04-03-2015, 01:54 AM
Negi woke to darkness, a darkness which, at first glance, was not unlike that which he had encountered when he had first arrived. Yet, upon closer inspection, he decided that this darkness was fundamentally different. Unlike the last time, he did not sense a malevolence emanating from the darkness itself, an angry specter that sought to evict him from its domain. Rather, the darkness cocooned him protectively and soothingly. It spoke of the long forgotten halcyon days, relics of the past, of an innocent time. It became a gentle zephyr and the warm sunlight, caressing him, urging him to forget and return to a simpler time, to a time with no regrets. It promised peace and quiet forevermore, a life with no worries. It warded off his pain, his memories, his thoughts. There was no light, but he didn't need to see. There was no sound, but he didn't need to hear. There was nothing, but it was fine; he didn't need to do anything. He was in his own world where nothing mattered.
Negi found that he couldn't stay in this void. While it was peaceful, there was something bothering him, a memory lurking just out of reach. He felt he needed to leave, though he didn't know why. Yet he couldn't bring himself to leave. The prospect of leaving the sheltered sanctuary was daunting. Would you willingly return to a world of pain and disappointment? The darkness whispered quietly in his mind - or were they his own thoughts? But now that he considered it, the idea of leaving was unthinkable. He couldn't stay and he couldn't leave. Torn between leaving and stay, he did nothing. There's nothing to return to. Why would you leave? Slowly, he convinced himself that it was better to stay.
Is it okay to leave it like that? asked a quiet voice from behind him.
The voice lifted Negi out of his torpor. He didn't know how long he had been in that state, nor who was behind him, but he found that he didn't care. He didn't bother to turn around, not that there was anything to see. Nor did he deign to respond.
Negi?
Negi felt compelled to answer, despite his apathy. It's like there's a haze in my mind... I can't remember a thing... but... but I... I... I can't just stay still in a place like this. I get the feeling that... He faltered, unsure of what it was he felt, why he wanted to leave. You don't want to leave. As he struggled to complete his thought, other voices chimed in.
Ain't that right. If you're the leading role in the spotlight, there's a stage you can't step down from.
Hey, yeah, didn't you have a rival's ass to kick when you got stronger?
Furthermore, you certainly have comrades you yourself swore to protect, even if you must risk your own life. Did you not?
And don't you have someone who you've risked your all to keep chasing? Someone you kept looking for?
Negi realized that all of these voices gave valid reasons to return. He began to consider leaving again. He had overcome greater losses in the past, had he not? He had found things worth fighting for, worth suffering for, even worth dying for. He wondered why he even considered staying here. These are reasons that were valid. Past. Finished. Done. They are no longer relevant. Have you forgotten where you are? The darkness had become agitated, no longer a quiet summer afternoon. The gentle wind was now a strong gale, whipping around wildly and viciously. The once peaceful atmosphere had become ominous.
It doesn't matter where I am. I'll just find new reasons to fight, new things to fight for. He shouted into the wind, standing his ground against the darkness.
You fool! Why do you never remember? Must you be reminded?
There are - Negi was cut off as the darkness fractured into a kaleidoscope of images, a phantasmagoria of memories. The images - his memories - came rushing back; slowly at first, but then at a faster rate, soon devolving into a chaotic mess.
He is a young child, not more than six years old, running back home on a snowy day. As he makes his way over a hill, he is dumbstruck by the sight of his village burning. Disregarding his safety, he recklessly runs into the village, repeatedly yelling his sister's name. He falls silent when he sees the state of the village. Throughout the village, demons, nearly twice as tall as the villagers, roam unchecked. Villagers band together into small groups, desperately trying to survive. It is futile. The villagers cast spell after spell at the demons. It doesn't do any appreciable damage to the demons. It doesn't even slow their approach. The village is littered with corpses and morbid statues of petrified villagers, their faces frozen in expressions of fear. He takes all of this in slowly. In his shock, he doesn't notice that his entrance had attracted the attention of some of the demons. Suddenly, he notices one of the demons in front of him. Up close, the demon seems even larger. It raises an arm, preparing to crush him like a bug. There is no where to run, not that he could in his fear. He watches as the arm descends, waiting for the end -
He is a demon. His skin is suffused with darkness and covered with unnatural glyphs. He is covered in cuts and wounds, but he doesn't feel them. He only feels rage. He has but one thought - Never forgive the enemy. It is his mantra. He will not rest until they are dead. He launches himself at the enemy with every intent to kill -
A stone spear shoots out of the darkness and impales him through the shoulder before he can react. He crumples, and is unable to get up as the battle rages around him -
He is sparring against a robot, a doll, and a young girl. He is doing poorly, fighting defensively -
He is fighting a demon, one of the demons that had attacked his village -
Eight obsidian pillars fall from the sky -
A white light -
A white light appeared, expanding to cover the entire area. Negi found himself strangely calm, despite what he had seen. He knew this was all in the past and that it was all over. He started walking, ready to leave this place, ready for a new adventure.
Negi found that he couldn't stay in this void. While it was peaceful, there was something bothering him, a memory lurking just out of reach. He felt he needed to leave, though he didn't know why. Yet he couldn't bring himself to leave. The prospect of leaving the sheltered sanctuary was daunting. Would you willingly return to a world of pain and disappointment? The darkness whispered quietly in his mind - or were they his own thoughts? But now that he considered it, the idea of leaving was unthinkable. He couldn't stay and he couldn't leave. Torn between leaving and stay, he did nothing. There's nothing to return to. Why would you leave? Slowly, he convinced himself that it was better to stay.
Is it okay to leave it like that? asked a quiet voice from behind him.
The voice lifted Negi out of his torpor. He didn't know how long he had been in that state, nor who was behind him, but he found that he didn't care. He didn't bother to turn around, not that there was anything to see. Nor did he deign to respond.
Negi?
Negi felt compelled to answer, despite his apathy. It's like there's a haze in my mind... I can't remember a thing... but... but I... I... I can't just stay still in a place like this. I get the feeling that... He faltered, unsure of what it was he felt, why he wanted to leave. You don't want to leave. As he struggled to complete his thought, other voices chimed in.
Ain't that right. If you're the leading role in the spotlight, there's a stage you can't step down from.
Hey, yeah, didn't you have a rival's ass to kick when you got stronger?
Furthermore, you certainly have comrades you yourself swore to protect, even if you must risk your own life. Did you not?
And don't you have someone who you've risked your all to keep chasing? Someone you kept looking for?
Negi realized that all of these voices gave valid reasons to return. He began to consider leaving again. He had overcome greater losses in the past, had he not? He had found things worth fighting for, worth suffering for, even worth dying for. He wondered why he even considered staying here. These are reasons that were valid. Past. Finished. Done. They are no longer relevant. Have you forgotten where you are? The darkness had become agitated, no longer a quiet summer afternoon. The gentle wind was now a strong gale, whipping around wildly and viciously. The once peaceful atmosphere had become ominous.
It doesn't matter where I am. I'll just find new reasons to fight, new things to fight for. He shouted into the wind, standing his ground against the darkness.
You fool! Why do you never remember? Must you be reminded?
There are - Negi was cut off as the darkness fractured into a kaleidoscope of images, a phantasmagoria of memories. The images - his memories - came rushing back; slowly at first, but then at a faster rate, soon devolving into a chaotic mess.
He is a young child, not more than six years old, running back home on a snowy day. As he makes his way over a hill, he is dumbstruck by the sight of his village burning. Disregarding his safety, he recklessly runs into the village, repeatedly yelling his sister's name. He falls silent when he sees the state of the village. Throughout the village, demons, nearly twice as tall as the villagers, roam unchecked. Villagers band together into small groups, desperately trying to survive. It is futile. The villagers cast spell after spell at the demons. It doesn't do any appreciable damage to the demons. It doesn't even slow their approach. The village is littered with corpses and morbid statues of petrified villagers, their faces frozen in expressions of fear. He takes all of this in slowly. In his shock, he doesn't notice that his entrance had attracted the attention of some of the demons. Suddenly, he notices one of the demons in front of him. Up close, the demon seems even larger. It raises an arm, preparing to crush him like a bug. There is no where to run, not that he could in his fear. He watches as the arm descends, waiting for the end -
He is a demon. His skin is suffused with darkness and covered with unnatural glyphs. He is covered in cuts and wounds, but he doesn't feel them. He only feels rage. He has but one thought - Never forgive the enemy. It is his mantra. He will not rest until they are dead. He launches himself at the enemy with every intent to kill -
A stone spear shoots out of the darkness and impales him through the shoulder before he can react. He crumples, and is unable to get up as the battle rages around him -
He is sparring against a robot, a doll, and a young girl. He is doing poorly, fighting defensively -
He is fighting a demon, one of the demons that had attacked his village -
Eight obsidian pillars fall from the sky -
A white light -
A white light appeared, expanding to cover the entire area. Negi found himself strangely calm, despite what he had seen. He knew this was all in the past and that it was all over. He started walking, ready to leave this place, ready for a new adventure.