The Eight Stages of Genesis

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Lítost
(n.) Regret and remorse and repentance; a state of
agony and torment; or sorrow said to be "created
by the sight of one's own misery"

Prologue

Somewhere, water continuously dribbled down to the river below, creating a peculiar melody. It was a welcome sound to the man resting by one of the many alcoves of the cave. His crimson duster was worn out, its edges already beginning to flake and tatter from lack of maintenance, but he still pulled it tight against his body, trying to trap whatever warmth his body produced. If it was not for the placid rise and fall of his chest, he could have easily passed for a perfectly preserved corpse. Perhaps it was out of habit, this stillness of his, or perhaps it was from his years as SOLDIER First. Like a tiger, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce on his unsuspecting prey… Like a repentant villain, waiting for his moment of absolution.

Here the great Genesis Rhapsodos lay. The man who'd only wanted to be hailed the hero, only to become the abhorred. Here he was, hidden away from the world; waiting for the day his honor would be restored. The price to pay for his second life is steep. Oh how much things had changed for him, he thought sardonically. He was now destined to be the hero, in some unforeseeable future, and yet he couldn't bring himself to be glad about it.

"Hn," he moaned as he shifted into a sitting position. There was no light, not even a tiny speck of it, here. Time felt irrelevant here.

Sucking in a deep breath, Genesis opened his eyes, even if the darkness remained the same. He felt blind, and it scared him the first couple times, but he learned how to accept the darkness. The cavern was just like his fate – desolate. It was perfect. He stretched his arms and legs, groaning as he did so. They were beginning to ache from lethargy.

Oftentimes, Genesis spent his time wondering about the world beyond his. But he did not dare leave, unless it was strictly necessary. He did not want to be seen, he didn't want to see.

LOVELESS no longer appealed to him as much as it had. But the book still sat in his duster's pocket. It's once pristine leather cover was yellowing now. He had it all figured out – the roles in the poem. Irately, he had to admit that he had been wrong about countless things regarding his beloved poem. A tiny seed of pleasure had lodged in his heart at the memory of his encounter with Minerva, when the pieces finally fell together. A spiteful smile crept into his lips as he remembered the moment she sent him back to the world.

Why, he asked so many times. Even if his degradation had been lifted along with all his discomfort, Genesis still suffered greatly, because Minerva hadn't taken away all his pains. The Goddess couldn't take away the scars he'd received, etched in his heart. He felt no pain, but he felt great remorse, guilt. And guilt to the soul was what pain was to the body.

It was dreadfully tranquil around him.

It was a different story, however, in his head.

For inside his memories, was where Genesis truly lived these days.

Author's Note:

Ah, my first love, Genesis.

I've missed writing about this man! I was thinking of writing a new romance fic, but I just couldn't come up with any ideas. For now, I'll just satisfy the desire of the English Major that now sits prominently in my head and try to let you see him in a new light. It's already quite challenging, mind you. Hehe. But if I remain in my fluffy comfort zone forever then I won't grow as a writer, now would I? As GACKT always seems to say: "Only GACKT can defeat GACKT." - Um, well, in my case, "Only I can defeat me." Hahaha! I will be needing your guidance and support, reader, in order for this story to fully become what I had roughly plotted out. Hahaha.

Thank you for reading!

Anyowls, how'd you find the prologue?

Victoria Chrystallis