(Before the crumbling of my sanity, in the past, my mind possessed a beautiful empire. One so great, where nothing could have distracted me from forging and expanding upon it. Each sector of my mind was overruled by confidence, bravery, determination, and wit. But despite that, there was one thing… one person that stopped the progression of my empire. Sometimes, expansion isn't a good thing; but fixing, it's completely different.)
Years before the incident, a young man with long dark hair, a healthy build, and cold amethyst eyes approached a small cozy town resting in-between a forest of rusted gears scattered about the hills of icy powder.
Because he felt nervous, Young Duron looked over and checked to see if his ship was safely docked near the town. A relieved grin came from his face.
"Thank goodness. That was one troublesome path."
Then, he looked heavenward through the field of white-stained grass, seeing a warm yellow luminance shine in-between streetlights. As his boots left tracks on the snowy pathway, Young Duron ordered his crew behind him
"Settlers, follow me. I do not want any of the Looselings to attack you and bathe in your blood."
They advanced further shortly after, following the icy trail.
(This was the time when my body was at its prime state. I was always a leader. It was what I received from the genes of my father.)
"Understood, Captain Duron!" Replied five as they followed the man into the tavern.
(Throughout my entire life, I was told to always succeed and never start my failures. Which in return, led me to order an entire nation to follow my exact footsteps. Success is an amazing feeling, but the trade-off that comes with it equals out on its proportions.)
"Please… let me go…" Cried a voice on the other side of the door.
(It was a trade-off so strong; that it resulted in me almost going insane. This driving factor that came from success; It was loneliness."
Duron breached inside, angry and restless.
"Stay out of this!"
(When I was born, I was bestowed two gifts. One was my brave and ambitious personality from my father, and an irresistible beauty coming from my mother. These gifts were what made my life so simple and the factor that made me so likable from the world.)
Men all around the tavern backed away as their eyes were focused at Duron's hands gripping against a powerful black, yet strangely-shaped pistol in his pockets. With a gruff tone, he stepped forward to the bandits, held them at gun-point and warned as the chilling air poured inside.
"Thieves, stay down at once before I resort to my weapon!"
A snarky snarl came about from the thief's face.
"Yeah, and so what? Is that some sort of toy your mother gave you?!"
The preposterous attitude had resonated within Duron so strongly, that even his fingers started to crack out of irritation and annoyance. The more he watched, the more he found the childish attitudes of the thieves annoying. But despite their strength, the young woman just had enough energy to warn Duron.
"Run… leave…"
(I knew I couldn't ignore that voice. It was too precious to ignore. Why would anyone ever tell me to run, when I should be the one telling them?)
As the young man stepped forward, he quickly pushed the four down to the floor with his legs and stomped them with his shoes, pointing his weapon at their eyes. His vision then quickly gor caught over to a beauty in peril.
"Run..."
A sudden sickening in his heart smote the young man as he viewed the woman's long dark hair dropping down to her hips, her brown eyes equal to the color of chocolate trembling before him, and skin as healthy and smooth as a ball glistening under the ceiling light.
He knew just from the trembling feeling of his wobbly knees; that this would be whom he would be attached to the most.
"Hey!"
(Pew)
Suddenly, a loud blast echoed behind his back. His ears heard screaming, pointing to the laser darting from the room.
"Behind--
But just as the laser had even hit or skimmed his skin, Young Duron pulled out a rock-solid metal chest plate from his attire and threw it in front of him like a shield.
Immediately, the laser deflected off it, bouncing from wall to wall before backfiring and slicing one of the man's arms. He writhed in pain as the other men raced out the tavern-- into the wall of icy fog and snow.
"Agh… help…. Help."
Duron's followers jolted across the floors while the other men froze still at the sight of Duron and the woman staring at each other with a fixated look.
Duron whispered as he unknotted the ropes of the woman and pulled her up.
"Don't worry. You will be alright. Men, escort this lady to my ship at once."
All his five followers dared not to resist and quickly grabbed the girl from Duron's grip, shielding her from the frozen winds. Duron facepalmed and grasped his chest, feeling the first trickles of his heartbeat pulsate more than he had intended.
It was clear that the moment he saw that woman's face, he knew that love had softly warmed his rather cold-heart. And what triggered his adoration for her; was the beautiful shimmering necklace wrapped around her neck.
. . .
Duron's fingers caressed tightly on the necklace.
"Despite all those years of being in that faction, I still never forgot about the problem lingering in the soul of my daughter. Now, I can finally fix it."
He closed his fists and shut his eyes, looking over to the roofless top above his head and commenting. "Oh Drimi, you had such a perfect childhood." His thoughts were flooded with the memories of Drimi's younger appearance.
"I watched her cute little self grow into someone I would never believe she could be."
He took a deep breath and looked over to the descending train.
"It's like seeing and viewing the culmination of all your hard work, the vivid presentation of your success getting poured into the living presence which you created. If it wasn't for me, she would never have the life she has now. "*sigh* I still can't believe that she has transformed into such a spectacular young woman, and I wasn't even there to see it. Why has it that things have come this way?"
A long pause came from Duron's hopeful words as the barrier around him closed up.
"H… Huh?"
Phthonus' eyes trembled in shock, falling into disbelief at the story Duron had shared. It felt to him as if the memory had completely altered his perspective on Duron, seeing him not as a ruthless murderer-- but as a desperate and lonely father.
He closed his eyes and dropped the book to the ground, bowing down and apologizing as the wind from above tore through the open carriage.
"I have my sincere apologies for striking a conflict with you, sir. If I had known sooner that you captured my friend's soul out of love, then maybe I wouldn't have treated you so harshly. You have my deepest respect."
Aletha scratched the back of her head and stepped away, undoubtedly puzzled about Duron's innocence.
She never understood the concept of heaven and The Perfect Darkness, let alone the corruption of Drimi.
Yet despite her confusion, she completely understood Duron's reasoning and wished him good luck in extracting the anomaly out of Drimi.
"I wish you the best of luck in saving your daughter."
Just before Duron stepped out the door, a grueling and grating voice sounded out behind them.
"Seriously?! Duron, you were supposed to CAPTURE the girl; NOT talk to her! Just how much of a failure do you have to be?"
A dark blobby creature with slender arms, legs, and even torso stepped out from a pile of debris, holding what looked like a rope gun in its crusty hand. The overall aura matched the complete opposite of the lenient and calm atmosphere Duron provided.
This one was one of chaos and greed, not bearing care on anyone outside of his objective. It had five purple eyes and twelve sets of sharp and yellow teeth, where the tips could easily slice a tree if it could.
Duron backed away with the necklace in his hand and answered as Aletha and Phthonus cowered in front.
"I am NOT a failure! See, look what I have!?" Wait a minute, how did you come here?"
The dark creature gave a quiet smirk and threw it off the man's hands, grabbing onto his neck and growling.
"Grrr, THAT stupid necklace you have is NOT related to our goal. Wow, just how STUPID do you have to be?! It's the GIRL The Queen wants!"
Aletha squinted her eyes and snarled, shouting angrily as her face turned red.
"Hey, I have a name you know?!"
"Ugh, SILENCE SILENCE SILENCE!"
The humanoid blob creature stomped his feet repeatedly on the ground and screeched as he approached Aletha.
"I was stalking you on the sidelines before you left because I KNEW you wouldn't focus on it. All you're focused on is your stupid, weak, daughter you keep cryin' on about for eternity. Just get over her, k?! You can make all the babies you want--
Phthonus backed away in disgust.
"Goodness, you are one SICK individual. What makes you think you have the right and authority to take Aletha away?"
"I knew this girl would be inside, so… that's why I'm here. Now, girl! *snap* *snap* Yeah, YOU with the white hair… Come with me."
Aletha sassily turned away and touched her hips, posting and replying to the monster sarcastically as her finger was pointed in the air
"You know, I WOULD listen to you if you called me by my name, but… you're not. What makes you think I would choose to go with you anyways?!"
The monster growled.
"Oh, a feisty one, eh? I never knew this girl could be such a nuisance to deal with. Why in all names holy does my powerful queen want a measly white-haired girl like her!? And why did she COMMAND the entire army to search for her?! She's not even worth it."
Aletha's face turned red with embarrassment, looking over at her body and wobbling back and forth. She answered as Phthonus and Duron stared at her with confusion
"H…Hey… y-you be quiet! I am a goddess you know! The original goddess, one from the Adtraic Family!"
Suddenly, the creature laughed hysterically at the bold and unbelievable claim.
"Psshhht, you… a GODDESS?! HAHA, that's the greatest joke I have ever heard. You don't look anywhere NEAR a goddess."
Aletha hurriedly turned over to Phthonus and asked tremblingly.
"Hey, can you prove to me that I'm a goddess?! Anything? Think of literally anything."
Phthonus shrugged his shoulders.
"I mean… I guess I can give it a try. Don't get mad if I get something wrong though."
Just as the creature could approach any further, Phthonus stepped in like an actor, knelt on his knees, and presented Aletha to the creature with a fake smile.
"See, creature? This is where you are wrong. This girl, Aletha, is a goddess and I can prove it to you!"
Aletha kept her proud smirk and stood in a prideful posture, watching as Duron and the creature stared dumbfounded at Aletha, wondering what her plan was. Phthonus quickly exclaimed as the winged train flew up back into the sky.
"Firstly, just look at her white hair! It's unlike anything you have ever seen!"
The creature raised an eyebrow.
"Eh? How does that prove anything remotely close to a divine status!"
Aletha stammered and whispered to Phthonus.
"Hey, Phthonus, t-think of something else! Not whatever you are doing!"
"Okay, okay…"
Phthonus nodded his head and gave a thumbs up.
After the commotion, the young man knelt and displayed Aletha to the creature like showing customers a doll in a shop. He stammered in his head as his heart raced in anxiousness.
"Just, um… L…Look at her beauty. From her chest to her waist, there's nothing on her that can disappoint!"
Aletha's gray eyes broadened in shock, blushing immensely at Phthonus' unexpected commentary. She screamed.
"EH?! That's even worse! T…That's not what I had in mind! Phthonus, what are you saying--"
But despite her facial warnings, Phthonus continued while cringing from his performance, having not a clue about what he was doing.
"Her skin is so natural and smooth, not even facial cleansers could compare to her! Her beautiful gray eyes, her rare and clean tattoo on her face-- it's so perfect and attractive, that any man within a radius of--
(Scratch)
"Okay! Okay!" Aletha interrupted, unable to take it anymore. Absorbed in complete embarrassment, she pushed Phthonus to the wall and screamed.
"YOU CAN STOP NOW! T… That wasn't what I meant when I said to prove to them I'm a goddess!"
Phthonus cooked an eyebrow in confusion.
"What? I was just listening to your request?! Don't get me wrong, I know you're gorgeous, but I too have a love for someone else. I'm just speaking out from another male's or rather-- person's perspective."
"T… That wasn't what I meant."
Phthonus backed away, his face flustered in red. He scratched his head and took a deep sigh, muttering confusingly.
"Oh. So… then, what DID you mean by your request?!"
Aletha fidgeted with her hair, twiddled her thumbs and muttered with a calmer tone.
"I meant… y-you know… saying I have powers, fought monsters, owned a kingdom -something like that! N-NOT, whatever you said!"
As the passenger car continued to roll along with the train, the creature nodded their head, smiled, and expressed with a high-pitched tone.
"Hmm, yes yes, I see your point now. Now that I see her, she DOES have an extremely attractive appearance, so it's understandable why some idiots may deem her as a goddess. I entirely forgot the Queen mentioned a boy of your same blood, too. "
Aletha cried and shrieked in humility with a nervous sweat sliding down her face.
"No, no, no! Ahh! Dang it, Phthonus, why?!"
Suddenly, Phthonus twitched in fear, feeling a sting shine and blister on his cheek.
(Smack)
The sound of a loud slap echoed over the walls. He quickly rubbed his head and tore his scarf off his mouth, complaining to Aletha as Duron and the creature stood awkwardly on the sidelines.
"What? Why did you have to slap me?! I was just doing what was asked!"
Aletha's face heated red.
"Stupid, stupid, STUPID!"
Her hands continued to fly around like pigeons on Phthonus' face, showering him in blisters and stings of her humiliating attacks.
(SMACK) (SLASH) (SWOOP)
Phthonus cried.
"Ow! Stop!"
. . .
Meanwhile, on the other passenger car…
"Um, Isa, don't you think the train is going a LITTLE too high for us? I can't even see the ground from the window!" Said Kali to Isa as she looked over to the blanket of clouds flying across the window. "It doesn't look like it's going to stop."
Isa facepalmed and sighed with a tone of dismay. It was clear to her of the extremity of the height on which the Winged Train was going, but she didn't mind, since she had magic powerful enough to save them from a precedent fall.
Unlike the sheer chaos happening on the other carriage, the one Kali, Isa, and the rest of the group occupied was one of peace and tranquility. Isa was lying around and slouching on the chair, acting very slothful compared to how she had acted in the past. Her legs were crossed, eyes half-shut, and her body was slanted like a bag.
This sight concerned Kali, she had never seen Isa act anything remotely close like this. With a tone moderately pleasing, she tilted over to Isa, patted her on the shoulder, and alerted her as the Winged Train continued ascending.
"Um, hey, not to be rude but… can you stop being lousy for once?"
Isa slowly and lazily tilted her head to Kali, yawning and drooling.
"Uhh… what did you say?"
Kali's face steamed red with frustration, pushing herself out of the seat and alerting the other passengers accidentally.
"Ever since we have entered this train, you have been acting lousier than usual. Get up and answer me!"
She pushed her long shamrock-green hair to the side and gave out another contagious yawn, smiling with a drowsy face. Isa answered as Kali and the other passengers anchored their attention to the windows.
"... yeah yeah, what is it that you want?! Can't you see... I'm busy, relaxing?!"
A frightened and anxious tone resonated within Kali's cries.
" I was about to say that the train was above the clouds, but now…" Kali gulped, staring at the clear-view of a mountain's peak scraping the edge of the train car.
She quickly bounced away and shook her head, racing over to the green door and seeing if all the other carriages had experienced the same problem.
"Oh no…"
The passenger cars flew around and scraped the edges of summits, the clouds fought against the wheels, and the steam engine in front continued to whistle for no apparent reason.
(CHOO CHOO) The train was so high that even its loud hoots echoed over the skies.
"Wait... what?!"
After she heard those loud whistles, Isa's eyes broadened in shock. She hurriedly raced to the door and poked her head over, seeing a dark goopy creature, a white-haired girl, a man, and an enraged scarf-teen battling it out inside a trashed room.
Just as her hands could engulf into a green luminance, she heard all the passengers scream to the massive thing shredding the passenger car's roof.
"A dragon!"
Tables, chairs, and furniture flew up into the sky like a feather, a potent torrent of wind tore through and inside the train car, coupled by the sound of a beastly roar echoing over the tall peak. A large shadow covered the sunlight streaming inside.
Isa's heart pulsated rapidly, seeing the sight of two sets of giant claws grasping onto both sides of the train. A dizziness pounded her, almost stopping her from interfering with the conflict. Luckily,
"What's happening here?!"
The door was breached open by a white-haired girl, allowing four others inside the carriage. A dark foreboding aura flooded the atmosphere as the sight of nails cut through the ceiling. Kali screamed to Aletha.
"W-What happened to you?!"
"Um, how can I answer this? To summarize it, we--
(ROOOAR!)
The loud cry of another malicious roar suddenly trembled every corner of the carriage. Isa gulped, raced over to Kali, and pointed above as her green daggers fabricated into thin air.
"I... can't believe it. The train has gone to such heights that it can disturb the Guardian of Linuxinia Peak. I know I should be the one to interfere, but there's some sort of leech inside me that is… draining my powers. Everyone inside the carriage, brace for cover and save yourselves!"
As the rough winds howled and stormed inside the room, Duron beat his chest, kicked his legs, and raised his voice.
"It's here! I wish I never bought this necklace inside, but I had no choice-- For it was Wraileza that made me do this!"
The goopy-humanoid creature hastily leaned over and snatched the necklace from his hands.
(SNAG)
"Hey, give it back!"
"NO!"
Before he could defend himself, Duron was stopped by thick black vines rushing over.
All five coiled around his body, wrenching and tightening the man like a towel.
Aletha and Phthonus knew if the grasp of The Necklace was given to anyone else, the fate of Drimi would be at dire risk.
With this thought grappled from their minds, Aletha and Phthonus did everything their best to stop the creature from grabbing The Necklace.
But, to their dismay, their attacks were nothing compared to the creature's. As it slowly crawled away and tried to sneak out of the flying train, Duron bolted over to him and unleashed a storm of purple bullets at it, having all memories of his life surge inside him.
"Give… my daughter… back!"
Everyone in the carriage besides Aletha and Phthonus fell into shock.
"Daughter?!"
Kept in distraction, the creature froze still in place, generating a purple shield luminance all around his body.
"Silence, traitor! You have no business speaking about your pathetic problems. That necklace belongs to us, not you! Maybe the Queen might give your forgiveness if you allow it--"
Before the creature could jump out and escape the scene, Duron clutched its wrist and threw them back into the passenger car with brutal force.
Aletha, Isa, Kali, and Phthonus all raced to it and tried to help, but was stopped by Duron, the necklace just within his reach. He announced to them in an relieved tone.
"Don't worry, I have it!"
The creature laughed hysterically and kicked his legs back, mocking Duron.
"Ha ha ha! You ARE a failure!"
"What?!" Exclaimed Duron with a raised eyebrow. "What are you playing at?!"
Silently, the goopy creature pointed over to the dangling silver chains.
"Heh.. heh... heh. Look up!"
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief, seeing it slip off the titled passenger car's floor.
Duron's heart froze,
"NO!"
Despite his best effort, it was too late; for all the man knew, the precious necklace had already fallen several kilometers beneath the clouds.
With a broad sense of uncertainty, Duron informed them muttered with a trembling tone.
"We lost… the necklace."
Every hope for Drimi's future swiftly got torn ruthlessly away after he had said that. All were speechless.
Seconds passed, Aletha and the others fearfully realized the train was returning back to the surface. Every passenger ducked their heads and covered themselves on the floor, bracing themselves for impact. As they were hiding, Aletha saw the shadow that hovered over the carriage, vanish and fade into the silhouette of a colossal-sized dragon.
For just a moment, before the train had fully crashed into the ground, Aletha watched with disbelief at the Guardian of Linuxinia Peak soaring above her head. It was as if it was trying to tell her something.
"I... know... who you are."
Time completely stopped for Aletha as she saw her friends and the train skydiving through the clouds.
Across from her, Phthonus shouted.
"Aletha, there's a pool beneath us! Follow me!"
But before she could hear his cries, Aletha's attention was anchored at the majestic dark wings of the dragon flapping and brushing against the air.
"Such a majestic sight." She mumbled with cold and amused lips.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT--
. . .
Gears flew into the air like rain, railroad tracks split and sear apart, crashing onto hills. The chunks of soil crumbled and sunk, followed by the sound of gears, wheels, and chains crashing onto solid ground.
Aletha's vision along with her hearing got swiftly engulfed into a sea of darkness.