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World Re;Birth

SeikerHikaru
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Synopsis
Among the worlds, many often exist in parallel. Similar events, similar people, but perhaps different outcomes and results. In one world, where someone lived they may have died. In another, enemies are instead allies. Yet there is always a constant unifying them. And this world, is one who's existence is owed to the actions of another, borne of the sole desire to save but one soul. A world whose story has yet to truly be told, which through its connection to a parallel, may see it's own ending encounter vast changes to the world which it has rippled outward from. What souls will be saved, and which will be damned?
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Chapter 1 - Prologue: Da Capo al Finé

The train rumbled along, all too quietly. Where it was going, who knew? Perhaps this train only existed in a dream, or perhaps somewhere else entirely. But it went on, continuing to rumble as it moved through endless strands of stars and lights, painting a canvas of light around it as it sped along the endless void of stars.

Within the frontal passenger car, two individuals sat across from one another in the plushily arranged space. The same person, a young man, as it happened. And yet, the two were also not "the same."

One had a countenance a bit more mature, of someone who had been through much and grown from it. His pale face was set in a small, satisfied smile, even if his azure eyes carried a sad glint in them, and yet the irises flowed almost like flame, emitting a soft glow with a bright, pronged ring surrounding a cross shaped pupil.

Snowy white hair edged in streaks of black and blue fell about his face, a messy tail tied from the nape falling across his right shoulder. His attire, consisting of whites contrasted by marks of blue and blacks on various portions, would have made one think of some kind of knight, only sleeker and somewhat technologic, all fit together by a flowing cape falling from his left shoulder, the article a deep blue.

The other looked slightly younger, his own mess of hair about as long, left to hang messy and loose as it fell in parts to between his shoulder blades, and in a deep, bluish shade of black with brighter blue undertones. His eyes were the same shade of azure yet lacking the glowing flow and abnormal iris.

And instead of a fanciful armor, he was dressed in a typical school uniform, a black blazer tied around his waist while the sailor uniform styled shirt seemed a tad too large on his thin frame, the ensemble leaving the shirt white, contrasted by the black blazer, collar, and pants, with yellow accents to mark it all.

"… so, what's all this, huh?" the "younger self" asked, shoving his hands into his pockets as he leaned back against the plush sofa, looking out of the glass ceiling to the endless stars beyond. "Because this doesn't feel like a dream."

"Fair question. Even I'm not too sure at this point," the "older self" gave a chuckle, turning to place his elbow on the head of his seat. "Though, if I had to guess, somebody out there had a bright idea to let you and me meet each other here. Can't tell you who or why though."

"Of course not," the "younger self" sighed, glancing at his "older self". "But, whatever your case is, it's definitely gotta be an interesting story. Am I guessing right, Herrscher?"

"Heh, so you can tell I'm one, huh?"

"Hard to hide it, with a getup like that. And those eyes."

"I guess not. Interested in what I'm the Herrscher of though?"

"Shoot."

"Herrscher of Dawn," The "younger self" raised a brow, the "older self" chuckling. "Believe me, it's complicated. We'd be here way too long if I explained it, and I dunno how much time 'they're' giving us to chat. Though, I think I have an idea of why you and I are here."

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm at the end, and you're at the beginning."

"Huh?"

The "older self" looked up, now being the one to gaze out at the expanse beyond them.

"Me… I just said 'goodbye' to someone. As things are, while we may see each other again, it won't be for a long time. And we don't even know if, when we do meet, if things will even go well. It was… hard. But I knew it had to happen. For us, it was the ending we arrived at, the only result that could happen from the path we were on."

"What do you…" the "younger self" paused, feeling something flow into his thoughts.

[A girl. Snow white hair, and bright blue eyes. Turning away from a train platform as her hand left his, a small but wistful smile on her face as the door closed… even as her eyes and his began to cloud with tears. Even as he tried to wave her off with a smile of his own. Even as his emotions were a mix of acceptance and tight sadness.]

The "older self" looked to his counterpart as he remained silent. One hand moved to his chest, clutching tightly onto his shirt as he sank into the sofa, tears streaming down his face as that memory stuck in his mind, shallow breaths mixing with his shudders.

"Saying goodbye… really is hard. Even if you know it's only temporary," the "older self" said. "And it wasn't the first time I had to say it. I've felt that pain more than a few times... and it hasn't gotten easier since. And it still hurt to say it this time. But…" his small smile spread further, and within it, there was a present feeling of satisfaction even with the mix of sadness. "I still ended up accepting it, even then."

"How?" The "younger self" choked it out, screwing his eyes shut as he began wiping away the tears. "If it hurt this much… if saying goodbye to her was that hard, how? Why? How are you able to accept that ending even when it feels like this? When your heart… my heart hurts like this?"

"I guess it's because I became an adult. For us, this was how it had to be. How it had to happen. We fought our hardest, did everything in our power to see it to the end. And this was the outcome we earned. For as much as it hurts, I can't help but feel satisfied with it all the same. It's sad, it hurts… but at the same time, I can't help but… smile. Because I know she's watching me and the others. So, I promised her. Promised that, in the world she'd make for us, that I'd continue living, continue fighting. To defend the world she gave part of her future to save. I'll make sure my future makes what she did matter. All for when we finally see one another again."

"So, what is this? A look into what my future has coming? Because this feeling bites. I don't even know who I'm crying over!"

"I don't think that's the case. You and me… we're 'the same' but also 'not the same.' Our worlds just happen to be close to one another. Close enough for us to meet like this. 'Possibilities' similar enough to be parallel. Like I said, you're at 'the beginning', with a future still undecided. A story that can still be changed, given new outcomes. I think the reason we're meeting… is so you, the me of that 'parallel' can be given a chance."

"A chance at what?"

"A chance to find a new ending to this story of ours," The "older self" stepped over, putting a hand on his "younger self's" head, ruffling his hair all too like an older brother comforting a younger sibling. "My story's reached its ending, and I'm ready to move into the future it leads me to. But your story is just starting. If you see this ending maybe it will help you out. Help you to find a different route, following whatever path your world is on. And maybe your ending will be different from mine. Maybe, you'll find an ending where you don't have to say goodbye."

"Goodbye to who?"

"Someone I'm sure you'll be meeting real soon, if I had to guess where your story is starting from," the "older self" stepped away, his "younger self" looking up to him as he began to move to the door of the car. "You're about to meet a lot of people who're going to end up near and dear to you. Some of them, the type to give everything just to save someone else. Others, those who'd even be the villain if it meant denying fate. You'll also meet a lot of enemies. And at the end, you'll probably fight someone who desperately needs your help. Someone in more pain than even I could imagine experiencing. But… I promise you; those connections are the best part of it all."

"What… what all have you been through?" The "younger self" let his arms fall to his side, his hands balling up tightly. "Everything you've been through, all you've fought… it ended with this? With you… accepting the outcome, even if it's a painful one?"

"Well, I guess it helps I have a bit of an idea of where my future is going from here," the "older self" chuckled. "Let's just say I got to see a lot of interesting things in a really short time."

"Then where are you going to go? What's your future going to be?"

"Well… I think I wanna be a teacher," The "older self" chuckled as his smile widened. "I had a really great one when I was still in school. She taught me a lot and inspired me to keep fighting. Inspired her too. Honestly, neither of us would've gotten to this point without her. Even if we lost her along the way. So… I want to pay it back a bit. To teach others like me what she taught us. Though I definitely need to make sure I don't start drinking. She always said not to follow in that example of hers."

"Hehehe… sounds like a hell of a person."

"Haha, she was. The best instructor I could have asked for. So, where are you now, huh?"

"What's it look like?" The "younger self" turned, tugging at his shirt. "Still in high school. Though… I guess my reasons for being there are kind of weird."

"Let me guess: Old man's been dragging you around the world your whole life, and all of a sudden dropped you off in a Far Eastern city while he went off the radar?"

"… the hell kind of childhood did you have?"

"An… interesting one."

The "younger self" could only show a twitching brow as his counterpart shrugged with a stilted grin.

"Well, I can't say it's not that dissimilar. But I haven't been dragged across the world. I mean… sure, my old man has a weird ass idea of training that's involved some country hopping. But not to that level. But… I'm where I am because he said it felt like it's a place I should be, for some reason."

"Haha… I guess some things are just inevitable. Even in a different world, some things will just end up being the same no matter what," The "older self" let out a soft chuckle, while his counterpart playfully rolled his eyes. "So then, do you think you'll be able to create something new? Even if you end up coming across more inevitabilities?"

"Won't know until I try," The "younger self" turned to his other self, now showing a confident smile of his own. He looked off again, giving a hum. "Hey… I think the train is slowing down."

"Ah… must mean my stop is coming up."

As the train slowed, it soon pulled into a train station, somehow present in the endless expanse, not connected to a single thing. When it came to a stop, the doors slowly opened as the bells rang. The "older self" turned to the opened door behind him.

"Hey…" the "younger self" spoke up. "Good luck. I hope you get to be a good teacher. And that you do get to see that person again. I know you said the goodbye is temporary but… maybe you need the luck, yeah?"

"Hehe, maybe, who knows?" As the "older self" stepped off, he gave a wave from his right hand. "Good luck to you as well. Wherever your story takes you from here… well, I guess I already know you can handle it. You are me, after all. And I got here… so you can too. Have a good trip."

"… yeah," The "younger self" nodded, his counterpart turning as the doors began to shut.

The "older self" waved again as the train departed back into the endless expanse. As it vanished from sight, the "older self" gave a chuckle, taking a few steps over to a bench and taking a seat. As he sat down, a shape shimmered next to him as he gazed out to the expanse, his gaze shifting ever so slightly to the new presence.

"You think I told him enough, Kiana?"

For the existence known as Soleil Empyrean, this was how one story ended, and another began.

"See you in the next world."