Amethyst Genesis: Bleeding Ruby

Purple Emergence

Aria woke up from a deep slumber. She saw the black haired boy. And the boy covered in scars from the failed experiment sitting at a table. The laboratory was completely covered in vines and overgrown mosses. She noticed two mounds next to her metallic tube resting place.
"Mom?" She called out trembling.
"Long Dead, like all the morally inept that raised people from dirt and mineral to be weapons." The boy covered in scars said without turning his head. The scarred boy's white hair flowed as if it was alive.
The black haired boy looked at the scarred child.
"Raioka, you know it was out of desperation." The boy with black hair said whilst holding Aria's hand and helping her out the pod.
"Jeta, you make such bias because they were close to you." The silver haired boy said while looking around.
"They wanted you to obtain choice by taking mine.
Aria was perplexed by the name Raioka called the boy with black hair and his remarks towards her parents.
"Jeta." Aria said confused. "I thought your name was-"
Aria's confused by a rumble in the underground world. They stumbled their way to the surface. But only stopping for Aria to kneel at the graves of the couple.
Raioka groaned and walked ahead while the two stayed behind.
The three saw light beyond the mossy tunnels and rummaged through the brush to be graced by burning sunlight.
"Is this..... where are we?" Raioka asked feeling the sunlight touch his skin. He noticed the city of what he once held dear was overtaken by clear waters and silence, the rivers and ashes of long gone riots were replaced with fungi and moss. They step through the abandoned store. Aria grabs a glass structure that could fit in your hands and tapped on its screen. The sparks from her hands caused it to flicker to life. As it showed leftover texts of an ancient project.
They found a journal in a courthouse filled with abandoned pens, scattered papers. The journal read a familiar name
"Le Projet Perenne."
Aria took it while the group kept wandering through the nature reclaimed streets. Jeta grew a bit confused so he grabbed a plastic bag on the ground and used it to carry Aria's items. The three saw a long winding plain of grass. The three marched until they noticed traces of population nearby. Aria sniffed a roast. Jeta heard laughter. Raioka heard bickering. They saw a tall brunette woman with vibrant red eyes, brunette hair, and a smile that melted the cruelest of humanity. Her skin fairer than vanilla petals. Jeta felt familiar with this human.
"#3, Sloth." Aria said from reflex.
"What do you mean?" Jeta asked while walking closer.
The tall woman was perplexed of these short people talking in ancient dialects, she sat with a silvery haired man around her age as they were cooking a long strip of meat over a fire.
Jeta walked closer and greeted the two with a bow.
The two groups realized that they couldn't communicate from the language gaps, but instead chose to use a prompt of translation using a familiar device in the woman's hand.
"How Long has it been since this city fell." Aria typed on the device while Jeta stares at the woman.
"Is something the matter?" The woman asks smiling softly at the black haired boy before patting his head.
"Shes tall." Raioka remarked a tad bit flustered  before taking note of the man behind her in his surprised raspy voice.
Jeta hugged the woman tightly, taking the woman by surprise. But she didn't budge, she looked the boy in the eyes with a warmth of benevolence. She rustled the boy's hair before holding him tightly. She never turned down hugs.
"Who are you little one?" The woman asks before beckoning the man to follow behind.
Jeta remained silent. Memories the soul had but the mind never obtained moved him in ways he couldn't explain.
"My name is Hilda, and you three are?" The woman asks politely with great awkwardness.
"Aria, the boy hugging you is Jeta, and this guy over here is Raioka." Aria said pulling back Jeta from his hug.
"We are quite well acquainted now aren't we?" The silvery hair man asks grinning and scratching his head.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce him, his name is Jack, he's been my friend since hm...." The woman trails off in remembrance.
"Since the Second World Act" Jack says reminding her.
"Since you three seem to be alien to this world....." Jack trails off as he searches his bag.
"I think we should get you well equipped with means to protect yourselves."
Hilda chuckles.
"Yeah let's get you situated, we got a little town by the river over there." Hilda chimed in as she  waltzed forward. The group walked towards the town, exchanging words and stories.
"You really are 70 years from the past huh? Lyra kicked your ass!" Jack said to Jeta with sympathy of the sore beating.
"Im still curious why the Empress spared you and also..." Jack stared at Aria.
"Were these glass objects that were dependent on towers?" Jack asked scratching his head while looking at the device Aria possessed.
"Yes. They were." Aria answered shortly as she felt her face break out with her multiple eyes.
Jeta rushed over and held her tightly. The three look at the two while Aria's features receded back into flesh.
"What was that?" Jack asked tilting his head in confusion.
"We aren't humans born of flesh and blood."
Raoika answered quickly before any drama would arise.
"Ah. I guess, you wouldn't be surprised if i happen to be a sentient plant?" Jack said chuckling as he shows the roots on his legs, not of flesh but like plants, the veins that line his skin wasnt of iron or meat but vines and twine. Jack's exterior cracked revealing a carved face on a pumpkin within, lit by gentle flames in the eyes.
"See? No problems with you lot." Jack chuckled as he reformed his appearance back into as it was, molding skin like clay.
Hilda remained quiet as she stared at Jeta.
"Familiar." She thought to herself as she stood inside her shared cabin with Jack, she opened the door and let the group in. Jack grinned as he rushed to a check glass container that had a whole miniature world inside.
"Sanael!!!" Jack screamed in delight as he touched the glass as a snail crawls up to the glass.
The three weapons were taken abacl as Hilda rummages through her boxes in search of weaponry.
"Tch. Nothing. No matter." Hilda turns to the group and sits on her stool.
"I think I'll make some guesses." Hilda says with a grin. From her hand she weaves mass and matter from void she stares first into Aria's eyes, her pupils reflected the reaching glows of sunrise. Hilda's hands form a long slender bow full of arrows that seem to never deplete.
"You seem to be always having your eyes on things you can't reach let this be your hands." said Hilda while she turned her head to
Raioka staring eyes softly. She touched his hand softly, he pulled back, his skin was still sensitive from all those years of decay.
She formed a long spear from the familiar red petals, and Carmine Red mist. Unlike most of the constructs formed by other fragments, they became permanent.
"You distance yourself. It's best you stay in that comfort. You were in pain and still are, let me amend that." Hilda says gently as she forms a cloth to cover his marred flesh.
The searing pain Raioka endured was soothed by the gentleness of that softness, the silk.
"This silk is laced with a numbing agent. Had to learn how to make it from watching those Delrasi Spiders." Hilda remarked pointing to the small spiders in a ceiling corner.
Then she turned to Jeta. She looked into the blazes of his eyes and formed a pair of machetes out of invisible masses.
"You need not words but actions." Hilda said patting his head like a black cat. Aria was enamored by how she could put a vicious beast into submission
"Since I helped you little ones. You owe me a favor." A mischievous grin stretches Hilda's face.
She hugs the three of them tightly, much to Aria's dismay and Raioka's unease. Jeta didn't mind.
"We are going on a journey." Hilda grins widely as she points at the sea of purple clouds in the distance.
"Why exactly there?" Jack chuckles as he packs a truckload of supplies into crates. As he picks up a pole from the ground.
"I feel compelled to go there." Hilda says as her eyes bear faint crimson glow.
"Alright." Jack sighs as he twists a switch on a long staff. Strings released from it forming a giant sack. Jack swung the giant sack as a net towards the crates. Scooping them lightly. As in a defiance of mass conservation the strings and objects shrank into the staff's multiple compartments. Jack rotated the staff.
"What?" Aria exclaimed in marveling of such a device.
"Here little missie, in here." Jack directs the three to look as he splits the staff as he reveals a vibrant rose crystal holds a small cube in its side.
"Pocket reality." Jack chuckles as he brandishes the grooves of its wooden make.
"Hilda. Do you have any idea of how we will get there?" Jack says scratching his head gesturing at their group of four. Hilda scratches her head as she rummaged through her boxes. She finds a sack of meat. She grins widely as she runs out.
"Why is she running with that meat?" Raioka groans while asking Jack.
"To get Lucy." Jack yawns as he puts on plated gauntlets and follows Hilda out.
Jeta watches the aloof pair run out as the three find straps to hold their weapons. They find them conveniently next to a pile of satchels of ropes.
They run out to meet the group. Hilda waves the package as she opens it. A giant rumbling could be felt from the sky. From the grey sky a giant figure emerges from the heavens. Its bared fangs dwarves blades and spears. Rows of teeth that could cut mountains descend. Its jaws were long and divine like a beast of prehistoric design. Its reptillian face and wings that resembled a love child of pliosaur and pterosaur emerged in all itd radiance.
"Cmere Lucy." Hilda calls out as the beast as it lands to approach the group. Lucy stops as she kneels to sniff. The predatory beast towered over the house only to kneel in front of Hilda. Hilda pets the beast as the three peered at the saddle on its back. Jack hoists the staff and walks to its back. The others followed as they hopped on the back of Lucy. The saddle was lined with multiple seats and handles.
Lucy turns her long neck to sniff at the newcomers.
"Do you guys lock your doors?" Raioka says as he recoils at the beast sniffing his hair.  Jeta watches Aria inspect the grooves of her new toy. Her mandibles escape her face as they click in curiosity.
The beast lowers its head for Hilda to mount her. Hilda grins as she forms a harness out of red light. Jeta spaces out.
Raioka clicks his tongue in disapproval. Aria waves her hands at Jeta to coax him from the spaced out state.
Jeta snapped out of his trance and climbed up the saddle.
"Do you guys lock your doors?" Raioka asks again a bit irritated.
"Yeah. But i don't think we will be needing that anymore..." Jack says as he freezes up. Jeta follows his gaze. A violent blinding white streak of light that resembles a comet. The house was smoked cindered beyond ash as the light struck.
"Well shit." Jack says as he gets off Lucy.
Jeta follows. Raioka sits back as he senses the radiating pressure from the light.
From the smoke a pearl glow emerges with long flowing wisps of hair. A familiar sight indeed.
Lyra.
Aria looks at Jeta as she steps off the beast. She draws her bow as sigils on her arm produce a vibrant yellow of light.
Lyra looked at the group. Stared at Hilda and grinned widely.
"I found you #3." Lyra whispers under her breath.
"Hilda. That's your name isnt it?" Lyra chuckles.
"So if it is?" Hilda replies as she gets in front of the group.
"You, a rose with its many thorns amongst wild flowers. I the gardener." Lyra says as she steps closer.
Lyra caresses Hilda's hair with immense swiftness which caught Hilda off guard.
Hilda broke a cold sweat and backed away creating distance.
Lyra frowned as she turned to Aria and Jeta.
"It seems like the artificial bodies you were given weren't the best suited for this new world. #1 and #2. And this human?" Lyra says as she turnt to Raioka.
"It seems like even in the next life you two still were pains in my side. I hope its just you two."
Jeta didn't waste a single second after the remark. He tore her in two with his blades.
"Straight to the point. Thats what i love about you." Lyra wheezes as blood spurts out of her mouth. Her ribs formed and stretched wide like a bear trap. Jeta was crushed into a red paste. His core fell to the ground.
Hilda's eyes widened as she lunged at Lyra.
Lyra smirked as she held Hilda still and bared long slender fangs. She bit into her neck. Hilda gasps in pain as Jack rushed to help her. Lyra was riddled with holes from the arrows carved from a golden light. Lyra stumbled as Hilda ran grabbing Jack over her shoulder as a blazed azure inferno envelops Lyra. The core bursts brightly as Jeta emerges from the sparks.
"You..." Lyra growled at Jeta. His hands grabbed her neck and began to squeeze. Lyra gasped for air until her face went blue.
Jeta's grip loosened.
A smile stretched Lyra's face.
Jeta was flung into a rock formation while Lyra followed quickly without sparing a second. A violent blaze broke the sky. Jeta scorched stone and sand.
Jeta groaned as his flesh was pieced together while the blazes scorched the world around them. He drew his blades and blocked a gleaming thrust of Lyra's blade. His blades shatter. But Jeta's searing fury filled the gaps and cracks of the blade holding them together. Lyra took a step back marveling at the sight of Jeta's reformed blades.
"Shit." Lyra muttered under her breath as she feels a searing sensation in her chest. She turned around. Aria's arrow pierced her chest.
"Always you two."Lyra sighed as lunged at Aria. Time froze still as Aria drew her next shot. Aria was fast. Lyra was faster. Aria had precision, Lyra and Aria locked gazes her eyes was stunned by a flash of constant memories. Aria was taken aback giving Lyra the opening to close in for the kill. Lyra closed in only to be met with a scalding fury that melted her ligaments, melted inertia and force, melted energy by the searing blazes. The ideas of existence were being scorched away as Jeta lunges from behind slicing arms and legs off of Lyra as if he was sculpting a statue out of flesh. Lyra's body reformed and knowing of her position attempted to from a long needle. Jeta dodges barely as it cuts at his eyes.
Venom from Lyra's blade flowed through his blood. Jeta's eyes became bloodshot.
The two clashed in a burning bloodsport. Lyra swung. Jeta minced her with nimbleness.
The fight could end if Jeta was struck once. But he didn't give Lyra that satisfaction. Sparks of burning blazes stretched across the distance. The unstoppable force vs inevitability. Just before Lyra was about to be incinerated.
Jeta collapsed.
"New body. Rusty technique." Lyra chuckles as the others were paralyzed by the sheer pressure Lyra kept on them.
"Lass. Have you forgotten me?" Lyra chuckled as she winked at Hilda. Hilda's bright personality was replaced with a cold expression. Jeta was taken aback by the sudden change in personality. Lyra lunged at Hilda, only to be met with an intense vibrant red mist. Lyra's limbs fell. So did the attachment of her puppet of flesh.
Hilda slid and impaled Aria with her blade without hesitation.
"We're meant to be. Hilda. You are the one who my heart desires." Lyra begged as her flesh melted to the world.
"You harmed my friend." Hilda whispered gently into her ears
Jack walked to an injured Jeta. He bent over to inspect the damage to the body.
"We got you kid." Jack sighed as his hand got closer to him.
Aria stopped Jack.
Aria took the burden upon herself.
"Ah. Attachment?" Jack queried as he tilted his head at Aria.
"The venom." Aria replied.
Jack froze. He forgotten the effects of the toxin. He didn't have a healing factor like Jeta. Nor the metallic parts Aria head. He almost threw his life away.
The poisons leaked from Jeta's pores. Jeta gasped in pain but due to instinct the azure blaze melted and combusted the remains of poison.
Jeta's eyes became the healthy shade of flesh as his cells pieced themselves together.
"What even was that!" Jack exclaimed out to Raioka.
"Lyra. The empress. According to your history. She descended to this world to prove her point amongst her fellow fragments." Aria said as she pointed at Hilda. Her expression jaded as her eyes flashed yellow.
"It seems like she regained her memories." The puddle of Lyra chuckled before fading away into the wind.
Hilda became confused.
"What?" Hilda said as she looked into Aria's amber eyes.
"Anyone who bears a glowing numerical mark is a fragment. A piece of a fallen deity after given the ultimate question." Aria sighed as she  gestured to the Area of the neck where the mark was.
Hilda felt the mark's warm glow.
"I'll be damned." Hilda said kneeling at the flesh puddle. She walks towards Lucy
"That explains the light constructs." Hilda sighs as she hops onto Lucy while forming cushions for the seats with her hands.
Raioka walked to Jeta.
"2 for 0" Raioka chuckled as he hoisted Jeta up.
"Aria...." Jeta exhaled before passing out.
Lucy began to yawn as she let the group onto her saddle. The beast flies cutting the sky.
Hilda looked at the sleeping Jeta.
"Tuckered out isn't he?" Hilda asks turning to the two. Jeta was fast asleep as the winds gently bristled his hair.
Hilda stepped towards Aria as Jack took over the reigns.
"Say. When you said something about a deity. What was the question? Can you elaborate?" Hilda asked scratching her head.
"The question that broke the deity. Something to do with a why. Its fuzzy." Aria says sheepishly.
"Aww. And you acted all cool a few minutes ago. With the pointing and pose." Raioka chuckles.
"Shut up!" Aria groans punching Raioka.
"Haha! You haven't changed a bit. Still trying to one up him?" Raioka nudged towards the sleeping Jeta.
"Tch. No..." Aria sighed as she stood up.
Hilda smirked and chuckled under her breath. Jack's flame twitched from amusement.
"When we land. I think i can demonstrate what fragments are in the base mechanics." Aria said. Despite Hilda sitting, she still was taller than Aria by a small margin.
The group landed near the purple sea of clouds. Right at the border. No more no less. Lucy didn't dare to move. Hilda got off first. Then followed the rest. Hilda didn't question why Lucy was scared. Instinct for creatures are to be understood. Hilda waved Lucy away. Lucy nuzzled her head against Hilda before parting ways from the group. Jeta was laid on the grass.
Aria asked the group to give her space for her demonstration.
"Beings carved from a flawed light are capable of 4 things.."
"Creation." Aria says weaving a long white overcoat into existence.
"Alteration." Aria says as she dyes the mass with her hands. She attempts to rip it. It remains whole.
"Separation. I think. Realm open." Aria says as she carved a pocket reality. Jack struggles to move. So does Hilda.
"Seems to have certain rules." Aria chuckled as she dispersed the realm.
"And lastly. Destruction." Aria says as she points her finger at a mountain before it disappears in a violent flash of light.
Jack and Raioka was riddled with awe. Hilda was staring at the mountain as she ran off.
"What's she doing?" Aria asks Jack.
"Making sure the ecosystem isn't suffering." Jack said glaring at Aria.
"Oh shittttttt sorry. Other than that. We are just working with scraps." Aria says shrugging her shoulder as Hilda restores the natural order by reforming the mountain.
Raioka went silent. A sense of envy paired with disdain for his creators grew in his heart.
"Something that they wanted. Something i suffered for to become one of them. And what did i get? Constant pain." Raioka thought to himself. He went silent, and went along with it.
Jeta's eyes slowly cracked from the sounds of creation and destruction.
"What.." Jeta said while yawning confused as Aria is in her white overcoat. She was sitting next to him as he barely grew conscious.
Hilda walked towards the purple fog and turned to the group.
"I yearn to see the world inside the fog. People. Places. Animals. I want to wander this world with all kinds of colors. All kinds of views. Even if its just for a moment." Hilda said with a grandiose smile and arm gestures.
Jack couldn't contain himself. He snickered.
Aria turned to Jeta. Jeta turned to Raioka.
"Will you help me?" Hilda asks fervently.
"We have nowhere else to go. Might as well follow." Raioka sighed as his cohorts followed.
"Cant let you go alone." Jack says.
Jeta nods and remains silent.
"I still owe you for saving my life." Aria said to Hilda while holding onto Jeta's hand. He paid no mind.
"Great." Hilda says beaming with excitement as the group venture into the mist.
"So now it begins." Lyra says viewing from the distance next to a heavily armed muscled figure.