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[h2]Revenant of Shield[/h2][b][color=darkred]Chapter 0 - To Whom The Bell Tolls[/color][/b][hr]
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The fear of realizing that you were, in fact, nothing but a fleeting existence in others' memories. That people, no matter how much you loved them in life, would eventually forget about you and move on in life. Such is the fear that's gripping your heart. Such, is the drive that fuels you to move forward; to follow the light, no matter what arduous journey it leads you into.

Never once did it cross your mind that the light's promise, too, might be a false one. Which is why, it terrified you to no end when you finally heard a tolling of the bell, and the abrupt fainting of the light that followed it. With every tolls the light disappeared more from your field of vision. And along with it, your sense of security. Frantically you ran to catch the light before it fades completely. Yet, all it accomplished was you losing your footing, and falling further into the abyss.

"[i]Is this the end?[/i]" you thought. "[i]Is it my destiny to be a part of the empty darkness? To fade into nothingness? Forever?[/i]"

As you fall deeper and deeper into the void, your mind grows weaker, and your eyes dimmer. Until at one point, you blacked out entirely.

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Awakening from your slumber once more, you now noticed that you are in some kind of.. cave? You were not so sure. The place felt like an open space, but at the same time, enclosed. Looking around, you noticed two children playing merrily in the distance. Curious, you moved closer to the children. To check on them, to ask for direction, to be noticed. It was then that you noticed what was actually going on. What the so-called playing between the two children - sisters, as it may seem - entails. 

You noticed that the first sister would produce dolls out of nowhere, and gave it to her younger sister to play with. The younger would then refuse, but inevitably accept her sister's gift, albeit reluctantly. Then, the moment she accepts the dolls, they will almost immediately crumble into dust. The elder sister would then smile wryly, and proceed to collect the ashes and mould them anew; and gave the new toy to her sister to play with.

The cycle continued endlessly as you watch, to the point where you think it broke the two sisters. They were crying and yelling, not because they hated each other; yet because they want the other to be happy, but the more they try and make things right, the more it hurts them.

[b][i]*thump*[/i][/b] you felt your heart beating. It aches. It makes you want to cry. To run over to the two sisters and embrace them, telling the poor souls that they will be alright. Yet no matter how much you run, the sisters' image would not get any closer. It was as if there is a gaping, uncrossable void between you and them. You fell, got up, and fell again, countless times. Yet reach them, you did not.

"[color=darkred]That is enough,[/color]" a rasp voice finally said from behind you. "[color=darkred]Any more, and your soul will be consumed entirely,[/color]" it continued, as its icy cold hands patted you on your shoulder, as if to calm you. To prevent you from running aimlessly any further.

Curious, you turned to see this person that stopped you from saving the sisters. And lo, the face of thousands death. A lifeless skeleton with jutting horns and burning eyes. The face of eldritch terror, forged from the shadows of nightmare. A form that, in its entirety, does not fit with the tender tone of his voice.

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You quickly raised your left hand, hoping your shield to protect you from the creeping horror. Yet to your surprise, it was nowhere to be seen. You are alone, with nothing to fall back into.

... What will you do?