Chapter 1 Ariel's Debut

I’ll write this now so I don’t forget about you. As long as I keep on writing, you will always exist. '''

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Ever since that ’meeting," that man kept on writing and writing, knowing full well his sins would never be resolved and he would suffer endlessly for eternity so that ’"She" would come back to life so ’She" would absolve him of sins so ’She" would judge him so ’She" would take his life by her hand.

And so he resumed writing a decade-old novel not liked by anyone nor popular, just a mere ’book" dedicated to ’his" beloved, the ’sleeping Angel and thus, regardless of all the tragedies, regardless of all the loss, regardless of his ’fate," he would continuously write for eternity after all his sins are far greater than even ’He" ever could imagine.

He sought not forgiveness, not sympathy, not love, not warmth, not pity, not a way to find a reason to move forward, not for her to give him a reason to live; nay, he merely wanted to see ’her’ again to see and finally his life would end and begin anew in a new world.

A decade-old story of love and tragedy, a simple love story of a boy and a girl who loved each other, or perhaps a love story of a man who only wanted to feel alive again, to start again from zero, or a girl who wanted a reason to live, a reason to love and a reason to be herself and so she would resume each day with a smile so that she wouldn’t be broken so that ‘he’ wouldn’t sacrifice himself for her so that they both would always love each other regardless of their tragedy.

Even if the whole wide world were to collapse, even if he were to be sick and would only have a day or even hours left, he would still write for that’s his determined fate and ‘’Sin,’’ until he is rid of that.

The man would never stop writing until the end

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The village was built on sand and stone. The villages weren’t set in specific spots, as they have decided to build them somewhere along the coast and just close enough to feel the mountains.

A good mixture of warmth and coolness emanated from around the mountain.

Others have tried challenging the mountain for the thrills and money, as climbing it fetched a good price as opposed to slavery or working a normal minimum wage job.

Others were greedy and poor, whilst the others felt the thrill and wanted a challenge.

Some made it to the top, whilst others suffered a permanent injury in their legs and arms, disabling them, causing them to despair and commit suicide, as being disabled in a village as opposed to in a kingdom under a ’blessing’ is basically tantamount to not even living a normal life and thus they lost their career and the very thing that made them who they are all crumbled away forever to be forgotten.

And so the orphan Ariel thought to himself,

‘Would I really be remembered when I die? Would the constant work and sense of self really crumble away towards the dust, never to be remembered, never to be praised, never to be loved or to even live as Ariel as me?

Ariel clutched his white t-shirt tightly, shaking and trembling. He didn’t want to be forgotten; he didn’t want to be unloved; he didn’t want others to stop caring for him.

Ariel had merely sought for love and a capable and strong sense of self or at least something to remember himself for, for Ariel to remain as Ariel for his sense of self to remain as it is but if one day he were to forget or be forgotten, then surely Ariel himself would crumble down to the last bit of dust and ashes, never to regain himself, never to remain as himself as Ariel and surely never to be ’alive" like all the daring climbers who lost their lives. Without anything to remember yourself by, would you really accept such an outcome? Being alive while being forgotten and being dead while being forgotten are essentially two sides of the same coin at the very end.

‘Ariel’ would cease to exist; his sense of self would crumble away forever to be forgotten and forever to remain alone in the apex of darkness and loneliness. He started trembling, even more scared of that very thought.

‘’ I don’t want this. I don’t want this. I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this I don’t want this.’’

tears started streaming down his face his head going on a constant spiral of Ariel started scratching his hair, hoping to get the spiraling thoughts out of his head Ariel was never the strong willed guy, always giving up at the closest sign of defeat, always imagining the worst possible scenario never trying his utmost best This type of thinking was due to how lonely he was and he would forever bear that loneliness alone for himself, with none to remember him. Would such a dark and lonely future await him at the end of his miserable life?

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Ariel was asleep for a long, long, long, long time, unaware of himself, unaware of what he wanted, unaware of his shape, and unaware of when his slumber would eventually end and he would wake up in a different world, having no memory of the previous world or his previous occupation.

He simply remained asleep for a long time. A formless ‘thing’ that had nothing for itself was eventually thrust into this world without any warning.

a short boy with stunted growth and brown hair and golden eyes in the cold winter in a place far removed from the world, specifically in the outskirts away from wars and kingdoms, a peaceful village that thrives with nature and cooperation from the villagers. It was a relatively peaceful village and the people were more than welcoming and helpful, more so to newcomers and outsiders who were looking for jobs or a place to stay or perhaps someplace to call home or a sense of it at least from time to time.

Traders would arrive with exotic trades or a trade of spices and sell it for a relatively middle point of cheap and overpriced and people would buy it and thus business would thrive and the general populace would be happy. That’s how it usually would go on.

Ariel was naturally penniless and depressed, not having anything to work with or connections to get him through and so he would roam around asking for work, though the workers themselves would have a second thought and, without hesitation, exclude him, as he has no notable feature or anyone to vouch for him.

And so, lonely as he is, Ariel sought connections and work or at least something for him to work for to take his mind off his loneliness and depression and without having anything to work with, he simply remained in his bed in a slightly run-down shack alone without any hope of achieving anything or being remembered as someone.

‘’Might as well rot away here as weak and helpless as I am.’’

Ariel thought to himself as he closed his eyes and as darkness blanketed his worldview, Ariel had pretty much given up.

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Nothing but Silence was present and after hours of sleeping Ariel had woken up in the middle of the night rubbing his eyes the darkness that blanketed his worldview had disappeared and in front of him was the usual ceiling he tiredly got up from the bed and stretched a bit and headed outside into the chill and cold air in the middle of the night without any guide or idea where to go, he headed towards the lake and, as usual, took a bit of the cold water and splashed his own face with it the chill and cold instantly waking him up feeling alive he stared at the pool of water in the lake and pondered and pondered and pondered

‘’ What should I do now? What’s my goal now? What’s the right thing to do now? Should I just—?

He didn’t need to complete the sentence, as it was right in front of him; he simply needed to jump into that cold lake stretching out into the universe. He thought about it, he agonized about it he deeply tried his utmost hardest but his lonely and weak plea went unheard. No one bothered to listen to him nor did they bat an eye at his loneliness.

‘’What could I have done better? What should I have done better? Whom should I have turned to? Ah— i just don’t know anymore………… Ah, well, if there’s a second chance, then maybe I’ll try to talk to people more.’’

Ariel was truly at his wit's end he had nothing to himself Maybe, just maybe, it would’ve been different had he talked to people but then again Ariel’s social skills weren’t really up to par to begin with so perhaps he really was doomed from the start

Seeing his own sad and lonely expression reflected in the lake at night, Ariel truly felt extremely low, and he simply could not comprehend something that others could. What difference would his suffering do anyways Besides, what’s one less person’s difference anyways? The people, the village, the traders, the workers, the buyers, the normal living people—I bet one less person wouldn’t change shit anyways.

Ariel truly, truly, truly desired someone to be with him to share their troubles, their joy, and their normal life with him. If I continue living, would there be such a person?

He looked up at the night sky being lit by 37 stars illuminating his worthless and lonely self.

Ariel turned to the other side and headed back, not caring at all about that special someone in his life, and just when he was about to head home, he found a carriage with a single man who looks to be in his thirties with sitting in the driver's seat, humming a harmonica to himself to no one in particular he had long, ash colored hair and was built really well he opened his eyes and saw Ariel silently watching him as he looked at him with his red eyes curiosity quickly took over as his eyes widened, almost as if he found something he was looking for, for ages he had found that something or perhaps that someone in Ariel and after a bit

‘’Hey kid what are you doing here in the middle of the night?’’

The ash colored-hair man asked a very simple question as if he’s talking to an old friend

Flustered Ariel quickly answered whilst being curious himself

‘’Uh, um, just um, strolling uh, around I guess.’’

Ariel had said so not being used to talking with anyone in general; the man simply looked at him with curiosity like looking at an exotic animal

If he’s really ‘’that,’’ then perhaps our meeting was fated. If that’s so, then I couldn’t very well leave him here. He’s important to the narrative—or rather, fate itself.

The man thought to himself and after hesitating for a few minutes, he decided on something that may determine his or Ariel’s worth, that is.

‘’Hey Kid want to hop on a journey with me?’’

The man forced a smile towards Ariel, inviting him on his journey through the world beyond this deserted village, a world beyond his wildest imaginations, a world that not even the people themselves can imagine spreading out in the universe.

Huh huh, a journey with this stranger? But why? ..............ahhhh, is fate finally giving me a chance but what if it's a trap? ........ Oh, right, it doesn’t matter, does it? It never once mattered, at the very least, not ever. And so I shouldn’t care about whether it’s a trap or not. I honestly never cared about whether it is or it isn’t. This strange man offered freedom from this village, from this hellish life and so naturally I should just take it, right? Yeah, it doesn’t matter; it never did. I’m not worth that much and so it shouldn’t matter but still I—.

Ariel was at a loss he truly wasn’t sure what to say or how to answer he thought deeply about the man’s question, as going with him meant a life much different, a life of perhaps pain and suffering waiting for him or a life of happiness and hope unsure how to answer, he wanted to be freed but couldn’t express it normally and so the man urged him but stayed professional

‘’So you want to stay in this village without any hope of a life different from here? Is that what you want?’’

The man himself said what Ariel truly wanted to hear, offering him a chance to live a better life, his strict and firm tone almost leaving no rebuttal or any room to refuse and so, hesitating and shaking from this heavy decision, Ariel decided to take the man's hand and embark on a new journey.

A journey that Ariel may look back on fondly or perhaps a journey where Ariel looks back in pain and despair or a life where he loses everything—either way, Ariel had no leeway to answer that, as he had no idea what to expect or where this newfound journey will take him Perhaps it’ll take him to the jaws of death or the angelic life of happiness and peace or perhaps this is all a dream. Either way, if it’s a dream, then it’s a nice one before his eventual demise.

Ariel looked around at the carriage at the wasteland covered with sand and sandy-covered mountains. There wasn’t much nature around here and around the 9th month, the season would change and it would either be a chilly cold or a sunny Either way, there wasn’t much to look at so Ariel quickly grew bored of the same landscape over and over again, so he lay down in the carriage and putting his head on his hands, he closed his eyes for a nap, sometimes trying to start a conversation with the lone traveler whose name is Solaine. As he and Solaine both chatted for a bit, they finally arrived at an almost run-down factory.

‘’Why’s there a factory in the middle of nowhere?’’

Solaine stepped out of the carriage while holding the reins, tied it to a nearby fence, tightening them to holding it in place to making sure the horses stay put and with his strict and firm expression he—

‘’Ariel I have a slight mission I need you to perform here Sadly, due to reasons I can’t discuss, I can’t enter but perhaps you can, as there’s a certain problem in this factory that I’d like you to get rid off only then would your journey begin.’’

Yet again his tone left no rebuttal or refusal Ariel pondered as to why he can’t enter but thought better and simply headed inside the run down factory cobwebs and broken glass found everywhere and bugs littering around alongside old and broken toys its quite spacious and the stairs leading up has moss and glass all over them, so Ariel slowly got up the metal stairs, finding a straight line to the other side, which is also filled with moss and trash all over it Ariel with circular room with a metal door that’s half open, cautious Ariel headed towards the half open metal door and slowly pushed it open only to find a stack of papers with people’s names on it

Reia ■■■ (princess of ■■■)

Princi Prinzessin (Princess of ■■■)

Neah ■■■ (Princess of ■■■)

Serie QueenSilvra (King of ■■■)

Celeste Apollo (Princess of ■■■)

Eka Gaia (Princess of Earth)

Larren Kuragari (King of ■■■)

Names unknown to Ariel title blocked by the narrative or rather fate itself yet somehow Ariel felt a connection that he never knew existed and before he knew it, sparks of lightning strewed around the files that Ariel was looking at, and without a mouth it suddenly spoke

‘’Ah yes, you’re here, our star, our god, our ■■■. Finally, this story can get started we’ve waited a million years so you better not disappoint Oh, ■■■ its time for you to wake. Oh, ■■■, have you no fear after all you are and ’they” are the main players and so only you won’t ■■■ hehe………………………… I’ve waited so long now then time to start.’’’

Hands came out of nowhere and grabbed hold of Ariel’s, almost as if beckoning him the ground and the still intact windows were heavily shaking until it got destroyed and yet again the voice spoke

‘’ Ah…….finally this long story woven and written by ■■■ and ■■■ can finally enters its prologue I wonder how will you write it and so, boy, I implore you, I beg you, please, please, please, please, please, when you reach the end, please, please.’’

The voice begged, although it had no face to show its emotions Ariel felt that it was crying and perhaps in pain he wanted to comfort it but its nothing more than a voice and so with a somewhat lonely and pleading voice, it said something Ariel wouldn’t have imagined

Please end me

and with this Ariel’s worldview was yet again blanketed with darkness

Solaine’s point of view

As Solaine was in his carriage moments after Ariel entered the rundown factory, he wondered if he had made the right choice in meeting Ariel, a being who shouldn’t have existed, whom the narrative, or rather fate itself, had continued to live.

And so Solaine decided to take him along and observe him to see what kind of danger or perhaps hope would come out of him and what he would see from him. He had wondered, so what would be the right thing to do? Would killing him solve the uneasiness emanating from him? He wasn’t sure but he had certainly seen something in Ariel and would try to understand what that something is after about 20 minutes of waiting a sudden sensation like he’s never felt before and an explosion inside the factory destroying everything inside leaving not a trace of it and there laid Ariel unconscious and unharmed, sparks of lightning everywhere around the factory’s destroyed parts confused Solaine tried to get closer however, the sparks of lightning formed a wall in front of him, preventing him from getting closer to Ariel Solaine quickly knew its identity and what it was

‘’Tch the hell are you doing here narrative or rather, fate itself’’

Pissed off Solaine addressed it as the narrative, or rather fate itself, the one controlling this story this universe and its people, and a portal opened what came out was a person Solaine would have never imagined in his life it was ■■■

‘’ Why’s ■■■ here shouldn’t you be a normal human being this power and authority how did you become a ■■■ its certainly impossible because of the boy?’’

■■■ spoke with its calm and chill tone

Times are changing and finally the person I have waited my entire life has awoken the prologue of the story will take a turn and so Johnnes will finally write again and ‘I’ will continue to exist all for ‘me’ and only ‘me.’’’

■■■ seemed excited to have Ariel to all to itself just to write this outlandish story, this tragic story, a story without a smudge of happiness whatsoever—that kind of story what would happen to the writer themselves Solaine pondered this; however ■■, response was yet again unexpected one he never would have guessed

‘’ Ariel you see, is ■■■ the one who wrote ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ forever he would continue to write ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ so Solaine please don’t get in his way its his destiny so please, please.’’

It said with a solemn tone, her body fully shrouded in darkness, leaving nothing to distinguish itself Solaine felt defeated at the massive bombs being dropped. He couldn’t believe what he heard; it was something inconceivable, something he thought he never would have heard in all the years he’s lived and he quickly understood and decided not to get in ■■■’s way.

‘’Ah, I knew it since the start you always agreed for his safety I thank you, oh lone traveler.’’

And with this, ■■■ left the world and only Ariel and Solaine remained in the barren wasteland and so Ariel’s life from zero would begin in earnest, whatever lay upon them; only by traversing would they know.

This is a story of pain, tragedy, and misunderstandings, but also a story of love, of preserving and fighting fate itself and not giving up your sense of self. A love story of hope and despair awaited the clueless Ariel.

(End of chapter)