Prelude to Pains [Resurrection NPC]

Izaneus Phortea

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Death, it seemed, was mostly painless when executed properly. Fennec had properly ended Shikiria’s life, her eyes a void on the unmade ground, that slowly lurched to consume one another. She was only conscious long enough to discover her torso, properly severed from her head. Or vice versa. Her eyes watered with immediate regret. Pain filled sorrow filled her thoughts before the end. She’d never been able to tell Izaneus how she’d truly felt.

She’d never been able to truly protect him as he had her those years ago. As those regrets filled her mind, she found what little energy that still remained within her disembodied head, leave, and darkness overtook her.

That was the only thing that kept her company, the void, endless darkness, endless expanse of pure nothing. Simple minded thought processes were all that she had the strength to muster. “Pain… Sadness… Regret..”

“Another soul, entered not of its own accord. It seems far too frequent these days..”

Though she couldn’t see in the endless black, she felt a solemn embrace of something gigantic envelop her. Suddenly she felt like she had the strength to speak once more. “Speak, Child. Tell me of your suffering.” Though it’s voice sounded misty and unreal, Shikiria couldn’t help but feel compelled to speak, yet she didn’t need to. Despite it’s command, she felt her mind, what there was, drift to the beginning of her life.

That fateful night, those arrows drawing closer and closer to her head. The visage of the patriarch of house Phortea cutting them down like the heathens they were. Izaneus, young as he was, joining in where he could, and healing her wounds. As those images passed by, a resounding hum of contemplation came from the entity that held her soul so warmly.
Then came a few years later, Izaneus teaching what he could of the ins and out’s of magic and spellcraft, and Shikiria, almost unwilling to try to learn. Stubborn frustration grew painfully as Izaneus continued his long winded explanations, perspectives, introspection and meditations. The study of runes and their meanings. Meaningless to her. Not for lack of trying. She just wasn’t as talented as he. Who could sense so profoundly the differences in magicks new, old, corrupted, purified.

It didn’t matter what it was, Izaneus could aptly sense the powers all around him, unlike Shikiria, who was born clueless to it’s wonders, jealous anger welled powerfully within her, partially the reason she told him to abandon his home.

Another hum of thought echoed outward from the being that held her soul so tightly. What she could only describe as eyes peering downward at her, evaluating her. Evaluating her life. Shikiria couldn’t understand why, or for what purpose, but leer at her it did.

She felt herself be dragged back to the recent past, standing straight in front of the Phortean Matriarch, Being issued to find Izaneus, and swiftly return him. For good or for worse. She remembered the smugness she found in herself when thinking that day. That ever so powerful thought of “ Now, we can finally be free..” which lasted all too short, as the trek took her to that desolate port town, which stunk of the sea. She met the street rat there. A familiar kinship, and understanding between them born of pain and loss.

“Curious…” the being spoke, interrupting her trance within the ethereal memories. Before being returned to that town. The flaming building, the pained cry of Tatio as he realized how much he’d just lost. The taunting of that greedy sniveling drunkard of a guard, before Tatio lodged his knife deep within his throat.
The pain they were both in by the end of it all. Resonated deeply with her. She felt as though she needed to cry out in pain, to let him know it wasn’t her choice that she left him behind..

Or was it?

As the images in her mind shifted, she was now in Dante’s abyss, her eyes flickering to and fro the treeline that moved and shuffled with the wind, the death of that poor baby bird, that troubled her so. And Finally, Fennec, severing head from body, Shikiria’s tired form unable to form a defense.

The thoughts that plagued her after, regret, despair, fear. Before the darkness overtook her once more, rendering her unable to mutter the most basic words. Yet, here she was, cradled softly by an entity she couldn’t see, a solace that had no right to be hers, and. Dead.

A final resolute hum of energy reverberated across the voidless expanse where she now called home, shaking her soul to the core, or, it would, if it had a core. And weren’t one itself.

“Dearest child, you’ve known much despair, and jealousy, why do you seek the center of those emotions? For it is my pet who will lead to the suffering of many, and it is he the very same who would take my will unto himself…” The voices sounded as one, revealing a myriad of truths to the one being who at that moment could understand none of it.

“Ah, but the ramblings of the future mean none to a being of the present, especially to one as reduced as you..”

It was true, in her current form Shikiria couldn't make heads or tails of what was happening, that’s not to say she didn’t have thoughts, but that she couldn’t articulate them well, or perform complex processes, such as what he was stating.

After moments of silence, and that alluring relaxation of the presence of this entity, it spoke once more.

“I do apologize, but what I do next must be done, Tis not the time for idle solace, or brief respite, therefore I take your form as my own, and relinquish you of your soul.”

Despite these harsh thoughts, and the immense weight now placed upon her, the tranquility provided made Shikiria’s soul not act, simply allowing herself to be absorbed into this.. Being.

Yet, somehow, through some measure of luck or defiance, when the majority of her essence found itself drained, her soul squirmed powerfully against this beast. Scrambling for something, anything, with a brief realization that she needed to survive, The darkness suddenly became suffocating, undulating with a sickening rhythm that quickened as the smallest fragment of her being escaped.

In the distance she could briefly sense what could only be an exit farther ahead, it was… transparent, like a window, yet also incredibly opaque in some strange way. As she grew nearer, and nearer, she could sense something else… but couldn’t describe what, and didn’t believe she had the time to in any case.

Exiting the darkness to be met with a profound bit of light, Shikiria’s eyes struggled as she heard a faint voice.


“ Well, isn’t this interesting?”
 
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Fenix

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The wisp of energy was less than human, less than yokai, less even than the speck of a god Suwako Moriya had grown to become. One who had lost their body and yet more.

The now faint god of earth and mountains stood, among the first to be born, among the newest - for this creature could be said to be living anew, as she stood at the wispy, ethereal form of this dead human.

“One who fell from grace, tell me your name.” Suwako replied, the speck seeming to tremble as she said so.

The girl gave a sigh. Right. Human fallen from death. Perhaps she needed to be a bit… nicer.

“Sorry, that was rude. I’d appreciate you tellin’ me who ya are, lady, is what I meant to say.” Suwako offered, sounding almost polite as she spoke.

The being spoke through her mind, lacking a mouth to scream or hands to manipulate, but sounding just as substantial to Suwako’s spiritual essence all the same.

“Shikiria?” Suwako asked. “...Seems like you’ve lost quite a bit. If I weren’t old as I am, I’d have no idea I was even speakin’ to a human. I don’t know if I’m more surprised that someone would strip a soul like this… or that someone would escape such a careful stripping. You were meant to be eaten to the core, little spirit, yet you had the strength to survive… and find your redemption.”

The spirit spoke, the confidence found to turn its wispy thoughts into something more akin to pure language, and Suwako could hear her just a little clearer now.

I can be saved, then?

Suwako gave a sad smile to the spirit, as she shrugged. “Well… to a given definition of saved. You can certainly pass on peacefully, now. You have avoided an end within the bowels of a beast, to struggle and never return to the afterlife. And yet this has brought you to me-”

The spirit shook, violently, it’s stability leaving as wisps of it tentacled out in violence, and Suwako’s eyes raised as she figured out the true source of her strength.

This was no mere wayward soul. She should’ve figured, for a creature like this to be guided to her.

No, this was a vengeful spirit

Suwako suppressed a gulp, as she looked this one straight in the eyes.

“No, no, listen, it’s not that bad. You’ve got a good smell on ya, the Yama’ll be kind enough to you, all things considered. You’re not getting into the best heaven, but you won’t be spending much time in hell, either.”

This didn’t seem to comfort the spirit, and the malicious energy that began to rise was pure, unrefined desperation.

Suwako gave a sigh, as she stared the spectre directly in the… smoke. “Listen… I get it’s hard. Life ends, but I’m not one to disturb the natural cycle. You can try and persist on your own, but…that does not end well. Not for a human. You’d become something else. Something less. Get me? I can… promise I’ll look into whatever did… this, to you. Gods don’t go back on promises like that. As long as you, y’know… do what you’re supposed to do-”

Oops.

Suwako leaped back a moment before a wave of raw emotional force smashed the ground where she was standing, leaving a crater in the grass and dirt that surrounded them. Vengeful indeed - whoever this Shikiria was, she might’ve had a lot more power in her dead than alive!

The god looked up to see the wisp arc towards her body with a determined ramming speed, and her eyes widened as she recalled the main rule of vengeful spirits.

They were particularly strong against gods and yokai alike.

The wisp passed through and into her body, and Suwako clutched at her chest as Shikiria Disappeared, collapsing to her knees.

“N-no… You don’t know what you’re… get out!” The god shouted, fear tinging her face for the first time since the confrontation started as she tried with her weakened power to push out the power tingling though her body.

Suwako crumpled to the ground for a moment, before her hands tightened into fists, before she replied to her own question, an unnatural accent, and rage, filling her voice.

“Make me!” The curse goddess screamed in response to her own question.

And then, the goddess blinked, looking at her hands as though she’d never seen them before, reaching for her face, then a strand of her hair.

And then, in a far tinier voice than Suwako Moriya would have ever let slip from her mouth,

Oh.
 

Izaneus Phortea

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Shikiria blinked, once, then twice, as her eyes adjusted to… whatever had just happened.

“Oh” She said aloud, her voice a strange mixture of unfamiliar familiarity. Different, and yet the same as it was before… Before what? Memories flashed in her head, a thrum of pain echoing through her now small form. A strange sense of Deja-Vu overcoming her. She clutched her head in one tiny hand, everything was… off, somehow.. She couldn't tell how. But something was seriously off.

As the headache faded, she struggled to gain her bearings. Plains. Not unlike those she trekked on for days without end. She looked down at her hands, dainty, small, two bound locks of blonde hair traveled down her shoulders and to her waist, blonde? Since..? These clothes as well.. She struggled desperately to determine what was going on. She could.. Vaguely remember her head… leaving her body.. Then… darkness. Oppressive abyss, giving way to warmth, and sweet respite.

She remembered feeling…. Slightly drained, before she was moving … Light.

A figure held her in its palm.. Subtle luminescence, like that of Izaneus’ eyes. Gentle, yet knowing.

What happened next was a blur, not one she could voluntarily remember.

She just felt… angry, for some reason, then here she was… Was it possible she…? No, no that was simply impossible.

She took a deep breath, her first goal was to figure out what was going on, why she was so… obnoxiously short, and dressed in such strange… and outdated clothing. Without realizing it, she reached upward, grasping a strange fabric, one she had never felt before, on her head. With a small tug, she pulled it off, inspecting the…

“Arbiter above what is this thing?” She questioned frankly, at the weird, frog-like hat she’d been wearing for… at least a few minutes now. The majority of it was completely normal, save for two, unblinking, potentially fake, yet eerie eyes that stared seemingly into the depths of her soul.

Without a second thought she threw the disgusting article of clothing off into the distance.

She needed to find a town. With normal clothes. She pat the sides of her strange... coverings, hearing a small jingle in one of the pockets on her… dress-thing. At least she had coin. Or something she could sell at least.

With absolutely no clue where she was, she would first need to track down some landmark to gain some form of insight into her current location. A small chuckle emanated from somewhere nearby, and she turned to find the person it originated from.

Nothing? She turned once more, thoroughly searching for whoever made that noise.

Nothing again… Was she hearing things? She was thirsty, dehydration? She shook her head. She really needed to find a town as soon as possible, something seriously weird was going on here. With heavy, awkward footfalls, she slowly made her way.. North.. She hoped.

Judging by the sun it was around noonish, but it was difficult to tell which was where because of that. For all she knew she could’ve been walking south-east. But she also wasn’t a fan of waiting there for a few hours in that bleeding, blinding, and burning sunlight to discover.

Luckily, a small hamlet appeared to be nearby.

On another stroke of luck, it had a clothing shop. She could finally get out of… Whatever this was.

As she exited the small shop with.. Something at least, in the current century. Specifically, a fur coat, gray cotton slacks, and a silken shirt. Good travel attire. Save for the silken shirt, that was simply a vice Shikiria couldn’t help but appreciate. Silk was her favorite fabric, and having its soft, and smooth texture close around her brought about a faint sense of self, and comfort. In this.. Extremely disorienting experience.

Her eyes drifted to the sullen hamlet, barely cobbled streets and dirt roads led across its expanse, which wasn't that far.

At current, she had a few choices at her disposal. She could search, likely fruitlessly for some form of an explanation in the local libraries, or head to her predetermined meeting point with Tatio, and see if she could convince the thief that it was indeed Shikiria inhabiting this.. Strange body. She sighed, as she leaned against the wood of the tailor shop she’d just purchased from.

What was going on?

“Would you like to know?” The disembodied voice caught her off guard, making her search for its occupant, passersby on the street gave her strange looks, had they not heard it?

“Why would they? It’s in your head.”

Well, that explained that at the very least.

“ Who? What’s happening? Who are you?” Shikria asked quietly, shuddering at the sound of her own voice, its tone and pitch still foreign to her.

“You mean you didn’t even know who I was before possessing me? Wow, talk about manners.”

Another inadvertent, yet inevitable sigh escaped Shikiria’s lips; this was going to be… painful.
 

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As a disembodied voice, Suwako found herself uniquely powerless. A stranger had taken her eyes, her hands, her legs, her mouth, as she sat, a powerless passenger.

To most humans, this would have been quite a dsconcerting experience, enough to send them reeling in shock and horror.

Add in eleven thousand years of apathy, and a few minutes to assess the situation, and Suwako was mostly just a little irritated - and, after a search through the young ones memories, sympathetic.

The plots she was involved in were so much bigger than she had been used to these past few thousand years. A wound in reality consuming the dead was something she once left to the likes of the yama and Shinigami to solve.

but what shinigami were there in this realm? Who was left to judge?

And even less equipped to handle this situation was the young girl who had taken her body like a life-raft, holding on against hope…

And dooming herself in the process.

Introductions were in order.

“I am the ground beneath one’s feet, the mountain upon which you tread. I am the impurities and minerals beneath the earth and I am the impurities within feelings, hidden deep beneath the heart. I am god of Soil and fertility, curse and burial, stream and mountain. In a far-off land, I was once worshipped as Moriya-sama, and I once covered the land of Suwa. I am Suwako Moriya. And now, due to your recklessness, you may well be too.

She felt Shikiria seize up, her stolen mouth going agape as she registered what was stated. “You’re a god? I’m possessing a god. The god of… that makes no sense!” She blurted aloud, panic setting in.

Kiddo, making sense doesn’t really seem to be your thing.” Suwako responded chipperly, haunting the girl’s head. “Which would at least make you a relatively fitting replacement, but you don’t seem the type looking to settle down with a new identity too comfortably.

“W-wait, what?” Suwako’s voice blurted back at her. “Okay, Suwako, I get you’re trying to pull the whole unknowable god routine or something, but maybe you can start making sense instead of throwing out vague suggestions sometime soon? Or are you just here to make fun of me?”

If I was going to make fun of you, I would have started with the fashion sense, sweetheart. We look terrible.” Suwako nagged, wishing she had a mouth to grin with as she snarked. Instead, she got to feel the rush of anger flit through her borrowed body.

“Point? Does one exist?” Shikiria snapped, as Suwako gave the mental equivalent of a sigh.

First off, I’ll get to the point when I feel like it. I’m not going anywhere until you actually release my body, Human… or, former human, I should say. You’re not going back to that existence again.

“W… what? Iz… someone can fix this! They have to be able to! Resurrection spells exist, right? I’ve heard plenty of people get back up when they die here. It’s why DA has returning members, right? So I should be fine!” The panicked Phortea prattled, and Suwako felt sympathy rush through her for the little thief.

But you’ve given up the humanity part by clinging so hard. You’ve mixed in with my essence, and lost so much of your own. Your soul no longer retains the shape of a human. Which leaves you with only two real options.” Suwako replied coolly, taking in a breath.

What Shikiria Phortea decided next impacted the rest of her life as a god.

“T… tell me what they are? Possessing your body forever’s not an option, I take it?”

Oh, no, that is option 1. Staying until this is irreversible, and I became a permanent portion of your personality. If you stick around for long enough and my legend mixes with you, you will become Suwako Moriya eventually. That is how belief works. So long as you don’t mind permanently fusing with my brain cells… I’ll respect the choice, too. Don’t have a lot else to do nowadays.

“Option 2! What’s option 2!” Shikiria asked, panic flinging through her. Suwako had read her right - the thought of losing her individuality, of being fused to another, wasn’t about to appeal.

Suwako wasn’t super sold on the option herself, but it wasn’t like she would have been able to argue.

That one’s a bit more complex, but we’ll need to gather some divine power. If Oblivion isn’t on the table, and Suwako Moriya is the title you refuse to don… the only chance a vengeful spirit like you has is becoming like me.

“Like you? I’m already-”

“In spirit, you dolt. You don’t need to remind me about the other bit when you do it by breathing with the lungs I made myself.” Suwako snapped, before returning to a calm tone.

We’ll do the ritual together, and Shikiria Phortea will shed her mortality and be invoked as a curse god. As the first human to do so, I will be happy to welcome you among the Mishaguji.”
 

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What should have been Scarlet eyes widen as the truth of the situation dawns on Shikiria, who doubles back a touch, nearly tripping over her… Suwako’s? Feet. Grasping her head, as though in doing so would bolster her mental faculties, and allow her to retain the information being thrown at her so wildly. “ Wait… What? A god? That’s…” She couldn’t quite comprehend the answer she received. She was to become.. She rested against the wood of the tailor shop behind her, looking to the sky.

She stayed silent for a time. Before speaking once more. “...Shikiria Volencula..” She voiced in her foreign tone. As the being within her gave a solemn hum, In question.

“ My true name is Shikiria Volencula… If I’m either to die or ascend to divinity I’d rather be truthful with myself.. I’m not worthy enough to be of Phortean descent..”

The silence fell once more, untill Suwako spoke from within yet again. “ Very well, Shikiria Volencula, let us depart, fore’ you find yourself too accustomed to my form.”

Shikiria felt a strange sense of direction, “To our right, that mountain will mark your ascension.”

The Swords mage turned around to face the direction Suwako spoke of, her mind just as tumultuous as the journey ahead of them. Little did she know…

She began her trek in stride. Walking forward tiredly as the sun shone high, bright in the sky above. Unsure of what to think, or believe. However… if this was her only chance at survival. She would gladly take it within her palm.




Nearly a day or two of travel had passed, Which passed by quickly as Suwako explained everything to her… companion? Within her own vessel? Whatever the phrase would be for this situation, Shikiria desperately tried to come to terms with her situation, but found it difficult. As though the day were painfully reminding her of her failure.

“So… Essentially, I need to come to terms with myself? My demons and darknesses?” Shikiria asked, wanting to understand at least the basics before her baleful trek upwards, having camped at the base of the mountain for the time being. “ I’m not sure I have any worth fighting…” She continued quietly, immediately evoking a response from the curse god.

“That might be the most human of all falseties. All humans have impurities within them. a Vengeful spirit most of all." The curse god spoke, formlessly creating words within Shikiria’s mind through will alone. A slight tone within her “Voice”, not as though she was angry or frustrated, but as though chiding a child into knowing better.

Shikiria sighed, and scratched at.. Her, head. This was all so confusing, She didn’t know what good it would truly bring in any case…

But if she needed to..

Suwako hummed in contemplation. “ Get some sleep, I’ll explain more when we’re where we need to be. “ and with that, went silent, Leaving Shikiria “Alone” For the first time in their rather uneventful, yet eventful journey.

“What good would it do.. Iza would be so much better suited to this anyway… why couldn’t we have just grabbed him and called it a day..” She sighed openly, unaware Suwako could still hear and listen to everything she was saying.

Her heart dropped low as she imagined her childhood friend, and savior. What would he think if he saw her now?

“Shiki.. How could you..”? “Why’d you go into Dante’s Abyss…”?

“Why couldn’t you have done better”


“Because I can’t Iza!” She shouted to the stars above. Falling on her back, sighing in frustration and defeat, before curling into a small ball of self-pity.

“Because… I can’t..” She whispered to herself. Closing her eyes and patiently praying for sleep to take her. Which it did, eventually.



The next day came swiftly, Shikiria and Suwako both slowly climbed the slopes of the mountain at hand, slowly making progress.

Silently, too.

Finally after another half a day of travel they arrived at the peak.

Shikiria huffed in frustration as she awaited further orders from her godly companion.
 

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Shikiria waited for a good full minute on the top of the mountain before actually bringing up the nerve to ask Suwako.

A waste of time for her amusement? Certainly, but she needed to make sure this one began the play as an actor, not a spectator. She was too ready, too willing to sink into herself.

And at the moment, Suwako wasn’t feeling especially like a sinkhole.

“Okay?” Her voice rang out, long since losing the creepy novelty and simply being a boring annoyance to hear against her will, over and over.

“...What do I do now?”


Suwako gave a mental sigh, knocking around in the human’s head.

You start by folding your legs. Here… you’ll know how to, without me having to pinpoint.

Suwako synchronized her thoughts with Shikiria’s, an understanding beyond her experience - for such was the domain of a god, to know without the human talents of knowledge or experience. She knew because such was her being, and so would Shikiria as their souls grasped one another.

Kiza. A manner of showing respect for one’s elders or superiors.

Shikiria felt a tingle through her shortened spine as she found herself with the knowledge.

“...seems uncomfortable, but alright.”

Suwako couldn’t suppress a mental chuckle.

Kiddo, you don’t know the half of it.

The earth god lacked external power, but as Shikiria assumed a proper position, and the smell of burning incense filled the air, she thanked the stars that the darkness had a few hours left to appear.

Focus on breathing. Remember the moment. Meditate. Reflect on what is now, and as you lose that battle…

A thin gossamer sheet of water reflected in the sun, shrouding them in a thin bubble of reflective light.

Face yourself, oh fallen human, and read the legend your actions have inscribed upon your soul
 

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If nothing else, the god had a certain flair for the dramatic with how she worded things. A silver tongue if Shikiria ever heard one. But if this was to save her soul so be it.. Intaking a large breath in her nose, only to exhale it through her mouth. She closed her eyes, and continued. In through the nose, out through the mouth.

She sat there, uncomfortably, legs parallel below her. What felt like an hour.

Then Two.

Then Three.

Sighing, Shikiria spoke out in frustration. “ Okay…? So is this a waste of time? Or…?”

No response.

“Hey, you there? What’s going on?” She asked her eyes shut closed, waiting for any sign of a separate presence.

No response.

Sighing in frustration, Shikiria opened her eyes. “ Alright, if you’re just gonna lead me on a wild-” She stopped suddenly, her newly opened eyes taking in a new breath. As the snow covered house in front of her came into view. Gentle specks of white drifting down harmlessly from the sky.

Two children, with hair of budding rose petals skipped down the stone pathway leading to a wonderful oak and marble mansion. Tossing snowballs at each other as they giggled their little hearts away. Shikiria looked on as her past flashed past.

“How..? Myra…?” She questioned, walking forward toward her childhood home. Her face contorted in confusion, and her heart curling in fear.

The younger child, running playfully behind Shikiria as they chased each other around the well kept estate. Shouted with Glee as her older sister pelted her face with ice cold snow, reaching down as they ran she breathlessly formed a similar ball of snow to chuck at her sibling.

Throwing it with an exhausted arm, it whiffed harmlessly over the elder siblings… Shikiria’s head. The scene, once viewed from afar, shifted to Shikiria’s view of it. Her eyes, her smile, her youthful energy, she felt it all once more, as though she was seasoned through years of turmoil, and this was her purification.

Both fell in the snow next to each other. Heaving bouts of wispy dry winter air into their lungs.

Finally, after what seemed to be half an hour. Myra spoke. “ Mommy told me you’re gonna go to Arcadia when you’re older..” She spoke, wistful. Shikiria responded. “ Well.. yeah, you gotta get an education if you wanna be anything.”
Sitting up to face her sister, Myra’s face turned to one of excitement, and curiosity. “What do you wanna be? When you grow up.”

Gaining a small smirk of her own, Shikiria closed her eyes, thinking to herself very briefly.

“ Hmmm, I’m thinking I wanna be a really good actress, get famous, and be all over the Crossroads!” She spoke, her eyes finding the clouds above, her sister giggling along with her. “ You couldn’t even lie to mom about the vase! You couldn’t be an actor-ess if you tried Shiki” She spoke, barely forming a sentence through her giggles.

“Shush you!” Shikiria rebutted, gaining a faint swath of crimson embarrassment on her cheeks. “What do you wanna be then?” She asked shortly after, hoping it was something outlandish.

Myra thought for a few seconds… then a few minutes, and then thrust her arms out to the sky “I wanna be a Princess!!” Causing Shiki to deadpan, and turn to her sister. “ Eh…? You know you need to be born one right?” She spoke softly, as though trying to sound consoling. Yet knowing she was trying to be the opposite. A petty revenge on her sister.

The child’s smile fell almost immediately, as though the harsh reality struck her frozen face. “ R-really?” She asked, her eyes wide with sad realization and trust in her sibling

Who moved to avert her own eyes before responding. “ I mean… I’m pretty sure… There might be a couple of ways you could be one though…” As Shikiria spoke, the light shone in her younger sister's eyes once more, who clambered onto the wannabe-wizard, and hugged her tightly.

“Thank youuu!!” She said, as though it was her family who held the most control in the world.

Shikiria held Myra tightly in the same fashion, a guilty smile gracing her features. “ Always sis…”

Closing her eyes to enjoy the moment, it was interrupted by a horrific shrill of terror. When Shikiria opened her eyes next, she found her sister, blood pouring from the wound on the back of her head, as Shikiria ducked into the nearby brush, unaware she was moving to begin with.

She scanned the area nearby.The sky was red with the falling sunset, and a pillar of smoke rose from the carriage they used to transport themselves to Arcadia for a tour. Now rising not the plains of the hinterlands, but the flames which burned within and without.

Her eyes welled with the tears with the pain of realizing one of the last things she told her sister was a petty tactic to make her feel bad. “ Myra…! Please..! Don’t..” She whispered, desperately trying to get her younger to wake. To no avail.

She felt a shadow cover her form, and looked up to find a masked thief, a bandana tied around his mouth, raising his sword in preparation to strike.

Shikiria looked down at her sister’s unconscious face, and smiled. At least she’d be able to apologize.

She closed her eyes and waited.. For a strike that never came, a pain that never erupted. She opened her eyes once more, to see the luminescent Azure eyes of whom she would begin to know as Izaneus. Hand outstretched, hair illuminated into beautiful locks of liquid gold, and face wretched with concern. His hand began to glow with a golden light, which traveled downward to Myra’s form.

And subsequently faded. To which the child Iza fell to a knee. And sighed mournfully.

In the distance, several pained and frightened screams echoed throughout the forest. Putting the Shaking Shikiria on edge.

“That’s just dad.. Here.. I’ll heal you.” He began. Before shikiria caught his hand, and pointed it back to her sister. “ Heal her! Please, I beg of you.” She shouted, needing her sister to be alright, needing to see that light in her currently dim eyes.

“Please.”

The boy stifled a tear, and a grunt of emotional pain, as though his heart were being run through with a pike.
“ I… I don’t think..” he began. Until he was promptly cut off.

“You have to try again, please!” Shikiria pleaded, squeezing his hand tighter, a gesture Izaneus hadn’t even recognized yet.

But he understood..

With a nod, and a fluid somatic gesture which coalesced the same golden power as before, he entreat it upon the wounded form before him. Which caused the unconscious body of Myra to glow beautifully. And the flowers around them to bloom.

Before it faded, the boy left breathless as his healing spell was attempting to be a resurrection. Which neither he, nor his spell had the power to perform.

Shikiria’s eyes widened with fear and loathing, and despair that clawed at her heart and soul as powerfully as it did herself. Sobbing while holding the corpse of her younger sister. She cried, and rocked back and forth, as though trying to comfort herself.

Seeing this, and empathizing with the girl, the boy with glowing eyes tentatively wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her into a tight embrace.

They sat there. Until The boys father found them, his clothes splattered with blood not originating from him, but of his making all the same.



As Shikiria meditated, her mind numb and oblivious to all that occurred around her, tears glided down her cheeks swiftly, as a large dark mark branded itself on her arm. Similar to claw marks in shape, which would change over the course of her meditation.
 

Izaneus Phortea

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In the weeks that followed Shikiria was bedridden due to a mixture of mild fever and extreme depression. She couldn’t find the energy to stand let alone speak to her savior’s who grew increasingly worried about her well-being, especially the young lad. With glowing eyes. Izaneus, she found his name to be.

He would visit her daily, knocking on her guest room door and politely inquire how she was feeling.

As though that would change by any measure.

Nonetheless it brought Shikiria some faint amount of Solace, to have a voice other than the one in her head speak to her. Offering comfort instead of torture.

It was.. Somewhat pleasant. In that regard.

But, it was no cure. One day, after a particularly heated and painful discussion with herself and then Izaneus, she lay crying helpless, into her pillow. Burdened by her regrets about her late sibling, and tortured by her own thoughts.

Her eyesight was blurred through the tears that prevented her from seeing naught but her own suffering.

In that haze, however menial it might have been at the time, a thin strand of white blue light traced itself around her bed, before exiting her door. Staying in that formation, though she knew it was leading her somewhere, the path itself was waiting for her to follow.

Wiping her eyes she stepped off of the bed, even if it was a trick, she had nothing else to lose right now.

Opening the door, the lead wormed itself around the estate mansion, in various states of disrepair. Though generally well-kept.

Slowly, it led her to the front door. Where she hesitantly turned the knob, and pushed the entrance open, to reveal Izaneus in broad daylight, waiting, with a big smile on his face.

“What now..?” Shikiria asked tiredly, looking at the young boy with a mixture of disdain and appreciation. Purple bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. Izaneus said nothing, and simply extended his arm out to the young lady. Who looked at him inquisitively. Before he finally said something.

“Trust me? I’ve got something special to show you.” He spoke softly, pleading for her to take his hand, for her to allow him to try one last machination to get her smile to return.

She stared, without blinking, hesitant. Afraid.

Reluctantly, she reached her hand out, which Iza took, and slowly pulled her away from the house, before they stopped, ten or so feet away from the entrance.

“Don’t be afraid now. The Darkness is only temporary.”

Before she could ask what he meant, the world around her turned black.

Immediately her breaths quickened, as did her heart-rate, which pounded heavily in her ears, it wasn’t until her hand felt a gentle squeeze around it did she realize she wasn’t alone in this void. Through some work, and deep breaths, she slowly began the act of calming herself. Before grabbing onto Iza’s sleeve with her other hand.

His face became illuminated not long later, the same smile as before on his face, though she couldn’t pinpoint why.

She turned to the source of light and gasped in surprise. All around her it was as if a cosmos had just been born, an array of colors and lights that depicted a strange and beautiful universe, held captive within the void of space.

Stunned by the sight, she squeezed Iza’s hand back, and watched the show unfold, a myriad of beautiful showcasings of… whatever this was playing out right in front of her.

“I told you.” Izaneus began, the same smile on his face.

“ It’s only temporary.”

Suddenly she gained the reason for his smile, and stared at him in disbelief. Why go through so much trouble creating such magic just for her? She thought, unaware he’d done this on the regular, whenever he felt like home was too much.

“ I can’t say I understand what you’ve gone through… but I am here for you. We all are. You’ll get through this, I promise.” He began, watching Shikiria’s face for any sign of irritation or annoyance.

“ It’ll be really hard.. But that’s why I wanna help as best I can.”

Shikiria stood still, unable to form words, unable to think, she simply felt.

Regret, for having left her family on such a sour note with her sister.

Ashamed, for wallowing so indignantly while life moved on without her.

Grateful, for having met someone so delightfully caring that he would knock on her door everyday.

And, warmth, as though being coat in a thick quilt of love.

The tears rushed to her eyes before she could stop them, and she pulled the boy- Izaneus. Close. Crying into his shoulder, releasing every pent up thought and emotion she’d bottled so desperately.

This wouldn’t fix what happened.

Nothing could.

But at least the Darkness was temporary.
 

Izaneus Phortea

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From then on she lived and dined with the dwindling Phortean house, Izaneus’ company being the most stand-out among the servants and other members. Everyday they would quietly leave the house to temporarily indulge themselves in that playful illusion, the Phortean Matriarch watching them with renewed and auspicious interest.

Yet, though Shikiria was aware the darkness was only fleeting, that she would indeed be fine.

The inspiration, the strength that provided was just as fleeting.

“Whatcha got there Iza?” She’d asked one fateful morning, Izaneus silent, for the last few weeks he’d been pestered with questions regarding his future. Something he didn’t have plans for.

“Oh, sorry.. This is just something Mom got me a while ago.” He spoke, not lifting his eyes from his sketch. Peeking over his shoulder, Shikiria watched his wrist and fingers move across the papers, imprinting skillful marks of charcoal. He was drawing the room around him, the littlest details received the most attention, and it resulted in a contrasting from the window the light shown through, to the dark shadows where the curtains lie.

Izaneus sighed, placing his pencil in his book and closing it as he set his arms on the desk in front of him.

“ Do you think I’m special, Shiki?” He asked, what seemed to be out of the blue.

Shikiria felt her cheeks warm with subtle embarrassment and curiosity. Her heart gently beating within her chest. Which seemed to tighten around it.

“ Huh? I mean, I guess so…” She spoke out nervously, causing Izaneus to raise an eyebrow.

“ In what ways?” His voice asked curiously, his eyes piercing her soul with emotion she couldn’t quite describe. But she did understand that this was important to him.

“Well.. you’re really talented for one, you pick up things really easily from what I’ve seen, you’re really graceful when you move about, like everything’s natural to you.” She spoke, her eyes avoiding his own, which almost begged her to continue.

“You’re very insightful, I think.. You know how people think.. And what they’re feeling for the most part, You also have this.. Desire to help. And a natural wonder about the world…”

As she spoke, she found herself drawing on her opinions about him, as well as the things she wished she could be too.

“I… guess I just think you’re amazing Iza. In every sense of the word.” She admit, though her cheeks flared as she did so.

Izaneus smiled, and let out a hollow chuckle. “ That so…? I’m glad you see me in such a light..” He spoke, his eyes now glued to the wooden floor, and his smile took a different light in Shikiria’s eyes.

“ Are you alright?”

The words caught him off guard, made apparent as he turned himself to face her with widened eyes. His mouth contorted into a neutral shape, slightly ajar, as though he wouldn’t be able to breathe otherwise.

“ I..- yes, no.. I..”

He turned away, turning silent as he shunted his gaze to the wall next to them.

Placing a hand on his shoulder, Shiki used her other hand to face him towards her.

“ Talk to me, what’s wrong?” Her soft voice cut through him as his expression struggled to keep itself stationary.

“I…” He managed, his mouth quivering as he spoke. “ I’m scared…”

“Why?” Shikiria asked, keeping her tone as soft as possible. Izaneus once more struggled to reply. “ I… I get the feeling everything’s about to change. I.. I’m scared of everything that’s gonna happen soon… Mom’s been talking about sending me to Arcadia.. And with everything else going on I’m so scared of messing up…”

She slowly started to understand why it was he asked if she thought he was good at anything. “Hey.. It’ll be alright y’hear? I’ve got your back. So don’t worry about that. You won’t mess up, I promise.”

Izaneus’ eyes now couldn’t leave her, despite how desperately he tried to hide his tears, his weakness, his vulnerability, he couldn’t move as she wrapped her arms around him, and embraced him in a gentle hug. He could only move his arms to reciprocate.




Yet, the days moved by.

Within the month, the Phortean Patriarch was lost, reported dead by his companions. Of the five, only two of which returned.

Not long after Izaneus was sent to Arcadia by his mother, Shikiria was left alone, what she considered alone, at least.

She trained by herself, cleaned by herself, studied by herself.

And when Izaneus finally returned two years later, he was not the same.

He was lethargic, tired, and couldn’t seem to lift his eyes from the ground.

Yet when Shikiria and He reunited for the first time in two years, it had of course been monumentous. They spent that night talking of everything they’d been doing over the last time they saw each other.

Izaneus’ study of Magecraft was far beyond the norm, as it appeared.

He soared past the study of his betters, and though his mind was elsewhere, he always passed with flying colors.

Then came a fated decision.

“If you’d like… I can teach you what I’ve got?” he asked then, a pause before he spoke again.

“ If.. you’d rather not though… I understand..”

Shikiria blinked. “ Can you?” She'd be lying if she said she hadn’t wished she could do those same things. If she too could create her own respite of shadow…

“I’d love that!” She nearly shouted, her face alight with excitement. Izaneus gained a small, fulfilled smile. “ I’m glad.. When would you like to start?” His voice cut through the night, causing Shiki to sigh, content as it stood.

The promise of learning magic, Izaneus returning after so long, It all felt like a dream. Even if his mother had become slightly more demanding of late. Even if she was slowly growing frustrated with her lack of ability to do anything.

At least, now she had Iza again.

At least now, that Darkness was temporary again.

Until it wasn’t.

The next day she undertook the daunting Task of learning magic, its fundamentals, Iza’s fundamentals. She couldn’t understand the inner workings of reality. How it moved, and how she could move it.

“ Are you sure this is working..?” She asked, trying her damnedest to conjure a simple flame, feeling something travel through her, but seeing no results dampened her belief. “Yes! You just need to focus it a little more..!” Izaneus cheered from behind her, his eyes reading and watching the powers float to her hand, from within and without.

One spark, then two, then a gentle candle-light.

In shock, to see that she accomplished such a feat, she watched the fire dance softly within her palm, her face illuminated by both it’s light, and that of hope.

“ Iza!!” She shouted, a large unwavering smile on her face.

Pulled into a hug as the two danced around in happiness, that they were able to share such a gift with each other.

An hour passed.

“ Uh.. so now what?” Shikiria asked, her fist now laden with a gentle breeze. “ Well, now that you have control of it, the first thing to mind, is not to open your ha-”

As Izaneus spoke, a fervent vortex blasted about him, and sent him sprawling into the grass.

“ Oh shit! Iza? You alright!?” Shikiria yelled at the going Wizard. Who struggled to breathe with the wind knocked out of him.

Before intaking a large deep breath.

“ Hand. Don’t open your hand…” He wheezed, causing Shikiria to sigh, “ Sorry- you alright?”

“Yep, just peachy.. Just.. need a minute…” He spoke, breathless. “ So… now that I’ve got that… what next?” Shikiria asked excitedly. “ You’re starting to get a hang of the elements at least… wanna try lightning?”

Shikiria could only smile.

Two hours passed.

“ Okay this one’s impossible…” She spoke, her voice low and rough, as was her frown.

“ It’s not impossible Shiki, nothing is. You’ve just gotta look at it the right way.” Izaneus chided, his own voice soft and caring, trying to gently coax her through this one. Shiki echoed his relaxedness with a sigh of lethargy.

“Alright.. Yeah…” She spoke, focusing with all her might. It took another few moments for anything but a blue spark to show itself.

Then a jolt of blue lightning arcing quick amongst her thumb and forefinger, which then jumped to her pinky, and ring finger.

Heaving a large breath of relief, Shikiria looked to Iza, to see him smiling happily. “ See? You got it!” He spoke.

“Yeah… I did..” She said, looking at how far the sun had gone down since she started.

“ Took a while though…” She whispered to herself. Causing Izaneus to raise an eyebrow. “ Hm? Oh, I guess so! But you still made progress, right?” He smiled.

“Yeah.. I guess I did.” A reluctant smile and a hollow chuckle, cause nervous silence to echo outward from the pair.

“ Hey, why don’t we take a breather for now? If you keep casting like this I’ve heard you can wear yourself out something fierce..” He spoke out, slightly more quiet than he’d been talking before. Shiki’s eyes met his own in recognition.

And fear.

“No, let’s keep going, I can do this..” She responded quickly, before focusing on the power within her, pulling inward what little she could to cast the way he taught her. Quick, jittery strips of electricity bounced between her fingers, slight pauses between each jump. Shikiria’s breaths grew slowly labored as she continued.

Her next goal was to create a shroud of shadow around her hand. Which she would extend to her arm, and then her head, all in the effort to create that respite. Those images of stars and colorful iterations of different galaxies.

Yet, as her breaths grew more and more stressful, as her body started to wave and beg for rest. Shikiria found herself utterly unable to conjure something as simple as that.

If Izaneus did it, why couldn’t she?

Yet as she lay gasping on the ground outside the Phortean Manor, she came to a fairly simple conclusion.

“This is really hard..” She stated out, hearing the grass fold and crunch as Izaneus sat next to her.

“I promise, it’s not hard, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.” He stated, grabbing her hand once more. In an effort to lift her hopes.

It did, however slightly.

The days passed one more, somewhat more cheerfully with Izaneus around, everyday, the two would spend the latter part of their day after sword practice to discuss and study the Arcane Arts.

To very little avail.

“ There you go! You’ve got it! See?” Izaneus said heartily, patting Shikiria on the shoulder, who shook it off in a frustrated fit. Her face contorted from the anger circling through her.

“Yeah. After a week..” She replied, her voice low, and quiet. Izaneus stared at her simply, before sighing.

“ Why’re you letting this get to your head? You know you’ll get it eventually…” Izaneus spoke, the words came out slow, and tired. “ It’s not worth getting upset over if you know you’ll figure it out..”

Shikiria responded hastily.

“ Are you seriously trying to tell me I shouldn't be upset that it’s taking me ten times as long to learn this minor effect than it took you?” She lashed out, her face heated along with her heart.

Izaneus stepped back in surprise, “ Wha-? It’s not like we’re walking the same road.. Of course it’s gonna be different for you-” He replied, after taking a moment to correctly focus his thoughts.

For some reason, this statement seemed to upset her even more, as her face grew more red, and her fists clenched themselves tighter.

“You really don’t get it!?” Shikiria shouted, grunting in frustration before turning away.

“ Shiki.. Come on, you’ve almost got this, stop thinking so hard and just let it flow..”

Feeling her hair stand on end, Shikiria turned around and shoved the youngest Phortea.

Wait..”

The words spewed out before her. Unable to contain that pain anymore, that fear.

“This was never about the fucking magic Izaneus!!”

“Stop…”

The scene shifted abruptly, suddenly the beautiful edge of the Ruined Phortean estate shifted to the interior of the entrance, a gentle moonlight in the night sky illuminated Izaneus’ golden locks on the night of his departure.

“How can’t you see how goddamn terrified I am all of the fucking time!?”

“This isn’t right..”

“How badly I need you in my life?? Do you know how frustrating it is to be saved over, and over, by the one person you want to keep safe?”

“That’s enough.. Please…”

“ I still regret sending you away that night! I think about it every fucking day! I long.. So badly, to go back and undo that mistake!”

“That’s not true..”

“But how could I keep you to myself seeing you frown so sadly every day? How could I let you suffer for myself? I don’t fucking deserve that… and neither do you.”

“...”

“There’s so much I want, I feel dirty and gluttonous whenever I think about it all..”

“I don’t think that.”


“I hate myself so much.. I just want you to look at me and see me as an equal.. I want to protect you, keep you safe from the things that plague you. Keep that frown I hated so much away from your heart..”

“I can’t… please..”

“But most of all.. I feel.. So worthless.. So useless… everyday.. You’re all I have… That darkness isn’t temporary.. It’s suffocating.. And you’re the only thing that makes it recede… “

“You’re the only one who makes me feel like I’m okay…”

“Please…”

“Don’t leave me..”

Silence followed, nothing was said, not even within Shikiria’s true self were there words.

It wasn’t until She felt a hand take her own, and another lift her chin up did the silence cease to be.

“You wouldn’t have said any of that, would you? If this were real.”

Shikiria, confused, watched as her surroundings faded from view, until the only things that were left were the grass below her, the trees around her, Izaneus, and the bright moonlight.

“What..?” Shikiria asked, suddenly finding control of her body once more.

The form of Izaneus smiled sadly, still holding Shikiria’s hand within its own, unspeaking, unmoving.

Suddenly, Shikiria got her answer. “ Oh… the ritual..”

Izaneus chuckled as Shikiria got her bearings. She didn’t know quite what was happening, but the ritual was still taking place, and was likely the cause for.. All of this.

“ …I’m glad Iza didn’t hear all of… that..” She mumbled quietly to herself, to which the form of Izaneus nodded.

“ I wasn’t even in control of myself…”

“ You were.”

The form's words caught her by surprise. “ W-what? No I wasn’t!” She refuted, confused.

“ Well, perhaps your mind wasn’t.” It replied simply, not losing its simple, sad smile.

“ But I assure you, all of what you said was true.”

The sentence struck her, but not as hard as she would have thought. “...Yeah. I guess so..” She spoke, her eyes finding its way to the floor once more. Silence once more followed, until the form of Izaneus piped up once more.

“ Shikiria. “ His voice called gently, causing her to look up from the grass expectantly, as though aware of his next action.

“ Search for Izaneus if you truly wish to. But find the strength to banish the darkness yourself. It’s never temporary, you’re right.” It started softly, eliciting a dark chuckle from the Swordmage. Before she looked up, feeling there was more. “ But all Izaneus can do is hold your hand, and offer you his light.”

She was aware of this. Painfully aware. Yet still…

“ The reason it seems like he’s the only one who has light, is because your vision is so tunneled you cannot see your own.”

A brief pause occurred at the end of the form’s words. Before hugging him, tightly.

“ I know.. I’ll do my best..” She promised, in between her sobs.

“Which is all anyone can ask. Especially yourself.”

Izaneus held her back, and they stayed like that for a moment.. Before her eyes opened, the brisk mountain air entered her lungs once more. She was alone, but not truly.

On her arm was an opaque vision of a Stormcloud, with a lance of lightning striking the water below it. Before that too vanished before Shikiria could witness it.

There was silence, beautiful solace as inspiration offered her respite.

“I’ve got this…” She spoke in mantra to herself. Resolute.

The darkness wasn’t temporary, but at least she had people she could depend on until she found her own light.

This thought in mind, Shikiria was able to smile, for the first time, in what felt like years.
 
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