The moon illuminated my skin as I sat up right in my bed. My frail and meek body has grown accustomed to the embrace of the chilly night breeze. The garment loosely covering me uncorrected for a while is most likely the reason for such a cold feeling, my limp limbs making me unable to fix this issue myself. The purple hue beneath my fingernails and the unhealthy thin frame of my body becoming more prominent by the day. I'm left here in this dusty bedroom contemplating the days I have left. I would read book after book to pass the time but now I'm finding it difficult to sit up in the uncomfortable mattress. Through my window I watch the snow dot the pitch-black night sky. To me they served as a partner to accompany the jewel like stars. My dark purple hair has begun to start overtaking my eyes with the nerving feeling of the greasy muck keeping me wide awake through these pitiful moments. The risk of moving or even simply touching me for the servants had been prone to the reason why I haven't felt clean in so long. It didn't matter if I was washed anyway since the second I would drift off to a mellow sleep I'd soon after be awaking in a cold sweat unable to control my excessive panting. I truly am a pitiful sight for a young prince.
At the very least when I could read books, I was allowed a fantasy of adventure and life. A world untainted by the greed and the ill... a world untainted by someone such as myself.
I started to feel it. Death had begun to creep up on me, the shadow of a scythe nearing closer and closer for my throat. But then something struck me, a warm, comforting glow. She appeared floating weightlessly from above me.
***
The bright hue from her red halo and the vibrant radiance of her skin lit the eerily dim room. A calming luminescence spread from the girl with a petite figure, her pure clear skin resembling glass filled with clouds. Her stare dug into him with eyes like crimson sapphires. Her short hair was flowing with an impression of silk. The circular halo of similar red light to her eyes silently floated above her head. Two large snow-white wings were spread from her back. The feathers would flow everywhere but eventually turn transparent and vanish to nothing shortly before contacting anything.
His eyes began to squint due to the sudden light from the angel as he calmly introduced himself, "I'm Hikari Yukino, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
She darted her face close towards Hikari's, so close in fact that there would've only been an inch between the tips of each of their noses. Her face distorted in a look of confusion as she muttered a question plaguing her mind the second he spoke, "Why are you calm?"
"I've died, no?"
A smirk arose from the angel's face. She changed her tone to an affirming voice and continued, "Not quite, your time of death has been postponed since I've chosen you as my candidate."
"Is that so. By candidate what does that entail?"
"It means I've found you interesting enough to allow you the grace of life for but a while longer. In turn you will provide me with entertainment by competing against other candidates. I expect good things from you Prince Yukino, actually I'll just call you Hikari."
With an unchanged stare Hikari calmly remarked, "That's fine by me."
The angel put a hand to her cheek and sighed. Upon opening her eyes, she began to watch him with a gaze that appeared to stare far off to somewhere a distance away. With a clap of her hands, she brought her attention back into pursuit of fruition, "Why are you so accepting of this situation, after all an Archangel has just appeared in your room and announced your fate... wouldn't most humans be in denial or a daze of confusion?"
"They would?"
She continued her task, "I am Daza, Archangel of the stars and you're Hikari Yukino the one chosen as my candidate. As a candidate you will represent me through your merits of victory in life. As an Archangel I am allowed to grant you a Class. Choose what appeals to you and only you. I will not go into detail of what they mean and or represent. It is only up to you to decide by name."
***
This whole situation has perplexed me. Though it might not show on my face but since the second she appeared I've been thrown off by the nature of this encounter. It seems as a 'Candidate' I must serve her, and although self-proclaimed it seems that her being an 'Archangel' grants me a special privilege, that being this so called 'Class'. It's all so sudden but even so it's obviously not a lie, after all this Archangel is floating above me.
Just then a glass pane entirely made of violet light appeared before me, on it was a list of words. Were each of these a 'Class'. That question had brought me to more interest, though I myself hadn't read this story I was told about it long ago by a particular noble who would visit, sadly his name is now a blur. He had described the book quite vividly, to me it sounded more like addiction rather than enjoyment but maybe his face just wasn't one that would smile so casually. Either way the protagonist was granted this so-called screen, its description sounds so very similar to what was now spread before me. As my eyes scrolled across each and every sentence only one drew me in... 'Sword Dancer'. The concept of a sword was always something that I loved; it was always the weapon a hero would wield into battle. I read countless tales when my health wasn't at its lowest and to me the tales of a hero and their adventure was just so simply captivating. The feeling of learning their path that formed a legacy was always what had me wide eyed.
The royalty of Pilleon kingdom, my family... they all had the natural talent for strategy, not the blade. I suppose that our family's blood is all that connects myself to them. As I tilted my eyes and darted from one class to another it was only this one that caught my attention. Not 'Paladin', not 'Berserker', not 'Undine'... only 'Sword Dancer' was present to my sight.
I cleared my throat before parting my lips and speaking my decision, the Archangel eagerly watching in wait, "I would like to choose Sword Dancer. May I?"
"Is that your final decision?"
"It is."
***
The still silence brings a sense of loneliness to this empty plane. The pitch darkness dotted with a slight yellow hue emanating frequently within the spiked crystals jammed into my chest. My body strapped and bound onto the stone wall by various jet-black folds. They had the appearance and texture of leather but were so obviously a stronger material. The crystals jutting out were simply one of the many things holding me still and powerless down in these depths. It seems that the one thing keeping my sanity partially intact in this prison is my recollection of Daza.
I remember that night so vividly even though so much has occurred since. The feint warmth that emanated from her halo would be such a welcomed pleasure in contrast to this dark cell. Whilst I've been contemplating the past it has grown more evident to me that a battle is ensuing on the surface. All these restraints have made it near impossible for me to learn anything else about what is occurring. I can only guess who the perpetrators of the massacre taking place are.
Click, Clack
The sound of rough boots trotting over the smooth stone floor echoes as my very question is answered before me. It could be a smirk has arisen as my voice comes out clearer than I imagined, "So the Paragon has come to greet me. How may I entertain your visit Agiel Astar?"
"You know of me? I'm quite honoured."
The man stood there, dawning the appearance of a relic refurbished from death. Black beard to accompany long black hair, his clothing a contrast to his face. The silver light armour shined with the only thing making his appearance tainted being the amount of blood stained over it. The restraints must block many senses if I wasn't able to coil at the rich stench of thick blood earlier.
"If you know me you must be aware why I'm here? Either way I'll ask. I want you to serve me, I want you to rule the lands of Aran at my side."
"I refuse."
His dull and lifeless eyes spread wide as he leaned forward, though the distance between us was still wide. With his fists clenched he spoke once more, "Why refuse to leave this fortress they have you lying forgotten in, we share the same dream so why won't you simply follow by my side?"
"The same dream? Don't speak nonsense in my presence. Aran is a land to rule but I won't be your dog while you turn my spoils to dust."
It was obvious this ant just didn't realize who stood on which side. So what if I have been reduced to a trapped criminal? In the end once these binds are removed I return to the pinnacle of the candidates. I watched him as his shoulders slanted and spun to leave. He finished speaking whilst disappearing into the dark, "If that is all I will leave."
"It's only natural when your efforts were wasted," I answered. Unable to see his face I still knew he was unworried about my snarky retort. He wouldn't need me; it was more he wanted me out of the way in case I would be put against him. The sound of his boots disappearing along with his presence made me aware yet again of how empty this place is. Returning to the eerie atmosphere my thoughts began to spiral, yet again I felt a smirk present yet this time it was more like I was pitying myself. Then it escaped my mouth without me even realizing, "Pinnacle... my pride really is my downfall."
***
"With my right as a Celestial Dream I shall bestow you the authority of 'Sword Dancer', be grateful my candidate and goodbye for now."
"Goodbye?"
Suddenly the room was enveloped in a beam of red energy, it encapsulated my gaze whilst bringing a new and unknown feeling of warmth from my toes to head. But even with this new sense of comfort seeping into me I still felt plagued by her words.
"What do you mean 'goodbye for now'?" I'd spoken in a tone unbefitting of someone who should be grateful but such a thing seemed trivial to me at the time. For six years I've rotted in this room, the last three without even the slightest company. Even if the situation confused me, I just couldn't fathom to watch the first person I've spoken to in three years leave, it felt... well it felt sad.
"Don't fret, I'll watch my candidate. If you achieve something commendable, I shall be there to award you," She covered her mouth with her palm as if attempting to hide a smile full of glee, "That is if you survive the challenges that await."
I unknowingly leaned forward in desperation of knowing my predicament but doing so brought a new thought that ensnared my attention. This scarlet beam was ridding me of my illness. My realization of leaning forward only led to myself looking down and discovering my body returning to that of a normal fifteen-year-old. Healthy skin, moist lips accompanying the average lean frame as well. But why was my face not showing a look of delight. I could only believe it meant that though presented with a great occurrence I had realized it, that where I was going would have me at the very least in this condition to survive.
As my head tilted up, I watched the Angel fade away and the beam quickly erupt to new levels of light. It was no longer a partial field of warm energy but a massive yet soundless flash that only lasted an instant before having me arrive at my predicted location.
***
Even stranded against a wall Hikari couldn't help but think of the day he'd met her, the Angel amongst snow that dawned the appearance of blooming tulips... that was the day he arrived at Aran. Even aware of how this world ruined him he still persistently recalled his life as if it were a tale like any other. Even if the tale was one that concluded without the victory Daza had chosen him to gain he'd only had his life to accompany his solitude.