[ Creators ]

Chapter 17

A short time after the battle at Gaia's castle, Straus decided to take a day to explore some unseen parts of Creator civilization. After all, he and Koto barely understood what it was like outside their own homes; aside from the occasional venture out to-... "borrow" food and supplies from small towns that seemed to house many Creators and their families. Straus found it interesting that (what he considered to be) normal-looking homes could exist in the middle of literal nowhere, but decided to chalk it up to things he didn't quite yet understand about this society.

On his little journey, Straus stumbles upon a larger-looking town. The houses and roads are mainly constructed from stone, and surrounding it is a rather big manmade body of water with...a beach! Straus couldn't remember the last time he went to one of those! He curiously goes in for a closer look. He smiles to himself as he steps onto the sand. "(You sure you're alright alone? There could be followers of Gaia here who might recognize you.)", Para chimes in. Straus reassures him as he puts up his hood, "(Naaah, we've got this.)" He strolls happily through the sand while humming a song to himself...he knew the song but couldn't quite remember from where. Did he hear it on the radio? ...When was the last time he saw a car with a radio...? ...When was the last time he saw anything quite like his old home...? Does he even remember what it looks like...?

Straus is so lost in thought that he didn't even realize he was about to trip over something until it was too late. Or, pray tell, was this something a someone?

"Oof-!"

"Ow- w-watch where you're walking, buddy-...!"

Straus collects himself, and as he turns around, he sees a red-haired girl who had been impaled with a spear, she's very much hurt. She looks up at him and weakly speaks,

"What's a normal Creator d-doing here any- ...wait..."

"Who skewered you?"

"U-Um?"

"Do you need help with it?"

"Um-??"

"Here, I've got ya.", Straus carefully removes the weapon and tosses it aside. The girl takes a sharp breath through her teeth as some tears escape from her eyes. Straus kneels next to her and applies weak healing magic to her wound, "Hopefully that fixes you right up. I'm not very fluent in healing magic...I'm more of a self-defense person."

"It's good enough", says the girl, holding her side, "I suppose I should fill you in. I was attacked by the Royal Princesses, lead by that orange old hag."

"(Royal? Orange old hag?)", Straus ponders, "Can't say I know about them."

"You don't know about Jupiter and the Princesses? But everyone does."

"Add that to the list of weird things about me, sweety. I'm fairly new at all of this, to be frank.", he timidly smiles at her.

"That...uhm-", She looks away from him, "would explain your appearance...I've never seen a Black Eyed Child with heterochromia before..."

"Huh?"

"Your eyes, they're like mine.", she points at her own blackened eyes, "I'm a Black-Eyed Child, we're a pretty exclusive group, so how come one of your eyes is white like a normal person?"

"hmm...I actually don't know. To be honest, I barely know much about myself...it's kinda bothersome...I've only known my sister and this green princess who kept bothering me."

"-!!! You crossed paths with Gaia and lived?! Also- sister?"

"Mind if I tell you my story?"

The girl thinks about it for a moment before smiling at Straus, "Sure."

A little bit of time passes as the two share stories about themselves, and they get so into it that a spark of chaotic, rebellious energy arises in both of them.

"FOR REAL THOUGH", shouts Straus, "I DID AS SHE TOLD ME AND THIS WAS MY PAYMENT", he points at the scar across his eye, "I'M TELLIN YA THIS PLACE HAS LEFT A BAD IMPRESSION SO FAR MAN!"

"YEAH! PREACH IT BRUV.", says the girl, encouraging this craziness, "LEMME HELP YA WRECK THIS PLACE FOR YOU!!"

"LIKE WHAT DA HECK!? WHAT IS UP WITH THIS BIASED PURITY BASED SYSTEM ANYWAY?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"RIGHT?! DON'T JUST ASSUME ALL BLACK EYED KIDS ARE BATTLE HUNGRY CRETINS WHO WANNA PUNCH EVERYONE'S LIGHTS OUT! AAAAA!!"

They enter into a laughing frenzy together as they kick at the sand. After a bit they calm down, Straus is the first to speak.

"Heh...moments like these remind me that besides my sister and our creations, we're just strangers to all of this..."

The girl nods, "Mm-hm...me too...However, I'm truly alone here...My father passed away and left the cult in my hands, but I didn't last as the leader. Stronger members kicked me out 'cuz I was never worthy of such a position."

"You got anywhere to go?"

"No. I've been on foot most of the time, keeping out of Jupiter's sight."

"Hm...wanna stay with me, Ms. Red? Down to be roommates?", Straus smiles.

The girl is taken aback by such a kind offer, she cups her hand to her mouth as she tries to control another wave of tears, "Oh-? ... Yes, I do."

"Oh- by the way, I'm Straus. What's your name?"

"I'm Scarface Red. But most just call me Red, like you did just now."

But Straus and Red are not alone in this meeting. In the distance, another pair of red and blue silhouettes watch from behind a stone wall. The smaller, blue one speaks to the other.

"...Sister, do you see what I see?"

"Yeah, it's her." The taller, red one grins. "Mother will be pleased if we make sure she doesn't escape this time...!"

Red spots the two sisters approaching and points them out, "It's them-!!" Straus turns around and immediately realizes the severity of the situation, "(They look like Gaia-!) Yup, time to bail! Hang on to me!" Straus helps up the still-weakened Red and lifts her onto his back; the two start to speed off as the sisters charge towards them. "Don't let them get away!" Shouts the red sister. "If I had to guess", says Straus, looking over his shoulder, "Those are the ones that injured you?" Red responds with a quick nod as she holds on for dear life.

"You will come with us! This is Jupiter's will!", the red sister starts to assault the pair with a barrage of fireballs.

Straus huffs, "I am so sick of royalty at this point. Time for some trickery!" He quickly summons a small portal and throws it behind him and Red, this trips up the sisters and makes them faceplant into the sand.

"OOF-"

"Sister, they're getting away...."

"DO YOU THINK I DON'T SEE THAT?!"

The sisters look up to see Straus and Red turn a corner as they jump into a portal and disappear from their sights.

"Curses!"

"Who was...that boy?"

"No clue. Maybe Mother will know. C'mon, let's go report in."