The Endless Reverith: Archon

  Chapter 1: Archon of Dreams—Return To What Once Was (2)

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  Resonance.

  Also known as this world's essence.

  It was the soul material for life, it aided both in the creation of entities and living matters throughout the world. It also served as the required asset to fully conjure arcana of different mystic properties. It was the only matter that can't be fully explained with science or logic, but it could be rendered to apply in different uses.

  The world relied on resonance as it was the essential flow of energy that not only allowed survivability for all creatures and beings, but also the trigger for evolutions and greater creation.

  And how was resonance maintained or created? The world of Aetheria is responsible for that, it was the sole capability of the world to create and consume resonance in a balanced manner. It was interdependent on Resonance as was Resonance to the world.

  And what if one of those were to be removed? Then the system breaks.

  The moment the world could no longer produce resonance is the moment the essence of life is slowly in a ticking time bomb. While of course, there is a way to restart the chain, but if the resonance was depleted at an insurmountable rate? Then there is no way to gain what was lost.

  It would take at least tens of millions of years before all the resonance in the world would be depleted… but the Hero… the Hero condemned the world and its residents.

  The tens of millions of years lifespan turned to only three months when the Hero took everything.

  The Gods had forsaken the world and its faithful people had long since passed.

  ? ??? ?

  The walk back to my residence was a long one.

  Daemons littered across the world and monsters of undesirable traits had continuously consumed the world. The Astral Front, a 15-kilometre zone teeming with the survivors of the different people and cultures that flooded Aetheria once, had fallen. It served as the last bastion of the world, of each race, yet it was no more. Many of those small groups that fled from the battlefield were slowly faltering, and those who did survive, they lost more each time an encounter with cultists or daemons came.

  Food was scarce and so was water. Even if you somehow found an area that is leaking a small amount of resonance, it was too little to even conjure drinkable water from resonance alone.

  And soon… that small and quaint cabin came to view.

  …

  Creak

  The floor below me creaked with each small step I took.

  I tried my best to ensure the cabin would survive as long as the world… but with the restless weather of the world, it would end up affecting the last place of home he had with his loved ones.

  Entering one of the rooms inside the cabin, there I found a quiet lady resting on a queen-sized bed. I found myself slowly inching closer, moving around the bed to face her—to which I knelt down and held her soft hands.

  I slowly raised my eyes to her. It met her stillness to which she rested in a quiet ache.

  It was a thought that kept replaying in my mind as to why I'm still alive? I should have died protecting her… but she was the persistent one.

  I traced my newly reformed hand across her arm, slowly placing the back of the hand against her neck. Trying to sense that faint yet stable warmth. I couldn't help but find her once smooth skin of snow to be merely pale, almost without color.

  The space between us was silent, except for those aching seconds of long and silent exhales.

  I pressed my other hand on her knuckles, they were cold as dull metal. And as I pressed the tip of my finger on a tatoo-looking figure over her skin, a reverb disruptor, trying to find another faint pulse of resonance left in her body.

  It was there as I am certain… but it was weak and fading. The damn Hero was right. I should've just killed the Hero instead of saving her.

  And when I looked at my beloved's face—the once daughter of Synthara, the Arch Sorceress of the Astral Choir, and the pride of the Arcana Association.

  Arishu Astrali

  My beloved.

  The woman that with just one weave of her small finger against the air could suture the environment with elemental hymns, whose presence once made even the most arrogant Imperia Knights lower their heads. Now, all that power trembled beneath shut eyelids, barely a drop on the ocean she once commanded. Just drained beyond the reach of fury and pride.

  I brushed a segment of hair that turned silvery white from the battle against the Hero while softly intertwining it against my finger. Her hair lays dull now, like stars that had forgotten to sparkle.

  ? You should have ran. ?

  My voice was soft yet it trembled. There was a buildup of regret, rage, hate, and utter hesitation filling my heart. A heart demon was always the curse of everyone, a temptation, an envy. It destroys one's own soul if left unchecked.

  I buried my face against the soft mattress beside her, hiding my pained expression and allowing the tears to soak into the soft material. My hand firmly yet softly gripped her hands, intertwining with her.

  Why… Why did you stay? Why didn't you let me help you? Why did you face the Hero alone? I am so frustrated and full of regret… Why didn't you just stay with me?

  Her fingers slowly twitched faintly against mine, as if assuring me I'm still her and assuring herself that I am with her.

  She knew that I went to hunt the Hero and she was also half-certain that I wouldn't come back. She made an oath to follow me if I didn't… But now that I'm with her—she was crying while the corners of her lips slowly curve upwards.

  I slowly raised my face towards her eyes at the same time she spoke.

  ? K-k-kuroshiro… Y-you're… s-s… safe? ?

  A little part of me couldn't help but be concerned but the biggest part of me was the happiest that I could still see her smile, albeit painfully. I slowly nodded my head, only swaying it slightly before leaning in closer.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  ? Shh… I'm safe. ?

  Arishu tried to sit up straight but she felt unbearable pain when she did. I slowly stood up from where I knelt down and sat at the edge of the bed where I pressed my hand against her shoulder before I whispered softly.

  ? No. No… don't move. It's fine. ?

  ? B-b-but… y-you look… w-wait… Y-your a-a-arm… ?

  She tried whispering but the syllables cracked with fatigue. She was using her remaining strength for the day… or maybe her life to try and communicate with her lover.

  ? Save your voice. ?

  I murmured to cut her off. The smallest part of concern slowly started growing tenfold at the sound of her trying to speak. I gently picked up her wrist, holding it as if it was a priceless artifact before kissing her knuckles.

  ? I'm here… I'm not going anywhere. ?

  As for her question regarding the arm… I'd rather not worry her more about something when the world is already exhausted beyond what it can take. I would instead want her to rest peacefully with me and I would for her.

  And when I looked at her eyes, she blinked slowly. As if savoring my simple words of affection. But I knew she thought of something else.

  My face was scarred, worn, and battered down. The left side of my face was burnt and the eye on the same side had long since faded, it was the result of a sacrifice to save her from the Hero previously.

  I expected her to comment on it—but she just smiled. A smile so small but meaningful to me. I couldn't help but cry as I pressed my face against her palm.

  ? I'm… so sorry… Arishu. ?

  She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. She thought her husband had changed… but he was still the soft person she thoroughly knew. She knew the world was passing as the faint trace of resonance had begun disappearing at the area where their cabin rested.

  I had created this cabin in this specific place because it was the forest where my mother once resided. A forest where the former Guardian protected and laid its rest. And where the first ancestor attained his blessing.

  She slowly cupped my cheek as she whispered with the soft voice of an exhausted angel.

  ? It… it will… be alright… K-kuroshiro… ?

  Her smile lingered for only a breath, then collapsed into a stillness heavy with exhaustion. Yet even as the corners of her lips fell, the warmth of it remained, clinging to the air like a ghost of the life she once commanded. My thumb gently brushed against the back of her cold hand, and she squeezed back with what strength she had left.

  As I repeat...

  Not yet.

  Not while I'm still here.

  ? Rest, Arishu. I'll handle the rest. ?

  She nodded weakly, eyelids beginning to drop, trusting me with a faith I wasn't sure I deserved.

  I let my forehead lower near her hand to anchor myself into her. The exhaustion in me was there but while she was still alive, there was no time to rest.

  Both her and me?

  It hadn't taken this—whatever faint miracle still tied our lives together.

  …

  Hsssss

  But peace never lasts long.

  A whisper flowed through the cabin's silence, not made of voice, breath, or anything mortal.

  It hissed softly along the grain of the wood and under the floorboards, like a serpent slithering way inside. A daemon or a spirit… whatever it is, it seems to be attracted to me or Arishu.

  I slowly stood up and kissed her forehead before departing to find the source of that whisper. I grabbed the hilt of my newfound weapon—although this would've been handy in the War for Aetheria—I can still use this to defend whatever remaining time I have with Arishu.

  And when I stepped foot just outside the room, suddenly something shifted. The world around me instantly turned black—I thought I was in an illusion or the world suddenly cracked, but I was returned to where I was.

  But what surprised me was… pure resonance?

  Thou won't need that anymore.

  I swung my sword in an arc behind me—slashing the open space and immediately left a massive hole in my cabin, destroying that direction of my house. My eyes sharpened as if to find something existing yet nothing was there.

  Then something hit me. Something in my core.

  ? G-gr—aah..!? ?

  I suddenly started convulsing as my body suddenly was overflowing with resonance… panic overcame me for a moment before I slowly settled down to the floor to immediately cleanse it and adopt it as my own. If one had too much resonance than what they can carry, especially pure resonance, one would ultimately suffer with a core explosion.

  I got into a lotus meditation position before guiding the pure resonance into certain areas of my body. I needed to force my breathing to slow down and remain calm, the last time I had to do such a procedure was almost a year ago.

  I clenched my teeth.

  In. Out. Hold. Guide. Repeat.

  And when almost a minute had passed, I had fully consumed and stored the new round resonance into my system. I suddenly found my strength again… no, not again. It was terrifyingly powerful.

  Almost immediately, I stood up with something in mind.

  Indomina Rejuvenation

  It was an resonant ability that could potentially damage your entire core as it would need an extreme amount of resonance in you—but not that he would use it on himself, but on Arishu. He can finally help her.

  And as always… before I could do something useful in my life, something I would never regret, something stopped me.

  Like I said… thou won't need that anymore.

  The same whisper resounded in my ears again. What does it mean that I don't need anymore? And if it couldn't answer me, it was gonna be beyond saving as he wasn't gonna let anything stop him from at least attempting to save his beloved.

  ? Show yourself. Otherwise I'll explode this entire area with resonance. ?

  I threatened as I began charging up my core alongside the newfound weapon, it began singing in a grave yet wonderful sound in my ears. I suddenly remembered what it feels like to fight happily and I was gonna—

  What?

  Suddenly I felt restrained and the black void of space returned.

  Why, thou is quite a nuisance to my being.

  And before I could even properly adjust to where I am, I suddenly gawked.

  ? A-arishu..? ?

  I stammered for a second too long but then calmed down. A fury in my heart started stretching towards my mind.

  ? You're not Arishu… why are you trying to morph into her? You don't have the right to be her—! ?

  And before I could continue speaking or even release my regained strength, a bind compelled me to stop.

  Foolish mortal.

  The voice resounded into my ears in every direction. It felt like I was surrounded by the wavelength of itself, even though I couldn't find a signature to where it came.

  Thou dare to question my being? If thou wer nay the chosen one, I would hast thou embedded to the floor as thou hadst done to that infidel Hero.

  The being spoke with careful malice before she grabbed my chin and lowered it to her.

  Quite the befallen events cameth to thou. It is of great wonders as to how thou still hast claim over thoughts.

  ? W… what are you..? ?

  No matter how much I thrash or squirm, I can't find the strength to resist such a bind.

  What am I?

  The space around me trembled with each syllable.

  Thou speaketh as though 'what' could contain my being.

  And she stepped a bit too close, my intuition and instincts tried to fight against the bind. Even trying to summon that newfound power I couldn't name nor comprehend, but I still can't.

  And this thing…

  She slowly took my face into her hands, as if revering me—before she slowly took my wrist, showcasing a remarkable rune mark onto my hands. A crescent moon with a *raggedy yet sharp line crossed over it.

  *A/N: Tacet Mark.

  Her fingers crossed onto the surface of my skin before I suddenly felt my core responding to her power, the blade appeared in her hands where she slowly parted away from me and held it between us. The tip aiming at my neck.

  Thou hast yet to realize what thou could truly do. Thou's foolishness and hesitation brought this world, mine beloved creation, to its knees.

  And before I could even question her existence, to which I now believe she's the creator, and her failure to protect us all—the blade suddenly turned into black mist before it enveloped my body. And at the same time, the bind that held me was released.

  Then she turned around, walking away while bringing us back into my cabin.

  Thou was ready to eliminate my existence with that toy thou hast in their arsenal. Yet that toy is mine, I am merely granting it to you.

  The entiry summoned a portal behind her, slowly ever increasing before she spoke with terrifying calmness in the second topic.

  How pure your devotion is to protect this vessel even when this world is ready for its destruction. Especially if thou is to claim something worthy for her.

  She slowly pulled Arishu into her arms—both the entity and Arishu looked identical if not the golden irises and the aura that flowed from this being's body. But…

  ? ?H-hey! What are you doing? Get away from her! I don't care if you're the Goddess or whatnot! I am not hesitating to kill you! ?

  I tried summoning the power and my resonance but… what? It's not possible…

  Ah… as I repeat from my earlier saying, thou hast yet to realize what thou could truly do. I have always been here and she was of mine, you have simply lacked the eyes to see.

  ? Stop speaking in riddles and tell me what you want. ?

  I knew there was no way for me to fight when she sealed my abilities. But I am not allowing her to take the remaining person that kept me grounded in this forsaken world. As I gripped the sword of Aetheris, although fractured, it could still serve me.

  She spoke.

  Return to what once was.

  And we will return to what was stolen from you.

  The words echoed into my ears as I felt my conscious waning. They settled like the nature of law, preventing me from escaping. And before I could even question her again, she pulled Arishu into the portal where it closed and spoke with reverence.

  Farewell.

  The rune on my wrist flared violently, letting out a screeching ring as my reality fractured. And before I could comprehend what was happening.

  May fate be with you once again—

  Archon of Dreams.

  ? ?ARISHU? N-NO—! ?

  My voice stretched into static and stretched thin before I was swallowed by violet light. The cabin, the reality, the world—everything shattered, dissolving before I could reach her.

  …

  Then—

  Silence.

  [Prologue End]