Monsters Within

Year 03XX THE KINGDOM OF Wahasha, the palace of the monster race, was known for its bravery and its exceptional talent in terms of magical powers. They could, and they would risk their lives in order to protect everyone, including those who were not monsters like them. This was one of the reasons why the other races saluted them. They were like stars in the night sky that everyone looked up to. Every time there was a monster that would pass by a normal street, everyone would be gawking and staring at them in admiration. But despite all that, someone was not as happy as the others. Someone wanted the power they got all for him, and he wanted to rule all the kingdoms. Jealousy started eating up his mind, telling himself that he should be the one who was supposed to rule the kingdom, not Aka Manto. And so, he planned to kill the monster race, for this was the only solution he could think of to erase anyone who would stop him from what he wanted to gain. This was the only solution so that he could attain the power that he desired. The moment he kills all the monsters, their powers will be his, and no one can stop him anymore if that happens. After assassinating everyone, starting from the weakest, he finally achieved what he wanted. He got the power that made him invincible and continued killing the remaining monsters. Everyone believed that killing monsters would give you the power they had. This was because the monsters’ life forces were not welcome in neither heaven nor hell. Kortos, the central part of the kingdom, was first to be attacked. Next to this was the nearby town and kingdom. That night, the place was filled with terror. No one knew where to go or where to escape. They had nowhere to go until Aka Manto came, the current Sacho of the Kingdom, ruler of the monster race. "Filthy creature! What do you want? Here I am. Eat me and satisfy your hunger!" Aka Manto exclaimed while raising both of his arms to attract the monster's attention. The monster stopped on his track, eyed Aka Manto, and growled in his direction. He sounded like he was celebrating. It had been a long time, and he could only dream of facing the most powerful monster alive. He wanted to face Aka Manto so badly that he got excited about tearing its head off its body right there and then. "Archaic..." whispered Aka Manto when he recognized the cross-shaped scar on his face and the icy blue look in his eyes. He could not be mistaken; this was the Archaic that he knew. Archaic tried to speak but failed. All he could do was growl until everyone's ears pierced. But Aka Manto did not let him do as he wished. He positioned his arms to cite the incantation he knew would defeat the monster. He knew what he had to do to stop that monster who took almost half of the kingdom. "Por los que sufren, para que encuentren su fortaleza en la esperanza de la Resurrección. Roguemos al Señor." Year 06XX Archaic’s name became so popular with the next generations. Some were afraid, especially those whose families were killed by him. But some were showing respect because he almost wiped out the whole monster race who was believed to be the strongest of all the races. After the tragedy, monsters are now considered to be the most dangerous creatures of all. And they are now a disease to society. The race who was once called heroes were now the most hated. The monsters who were once cheered on, were now being thrown with ridicule. The remaining monsters hid from the eyes of those who hated them. They tried blending in with them. They copied everything, so that they would be saved from the harsh society. But not Jaxus; the child where Archaic was sealed. The true meaning of bad luck and disgrace in the eyes of many. He was treated like a disease, a virus that needed to be cured. Everyone would stop what they were doing every time he passed by just to throw him with harsh words. No matter how small he was, it was not an excuse for people to ignore him and to not notice him. He was treated as an outcast, a criminal, and a monster, for they believed that monsters were equal to evildoers. According to others, Jaxus is the offspring of the monster, Archaic. He lived a dark childhood, and he saw the world differently. It was harsh, gloomy, and scary. From the moment he closed his eyes until he opened them, everything was just pitch black. He thought the world was only covered with darkness and loneliness. And so, he planned to end his life. That was the only solution he could think of to stop the sharp knives from hurting, the thunder-like words that pierce every time people open those mouths of theirs and throw them at him. But someone stopped him. Something stopped him from ending his agony. It was like telling him that it was not the end yet. He still needed to live despite everything. There were a lot of people who still needed his help. There were monsters like him who he would meet in the future. Nothing changed, though. He was still alone for a long time. He still did not have someone to lean on. Everyone badmouthed him still. IT WAS MIDNIGHT when Jaxus went out of his house for a walk. At this time of the day, he could freely tour the place peacefully. No one was outside to ridicule him. There was no one to look at him in disgust. It was the time he had been waiting for every day. The only time he could breathe freely. That was why he started to love the night. While sitting on a big rock, he stared at the stars in awe. He could not believe how beautiful they were at night. They were just sparkling peacefully in there; no one could touch nor hurt them. They just shone to mesmerize people. It was still a wonder to him why they hid every morning, and he could not stop comparing them to him. "You can grant wishes, right?" he asked one time while looking at them. "I wish to meet someone who could befriend me... accept me for who I am. You can do that, right?" But after countless days of wishes and prayers, he stopped and chose to stare at them instead. They could not talk. They hear his prayers, but they cannot grant them. They were just there to listen, make you feel like you had someone to lean on, nothing more. It just gave you false hope, and it would be too late for you to realize that. Archaic's ice shield showed up and defended Jaxus from an unknown attacker. It crawled on the floor and formed a big wall between them. He seized it by waving his hand in the air, afraid that he would hurt something, or someone. Jaxus faced the masked creature with fear and cautious eyes. He thought he was safe at night. He had not met anyone at that time of the night. That was why he was caught off guard. He would always make sure that no one would follow him, but now it looked like he was not careful enough. "Who are you?" he asked. "What do you need from me?" He tried to straighten his voice and prevent it from quivering. He tried to toughen himself. "Y-you... you need to die! Because of you, they won't stop hurting me. I cannot take it anymore. This needs to stop. And the only way for it is to kill you and that monster!" "Yuuki..." Jaxus whispered when he recognized the small and snow-white-skinned girl. "Listen to me. This is not my fault. I did not do anything. Stop what you are planning because I do not know what this monster can do to you!" Jaxus warned her, one of the monsters that hid behind the shadows. "I don't care! If you are going to kill me, then do it. I do not want to live anymore! I do not want to feel this pain. I am better off dead!” She sighed. “Can't we live just like them? Can't we normally live just like the kids out there? Why us!" Yuuki cried her heart out; tears started streaming down her rosy cheeks. She tried blending with the others. She tried her best to act as normal as possible. But after all the effort she made, it was all gone for nothing. The other races still discovered her real identity. And just like Jaxus, she was treated like trash. They hurt her. They threw her on the ground like a dirty rag, and then stepped on her like she was the most hideous creature alive. Jaxus slightly bowed his head. He felt it again, the continuous stabbing of knives inside him that just would not stop. He could not help but compare his situation with Yuuki’s because these were the exact questions that he kept on asking himself. Why wouldn't they leave him alone? Why wouldn't they mind their own businesses and let him live the life that he wanted? Because, just like Yuuki, he was tired. He was tired of being the victim. He was tired of ignoring those harsh criticisms and act like it was nothing when it was stabbing in the heart continuously. "Join me," he whispered, enough for the girl to hear. Yuuki looked at the guy in front of her with furrowed eyebrows but did not say a word. Jaxus gritted his teeth and looked sharply at her. "I am gonna show them who we are and how dangerous we can be!" She was staring at the guy's face, which was now covered with tears. His hands were clenched and the veins in his arms were visible. If he was calm a while ago, now it looked like he had already lost himself and let the monster win. His eyes were blank. His head was facing him, but it looked like his eyes were passing through hers. Not long after, Archaic finally showed his true form, carrying Jaxus on its back. It was an enormous ice dragon with large wings, thick legs, a scaly and muscular stomach, an arching neck with spikes running down the back, and a craggy face with teeth overlapping his mouth. Yuuki smiled to herself and said, "I will join you. Let us show them the two monsters that they have been playing with the past few years."