i.

he existed in the dark

it was what he was built from

it was the hallmark

of his bones, festering, yet numb

he didn't know how he knew this

he didn't know much, really

he just was, encumbered by the bliss

of being nothing and knowing nothing tranquilly

it lasted a long time,

his strange purgatory,

wrapping itself around his mind without reason nor rhyme

but it ended one eternity, and so blossomed his story

not that he knew that, either—no,

he'd simply known something... different, stark

against the nothing, lingered longer than it once did, as though

a dead spirit had come to life in his dark

and perhaps it had.

perhaps something truly was lurking in this existence untrue

he wouldn't know, silently prisoned and silent-clad

he didn't need to. for now, what mattered was that this... was something new

the voice spoke to him, known and other, bright and grim,

and he felt shivers course through the night

what were those noises? what was it the thing intoned to him?

the thing must have taken pity, attempting to ease his plight

I am the forefather, it told him,

Master of the Guardian, Lord of Time.

its voice was entrancing, a snake charmer's hymn

and he couldn't help but fall to its rhyme

It is your turn. You must go, young one. Travel,

and meet your Ward, and come to understanding

with your place. It is only then you may unravel

what Guardianship will be demanding.

he hummed in response,

sounds sticking in his mind as he choked on the reply

the Master laughed, the definition of nonchalance

It is only a Failure that might cry.

Do not fear, for you've yet to fail;

still, you've yet to succeed.

Go, my child, sail

the seas of Reality —go, and as I protect mine, protect your seed.

it was then he discovered light

it was more other than Master, and yet...

yet something about the terrible bright

sparked beauty in a startling minuet

a dance of life and being

he'd never witnessed before

his dark inched towards it, relishing in the freeing

waves of calm the brilliant opening sent him, wishing for an encore

Ah—before you go, I must warn you...

you'll be dead to the Guardians should you fail.

Do not fret! I'm sure you will enjoy reality and its... interesting view.

As long as you do well, we will count no betrayal.

he paused before the light

but, since he'd never known better, never had another view

he didn't consider whether or not he should move into the blinding white

he simply went on, just as he was made to