Conversations
So…
Here we are again.
This may seem random… but we have to talk about love once more.
Don't say that this is unimportant. Don't take too much of this as a joke, too. But I won't leave out the humor, I swear!
Romance is always the prioritized genre in the whole world of . Your browsing will be flooded with tons of OTPs, and you will have a hard time choosing a side… unless the pair is officially fixed, or if you have already decided.
And wanna know what I did? I didn't put Romance as my genre for the story. And since my story doesn't focus on this too much, I get lesser views, reviews, favorites and follows than the others.
But do I care? No!
For me, it seemed appropriate to NOT do so. There are multiple reasons why.
1. Often cheesy
2. Lacks enough content/context (often times)
3. Inappropriate content (Rated M)
4. Any undesired ship is immediately scanned for, and the viewers will lay it on you
5. People will force you to put their desired ships, even if they do not match
6. And most importantly… often lacks a central plot
Take note of No.6. There's no proper plot for those romantic ships (in some cases). No intention to offend… but look at the Romance Fanfiction of the game! And the spelling isn't right… same with the grammar, which leaves me triggered.
I do not wish to discourage fellow authors, but please! My teachers always tell me that every single bit of detail is important. Simply putting a 2k+ word chapter with a brief one-shot won't work.
(I'd also like to note of the weird 5v5 plot. Like… y tho? Why do that? They fight with no proper reason. And the quotes/lines of certain characters are randomly put without the tension or emotion. If you put a line of a certain hero at the right part of the story, you can make your viewers scream like they've just watched the Infinity War trailer, which is pretty dope.)
Actually, the Avengers and Justice League was one of my inspirations to write this story.
Back to love…
Also, love is simple, yet complicated. You have to verse it out correctly for the viewers to FEEL. Emphasis on FEEL. That's the point of the whole thing. It's like a balloon. Inflate slowly… and slowly… until it bursts.
This genre is never forced or rushed, never to be too slow. It should be calm and soothing, to raging and destructive. It should match its characters and its plot. It should all align.
The ending is yours to choose.
Love… is eternal, and yet, not.
It is free.
It is painful.
It destroys.
It burns.
It kills.
It corrupts.
It deceives.
It is a monster.
But… when will we realize…
That love is in our grasp… and that…
We just don't feel it?
Aren't we worthy enough to feel it?
Aren't we the ones who do all these sinful things?
Aren't we the ones… who destroy?
The ones who destroy what is good and replace it with evil?
When will we see it?
Love is not evil.
It will never be.
It has never destroyed.
It has never deceived.
It has never killed.
It has never burnt someone to the point of death.
It has never corrupted.
It has never been painful.
For love is free. As free and as pure as the dove who watches over the lovers he is destined to guard.
As calm as the wind, as soothing as soft touch.
As precise as the sword, and as strong as stone.
As precious as the rarest gems of the world.
As eternal as the stars… but it shall fade.
Along with the evil inside.
It's the work of the darkness, not the light! It's the one that misleads us to wrongdoings.
Love is free… unrestrained. Destined by Fate. Intertwined by Faith. Fortified by hope.
And if we force love… would it be as true as all I have said?
If you say yes... who then, are we, to deserve it?
It's what our heroes fight for.
It's what urged them to do the impossible.
And guess what? They did.
No matter who they were… they deserve to be among the stars with the other pure fallen.
And if the world thinks of love the other way around… we shouldn't be here.
Back to the story. RISE AND SHINE FROM THE FEELS, BOYS AND GIRLS! Hahahaha! Got you there!
Even Alucard can't grasp the facts. Hayabusa has a thing?! But he assumed this is something serious. Saber's grave tone was giving him chills. Balmond, Hilda, the mages, Minotaur, Irithel, Karrie, Tigreal, Natalia, Estes and Hylos have already left, along with Karina. No one will side up with them to face the music.
"What's with that Akai dude?" Chou asks. "He seems out of his mind."
"Her companion," Zhao says. "He was ordered by her family to guide her."
"But do they know of her true intentions?" Miya asks with worry, looking at the ninja. He hasn't changed since.
Zhao frowns. "No. They're forbidden to at least see each other."
"We gotta ask that panda," Bruno suggests. "We might probably know more."
"Our only chance, mates," Clint barges, spinning his revolvers.
They find Akai, solemnly praying before his dumpling-and-noodle meal. Afterwards, he eats quietly, which is unprecedented.
Since pandas don't eat that quietly.
Hayabusa joins in, too, though, he remains silent.
"Um… Akai?" Freya starts. "Can we talk to you for a second?"
The hungry panda looks up. "Yeah, sure thing! I've got a lot of time in the world."
The others sit down next to Akai, calmly minding his business.
"So, whatcha need?" he begins, his frog napping on the edge of his hat.
"You may not answer if you wish to," Ruby answers. "But… what's with Hayabusa and Kagura?"
Akai kept on eating, though he minded his table manners. "*gulp* Well, you see here, I merely swore to Kagura's family to protect her, but I didn't know I'd be with her to find him." He swung his head to Hayabusa, who sat the farthest.
"Not like that. I mean, what's their relation?"
Akai set down his chopsticks and remained motionless. After ten seconds, he replied, "Absolutely no clue. Kagura never tells me anything! I'd understand, but she must be open at some point in time, you know? But I am sure she said that they were… something more." He keeps a careful eye on Hayabusa.
"I think it would be best if we leave him alone for now," Layla says. The second she said that, she sees Kagura enter the mess hall to approach the panda. Worried, she puts her gaze back to Hayabusa, who was already gone.
"Woah, that's his power?" Akai exclaims in wonder. "Awesome! Wish I had that, though I'd be too chubby. Ha!" He realizes what that meant when he sees Kagura. "Oh… that's why. Ey, what's up?"
The girl shrugged. "Nothing much. It's a bit cozy here."
(Alucard's mind reading is buzzing hard. He is feeling tons of dread from Kagura.)
"I need to take a break, guys," he says. "Nature calls."
"Yeah, sure dude," Zhao replies.
Alucard doesn't run to the restroom, but to the Citadel. He sees no one there but Estes. The Demon Hunter assumes that the others might be in the underground chamber.
"Are you all right?" Estes asks. "You seem a little pale."
"I am fine, Estes, but thank you. I just can't stand it," Alucard complains. "The emotions keep on rushing in my head. I am so confused." He begins to hyperventilate.
"Calm down, my boy," the king comforts. "Just breathe and take it in slowly. Is there anything you'd want from me for the time being?"
"The 2nd part of the prophecy."
"Ah, I thought you'd request for it at some point. It's time, my son, to know."
"It's only been two days and things are spiraling," Alucard notes. "We have to slow down a bit."
"3 weeks and 2 days is a lot of time, I suppose. Let's follow your advice."
The pair walk up to the Sacred Library. Upon entering, the grand doors slowly closed shut and locked themselves down. Estes casts lock runes and concealments on the windows.
"We can never be too sure," Estes explains. "You may share this with your friends, however. Still, remain vigilant."
He opens his Moonlight Codex and flips the pages. Right smack on the very middle of the book was a scripture.
"Where was your last stanza?"
Alucard thinks… "Um… something about… Two female-"
"I see it," Estes abruptly answers. "Thank you. It says here…
Centaur and Gods, always included
Coming from sanctuaries secluded
Predator and Rider guided by sight
Hunting fearlessly in the starry night
"Gatot, Hylos, and Irithel," Alucard says.
"Your insight serves you well," Estes says, smiling. "We should move on, my child."
The Elven King is their command
Through his words, they shall proudly stand
To let Gaius see the sun once more
And accomplish this untimely lore
"This seems too easy, right?" someone starts. Hayabusa appeared out of the shadows next to Alucard.
"Man, can you not frighten us?" Alucard jokes.
The ninja smiles. "I'll try."
Estes rolls his eyes. He reads.
The descent of the extraterrestrial
Marks the attendance of something bestial
Planets scoured, ours is found
Best we keep it safe and sound
"Zhask," Estes says with a dark tone. "I knew it. Karina has told me. He has come."
"Zhask? Who is he?" Hayabusa ponders.
Estes answers, "The lord of the Kastiyans. He can summon the otherworldly Dominator, a sentient being that merely seeks to destroy worlds within its wake. They shall never stop until this place is ours. I still don't know how he got here in the first place."
"Signals? Scouts?" Alucard suggests. "Or luck?"
"We shall see."
Only one can confirm redemption
But not the ones aforementioned
He is he, and shall fulfill his destiny
And prevent the longed-for tyranny
"Even without advancing, you know who is talked about here," said Estes.
"Me," the Demon Hunter blankly replied.
Hayabusa shrugged. "But in all honesty, Alucard, we never knew who that person was… until… I forgot. Dammit!" He laughs weakly. Alucard knew Hayabusa wasn't hiding anything else.
The fallen seraphim he never is
For his role, sacrificial it shall be
But one day, he'll meet once more, holiness' kiss
And the blade of flame will give peace from agony
"Not even my mind can help me comprehend this passage," the Elven king says. "And the Codex couldn't save the holographic film… only the text."
"Can you consult the Lords?" Alucard suggested.
"Dude," the ninja states. "We tried everything. And I mean, everything. We can't get a positive ID. Everything possibly related to this is wiped, except for the next stanza."
"What?"
It's the Demon Hunter whom he has saved
From the clutches of despair and treachery
One day, he shall raise the blade
And end the prophetic rivalry
"That person, or something, has saved you," Estes said. "And no, he's not of your clan."
"But… they said they were the ones who pulled me out of the lair!" Alucard pressed. "I swear, that's what I know!"
"You were found in the forest," Hayabusa explains. "Your memory, I assume, was newly wiped at that time. We have to find out who wiped it and why, but I think it's the same person."
"They lied to keep you safe," Estes added. "That's why we were panicking when you first came here. I knew you'd be curious to know who you truly were, and we couldn't risk losing you before the prophecy would even be fulfilled."
For his ancestry is both of grace and torment
To mend the bond is to begin his ascent
Transfigure to execute the final act
Volat ille per verum, to seal the prophetic pact
"Latin, a dead language," the Elven King began. "It is present in every dimension we live in. The line means, 'He flies for truth.'"
"I can read well, thanks," Alucard said. "Both of grace and torment… that hints my paused demonization."
"Don't take this upcoming question too grave, man," Hayabusa started. "But… did anyone tell you that when a demonizing process stops abruptly, the victim dies?"
Alucard's eyes widened. "Wait, what?! So I should be dead?!"
"Only angels have the ichor, or golden blood, to prevent them from being demonized," Estes says. "Only when they betray their benefactors will they become the devils that walk this earth. We speculated that an angel could have gifted you with the blessing, but if someone did descend, we would have known, no matter how secret the lair was. Someone's covering his, or her, tracks very well."
"So… why am I not allowed to use my right hand as my sword arm?"
"Here's the thing, my son. The ichor of that specific angel gave you the telepathic properties you thought you simply gained. It also seemed to unlock your demonic powers while you maintain your regular form. That's why your demonic energy is too volatile when it comes into contact with your greatsword. It also has something to do with the content of the said weapon," Estes explained thoroughly. "That sword of yours is not forged by any Demon Hunter, nor Elf, nor Human, nor Orc. It's made of the blood of the Viscount, Dracula. Blessed by an angel and imbued with both possessive and holy runes to give a complicated energy cocktail to the wielder."
"You're destined to wield it ever since your birth," Hayabusa adds. "You had a truer name, before the Hunters put you in. They named you Alucard, for they reversed the name of the owner of the blood that forged the sword in the first place. And that name of yours strikes fear into the hearts of demons. But something else in particular makes Alice quiver."
"We thought it could be the angel we were previously talking about. Unfortunately, those wicked women are fearful to even say the name," Estes shook his head. "At least, you now know a part of your ancestry. The rest remains unclear. Shall we continue?"
"Yeah, I guess," said the Demon Hunter, who was shivering from the sudden rush of knowledge.
The unknown legacy must be made external
To force memories of honor to be eternal
The first of worlds shall respond to the call
And never fear another world's fall
"Saber and the other cyborgs are prematurely covering this up," the ninja said. "They have otherworldly travels that they were planning just in case they need to undergo. This stanza is one of the reasons."
Act with haste, the dice are cast
Best make it so that this good world lasts
To see the rays of the sun fully bare
So the first course of action is to PREPARE.
"All text has ended," Alucard notifies. "But… what about my other ancestry? The good side?"
"We will look into it when we have free time," Estes replies. "Right now, your friends will need you, most especially him." He nudges his head to Hayabusa, who didn't seem affected.
"Thanks for your time," Alucard says. The two friends leave Estes to dispel the protective runes.
Meanwhile…
"Things look fine to me," said Natalia to Tigreal. The two were going around with their patrols.
"Not for Hayabusa, though. Look at the kid. He suddenly gets depressed when what's-her-name is around."
Natalia laughs. "It's Kagura. But, yeah. I can't help notice it."
Tigreal suddenly squints on his left. "Speak of the lady." Kagura was walking around with her umbrella, creepily silent. She looks up to the pair and waves. The two nod as Kagura walks up to them.
"Hey, you must be Tigreal and Natalia, right?" she asks. "Thanks for saving us back there. Our driver got pulled out from his seat by the horde. We don't even know how to drive, so we were swerving a lot."
"No problem, ma'am. It's just our job," Tigreal replied. "Would you mind if we talk to you?"
"Sure, no problem."
The trio sits down on a nearby bench, somewhere in the royal park. They see families stroll around, enjoying peace, while they (our beloved heroes) are the ones fighting for that same peace…
Which they might never achieve.
"This seems absolutely personal," Natalia begins, "but… what's with you and Hayabusa?"
Kagura doesn't speak. She just hid herself a lot more.
"Look, if you don't want to talk, it's all fine. But you can trust us. We can help."
She doesn't talk for another five seconds.
Then…
"Saber's right. We're lovers."
"Currently? Nice!" Tigreal replies.
Kagura suddenly frowns. "Formerly."
"Oh… sorry. Complication?"
"It's not that easy."
Natalia guesses. "So, you two got a third party?"
"Who would even interfere?" Kagura snickers. "Me and him? We were a kickbutt duo when we were kids. We'd have each other's backs. We may be the runts, but no one dared touch us."
"Lots of history, huh? I understand if it would be hard to let go," the knight replies. "But, what happened? What put you and him in disarray?"
The mage's head bowed. "Destiny."
"Care to elaborate?"
She breathed heavily, her voice trembling. "It was a simple walk to the market. Me, Hayabusa and his cousin, Furukuzi, went to buy flowers for Hayabusa's grandmother. It was so peaceful then, but it all changed."
"Attack?" Natalia asks.
"The former Shadow of Iga had gone rogue. He took out most of the civilians and vendors in that area. We tried to hide in the alleyway, but he found us and cornered us to the walls. Furukuzi rushed to defend us but he died when the katana was brought down. Hayabusa and I held our hands… and that's when it all started."
Natalia and Tigreal looked at each other. "Okay, what next?"
"Both of our powers… they became instantly unlocked the moment our hands touched. There was this huge wave of energy resonating the whole place, and the assailant was fazed, so he had to escape. He did, but the people took note of the structural damage of the force wave WE made. And after that, it's the last time I ever saw Hayabusa again. For a decade."
"10 years?!" Natalia exclaimed. "I am impressed that you haven't forgotten each other."
"I should have," Kagura said with a shaky breath. Her hands were shivering. "I really wish I should've. If I knew of our fates, then I wouldn't have met him in the first place!"
"What? What fate?"
"Our souls… they were intertwined. Destined to be together. But not in the way you think. I was born to be the next wielder of the Seimei Umbrella. Hayabusa wasn't trained to earn the title of Shadow. He was born to become the Shadow of Iga. His powers were already obtained ever since he was born, like mine. But in the proper age, when we touch each other, our souls become volatile and we can destroy an area in a 5 kilometer radius."
"That's why you were avoiding him! But… you could still be together… even with the conditions, right?"
Kagura shook his head. "We can't even get NEAR each other! Our powers grow stronger every day, and being a couple of inches close to each other is like priming a freaking nuclear bomb. And only an angel can break the curse."
Tigreal eyes Alucard and Hayabusa, walking to their location unknowingly. Kagura suddenly raises her head. Tears start to stream down as she blinks away, appearing somewhere far away from the pair.
"Hey, what's up?" Alucard greets. He sees Hayabusa shiver. "Oh… okay… can someone explain what's all that about?"
A day passes and Balmond and Hilda were ordered to scout Eruditio.
"Why this out of all places?" Balmond complains. "This will remain a dead city until people get back here again."
Sure enough, the whole place was deserted. However, the holographic billboards and signs remained intact. The Zephyr building still stood tall. However, a couple of houses were burnt or knocked down by demons and hoarders.
"Hylos confirmed an ancient presence here somewhere," Hilda explains. "I don't know. It's too quiet here."
"As long as they're doing fine, I'm not going to go ballistic."
"The question is… what's the entity?" Hilda asked.
Balmond stares in the sky, not paying attention.
"Hey, I am talking to you. Something wrong?"
Balmond points toward the foggy atmosphere. "Do you see that?"
"Hey, it's not the time to play jokes now. I don't see anything."
"I am serious! I saw something!" Balmond urges. "Can't you see it?"
"Of course I can't see it! Am I looking at it?" Hilda catches a dark figure brush through the fog. "Wait, is that…"
Out of the clouds emerged a colossal titan the two has never seen. It was probably 100 meters tall, judging from its towering height. Its skin was of pure stone, adorned with blue carvings and runes. A small face with a rune on the forehead was between the giant's huge shoulders. The back was mossy and grassy. Everywhere it stepped, it cracked the ground. The colossus is lugging around a vertical tower topped with a huge crystal on top.
Hilda told Balmond, "Use your telepathy now. Tell Estes we found the target."
"What's that?"
Hilda breathed, "It's a legendary stone titan. Probably the last of his kind."