Origins (7)

Once upon a time...

In a place beyond what we know, there were two great forces: Darkness and Light.

These forces were not good or bad; they just existed. They kept the world in balance, each doing its part.

Everything was balanced and perfect.

The land was beautiful, with skies that were a mix of night and day, and the creatures lived happily under both Darkness and Light.

Under those forces, multiple worlds were born, including one of them, which was particular enough.

Its name was Arcadia.

This world was not like any other; it was filled with magic, mythical creatures, and all types of mysteries.

While other worlds only could support one kind of energy, this same world, could support all kinds of it.

The sky was always a vibrant blue, and the lands were lush with forests, mountains, and rivers that sparkled like diamonds.

However, as such an incredible world was born, multiple constellations of one of those forces wanted to take control of it.

They fought against each other until only two single constellations remained.

Nyx, the Goddess of the Night.

Gaia, the Goddess of the Earth.

Because none of them didn't want to die, they decided to simply split the world in half.

One part belongs to Nyx, while the other belongs to Gaia.

In each part, they've introduced life into that world, creating multiple and multiple creatures.

And because all kinds of energies were supported, the world successfully became one of the most sought-after things in existence.

However...

An anomaly was born.

Something that wasn't supposed to have happened...

This same anomaly was born of both the lives induced into that same world, something forbidden, something divine...

An Hybrid.

Immediately, both of the goddesses were in awe of this existence, but if the other constellation knew about it...

An official war between the forces that kept the balance would be happening.

So... in a desperate attempt, they've sent him to a 'useless' world.

A world... that they could not intervene in, except if they spent a bunch of their original power to the point of even losing some of it.

They spent millions and millions of years until that same anomaly was born.

However... as time passed, they noticed that instead of that anomaly being born, it would die... because there wasn't any amount of energy to support his creation.

So... they made a deal with another constellation.

Seshat.

Seshat was a very stupid constellation who only wanted to give life to her books.

And the only one world that could make that happen... was Arcadia.

So, in exchange for that anomaly being born, they gave Arcadia to Seshat so she could give life to her work.

Only with the condition that after Seshat died, most of the power of Arcadia would come back to them.

After sealing the deal, Seshat used all of her power, and that anomaly was born as well as one of her creations.

Matthew Arcadia.

And her most precious work...

The Ascension Of The Brightest Incarnation.

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"........"

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Huff!—

"Where... am I?" Matthew spoke softly.

He found himself in a strange place, shrouded in darkness. The only light came from a beautiful waterfall cascading into a small, serene lake.

The setting appeared almost surreal, standing out in stark contrast against the inky blackness that enveloped it.

Looking down, he saw a faint path of red roses, like a delicate road leading him forward. The petals glowed softly as if guiding his steps.

Step...!

With nothing else to do, Matthew followed the rose-lined path, each step crunching softly on the petals.

The trail led him to the edge of the lake, where he saw the silhouette of a woman.

She stood with her back to him, her long hair flowing gracefully down her back.

Her arms moved slowly as she washed them, her sexy hourglass figure outlined by the soft light of the waterfall.

"Excuse... me?" Matthew called out tentatively.

As he uttered those words, the figure suddenly stopped washing itself and instead, locked gazes with Matthew.

He instinctively froze upon seeing that figure.

The figure didn't seem bothered by his gaze, and instead, gave him a sly yet cold smirk causing a shiver to run down his spine.

Fwooop!—

A sudden gust of wind whipped through the area, causing Matthew to close his eyes for a moment.

And as he reopened him...

"Ah..."

She was standing right in front of him, mere inches away. Her presence was overwhelming, her beauty almost otherworldly.

Sniff...

"...Hello?" Matthew awkwardly greeted her.

"You smell weird," she remarked, grabbing his robe and pulling him closer.

"And... oddly familiar," she added, her eyes narrowing as she looked deeply at his handsome face.

Then, she suddenly stopped and froze completely.

"Ah.... hello?" Matthew waved his hand in front of the woman.

He spent some time doing that before she snapped out of her trance and grabbed his wrist, pressing him to the ground with surprising strength.

"You're the [Exiled Anomaly]. No wonder you felt so familiar to me," she muttered, looking down at him.

"Eh—What?!"

"Ah... I guess they sealed your memories." She snapped her fingers, and the surroundings changed.

They were now sitting on a huge lotus flower in the middle of the lake, facing each other in a lotus position.

"You have an unlucky fate," she continued. "You're a hybrid, something that wasn't supposed to be born. You're also the one who will be against everyone in the future."

"What do you exactly mean by that?" Matthew asked confusedly.

What did she mean by everyone?

Like... the whole world?

The constellations?

Or even... everything in existence?

"Listen. You need to remember these three rules unconditionally. If not... your existence will be overwritten."

"Wha—"

"—First," she interrupted, "do not trust anyone except Nyx, Gaia, and the system. They are the only ones who can help you."

"Second, whatever you do, do not make a contract with any constellation except Nyx and Gaia. Even if they offer incredible things."

"And finally... remember your existence. If you do that... you will not be overwritten, you will not disappear."

Upon listening to all of this information, Matthew was even more confused than before.

Was his existence something that important?

If yes, why wouldn't Gaia and Nyx tell him about it?

Why would he need to become powerful to be able to know about it?

"Who... are you?" he asked, staring at the woman in front of him.

At that moment, the woman smiled warmly as she reached down and caressed his cheek.

Then, she suddenly snapped her fingers, and found himself on top of her, groping her perfectly-shaped breasts...

"Wha—"

Muah~♥!

Suddenly, his lips were stolen as the woman pushed the back of his head into a faint yet sweet kiss.

"My name is Seshat."

"I hope you take care of my creation... Matthew." Seshat smiled deeply as her body suddenly started disintegrating into pieces.

"What... hey... what's happening?!" Matthew held her in his arms, as her body fell into pieces under his gaze.

"Matthew... just grant me two big wishes. Take care of my most appreciated creation... take care of Arcadia, and... do not let those corrupted constellations take over the universe."

"I hope to see you again... my first and last husband."

Tremble...

Her whole body turned into pieces and slowly, the world around him started trembling as he suddenly woke up...

"Matthew?!" A familiar voice exclaimed as he opened his eyes.

In front of him, Stacy knelt, her face filled with worry as she poured healing magic over his body.

"Stacy..." He muttered...

'Do not trust anyone...' Those words rang out in his head like a fleeting parrot.

'Take care of Arcadia...'

'Do not let those corrupted constellations take over the universe.'

'...Then... that means, that I can trust the people of Arcadia. But, I cannot trust the constellation behind those people.'

Thinking about that... Matthew closed his eyes for a moment, and then, he finally reopened them.

"Stacy... tell me, do you have a contract with a constellation?" Matthew spoke in a neutral tone.

Stacy was taken aback by its question but sighed in relief seeing that he was fine.

So, she replied to him.

"Yes." she nodded her head casually.

"I see..."

"Then, because of our relationship, you have two options..." Matthew casually stood as his black robes suddenly started wiggling.

"W—wha... M-Matthew... y-you're s-scaring me...!" Stacy stammered, looking up at him with fear in her eyes.

Slowly, Matthew stretched out his hand, and a dark scythe formed from the wiggling shadows of his robe, resting against Stacy's neck.

"You either die..."

"Or..."

Gulp...!

"Break the contract with the constellation."