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The universe of origins. A point where many-worlds and realities of possibilities stem from. It is a complex system of physical and metaphysical phenomena that stabilizes the entropy of spacetime. This mixture of scientific and magical methods manifested objects beyond even the understanding of technologically advanced species.
These objects were separated and spread across the branches of reality. These objects defied conventional and nonconventional concepts, shaped into spikes that resembled a crown. These objects govern over specific concepts which makes up the complex system of the spacetime continuum, leading to the infamous title of the eleven crown stars of calamity.
Each crown is destined for a sole individual to protect the multiverse, influencing the individual with its immeasurable power, choosing the best candidate personality that fits the concept of what the crown governs. Though not all crowns existed at one point, instead they were manifested from the power of two individuals.
This is the tale of the twelve crowned stars of calamity and the story of how they came to be.
March 23, 9000
The wails of a newborn filled the silence of a pitch black space. The audible cues of scattering and clumsiness drowned out the cries and soon an overwhelming burst of light filled the dark space, revealing a room befitting of a noble. Riches and treasury alike filled the top of the wooden drawer board, paintings of individuals respected throughout history hung high below windows that nearly reached the ceiling, practically childproof.
Inside this room where three people. Two adults of opposite genders and a baby of the male gender. The newborn continued to wail, the two adults attempted to coddle him with love and affection to cease the crying while feeding him. Eventually it worked and the newborn was now fast asleep and the two adults looked at one another with genuine smiles
"Look at him honey. He takes after your looks so much but he has my eyes and hair color. To think that he was the first out of the two chosen to be a crown star, let's do our best to raise him as a nice and caring young man. It's the only thing we can do, that will contribute to the blooming of the universe."
The man spoke in a rough and raspy tone, though his voice held genuine love and care for both the women and the newborn that were his wife and son respectfully. His aforementioned wife nodded her head in agreement as she clung to his arm, pleased and passionate eyes staring down at the sleeping child in front of them.
"Yes darling. Let's do out best"
The women proclaimed in a soft tone, the overflowing love she felt for the two poured into those simple words. It was the best life anyone could ask for and they would not trade it for nothing more.
March 23, 9010
Ten years have gone by in the blink of an eye and a young boy with long flowing hair like amethyst and same colored eyes that sparkled with innocence to match, stood in a empty green Plainfield with a wooden sword grasped in both hands. This boy was Kitsuji, the first child chosen to be the crown star of reality and the universe protecter, a heavy burden that he was cursed with since birthed.
Ever since Kitsuji could remember, he was always told that he was a special person, above everyone with a duty that no one but him could do. He was trained almost everyday in many fields ranging from mathematics, swordplay, martial arts to dancing, cooking, trading, politics, etc. He was given no room to interact with kids his age due to his very busy schedule and overprotective parents who were the rulers of the kingdom they lived in.
Though despite this, Kitsuji remained diligent in his tasks. His performance proving that he could live up to the duty he was birthed with. He soaked information up like a sponge and was revered as a prodigy in practically anything he did. His soft and well kept skin glowing with superb quality befitting of nobility.
"Even If I do train and master this profound power. What will I do then?. Will I serve these ungrateful people till my very last breath?...Honestly....I don't know"
Kitsuji proclaimed to himself aloud, his thoughts manifesting outside of his mind which led him to have a conversation with himself. Typically this would be seen as unbefitting of royalty and would be whipped out of him, but this was the only time he could be alone since no one in the kingdom could come close to him in hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship, becoming a child that stood in a world of his own.
"Surely this can't be my destiny. I know I wasn't the only one given this power. It's like I see eleven red strings tangled but tied in the end...What does it mean? and why does it feel like there's one missing?"
Kitsuji pondered aloud to himself, his body in a basic kendo stance. His shoulders perfectly squared and loose enough to still perform his actions with swift momentum. His legs evenly spaced, with his dominant right leg in front and his nondominant left leg resting behind to support his equilibrium.
His wooden sword held firmly in his hand as he swung down in a repeated manner, his muscles working in overdrive from hours of swinging in the same repeated pattern. Sweat protruded and fell down his forehead, his eyes focused in front of him as if he was imagining someone in front of him.
"Kitsuji!. Come quick!, the other crowned star has challenged you to a duel."
A young maiden suddenly exclaimed, a worried expression filling her face as she ran towards the young prince. Despite the sudden announcement of a duel, Kitsuji continued his kata with an impassive expression. Kitsuji was used to people wanting to duel him and test their strength against him in hopes of besting him. He found it a bit tiresome but grateful since it always gave him a chance to help them grow and for himself to grow.
"Very well. Let us depart at once."
Kitsuji proclaimed with a tone of serenity, a gentle smile on his face as he halted his movement like a raging tsunami calming after its disaster. Then they were gone in a subtle breeze of wind, the cluttering of the wooden sword being the only audible indication of their spontaneous disappearance.
"Sir Muryou, I highly should advise against fighting Kitsuji. Though your strength is mighty far beyond us feeble humans, he is in a class of his own-"
A man roughly around his 30's stated in a worried tone but was cut off by a young boy by the name of Muryou raising his palm up in a gesture for the man to stop talking.
"Enough. Nothing is too much for me and if it is I'll simply overcome it. That is what it will be."
The boy proclaimed, his eyes a multitude of colors yet pale in complexion filled with a fierce determination. His hair as black as a raven's feather and his skin touched with a peach complexion. He adorned in a flexible kimono colored in a red and black pattern.
"Very well then. I hope I can give you a earnest fight. Let us grow from this encounter and more that is to come."
Kitsuji proclaimed with a cheery tone, his sudden appearance causing many to gasp and Muryou to turn to face Kitsuji's sudden appearance with a raised eyebrow.
"Same to you. Now let us begin."
Muryou proclaimed boldly, earning a nod from Kitsuji which made the surrounding group take many steps back to watch from afar for safety. Muryou then began to roll his shoulders, his bones cracking and popping back into place which earned a satisfied grunt. Then he was gone.
Kitsuji eyes slightly widened as he slid his leg back, lifting and extending out his right arm , a subtle blur then a pale leg closing in at dangerous velocity which was successfully parried by Kitsuji who redirected the trajectory by slapping the leg away. '
'He's faster than anyone I've met so far....I wonder what his magic type is'
Kitsuji proclaimed in his mind as they locked eyes with each other for a swift second. Muryou then recovered quite quickly, blocking a left jab performed by Kitsuji and responding with a right jab of his own that was blocked as well.
This kept up for a few minutes, both were bombarding each other with honed strikes, weaving and blocking which led to a slight stalemate. This left the crowd speechless as the two fought evenly with only fist, then gasped when Muryou grasped onto Kitsuji's extended arm and pulled him forward.
Dead silence followed afterwards when Muryou fist struck across Kitsuji face, the boy's face flinging to the side and his body stumbling, a visible but small amount of blood splattering across the ground. Kitsuji remained still, his hair overshadowing his face. The wind stirring in an eerie fashion, subtle whistles of phantom echoes filled the eerie silence.
"Never been hit like that before huh?. Yeah, that's what the real world is like dude-"
Muryou began to boast but was met with a metallic tint straight towards his face, the world slowing around him as it inched closer and closer, this was imminent doom. This was his death.
Kitsuji's Point Of View
'Not only is he fast, but he can keep up with me to...and--wait is that my blood?....What the hell is going on?'
Kitsuji remained motionless, his head turned to the side and a crimson liquid trickling down the corner of his mouth and onto the ground. He was utterly stunned and that's when it reigned on him. This was his first time ever being hit in his life. He remembered he was always coddled to and never needed the concept of want because if he desired it, he already had it.
He was the first child of the strongest king in history who wielded the raw natures of the elements within the universe and the most renowned healer of the new generation. His destiny was already determined the moment two of those powerhouses came together as one, creating a child of limitless potential crowned by the grace of reality as the first of second crowned stars.
This meant he was in a league of his own. Even attempting to conversate in normal society would leave people speechless and try to coddle up to him in hopes of winning his favor. No one saw who he was but what he can do, uncaring of how he feels about everything by only seeking for what they want. They labeled him with the title of the universe's protecter, a burden that weighed so much on his mind.
His mind is far more complex to match the complexity of his power. He knew everything from past to present although unable to control those two temporal concepts, he could control what happens between the two. The middle point. He knows everything that will happen, could happen, should happen, and can make them happen in that current moment.
He is a bridge between worlds and realities, he has never faced any difficulty in his life and was essentially an all powerful god.
'So how...why can't I see it?...who...are you?!'
Then nothing but rage filled Kitsuji entire being, his first time ever being hit and even bleeding. The pain rung through his head, thumping against his skull in agony yet it remained numbed from the anger he was feeling, washing away any and all feelings he previously had.
Then like a beat of a heart, a longsword popped into existence. its origin unknown as if it was simply summoned with no prior magical incantation or gesture. It simply came to be. Though no one could tell until he was stabbing his sword forward toward Muryou's face in a piercing motion.
'Die'
Muryou's P.O.V
Muryou was the complete opposite of Kitsuji, he did not believe in fate or destiny and simply chose how he wanted to live no matter what stood in his way. He never grew up in royalty but both his parents still tried their best for him and gave their entire world to him. He grew to appreciate them and take the world for what it is and live how he wanted in it, not by who chooses it for him.
His attitude is carefree and he doesn't care who he talks to in terms of rank or how he talks, only if they are respectful to him to which he will return the same energy. He also has a sweet tooth and loves candy. Though he would never admit it, he was jealous of Kitsuji and his wealthy lifestyle.
While he had to grind and work blood, sweat, and tears for the strength he had now, Kitsuji was blessed with it from the start and to the end. It infuriated Muryou to no end, Muryou saw Kitsuji as an obstacle that kept him from reaching true freedom. So, Muryou wanted to test Kitsuji's might and determine how hard he has to train to defeat this obstacle.
Yet now after a good punch on his end, he was met with a blade. Funny how he was starting a joke about the real world but forgot that things like this can happen as well. Ironic. Though while Kitsuji outclassed Muryou in terms of potential and magic, Muryou held dominance over experience.
Muryou knew that Kitsuji was kept from any form of harm and fighting outside of the kingdom, the main difference between them and what would lead to Muryou's next form of action.
Outside P.O.V
In a blur, Muryou lifted his arm upward with his wrist flicked down. His skin making contact with the blade and instead of the blade cutting straight through his hand, it snapped in half, then shattered like glass.
Muryou then continued forward, stepping to the side and in front of Kitsuji's open body, a left hook launched directly at Kitsuji's liver. Time seemed to slow down, the cheers of the onlooker's growing fainter and more distant. Kitsuji remained stationary, his facial expression cold and indifferent but his eyes subtly widened in surprise. His thoughts running rampant as Muryou's fist closed in.
Kitsuji then closed his eyes, his raging thoughts now coming to a sudden halt. A sudden darkness consumed the world like the explosion of a star's last pulse. Nothingness remained. Though within this void of infinity, Kitsuji's spirit remained alone. The porcelain glow of his Amythest colored hair and a subtle glowing hue of an ethereal green aura. His eyes still remained closed, his slender finger reaching out as if he was touching the void itself.
Then it happened. The ticking echoes of clocks being winded filled Kitsuji mind which was the void itself. The mirage of multiple clocks along a multitude of energy lines moving in a linear path filled the void of his mind. Then he opened them, finding himself staring towards a crowd of people, his left cheek stung badly though despite this Kitsuji had smirked. It had worked.
"hm. You're not half bad Muryou"
Kitsuji proclaimed with a tone of respect, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. A subtle hue covered the crimson liquid on his thumb and shot forward at the speed of sound. A whizzing whistle echoing the air.
'What the hell?. Why do i feel woozy? What type of magic did he just use? I swear he just tried to swing a sword at me.'
Muryou's questioned within his mind in a frantic manner. One moment he was about to hit Kitsuji and within that few seconds it felt like his head fractured like glass until he was staring Kitsuji recovering from his punch. Unfortunately, Muryou had no time to react and was struck with a shrapnel of hardened blood that impacted his shoulder. Tearing through it like butter.