Legend of Rakuen

= Legend of Rakuen =
=== This story is currently ongoing and being written by Shopow. ===
"When I started making worlds back in May 2022, I wanted to start a story project that illustrates my life experiences as a hidden story, through a fictional narrative that talks about the life and development of a character in real-time. More of this story is still being written to this day as I experience things in the real world, but is manipulated in ways that can serve as different morals in different parts of the story."
== Prologue: Rakuen's Mystical Realm ==
Within the mysterious lands that thrummed with the presence of Hoppou spirits, a realm known as Rakuen existed—a realm that defied the confines of mortal understanding. Here, nature and magic intertwined, birthing a realm of unparalleled wonder and untold secrets. The very air shimmered with an otherworldly light, and every rustling leaf seemed to whisper ancient tales of forgotten realms. It was a place where time danced to its own rhythm, and the spirits themselves wove the fabric of existence.
At the heart of Rakuen stood an awe-inspiring nexus of power—a collection of six resplendent crystals, each one a beacon of elemental might and spiritual resonance. These crystals stood as not only guardians of the realm but also as embodiments of distinct elements and the very essence of the Hoppou spirits they represented.
The Blue Crystal emanated a frigid, crystalline aura, its essence a reflection of Ice itself. Yet, its significance was far greater than a mere element. It held within it the souls of those trapped in an endless cycle of pursuing perfection, forever ensnared in their icy quest.
Orange, the color of flickering flames and burning embers, infused the Orange Crystal with the power of Fire. But this power was more than just elemental—it mirrored the unrestrained fury of souls who once scorched their surroundings in fits of rage and destruction, leaving their marks etched upon the annals of time.
Purple, the hue of twilight and boundless expanses, resonated through the Purple Crystal. It embodied the souls who held dominion over fractured minds, traversing the realms of multiple realities with a mastery that bewildered mortal comprehension.
Green, the color of growth and renewal, infused the Green Crystal with the essence of Time. Within its depths resided souls of unparalleled patience, entities who meditated through countless lifetimes, offering prayers and solace to those who had passed into the beyond.
Yellow, the epitome of equilibrium and harmony, radiated through the Yellow Crystal. It encapsulated the souls who tirelessly maintained the delicate balance between light and darkness, life and death—an eternal dance that was the very heartbeat of existence.
Finally, the White Crystal, a gleaming beacon of purity, held within its luminous core the souls of the strongest among them. They were the keepers of paradise, the vigilant protectors of all that Rakuen encompassed. Guardians of its splendor, they stood as a testament to the boundless strength that purity of heart could achieve.
Amidst this realm of mystique and enigma, two souls found solace and purpose. Sho and Meiko, their paths intertwined by fate's design, chose to carve a life shrouded in secrecy, away from the prying eyes of spirits and mortals alike. Their love blossomed and flourished as they navigated the currents of challenge and triumph, their bond growing ever stronger. In the passage of time, their unity became a guiding light for those around them. Sho, once a lone wanderer, embraced his destined role as King, his resolve fortified by Meiko's unwavering grace and sagacious counsel. Meiko, the embodiment of kindness and intelligence, stood by his side as Queen, a beacon of hope and compassion for her people. Thus, within the heart of Rakuen, where Hoppou spirits wove the tapestry of reality, a kingdom emerged—a testament to the power of love, unity, and the potential of the human spirit. As the King and Queen ruled with benevolence and shared purpose, their legacy resonated across the realm, echoing the notion that amid the ebb and flow of magic and spirit, the strength of the heart could shape destinies and meld dreams with reality in a harmonious symphony.
== Chapter 1 ==
=== Act I: Dreams' Ethereal Embrace ===
In the realm between dreams and reality, a place forged from the delicate threads of memories and visions, the King found himself awaking in a lucid dream. As consciousness brushed away the fog of slumber, he gazed around in awe and bewilderment. All around him stretched a vast field, bathed in a surreal purple haze that seemed to dance with ethereal light. Melodic echoes floated on the air, serenading his senses and giving life to the dreamscape that enveloped him. Shifting his weight onto one foot after laying in the grass, the King tentatively took a step forward, his senses tingling with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. The ground beneath his feet felt solid, yet there was an undeniable otherworldly quality to it. Blades of grass swayed in gentle waves as if responding to his very thoughts, and the horizon seemed to shift and warp with every blink, creating an ever-changing tapestry of colors and shapes. Embarking on this inexplicable journey, the King began to traverse the intricate paths that crisscrossed the dreamlike expanse. Each step brought new sensations, like a symphony of emotions rising within him. Memories long forgotten resurfaced, blending with half-formed fantasies that danced at the edges of his mind. Fragments of his past and glimpses of his desires merged and interwove, forming a landscape as diverse and complex as the depths of his own thoughts.
As he ventured deeper into the heart of this enigmatic domain, the King's senses heightened. He marveled at the towering trees that seemed to whisper secrets to the wind, their leaves shimmering with a spectral luminescence. Pools of liquid light shimmered like mirrors, reflecting not only his own visage but also the myriad facets of his identity. It was as if the island itself was an embodiment of his consciousness, a canvas upon which his innermost self was painted with exquisite detail. The island itself appeared to be contained within an enormous, iridescent bubble—a sanctuary where dreams and reality danced in perfect harmony. This ethereal enclosure pulsed with energy, maintaining a delicate equilibrium between the tangible and the intangible. The boundaries between what was possible and what was imagined blurred, leaving the King both exhilarated and apprehensive as he realized the boundless potential of this realm. Yet, every journey must find its conclusion.
As the King's explorations led him towards the culmination of his dreamy odyssey, a figure materialized in the distance. An enigmatic silhouette, their features shrouded in the soft glow of the dream's light. The King's heart quickened, a mixture of anticipation and yearning filling his chest. Desperation to know this figure's identity clawed at him, urging him to hasten his steps. But time, as it so often did, betrayed him. Just as he neared the figure, its form beginning to take shape and reveal its identity, the dream's delicate tendrils began to fray. The realm of memories and visions started to waver, its threads slipping through his grasp like sand through fingers. The figure's features remained tantalizingly just beyond his reach, a veil of mystery that fate chose not to unveil. With a jolt, the King felt himself being pulled back, the world around him dissolving like mist beneath the rising sun. With a gasp, he awoke, the warmth of the dream's embrace fading like the echoes of a distant song. He lay there for a moment, the vividness of the dream still coursing through his veins. Though the details were already fading, a sense of wonder and longing lingered. And as he rose from his slumber, the memory of that dream remained etched in his heart—a testament to the depths of his own imagination, and a reminder that even in the waking world, the boundaries between dreams and reality could remain beautifully blurred.
=== Act II: Intrigue and Discovery ===
In a faraway land of pine and birch, where the tapestry of seasons painted the landscape with hues of gold and russet, there lay a kingdom known as Babylonica. Nestled within this autumnal haven, a sanctuary was forged—a realm of vision and innovation, a realm that bore the indelible mark of its creators, Sho and Meiko. They stood as the heart and soul of this kingdom, ruling as King and Queen. Babylonica was a domain that differed from its counterparts, as its pursuits were centered around science and exploration, its people driven by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge that transcended the boundaries of the ordinary.
But amid the realm's thriving endeavors, the legend of Rakuen lingered like a phantom whisper through the corridors of history. This myth, veiled in mystery and enigma, had haunted the imaginations of countless souls for millennia. Kingdoms and villages spanning the entire realm had embarked on quests to unearth this mythical land, only to be met with failure and the haunting allure of the unknown. Until, that is, Babylonica ascended to prominence—the beacon that would illuminate the path to Rakuen.
Centuries of clandestine research had been Sho's covert preoccupation. Hidden from the prying eyes of the world, he delved into the cryptic lore surrounding Rakuen. And with time as his ally, he curated knowledge and assembled a group of exceptional minds—scientists who would form the foundation of an expedition that could bridge the gap between myth and reality. At the helm of this illustrious collective stood a head scientist, a visionary who would come to be known as the lynchpin of the entire endeavor. They were designated "The Australis," the vanguard that would brave the labyrinthine enigma to unearth the truths of Rakuen.
Their journey was not for the faint of heart. The Australis embarked upon an arduous odyssey that tested their mettle and resolve. They traversed through terrains both wondrous and treacherous, their collective yearning for discovery lighting the path ahead. In their pursuit, they encountered a frigid biome—a realm blanketed in a shroud of ice and snow, a stark contrast to the realm they hailed from.
Amid this frozen expanse, a revelation lay in wait—an astonishing discovery that would forever alter the trajectory of their quest. A cave, illuminated by the soft luminescence of Brightshrooms, bore witness to a trove of crystals, the very essence of Rakuen. These crystals, imbued with an ethereal glow, whispered the secrets of a land shrouded in legend. The Australis, eyes wide with awe, recognized the significance of their find. Here was a cache of Rakuen's essence, hidden within the heart of the frozen wilderness.
Setting up camp in this subterranean chamber, the scientists embarked on a symphony of experimentation. Guided by their meticulous research and the ancient runic symbols that had fueled Sho's quest, they set about unlocking the latent powers of the crystals. As they channeled their energies and knowledge, the runes glowed with a mesmerizing radiance, heralding the fulfillment of their task.
And then, in a luminous crescendo, the crystals' power coalesced—a bridge of light forged between the frozen cavern and the heart of Babylonica. The teleporter, now charged with the essence of Rakuen, pulsed with an otherworldly energy. The Australis took hesitant steps into the ephemeral bridge, each heartbeat resonating with a mix of trepidation and exhilaration.
As they materialized back in Babylonica, a wave of astonishment washed over them. They had achieved the unimaginable—a direct connection between two worlds, a glimpse into the realm of Rakuen. The King, standing amidst the radiance of their triumph, felt a surge of pride and hope for the future. Unbeknownst to him, the consequences of their actions were set to reverberate through the threads of fate.
The next chapter of Babylonica's story was unknowingly forged by this triumph—a chapter that would unveil a tumultuous clash of desires, as the kingdom's thirst for power clashed with the realm's ethereal guardians. Unwittingly, they had awoken the ire of the Hoppou spirits, guardians of Rakuen, who saw the Kingdom's ambitions as a threat to the delicate equilibrium they had preserved for eons. The very crystals that had bridged the gap between two worlds had ignited the flames of war, setting Babylonica and the Hoppou spirits on a collision course toward a conflict that would determine the destiny of both realms.
=== Act III: Cataclysmic Resonance ===
Amid the clash of armies and the frenzied backdrop of war, the once-illuminated halls of Babylonica's scientific pursuits descended into chaos. The scientists, driven by desperation, intensified their efforts. Gathering every scrap of information and knowledge they had acquired, they ventured into increasingly perilous experiments. It was a desperate race against time, with the very fabric of their world unraveling around them.
The lead scientist, in his fervor to harness the crystals' power, pushed the boundaries of the arcane further than any before him. The crystal's luminous core, subject to his relentless probing, unleashed a torrent of energy beyond comprehension. The resulting explosion was cataclysmic—a shockwave of magic that reverberated across the land, tearing through reality itself.
In its wake, crystals and mushrooms erupted from the ground with a voracious appetite for space, entwining the kingdom's foundations in an intricate tapestry of arcane flora. Yet this was only the beginning. As the resonances of the explosion rippled outward, they brought about a seismic shift—a teleportation of the entire kingdom beneath the earth's surface. In an instant, Babylonica vanished from the world above, now hidden in the heart of the earth.
The consequences were twofold, and none more profound than the empowerment of the Hoppou spirits. The magic pulse had gifted them a surge of energy, augmenting their power exponentially. They swept across the realm with newfound might, obliterating Babylonica's defenses with ease. The kingdom's once-mighty army, reduced to mere phantoms in the face of the Hoppous' wrath, crumbled before their very eyes.
But the magic pulse was not discerning. Its resonance swept through the land, extinguishing human life in its wake. In an instant, what was once a thriving civilization became naught but remnants—a kingdom of bones and desolation. The scientists, ensnared in the epicenter of the pulse, suffered a fate of unimaginable horror. The immense energies tore at their very essence, their physical forms disintegrating as they were scattered to the far reaches of the realm. A cruel fate awaited them as they died in agonizing chaos, their last moments a testament to the perilous curiosity that had led them to this point.
The King, too, was ensnared by the pulse's tendrils. His desperate attempt to use the teleporter as a means of escape proved a bitter mistake. Unbeknownst to him, the ancient contraption was designed as a conduit, a one-way path to the realm's heart—Rakuen itself. As his soul's essence passed through the teleporter, his corporeal form remained behind, lifeless. The King's body fell to the ground, a mere shell bereft of the spirit that once animated it. His consciousness was severed from his physicality, transported to Rakuen in a luminous exodus.
In his wake, the head scientist experienced a similar fate. His essence, wrenched from his body by the pulse's irresistible force, embarked on the same journey. It was a journey that culminated in a paradox—their souls reborn from the life-giving tree that stood as Rakuen's heart. Transformed by this journey of transference, they became the "7th" and "8th"—new souls in an ancient realm, rekindled by the fire of magic's pulse.
As the echoes of this calamity reverberated through the ages, the threads of fate continued to weave a tapestry of chaos and renewal. The once-thriving kingdom of Babylonica, now hidden beneath the earth's surface, awaited a reckoning. Rakuen, a realm that had borne witness to the fall and rebirth of souls, was poised for its next chapter—one that would etch the legacies of the fallen and the redeemed onto the annals of time.
=== Act IV: Unseen Transformation ===
Reborn within Rakuen, the King found himself in a state of bewildered confusion. His memories were a fragmented tapestry, the threads of his former life seemingly unraveling in the face of an enigmatic rebirth. The teleportation through the magic pulse had left him with a fragmented consciousness—a profound loss of identity that left him grasping at the fringes of recollection.
As the days passed, the King's sense of self continued to elude him, replaced by an inexplicable drive that seemed to emanate from within. It was as if an unseen force guided his every move, whispering instructions that felt more like instinct than conscious thought. In this new realm, among the Hoppou spirits that swirled around him, he felt strangely at home—drawn to their presence, their essence, in a way that defied explanation.
The King's reflections painted a paradoxical portrait. His own eyes, when met by his gaze, returned the image of a familiar visage—a mirror of his former self. Yet, when he glanced upon his image through the eyes of others, they saw something entirely different—a Hoppou, a being of magic and spirit, draped in the enigma of Rakuen. It was as if his very existence was refracted through the prism of perception, a dual nature that blurred the boundaries between the ordinary and the mystical.
This transformation, one he later came to know as the "Hoppou Conversion," was orchestrated by the spirits themselves, a testament to the indomitable power they wielded over this realm. In the realm of Rakuen, Hoppous would congregate, their numbers gathering like a spectral congregation, their intent cloaked in the silent weight of their collective presence. When they sought to target an individual, they would encircle them, their gazes intense and unwavering. And thus, the King's rebirth had granted him the ability to enact this very ritual, the Hoppou spirits weaving their power through his very being.
The King found himself carrying out the process of Hoppou Conversion with an eerie sense of familiarity, as if it were second nature to him. He would transport his chosen targets to distant realms within Rakuen, enveloping them in the embrace of its magic. A ritual would unfold—a dance of energies that culminated with white soul flowers cascading from the sky, like crystalline raindrops from the heavens above.
Through this process, the souls of the chosen would traverse the realms of Rakuen, their essence permanently transmuted into Hoppous. Yet, the specifics of their transformation remained shrouded in mystery, the type of Hoppou and their elemental affinity a product of the realm's capricious will.
But even as the King ushered in a new era of conversion, the Hoppou spirits were far from a monolithic entity. Beneath the facade of unity, a complex hierarchy was at play. The Queen stood as their ruler, her authority undeniably potent. However, her power was not solely wielded for the Hoppous' benefit. The spirits remained bound by invisible chains, ensnared by her control even as she ruled over them. The legacy of the King and Queen's departure from Rakuen was one of paradox—an abdication of the throne that paradoxically perpetuated a form of dominance.
Meanwhile, within the depths of Crypt Babylonica, the scientists found themselves ensnared by a fate they had never anticipated. Their transformation into Hoppous was not a mere alteration of form; it came with a haunting symbol of their captivity—a set of black shackles that adorned their wrists and necks. These shackles bore the weight of their dual existence, binding them to a life they had unwittingly embraced.
In a realm where the line between servitude and autonomy was blurred, the scientists sought to navigate the intricate labyrinth of their new reality. Their intellects, once their greatest assets, were now tethered to their roles as both creators and subjects of the very enigma they had sought to unravel. And as Rakuen's secrets continued to unfold, the threads of their destiny wove a complex narrative—one that mirrored the ethereal complexity of this enigmatic realm.
=== Act V: The Wayfarer's Odyssey ===
Amidst the expedition's journey through the captivating expanse of Cherry Serrulata, a moment of divergence unfurled, leaving behind echoes that would resonate across time. A member of the group, driven by unforeseen circumstances and a stark contrast in belief with the burgeoning ideology of the King, chose a different path. And thus, from the remnants of shared purpose, a singular entity emerged—the Wayfarer, embarking on a journey woven with enigma and intrigue.
Within the hallowed precincts of a forgotten past, the Wayfarer's gaze fell upon an ancient ruin—a relic that seemed to hum with life. Adorned with symbols unknown and whispered secrets of ages long gone, the ruin beckoned with a siren's call of mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Fueled by insatiable curiosity, the Wayfarer embarked on the precarious journey of deciphering the language etched into the crumbling edifice.
As fate would have it, the very act of deciphering ignited a sequence of events that shattered the boundaries of their reality. A pulse, resonating with ancient power, surged forth—a tempest of magic and energy that swept through the forest, rewriting the tapestry of existence. Amidst the chaos, the Wayfarer became a casualty of the blast, their form consumed by the inexorable forces unleashed. Yet, a peculiar twist of fate set them apart; their soul remained unscathed, held together by an unknown force beyond the realm of understanding.
Within the aftermath of this cataclysmic pulse, a portal opened—an iridescent gateway to a realm hitherto unexplored. Stepping across the threshold, the Wayfarer's surroundings transformed into a dreamlike expanse, awash in hues of mystical purple. It was a landscape where reality wavered, where echoes of the past and present danced in harmony.
Amidst this ethereal realm, the Wayfarer's senses were met with a sight that resonated with both familiarity and puzzlement. A face, enshrouded in the soft luminescence of this otherworldly domain, began to approach. Recognition sparked within the depths of the Wayfarer's consciousness—a fleeting connection that vanished before comprehension could fully bloom. The figure dissolved into the air, leaving only a trace of intrigue in their wake.
Fueled by determination, the Wayfarer scoured the remnants left by this ephemeral encounter, driven by the thirst for answers. Yet, their search bore no fruit, leaving behind a void of understanding—an enigma that seemed to defy unraveling. In the wake of this tantalizing mystery, the Wayfarer's resolve strengthened, guided by a yearning to unlock the secrets woven into this uncharted reality.
Among the surreal landscapes of this newfound world, the Wayfarer's journey continued—a journey that defied explanation, filled with questions that stretched the boundaries of understanding. Within the expansive confines of their backpack, a vessel emerged—a boat to navigate the seas of uncertainty and discovery.
As the Wayfarer set sail into the unknown, a cascade of inquiries loomed: How had they survived the cataclysmic blast with their soul intact? What was the significance of the familiar yet elusive presence they had encountered? And what secrets lay shrouded within this uncharted reality? The first chapter of their odyssey came to a close, leaving the audience teetering on the precipice of anticipation—a cliffhanger of enigma and promise, hinting at the intricacies yet to be unveiled within the heart of Rakuen.
== To be continued in Chapter 2... ==