Path Through The Fate

Unknown Female Voice:

Vin Crimson. Everything he has is only temporary. Moments?, Memories?, Fate?, They're just events that vanish in an instant. No matter how hard Vin tries, no matter the suffering he endures or the things he possesses, they're just excuses.

Unknown Female Voice:

Dyron?, Is it just a dream?, A fairytale? A story?, Words?, Excuses are the perfect way to describe Vin's life in the world of Dyron. Reality?, Illusion?,Lies?, Untruths?, Vin is merely a boy filled with ambition and a fiery determination, much like his father, Kyle Crimson.

Unknown Female Voice:

A grand dream, with a path paved with thorns and constant torment, shaping Vin's mental state into something like his sword, Astral Demon Darius. A jet-black obsidian blade with a dragon-eye gem, a sword void of any true meaning.

Unknown Female Voice:

Power?, Magic?, Does Vin have any of that?, No. All Vin has is a blazing determination and ambition within his soul, like the eternal flames of Hell. Kyle Crimson?, Just a father figure?, A hero?, It's merely an illusion. Nothing is real, only fire in a narrow abyss.

Unknown Female Voice:

Facts?, Myths?, Falsehoods?, Truths?, None of that matters. Vin Crimson is just an ordinary human, with nothing but burning ambition and determination. That's all there is, no other reason for his strength.

Unknown Female Voice:

Do you believe?.

Kyle: "I believe." (faint voice)

Diana: "I believe." (faint voice)

Lisa: "I believe." (faint voice)

Vin Crimson: "I… don't." (slightly hesitant)

Unknown Female Voice:

Don't?, Why?, What reason?.

Vin: "But I… I'm certain." (faint voice)

Unknown Female Voice:

Certain?, Sure?, Of what?.

Vin: "Only one thing." (faint voice)

Vin: "I'll move forward, even with nothing but myself." (faint voice)

Unknown Female Voice:

Forward?, Nothing?, Yourself?.

Vin: "Yes, only me." (faint voice)

Vin: "I'll carve my own path, without anyone's help." (faint voice)

Unknown Male Voice:

Go ahead. Forge your own Fate, oh great Vin Crimson.

Vin Crimson was dreaming, moments flashing back to the day he collapsed during training with Ryan.

His head felt heavy, spinning as if caught in a whirlwind. The dream was so vivid, yet it was devoid of color, like a lost hope. Vin couldn't clearly recall what happened, but he was sure it was real.

He opened his eyes, though it felt like a struggle. His body wouldn't move, only his eyes could manage to. His breathing was labored, his lungs burning as if being tortured, but Vin kept fighting to regain consciousness.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, steadily. His body relaxed slightly, and his eyes opened just a little more.

Vin saw Ryan, Diana, and Lisa by his side. Their faces looked sorrowful, their eyes glistening with tears. Their hands trembled as they touched Vin's hand.

Vin: "(I can't think clearly.)" (in his mind)

He looked upward, noticing it was the ceiling of his house.

Vin: "(Did they bring me inside?)" (in his mind)

Vin tried to feel his right hand. Pain seared through it, like it was burning.

Vin: "(The pain… like fire. What's happening?)" (in his mind)

Ryan, Diana, and Lisa gazed into his barely opened eyes, realizing he was waking up. They were moved to see him coming around, tears streaming down Diana's face as her hand shook against his.

Diana: "Vin! Wake up, my child!" (tearfully)

Ryan: "Hey, Vin! Open your eyes! We're worried about you!" (with urgency)

Lisa: "Brother!?" (startled)

Vin managed to open his eyes fully, though his vision was blurry and his hearing faint. He could only see the ceiling above him.

Vin: "Mother… what's happening?" (with a hoarse voice)

His sight remained foggy, his hearing muffled. Yet, the pain in his right hand slowly subsided. Then he saw it, a dark figure, like a shadowy knight, its blood-red essence flowing across its body.

Vin: "(What… is that?)" (in his mind)

The figure vanished moments later, fading into the seams of Vin's right hand. His once-injured hand, damaged from training with Ryan, began to heal. Yet, something remained, a black tattoo-like mark spiraled from his hand to his right elbow.

Vin: "(My hand… it's healed?)" (in his mind)

Vin felt nothing after that, only the muffled voices of Ryan and Diana calling his name. Though they couldn't see the shadow, they could clearly see the mark on his hand.

Ryan and Diana froze, staring at the tattoo-like symbol now etched into Vin's hand. Diana's tears briefly stopped.

Ryan and Diana: "That mark!?" (shocked)

They were stunned because the mark was identical to one Kyle Crimson once bore. The past seemed to be repeating itself, as though history had come full circle.

Ryan: "This can't be." (in disbelief)

Diana: "Is it possible…?" (in shock)

Lisa: "What's happening?" (confused)

Moments later, Vin fully regained consciousness. His eyes opened wide, his vision cleared, his hearing returned, and his body slowly began to move. He didn't know exactly what had happened, only recalling the moments he spent training with Ryan.

Unknown Female Voice:

A miracle?.

Unknown Male Voice:

No, it's absolute Fate.

Diana, still shocked by the mark on Vin's hand, immediately embraced him tightly. Tears continued streaming as her sobs echoed against Vin's shoulder.

Ryan remained speechless, his gaze fixed on the mark. Slowly, his focus shifted to Vin, relieved to see him regaining movement.

Lisa, too, stayed silent, unsure of what had transpired. Her tearful eyes shimmered, on the verge of breaking down, yet she held strong upon seeing her brother recover.

The four of them were silent, overwhelmed by what had just unfolded before their eyes.

Unknown Female Voice:

Time? Voices? Fate?...

Unknown Male Voice:

Just wait. What is destined to happen will unfold, as planned by him.

The mysterious voices lingered in Vin's mind, like whispers spoken for no reason at all.

Vin: "I believe." (faintly)