-A year since the beginning of his nightmares -
-his pursuit of the truth-
Vaelin's relentless search for redemption led him to the forgotten outskirts of Nexus Prime, a place known only as The Forgotten District. It was a place where the destitute and forgotten sought refuge, a labyrinth of dilapidated buildings and crumbling alleyways. It was here that Vaelin hoped to find salvation.
Among the dejected faces that lined the streets, Vaelin's keen eyes caught sight of a young girl, no older than twelve, scrabbling through a pile of garbage. Her clothes were tattered, her face streaked with dirt, but there was a glimmer of resilience in her eyes. There was something about her that stirred a long-lost compassion within Vaelin.
As he approached her, the girl looked up, her eyes wide with fear. Vaelin extended a hand, hoping to offer solace in this bleak world. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.
The girl hesitated for a moment, studying Vaelin's features before hesitantly reaching out and taking his hand. "I'm lost," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't have anywhere to go."
Vaelin's heart clenched with sympathy. He had felt lost himself, trapped in the darkness of his past. But perhaps, by helping this girl, he could find a glimmer of light in the shadows.
"Come with me," he said firmly, guiding her away from the filth and despair that surrounded them. "I will make sure you have a safe place to stay."
And so, Vaelin brought the girl to Saint Clare of Seina- the nun's convent that took him in some years ago, within a forgotten corner of Nexus Prime. It was run by a kind old woman named Madeline, who had dedicated her life to caring for the city's abandoned children. As Vaelin explained the girl's circumstances, a spark of hope ignited in his heart.
Madeline could see the torment in Vaelin's eyes, the weight of his past still bearing down upon him. She offered him a compassionate smile. "It seems you are seeking redemption, since you left, " she said gently. "Perhaps by helping these children, you can find the absolution you seek."
Vaelin nodded, his determination solidifying. He would protect these innocent lives, shielding them from the darkness that had consumed his own. Through his actions, he would find redemption, step by painful step.
And so, amidst the cries and laughter of the children, Vaelin began his journey towards salvation. He had found a glimmer of hope in the depths of Nexus Prime, and he vowed to do everything in his power to make it shine brighter.
___
Centuries ago, Kaito, the noble samurai who made a great sacrifice to retain his honor, now found himself among the ramifications of a modern day broken society. More specifically, in a rundown district known as Las Gieger, of a corrupted city called Nexus Prime. Here in this forgotten district, he had lived for the past five years in as a teenager under a new identity - Vaelin Neonblast.
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-The routined life of a lost soul within five year span -
- before Vaelin's regular nightmares-
Seemingly from nowhere, Vaelin had appeared roaming among the wreckages and lowlifes of las Gieger, five years ago. After a couple of days wandering aimlessly in the blistering cold, he was taken in by the nuns convent popularly known to the inhabitants as The Saint Clare of Seina convent. There, he spent the last five years, concentrated on making new memories, due to his inability to access past ones.
Everyday for five years, as the cool morning light seeps through the stained glass windows, illuminating the chapel with vibrant colors,Vaelin - a lowly teenager, begins another day in his new home. As the soft sound of Gregorian chants fills the air, he rises from his small bed, carefully placing to the side of the dormitory, and makes his way towards the communal washroom.
In the washroom, rows of white porcelain basins and rustling of water welcomes him. Splashing his face with water, Vaelin would silently recite a prayer, requesting strength for the day ahead. Following the daily routine of the nuns, he then donnes the simple, humble garments of the convent, a symbol of his dedication to their way of life.
Downstairs, in the cozy dining area, Vaelin would find his place at the long wooden table. The quiet chatter of other kids always filled the room, but he remains focused, his manner always calm and composed. He eats his breakfast in silence, taking small bites with reverent appreciation for the nourishment provided.
After the meal, he donnes his backpack, hoisting the weight of textbooks and notebooks onto his shoulders. With a gentle farewell to his friends, he embarkes on his daily journey to the nearby high school - Geiger High. Along the way, the streets buzz with life, but Vaelin remaines detached, his mind focused on internal contemplation and the teachings of the nuns.
Arriving at school, Vaelin seamlessly slipped into the flow of adolescent energy. Surrounded by students chattering and hurried footsteps, he found solace in his studies. His dedication to education mirrored the commitment he saw in the nuns' pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
Everyday after school, Vaelin returns to the convent, his pace unhurried. As he crosses the threshold, the serenity of the chapel beckons him. He slipped into a quiet pew, where the ambient light dances through the stained glass, infusing the space with ethereal beauty. He then kneels in prayer, offering gratitude for the opportunities that had come his way and seeking guidance for the challenges ahead.
The remainder of his day consisted of helping with chores, tidying the common areas, and respecting the tranquility of the convent. Vaelin reveled in the simplicity of his tasks, finding peace and purpose in even the most mundane of chores. His humility and dedication to the ways of the nuns shone through in every action.
When nightfall enveloped the convent, he retires to the dormitory. Lying in the darkness, he reflects on the day's events and silently prays for strength, wisdom, and the ability to continue living the spirituality and mission of the nuns alongside the other kids. His heart overflowed with gratitude for the simple, yet profound, life he had found within the convent walls.
With a sense of purpose and peace, he closed his eyes, allowing the gentle hymns that lingered in his mind to lull him into a restful slumber. The next day would mark another day of humble dedication and reverence, a continuation of the soulful journey he had embarked upon within the embrace of the nuns and the convent walls. This has been his life for the past years. Until a single dream brought forth a torrent of forgotten memories, threatening to disrupt the tranquility.
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-The present-
-A fortnight ago marks the beginning of his nightmares-
Although the Convent, his home, still held endless days of carefree laughter and boundless joy. He felt different about it now, those days of tranquility were long since overdue, replaced by a solemn heaviness that settled upon his young shoulders.
Night after night, as darkness engulfed the world, Vaelin found himself entangled in a web of haunting nightmares. The secrets of his past, once buried deep in the recesses of his mind, now clawed their way to the surface. Scenes from a lost life, one he had long abandoned and forgotten, materialized in vivid detail, tormenting him with their mysterious familiarity.
In these nocturnal visions, Vaelin was a wanderer, lost in a labyrinth of memories that whispered cryptic messages to him. He watched as fragmented images of a distant town nested within the bowels of an ancient civilization flickered before him, faces of strangers with eyes brimming with recognition. Each night, a different piece of his past was revealed, but always just out of reach, leaving him yearning for answers.
The shadows of his past lurked within every corner of his dreams, as memories long forgotten called to him like ethereal specters. Streets he once walked, within these five years of good will, engraved with laughter and love, now echoed with an eerie silence, their soul extinguished. Forgotten faces of friends and family drifted past him, their expressions filled with sorrow and longing. The haunting symphony of distant cries seeped into his consciousness, begging for his understanding, but speaking in a language he was yet to comprehend.
Even in the wake of dawn's arrival, the heavy burden of these nightmares trailed behind him like a specter, casting a shadow that clung to his waking hours. Vaelin's once humble demeanor had been replaced by an unsettling restlessness, a yearning to reclaim what had been taken from him.
Driven by an increasing desperation, Vaelin decides to follow the ethereal breadcrumbs left behind in his dreams. Guided by his unyielding determination, he planned to embark on a quest to bridge the gap between his present and his mysterious past. However, he had no idea of where to start from.
***