Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cold, thats what she felt. What she felt for years. Darkness, what she saw. What she saw for years. It hurt. The only thing keeping her tethered was a warm hand clasped around hers.

Hot, that's all he felt. Burning up inside. What he felt for years. Blinding light, blinding light was all he saw for years. The only thing keeping him tethered was one cool hand clasped around his.

Suddenly life came roaring back. The entire world flooded into color. And the two sprung into a golden bowl. They only saw flames. But they remembered each other. The two chased and circled each other inside the bowl.

Someone's gasp drew the two attention. And they remembered why they were there in the first place.

“Welcome adventure you must be weary.” she hummed

“Allow the sanctity of this place to mend your wounds and invigorate your spirit.” he spoke softly. The two dipped above the rim as they took turns speaking.

“We are proud of all you could achieve on your own.” She smiled, they couldn't see it but the Messenger could hear it in her voice.

“What is this place?” The messenger asked, glancing around the room once more.

“This shrine and its history matter little now. A tragic fate has befallen this world indeed.” He answered. Voice soft and quiet.

“Eons ago, we were its guardians.” Her voice trembled slightly, saddened by the state of her home.

“Are you… gods?” The messenger asked, voice full of curiosity.

This prompted a sad chuckle from the two. “Some would say that.”

“As the roots of wisdom grew more distant with each passing generation, humans took their security for granted and set faith aside.” She knew how small her voice sounded. She was sad that their people had forgotten her.

“Devoid of worshippers, our power slowly faded.” He explained. “Your world was a… vibrant sight before the flood.” His voice full of remorse for how they could have let this happen. “Then, as fate would have it, a powerful curse befallen its only remaining piece of land.”

“Gaurdians how long ago was this?” They asked, confused on how such powerful beings existed at all.

“The implications of our story would make little sense to the denizens of a fallen world.” Her flame hummed.

“A fallen world?” they asked more questions surfacing with each sentence spoken.

“Your world. Its connection to the stats has long been severed.” She responded, hoping they would understand. “increasingly helpless in the face of its impending doom we crystallized the last of our energy, so that when the time came, we could support humanity's final hope.”

“That final hope, Messenger, is you.” A small sad smile was clear in his voice.

“As we have since the day you were born, we will be watching over you, and do our best to help.” She hummed.

“Now receive our final gift to the world.”

With that the two of them merged their flames together, crystallizing them into a musical note. Then everything in their world turned black.

Chapter Text

Ninja stared down in disbelief. He was given the music note, but he had no idea what to do considering what happened next.

A golden haired boy lay in the large golden bowl, he was wrapped around a girl with cerulean hair. The two seemed only about 19 to 20.

The two were sleeping soundly. He felt like he should leave, but at the same time he also felt like he shouldn't leave the two here to wake up scared and disoriented.

He hesitantly decided to stay. He sat criss-cross on the floor. He watched the waters dance behind the window however his curiosity kept returning.

Eventually the boy does wake up. The golden haired boy sits up still cradling the girl. He rubbed his eyes and looked around.

“Ah you're still here. Thanks for waiting, it took a lot out of us to return.” He hummed. “My name is Zale.” He smiled up at Ninja.

“Oh uh ok Zale…?” He didn't remember any mentions of ancient beings named that. In fact the name itself didn't even sound that holy. “You can call me ninja.”

“Ninja..? Are professions names now?” Zale chuckled.

“Uh I guess.” Ninja muttered.

“Well a lot certainly changed. This is Valere.” The boy, Zale, nodded toward the blue haired girl. “She usually takes a bit to wake up, I hope you don't mind waiting a little longer.”

The two sat in silence for a little. Ninja being somewhat shy and uncomfortable around strangers, especially considering this one was and maybe still is a god. And Zale was equally shy, he always struggled speaking to people.

Eventually Zale decided to try and make small talk. “So… how you've been doing out here…” he hummed, hands still threading through Valere’s hair.

“It's been alright, a little tough here and there but nothing that Quarble can't fix for a heavy price.” He chuckled.

The girl in Zales arms stirs. Ninja mentally smacked himself with the reminder that her name was apparently Valere.

“Morning, thought we had another sleeper for a second.” Zale teased as the girl opened her eyes. She groaned.

“You can't go one day without making some kind of joke about me can you.” She grumbled back as she sat up.

“Hi, I hope I didn't make you wait too long. I'm sure Zale already told you but my name's Valere.” She smiled and held out a hand to shake.

“Yeah, he told me. You can call me ninja.” he smiled.