Щɦɛʀɛ ǟʍ Ɨ, աɦɛʀɛ ǟʍ Ɨ?
ȶɦɛ Ʋօɨɖ.
ȶɦɛ Ɖǟʀӄ.
Ǟ Ռɛա Ֆօʊʟ. ʟօֆȶ ȶɦɨֆ Օռɛ.
ʄօʟʟօա. ʟɛǟʋɛ. Ʀʊռ!
Щɦɛʀɛ ɦǟʋɛ ʏօʊ ɮɛɛռ? Ƈօʍɛ ɮǟƈӄ.
Щɛ ռɛɛɖ ʏօʊ! Щɛ Ռɛɛɖ ʏօʊ ! ЩƐ ՌƐƐƉ ʏՕƱ!
Whumpf!
The darkness enclosed and what remained was a white silhouette. Their form wavey and unbalanced. Their structure laid low below the height of their... legs.
"Aaahhh, huff, huff." They exasperated. Fear and terror holding them down and the silence calming their... nerves. Their breath slows, and their... eyes focus still.
"Aoi?" A voice spoke out. Its vocals almost harmonious to the silence of the void.
"Ah, who's there? You're not one of those... those voices. Are you? And Aoi, who is this Aoi you speak of?" The white spirit spoke, his... expression featuring a sign of fear and caution. He looked around and around. And then he saw it. The source of the voice. A shadowy figure cloaked in a white pearlescent robe. It was a struggle to see him... it.
"My name is ᚱᛟᛏᚲᛁᚢ. Hmm? Unfortunately it seems you can not hear that. I think it is better to refer to me as Arc. Now please, follow me!" Arc spoke, sympathizing with Aoi's inability to properly hear his real name, but realizing that Aoi seemed to at least almost understand his name. The only barrier being knowledge of the language his name was in. "As for your other questions: No, I am not the voices. I'm surprised a spirit of such low quality was able to survive the realm of the unknown."
"Hey! I don't know what that means but it sounded insulting." said Aoi as his figure slightly ruptured, then returned to its calm flow as he heard Arc's chuckle and apology.
"I apologize, it's been a while since I've had... company. Moving on, the voices you heard are remnants of the world before. I am it's last survivor."
"I see, so why am I here? I don't remember much other than a few of these things called anime and the character from them."
"Yes, those where show from your past world. Forms of entertainment. A method used by your species to develop an assortment of emotions for fictional worlds. A fascinating way a distracting the people from progress, but sometimes progress may hamper growth. Enough of my ramblings. You sadly died around... 43 years ago. Car accident, based on the wavelength of your soul."
"Really? I assume it was a kind of average way to go out by the sound of your lackluster reaction. So does that mean I died and fought the void for 43 years? Did you send me into the void as some test?" Aoi questioned, confused by his recent agony.
"Well boy, that was not my call. You see, you are what we call a curious spirit. These spirits are the most careless as they tend to walk off the path of the dead in search of the unknown. Most don't survive the void, but some do and end up entering the domain the Unknown. That is what I call my race, people like me. Individuals who use lost souls with strong spirits as amusement, apostles or simply reincarnate them out of pity."
"And which are you? I don't mind being your champion or being at your mercy, but I find the idea of being your jester demeaning." Arc stopped walking and Aoi followed suit, fear coursing through his phantom veins, Arc looked at Aoi and asked him in a humorous chuckle.
"And what would you do if I did make you my play thing?"
Aoi looked straight into Arc's non-existent eyes, the void shaped hole in his white cloak, and replied. His spirit shaking but his pride steady, "I would kill myself."
This surprised Arc
"Really, and why is that young one?" Arc asked further, his chuckle failing to be stifled.
"Because I would die on my own terms. Realistically, if I lack the ability to entertain you, then you can erase me without prejudice. The idea of being at your back and call doesn't align with my free spirited ideology."
"Oh, do you still contain some of your memories?
"No. I... lost most of those in the void. It's simply how I feel about the idea of being your slave. You can think of it as a core value of my soul."
Arc turn back on the path and continued walking. Aoi following suit. "That is a good answer Aoi. But be not afraid, for my ideals don't align with that notion. My greed has done enough damage."
Aoi looked at Arc with a scrunched face, suspicious of his true intentions but decided to not word it out. "So, you still haven't told me why you keep calling me Aoi. Is that my name from my past life or...?"
"No. 'Aoi' is related to the name of your next life. Reincarnation. I am simply referring you to in this manner to allow you to adjust. It makes the transition smoother."
"But doesn't that ruin the surprise of what powers I might get in my new life?"
"Yes, that is true. However, your abilities are chosen at random."
"Really. I assumed I might get to choose."
"Well. Under normal circumstances you would, but your situation is special. As I said previously, you are a weak soul. One of your quality should have vanished a while ago. You could say you are talented, and I believe your abilities are a reflection of that notion."
"So, are you gonna tell me what they are? At least prepare me for the future."
The both of them stopped at what looked like a river of stars. Stardust flowing down the ravine of the cosmic void. Aoi knelt down to touch the star water and his form began to dissolve into the cosmic waves as he began to panic. He looked up to Arc for assistance.
"Sadly, our time has ended Aoi Kamado. As for your abilities, I will explain them when the time is right."
Aoi's form shrunk more and more. His arms, legs and torso falling into the river. His gaze calm as there was no pain, just flow. He let go, trusting Arc and disappeared.
"I hope your life is plenty wholesome." Arc said as he saw Aoi disappear into the cosmic river. He turned and walked a few steps upstream, then stopped.
He snapped his fingers and a slender female with blue spirit-like hair appeared. She looked surprised and also angry at the same time.
"Dammit! I really can't catch a break can I."
She then looked up at Arc. "Who the hell are you?"
"I go by Arc and I require your assistance Jinx."