He awakened to a wide room-- laying on a soft, red bed.
He scratched his head and turned right, there were no windows, but shelves, and jewelry that were encased in a dark chocolate color. The chairs and tables were lathered in gold color, whilst the rest of the room was emblazoned from the many dispersed objects like tools, rings, paintings, dressers, and mirrors— an ABUNDANT amount of mirrors.
A curious vexation fretted Asahi. Biting sentences flew about.
"Where am I? What happened? W-Why are there so many mirrors in here?"
Asahi, appalled at the fact that he was transported here, was almost annoyed by the lack of any indication of information.
Anyone would be shocked if they were suddenly transported to a bedroom devoid of any individuals. In contrast to his confusion, Asahi immediately vaulted off the bed and crawled on the floor.
The soft tingling bristles of the rug soothed and touched his fair skin. But discarding the sensation, he lunged upward and pressed his head against a bookshelf. As a result, a dozen books toppled and flew toward his head— practically stunning him for a few seconds.
"Gah!" Asahi stuttered.
After the shelf toppled onto the bed, Asahi bounced upward from the pile and tossed the books across the room. Suddenly, he managed to find a special green book lying irritably near his bare toes.
He slowly grabbed the book, and brushed the dust off its cover, thinking about what made him pick it up.
"Huh?"
Asahi noticed that it had the words… "Pladtioa and its Past" all marked on the cover— delivering a thought to him that what lay inside its pages was a broad record of this nation's history. This kindled his curiosity— making him disregard his questions, and pull up the cover.
Upon touching the silk fabric, lying against the white canvas were inked words, caked in the dust; implying that it had been ages since this book was last opened. Asahi could smell the putrescent aroma lingering and rising up to his nostrils. He scowled in disgust.
"UGH. That smell is so… rancid. How long has this book been closed?"
Though ashamed of how this book was battered in such a scent, his curiosity bit him, and so he pulled the pages upwards. His eyes lit up, flashed, and his face paled, viewing the expanding words imprinted on the pages.
(Fourth most, it was a desolate, busy land filled with endless amounts of shallow waters and dense foliage; tainted in a rancid brown. No sovereign was eager to claim the land, but one. And this was…)
Asahi's eyes gaped, seeing the name scribbled out from a blob of ink. He continued reading
(When he founded this land, he immediately alerted his followers, and set forth upon its murky waters. His flag stood bright indicating and showing that finally, the most repugnant land imaginable was claimed. Castles were erected despite the environment's conditions, followed by houses that were caked in a fluorescent brown. Though the town didn't look bright at first, this soon expanded to prosperity.)
A curious and inexplicable uneasiness erupted from Asahi's mind. He felt entirely bewildered by reading the book as if he was starving to learn more. With this intention in mind, he anchored his attention on the pages, staring at the words with his silver eyes.
(As time expanded, the small village transmogrified into a thriving, prosperous nation filled with dense forests, lush soil, and plentiful gardens. The swamps descended, and eroded, freeing and making way for the new land to spread. Granted that these elements further gratified the land, in essence, other individuals from lands afar took place and their ambitions to dwell upon these thriving lands. From time to time, The King would emerge from his brilliant castle and grant others their best of wishes.)
However, it wouldn't be long until…
Asahi, being so eager to know more, flipped to the other page and beamed his gray eyes at its contents. Consequently, being that anxious to learn more; Asahi didn't even realize that he was reading the contents out loud.
"That The King would find his partner. She was a beautiful woman, with long blonde hair tied in an elegant knot. Her eyes were chipped with a glacial blue, her skin was delicate and baby-soft, and her body was slender. Depicting such a beautiful blend of all the elements The King desired, she was deemed The Queen of the nation. As she stepped forth upon the newly erected throne, as an illustration by her appearance; the couple got married and birthed a beautiful girl. Once they announced…"
Suddenly, adjacent to the open bedroom door, a loud raucous voice was released.
"Hey, Queen Narcissa…. your 'visitor' is reading your secret book!"
Asahi froze in shock, with his eyes and eyebrows raised. A horrible sense of insecurity erupted from him as he heard loud, audacious footsteps approach closer and closer toward the room. He hastily tilted toward the door and froze still.
"W-Who…"
At first, he saw a gangling, flat-chested, sandy blond girl rushing away from the door, but then, who stepped in shocked him even more.
"Who DARES to pry upon my secret records?"
The figure that belonged to this fruity voice was a beautiful woman. Asahi's heart-thumped rapidly, his palms sweat uneasily, and his eyes hurriedly drift left and right. Following with footsteps, Asahi saw a voluptuous, long-legged, toffee-haired woman step forward.
Her skin was blemished from her cinnamon hue, her fierce sienna brown eyes fringed with her long lashes darted to Asahi-- stepping forward with her long exposed legs. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, he cocked his head, and hastily dropped the book; frozen in attraction.
Before Asahi could draw a word from his lips, the woman hastily covered her mouth with her hand and jumped up.
"Gasp!"
Her eyes twinkled in awe, a flush crept up her face, and she gasped in shock- tripping on something and falling to the floor. A disheveled and distraught figure arose from the floor, hastily snatching the book from Asahi's paralyzed hands, and hunched her shoulders, shrinking away from her embarrassment.
As Asahi tried to reach his arm to her, the woman hastily dragged herself away, with her moody face and yelled frantically.
"W-W…Wha… What a-are you doing with that book? H-How did you even find that? How did you--"
A great sickness of the heart smote Asahi. He couldn't handle the sudden rise of emotions when seeing the woman up-close. Though her face and body looked familiar, there was something different this woman had on.
"Her dress…"
Indeed, it was that of her dress that made the woman look different. She wore a richly decorated rounded collar that stretched toward her chest. Sashed at her waist was a beautiful scarlet flora pattern that traced around her lissome, elegant curves, down toward her tight leggings; highlighted by the prudish length of her arms.
Indefinitely, by recognizing her proactive, round face; Asahi simpered.
"A… Are you, Narcissa? I can't stop… looking at you. W-Whoever you are, you're gorgeous."
She wheedled with a bright red face
"Y-Yes, thank you. I hoped that the fashion team had w-worked well with this dress; they said it took a few weeks to make. H-Hey… d-do you know why I'm wearing it?"
Asahi begrudgingly nodded his head, appalled, and nonplussed that Narcissa's attraction robbed him of his speech. He was so invested, that he forgot about his concerns for Aletha.
As his eyes glared vibrantly at Narcissa's dress, the beautiful brown-haired woman wheedled.
"I'm wearing it… b-because…"
Her cheeks flushed in a beet red. She felt giddy, almost zealous when staring.
"B-because…" She stammered.
Without saying a word, Narcissa's chocolate eyes hinted at Asahi by staring at the large crimson bed. He hung on every word spoken from her, as if-- tranced by her slumped posture; then jumped in shock, with his face reddening like apples.
"Y-You want me to…?"
Hastily, Narcissa replied with a bristling tone.
"N-No… not yet at least. Well, you just awakened and you have no clue what happened. The reason why you are here is… because…"
She fretted from her speech; as if she was trying to force herself to finish her words.
"I want you to… b-be… my… h-h-hu…"
Asahi raised his eyebrows.
"Huh?"
A quiver of resistance ran through her, but despite that… she…
"My Husband!" Narcissa fretted while she pondered her actions and tensed her shoulders.
Asahi skidded back on the floor and jumped in shock. He thought this reveal was too sudden and anxious. Asahi racked his fingers on his exuberant white hair and queried.
"Husband?! Already?! B-But we just met!?"
Given Asahi's realization; abruptly his memories flickered back in his eyes. His concerns, doubts, and curiosity struck him like the heat of a bolt of lightning. Asahi took a step back and placed his hand over his heart, hearing the tremulous expression traced from Narcissa's lips.
"Y-You don't understand, I'm only doing this because it's for…"
Asahi lowered his dark eyebrows and squinted his eyes. He snapped his fingers and crossed his arms.
"W-Wait… where's Aletha? Where am I? H-How did I get here?!" Frustration started to bite his neck.
Narcissa released a sigh of distress.
"Please… just listen to me. I-I don't think I have ever got this close to a person before… I'm doing this for a genuine reason. It's for someone el--
Asahi interrupted, stepping away from Narcissa and gradually getting infuriated. He narrowed his eyes at her, making a sidelong glance toward what was outside the door with suspicion.
"Someone else? N-No… I don't believe you. Are you just doing this because you want me?"
"N-No… I would never do this for myself. I l-like you for your white hair, but I wouldn't go to such lengths to make a family of my own will. As I said, I'm doing this for…"
Asahi fumed with frustration and anxiousness; stomped his foot on the ground and hollered with a breaking voice.
"Then why did you take me here?! Speaking of… where is Aletha? Where is Drimi, where is Belial, where is Phthonus, where is Sally?! Where is the village?!"
Narcissa made a sigh of disappointment and shook her head. Despite trying her best acts to persuade him, he wouldn't listen. Her sweet, honeyed, leering attitude slowly transformed into a stern, abrasive mindset as Asahi continued to gripe at her.
"I don't understand why you want to do this!? What did you do to Aletha? Where am I?! What--
With a toneless voice, Narcissa ordered glumly.
"Guards… just… capture him…"
Asahi's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Hastily he felt a cold metal surface slide against his arm and grasp around his skin. Asahi turned over and shook his body away from the knight, however his body was hastily
"Get away from--
Asahi's eyelids crossed with exasperation. He struggled to free himself from the arms, grunting and screaming at Narcissa in anger.
"Now you're going to ignore me?! Answer! Where are you escorting me?"
Narcissa walked up to a mirror traced in a gold outline and pressed her hands gently against its reflective surface.
As Asahi sneered at her with skepticism while being dragged out from the room, Narcissa drummed her fingernails on the table, peered at the reflection on the mirror, and anxiously closed her eyes, whispering…
"One day, father… you will be free from your curse. After all these years, I found an individual capable of my interest. I promise I will find a way with him, even if it takes an eternity. If it takes to cease your curse, I will do anything. But until then, if this boy… can accept my confession and draw an actual connection; you… will… u-unfortunately, be stuck."
A tear flew down her cheek, hearing Asahi struggling in the background. She tried to turn around, but resisted, knowing that there would be another day.
Asahi hollered with a penetrating voice.
"LET ME GO! I need to have a word with her!--"
A deep gravelly voice ordered Asahi.
"Silence! You will meet her again once you learn your lesson!"
Narcissa droopily approached the door and as she was peeking, seeing Asahi get dragged across the narrow hallway; Narcissa's lower lip quivered.
"Y-You're right. We need some time before we reach that phase."
(Creak)
(Slam)
After the door's slam reverberated over the hall, Asahi's vision faded.
However, he fainted with a smug smile, because hidden and kept in his pants was Narcissa's secret book, which he snatched whilst she was speaking in the room.
With that in his possession, Asahi could freely read all of it… and discover the hidden secrets that reside within the depths of the pages.
* * * * * * * *
"Aletha… no…" Asahi quivered as his eyes slowly peeled open.
A faint light opened up from the microcosm of the chiseled walls. It touched and scintillated over his dry, pale skin. He felt a cold surface gently prod against his back.
"Umff…"
As a result of this, Asahi's eye slowly parted, revealing a dark chamber, with a locked metal door on the left, a table in the center, and a gaping opening in his right. The ceiling was covered in droplets; falling one by one like rain descending from the sky.
(Tap)
A crystal clear droplet gently grazed over Asahi's skin, making him shiver in discontent. He was vexed in sorrow.
"Gah?! W-Where am I? Come on, I just wanted to speak to her."
(Tap… tap… tap…)
The droplets continuously plodded against his head. But shriveled and stained with repetitiveness, Asahi soon adapted to the droplets and slid toward a dry spot.
Lying against the floor, contempt with loneliness; Asahi pondered quietly.
"I don't understand. I… I REALLY don't understand. All I remember is that I was with Aletha when we saw that massive green beacon open up from the sky. And now… I'm here? I don't understand, do they remember me? I have so many questions and few little answers, i-it's kind of making me…"
He scratched his nose and slumped against the cold wall. His lower lip quivered and dullness clouded his face. Despite being determined before, Asahi's emotions toppled down like a collapsing tower-- having no idea what he would do next.
As a shadow cast over him, and a cold, deep silence erupted from the room,- suddenly, a disembodied voice sounded out.
"Hey? Who-- in the hell…?"
The voice sounded husky, like the deep growls of a wolf. Asahi glanced sideways, instantly trying to see where that voice came from. The darkness made it difficult, more of a challenge for Asahi to see.
"Is that a boy? Wait… white hair?! Since when in the hell do people all of a sudden-- have white hair nowadays?! I THOUGHT THOSE DARN THINGS WERE EXTINCT?! Am I hallucinating or what?! Speak deaf boy or whoever the damn you are !"
That… husky tone… transformed to an appealing one; a voice that sounded trustworthy, and placid despite its deep groans. But also, blended with an aggressive, and hostile tone too.
Asahi tried again to find where the voice was coming from. His eyes wandered and bolted left and right, from corner to corner, scouring and reaching his arms through the thick darkness. The voice guffawed at Asahi's meaningless searches.
"HAHAHA! Man, for a boy with an appearance like that-- you act kinda dumb. Hey! Dumb elephant, turn around when I'm speakin' to ya'!"
Asahi's heart froze. His head slowly creaked behind, and his pupils flared in shock. This voice just blatantly called Asahi, who once was a powerful god-- one that literally ruled THIS WORLD…
…a dumb elephant?
Asahi scrunched his nose and sighed. The voice gradually devolved to a whimsical, foolish tone; completely pushing away what once was a trustworthy voice.
"HEY OVER HERE STUPID!"
But finally, after all those loud penetrating screeches, Asahi found them.
"Who… are… you?" Asahi asked while unfurling his fingers and staring with a restless gaze. The gruff voice belonged to a dimpled, pointed chin, broad forehead, salt, and pepper long-haired young man.
He wore a bedraggled tunic with miserably shawd feet; dressed like an unmade bed. However, the most observable feature was his moon-shapes chartreuse eyes; which complemented his appearance as a whole, and in all honesty, carried his dirty body.
He gave an astute glance to Asahi, showing his freckles, and indomitable smile; as if he was trying to greet him. While Asahi shuddered and stood still, in hopes of not getting killed by the young man; the salt-pepper boy greeted sarcastically.
"Why hello there dude! Welcome to prison, it's nice here am I right?"
Asahi lifted his shoulder in a half-shrug, mute out of shock and fear. The young man brushed his hands together, snapped his fingers, and covered his own eye with his hand.
"Hahaha! Bro, don't have to be mute. The hell is you doin' here with such an appearance. Do I even know you?! Hell, not! HA HA HA!"
He had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
The young man pushed his shoulder against Asahi's paralyzed arm, nudged his face, and raced toward the other side of the room. It seemed he looked frustrated and in return, granted of his rather foolish act; he requested Asahi.
"Do you want my magical essence? The one that makes you invincible and strong?!"
Asahi was still frozen; with his mouth stitched in shock. He didn't even want to move. In spite of this, the young man assumed Asahi's utter silence as a yes, then grabbed a pile of an unidentifiable squishy substance; and raced back to Asahi.
"This will make you strong and make you get outta here!"
He rubbed the pile and smeared it over Asahi's pale face, like rubbing chocolate pudding against a baby. The young man stepped back and covered his mouth, tilting his head away, trying his best to not burst out of laughter.
As the essence stuck on Asahi's face, his nose instantly crinkled. His face scrunched up in pure disgust smelling a malodorous aroma rising up his nostrils. Asahi jumped and yelled.
"What did you put in my face?! Do I look stronger?"
The young man's mouth inflated as if buttons were about to fall up. Tears flew in his eyes as he slapped his knee and burst out laughing like a vomiting dog.
"Hahahaha! I can't believe that your dumb elephant self actually believed me! That's my dunce dude! Hahahaha!"
Asahi's eyes blinked owlishly, thinking about it while he heard the young man's laugh resound over the walls. Then… his eyes made a cruel intense stare, with rage fuming inside.
"WAIT, THAT'S YOUR FECES?!"
The young man erupted in laughter while bouncing on the floor, seeing Asahi's poop-stained face glaring angrily at him.
"DAMN RIGHT! And you walked straight into it without hesitation. Dude, you're so hilarious!! HA, hank hank hank!"
Asahi turned red with fury, his blood boiled, and an angry frown caressed his brown-covered face. Hastily, with absolute force, Asahi relentlessly shoved the salt-pepper fool to the ground and screamed at the top of his lungs.
"DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FUNNY?! BLATANTLY SMEARING YOUR OWN FECES ON MY FACE?! DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHO I AM?"
As Asahi's fist curled in anger, about to smack the fool straight in the face; the fool raised his hands upward, and pushed him away, with a nervous sweat sliding down his face.
"C-Calm down dude… it's a joke."
Asahi fumed.
"JOKE?! YOU THINK THIS IS A JOKE?!"
"If you really want it, I can clean your face…" The fool offered.
Asahi gritted his teeth in anger and tried to settle down. He couldn't believe an individual if anyone was able to do such a thing. Granted of the actions, Asahi swung his restless gaze at the fool and sneered.
"And with what? How are you going to clean my face?!"
When Asahi stepped forward, pressing and clenching his fists; the fool's hands started to glow a bright powder blue. Asahi raised his eyebrows, questioning how the young man was doing this. However, just as he was about to comply, suddenly…
"TIME TO WASH FECE-FACE!"
A massive gush flew from his hands and submerged Asahi in water.
(Splooge!)
Air sucked out of Asahi's body. He could hardly breathe, feeling all the water rush up his nostrils. He got propelled to the other side of the room.
Drenched in wetness, Asahi coughed out shots of water and rubbed his eyes as the remnants of the gush slid down against the now wet wall.
"Ack!"
He slowly lifted up from the wall, having an even angrier look on his face. This sudden burst of water was so unexpected, Asahi felt he was literally going to drown hence another reason to punch the fool in the face.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
The fool asked.
"Is your face clean yet?!"
All of a sudden, another spurt of water tossed Asahi to the ceiling. The fool asked again.
"IS IT OFF YET?!"
Just as Asahi was about to answer, another gush flew about his hands and pushed Asahi further against the wall. He gasped for air and coughed water out his lungs, begging the…
"ONE MORE!"
Asahi begged while coughing.
"Wait... sto--"
(Splooge!)
The last surge of water rushed out from the fool's magical hands and knocked Asahi out.
"There, now it's off."
While Asahi gagged for air and flew to the floor, the fool made a smug smile and cackled.
"HA HAHA! Welcome to the cell, fece-face! You may call me… Devlin."