Remnants of the Past

Frederick could feel it. No could sense it even, the once solid guild emblem that once hung proudly inside the Blue Pegasus guild hall. But now, laying on the ground. Cracked and slowly succumbing to the pressure Frederick was putting on it, by placing his foot right on top of it.
In front of him, was a young man. Probably twenty years old, could be less. Either way it didn't matter. He was one of the last still living souls in this place. All the others were already dead, or about to be.

You could see the fear in his eyes, as he desperately tried to crawl away from the scene, yet unable to look away. His comrades, slaughtered. His guild on fire. And the air he took, was now filled with the stench of the dead. And in front of him, a man clothed in black slowly approaching him. While others stood behind him, watching as what the dark man would do. And looking at the poor soul, with grins and smiles so wide, as if they were children at their own birthday party.


Now in that same place, but at an entirely different time. Stood that same dark man, clothed in black. A cloak with a hood to match. Large enough to entirely engulf the mans body, and hide the presence of his face.

But now in front of him was nothing but a single carved obsidian rock. Shaped in a rectangular form. With on all sides, the names of those who had been crushed under the heel of the dark guild Savage Skull.

All around the memorial statue were flowers. No bouquets though, but planted flowers that grew in all different shapes and sizes. With some having even the brightest colors Frederick had ever seen in his life.
It provided a harsh contrast with the cold black stone that stood in the midst of it. It was almost becoming uncomfortable, as the stone represented death. While the flowers were flourishing with life.

For a while now, Frederick had been standing there. Staring at the perfectly cut rock. Or better yet, staring at one particular yet random name on it. Asking himself if that was the man he had struck down, or if it belonged to anyone else. Who had he become if he was still left breathing.

Shuhei was many things to Frederick, most of them were vile and bitter thoughts. But there was one thing that didn't cross Frederick's mind when the thoughts of the white wizard crossed his mind. And that was insanity. And yet just now, he proved otherwise as the man shouted above the turmoil of a crumbling mountain.

Uniting the dark guilds! Surely he'd jest. Off course it had been tried before, but it always turned out in a very fragile alliance. One where betrayal and backstabbing were more common then collaboration. In fact every time the dark guilds tried, they ended up in fighting each other. No the last time a true unified Dark Guild front happened, was maybe centuries ago.

But what if the man was right? He said it before, the Legal Guilds alone can't do it. Not even with the help of the Royal Family and all of the Knights. Not just because of their dwindling numbers, but also because they just weren't prepared for what has to come. Most of them hadn't seen the darkness, or any darkness at all. They simply wouldn't have what it take to avert disaster.
But still to resort to such a plan... in a way it made sense to Frederick. If they ever were to have a shimmer of hope, then that hope may just as well lay with the dark society of Fiore.

Slowly he stood up, while having a short yet nervous laugh escaping his lips. Facing his long time enemy, head on. And without actually saying it, Frederick would gave his consent, as he as well realized that whatever was to come, even had the white wizard frightened.

'..this route... this path you set for yourself.. you know you might not like it's ending right?'.... Where do we start?

'That... and so much worse' he replied with a foreboding tone in his voice. Knowing full well now, that there maybe was no real escape from that fate after all. That he was forever cursed, to fall into the depraved being he had created himself into. Despite of how much he fought against it, there was no escape. That being, that person engulfed by darkness was him. Frederick knew it, with every person slain, with every fight he had after he joined up Sabertooth, it stirred inside him. Beckoning him to return to give in.

Without a second of any further doubt, Frederick firmly grasped Shuhei's extending hand. Not shaking it, but just grabbing it, as a sign of acknowledgement.

The scene changed again, with a white light that rushed around and bellowed so loudly that nullified any other sense Frederick could have. Only to reveal the familiar scenery of where it all started again. The flowery field, with in its midst, the obsidian carved stone.

With a few more words, that where as heavy as the world itself it seems. Shuhei sealed their fates, along with anyone else they were going to cross paths with. And as the white mage wandered off, without looking back. Frederick was left standing, silently looking at the memorial statue. Thinking of only one thing. 'no... we're going to need a mountain'