"Take care!" he waved the car goodbye, seeing her eyes follow him through the back of the car as the machine drove away. Dust and grime settled after a few moments, leaving both Kai and Tala on the street alone. The day was already turning into night, and twilight set in upon them, Kai looking down and feeling a twist in his heart.
"Sir?"
Gazing up at Tala, he realized that the feeling in his heart made him want to sit down and do nothing. He was beginning to understand why he had come here in the first place.
"Yes… Tala?"
"Sir… Sir are you alright? I know I keep asking that but… well from the look in your eyes I can't be sure you are."
Sighing and kicking a pebble down the street, his eyes fixated upon a small bird that circled overhead and eventually flew off into the distance. Understanding why he was here was making him more confused and sad than ever.
"Tala… I'm starting to get it now… I think… I think I'm starting to understand why I'm here… maybe I'm wrong but… I need to know for certain. I don't know how to do that."
His assistant breathed in deeply, swallowing and thinking before answering.
"There is a… shrine nearby… if you want me to drop you off there for a little while. Just to clear your head."
A caw from above made Kai gaze at the twilight sky, the auburn colors of the sun reflecting upon the beauty of the water in the distance making him think of her. He licked his lips and turned to Tala again, that feeling in his heart slowly becoming painful.
"Yeah… I think that's best.
Crickets chirped quietly around him, fireflies dancing in the cool night air as Kai stepped out of the car and closed the door. Tala rolled down his window, speaking softly.
"Call me when you're ready to go back… alright?"
Nodding his head and stepping away from him, Kai watched as Tala drove off into the night, the sound of trees and far off animals his only company for miles. Where he was he did not know, but he trusted Tala, and found himself in a place that resembled ancient shrines that held mysteries and stories.
There was no path, but a grave of stones that formed a circle around a single flower that bloomed under the luminescence of the gradually rising moon. His feet took him closer to the flower, and as he leaned down to examine its features the flower pulled back from him. His fingers grazed the now close petals, stroking the soft gently.
Whispers of the wind and slight chirpings filled his ears; every sound seeming as if a massive drum was being beat against. A slight breeze caught him off guard, Kai tightening his jacket around him and zipping up, fearing a cold.
Tala said this place would give me answers… and somehow clear my head… but what is it that I… what is it that I have to do here?
Feeling the pain in his chest twist and turn, Kai decided to sit in front of the flower. The wind blew again, rustling his hair and making the pink chimes above him ring like Christmas bells. He wasn't sure how to go about asking for help, or directions, but he was sure that he was in the right place.
How do I get out of here? I know I have an existence here… in this place. But my other existence… will the 'me' that has lived there… all that I remember that I am… will that fade away into this existence?
He pursed his lips, the moon shining brightly overhead. His fingers unknowingly grasped at the ground, Kai getting closer and closer to the flower. Another breeze made him close his eyes as leaves began to dance around him, their rustling in the wind almost speaking to him. His ears began to play tricks on him now, Kai's eyes widening as he began to understand the voices.
He, who has forgotten, must also remember.
"He who has…" Kai began, the words seeming both alien and natural in his mouth. His heart pumped a little harder now, the leaves dancing in a circle around him, picking up his hands and lifting them into the air. The man felt his skin shiver, his hair standing on end with a sense of warmth and tranquility that now poured from him. Strong and gentle arms were holding him up, igniting the leaves in sparks.
Each leaf turned a bright red orange color and suddenly vanished, the leaves now becoming falling embers that scorched the already parched ground. The flames danced around him now, a sort of fire spin igniting his sullen heart and giving him hope. His clothes also danced with the flames, little figures coming out of the red and pulling at him playfully.
What is this?
The flames danced and danced around him, calling out to him and warming his body. Kai curled his arms to his chest, his breaths coming out in will-o-wisps. The flames did not burn the flower however, as the fire danced everywhere coolly and allowed the moon to shine its majesty upon the little beauty.
The flower reopened.
At that moment the flames erupted in a massive explosion, Kai's being heating up so much he felt as if he were sitting on the surface of the sun. The sudden explosion of power and warmth felt so familiar to him, but Kai could not put his finger on what made everything around him happen.
"Who are you?" he asked aloud, his voice coming out rather scared and frightened. He backed away a little, fearing the answer.
The moonlight darkened as a cloud passed overhead, the light now emerging from the ground in a fury of beautiful yellow and orange red lights that made Kai shield his eyes. Embers that fell around him suddenly transformed into golden characters that littered his skin and imprinted their symbol upon him.
His throat went dry, his eyes only barely making out the symbols on his skin. They did not burn him, and almost immediately the symbols lit up in a furious light, blinding him. A wild cry of power set him flying upon his back, Kai struggling to cover whatever part of him he could.
The flames around him became wilder, dancing with shadows of people and animals that cried out with their mighty voices to the sky. Their power drew out a mighty beast that emerged from the shadows and addressed him.
My little one.
Breathing hard and feeling almost numb to the core, Kai turned his head a little to see a mighty flame bird covering him with its body. The wings licked at his boots, a fire head coming down to see him closer.
My little one… welcome.
Licking his lips and trying to speak, Kai stared up in awe at the towering beast. His brain was frozen.
My little one… do you not know who I am?
His brain tried to reboot itself, but every time Kai tried to think his brain refused to kick into high gear. He opened his mouth once or twice, both times his tongue failing him.
Do you not have the courage to address me as I am? The bird cried, lifting its wings into the sky. I am Dranzer! The phoenix that extends her mighty hand to all who desire power and life into a barren land.
"Dranzer… Dranzer…" Kai mumbled his words, his body slowly coming back to life as he gazed up at the gigantic bird. "Y-You're… you're the girl… why…"
The girl is me, little one. She replied, her mighty wings finally fading to her sides. I am her in this world, as you are 'him'.
"I am 'him'. Who is 'he'?" Kai asked, his voice trembling with both fear and anticipation. Maybe he would get some answers from her.
He is you, and you are him. You two are one and the same. She gazed down at him lovingly, answering softly. Do you not remember the other side?
"My life?" he offered, sitting up now. "My life… of course I remember my own life!" he nearly spat out his answer, gazing at her. "Dranzer, of course I remember. That's all I can remember! I need to know… what I'm doing here. Why I'm here."
Don't you know? She mused, her eyes narrowing. You are here because of your own doing. Do not recall?
"I… I remember that fight I had… and then that's it! I wake up here in an office and a building that supposedly belongs to a billionaire me!" he exclaimed, getting closer to her. "What am I supposed to do here?"
For that to be answered, you need to realize who you are. Her mighty flames danced around him and bought him closer to her gentle bosom. You must right the wrong you have done, but also realize what you have done.
He felt along her strong build, Kai only coming up to her mid chest. His fingers felt the soft flame curl around him and whisk away into the cool night air. Her large and beautiful crowned head came down and nuzzled his hair, making his cheeks red.
"How am I supposed to know what I did wrong, if I don't believe I did anything wrong?"
The effects of the people here are what you have done to them, little one. Dranzer answered, her wings coming to grasp him gently. You were the one who made this world, and you are also the one who can undo this.
He glared up at her now, shaking his head furiously. "You're blaming me for all of this? I didn't want Tyson to be a drunken hobo! Or for Tala to be my assistant or for you to be that girl!"
Is that not how you treated them before however? She asked, making Kai confused. They are exactly as you wanted them to be. You wished for solitude, for peace of mind, for no burdens, and thus the Gods have granted your wish.
"The… 'Gods'?" he asked, his voice trembling as well as his knees. He suddenly realized he was dealing with a much higher power; not that being held in the wings of a flaming phoenix was anything next to ordinary power.
The Gods recognized your wish and took pity upon you… for you seem dearly troubled. Dranzer softened her grip on him, Kai feeling the release and ruffling his fingers through her feathers. It is up to you to figure out what you have done wrong, and for you to right the wrong you have done.
"But what if I don't know what I'm supposed to do?" he cried, the flames now growing and nearly drowning out his voice. "Dranzer!"
The fire bird screeched in his ears now, her voice carrying like thunder.
I am here with you, little one. Remember that I am always with you. Through ashes, a phoenix raises, golden and red as the sun gleaming with pride and honor.
"Dranzer!"
I have always loved you.
All at once the fire died, Dranzer's body vanishing from beneath him and letting Kai fall flat upon his face. He rubbed his nose and sat up, calling out her name.
"Dranzer… Dranzer!" his voice carried in the wind, but no sound came to recompense him as he crawled around the flower, the petals now closed to the moonlight. The symbols on his skin had vanished, and he was left with a cold chill on the inside. After some time he gave up on trying to reach her again, accepting Dranzer's words and mulling them over in his head.
I have to… right the wrong that I did there… so that I can see what I have to do… but what is it that I'm supposed to realize?
He stood up slowly, dusting himself off and gazing out into the night sky. The moon shone down upon him brightly, Kai lifting his head to see her majesty.
I guess… I should try to find the others… I already met Tyson… and Dranzer. Max is next and…
He stopped, his heart suddenly throbbing with a pain he could not understand. His hand clenched at his chest, his nails digging into his skin and his heart feeling as if it was about to rip out of his chest.
This pain… is it connected to… him?
Clearing his mind for once, the pain slowly subdued into a dull throb, allowing Kai to take out his phone and call Tala. The wind picked up again, rustling his hair as he hung up with his friend, the voices of the trees whispering to him.
I'm supposed to meet them all… and by doing that, then maybe I can figure out how to get home. If I… can even get home…
Not letting the sadness of the situation bother him much, he turned his heel towards the clearing in the distance and walking slowly towards the place where he was dropped off.
Seeing Dranzer like that… is just how I remembered her… she's a bit-beast God after all… in all her majesty and flame. She looked… beautiful. The Dranzer here is a beautiful girl… who I abused…
His heart plummeted again, and this time Kai could understand the feeling of guilt and despair that plagued him so. Everything was as she said; everything as his doing, and his fault. He could not right the wrong he had done until he had realized what he had done, and in order for him to do that he had to see what had become of the others.
When I meet Max… I have to see what I can do to… right the wrong… and then…
His thoughts were interrupted as a black car rolled up in front of him, the front window opening to let Kai see a familiar face.
"Sir, your vehicle awaits."
Stepping in front of Tala's window, Kai opened the door and tugged Tala out of the driver's seat, getting in himself and locking the door.
"Get in, I'm driving."
