Simeon's+Quest

Devoid of Influence
It is arguable that any of what has been written here is true or false. All I recall is what I am writing at this specific moment. It appears that none of the following writings are in order, for some of the sheets of paper appear to be different than the others, but this was how I found them. It does appear that I conducted these writings in the time that I was in the grand demon prison known as the //Labrynthian.// As the excerpts are my own handwriting, I am positive I was the creator of these writings. The madness that I must have had to experience in order to completely extinguish these thoughts from my mind, is remarkable. However, I find that I am not able to read, or at least retain any information beyond that of the first writing. If you are reading this, know that I am Simeon Ash, and this is what I have experienced;

1:As far as I can understand I am no longer on Tetravier. However, this does not seem right. I do not feel whole. I feel cold where I should feel warm.

Now of course this is what I had intended, to exit the world with Acasius and find the source of the influx of demons into our world. However, I do not see Acasius, nor do I remember seeing him, though I seem to remember things I have not experienced. One of these memories included a man with white hair and a long scar, but I couldn’t see the scar, I just knew it was there, waiting...watching. Then another man...no a beast, a bull...a man, something from an ancient mythology from a world I do not know. Though I do suppose I am in the world between the dimensions. This diary is possibly the only thing that may keep me sane in this place.

12: The door opened.

3: I have not come across anything in this dark world, except what my imagination seems to produce. I do not seem to require food here, as I am not hungry and have been walking for what appears in my mind as three days, though as far as I know it may have only been a moment. I suppose there is no way to understand time in a place that doesn’t have time. However, I remember and forget all the things I have known as if I have never learnt them, or have always known them. For instance I could not recall my name earlier. I feel I should write these things to understand them. I am Simeon Ash. I am immortal...or am I here? Am I alive, it doesn’t feel like it. Why is there a man walking behind me? I can feel him but when I turn around he is gone, scar and all. I think he wants something from me.

25: Where are you? I know you’re here. I can feel you in my bones. I am scared...I am very scared. Who am I?

10: I think I saw a ghost. I imagined a door and it appeared. Then it opened and a black figure waved at me. He laughed and his head rolled back into his body and it bent into a small cube. It closed the door without touching it. I walked away. I laughed, now there are doors everywhere but none of them open...none of them open...

2: I think I can manage here. I managed to figure out how my mind works here. Anything imagined becomes reality around you, but it goes away shortly after...sometimes longer.

7: A serpent bit me today. I don’t know where it came from but it bit me, and now I can’t stop crying. It burns, it burns like the center of the sun.

What burns? Why did I write that? Did I write that? What was my name again...Tetravier? Was that it...something like that I think. No, no. It was...it was...Pho...something. What was I writing? I like the color of this place. It reminds me of my head. Huh. This is my head.

38: Now I know that some things I have written here seem, well odd but I...what? Ha. I can’t seem to complete my thoughts. Where is Acasius? I remember that name now. I cannot remember my own. I know he was supposed to help me with something. But ever since I entered this...place I can’t seem to think straight.

He’s here. His name is Alastor. I think. I don’t know how- I have to (The writing trails off, and becomes illegible.)

11: One of the doors is different. It is ancient. When I looked at it all of the other doors vanished and I was standing in front of a door so grandiose that I could not comprehend it’s size. Though it was smaller than any keyhole. The door had no keyhole. It was round and intricately carved with a man, and a bull. It had four sections on it. But on each section there was the same picture, a white haired boy slicing a...a man?

4: I saw him again. He pointed at me with his eyes. I think he wants my blood.

9: I saw some figures huddled around a cold fire. But fires aren’t supposed to be cold. It’s flames were a queer blue, and it reached into the blackness of the space that occupies the mind. I walked closer. “Hello fiery feather,” they said. but it was not in a voice they owned, it was the voice of a...of a...mountain. I stepped into the fire and a great bird erupted around me and covered me in it’s feathers. It burnt me. Why did it burn?

13: After assessing the situation I entered the door. What door? There have been no doors. Only shadows. The world around me seems like a prison and there are a hundred million beasts walking around me. Perhaps the door I mentioned brought me here. I swear though there have been no doors. The beasts shove me aside and scream. They’re looking for a way out. They think I know one. One bit me but it just turned to ash...Ash...that sounds familiar.

5: Alastor he said.

23: I can think. At least for now. I figured it out. I am in the great demon prison. I do not know how long I’ve been here but I need a way out. I need Acasius. I need Cho. I need a savior. I need them to know, to know what I know now.

24: He is chasing me. He knows. He knows who I am.

8: That bird. Where did it go. A bird. Born to be the South. I...I...I please. HELP ME. HELP. I need to sleep.

18: “Hello do you mind if I write this down?” “No.” “Who are you?” “You.” “Where are we?” “NOWHERE.” “How can I leave this place?” “You may try.” “But how do I succeed?” “You don’t.” “Where are you going?” “I am not.”

31: Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me. Acasius you left me...didn’t you?

6: Where is Acasius? I have been looking for what feels like decades. That man is following me.

15: Blood. Blood everywhere. In this room. I see them. They stare and point. Blood...my blood. All of it. All of it, everywhere. Why? Why? What did you do?

19: I have fallen. I was running, from that man. Alastor. Hunting me...haunting me. That scar. STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!!

14: They stare at me. They have no bodies. They are jealous. Trying to steal it. Mine. My body. It burns them. I burn them. Why? Why? How many questions must I ask before I am answered?

30: “Here again, are you?” “I never left.” “Are you here to kill me?” “No that would be a release.” “Who //are// you?” “I told you already, I am you.” “How do I know?” “Stop asking questions Simeon.” 41: It didn’t open.

16: I managed to find a room where I am alone. I don’t think I’m crazy when I’m not with them...What was that? I saw you. Stop.... ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  I was attacked. A shadow grabbed me. It took the shape of a creature darker than all of the seven hells. Curling and uncurling. Infinite in its dark claws. It clenched and writhed, spasming throughout its whole body. Bellowing in my ear, it asked, “How many questions do you have?”

21: He’s always behind me. When I am running he is casually walking behind me, as if there is no where I could ever possibly go that he would not catch me.

40: I think I’m in an older part of...what was this place again? There seems to be architecture from a long ago time. In a world that I don’t know. The rest of these paths were all black and shifting. This hall seems to be made of old red brick. There is a door. A...a..aaa....a door? Could it be the way out?

26: They say no one has escaped. No one comes here of their own free will either. Only him. He is the only one who walks here of his own volition. Green cloak.

17: There is no one following me. There is someone here however. I think I will ask him a thing or two.

29: He is back. He says that he is me. He looks like me. Whatever I look like? How would I know? Questions.

20: Rats are different than other animals. That’s why we’re afraid of them. They will chew on their brothers, not just to stay alive but simply to eat. They do not drown, they simply learn to swim. They are quick, and take what they need. They are dirty and big. Hunters, beggars, killers. They play all roles. We are afraid of them because we are so very like them.

42: I left. I left the maze! I am home. Tetravier. I am the...what? How did I write that in my sleep. What did I write again?

28: I will get out. I will find a way. If only someone could answer my questions! I must know my way out. I am the Phoenix. I must escape.

32: Their claws are knives. I am a dead beast. They are carving me for my meat. Saliva drips down their wide jaws. Razor sharp teeth gnaw at my exposed flesh and I am torn apart. Blood spatters. How is this written down?

22: He stopped following me. I think. Can he do that? Can I do that? Stop chasing me? Am I the bird?

27: Birds, Rats, and Shadows. Haha. I like this place. I like darkness. I like how it cuts into my flesh and devours my soul and hurts me. The pain is glorious. Death? Save me, Death.

39: He entered the room I was sitting in. That is why I had to stop writing. How am I writing all of this? I know his name. I know his meaning, but I just don’t know about the scar. That black scar that haunts us all in our sleep.

33: They are in every corner, every corridor, and every path. They are always there waiting for me. But when they see me they act surprised, as if they did not know I was coming. I can never make out their faces. I don’t think that any one of them has a purpose. That is why they are scared.

46: Alastor. He is here. I have nowhere to run now. Now I must fight to save my life.

34: They’re acting differently. Now I think they are afraid of me. Maybe because of the fire.

45: How? How? How could I forget who I am? I am the Phoenix.

35: They’re all gone. Now it’s just him and I in this endless maze.

37: I think I should run, but I am tired. I am so so very tired. I cannot find my home. I cannot find the door out. I’m starting to wonder if there is a door out. I can think of one actually. But I don’t want to die.

44: In the beginning there were five. They were all created, but not many are positive as to how. Only one of the original five remains. She will find the missing one. She will find him. I mean me. Me.

43: Well this experience has been interesting. I should know better now than to trust anyone, especially myself.

36: Goodbye demons, maybe my head will clear a bit.

47: “Where am I?” ...//Hell// “Why are you in my head?” //There is no other way for us to converse.// “Who are you?” //Simeon, why do you ask so many questions? Do you think that you need to know everything before you act? That is where you are lost, and why you are lost. You cannot function in this plane because you do not simply exist, you must understand. No. No. There is no understanding to madness, and there is no understanding to the body or the mind of a demon. That is what these things are. You have realized what they are, have you not?// “Of course I have...” //That’s better, you went a whole ten seconds without asking a question. Or for all you know it could have been 10 years. The point is, I am not here to hurt you. I am here to help you. Why have you been running? Where is there to run that I cannot find you? This is my prison.// “Then why do you wish to help me and why do you need my help? That is why you are here correct?” //Ahh questions. You have asked the right one this time. That does not dignify an answer however. All will be explained in due time...or I suppose in due distance.// “One more thing...the scar.” //Oh...that. That is not mine, as you may think. I simply carry it for a friend...a very odd friend, indeed.//

48: From my memory this is what I know happened. One moment he was there. He was just there. He told me his name was Alastor, and I lunged at him. It was sloppy, and desperate, as I had been lost in my own mind for days. He grabbed me and calmed me down, saying he would not hurt me.

49: “What will we do?” I asked. //We will find your friend, Acasius, he will know the way out.// “How?” //Stop asking questions. He will just know, he will know all in due time as well.// “You seem to know a lot about this enigmatic man.” //Let us just say I have met him many times, but he will not remember me, not yet.// “I am not going to ask.” //No, nor would you receive an answer. Damn, do I hate paradoxes.//

50: I think I can find a way out with Alastor. He needs my help too. Perhaps Acasius is at the end of this tunnel. Wait, when did I get in a tunnel?

Simeon slowly paced down the tunnel at the heels of Alastor. At the end of the tunnel was a dark round room with two shadowy figures standing in it.

= The Death of the Phoenix. =

And in that moment he was named. “Feghuang,” she said. “I name you Fenghuang.”

He felt the heat course through him. Memory surged as if a tidal wave of life and rejuvenation. He was the Phoenix. He was the sun. He was the South.

He took on great wings and flew high into the sky. Rising and rising as all heat does. In that moment he felt all mortality. From the instant where he turned from immortal man to immortal beast, he felt all of mortality. He felt all life, and all death. Worst of all though, he felt an arrow through the heart, and he fell. The beast that may only rise fell. The beast that may never die, did. And when he hit the ground he was only a pile of ash that would never again be the man or the beast, only the non-existent.