《Malevolence》 Part 1: Susurrus ¡°A whispering or rustling sound; the indistinct sound of people whispering.¡± Amidst the wind, inside the crevices of the oh-so great Europe, there was a boy. A young boy, born into wealth and status. Scolded by his peers and loved by none other than his own mother. However, this joy wouldn¡¯t last perpetually, as his parents would ultimately pass. Leaving him, that same boy, with an empty hole deep within, solidifying that the damage had already been done. The boy would always quietly listen to the echoes of the lively children, almost as if a ritual of sorts. Pondering whether or not he was fit to be in such a prestigious academy. Just then, a group of joyful children swam through their school hallways, their chattering echoing powerfully. The entirety of the estate-like school was also known to be nearly as vast as an endless tunnel. Various children of various families attended the school, varying from the ages of twelve and fourteen. Conversing with one another as the bells ringed powerfully through the school halls. Although, one child stood eerie amongst the other, a small boy who sat steadily as the others exited for recess. Seated by a nearby window, the dazzling sun glistering over the horizon, the child patterning in a rhythmic sequence on the school window''s frame. Their sheeny lengthy pitch-black hair reflecting the sun''s brilliant glare, not to mention the aura of which protruded from the child dressed with sovereign-like clothing. As they silently emitted such marvelous atmosphere all from simply remaining seated. "Basil!" bellowed the teacher. He did not respond. Subconsciously stuck loosely daydreaming about his life as of now. A boy who was allowed one weekly glimpse of sunlight, the one & only time Basil was allowed outside. His life was far from perfect. It only truly got better every time he felt the gentle embrace of his mother¡¯s fingers glide softly through his hair. Though, we know how that turned out. Snapping back to the present, the teacher¡¯s beckons grabbing his attention. He glared at the long-legged petite female instructor. She gripped the child''s wrist with fierce strength, with the child opposing the instructor''s orders. Hauling the boy over as the legions of children continued their mindless chatter. The teacher darted towards the outdoor entrance, the sun nearly blinding the poor child. The boy then would raise his palm to combat the glistening solar rays. The instructor would remove the boy¡¯s hand from his face with a stern warning, forcing him to go play with the others his age. An indistinct amount of shadowy figures then grew under Basil faster than he could perceive. They were observing. The shadows lurking where he did not see. Vanishing into the terrain below as the sun briefly wisped over them. It was then that he heard it. A particularly familiar sound. A sound he knew all too well; and not only could he now hear it. He could feel it. The sound of disgust. of true malice. It was growing stronger. Their stares felt all too pressuring. Unknowingly to the boy, the instructor had seemingly vanished, presumably to resume her duties, as the other children would continue to simply stand there. Staring. Shorter than most, Basil was an unchallenging target for bullies, a daily target for those in need of enjoyment. The taller children begin to circle the boy. The others meaninglessly observing what was to come. This was just another, small example of Basil¡¯s daily despair. Laughter, & an uneasiness became one with the surrounding atmosphere, as suddenly, one of the children would forcefully shove Basil. Causing him to forcibly come into contact with the ground below, staring upwards at the children whose laughter only gained intensity. Biting firmly on his lower lip as they stomped and stomped over his fragile exterior. With Basil attempting to fight his attackers purely with the power of his words and the toughness of his own body and mind. As the laughter from his peers grew louder. Louder, and louder, and LOUDER! Basil could only wonder one thing. Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! Why! ( SHOCK! ) This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Basil awoke. Laid atop a glamorously cozy mattress, with an extraordinarily disorienting tension headache which only tightened as he attempted to move even an inch. Feeling almost as if his skull were on the verge of imploding from the inside. Was this another nightmare? No. This place was familiar. Nostalgic even. Nothing could be felt here, it was like a separate dimension. A dream. As for Basil, no matter how hard he tried, he could not put a pinpoint on where exactly he was. On the other hand, all he knew, was that it was surely lavish, or better yet, abnormally lavish. You could basically sense how enormous it was off simply being in it. However, the main difference between his plain old, generic living quarters and here, was simply the interior appearance. The appearance was that of a small cell created seemingly for a certain individual. Its air took on an almost otherworldly texture. Its inside appeared as a dungeon, one meant for the most exclusive of slaves. The cell was luxurious, but held a dingy quality as well. The wind inside the cell is shallow & humid. Only whistling by to fill the ever so quiet room with noise for the recurrent brief second. Paintings of almost indistinctly familiar faces adorned the bedroom walls. Many of which he did not even nearly recognize, and some he¡¯d even met. Most surprisingly, even his Mother was one of the heads which decorated the room walls; but there was no Father in sight. Also inside the grand cellar, there was also a restroom that smelled identical to that of a rich lavender field in the humid summer air. Lastly there was the room¡¯s raggedy wooden floorboards, creaking even with the slightest gust of wind. Luckily, the room¡¯s air was not particularly violent or piercingly frigid. Pads and pads of blankets were lazily scattered around Basil''s body, with his belongings thrown wildly over the blankets, almost as if a beast ravaged the cell while he rested. Basil himself was equipped in nothing but his slick black leather pants, and a plain white button up that wasn''t even completely buttoned. As the temperature increased, Basil removed his plain white shirt, placing it on a dresser beside the king-sized bed. Returning to the actuality of his reality, or more importantly; the meaning behind these descriptive hallucinations! - No. Nightmares. Basil could sense the feeling of something eldritch, something incomprehensible, evolving on the inside. Deluged with disappointment, & releasing a quiet sigh; Basil, the boy born into prestigious status, whose authority dwindled as so did his Father''s. Plagued by his very own everyday existence, the boy simply closed his eyes, returning back to his rest. Finally dozing off on the tender cotton pillow as he recalled his Father¡¯s orders. ¡°Dream. Dream silently my son.¡± ¡°I will save you.¡± A mysteriously deep voice called out to Basil from the inside of his own mind. Bursting into a crazed laughter before fading into utter silence. Basil immediately awoke from his slumber. Wondering where this echoing voice originated from & who it exactly was. Even leaping out of the bed, taking multiple circular steps around the encapsulating cellar. Could it be an intruder? A spirit? - no. This was something demonic. A devil in disguise. Hyperventilating with his only remainder of breaths left. Breath after breath, sweat dripping like anchors in the ocean. The wind is overwhelmingly gelid & noisy. Also distinctly making out what seemed to be faint whispering below his feet. His psyche & senses not able to even fully process his environment, Basil slowly leaned behind his left foot, stretching far for the blankets near his feet before - ¡°WAAHHAHAHHHHHHHHH!¡± His world warping, distorting & contorting upon itself as he fell off the branch of a gigantic tree. The branches rattle & shake like a tambourine each he comes into contact with another, and another, and another. Shattering one of his internal ribs on each ¡®padded¡¯ landing. Leaves & fruit fall due to the concussive impact, triggering somewhat of a ricochet effect. All the while a bright-blood red apple follows Basil¡¯s path. ( AGHH! ) let out Basil. Before finally landing on the terrain below, silence once again took over. In similar fashion to every other previous time since he was born. The sound of liquid trickling, drizzling profusely, slapping against the muddy earth. It was loud, so loud in fact, it would make one believe the only thing reverberating through the empty forest was their own life fluid. The sensation of its moist texture felt as if snails steadily trailed over the surface of leathery skin. Insects in the background generate additional noise, advancing from a puny pest to outright irritating in the blink of an eye. Croaking loudly with whatever lasting breath he could conjure. Tilting his neck an acutely moderate amount to observe his wounds. Witnessing a truly gruesome sight, shuttered stiffly as he examined his wounds. A gigantic splintered tree branch, larger than the average, with the sharpness of a pin-needle. penetrating directly through his solar plexus. Piercing straight the heart of the young boy. ( ¡°What is happening?¡± ) the boy thought aloud, praying that he was dreaming. As Basil began to lose consciousness, just making out his Mother¡¯s figure reaching out her arms to him. Reaching out with his remaining endurance, before surrendering to his injuries. The same apple mentioned before dropping directly beside Basil¡¯s dying body. Rolling leisurely as it hit the ground. As its rolling stopped so did Basil¡¯s heavy breaths. - End. Part 2: Acatalepsy

¡°Incomprehensibleness. The impossibility of comprehending or conceiving a thing.¡± Sincere quietude, the bewitching emanations girdling the ambient atmosphere. Imperceptible gaseous substances gently breeze past a detached & forlorn child. It was then that Basil appeared dressed in distinctively distinguished rags. The same clothing a young Noble would consider wearing. A constant ringing occupied his head space, as he could barely describe his own surroundings himself. Solemnly attempting to cover his upper torso & lower torso. His bare feet leaving mushed grass in his path. Pale skin which stayed unmoved by the glimmering rays of the everlasting sun. Reigning over the boy and all the land. The boy couldn¡¯t even tell you what he was doing previously. All that he knew was that none of this felt real. Moreover, still laid the child, inaudible within the center cubical of an expansive grassland, which was blessed with countless crops, confined, imprisoned within a seemingly untold state of solitary. Neglected without warning. Just as he was. Meanwhile east of the field which Basil stood in, sat a church-like structure. Almost as if it emerged out of nothing. Furthermore, and uncomfortably, the vegetation grazing the silk smooth outer ridges of his almost frigid skin proved all the more aggravating. Its ruthless brushes are forced into motion by the intense, snarling wind. The grass¡¯s surface lacerated both the right & left leg tissue of the boy. Inflicting minor incisions upon his chilled, & numb skin. Formication forming, only to no response. Remaining on his face was still a blank melancholic expression. His lengthy, jet-black, luscious hair acting in direct mimicry to that of a calm river stream. Fluently flowing throughout the frigid zephyr, unexpectedly obstructing his field of view. Abrupt adjustments in the gusts of wind cause Basil to glare upwards toward the gleaming star above, his hair hurryingly dragging alongside his nape. Obscene heat transmitted directly from the sun above, strictly to the onlooker below. As he began to steadily raise his right hand, extending out his palm in hopes of achieving the star within his grasp; having been outwardly captivated by its charm. Mere seconds which felt as if hours, would leisurely pass by without much acknowledgment. Soft tears secreting from his eyes. Spreading nicely across the surface. However, the child''s satisfaction had yet to be satiated. ¡°I must have it.¡± he thought to himself. Reaching out, begging just to hold it; stretching, & stretching until - ( Plopp~ ) Falling on his rear, knocking him hard. Specs of dust girdling his presence. He stood there for a few, contemplating his actions best he could. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Inch by inch, second after second, the child began to arise. His jaw wide open without a single thought of realization. Feelings of astonishment came over the young boy; but it was only a matter of the moment until these puddles of clear liquid converted into entire tears. Noticing this change, the boy lowered his hand. Shifting the trajectory of his gaze towards his now lowered right palm; which now faced himself, shielding him from the sun¡¯s irritating sensations. Slowly but surely, the tears continued to fall, something Basil was apparently disgusted by. Angered by the fact he had surely tasted ¡°defeat¡±, thinking he had shown weakness. Wailing his arms uncontrollable in a manner that would gird him. Tears now falling once more although at a more quicker pace than prior. As audible high frequency whines escaped his throat. His hair & clothes now also a mess as he stomped & growled at the towering star above him. Shutting his eyes in pure rage, he would not perceive what would occur due to his habitual whining. A stone pebble, which sat there inanimate. The boy, who did not scan his surroundings, did not imagine what would occur next. Taking a step forward with his lead right foot, he would step on this pebble. Causing him to stumble slowly in an attempt to regain his equilibrium. Only for him to perform an entire front flip onto his back. Dazed, & upon coming back to consciousness, the boy¡¯s appealingly stunning carbon-black hair had fallen in his face; blocking his line of sight once more. Calmly pushing his hair to the side, he would come face to face with the exact thing which caused his outburst. Glistening tears in the sun¡¯s rays still remained in his wake. However, no new tears had fallen. The lonesome boy now stood fiddly. A blank expression, & not a single spirit to complain to. He was simply overcome with two unparalleled sensations. Firstly was the overwhelming sensation of melancholy. Secondly, was the covet & sheer desire for more. The irresistible horizon, gusts of wind deluging the surrounding space, & the grass swiftly flowing in the breeze. All these occurrences simultaneously. Still atop the same hillside, where the refulgent sun illuminated the nearby church which looked similar to a manor, remained still. Seemingly as if it were glued to the hill itself. A flurry of both wind & leaves gyred around his immobile figure, but worried not the child. Before a large church bell rang harshly, interrupting his reposeful passivity. His various follicles skimming throughout the atmosphere, as the hushed shouts of the young children as they ran out the double doors, transformed into massive uproar. The young man stood silently, tranquil, devoid of all emotion & immune to such careless subjects. A large congregation of children thronged the verdant surface, clamoring with jollity as they all communicated with one another & partook in their whimsical activities. The immobile child in the distance however, simply stood there. Ignored by all individuals nearby. Including the adults who did not bat an eye. The incandescent sun continues to peer over the hillside. Focusing on the forgotten one. Although the boy¡¯s clothing seemed like those of royalty, his noticeably baggy eyelids hinted at a lack of sleep & just maybe a symptom of severe insomnia. Even to the point an ordinary person could suspect them to be a homeless orphan. Nonetheless, the one who remained isolated from all others, continued to be annoyed by the surrounding folk. His peers included. Though they seemed taller in height to Basil, they were definitely still somewhat near the same age range of nine years of age. With the young figure measuring on the relatively shorter end of the spectrum. His silhouette mimicking his every movement, as he lifted his index finger towards the effulgent star, his eyes set ablaze with stifling solar heat. Immediately raising a palm to the sweltering heat, it burned, scarring his optic vision; but, he somewhat relished the sensation. The heat functioned as if it were a form of affection. Love if so be it. Sinking his teeth into his lower lip at the discomfort of the sun''s discharges. Memories from his past then began to flood in, the boy in response scoffing at the thought. Until a sudden feeling of reverie took over his mind. The feeling he¡¯s felt before. A feeling of delusion. Turning to face the clouds behind him, a pitch-black emptiness appeared beneath his feet, swallowing his physical body whole. Both the figure & the abyssal shadow dispersing into the void. The emptiness at which none return. Nonetheless, the children continued their mindless play, almost as if the peculiar & bewildering entity was seemingly never there. Fading into darkness. Simply a shadow of the past. - End. Part 3 (1): Improbable ¡°Unexpected & apparently inauthentic.¡± Waking up seemingly in an instant, Basil¡¯s head wobbled side to side in a drowsy daze, as his eyes were met with a caliginous space, a visible border blocking all incoming forms of direct light. A gloomy night set upon the quiet forest. Trees stood tall amongst the lunar horizon. Indurated detritus encompassing the intrinsic domain, this place is rather peculiar. Meanwhile, the eyes of the young prince creaked open slightly. (¡°Where am I.~¡±) The words attempted to break free, but all that escaped was Basil¡¯s wine-red blood. Secreting from his mouth & the enormous gaping hole leading in & out his torso. With the realization that not 10 seconds had passed since he awoke, he didn¡¯t know what could be reality or what couldn¡¯t. The surrounding proportions of the dim forest calmly lay stacked upon a somewhat melancholic background, embellished with a nigh semi¨Ctransparent shadowy gray. A hue that extravagantly decorated the skies of the corporeal field. The absence of audible sound ringed through the area, all that was heard was the slight breeze every now & then, or the bristling of the nearby greenery. Foxes were as quiet as mice, & the predators fast asleep. ( ¡°GAGH!¡± ) Basil ached. Gripping the branch tightly as he attempted to use his upper body muscles to force himself off of the thing causing the unbearable pain. His teeth gritted, clenching down his jaw as he utilized whatever strength available. ¡°Someone. Help me. . .¡± he begged. ¡°I knew you¡¯d call.¡± something spoke. Responding to his pleas. Basil could feel as his very own stamina was seemingly returning back to him. As he peered downwards at his wounds, what he saw bewildered him. Recreating all lost, damaged tissues, organs, & limbs, his limbs and injuries were being restored to their optimal & full health at an exceedingly quick rate. Regeneration? It sure did seem like it. He could feel his body repairing itself. It didn¡¯t even feel real. Down to every organ & cell. Things only a fey being should be able to feel. His body was even mitigating his pain, reducing the amount of time and the amount of discomfort he felt. Tissue & bones overlapped over one another, creating them entirely anew. Still pushing, he had finally broken free from his torturous prison. Snapping the oversized branch in two, gathering strength he had thought impossible at the moment. Such strength could make a pragmatic person believe in superhumans. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Gaining his composure, he would stumble backwards, mushing down the leaves beneath him. Ripping the log out of his chest with ease, the wound vanishing in seconds, as if it were never there. His shirt impaled in a spherical formation where the wound used to be, but he could still memorize the agonizing sensations. Almost like a forgotten memory. Foregrounding quietude, the forest suddenly resonated with an involuntary quivering movement beneath the surface. Unprecedented, continuous waves of multiple thunderous & resounding rumblings echoed throughout the gloomy forest. The sound of heavy breaths, boots stomping the ground, & leaves being pushed to the side. Vast & extensive land, tumultuous clamoring permeated the environment. Seemingly endless amounts of vibrational currents set the empty woods quaking. Trudged footsteps mark the tenebrous forest, an anxious atmosphere breezed in with brisk velocity, the atmosphere stumbling on its own forbidding & baleful quality. The natural flooring of the grassy terrain oscillating as a compound of guards cornered Basil, divulging in many areas, separate areas meant for enclosing a target. All activity came to a halt, as one knight standing taller than the others before him stood approximately 8 feet in distance from Basil. This primary, also known as principal guard, spoke up, reading from a letter as he spoke to Basil. "Sir Basil! I have been ordered to request you come back to your home.¡±. One of the knights spoke loudly. ¡°If you wish to resist I have been ordered to take you by force. I politely request you make this as easy as it should be." He continued on. What? Basil''s thoughts seemingly plastered all over his face. Perplexed by the sudden situation, Basil staggered backwards still bewildered by all that had happened. Was this all even real? Who are these people? Their faces seemed a mist, distorted by his mind¡¯s frantic attempt to make sense of the situation. ¡°Please sir, we don¡¯t want to have to do thi-¡° A sharp gust of pressurized wind in a narrow region, caused by a flash of indiscernible speed from a certain individual or thing in the general vicinity. As the infamous (SWIPP!) of a lightning fast blade in the wind could be heard, but nothing was seen. Basil did not even dare to question what was going on. He had already questioned reality once before. However, it was as if time had stopped. The knight¡¯s now lifeless corpse falling upon time resuming, his skull split in a diagonal line. Blood drip, hitting the ground eliminating the harsh resounding echo of silence. ¡°Hm.¡± the mysterious figure let out. It was a tall, lanky, snowy white haired warrior. A woman in fact, she visibly donned knight¡¯s armor fabricated from material unknown to most. Her obsidian armor was decorated with vibrant markings & projecting spikes from its shoulder pads, elbows, & knees. Wielding a small miniature long battle axe with an elongated hilt. Of which she carried on her back in case she required quick access. Her soft red irises & reddish-white pupils were empty, soul-less even. She also didn¡¯t even speak, only focusing on her task at hand. Protect the person beside her. ¡°Ouu~ It appears we have guests.~¡± The lead knight began to regenerate in mere seconds, a brand new brain & skull forming from an unearthly biomass of some sorts. ¡°I wonder who it could be. Ouuu~ A Knight.¡± The supposed creature gasped at the sight of the woman. ¡°No worries, both of you shall end up as my feast..¡± What seemed odd about the knights was put into action, with the knights morphing, distorting their bodies as they all shifted into monstrous forms of their former self. Rushing the Knight as the Head Knight remodeled his forearms to create biomaterial tendrils, projecting them at the female soldier. The Knight was unimpressed, nothing got through her iron tough skin. Not a word nor budge, not even a fright. Axe in hand, her right arm elevated to the height of the stars, double gripping her axe as she held it above her head. Closing her eyes as if she was praying to her weapon. Opening her eyes, she rushed towards the adversaries, slicing directly through them like swiss cheese. Countering & parrying each attack thrown at her to minimize the chance of a strike. Continuous strikes steadily cleaving into the enemies, her technique intense as well. Rotating the hips & slightly pivoting the behind foot, attacking with exceptional precision & timing. Attacking with the outer outline of the battle-axe, retracting the weapon as it reaches its full length to remove the complication of wasting their attacks. Their footwork also unexcelled, the lead foot remaining on its forefoot, continually shifting & adjusting to the oncoming offense. Not allowing for a single soul to penetrate their defense. Lastly, she began to spin as she one handed her gathering a great amount of rotational energy as she swung, creating a gigantic shockwave that blew through the leading knight & colossally sized trees easily. Now quiet, & in the process of reconstructing himself, he sat on his rear grinning, his body mutilated & his back pushed against countless wooden debris, he was nothing but astounded by her sheer speed. A grin erected on his face, this wouldn¡¯t be his end. - To Be Continued. Part 3(2): Brannigan ¡°A brawl or violent argument.¡± ¡°My fellow soldiers, merge with me.¡± At the orders of the leading knight, the other knights & their sentient biomass slowly slithered over towards the wrecked body of their fallen comrade. Not wasting even a second, they had begun assimilating themselves into one massive bloated creature. A gargantuan fleshy substance dimmed by the ever so luminous crescent moon, materialized a biomaterial freak of nature. The substance was a reddish pink, constructed of flesh that moved like a warping slug that beat as if it were a human heart. Its unsettling aura amped by the sheer overwhelming quantity of eyeballs that were embedded into its mushy exterior. Balefully serrated canine teeth, resided in the many mouths plastered onto the various sections of the entity in a strangely eldritch fashion. ¡°This power! It feels refreshing.¡± The creature spoke in an energetic & joyful manner. Its deep resonating vocals, resounding throughout the entirety of the vast forest. ¡°More! I need more. I must have it!¡± It spoke for a second time, this time in a shallow & resonating tone. Its voice is irate & raspy. Speaking of anything that came to its unusual mind. Nevertheless, the Knight rushed her target with no time for the useless chatter. Her eyes tracked the trajectory of its attacks seconds before it even launched them. Constantly attacking & slicing anyway she could, dodging the behemoth¡¯s massive swings aiming for her head. This being, this entity. It can quickly recover from any damage, even things that could leave mountains telling tales. It is constantly adapting to the Knight, consistently rebuilding itself after every attack. It¡¯s as if this thing is virtually indestructible. Dashing backwards, she knew what had to be done. Coming to a stop, the Knight stood serenely, her amble movements like a butterfly in the wind as they glided past the evergreen leaves nearby. Double gripping her weapon similar to before, silently praying to it as the enemy maniacal laughter sent chills down Basil¡¯s spine. As she reopened her eyes, her left eye¡¯s bright red pupil began to bleed strongly, dripping down her left cheek as if time had slowed. Her axe igniting, being spontaneously set ablaze. Flames spew out wildly from all directions. Searing temperatures emitted from his blade, mana burst out in the form of an aura surrounding the tall woman, generating enormous pressure to those nearby. This wasn¡¯t regular magic, no, this was something far more incredible. Far more unbelievable. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The Knight was mute as she slowly led her battle-ax upside the torso & steel chestplate of the enemy. Igniting a trail of flames along its path. Prior to this, she accelerated her weapon, completing the attack. As an arch of fresh illuminating staggering flames was summoned directly on the enemy. The flames have an arching like curvature, with the surrounding area also being set ablaze & devastated in the process. ¡°Ignite.¡± A single word escaped her mouth, her feminine voice as emotionless as her unfazed facial expressions. Screams which lasted a second only to then be muffled by the crackling of the intense heat. The body of the demon flailed from side to side as it attempted to prolong its life. Although not a unique feeling, the endless satisfaction of utter victory flooded over the Knight. The demonic entity was now purified & vanquished, erased from our world. The Knight watched inaudibly as the enemy''s deceased charred body dropped silent, burnt to simply nothingness. Still quiet, knowingly on the inside she was pleased that she was able to taste the strength of an at least somewhat worthy opponent once more. Though now she could finally rest, regain her stability even. It wasn¡¯t the feeling of fatigue that overtook her, but the absolute feeling of utter boredom. Swinging her axe in a sweeping motion, placing it in her back holster until further use. Her clenched fist tightly clasping the remnant of the perished soul. Releasing it into the wild, her palm aimed upwards towards the heavens. Looking downwards at her surroundings & the catastrophe she had caused. Hands set ablaze & her heart excessively thumping. Although she seemed to be tremendously holding back, it was definitely an exciting experience. Shifting her vision from her fist towards the surrounding environment. As he glared upwards at the strange blinding lunar moon & the results of her victorious battle, she finally felt at peace knowing that the small child was secure. On the other hand, Basil was appalled, this certainly wasn¡¯t the world he was accustomed to. This was like a fantasy world his Mother would sing to him about in his sleep. Not only that, the boy had also literally just witnessed the battle of a lifetime. However, a memory, although foggy, came over him. Only one thing engulfed his mind as his eyes met with the Knight¡¯s. Memories barged in spontaneously, visions of armor and blades clashing, battle cries in the distance as well as one title above it all. Knights honored under the sun, ¡°Honored Ones¡±. Each of them possessing a specific marking along their obsidian armor. What was that? How did she do that? Did he do that?! Those weren''t his memories. This was all just too confusing to handle. Back to reality though, this young boy was stranded, he had nowhere to sleep, nowhere to go, damnit, he didn¡¯t even know right from left at this point. How did this world even work in comparison to his; all the questions which flooded his mind felt like boulders smashing around inside his brain. Chasing after the brave Knight, Basil tightly gripped her dragging hand. The Knight turned to face his direction. His eyes were empty just as hers were. She continued to stare at the helpless child for a bit before crouching down on one knee to his height, patting his hair gently. A dumbfounded look on her face as she then plucked his forehead. Basil staggering back holding the area of impact to ease the sting. Standing tall again, she walked off into the vast forest. Basil dumbfounded as well, staring at her back as he came face to face with what seemed like a menacing presence even from behind. Slowly falling unconscious shortly after. - End. Part 4(1): Deliverance "The action of being rescued or set free." In this harsh reality we have served under, we gradually grow transparent and incorporeal. But there are others. Some who walk passively amongst others, some even living alongside us. They solemnly roam our narrow sidewalks. Perceived to be just like us both in nature and soul. As we search for those disparate to us, they on the other hand see through us as they see through time and as they do space. They slither their way into our reality. A reality of free will. Or is it? That is a question even the wisest still have yet to answer. It rambles our cohesive brains and forces us to look back on ourselves. Look back at who we really are. In order to peel back the layers of internal certitude we have granted ourselves since the dawn of time. Humans have yet to mangle themselves, no matter the amount of times they may have sundered, or dissociate between themselves. Even though that day may be sooner than expected. But someday, somehow, in the near or distant future, mankind hopes to have achieved a solidified answer to that question. Because truly, that¡¯s what the expansive versatility of our minds allows for us. The ability to answer the questions we are presented with. That¡¯s why the boundaries of reality are against us. Our minds ponder far beyond what we are capable of. We are utterly incompetent contrary to our beliefs. Nonetheless, everything seems to be at peace. It is monarchical times and society is persistent in sustainment. The acute whirring sounds of nearby contraptions, and the indistinct crowded murmurs that can be heard from a mile away all combined into this one massive amalgamation of audible indifferences. Compounds of officers survey the surrounding environment, observing all passers. The concrete stumps sounding like earthquakes as the hundreds of people go about their day. Ambiguous, a young boy, waddling alongside his knight in obsidian armor, walks amongst the crowd undisturbed. A young man who by now was stuck in his own mind, unbeknownst to himself, let out a strict yawn of pent up tension, stretching out his arms widely in a circular motion as he walked. He glared upwards vacantly to the early morning sky. His mouth now a gaping hole at the sight of the barely luminous sky. It¡¯s dawn now, but his perception of time is lost in a daze. Stopping in his tracks, a blank expression sat atop his face as he basked in the pure delight of solemnity. The wind gently breezed past his smooth pale skin. The boy did not care what the time was, nor did he care what others thought of him and his tattered attire. He just wished to continue to stroll aimlessly, with seemingly no end in sight. The hazy sky held a melancholic ambience to it, The wind snarled like a sleeping lion. The constant chattering of passing civilians was an irritation to all. People engulfed the streets before him, crowding in one after another, but no matter how much he wondered; the people still continued to stroll just as he did. He begged that time could just stop, that he could just fall and sleep. The frigid breeze swished past, roaring like a tiger in overwhelming vexation. The small boy who stood parallel to all others carried this particular aura with him. The aura of someone who is unique to all others; different. His hushed yawn was not even a disturbance to the others beside him as he strolled. Not even the knight beside him. Nevertheless he still strolled, looking nowhere other than right in front of him while others sneakily stared upon him. His short, dark black hair lusciously enjoying the wind¡¯s sweet kisses. Still, all things seemed peaceful, the boy looking at the ground below him as he walked forward until suddenly; (BUMP!!). A group of joyful pedestrians from behind came rushing in, blowing past the others. One of them bumping into the right arm of the prince. They seemed to be a group of teenagers racing swiftly past the young boy. Basil stopped in his tracks, standing silently, a sharp pain in his right shoulder, though not even a single grunt came from him. One even stepped on his laced shoes as they sprinted. In spite of all that happened in the minuscule span of a second, the young man¡¯s expression also remained the same to the shock of some. He felt no anger, no annoyance, just nothing. The knight caught notice that he had fallen behind, walking over to Basil in her clunky armor that created loud mechanical noises as she walked. Crouching down and brushing the boy¡¯s shoulder off as she tightly gripped his hand to continue their adventure. His eyes lighting up as he watched the back of the woman ¡°The people are not unified, they require completion. I am here to bring about said completion, but in the form of spiritual escape said the King.¡± spoke the head minister as he read through an open book. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The royal courtyard was in sheer uproar, it was the opening of a brand new building after all. But the question was, why were they there? Chatter flooded in as an even larger sea of students entered carelessly as they conversed. ¡°Welcome all. Please stand while we begin brief introductions.¡± the bearded man standing atop the podium announced in an impassive voice. Excitement filled the air. New faces, new opportunities, new relationships to be made. A fresh start. Many people entered, tall children, short children; children of differing heritages as well, some even from varying regions. As everyone fell into place, many people were recognized in the crowd. Old friendships. Old acquaintances. But still, the boy who sat oddly from everyone else appeared seemingly incorporeal to the others. However, that tranquil solitude would all come reigning down from grace as everyone listened into the encouraging announcements. Basil gripping the knight¡¯s hand even tighter as the underlying aura of discomfort seeped in. ¡°Before we begin, would anyone like to come up and introduce themselves first?¡± asked the announcer. No response was given. The teenagers in the crowd simply stared back at the head minister, the snarling wind which snuck inside growing even louder with every lingering second of awkward silence. As he awaited an answer, he stared blankly back at the crowd. While he stared directly back at the ocean of countless disgustingly peering eyes, he couldn¡¯t bear another moment looking at them. He was being pulled into submission with their mere gaze. Beginning to squint, sweat, and twitch, his blank expression turned into an annoyed one. Shifting his gaze away swiftly, he then ordered a random student from the crowd to come up on the podium and introduce themselves. Masking his inner annoyance with a somber, nonchalant tone. ¡°Hello? Uhm my name is Diane. I¡¯m a new child at the royal orphanage. I enjoy art, singing, and dance. My favorite food is chicken, and my favorite drink is water. That is all, thank you for your time.¡± the female student nervously announced before bowing to the depressing crowd. So that¡¯s what this was. Another place to not call home. An exhausting experience for sure. Though, for some reason, the child just sat there, mindlessly. Surrounded by an aura of melancholy as always. Although, not panicking like many would believe. ¡°Anyone else?¡± the announcer just as nervously asked as the girl left the stage. ¡°No one? Alright then. I shall pick randomly from the crowd!¡± the minister yelled, now slightly enraged. Still no one even bothered to respond to his announcements. Which in fact angered the minister even more than before. At this very moment, the minister was so furious, you could basically see the top of his head smoldering. Skimming through the crowd, no particular person in sight until- ¡°You! How about you young man! What¡¯s your name?¡± he said, pointing at a random young man in the crowd. The minister¡¯s finger continued to gently linger, waving it around as if a fiddle. The young man from before prayed it would not be him, but the odds were seemingly stacked. The court¡¯s focus shifted onto him, and only him. He could feel the eyes glaring. All movement ceased. The air in the court was once again smothering. So he looked up. Making eye contact with the minister himself as the court lights flashed brightly into his eye; the boy¡¯s body was now motionless. All pressure was on him once again. His expression slowly fading back to its previous blank expression once more. Standing up straight, his mouth agape. His oddly smooth, pulpy finger tips caress the gentle tailored silk of his old fashioned school pants. The eyes of the surrounding many enlarge into the endless void that encapsulated him in a nearly lightspeed manner. Their enormous pearly white eyes largely encasing him. Eyes, countless of them. Just staring. Blinking. It¡¯s happening again. He had wished this had come sooner than current. The human mind tends to play ploys on those who are inefficiently disproportionate in self subservient authority. He began to sweat; his undeniable fear towards the act of public speaking, or any public conversation in general sent chills throughout his spine and boulders hurled down his throat. Sweat trickled down his now crimson red forehead, his gigantic gulps echoing through his skull. His eyes bulged wide, and his head tilted downwards. No more did he hold any influence over his thoughts. No merit held, and no indefinite closure. His mind simply continued to race. All with seemingly no end in sight. Until at last- ¡°I¡¯m speaking to the tall young man with the long hair! Yes, you there! Would you like to come up and introduce yourself?¡± the minister yelled hopefully as he pointed towards the solemn and pale child standing beside the young man and the knight. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± the minister asked politely. Mainly due to the irritated atmosphere surrounding him. Quietness creeped up lazily, encapsulating the entire locality in seconds. Scoffing at the minister¡¯s questions, he refused to answer. Only joking and laughing with his few peers in the crowd. However, back to the quiet senior beside him, cold shudders ran down his pale skin. The eyes, they no longer phased him. As they slowly dim out of existing optical perspective, the other young man¡¯s now racing heart decelerated; a feeling of relief had now overcome him. Releasing a sigh as he gently swayed his head downwards. Taking another humongous gulp as his head leaned in towards the squeaky clean ground surface. He overreacted over a simple possibility that had yet to be proven fact. Many things raced through his mind. Things that incorporated a sense of failure and embarrassment into his essence. He loathes massive crowds to a threatening degree and he knew that. Though now, his panic subsided but was quickly reformed into hysterical discomfiture. He had wished that he¡¯d just vanished into the abyss alongside his multiple ill-minded worries. Once again, no response was given. No one cared for such trivial introductions. They didn¡¯t even want to be here in the first place. So for what seemed like the 50th time. Silence reigned supreme. ¡°Alright! I guess that¡¯s it then. Opening ceremony is now over! We are now going to get ready to head to your dorms. Everyone, your name should be on the walls so please check for your name and class number accordingly.¡± - End. Part 4(2): Solitude "The state or situation of being alone." Children swam through the hallways, their chattering echoing powerfully. A moment that greatly reminded Basil of the past. ¡°Do you have company with me Ma¡¯am?¡±. The Head Minister questioned. As he politely gestured them towards the main office of the facility. Now in the office, the knight in armor conversing unknown details with the Head Minister as best she could. The refractive vibrancy of the brightly illuminated dim courtyard was not only melancholic, but also alluring. The reverberating sounds of nearby contraptions and the indistinct chattering of multiple, separate individualities communicating form as primary source flowing into the ears of the clueless boy. The young man had always shared a form of self-gratification when around the likes of an open or closed window. He had only been sitting at the desk for about several minutes now, but this safe haven genuinely did not bring malevolence or discomfort in any shape or form. Unlike other generic social convictions. The feeling of indifference he felt from other adults and especially from his peers; was no more. The horizon was a true guardian angel in a sense. As he leisurely looked down at the open notebook on his desk, he had finally come to notice that a strand of hair was breezing past his eyes out the window. His gaze followed as it exited the classroom. His lustrous black hair could be easily mistaken for a pool of oblivion. It flowed in the wind without a care as he sat. But his eyes, they were lifeless. His dark brown nearly pitch-black irises were always lifeless since birth, but he didn¡¯t let this get between his extensive imagination. ¡°Does he have a name? Anything?¡± the Head Minister requested. The lively scratches of pencil meeting paper. They had given the boy a notebook and pencil to waste time. ¡°Ok, so we got his name down, but that¡¯s it.¡± he said as he stared tiredly at the lady knight. (Sigh) - ¡°You¡¯re not really helping me here y¡¯know. I¡¯m going to need more than a name. Are you even his guardian?¡± as the Head Minister beckoned, the knight would only respond with even more silence. Glancing over at the boy apathetically. ¡°Identical.¡± he thought as he silently compared the two. The repetitive scratching generated by the erasing of pencil led over and over again. Art. The art of storytelling to be exact. Basil¡¯s favorite pastime. What used to be an expression of boredom, was now an expression of pure ecstasy. Basil¡¯s entire body began to envelop a burning sensation, increasingly trembling with sheer excitement. Literature was his escape. An escape that always assisted through many hardships. He had never felt exhilaration such as this. Nothing could compare to literature. The tip of his fingers bounced up and down in eagerness. Skimming through his own writings, he had seemingly fallen in love with his own talent. Reading every last word, analyzing the structure to the tiniest detail. Regaining his composure, he began to release all facial tension. As he returned back to regularity, he swiftly flipped to the next page, the young man¡¯s expression switched to one of shock and remembrance. He stared openly as he saw an old melody he had written. Remembering all the nostalgic peaceful times before reading to himself quietly. (¡°The empathic sky dances under the eye of the one true faith~ The developed splash of its tears, music to the ears of our absolute.¡±) He unconsciously remembered a poem his mother would always sing to him as he slept. Though none of that mattered to him now. This forgotten melody had hypnotized him fully. Whispering the hushed melody as he stared outwards toward the ticking clock and lucent ceiling lights. The melody which was so quiet even a canine would have a difficult time even noticing it. In addition to the window which still gleamed on his figure. The quality luster in his hair shining brightly in the glistening sun. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The irresistible horizon, gusts of wind deluging the surrounding space, and the silk window blinds uncontrollably flowing in the breeze. All these occurrences simultaneously forced the boy¡¯s eyes to begin to feel weighted by a thousand tons. The boy released a sweet yawn from his agape mouth before laying down his head atop his crossed forearms. ¡°Basil!¡± bellowed the Head Minister. Though, still he dozed off carelessly, the teacher¡¯s futile beckons unable to grab his attention. His mind was finally at ease. The boy was hit with a sudden wave of soporific melancholy, beginning to exhale softly before inaudibly dozing off into the dull darkness. Complete nihility. A world¡¯s externality is perceived but not characterized by no one other than the individual who resides in it. So why was the world and all its livelihood incorporeal to even himself he wondered. The suppressed perception that one¡¯s surrounding is not existent. However, we must lay and accept with undeniable certainty. But those who withstand the coercion, those who cognize the facet of reality are able to comprehend the fact that our comprehension can only go so far. Actuality does not equal materiality. Our perceptible reality is none but fictitious, realism lies beneath the pith of your eternalness. Beneath the soul. Thousands swarm you, yet you continue to move. The postulation of the many discrepancies that force abstractions into fact. Empiricism leads all. But never mind that, you are supposed to be your own cicerone. People lead themselves with unwavering attentiveness, though you somehow are incapable of freeing yourself from this incapacitated state of feeling incognizant of your surroundings. You are current, as all is distorted; you are whole. He is everything and the only thing authentic. But he did not feel that way. He felt distant as he slept. He felt insignificant under the sun rather than significantly noticing. He didn¡¯t feel imperative to society or the world in the slightest. He felt out of the ordinary. Wavering in and out of reality, before slowly being transported completely into the darkness. Snuggly comfort, a content feeling of complete rapture as he unconsciously traversed the vast void. All while drowning. Drowning in utter tranquility. Solitude. A frame of mind which sways the hegemony of one¡¯s own beliefs. It¡¯s suggested that such lachrymose eloquence indefinitely inundates one¡¯s perceptual abstraction of totality between corresponding individualities. Quietude, the bewitching emanations girdling the empty atmosphere. Imperceptible gaseous substances gently breeze past a detached and forlorn boy. Levitating. Floating in the endless abyss. ¡°Where am I?¡± Basil murmured to himself. Beguiling aura deluged the vertices of the surrounding space. A vacuous realm, comprehensively devoid of any apparent life, but nonetheless, remained confined by the boundaries of space and time. Imperceptible waves of incomprehensible abyss encompass the intrinsic domain; this place is more than peculiar. It is seemingly too much unlike our ordinary world. There is nothing, though you feel something. In a world conceived in its own dimensions, all of which are accommodated by their varying concepts , we are fairly simple creatures. No matter how complex we make ourselves out to be. Yet, this space, no matter how void it may seem, is much more complex than we are. Even though it may be vacant of these metaphysical, and fundamental concepts, it is much more than we can ever grasp. A dimensional locality palpably adjacent to our own space. Nothing, nothing like our dimension. (¡°Boy!¡±) yelped an unknown speaker. Alas, Basil¡¯s eyes leisurely peek open, revealing to him in an unclear haze that he was far from home. However, that was the least of Basil¡¯s concerns. As he desperately attempted to observe his surroundings, he had come to the realization that his body felt differently. His limbs had apparently grown and he felt mystical. Although he was being externally consumed by the darkness surrounding him, he could still nonetheless feel an unnatural aura from within. ¡°Where am I?¡± Basil impassively questioned all while floating in this endless realm of abyss. (¡°The same as before.¡±) (¡°Drowning, engulfed by the darkness.¡±) the entity spoke. The entity was shockingly tone dead. Unable to grasp the situation and speaking in a somewhat tranquil, hushed tone that somewhat annoyed Basil after each sentence. ¡°Drowning? I¡¯m not drowning?¡± Basil responded in a confused tone. Silence filled once again before the entity spoke once more. (¡°Drowning in the abyss. The land beyond separation.¡±) (¡°A place much larger than imagination.¡±) Its tone was nothing but direct and sincere all throughout her description. Basil was simply left puzzled. His eyes lazily squinted as he soaked in all the surrounding forces. ¡°Oh.¡± Basil repeated back nonchalantly as he lifelessly floated in the abyss All that could be heard was a slight chuckle behind what was able to be perceived, as Basil suddenly looked to his right to witness the living darkness manifest its own distorted smile. What was this place?! - End. Part 5: Remembrance

¡°Deception. The lingering atmosphere is engulfed by peculiarities; it pierces where you don''t see, it examines the unseen. Under your river of falsehoods, the hidden no longer appears to be so hidden. However, you persist in your lie, secluding yourself unintentionally when exposed; thus, there you lay, your manufactured fallacy of deception exposed. You can no longer succeed if you keep your secrets to yourself. You sense something is wrong, as if you are unable to comprehend your own existence. What you feel is a tingling sensation; what you know is a feeling of bewilderment. But there is one thing that is guaranteed. You''ve completed your task.¡± The crawling darkness continues steadily, nothing can alter it, and nothing can penetrate it. The emptiness is so visibly large that it would strike a sense of megalophobia into those who could witness the sheer size of it. Think of it as being the polar opposite of an enclosed liminal space, though possessing a maybe even more terrifying emptiness to boat. Though as Basil bathes in the darkness, the sentience sits in it; only observing what is right before it. Though nevertheless, Basil seems to keep afloat somehow. His entire body was void of enthusiasm, but still alive and well. However, there was an apparent force which trivially attempted to overcome all within it, but to only no avail. It was as if the darkness was sentient and growing enraged due to its inability to gain control over the poor child. (¡°You are sleeping.¡±) the abyss tried to deceive the young child. ¡°I am?¡± he responded. (¡°Yes. This is a dream, everything will be fine. You are fine. I only wish to comfort you little one.¡±) said the unwavering darkness as it attempted to coerce the child into submission. Basil could feel the sheer mass of the dark as it wrapped around his petite body. That soothing feeling he used to know now felt extremely unfavoring. ¡°No, NO!¡± Basil yelped. With a shout that rang out endlessly, he forced his will onto the abyss. Unknowingly grabbing hold of it and twisting, bending, and sculpting it to form whatever he truly desired. And out of that, he created something new, something never seen before in the realm of the abyss. Hope. A flame in which he only passively adopted from the Knight who rescued him. A flame In a realm where there is only nothingness, hope should not exist. Though somehow through sheer force of will, it does. Because he made it so. Though he may not know how, and though it may have been subconscious, he still did it. As the light of hope seeps through, darkness still remains. Encapsulated within a caliginous realm of nothingness and yet everything at the same time. Emplaced between an infinite, and finite domain, the living mass of darkness could only feel powerful when presented with a newcomer. Yet even though it tried and tried, it just could not rule over this young child. It was somehow weak to their commands. Preposterous right? This being though unknown and mysterious, emitted powerful degrees of unnatural force. It could infiltrate the mind and twist and bend whatever it chose to; but a kid who simply just appeared from nothing was able to just emit an even more powerful control than itself?! ¡°Hello?!¡± Basil spoke in a still somber tone. ¡°Anyone there?!¡± ¡°Christ. You really are a disturbance.¡± A restless sigh could be heard from behind Basil. ¡°Huh?¡± Basil responded. Frantically floating in the vast darkness as if swimming through the air. Managing to somehow, change his direction, only to be faced with an odd enough sight. Just floating there, right above and in front of him, seated in the air, one leg atop another, was a boy the exact same in appearance to himself. Down to every nook and cranny. Every descriptive detail. Even the one he did not know of. His shimmering short black hair. His almost soulless eyes. The same royal black short, and white button up with the shined black loafers. It was all too much to comprehend. Lastly, a specific detail Basil could instinctively pick out in the bleak darkness, was the boy¡¯s skin. ¡°Wha-¡° ¡°Hmph. Something wrong? You look as if you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡± the boy or thing let out a soft giggle. The boy¡¯s skin was unnaturally pale. Even more so than Basil¡¯s! The young man¡¯s skin was so pale in fact that their body was like a deceased corpse. It was as if you could tell that the boy¡¯s body was cold to the touch without even feeling it. ¡°Who are you! Were you the one talking to me this whole time!?¡± Basil yelled out in question. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Me? Oh, I''m you, why of course. And to answer your last question, yes. Yes I was.¡± the doppelg?nger responded in a distinctively blissful tone. However, there was something wrong. Whenever they spoke, their voice had a naturally glitchy and deep toned relay effect layered on top of the original. ¡°You¡¯re me?¡± ¡°Yes, I''m you. Or what you think you are at least.¡± The entity continued on with the same cheerful attitude from before. Completely dumbfounded by the current predicament, Basil could only lay there, addled by what he was both seeing and hearing. Silence ringed out in piercing static, pernicious overtones wrapped tightly around his skin, only the precognitive instinct that this entity was malefic in its desires could fill his very soul. ¡°Hey? You ok there? What¡¯s wrong?¡± The entity tilted its head sideways with a saddened expression on its face. Warping and distorting the exact space around it unknowingly. Until, ( ¡°WARP¡± ), appearing in front of Basil in a snap. The two were now face to face, nose to nose, leaning in as the entity inspected Basil deeply, analyzing him up and down. Basil on the other hand, was still trying to comprehend what had just happened. ¡°Hmmmm.¡± ¡°You really need to calm down y¡¯know.¡± It spoke as it backed away, frown still on its face. ¡°We¡¯re connected, so your feelings influence me, and that¡¯s really annoying.¡± Dumbfounded, Basil was still lost and mesmerized by the entity. Mesmerized by one singular detail. Its eyes. Its eyes, although lifeless, possessed great horrors inside. They glitched and warped, and generated many feelings inside those it set its eyes upon. From awe-inspiring, to mind-shatteringly terrifying. ¡°Connected? Huh?¡± Basil responded in a rushed attempt to keep up with the conversation. ¡°Yeah. I still don¡¯t quite understand it, all I know is that anytime I try to control you, it¡¯s like something tells me no and you control me. It¡¯s like you have a power. No. Maybe you are the power.¡± ¡°Eh. I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s all still so confusing, but let me help you there.¡± The entity would then snap its fingers, the gradual warping from before bow intensifying to horrifying degrees. Until the entire environment would shift and return back to its docile state. ¡°There, try to move around some, don¡¯t wanna get stiff joints.¡± Another snarky comment backed by another hushed giggle. Still swimming in the still visibly lifeless void, Basil could feel the control over his body return to him. He could now move around as he pleased, stretching and even flying freely through the abyss. A quick snatch from the entity as it grips Basil¡¯s forearms with its numbing touch, and Basil is sent soaring deeper into the everlasting space. The entity laughing in a roaring and spontaneous burst of ecstasy; stretching all its limbs out with playful vigor. ¡°WAIT-!¡± Basil was abruptly cut off by the flash of speed. Basil shouts into the limitless dark. Panicking and spinning through the abyss until; ( ¡°Huh?¡± ) Wait what? What was this feeling? This underlying feeling of tranquility, this feeling that lit and shined brightly throughout the great void. As Basil silently thought to himself, what could be happening to him, he couldn¡¯t help but embrace this emotion. This feeling. it flowed through the abyss with ease and without falter either. It was a feeling of melancholic loneliness, acceptance, and most of all, the feeling of freedom; all in one broad concoction. Even though it filled Basil with a new feeling altogether, one which he was not at all yet accustomed to, it still did something inexplicable to both his soul and heart. So now, observing the absolute completeness of the space, Basil had finally realized just how big it truly was. It was never ending, and as Basil felt the mostly illusionary cold brushes of the wind, only one thought would stay on his mind as he settled in this overwhelming pocket of solitary. ¡°A place much larger than imagination. . .¡± A tear would fall from his left eye as he quoted this new mysterious being. He finally understood what they meant by those words. Shutting his eyes as he awaited the constant spinning to stop. Grabbing him once more via the forearm, even tighter than the last, Basil¡¯s strange newly met doppelganger, brought all movement to a halt. Their grin as wide as ever as they could barely contain their excitement. In contrast to Basil¡¯s fright of course. ¡°Are you having fun yet!?¡± They shouted as if Basil had no ears. Basil¡¯s steadily exaggerated breaths kept him from responding how he wished. Swallowing all his worries down in one humongous gulp. ¡°Hm. What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t look so pleased.¡± ¡°Let me guess, you wanna go home?¡± the entity sighed. ¡°Can¡¯t you just stay a while longer? The darkness can feel good too y¡¯know.¡± it exclaimed in desperation. ¡°I just want to be let go.¡± Basil said back shakingly. ¡°You have to say the magic word~¡± it jokingly countered. ¡°P-Please?¡± ¡°Please what?¡± ¡°Please. Let. me. go.¡± the words being dragged as if scratching to be released. ¡°Thank you for your time. Basil.¡± it smiled back with one last reveal. Atlas, pulling the boy in as a radiant bright white overtook the absolute darkness. Extinguishing all that came with it. - End.