Chapter
1 – A Colorful World Filled with War
A world filled with dolls and
crystals sounds like a place of wonder and happiness, but this isn’t so of this
world. The Crystallis, who are dolls that originate from the crystal, became so
prideful of their beauty that they were corrupted by it. Because of this
corruption, they attacked the Flos, who are dolls that originate from the
beauty of the world. The Flos are skilled when it comes to reasoning and strategy,
however, the Crystallis excel in brute strength. The Flos and Crystallis have
fought their war to a standstill and are still fighting a brutal world war that
has ravaged this once beautiful world.
In all the chaos, innocents are
naturally caught in the crossfire. Rosalia’s son, Rhodes, had been caught in an
area effect spell that cursed him with decay so that his body slowly falls
apart. Rosalia’s husband sacrificed himself so that the two could survive.
Several other family members were caught in this spell, but enough managed to
survive to fend off the invasion of Crystallis. A cure for Rhodes would’ve been
easier to get back in the time of peace, but the only place in the world that
holds the cure is in the center of conflict where both sides are constantly
fighting each other day in and out, which is the origin point of both dolls. If
Rosalia can bring Rhodes to the healing springs, then he can be cured. Despite being
told the near impossible odds by repeatedly her neighbors, she goes out in the
hopes that she can make it in time.
Currently, Rhodes has been falling
apart but is in a coma-like state where he is vaguely aware of what’s around
him. Rosalia has been carrying him on her back as she traverses the crystal forests.
Since the world is at war, the vegetation in the forest has become hostile to
everything that isn’t them as well. Rosalia has used a spell to make her left arm
into a dangerous claw for self-defense.
Her right leg and left heel have become deadly sharp tools as well.
As Rosalia makes her way through
the forest, she says to her son, “I wish you could’ve seen this forest when it
was friendly. It used to shine more and give out delicious fruit. Now, everything
here is dangerous, so we have to be careful.”
Rhodes whimpers a bit.
“Oh, I know you’ve been upset about
me sacrificing pieces of myself so you can live. It doesn’t bother me, see? Each
piece of me helps you continue living. Your mom isn’t upset nor am I weakened
by it. I don’t need another eye if I can’t see you smile another day. Besides,
even if we are separated, you will always have a piece of me with you.”
Rhodes reaches out for his mother’s
hands. Rosalia pulls him around so she can hold him.
“Don’t you worry, my little prince.
We’ll get you cured then we can live happily together. You’ll go to school, become
a man, and maybe even get married. I’ll have to approve of your choice, of course,
but then again, I shouldn’t be saying about that given the person I chose.
Or should I be blaming your father
for choosing me? Who am I kidding? It was both our faults. We got into a lot of
trouble the two of us, but it was worth it so you could be born. I just wish his
relatives could accept our love for each other.”
A chiming in the forest gets
Rosalia’s attention. She puts Rhodes behind her and activates a shield spell that
creates a shell to protect him. Rhodes senses the danger as well and holds his
hands close to his face.
“You’re going to be safe, my little
prince. Nothing will beat me when your life is at stake.”
Shadows dart from hiding place to hiding
place in order to get a good opening to attack. Since Rosalia isn’t giving them
any opportunities, the Crystallis hunters attack her with one combined attack.
The three jump up in the air and plunge their blades towards her. She blocks
their blades as her claw arm turns into a shield. Since their blades are so
heavy, she lowers herself then dodges to the side and uses her leg blade. It
stretches out and cuts the heart core of two of the hunters, which shatters
them. The last one manages to block the attack but is hit into a living plant
that breaks the hunter into pieces.
The violence has made the vegetation
in the forest extremely aggressive. The trees start uprooting themselves and
attacking Rosalia. She defends herself as best as she can by leaping around while
cutting down the trees and fauna. Since the forest itself is a constantly growing,
old, and large entity, Rosalia stands no chance against it. Fully exhausted,
she holds Rhodes as he cries.
“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay, little
prince.”
A sudden realization then comes to
her head.
“If violence is what upsets the
forest, then maybe love can calm it down. How about a song? I was going to sing
to this you later to lull you to sleep, my little prince, but it looks like I’ll
have to now.
I know when to take it slow
And when to run at the speed of
light
I know when to be patient
And when to act without thinking
I know when to smile
And when to cry
I know when to think with my heart
And how to always love
But I don’t know how to love like you
do
When
you love for no other reason than to love
When
you love for no other reason than to love
For
the sake of love
I know how to love when I’m loved
But you love even when you’re hated
I know how to love when the sun is shining
But you love even when the storms
roar
I know how to love when I’m happy
But you love even when you’re in
pain
I know to love when everyone loves
But you love when no else loves
How do you do it
When you love for no other reason
than to love
When you love for no other reason
than to love
For the sake of love?
Teach me how to love when I’m hated
Teach me how to love in dark times
Teach me how to love when I’m cold
Please, my love. Please teach me,
my love
Teach me how to love for the sake
of love”
Rhodes laughs and waves his hands
around as if trying to clap. The vegetation and fauna of the forest go back to
where they come from and rest. Rosalia breathes a sigh of relief then kisses
her son.
“Did you like it? I hope you did.
Let’s hurry out of here before more hunters come.”
Rosalia casts a healing spell on
herself as she quickly runs to the fastest way out of the forest.
The song that inspired the song/poem in this chapter is Making Love Out of Nothing at All by Air Supply. It's an oldie but still a good song.
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