Dual Existences

A/N: Wait what? Uploading two entries in one day? Joke. Just uploading another old work of mine yet again. This is a sort of filler chapter for a -never to be finished- Ragnarok fanfic of mine years back. It's old, I was naive then, so please don't hurt me just because you disagree with what may have really happened in-game. It's called fanfiction for a reason.

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Two existences… that of Light and Darkness.

One would believe that every time these two existences meet, a clash would happen. What would happen in the end would solely depend on who was stronger at the point of collision. Therefore, over the ages, Light triumphed, Darkness triumphed, the cycle would continue on forever. The clashing would always happen… anywhere, anytime.

But that isn’t the whole truth of it.

You see, despite being two very different existences, they learn to co-exist and inevitably became part of what runs the universe. Within the stream of time… within the soul of a person… they could be found anywhere. As do their battles. But often enough, there is a moment between these battles when the two sides would stop and stare at one another, raising none of their weapons but never giving in to the temptations of the other. Stubbornness… that was one trait they both shared. For a moment, it would look like they had given a truce…

And then the battles would continue once again.

A certain white-haired minstrel had rested himself on a ruined roof, built into the cliff side during its construction. It sheltered nothing now, for the house that it was built to protect no longer stood with four walls intact. The same could be said for the other houses that were built alongside this cliff side. He knew it had been a small, thriving town, its inhabitants blessed with happiness and abundance. But that had been eons ago.

From where he sat, he could see the vast expanse of the underground world of Geffenia. The cliff side town was built over a ravine that went far down into the earth. How deep it went, the minstrel decided not to wonder about that. Forests grew in clusters around and above the ravine, and beyond them he could see another town, this one built on a plateau beside an enormous tree root that was a root of the World Tree.

Built around this root were a castle and a little town on the castle outskirts. Even from a distance, he could see that the abandoned bastion’s walls were made of white marble and spinel crystal, a rare mineral to come by in the world above nowadays.

The place was simply breathtaking, this kingdom of the elusive elven race, a beautiful lost world to any mortal eyes that would chance upon it. But there was a feeling in the air that any mortal would fail to notice while lost amongst the desires abounding in this place.

A feeling of death…

The minstrel allowed his sad gaze to linger over the landscape, before he turned those knowing eyes away. From the depths of his cloak, he brought out his lute. Tuning the strings, he smiled satisfactorily and fell into his playing position. Despite that no living soul was here to listen to his melody, he would play. A bard need not wonder why he wishes to dedicate songs to those who were not human. He would play, and allow the unheard melody to be known.

“This is for you, beloved Geffenia…” He whispered solemnly. He lifted his hand as if to pluck the strings, but before he could start, a low, dark chuckle caught his attention.

“My, my.” A deep, handsome voice spoke. “Playing a requiem for the fallen empire?”

Lachesis made no reply. Instead, he closed his eyes, sighing softly. The earth crunched under heavy armored boots, bringing its owner closer and closer to where the minstrel sat.

And then they stopped.

Lachesis turned his head ever so slightly, his noble eyes boring into the pair of endless abyss that stared mockingly back at him.

“That body…” Lachesis trailed off.

The new arrival laughed. “Quite fetching, isn’t it?” he spoke. “A better choice than that mummified corpse you sealed so long ago.”

Lachesis turned away. “It fits well into your plan doesn’t it?” he muttered, staring passively towards the lute in his hands.

“You know it quite well. I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Seemingly ignoring this, the snow-haired man returned to his playing position and began to strum a few notes.

“Don’t you remember this place, Lachesis? My spawns planted seeds of doubt and hatred in this once lively kingdom. Now look what has become of it. Nothing but a ruin to its former glory… And you did so little as merely watch this place fall from its lofty perch. Speaking of high places, the city of Juperos fell around the same time, did it not?”

“Despite being sealed away, your influence continued on for centuries.” Lachesis remarked calmly, closing his eyes as he let his fingers pluck the strings of his lute. A soft, playful tune began to flow freely from the strings.

The demon snorted, clearly disgusted by the sweet music emanating from the minstrel’s instrument. But he decided to ignore that. “These mortals think that their blessed God Odin and the Aesirs truly exist as the Gods they worship.” He said, scuffing at the ground with one boot. “Ah, how the truth is stretched and changed as time goes by.”

“Odin and the Aesirs exist, demon. Though they are not Gods of the higher plane, they are the guardians of this world. The deemed ‘Gods’ of this realm’s people.” Lachesis argued, but his tone remained defiantly calm and composed.

“And pathetic ones they are.”

“They cannot meddle with our affairs. We do not exist to them, and therefore deem these events as strings of Fate.” With skillful fingers, his melody turned upbeat, though it held an underlying tone of sadness.

The demon stared out into the landscape, his expression softer yet it held the same maliciousness. “They have those so called Norns who watch over Fate. Skuld… wasn’t the seer of the future called that? I don’t really give a damn, she doesn’t know these events to be the work of a force more powerful than they are. And that is one reason why this world would be better off without them. I would make a better God than any of those fools from Asgard, once I take hold of this mortal realm, those ‘guardians’ will be next.”

“All she would know is that these events will eventually lead to Ragnarok, which I must say, will not happen for a long time.” Lachesis answered. One could be stunned with awe that such a man could remain calm while a murderous presence stood near him, much more talked to him as if they were companions idly chatting the hours away.

“Not unless I bring it to these mortals early.” The demon sneered, flashing pearl white teeth. “They will know true fear once I’m done with their miserable lives.”

Somewhere along the course of the conversation, Lachesis had closed his eyes. Upon hearing that, however, he opened an eye at the other. “That is not an option permitted to you, I’m afraid.” He said.

“Oh?” The demon feigned surprise. “And why would that be, oh great minstrel?”

“So long as you exist to plague this world, I will come back, time and time again to finally rid this world of you.” Lachesis stated calmly, his notes falling to low and menacing tones, as if he were somehow conveying his feelings through his music.

“Ah, but as I recall, you cannot have a direct hand in dealing my death. The unseen rules decree it. You cannot touch me like you have done so before. But I know of your other half. Was it not the one I have killed those many years ago? I have to say, it’s quite resilient.” The demon chuckled, coming to stand beside the playing minstrel. The snow-haired man made no move to comment.

The demon raised a brow at the silence, but smirked not a moment later. So this was how it was going to be, huh?

“Ah, but what if I killed it, once and for all?” He said slowly, baiting the minstrel with his words. He lifted one gloved hand and pointed at the sitting man. “Why don’t we end this senseless charade and finally get on with the real show? You merely prolong your other half’s suffering with your ominous riddles and prophecies. And the people of this world as well… I had no idea you were so cruel.”

There was a slight falter in the notes, but Lachesis calmly returned to its original tempo. “You would kill my other half? A decree like that would not happen twice.” He replied, his music taking on a more intense atmosphere, almost threatening. But it seemed to have no effect on the other, rather it seemed to please him that he was finally getting a reaction out of the man. Lachesis made no reply to the latter of the demon’s statement, perhaps deeming it too false to argue with.

“Feh, you are no fun.” The demon replied, eyeing the annoying lute in the minstrel’s hands. Briefly, he wondered what would happen if he should take it. The thought tempted him, but he decided on something better. “And what of you, minstrel? You have the strength to put these selfish men in their places. You could command them to your will, take the power this world is offering you. And you could do it all… with a simple thought…”

“Satis! I will not fall to such temptations, demon!” Lachesis said aloud, his voice and powerful glare clearly showed his anger. The notes he had been playing died away as his hands stopped plucking the strings. “Seduce me not with your hollow promises, there is nothing that would move me to join you!” A slight pause, then he continued, “I cannot touch you, but neither would my other half allow you to take its second chance at life. Cockiness is in your nature, demon. It will not kill you, but your ignorance will.”

The demon laughed mockingly. “My ignorance? Such a harsh prophecy, minstrel. Is this what being sealed in a human body has done to you? I wouldn’t dream of going through the same experience.” And he continued to laugh.

Lachesis was unfazed. He took in a breath, returning his attention towards his lute and began to play once more. “It is not a prophecy. It was what allowed me to seal you for nearly nine centuries. And if you haven’t noticed, you’ve just displayed your ignorance.”

The demon in human guise stopped, and glared menacingly at the man. This insulted him and, angered, he made to swipe at the man’s face. His attack connected, but the wounds were shallower than he intended, nothing more than a mere break on his flawless skin. Lachesis continued to play as if nothing had happened.

The demon growled angrily but made no move to attack him again. There would be no point in harming a man who cannot die so easily. He opted to return to his original plans. Lachesis would not interfere… at least not until what the minstrel said was the destined time. He inwardly laughed.

Really now, did they all think this way? The demon wouldn’t know. He’d been banished before he knew.

Soon… At the moment of the fated collision, he’d make sure to let the minstrel and his other half feel every shred of his power. And make them regret ever trying to go up against him.

“You are a cruel master, Lachesis. You and your other existences.” The demon swiftly turned around and walked away, the heavy click of his armored boots fading away with each step. Slowly, the intense music mellowed down to a sad, lilting tone. The man’s head bowed forward as he played the denouement, looking crestfallen.

“A cruel master… That I may be known in this world. But no…” His eyes shone with defiance and determination. “My role would seem such but in the end, it is what shall save this world. And my other half understands that. It is all that I need.” And thus he ended the song on one lingering note. It tinkled like a little bell, echoing throughout the expanse of the Geffenian ruins.

END ENTRY.

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A/N: 'Satis!' - Latin for 'Stop!' or 'Enough!'