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lucathiaTitle: Follow the Sign - Part 4: Bet
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1,179
Summary: Finding the way back home isn't going to be an easy task, and returning with all of the missing knight-captains will be even harder, but Adair will accept no other outcome, no matter what universe he must travel through to locate them all. A series of snapshots. Multiple crossovers.
Notes: We continue through the alphabet... but are still stuck on B! I also gave in and used one of my own words. Spoilers for up to V1 of No Hero.
Previous part
"You have been looking for me."
A statement, not a question.
Indeed, Adair has wanted to meet Dark Sun in person, Dark Sun, who is a complete opposite of his captain, just like his name suggests. If Adair's captain represents brilliance and benevolence, the warm embrace of the sun's rays, then Dark Sun is the absence of it, a departure from light, a shadow cast by flames that might one day swallow up those very flames.
Dark Sun is an executioner, not unlike the Judgment Knight.
Adair isn't greeted by dark hair and wild laughter. Rather, it's cold, silver hair and an inscrutable face.
Dark Sun isn't his captain.
But even so, his name must be a sign.
Although the Pope did not know where Adair would end up, he was sure that Adair would end up somewhere with a clue to the knight-captains' whereabouts.
"As long as you have the Divine Sun Sword with you, it will lead you to them. Your paths are bound to cross... I think."
Somewhat sure, at least.
It's more than Adair can ask for.
For now, this is where Adair's path leads him.
A gamble it may be, but it's his best bet under the current situation.
It will do.
"Yes," Adair answers. "I ask for your help. In return, I have important news for the heroes."
To the side, First Wind asks, "Why have you sought Dark Sun in particular?"
Why not another hero? Sunset City has more than one hero.
"Only because he reminds me of what I seek."
And because, for a wild second, Adair hoped it would be that easy.
It isn't, of course.
The tale is a farfetched one, but it's the truth as Adair knows it.
All worlds exist in balance.
When the balance of one world is disrupted in the way Adair's world was, the collapse of that world will spread and bring about a corrosion of the rest. Only when the balance of that first world is restored will the corrosion stop.
So explained the Pope to Adair, and so Adair explains now to the heroes of this world.
"Darkness has overtaken my world," Adair says. "It is spreading, even now. Our only hope of stopping it is lost. While it is still conjecture on our part, we believe that the repercussions will eventually spread across the different worlds. If so, you might have already noticed the effects."
This is the first world Adair has come across. He doesn't yet know if what they surmised will come true, but his guide says it will, and if she isn't an expert, then Adair doesn't know who would count as one.
"I wish for your help in finding my companions. Finding them will restore the balance to the worlds, and thus your world will be saved as well."
What Adair doesn't mention is that he doesn't really care what happens to the other worlds. Well, he does care, but it far pales to his actual goal.
What he truly cares about is finding them.
Finding him.
Perhaps this world is doomed. Perhaps it isn't. Perhaps it will thrive. Perhaps it will be devoured by darkness.
Perhaps.
There are all sorts of perhaps out there, but none of them matter to Adair. All Adair needs at the moment is a reason for them to help him. If it really does benefit them, all the better for everyone.
"That's a difficult story you're asking us to believe," First Wind says, but despite his doubt, he has put away his energy whip. "Do you at least have proof that you are from a different world?"
"I do not know if this will serve as proof, but from what I've seen, it doesn't seem that your people know how to do this."
After speaking, Adair casts a Minor Heal on First Wind.
Startled, First Wind flexes his hand, testing how it feels. Then, he looks up in wonder. "Have you been modified? Experimented on? I've never seen such an ability before."
Hm, so healing isn't enough as proof. Despite not being an "ability" the hero has seen before, the hero seems to believe that it could result from the modifications and experiments of this world.
"Take off your mask," Dark Sun suddenly says. Adair looks towards him, this hero whose identity is hidden behind a visor. His metal wings gleam under the sun. "If you are from this world, I will know."
Asking a hero to unmask himself is something that is never done. The heroes have always had a tacit understanding that they are never to dig around about each other's identity. However, "Dual Blade" isn't really here to be a hero. He is even claiming that he is from a different world, and that this world is in danger. Dark Sun cannot allow any such danger to remain.
When it all comes down to it, whether or not Adair wears a mask truly matters little to Adair. He only wears one to follow the example set by the heroes. So, he simply takes off the mask like asked.
For a moment, no one moves.
Then, green text runs across Dark Sun's visor. His voice is monotonous, like he is reciting something.
"You do not exist in any databases. There are no records of you at all until you showed up out of the blue in the marketplace. Conclusion. There is a 90% chance you are speaking the truth."
It's enough for First Wind, and almost enough for Dark Sun.
But Dark Sun won't leave anything to chance, not even 10%.
Adair tells them more.
Instead of directly returning inside the apartment, Dark Sun lands on the rooftops. The guards there relax when they recognize him and back down, a great improvement from the time they thought him to be an enemy and shot him down.
Standing up, Dark Sun tucks away his wings. He stares across the rooftops into the shadows, at the darkness that laps unevenly around the edges of the buildings.
After several moments pass, Dark Sun makes his way down into the apartment. He enters through a secret passageway and takes off his visor. Not long after, freshly changed and tidied up, An Xiang Ye emerges from his room, looking every bit like a young college student instead of a seasoned hero. Dressed as a hero, one might call his silver hair cold and dangerous, but as his unassuming college self, his silver hair is soft and inviting, often making others wish they can touch it.
He even does his homework like a good student. However, while typing his report, he is also searching up information on any abnormalities that might hint at a subtle collapse of the world. This is not a danger that An Xiang Ye has prepared for. It is not an enemy that he can beat up or physically defeat. But it is still one that he must take care of.
It isn't that An Xiang Ye loves the world and cares about its general well being.
It isn't that he doesn't care either.
But his first priority will always be his brother. This risk is almost like global warming, a phenomenon that will affect the entire world, but while global warming is low risk where his brother is concerned, as it won't affect him during his lifetime, this new risk is much higher.
He needs more information.
The delicious aroma of chicken pulls An Xiang Ye away from his research and reminds him that he has someone he can ask. He makes his way to the dining table. Dishes of all kinds are spread across the table, and his butler Charles pulls out a chair for him.
An Xiang Ye sits down and asks, "Charles, can you tell me more about the Dark Realm?"
There is almost nothing An Xiang Ye can't look up on his own, but the realm of non-humans is one such exception. Most of what An Xiang Ye knows is what his butler Charles told him last time. As a vampire, Charles knows a lot more about the Dark Realm than he knows.
The Dark Realm has never been well documented.
And now, it seems to be in fluctuation, alarmingly similar to Dual Blade's descriptions of the lands of darkness of his world.
to be continued
Next part
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1,179
Summary: Finding the way back home isn't going to be an easy task, and returning with all of the missing knight-captains will be even harder, but Adair will accept no other outcome, no matter what universe he must travel through to locate them all. A series of snapshots. Multiple crossovers.
Notes: We continue through the alphabet... but are still stuck on B! I also gave in and used one of my own words. Spoilers for up to V1 of No Hero.
Previous part
Part 4: Bet
"You have been looking for me."
A statement, not a question.
Indeed, Adair has wanted to meet Dark Sun in person, Dark Sun, who is a complete opposite of his captain, just like his name suggests. If Adair's captain represents brilliance and benevolence, the warm embrace of the sun's rays, then Dark Sun is the absence of it, a departure from light, a shadow cast by flames that might one day swallow up those very flames.
Dark Sun is an executioner, not unlike the Judgment Knight.
Adair isn't greeted by dark hair and wild laughter. Rather, it's cold, silver hair and an inscrutable face.
Dark Sun isn't his captain.
But even so, his name must be a sign.
Although the Pope did not know where Adair would end up, he was sure that Adair would end up somewhere with a clue to the knight-captains' whereabouts.
"As long as you have the Divine Sun Sword with you, it will lead you to them. Your paths are bound to cross... I think."
Somewhat sure, at least.
It's more than Adair can ask for.
For now, this is where Adair's path leads him.
A gamble it may be, but it's his best bet under the current situation.
It will do.
"Yes," Adair answers. "I ask for your help. In return, I have important news for the heroes."
To the side, First Wind asks, "Why have you sought Dark Sun in particular?"
Why not another hero? Sunset City has more than one hero.
"Only because he reminds me of what I seek."
And because, for a wild second, Adair hoped it would be that easy.
It isn't, of course.
The tale is a farfetched one, but it's the truth as Adair knows it.
All worlds exist in balance.
When the balance of one world is disrupted in the way Adair's world was, the collapse of that world will spread and bring about a corrosion of the rest. Only when the balance of that first world is restored will the corrosion stop.
So explained the Pope to Adair, and so Adair explains now to the heroes of this world.
"Darkness has overtaken my world," Adair says. "It is spreading, even now. Our only hope of stopping it is lost. While it is still conjecture on our part, we believe that the repercussions will eventually spread across the different worlds. If so, you might have already noticed the effects."
This is the first world Adair has come across. He doesn't yet know if what they surmised will come true, but his guide says it will, and if she isn't an expert, then Adair doesn't know who would count as one.
"I wish for your help in finding my companions. Finding them will restore the balance to the worlds, and thus your world will be saved as well."
What Adair doesn't mention is that he doesn't really care what happens to the other worlds. Well, he does care, but it far pales to his actual goal.
What he truly cares about is finding them.
Finding him.
Perhaps this world is doomed. Perhaps it isn't. Perhaps it will thrive. Perhaps it will be devoured by darkness.
Perhaps.
There are all sorts of perhaps out there, but none of them matter to Adair. All Adair needs at the moment is a reason for them to help him. If it really does benefit them, all the better for everyone.
"That's a difficult story you're asking us to believe," First Wind says, but despite his doubt, he has put away his energy whip. "Do you at least have proof that you are from a different world?"
"I do not know if this will serve as proof, but from what I've seen, it doesn't seem that your people know how to do this."
After speaking, Adair casts a Minor Heal on First Wind.
Startled, First Wind flexes his hand, testing how it feels. Then, he looks up in wonder. "Have you been modified? Experimented on? I've never seen such an ability before."
Hm, so healing isn't enough as proof. Despite not being an "ability" the hero has seen before, the hero seems to believe that it could result from the modifications and experiments of this world.
"Take off your mask," Dark Sun suddenly says. Adair looks towards him, this hero whose identity is hidden behind a visor. His metal wings gleam under the sun. "If you are from this world, I will know."
Asking a hero to unmask himself is something that is never done. The heroes have always had a tacit understanding that they are never to dig around about each other's identity. However, "Dual Blade" isn't really here to be a hero. He is even claiming that he is from a different world, and that this world is in danger. Dark Sun cannot allow any such danger to remain.
When it all comes down to it, whether or not Adair wears a mask truly matters little to Adair. He only wears one to follow the example set by the heroes. So, he simply takes off the mask like asked.
For a moment, no one moves.
Then, green text runs across Dark Sun's visor. His voice is monotonous, like he is reciting something.
"You do not exist in any databases. There are no records of you at all until you showed up out of the blue in the marketplace. Conclusion. There is a 90% chance you are speaking the truth."
It's enough for First Wind, and almost enough for Dark Sun.
But Dark Sun won't leave anything to chance, not even 10%.
Adair tells them more.
Instead of directly returning inside the apartment, Dark Sun lands on the rooftops. The guards there relax when they recognize him and back down, a great improvement from the time they thought him to be an enemy and shot him down.
Standing up, Dark Sun tucks away his wings. He stares across the rooftops into the shadows, at the darkness that laps unevenly around the edges of the buildings.
After several moments pass, Dark Sun makes his way down into the apartment. He enters through a secret passageway and takes off his visor. Not long after, freshly changed and tidied up, An Xiang Ye emerges from his room, looking every bit like a young college student instead of a seasoned hero. Dressed as a hero, one might call his silver hair cold and dangerous, but as his unassuming college self, his silver hair is soft and inviting, often making others wish they can touch it.
He even does his homework like a good student. However, while typing his report, he is also searching up information on any abnormalities that might hint at a subtle collapse of the world. This is not a danger that An Xiang Ye has prepared for. It is not an enemy that he can beat up or physically defeat. But it is still one that he must take care of.
It isn't that An Xiang Ye loves the world and cares about its general well being.
It isn't that he doesn't care either.
But his first priority will always be his brother. This risk is almost like global warming, a phenomenon that will affect the entire world, but while global warming is low risk where his brother is concerned, as it won't affect him during his lifetime, this new risk is much higher.
He needs more information.
The delicious aroma of chicken pulls An Xiang Ye away from his research and reminds him that he has someone he can ask. He makes his way to the dining table. Dishes of all kinds are spread across the table, and his butler Charles pulls out a chair for him.
An Xiang Ye sits down and asks, "Charles, can you tell me more about the Dark Realm?"
There is almost nothing An Xiang Ye can't look up on his own, but the realm of non-humans is one such exception. Most of what An Xiang Ye knows is what his butler Charles told him last time. As a vampire, Charles knows a lot more about the Dark Realm than he knows.
The Dark Realm has never been well documented.
And now, it seems to be in fluctuation, alarmingly similar to Dual Blade's descriptions of the lands of darkness of his world.
to be continued
Next part
