fallin' through time. } kalon tryout.

[yaksha.]

they foretold the coming of something bright, but even a star could
not burn forever, and thus the shadow staining its other half was lost
to history. eventually, the light too, was forgotten.

tryout for this kit.

[yaksha.]

they whispered his name for years to come, the creature who could appear
from the shadows. he was lanky and selfish and possessed a smile no other
could mimic. his name was jikoku, although it was not a name of his own
choosing. rather, jikoku was bestowed upon him in line with a curse—this
was no name meriting metal. jikoku was time and sunlight and shadow.
he was enigmatic, with a grace that pulled those of his chosen subjects
towards him. within time, they learned to accept him, and the creature
took joy in becoming a pinnacle of mischief.

[yaksha.]

lonely.

jikoku remembered lonely. it was dark and cold, hard against his fur
and angry in his ears. it was crushing silence and devoid warmth. life
was lonely at first.

the kalon, who really had no idea he was a kalon yet or, really, what
a kalon even was, had been thrust into a harsh world. it was brutal
and unforgiving and jikoku, nameless and unsure of himself, could not
comprehend just where he fit within this foreign land. it was cold
and unkind, thus he wandered.

jikoku's days spent battered in the lightning-charged clouds dampened
his heart. why was he alone? he knew not what he was, who he was,
or even what he was. several days of heavy wings and sullen rain led to
his discovery—a tiny village with too much calm and not enough chaos.

for the village, he was their foretold light, a soul there to provide a
guide among their darkest hours. for jikoku, he was the darkness,
there to cause destruction and tension much like the thunder burning
within his own body. the note at his neck was a swiftly forgotten
reminder of something to return to—jikoku cared not for this concept
of parents or love. but really, who could fault him?

he learned of the name this tiny village had given him. jikoku, after
their word for time, for he had arrived within their darkest hour. a
scoff was given at such a notion. but with no other title to cling to,
jikoku began to covet the name like a dragon upon his hoard.

even still, the winged creature remained lonely.

he still knew nothing of what he was, who he was, or where he came
from. jikoku knew only the darkness in his heart and his cursed name.

until the arrival of a kalon.

at first, jikoku was confused. this creature looked like him. it held
his size, his structure, his everything, aside from the wings propelling
him forward. he began listening in on conversations not meant for
his ears. the humans often spoke in fear of him, but never of the
kalon curled so nicely in their living spaces. they praised it, giving
pats on the head, walks within the forest, and strange foods. jikoku
observed from afar, and for a while his mischief came to a halt.

"why do you lurk in the shadows?"

jikoku, perched high in a tree, spoke for the first time in his life.
"perhaps I belong here."

"I disagree, you who bears the sun."

he did not pursue the question at first. hiding in the shadows was
the very reason for his existence. he was the darkness, the anger,
the hatred, all of it. jikoku was selfish desire and devoid hearts;
never once had he considered the sun within him.

for all his disinterest in things, jikoku could not stop his desire to
learn more about the strange creature. sometimes she would say
things into the shadows, perhaps knowing he was nearby, even if
jikoku knew he was hidden. he learned what a kalon was, what
his little village was called, and the differences between the sun
and moon fighting their endless battle.

his trouble-making diminished. even though he knew nothing of it,
his actions were causing the long felt shadow in the village to
loosen its hold. jikoku's darkness began to become light, and the
anger within his heart soothed. although she could never see him,
jikoku was always there, hanging on every word and enjoying the
sound of her voice.

eventually the day came that his mischief stopped completely.
feeling the darkness pulled from his heart, jikoku smiled; not a
smile of shenanigans or ill-intent. a smile of true, genuine happiness.
the kalon, knowing what he was now, eased the locket at his throat
open. within it rest a picture of his parents, of his home. part of
him considered heading back just then, but deep down, he knew
there was still much to learn.

jikoku went to visit his unofficial teacher at once, emerging from
the forest he was so used to living within. fur as white as snow
practically glowed within the afternoon sun; he smiled once more.
"I hid because I was afraid, but no longer; please allow me to learn from you."

jikoku no longer felt lonely.