[b][h3]Orpheuz Paladice[/h3][/b]


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-L-cSWbvhQ
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Rain. A soft rumble in the distance far away. Far away. But not as far as others had tread. In the rain a lone young man strode down the streets of Rhea, passing by an old abandoned apartment complex of several stories high. Something was moving inside, perhaps some uneasy specter or phantom from ages past. Perhaps it was just the wind blowing some old curtains within. The rainwater slowly traced it's way over the long black raincoat, the hood raised up and slightly obscuring the face of the young man.

The reflection in the windows of the building making him look like a shadow. A shade. Coated in black. Like a phantom from another world. Atop the opposing side of the street was another building, the dark roof held a rooster figure mounted upon it, which would spin slightly from the wind. Creating a screeching sound as the young man traversed forwards, his black boots stepping into puddles of water without any sign of hesitation.

Then there came a sight which was not an uncommon one within Rhea, the school of St Laurels. A prestigious and school of good standing, a shining example of Rhea's youth but also of the past. Many former students would find themselves working within it, helping to raise the next wave of youngsters. In this rainy day, there was no activity outdoors. Only a hydromancer could truly appreciate such weather no doubt.

The young man momentarily stopped to look up at the cloudy sky, the cap under his hood obscuring his right eye while his other shimmered in orange. Strands of greenish-blonde hair was hanging out from the hood, one on each side of his neck, all the way down to his torso.

[b]"We shall never part. You remember? That's what I told you..."[/b] The voice came out soft, yet brimming with determination and an undertone of anger. His head lowered shortly afterwards, his hands slipping into his raincoat pockets fully as he continued along his way.

A truck drove by, bearing the prestigious name of the Ravenovich Bank. It's tyres slamming into the various pools of water, creating miniature tidal waves which would spread out along the sidewalks. There were a few shops along the street, the first being a clothing store, they had recently closed for the day. Yet one could still peek into the windows and see the mannequins there, one in particular was clad in an almost military fashion and the other was clad in a dress. The young man briefly stopped to look inside the store.

Fabrics. Something which could be both textile and something completely different. Like the fabrication of a lie, or a fabric of imagination. It made him wonder about the world itself, just who was pulling the strings of it all?

The gods? Just who were they. What could they do? Were they the cause of all things good and evil? There were things such as ancient evils. A thing he firmly believed in, no matter what world one would label as reality. Power was a tool that could subdue both evil and good, power was like water. You needed some of it to live, yet if you would have too much you would drown. The downpour coming from the cloudy skies didn't make him doubt it for a moment.

[b][i]'Whatever you need to float your boat, as long as you are the captain and in charge. What else matters?'[/i][/b] The young man blew some hot air out from his mouth at one of the long strands of hair hanging in front of his face. How his hair moved upon meeting his breath reminded him of precious memories, of a past he couldn't go back to in any other shape or form.

The street momentarily turned into cobblestone as he walked past an old Rhean church. The tower held a single window. He wished he could gaze out from it from up there, like he had done in the past. Amidst the best of company. Company which he couldn't help but feel he was missing terribly. Upon getting closer to the church, he could see a light coming from one of the windows, next to a side-door to the church. Likely leading down into it's basement. The young man reached out with his right hand, lifting it from it's resting place in his pocket. He twisted the handle as the door gave a creaking sound. It opened.

Upon entering he began to walk down a set of stone stairs until he came upon a chamber which was well lit, only by using candles. A young lady. At least he thought she were.  Was sitting there praying, her white attire and short blonde hair made her stand out amidst the grey stone walls. The girl turned abit startled on hearing his footsteps. [color=f6989d]"Oh thee startled me. Have thee cometh here to pray? Wait thou aren't part of... Who art thou?"[/color] The blonde girl asked curiously as she rose up from her kneeling position.

[b]"My name is not important, but I am looking for someone. I thought it was you, but I was mistaken. Excuse me, I shall leave at once."[/b] The young man began to turn to walk away.

[color=f6989d]"Hold up."[/color] The girl said and began to walk over as the young man stopped in his tracks. [color=f6989d]"Have we met before?"[/color] The shorthaired and short girl continued as a sense of eagerness overtook her.

[b]"No you are mistaken. I have travelled from far away, I assure you have not seen me here before. You might aswell forget I was ever here to begin with. Now I must be on my way."[/b] The hooded boy made his way up the stone stairs again.

[color=f6989d]"It's still raining!"[/color] The girl yelled after him, but to little avail as he proceeded to head out into the rain. What did it matter that he would get drenched by abit of water, most people took baths regulary anyways. Abit of rain wouldn't be the end of the world.

[b]"The end of the world..."[/b] He said in a low manner to himself. [b][i]'I've been there. I am still there. At the end of the world, there's indeed a vast waterfall. I've taken that plunge into the dark water...'[/i][/b] He thought as he proceeded along his way, passing by one of the Rhean graveyards. He stopped by the iron gates. He felt fear. Fear. Him?

A small part of him was screaming at him not to enter, but that scream was but a whisper in the wind. The iron gate opened. His black boots stepped unto the gravel road that was leading into the graveyard, the rain kept falling and he walked over a few muddy pools along his path until he reached a specific location in the graveyard. 

There it was. A feeling of relief. He stood before a place which bore no gravestone, no sign nor hint of anyone ever having laid there. He fell on his knees, his face looking up to the sky, raindrops falling down upon him.

[b]"Thank you. This time will be different. Definitely."[/b] He reached up towards the cloudy sky with his right hand, his fingers spreading wide before his hand turned into a fist. The tensing of the young man's body, caused the top three buttons of the raincoat to become undone. He stood up after awhile, his rise was accompanied by a soft metallic sound as two dogtags were clicking against each other, attached into a silvery chain around the young man's neck.

[b]"The road ahead for this phantom of the utopia..."[/b] He turned his gaze towards the sky before he seemed to phase out of the world itself, vanishing from the graveyard to reappear...somewhere else.