3200 Revival Era
I want to break out of this darkness and live life to the fullest. I’ve been inside this stupid thing for far too long, and I won’t spend another 320 years in here. The gods will have to look for another Faenin to keep imprisoned because I wasn’t born for this!
And so, without a second thought, I began.
I shove, claw, punch, anything I can do to get out of the cocoon. No matter how long it takes, I won’t stop. The thought of staying here a second longer makes me want to rage.
So I raged.
After ten more years of relentless struggle, I feel a shift. The barrier around me cracks, and light pierces through in slivers. With one final push, my hands tear through the walls, and I break out of their imprisonment.
My body shivers, unaccustomed to the sudden freedom, but there’s no time to think. I start falling through space—stars, galaxies, dimensions, and timelines—everything passes me as I tumble into an endless, infinite expanse. This vastness around me is overwhelming, but all I feel is relief. I’m out. I’m free.
Looking back from where I fell, I can see it: the entity that held my cocoon and many others imprisoned Faenins, awaiting their chance at life. It resembles a tree, but the scale of it reaches far beyond anything imaginable. I’m not supposed to be here—not supposed to see it, but I don’t care. How long were you planning to keep me in there, huh?!
The first punishment strikes me like a mountain—massive stones slam into my body, crushing me beneath their weight. I scream, but there’s no sound in this void. The rocks vanish just as quickly as they came, leaving my body bruised and aching.
Before I can recover, winds slice through me, tearing at my skin and howling in my ears. I spin uncontrollably in the face of the endless storm.
Then comes the heat. Searing flames engulf me, blistering my skin and boiling my blood. My vision blurs as I feel myself burning alive, only for the fire to suddenly be replaced by an icy touch. The cold is unbearable, freezing my bones and frosting my breath.
The punishments are relentless, and for what? For wanting to be free? I will not let them win.
Next, something pulls me apart—my body stretching and distorting as space itself warps around me. I am torn between galaxies, my consciousness splitting in every direction, only to be snapped back into place by a cruel hand. Time accelerates, then slows—my entire existence flickers, a prisoner to its will.
Is that everything you got?!
Energy surges through me next. Life itself courses painfully through my veins, overwhelming me with energy I cannot control. My heart pounds, blood rushing to every corner of my body, filling me to the brink—until something dark follows swiftly. The pulse of death steals away my vitality, and I feel the rot in my soul, death’s grip crawling inside me.
I barely have time to register the sensation before waters rush over me, drowning me in endless oceans. I thrash in the current, gasping for air, only to be struck by the force of lightning—a storm of electricity coursing through my body, making every nerve scream in agony.
Why? Why am I punished by you all? Is this what it means to be born? I’m going to live, you hear me?!
Lastly, a twisted sensation—my very essence bends and contorts as my body turns into something unholy. I feel my form breaking down, reshaping into something different just to be put back together.
At the end of the fall, there’s a black hole—devouring anything in its vicinity, ready to erase from existence just for wanting to be independent of destiny. I can’t help but scoff at the irony. No god will decide my fate.
Vibrations surge through me, but this time, it’s different. This time, I’m in control. Power hums through every fiber of my being—a magenta aura envelops me—and for the first time, I feel everything bend to my will.
The gods may have their punishments, but I was born to defy them.
The black hole shatters, its darkness scattering into nothingness. My body trembles with the effort, but I can feel the weight of the gods lifting. The infinite expanse fades, replaced by… peace.
Suddenly, everything goes dark, but it’s no longer the previous oppressive darkness. It’s different. It feels… warm. Gentle. I exhale as my body sinks into the calm surrounding me.
The only thing I feel is a deep sense of victory. I let out a chuckle, smirking. How’s that for destiny, huh?
When I open my eyes, I’m no longer tumbling through space. Instead, I find myself standing in an endless field of golden grass. The air is still, and the only contrasting color is my purple hair and the bright halo encircling my head. My mind spins with all the forbidden things I saw, but none remained in my memory.
As I slowly control myself, I notice a deep purple flower in my hand. Its petals feel soft against my skin, delicate and real. When did I ever grab this?
“Are you alright?” I sense a voice coming from behind. Quickly, I turn around. It’s another Faenin, just like me. Her long brown hair nearly brushes against me as she looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh, you’re a girl! Just like me!” she says.
“I… where am I?” I ask back with my own telepathy.
“You’re in Bitu—one of the nine dimensions of Yggdrasil.” she looks at my hand and notices the flower. “Ah, Nightshade! Is that your flower name?” My flower name? Was my name picked for me?
“What is a flower name?” I ask, tilting my head in intrigue.
“It comes after your sinner name! You know, the one the gods give you when you’re born!” Sinner name? I wouldn’t have gotten one since I broke out early.
“Are you telling me being born is a sin?” I scoffed, about to lose my seriousness.
“Yeah, you didn’t know?” she says. I instantly burst out into laughter. She takes a step back from surprise.
“Oh yeah?” I say while tears trail down my cheeks. “Oh-hahahaha! I bet it’s something important, huh? Like what, a dark mark on your soul?”
“Well… I noticed that it tends to be in alliteration with the flower name. Mine is Lara Lavender.” I keep laughing. Is this some sort of joke? Is being born not enough of a punishment? Very well, I can play your little games.
“Then I’ll go with… Nevalyn! Nevalyn Nightshade!” I say with all the confidence I can muster.
“Wait… you can’t pick your name—that’s not how this works,” she says.
“Now it is—Hahahaha!” I straighten up, ready to face the universe. “Now, where are the others? It’s time for a grand introduction!” I say while I have no idea where I’m going.
“Hey, wait! Don’t just walk away!”
There’s a lake shimmering on the far horizon…
Without thinking twice, I bolt forward. My feet kick up the golden grass beneath me. The thrill of exploration is too intense.
“Hey, wait!” Lara’s voice calls out, but I don’t stop. I can hear her footsteps behind me, growing frantic. “Please! You can’t just run off like that!”
I laugh, the wind whipping through my hair as the world rushes by. The endless field, the towering trees—it’s all mine to explore.
“Hey, how long did it take you to be born?” she shouts between breaths. I almost slow down, curious at the odd question, but the excitement keeps me going. “For me, it took 813 years!” Lara yells.
813 years? I can’t help but smirk at the thought. She waited that long just to be contained? Not me. Not a chance.
“Must’ve been a boring 813 years!” I call out with a grin. The lake gets closer, shimmering just for me.
Finally, As it comes into view, I begin to slow down. Lara catches up, panting heavily.
“What do you mean, boring?” she asks between breaths.
I glance back at her. “I simply broke out myself.”
She freezes in her tracks with eyes wide in disbelief. “You… what?” she stammers as her steps falter. Before she can catch herself, she trips over a patch of uneven grass and falls hard to the ground with a gasp.
I can’t help but burst out laughing. “You’re kidding me! I barely said a word, and you already fell flat on your face?” I call out, still smirking.
But then I notice she’s clutching her knee, her face scrunched in pain. She’s not moving to get up.
Out of nowhere, my amusement fades. “Oh, come on,” I mutter, walking back toward her. “You’re not seriously hurt, are you?”
When I reach her, I crouch down beside her. “You okay?” I ask, a bit more serious than I intended. Her knee is scraped, starting to bleed.
Lara winces with shallow breaths. “I-I’m fine,” she mutters, but it’s clear she’s trying to hide the pain.
I sigh, shaking my head. “Well, this is just pathetic.” Hovering my hand over her knee, I don’t even know what I’m doing—just wishing she would heal. “You’re a Faenin too, right? You are stronger than this.”
As I focus on her injury, something stirs inside me. A warmth builds in my chest, then spreads down my arm. Slowly, I feel energy—life—pulse from me, releasing in soft waves from my hand. Before I know it, the bruise and scrape on her knee begin to fade, the skin knitting itself back together right before my eyes.
Lara looks at her knee in stunned silence. “H-How…?” I can do that?! Splendid! Splendid!
I lean back, my smirk returning. “See? I told you. I broke out myself.”
She blinks, still in shock. “That’s impossible… Anyone who tries to break out gets punished by the Eleven. The punishment… it’s too painful, and no one survives it… they pass.” Wow, am I really the only one?
Instead of scaring me, her words light another laughter in my chest. “We are fully conscious after the first year, right? Guess my patience for nonsense tops out at 320!”
The shock on Lara’s face only amuses me more.
Without another word, I stand up and start walking toward the lake again. Lara scrambles behind me, still in disbelief, but at least she’s not trying to stop me anymore.
As we get closer, I notice figures by the shore—other Faenins, just like me. They’re scattered around the lake’s edge with their halos glowing faintly in the light. Some have long, flowing hair, others short and messy, each a different color—silver, blue, green, even red. Their halos are just as varied, shining in shades I’ve never seen before.
And the markings on their bodies: shapes twisting and turning along their arms, legs, and faces. Some are male too—their eyes follow me as I approach.
I can feel all of their curiosity, like I’m something they’ve never seen before.
One of them, a girl with bright blue hair and a halo that matches, splashes water at me out of nowhere with a grin.
I blink in surprise as the cool water hits me, then laugh. “You think you can take me on, huh?”
Another Faenin joins in, this one with fiery red hair, sending a wave of water in my direction. It only takes a second for me to jump in, splashing them back with as much force as possible.
The others quickly join in; the lake instantly fills with laughter and the sound of water slapping against the surface. I’m drenched in seconds, but I can’t stop laughing.
I am free. Even though I’m new, I feel like I belong with them.
The blue-haired Faenin keeps grinning as she splashes more water my way. “I’m Genevieve Gentiana!” she calls out between bursts of laughter.
I smirk, throwing a wave back at her. “Nevalyn Nightshade!”
Something dawns on me as I say my name—I have no idea what I look like! The thought strikes me out of nowhere, and I pause, glancing at the lake’s surface.
I see myself for the first time—my glowing magenta eyes, wild purple hair flowing down my back, and soft, flawless pale skin marked with swirling dark purple markings. I blink. I knew I was unique, but… I didn’t know I looked this good.
I grin at my reflection, momentarily entranced. But then, a sudden dryness hits my body. I feel thirsty. Without hesitation, I kneel and scoop some water into my hands, bringing it to my lips.
“No, don’t drink that!” Genevieve’s voice yells out, followed by Lara.
“Nevalyn, stop!”
But I ignore them. It’s just water. How bad could it be?
I bring the water to my lips. The liquid feels cool as it touches my mouth, and the taste—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever known. Sweet, refreshing, like pure life flowing through me. I can’t stop myself from drinking more.
But then, it hits. My throat tightens, and suddenly, I can’t breathe. My chest constricts, and my hands shoot to my neck as I choke. The world blurs, and I kneel by the lake’s edge, gasping for air.
Genevieve rushes over in a panic. Her hand glows with a faint blue light, placing it in front of my mouth. A force pulls through me, and suddenly, everything I just drank is being ripped from my body. I collapse onto the ground, coughing as my throat burns.
Lara crouches beside me. “Are you okay? Nevalyn, you could’ve—”
I wave her off, still struggling to catch my breath. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” I glance at Genevieve. “Genevieve, how did you do that?”
Genevieve shrugs as the glow on her hand fades. “It just… comes naturally, I guess.”
Before I can ask more, a voice from behind catches my attention. “You know,” a male Faenin says, stepping forward, “there’s a reason no one drinks from that lake.” He gestures to the shimmering water. “It’s been corrupted for centuries. There’s something at the bottom that’s been contaminating it.”
I sit up, intrigued despite the burn still in my throat. “So why not just get rid of it?”
Another Faenin, a girl with green hair, pipes up. “Because those who tried, died.”
The male Faenin smirks. “But… if you’re as strong as Lara says you are—if you go down there and remove it—we’ll crown you our queen.”
A ripple of agreement sweeps through the Faenins. One of them mutters, “But… we already have a queen.”
The male waves the comment away. “She’s not here, is she? It doesn’t matter. We can have our own in Bitu.”
All eyes turn to me, and I feel the thrill of adventure rising inside. Me? A queen? Chosen by a bunch of Faenins for a little simple task?
Lara’s worried voice breaks through my eagerness. “Nevalyn, don’t. It’s not just the poison—you don’t know what’s down there. Others have died trying.”
But I’m already on my feet, brushing off the lingering effects of the poison. “Too late! I already decided.” My grin widens as excitement bubbles. “Today, the new Faenin Queen is born! Nevalyn Nightshade!”
The Faenins exchange glances—some with amused smirks, others with furrowed brows, as if unsure whether to take me seriously.
Without another word, I send them a quick wave and dive headfirst into the lake.
The water envelops me instantly. I kick my legs, pushing deeper and deeper. The further I go, the more I feel the world above slip away; the Faenins’ voices fade, the surface disappears, and all that’s left is the silence of the lake. I keep swimming, not feeling the need to breathe.
As I descend, the light from above dims. The water grows freezing and heavy. Shadows creep in from every side, but I don’t stop.
Then, something catches my eye. A faint glow in the distance—small but distinct, shimmering far below me.
I curiously swim toward it. The glow gets brighter as I approach: a deep magenta light in the dark. When I’m close enough to see it clearly, I pause.
It’s a flower, but unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Its petals are glowing across the bottom of the lake. The way it pulses—like it’s alive, sends my body to alert. Every instinct tells me to stop, but I don’t. I’ve come this far, and I need to know.
I reach for it, fingers stretching toward the glowing petals.
The moment my fingers brush against the flower, everything explodes. I’m flung backward, tumbling through the water as some force slams into me. Before I can even catch my bearings, the water around me transforms—a massive sphere of air forms, encasing me in a transparent barrier.
I lightly fall—my feet touching the solid ground at the bottom of the lake. I glance around and realize that the sphere isn’t just holding air; it’s also a cage trapping me inside.
Slowly, I melt the shock away and walk toward the flower again. But as I approach, the air inside the sphere vibrates, distorting everything. The flower… it’s changing.
The petals begin to peel away, twisting and unraveling, as something—no, someone—emerges from within. Reality bends as she rises from the flower, a figure unlike anything I’ve ever seen. A Faenin, but her presence feels more ancient and powerful.
Her long hair flows like galaxies of magenta, and her eyes glow like nebulas. Her skin shimmers, and as she steps forward, my breath catches—who the hell is this?!
