Ch. 1 A Dream?

Ch.1 A Dream?

A soul drifted through an endless expanse of darkness. The soul had been stripped of almost everything but through it's own willpower, managed to hold on to it's most treasured memories. Although just fragments.

The soul drifted, struggling to keep the fragments from slipping away from it. Countless unknown entities noticed the soul, some interested for a moment, some with greed in thier eyes, some with compassion, love, hate, sorrow.

The soul was oblivious to it all, only grasping its treasures tightly. It didn't even see when the expanse of darkness suddenly illuminated around it.

A platform radiating light appeared. It resembled a stained glass portrait of a young man shivering from the cold cruelty of life and death. A pained expression marred his face. In the center three objects floated on the platform, silently waiting to be chosen.

The soul didnt notice it at all when it first landed on the platform, and took it's time to stir itself from the eternal dream.

It started with the fragments it clutched to it's heart. The force trying to tear them away suddenly eased up, allowing the remaining memories to slowly sink back in place within the soul, although in a sealed state.

Maybe minutes or maybe hours, the soul's form slowly changed. Once the process was complete, the soul which was just a ball of light before took the shape of a young man, albeit a hollow ghostly shell of one.

Consciousness stirred within the apparition, questions flooding its thoughts as it beheld the mysterious space around it.

'Where am I? Who am I? What am I?' As it looked around, it noticed around the platform where it stood was just darkness. No beginning. No end. Just... Infinite.

The platform it stood on was like a tiny candle flame, fighting to illuminate this tiny corner of nothingness.

The apparition had so many questions but in front of him was possible answers...

A Sword, big enough to need 2 hands to wield, it was adorned with glittering jewels, gold and silver. It looked like what someone might expect excalibur to look like, regal and confident. 'Courage' in the form of a sword.

A Book, it's leather cover had blue veins of pulsating light and it gave off an aura of wisdom with each page that seemed to turn itself. It felt ancient, as if the book had seen all the mysteries in the universe and the flippng pages were like a beckoning finger, tempting you with it's 'Wisdom'.

A Crystal Heart, glittering within it's crystal visage, danced a storm of hypnotic color. As if all the spectrums of light, swirled and touched momentarily like a waltz of missed connections. It radiated a pure affection, that calmed those that looked at it. It felt like a warm compassionate hug filled with 'Love'. A power that conquers hearts.

The apparition was at a crossroads. It knew instinctively it could only choose one. It didn't know what to choose at first, but the space itself told him about the three objects. Not with words, more like conveyed intent and not in great detail. But asked a question. What do you need?

The apparition, wasnt sure but decided to trust his instincts. He strode towards the object of his choice. It was something he felt he needed most. Courage.

He reached out toward the hilt of the sword and the sword seemed to vibrate in excitement. As he grasped the sword, it bursts into motes of light and entered him, causing his ghostly form to have a little more 'substance'.

The book and crystal disappeared, and the platform suddenly underwent a change. The stained glass platform's image morphed into a portrait of a young man staring longingly into a beautiful tangerine sky. A tranquil image inspiring the concepts of hopes and dreams.

In the center, three new objects appeared. The apparition felt the message the space was trying to ask. 'What do you desire?'

The new objects that appears all beckoned to him, waiting for his choice.

A Key, made of dark obsidian, a deep purple glow seemed to pulse through the dark crystal-like key. The Key was like a dark steed that promised to trample all the obstacles in his path. 'Determination'

A Looking Glass, a silver and gold frame with motifs of distorted faces and a mirror surface that seemed to ripple with purpose. Its aura promised to show the truth of false faces, Never to let one suffer a traitor and to help mask one's intentions. 'Guile'

A Feather, lit by crimson flame, emanating vitality never wavering even when surrounded by darkness, and the promise of enduring hardships and shielding one from adversity. 'Resilience'

The apparition, once again choose to follow his heart and approach his choice. With both hands outstretched he cupped his hands below the Feather allowing it gently float down onto his palms.

It bursts into flame and motes of light and entered his being. He went through another profound change as his body seemed to become 'tangible'. But he could feel it. He was still incomplete. He is what a person looked like in a blurry photo. It was hard to say he had an 'identity'.

The objects vanished again and the platform shimmered and changed into the portrait of a young man sleeping peacefully, clutching a book to his chest. A questioned lingered... Who do you want to be?

This time instead of objects, three large cards appeared. Looking at them, one might assume they are Taroh cards. But each had a still image a person. The left had a dark figure, alone but in control of themself. The right had a figure of light and shared that light with others. And the center had a grey figure, with hands extended, welcoming and yet cautious, keeping both light and dark close but not too close.

The young man questioned himself. "Who even am I? Can I even know who I want to be if I dont even know that?" Sighing the youth again decided to let his heart decide.

He approached the card of his choice. After all it seemed like the best choice. A middle road that could go either way. He picked up the grey card.

Just like the objects before, it shattered but this time the entire platform shattered with it, sending the young man falling into the dense darkness. He fell into slumber once more, forgetting this place and the choices he made.

"It seems he has chosen his path..."

"Another one? About time! Who will be the lucky one this time?"

"I won't let this one go..."

"Keep your paws off bitch, he's mine!"

"All is fair in love and war, fufufu."

"Please, d-don't fight..."

"I wonder what this one's choice will be. A destroyer or a savior?..."

The boy was not able to hear these voices. But he will get the chance someday...