on a city, it was small enough to not represent a threat to the planet where you currently are. However, a lot of people will just start running and others will be "peeping" to feed their curiosity about it. Is this meteor a threat? They might be asking. Others just think that an Alien will come out from the meteor and start killing everyone. Filled with determination others will get close to the impact area. There's nothing. It's just a rock sitting there. Nothing special happens. "What a joke!" - One of them yells. A few moments later, something starts moving under the rocks. "I knew it! It's an Alien!" - said the same that yelled before. Suddenly, the rocks get launched around. Some rocks hit a few people, they even get crushed by a bit, but its not lethal, there's a small gap where they can see. The creature, quickly disappears, no one noticed that it became a huge slime and it did a concertina movement (similar to snakes). Fortunately, the people under the rocks can see the ground, "There!, The ground!" - they say. 2 people remain unharmed, all of them separated by the previous attack. Once again, the create jumps from its slimy form and changes its shape to a mouth with many fangs and it devours one of them. "No, No, everyone, get out of here!" - yells the only one unharmed and starts running away. The creature then jumps in front of him and emits a giant roar, destroying that person's hearing sense. That person starts running, but tries to fight back a bit, this person throws a punch, and the hand gets trapped inside the creature's body, this time the creature was just a sphere. The arm then starts to quickly melt, this person then rips the arm apart and run as fast as possible to look for help, the creature didn't bother about it, it was distracted by the other people yelling what was happening while they were under the rocks. The slimy creature split into tiny tiny creatures, like insects that crawled under the rocks where those people remained. All they could see were small insects walking through the rocks then proceeding to corrode their bodies. There was only 1 survivor.

Let me ask you. How do you think this survivor would describe this lethal creature? We know that the ones that had an encounter with this creature would describe it differently. Everyone under a rock saw a slimy thing on the ground that moved like a snake, they then heard a giant roar and at the very end they saw many insects crawling. One of them just saw a huge and scary mouth, nothing else. The survivor saw the slimy creature form on the ground, it saw the giant mouth devouring one of others. And when tried to run away it took another form, a sphere form, to mitigate any hostility, and then learned that by touching the creature, his body would corrode. Finally let's not forget the fact that this person lost the hearing sense. Others will have to use alternative methods to communicate with this person. Or this person could just talk and try to describe what they saw, it won't be easy to describe it, and if this person manages to describe the best they could, this person never knew that it could split into tiny insect creatures and attack multiple targets.

Do you understand how the Truth, how Knowledge is dispersed in different points of view? How every person in this situation could tell a very different story if they managed to survive? No one would properly understand how this creature behaves, there's missing information that could lead us to the truth. We can gather than you could lose your physical senses if you fight this creature. How would you describe the creature? Don't you think that you could describe better this situation than everyone else who had this encounter? Probably not, because you won't have it experienced yourself. One last ingredient we need. Experience.

An Illusion of Free-Will

So why would I digress about Time-Travel? It is because now you have a much clearer picture of how own biology creates boundaries for our perception. We can enhance ourselves with machines or with magic. And Heroes are enhanced the moment they become one. I believe you know that we can't see with our eyes the ElectroMagnetic spectrum. You can't see sound, nor how the actual air particles look with your own eyes. You can't see gamma rays or radio waves. Your eyes can't see how the machines you daily use communicate using waves. Yet you know they exist, and they have an impact in our reality. Let's not even dive in what it means to have the OmniVision skill. What do you think it would mean for your personal Perception to be able to See Everything? I can tell you that SHE is the only one that could describe it for us, and I'm sure we won't understand what it means and how it feels.

Here comes the big question. How would you describe Time Traveling? There are so many ways to interpret it. Its difficult to nail which one is correct. And someone could ask, "hey, but, maybe there's more than 1 way to actually Time travel!". And if that someone is right, then our perception of this would change as well.

And here's where we face another obstacle. No matter how many people have interpreted Time traveling. Everyone always ended up with 1 or many Paradoxes, when figuring the idea.

I would assume that the simplest way to imagine how Time passes, it would be as a line. It could be interpreted as a Vector; it has direction and magnitude. Yet, this vector keeps the same direction and the magnitude changes. It doesn't matter what Time Point we refer, the direction keeps being the same. If a vector conserves its direction but changes its magnitude, could we say that this is the same vector? This seems paradoxical as well. But paradoxes haven't really even started, if I say so myself.

If we want to travel to the past, we would go behind our current point in time, the present. If we want to go to the future, we would go ahead of the present. Considering it this way, we could say that the present stays on the middle. This is just one infinite straight line.

Yet, this presents an issue with FREE WILL. If the future already exists, then it would mean that things are already determined, following this logic. If things are already determined, then we are just following an Illusion of Free Will. Let's consider a very small example. Imagine this is the schedule for one of your days

Morning you wake up

From morning to Noon you clean your house and have breakfast

At Noon you take a Shower

After shower and until twilight you get Lunch and watch your favorite movie series

After twilight you decide to get dinner and then sleep

If we consider that the Timeline is already predetermined, even the future, and for some reason you could Time-travel to the past to the day that I just described, say to Noon when you are taking a shower, you would find a Time collision, a contradictory situation. Say you Time-traveled back to your Kitchen at noon, to prepare Lunch, this is Impossible because at that Time you were taking a shower. Someone could argue that this was always the case, and that could fit this thing, you are in that 2 existing in 2 points in this reality, since you Time-traveled, and you never noticed. Your future self was probably the one who cooked your lunch that day, and for some reason you didn't even pay attention to this (which is awkward to think). Yet, what would happen if you Time-travel back to your shower? Won't that mean that you would destroy yourself after opening a Time-warp and appearing at your shower location? If this was the case, then Timeline was wrong, because "the first-time" you were there, you never killed yourself at your shower, this would mean that there's AT LEAST 2 versions of the timeline. One where you take a shower normally, and one where you destroy yourself from it. Finally, if we consider the fact that only your memories are recovered when you Time-travel, but not your body, this would also be contradictory since the first time you were taking a shower you never knew the future and you could potentially changed it. In this scenario, you would have to always have a loop in order to not be paradoxical, but multiple versions of the Time-traveler exist at the same Time, this then contradicts the premise that there's only one version of us at an a specific point in Time, also remember that Free Will is at risk here.

These things can once again, change our Perception of Reality. Would it make a difference for intelligent species to know that things are already predetermined?

The Shape of the Future

Another interpretation has only the past and the present. Since the future is uncertain, then by using our Free Will we can shape the future. By shaping the future, we acknowledge as well that we can branch the present to different futures. Overall, we understand that we apparently can't change the past. We learned this by mere Empirism, that is, by our own experience. I'm sure that if people could change the past, they would already messed with it countless of times. Let's formulate a thought experiment. Consider that anyone could change the past. If Subject A changes the past, it would be to fulfill Subject A's conditions of how this person wants to shape the new present, thus, the future as well. We don't know what are the intentions of Subject A. So there's always the risk that any subject can try to shape a bad future. If Subject B changes the past, could this create a collision, a conflict of interests with Subject A's intentions? And this makes conflict with how Time behaves. The consensus that we have is that Time has a sequence of ordered events. Event 1 occurs before Event 2, and Event 3 would happen after Event 2, [1,2,3]. Time traveling would then change the order of the events. If the order of something changes, then it would not behave in the same way. Here we could ask: What would be the order of events if 2 or more Subjects alter the Timeline's values?

Does the order of time-traveling matters?

Does it make a difference if Subject A travels first back in time than Subject B?

Let's elaborate a bit more. Consider Subject A travels to Event 2, and wants Event 2 to have a different outcome to avoid Event 3 of happening. We know that the original order of events is [1,2,3, ...]. If Event 2 changes its outcome, we cannot say that this would be Event 2, because if we try to compare Event 2 with how Subject A wants to happen, they would not be described in the same way. If they are not the same then Event 2 cannot be named Event 2, we can call it Event 2 Alpha, thus, Event 3 would never happen, Event 2 Alpha would output Event 3 Alpha. And the same thing would happen Event 3 is not the same event as Event 3 Alpha, therefore the new order of events would be [1,2α,3α, ...]. Subject A would not go back to the present, since this subject desires to live wit this particular order of events.

What would happen if we add Subject B? Subject B wants to change Event 3 to prevent Event 4 from happening. The original order is: [1,2,3,4]. Here's where our collision happens. Would this mean that this particular version of Subject B doesn't exist? Although we never mentioned at what particular event Subject A traveled back in time (say A traveled back to Event 2, during Event 20), we know that in this example Subject B travels AFTER Subject A. And since the new order of events is now [1,2α,3α, ...], there is NO CERTAINTY to know that Subject B managed to be able to travel back in time. Subject A could get rid of Subject B to never be able to travel back in time in this new order of events. But we will consider here, that Subject B could at some point Time Travel. Since Subject B wants [1,2,3β,4β, ...] to happen, this means that Subject B would have to travel to an Event before Event 2, that is because right now Subject B is living the Alpha Order : [1,2α,3α, ...], and we stipulated that 2 is different than 2α. Let's consider that Subject B succeeds, this would mean that [1,2,3,4...] won't exist but it will ALSO MEAN that [1,2α,3α, ...] would not exist as well. By being the last to time travel, the Beta Order overrode both the original and the alpha order. Hence, the final order would be [1,2,3β,4β, ...]

You can use the previous example to create your own series of examples using this interpretation. Remember, here we consider that our free will opens the path for different futures as future is not predetermined.

This interpretation just creates a system of timelines that will be overridden, or it would seem to be that way. Can we just say that the other timelines stopped existing? Or they are just intact and agnostic to changes in time?

Did you know that Time-Traveling should be addressed as Space-Time Traveling? Most people just perceive that we would just go back in time. Yet, they never take space in consideration. If you wanted to travel just a few months back, you would be floating in space and presumably die at the space void. Why? Because the planet you live is translating around a Star. By not taking space in consideration, you would miss the actual position of your planet. Do not forget that Space is coupled with Time at some degree.

Multiple versions of...

When we say there's multiple timelines, then it means that the order of events are different between these Timelines. This then presents the existence of multiple universes, but we also know for experience that the Multiverse is real. I am not native from this World, nor this Universe, even my wife and children are safe in their native Universe. Things seem to be connecting now, aren't they?

The Multiverse can also be interpreted in many ways. It could just mean that there's only one original order of events, and there are also alternative versions of the order of events. These would be children universes from a parent Universe. These children universes could also have their own children indefinitely created by Space-Time traveling. They can also be interpreted as Universes with extremely similar configurations, since Children have always a lot of similarities with their parents.

The Multiverse can also just create Universes the same way we understand different planets and galaxies are created. There's a world of Humans in a galaxy they call The Milky Way. There are many worlds that present life at the Sunflower galaxy, and for some reason the majority of those worlds present many intelligent flora-species, its an interesting coincidence to know that Humans named that galaxy the Sunflower galaxy. While all of these worlds have life in different galaxies, they exist inside one Universe. Hence, you can imagine these Universes as just another big container for galaxies, but the diversity and order of these galaxies are different compared to other Universes, this is, their configuration. These Universes have very different configurations, compared to Children Universes. Every Universe is stored in an immense data container, no matter what kind of Universe is.

New Knowledge : The Existence of Theses

After gathering more thoughts and more bits of my research, I've come to terms with myself and I wanted to postulate yet another way that I believe how Space-Time Traveling would be possible. I believe that in theory, we could take a given configuration of a given Universe at a specific point on Time and create a new universe with the configuration we took from the previous Universe. If I were to exist at the Universe where we took the configuration, we would need to give to our new created self the memories of my present self, this might sound confusing, but I believe you can see that if you don't want multiple versions of yourself existing in the same Universe, you would have to delete yourself from the existence of that Universe and then actually phisically travel to that Universe, yet there's the problem where you would be older than the actual moment when you lived that point of time. Or you could give to your "new copy of yourself" the memories of your actual self, so your copy have its own memories, plus the memories you got from your own future, this copy will have the exact age you had at that time, because you are recreating that specific point of time.

Could you take a moment to think about what I'm sharing to you right now?

What are the implications of the millions and millions of cases of any interpretation of space- time-traveling?

What are the implications of the interpretation that I am proposing?

Do you believe that this is something that we, as mortals, should have access to?

Would not this be something both Cosmos and Chaos can do? We acknowledge they are Gods.

My own thoughts point me in a direction where Kernel possesses an even greater power of what I proposed, a limitless version.

Perhaphs only the Trinity have the power to execute what I proposed.

Would this proposal be interpreted as a Cruel Thesis? Or as a Mercyful Thesis?

Not only I serve on Battle, but also on Science. I love Life, I love our Gods.

I write all of these theses (plural of thesis), so they may be used for anyone with good intentions, the best acts, and powerful knowledge. I am sure they will help others to also become Heroes. That is one of many motivations.

...Yet, I cannot understand or comprehend how I, Indubitably, know that my own children will become Space-Time-Travelers...

...Yet I crave to see my Wife's and Children's Eyes; they help me keep going ...

...While I am altering my own personal time, to find a solution to prevent one of the greatest catastrophes in the Multiverse, and my deepest wish is for my wife and my children to live in the best future that I can help shape, because if they can live that future, I'm sure every mortal will have it too; however I don't know if I am going to be alive to witness the shape of that future.

#dark-future-arc

[syphiria]

Makai Ouji Pillar 87 Translation

Thank you, imey-chan, for the RAW!

Sorry for the long wait. Enjoy!

1 [Volume 14 will be on sale 25th July-! A copy of ‘Weekly Heaven’ (?) will be included. A special edition containing a special booklet will also be on sale at the same time!] W: Out of all things, the result of the conversation between a member of the Golden Dawn, Britain’s greatest mind, and a Seraph is-

2 to trespass 10 Downing Street……!! (N/ 10 Downing Street is the official residence/office of the Prime Minister. (Sort of equivalent to the White House in the USA)) K: Now, now, preventing a war is also an admirable job for a hero Here you go, Young Master W: Right… [I’ve felt it before memories from the past resurface for an instant when I drink herbal tea It feels like remembering grammar that I once learnt in the past and had forgotten

3 The feeling of him trying to take over like before…… Isn’t there I’ll never hand over to him again This life is mine]

4 W: -“O omnipotent God, cometh to this circle Eternal fortune and complete joy Overflowing compassion With eternal gratitude, those who oppose me shall- Phew… K: With this, we should have gained some time However, this brainwashing will not last

5 M: Let’s split up afterwards Getting around to every MP before the day of the vote is impossible for William by himself W: I get it, I’m counting on you I: Besides, do you think Britain alone is enough? W: Agh, damn it I’ll go wherever! Where’s the next war-supporting party!?

6 M: William, bad news! The Prime Minister of Greece has changed again

7 W: Again!? M: If the pro-war party leader becomes Prime Minister, a rift will definitely open between the Ottoman Empire W: -I get it I’ll go to London just in case What are you going to do after all of this is over? Didn't you run away from your original home K: You’re right I doubt that I will be able to return to Heaven W: ……

8 W: You’re my family’s house-steward I’ve never cared about whether you have wings or not What’s important is- K: to brew your favourite tea To protect your home so you always have a place to return to Right? W: Yeah K: …I am fortunate, Young Master Even though I’ve done something deemed incorrect by the Divine Law I have this feeling of satisfaction that I’ve never felt before It’s as if it’s the first time…

9 that I’ve chosen the way to live myself… [Something passionate when close to death Solomon, is this what you wanted to teach me-?] Kevin Please brew some herbal tea for me as soon as we reach the hotel K: Young Master… Please do not strain yourself W: I know But I will stop the war That’s right Nothing in this world will change My world will not change…

10 K: …… S: I see… Huh I: As expected of William! To think that you actually stopped the war Newspaper: “Parliament Rejects Support Bill” “United Kingdom Avoids Participation in War” M: Heroes are busy With this, we’ve gained some time for the human realm, but I: Hell, huh~~~

11 W: What’s the situation like in Hell right now? C: Very unfavourable Heaven’s army with Sitri as their vanguard have crossed the river Styx They’ve invaded Hades’ territory J: Baalberith’s nephew being weak is in no way accurate He’s having a succession of victories; he’s already defeated General Orobas and Zagan At this rate, he’ll clash with Baalberith’s main force W: Sitri and Baalberith!? Why has a demon so suddenly become an angel in the first place! K: Angels and demons born in the original era are essentially of the same essence Sitri was probably forcefully brought to Hell without having fallen

12 C: His power was sealed with Baalberith’s magic But that’s no longer effective J: So it means that the old man’s magic is dropping [Baalberith is also close to sleep] W: I’ll definitely stop it! [There’s been no contact from Dantalion either That’s strange… Has something happened?]

13 W: -say Does anyone know of a way to return Sitri to his senses? Mi: That, I know of W: Michael! Mi: Uriel, it’s your jurisdiction Tell him That he’ll have to put his life on the line

14 M: Drink wormwood!? W: It’s to evoke Solomon’s shared memories to return Sitri to his senses M: I see For Sitri, Solomon is absolute W: Even if he betrays Baalberith Solomon’s position is above Metatron’s -is what Michael said (Then he used up all his energy)

15 M: You’ve probably put a lot of thought into this, but are you sure? W: -Yeah M: (*sigh*) “When the third angel blows his trumpet, the blazing star Wormwood falls” (N/ This is a reference to Revelation 8:10 of the Bible) W: I know

16 M: ? W: the agony of having to live when not one of your wishes will ever come true and the despair knowing that such a state will continue permanently No matter how many herbs I drink I couldn’t recall the past between Sitri and Solomon

17 Herbs don’t work anymore So… M: Since you have your guardian’s permission, I won’t stop you There isn't much time either K: Young Master… W: Don’t worry I won’t let that guy take over ever again I am myself!

18 W: !!! SFX sudden shock SFX shatter K: Young Master!

19 …He’s gone

20

21 S: “The ones who love me Those who form a flock Come down to my garden to the scented flower bed to take lilies” B: That’s a really rubbish poem S: That’s fine There isn’t really anything else for me to do

22 B: To think that both of us would become your kin But I’m grateful to you S: With this, you probably won’t have to kill each other There won't be pursuers from Heaven either However

23 B: I can’t go to sleep S: That’s right If your power weakens, the fact that Sitri has not fallen will be revealed to Hell The two of you should sleep in the pillars while you can B: If I die- The time to let go will come that

24 I’m content with just watching Even if it’s weak like a doll W: (I see… That’s why Baalberith became the last of the 72 Pillars) (N/ Baalberith (Berith) is actually the 28th demon in the Lesser Key of Solomon; the 72nd demon is Andromalius) This is

25 (72 pillars-!)

S: The king of the bull and wisdom, Foraii (N/ 21st demon – Great Earl and President of Hell; also spelt Marax/Morax) The brave Ipos (N/ 22nd demon – Earl of Hell) The dutiful Ronwe (N/ 27th demon – Marquis and Great Earl of Hell; also spelt Ronové) Friends of the 72 Pillars who have asked for my help

26 I hope I have managed to do something for you W: (Everyone’s been sealed in the pillars?) S: I was born here long ago and was asked by God if there was anything I wanted And so I replied O God, please grant me the power to distinguish between good and evil

27 So that I may become a great king! To know of good and evil, is to separate this world into good and evil… What is not evil also becomes evil when next to good According to the Divine Law W: (Divine Law…) S: I have seen plenty Loved ones being judged as incorrect by God That brought only agony

28 Why… didn’t I wish for something else back then-! SFX bite SFX spill W: !

29 S: If God is telling me what is good and evil, then I will support evil I myself will become evil So that God will abandon me and destroy me

30 “May my wish be granted by evil“ [The other demons of the 72 Pillars will finally awaken!?]

Translation Note - ‘Foraii’

The author has chosen to use the spelling ‘Forfax’ for the 21st demon, otherwise known as Morax or Marax. The spelling ‘Forfax’ is not widely used in English (try Google, you won’t find it) – the equivalent in English would be ‘Farax’, but is also not widely used. The spellings I usually use (unless another name is explicitly written by the author in Japanese) are from Mathers’ translation of The Lesser Key of Solomon – hence ‘Sitri’ rather than ‘Sytry’ (but ‘Ronwe’ rather than ‘Ronové’), etc. In this case, since ‘Forfax’ is non-existent in English, I would have used the spelling ‘Marax’. However, Marax is also a drug for asthma treatment, so the internet presence of ‘Morax’ seems to be stronger. Therefore, I was hesitant on either. Eventually, I decided on using ‘Foraii’ – this is an accepted spelling in both English and Japanese, and is also closer to the author’s original name choice.

More stuff from Solomon’s past is being revealed! Samael is up to something...

This chapter took a long time to translate. Sorry for the wait! It is exam season so I am officially pressed for time. The next chapter won’t take that long once it’s out. I promise! ^^

Please feel free to point out any mistakes.

#makai ouji: devils and realist #makai ouji #devils and realist #translations #pillar 87 #魔界王子

[jeyoteswritings-blog]

The Switch

And lo, when i first descended those Cold metal steps lay prone Waiting for my hesitant footsteps

An unease most uncanny, consciously Akin near to terror As those depths were unknown to I

The brevity of assignment above Vague instruction But as befitting, displayed no distress

Such was thy mood, leaving behind A life spent hitherto The opulent silver-gold towers of pleasure

And what i said unto those stoic guardians Barring egress to the underneath "I bear unto you the seal official of potentate"

And thus a knowledge and familiarity Of an epoch of man's potential reached Thy premonition was gradually crumbled

For those silver-gold towers of leaders few Glisten in bright alimentary light And alight upon its surface those of beauty

Thou'st noble citizen belonging to these Embark to the hidden place Resting thither beneath palace foundations

The first level underground

Thine ears detected first, aberrant sound Rythmic, driving rumble Shrill and cutting melody wrapped within

Stepping into an enormous room slate Individuals attentive and earnest As a giant workroom, accosted thine eyes

Countless wonders beheld as those Artisans, in their profilic flurry Born of wit and intelligence, yet unveiled

Thy senses overcome, attention drawn first To works of aesthetic beauty Art of the like familiar, yet avant-garde

Of the many, few do i have space to describe As that of a flowing green mural Or the one of interactive spartan desert

Delectable these works, yet more evident Machines form-wraught Commisioned, golden and spectacular!

For one who in life built and built Therron, praised and widely-sought Fashioned a great glittering wheel

A tongue familiar, like the treasures surround Yet discordant, and realization Years-old cybernetics this one possessed

Thus he spake: "achievement for Thou to gaze upon In splendid glory, the chariot of empyrean!"

To which i replied: "for thee unparalled Such an undertaking of effort Why doest though struggle and toil so?"

At the query posed, a look of such Abashment swiftly on The face of the great creator, and puzzlement

A reply swift: "toil not do i, for knowledge That my works adoringly may be Considered by protecters and leaders above"

I bade farewell to Therron, this master This architect of wonders And his dated cybernetics exterior

The second level underground

Upon the hiss of entrance strode i Through mechanized portal And was dumbstruck of sensations

Such heat! Such steam! And stark grayness Here was a room of such Expansiveness than the last was overwhelmed

Though perspiration pooled uncomfortably On thy brow, i continued And rapid metal-joined-metal all around

Verily here were the foundations of industry! And such materials once-terran Through miles of manufactre transform

Traversed did i, the rows and rows gleaming Bright metal against lurid grey vast Accosted thine ears were, screech and keen!

After such a time, whens't thine feet had Grown quite weary and fear swell'd That i would ever reach an end or exit here!

Hitherto ignored by the scurrying laborers Out of the shining gloom And cacophony, emerg'd a large figure

An aura of command, this man compelled Fury-driven proletariats All bearing such ancient cybernetic augments!

'Neath a swarthy tangle of beard flame-red A massive body set upon Rolling chassis, a voice like the darkest cavern:

"All ye who are immersed here, avast! Machines manifest machines Indiscriminate, they are! Avast i say!"

And verily i spake unto him, this overseer "Why doest thou struggle so? who are these wretched souls that toil thus?"

"This! This rightly is how thou'st has originated so. Work never stops, I toil thusly brothers can remain firmament"

For it seems that this endless fabrication Resulting in static, obsolete Cybernetics for all who dwell 'neath this level

I took my leave and descended down, down

The third through seventh level underground

Through corridors dimly lit i wandered And briefly paused To revel at such poverty i divined, as i passed

What could be such a cause, as these Inhabitants were poorly mended and I saw such horrors

Rended flesh shoddily fused to parts Inferior, and perpetual Hunger, for nutrient, for shelter, for tech!

Round and round, these destitute corridors As if unending And all throughout, wails and groans met

Grey and green walls warped hideously In disrepair Profusely dripping yellow oil-slime from above

And sharply a nefarious stench became Thine nostrils That i could hardly breathe, think, move!

For aeons it seemed that i crept and Throughout, witnessed Such revulsions i can scarcely recount

Denizens of this wretched place dwell'd In such squalor Wherein the weak preyed on the weaker

Many a writhing body i did see, missing then An arm, or leg! Cybernetic theft left them immobile!

Verily have i since blocked from my Concious thought, An exchange with one of these wretches

The dirt and grime lay thick upon its brow And raiment That only close inspection revealed a woman

Weeping, she spake thus: "my child!... My baby!... Taken away..." to which i replied, sympathetic:

"Where has your child gone, poor creature?" Voice: of sadness and fury: "He was worth 500 credits to recycle!"

Fleeing in my consternation, The poor woman's Screams of lament hounded my footsteps

Blindly, i stumbled and fell Into a gaping maw Appearing forth from the grimy floor

Alighting upon a rough surface, Complete darkness I perceived, but for glowing dots 'round me

Eventually thine sight returned and i Found myself Atop a morass of junk and parts

Horribly, this mound of rubble moved 'neath Twitching... Forever twitching! Arms! Cybernetic legs 'twixt torsoless heads!

Alas! This was a refuse pile for the damned, Obsolete human parts Some still had life 'neath cybernetic eyes

They watched, and twitched as thou Can imagine As fast a speed as i dared, stumbled away

An eternity seemingly it was, til i Reached the bottom Of the terrible morass, implications dawned

The final chamber

A cavern thusly traversed, til naught an exit Could be seen But for a pair of large iron-wraught doors

Brazenly, i pushed apart these iron barriers And then, a shock A scene most surreal appeared before me

The most gargentuan chamber discovered A massive central column Power pulsing immensely, and attached...

Brains! Four of them, gigantic and bloated Fat wires crawled To the column from pods where they floated

Upon my entry, and surprised immobility They soon beheld And buzzed with light as a booming voice:

"You who have entered the inner sanctum From where and why Have you saught us out?" I answered then,

"I...i was assigned an inspection The underground And the occupants therein, and report back"

"And what is it you will report, inspector? We know much Even now, we sense your misgivings."

"It is true, although i cannot heretofore Doubt any ruling Of a governing body, as you must be

I must protest the mistreatment and Neglect of those Unfortunate to find themselves obsolete!"

The brains laughed as one, a grotesque, Computer static "Who are you to make such statements!

As humans who have sought to achieve Perfection! We all wanted more, thusly cybernetics

Wheretofore, a new evolution emerged And those With the means to keep themselves current,

They live on. While those without Do not As you just witnessed, humanity's folly"

A horrid revelation, yet even so i noticed As the brains spoke A giant red switch, integrated in the column

The last words i have been recorded to speak: "If you are the masterminds Of such a system, then OFF with you!"

Wild, computer static-laughter: "you fool! Do you not realize Shutting us down will shut down everything!

Even your own cybernetic body!"

O F F

#sci-fi #poem

[katedoesfics]

Shadows of the Future | Chapter 52

The months went on without much trouble. By some miracle, Link made it through his senior year of high school, and to Rusl’s surprise, he even got accepted into the community college in the city. He supposed he couldn’t give his son too much of a hard time; he was the hero of Hyrule, after all. And the fact that he bothered to look into colleges came as a surprise to Rusl. In truth, he didn’t care what his son wanted to do with his life, as long as it meant he was happy, alive, and certainly not living with his father until he was in his forties.

As if he Rusl expected to even live that long in the first place.

And though his communication with Dorian had almost completely disappeared, he knew he was working day and night to keep tabs on Kohga and provide all the intel he could to Impa.

Admittedly, he had grown anxious with how quiet things have been, though he was beyond grateful for the time he had with his children. So when the call from Impa finally came, he was torn, sick with the idea that he may have to leave his children behind, for who knew how long, and yet anxious to get out into the world once more, learning all he could about the Yiga Clan, and fighting to give his children the chance to live in a world at peace.

He stood in front of Impa as she waved herself with a manilla folder. Her brows were knit together in annoyance as she grumbled angrily about the heat.

“It is summer,” Rusl reminded her, grinning.

“I know that,” she snapped at him. “But for the love of Hylia, why does the AC need to cut out now of all days?”

“It’s like you’re stuck in the middle of the Gerudo Desert,” Rusl said dryly. “Too bad no one knows what that’s like.” His brows raised. “Oh. Maybe D does.”

“I’ll kill you,” she hissed.

Rusl frowned. “That won’t make it any cooler out.”

“But then I won’t have to listen to your stupid shit.”

“Touche.” He offered her a smile. “So? What’s going on?”

Impa leaned back to sit against her desk, still fanning herself with whatever she could find. “I’ve got a job for you.” She hesitated and met his gaze. “It’s dangerous. It will take you out of the city and across Hyrule for a long time. Are you up for that?”

“I’m a walking target,” he reminded her.

Impa pulled her gaze away and sighed. “I know. But I’m running out of resources. And I trust you will do whatever you have to do to stay alive and out of Kohga’s hands.” She glanced at him. “Cado will be with you,” she added. “And as many of my men as I can give you.”

“Sounds like I don’t have much of a choice.”

“You do,” she said. “If you would rather stay here in the safety of the city with your children, I would understand.”

“Trying to convince me to stay?”

Impa pulled her gaze away. “The choice is yours,” she said. She stopped fanning herself. “I need your help. But it is risky.”

“What am I doing?”

“Purah found the Sheikah Slate,” Impa informed him. “And Robbie has found another Divine Beast. He and his men are working on recovering it, and with the slate, Purah will restore them. You should know that Dorian has made Kohga aware of this, and Kohga plans to take the slate from Purah.”

“You want me to stop him?”

Impa shook her head. She turned her gaze to the floor. “Let the Yiga Clan take it,” she said.

“They’ll kill -”

“They won’t kill her,” Impa snapped at him.

Rusl’s gaze narrowed on her, but Impa continued.

“The slate won’t respond to them,” Impa said. “Purah has made sure of that. They won’t be able to do anything with it.” She met his gaze. “Kohga will realize this, and he will give it to Dorian to bring back to us with the hope that we will activate the Divine Beasts for them.”

“Wasn’t that the plan?” Rusl said between his teeth.

“Yes and no,” Impa said. “A back up plan, really.”

Rusl’s forehead creased as he started to put the pieces together. “A back up plan?”

“If Dorian’s intel is true, then with all Kohga has been working on, he will likely be able to gain control of the Divine Beasts and turn them against us.”

“The Divine Beasts are a backup,” Rusl started, “for… what? For when Link fails?” His nostrils flared. “You’re going to send him to his death?”

“Our war with the Yiga Clan can only go one of two ways,” Impa said sternly. “If you die, Link will have the power to stop Kohga. However, if you stay alive, Link will not be able to stop him, and we must rely on the Divine Beasts to aid us.”

His teeth grit together. “It seems to me this is a lose-lose situation. You’re trying too hard to make sure everyone gets out alive. That will be what destroys Hyrule.”

“As prepared as you are to meet your fate,” Impa hissed, “we are not. I will not sacrifice -”

“War is nothing but sacrifice, Impa,” Rusl snapped at her. “You of all people should know that.”

Impa stared at him, her expression softening. She pulled her gaze away. “I am prepared for every possible outcome,” she said softly. “I am prepared to sacrifice only when necessary, and save those who deserve life.”

Rusl’s jaw clenched. “What the hell do you want from me?”

“I want you to help find the last Divine Beast,” Impa said, her voice strong and steady. “Robbie has sent Koko and Cottla to Tabantha to find it. You and Cado will assist them. Once found, report back to Robbie and Purah; they will take care of the rest."

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“I really don’t think you need me for something as simple as that.”

Impa held her gaze on him. “The truth is,” she started, “the Yiga Clan is getting stronger every day. Kohga’s power has far surpassed even Dorian’s power, and soon it will surpass my own. They will become unstoppable.” She pulled her gaze away. “Link will not be able to stop them, and I am unwilling to let you sacrifice yourself so that he can.”

“You are putting Hyrule in a far more dangerous situation,” Rusl said fiercely. “Activating those Divine Beasts will leave them open to be turned against us. You said so yourself.”

“I have a few other cards I can play,” Impa said. “I haven’t played my best hand, yet.”

“What could you possibly be saving?” Rusl hissed. “Link is the only one that can stop Kohga.”

Impa met his gaze. “Tell me, Rusl.” She paused. “Do you think your role in all this is as simple as bringing the Chosen Hero into this world?”

Rusl’s gaze softened. He stared blankly at her for a moment. Then his brows furrowed furiously. “What are you saying?”

“Chosen Heroes are only meant to seal the darkness. They are Hylia’s only means to preserving Hyrule from a curse doomed to repeat itself for all eternity. But they are not all who sacrifice to keep this world at peace. History is full of those who have gone unrecognized - who have given their all to help the heroes succeed. Without them, Hyrule would have been lost centuries ago. Princesses and Light Spirits, Sages and Champions. All who have equally earned the title of Hero.” She paused to let this sink in. “Don’t you see, Rusl? You are not merely a tool of Hylia’s own game. You have so much more purpose than you realize. Without you, Link and Zelda would have never succeeded. Hyrule would have been lost long before Ganondorf’s revival.”

Rusl hesitated. “You’re talking out of your ass,” he hissed.

Impa smiled. “I see the strength of your power. It will surpass even my own. You may think it is your job to die, but I can assure you that you are meant to live. You are meant for more.”

*****

Rusl was leaning against his car with a beer in hand when Aryll and Link came home, though he hardly drank from it. His mind was preoccupied with Impa’s words. She was insistent on remaining cryptic. Perhaps she didn’t know as much as she lead on. Still, he knew the old Sheikah knew close to everything about everything. Surely she wasn’t just caressing his ego. But he couldn’t possibly wrap his mind around her words, and he was so lost in trying to decipher them that he didn’t even notice his children’s arrival until Aryll skipped down the driveway toward him and climbed onto the trunk of the car.

Rusl turned to her, relieved for the distraction, and smiled. “And where have you guys been all day?” Rusl inquired.

“We got ice cream and went to the park and Urbosa braided my hair.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder to show her father. “And Riju and I went to the arcade and Link got kicked out and Mipha bought me a new shirt, look!” She spread her arms open so her father could see her shirt, and she grinned. “My other shirt got dirty.”

“You owe Mipha a hundred rupees,” Link said with a grin.

“For fucking what?”

“Because,” Aryll started. “Mipha says you’re too stupid to take care of me and she’s gonna start charging you.”

“You know,” Rusl said. “It was Link’s turn to take care of you today. That’s why I stuck you with him.”

“Well, you know how good Link is at that,” Aryll said, rolling her eyes. “Link said he took care of me enough and he’s done.” She crossed her arms and pouted.

Rusl frowned. “He doesn’t mean that.”

“I kinda do,” Link said.

Aryll slid off the car. “I don’t need you guys,” she said, stomping her foot. “I can take care of myself, yanno!”

Rusl smiled. “I know you can. But the government wouldn’t be happy with me if I let you do that.”

“I’ll talk to Zelda,” she said, straightening. “Zelda is my friend.” She perked up suddenly, growing excited. “Can I live with Zelda?”

“Live in a really cool, big palace with a princess, or get stuck here with Link and I.” Rusl pretended to think about her options for a moment. “Well, I think it’s a no brainer.”

“So I can?”

“Stay here with us?” Rusl grinned.

“Dad!”

“You would rather live with Princess Zelda than with me and Link?”

“No offense,” she said in her childish tone, “but you guys are lame.”

“I thought heroes were cool,” Link muttered.

“Come on,” Rusl whined playfully. “I’ll let you have all the peanut butter and banana sandwiches you want.”

“I dunno,” Aryll said slowly. “I’ll think about it.”

“Why don’t you think about it while you get ready for bed?”

Aryll frowned. “I don’t wanna go to bed!” Despite this, she yawned.

Rusl smiled. “Okay,” he started. “But you can at least go get dressed so you don’t ruin your nice, new shirt when we eat ice cream.”

“Yes!” She thrust a fist in the air, then turned to hurry inside of the house.

When the door closed, Rusl turned his attention to Link. He reached behind him to hand him a beer, and Link frowned.

“You’re a really terrible father, you know,” he said. “I’m not even twenty.”

Rusl shrugged. “Fine. Don’t take it.”

Link moved to his side, taking the can from him with a smirk. He pushed himself onto the trunk of the car. He frowned, his gaze turning to the beer as he opened it. “You only let me drink when you want to talk.”

“I want to talk,” Rusl confirmed.

“I know.” Link hesitated. He turned his gaze to the sky as a meteor graced the world with its presence. “How long will you be gone?”

Rusl sighed. “I don’t know,” he admitted regretfully.

“And you’re not going to tell me anything.”

“Right.”

“So, I’m stuck taking care of Aryll some more.”

Rusl smiled apologetically to him.

“You know,” Link started. “You can’t keep pawning her off on me. That’s not what I’m for.”

“That’s exactly what the oldest child is for.”

“I’ve been more of a father to her than you have.”

Rusl frowned. “Guess I owe ya, then.”

“Yeah, kinda.” Link sighed. “Whatever,” he said. “I don’t mind. I just gotta give you shit.”

“I know.” He turned his gaze to him. “I guess I’ve never really thanked you for everything. For taking care of her when I couldn’t. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Rusl smiled.

“When are you leaving?”

“The end of the week.”

Link nodded once. “Alright.”

“I’ll call when I can.”

“Sure.”

“Don’t let her eat junk.”

Link smiled. “Like peanut butter and banana sandwiches?” He met Rusl’s gaze.

“I’ve failed terribly with you,” Rusl said. “But she can probably still be saved. Try to get her to eat those things… I think they’re called vegetables.”

Link laughed lightly. “Yeah, I think that sounds right.”

Rusl pushed himself off the car and finished his beer.

“Are you ever going to tell me the truth?” Link asked quietly.

Rusl met his gaze and smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “Someday. I promise.” Someday he would be gone. Someday Hyrule would be at peace again. And someday, Link would learn the truth. Someday.

Link frowned. “Someday?”

Rusl hesitated. “Link,” he started. “Whatever happens… Promise me you won’t get involved.”

Link’s brows furrowed. “Dad.”

“Just promise,” Rusl hissed. “That’s all I ask. Stay out of this.”

Link hesitated, holding his gaze on his father. After a moment, he pulled his gaze away. “Alright,” he said softly. “I’m trusting you.”

“Thank you.”

Link slid off the car onto his feet. He moved to his father and hugged him.

Rusl wrapped his arms around his son. “Everything I do is for you and Aryll,” he said. Perhaps he was saying too much; he didn’t want to give Link any reason to get involved. But he didn’t care. He needed him to know that much.

“That’s what scares me,” Link said. “Someone told me I was as stupid as you.”

Rusl smiled. “Yeah,” he said. “That’s what scares me.”

The door opened and Aryll leaned out into the night. She watched as her father and brother pulled apart, and she grinned.

“I’m gonna eat all the ice cream,” she called to them. She held a spoon out before her and giggled.

“When do we introduce her to vegetables?” Link asked.

“I don’t know,” Rusl said. “But I think you need to do it slowly so the change in her diet doesn’t kill her.”

“Maybe we should consult with the vet,” Link said with a grin. “And take her to the groomers.”

“I can hear you, yanno!” Aryll shouted at them. “I’m not a dog!”

“Do you like going to the park?” Link asked.

“Yes,” Aryll answered slowly, her gaze narrowing on her brother.

“Do you like treats?”

“Yes.”

Link grinned. “Do you like belly rubs?”

“Link! Shut up!”

“Just to be sure,” Rusl started, “we should get her on a dewormer.”

“I hate you,” Aryll muttered. “I’m eating your ice cream.” She stuck her tongue out and ran back into the house.

Link’s shoulders slumped. “Don’t you dare.”

When she appeared in the doorway again, she had the open carton out, her tongue hovering over it.

Link shrugged. “Do it. I don’t care. I’m an adult. You’re a kid.”

Aryll licked the ice cream.

“Aryll!” Link chased her into the house.

Rusl followed his children inside, shaking his head. Though he knew he would have to leave them, he liked the idea that their safety - and the safety of Hyrule - wasn’t as dependent on his death as he once thought. It seemed his fate wasn’t written in stone after all, and that was all he ever wanted.

#sotf #shadows of the future #loz #botw #legend of zelda #breath of the wild #fic #fanfic #sotf52