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Instructions

I entered for the last one, but it was fun, so I'm trying my luck again! Note: the protagonist is the friend of the WTA character (Kal) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Being a Daemon is a privilege. A responsibility. A daemon is the guiding force built to restore the world to normalcy. But sometimes I find myself wondering about the local prejudices. Maybe us daemons really are just…demons. <ACT 1 SCENE 1> A great evil had been released into the world. It was my fault, partially. And that is why I am determined to change it. "Is that the Lake?" Kal asks, his quiet voice echoing across the vast cave chambers. I peer over his shoulder. And I see it. It glows softly, like a swarm of fireflies resting in one spot. Yet it is a liquid, clear like ethereal water. As we approach, a faint hum enters my head, as if my brain is vibrating merely from the presence of this majestic pond. It is our last hope. We have tried everything to get rid of the evil, but nothing worked. Until legends of the daemon pond appeared. The daemons were ancient creatures, between God and human. Legend says they had the souls of heroes, from the boldest of their era. And the legends were right. I cup my hand in the Lake, drawing out a handful of the glowing waters. It feels almost warm, and new life surges into me. I take a deep breath, glancing at Kal, who has his own handful of the waters. And I drink. <ACT 1 SCENE 2> I can't describe how the Ascension felt. You'd expect it to feel like a surge of life, a new power rushing through your veins until you feel the true awe and fear that comes with realization that a great power is out there. It felt like dying. I awake seconds, days, centuries later, a new person. No, not person anymore. A daemon. A giggle erupts from me. It worked! Kal and I have the powers now to stop that evil, that monster that ruined our lives. In a moment of sheer joy, I shake Kal awake, words blurting rom my mouth like a rushing river. "Kal- the prophecy- we're daemons! We can... we can..." I trail off as I notice his face. It is somber, more so than usual, the black horns protruding like foreign objects to my eyes. His face, now a stony gray, brings me to my senses. We may be daemon, but we are not invincible. We still have a long mission ahead of us. "Should I go ahead? Check if the minions haven't caught up with us?" I offer, noticing the exhaustion in his face. He nods wearily. I walk down the tunnel, nearly skipping with my newfound energy. But then it happens. As I'm walking, I suddenly crash into what feels like a brick wall. I pause, confused, then hesitatingly stretch my fingers out, feeling the invisible barrier that lies between me and freedom. Sheer panic rushes through me, and I stay there for a few minutes, pressing, pushing, trying the break what holds me back. "You can't." I whip around. It was Kal, exhaustion still evident in his features. "Are we trapped?" The words slip out of my mouth. "Was it...Him? Has he stopped us before we even had the chance?" Kal shook his head. His eyes are sad, I notice. "The prophecy spoke of daemons," he says after a few moments of silence, "But they spoke of only one hero." The meaning of his words crash into me. I was trapped. For only one can go out in the world, only one can be the hero. Only one of us is the Arbitrator. <INTERMISSION> The prophecy was fulfilled. Or so I thought. But the world needs rebuilding. It needs me. But I'll come back for you. I promise. -Kal