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Second Chance AU
Ardbert had failed.
That wasn't true. It wasn't he who had failed. The calvary never came. With the First left to stand on its own, eventually the Flood resumed its wave of blank perfection until nothing was left.
Except Ardbert was left behind. Not on the First, not even on the First's corresponding Source, but another source where the First had been saved from oblivion and the Source had been saved from an Eighth Umbral Calamity like none other. Where just enough had gone right that both worlds had real futures.
He didn't belong. He wanted not to exist. Even when he recalled Hydaelyn's last words to him—an apology—the feeling didn't go away.
It only changed the moment he came into contact with Rhok. In an instant, he was no longer alone. Memories from another Ardbert flooded into him. Live. Share in their laughter and their sorrows. Do what I no longer can.
Ardbert would be okay. He had a purpose. It was a start. A start to a long journey, as he had forgotten much of what it meant to live. Now that he found himself able to travel freely between the First and the Source, he has so much more walking to do.
That wasn't true. It wasn't he who had failed. The calvary never came. With the First left to stand on its own, eventually the Flood resumed its wave of blank perfection until nothing was left.
Except Ardbert was left behind. Not on the First, not even on the First's corresponding Source, but another source where the First had been saved from oblivion and the Source had been saved from an Eighth Umbral Calamity like none other. Where just enough had gone right that both worlds had real futures.
He didn't belong. He wanted not to exist. Even when he recalled Hydaelyn's last words to him—an apology—the feeling didn't go away.
It only changed the moment he came into contact with Rhok. In an instant, he was no longer alone. Memories from another Ardbert flooded into him. Live. Share in their laughter and their sorrows. Do what I no longer can.
Ardbert would be okay. He had a purpose. It was a start. A start to a long journey, as he had forgotten much of what it meant to live. Now that he found himself able to travel freely between the First and the Source, he has so much more walking to do.