[Story] Blackened Hearts

[FallenFedora]

"Hear... Think... Feel..." The voice resounds within his head. "Hear. Think. Feel." It repeats again, louder still. "HEAR! THINK! FEEL!" It demands in it's thunderous and deep voice, filled with dark intent. The ethereal male voice lingers still within his horns, echoing from the deepest recesses of Stroud's own soul. This was the voice of the crystal, or so he liked to imagine. The object of his own obsession, and the sole weapon he might utilize against the whole of mankind. Those corrupt and abusive entities that squandered the gift of life, whom wrought only darkness and suffering in the wake of their meager existence. 

 

A shrill wind picked up, and the shiver running up the Xaela's spine brought him back to the reality of the Coerthas wastes. He was kneeling against the ground in pain, gripping at his forehead. He opened his eyes and found his helmet looking back up to him from the snow, jet black with red accents atop it, coupled with bead and feather fetishes hanging from the horns. He sighed, reaching out to collect it and return it atop his head where it belonged, shielding his visage from any and all whom might gleam his face. He stood his full height, the jet black armor creaking with the movement. He took a moment to gauge his surroundings... 

 

He was alone, not even a bird in the sky to sing songs of companionship. Naught but snow before him, and snow behind him - trapped within the endless blizzard blowing in every direction, mirroring the tempestuous nature of his own heart. As the thought crossed his mind, he reached for his waist pouch and produced a rather large pill. He forced himself to swallow it, the lump catching in his throat a moment leaving him with a grimace as it passed. This was the sole reason he deigned to venture to Ishgard... the Elezen had merely given him a pretense to leave, and if it meant he might sink his hooks upon her to further his own influence? But icing atop a bitter cake. 

 

He consulted the dark red crystal hanging from around his neck. It was glowing brighter, it's corrupt hue manifesting to indicate that there was an Aether Current nearby calling out in festering darkness - a darkness he himself had seeded but a few weeks prior. All he needed to do was release a portion of the crystal's power and taint the flow of aether in a region... Given some time, it would amplify in the area, growing in density and power; All he'd need do then, is reabsorb it back into the crystal and continue on his way. He'd done this countless times, but the trick was to find areas that wouldn't dilute the aether entirely, or spread it beyond his reach.

 

The beastkin of the realm managed aetheryte shrines that worked quite well as focal points, but most were too well guarded for any one man to manipulate without negative consequences, save for the one he'd used deep within the Shroud. The Dark Knight pushed onward with the crystal now aflame with the dark energies inside resonating in kind to those lingering in the very air. He unlaced it from himself and held it outright. "HEAR! THINK! FEEL!" The voice echoed again within his head, as darkened energies made themselves manifest and began snaking along each other before flying towards the crystal. A brilliant flash encompassed the man, as the energies coalesced around his figure, ultimately filtering into the crystal. Two minutes passed in this manner, as the aether pooled upon the object in his hand. 

 

A fury of images flashed vividly within his mind; Such lucid recollections bringing with them even the sensations of moments long past... The tears of a sister long abandoned, a young man innocent to the world put to rest at the barbed tip of a lash, the laughter of an arrogant Miqo'te echoing all around - and always the slaughter of men. Inevitably such visions would pull to Carteneau, and he would experience it's entirety in seconds. Every emotion, every pierced heart, the mass collective of pain and agony that had first given this crystal form ripped it's away throughout his body and mind... and then the brief sense of nothingness before he was aware of the world around him once more.

 

When the last of the taint had been removed from the aether flows and absorbed within his crystal, he exhaled a long labored breath. Though the road before him was long, and arduous, this act was but another step forward upon it - and with each passing day, he grew closer and closer to the end. A final definitive end. "...Feel...Feel...Feel..." The crystal resonated within his head, before these thoughts too gave way to the crying gale whipping snow everywhere. He closed his eyes and turned to depart; Now he had time to commit towards Ishgard, and the foolish Dragoon so set upon it's region.

 

[align=center]"I've need of but one vessel to shatter the endless cycle born of mankind's blackened hearts... If you shall not be molded anew, then I shall find another to take up this cup in your absence."[/align]