'You'd better Satisfy me, okay?'
Still Grinning and Shivering because of the cold Air- Arkane- and his group moved towards the park behind the Castle. The castle isn't open yet, but the park is seemingly full of activity. The roundabout is Spinning, street shops are shimmering with lights and People are Sitting on the benches spread across the Lake.
Arkane got some Intense gazes from the girls around him, while Aria seems to be getting some intense gazes from Some boys. Lucas was shifting his shoulders up and down.
Walking forward towards the lake, arkane look back at the castle.
'How ironic, all the gods are missing and the Zodiacs are dead while mortals like us are still alive and even better than them with even a Perfect guide to godhood'
'Well.. but.. Where did the gods go to? Who killed The Zodiacs?'
These were the questions he never found out the answer to- even in his own life. Now he's a third rate editor in some building of Ember and hanging out with a bunch of Kids..
'Come to think of it, what was my age ? 26?'
They finally reached the Lake after Arkane looked back from the Castle.
The Lake was beautiful. It was reflecting the pink Sky with White Mist swirling here and there occasionally and disappearing like clouds. The Water was shining with a soft goden light - because there were star-like things hanging above the Lake by some Means- it looked Nice to eye. Looking at the Lake, Arkane lost in thoughts again.. thinking about Apertia..
'She looks the most soothing to my eyes.'
Apparantly, Apertia Silvae was Arkane Kenelsy's One and only Girlfriend.. who he was supposed to marry after coming back from his last adventure- which no one knew that would be his last in his own world- the world was at peace after a long time of war between the Rulers of Humanity of their kind.
No one won, no one lost- there came a single force from nowhere and destroyed all of them who dared to fight and then disappeared in nowhere.
No one knew who that was- no one knew if they were a woman, a man or something else. Perhaps a God came back?
Looking at the Lake and holding a Cone of icecream - Ruyi told him what it was called- he Thought about his World. He was missing his own people.. not that there were many people who knew him. He thought he was the most Isolated person in the world but there was someone more than him- both powerful and Isolated. Perhaps..
That was the truth of power?
The more lonely you become, the more freedom you gain.
The more chains disappears, the more you become strong.
But it was all wrong. Arkane thought of all of these things as simply wrong- because this kind of force is not strength. Real power is breaking the chains themselves, not being at the mercy of them.
The more the chains, the more opportunities to gain power.
That was Arkane's mindset..
Looking around- he saw Ruyi yelling at Nav and Lucas and Aria Sitting on the bench together smiling and holding hands.
'Aper..'
There was a loud sound then, and suddenly a voice came from all directions:
"Hello Visitors! We- The Ember Company Welcomes all of you to our Beautiful Park of Ember Castle. The Castle Gates are opening starting now and will remain opened Till 5 PM. The Son of The President Himself are in charge of the Castle Today."
Already walking over to Ruyi, Arkane asked:
"Hey? How are they talking like this?"
Deadpan, Ruyi, Asked him back:
"Like what?"
Arkane said:
"Where's this voice coming from? It looks like they are using air as a med-"
Cutting him off in the middle, Ruyi said:
"They are using speakers they've set all around the place, ofcourse. "
Ruyi then walked over to Lucas and everyone started walk on the path leading to the stairs to the Castle.
'Scorpio..'
Arkane never got the Chance to explore it even in his past life. And he's doing it now as a Mundane human.. 'Ironic..'
The castle they are going to visit today- although a lesser replica of the real one from the outside- is the castle of Scorpio.
Scorpio is one of the 12 Lesser Deities. They are independent and self made but Are related to the gods in some way. Thier powers fuel from the Celestial bodies - no one really has even found out what these Celestial bodies were or is but- people believe that those Planets are Homes to gods and are so faraway that only gods Themselves can travel from here to there and vice versa.
No one knows anything about them much except for What those things were.
Although, in Arkane's world's history - people has found out a little about the war between The 12 Lesser Deities and The Rejection of The gods. But these are most likely myths.. or perhaps they are not.
'My head always aches thinking about these People, why do we have to gain Knowledge to become powerful..?'
Nav was watching Arkane all along, arkane was deep in thinking sometimes frowning sometimes his eyes widening. Finally, he said to arkane:
"Hey.. Arkie..? Are you fine? Why are you getting startled by the road blocks though? There's a whole castle in front of you."
Arkane looked at him.
"O-oh, yeah The castle of Scorpio is a beauty to behold.."
"Huh.? Scorpio? Who's that?"
Arkane Coughed and said again in a hurried tone:
"Ah, nothing, no one, I meant to say 'Ember'''
*****
Outside of Arkane's Sight, Someone was standing on the wall of The castle looking down. It was a beautiful women with blue eyes and Dark black Hair. Her pale skin and delicate figure made it difficult to look away. She glanced at the small figure of Arkane from.the roof of the castle and said without turning back:
"After they come inside, close the gates after making sure that they are the only one's inside."
The person behind her hesitated in his words:
"B-but ma'am? How can we-"
The woman said:
"I will handle the consequences, go."
The man disappeared from behind her then.
She placed her hands on the boundary of the Castle. Looking Below, and focusing on her wrist, she smiled.. uh very faintly as if remembering a Happy memory.
[Author's Note: yayy! Another main character!]