||Episode 1 - Part I: Station of Beginning||

I remember a time when I lived in a peaceful world surrounded by a vast ocean. The wind was relaxing, and the sky so bright. My very heart thrived in the light that world gifted me.

But, then... A man came to me and asked me a strange question. No, he was no stranger. I easily recognized him as my master. His voice was difficult to forget, not that I would ever want to lose memory of it.

"Hey."

The way he called out to me was casual. His name, as strange as it might sound, escaped me. However, what child ever referred to their parent by first name?

"I hope you're ready for the next step."

Ready or not. I was willing to take the step into the unknown, just as he had asked me to.

My immediate response was to be a retort to his words. It wasn't seen as mean, because we always poked at each other. He would easily understand my meaning behind whatever was said. Understanding his intentions at this point, I did speak.

I accepted the task that was being handed to me. That pleasant world I loved so dearly was to be left behind. It might be forgotten, but I know my heart will recognize it the day I return.

間

*Dive into the Heart -Destati-* ... [Dive into the Heart]

Darkness stirred all around. I twist and turn as an unseen current drives me down, deeper into the darkness. There is nothing I can do to fight it. Rather than do just that, I allow myself to be pulled until a certain point. The current slowed, and I gradually moved downward to a circular platform awaiting my arrival. My eyes open and I can see very clearly a stationary image on the face of the platform, which was decorated with a beautiful stained glass depiction of different creatures. Pinks, reds, browns, blues, and animals to match each section of color. I was very fascinated by the peculiar design.

My feet touched down on the stable ground. The freedom to walk all over it was welcomed, but I remained at one point to admire my surroundings. There was the presence of darkness. What light there was shined from an orb floating above my head and from the glow of the platform under my feet. Nothing else was there to illuminate this dark location.

There is still time before the door is opened. Come forward... into the light.

A voice said to me as I gazed around the depths of the abyss. It demanded an action from me. Where the light shined down on the platform, I was being told to step into its wide ray. Hesitation struck me in the beginning. There was little reason for me to merely obey some random voice calling out demands. To listen to some stranger would be unlike me. This was no stranger, though. I couldn't explain why that was the case, that I could obey without too much thought. The hesitation fled away when my chest pounded calmly in a reasonable rhythm.

I walked and took as many steps necessary to get beneath the light. But it was swift to fade away when it became apparent that I was right where I needed to be. The light did appear again at three different points along the platform- to my left and right, and one in front of me. Short, trapezoidal pillars rose from the ground and took their stand around me. A trio of tools manifested above each of them, as if I was being presented with different options to select.

The power within your heart will need to be reawakened. It sleeps, waiting for the time you call out to it.

I glance around at the shield, staff, and sword. At the same time, a more internal voice beckons to my attention. 'If you give this power form... It will give you strength. Make your choice.' So I did need to make a decision about which of these weapons I wanted to use. Weapons to fight with in any given situation. Thinking of it as a test of some sort, I carefully went around to each one and considered their significance. Time to do so was on my side.

The first to fall into my grasp was the simply designed staff. It fit snugly in my hands and felt comfortable to wield. Although, it didn't seem all that great. What good would it do in combat?

'The power of the mystic.
Inner strength.
A staff of wonder and ruin.'

That same voice inquired of me about the staff, if it would be the power I sought after. Careful thought led me to believe otherwise. My steady hands released the staff and allowed it to return to its place on the pillar. I jumped down from the pillar and walked around the platform to the next weapon of choice. The shield was the second to be judged by my interests. I climbed up onto the platform and took it into my hands. Again... there was a voice to provide a description for my next option.

'The power of the guardian.
Kindness to aid friends.
A shield to repel all.'

Was that the power the my heart was seeking? The love I had for my friends was indeed something great, but I hardly found it true that I was their guardian. I could aid them, but my power for my own. Not to defend or to serve a passive role. No. Some shield had little of my interest. There was something more that I desired. I passed on the shield and moved on to the last of the three choices.

'The power of the warrior.
Invincible courage.
A sword of terrible destruction.'

I was hardly focused on the part about terrible destruction. Rather, the more fitting part of the sword's description was "invincible courage." To be a warrior, strong and bold at all times. I dreamed to have such a power. Though I was a simple girl, that type of path fit with my heart. Boy or girl. Either could be a warrior. Nodding to the inquisitive voice, I agreed to take on the role of a warrior. The sword vanished, but a peculiar light seeped into my body. I could feel that there was a newfound strength growing inside of me.

Your path is set. Now... what will you sacrifice?

Something to sacrifice. It might be a bad thought, but that was an easy question to answer. I lightly jogged over to the pillar holding the staff. The blue emblem sitting at the top of it twirled as if in dance. That was the one that I chose to give up, to exchanged. That left the shield to be alone now that I chose my power and sacrificed the other. It was a decision I felt most comfortable with, so I wasn't going to go back on it. This form that I chose... I had no idea what it would mean for me in the long run. Nonetheless, I'd choose to see my path through.

I gasped in surprise when the pillars faded back into the platform. There was a light that appeared over my head, but it quickly moved away and disappeared into the darkness. It wasn't gone forever, like I thought it might be. Instead, I witnessed a long staircase coming into existence over the great darkness. It linked this platform that I stood on to another, which was only a short distance away. Taking in a deep breath, I confidently stepped onto the first step. It was floating, disconnected from the others. I was a little worried that it might fall, but that was not going to be the case.

The power to fight is yours. Use it to defend yourself and others. But... you already know that.

Arriving at the next pillar, I found that it was represented by no particular image unlike the one before. The stained glass shifted into a flower-like style with its varying colors. In the middle was a red and black heart emblem. I glanced down at my left hand after feeling a particular sensation within my palm. The plain sword of the warrior appeared, manifesting from a sparkling light. There was my tool to fight.

The subjects that I was to fight, apparently, appeared when I took another few steps closer to the center of the platform. Light shining down from above prompted these ink-black creatures to rise and surround me. They came up through pools of darkness. I could see that the black substance acting like a liquid; it was as if they were swimming in it.

They had sharp claws and jagged antennae. Perhaps the most outstanding feature they had were the yellow, round and beady eyes. It was intimidating to look into them, but I stood my ground since I had my own method to fight.

At times, they will try to strike you down. Your light can repel them, or...

Or what? I wanted to question the voice that spoke to me, but one of the shadowy creatures pounced and tried to claw at me. Blocking the attack with the sword helped. I parried and struck it down with one blow. It was a little surprising how easy they were to take down, but I found their numbers worrying. This must have been my light doing the work. Was it really burning strong?

I breathed out and hunkered low as more of the shadows came up. They were surrounding me like a pack of wild dogs circling their prey. This was, more or less, a troubling situation. Too many of them to attack. I didn't know what to do.

The darkness can become your power and tool. A strong heart has the power to overcome and control.

Overcome...

I pressed my lips together and watched the shadows closing in. My heart could expel this threat, or it could gain dominion. What the trick behind that was, I desired to know. And my desire became known to the unseen figure watching over me. A fluttering in my chest guided me to tap into this mentioned power. It was like I was touching a tangible bit of the darkness and reeling it in for my own use.

The sword became nothing more than a nuisance as a dark aura radiated from my hands and forearms. Darkness within my heart poured out and influenced the shadows. It seemed to intimidate them, and they fled back through the dark pools. I was glad that the fighting was over, but that tired me out. My legs were shaking terribly.

Is this the power of darkness...?

Very well done. You seem like you can handle yourself very well.

Looking up into the orb of light hanging overhead, I opened my mouth to say something back to the voice. However, before I could say or do anything, my legs buckled as a heavy rumble shook the platform. Something serious was going on. Pieces of the platform were chipping away. I didn't react to it at first, because it was hard to notice the tiny particles drifting off into the darkness. But more and more fell away as my level of awareness increased.

I kept my mouth closed as the platform withered away into nothing. It frightened me to see everything disappearing. Eventually, I was left without any support under me. My whole being descended once again into the darkness. I was being swallowed by the deep, dark abyss with no way out.

There's just one thing you need to do. It's a very important role.

A role? But what can I do? I'm just...

To open the door to the truth, you must find all of the keys. Can you do it?

I don't know... How am I supposed to find them?

You'll figure it out along the way. At nightfall, your mission will become clear. I believe in you.