literature

Essence of Void

Deviation Actions

jellyskink's avatar
By
Published:
262 Views

Literature Text

Essence of Void

A gold-skinned boy straightened the old, glass-and-leather gas mask that clung to his face. The aged, worn straps scratched at the sides of his face, turning his skin red and raw. His green, bestial eyes were perfectly suited to see through the patchwork of rainbow smoke that hung heavy in the air. Working in the Core had few benefits, besides being the only job that an orphan like him could snatch up. Meager pay and old equipment made the task of tending to the mechanisms of the Core a constant hazard, and though there were many like him working in the cavernous expanse, Bernien felt alone.

"You do not need that mask," a deep, darkly soothing voice sung through the air's mire. "I don't trust you," Bernien replied. He always tried to keep a level head with the World Eater. He hoped it would stave off the tendrils of madness from etching themselves onto the being of his young mind. "Will I ever lead you astray? Especially when the subject is one of such import…" Bernien could not see the blue-furred dragon beast himself, but the multicolored smoke he vented from the holes on his tail seemed to form a curling, laughing mass. Bernien took a deep breath of stale oxygen, funneled from the tank on his back. The vile fumes' master surely held a smile on his eyeless face, enjoying the game he constantly played of switching past and future tenses of his speech. Bernein did not know if the beast did this intentionally, but he liked to imagine he did, and that Bernein would one day be a great public official, and find an alternate power source to Krafth World-Breath's wicked smoke.

"I use this smoke to see," Krafth purred, "surely you will know that, with all the times I will repeat it." Bernien clenched his sharp, once predatory teeth, "and to poison the minds of the Core workers!" Bernien picked up a stray wrench, cloaked in a thin coating of rust, and began to service a squeaking pipe. Krafth laughed, the sound ringing through the caverns and crevices of the Core. "You suspect much, surface child. Is the constant dim getting to you? It surely will me." Bernien glared intently at the complaining pipe in his grasp, funneling the wicked smog to the surface of Gergh. "How many above have been driven batty by this stuff, I don't know…" he muttered, "but I'm keeping my sanity, thanks!"

Amid the hanging smoke, a door hit the ground. This undoubtedly magical item was one of green wood and a gold setting, sculpted paws holding the bottom in place. A circular, purple face rested at the top of the door, looking rather bored with whatever was going through its mind. Bernien had ducked behind a solid mass of pounding machinery at the sound of the door's collision with the ground, and now peered through the smog to try and catch a glimpse of the thing, still secure in his hiding place. The door opened, its strange frame still fixed against nothingness, and out of it stepped two brightly-colored beings.

One of the beings was tall and pink, at least nine feet tall, yet possessing of a slender "hourglass figure", its feet ending at black points. Its chest was covered in a furred plumage of blight pink fur, and two wide, long, striped middle-curved tendrils hung from the back of its head. Its eyes were yellow and slitted, and lightning-bolt-shaped antennae sprung from the top of its head. Its arms were abnormally long, ending in large, powerful looking hands, and studded on the sides with three deep-pink orbs.

The creature's companion was possessing of a much smaller frame, shorter than the young Bernien himself. This smaller creature was also bipedal, but unlike the other, was dressed. It wore a gray turtleneck sweater extended above the chin with loose-fitting indigo pants and smart, black, sharp-tipped shoes. The creature also had a large leather saddle bag slung around one shoulder, along with a leather flat cap with two strips of cloth floating above its top, looking a bit like strange brown feathers. This creature also shared large hands, and also possessed only four fingers, with two bright-blue bands, looking like near-glowing bracelets, on each arm. Additionally, a tail floated in place behind its posterior, moving with it, yet attached to nothing. Three of the same blue bands were evenly distanced across the green tail (the same green skin as its hands), ending in a blue half-moon shape with a red orb floating at its center, and three red triangles pointing outward from its edge. This new thing also shared similar tendrils as the one before it, but shorter and striped with blue. As if it could be any stranger, this creature wore a circular, white mask that completely covered its facial area, its bright red-and-black eyes and sharp-toothed mouth moving as fluidly as if it were, in fact, the being's only face.

The companions wandered into the rainbow murk, yet with a sure-footedness that Bernien had only seen from the most experienced of Core workers. The shorter one coughed, uselessly attempting to wave smoke from its face. "Uh, Desire?" it said in a light, innocent male voice (and therefore was assumed to be male), "I don't see your friend." Bernien could not see the expressions of the creatures, but the pink one replied in an obviously female voice, "of course you don't. He's probably hiding and playing stupid games. And he's not my friend." She turned a wide circle, casting her yellow-eyed gaze into the smoke. "Krafth!" She called, "I need to speak with you. Get your stupid dragon butt out here." Bernien clapped his hand to his mouth, pulling it back in surprise when it slapped the gas mask he was wearing. To speak with such irreverence to the World Eater! Bernien certainly showed no respect to the beast, but he would not dare to command and insult him in such a manner. A raspy beginning to Krafth's voice slithered to the ears, and Bernien was certain of the death of the newcomers.

Krafth laughed. "Desire!" he exclaimed with a cool, almost sarcastic joy. "And who is your small companion?"
"Emotion!" called the shorter of the trespassers, raising a hand and hopping slightly. "Another master?" Krafth queried shortly. Emotion nodded, then paused with a confused expression, wondering if the great beast could see him through all that smoke. "Stop making a fool of yourself," Desire said sharply, not bothering to look down. Emotion looked crestfallen, "do you want me to…?" he asked sullenly. "Yes." Replied desire with quick certainty. Slumping his shoulders, Emotion pressed his fingers along the edge of his mask. Bernien almost yelped in surprise when he pulled it away to reveal a black nothingness where the covering had been.

Emotion's movements changed, becoming mechanical and precise. Tucking the mask into his saddle bag, a dim smile frozen on its face, he pulled out a different mask. This one had a stern, serious expression upon its surface, as motionless coming out as the last was when being put away. Emotion fixed this mask into place over his faceless void, and was instantly revitalized. His posture became lifelike again, though this time it held a different meaning altogether. Whereas before the switch he seemed relaxed and casual, he now seemed stern and businesslike. Although he still held the same colorful and diminutive form, he had an air of authority about him. He closed the bag that rested on his shoulder and held his hands stiffly at his sides. Looking up to desire, he said levelly, "please continue."

"This is indeed interesting," Krafth interjected before Desire could speak, "whereas Desire insights war with purposeful subtlety, Emotion acts as a versatile children's toy?"
"Highly amusing," Emotion replied, "sarcastically." Krafth grinned, "of course. Alternately, I assume that you two will travel here for a reason." Desire nodded curtly, "yes. We have come to ask you if you have spoken to a void rat named Islan." Krafth took a long pause before speaking, "a void rat? I cannot say I know of any such thing."
"My pointy foot you don't," Desire said defiantly, "you've basically just proven your connection with her!"
"Hey…" Emotion placed his hand on her leg. The larger Master whipped her head around to face him. "What." Emotion stepped back calmly, hands again held at his sides. "A simple lie doesn't mean a connection with a 'felon'." Desire narrowed her eyes, "it means a reason to lie."
"So my ignorant mind may be put to rest," Krafth interjected, "how do you know that I am lying?" Desire turned back to him, "Mask Guy saw her headed to this planet," Desire answered, "plus, a being of your age and power… not to mention ability of espionage…" Krafth grinned at this, "… not even knowing of a void rat? An animal whose legend outstrips even your own… of course you know about them."
"Ah, your slave," Krafth said in a gravelly purr, ignoring Desire's own conclusions, "how is the little thing? Mask Guy, will it be?" Desire glared at him through the smoke, "yes. That's his name. Stop pointing it out." Krafth ignored her again, "and who, exactly, will decide to name him that?"
"Where is Islan going"? Emotion asked before Desire could be further baited by Krafth. "I will tell you that I know nothing of this subject," Krafth answered, immovable.

Emotion's expression took a sour tint. "What would it take to… educate you on this subject?" Emotion said levelly. Desire's frame jolted with shocked rage, "you want to bargain with him?!"
"Desire, be sensible."
"Sensible? I have more sense than half your you, you little--"
"Master," said Emotion with authority. Desire blinked away her rage, "… right. Control over emotions, eh…" she stepped back, a stubborn blush seething beneath her pink skin. Tension hung thick as the smog that clogged the air, which for the first time in years began to thin.

As the mist died away, Bernien, who was still straining to see the actions of the interlopers, was stunned into inaction. He had heard legends of the World Eater Krafth's appearance, and caught glimpses of sight and description of it himself, and therefore knew of certain facets of the beast's anatomy, but he was unprepared for the creature that revealed itself.

Krafth, although he appeared to have the muscle structure of a dragon, did not have scales. Instead, he has thick, midnight blue skin, scarred and worn, with lighter blue fur covering his underside from the tip of his chin to partway down his massive tail. Thin arms protruded from his fur-covered shoulders, completely coated in rich blue fur, ending in wicked points. Below his waist, his legs and lower belly were also covered in fur, though the back and sides of his tail were not, and each side of the tail had upon it three smog-spewing holes. Parts of Krafth, although he was largely muscular and healthy, looked wickedly thin, the skin covering his spine protruding along the bones' path. Along the back of his neck, which also lacked fur, were three crazily grinning masks, looking porcelain, yet strangely animated. Krafth's head had no eyes, scale-like armor plating protecting most of the upper skull. He had four ears, two fanning out from each side of his head. The top ear on both sides was adorned with a shining bell, seeming soundless at such a distance, and both lower ears sported two hanging hoop earrings. Krafth's teeth looked to be connected, one large bone, jutting inward at intervals to form a zipper pattern of apparent teeth. The protruding points of the pseudo-teeth were completely flat, as those of cattle, but were no doubt capable of crushing bone if they should be put to such a task. On his back, on the furred back portion of his shoulders, Krafth has two giant eyes, both sealed shut.

"I will not clear the smog completely," Krafth said, rising on his haunches, "as I need it to see… you see."
"So you saw fit to reveal yourself for a… transaction?" Emotion asked, seeking elaboration on the beast's actions. "Of course," Krafth replied, "What have I to hide in an honest bargain?"
"Plenty," said Desire, "but if you'll talk… and your words will actually be of some use… then you do whatever you see fit. Wait, on second, thought, don't do that. You'll never shut up." Krafth stretched his muscles, making sure to look busy with nothing as he spoke to the present Masters. "Time is ever the issue. Speaking of which, how is he?"
"Fine," Desire answered sharply, "just fine. Name your terms, already! I need to do my job, and you aren't helping anything."
"My terms…" Krafth repeated, tilting his eyeless head in mock speculation. "What do I want?"
"…Please," said Emotion at Krafth's extended silence, "we need to hurry. We have an idea of where Islan may be, and the consequences of her presence could be dire."
"Dire?" Krafth repeated again "excellent." Desire rolled her eyes, "sure, whatever."

"What I want, celestial watchdogs, is for you to leave my planet be." Emotion and Desire were temporarily stunned into silence. "…Why?" asked Emotion warily. "Why will one with aspirations seek the attentions of a warden?" Krafth asked in return, albeit rhetorically. Desire considered this, "you know that even if we agree to your terms, we will go back on our word, should you appear a threat. I will be the first to do so."
"I do not expect the bonds of words to possess any real strength… to you. Yet there are those among you who will consider me a friend, and I doubt that they… he… will condone any deceptive behavior on your part. This dissension may have given me the time to make sufficient preparations for your meddling." Emotion looked to Desire, "well?" he asked.

"…Fine," she said, "I will make a superficial agreement with you. We 'will stay out of your affairs'." Krafth smiled, baring his tombstone teeth, "excellent." The cavern's rainbow smoke thickened briefly before dimming again. "My apologies," Krafth said, "I must confess that I am… excited." The two masters staring at him provided Krafth the clue that he should move along and hold up his end of the bargain. "Ah, yes. The void rat. I will see her, above on the surface. She will be looking for information on a place called Scarlet." The two Masters reacted instantly to the word, tensing, Emotion again looking to Desire. "Knowledge was right!" the smaller Master asserted, addressing Desire. She nodded, "yes. Of course. Come along… we're leaving."

The two Masters had departed from the cavern, leaving through the fantastical door through which they had come, it departing in a similar matter as it came. The smoke thickened again, once more obscuring vision, and the still-hiding Bernien relaxed. He was sickened to his core that the horrid smog was becoming a familiar comfort to him. "I hope you will find that episode informative, Bernien." The core worker started at Krafth's voice. The World Eater had never called him by his name before. Summoning up his courage, Bernien spoke, "what are you planning?"
"What do you think?" Krafth responded. Bernien strode from his hiding spot, "I think you know everything. Everything above. Your smog powers the planet, and you use it to see… You probably have a way to hear everything, too. That's why you want those guys to leave you alone. I always though that World Eater was the more vicious of your two names… But now I know that Krafth World-Breath is all the more dangerous." Bernien felt the sudden rush of the great beast's breath wash over his body. "Yes, Bernien. Everything is a conspiracy, and you are at its Core. Let's see what you have done so far under the ground, where no one can hear your protest."

Bernien turned on his heel quickly, whipping around to face the monster. Dwarfed by even the beast's head, Bernien stood, fearless and resolute. "I'll beat you, Krafth World-Breath. I will win."
for creative writing

i came up with krafth a while ago, but never made any complete references of him. i didn't mention his eye-wings here, because it would be unnecessarily complicated when not a necessary detail. i just made bernien up for this... but i might use him again?

comment and such!
oh, and this isn't continuing.
© 2013 - 2024 jellyskink
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In