Disclaimer: Elsword belongs to KOG. I own nothing.
This will be my very first "ongoing" fanfiction since my one shot. All the main characters will be in their 3rd job branch respectively. I have nothing else to say other than, enjoy!
This will be my very first "ongoing" fanfiction since my one shot. All the main characters will be in their 3rd job branch respectively. I have nothing else to say other than, enjoy!
Within the rift of space and time, Ain is running aimlessly as his staggering breaths echo throughout the never-ending empty area. Admittedly, he has experienced this hellish nightmare before in the past. It held the same hopeless feeling within the sickening chaotic energy. Gradually, sweat and extreme anxiety were exposing on his damp face. He wants to escape so desperately. "I need to find a source of El energy..." he keeps telling himself over and over.
Ain suddenly hears an unfamiliar voice. "Accept it..." it echoes faintly.
The priest halted and turned around to confront whatever that was. "Wh-who's there?!" he cried out. However, there was no one to be seen.
The eerie voice repeated it, much louder this time. "Accept it..."
"Leave me alone!"
It keeps on repeating the same phrase, drilling it into the angel's mind like a buzzing parasite.
While Ain resumed running in the endless rift for several minutes more, something new finally appeared in the far distance, acting as a source of hope. It was a dim blue light. Is that El energy? He reached out for it with his hand, ignoring ominous chant that filled his ears.
"A...in..." a new voice called from beyond the light. Unlike the previous one, it was warm and mesmerizing.
"...Ishmael?"
"Ain..."
"Ain!"
Ain snapped back into reality with a small gasp before realizing that someone is shaking his shoulders. He is sitting on a log in front of a dying bonfire, in the middle of the Feita's army camp.
The Sheath Knight released his hands from the priest's shoulders, his face expressing great concern. "You were so zoned out! Are you alright?" the boy asked him, a bit weary.
Ain rubs his forehead, taking a brief moment to process what just happened. It appeared that the entire nightmare was only a vision within his mind; a trance so to say. It was thanks to Elsword that he was able to regain his consciousness.
"Sorry... I was... thinking too deeply into my thoughts. I'm fine." Ain responded back, trying to act naturally as possible. Of course, what he said wasn't the truth.
"You sure about that?" The young redhead raised an eyebrow at his statement. How could someone become so dazed like that? He was shaking him for a long minute or two for crying out loud!
The man nods with reassurance, "Yes. Anyway, shouldn't you be heading to sleep right now, Elsword?
"But shouldn't you be in bed too? Come on, let's go to our tents. We'll be investigating in the Spiral Corridor early tomorrow."
"I see... so he was worried about me." Ain thought.
Slightly smiling, the man makes a subtle 'shoo-away' gesture. "You can go ahead without me. I want to stay here a little longer," he said.
"Well... Alright then, just remember that you're sleeping on top bunk tonight. Raven has already taken the bottom. I hope you're not too bothered with his snoring."
The priest blinked. Mr. Half-Nasod snores? Well, whatever. It's not like he will be sleeping there to hear such a thing.
He answered with a soft sigh, "Have a good night."
"Right, good night!" With that, Elsword departed to his tent.
Ain made sure that no one is around before taking out his pendulum. It's best to end intervention right now to conserve his strength for tomorrow. However, a sudden jolt of pain shot throughout his body, causing him to double over. He then wrapped his arm around his waist in excruciating agony.
"...Not again." he gritted, bitterly.
Not long ago after Ain developed the ability to use the void, his body has experienced numerous waves of pain on random occasions. It was clear that the more he uses the power, the more it negatively affects his body. However, the pain has gradually become worse ever since he came to Feita.
Ain, for a moment, grasped tightly onto his pendulum to break it, but as soon as he noticed something at the corner of his eyes, he hesitated. A new seed of chaos has grown right next to him, likely have taken shape due to his current unstable state. Instead of breaking his pendulum, Ain tucked it away, narrowing his eyes slightly as he did. This distress won't do. He needs a peace of mind before ending the intervention or else his body might be at risk of crumbling further.
With difficulty, Ain stood up and proceeds to leave the camp along with the seed following him.
After many minutes of walking, he arrived in an isolated wooded area and tilted his head up to look at the night sky. The constellations are glimmering ever so tonight. However, the beautiful view itself was not enough to ease the misery that he's feeling now, no matter how much he tries.
"Goddess Ishmael... are you here?" Ain begins praying, his emerald eyes glued to the stars. "Please, for once... Let me hear your voice again. Please... Help me. If you could cleanse Elrios with the power of El, you can cleanse me from this chaos, can't you?" he continues, "I've been enduring this pain till now, but I don't know if my body can last much longer..."
Ain waited for an answer. Nothing. Just noises of cricket chips from within the bushes.
Why isn't the goddess responding to him? How many times does he need to try before it finally reaches? How much longer will he have to suffer?
His emotions soon turn into frustration.
"If you could just grant that, I won't ask for anything else. I will follow my vow to restore the El no matter what the consequences are! I don't care if I will disappear! Ishmael!" His last sentence became loud and emotionally piercing, yet the silence remains.
Ain drops to his knees in despair.
"Ishmael..."
Despite the desperate calling, his voice didn't reach the skies above. The seed of chaos behind the priest has grown slightly as his silent cries reflect throughout the night.
I will gladly appreciate constructive feedbacks and reviews. They are what fuels my motivation after all. Look out for future chapters! Thanks for reading!
For extra stuff, check out the art I made that came with this chapter!
Link to art: /yaar6s37