*Clank*
*Clank*
*Clank*
The rhythmic clatter of wheels against steel tracks filled the train car, a steady pulse that mirrored Clarence's measured breaths. He sat alone, his hood drawn low, obscuring his pale features as he observed the mundane hum of life around him. This train, an unremarkable vessel in the mortal realm, carried with it a more extraordinary purpose today.
Clarence—under the hood—scanned his surroundings for any suspicious individuals before tilting his head down and looking at something in his hand. He adjusted his pocket watch, a gift from Lady Tesseris. The faint click of its cover revealed the spinning, intricate gears inside. It was both a tool and a reminder of the concept he'd been raised under. Clarence's Affinity was with time, but yet, even now, a nagging uncertainty lingered in his mind. Time was fluid, ever-changing, just as he was. Could he embody such a complex concept, or could there be something deeper within him yet to surface? Lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, he pondered deeply, each idea weaving into the next like threads in a complex tapestry. The next second he blinked and looked up.
His thoughts snapped back to the present as a peculiar shift in the atmosphere rippled through the car. Conversations dimmed, laughter faltered, and even the ambient noise of the train seemed to dull. Clarence's eyes narrowed beneath his hood.
"Found you," he murmured, standing as the door to the next car slid open.
On his journey home, Clarence received a report outlining a disturbing string of incidents in the mortal realm. Over the past few weeks, a chilling pattern had emerged: numerous concept bearers— individuals marked with a "normal concept." Unlike the Lords, these people have an affinity with aspects that touch daily life, such as hope, sorrow, courage, or fear. They are normal people who have an innate connection to these feelings or states, granting them modest, specialized powers—had been kidnapped or murdered. As he delved deeper into the report, the pieces began to fall into place. This wasn't a series of isolated crimes—it was something far more sinister, an organized effort with a hidden agenda.
But why? What could anyone hope to gain by targeting concept bearers? Were they harvesting their powers? Or perhaps something even darker was at play. The questions gnawed at him. Determined to uncover the truth, Clarence returned to the mortal realm, his mind set on unmasking the culprits.
Now, he found himself here, trailing a prime suspect in one of the most recent abductions. His lead came from an informant—a sharp-eyed local who had spotted the man slipping in and out of shadowed alleyways with an unconscious person in his arms. After days of tracking, Clarence finally cornered him aboard a crowded train, the rhythmic clatter of wheels on rails underscoring the tension. The time for answers had come.
A figure stepped through, their presence commanding yet oddly dissonant. They wore a sleek coat that shimmered faintly, reflecting the dim light like the surface of a calm lake disturbed by ripples. This was no ordinary traveller—this was the Concept Bearer of Sound.
"Clarence De Cassell," the figure spoke, their voice smooth but layered, as though a choir spoke in unison. "I heard a rumour you were around here, never thought I'd have the honour of seeing you in person."
Clarence's lips curled into a grim smile. "You know me? Good. So you know how this will end."
In a heartbeat, the car's interior was vacated, as if a spell had been cast. Civilians rushed out in a panic, driven by an unseen force that flowed from the Sound Bearer's enigmatic power. The air was thick with tension, leaving only Clarence standing firm against his adversary. The man beneath the shadow of his hood wore a sly, knowing smile, a flicker of amusement playing on his lips as he sized up his opponent.
The Sound Bearer's Peerless zone was activated first. The man called out "Silent Crescendo". A low hum filled the air, growing into a cacophony of discordant tones. The walls of the train car warped slightly, vibrating under the force of the welder's might. The duel has begun.
"I believe silence is the purest form of control," the Sound Bearer intoned, their voice ringing like a bell. In that fleeting instant, the world transformed as they stood atop a majestic mountain peak, enveloped in an otherworldly silence. The vast landscape sprawled below them, a tapestry of rugged terrain and undulating valleys, while the crisp, cool air wrapped around them like a gentle embrace. Here, no sound penetrated the stillness; even the whisper of the wind felt reverent as if nature itself was holding its breath in awe of its perch high above the world.
Clarence's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, and the space around him began to change. The very fabric of reality bent to his will as he activated his Peerless Zone "Keeper Of Eternity." Gears of varying sizes and clock faces emerged from the shadows, whirling in an elaborate choreography that captivated the eye. Each cog and dial gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, casting shimmering reflections in the dim light. Behind him, the colossal wheel of time rotated purposefully, its rhythmic ticking resonating throughout the space, a constant reminder of the relentless march of moments.
"I believe time flows unbroken, unyielding to sound's interference," Clarence declared, his voice calm but resolute. The world underwent another profound transformation; the once-majestic mountain peak crumbled into scattered fragments, giving rise to fresh land that gradually emerged from the depths of the earth. Time flowed like a river, swift and relentless, as vibrant plants and towering trees burst forth in a fleeting display of life, only to wither and perish in an ephemeral moment. The scenes unfolded in a haunting silence, nature's quiet drama playing out before an unseen audience. A delicate butterfly, its wings painted with iridescent colours, alighted softly on a blooming flower, but its brief respite was cut short as a ruthless predator swooped in, turning beauty into a tragic end in the blink of an eye.
The clash of their concepts reverberated through the train, each belief striving to overwrite the other. Sound waves distorted, bending around Clarence as his control over time asserted itself. He advanced, his steps precise, his gaze locked on his opponent.
The Sound Bearer faltered but pressed on. "I believe sound transcends time, carrying memory and meaning through its waves!" The scene shifted once more, transporting them to a vast expanse of ocean where they stood atop a rocky outcropping. The waves surged with a rhythmic intensity, crashing forcefully against the rocks before settling into a gentle lull, creating a symphony of sound that filled the air. The salty breeze whipped around them, carrying the bracing scent of sea foam, while the sunlight danced upon the water's surface, sparkling like a blanket of diamonds. Each wave's arrival brought with it a crescendo of whispers and roars, a continuous melody of nature that resonated deeply within them.
Clarence smirked. "And yet, I believe that all sound must fade with time." As they traveled through the cosmos, the world around them whirled by in a dizzying blur, moving at an astonishing speed that rendered everything a mere streak of color and light. The stars, once bright and distant, flickered past like fireflies, their twinkling barely distinguishable in the overwhelming rush of motion. It felt as if the very fabric of reality was bending and reshaping itself, leaving sound far behind in a futile attempt to keep up. Time itself seemed to stretch and bend, until, with a sudden jolt, they found themselves standing on the precipice of the universe, gazing into the infinite expanse beyond, where the dark void intertwined with countless galaxies, each one a shimmering jewel in the vastness of space.
The Sound Bearer's face drained of color as the weight of his realization settled in; he understood, with a sinking feeling in his gut, that he stood no chance against Clarence after that moment.
With a sweeping gesture, he snapped his pocket watch shut. The cacophony in the car abruptly ceased, the Sound Bearer's power dissipating like an echo swallowed by the void. They staggered, their strength faltering as cognitive dissonance took hold.
Before the Sound Bearer could recover, Clarence lunged, placing a hand on their shoulder. His jurisdiction tightened, locking them in a temporal stasis.
"You put up quite the fight." He flashed a confident smirk, eyes narrowing as he sized up his opponent. With a swift motion, he pulled back his hood, revealing the man before him. Dark hair framed a face marked by deep, crisscrossing scars that told tales of battles fought and survived. Despite his average height and unremarkable build, there was an undeniable intensity in the man's dark brown eyes, hinting at a hidden strength and a story waiting to be revealed. Sound Bearer grimaced, his expression shifting from defiance to desperation. A sudden realization dawned on Clarence as he noticed the man before him clenching his jaw, teeth grinding against the pressure of a poisoned tooth. Horror gripped him too late; the Sound Bearer was already convulsing, the foam escaping his lips a chilling testament to the toxin's swift embrace
"What the Nullum?" Clarence was shocked, he wasn't expecting the man to just outright kill himself. He stood there for a moment before shaking his head and turning his attention to the luggage compartment, where the faint presence of another Kardia stirred. He opened the compartment to see a woman unconscious on the floor. He checked the poor woman for any injuries.
The train shuddered violently before coming to a slow, creaking halt at a desolate station, the sky streaked with ominous clouds. Clarence, with a look of determination etched on his face, gently reached for the young woman known as Lira—the frightened Concept Bearer of Earth. As she blinked awake, her large, doe-like eyes filled with confusion and fear, Clarence immediately sensed her unease.
With a soothing tone, he leaned closer, whispering reassurances that fluttered like soft wings in the tense air. "You're safe now, Lira. I'm here with you." He extended his hand, offering her a warm grasp, grounding her amidst the swirling chaos of her thoughts. Together, they stepped off the train, the cool metallic scent of the carriage fading behind them.
Before them stood a weathered vehicle, its surface adorned with the striking sigil with two swords crossing one another. The Temperance—an emblem that spoke of protection and duty. Lira took a deep breath, the earthy aroma of the surrounding landscape filling her lungs with fresh air.
.***
Within the imposing marble halls of The Temperance fortress, an air of urgency electrified the atmosphere as Clarence, An Inbetween, stepped forward to report a troubling incident to Captain Hendrick Ford.
It was a rare occurrence for an Ascendent, particularly one as renowned as Clarence, to descend from the Abstract realm into the mortal world. As he stepped through the grand halls—ornate with intricate carvings and adorned with shimmering tapestries—he could feel the weight of countless gazes upon him. Whispers floated through the air like the soft rustling of leaves, as onlookers turned their heads in awe, their expressions a mix of reverence and curiosity. Clarence moved with an air of confidence, each step echoing softly against the polished stone floor, aware that he was not just a visitor but a beacon of divine influence in a world that rarely saw such grandeur. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, a palpable energy signalling that the presence of an Ascendent meant more than just a simple presence; it signalled the potential for change.
.
The captain was a grizzled veteran, his weathered face a map of countless battles fought in service of their cause. His reputation for upholding a strict Concept of Vigilance was well-known, ensuring that the organization operated with relentless efficiency.
As Clarence recounted the details of the attack, Liam Smith, a fellow guard, stood nearby, his keen eyes fixed on Clarence, absorbing every word with an intensity that suggested he would miss nothing.
"This isn't the first attack we've seen lately," Hendrick began, his voice gravelly and deep, resonating within the expansive chamber like the tolling of a distant bell. "But a coordinated effort to kidnap Concept Bearers? That's bold, even for rogue factions. They're not just testing our defences; they're making a statement."
Clarence crossed his arms defensively, a habit of his when the weight of the world pressed heavily upon his shoulders. "It's not random, Captain. Someone is deliberately targeting specific concepts. This is part of a larger game, one that is intricately woven into the very fabric of our society. I intend to find out who is orchestrating this chaos."
Hendrick studied Clarence for a moment, his gaze sharp and calculating. "We'll need to fortify our defences at all costs and deploy scouts to trace the origins of these threats. This is not just about the protection of the Concept Bearers; if what you're saying is true, the very balance of our world may be at greater risk than we ever anticipated."
Clarence recalled the harrowing image of the man as he took his final breaths, the pallor of his skin a stark contrast to the vibrant world around them. The poison coursed through his veins, manifesting a grim desperation that lingered in the air—was it a yearning to succeed, or an urge to annihilate everything in his path? A chill slithered up Clarence's spine, wrapping him in an unsettling awareness. Whatever sinister forces were at play, he was convinced that it had to be the handiwork of some malevolent soul-twisting demon from the shadows.
With a nod of understanding, Clarence felt his heart quicken with the urgency of their mission. He left the fortress, the murmurs of onlookers accompanying him. "The Unique One," they whispered, their voices a blend of reverence and apprehension. Their eyes followed him, reflecting a mix of awe and unease at the sight of someone they believed carried the weight of destiny on his shoulders. But Clarence paid them little mind; his thoughts had already shifted to the journey ahead, one that would take him back to the Abstract Realm, a place of power and mystery, where answers awaited amidst shadows, and the truth loomed just out of reach.
He has a feeling that these attacks are setting in motion a chain of events that would test the very fabric of reality.