extra 1 wrote:“Kazuki,” A gentle voice called, and I raised my attention to Nova, the goddess of all things good, standing across from me, “Your time has come, my dear.”
“But Nova, the war has begun. Deimos has started her push into the Mortal realm, I do not believe it is safe for us.” The dark Viscet laughed, her feathers shimmered as she moved, “And who should know that power better than yourself, Kii.” My cheeks burned upon hearing the goddesses comment, and my ears flattened in shame. My previous alliance should have nothing to do with my current status, or perhaps it’s what shaped Nova’s next words; “No one knows Deimos’ inner workings the way you do, Kii. That said, you’re the only one I can trust with this mission.
“Deimos has her eyes on Karna, a Mortal planet that is developing rapidly. There are too many Mortals that could fall to the Shinigami’s trickery. But you, Kazuki, have been trained as a Shinigami and know their trickery and abilities. You have also been trained by myself and are my most beloved Archmage. This is my first mission to you and your last." Nova took a deep breath, almost hesitant with her next words;
"Kii, I send you to Karna to protect the Mortal realm and uphold my name. Go now, and remember who you are.” (215)
[ _____ Kazuki "Kii" - female - Archmage _____]
extra 1 wrote:“Kazuki,” the icy whisper shot through my skin, subconsciously causing my feathers to bristle. My gaze shot to and fro, looking for the source of the voice, but knowing all too well I would not find anyone near. “I know you can still hear me, it’s no use resisting any longer.” It was Deimos, goddess of darkness and all things evil, but above all that, she is Nova’s sister.
I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to ignore the voice calling me back, but I knew it was no use. “Why do you resist me now?” she asked, the voice echoing in my mind as I traveled further into the portal. Letting out a deep breath, I slowly open my eyes to answer the emptiness, “I resist you now, and I will resist you for eternity. Things are different from how they were, and I regret my past choices.”
“But do you?” The voice chuckled, and it sparked something deep within me. Anger? Resentment? … Longing? I shook my head and didn’t answer. I stabilized myself as I draw closer to the Mortal realm. I murmur mostly to myself, “The icy claws of winter has harmed both myself and countless others. But things are changing, and Spring is drawing near. I hope that when it does, you, too, will see what blooms across the beings in this realm, and possibly in your own heart.” (233)
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I cautiously stepped out of the portal and took my first steps on Karna. Glancing around, I seemed to be in a rather mountainous place, and on the horizon was a thick forest stretching wide. Without much hesitation, I headed off towards the thick woods. After some time, I reached the edge of the woods as the sky began to lighten, signaling the beginning of a new day. Following a trail into the heart of the woods, the scent of water tickled my nose before I could even hear it, and I unconsciously began moving a bit faster.
Upon finding the narrow river, I took a few moments to sit on the bank and recollect myself and think over my mission. Ruffling through the pouch of things I had brought with me, I pulled out a long golden chain with some feathers on it, resembling Nova’s feathers. Weighing it down was a long talon-shaped stone that appeared charcoal-like but glittered a rainbow within itself when put under light. It was meteorite, the essence of a star that contains raw power and is the source of most things though impossible.
I tied it around my neck and stood once more and followed the river, unknown to where it may take me. The sky grew lighter still, but the thick treetops kept out most of the light, except for streaks of filtered light to spot the earth in places. Another path appeared and I decided to stray from the river to follow it instead, and I really wish I hadn’t.
At the end of the narrow path lie a rather small clearing, the underbrush thick and entangled with thorns, but I pushed through and into the clearing, where the largest tree had ever seen was rooted at the far end. But that’s not what made my breath catch in my throat and my eyes narrow. Oh no, it was much more than that.
Chained to the base of the tree was a familiar figure of Lilith, a former partner when working under Deimos, and fellow Shinigami.
My ears flattened upon seeing them and I let out a low growl directed towards them, and they turned their gaze towards me, a toothy smirk greeted me when their cold green eyes fell on me.
“Why if it isn’t Kazuki the traitor. Have a change of heart, dear?” They scoffed, but the small Viscet made no attempt to move. “Never,” I growled back, but I took a few steps towards the reddish Viscet. “So this is where you were banished, quite fitting if you ask me,” I scoffed back at them, taking in the cold, mossy clearing we found ourselves in. “And you, too, it seems?” They quickly answered, but I shook my head.
“No. You and I are here on very different terms. You were banished from Deimos’ side and left to rot here, out of sight and out of mind. I am here to protect the life on this planet from Viscet’s like you.” Lilith let out a chirping laugh that echoed through the clearing, “As if you’re one to talk, kid. Deep down, you and I are the same, and you know it.” They got to their feet and the red Fate String bound them from moving further.
“I don’t have time for this,” I murmured and took a step back, turning to leave the clearing. “What makes you think you can change anything?” Lilith called to me challengingly, and I stopped in my tracks. I spun on my toes and lunged at them, earning a yelp from the smaller Viscet as they hit the ground. “Listen closely, Shinigami, I don’t care what you think. I made a decision on my own, and I’m not about to have a change of heart any time soon. I left your side ages ago, and I now see the toxic nature and corruption spread through the Old World faction like never before. Your side is being destroyed from the inside out, and I have no part in it any longer.” I hissed down at them, their green eyes wide, yet not a hint of fear in them.
I got off of them and let out a final growl before leaving for good, “This is over, Lilith. I do not intend to come across you again.” A chuckle from the small Viscet, and their reply echoed through the clearing, sending a chill down my spine, “It’s still Winter, Shinigami, and though I do not doubt Spring is drawing near, you, my dear, still remain as frozen as ever.”
After a few days, I found myself on a small island off the coast of the thick woods, not wanting to travel too far from where I started, but far enough away from… potential threats. The bottom half of the island was barren and dead woods sprinkled the area, but the farther north on the island the more rocky and mountainous it got, and I built a watchtower at the peak. It allows me to see across the water and into the mainland, but also provides a view of the stars above, where I spend more time than I’d like to admit gazing into the darkness, longing for whatever home I had.
At the base of the watchtower I built a small cabin where I began storing my belongings and collecting scrolls and runes. Now alone, I find myself able to practice my magic without feeling shame in it. As my previous affiliation with Deimos and a Shinigami, I learned a particular branch of dark magic involving life manipulation and soul-trapping. However, now I find myself using the same magic but twisting it with magic taught by Nova… allowing the soul to be bent, but not broken and lost. Truly a mix of the two abilities, but now used to do good rather than harm.
Unsure of where life may take me on this world, I feel an overwhelming sense of belonging for the first time. (998)
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(extras 3+4, 500 words each)
A warm breeze ruffled my feathers as I found myself perched on the edge of the watchtower. Nearly a month has passed and I haven’t made any real progress on my mission, but I have pinpointed a few leads; Viscets disappearing without a trace in the King’s city to the west, a shadowy figure roaming the forest on the south side, and to my surprise, a rumor of a Viscetling with a strong yellow aura wandering on its own. It was the latter case that I decided to act on.
I climbed off the watchtower and padded into my small home to pack some supplies for my trip, but most importantly I grabbed the skull headdress and placed it on my head- the symbol of an outcast Shinigami that I could hide from no longer. After meeting Lilith on the mainland upon my arrival to this world, things have been different. I… I feel a new fire driving me, one that urges me forward and to see through my mission for as long as I can. Deimos still calls upon me occasionally, but her cries mean nothing to me any longer.
I tie a long dark cloak around my neck and slip on the meteorite fang over the cloak, pulling the hood over my head after in an attempt to hide my appearance as much as I could. I realized that I would need a disguise to hide my identity, as most who know of me only acknowledge my previous alliance. Swinging a small pack of supplies over my back, I head out towards my raft to chase my strongest lead.
I went out of my way to be sure to avoid the clearing with the large tree that trapped Lilith, not wanted to confront them again. Making my way towards a small village, I began asking around of the Viscetling with the yellow aura. Most who knew of him feared him and wanted nothing to do with him, but I have learned his name to be Aiakos, and he is not as young as I thought.
Taking their advice, I check the far side of the woods, where the trees were dying and ebbing into more mountainous land. Hours of wandering was not in vein, however, as I caught sight of a moving form in the underbrush. “Aiakos?” I called out cautiously, but the form startled at my call and took off. I rushed forward, not wanting to lose sight of the other Viscet.
The other suddenly stopped in their tracks and turned to face me, and I tried my best to stop as well but was not as successful. “How do you know my name?” The male asked carefully, and I got to my feet and brushed myself off, removing my hood and headdress, “Some rumors in the nearby village,” I responded evenly, but Aiakos’ ears flattened. “How much do you know?” He growled, lowering himself as if preparing for a fight, but I waived my tail in response.
Without a word, I cast a spell mirroring the yellow aura surrounding the young Viscet he almost instantly his feathers smoothed. “You… You can control it?” He asked, his eyes wide as the aura danced in my palm. “Of course, young one. Though I’m not sure what king of magic yours is exactly, mine is only a lookalike mimic of yours, you see.” “I responded, and almost immediately I was met with another question, “Do you think… you could teach me how to control it?”
I ceased my magic and thought about it for a second. While I’m on Karna it might not be a bad idea to have allies… Maybe even have him help with my mission… “You’ll have to enlighten me a bit on your magic a bit first… but yes, I will help you if you wish.” Aiakos’ ears perked up immediately and he almost wiggled in place. “Oh, thank you, miss…” “You can call me Kii”
“Unless you have somewhere else to go, you may head back to my camp with me. I can fill you in along the way back.” Aiakos nodded and eagerly followed. He didn’t speak for most of the trip, but his voice startled me when we stepped onto my raft to float back to the island. “Kii?” “Yes, Aiakos?” “What’s with your skull mask and cape?” What am I supposed to say, that I’m an outcast demon? “I… You see, an archmage like myself likes to lay low and keep to herself, if you know what I mean.”
When the male didn’t seem convinced, I added more of a hushed voice, “The headdress masks my appearance and makes me less likely to be approached by strangers, you see.” That answer he accepted, and he asked, “Can I have a mask and cloak too?” I chirped a laugh, “I suppose if you’re being trained by me I could make you one, sure.”
“And… I’m still confused about something.” “What’s that?” I asked, angling my ears towards him. “You speak a lot of this “Spring, but I don’t understand. What does the season have to do with magic?” I chuckled and lowered my head, understanding his confusion. I began carefully, “Young one, there is much in this world… in this universe you don’t and can’t understand. I won’t try to make you understand it, but there are some bad Viscet’s doing some terrible things… It’s been called an Eternal Winter, and has lasted several centuries. However, things are beginning to look up with thanks to those like me… like us.
“Aiakos, this terrible Winter is beginning to melt into Spring… and when Spring finally comes, new life will begin to pop up across the universe, and the evil will be but back into its place.” I look up to the stars before closing my eyes, “Ah, when Spring comes I hope my fellow sisters see the good blooming as well… Or perhaps that will be my new mission when the time comes.” (500 + 500)
