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The insides of the hospital was expected and unexpected. At first glance it looked normal, with one long hallway going from one end to another. Multiple 'rooms' lined each other on both sides, each with a width of approximately five meters. But, instead of normal doors, a churning, magical wall of white stood, just like in the tunnel. 

I followed—more like got carried by Ether to the farthest rooms, where it was dead silent. Once we arrived at a particular room, Ether held out its hand and softly tapped the magical wall, sending ripples through it. Then it promptly dragged me in.

Woosh! Woosh!

What came in my sight left me in utter disbelief once again. 

A clear field, with unnatural green grass, blue skies, and perfect patches of clouds. Immediately, a gentle, heart melting breeze hit me. Nearly stumbling a groan out of me. The temperature was balanced just right, the sounds, melodic and harmonic, echoed directly in my mind. 

I felt at peace.

Peace that I haven't felt in a long time.

'I miss it.'

The warmth it gave, the comfort it spread. 

The love it contained.

'I miss it.'

My body lost all of its strength as I fell on my back, pain didn't come through this time. The grass on my back was something I have never experienced. instantly, Fatigue that had accumulated to a terrifying degree crashed into me. 

I was too tired, physically and mentally. 

Waking up in darkness, and nearly losing yourself twice. 

Faced with agonising pain that felt as if I was being teared apart.

The confusion and apprehension of the bleak future.

It was too much for someone like me.

Too much.

A soft voice whispered into my mind, interrupting me.

"You have been through a lot, Bane. Have some rest, you will need it."

Ether's last words didn't even conjure itself in my mind as darkness took my sight.

——————————————————————————-

ETHER

'Poor child.'

Ether stared down at the supposed future of their kind, A Bane. Meant to guide them to victory, to balance. 

'Its body is thoroughly and sinisterly broken. The Void hasn't taken lightly to the birth of a Bane. Of course it wouldn't, Banes are its nemesis. it won't hold back even if it meant losing some power in the end.'

A tremor ran through Ether as its rigid face hardened even more.

'This much damage to a child is unforgivable, especially a Bane. Simply unforgivable.'

The silent rage in its body calmed down a second later. 

'Hah…'

Ether focused on the Bane again.

'Your life won't be pleasant. You will be thrown into war, you will see death, you will see blood, you will see and experience madness like no other. Your body will be torn apart, your will, will be shattered again and again. Your sense of self will be lost. You won't be the same. But I guess that's what we were born for. To be born, to train, to fight, then, to die. That's all we have.'

Ether reached out its hand, hovering it over Ariel's body. Then, it's middle finger pricked at its ring finger. 

The next second, a drop of blood, bright red with a tinge of white dropped on Ariel's head. A layer of light clinging to his skin appeared in a blink. His body, smeared with blood, began to glow furiously. The blood started to vanish bit by bit, his complexion slowly grew back to that Healthy, perfect white.

The process went on for a few minutes before the light filtered out in a whisp of black smoke. What remained was a towering body over 2.5 meters. In the center of its chest hung a tear—shaped obsidian rock. And right near it, on his shoulder, an intricate mark of a spinning wheel was melted into his flesh. As if someone had welded it.

'Truly, a Bane in the flesh. Its body's strength and size outweighs the norm of our kind. A special existence indeed. The last time a Bane was born, our side quickly became the wining side. We were so powerful that the Void, the all mighty Void, was hesitant to initiate conflict. The Bane's name was Twilight. A name that was bestowed upon it by the Esteemed Ones, the greatest honor and pride one could have. I wasn't born at that time but I'm sure it was a great, prosperous time.'

'But…'

Ether eyed the bane tentatively.

'I guess I'm in luck.'

Out of nowhere, whiteness blinded it.

Ether stood frozen.

In the whiteness, three voices, far yet close, scratchy but addictive spoke. At first it was mumbles but after a while. The voices became clear, one word running of their tongue.

"Mahoraga."

"….."

Then, the whiteness receded in a blink, leaving Ether back on the field. 

Ether's body shivered intensely the next moment as puddles and puddles of sweat trailed of its body. 

'T-the Esteemed Ones…'

Ether was shaken to the core, it knew what the meaning behind the voice meant. 

'T-they have spoken!' 

To be able to hear their voices was a blessing itself. To be graced with their presence, to be addressed by them. It was something unforgettable, unthinkable, and unbelievable. 

Ether's knees buckled and it took to the ground in front of Bane. Breathing- no, wheezing even. What looked like tears mixed with sweat streaked down its face while one thought echoed in its mind.

'T-thank y-you.'

Ether's shaking form dug its head into the grass as far as it could go, eventually. Its whole body was planted to the grass in a dogeza.

'Thank you for being born, my liege.'

——————————————————————————

IRON

Standing guard was a welcome contrast compared to the killings it had to do. For once it was left at peace without any children screaming in Pain and horror. There was no beastly, flesh abominations trying to cut it off. And better than that, it didn't need to kill. 

Near the entrance, the once busy corner huddled by hundreds had only a few dozens left, waiting in anticipation for the Bane.

Iron thought otherwise after seeing the damage dealt to its liege. 

Suddenly, Iron went rigid. Not it alone, but every single being in the city went as rigid as a statue. Three voices reverberated through the minds of all the residents. Whispering one word.

"Mahoraga."

All the beings immediately knelt on the bridges without caring for their surroundings, their figures trembling out of fear, respect, awe, reverence. 

Iron was no exception.

'T-they have spoken!'

'Not just to me, to everyone!'

Iron raised its head to see what it already expected. Kneeling figures of their kind, quivering in their place. Their heads even lower than their knees.

Iron was dazed before his mind returned to its sharp nature.

'That name…'

'Mahoraga.'

It knew perfectly what it meant, who was it for, and what impact it will have.

'The Bane… it really received their acknowledgment. To have the Esteemed Ones approve of you is a miracle, nonetheless a child that was just born. Astonishing, truly astonishing. I'm grateful to be able to witness this.'

——————————————————————————

ARIEL

I had a dream.

A dream that felt familiar.

I was standing before three spheres of light. 

Each of them floating in place with a majestic grace. 

Their beauty once again dazed me.

And once again, tendrils of white stretched out to my head. 

A sudden whisper brushed my mind again and again.

I just stood there, dazed. And waited.

Eventually, the whispers became comprehensible as seconds passed.

Finally, after a good amount of time. I managed to discern the voice.

It was soft and gentle, like a thousand leafs brushing against my ears.

"Mahoraga…"

A name I've never heard of sounded in my head.

"Divine General Mahoraga."

The voice declared ominously.

"Wake up and lead your soldiers to victory."

I blinked, opening my eyes to a blue sky. Wind breezed past my ears. The white clouds painting a relaxing image.

My body felt at ease for once.

My mind felt peaceful. 

I could breathe properly again.

Standing up, audible pops of satisfaction reached my ears as I held back a groan. The grass beneath sending warm currents into my feet.

"You're awake."

A voice interrupted my thoughts. Glancing back, I saw Ether sitting down on its legs cordially with its hands on its knees. Silently staring at me.

'I really need to learn how to speak, I have too many questions.'

"Yes?"

'What?'

"You said you have questions, right?"

'Wait, you can hear me?'

"I couldn't before but now I can."

"…."

I was confused.

'And how does that work?'

"You must've heard it too, your name."

'Mahoraga?'

"Hah… yes, although I'm ashamed to say I don't know for sure, but the answer is in relation to that."

'I see.'

…

…

The silence stretched between us for a good thirty seconds before I coughed out a question.

'So… my name is Mahoraga now?'

"Yes."

Then, I asked a question that's been on my mind since I got here.

'What am I?'

I sensed a smile from Ether.

"A Protector."

'What are we protecting?'

"Balance."

'Why?'

"Because it's our duty."

'What are we protecting Balance from?'

At that question, Ether's shoulders straightened. Its tone was firm as it spoke.

"The Void. You've already seen it. Already felt how sinister it is. Already felt its malice directed at you and survived it. You should know it's not something that's meant to exist."

I frowned, at least I like to think so.

'What caused this… war?'

An answer I didn't expect came.

"I don't know."

'What? What do you mean?'

"All of us are born the same way Mahoraga. We just… come into existence, well, essentially, it's the blood of the Esteemed Ones that shape our body. As a result we came to be. We have only one purpose, one duty, one order. That's to destroy the Void."

I was stunned, thinking about how sketchy that sounded.

'You've never questioned it?'

"Of course I have."

'Then-'

"But this is where I was born, I belong here, I will live here, I will carry out my duty here, and I will die here."

I almost scoffed but managed to suppress it.

'Just like that? Is it really that simple to you.'

"Yes… to me, it is.

A/N: I hope you like it :) don't forget to support the ff, I will take anything.