catriana_fiction

Title: Transcendence
Series: Arcanus
Pairing(s): Not telling although the obvious ones are VariRori and KadenRori
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Drama
Rating: M
Summary: This story takes place along the same time as Arcanus. I'm posting it up here because reviewing it on Word isn't the same. I'm filtering this so that only a few people can read it atm. Please let me know what you think if you can.
Warnings: Boy's Love, Shota? I dunno, it's nothing graphic, just two awkward kids.
Notes: I had my timelines FUCKED so I had to go back through and switch scenes around so that they made sense. FML. Malista is introduced...I'm not sure if I'm pleased with the scene though. I'm having a 'My writing is shit' moment right now.

“Huh?” came his intelligent response as he looked down at the blonde. Vari’s eyes remained closed, however, making him unable to determine what his friend meant by that. He liked him? Well, Rori liked him too but he had a feeling that he was talking about something deeper. “Why?” was what finally came to mind to say.

“Why?” Frowning, Vari sat up, his expression showing obvious confusion and slight frustration. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Maybe he was reading into this. “Oh. Well I...I like you too Vari –“ he stopped when the blonde shook his head but didn’t elaborate. So it was as he had suspected, it was something more than friendship. It confused Rori greatly. “But um, we’re both boys, Vari.”

Violet eyes rolled in annoyance. “Whatever. I don’t like you because you’re a boy, I like you because you’re you. You could be a girl for all I care; that has nothing to do with how I feel.” He shook his head. “I know how it works in noble society. I know you guys are all about getting married and carrying on the bloodline so same gender stuff freaks you guys out. I can’t relate to that; my entire life so far has been around people who were just happy if they even fell in love, it didn’t matter who.” Their gazes met and Vari’s expression was very somber.

“You guys can think whatever you want,” he began “even with us commoners there’s folks that looked down on the girls but you know...they’re not any different. Even whores fall in love, although they try not to. When they do, they grasp onto it for as long as the person will deal with them. It was rare, but sometimes a patron would even go so far as to buy one of them from the brothel to truly be with them. Most of the time they knew it wouldn’t last, but I think they were just happy that they could feel that way with anyone, even for a little while.

“I thought about it a lot. I wasn’t going to say anything initially, you know. But...” he sighed and looked away, frustrated. “I see you and Larchs all the time and at the time I had thought it wouldn’t bother me but it does. Maybe I’m doing this because if you tell me to fuck off at least I can leave this way instead of waiting until eventually that guy takes up all of your time and we never spend time together again.

“Even if by some miracle you did like me...I know eventually you have to get married. I know that. But you know, even if it was just for a little while, I’d be okay with that. The girls could do it, so why can’t I?” a sigh “Having some happiness is better than none.”

Leaning back against the tree, Vari crossed his arms and closed his eyes again. “You’re a noble, so I don’t expect you to return my feelings...but I’d like to at least hang out with you a little more, like this.”

Silence. The two sat against the tree, Vari with his eyes closed and Rori who was trying – and failing – to gather his thoughts into something coherent. It was times like this when he wished he was like Kaden and Vari; able to know, do, and say everything clearly.

Kaden had called him ignorant once. He had immediately apologized for it but they had both known the truth of the matter. He was ignorant, there were a lot of things he didn’t know or understand. He was learning, but he was no genius like his two friends were.

So he decided to just work it all out aloud, as he normally would when he came across a problem. “I like Kaden,” he began but Vari didn’t move, didn’t open his eyes. “He’s my best friend and we do spend a lot of time together. I like being around him and I’ve learned a lot; I don’t think I’d know as much as I do now were it not for you two.

“This year was the first year that I had met a girl...mother and father were too afraid that I’d reveal myself because for a while I couldn’t control my powers at all. I kind of still can’t, but it’s not as bad as it used to be. I met Hannah and Maria and they were very nice. When I told Kaden that I thought Maria was really pretty he had been happy. I got confused and eventually he said that there are different kinds of ‘like’ when it comes to people.”

Pulling his knees up to his chest he looked up at the sky. “He said that I should like Maria differently than I like him because she would be a good girl to marry someday. He told me about how he wanted to marry Hannah and how they were boyfriend and girlfriend. The way he likes Hannah is more intimate, he said, more physical. They hug, hold hands, kiss, and he buys her a lot of pretty things to keep her happy. I saw them a few times do these things at the ball and it really is different from liking a friend.

“I tried to think about being that way with Maria but that seems weird. She’s pretty and I like her because she’s very nice, but I don’t know her at all. Maybe in time I could...if I got to know her and spent more time with her I guess.”

Rori scowled, unsure of where he was actually going with all of this. He was trying to make a point, or at least he hoped he was. He understood that Vari liked him the way Kaden liked Hannah, the question was, how did he feel?

“I don’t think I could see Kaden like that either. Even though we’re friends and I like him, it’d be weird kissing him and doing all that other stuff he does with Hannah.” He saw out of the corner of his eye how Vari’s shoulders relaxed but that was it concerning a reaction. “And Hannah likes Kaden, but I don’t like her like that either.

“Would I want to be like that with someone?” he paused, unsure. He had honestly never given romance much thought. Who would ever like him like that? “Um, it would be nice, I think. Kaden and Hannah look really happy and they have a special bond that’s between them. I think I would like to...have someone think of me fondly like that. I’d like to have a special bond with someone.” Silence filled the air as Rori trying to make sense out of the jumbled mess that was his mind.

He must have been silent for a while, for the blonde finally opened his eyes and sat up straight, looking at him. “Rori?”

Blue met violet and Rori was surprised to see his friend nervous and confused. He had never seen Vari look nervous before, he always seemed so fearless and ready to face anything. Hurting his friend was the last thing Rori wanted to do. He needed to try harder.

“I like you,” he told the blonde. “You’ve been so nice to me ever since I arrived here. I can tell you anything and I know you’ll understand and be there for me.” Turning his head, he looked down at his lap. “That night, when I had that nightmare and you stayed with me; I had been really happy. I had never been that close to someone before but it didn’t feel weird...I had liked it. I really don’t like it that we don’t spend any time together except in the room. I want to do things with you too, not just Kaden.

“U-um, I...” he felt embarrassment creep up as he began to finally reach some sort of mental conclusion. “S-so I guess the question is i-if I like you like Kaden and Hannah like each other. Would I w-want to do those things like hug and k-ki...” he couldn’t even say the word, it was just too embarrassing. His ears were burning at this point.

From the very beginning Rori had felt a connection with Vari and his feelings for the blonde had always been different from his feelings for Kaden. The albino had always felt closer to the one friend he didn’t spend a lot of time with but he had been too afraid of making Kaden mad so whenever the brunette had wanted to do something, which was all the time, he did it.

He didn’t like having to hide his friendship with Vari, he didn’t like being unable to spend real time with him. Rori liked Kaden, he liked his friend a lot, but Vari...

Hugging his knees, Rori rested his chin on them. “Those things...doing those things with you...” he buried his face in his arms. “I would...really like that. E-even though you’re a boy you’re Vari and I – uh,” a sigh “I really like you a lot and when I think of us maybe doing the things Kaden and Hannah do...” Rori trailed off, unable to say any more.

I like Vari. If he thought about it, he had liked him from the beginning, he just hadn’t understood those kind of feelings. All he had known was that it had felt different when he held Vari’s hand as opposed to Kaden’s, that when Vari had held him the few nights when his nightmares had been bad that it had made him really happy.

Although Vari had a point, eventually Rori would be forced to marry, it seemed so far away. Would it be okay to like Vari until then? Even if it was just for a little while? Was it really like the blonde said, where some happiness was better than none?

“Rori.”

Raising his head, he let out a startled gasp when the moment he did his friend had leaned forward and closed the distance between their lips. Warm hands settled on his shoulders and it vaguely registered that he was being kissed for the first time. After a moment’s hesitation, he mimicked Vari by closing his eyes and leaning forward.

Kissing...felt nice. Or maybe it was the fact that he was becoming closer to Vari in a manner that felt right. Rori had desired to have a stronger bond with Vari and now he realized that this was what he had wanted. It was a physical connection but yet something more. For some really strange reason, it felt as if he had done this before with Vari many, many times; but that was impossible.

They pulled away and the blonde looked a little stunned, as if he couldn’t believe what had transpired. Violet eyes snapped up to Rori’s blue, searching. For what was unknown to the albino as he was too busy feeling happy and a little lightheaded over his revelation. The stunned expression turned to a warm smile when he saw Rori lightly touch his lips, looking away shyly.

Leaning forward again, he pressed their foreheads together and they both giggled, feeling extremely happy and giddy. “Are you sure, Rori? I don’t know if much will change...” Vari pulled back, frowning slightly. “Larchs –“

Rori nodded, cutting the other boy off. “I know. Kaden would be really angry and if the school found out...it would be bad. B-but I want to. And there’s winter break. Kaden told me he always goes on a trip with his family. I’ll stay here with you.” Gingerly, he reached out and took Vari’s hand in his. “I don’t know much about all of this but, um, this feels right. S-so even if it’s just for a little bit, that’s okay. I don’t want to do any of those things with anyone else but you, Varicen.”

Squeezing his hand, Vari gave him that same look that first night and nodded. “Rorizin, I feel the same way.”

Growling, Xene shrugged into a loose grey shirt as he stormed down the halls of his home, highly upset. Beside him was his sister and war master Qinpa and his advisor Ves. His sister, who was actually taller than him by a few inches at almost seven feet, was grinning widely at her brother’s disgruntlement. He was always pissy right after being awakened from deep sleep.

“I swear to the gods if this isn’t worth my time I’m beating someone to a near death state.” The tall male growled; the sound hardly human. “Have my subordinates been replaced by idiots? Who the hells decided to wake me up before I specified?”

“I did, my lord.” Qinpa looked at sharpened nails when her brother stopped abruptly, golden eyes blazing. He growled at her when noticed she was smirking. She looked at him briefly before glancing back. “Is there a problem?”

“I should disown you.” He muttered and continued storming down the halls. His sister wouldn’t have wasted her time dealing with his nonsense unless whatever it was that she had awakened him for was very important.

It took the silver haired male only a few seconds after entering his throne room that he realized that yes, she had had a very legitimate reason for awakening him.

“Why...” Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose, ignoring Qinpa’s snickering. “Why in the hells is a frozen demon king in my throne room? And Xersi no less?”

There, in the middle of his throne room was a very large block of ice. Encased in it was a large male in an almost ridiculous position, leather wings spread out wide. In one hand was a massive war hammer, the demon king’s choice weapon.

“He was lucky,” the war master put a hand on a slender hip. “My girls were out near the Wastelands and had sensed his presence. I’m almost positive he’s been stuck in there for years.

“I swear, these demon kings are getting dumber and dumber.” He shook his head “What possessed him to come to dragon territory without a guide?”

“Well, I am not entirely sure of this, my lord,” Qinpa looked to Ves and he decided to continue for her.

“We sent a small scouting team to the mortal realm and apparently, there’s a good concentration of Arcanus magic in the air and all of the demon kingdoms have been frozen by it.”

This floored the dragon king. “Frozen? By Arcanus magic? That’s not possible.” He shook his head. “That type of magic hasn’t been used in...eons. I refuse to believe someone ran across a book randomly and decided to test it out.”

“Oh, I doubt it’s that.” His advisor, who was very short for a dragon male, crossed his arms. “When we sensed it, we sent the team back out to investigate Quotos Island. The barrier has somehow been breached from the inside. It’s safe to say who or whatever froze the kingdoms came from the ‘forbidden’ island itself.”

That was also impossible, but Xene wasn’t going to start sounding like a parrot by repeating himself. “The gods themselves sealed that island, it doesn’t even exist in the mortal realm...technically.” despite his words, he frowned in thought. Only Arcanus magic could freeze a demon kingdom as it existed half in and out of the mortal realm. Well, that wasn’t exactly true but doing so via other methods would be extremely difficult and a waste of time.

Despite the fact that Xersi was an absolute idiot; him being in dragon territory – not an easy feat – meant that the threat had been serious enough to take the risk. He didn’t like this; dragons stayed out of mortal affairs for a reason – the demon kings handled that. With all of them frozen, however, it meant that he would have to make a serious decision for his people.

Although the destruction of the mortal world wouldn’t affect the dragons, it didn’t mean that he could sit idly by. At the same time, he had no intention of sending more of his people out there.

“Alright, tell me what you know.” Walking over to his massive ornate silver throne he flopped down, leaning against one of the arms. He waved away the servants who came to try and tend to him. He hated being fussed over. “And please get that damn eyesore out of my throne room.” His eyes narrowed at his sister. “That had your name written all over it; you bitch. He could have gone down below and I could have gotten a visual.”

Her response was to give him a fanged grin. “You don’t have enough excitement in your life, brother. Eternity gets boring, that’s why you went to deep sleep to begin with.” She shrugged, turning to Xersi’s frozen form. “Besides, I thought perhaps you’d find him to be a good piece of art while he unthawed.”

“Be glad you’re actually good at your job or I’d fire you.” With a sigh, Xene resisted the urge to put a hand through his thick hair. The wastelands were enchanted; it would take a year, if not more, to unthaw the southern demon king. Who knew how long he had been out there prior?

“We were not able to get much, my lord,” his short advisor began, pulling out a small scroll and rolling it open. “According to the reports, Gladian’s kingdom was frozen first, then Rioran’s, Xersi and Rias’ last. Out of all four, only Xersi and Rioran survived as neither were actually at their kingdoms during the attack.”

“Rioran? The western king, if I remember correctly.” The red haired demon had ascended before he had been a century old and besides Gladian, he was the most powerful demon king out of the four. “Interesting. So they attacked the north first, since Gladian is the strongest hands down, then Rioran, who is the youngest but isn’t far behind Gladian in terms of power. Xersi and Rias’ are about even but Rias’ was probably picked last due to how far her kingdom actually is in comparison. They knew what they were doing, obviously.”

Ves nodded. “We have been able to sense Rioran’s presence in vampire territory for quite some time but have been unable to determine why he has remained. There are Monsters of his brood there, of course, but Qinpa and I don’t believe that it should have kept him there for almost seven years.”

“Huh.” Xene frowned. “Considering how much Rioran despises vampires I’m surprised. Seven years of fighting Monsters of his own blood?” that made very little sense. If the kingdoms were frozen, how were the humans able to have continued access to demon blood? It should have run out by now. He wasn’t even going to question why humans were ingesting demon blood; they weren’t exactly the smartest race around. “All of vampire territory or...?”

“Varian and Lotros, specifically.”

A lot of this wasn’t adding up. Vampires had a very, very loose alliance with the demons due to the war seven hundred years ago that had almost wiped them out due to their own stupidity. Rioran had avoided the war as it had taken place in Rias’ territory but that redhead had a short temper and vampires were very arrogant creatures. Xene couldn’t imagine him actually dealing with them, after the first month Rioran would have flipped out and demolished a castle or two.

He also couldn’t swallow the western king being there only to fight Monsters. Something very important was keeping him there. “Alright, so what happened after the kingdoms were frozen? Have these creatures revealed themselves yet?” Coming from Quotos Island, ‘creature’ was a correct assumption to make. Not even he knew what races had been sealed there after the gods had intervened. With eons having passed; many of them could have evolved into something else entirely since they had been corrupted by Arcanus magic to begin with.

His advisor shook his head. “Not that we’ve been able to determine. There’s been some very strange activity in the human lands but we haven’t tried to get close; we felt that it should be your call, m’lord.”

“Hm.” Xene crossed his arms, golden gaze unfocused as he tried to think through what he was being told.

First; there were an undeterminable amount of individuals from Quotos Island that had potentially gotten through the barrier and were powerful enough to freeze all four demon kingdoms. Second, humans were somehow getting an infinite amount of demon blood and were turning themselves into Monsters because they were – as far as he was concerned – apparently retarded. In addition, there was some ‘strange activity’ going on in human lands which he was sure had something to do with their idiocy and creating Monsters.

I should just let them all kill each other; that world would be better off. Maybe the spiritual plane would manifest some intelligent new creatures to inhabit it and I wouldn’t have to be awakened from deep sleep early ever again.

“Alright.” He stood, stretching his limbs “Prepare some enchanted clothing and put anything and everything I may need to travel with within. I’m going to go to the mortal realm and see what in the hells those morons are doing and I’ll make a decision from there. Until then, all dragons are to remain in their lands until I say otherwise. If nothing else, I can go searching for Rioran and get him to do his damn job and fix whatever is going on over there.”

He shook his head. “Useless. Why did the gods give them true immortality if they were just going to be incompetent? Really.” He never would have allowed his own damn kingdom to be frozen, the notion was absurd and all four of them should really be ashamed of themselves for their complacency.

Of course, dragons were perhaps the highest spiritually attuned creatures to exist; so the chances of the demon kings not being able to sense what a dragon could have would be high.

Details. They’re still incompetent.

They were going to hear it from him when this was all over. Dragons should not be going down to fix their messes.

“And what manner of creature are you?”

Layered blood red hair framed her face and settled along her shoulders, bringing out bright blue eyes. Her skin was completely white and her expression was hard and unyielding. At her side rested a sword sheathed in an ornate orange and gold scabbard. Her garments were very old in style, so old that a time period could not be determined.

A short and stout grey skinned male turned and scowled. It had large white glowing orbs for eyes, a mouth full of sharp teeth with clawed hands. Blue eyes took in the pointed ears and appearance and blinked.

“A dwarf?” she sounded amazed “My master told me you corrupted creatures evolved due to the taint but to...turn into this.” There was the sound of sliding metal as she unsheathed the glowing orange-red sword. “How...pathetic.”

Surprisingly, its eyes widened before he snarled at her, turning fully to face the tall, white skinned woman. He took in her ears and red tipped tail and scowled.

“Dwarf? No, I am mortrask. You are no centarian.” Its voice sounded guttural and had her master not instructed her in the new languages she would not have understood it. “And you do not stink of this world. In fact you...” the creature, as if coming to a sudden realization began to back away but she could feel him beginning to summon energy.

Her smile was thin as her eyes narrowed. “Centarian...ah, you mean those abominations that were once my kin? No, my dear mortrask,” she said the word mockingly. “I am no centarian...but I can see you know who I am. Does your history still speak of me even after all these eons? I’d be surprised.”

“You were sealed!” the dark energy was growing stronger and a dark red brow rose at its attempts. “All of you were sealed beneath the earth by the Ancestors! It was the last thing they were able to do before you people banished us from our home.”

“Excuse me?” She actually blinked owlishly at him. “Did you just say your home? Oh, how history becomes distorted as the eons go on. This world was never yours you devolved pathetic remnant of a once powerful race. And no, we weren’t sealed by your...ancestors.” she snorted and then sheathed her sword.

“Now I see why you have been hiding behind the humans.” Her arms rose slightly and the temperature on the top of the building rose sharply. “It took me quite a few years of digging, you are some rather sneaky creatures, if nothing else.” She held up a hand when she felt a spike in his energy “Don’t bother; it’d be a waste of time. I need information before I can proceed to my destination. If you give it to me, I will release you.”

A growl. “Why should I believe you? You’ll probably just kill me anyway.” Another step back. Another shift in energy.

Her head tilted and she looked annoyed. “You are trying my patience. For one, unlike you things, I honor my word. Two, I know there are more of you, my master told me there are approximately ten of you.” She smiled humorlessly when it stared at her in shock. “Three, in letting you go; you can tell all of your other devolved shadows that if the demon kings don’t find you and put a stop to your idiocy that I and my sister Salil will. ‘I’ being the chosen of the lord of fire, Malista Nor’Kotor.”

“Now,” the creature’s spine went ramrod straight when her voice was suddenly right at his ear and a dagger at his throat. How did she...? “I am not known for my kindness or my patience, mortrask. I will ask you but once more, give me the information I desire and I won’t send you back missing vital parts of your body. How did you break through the barrier?”

Hesitation. The blade pressed against flesh, black blood beading around the metal. He gulped. “We didn’t. Over the past few centuries we noticed it was getting weaker, so we took advantage. At first we could only send one or two people, so we went out searching.”

“Searching for what?” she wanted to know.

“Potential allies. The elves were unresponsive for the most part; they were warring. The vampires wouldn’t bother with us...but the humans...”

“Yes, they are the youngest and thusly the most naïve race at the moment.” Making an annoyed sound, she pulled back and began to walk away. “I can conclude the rest on my own. As promised, you will live to see another sunrise.”

Malista stopped in her tracks when the mortrask spoke again.

“He is still alive, meedian. He’s guided us and now that the barrier is weakening, it’ll only be a matter of time.”

That was not good. She knew who he was talking about, there would be little she would be able to do were he freed. Perhaps a true immortal like a demon king could do it but not even with Filarn’s sword would she be able to kill that creature. The only one that could kill that would be one of equal power...and they could no longer directly intervene in mortal affairs. That was why they had chosen guardians to begin with.

“Next time you see him,” she began, keeping her back towards it “ask him if the hole in his chest that Kard put into him gives him problems during foul weather even after all this time.” Not waiting for a reaction, she disappeared in a burst of flame.

She did not go far; ever since awakening the boost in powers that had been given to her had faded and she could no longer travel long distances. Her heavy hitter was Filarn’s sword but she was actually having some difficulties wielding it. Malista could only determine it was because she had been resting for so long.

“Salil.” Holding up a red stone, she regarded the young silver-haired woman who looked like a red outline. “I met a creature that devolved from the dwarves. It was absolutely hideous but I was able to acquire some information that confirmed my suspicions. And something else troubling.”

“Something else?” as Malista walked along the dark streets of some city she hadn’t bothered to catch the name of, she took in Salil’s location from the stone. It seemed that she was also in a city but she had taken high ground.

“Well, I am pretty positive the Larka leader is still alive,” her sister gasped at this “and he has been giving his tainted descendents an...interesting tale about what happened during the war.”

“Will he be able to come through the barrier?”

“No, I do not believe so.” Jumping up in the air she landed on top a tall shop building. “I am guessing that they can only push but so many people through the barrier, otherwise there would be more of them. If the world becomes saturated with Arcanus energies, however,”

“He’ll be able to break thorough.” She finished and the redhead nodded. “That is...upsetting. The demon kings are out of commission it seems, and I have yet to sense a dragon around. It is as if they no longer exist in the mortal realm.”

“Hm. Can you look into it? The dragons would be a considerable help with the demon kings frozen.”

“Yes, I will do my best, sister. I was heading for the Bavarian kingdom, I sense the one that is of me there; but finding the dragons is more important. I believe that these creatures have probably fully integrated themselves in the palace, meaning I will be unable to do anything on my own.”

“Time is not on our side.” Malista frowned heavily. “I am heading for the imperial capital. If there is one place a Larka will go to gain power, it is there. Keep in touch, sister, I will do the same.”

“I will. Take care sister.”

Pocketing the stone, the redhead closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She had a very bad feeling about everything and this time, the gods would be unable to help. If he manages to break from the barrier Malista had no idea what they would be able to do.

Only a god could kill another god and not even the demon kings were gods.

She sighed softly. “Filarn preserve us.”