Light and Dark

Perhaps your name was given so people would forget it.

     He felt no need to press on with this question-- now, weren't you dying to know? Suppose it doesn't matter now, huh?

「 Still, people like you aren't an everyday occurrence here, you know.」

     He tilts his head slightly to the side and marks this Viritra or Vitra person off as fearless. Virta. Whatever. Why was this person's name so hard to pronounce? And so easy to forget.

「 And why not? Come on, tell me. I'm dying to know.」

And by surprise, the source of the voice appeared in front of her. Shocked by his entrance, Ryo took a step back away from the male, covering her mouth with her hands. So the voice belonged to this mage, the one that seem to always find her and toy with her. 

     He snarls. Oh? Did she forget his name, as well? How disappointing.

「 You know, I knew you were dumb. Since I've managed to corner you a few times... but I didn't know it was this bad, you know?」

Sighing, he pushed the door open completely before attempting to close it as quietly as possible. He really didn’t feel like calling the attention of others and getting the whole ship riled up. All he wished for was a talk. That’s all. Crouching down to Luminous’s level, he locked eye contact and sat in silence for a few moments as he rose a hand to his chin.

"How to go about this?" Was the immediate thing that entered his mind. After all, he just found Luminous and the man wouldn’t wake for several days. What was he doing? What happened? If he voiced concern, how would the other take it?

But as the silence grew that eerie feeling set in once again. Like something bad was going to happen, just from asking questions, as if the darkness would just snatch him up and devour him whole.

What was he worried about though? Luminous didn’t seem to be armed at the moment, and honestly he did seem tired. Perhaps that would be a sign that things would turn out for the best?

"So…" Phantom started, nervously. Talking like this with someone he had a long history with… It wasn’t easy for him. Most times the words just got caught in his throat, and when he felt strongly enough to just blurt out whatever he was thinking. 

But finally, he forced something out.

"You’re awake now, I see… Ah… What happened if you don’t mind me asking?" 

That was probably the worst way to start. Bringing up whatever happened, which clearly didn’t seem to be normal for Luminous most likely—After all, he never did know the mage to have fainting spells or even end up practically comatose—would just highlight that he was suspicious. 

Though, Phantom did have reason to be. As he continued to glance at the mage, he noticed something was off. Was it the fact that his usually illuminate self was beginning to dim? His hair was a rather dark silver, unlike the light it usually was. And something about his eyes… It was… Was it the way he looked? The face he was making? The fact that they seemed dark? Were those dark circles?

No… it was more than that… Something was definitely wrong here. Once more he locked eyes with the mage before concentrating. 

And that’s when he realized it. What was once pristine blue was now a vivid blood red. When did that happen? How did it happen?

He found it harder to keep a straight face. To mask his surprise. But really, Phantom needed to ask a thousand things, even if he knew that deep inside that nothing would be answered.

「 Why are you so concerned? About what happened? It has nothing to do with you.」

     Out of all the people in Maple World, it had to be him. That good for nothing thief. That-- Eclipse shook his head. It seems like Luminous' sour taste for the thief affected him, as well.

     He stared back at the blond, waiting for another question. Or remark. Something, anything. With his current limited access to Luminous' memories, he couldn't quite make up a judgement of Phantom's character. Wasn't he supposed to be snarky? Pressing all the wrong buttons on Luminous? Annoy him in general?

     Perhaps the thief was try to observe him as well? After all, the blond had been staring at him for quite some time now... Maybe Phantom was smarter than Luminous had perceived. (Bad. Then he would know that Eclipse isn't exactly Luminous.)

「 Cat got your tongue, Phantom? Do you not have any more questions to pester me with?」

     He sighed before looking to the side. Being stared at for an extended period of time... well, it wasn't like Eclipse was self-conscious. He just didn't like being stared at by people who he harbours feelings of general dislike towards. 

     He let the silence linger on for a while more. Why not ask some of his own questions...? After all, if Phantom was going to continue to stare and stay silent, maybe Eclipse could get some answers out of him instead of just being stared at.

「 Why'd you bring me up here? Why didn't you leave me at... wherever you found me. I would have been able to take care of myself.」

     Eclipse continues to stare at Vritra. Was he also an android? Another one of Gelimer's failed experiments? 

"What do you mean by torment me? Aren’t you Luminous? Why are you talking like that?”

     He leans down, sneering in the boy's face. What a lame joke; only laughable due to its patheticness. Really. However, his brows furrowed when he realised that Francis was asking a question. An honest, 'I-don't-understand-this' question.

「 I suppose that... since this is our first meeting, you... how dense can you get? I'm obviously not Luminous, kid.」

but mostly luminous.

What was it exactly? He knew this feeling. Yes, it was something he had definitely felt before. But what? If he could only remember what it was, perhaps that would narrow down all the other options. Closing his eyes, he began to let it wander.

It didn’t take long for the image of the Temple of Time to appear in his head. But what was there? These days, it was just those who looked over the temple. However, long ago, it was completely enveloped in darkness as—

He cut his thoughts off there. Darkness? Could this be the darkness he was sensing? But what did that have to do with Luminous? He wasn’t the Black Mage. He was simply a remaining member of his society. Were they all destined to become corrupt? That didn’t seem possible. Luminous was stubborn and bound to his ways, like a mule. And he wouldn’t change them for anyone. Not for Freud, not for himself, not for the darkness.

Really, the idea of Luminous losing to the darkness was almost laugh worthy. Or was it?

Once it was there, it became harder to shake. Luminous turning dark the way the Black Mage did. Attacking others, ruining villages. Destroying Victoria Island. Wreaking havoc upon his ship. Casting those dark chains the Black Mage himself used.

As much as Phantom hated to admit it, he was afraid of the darkness—No, absolutely terrified.

The only remaining light he had in his own light were his memories of Aria, his vows, his creed. He didn’t want those to get snuffed out. And yet, as minutes passed, that enveloping feeling of the darkness taking over grew thicker. It was like a wave, threatening to drag him into the depths of the ocean as it washed over him repeatedly.

     Luminous frowns. There goes the voice again. Wake up? Did this mean that he was asleep? Or unconscious? Perhaps it was the latter; he wouldn't be asleep for days, would he? Well, he knew it was possible, but...

                                                                WAKE UP!

    Ow. That was a little too loud for his tastes. However, the mage doesn't attempt to drown out the voice, because-- this was the one he was supposed to listen to. So why does it hurt? Or rather... why did the light cause his headache to worsen? It was usually the other way round; the dark made it worse, light calmed him. Unless--

                                                                We don't have much                                                                                          time... }]

A labyrinth. 

     That was the only word that came to mind if he were to describe this place. The place was huge. And confusing, too, which made it that much harder to navigate. Doors. Here and there. All these decorations. Eclipse paid little to no attention to them, but they were distracting at times. What time was it now, anyway? Morning? Night?

     A sigh went past his lips. The light... Sunfire... well, he's being annoying. Very annoying. Why does he try so hard? At this point, he should realise that Luminous is beyond hope. (Until Eclipse got tired, that is, but that would be after a nice trail of destruction was left behind during his stay. Oh yes.)

     Distracted by his thoughts, Eclipse somehow manages to trip over his own foot. Perfect. He cursed himself silently as he groans, his elbows bearing the brunt of his weight. Ow. Perhaps he was much weaker than he thought. Much, much weaker. How laughable. It wasn't even a physical battle, and it wore him down so much.

     Tap tap tap. Now, what was that? The mage frowns to himself as he dusts himself off. Footsteps? Hurried ones, no less. Was someone going to check up on him? Probably so. Eclipse better hurry if he didn't want to be discovered. But then again, if he could convince the person to help him... tell them that this was perfectly normal, he coul--

「 ...suicide.」

     Though Eclipse may not be sure where he is, he is certain that most people would think something amiss of their beloved Hero seemed to be turning a little dark.

     Eclipse mentally slaps himself. How... how could he have forgotten? No one remembers the Heroes. No one but themselves. (Minus Freud because he was dead. Also perhaps Aran-- he caught wind of how they had lost their memories.)