lORe

Azzae: running through worlds

"'When two collide,
One hunts while the other hides,
A single soul will greet dawn's bright skies.
One will touch the stars,
One will heal the scars,
One will end the strife,
Another will seize their life.

One must bear the cost,
Another will find what's lost,
Alone one shall know the pain,
One will face the dark again.

Only one shall slip away,
And that one's sister, in sorrow, will stay—
A guardian of the silent grave,
A memory of the lost, the brave.'

This was the prophecy. The prophecy that was meant to come true. The prophecy that was made for the sake of the universe. The prophecy that was made so the universe would stay stable. But all that was ruined when Alex came to Earth #1218. She was never meant to be there, nor was she ever meant to meet Olive. And like you all know, this could end the universe completely as we know it. Which is why I would like to share a proposal." "Go on."

I took a deep breath.

"So you already know how colliding realities work?"

"Yes. When a thing from a different universe comes in contact with their alternate universe self, it creates a rupture in the fabric of reality. It can lead to tears, distortions, and, in worst cases, annihilation of both worlds," the elder replied, her gaze steady. "Exactly. And Olive's world holds a different version of Alex— one that is dangerously close in contact to her. But if they meet, they'll disrupt the natural order. Time and space are already beginning to fray in this dimension. We've seen the signs." "What signs?" another voice interrupted, curious and anxious. "Unexplained anomalies—shifts in gravity, pockets of time looping back on themselves, glimpses of lives never lived," I explained, urgency creeping into my tone. "The world is trying to correct itself, but it is failing. And the more time Alex spends on #1218, the more unstable it becomes." "Then we must separate them," the elder declared, the seriousness of his voice drawing every eye in the room. "It's the only way to restore balance. One must return to their world, and the other must remain." "No!" I shouted, the word reverberating through the chamber. "I can fix this! I just need time." The elder's expression softened, but her resolve did not shake. "Fate is seldom kind, especially when prophecies are involved. You've read the lines. One must bear the cost. That is the way of the universe." "What if..." I paused, searching for the right words, "what if we can change the prophecy? What if we can forge a new path for them?" The murmurs in the room grew louder, some supportive, others skeptical. "It's impossible," someone finally said. "Prophecies are written in the stars; they cannot be undone." Silence settled across the room, tension thick in the air. "Who is the mortal in the girl's realm?"

"Aazack?"

"How close are they in contact?"

"Her and Alex? It's not long."

"This could go terribly wrong."

"It could."

The elder sighed.

"But, I trust you Azzae. I hereby give you permission to change the prophecy." I beamed. "Really? Thank you! I promise, you won't regret it!"

"I sure hope I won't," I heard her mutter as I left, her voice fading into the oppressive atmosphere surrounding me. In truth, this life I lead is unlike any other. I hold a very important place in the place I live. I was a part of the highest council in my area. The place I lived in is a bit weird, like me. I lived in Hell. Not metaphorically. I literally live in Hell. And at every corner was a new soul being tortured for something they did. They deserved it. Shadows clung to every corner, and anguished cries echoed through the air, each one belonging to a tortured soul paying the price for their misdeeds. But I would never face the pain they would go through. Why? Because I am Hellborn. I was just as weird as my home. I had 6 eyes. I had a tail. Horns. Claws. Even hooves. I'm a demon. My whip-like tail slashed the hot air of the underground, and my claws sharp enough to rend flesh from bone glisten with the promise of pain, while my hooves crushed the ground, sending tremors through the very fabric of reality. Like stated previously, I was part of the higher status, which alone would be impressive if it wasn't for the fact that I was the youngest demon to have ever landed a meeting with the elders. I heard someone call my name behind me. "Azzae! Azzae, why are you so fast? Wait for me!" I turned around and smiled to see my best friend running at full speed towards me. "Carrie! What's up?"