Chapter 5: Dinner

“Dinner time! Get out of your cells! Today’s a special meal for you kids.” the guard yelled with a gruff voice.

Everyone stood up slowly, grasping the wet concrete ground with their dirty hands. Their eyes were lifeless, their questions were long gone after days and weeks within the dark cells. Having unfit meals, licking salt water from the wet rocks, they simply watched as their life went on day by day.

Ben slowly stood up beside Asada, he looked downwards towards the bar he was working on. It was half way done but was covered with some wet paste, he found in the tunnels.

“Hey… you know where we’re going?” Ben turned his head towards Asada, who simply continued facing forward and said two words.

Asada: “Dinner time.”

(I suppose…. )

Asada looked back at Ben, her eyes were distanced. Only to close it once again as she nodded her head silently.

The gates to each cell opened promptly, each guard at one cell as they escorted the children into a small group.

“Alright, two lines of kids. Stay together and don’t fall out.” The guards motioned the others in front to start.

The line of kids followed the guards in front.

(This is the first time, I’m this close to the others… they usually avoid us.)

Ben looked at the one beside him. It was a boy.. His eye sockets were black and sunken in, the looks of exhaustion was evident on him. His arms were skinny and dirty to the point where his bones were threatening to crawl out of his skin.

(I suppose, if I looked at myself in the mirrors. I’ll be like that as well….)

The guards stopped in front of a large red door. Claw marks were evident on its front.

However, as the door opened from the inside, the atmosphere was so different as if they were emerging from hell and welcomed by heaven. They were behind a bookshelf door and in front of them was a dining hall. The decoration was moderate, as the chairs were wooden with cracks on it’s stumps, and the dining table was filled with potatoes, soup, and three large ham sat across the table. The red curtains were beautifully draped over the long rectangular windows. The light from the bronze chandelier gave a warm backdrop, as compared to the jail life they had live.

(.... a better meal than usual I suppose…)

Guard: “Alright, take a seat and eat.”

All the children slowly made their way to the seats and slowly sat on the chair. They simply looked back at the guards, however their eyes betrayed them as they kept looking back at the food in front of them.

Guard: “Go on and eat, if you don’t eat you’ll be dragged back to the cell... and we'll be able to get your side of the portions. *smile*

At the moment that the guard said that, the kids started to grab the food with their hands. Tearing apart the starch of the bread with newfounded power.

Ben started to grab a potato and peeled it slowly. He looked at his right and saw Asada simply eating a piece of bread with a small piece of ham she cut inside it.

(I suppose it’s alright?)

Ben took a bite of the freshly baked potato, the warmth was there. There was a tinge of blandness to it yet the fluffiness and the dry skin was considered blissful compared to the moldy bread and soup he had within the cells.. As he bit into the potato he noticed a couple of black balls coming up from the other children’s body with exceptions to him and Asada. The atmosphere slowly turned cheerful as the guards continued to bring in platters of fruits and food into the room and settle it down on the dining table, grabbing a couple grapes to snack on before sitting back down to watch over the kids.

The noise slowly rose as the cheers of satisfaction filled the air. Asada started to slowly pile fruits on her plate and simply took her time eating. Ben took a couple tasty looking apples and started to wholeheartedly eat as he looked around at the guards.

(They seem like they’re also enjoying themselves?)

The guards had a wine cup in their hands as they simply stood next to the doors.

Ben looked up at where the dark balls went up towards the air. The chandelier’s flames were blue, as the ceiling was like the dark skies without stars. The usually backdrop seemed like they were staring into space, however this space scared Ben. A feeling of fear and hopelessness began to crawl into his heart.

(What… what is this.) Ben looked back at Asada with worry, searching for some companionship.

She continued to eat slowly, never glancing back. Her eyes concentrated on the food that laid in front of her.

Suddenly, the door opened in between the guards.

Ben’s eyes narrowed as he saw the blond haired man walking in. Lucious Manac, the man who he spoke with first in the guest room. Lucious Manac’s white suit appeared with a red symbol on his chest. His eyes smiled as he looked upon the children eating.

“ *Cough* Everyone! Childrens, I’m glad you’re all having a nice meal.” His voice was grand and loud.

All the children stopped eating and looked at him, some were still biting some food as they watched.

“Tonight is a wonderful time to meet new guests… and begin the festival.”

Everyone was silent, waiting for Lucious to continue his words.

“Guards, clear the curtains!” The guards who seemed happy before was now listless, as they pull back the curtains as if they were tired from a long day of work.

The curtains were drawn and outside was simply darkness, a void unspeakable and breathtaking. All the children peered into the windows with curiosity and fear. As if this window reminded them of the cells and darkness.

“Now… my guests would like a fun time. I implore everyone to stand still and look at the windows.”

Everyone started to stand up and peered at the windows. None were willing to take a step towards it. Asada immediately stood next to Ben, she grasped his hands suddenly.

Ben looked at her with curiosity. Facing back towards the outside once again.

“Well? You want to know more about the outside world?... it’s a dark world out there. We want to prepare the childrens as much as possible. I want to test you all in your abilities, all of you have auras within you. You all have been touching these prismatic stones.”

Lucious brought out the triangle stones and held it within his hands.

“These stones that you all have been using are used to measure your strength, I’ve personally observed them and each unique auras… I hope you use these auras to survive out there.”

The children started to panic with their faces, afraid of making any sound, they were silent and slightly whining. They knew something terrible was coming up, their previous moment of bliss ignorance has left them, drawing them back into reality.

One of the children took up the courage to ask. “Umm, how do we use these auras?”

“Hmm, interesting question. Some say it’s the usage of your mind, others say it’s the projections of your goals. Such as mine.”

Lucious immediately made a hand gesture towards the table, the shadows of it grew hands and immediately took apart the table. The way the ham was being torn apart was the equivalent of a pure massacre, the chunks of meat and bone crushed and devoured into the darkness. The destruction left no evidence of the ham other than the afterimages that dwelled on the minds of the childrens.

“Alright, I bid you all to survive this.” Lucious immediately looked at the few hooded men that slowly appeared from behind him. They only nodded their heads and went around the childrens as they surrounded them.

They raised their hands and muttered the chant, blue lights chained everyone to the ground. Electricity formed from the hands of the summoners and made an inner circle around the children. Few started to scream, cry, others were shocked and fearful of the magic.

Asada immediately grabbed both of Ben’s hands and closed her eyes. Ben looked at her closely and followed suit, keeping calm.

Eventually the noise of the children and their surroundings quiet down, an eerie silence.

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Ben opened his eyes to see the dark skies, there were no clouds. The bare hands of the trees were over Ben as he looked back at the path. The path was riddled with weed and the bushes were dry and scattered around. Ben looked back at the girl’s hand that held his.

Asada slowly opened her eyes and withdrew her hands from Ben. She looked around the place before talking to Ben.

Asada: “This is considered to be a dreamscape.”

“Dreamscape?”

Asada: “One of the mirage dark magic used to control the minds and feelings of the victims. Although, this mirage magic isn’t lethal.”

“Hmm ok, so what’s the point of the mirage magic?”

Asada: “Not sure…”

“Uh huh... do you know how to get out of this magic?”

Asada: “We’ll have to follow the path… even if we do break the magic. We’ll simply be back in the room with the guards.”

“Oh that’s right… how do you know this is mirage magic?”

“...” Asada started to walk alongside the pathway, Ben followed. As they were walking down the path, the forest slowly turned green and the sound of chirping could be heard, dispelling the silent scene.

“Seems like they’re adjusting the scenery huh.” Ben looked around.

Asada immediately stopped in place and looked back at Ben. She lifted her hands and green magic flowed from her chest to her hands. Ben immediately jumped back away from Asada.

The green flow summoned a sword within her hands, formed from the wind around her.

“Hey! What are you doing?”

Asada slowly walked towards Ben, as she stared at him coldly.

“Asada! What’s wrong with you?”

Asada broke into a run and forced out her other hand at Ben.

Asada: “ Ropes of the simple minded.”

The grass around Ben suddenly grew quickly and latched upon Ben’s legs. He quickly tried to rip out the grass from his legs with his hands. The tenacity of the grasses and the wet soil on it didn’t help. Ben looked back up at Asada’s progress.

(Do I really have to draw out the pocket knife?)

Ben immediately flicked his hands and a pocket knife appeared. The linings of it were covered with a streak of red, brown and green. Cutting off the bindings of the grass with a swift strike.

Ben immediately stood up with his pocket knife in hand, slightly slouching, as Asada ran towards him. Ben dashed towards her. Asada stopped for a moment and dodged to the side, swinging her sword outwards at him. Ben parried her sword off by diverting its direction, following the parry was an elbow bash to her stomach.

(Her strength is different? She should be stronger than me.)

Asada was knocked back slightly. Her face frowned hard, she started to mutter a chant.

Green orbs started to flow onto her legs, and torso. Ben shifted back to his position and readied himself. Her appearance eventually faded away as Ben watched.

“Invisibility? Speed?” Ben questioned.

After a few moments passed, nothing happened. Ben looked around his surroundings, nothing had changed, the wind was stagnant once again. Due to the heavy parry he did, his hands were shaking slightly. Ben noticed something as his worries moved from his hand to his chest. Ben looked downwards to find himself impaled. The sword was bright red, his blood slowly soaking into the sword. He looked behind him to see Asada’s face, it wasn’t there. Simply a mask, it’s eyes peered into his as it’s snickers laughed at his demise.

The masked creature let go of the sword, letting its weight carry him towards the ground. As Ben fell, his pocket knife fell out of his hands. It’s sparkles were there, the streaks of light slowly dimmed away. Ben watched with disbelief as he knew what had happened… he was fooled… Asada was never there. She was replaced by the mirage of the landscape into a masked creature.

Blood spurts out of his mouth, his hand rose towards the skies as his final gaze slowly closed.

Ben: "Damn...it"

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A young boy stood in a white world, there was no sun, no moon, nor darkness. He looked forward, he looked down. There were no boundaries, it was endless, there was nothing to indicate that there was something within the distance. He grasped his hands and looked upwards towards the sky as he lifted his hands up. A dark void appeared in front of him, but only to disappear once again. A voice entered his thoughts, pain struck his head, he gripped onto his hair and groaned in agony. He looked forward and saw an image blurred in front of him, fading in and out.

“Young one... “ the blurred image simply spoke

The young boy didn’t say anything and only looked down at his wound on his chest. It was a large gaping hole that passed through him, however there was no blood spilling out from it, the veins only dangled in place where a heart was supposed to be.

“I’m dead… are you the heaven’s messenger?”

“Hahaha, no not at all.”

“Then… what do you want with a dead man… boy?”

“ Well Do you…”

“Do I?”

“Want to change fate?”

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“How… I’m already dead…”

A moment of silence has passed.

“Indeed, you’re dead… however you can live once again. For a price.”

“Price?”

“The price of carrying the weight… of this world.”

“.... this world?”

“For too many times… have we spirits tried to change this world, as you can see, the dark creatures… have ruled this world for too long. Spirits and innocent souls are captured… and killed. To the point where they are forced to summon other souls from outer realms to help their dreams to summon their false deity.”

“You mean, the one we’re supposed to be sacrificed for?”

“Indeed, for the Dark god, Lothgar the god of Chaos. Everyone that you have met there has perished. All the childrens, the guards, and even the one you knew. The night you had died you were taken into the void, a place where your souls are served to the Lothgar.”

“.... how do you know all this… and if my soul was gone… how did you get me here?”

“We are the spirits, who have come and failed to save this world and to restore fate… you and I have the same affinity, allowing us to transfer our powers into you. Afterwards, we will simply disappear… hoping that our decision was correct as we lay this weight upon another.”

Colored orbs appeared and flew towards a different spot, forming a regal chair in each spot. The green orbs went to one, light orbs to another, red orbs, blue orbs, brown orbs, and the only seat remaining was the dark orb's, which remained empty.

“You hold the power of the dark and the mark of a savior… your dagger was bestowed upon you, who has the ability to absorb magic…”

“.... and… how will this work if I’m dead?”

“We all still have one wish for the one who granted us this power. Our wishes were to rid this world of the evil that it has. As well as the coming of Lothgar, you’ll be our last chance. When you’re resurrected, everyone you knew will still be there. You will be back in the dining room… that is a point where you can change your fate, from death to life.”

“What?”

“Use your powers, use your bestowed weapon… it holds a strong runic filling.”

“Wait!”

Ben’s thoughts slowly disappeared from the room. The orbs that were floating in their seats simply bobbed up and down, as silence passed through them.

The green orbs looked at the white orbs. “I hope he succeeds…or prevail longer than the rest of us.”

“Our failure was inevitable…. our minds were blinded by the powers we had… also our inability to choose.”

The red orb looked at them “If you pansies didn’t fall for that trap we could’ve won! WE COULD’VE BEEN VICTORIOUS! WE WOULD HAVE SAVED THIS WORLD!”

The blue orb looked at the red orb, “Your inability to see the rights and wrongs of this world led us to our downfall as well… the inability to comprehend and to provide actual facts led us to our death as well.”

“Oh.. you’re so intelligent aren’t you Liner?”

Liner (Blue Orb) : “This loss was expected… I saw it coming a mile away… simply arguing about this will not change anything. We can only hope for this one to lead us to the world we imagined and the goddess who bestowed us this power to do so.”

“If this loss was expected why didn’t you say anything!” The red orbs started to flare in flames.

Liner: “It was pointless to correct the stubborn.” The blue orbs faced at the red orb and a bucket full of water poured onto the red orb.

Liner: “Cool off, you’re killing the air”

The red orb slowly grew bright red. Only to be stopped by the white orb.

“Stop this childish gameplay!... don’t waste our powers. We’re already weak enough as it is.. I want to at least watch… before fading away.”

The brown orb looked up lazily… “This child… this man.. has the potential… to be evil or good. His thoughts… are incomplete. However…. I hope Liner... can help him… guide his path.”

The blue orb(Liner) looked at the brown orb, his voice was silent… only to utter once more.

Liner: "We don't even know, if he's willing to fight for this world."

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