Adonai:
It's been a rough battle but in the end, despite the outcome the quest is complete and we got what we wanted, some money and more or less some experience with our teamwork.
I guess from spending time with each other our coordination is not totally horrible, despite the fact that we didn't train a lot together. We luckily seem to cover our weaknesses, at least to some degree.
But at the same time it is very strange... despite being here for a while, people seem carefree and I didn't get to hear anything about Black Parade... or The End of that matter. I assume they might be some big shots but they also might be a bit of a taboo to talk about? I don't really know.
We got that info at the beginning that they have not been here, so at least people know who they are but also... well there's not much point to worry about it.
So far my life seems to play according to some scenario, is this the so-called destiny? Fate? I don't know... Am I the character in a book? Pointless questions.
Right now I'm standing at the edge of this cliff and I'm overlooking the forest where we were just fighting the Headless Mules leader.
After all we have been through, this landscape provides a magical serenity yet also a solace that I can't describe, the further I look into the horizon the less clear is the line that splits the sky and the ground... everything in the distance seems united in a resolution that might take thousands... no... millions of years for a normal entity to come to achieve.
I've decided to not go and visit Cleidsman... I'm sure he has a lot of questions for me but his life is his life and my decisions are mine to make. But do they matter... There's an ongoing contradiction in and outside of myself... does destiny exist? Is everything predetermined already... is all we do just a meaningless joke for a God who wants to see slaughter?
What's the point of living, struggling, fighting, crying if the result is outside our hands to begin with... What's the deal with this and how can we be so sure which variant it is?
Maybe it is based on convenience... like when you fail at something you blame the destiny and how unchangeable it is... or maybe when you want to give a speech and give courage to an army... this is the hypocrisy that we are born to carry.
We don't even know if the result is something we're working on willingly or something we can't change... and I've decided to try and follow what I think is right to do, because amidst all of this confusion... I'm missing a purpose.
Searching for The Black Parade will supposedly give me one whatever that might be... Ragnarok wishes for me to take revenge.
Back when he came to me with the proposition I was put into dilemma, take a step forward towards revenge, take a step to overcome myself who was and is powerless to protect that which I hold most dear... or keep going into the circle of contemplation forever.
Looking back at it, my life might as well be in his hands after I join... but the truth is I've left because there was nothing left for me on earth... I've taken a step forward trying to live as she would have wanted... trying to find a purpose amidst the chaos.
The truth I realized that day... one that I perhaps chose to ignore most of my life is that the world is already doomed... slavery... war... genocide... utter bloodshed that's what will follow someday.
Human life is complicated and often very contradictory with itself... I can't help but wish that things would be simpler and that there's an easier way to understand oneself.
"Excuse me, what is a fine gentleman like you doing in this place all alone?"
Turning to the voice behind me I saw a cloak. The cloak was covering a face that had bright dark yellow eyes... that are spinning. Engravings of black rings appear to be going down from the face to the neck, the rings are spinning as well... a half broken halo standing atop their head...
But their body, not their face seem unnaturally symmetrical, their skin is also glowing a subtle red radiance while their back seem to hold a pair of four wheels, similar to wings... But he's floating.
"Contemplating... excuse my rudeness but I can't quite tell which race you are, if you don't mind me asking. I would like to take precaution in case something were to happen."
I asked the man standing behind me. I didn't bother to turn around. I was prepared to jump if worse came to worse... enhancing my body with pure magic should help me with the fall but I would still feel the pain prob... better than dying.
"I'm an Ophanim-Blessed... a Wheelborn... my name is Ezekiel... and rest assured I'm not here to pick a fight with you... if I were I wouldn't have told you my name or my race... and I would've killed you already."
He said while giving me a smile and approaching me... lending me a hand to get up. I took it before I realized that his hand had an eye in the center of its palm... a living eye.
The voices didn't speak as they would normally when meeting an entity like this... they are strangely silent.
"Let me get to the point... you probably can't tell but I'm a very sick person and it gets even worse since I didn't have my meal of the day... I see a bright light inside you and I would like to extend an invitation for you... join the church worshipping none other than the god himself Adam... Join the Blessed Concord of the First Light."
...
"I don't know much about religion... I was never really the believer type but I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your offer as I already have some group I'm looking for."
Ezekiel made a surprised face but nodded.
"I see, if you ever change your mind, be sure to look for me... thanks to my divinity you'll only have to think of me and I'll be there as soon as possible. Now if you'll excuse me I'll take my leave... I'm getting quite hungry."
This was the least annoying religious cult invitation I had to deal with. Back on earth having people knocking on your door asking you to join some group was not unusual and sometimes they were quite persistent but this time, thankfully, it ended fast... that guy smells like trouble.
I should head back to the hotel... it's getting late, well I assume so at least, without the day/night cycle you can't really tell
...
Passing through the streets that look so old fashioned compared to what I'm used to it's quite refreshing. It feels like the time has been turned backwards and I can experience some years long gone... if it weren't for the uncanny figures on the streets. You could say one has returned to the 2010's of Earth.
But in this trade center, where a lot of races come and go, some people settle and find peace, a family maybe. If it weren't for the knocking on the door from the upcoming war maybe we could've even left peacefully with each other... or maybe another war would have appeared in its stead.
"Curses... that little chick has just too much luck man."
"It's okay, you will get her next time, you just got bad hands this time around. And the drinks were on the house, so think about it... this is not a complete loss."
Well this is interesting. I looked to my right and I saw a pub that seemed to be bustling with energy.
Without much to do I decided to go in. And I got exactly what I was expecting.
Wood made cabinets, doors, a spacious place, with some old technology in it but it is the picture perfect of a pub. With a fireplace not so long in the distance and the barman watching a table with automatically preparing drinks for the customers who are constantly chatting around.
Making my way I ordered something similar to a juice and then straight to the table.
Curses, laughter, joy, jokes, frustration, all of these emotions were displayed on the faces and gestures of everyone standing at the long table, playing a game of what seems to be a form of interstellar poker people were losing, gaining money and overall having a good or not so good of a time.
But everyone's attention seemed to be centered on a single player, standing at the top of the table...
"You are that child from back then!"
It took a bit for her to spot the voice that said that but once she did, her eyes filled with a spark.
"Ah, that human, Adonai... Do you know it's rude to not address a lady by her name? But I guess I never told you my name... welcome to my favorite hang out place... my name is Gothica."