Minutes before the selection
The day proved to be a bright one with not a cloud in the sky or at least what the tower imitated what the actual sky would look. A peculiar thought that popped into his head from time to time, who wandered what it must be like outside this massively mysterious tower. The lone blonde haired figured scratched at his head while leaning against his gardening hoe, his gaze currently fixated upward.
A male that seemed around the age of twenty had a slim build; skin slightly tanned and though a person who spent nearly all his life working and tending to farm work still showed little sign of muscles forming unlike the rest of his family. It must be that his body simply refused to develop muscles probably. (not that he would ever admit it to be due to his constant slacking off) Yet, his siblings never wasted an opportunity to tease him for his cowardly nature or frail body or at least that used to be the case until five years ago.
" Ah..the only time I can truly feel at ease now is tilling to the farm." A sigh of content left his lips as if relieving himself of all the stress and frustration. His free right hand rising to wipe the sweat from his brow or free in the sense of not being used nor holding an item for in his case were his hands ever really free? Not so much; not since he foolishly put on these blasted gloves that simply refused to come off, even now the black glove seem to glint back at him beneath the shiny glow of sweat coating the armored plates covering its back.
Another harsh glaring session among the countless number of times in the fruitless hope it might come off. A frustrated clicking of his teeth.
" Bah! Who cares about the outside of the tower and least of all climbing it. Everyone always blathering on about chosen this and chosen that...bah!" He spat to the side in distaste, finding the notion, nay the very concept of desiring to do such a pointless endeavor completely foolhardy.
How he came to miss the days where his brothers and sisters actually mocked him over his rather undesirable character. Now they hounded him about being the one to raise the Nagasa name out of this empty and boring plain.
All because of these damn blasted gloves!
" One of these days I will get these things off and rub it in their faces that they're nothing special." Lifting his nose up in a snooty fashion at the thought and let out a mocking haughty laughter in a manner to mock the 10 families.
" And that guardian better hope he never runs into me or I'll give him a good whack and a thwack for tricking the gullible sheep!" Swinging his garden hoe in striking poses akin to swinging a sword then broke out into an awkward laughing fit, one does when laughing at a joke no one but themselves found funny.
A dismissive wave of his right hand while lightly chuckling still.
" If they all want to be stupid enough to try putting their lives at risk then by all means. Leave me out of it..life on the farm is enough for me." Nodding his head before giving a snap of his right finger.
" Visible mode!" As he stated the words the large pair of floating armored gloves became visible directly above and behind him, each glove the size slightly larger than that of an average human adult, enough to be able to wrap around him or to sit and stand on.
These gloves he came to both loath and yet begrudgingly thankful to have around as they did have their uses. One the likes of motioning with his hand to scoop up a huge handful of fertile dirt from the nearby pile and dumped it on the patch before him." At least I get some use out of these things. Everyone else whines at me to train with them, but why do that when I can make the field work easier on me?" A shrug of the shoulders and shake of the head.
With a stretch of his arms and twist of his hips in a light stretching, did Kazumin swing the hoe to resume his work. A light muffled thump with each impact of the hoe, the content blonde began whistling in merriment beneath the bright warm sun.
This was bliss. May this perfectly serene life never change.
The last thought Kazumin would have as a carefree farmer....
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Thwack!
Thwack?
Thwack!
Thwack?!!!!!
For some reason the soft thump from striking dirt had strangely turned to one of striking hard stone. In fact, it did feel like he was striking stone for a third testing swing resulted in a slight shaking rebound of his arms.
Not only that, but did the light go out? And for that matter the warmth of the false sun?
The blonde haired young adult had these thoughts, his eyes closed; refusing to open them out of some instinctive fear of what he may see by doing so.
*No no..I'm sure I just struck bedrock, yeah...or just hit a rock right?!* He thought to himself in order to calm down and gave another testing swing.
Thwack!!!!
The horrifying sound echoed around him in terrifying reverberation. Cold beads of sweat began dripping down his face as he found himself screaming in his head at the realization of no longer likely being at the farm.
Finally, after several minutes of inward sobbing, the unsure Kazu reluctantly opened his eyes. Not that doing so changed much in terms of what was visible for he found himself to be in a pitch black room or chamber.
Suddenly, a snickering came from some unseeable direction within the black void; a snicker like that of a cheeky who just played a mean prank and found it to be greatly amusing.
The sound alone had Kazu clutching the garden hoe tightly against him. Hugging it as if it might protect the lone male from whatever foul and evil force lurked within..or was it without? Gah it didn't matter cause all that mattered in this instance was that he was screwed!
Maybe this was just a dream and that accidentally hit himself on the head with his own hoe..maybe..yeah?
The snickering rang out again, this time louder; a sound that chilled the farmer down to his bone who began to frantically search around for the source. yet, all he could see were those floating gloves and feel the frantic beating of his heart.
And then a darkly green light burst to life behind him. The crackling green torch casting its eerie glow on Kazu who flinched in fear; trembling in place.
A second crackled to life on his other side from behind causing him to flinch again.
" A-alright..you had your l-l-laughs! If you don't..c-c-cut it out well I..I got my hoe and I ain't afraid to use it!" He exclaimed in challenge, trying to keep a brave front but his voice faltered and cracked the moment he uttered the first word.
Upon turning to face the two torches which burned like vicious eyes that licked at him with their fiery glow did two more burst up behind him. In that moment, Kazu felt the presence that had been looming and observing and he swung around, holding the sole possession he had to his name outward.
An act he quickly came to regret; face paling pure white in pure terror upon seeing before him the very guardian he badmouthed only minutes prior.
There hovering inches above the ground or at least it seemed so with the floor equally dark as the surroundings stood Headon. The being said to be the gaurdian; others the god of the tower and there he stood before him with a body whose height barely even reached his chest excluding those bunny like ears. His skin pure white; a stark contrast to the black void so weakly illuminated by the eerily green glows of the torch. At least it seemed like skin, it could possibly armor as it did not seem soft and almost too smooth. The being, Headon wore a violet colored garb that covered most of his body save for his arms which sported white gauntlets matching the white of his body as a cross shape of light blue dots sported along the chest.
Most terrifying though was the lack of facial features; in place of eyes, a mouth and nose was only a single long dark lined slit along his long elongated head which one could construe to be the mouth, but that is likely wrong.
Held lightly in his right hand, beneath those three fingers was clutched a long yellow staff possibly as long or bit longer than his body with a swirling blue orb adorning each end.
" Welcome, Kazumin Nagasa. I as you know, am the caretaker of this tower!" A surprisingly deep and slightly gravely voice rang out in introduction while extending out his arms in an welcoming manner.
Sheer silence followed after as the two individuals stared at each other with the eerie green flames dancing shadows over their faces.
In the next instance Kazu charged forward only to drop and slide down into a prostrating position slamming his forehead against the cool black concrete, his face a sheen of sweat and terror.
" Gaaaah! Great lord Headon forgive meeeee! Wh-what I said back then...I was kidding! I'd never attack the guardian...it was just a joke!" Rapidly bowing his head and prostrating himself to the bunny like caretaker, fearing he had brought about his wrath upon him for the foolish brief cockiness of his.
Headon peered down at the blonde who continuously bowed to him; an amusing sight causing that slit to split open revealing rows of vicious sharp like teeth as that same cheeky snicker rang out with a twirl of the staff.
" No more of that now!" A quick spin of the staff before stopping while aiming it at the prostrating Kazumin.
" It is a Nagasa's first and the time to be tested has finally come!"Kazu stopped his repeated bowing upon hearing Headon speak, but what he heard were the very words he prayed to ever be uttered to him. His lowered head kept the fact he was on the tears hidden and these were not tears of elation or excitement like so many countless others often made. These were the tears of one regretting finding himself there.
Pushing himself with shaky arms to gaze up at the white being with his body trembling.
" W-wait!! Lord Headon th-though I'm of course thankful for this opportunity b-but surely there must be others far more better qualified than me, yeah?!" He let out a forced and slightly unhinged laugh while sweat dripped rather profusely down his face in almost comedic fashion.
In place of the line where the teeth once were, a single sharp blue eye became visible as it peered down at Kazumin. A ferociously piercing gaze that seemed to see through him as his very being had been forcefully laid bare in full to be perused at the caretaker's leisure.
A stare that lasted only for a second yet felt like eternity and in the next instance Kazu dropped back down with a heavy exhale like a person out of breath. Lying there; propped up only by his hands panting trying to catch his breath while Headon loomed over him as an imposing figure, his mere presence nearly suffocating.
Then that suffocating pressure dissipated fast as it had formed as another twirl of the staff found itself resting against the gaurdian's shoulder." You, blind by your own lies and lacks resolve. Do you not desire for glory or for power and fame? Above lies all that one can desire whether it be to gain prize of luxury or to gain power above others, the tower can grant all!" Exclaiming boastfully in a booming voice while aiming his staff upward then.
"
Simply stand and climb. Fight and show your resolve...climb higher and higher, stepping over those in your way to attain your heart's deepest desire!" The caretaker finished in a grand flair while pointing a finger at the blonde human showing a mixture of disbelief and awe.
A grand speech that nearly swept him up in the moment, but shakily lifted his right hand leveled with his head.
" I'll pass." He stated shakily and an almost awkward silence blew between the two.
For a moment Headon seemed almost and impossibly stunned; how many in all these centuries, even millenia has one chosen flat out refused such an offer? Such a thing had Headon in a near snickering fit, those shark teeth gleaming dangerously.
" Oh? Are you certain? A simple test is all that would gain you a step closer to the desires even you do not see?"At his request, Kazu nodded his head with a nervous laugh while scratching at the back of his head.
" Y-yeah I'm sure. I have several siblings who would all be better choices than a nobody farmer like me." Waving his hand before his face, finding his whole ordeal highly stressful and terrifying, wanting it to just be over.
It was then he found Headon leaning forward over him with that dangerous smirk, seeming ready to bite his head off. A flick of the arm holding the staff towards what seemed to be a golden colored ball the size of basketball with insect like wings flittering about.
Kazu turned his head to peer at the ball which certainly had not been there seconds ago and had him wondering if it was just materialized in that instant.
" Your test. Simply catch this ball within one hour and you pass."Upon hearing the simple explanation of the test, Kazu blinked; unsure and confused as he glanced up at Headon.
" Um, but..Lord Headon I said I pass?" He gulped out his reply though the test certainly looked easy enough.
A low snicker from the caretaker stepping back with his staff twirling lazily behind his back.
" I simply administer the test. You may attempt or refrain..that is your choice."At that, a sigh of relief left his lips, thinking this horrible ordeal will all be over in an hour. It wouldn't be long before he could return to his favorite shaded spot and read the book he was currently busy with.
" It is interesting. Not many are lucky to get to return to their families so soon after being chosen. Yours will be most jubilant to have you return safely. Surely they will be content with your choice to abstain." Headon's words rang out in a cool and coy manner.
Kazu, having all but accepted his return sat there with his legs folded; a smug expression now adorning his face with the garden hoe draped over his lap.
" Ex-.....w-wait..what did you say?" His head lifted up like a rocket after what was said registered to him.
His hands flew up to rub at his head in a panic.
* I could easily just sit here for the hour and go back but..surely they would understand yeah?! They would rather have me back home not having to worry about my safety and life?* Thinking loudly to himself while fidgeting in place as each second his panic grew.
* Oh god...if they found out I willingly refrained from even attempting the test..they would hate me for not even trying when finally someone of the family got chosen..or..they might even disown me?!* His body thrashed and turned in place as his head was clutched in his hands.
Why did this had to happen to him? Seriously, after all these years of the Nagasa family members and it had to be him who wound up here. Pulling the hands from his head to look at the gloves and his eyes widen in realization yet again.
" Its you..cause of these damn gloves!" He waved his gloved hands around in pure frustration.
He spent the next five minutes wrestling with his own hands and arguing over trying to reason this whole thing out. His body then collapsed onto the ground with a groan, where he saw a flashing glint from the flittering ball flying by him as if mocking him. At that moment, his body sat up rigid.
" I got it! I'm such an idiot...its simple of course." Folding his arms against his chest while nodding his head in understanding.
Hopping up onto his feet and draping the hoe against his shoulder as a confident grin came to his lips.
" I simply have to just try to catch the ball and let myself fail. Then I can return home and tell them I tried my hardest, doing that isn't lying yeah." Waving his right index finger to himself to make himself believe such.
For once, being the one to snicker, Kazu started running over the ball attempting to catch it. And as expected it certainly was fast; flying like an oversize hummingbird where even at its size proved nearly difficult for his eyes to gleam its location. Still, the blonde farmer made attempts to jump and leap to grab for it.
Any watching could easily tell he was making half-hearted tries at the ball flittering about the mostly dark room. Yet, as he kept going at it, the ball zooming about in an almost mocking manner was starting to get on his nerve and gradually his jumping and reaching became more aggressive until Kazu found himself earnestly trying to snatch it up, clearly forgetting his goal of pretending.
Minutes passed with little luck and the constant need to stop and catch his breath had him cursing his pitiful endurance. This only added to his frustration and had him pouncing and growling at the ball like a wild animal struggling to catch his prey.
A little over forty-five minutes had now passed as a growling Kazu stomped his foot in a fit of rage.
" That damn ball! You're mocking me aren't you?!" He shouted out while pointing at the blasted thing which had taken to hovering just out of reach as if purposefully teasing him causing the blonde to snarl while rubbing furiously at his head.
" Aaaaaaahh! I'm going to rip off those rings and pop you!" Calling out to the ball which bobbed around his head which might look as if it was laughing at him, making a vein pop out on his forehead.
" God damn it! I've had it!!!" Screaming out loudly and then held out his right hand with the palm up as he beckoned the right glove to his side. He jumped onto it and lifted the hand up causing the glove to rise with him standing on it and turned to do a reeling back motion.
" Think you can make a fool of me you bastard?! Don't underestimate Kazumin Nagasa!" Exclaiming in challenge as he kept his gaze forward; choosing instead to listen to the rapid flapping of the wings as he steadied his breathing.
A glowing glint hit the corner of his eye and with a flex of his right arm had thrown it forward in a pitching motion. In doing so, found his body being thrown through the air with both hands raised clutching the garden hoe.
" AAAAAAhhh...Come here you dirty ping pong ball!" Shouting with his mouth flapping about from the rushing wind and soon saw the ball come within range though wasn't foolish enough to use his hands. With a grunting swing, used the garden hoe to block and hook the ball and gave a pull of the stick.
A landing thump and rolling grunt as Kazu came to a rolling stop onto the floor and hopped onto his feet. Clutched victoriously between both hands was the ball with the wings fluttering rapidly out of fear as Kazumin glared down at the ball with an evil grin." Now you're mine..you will regret ridiculing me." For a moment his eyes had a wicked glare in them then he threw his arms up." Hahahaha I did it! I did it!" Cheering while hopping and clicking his heels together.
" 47 mintues and 24 seconds! You passed the test!" Headon beckoned out in a celebratory manner with his arms raised up.
Kazu kept laughing and cheering until he heard Headon and nodded.
" Damn right I did! With this no one back home will belittle me and call me qui-...." Trailing off while clutching the ball beneath his left arm as he stood with his head raised and mouth open as he momentarily shut down. A few ticking in his head until a ding rung in his head as he finally grasped exactly what just happened.
" What? No wait! This isn't....I didn't mean to..."At that moment he could see a glowing light form around him as the ball beneath his arm vanished.
" Hold it damn it! You tricked me..undo...gah..no undo undooooooooooooo!"Shouting out his disagreement with how all this went down with tears in his eyes. The last thing Kazu saw being the biggest smug smirk on Headon's featureless face.
He definitely got swindled...
"UNDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
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