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Darkness.
So, so much darkness.
So much 1x1x1x1 could take handfuls of it, breathe it in and forget. So much it would consume her whole, and still have it not be enough. Nothing would be enough, not now, not then, and not ever.
Her sword clattered to the ground, and another tsk came from Telamon. She looked away from her Creator, taking the time to grab her sword back. The weight of it was too clunky in her hands- and she was jealous of how her Creator looked so confident holding his own sword. The arena got lit up once more, the flames being a normal sight after every time they failed a parry or slash or- really anything.
"1x, how many times have I said so? We've gone over these parries too many times for you to get disarmed by that. Are you even trying?" he sneered a bit, before the glow in his halo softened and the flames died down, though a few still licked at her robes. He shook his head, walking back over to them and adjusting their stance. "It's fine. We'll review this again.”
She huffed, blowing a small stand of hair out her face. She just wanted to play, or even go back to the HQ and sort more paperwork. Anything would be better than having to do any more training. She didn't pay much attention after that- too focused on staring at the sky the entire time.
The darkness was too intense, even for them sometimes. It was harsh on their skin and it screamed at them from the inside out. Their swords were clumsy in their hands again, just like with their Creator once more.
It was taunting how the swords would slip out of their hands, into the darkness. The chains that bound them would not let them grab the swords again- and all they could do was watch as they slowly slid back.
They were a little kid again- just a hatchling that would follow each and every one of their Creator’s orders. It was stupid. They’d scoff at the thought now, and yet here they were, powerless once more in limbo.
It was a relief whenever they were taken out to a round. There- they held power. Their swords would bend to their will, and all of them would bow to them.
And their Creator could not stop them, not now, not anymore. They could see the look in his eyes, and found pleasure the defeat.
Their Creator’s… companions would swarm him at the start of rounds whenever they were killing, however it was no use. They had learned their creators tricks already. And the helpless look in their companions’ eyes made each killing more satisfying.
But who was that levitating?
He was tapping his pen against the paper, hand resting on his cheek as he huffed. Magic was boring- he had no interest in cultivating his own magic and supposedly tapping into his Creator’s magic.
Though, the boy across from him was pretty cute.
He snook a glance up at Dusekkar while the other was rambling, eyes silently roaming over features. The glasses, the small fur goat around him (he doubted it was real- his magic ‘lessons’ had already proven to him the other was far more compassionate about animals than he looked), and the bits of flame that would fire up as he got more passionate about topics.
Pretty, he thought. The flames danced in his eyes and casted a pretty glow over everything. It was strange, how the flames were so… gentle to him, when fire had scorched and burned him far too many times already.
”-1x? Are you listening?” Dusekkar had scooted closer, and 1x just realized he had stopped talking.
Embarrassing… he should’ve been paying more attention.
He quickly nodded- a little too fast- a smile appearing on his face.
“Fine. Please, please, continue.”
Dusekkar shot him a slightly concerned look, but went back to flipping through the book. They picked up on their topic again, and 1x couldn’t help but be at least a bit relieved they hadn’t pressed.
He tried to listen- for real this time- as he sat up a bit and scooted closer without realizing. If asked, he’d probably just justify it with wanting to see the other’s notes on the book… right… right.
After the lesson (seriously, why was he learning magic again?) 1x hesitated before standing up and following Dusekkar.
“Hey- wait. Wait up!” 1x winced at his slight voice crack, but quickly caught back up to him. He tugged on his wrist without thinking, a shiver running through him at the warmth that bloomed under his palms. “Can we… just…”
He stumbled over some of his words, cheeks heating up as he met the mage’s gaze.
”Can I just know more about you? Without any magic talk.”
Dusekkar was stunned for a moment, blinking as he met 1x’s gaze. He had always assumed the other hated him, but…
He smiled, a small laugh escaping him,
“I’d love to.”
Who is that? Who is- who- what is his name? They knew his name, they did. It danced at the edge of his consciousness, through the bloodshed madness in their mind.
It was midway through the round as they cleaned off another one of their blades that they heard it:
“Dusekkar! Come over here real quick-“
They nearly choked on their spit as they heard that, head snapping up without thinking. Their vision pulsed for a moment- it was truly him? He- Dusekkar? Him? For once, how did they forget him? Out of all people, why didn’t they recognize him-
The ticking of the clock became louder. They snapped out of the brief trance- hands trembling. No- no, they wouldn’t kill him. Not Dusekkar.
Shapes danced in their vision for a moment, reminding, pulsing-
She didn’t want to be in that limbo again.
1x slowly closed his door, making sure to not step on a few of the floorboards. He quickly made his way throughout the building before stopping at a familiar door.
A few series of knocks revealed Dusekkar on the other side of the door, smiling and the light on despite the late hour. The door creaked a bit as it was opened wider, 1x stepping inside.
“Pfft. I still can’t believe you have all of these books in here,” he muttered, shaking his head fondly as he trailed his fingers over the shelves lining the room.
As he glanced back, seeing his abashed expression, he quickly added:
“It’s cute.”
Dusekkar just sighed, shaking his head as he closed the door and walked over to 1x. He wrapped his arms around him, leaning back against his desk.
”You’re ridiculous sometimes,” he smiled, twirling a small strand of his hair around his finger. “I got something for you.”
1x paused at that, blinking in surprise. He met eyes with Dusekkar, giving a small hum to show his intrigue.
“What did you get?”
He tilted his head, watching as he pulled out a small jewelry box. Inside, two glimmering silver earrings were hanging.
Dusekkar held one out to 1x, brushing more of his hair back.
“So we could match.”
1x couldn’t hide his reaction at that, cheeks flushing a bit as the other fussed over him to put the earring on.
“Corny bastard,” he huffed out, though still tilted his head up to let him put on the earring better.
Dusekkar simply shrugged, pressing a small kiss to his cheek before letting him pull away a bit to inspect the new jewelry.
He looked over at the mirror hanging nearby, silently taking in both of them with the earring. He fiddled with it, before a small sigh escaped him and he smiled.
”It’s pretty.”
No- no- this wasn’t right, they shouldn’t have lost this round-
Their breathing was heavy as the round ending screen flashed before their eyes, tensing already before he felt the chains lock back around their limbs. Darkness. Again.
Their head was hung low, hair that had been choppily cut falling over their face.
Tsk. I thought you knew better than this, 1x1x1x1. You haven’t lost one this bad in a while.
She gritted her teeth, refusing to respond for a moment before a sharp pain exploded in her gut and a response was forced out.
“I know.”
It was that mage’s fault. They had slowed him down far too much that round with that shitty staff. And… what was their name again?
He could feel the voice’s smile from here, taunting, just at the edge of their vision.
You won’t let this happen again, right?
1x took a long, sharp breath through her teeth as more pain made them double over more again. She took a few deep breaths, before nodding.
“I’ll kill that fucking mage first next time.”