《Aestari》


 An Offer

    Enter:


    Hundreds of years ago¡­.


    There was a group of cultists who called themselves ¡°The Aestari.¡±.


    They practiced forbidden magic, sealed by the royal family many years before. With this magic that they learned, they opened a gateway to the Abyss. Within the Abyss, darkness shrouded the entirety of the dimension.


    What makes up the Abyss is what¡¯s known as ¡°Soul Mist¡±. When the Aestari entered this realm, they were immediately covered in this mist, composed of every living being that¡¯s ever perished. When the Aestari were exposed to it, they gained special traits that made them unique. Some of these traits resulted in death, destruction, and mental hysteria. Some gained powerful abilities, able to wreak havoc upon society.


    One hundred Aestari entered. Twenty returned. The Royal Family made it their mission to contain these beings, humans that have ascended beyond the average capabilities of their ancestors. They were persecuted, executed, tortured, and even used as weapons for their military.


    It has been One-Hundred And Twenty Years. Only a few Aestari remain alive and the world is thrown into chaos from the destruction the Aestari brought.


    Present Day


    ¡°I thought they¡¯d kill you this time for sure..¡± Nale said as his was voice shaking, his hands trembling as he sat upon a rugged bed, chained to a wall with little to no support.


    ¡°Takes a little more than a beating to kill me.¡± Senshi tried to smile, but the split in his lip made him wince. In the dim light, he caught the reflection of his glowing pink eyes in a puddle on the floor as he looked down from the pain. He sat up against a pile of books, most of them using the metal bars as a cushion. His old and raggedy white t-shirt was ripped and torn, blood seeping through the open tears. He had just gone through a beating, done bi-weekly to Aestari that reside at the prison. The room around them was surrounded by cracked stone walls, A room just barely lit by one torch with the smell of dirt and coal. In the hallway next to the cell. A tall man with long black hair and a black kimono stood outside of the cell, the right side of his body just barely being visible from the angle of the boys.


    ¡°Your eyes, they weren¡¯t glowing before now..¡± Senshi said, nervously. As an Aestari, having glowing eyes was normal; it was a way to identify the difference between a normal human and their clan. Senshi slowly got up, the iron chains sunk into his hands as he pushed his body off the ground.. He limped and trembled, each step sending a sharp pain through his feet. Eventually, he made it to his younger brother. He slowly sat on his bed next to him, bringing him in closer.


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    ¡°They don''t start hurting you until your eyes begin to glow.¡± Senshi said, his voice beginning to shake.


    ¡°Does this mean they¡¯re going to beat me too?¡± Nale exclaimed as his eyes began to water, gripping his fingers onto Senshi¡¯s torn shirt with no intention of letting him go.


    ¡°I won''t let them hurt you, Nale. I¡¯ll get us out of here, no matter who I have to kill.¡±.


    ¡°Test Subject: A88, you have been summoned by the warden.¡± Said a deep voice beyond the cell. Three different guards appeared at the cell''s entrance, one of them holding a folded scroll in their hands.


    ¡°F-For what?¡± Senshi said quietly, tears still running down his cheek without end. Without answer, the guards walked into the room and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from his brother. Nale began to scream and cry, trying to grab his brother. Nale¡¯s ten year old fingers were not strong enough, the blood from Senshi¡¯s wounds making a streak onto Senshi¡¯s pants as he pulled. A katana was quickly placed upon Nale¡¯s neck, the tip of the blade seeping blood from the side.


    ¡°Get that thing away from him!¡± Senshi yelled. Senshi attempted to kick the guard behind him, but his body didn''t let him. He was barely able to lift his leg before he felt a sharp pain throughout his entire body. He¡¯d just been beaten so badly to the point of his bones being barely usable, him being a Aestari will allow him to regenerate them rather easily; but over the course of several days.


    The guards pulled Senshi into the hallway, pushing him onto the path towards the warden''s office. A bag was placed over his head before he began his walk, the guards leading him with their push direction.


    Eventually, Senshi no longer felt the aggressive pushes of the guards. He immediately smelt a fine scent and cleaner air. The bag on his head was pulled off quickly, the light irritating his eyes.


    Senshi rubbed his eyes, adjusting to the light, but eventually was able to clear them fully. The room¡¯s quality hit him like a punch. After months of a dirty underground prison, he¡¯d finally experienced normal furniture. It had drawers, a typewriter, a window, a sofa, rugs, paintings, and more. A window was placed behind her desk, overlooking a large gladiator arena-esque room. It was massive, pretty much sizing up the entire prison.


    She had many bookshelves, Senshi¡¯s powerful perception scanning the letters immediately. He¡¯s still relatively new to his Aestari abilities, so tasks like these aren''t easy. The chair was nice and clean, like it had been cleaned hundreds of times a day. The warden was a black female, she had long curly red hair and yellow eyes along with a bandage placed over her forehead. She had a white cloak over a black turtleneck shirt and a rifle wrapped around her chair with a strap.


    ¡°Sit¡± She said, Senshi slowly pulled the chair back and sat down, still admiring the beautiful room. ¡°And make sure to not bleed on my furniture.¡±


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Senshi said, nervous and angry at the people who put him here and tortured his family. He balled his fist and kept them under the table, keeping it as hidden as he could.


    ¡°Your eyes glow like lanterns, they¡¯re very pretty..¡±


    She sat in silence, awaiting a response. Senshi looked at her with a straight face, barely able to keep himself awake from what he had to endure today.


    ¡°That was a compliment y¡¯know. I understand if you¡¯re self deprecating but okay!¡± She said, smiling.


    ¡°Just tell me what I''ve been summoned for.¡± Senshi said anxiously and quietly. Senshi¡¯s voice was harsh, barely masking his anger.


    ¡°Okay well no fun talk I guess. I have an offer¨Cfreedom, for a price.¡±


    Senshi¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as she said this, immediately looking up from his eyes being closed.

 Special Treatment

    ¡°An offer? For freedom?¡± Senshi yelled, excitedly jumping up from his seat, feeling the harsh damage done to his body before immediately sitting right back down.


    ¡°Yes, if you are able to successfully fulfill my request, you will be freed and lifted of all charges.¡± She continued.  ¡°You and a few others will be placed in the arena behind me and if you can make it out alive, you will be freed.¡±


    ¡°An arena? You mean we have to fight for our lives¡± , Senshi inquired, gripping the chair¡¯s ledge.


    ¡°Yes, either that or you rot in this prison.¡±. Senshi sat back and thought to himself, the cold air of the room blowing against him softly. He ignored the pain in his wounds from excitement and thought, the mere thought of leaving this hell house sounded like heaven for him.


    ¡°But what about Nale? I can''t just leave him here!¡± Senshi shouted, urgently to get an answer quickly.


    ¡°Your little brother is ineligible to participate at this time¡±


    Senshi thought to himself, thinking about the cost of leaving his brother there. Suddenly, his train of thought completely came to a halt. An idea popped into his head.


    ¡°If I survive, I''ll break him out. That¡¯s if I can survive.¡± Senshi thought, going through hundreds of different strategies in scenarios.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it. Only if I can get time to prepare myself.¡± Senshi said, determined to create freedom for him and his brother.


    ¡°Great!¡± Said the woman. She opened a drawer on her desk below her and grabbed a singular sheet of paper. She slid the paper towards the edge of the desk, the screeching noise of paper sliding against wood echoing throughout the room. It slid to the point where the left corner of the paper hung off the edge, pointing towards Senshi.


    She slid another object towards Senshi, that being a pen. The pen slid on top of the paper, awaiting its use. Senshi maneuvered his hands while being handcuffed, slowly placing his hands on top of the pen, about to write. He scanned the paper, only to realize something odd.


    ¡°This.. Is in a foreign language..¡± He said quietly. His messy black hair covering the majority of his face from being leaned over.


    ¡°Yes, sorry about that. It''s nothing insane, trust me.¡±. Her smirk was deceiving, but powerful. An attractive woman with an offer for freedom, how could Senshi turn it down.


    Senshi quickly wrote his signature and pushed his chair back.


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    ¡°I''m proud! Now, the brawl shall begin within a week! Before then, you should get yourself ready. You¡¯ll be assigned a special room and a special dinner 3 times a day!¡±


    ¡°A speci-¡± Senshi couldn''t get his words out before a bag was placed over his head again and was dragged out of the office.


    ¡°Left, right, left, left, keep straight for 9 seconds.¡± Senshi thought as he was being led to an unfamiliar pathway. The prison was massive, traveling between her office and the prisoner rooms could take up to three minutes. Senshi heard all types of commotion and noise each step he made, hearing prisoners be beaten and people screaming from the beatings they received.


    Eventually, his handcuffs were unlocked and his bag was taken off and was pushed roughly into a flat area. He looked around, adjusting his eyes only to be met with a great surprise. The room was big, it had a nice bed and decent furniture. It wasn''t that much better than what he¡¯d already been in and could be considered poor in terms of looks but he took it as a gift. He was even given a book to document.


    ¡°They¡¯re treating me so well, just because I signed that paper..¡± Senshi thought to himself, observing the room in utter shock. Although, there was one thing that caught his eye the most. On a table next to his bed, there was a large cloth covering something on it.


    He slowly walked up to the table, slowly beginning to smell something amazing, maybe food?


    He slowly placed his hand on the cloth and then suddenly snatched it off fully. On the table were three plates. On one plate, there was rice and sweet chicken with many seasonings and basil. Something a top chef would cook, Senshi thought. On another plate were two chicken thighs, the aroma practically thickening from the amount of meat. On the last plate, there were lots of vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots, celery, and more.


    ¡°She did say I¡¯d have a special dinner.. But I don''t want to enjoy this without Nale.¡±


    He sat down on his bed and laid his head down on his pillow, feeling how tired he was after that full day. Suddenly, Senshi noticed something. He didn''t feel pain anymore. Senshi sat up, laying his back on the bed frame. He took his shirt off and looked at his chest. On it, there were previously cut wounds and bruises. Now, they¡¯ve almost completely faded away.


    ¡°My theory seems to be right, the more they beat me, the better my regenerative abilities get.¡±


    Senshi put his shirt back on and laid back down, placing his head on what it seemed like the softest pillow he¡¯d ever laid on.


    8 Years Ago


    ¡°Senshi, promise me one thing. You¡¯ll protect your brother, Nale.¡± The woman said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do anything it takes, you can trust me.¡± Senshi said, his eyes covered in tears. He had just watched his father be executed in front of him.


    ¡°This is just our reality. When people like us become old enough, we¡¯re executed. We don''t serve enough purpose for the royal family anymore.¡± Said Senshi¡¯s mother. She held him close before multiple guards began to walk towards the section they were in.


    ¡°You¡¯re next, come on.¡±. She was grabbed by two guards and dragged out of the crowd and across the bloody dirt. There were hundreds of spectators, consisting of royals and commoners, all here to watch Aestari be executed. Senshi screamed and cried, his little brother gripped tight into his hands.


    She was placed on a stone before her scarf was ripped off of her neck, exposing her neck. She looked at Senshi, smiling, before she was beheaded.


    ¡°I will make sure to kill every single one of these animals, filthy humans that have no remorse for our lives. The best day of my life will be seeing them all beg for their lives just like my parents.¡±

 Evaluation

    It''s morning now, Senshi slept through the night¨Cnot eating the food that was given to him.


    ¡°Time for evaluation, come out!¡± said a voice beyond the metal door before a loud clicking noise was heard. Senshi woke up from the noises, rubbing his eyes slowly before stretching his arms far apart. He no longer felt any pain, and his wounds had completely healed. Senshi rolled out of his bed and walked to the door, unlocking it.


    ¡°We aren''t leaving the prisoner sector, so you don''t need a rag over your head.¡± said a guard. He had the average uniform, a black kimono along with holding a rifle in a strap around his back. The guard got behind Senshi and led him to the evaluation room.


    When they got there, it was an open door leading to a woman in a doctor''s uniform.


    ¡°Welcome! My name is Talia, I''m going to be evaluating your health! I¡¯ll take it from here, guard!¡± she exclaimed while wiping off a syringe with a wet towel. Talia had long brunette hair and a white jacket, accompanied by a white turtle neck beneath it.


    The guard nodded his head and began walking away from the door, patting Senshi on the back before walking past him. Senshi slowly took his steps into the room, closing the door behind him gently.


    ¡°So what is this ¡°Evaluation?¡±¡± said Senshi. The room was just as neat as his room, it had genuinely decent furniture and a nice cozy feeling along with plenty of medical equipment and papers lying on top of tables and counters.


    ¡°Before you fight, I''d like to test your physical strength and pain resistance,¡± Talia replied. ¡°Please, take a seat on that chair behind me.¡± She continued, pointing her right hand towards a treatment recliner sitting right behind the stool she was sitting on, right in front of a counter of papers.


    Senshi paused for a moment, before beginning to walk towards the recliner. Nervous, he sat on the recliner and placed his hands on his legs.


    ¡°Y¡¯know, I''ve already regenerated the wounds that I got from a day ago,¡± Senshi added before going back to analyzing the room, fascinated by the equipment that was used.


    ¡°I see, you''ve already become fairly used to your abilities.¡± Talia conceded before taking another syringe out of the drawer below her and filling it with an orange liquid from a vile.


    ¡°Just hold still,¡± she said, standing out of her chair and sticking the needle into his arm. ¡°This will test your resistance to physical pain, you don''t feel any pain, but your body will think you are, so it¡¯ll react in that way.¡± She continued, slowly sticking the needle out of his skin after injecting the liquid. Senshi sat still, waiting for an effect before he felt his veins begin to tighten.


    He moved both of his arms up, seeing them become incredibly veiny and rough.


    ¡°Impressive..¡± Talia said, perplexed. ¡°Your body is incredibly resistant to physical pain.¡±


    ¡°Thanks? I guess.¡± Senshi answered.


    After a few minutes, his veins began to go back into place and were no longer extremely visible.


    ¡°Do you think I need to train my body before I have to fight?¡± Senshi asked, feeling his arms for any muscle at all.


    ¡°Honestly, no. You¡¯re already very strong, Senshi. Can I tell you something?¡± Talia puzzled, sitting back down in her chair, preparing for the last test.


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    ¡°Yeah, what is it?¡±


    ¡°After studying your clan, we¡¯ve noticed a pattern. As you receive injuries to your body, the more resistant you get. You¡¯re adaptive to be exact. Someone like you doesn''t have to train his body, you can instead just fight and experience emotional events.¡±


    Senshi sat there in awe, surprised by what she said.


    Is she a fool? I knew that, I¡¯ve known that ever since I watched my father get tortured for the first time. We¡¯re a superior race, a civilization meant to become better. I''m honestly starting to realize her arrogance, mentioning them torturing us without even a singular flinch or grief. She doesn''t care, she sees us as animals. Pathetic.


    ¡°Really? I didn''t know that actually, thank you. I¡¯ll make sure to fight hard and win!¡± Senshi yelled, excitement showing through his facial expressions.


    ¡°Alright, here is the last test. I need you to squeeze this as hard as you can, the mark you leave will show your physical strength.¡± Talia explained.


    She stood up and handed him a ball made of thin rubber membrane, standing over him and watching him squeeze it. Senshi gripped it with his right arm as much as he could, before something amazing happened.


    ¡°It¡­ Popped?¡± Talia blurted.


    The ball had completely popped, the rubber pieces all lying in his hand.


    ¡°Out of my eleven years of evaluations, I¡¯ve never seen this before..¡± Talia continued.


    Senshi sat still, staring at his hand; veins streaking throughout it.


    ¡°I never knew I was this strong..¡± Senshi thought to himself, before gripping his hands and letting the rubber fall onto the bed.


    ¡°If you excuse me, I''ll be heading to lunch now,¡± Senshi said, before standing up and walking to the door, unlocking it. He waited at the door for her response, but she was still standing in awe. He closed the door and walked off, without a guard''s supervision.


    ***


    Later that night, Talia entered the royal family estate, a large castle in the center of Scredmore; full of large buildings and commercial shops. Thousands of people roam the streets at night, complimenting the fact that Scredmore is a town of partying and nighttime roaming.


    She entered the main corridor on the seventh floor, walking the path to the prince''s room. She silently walked in, seeing that the door was wide open.


    ¡°Percival? I''m here with the information you wanted¡± She said, slowly stepping into his massive room. The room had much red carpet, a large bed in the center, many books on the floor and weapons leaning against the walls, extremely unorganized.


    ¡°Yes, come in.¡± She heard to her left. Talia looked to where the voice came from, seeing Percival sit on his rocking chair, drinking a whiskey. He had long messy yellow hair, a white collared shirt that was open at the top, a black cape around his back, and black baggy jeans. He stood up, placed the bottle of whiskey onto the counter next to him, and walked towards Talia.


    ¡°Here are all of the evaluations I did today. Who do you think you¡¯re going to cheer on this time?¡± Talia added, waiting with her hands behind her back. She was looking to the side, blushing as he was standing in front of her, his massive six-foot-five figure towering above her.


    ¡°Come sit,¡± Percival said, walking towards the center of the room where his bed was, observing the papers that he was given. He sat on his bed before looking up to see if she came in. Talia walked over to his bed and sat next to him, awaiting his response.


    ¡°This last guy. Senshi? Why is his physical strength score not listed?¡± he inquired, raising a brow and looking up at her in confusion. Talia began to open her mouth before closing it again and looking at the paper.


    ¡°He.. broke it.¡± She mumbled, looking away.


    ¡°What? How did he break the ball? I¡¯ve never seen something like this before. How strong is this guy?¡± Percival yelled, standing up in excitement.


    ¡°That''s my guy, that''s my bet! I know he¡¯ll win against the Nocturnal.¡± Percival yelled, jumping up and down with the other papers soaring through the air, only holding Senshi¡¯s file. He sang and sang until the change in his pocket began to jingle and shake.


    ¡°I''m glad you¡¯re excited.¡±


    ***


    8 Years Ago


    ¡°I didn''t plan on telling you this, Senshi. But since I will be executed in a week, I want to leave this knowledge to you. You¡¯re not only physically strong, or resistant to damage. But you also have a special power inside of you.¡± The man said with Senshi on his lap.


    ¡°What do you mean by special power? Like magic?¡± Senshi inquired, looking up at his father with concern.


    ¡°Yes, like magic.¡± His father said, chuckling. ¡°The only Aestari that was able to awaken his abilities was your grandfather. He was able to use the souls that he was connected to within the Soul Mist as a soldier. He almost broke out before he was murdered in cold blood by one of the Royal Family¡¯s top assassins.¡±


    ¡°Promise me, you¡¯ll make it out of here, Senshi.¡± Senshi¡¯s father said as tears began to run down his face and onto Senshi.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be free. You and your brother. You got that? I know you will, and you¡¯ll awaken what''s truly inside of you.¡± He held onto Senshi, falling asleep with him.


    ¡°Yeah Dad, I''ll make it out.¡±