User blog:Dios World/Those with the True Pure Heart - Episode 1: Prologue

(Multi-part Fanfiction I decided to write. Follows my OC Lyle Andercres as he journeys throughout the MGE world.)

​            In this world, there are very few who could say they were pure of heart without talking out their ass. What defines true purity ultimately varies from one person to another, though most of the time they share some resemblance. Someone truly good-hearted and pure of sin would never take a life, no matter their past sins. They, who are the shining light in the darkness of the world, they are the ones who see the light of good in everyone, no matter who they were. It is this type of person that everyone secretly hopes is the one to triumph over all their struggles and everyone else’s conflict; the type of savior everyone needs. A true Hero. True Heroes are not made, nor trained. True Heroes are born, or so it is said.

            The Andercres family. Throughout time, their history has been rather mundane; ancestors slain by monsters of the past, picked off by disease or war. Other than minor, insignificant contributions, the Andercres bloodline has not accomplished much, and died pretty fast. The blood now lies only within two men; brothers, at that. The eldest brother, Antoine, and his younger brother, Lyle. Their parents, as Antoine would tell Lyle, died from disease, or in other versions, were carried off by monsters and never seen again. Since both stories were told to Lyle, with shifting reasons, the young boy was not sure which version to believe. Antoine, in all his wisdom, wasn’t entirely sure, himself. It happened so long ago, everything seemed to… blend together.

            Lyle had grown to be somewhat spoiled. Antoine did everything within his ability to make his younger brother happy. They lived apart from society, in a large home of wood and stone. Other than his brother Antoine, Lyle had never looked at another person, or a Mamono. In fact, he still believed that monsters still resembled their terrible, bloodthirsty forms from ages long past; having a faint idea of what they must have looked like from the storybooks Antoine obtained for him. Having warped the fate of his parents to “the monsters caused the disease that killed them,” Lyle vowed to defeat the Demon Lord to avenge them. Antoine dismissed these claims as purely childish, though.. Lyle’s strive and determination to see things through was quite impressive. Moved by Lyle’s dedication to “warrior training”, Antoine pulled his brother to the side to smith together the weapon and armor of the champion that would defeat the Demon Lord. From a heavy plastic mold, hundreds of pounds worth of metal ingots, and numerous instruction manuals, Lyle’s weaponry and armor were completed. Being rather full of himself, Lyle engraved his new sword as the “Divine Sword of Heroes”, and his armor as the “Holy Armor of the Luminous”. He wore his warrior’s dress of sword and armor every hour of every day, taking it off only when absolutely necessary, or if it needed cleaning. All the while, Lyle’s “training” intensified. With a proper sword, the boy could improve on his monster slaying skills. Over time, Antoine grew worried that Lyle would cut himself badly, should he mess up. While he slept, Antoine removed the sword from Lyle’s person, and dulled the edges; now the “Divine Sword of Heroes” was no more effective than a metal paddle. Lyle never seemed to notice, resuming his warrior training as though nothing was different.

            Years of this routine went by. Lyle went on training to fight, while his brother Antoine left home for various reasons. Some of these reasons he would share openly with his younger brother, such as getting food, or more combat manuals. Other reasons, he would not share, leaving it purely a mystery to Lyle. Behind Lyle’s back, Antoine was paying off various wizards and sorcerers to come to his home while Lyle slept, using all of their combined magic to bless his plastic “Holy Armor of the Luminous” with various blessings. Most of these blessings were to ward off physical blows, and slow mana corruption. Lyle never caught on, and mistook the faint glow coming off of his armor from time to time as proof that he was getting stronger.

One day, Antoine left home again, not saying why. In fact, he didn’t even say anything to Lyle, which concerned him. Worried that his brother might go on and do something foolish, Lyle intensified his training even further; subliminally not believing himself strong enough to pursue his brother and all the nasty things that might stand in his way. One week later, as Lyle was taking a water break, Antoine returned. He was not alone; in his company was a beautiful woman. Lyle’s eyes took her in, his mouth dropping a little. She had silky purple hair, stoic, alerted eyes in a beautiful amber hue, a body that would have made succubi envious, and all of this, clad in what Lyle believed to be masterfully crafted green armor, with dragon stylings. Unbeknownst to the younger brother, this was indeed a Dragon from the days of old, succumb to the will of the new Demon Lord.

“Lyle, my magnificent younger half,” Antoine spoke to him, taking a deep breath, and hiding his hands in his pockets. “Today is the day I… do something. Something deeply out of line for me.” He hung his head lightly, his expression still strongly vacant.

“Antoine…? What are you saying?” Lyle questioned him, downing his water rather quickly. “Are you finally going to stop being so lazy!? I can’t focus on my warrior training AND pick up around the house at the same time, you know!”

“In a way, yes. I’m going to forsake my old laziness,” Antoine answered him, locking eyes. He seemed more serious than Lyle ever remembered him being. “My, uh… cosplaying girlfriend and I… we’ve decided to quest together. We’re going to head right down to the Demon Lord’s castle and uh, defeat her… I suppose.” As he finished speaking, he hung his head even further. He felt as though Lyle was about to yell at him, or start crying. Antoine didn’t feel prepared for either outcome, as both would embarrass him in front of his Dragon wife.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“A-Antoine…” Lyle stuttered, his brother’s statement catching him off guard. Of all the things he had expected his brother to say: some sort of bad pun, an excuse to get out of work, or worse yet: asking Lyle to go and buy food when Antoine KNEW that he didn’t allow his younger brother to hold onto any money, he was going on a quest!? “Why, you…” Antoine sighed, preparing for the worst.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“You simply cannot leave! Not without me cooking you and the lovely Miss here a farewell dinner!” The largest, dumbest grin was plastered upon Lyle’s face. He felt proud of his older brother. Lyle scampered all over the house, getting ingredients together, lighting a fire and boiling water in a pot over top it, preparing seats… everything, he did it at the same time. Antoine kept his mouth shut, smiling in relief. Lyle certainly wasn’t a crybaby anymore, though he was still largely naïve, unaware of how the world worked. He didn’t question Antoine’s Dragon wife when Antoine covered her identity, calling her a cosplayer. If Lyle had known that monsters were all seducers, now… what he’d do, not even Antoine, in all his wisdom, could decipher an outcome.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">Dinner was ready within the hour. Antoine and the Dragon seated themselves, waiting for Lyle to serve them. On the plates provided were a heap of practically waterlogged noodles, covered in a meaty sauce… Lyle’s signature dish. Lyle seated himself across from Antoine and the Dragon, cupping his hands together, hoping they liked his cooking. As they held hands, staring down the bizarrely prepared noodles, both of them dug in. While Antoine knew what to expect, he was surprised that his Dragon wife was actually enjoying the noodles; rationalizing it as her just enjoying the meaty sauce.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“I don’t know about fighting, champ, but I can see you and a future with cooking,” Antoine told Lyle, barely managing to scarf down a mouthful of noodles without spasming. “If you kept at it, in a few years, you could probably produce something edible.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“You hush now, Antoine!” Lyle playfully snapped back at him, gesturing to the Dragon girl. “Your girlfriend here is clearly enjoying my cooking! She… she is, right? Excuse me, but are you? Why, you haven’t even introduced yourself!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">Already halfway done, the Dragon swallowed another mighty mouthful of noodles, locking eyes with Lyle.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“I’m falling in love with these noodles, this thick sauce compliments it perfectly,” she commented, about to reach down for another bite, before she remembered that she needed to introduce herself. “My name is Melinse. Your brother has said quite a lot about you, like how determined you are to grow strong… admirable goal, I must say.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“It’s only a given that I would train, nonstop for the sake of becoming strong!” Lyle replied, holding his clenched fist to his chest. “The Andercres ancestry is filled to the brim with incompetent warriors and monster food! With me, I will redeem them all!” At this, Melinse cracked a smile, stifling a small laugh.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">Dinner was over, half an hour later. Antoine and Lyle shared their stories and ambitions with Melinse, who seemed rather reluctant to go into detail about her history. Lyle didn’t mind this, though Antoine knew why… deciding not to say anything about monster girls was a wise decision, he thought it. With their bellies full, Antoine and Melinse gathered their things, waving goodbye to Lyle as they left, locking their path on the beaten trail.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“Fare thee well, Brother! Brother’s girlfriend! I wish you both luck in triumphing over the Demon Lord!” Lyle yelled after them, waving goodbye right up to the point where they vanished from his line of sight.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“To think, we spent a full eighteen years together, Antoine,” Lyle murmured to himself, calmly walking back inside. “You, my older brother, finally decided to go out of your way and do something great.” As he spoke to himself, Lyle picked his sword back up, deciding he would burn away the last glimmers of the evening away with sword training. “Well, do not be too concerned about me, dear brother. When I grow strong enough, I, the aspiring new star, Lyle Andercres, will accompany you on your quest to defeat the Demon Lord. I know you like to take it easy, brother. You probably will not have even left the continent by the time I catch up with you and Melinse.” With those final words, he began exercising his swordplay, testing out various stances, swings, and thrusts.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">As Antoine and Melinse walked away from the home, the former looked at the ground, calmly. While he was smiling, there seemed to be something on his mind. Ever the observant one, Melinse wrapped an arm around her husband’s shoulder, inquiring.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“Darling, what has you so distraught?” she asked, unhappy with seeing her loved one… unhappy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“It ain’t anything important, sweetheart,” Antoine replied, looking back up at her, a small glimmer of a rising hope in his eyes. “I’m just thinking about my brother, that’s all.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“I’m sure that little upstart will be fine. Though you’re only a brother… I’d say you did excellently in raising him.” Melinse replied, drawing herself closer to Antoine. “Cast aside your worry, my husband. You’ve proven how excellent you are. I considered you as one of my race, Masters of the World… and for that matter, I know you’re stronger than I am; in will, in strength… need I go on?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“Heh, no… I think you got your point across.” Antoine whispered, kissing Melinse on the cheek, drawing himself closer to her. “I just got one favor to ask of you, if you’d be willing to abide.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“Anything for you, sweetheart.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“…Could you find it in your heart, in your pride as a Master of the World… to consider Lyle as a male of your race, as well? I ain’t sayin you gotta plow him or nothing. But… basically, treat him with the same respect you’d treat me. Can you do that? He is your brother-in-law, after all.” This request… it silenced Melinse for a moment. Her mind as a Dragon unconsciously said not to accept Lyle, as he was unquestionably weak, in her eyes; despite his excellence at cooking. Though, as she recognized Antoine as her husband, and her superior, she refused to disobey anything he would ask of her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“It will be done, my love. As far as I am concerned, Lyle is a fine Dragon, much like myself. And with you, as his brother, I’m certain that he will go on and do great things.” Antoine sighed happily at her words, shutting his eyes as he walked with her.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"TimesNewRoman",serif">“I still feel kinda bad that I lied to him. He thinks we’re both going to go to Royal Makai and defeat the Demon Lord… but we’re really just going to your cave in the mountains, to live, happily.” Antoine took a deep breath, looking up at the twilight sky. “Eh, I’ll make it up to ‘em. We’ll write him letters, let ‘em know how we’re doin’. Sound good?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%">(Part 2 soon to come...)