Back to the present, in the Illusionary Forest. The crew walked down a path in the forest. Leading them was a dragonoid who later said his name was Zyro as they walked.
"So, do you know much about this place, Zyro?" Alena asked, as they walked over roots.
"I got entered this place long ago, when heroes still existed. A hero tried to end my life, I was able to make it into here and they didn't follow me, who would?" Zyro replied.
Zyro then shifted his attention from Alena to Aedis as they all continued to keep walking.
"Hey you young man, about being an apostle of the God of Anomalies. Is that truly true?" Zyro continued.
Aedis stiffen slightly, yet masking his panicking with a smile he replied, "Yup! That's me."
"That is quite the claim. I never imagined I would find an actual apostle of the God of Anomalies." Zyro said.
"Hm? Are we that big of a deal?" Aedis asked, trying to seem casual.
"Of course! Don't tell anyone else, but long ago in ancient times when heroes existed for quite a while, I received a vision!" Zyro exclaimed.
"A vision?!" Alena exclaimed, throughly shocked. "How, visions are incredibly rare things and are said to be given directly from the prophets or apostles of the supreme one."
"Well, I received one, who would've thought an anomaly receiving a vision." Zyro said, before speaking of the vision.
"The vision I received showed a group of dark hazy individuals each all different, in front of a large dark figure. That large dark figure being the God of Anomalies, meaning the other beings must've been their apostles. One was wearing armor with a sword pointing in the air. Another was wore a priest robe. There was a warrior who's blade sparkled like the sea. Then there were two twins, one bearing the sun and the other the moon. Many more followed like a female archer, however the rest were harder to identify or even see." Zyro explained.
"So this God of Anomalies will have apostles? This is a bucket load of information I have ran into. The Fool will truly get a kick out of this." Alena thought.
"That's a lot of apostles." Shiro said.
"Indeed" Kuro added, before realizing something. "I think were the twins."
"We're not twins though?" Shiro said, confused.
"Oh, right... you still haven't remembered everything from the past, then let me explain everything later." Kuro said.
"Well you'll be able to that shortly, here we are." Zyro said.
In front of them lied a grand looking church. Flux butterflies gently fluttering all around, as beautiful blue and white flowers surround the church. The soft sunlight making the sight even more beautiful.
"Woah... it's absolutely beautiful!" Aedis breathed, completely amazed.
"Yup, I found this long ago and been keeping it clean ever since. This is also where I praying to the God of Anomalies as his subject. Honestly, even if I am unworthy in his eyes, just a glance from him would be enough." Zyro replied.
"I see... You must revere this deity that much." Alena said, genuinely impressed with his dedication.
"Indeed! I know if I meet his priest-apostle, I will learn much things about him." Zyro said. "However, that can wait. Please come on in this church is quite large."
The interior was very lavish,a blue carpet with gold jellyfishes designed on it stretched to the end of the church hall. The layout was that of a typical church, a large amount of seats and a stage in which for the priest to preach, as well as an alter to pray to the god. On the left side of the church lied doors to other rooms, and on the right lied a staircase.
"Dad, your back! How was your summoning?" A female dragonoid said, descending from the stair.
"Ah, Cecelia. I have brought back many guest this time it seems." Zyro replied.
"Hm?" Cecelia replied, her head to side as she took a glance at the group.
She suddenly got flustered immediately the moment their eyes came into contact. "A-Ah! I-I'll g-go make some tea and coffee!" She said swiftly exiting into the kitchen.
Zyro just let out a small chuckle before beginning to speak. "Don't mind her—she's very shy around other people."
"I see, didn't expect you to have a daughter." Aedis bluntly said.
"Hehe, is that so? Do I seem that old?" Zyro asked, clearly teasing.
"O-Oh not at all! That's not exactly what I meant—I was just surprised was all." Aedis stammered.
"Ahaha, I know what you meant lad don't worry." Zyro replied chuckling before shifting the topic. "Though, what interests me the most is you two twins. I never expected the Rank III anomaly I brought was actually 2 beings."
"I guess I should tell explain the full story now shouldn't I?" Kuro said, seeming a bit tense.
Zyro lead the group to a relatively large dining table, the table was well kept and somewhat elegant with the design. The table had more than enough chairs for about twenty people or so. The air scented with what seemed to be blueberries, from the evaporative diffusers as Cecelia made tea and coffee. The group then sat down and patiently listened to Kuro's story.
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Long ago...
In the starry skies were two stars. These two stars were twins, one shone very warm and radiantly while the other glowed softer and a refreshingly cool. These two stars lived among all the other stars in the universe. One day however the bright cheerful star got quite curious and so he decided he wanted to explore the universe then just slowly drifting across space.
How did he want to go about this? He wanted to experience true-life, he wanted to explore the universe as a mortal. He always found mortals interesting and so he wanted to be one.
So he made a request to the Supreme One: to become a mortal. This wish of his was granted and his twin who had been by his side at every moment also wished for the same. So after all receiving the Supreme One's blessing, the two stars descended onto the mortal plane, becoming official mortals.
However, when they entered the world instead of being a mortal they were but frail concepts. They were in the world but as nothing more than a white and black star-shaped gem respectively, their very existence now a mere anomaly. Nothing was said, nothing was thought, nothing ever as the two star gems laid under a tree not to far from the Illusionary Forest.
Time moved on and eventually these concepts finally started sprouting, they had finally grew physical bodies. They were no more than mere elf infants who had lost their memories of everything that occurred to them, their bond as twins still ever linked and maintained. Luckily they were found by an old married couple soon after.
These couples were rich, they weren't poor either, they were moderately wealthy and yet they were also very kind. They lived northwest of the Illusionary Forest, their land but a quiet stretch of farmland. The two twins lived quite comfortably for a while and were even given names. However one day, they'd be in for a rude awakening at the age of 8.
"Day of Evernight."[1]
"Hey come on, Shiro!" Kuro shouted in the distant, just beyond the porch.
"O-Ok I'm coming!" Shiro shouted back, still inside the house putting his shoes on.
"Don't get into trouble you two, I know you like to adventure around." An elderly woman said, from the kitchen.
"R-Right! Of course, we'll try to stay out of trouble Gran-Arla." Shiro replied, fumbling slightly with his laces.
Arla just smiled before speaking once again, very warmly. "Just be safe dear."
Shiro's face lit up slightly. "I will and we'll be back before dinner!" He said before rushing out the door and closing it softly behind him.
"Hehe, you better be you rascals." Arla chuckled under her breath.
"Huh? They went out already? I really wanted to atleast say good morning." An elderly man said, descending the stairs.
"Next time, wake up earlier dear." Arla responded.
The man just sighed in disappointment before grabbing some tea. After a short while of Shiro running, he had reached up to Kuro. They were at their "secret base", it was a treehouse. They had yet to enter it yet at the current moment.
"S-So what are we doing today?" Shiro asked, panting slightly.
"We're going to that abandoned house that appeared a few days ago!" Kuro said, with a huge smile clearly excited.
"W-What?! That's going to be really scary though, and not to mention dangerous!" Shiro exclaimed.
"Oh, come on. Don't be such a puss, we'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen?" Kuro asked.
"L-Literally everything! What if we touch something we aren't supposed to and something bad happens! We shouldn't go!" Shiro countered.
Kuro gently grabbed Shiro's hand.
"Listen, you know that no matter what I'll always be by your side and protect you, right? I know what I'm doing, just trust me." Kuro reassured, giving Shiro a smile before letting go of his hands after he finished talking.
Shiro felt a lot better after that however... still didn't make him bold enough to truly enter the building. Shiro let out a calming sigh before finally able to speak again.
"A-Alright. As long as we don't get into trouble and make it home in time for dinner, I don't mind." Shiro said, fiddling with his hand slightly still a bit scared.
"Great, that's a promise." Kuro replied, fist bumping Shiro.
"What about those villagers though? Our farm is isolated so were safe there, however you know the villagers live near where that the abandoned house is at and they hate our 'type'." Shiro asked.
"Don't worry about them. I've arranged measures to make sure they don't cause us problems." Kuro replied confidently.
"A-Alright, if you say so." Shiro said.
So they went onwards towards the abandoned house. The abandoned house was some ways away from the village not very far but not too close. However, the village did get guards to patrol around the area. Though that mattered not right now since they were all distracted by Kuro's scheme.
What laid before them, was a very old house, the outside wooded exterior raged and withered. The wood somehow not rotting but clearly chipped. The green paint clearly had its fair share of aging. The windows covered in dust and some even being broken as if broken into.
"Woah, this looks creepy. This thing has to have a bunch of relic thingies. You think we could use it as a gift?" Kuro said.
"Uh, maybe... if whatever inside doesn't get us first." Shiro responded.
"Oh, come on lets go!" Kuro said grabbing his hand.
"A-Ah, wait-" Shiro yelped, before he has dragged inside by Kuro.
[1] An anomaly before the dark lords rise, where the sky turned a dark blue and the moon stayed in place.