Barklode's life flashed before his eyes as he felt his conscious slipping away, buried within his infamous masterpiece.
Awards and Doctorates.
Plaques with Accolades under his name.
Even direct funding with the likes of multiple kingdoms to advance his 'progress.'
Barklode was a man hellbent on exposing the boundary between Humans and Monsters, to give those with a proper heart and brain the chance to learn and fight back when necessary. He recalled well the numerous injuries and illnesses one had when dealing with such beasts, fueling his motivation to help such human lives in such medicine. Such passion for others would end up catching the eyes of a few other doctors, ones who were just as willing to learn and expand humanity as a concept. A man in pitch black with white eyes, and a man in a blue suit and hair, his face hidden away in the populace. Of these two, The former is what drew the Scientist over, venturing into such a mind and letting them explore their ideas, their ideals.
To the man in black, he believed in human thought. Expression. He detailed the world in varying colors and shapes to show such creativity and understanding of the world. To Barklode, he offered evaluation. Knowledge. Showing off different parts of a monster and how the human body can function and potentially surpass it. With the Third watching overhead, they became known as 'The Three Doctors', bound by a respective hat and marking on their hand to showcase their allegiance. With the three, their lives have never had more importance than now to provide for the people. With such progress, they were able to refine the magic system itself, showing such efforts in converting one's energy on specific parts of the body or concepts to better branch out one's options to spellcasting. Suddenly, tangible objects like rocks or trees become a half, as their sibling equivalent of one's mind, soul, and others that aren't tethered to a solid form for the second half. With the Third's influence in spreading out that knowledge and even providing research on the monsters themselves, they were able to learn other styles of magic that were otherwise inaccessible.
A Bright future for the three, as they achieved a similar foothold in Magi akin to Nicholas Flamel and Aleister Crowley. Yet, one day would change the Three Doctors for good.
A day in which Barklode was on a stroll one day, and discovered a set of bodies in the woods. Naturally he wished to investigate it, gathering his own clues, from the gold watches to the refined fabric and cognac shoes that they were nobles. As he ventured forward, however, his assumption in thinking it was a way to grab power dwindled when he encountered a new body, one that donned the same cognac shoes, but at a lesser size. One that had a small, blue vest torn and dirtied by the earth. His eyes widened once he got a proper look on his deceased face. It was a child, nay, a son. These nobles were trying to find one of their sons. A roar ahead solidified his discovery, as he evaluated his thoughts on what to do against the beast who did such a sin.
"You want to what??"
"Erase them. All of them. From the devils involved in that tragedy, to the supposed rumors of the Beldam, Monsters as a whole are a plague. They've never shown any amount of proper emotion or understanding with Humans. Even when they do, they feign it for the sake of getting more. Food, Shelter, Training, even PEOPLE are being offered to them as a willing sacrifice. The longer we live with them, the longer we are dooming ourselves to annihilation."
"While I may understand your reasoning, it seems barbaric to simply reduce them as 'mere beasts.' I've already studied with them in their minds, even evaluating their personalities and traits. They hold connections, sure, but there's moments where it is genuine. A Sprite came to me one day after being adopted over by a wealthy family and was treated like royalty ever since. While she may not like the family at first, she was able to feel like she was as home as she was in the woods-"
"All to profit off of the family. Natural tricksters, creatures who play favorites to get on one's good side. There's no redeeming such..." Publiq and Barklode went on and on, a stormy night that raged and swished whenever it chose sides, Every time Barklode tried to explain what he saw and what that monster was, he would never connect it. Every time he stared at Publiq's eyes, it felt just as hollow. He understood that he must've took his words too far, and simply chose to leave. He didn't want anyone else to take on this task. Such an exit perplexed Noh, quickly trying to reach his hand out to his partner. Barklode merely swatted that hand away, as he looked back at him. "...I'm sorry. We can't see eye-to-eye in this. Maybe you can see what I can't, and if you can, do let me know. I am not letting us die before the beasts here. Tell Cupid that I need some time." His words felt sincere as he left the Doctors, letting them be on their ventures.
To this day, he still believed that Publiq was alive, out there and finding out more on such emotions, such connections, so that he can come back and prove him wrong. Once he found his way into the Circle and noticed the Kingdom out of Clay and stone, he figured this could be a good place to get back at the Monsters that dared to haunt the world. Ever since he saw the Sun, he felt himself more enlightened than ever, higher than the very sky he was blanketed under. Such detachment slowly made him ponder, as he began his research and dedication to the sun.
"Are Humans Monsters, too?"
"Am I a Monster?"
"How long has it been since I was left in the dark?"
"We're just as bad as them, aren't we?"
These questions plagued him just as much as the bodies did, even during his vivisections of the recent victims within the Bunker after such exposure to the sun. He'd dedicate himself to creating the small video, hand drawn and colored, all while letting his view of the world become like the sun, portraying himself as the ball of light. All the while, he listened closely to the King's music, the Gold records being his inspiration, finally planting his project into them and letting it act as his propaganda, now adorned with a magic style to ensure he understands Human and Monsterkind alike.
To him, he felt like he was above.
To him, he believed he was God, playing with Man.