Is one person's happiness usually bought at the expense of another's?
As a simple human, a gamer to my toe, I have learned a long time ago that sacrifices are needed in the cause of common good. I have sacrificed a sweet slice of my social life to do what I like most—video games. I'm the happiest when I get to outplay my enemies by dodging their attacks and drawing first blood.
But of course, nothing is more heart stopping than the moment you get to clear the lanes to reach the opposing base, and you're just seconds away from hearing the sound of victory.. until..
"DEFEAT!" It rang as loud as the thunder that boomed from outside the window while the rain pours heavily and shows no sign of stopping sooner.
"Wait what? Why—" I blinked twice as I checked our base from the map. There's no enemy, I've wiped them out myself but what I failed to see was a lone minion, the only survivor from the horde, that managed to bring victory to their team.
I took a deep breath and rubbed my eyes. It was a tough, thirty-seven minutes match but we lost. Time wasted, and so is my MMR.
"Oh Argus.." I frowned while staring at my favorite character and the MVP tag on the result's data that was tainted with the color of defeat. "Maybe I should use another hero in my next match."
Another crash was heard, it was louder than the other ones before. In the corner of my eyes, I saw the flash of lightning coming from the window, breaking the glass and it brightened up my room in a split second.
With wide eyes, I stood still and waited for the light to reach me and it did, faster than I imagined.
-
The ever changing winds of Abyss bring different emotions to the atmosphere.
At times, Argus feels restless, but it's in chaos where he finds joy. His blade demands a bloodbath, his soul screams violence. Only by swirling his sword, slashing around and cutting through everything he found satisfaction; he was meant for this.
But what he has never seen is a human with bright eyes that looks at him as if he has not done anything bad his whole life. A completely different approach from a completely different stranger. It felt ridiculous, but as he pressed the edge of his sword on the young girl's neck, he knew he was being curious, intrigued about her presence.
"Speak." He growls. "What's your business with me and how did you find me?"
Instead of fear, he saw hope in her eyes.
"I've asked around. I've been to Moniyan, Eruditio and the Lantis Mountains. I knew I'd find you eventually." She clutched on his arm and shook it. "Argus!! We finally met!"
There is nothing special about this human. She is small and fragile, without a weapon in her hand. Doesn't even emit an aura enough to intimidate even the lowest level of demons. But the scars on her skin are suspicious.
He withdraws his blade from her neck as he can't threaten her.
"I can't believe it..I'm finally living the life I wanted. I can stay here forever and be your wife."
Argus has never met such a strange being. She spits nonsense and it appears something is wrong with her head. He shook her hand off his arm. "Get lost, human. I have no business with you."
"But I have. I need you."
"Go home. This isn't a place for little girls to play."
She grabbed him by the hand and stopped him from turning his back. No one has ever faced him this carelessly except for that one being he used to know, and Argus began to feel nostalgic as he looked at the girl.
"You see, my home is not the Land of Dawn. I came from another world. I got sucked into the game I was playing and I've been traveling around to find a place to stay, at least."
Argus is beginning to see a pattern. It was evident that she isn't scared of him, and with that, she won't stop following him until he hears her out. The only way he could shun her is to actually hurt her. One cut should solve his problem.
He raised his weapon and attacked her without a warning. The wound left by his sword won't be fatal enough to kill her but it would draw the line where she should stand.
She flinched and took a step back, clutching the shoulder that his blade kissed, her clothes begin to get colored by a beautiful shade of red. The pain should be abrupt, and she will pass out the next minute. Some demons may find her here later on, or he can just throw her up on the surface. Either way, whatever happens to her is none of his business.
She cackled. "Not bad. I wish I could feel it."
Raising her head again, she faced him. Her wound healed in an instant but it left a scar, her clothes restored to its clean state, not even a drop of blood on the fabric.
Peace has lost its essence in this kind of place because chaos spreads all over it, from corner to corner. This is where corrupted souls are thrown and locked out of the world. They scream, and fight every second; all the time. And yet, she appeared calm amidst it all.
"I didn't come here to be your enemy. We are a team. You used to carry me all the way to Mythic..even though not everyone is your fan, not even in Epic. You should know.. you are my favorite, Argus."
"Stop calling my name." It gives him the creeps. The air feels dry with remnants of memories he tried to bury.
Standing before him is someone who reminds him so much of her. And he is bound to refuse, with all his might, to be associated with this human being. It would be easier to gouge her heart out and rip it to shreds, if she is a normal one.
"Back when I was in my world, I read a recent comic about the Celestia. The Heart of Anima.. it's in the Abyss, isn't it?"
His suspicions grow the more she talks. He settled his sword down and decided to squeeze information out of her. Everyone in the Land of Dawn knows the Celestia has fallen, but no one heard the reason behind it. With the mention of the Heart of Anima from an alleged Outlander, it made everything exciting.
"Hmm.. what exactly do you know about Celestia?"
Her face lights up as she smiles, assuming that she had earned herself an ally. "I'd tell you everything, of course. But there's a condition. You may choose one; help me find the Heart of Anima.. or.."
Argus couldn't weigh the seriousness in her words and he begins to think whether he should just leave her alone or go on with her insanity. Wary but curious, he ends up choosing the latter.
"Or what?"
"F-food.." her stomach grumbled as the word came out of her lips. Then, he watched as her little figure fell to the ground.
-
Wrote this some time in November. Kinda cringe but I love this mission. XD I wish there's a part 2.
