"Leon regained consciousness and stared in disbelief at the changes to his body. An unfamiliar mark—a stigma containing the power of the gods—now burned upon his skin. He questioned how a mere mortal could inherit such strength, who had summoned him, and whether he possessed a past he could no longer remember. Yet, as he tried to familiarize himself with these strange new abilities, one detail resurfaced: Pathfinder. He remembered the voice calling out that title the moment he stepped through the Mysterious Door."
Transferring to hall of Darkness....
"As the transfer to the Hall of Darkness completed, Leon sat down. Though he had never grown weary in battle—not even his very first fight had exhausted him—his mind now raced. He began to replay every memory from his childhood to the present, searching for suspicious clues or any link between his world and this 'Fallen' realm. A heavy unease settled over him. He refused to use the Altar of Memories, unwilling to seek an easy escape from his thoughts or the haunted remnants of his childhood ."
"A stigma on my left hand... and another on my back. It burns. I can feel it spreading until it covers my entire back."
Then, a sensation on my forehead. Leon hurried toward the holy water fountain to glimpse his reflection. "Beautiful" - he say.
Even his forehead was marked. He felt transformed, completely different than before. Yet, a shadow of worry loomed over his new strength: the Stigma's power was capable of destroying his entire world. He would have to be cautious, learning to command this power before it commanded him."
"Pathfinder... what a weird name."
Leon sighed, the weight of everything finally crashing down. "I'm exhausted. It's all just... exhausting."
"Are you tired? Do you need my help?"
Leon screamed in shock, and the voice screamed right back at him.
"Who are you?! Wait—what are you?"
"Master, I am so sad," the voice whimpered. "You don't even remember my voice after hearing it all this time?"
Leon paused, realization dawning on him. "Wait... are you the one? The gift Estella gave me? My guide?"
"Master, finally! You realize!"
A small, warm figure materialized. She fluttered on wings of brilliant red and white—wings that seemed almost too large for her tiny frame. Her eyes sparkled with a kindness that made her look like she was smiling, even when her lips didn't move.
"What do I call you?" Leon asked, his voice softening. "What's your name?"
"Master, I don't have one. My master never gave me a name."
Leon scoffed. "What kind of master does that? Well, she was created by Estella.....
Estella probably just forgot, right?"
"I don't know who Estella is," the creature replied softly. "You are my only Master.
"Did you not know me! "
Are you a bad person, Master? Or am I bad? Is that why you forgot to name me?"
"No! No, it's not like that," Leon stammered, guilt rising in his chest. "I just didn't know you had a physical form like Estella's. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
The little fairy brightened instantly. "Then can you name me? I would be so happy!"
"Dragon Eyes, activate!"
As Leon's vision shifted, the truth of the creature was revealed. She was a fragment of power originally forged by Estella, the Great Guardian of the Tower. Having been bathed in the blessing of the God of Healing, that energy had evolved, finally manifesting in a physical form. She possessed not only the gift of restoration but the long-lost secrets of Forgotten Fairy Magic. No longer just a voice, she was now recognized as the first " Apostle of Leon."
"What? My Apostle?"
Leon blinked as the realization hit him. "Ah, right... I passed the Trial of Godhood."
He looked at the small figure hovering before him. She possessed the gift of healing and Forgotten Fairy Magic—powers he didn't fully understand yet. Still, after the isolation of his journey, it was a relief to have someone so close to talk to.
"To name you... Eir. Can I call you Eir?"
The fairy's wings fluttered with joy. "Eir... I love it! I love my name!"
"You have named your First Apostle."
"You can now add another Apostle. A limit of two Apostles is currently set; as your Divinity increases, more slots will be unlocked."
He had barely processed Eir's existence, and already the path toward godhood was demanding he expand his circle. With one slot left, the choice of who—or what—would join him as his second Apostle weighed heavily on his mind.
"Master, I like it! I really, really, really like my name!" Eir chirped, her wings shimmering with excitement.
Leon managed a small smile. "It's a name I remember from the stories my mother used to tell me. I thought it would suit you." He paused, looking around the Hall of Darkness. "And... welcome to my family. There is another member, Ethan. He's my companion, but he's currently in a deep slumber to regain his strength. You'll meet him soon. I also have a Master of my own; you'll hear from him eventually too."
"Master! Master! Master!" Eir sang out, circling his head.
"Is she really hearing everything I say?" Leon wondered.
Nearby, Ethan remained at rest. Since Leon had claimed the Stigma and passed the Trial of Godhood, Ethan's internal energy had shifted noticeably. Leon watched him closely, muttering, "I hope nothing happens to him."
"Master, Master, Master! Eir is so happy!" the fairy chirped, oblivious to his brooding. She fluttered in circles, her glow brightening. "I have a Master now! I can finally touch you, I can actually see you! Master, Master!"
"Don't call me 'Master,'" Leon sighed, feeling a bit awkward. "You can just call me Leon."
"No!" Eir insisted, her glowing eyes wide. "I want to call you Master. Eir likes 'Master.' Eir will call you that!"
"Really, she wasn't even listening to me."
"Master, you have wings too! They're so beautiful..."
Leon looked over his shoulder at the appendages—wings capable of purifying anything they touched. "So I wasn't hallucinating," he murmured. He recalled the faint, enormous, yet warm voices he had heard earlier. Between the blessing of Eir and the emergence of these wings, his power felt more real than ever.
Yet, a hollowness remained. "I feel like I'm missing something," Leon admitted, more to himself than to Eir. "Someone dear. It's not just my world or my parents... it's a longing in my heart for someone I have yet to meet." He shook his head. "Well, time will reveal everything. I just have to wait."
"Master, are you worried?" Eir asked, fluttering closer.
"No, not anymore," Leon replied firmly. "I know what I have to do."
"Master, I am strong!" Eir declared, her tiny face full of determination. "I can kill anything. Eir will help Master!"
Leon let out a genuine, heartfelt laugh.
"Eir, I can't let you do that. I have a mission from my own Master to complete.
"Eir began to sulk, her face falling into a mask of disappointment. She let out a heavy, dramatic sigh, and even her wings stopped fluttering as she drifted toward the ground. Seeing her distress, Leon reached out with a gentle gesture.
" He reached out with a gentle gesture, touching her lightly. "Just stay by my side. Follow me, and that will be enough."
Eir tilted her head.
"How can she manage to be this cute, even when she's sulking?" Leon wondered, a small smile finally tugging at his lips.
"But Master... what about the voice? I've been hearing those voices since long before I took this form. If I am a fairy now, will I still keep hearing that voice?"
"You don't know?" Leon asked.
"I didn't know how to reach you," she explained softly. "Every time I spoke, I wanted to see you, but I could only hear your voice and your achievements. I carried out every duty passed to me because it was all I knew. Then, suddenly, a voice asked if I would accept you as my Master. I said yes without a second thought! Master, you are the best. I like Master so much!"
"She must have gained this physical body because of the blessing," Leon realized. He turned to her, his voice protective. "I get it now. Just stay with me, and please—don't get hurt."
"But what about the divine voice I always hear?" he asked, wondering if her new form meant the guidance would stop.
"Mm! Master, just like you heard my voice before, I will still speak to you that way," Eir chirped. "Even though I have this form, I am still a Tower Guardian. I cannot abandon my duties, so don't worry."
A sudden fear gripped Leon. "Then... after I clear this tower, will you vanish?"
Eir shook her head vigorously. "How could I? I am yours, Master! The voice told me I am to serve only you—that is the only reason I can exist like this."
Leon felt a weight lift from his chest. "That's right. Then let's work hard together. Even though I don't want you to feel chained to me... you are free to be yourself, okay? Eir, let's go."
"Moving to the next floor..."
As Leon and Eir began their journey together, Leon made a silent vow. Though Eir was his First Apostle, he refused to treat her as a servant; to him, she was his family.
Having officially entered the realm of Godhood, Leon felt the runes he had collected pulsing in perfect sync with his Stigmas, allowing him to wield their power more freely than ever before. However, he chose to hold back. His curiosity had shifted toward the ancient complexities of Dragon Magic. Driven to complete the quest set by his master, he committed himself to mastering every facet of this new arcane path.
[ "Eir — First Apostle of Leon
Attributes:
Fairy Magic: Manipulation of the long-lost arcane arts of the fae.
Divine Healing: A sacred fragment of divine magic granted by the gods to restore and purify." ]
"Current Floor: 143
Days until destruction: 51"