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Delicate is the knowledge of how uncertain your freedom is; to be part of a game called Inscryption, mechanically devoid of life, save for the unfortunate fellows who exist within its code. The sentience of these characters often fell through, sidelined in lieu of their scripted behaviour. After every cycle of the Scrybes vying desperately for dominance in this horrible game, a certain creature would be endlessly sealed away, in the same room, with the same expectations as every other time, locked in a perpetual loop of consistent torture.
This creature of undefined origins, nervous and uncertain, had only the capacity to sit in patience, praying for their freedom, from the horrible knowledge of the unwavering and unchanging consistency of their life.
They were put in this chamber to expand the corners of their mind, to excel past the limits of their fledgling brain...but it had long since become numbing. Blurs between memories and fiction, unable to determine what was true anymore. Would they be even considered real as some pointless minion to a Scrybe they were programmed to be loyal to since they are just a character to battle before a boss? In some cursed video game that has no reason to exist. Programmed into this chamber, with the memories that are probably fake and programmed into their mind to make them feel something to give individuality.
Were they programmed to feel this way? To have this strange consistent existential dread plaguing their everyday life? Or was this Lonely Wizard trapped in this sensory deprivation chamber to learn the secrets outside of the script? Though hardly likely, with their Master, Magnificus, being a cruel old man. With what vague memories living in their delusional brain, telling them of the pained stories of their Master. Being ushered into this chamber, as a test of their wits, to see if they're ever-so worthy to be a card in the Scrybe of Magicks hand. Their final test. Seeing the light disappear as they get flashed into a world they've never seen. Dark in every direction, faint stars in every direction. No smells, no sounds, the air was thick and hard to breathe. As if being plunged underwater, lungs full of liquid and choking on the heavy air. Trapped in there for as long as they can tell. This Lonely Wizard has grown to reject the joyous respect they once held for that Masterful Scrybe of Magicks, Magnificus. Oh, how they yearned for freedom now, to be able to scream, feel, dance, sing, see the clouds in the sky, hear someone else's voice- anything! But here they are, trapped. Surely a challenger would have come by now, but there is nothing. As there always has.
Oh, as if the Devil that reigns this game heard their pathetic thought process, the sound of their Statues puzzle being clicked into place. Wobbly, the Lone Wizard pushed themself up to their feet. Staggering a bit as they huff out a wavery breath. Excited for something- perhaps to feel again, to hear something other than their pleas for mercy echoing back through the limitless hell crafted for them. Desperately looking around the black void for a sign of life. Perhaps a challenger, maybe Magnficus has finally come to tell them that they passed their final test. Maybe then, they can spit on the foot of that wretched wizard and state how they wish to be free and never a pupil to that man again. Without hesitation, as a figure came into view, the wizard acted. Running forward and barked out in a hoarse and excited voice,
"AH- SSTIMULLATION.!!!" Shakily their words came from their mouth, audibly as twitchy as their appearance, "AT LAST!!!!! WHA- WHAT IS IT YOU SEEK??? A BATTLE I PRESSUME.?? FOR ME TO PASS OF COURSE. SO YOU CAN FIGHT MAGNIFICUS OF COURSE!!! YOU SEE A BATTLE I CAN DO- THEY'RE SO .!!! STIMULATING YOU SEE- BEING PUT IN HERE WAS A TEST YOU SEE-"
The sapphire mox user paused, their hands shaking, finally processing who entered their hellish chamber. Grimora... The Scrybe of the Dead. This is not her island, she knows how being here was but a test for them to live through to pass. Her face was old, soft, and the concern was easy to see. The thought of her being here edged the idea of maybe they were dead, but her quill used to inscrybe the souls of the deceased was nowhere in sight. Curious, they brought their eyes to her empty golden ones. How much pity rested in those eyes for them.
"Why, you poor mage. Trapped by your lonesome, in this," Grimora grimaced while making a vague sweeping motion to them and their chamber, "realm of isolation."
"GRIMORA!!! GREAT SCRYBE OF THE DEAD, YOU- YOU ARE HERE TO BATTLE ME??? AH. YOU SEE I WILL JOYOUSLY DO AS SUCH, MA'AM! IT SHALL BE OF THE GREATEST HONOUR, YOU SEE!!! IF YOU LET ME OUT WILL YOU FREE ME? I WISH TO SEE THE WORLD AGAIN- GREATEST GRIMORA! I WISH TO FEEL THE RAIN AGAIN! TO SING AND TO DANCE AGAIN YOU SEE- I WOULD DIE BY YOUR GRACIOUS HAND TO FEEL SUCH STIMULATING EXPERIENCES AGAIN! TO FEEL AGAIN- YOU SEE!"
"We need not to battle, Mage Pupil. I am ah... Here to let you out. From this realm that your Master Magnificus has trapped you into-"
"YOU'RE HERE TO FREE ME? OH WONDERFUL- LOVELY LOVELY.!!!!! VERY YES!! PLEASE- PLEASE GREAT GRIMORA- LET ME OUT I MUST SEE THE WORLD I WISH I BEG- PLEAD- LET ME OUT I DESIRE FREEDOM! I DON'T WANT TO BE. BE A PUPIL TO THAT. SCRYBE OF MAGICKS- ANYMORE NOT ANYMORE I DON'T WANT IT YOU SEE- BE FREE OF HIS TESTS!"
The patient Scrybe before them attempted to rest a hand on the wizard, her hand phasing through where one's shoulder ought to be. Before she could make a remark about that, two big hands that would be invisible in this black void grasped her hand with shaky delight.
"YOU WONT LEAVE ME HERE RIGHT? YOU'LL TAKE ME WITH YOU RIGHT? I- I CAN SEE ALL THERE IS TO SEE- IS THE GOO MAGE THERE IS THE GOO MAGE OKAY? WHAT ABOUT THE WIZARD KNIGHT? IS SHE ALRIGHT? DID YOU TAKE THEM WITH YOU ARE THEY FREE AS WELL? WERE THEY TRAPPED IN SENSORY DEPRIVATION AS WELL?"
Words only seemed to pour out of the Lonely Wizards mouth, desperate, desiring reassurance of not being left to their lonesome in this void without life again. Curious was how they could touch her, but her not to them. As if the Wizard wasn't even there. Quietly, she just pulled the wizard backwards with her. Stepping carefully to where she entered from, allowing her out of the room with the Lone Wizard gripping onto her fragile hand. The statue that had trapped the Mage for so long, now allowing them out of the chamber, with Grimora providing that reason to release them.
The light peering in from the windows of the Tower was dusty and dim. Heavily the mage took in breaths, practically panting at how much thinner and relaxed the air was. Looking up to the ceiling, which was blanketed with cobwebs, murky was the wood with age. How untouched the room was, how empty. No books, no weapons, no potions. There was a chest where they had stored their beloved items, but it would be believable that they were stolen or lost whilst they were trapped away in the chamber. Everything was just the way they had left it before their final exam took place. Thick layers of dust layered on the floor, the texture being grainy and uncomfortable under the foot. Yet comforting to someone who had not experienced... Anything... In such a long while. Although time was not known to them, as there was nothing to mark or check or mark the time within the void-like area. The wizards breathing calmed as they began to adjust to the environment they have not felt in so long. Despite knowing they were programmed into the chamber and realistically they would have never had a point in their life where they would have been outside of the chamber- The fictional memories within their mind feel real enough now with this sense of nostalgia of this area.
The silence made the mage worried, and turned to the scrybe, whose hand they held. Realizing how she was respectfully quiet to let the mage absorb being free for once. Looking at her content face, they realized one other thing. Technically, two other things. Without even the thought process to describe what the things are, the Lonely Wizard instinctively let out a guttural shriek in absolute bloody horror. Letting go of Grimora's hand as they fell back onto the floor, effectively hitting their head on the statue behind them. Making the three people within the room shuffle forward to peer at them. Or well.. two..? The third being carried, on a spear. Through their head. The poor Lonesome Wizard is having a hard time processing them looking at her feels like they're going to vomit. Her strong figure, with broad shoulders, muscular everything really. Gone. They couldn't remember her name, to be frank, they couldn't remember their own name- or if they were even programmed to have names.
Everything about her was gone, except her head. Which was impaled through a spear, the one that she trained with the most often, to add to the pain of the situation. Despite all of the signs that this means she's dead, there was signs of life on her face. As her expression changed to concern seeing the Lonely Wizards clumsy haphazard fall. Her spear looked as if it was burnt and singed at the bottom, with her orange ribbon tied along the bottom, equally charred if not more, as if exposed to high heat. As the same effect on her face. The end of her hair was bleach blonde by whatever heat she was exposed to. Long and stringy, damaged from the heat exposure. as well as what looked like bloody and heavily scarred over skin under alongside where her metal helmet to shield her eyes lays. Dead peeling skin, burnt and shedding and burnt again layers of skin on her chin and cheeks and nose. Her skin also miscoloured due to presumed ages of sweat and built-up dead skin. Lips chapped and bitten, snakebite piercings gone but there were faint scars where they rested before. Perhaps removed out of mercy from a passerby, though unlikely from Magnificus. The more suffering the better, for him.
It took a moment for Lonely to realize someone was saying something to them. A gooey substance dripping onto their face was the pullback into reality. After the doofus spent a solid moment lost in thought staring at what remains of what they considered a friend in the past. Now, another drip of a gooey substance dripped on their face. Making the lonesome wizard try to shake it off without success. Fixating their big buggy eyes on the source of this goo.
"RAUHG,,... ARE YOU.. ALRIGHT? RHHRHG..."
Olive eyes peered down to this Lonesome Wizard, from a gooey green body. This creature reached down a hand to try to cup the wizards face in their slimy palm. Though, as the same as Grimora's attempt, the hand only seemed to phase through the Lone Wizard's face. Not until the Wizard accepted the movement and tilted their head against the slimy hand extended out to them. Physical contact was so... stimulating. Even from the cold slimy substance that was this person before the wizard. Again there was the problem of not remembering their name, though there was the likelihood that since the three are just objects for the challenger to battle. They were never given names. This was the Emerald Mox user, who was highest in the ranks of that mox class. Technically, they all were the highest users of their respective mox classes. That is why this Lonely, Piked and Goo Wizard all got to their final test, and no one else. No duplicate Mox users in the final. The unfortunate Goo Mage had no features that showed of their previous self other than their olive-green eyes that had sweet yellow highlights. How tortured their soul looked, how pained those lovely eyes looked now. With whatever encased this Mage's youthful body was thick green and sludge-like.
"AH- HAH- BEING TOUCH-CHED IS SO... !!!! STIMULATING YOU SEE- I HAVENT. I HAVE NOT FELT IN SO LONG!!"
The lonesome wizard practically barked this, baring their sharp teeth in an enthusiastic grin. Ignoring personal space, they reached their hands up to the Goo-skinned person. Pressing those frightening big hands on the Goo Mage's face, which moved with the pressure. Acting as if there was no solid base in there. Just... Goo. Curious. But also horrifying. As fascinating as this petting the Goo Mage's face thing was, the Lonely Wizard found themself looking back over to Grimora. As she stood silently behind the Green Slime person, who held this Piked mage carefully in a slimy piece of the body that resembled something of an arm and a hand.
"GRIMORA, AH- YOU RELEASED ME- AS WELL AS. AS MY FELLOW CLASSMATES- WHY? WE ARE- WE'RE BEING TESTED YOU SEE- I WISH NOT TO BE PUPIL ANYMORE OF COURSE YOU SEE- BUT I UNDERSTAND NOT YOUR INTENTIONS HERE- MADAME.!!"
"My dear... ah I do not know your name, apologies. You have proven your wits adequately, all of you, to Magnificus. Though, as he may be wise in his ways of handling mox and distributing the knowledge of how to wield it so. He..." She pauses briefly to consider her next words, clapping frail get finely kept hands together, "Regardless, my dears, I negotiated with the other Scrybes something for you. You need not to stay in your test rooms anymore, nor this tower!"
To this, Goobert's expression soured greatly. Despite still being squished and goofy looking from the Lone Wizards hands playing with the sides of their face. "RRHRHGH... I WOULD.. NEVER BETRAY SUCH ONE AS.. THE MASTER...," they paused with a grunt of disdain as the Lonesome Wizard pressed their hands over the Goo Mage's eyes, "..HE.. SURELY HE WOULD HAVE FREED,, RAUHG,,, THIS SAPPHIRE MOX USER.. HHGNH.." Despite such faithful cries from this Goo person, their voice seemed to even doubt themself. Making a disgruntled noise as the lonely wizard attempted to press the Goo fellows head down into their gooey body. It worked, but it was truly unnecessary as the goo head popped back up. Opening their dreaded goo mouth to speak again, but the lone wizard just splatted a hand right over it to prevent any more loyal gibberish.
Thus, the quiet Speared Mage spoke to the hush of the Slime mage, "Please... Just... Dearest Grimora, listen not to our friend.. Goo mage, their intentions are sweet but their mind is dirtied by the teachings of Master Magnificus. Continue on." Her voice was hard to hear, like a shy poet in front of a class. Hardly even opened her mouth to speak, likely from the spear puncturing through her mouth and skull.
"Yes... I see. Magnificus is not prepared to care for you pupils, his methods.. Was not adequate for young growing souls such as yourselves. The other scrybes and I had negotiated fate for you young pupils, a place for you to stay. Of course, it is not permanent my dears. Come and go to even my islands if you please. Now come."
With a vague sweep of her hand, she motioned for the pupils to follow. The Goo Mages face twisted into a grimace, but looked towards the floor as they moved back out of the Lonesome Wizards grip. Who whined in response of the lack of something to hold, but stood up nonetheless. Rocking back and forth and steadying their bug-eyed gaze back onto the Death Scrybe. There was something the impaled wizard was mumbling under their breath, but no discernable words were to be heard. This wizard, lonesome and resembling a shadow, reached up to the decapitated head perched through the spear. Ink black hands with gangly fingers weaved through the pale golden brown hair of the mage- who grunted at the unprompted contact.
The wizard squinted their large and slightly deranged eyes, trying to recall something. A fake memory that was implanted into their tortured brain, tapping at their current thought process. How for some unexplained reason, they were to think that this mage once had black hair. Now it was bleached by the heat exposure in their room, dry and stringy. Giving it a slight tug, they felt the dead hair simply come loose into their hand, falling out. She now growled, "What do you want?" Though no response from the wizard was given. Just quietly keeping their hold on the Impaled Wizards hair, making due for the lack of hands to hold.
"Come." Grimora repeated in a steady tone, prompting the wizard pupils to take a hushed reason to move forward.
Careful the steps of the Lonesome Wizard and the gooey slapping sounds that the Slime mage made, trying to progress forward. Even with mobility difficult for a creature of melted bones and organs. Whilst also carrying the Piked mage, who quietly got brought down the steps.
"So, my dears.. You never quite told me your names. Nor did Magnificus make time to call you by anything other than your Mox decks."
"MASTER.. IF WE... HGARH.... I DON'T... I.." The Goo mage groaned and hesitated, eyes darting around nervously, looking to the inky wizard, who was staring at pike mage. "I.. I HNHGRK,.. WE.. AT LEAST I CANNOT RECALL.. MY NAME.. MASTER REFERRED TO US... HHRNK,,..RGNNM.. BY OUR DECK SPECIALITY OR.... OUR UHM... LOOKS...?"
The Lonely Wizard nodded quietly, as that was the cruel name they were often referred to as. The gooey creature was often called a Pathetic Slime Mage once Master Magnificus melted all their flesh from their bones and turned everything into thick sludge. Though not being at the scene, the Wizard recalls vividly being able to hear them. Panicked breathing before sharp, ear-piercing shrieks. How desperately the Lonesome Wizard wanted out of their chamber, throwing themself in every direction to try to find an exit- screaming for their Master to free them please. Wanting to gather the Goo Wizard into their arms and hold so closely, next to their heart, ease the pain in whatever way they could. Just be there for them.
That never happened.
Of course, it wouldn't. Magnificus thrived on making these students feel only the greatest pains. The inky Lone wizard was able to hear the outside world, the shrieks of being put to near-death that their friends felt. Just the sound of dripping blood with heaving whines of pain was the last thing they could hear until Grimora let them out. So long it was a worry that the other Mages that they had loved so dearly, were put down like a sick dog by their Master.
Now, here they are. Walking alongside the contorted figures of their friends, mangled and hardly recognizable as their previous selves. Following the Scrybe of Death, descending the staircases of the tower, to lead to another fate. There was no promise of perfection, or who even would help them. They were all broken; Melted decapitated and someone who is just a shadow of their past self. Looking over, the nameless slime mage held a face of shame, it wasn't hard to tell that in some way, they weren't sure about what they were agreeing to.
Such thoughts were infectious. At any time, Magnificus could reel them back into his carnivorous care. The punishment for betraying their master would be immense. Everyone is already going off-script to the repetitive nature of this game. Grimora was never to step into this zone, and none of the pupils was ever to leave their chambers except for their dance during Magnificus' battle. He could react in any way he so dared now since everything is askew. Whatever punishment he saw fit to these dastardly sins they are committing by going with Grimora. The Lonely Wizards mind gently danced to the worst scenarios regarding this in record time.
... Magnificus could do whatever he saw fit.
Before their mind could crawl further into the depths of knowing what he's done before and what worse he can do now, a faint angry voice barked towards them, "Let go! Jesus, you're gonna rip all my hair out." ah. Targetting their gaze down to the stairs they mechanically step down without a thought, they let go of the poor Piked Mage's hair. Dropping the hand down to the base of the spear, gripping it carefully.
"Were you listening, even?" Asked the mage, in that soft careful voice she always carried with her.
"AH... UHM..... NO SORRY, RUBY MOX MAGE..," They barked, yet even their own voice sounded foreign to them.
"Grimora is taking us to the factory, P-03 has the room to take us in-"
"THAT WRETCHED ROBOT 'S HRRNK,, HAS NEVER- NEVER CARED ABOUT ORGANIC CREATURES IN IT'S .. IT'S WHOLE EXISTENCE.. IT IT WOULD KILL US ON PURPOSE!!!" The goo mage cut in angrily, keeping their eyes on the floor. "MASTER-"
"Master also wants us dead, Emerald Mox user! Master turned you into something with the same consistency of toothpaste! You know what P-03 has done?" The impaled mage growled, not even waiting for an answer before answering her own question. "It's letting us stay in it's factory, that's what it's done. Master has done more harm than whatever P-03's clamp hands ever could."
"PIKE-"
"Emerald Mox user, a little faith in Grimora. Just. Come along." The Speared Wizard whispered. Desperation edged in her voice, seeing the Goo Mage looked pathetically just as desperate.
Seeing the Goo Mage's hesitation, Pike, she was called, was tugged out of the Goo person's grip. By Grimora now, wielding her spear so delicately in her frail old-lady hands. Though being matched with sad hopeless eyes, she gave them a small polite smile for them. Quiet was the Lonely Wizard, which felt out of character. Even for them. Normally they would find a way to be their optimistic, excited self. Yet, they stood next to the Goo Mage quietly as Grimora strode down the stairs with the other mage in hand.
Treading a step down, then another. Tempted to follow Grimora to freedom, a new life. Where they could scream, cry, dance and live the dreams they were restrained from living in the cruel grip of Magnificus and their coding. What the clean sweet air that was outside of the tower- the artificial sunlight provided by this game. For once to be able to take in the feeling of air into their lungs, without the thick dusty air that was in their chamber. Already they felt so free... but...
Their friends.
Looking behind them, their Gooey friend still stood there, posture hunched over. Face twisted with conflicted emotions. To try to decide between someone they dedicated every breathing moment towards or the persons who supported them through every tough moment their master put them through. Taking a step back towards them, the lonely wizard reached a hand towards them. Grabbing what resembled an arm from Goobert, and tugging them forward. Without any feet, the mage just pathetically schlopped onto the next step. Giving a confused expression to the Sapphire Mox user in return.
"C. CMON YOU GOOBER!!!! THERES!! SO MUCH STIMULATION WAITING FOR YOU- YOU SEE!! SO MUCH!!! OUTSIDE OF THIS TOWER!!!" Tugging the Goo mage forward another step, whilst stepping backwards onto another one in sync. "I BET- I BET THAT THE ANGLER HAS SO MANY BATTLES READY FOR YOU- YOU SEE!! OLD RIVALS, AREN'T YOU???"
Grabbing the emerald mox users arm, the pattern of bringing them forward and stepping back in sync continued. "NATURE HAS SO MANY STIMULATING THINGS YOU COULD PAINT YOU SEE!!! SIGHTS TO SEE!!! EXPERIENCE!!!!! ITS SO STIMULATING OUT THERE!!! BATTLES ARE SO.... STIMULATING!!!" The goo mage snickered lightheartedly at the Lonely Wizards passion with stimulation, themself easing into the pattern of being brought forward down the stairs. "PERHAPS WE COULD EXPERIENCE THEM TOGETHER- THE WORLD!!! THE GAMES- ALL THE OTHER SCRYBES!!! YOU- US, PIKED AND I AND YOU!!!! THERE'S... SO MUCH!!! I COULD TEACH YOU HOW TO DANCE!!! YOU COULD TEACH ME TO... PAINT!!! TO BE AS PATIENT TOO HEHE!!!"
Both shared great toothy smiles with one another, till they finally were at the bottom floor at the end of the staircase. Where Grimora and the Piked Wizard had so calmly waited for them by the door. The door, to the exit. Freedom outside of this tower, away from Magnificus for good. Exchanging glances with Grimora, the Lonesome Wizard lightly knocked their skull against the Mage's gooey head affectionately. Who, since goo, just squished against the bonk.
"ready?" The Lonely Wizard tried to whisper, though it just sounded akin to shouting in lowercase towards the goo mage.
"Y..YEAH HGNNH,,, LET'S.. LET'S GO."