Chapter Text
The abyss is unkind.
Nothing is there without a reason, nothing but the Snezhnayan boy of course. The one flaw of the abyss, the one mistake.
It doesn't rain in the abyss, the weather never changes. The sky remains a permanent violet color as if the blue sky had been stained with blood. Ajax had often found himself looking up, a vicious grin still plastered onto his face after staining his blades with blood. Looking for the stars that he was slowly forgetting.
His master was the kindest thing Ajax learned to know in the abyss. She was cruel, harsh. Exactly what the innocent child needed to survive such a place.
"One day, you will break us free out of here." She always told him. At one point Ajax had really believed she was helping him but in reality. She was merely helping herself. '
Drip.
It doesn't rain in the abyss.
Drip.
So why is there water leaking from the roof?
Ajax had just let himself fall into his makeshift bed that was just his own clothing and the cold unforgiving stone floor when he noticed it. He would usually just pass out moments after laying down, Skirk drained all his energy- she made sure of that.
Drip.
Curiosity and what remained of his childhood innocence was probably what caused Ajax to stand up again. Much to the dismay of his entire body. He silently observed the water dripping down.
Drip.
Hesitantly, Ajax reached out a hand. Just as another droplet fell from the cave roof. It felt odd, he hadn't felt the sensation of actual water on him in.. He couldn't even remember how long.
He blinked as the water ran down the side of his hand. Another drop fell on his hand, a slow smile slowly stretched across his face. He brought his other hand forward and cupped the two of them so the water wouldn't fall to the floor.
Something he would soon regret when suddenly, the trapped water morphed into a small tentacle. Ajax flinched, taking a step backwards. After seeing the beasts of the abyss, he reacted on instinct.
"Do not fear."
Childe froze as something spoke, seemingly inside his mind. The voice was deep, it reminded him of his father. So much so that he unintentionally let his guard down again. He breathed heavily as the water began morphing, he readied his body for the fight that would come next.
What kind of monstrosity had the abyss prepared for him this time?
Little did Ajax know, he had just met the only other mistake of the abyss.
A small creature.
Ajax blinked, surprise and recognition flashing in his eyes.
A narwhal.
A small hydro narwhal danced around his hand, swimming against non-existent currents. He didn't know he was grinning until the narwhal suddenly rubbed against his cheek. Ajax felt shivers run down his spine at the touch. He had forgotten the feeling of being touched affectionately.
"What is a mere child doing in such a place" the deep voice spoke again, the narwhal flew a few inches away from his face. As if it was the one speaking to him.
Ajax swallowed nervously, "I fell down here." he answered. "W-Why are you here?" he stuttered clenching his fists out of habit as if he were holding blades.
"I was trapped here," the creature replied, its voice darkening slightly.
"Trapped?" Ajax curiously questioned before thinking.
The narwhal twitched somewhat, "For a long time, what you see now is a small part of me. The part that's managed to get out." it explained.
"Why.. Were you trapped?"
There was a brief pause before it answered, "I suppose you could say I fell from grace."
Ajax was about to answer when the creature suddenly disappeared, the narwhal evaporated into thin air as if it had never been there leaving Ajax feeling empty. He gave a quiet sigh, staring up at the ceiling. The water had stopped.
Fatigue and exhaustion pulled Ajax into the darkness that was the only escape from the cruel reality he knew.
He did not wake, not even when water started dripping from the ceiling.
-
"How can one as you survive this place?"
Ajax flinched, he was just about to pass out. Now wide awake he quickly sat up and stared at the darkness that was the cave. His eyes trailed to where he knew a puddle of water was slowly starting to form.
The dripping had gone on for days, it hadn't bothered Ajax. He was just curious, was it just a hallucination? He had questioned himself.
"So small, yet so strong. Such a desire to live." the voice spoke again, his deep voice lulled Ajax into a false sense of security. His father's face flickered into his mind.
Slowly Ajax leaned backwards again, he found himself wishing whatever it was would just speak again. He was so exhausted, so tired-- Infection from injuries threatened his life every day. The only rest he had was when the violet-colored sky darkened.
He hadn't, he really hadn't intended to fall asleep. He wanted to ask what the creature was, who they were and.. If they could tell him a story.
-
"Whenever you leave, you return with injuries. Why leave at all?" the voice one day questioned.
"I have to," Ajax replied, yawning tiredly. "I need to eat, to drink, and to do that I need to fight," he explained.
The voice scoffed, "I am aware of the necessities mortals need to survive. But do you not have caretakers? I am aware humans mature quickly, but you are small."
Ajax huffed childishly, "I'm not small," he protested. The creature gave a huff of laughter in response.
"I need to grow big and strong, so I can get out of here," Ajax mumbled wistfully.
"No mortals enter the abyss nor leave it unscathed." the creature only mused in response.
"What are you?" Ajax suddenly asked changing the subject unintentionally.
"I am a god." the creature stated as a matter of factly, "The overlord of the vortex." he continued. Rambling something more about his titles which Ajax tuned out mostly due to fatigue.
"Cool." Ajax only replied slowly starting to doze off.
"My name-" yawn, "is Ajax." Ajax introduced.
"You are tired." the god stated.
Ajax gave a quiet mhm in response.
"Why not sleep?" the god inquired.
"Want to talk with you," Ajax mumbled, his eyes closed.
"I will be here when you wake, go to sleep." the god hummed, his voice so soft Ajax felt his entire body relax.
Sleep came instantly.
-
"My mama always told me to have something to fight for." Ajax grinned brightly, he looked less exhausted today. He was still struggling to stay awake but did not look ready to pass out.
"I suppose you fight for your family?" the god hummed, amusement lacing his tone.
"Yeah.." Ajax mumbled, "but also to get stronger!" he quickly added.
"I suppose you have grown." the god mused, Ajax smiled tiredly as a hydro narwhal circled him. He noted the hydro creature getting larger by each day.
Ajax yawned, "I'm so tired." he mumbled. The god knew he didn't only mean physically.
You wouldn't think an overlord-- a god, no less. Would ever hesitate, especially because of a child. But here he was, having nothing to say.
"I heard.. Mortals tell their young stories." the god almost seemed to ask.
"My dad told me many," Ajax smiled lightly, clearly remembering a fond memory. "He even named me after one, the great Ajax."
"Do you wish for me to tell you one?" the god did not know why he offered it, nor why the smile on Ajax's face made him feel warm.
"Yeah!" Ajax burst as enthusiastically as someone about to pass due to exhaustion could.
The god remained silent momentarily, pondering on what exactly to say. "Have you ever heard about the story of the great Osial besting the evil god Morax?"
-
"Ajax." the god greeted as per usual when Ajax stumbled into the cave. The Snezhnayan barely got into the cave before he stumbled forward. Falling knees first into the small puddle, the dripping had become more frequent. Mostly due to his own blood falling into the water.
"You are dying." the god stated. Ajax bit his bottom lip leaning against the wall, not even bothering to get out of the cool water.
"I was too slow." Ajax's voice came out as a whisper.
"You are a mortal."
"So what?" Ajax snapped back, a little louder this time. He winced as he tried turning, he had managed to kill the beast. But not without it tearing up his entire back in the process. Skirk had merely scoffed at his limping form. "I'm not weak!" Ajax added, tears filling his unusually empty eyes.
The god did not reply, a hundred years or so ago he would have slaughtered any mortal for such insolence. For daring to speak to a god with such disrespect. But this time, he did not. Although if it wasn't Ajax he probably would've.
Ajax panted heavily, every time he leaned backward to relieve his tired body the wounds on his back would cause him to wince.
"P-Please," Ajax shakily began, "tell me another story," he begged.
The one thing Ajax had to keep himself going, the abyss became just a little easier because of them. How he could always look forward to the daily stories from the ancient god. Perhaps hearing one now would ease his pain.
There came no answer. For so long that Ajax assumed he wasn't ever going to again. But just as his shoulders slumped an answer came.
"Little Ajax," the god began slowly, "why haven't you asked me to help you yet?"
The question had plagued the god's mind for far too long, every time Ajax stumbled in looking worse than the day before. Still, the child put on a smile and spoke as if he wasn't going to die at any time.
"You are helping me," Ajax merely stated, giving a quiet wince as he accidentally inhaled too deeply making the wounds on his back move. "Every time I want to give up all I have to do is think about you." Ajax managed to smile, it would have almost looked sweet if there wasn't blood staining his teeth.
"Make a contract with me."
"What?" Ajax whispered hoarsely.
"Swear your loyalty to me, and in return, I will help you. You will not die in this place Ajax."
"How?" Ajax's question was even quieter this time. Both of them knew time was running out, soon he would fall into the darkness and most likely never return.
"I will use what little power I have to tear a rift in this reality. Then it will be up to you, to get us to safety." the god answered.
Ajax did not reply, the only sound that could be heard was his strained breathing. A shaky inhale then a slow exhale.
"All you need to do is say my name."
Ajax opened his mouth to answer but instead gave a weak cough. Blood splattering onto the floor, into the water that seemed to almost absorb it.
"I--" Ajax paused, struggling to even move his own lips, "I don't know your name," he confessed, blinking a few times trying not to cry in his last moments.
Ajax hiccuped, if the god didn't know he was crying he sure did now. The water, now stained slightly pink due to his own blood started crawling its way up Ajax's body.
"Say it." the god demanded. His harsh tone caused Ajax to flinch.
"I- swear loyalty?" Ajax more questioned than swore.
He shrieked in pain as suddenly the water touched the wounds on his back, tears flooded his eyes causing his vision to blur significantly. He couldn't help but sob quickly, the pain finally became too much for him.
"Your name-" Ajax paused, wincing loudly as the water caressed his wounds. "Lord of the vortex--"
"Close." the god hummed appreciatively. Not caring that the title was wrong.
"Osial," pause, "your name is-- Osial."
"That is correct," Osial confirmed, Ajax let out another shriek of pain as the water pressed down on his injuries. The burning agony caused his vision to blur, the coolness of the water seeped into his veins. As if the water was replacing his lost blood.
"You're unlike any mortal I've ever met Ajax," Osial's voice once again lulled Ajax into a false sense of security, "go with my blessing. Go in my name, go as my retainer."
Osial said something more, but Ajax couldn't hear him anymore. All he could do was sit, paralyzed by bloodloss and pain. With one last painful inhale Ajax gave in.
He was falling, a feeling Ajax was familiar with. He wanted to scream, to cry, to break free. Where would he end up next? Was there something worse than the abyss? The hell he was already in? No, Ajax pleaded inwardly. Not again!
His eyes snapped open.
"Ajax?"
The weather in the abyss never changes.
"My sweet boy, what happened to you?!"
So why is it snowing?