Cursed Odyssey

Guard Urslan — Arcanist of Flames

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So… He's really not gonna summon me?

My expression was blank, staring past the bars, past the center hole, and towards the other side of the spiraling halls.

It was the dead of night, yet it was never this quiet.

This was because Alton summoned nearly every guard in the prison… Except… me…

I took a deep breath, a small puff of fire exiting my mouth as smoke lingered in the air.

I heard rumours of a powerful spirit infiltrating the prison, planning an ambush... Could that be related to the voices I heard?

The voices… I thought, then instantly shook my head.

If there was really a powerful spirit, why not summon me too!? I was one of the strongest. No, I WAS the strongest! So why!?

I guess my job is important… Actually one of the most important in the entire prison! Guarding the lower arcane siphoner is a job only for the trusted and powerful! If it's damaged, we're all fucked! I must be their last line of defence, and they couldn't risk the siphoner being damaged in the battle! I smiled under my mask… Yes, that was my cope…

My heartbeat became faster, I knew I was merely keeping it all in…

'Or… Maybe they didn't ask me to go because this has something to do with him…? With Zeph—' I shook my head vigorously, nearly cutting off my tongue.

I had to forget about him. Forget at all cost.

Forget.

Forget.

Forget.

Forget.

Forget!!

It has nothing to do with him… But why was I NOT SUMMONED!? The arcane siphoner has never been even at risk of being damaged! Guarding it was reserved to the lowest grunt! SO WHY AM I here?! Why is my gut feeling this?! Could it really, truly be Zeph—

I shook my head again, and slammed my fist against the wall. It echoed— the stone cracked under my fist, dust and pebbles fell onto my helmet.

I gritted my teeth, before my features softened after a deep breath.

I closed my eyes, trying to focus and calm myself, it was all black… but then…

You still don't see the truth?

It was his voice…

Then an image of Zephyr's mocking smile crept in. Every time I tried to forget, he came back stronger, clearer. A leach—

Stop it, I told myself. Just stop.

But the more I tried to push him away, the more he seemed to invade my thoughts. It was maddening. I had faced countless enemies, battled the fiercest beings, yet here I was, haunted by a mere boy. Was my mental fortitude so damn fragile?!

What was it?! Something was wrong with me! I refused to believe otherwise!

I trusted Alton's words! I forgot about the ordeal! I pretended like nothing happened! It really should have never been a bother for someone of my status in the first place…

Yet still—

Over the past week, as I patrolled, his voice would claw its way in my head… It hissed the craziest things… But when I looked around, there was nothing, no one.

At first, I ignored it, but then I began to see visions— Though half ethereal, it was like I saw him in the flesh. I tried to swing at him, but my hands would just slip through as if it was thin air. At times, it even happened around other guards—

I would try and attack him, but nothing would happen. When I asked the other guards if they saw or heard what I saw, they looked at me like I was a crazy lunatic!

Nonstop, no matter where I went, it continued…

I even at one point consulted a specialist, yet he determined there was nothing wrong with me, no curse no nothing.

But how could that be?!

What was wrong with me then?!

No matter how hard I tried, I could never fully erase him… Like a parasite feeding upon my mind.

Is it my ego? Was my admitting fault and loss to Alton the reason for this? Because I never went against my gut… So my gut still found him guilty… My mind tried to forget him, and just say he was innocent… But my gut never forgot… The clash between mind and gut caused all these hallucinations… Just that must be it… At long last, I came to a satisfactory conclusion.

Hey, Urslan… The voice returned, but I simply ignored it.

Now that I've seen through it, whatever remains from it would simply go away...

Open your eyes Urslan, what in Sanctum are you doing? The voice persisted.

I even began to hear footsteps— such hallucinations were common for me though. I had to trust the process, and calm my mind—

'You know, Urslan, you were right about me all along… Alton didn't see it, but you did… I was guilty… I killed Norman Jire… I speak the truth, as you know, the slave mark does not allow me to lie at all… I am the voice, the reason for your madness… I kept it hidden though, and it was fun playing with you…'

Calm…

Calm…

Calm…

Calm…

It was simply playing with my emotions… It was not real… If it was real, how would it know what was in my heart?

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The footsteps became louder—

'Open your eyes! I'm standing right before you! I have a matter I want to discuss with you!'

Ignore it

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Seems like your skull is so thick, you can no longer differentiate dream from reality… The most powerful guard? More like the biggest fool!

Ig…nore… it

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'How about this! To prove it, I will throw a rock at your face in 3… 2… 1…"

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*CRASH*

My helmet rattled…

I— I felt that… IT WAS REAL!

My eyes, bloodshot in dark flames shot open—

"H—hello… Urslan… Pfff—'' I saw it… a small figure standing on the other side, his lips curled in subtle mockery before—

"I can't take it anymore!" He burst into sudden, uncontrollable laughter, holding his stomach and pointing at me, "These powers are so useful! Messing with you has been so much fun! I really convinced you I was an illusion! Ohhh 22, seeing you go crazy like that I—"

"SHUT UP!!!!" From my fist, I shot out a blast of red fire so powerful, it incinerated a hole, a massive explosion through the prison walls…In its wake, nothing remained that touched it.

I probably killed several prisoners, maybe even guards unlucky enough to be in that direction, but I couldn't care less.

I couldn't care why, or how he got here, how it all happened, I just wanted him to disappear.

All was eviscerated.

It was over!

All over!

His face… I wanted him gone… Gone…Finally I—

"Arcanist of Mental Illness, I'm behind y—"

"DIIEEEEEE!!" Flames roared violently out of my mouth as I screamed.

I did not think.

It was out of some primal instinct.

My hands, crackled red, and I spun around, shooting yet another, more violent blast of fire—

*BOOOOOM*

However, in that brief moment, I had forgotten what was behind me was…

The arcane siphoner I had been tasked to protect…

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My heart sank, and my mouth gaped open—

It was gone…

All that was left behind me was a large hole, exposing the outside of the prison… The black, open sky, and

a hot breeze blowing towards my face…