I don't understand. She knows of me, she knows of my life, so just like everyone else, why am I treated like this? Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?
Φ The back of the boy lands on a giant piece bouncy box that collpases his body inside it, and as he lays in it swarmed by his thoughts, it bursts open, and in front of him a large ooen area in the middle of the town squares becomes visible to him, as the words, "WELCOME TO BLESTEMATE," ring throughout his ears coming from every direction,.
Taking a moment to look around, he sees Nightmares surrounding him in every direction, and quickly moves to cover his face, yet as he does, a sensation different from what he suspects pushes against his hand.
Standing up, he turns around and runs over to the fountain behind him, where he looks down into the water and sees a form of mask has been shaped over his head. A scream builds down his throat, yet he swallows it whole before he hears, "Thank you for coming, Misbegotten."
Turning his head, he sees two more of the Deocheal: a Nightmare that looks like a humanoid hand with chains forming wings, and a Nightmare who looks like a fireplace.
"What is going on?"
The one who looks like a fireplace takes a few steps forward and places his hand on Captivant's shoulder, before saying, "It's a little disguise given to Nightfall, who comes to the country as a way to protect your identities. As far as the common people are concerned, you're a type of mascot that comes around every once in a while, and a big celebration is had. The Nightfall festival."
The one who looks like a hand walks forward, and speaking through an eyeball at the centre of the palm that makes up its face, it says, "Today is a day built on the hope and power the Nightfall give, so make sure to enjoy it?"
Captivant's confusion wanes as he looks around and stares at all the smiling faces of the people gathered around him, and with one foot after the other, he walks forward, before running at full speed and jumping into the crowd, who catch him and throw him across it as he laughs from the bottle of his heart, and shouts, "LET THE PARTY BEGIN!"
-Break-
Φ That night my heart blazed more than ever before. I drank whatever I could, I ate whatever I saw, I took whatever women would look at me, I relished in all the finest jewellery and clothing they had, and no matter how rude, angry, or upset I got as my emotions pushed forward like violent waves, they accepted it, because I am a Nightfall.
The Legacy I carried made this swarm grow more and more like a tempest, allowing every action, every move, every thought I had to realise itself. Because I was greater than each of the people around me.
But in my heart, the disgust I felt only grew as a single thought moved through my mind; I've never felt this before?
In all my efforts, in all my power, I've never been able to bring this to the world. Their smiles, their love, their appreciation for the existence I set before them was far more than anything I've ever been able to receive. For the first time in my life, a thought came into my head; had my father experienced a heroes banquet before me?
Location: Streets of Căderea-dracului
With my back pressed against a wall, I look at the faces of all the people sprawled out against the ground as they lie exhausted from the activities in which we took ourselves yesterday.
Taking a moment to stare at the sky, I say, "To captivate the world, huh?"
"You up?"
Turning my head, I look at a small Nightmare that looks like three puffy acorns stacked on top of each other with a tail made of a bunch of twigs, which starts to deteriorate, holding out his hand to grab me, with some kind of cat with wings in his other arm.
Looking back out towards the sky, I sigh and stand up, saying, "No to my wishes."
"Then you can sleep a bit longer; the celebration lasts two days, since people always get dead drunk during this festival."
"Who are you again?"
"Oh, my name is Acrono. I am one of the people in charge of the collection of the goods from the Nightfalls. I was actually there when you arrived."
"I didn't see you."
"It happens a lot; I am rather small. However, it has its benefits, as it allows me to sneak around. I actually have the job of watching the Nightfall's who come."
"Neat. But before you greet me next time, fix that nasty smell, and all the writing on your body."
"But you're the one who did this to m-."
"NO EXCUSES!" I say, walking away before I grab my head and say, "Argh, what's that feeling?"
"I would say it's probably due to the loud sounds, the music, and the combination of the battle the Queen had, which was sending tremors everywhere."
"Battle? Who did the Queen figh-."
My mind freezes as it comes to the only conclusion, and I power walk forward as Acrono says, "Wait up?"
My legs, feeling weak, fall to the ground, yet before my face smacks against it, Acrono catches me and says, "Please take care of yourself."
He rolls me onto my back, and says, "Of course that's why she didn't mind my presence!"
"What are you on about?"
Covering my face, I say, "Nothing, Nutman."
"My name is Acron-."
"I am the guest of honour; go find me lodging."
Acrono's head points downwards, yet he quickly rises with energy as he says, "At your request. I already had a place ready for you, and it's a stunner."
"Really, where?"
-Break-
Location: Frumos Castle, Blesteosteo; Sitting Room
With my back sprawled against a sofa, I look up towards the sky and say, "This is amazing; the quality of this chair is beyond what should be possible."
Struggling to get on one of the many chairs in the room, Nutman says, "It's what we can expect from the Frumos; they are one of the powerful families in all of Blestemate?"
"Yes, yes, I know the guys who are in charge of that giant Wonderbeast, Ba-Ba-Baroar?"
"Balaur."
"Yes, Balaur, good thing I remembered that."
"But I-."
Looking at Nutman, I say, "This is a powerful family's home; don't go getting your grubby body on it, or do you think you're on the same level as the guest of honour?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to insult you," he says while jumping off.
"Good, then make sure not to do it next time or the fields of the Nightfall might run dry."
Bowing his head, he says, "Sorry."
Looking around the room, I say, "Are any of the Frumos going to come and greet the guest of honour they have been graced with?"
"I am sorry, but the chances of such a thing happening are low, especially given the situation."
I beckon the cat-like Wonderbeast in his arms forward, and it hisses at me, as I say, "Why is that?"
Bringing the cat over to me, he places his small arm in its mouth, allowing its fangs to sink into him, as he says, "The Frumos are led by a rather eccentric young lady, or a former one. She doesn't really follow most codes of etiquette, at least not as thoroughly as she should for her position."
I stretch my arm out to rub the cat's head, yet as it reaches out to bite me, I smack it on the top of it's head sending it's fangs deeper into Nutman, who squeals as I say, "Then maybe she needs to learn some discipline if she is going to inherit such a position, to think the almighty Queen couldn't even do that. Also rein in that Catpis."
Pulling the cat back, Nutman says, "The Queen actually did a lot. I think it should be around here."
Running across the room, Nutman brings forward a type of portrait, one that depicts a woman with white hair along with pink highlights, who has a dominant fusion of red and pink in her eyes, that have the shape of the sun etched into them, along with bones scattered everywhere throughout her hair. Her look can only be described by one word: wild.
It's not something I would expect from a noble, not something I would even expect from a freak, it's a sense of wild uncontrollability, that look like the antithesis of what one would ever expect from a noble women, with posture like a man, ferocity like a hunter, beauty like that of a warrior, all contained in a tiny frame wearing clothes much to large for herself. In a way it's gross, yet it's captivating, something that even in this country of peculiarities it takes the heart like any other.
"She was a very wild girl in her younger years, who always was rampaging around the country causing trouble to everyone, and never letting anyone rest in peace, making noise, and causing ruckus. She even had this horrible habit of burning down churches again and again, like a rampaging beast. Though she was very beloved as her spirit for this country, and her love for it made her always venture out into the world hunting and attacking those who trafficked Nightmare parts all around the world, making her a hero to the younger population of the country. Though she got a little too wild and the Queen stepped in, eventually leading her to curb lots of her behaviour, though the goddess was beautiful while she lasted."
A smile rips across my face, and standing up, I say, "That's it, I understand what I am supposed to do. Where in this home is she?"
"She is very busy, and you can't just enter her room without a invit-."
Soon the door opens up, and a butler walks in, saying, "Sir Nightfall, I have a request for you from my lady."
Φ Acrono's head turns with a fright, as Captivant's head turns with a smile as he says, "Sounds wonderful! Lead the way!"