Complete Private Hylands Ascent Split

[Haru]

A high outcropping in the Hylands' first ascent, known as one of the Boulderclash, was a quiet place where animals did not tread. They beheld great instinct above humans, and dared not to wake the sleeping titan that shaped half of the cliffside. A certain sage did not know for how long this one had been slumbering, yet knew it was long enough for it to have been blanketed by the growing mountianside. Most of the stone giant lie underground.

Haru found it peaceful here. The wind was slow, the outcropping next to the Boulderclash breaking the airstream, and there were nary a thing alive around to disturb the silence in which he rest. He has gladly rest here before at times with the stone titan who called this place home.

This was not the only reason he was here tonight, though, and he was not alone to ponder that.

She comes near.​

In the crack of each wall, in the shadow of each stone and the crook of the Sage's robes, something watched and waited. It was this being that spoke to him, warning him that a Dissonant creature approached. Haru was thankful for the advance warning, though he had been waiting for her to arrive. He'd watched as her path turned to intersect with his own, whether unintentionally or not, and he had decided it best to wait for her here.

There was little alive in this place, and that which slumbered here was not attuned to the soul. It was a good space to rest for someone like him, a spot where he did not need to contain the elegy of the soul that entwined with his own. Soon there would be another melody. It grew closer. Haru wished to know who it was, for in all his years he had not heard one that sounded as this did.

@Magi Heart

 

[Magi Heart]

Split

Freedom.

It was not all it was cracked up to be. When the dark heart had lost everyone she knew, had become a fetch quest slave to that reclusive bloodsucker. That was a time she had nothing to think about, only do, only spread grief. To let others experience what they needed to in order to understand their futility.

Especially the ones that walked the deluded path she most despised.

Ironically one person had been above that. Wendel hated what she sought but that one person she would not stop. If anything she would care for them above all. She would ensure they reached a happy ending together. No matter how black that end would be.

It was difficult to tell why she was so attached. Friendship was something she was having a harder and harder time really grasping but the desire was there and it was nothing like what she craved for the rest. Being away from Raina for so long, someday there would be another reunion, and perhaps it would be much more permanent.

"You want friends because they are important. Raina is important. Helping people in this crazy place we're stuck in is too! Hey, are you listening?"

"I help them and then they suffer and then they hate me... for doing my job. Normies are disgusting but so pitiful..."

Wendel had reached a high point of the ascent. This place she had explored before, if only for a moment. The right places in the Hylands were some of the "safest" places to be when you were... different. Normies were scared to come here and the various weird curses that affect people in Zalra or Norfova did not occur here. The pinkette had enough things changing inside and outside her body so she preferred not to mix and match. Giant stone monster or not, the girl had encountered worse.

Her body heh.
She only could wish it was just hers.

To those in Astorean society, she was still Wendy, and while that was what Wendel would refuse to accept, it didn't mean there was no truth to it. That was an unpleasant truth. Even her thirst and passion to help others was something passed down from a previous existence she could never get rid of.

"Hey!"

"Shut up... we aren't alone or do you not feel what I feel..."

Chibi Magi suddenly shivered and wrapped her tiny arms around herself.

"What? Gee whiz we aren't in Tertoria anymore, and this is Hylands, not High March right? Is there one of those things here?"

"Giggle that's funny... if Brady is right. That's not far from what I am."

She did not draw her weapon, she simply waited and took a seat on a jagged stone with her legs dangling off the edge, before saying to no one as if expecting the thing to hear...

"If you wanted to fight you'd have attacked already. Or are you trying to feed off me? The book I read said that's how it works. Come on out and don't be such a shyguy♥."

@Haru

 

[Haru]

"How funny. Were you not the one who came here to be at peace? One would think so, with the way your heart is twisting so. I'm sure you of all would think of why this would be a lovely place to rest. Ha, ha, ha..."

The curling presence of dissonance hadn't responded, though it had very well acknowledged her presence. Rather, a voice had come from a man's mouth-a person who was visible just further aside from her view on the stone's height. He had been sitting relatively above Wendel in the outcropping, firmly seated on a massive stone that could be mistaken for a monster's head.

He was also the source of this everpresence. The very nooks and crannies of his robes peered back into her gaze. Not dissonance, but a dissonant.

"If I may ask, would you be so kind as to spare my life? I'd like not to be laid bare and cleansed by the burning light I feel in your palms. Ha, ha, ha... I'm just here to rest, you see, as you could likely guess. This place is empty, and I need not quiet my elegy for fear of muddying others' hearts."

That very elegy twisted within the crook of the mountain's shadow as always, yet still it did not try to feed. It was as close to calm as one could imagine such a being to be, as if watching Wendel warily to see what she would do.

It was wise to do so. It knew she was dangerous, though perhaps it did not know why.

@Magi Heart

 

[Magi Heart]

Split

Wendel fell onto the rocks, she stared at the sky and saw the man, just some old man, not one of those things.. or not super obviously one. He could feel her heart? Couldn't everyone? She didn't exactly hide her desires from people, on the contrary, her desires was all she was at this point.

"You talk like a old geezer and since you're living in the mountains like one, then maybe you are *giggle.

Although she used what many would see as insults, she lacked much actual malice, for now. The dark heart did not seek a fight. She sought something else, but it was so blurry now that she was no longer able to understand it. Just help people, end problems, take on the despair of others into herself.. it came down to being really simple when it was put that way.

Screaming is just another form of laughter after all.

"Hello. Are you up here because you need to think about stuff too? I'm M...Just call me Chibi Magi. That's me too but she hates it when you call her, uh.. me? Magi. She's Wendy? Wendel? Hehe, introductions are tough! Gee whiz you can hear me can't you!?"

The tiny spirit began to bounce around in the air happy to find someone that might be able to hear her.

"She likes, you. A real shame if you can't see that. Kill you? Gee whiz do I look like a killer♥? I mean, look at me, I'm a d̴̞͐à̸̮ṃ̶͝n̷͓̚ ̸̺̈́k̶͖͂í̶͍d̵̨͝ *giggle*. You scared of little girls huh?"

She raised a gloved hand to the sky and spread her fingers. Her body was changing but not the way normies did.

"You use complicated words to say simple things. ...I'm so sick of everything being complicated. I just... ̵̟́ṇ̸̂e̸̠͑e̴̙͒d̴̠̄... "

Just as she had her remnant, this man... had something. She couldn't help but feel they were similar maybe even more so than the one who brought her into this world. Wendel was certainly not a blood-drinking vamp, although blood was more like a tasty gravy on a dish than the main course to the dark heart. Nothing like a good blood broth to keep the heart beating.

"Whose your friend♥?"

Now it was she who wondered how the other would respond.

@Haru

 

[Haru]

Haru's laughter was aggravatingly pleasant, as if wind-chimes within the whirling gale that buffeted the mountainside. Ha, ha, ha... He sounded as if recalling a fond friend or a pleasant memory. Perhaps it even was pleasant for him. A little wave of his hand acknowledged a surprising notion-Haru may very well be able to see the little spirit floating around Wendel's head.

"He is a dearest of companions. My other half, the dark in my heart. I've known him for some time now."

He decided to be more frank with his words at the not-quite request of the girl. He didn't want her to snap for the time being, after all. The voice that sounded from the dark, the voice of eyes and spite, had an even more blunt answer to give to Magi Heart.

He is a host to me-nothing more.
​

"Oh? Is that what we are today? Ha, ha, ha... I'll give you space, if that is what you wish."

Shall I be rid of you at last? I see many a shell for my soul in your stead.​

The smile upon Haru's face was as if a split against the other side, which was concealed behind a pure mask in the shape of a half-moon. He was just happy to be speaking to the darkness again-Oberon had been quite silent all day. The had almost been getting lonely in the silence. Just because the dark existed in the crooks of his heart did not mean that he wished to ignore it. On the contrary, he felt more human than he had before, for his ego lie bare and visible before his heart to see-neither the good and bad of it was ever hidden from Haru's sight.

Oberon was Haru just as much as he himself was. Perhaps that was why the two twisted souls, joined in helix, had stopped struggling against each-other after all this time. Both yet neither had won the struggle for dominance that had spanned a long year and a half after the seed of dissonance had grown. There was not need to stamp out one soul-they were both already together as one.

He wondered if he could even call himself 'dissonant' as he was. What else would he call himself, though? Haru felt so very unlike this girl, who beheld to his eye one mind stamping out the other without remorse. This girl truly was Wendel, it seemed. She even seemed troubled about something related to this 'Magi', to boot.

​

"How are you doing today, Wendel? You appear unwell for some reason. Would you like to talk about it to us? If nothing else, I believe myself to be an excellent listener."

@Magi Heart

 

[Magi Heart]

Split

"Companion...?"

The girl made a glance at Chibi Magi but the word companion sure wouldn't describe how she felt about it.

He is a host to me-nothing more.

"*Giggle* Oh okay then. I think I get it."

She really did not get it.

Wendel lacked much memory, if any, from her life outside Arcia. To her, it was more like trying to recall a previous life from hundreds of years ago. In that world, a world Wendel did not know... she did know one thing.

She wasn't a philosopher.

Thoughts like, what was a person? Souls? yadayada.

Now though, it was suddenly becoming very important to her. Why? The young dissonant did not know yet. Reasoning had become a silly thing to her and she just did what her instincts would dictate, until the past year or so anyway. Over time, it was as if different parts of the brain would just turn on and off... it confused and frustrated her.

"You appear unwell"

"Wha..? Heheh, do II? I am pretty weird looking huh?"

As she began to get up and stand to face the man, Chibi Magi took the opportunity to ask him a question of her own. Since Wendel was too rude to do so, as always.

"What's your name, mister? Are you up here because of.. .that?"

The sprite did not point out the entity that lurked nearby but she knew he would know what she meant. The man seemed pretty gentle, which was nice. The duo had usually been around people with much more wild behaviors, it was nice to find a fatherly man to talk to, and sad that he may be suffering from possession or something like that. At least to Chibi Magi.

"What's in a name anyway? I was given a name. I throw them away every few months it feels like *giggle*. I do feel most attached to Wendel now. Anyway, like I was saying..."

She used her Astramancy to do a short dimensional jump to the man's location and looked down at him. It would be easier than ever to see how her body was unnatural in some way. Her vermillion eye twisted and the black pupil moved like it was a parasite. The black marks that crossed areas of her exposed skin occasionally seemed to pulse like veins She knelt down now very close to the man.

"Take a look at me... a real good look old man. I could tell you I feel fine, but I'm not a dummy. My body isn't normal. It's not that I care, the more I change theL̶̻͘e̵̢̓s̴͙͊s̸̛̜ ̷̥̍ȯ̸̞f̶̳͊ ̶͇̑t̴̘̋ḥ̸̛á̴̯t̴͍́l̴͕͘ I have to look at.

She made a dismissive wave of a hand at the sprite.

"I do know what a monster is... and... I don't really want that. I just want to be me. Whatever that means Mr.Mountain Hermit person.

Her eyes shifted towards the being that lurked, but she made no direct comments to it.

For now.

@Haru

 

[Haru]

The man was very calm today, despite having been begging for his life. His expression leaned more on the pitiful gaze than it did concern. It wasn't likely something pleasant to look at, just as Magi assumed herself to be. Haru didn't seem to agree with this, though, as he shook his head with a smile.

"Would you like to know what makes a monster, my guests?" Haru asked of her. The smile on his face grew rigid then lessened as he saw the look on her face. He wanted to make sure she knew he was serious, after all. He explains, "An old friend once taught me this when I was young and loved to write. A monster must have a name, and a monster must be hard to kill. Most of all, however, that which makes a monster is how it cannot be understood. This is why people fear the dark. This is why people fear monsters under their bed."

It only makes you weak.​

Haru did not seem to give these words the time of day. It was impressive how he could just ignore the presence like she wished to be able to Magi. It felt like the shadow's words didn't even move his concern, felt like a friend had said it in jest. A gesture towards her face interrupted his expressions for a pause's time. He did not cusp her cheek or poke her, merely closely gesturing towards the side of her face that beheld her eye within.

"Just because you hold pain with you, that people fear you, that you look different from others does not mean that I would not like to get to know you, Wendel. If anything, I enjoy how you change. It means that, should you be different in five years' time, I could get to know and love a friend in you all over again.

I can tell-you're changing, and it hurts. You're scared of that. But just because a change is not the same does not mean that it has to be bad. Change can be good. You can grow, Wendel," That gentle smile was on his face again. It seemed to say that everything would be okay. What did he know about her? How could he know anything about what she felt? He wasn't her-But his smile said otherwise, and his eyes held empathy.

"And you can still be yourself, no matter how different you become. Do not be afraid of what you are. The eye speaks in elegies and terrible words. It speaks of how terrible you could be. That is but a reminder of you yourself-every side of you, both bright and dark. To deny yourself is to deny your identity, to hate yourself... and who you can be at other times." He gestures towards Chibi Magi. Perhaps being nice like her would make others happy. He meant to imply that Wendel could be like this girl and still be herself.

-And so, don't be afraid of what or who you are. Care, instead, for what you do, what you wish and how you may help the world."

The sage's hand fell to his lap. It rummaged within his cloak for something. Where was it..? A black tendril (Was it just dyed cloth, or something more?) slithered from the depths of his clothes and handed him the object. Haru knew that despite his words, Oberon would remain helpful. He never doubted his other half for a moment.

He offers the item, a map, to Wendel.

"For you. You can consider this a secret for us. Ha, ha, ha... This is a map I've writ upon-there are many quiet places to be at peace when you feel overwhelmed. This is one of them. I've marked them on this map for myself, but I have long since engraved these homes into my heart. It would better you use this map than I."

@Magi Heart

 

[Magi Heart]

Split

The old man talked... he never offered his name but sure did like to talk.

Any other day, especially if she was still under Vermillion's thumb. Wendel would have ignored his babbling, even hated it, and maybe pushed him off the mountain here and now. Or turn her focus to the being in the dark, choosing rather to see if it would have less gross and melodramatic statements.

Chibi Magi had also grown silent as if Wendel had enough power to hold her tongue still for a moment. After all, they were a division of souls but still the same. So at times, they would act in unison even if the full being that was Wendy Ann Quinn had been cut in twain by the chaotic explosion at Silent Palace.

"A monster must have a name"

Wendel had a name.. most people did didn't they? She may not give each the same importance as others but it still was what it was.

"A monster must be hard to kill."

It had been years since she had experienced death herself. She had forgotten even what it was. Simply that it brought an end to suffering. It was an ending. Sometimes that's all it needed to be.

"Most of all, however, that which makes a monster is how it cannot be understood."

A darkening shadow fell over the distorted teenager's face. The air around her thickened ever so slightly as she heard this. It was one that counted the most for sure.

She had no idea what she was... even the one person she was most connected to didn't understand her. After all, that person had left her alone, and killed themselves when it was the Dark Heart's only purpose left to give that person an ending worthy of her affection.

"...Gee whiz. Guess I AM a monster then. According to your friend. Better that than a delusional heroine.A monster savior? H̴̹̀e̵͕̒h̴͚̟͒ë̵̢͂h̴̗̎̑ė̷̤h̴̦̗̕e̸̬̔h̷̯͖̚.̴̪̄̽"

Then he gestured and spoke to "her" directly. Not them both, this was even more jarring to her. The only one who did this before... was the one who created her.

Get to know her?
What was "her"?

Brady had called her a dissonance. Or at least that she was affected by one. If Wendel was the one affected then would that make Wendel...

Right.

She said nothing until he finished and would stand as he handed her some map. Wendel gave it a quick glance over before pocketing it with no words.

"Thank you for the map mister. I think she'll use it. She doesn't like hanging around people very much. Unless it's to... umm...it's complicated and you'd think poorly of us if you knew."

"What's wrong with helping someone and getting something in return? I have... we have to live still. I'd be a bad monster otherwise *giggle*"

Wendel jumped off the high ledge and landed below with a light tap of her feet. She did not even give the darkness hiding another thought. She had heard enough words from this hermit.

Still, she offered him a smile from over her shoulder. Wendel's smile was always unsettling like she was mimicking a human smile rather than giving a sincere one. Even after all this time, she never did quite match the expressions of her old self, and she had no desire to do so.

"Gee whiz, you are a pretty weird guy. I don't understand everything you said but caring for others is my goal♥! It always will be, but... my way. Let me know if you need help anytime... I'll come running and bring an end to it. Once I help you. You can tell me again, if I am as terrible or good as can be."

That was what she was if nothing else. Offering a small two-finger salute she would head down the mountain with Chibi Magi waving back at him as she followed behind.

A monster?
A savior?
A soul?

For now, she was just Wendel and she would go do what she wanted to do.

Find her.

@Haru

 

[Haru]

The lost woman disappeared, off to find a path on which she might no longer be considered so. He felt the sound of her song disappear within the depths of the Hylands. He wondered where she would choose to go first. He had always loved the spot that he had found within the Tangleweaves.

She will be a lost cause. ​

"Is that what you think?" He asked. He didn't quite believe it himself.

The body is puppeted by the song. She is already long lost.​

"Ha, ha, ha... I don't care who takes her footsteps. She wished to be like us-and neither of us pilot this body. Someday, neither will they. Perhaps she will learn to speak with her other self in time, old friend. Just because she is lost as a human... Does that really mean that she is so lost as a person?"

The monster in his heart did not respond. Haru took that as answer enough. If she were to grow worse, the situation would find resolution. If she were yet to become a hero still, however... Haru felt that she would become someone truly beautiful. Because of this, he would not leave her be-not if he could help it.

---

SPLIT - END​