Happy New Years! Yeah, this chapter certainly isn't what I imagined I'd be releasing but, honestly I had a bad case of writers block. Every time I sat down and said, "Yeah I'm going to get down 1,000 words for the day," my brain would just shutdown. So I decided I'd release something a bit longer than an interlude but, shorter than my average chapter. Hopefully this doesn't happen again, because generally this Chapter would have been double the length it is. Sometimes life just kicks you in the dick and smacks you around a bit, oh well. Anyways, onto the chapter.
Midnight Eden 2.3
Curses.
Wicked flames burnt the surrounding area to ashes as the howls of the damned rose from the numerous bodies trapped within the inferno. This hadn't been the first time he had seen this scene, but this was the first time this conscious had.
He was made up out of curses.
It was only natural that he had killed many people, indirectly or directly. However, he never felt anything when he did it. No sadistic glee or some feeling of remorse over what he had did, only a neutral feeling of satisfaction, it was his job to curse things after all.
However, he/I had a different vessel once upon a time.
Someone who hadn't want to be made up of curses, but took upon his/my burden. Just to save the ones he cares about/the so-called human beings. It was such a fascinating experiment, that I couldn't help but let it run its course. The ending I depicted to him hadn't swayed him away.
His end was only natural.
Curses after all are something made up of human sin, and so to save those humans he gave away his own life, and cursed himself to a specific fate. I was not touched by his motives nor his drive, but my curiosity was something that needed to be sated. How far could he go? To test that I did what I could.
I gave him more power.
It was only natural that he'd bring ruin to those all around. Curses can't be used for good, they can only harm the things around it until they go away. First it was little things, then it got more noticeable, and then when that shrew thought everything had finally ended I allowed things to escalate to the prime point.
It ended in a glorious ruin.
Week 2, Day ? Time Unknown
"Agghhh!" I woke up screaming as it felt like countless worms or bugs were crawling across my skin and biting me. Oh god, they were biting me everywhere, I could feel each and every individual bite as if someone stabbed me repeatedly, I barely noted myself go into shock as I went numb just as quick. Darkness gathered around my sight quickly as I struggled to do something, anything at all to stop whatever was assaulting me like this. It was a pointless I soon realized as everything succumbed to darkness, as I let out a final scream.
"Ah..." Everything brightened up immediately as the familiar plain grey hues of my room encompassed my vision. "Was it all...a dream?" I asked myself slowly as I quickly examined my body. There was nothing on me out of the usual, no bugs or anything. I was as normal as could be, but I could still feel a fogginess in my mind that was unnatural. I guess that explained the weird static that surrounded my vision.
Wait, what? Weird static?
Moving my head side to side slowly proved dizzying, but I could definitely confirm that there was a weird static that clung to my view. I think that this was just further proof that there was something seriously wrong with me. This wasn't normal, or at the very least this was very abnormal, even beyond all of the abnormal stuff that had occurred in the war so far.
Getting myself up off the bed, I wobbled as the world around me seemed to tilt a bit before going back to normal. I took a deep breath to steady myself before I shambled my way over to the door to my room. As it automatically opened due to whatever device allowed it to do that, I was bewildered by what I saw outside of my room.
It was a...man. I think. The person wore a simple white tunic and pants, and had long beautiful hair that shimmered with a light-green color. They sat at a wooden table surrounded by a vast amount of trees and nature in general. Across from them sat Avenger, but he looked a bit...different. Not appearance wise, but it was more like something about him was just...off somehow.
"It's not so often I find myself in such a situation like this. Though, I suppose as a vassal of my king, I should represent him with the proper etiquette. Admittedly, I've never been quite good at things like this." The guy? Girl? Spoke charmingly as it smiled towards Avenger.
"Oh so that's who you are. I can still feel the lingering resentment that the curses has towards your king. The blondie really pissed them off, though knowing his tale I can understand why. He's quite the arrogant fellow after all, though I guess he has rather good reasons to be so, at least compared to other heroes. Anyways, what brings you here?"
"I heard a voice." It said as it looked over towards me, I felt kind of like a deer in the headlights as it did so. "It sounded almost like my king's, however as I was led here I quickly realized that it wasn't him, but instead it was a remnant of him that emanated off of someone. Someone who had been near his side for a suitably long time. It made me curious as to who could manage such a thing, and so I allowed the voice to bring me here."
"Huh, the boy spent a lot of time around the blondie you say? Well, I can say for certain it hasn't happened this time around. However, seeing as the Moon Cell records all that happens it wouldn't be a stretch to say that it has happened already, is going to happen, or is perhaps happening as we speak." Avenger's voice held amusement in it, but I didn't know why? What was funny about all of this.
"I see. I suppose this requires some investigation then, it'll be like one big quest." It said as it smiled beautifully, I thought to myself that it was a smile that was beyond natural. "Seeing as I won't be able to monitor him, make sure to keep Hakuno alive until I return, if you would be so kind. It is a shame that he may be unable to keep the memory of my visit, though."
Wait, what? How did it know my name?
"Yeah, yeah. Would've done that even if you'd hadn't asked, he's my Master in this war after all. It's sort of my job to make sure that he doesn't die brutally. On the other thing, well not much can be done about that until Hakuno gets his **** and **** reconnected."
"You know, for a God of Evil, you surely don't act as such."
"Meh, I'm more of a vessel than anything but, just because I'm a God of Evil doesn't mean that I am an Evil God. Though, if I had been fully summoned I'd probably would have already went on a rampage. The fully formed me isn't quite as nice as I am, though I blame it on the fact that the power to curse things into nonexistence is rather overwhelming."
"I suppose you're right, though I admit to being curious to what you mean by vessel, I must get going."
At those words, the static in my vision increased dramatically as my head throbbed in pain. It felt like someone was repeatedly hitting my head with a blunt object as I fell to my knees, with my eyes scrunched in pain. Through the haziness however, I could still hear if only slightly.
"-ever, see ya and be safe. The blondie would throw a fit if he found out his only real friend was snatched from his grasp once more."
As the pain intensified, I couldn't force myself to stay conscious any longer.
Week 2, Day 2 Morning
When I regained consciousness I noted immediately the lack of static and the bright artificial sunlight that streamed through my window. I quickly shut my eyes and promptly rolled over in my bed on that note, my body felt like lead and I felt really tired for some reason. I wanted to just get a few more minutes of sleep, but it seems like the world had other plans for me.
"Wakey-wakey Master~." That malevolent tone was all the warning I got before a bucket of cold water splashed onto me. I sputtered as the cold water jolted me from my half-asleep state. "W-What the hell, Avenger!?"
"You looked tired so I thought some cold water would wake you up." The grin on his face stretched unimaginably wide as I looked up at him in contempt. "And I was right. You're now fully awake."
"I hate you so much right now."
"Love you too, Master. Now get up and get ready, there's things we have to do today!" Avenger was quite chipper for the morning, maybe he had already gotten over the chat we had last night?
"Like what?"
"Things. That teacher of yours probably is gonna want you to do another favour for her and knowing your luck you'll also run into some sort of trouble or situation that you could have avoided. You know, the usual routine. Oh, and you'll end up talking to either the blue-haired smoker or the red-headed mage when we go to recover my stats."
Was my life so far in this place really that easily summed up? I didn't doubt it, from the moment that this war started things had been one big cycle, though admittedly it had only been a week so far. A week in which I had to kill off someone I called a friend. Well, that was a sad thing to think about.
"Get that look off of your face Master. Beginning the day with a shitty attitude won't do anyone favours, you gotta be positive and all that other stuff." Avenger tried to cheer me up with what could only be his own version of a pep talk, I couldn't honestly help but begin chuckling. Even with all the bad so far, Avenger kept chipper so I would too. Though, that dream from earlier...I was curious.
"Avenger...were you talking to someone earlier?"
"No. Unless you count that flat-chested Indian friend of yours. She came to your room a bit earlier actually, said she wanted to talk to you later or something. Now, can we go and do something? Your room is starting to become monotonous, being stuck in here without anything to do is boring." Avenger replied with a bored look on his face before he astralised.
He didn't seem to be lying, but I doubted I'd be able to tell even if he was lying. Shrugging, I decided that if it was important Avenger probably would end up telling me. From what I'd seen of him so far, I could say that Avenger was reliable or that he wouldn't let me get killed at the very least.
"Wait a minute...flat-chested Indian?" My sleep addled brain rewound what had just happened and looked over the events that had just happened. I didn't know a flat-chested Indian girl. Did I? I'd leave these problems to the me a few minutes into the future, the one who was more awake and not suffering from the after effects of a headache. As I went to go and brush my teeth I felt as if I was suddenly forgetting something. Something important. That feeling left shortly after I exited my room, if I couldn't remember it now surely it must've not have been as important as I thought it was.
"Good day, Hakuno Kishinami, I have been waiting for you." It was as I walked to the stairs that I met her. Though she had a mechanical expression and voice, her outward appearance was anything but.
She was a young girl who appeared to be of Indian descent with wavy light purple hair with part of it tied into a ponytail. She had purple eyes, a tan complexion, was wearing glasses and has a bindi on her fore head as worn in India. She was wearing a purple scarf looking thing with a dark purple gem in the center. Under that she wore a white shirt with a deep V, leaving a very...revealing portion of her chest bare, and black tight shorts. Over that, she was wearing a white lab coat with the emblem of Tsukumihara Academy on it. On her hands are multiple golden bracelets and small thin white gloves and on her legs she wears long white and purple socks and black shoes. She seems to be from southern part of India due to her complexion, how I knew that was a mystery to me. Maybe I had read about it in the library that one time?
Overall I could say that she had to be the most exotic person I had met so far, however there was a far more important question that needed to be answered. What the heck did she need from me and why? I could say for certain that this was our first time ever really meeting, so what exactly would this girl need from me?
"I believe this is our first time to actually converse like normal people, is it not? My name is Rani, like you, I am here for the purpose of obtaining the Holy Grail." Hearing the emotion suddenly come into her voice gave me some relief, I talked to very few actual human beings so this was nice.
"I've been scanning the stars for clues about you. Unlike the other Masters, you are an enigma. So I wish to ask your directly, and please answer honestly, this question: What are you?"
"What am I?" That was an odd question, despite my own situation, I'd say I didn't stand out all that much with people like Kiara, Leo, or Rin also participating in the war. "I'm just an average magus I guess. I don't think there's anything all that special about me honestly."
"So you will hide your identity? Even after exposing yourself to Sesshouin's servant yesterday?"
What!? She had been there when I was in that bounded field? Neither I or Avenger sensed anyone else's presence while we had been confronting Kiara, so how could she have seen what happened? Was it possible that the bounded field stopped us from sensing her?
"There is no need to be suspicious. I assure you, I am not your enemy. I did not watch your confrontation. I am simply relaying what it is that the stars say about you. I'm looking for the newborn chick that my professor spoke of, the stars have aided me in that task. I am not sure if you are who I seek but..." She pauses as if in thought before continuing.
"I must study the heavens further. There are things I believe that Sesshouin has hidden away, motives if you may. It may seem like I am asking you for a lot, but I believe the knowledge revealed will benefit you quite a bit. As an Atlas researcher, know that I wish to show you the true value of knowledge and will share my findings. I'll use you, and you'll use me. What do you think? Will you accept my request?"
It was an appealing deal, I'd at the very least admit that, but I also had a couple of questions I needed answered first. "You discovered me all on your own?"
"Knowledge and information is everything in this war, it is only natural that I would gather info on potential foes. Now, is there anything else you wish to ask me before you give me an answer?"
"Why me of all people? Why tell me these things?"
"I apologize. To understand my professor's words, I must first understand humanity. This is what he said: As a doll, you must find someone who is truly alive and observe them. I believe that he wants me to find out, by watching humans, what it means to be alive. I don't know if you are the one, but perhaps your star will shine apart from the others. I must...observe people. You, and Sesshouin as well. That is why I need your help. Please bring me a relic of her or her Servant. I will be waiting at the far end of the third-floor you come to see me, we will gaze into the heavens together. I'm sure you see the value in learning what Sesshouin's star will have to say, right? The best time to read his star will come in three days. Please find a relic of hers by then."
With a final enigmatic "Until we meet again," she smiles before turning her attention away from me and walking away. A girl of many mysteries. And oddly enough…I couldn't detect any animosity from her. Was she actually trying to be...helpful? I honestly didn't know what to make of it.
"It's hard to actually make a decision on whether or not you should trust her, right?" Avenger voice sounded in my ear as I stood there in the hallway thinking. "Unlike the big-breasted Neet, this girl is much harder to get an accurate read on. She holds her info much closer and is generally a much more controlling type of person, for lack of a better description. As it is now, I'd trust her. You don't have much to lose from helping her and if she comes thru you gain a lot."
"Yeah, you make a good point Avenger. But...big-breasted Neet? Really?" I stared at where I could sense he was standing only to see him do what could only be a shrug.
"You can't lie to me and say that it's not an accurate description though."
Palming my face and letting out a sigh I started my walk towards the Chapel. Avenger seemed to be much more of a hassle today than usual.
"That isn't a no~!"
I ignored Avenger in favour of the ringing sound that came from my pocket, it was my terminal. Pulling it out, there was a simple message on it.
Happy New Year Hakunon! When we get out of this mess me and u should go an play video games again. We can hang at my place, and eat lots of junk food too! Um, be safe Hakunon! XOXO
from 127th Master Jinako Caragiri
"I guess today won't be so bad after all." A smile crossed my face as I walked. Was it really New Years? The artificial weather of the Moon Cell didn't give any hints to the date, but more importantly that means I missed Christmas. Maybe I should get a gift for Jinako? Meh, I'd think about what she'd want after this was all over. I wasn't going to die, I had a friend who I needed to live for after all.
My first story to reach 50k+ words, awesome. Review if you would be so kind, whether it be small comments or large.
