I woke up one day. There was nothing for me to do today. I raise my tired aching back and arch out of bed to gaze out onto spindly legs. My tired mahogany eyes stare out to the feet spread forth. It was another dreamless night. I was not expecting another dream today anyway. Today I have planned quite the retribution for myself. I have to achieve everything that everyone has planned out for me. Success, Improvement, Progress, My family will accept nothing less. It's their last hope. I crawl out of bed on tired arms and legs, foggy eyes glare out towards the restroom. It's time to maintain the body. Mother always said to care for the body, and the mind will come next. And so, the feet plant themselves onto the stained carpet. Mahogany eyes stare down at the thin and aging carpet, the eyes blink, they remember when the carpet was new, the eyes blink again, and the body moves forward. A lifeless body moving with barely enough mental capacity to see what is planned out for today. Tired red eyes stare at themselves in the mirror. It's me. I am that person in the mirror, and nobody else can have that. As I idly brush my teeth. The tap turns on, spewing a mucky gray water, unfit to drink, yet serviceable for cleaning; I gargle water and spit it out into the rusty sink before turning around. Solace in the bedroom is no more now.
It's a brand new day, and I venture forth. Today I will be happy, and today I will accomplish something. That's what I tell myself as I leave today's restroom. Mahogany eyes stare out towards today's breakfast. Bread, eggs, bacon, I try my best to cook them up, and yet it's only my third time creating the breakfast without anyone else. Momma would have scolded me as I burned the eggs, and served crispy black bacon. But I clasp my hands together for a bright day as my mahogany red eyes stare at my meager yet handcrafted breakfast. It may not have been much, and yet, it meant the world to me. The only semblance of normalcy left in my life. I step outside, the bright morning sun forces me to close my eyes to adjust. And my day begins.
I open my eyes to a bright blue glittering moonlight, its graceful hues infect my red eyes. My eyes look around in bewilderment, and around me I see people strewn about. They were sleeping, Tiredly, they lay atop of each other. The tired eyes scan the field and see more of my peers. All of them remain still, completely. Lifelessly, the bodies rest, their eyes are shut in pain, or resignation, and yet there is only a strange feeling of foreignness. Confusion settles in, adrenaline seeps into the bloodstream, fear surges across my skin as I realize my situation instinctively. The Mahogany eyes glance to the left, and I see spider-like creatures skittering around the field of unconscious people. These spiders were long and stood at least ten feet high, their bodies held only a single mechanical eye that glowed a pale blue, they were the source of light in this dark area. The spiders skitter agilely amongst the bodies, occasionally picking a few up and appearing to consume them into their bodies. The unconscious people did not call out to me with familiarity like one usually would recognize friends or family with, rather there was an intrinsic merit to them that compelled my curiosity. But it was as though they held inklings of my home within them. But before I could think about capturing that feeling, one of the spiders crawled atop my body. Its blue mechanical eye entrapped my own as it proceeded to scan me with its lone little orb of blue. Pain scoured my body and ensured I could still feel my limbs, and with my limbs' pain came instinctive resistance. The spider was wrestled into my control as I leap forth to grapple the strange construct. My soft hands grabbed its eye causing it to squeal and screech. "Stop! What are you doing!? You're killing me?" There was a pause. I acquiesce to its plea, though I wonder if I really had control here.
Nobody wanted to kill, that's what I thought. So my desperate hands ceased their clinching, and the eye's delicate metal frame stopped screeching, and the spider stumbled away from me in fear. "You're still alive? Then you don't belong here. Get out, before any other scrappers come. I don't want any trouble, and I certainly don't want to report you to authorities. Go now…hm?" It advises, then it looks away, but at the end of its sentence the single eye lowers to face me personally. Its singular blue orb stares into my red eyes. "Oh…On second thought, why don't you come with me? I can help you." The creature beckons with a leg as it turns away from me. Atop the corpses of my home, I stare at it in disbelief. It beckons and encourages. "You don't have anywhere else to go. I can take care of you." I hold a hand out.
The spider extends two of its legs out towards my hand, yet the peace is interrupted as a sword is thrust into the heart of that spider-like creature, sending it tumbling down the mountain of corpses we had parleyed atop of. The blue hues that it emitted sunk into the darkness of the copse I frantically gazed around in. There was darkness now. I could not see what killed my newfound spider friend. "Run." a voice whispered. With no complaint, I ran, my feet turned heel, and my hands clambered my body to stand upright, there was only an instinct to run away from the danger that presented itself. My feet stumble over legs, arms, heads, anything they happen to come into contact with. The haggard breathing of my lungs fuels my desperation as I try to escape this pit. The spider's death happened so spontaneously, and in my desperation I find my foot wedged in between a pair of legs, and I tumble to the floor of corpses.
As soon as I recover, I look down to see a pair of bloodshot eyes encouraging me before I finally press my palms onto the owner's shoulders to look around. "Where am I?" I ask. My mahogany red eyes stare out into a field full of corpses and more spiders crawling about. Their sharp fangs and legs pulling creatures out of the piles, and eating whatever they could touch. Greedily the scavengers feast. I look down at my hands, ignoring the long-dead face that cries for my help as I push myself up. I need to know where I am first. So I try to escape. I descend into the pits of corpses, spiders crawling about and yet I elude them all as they seem too absorbed in the abundance around them. I sink further and further down the hills of corpses until I tumble to familiar cobblestone white flooring, I stare on and see streetlights. It must have been thousands of bodies. It felt like I crawled down these macabre mountains for an hour, and to see a plain road. It was relieving. I continue my escape.
The corpse dump behind me seemed so distant now, yet it was merely a few steps behind me. I'm close to civilization, the road is testament to that, and yet it's so close to this massacre. Where can I go that is safe? I ask myself that as I proceed down this road that I've sunk down to. Where am I? I don't know. The cobblestone road is white and cracked. Occasionally a few soft blue wisps would float out from the black walls that surround the road. We were dumped into a cavern. There are spiders called scrappers, someone killed the scrapper that wanted to help me. I continue to recollect my thoughts as anxiety creeps out of my spine and tickles along my back and arms. I cough once as I march down this road. There are no signs telling me where to go, but the blue streetlights will inevitably lead me somewhere. And where that place is, I would not know. I cough again. The air is damp, quite unlike the fresh air I expected to exit my now missing home to. It is now obvious to me that I am located inside a cavern.
Eventually the road breaks out of the tight claustrophobic tunnels into a great expanse. I look up to see what appears to be a blossoming night sky riddled with starlight casting an ocean blue onto the stones below. Turquoise water ebbs and flows from rivers into lakes and swamps feeding similarly colored flora. In the distance, a crossroad leads to a great city with towers as tall as the elder trees, juxtaposing the city, is a descent deeper into the caverns, a tunnel leading to the deeps is cast into a shadow by the towers of the city. And to the right, there is a path that leads out into the waters, great stone bridges arch over the rivers and lakes. There is civilization here, but where are its people? And yet the greatest observation has yet to come. The rainbow river that glides along the roof of this great cavern! Its hues clash and collide as it streams along the roof like the roots of a tree. The rainbow river lights the expanse and overwhelms the natural blue hues of the rivers and water of this land. Better than that of Van Gogh, or Picasso, this land is what their imaginations were if they were but made manifest! The inspiring sight calmed my anxious paranoia. I stare on for what felt like minutes. Where am I? What is this place? Who were those things that pilfered the corpses behind me? What attacked them and told me to run? Why did that scrapper change its mind so readily upon seeing my eyes?
Nothing made sense. I simply left my home and found myself here. A part of me wanted to curl up and cry, and beg for my mother. Another part demanded to wake up and rouse from this nightmare, that I was late for school. And the dominant part rested itself within this reality. The damp air, my socks were soaked in mud and blood, and I finally felt a shiver shake my spine as my adrenaline wore off and my logic started to piece everything together so far. The first order of business was to decide where to go on this crossroad. The city seemed the most obvious choice. But with civilization came crime, it came corruption, I've learned in my time that there is no greater gamble then to pack thousands of humans into a tight location. The tunnels straight forward were scary, yet there are but a few glints of light, hopefully torchlight ahead, maybe even electric lights if they were luxurious enough. The right was the most hopeless. While one could walk a path for their entire life, they had to ensure that they could reach their destination before their life ended.
A moment spent mewling about my decisions. Without my home, without my school, without my family, I could not afford any risks right now. At least not anymore than I already have at the moment. So I chose the city. I stare at these great towers with innumerable electric lights atop them. I see great massive signs, advertisements for products in a language I can't read. I press on down this road. I stare up at the rainbow river, what seems like half of it broke off of the main river to carve into the city. As I walk for several minutes, I can see that the lights descend into the city, a constant downpour of light likely replacing their rain. A few more minutes of walking and I observe that an equal amount of light, in the form of iridescent orbs rise from the city's skyline into the rainbow river above.
As I walk closer, I continue making my observations. A great city, far bigger than any city I have ever seen. Surely greater than any city I have ever read of, so surely they had universities or academies of magic, scholars that could explain my predicament. Or, at the very least, I could find a map, I could find someone who could lend me their knowledge albeit briefly should they find my presence disdainful. I look down at my clothes. I wear my plain purple sweater and shorts with leggings underneath. I did not look formal at all, but hopefully I could at least pass off in the city. I hope I did not appear as the country bumpkin I truly am. I never grew up in a city, I only knew the rural environment, suburbs at best. It was only recently that I had to deal with the floods of modern technology and society. Everything seemed alien. But even now, as I walk forward to see tall thin spires standing some twenty feet tall above me to light the street, I find myself alienated once more. I truly am far from home aren't I?
The city proper is here. I kept walking. Still, even now I have not seen a single soul around that I could recognize. Not a single voice chippered, there were not even any sounds or bustles of city noise that I have only just started getting used to. No smog, no machinery clanging. I stare on and continue forth. The first few buildings pass me by. Their windows were alight, yet their doors were shut. No signs said they were open. No pedestrians passed by. No carriages or cars trotted down the main roads. No signs of life, just an eerie silence, until I reach a 4-way crossroads. I look left, and see more of the same. I look right and see a lone figure in a plain black suit. He looked ordinary. Short-cut black hair, clean-shaven face, and cerulean blue eyes The epitome of a normal looking individual. The individual walked towards me from some 30 feet away. I blink as I register the first Human in what felt like ages. I smile and hold a hand out readying to call out for help. 'Please help! I don't know where I am. Help this poor little child who is lost!'
That's what I would have said. Had I not noticed the man's left hand carrying an obsidian black pole. His expression was tired, like that of an overworked salaryman, yet his hands were stained in red. He steps forward along the sidewalk towards me, allowing me to see that the black pole was in fact a sword. Gliding along its edge towards the tip, blood drips. My eyes widened. I freeze. A serial killer? A murderer? He wore a plain suit. No uniform to be seen. We lock eyes. Cerulean blue meets Mahogany red. He pauses and halts. We stare at each other for a few seconds until he opens his mouth. "Are you okay? Curfew ends in a few minutes, why are you out and about already?" he states as I stagger back upon hearing his deep mellow voice.
"Uh…um…I…" I try to say my practiced response. But I stammer instead, I take a few more steps back. I realize my clothes were dirty and bloody from my adventures on the corpse hill prior. I realize my hair is disheveled, I realize I appear tired and exhausted. I do not look upright. I do not look proper or like anything important. I look like easy pickings for a murderer trying to satisfy his bloodlust. I turn heel and sprint. A part of me heard his words and wanted to heed them. A part of me was curious about this bloodied man, what he was doing prior to our encounter. But the dominant part of me wanted to run. I was scared. I did not want to leave anything to chance, especially in matters regarding my life. I wanted to be cowardly. So I ran away from him.
I sprint down the road. I ran straight down the road. I ran across the street, I swirled around an alleyway to lose his sight of me. I ran once more. I ran for a few minutes until I found myself slamming face-first into a wall. I fall back onto my rump I rub my bruised nose and hiss in pain as I look up to see a tall individual with orange eyes. "You okay? Where are you off to in such a hurry this morning?" He was young, around my age. I stare at him in tired eyes. It was only morning and yet I felt like I have been at this for days already. He tilts his head as he questions me and I observe him. A tall individual, frighteningly tall. 8 Feet tall, or 180cm if you prefer. He had a lanky beanpole build, quite unlike the individual I ran into before. Strapped along his back is a halberd that appeared even longer than him. He also wore a plain black suit, but over it, he wore an orange street jacket matching his eyes. The halberdier takes a knee as I try to crawl to my feet. By the time I stood upright, he stared at me eye-to-eye. "Are you okay? You don't look too hot right now, little lass." My eyes welled up.
"I'm lost. I need help. I don't know where I am." I exclaim nervously and honestly. I had nobody to trust around here, and even if this stranger could not be trusted. I needed help. I truly did not know what to do. And as my words leaked into his ears, he frowned at first but smiled reassuringly.
"Ah…don't worry about it. Everyone gets lost at first, and gets lost a little more. You will find your way, little lass. But until you find that way. Can I help you? These streets are not the safest, especially right now, there are still a few seconds left until curfew ends." He states as he stretches out a hand. The sleeve of his suit jacket rescinds as he stretches the hand out forth, revealing a watch that begins to beep repeatedly. "And that curfew ended now. And my job is done. Are you tired? I have freetime for the rest of the day, I can skip a few hours of sleep to treat you to…would it be breakfast this time around?" He raises a brow questioningly as he stands up to hold a hand out.
I reluctantly stare at the hand. I hold my hand out after a second of debate. His expression did not seem too dangerous. His eyes were youthful, and he was around my age. While I could not trust him wholly, I could trust him for now. He grasps my hand, ready to lead the way..
"By the way. My name is Pays. What's yours?" he introduces himself then asks immediately after.
"Oh…My name i—"
"PAYS! Where the hell did you run off to!?" An effeminate voice exclaims in an angry voice. The voice of another girl around my age.
Then, behind me, the bloodied man calls out again. "Ah, Pays…you've found the girl I radioed in. Good job."
My blood runs cold. I felt betrayed. I ran into a trap. I try to run but Pays' hand holding mine clenches it in place. I realize my position here. I was at their mercy. This is dangerous. And I grew scared. I stare up at the cerulean blue eyes that stared at me. He was around my height, unlike the giant that held me by the hand. Though he was wider, he was stout. He had round cheeks yet was clearly muscled under that suit. A real mob boss it felt like. "Hiya. You must seem really scared right now huh? Judging by the look of your clothes, you crawled out of a corpse dredge outside of town hm?" He asks honestly and curtly. It felt as though he had been through this situation many times before. His cerulean blue eyes did not betray any emotion besides a certain boredom or perhaps tiredness. I nod apprehensively, making him smile. "Well…you certainly found the best crew to introduce you to this place. While I apologize for the appearance, I hope I can make it up to you by letting you stay at the office for now. Housing is ever the problem for new souls like yourself." He states plainly and in a deep mellow tone as the sword disappears into the breast pocket of his suit jacket, as though it never existed. The only remnants of blood remain on his thick black leather gloves.
I find myself perplexed. An offer? An apology? I've read stories of organized crime being obsessed with formality, but this seemed alien even to the fictional mobsters. Why not just kill me or rob me right now? It's not like I had anything. Or were they desperate for new soldiers? Am I being conscripted into a criminal force? I need to think.
"Well would you hurry up already? We don't have all morning, I'd like to get to the office and finish our report!" the effeminate voice complained behind me pressuring me further. Damn you!
"C-c-can I get your names first? My name i—"
"It's Pru. Hurry up, we don't get paid overtime." the woman exclaims.
"Forgive her on my part, she's my twin sister. I'm Pays as you already know." I look up to the tall man. He seemed so gentle, so unlike the cruel voice behind me. I tried to look behind me but I could only see a large staff sticking out from behind Pays' shoulder, a bright orange amberstone with delicate steel embellishments decorating the top of it. A mage? Valued information. A soul sorcerer would be a lethal problem if I had to run again, even a sole soul sorcerer could end my life in an instant. I can only hope to stay determined to escape.
"Well. That leaves only me. I'm San. Just San. Pleased to meet you. Let's get going. Pays is right, we don't get paid overtime, so let's finish our report and get you acquainted with this city. Welcome to Waterfall." San states plainly as he turns around curtly to begin walking. The twin, Pru begins to follow him, allowing me to follow too and to see the other twin, Pays. She was a pretty girl with long brunette hair that flowed wildly. Unlike the other two, she did not wear a black suit and instead wore a thick heavy brown cloak with that same amber colored stripe along it, matching her eyes as well as Pru's orange hue. Whatever she wore underneath was masked, besides the plain black dress pants. It could be guessed that they all wore the same black suits, a sign of their uniform probably. Regardless, Pru, and Pays, they were truly twins. Sticking out of the cloak, Pru's delicate hand holds onto that staff. It clearly was magical. Her amber eyes glare at my mahogany equivalents. I avert my eyes. She was not happy, though judging by the dismissals from her peers, she didn't seem to ever be happy.
What a strange trio.
My memories fade. This world, it's overwhelming.
San's Obsidian Sword.
A blade made of a pure black metal. Despite the blood dripping along its edge, there is no bloodthirst emanating from it. San seems like a nice enough person. Or perhaps someone trapped behind their obligations. I wish to keep wary of the owner of this blade. For just how much can someone owning a sword that has no doubt taken countless lives be trusted?