As the glowing sun, lavish and extensive dipped below the horizon, the fleeting colors of dusk began to fade away. With the setting sun came the bloody sky expressing the 'Demise of the Apocalypse' and the end of the era of divine beings. Blood poured as a downpour, sprinkling the courtesies and blessings of God onto human bodies. Amidst that chaos, She was there, all kneeled upon the pyramid of dead bodies. Her blade recolored in the blood of her adversaries spoke of her melancholy and the Wings tainted red embodied the very misery. Eyes once warm and full of light, now brimmed with bitterness and gloom. Regardless of the tragedy which befell over the land of Gods. The sky, the blood rinsed downpour or the Misery of the beautiful, bewitching, resplendent blonde rammed inside a heavy Iron suit of Knight armor and her cries of sordidness. They all commemorated the onset of a new era, the Era of Catastrophe. That is the tale, my mother often told me. The story of the Hero- ELIS
Einmánuður, the Year 1633
"Ah-oo-gah"
" The ship No-46 has reached the port 0001- Himmelreich. All the Passengers boarding the ship are asked to follow the protocol until the Exit doors open. I repeat, all the passengers..."
"Rousseau, did you not have a better ship for the travel".
"Apologies Sir, due to some complications with the Military guild. We had to settle with this one".
"Jamie, I love ya!"
"I love you too, Antionette".
"Ma! I'm hungry".
"Seoul, Are you sure we will get a job here"?
THUD!
" Umm! Watch while you walk little one. Oh! my, are you a fan"? the man asked with a wild grin.
"Sorry" I responded, slowly backing away and leaning against the wall of the pathway, I stood like a lifeless body.
It was the innermost deck of the ship, the ship had arrived at the port of Elis and everyone from mere adventures to high aristocrats stood there, waiting for the doors to finally open.
The intense light dazed my vision and the sudden heat rendered the cold and stiffed body warm. As the vision returned, An ever-changing cloudless, vibrant and endless blue sky drifted above and blazing sunlight likes of never seen before.
The joyous voices of men, women, and children flowed through the land. Sailors' tales- narrating their adventures of sea, the boasts of soldiers- commending their bravery on the battlefield, and finally, the Poseurs- brandishing their riches and social status. It indeed felt like I was in Himmelreich, everything brimmed with happiness; everyone appeared happy. Yet, it all felt so foreign to me.
The ideas of sunlight, blue skies, and a festival-like environment we're mere fantasy.
what is happiness? Am I happy? How can I become happy, if I'm not? I felt envious, as my soul invariably shrieked. The bitterness engulfed the light blazing on me. In the end, I trembled, stumbled, and realized; I don't have much time, as this was not the place I belonged to. It reminded me of what Kiara once told me, "Some people don't have the right to happiness, they are meant to take sour Sadness of the world".
Who am I? Why am I here?. It has never mattered. I have long forgotten myself, the purpose, loved ones, and the facet that made "me". Nevertheless, I do remember what I am called? A name, the only aspect about 'me'-Akio.
In the end, I was nothing more than a fallen bird, gazing at the other birds who flew high in the sky.
I wandered and wandered in this big and foreign city. I had come here for a purpose, something I decided for myself. I needed to know the answers to the riddles that haunted me in my dreams.
The bitterness within me grew, it felt like my whole head was splitting in two, my heart throbbed as if there was no tomorrow and nerves seemed ready to collapse. It's not that I have a weak constitution but the discomfort of being surrounded by people. It was suffocating, something I had never experienced.
I hunched down to get some breath. As I rolled my eyes around the section, Inns encircling the whole place, Marts crammed with adventurers, and the church which stood tall and firm behind me. The place was wild and loud, the whimpers drifted across the city and gradually passed through my ears.
"Old man!"
"Bacus! You are back. Good to see you, alive and moving. It seems that you have quite a gift for this old man".
"Haha! See Rediof, I told you. This man never disappoints. Here, I brought what you talked about. I got my hands on this from fighting the sage wolves. I will tell you the whole story but before that, why not enchant my armor with some defensive buffs and raise the mental resistance".
"Hehe! Easier said than done. But, first comes the exchange".
"You never change, Do you? You cheap".
"Oh! Bless the mighty lord. This is one of the Arcana fragments".
"Of course it is, I will let you heed my glory. I, the mighty of the mightiest, ravaged through the Jungles of Avida slaying the creepiest and strongest monsters who held it as their territory and .....Alas! with my sword, I defeated the beast".
Though old man, this fragment is just a piece out of the 100 others. And strangely enough, I also met a traveler there. I had my doubts for some time but if not for him we may not have obtained this.
" Is this Bacus- the foul-mouthed complementing a man? Who is this Messiah? you speak so highly about".
" Charles, that's what he called himself. A crazy sharp bastard, who single-handedly defeated a Level-6 Boss. Ahh! it still irritates me to the bone but I could have defeated that thing on my own. After all, it's me- the mightiest adventurer".
"Charles, he seems like some renowned warrior. Do bring him to my shop someday. I will give you some talisman as commission".
"I will, you cheap stake. Let me tell you about another adventure. One time, there were guards from Lincolnshire but-
BACUS!
"Uhh! Don't interrupt".
HUH!
Bless the Lord!
A Dark mist had covered the white, vibrant, and ever-changing blue sky. The clouds thundered as if announcing a premonition of a disaster. The thundering was loud and big, yet weirdly enough only people gathered outside had noticed.
"Rediof, Do you think it's a monster rift?"
Huh! I d-don't know Bacus. A monster rift inside a city is impossible. The city has protection from the Holy crystal. Unless we have a catalyst for summoning, A rift is unheard of.
"Ho-oh Bacus! it seems the weather isn't well today. I suggest you leave the place as soon you can. It seems it will rain blood today. Excuse myself, I have a job to do".
Crack... Crack...
A crackling noise echoed. Like a griffin cracking out of the egg, it was loud and clear. something that cannot be mistaken. The mist wrapped the entire place as if jailing us like scapegoats.
" Seoul, what's up with those clouds"
"Mama Mama, look there's a hole in the sky".
" Hole? what are you... Uh-Aaaa! What in the Elis!".
An enormous hole had appeared just above the center of the city. The tension and fear rose as the place was devasted with the sudden appearance of the dark mist and the rumbling noise confirmed and affirmed me, who stood just 300m far. It was mere moments before everyone gathered at one place, after all that's what humans do.
"My holiness! Is this an illusion"?
"Rousseau, Is this some kind of event"?
" Apologies Sir, If my speculations are correct. we're in grave danger".
"Is that a Monster rift?" the aristocrat spoke
"Monster rift, but we're in a city. One can't occur here naturally."
CRACK! CRACK!
It was natural to act crazy and ridiculous. After all, it was death itself that slowly walked towards them. And when forced into such situations, the real test of survival starts.
"Damn this, I'm getting out of here".
" You idiot don't"
"Shut up, I have my family to take care of, I can't die here. I won't die here".
The man sprinted, with all he got towards the direction of the next district. When forced to accept reality, we chose to fight, even if it's pointless. some see this as a great quality while to some it's naivety. The hopes of the man were crushed, as the mysterious magical wall which surrounded the area prevented the monster's prey from escaping.
"What is this, why can't I get out. Hey... Somebody, please help me! ... Help me...Help me".
The man cried out slamming both of his hands against the magical wall built by the mysterious mist. Yet, all in vain, the man had lost to fear, he had failed to survive.
" Stop it! You idiot".
A king-size, herculean man intervened, throwing a fist at the man. Crazy bastard! don't act like a dimwit for God's sake.
He successfully thwarted the guy, who had lost his reasoning because of fear. He then proceeded to get hold of the situation and introduced himself.
Everyone, Heed me, I'm Bacus- A C-class adventurer, class- Fighter and also the greatest of all time. Hehe, now that thing is a Monster rift. However, we can't tell what level it belongs to but it is extremely dangerous. Similarly, this area is sealed using a Territory spell that disables people inside it from escaping. But don't worry, I- the strongest will help you and save everyone. Also I...
The man went on heralding his greatness, but Whatever he spouted Indeed had some truth, even though exaggerated. The rift hid something far dangerous and ominous. It was clear, we were mere prey.
"Hey! Bacus, aren't you going too far" a shriveled and rawboned man remarked.
"Huh! what do you mean Rediof? I, the greatest and strongest never have gone too far with anything. I mean...
...
"Tch! Rousseau, Use your telecom skill and connect with others, I have to get out. I can't rely on some jokers".
"Ho-ho! who are you calling a joker, Nobel man. I, who have fought alongside the great and humble, Sir lemishure. Also..."
"Ahm Apologies Sir, it seems the barrier is negating all my skills and signals".
"what? Rousseau, I need to get out of here. I wouldn't have recruited you, if you were this useless, If you wish to continue your job, Get me out of here".
"Geez-Bacus! Bacus! Bacus!"
"What is it Rediof? The is the third time you have interrupted me".
"Bacus, Listen! we are mere C-class adventurers and that thing there is no less than a Level 6 Monster. Even if we bring 10 more C-class adventurers, we won't win. At least, we need to hide" the friend persuaded distressed about their safety.
**crack... Crack*
"See the rift is opening up, the monster will be here anytime, he added".
"Listen Rediof" the man Bacus spoke, putting both of his hands on his friend's shoulders. "Look around yourself, how many people do we have here, even if we are low-class adventurers. You as our C-class caster and the other adventurers, only need to land a successful hit. It doesn't matter how many die. The only thing which matters is that both of us survive in the end and to achieve that we need to fight. I will protect you, Rediof" He completed as his tone turned subtle.
"Bacus- but..."
"No, but's. It's expending energy to open the rift, now's the right time to use your anti-territory spell. Trust your pal" the man said, pushing his friend closer to the rift.
"Bacus, I will believe in you this time, but please watch after me. He mumbled and recited the spell- Grimore-Book of Blessings"
"Yeah- yeah got that, Now- EVERYONE SEE THE BRAVERY OF MY FRIEND, WHO WILL NOW USE A SPELL THAT WILL DISABLE THIS BARRIER AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO RETURN SAFELY. I REQUEST FROM OTHER ADVENTURES AND HUNTERS TO AIDE ME IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THAT MONSTER- the man abruptly announced.
With his charisma, he easily won the hearts of many there. At that time, when there seemed no hope, he appeared brighter than the sun. In no time, the men and women agreed to his foolishness.
"Hh! Is he saying the truth, will we be able to get out?
"My family!- oh Lord! Bless us".
"Ha! I remember he said, he was Bacus right. I have heard of him, he's a famous adventurer in my town.
"oh! Aliha- he is strong, I heard he took out a whole hoard of monsters alone. He is a hero, a messiah.
"Yea- a messiah - hero-.... messiah - hero
... Bacus- the strong will save us.
"Let's aid him, Karen"
"But ain't that thing dangerous"
"Idiot, if he's strong and slays that thing, we
might get a good share for aiding him"
"You sly dog, count me in".
The uncertainty and tension slowly vanished or should I say for a limited time under the radiance of light who appeared foolish but easily became a symbol of strength and hope. Truth became a lie and lie the truth. Greed took over the psyche of those who stood beside him. It was as if, fear and foolishness have seized them. It was hard to tell who was in the wrong, A man who foolishly amassed fake hope from the people or the people who believed in the foolishness. But one thing was certain, that the curtains of his facade were about to fell. As the crack began to grow, the caster with all his merit used the spell to disable the field. The adventures waited to move and common peo overcome the despair and I stood in between all that witnessed as the curtains to the scene fell.
Clank... Clank....clank... Clank
"Bacus, I am done with most of my... Before the man completed. Dozen of chains pierced the caster who stood closest to the rift. The chains instantly ripped his limbs, leaving the impaired body on the ground. The man shrieked in pain "Aaaaaaaahh! Aaahhh ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhh! It hurts...It hurts Someone help me, I don't wanna die, my family, my sister. I DON'T WANNA DIE!
Yet, nobody moved an inch. Was it the cause of the terrifying attack? No, it was the fear of perishing the same way. I who stood a few meters away could not help him, maybe I would have if I had decided to but I didn't.
In an agonizing voice, the helpless man called for his friend "BACUS! HELP! I'm SCARED, I DON'T WANNA DIE".
As he pleaded for help from his friend, who stood just mere meters from him. Startled, sighting the very demise of his friend. His voice shivered. Yet he bent and whispered the last words. "My friend, My pal- Rediof, it's painful right, the holes in your body and the blood which keep flowing. Your state is truly tragic..but I can't, you have served your purpose.
The skinny man terrified by the words of his friend, screamed in agony and pain aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!. While the chains pulled his impaired body to the rift. With the last bit of power, he groped his friend's left leg, resisting his tragic fate where he was a mere food, and mumbled his last few words "B-a-cus! Why be-tray me- yo-u said y-ou will pr-ote-ct me"
"Reality, Rediof. if I try to save you, the time will run out" the guy told, breaking away the last thread that connected them. The curtains had finally fallen, everyone had realized what had happened to the pitiful man.
With a sword, the man slashed his friend's arm which held his leg. The blood-splattered and his blade drenched in it. While the pitiful man yanked into the rift to be consumed as mere nourishment.
It was awful and unpleasant, not just to me who could not understand emotions well but to others who reflected the very anxiety and the pity. But no one resisted or questioned, what has happened, the anxiety, fear, and hopelessness have numbed their sense of humanity.
The rift in seconds unwrapped- a loud battle roar echoed and with it the beast who slowly appeared in front of us.
The pitiful man was consumed along with bones. If not for the memories, he was close to non-existent. The monster roared again "aarrrghhh". Trampling the hopes of everyone, as he appeared to be unconquerable. The facade of the foolish man was over, frozen from the terror and the strength of the beast who stood in front of him.
In the end, it was upon me, who stood like a lifeless body amidst all the havoc. "what should I do Kiara" I murmured to myself.
#To_be_continued