CORE: Blind Stoicism

"Uncertainty walks everywhere."

The thoughts that ran through the minds of all.

What is Uncertainty? A force that creates evil? A dreadful feeling? No, it cares neither for evil nor good, and it is neither just a feeling one can shrug off with enough motivational support.

Uncertainty is a concept that not only walks but exists everywhere, the pause in calamity even by one-tenth of a second is uncertainty, and the naturalness of unnatural objects is uncertainty, The same goes for the hundreds of bodies piled up just for the sake of one of those many objects, but at a higher pedestal than others, that is Uncertainty.

Beyond and inwardly this malevolent world, even the purest of smiles and the whitest of daisies, remains uncertain.

Uncertainty makes people.

People make uncertainty.

That is the rules of this world, above all else, whether it be even space or time itself.

Uncertainty transcends all those pitiful concepts of treachery...

Long ago, in many worlds unbound, precisely six all full of treachery yet simultaneously in order, there would always lurk a benefactor for that carnage, the heart of all the chaos, renowned and hated by those they look down on, yet all again they fear as not a single light strived amidst the lands.

The Guardians, contrary to their supposedly heroic name, were deadly scum that could freely walk the entire existence, all five of them free to do as they please while the people they 'guard' shivered under their call while the world they came to know bent and twisted to unmemorable lengths.

For many years, and just as many Guardians replaced each other, some fighting even for their position never soft and always brutally, not one had come to realize the shadows the overseer upon their little colorful worlds, the detriment their generations have been causing to other generations.

Many of them, while unknowing, carried the burdens of their fallen generations, but to what purpose other than aimlessness, a dream without a path, a path without a destination, it was nothing, and yet these foolish Guardians...

Not a single one among the nest.

However, now after what seemed a million years.

There came one that saw through the schemes of the one that created them, along with his peers, realizing the potential of the world, and the darkness it was shrouded in, they put up their foot, seeking to cast aside the shadows at any cost or plan.

With allies or alone, they would not stop, they would continue, finally after many millenniums...

A light that would strive.

And hopefully, everything up until now would be turned around...

Inside The King's Castle, on the 3rd floor...

Many knights roamed around the marble, divine hallways of the 3rd floor, footsteps thumping and echoing across the large hallways like a herd of elephants in a marching band as illusionary bells rang each subtle movement they made as the stomping only grew louder in decibels by an unspoken force supposedly.

And then abruptly, they all came to a halt as familiar silence filled the interconnecting corridors simultaneously after they had finished their rotation across the floor, thoroughly and ultimately protecting their surroundings with a predator's eye, which engulfed the area in a strange unnatural sensation.

In the center of the floor, where all other hallways met in a junction, stood the 3rd Floor Guardian, their large sword planted into the ground as their eyes were closed, enduring the weight of their knightly leather armor, standing idly as they were seemingly meditating amidst the cold whispering wind that traveled through the lengthy walls of The Castle, focusing and refining their magic as they breathed consistently.

But as they tried to focus, that was when they not only heard but felt a flame of magic pulsing behind them, not only that, but precisely, and quickly as they reacted they turned around, their arms in a defensive position as they were on guard for an incoming threat, but much to their surprise, no one was there, and the magic had disappeared the moment he looked around.

"No one..?" The Floor Guardian muttered as they turned back to their blade, but noticed it was suddenly gone, ripped out of the ground as if it had vanished, now knowing that there was a threat The Floor Guardian quickly activated their magic, however, as they turned around... A light struck them, vaporizing their entire body instantly, they could not even scream, nor did their inner organs last long enough as that beautiful light was the very terror that killed them at that hour.

Not even ash remained.

And not too long after that moment occurred...

2:30 PM

The King's Castle, on the peak floor...

In that dark and dampened stairway leading to the 5th floor, walked up an individual whose body illuminated their surroundings, regardless of how many shadows there were, it all burnt away, even the candles dimly lit were outshined by the gaze of this 'sun'.

Slowly the person walked up to the large gates before them, their footsteps thumping and thus echoing across the bulky walls of the castle, giving an eerie calmness to the scenery as they finally hopped across the last step, and faced the white divine gates, their sharp white eyes looking upward to the top of the door, and as though it were magic, the doors slowly widened, opening the way for the person as with a confident smirk on their face, they walked out, accompanied by the cold fog that rested in those hallways, dissipating into the corridors of the 5th floor.

"What an unpleasant surprise," A voice spoke throughout the walls in echoes, in a tone that could only be described as both respectful and mocking all at once.

"Though, I suppose it would not be that much of a surprise now considering you are a Guardian, hm?" The voice spoke, the source now seemingly from behind as Justice turned around, hands in their pocket as they responded.

"Still as cocky as ever? If needed I could split your head into two to fully capacitate your ego," Justice spoke with a massive grin on his face as The Scientist walked forward, matching the energy, the two staring at each other rather competitively yet outwardly, it would appear as though they were long-term friends, anything but rivals.

Though, this little interaction was cut short as suddenly, came forth a blast of dark magic directly at the two, forcing Justice to dash back, avoiding the attack while The Scientist activated his magic, summoning a flesh monster that resembled that of a wall, blocking a portion of the initial attack, though a quarter of its body was blown off, smoking as it squealed in pain before quickly retreating back into The Scientist's aura, or body perhaps.

"You needn't start a fight so hurriedly," The Boss spoke up as their hands were behind their back, body upright, utterly contrasting that of The Scientist and Justice.

"Because you wish for a fair fight yourself, right?" The Scientist said out of the blue, causing The Boss to be slightly ticked in response, though it was canceled out as a few more footsteps entered the main corridor.

"Hm, I see everyone is here..." The Hunter spoke in a dim, indifferent tone as he came out of the left hallway, his eyes narrowing down on everyone blankly before landing on Justice, who raised their hand, slightly waving it before putting it down.

"Hey, good to see you here, I was starting to feel like I was getting cornered by weirdos," Justice remarked as he snickered, The Hunter silently nodded in response.

"The Jester has not arrived yet, what about The Puppeteer?" The Hunter questioned curiously as he walked over to the silent group of 'incomplete' Guardians.

"He was the first to arrive actually, as for that ventriloquist... As always, he's not present," The Scientist replied as they pointed up to the roof, with Everyone, except Justice, who turned their head down, smiling to which The Scientist noticed, smirking himself while almost like a chemical reaction collectively turning their heads up as there they saw The Jester staring down at them from the dark, shadowy roof as their limbs were stretched throughout and about the main hallway's ceiling, their purple-ish eyes glowing amongst the darkness which made them stood out.

"Stealthy fellow..." The Hunter commented as they sighed in disappointment.

"...It's almost time for the meeting, let's go in early, it should make things easier," Justice suggested delightfully as without waiting for anyone's response, he began to march forward at The King's gate, which led to his throne room.

And without so much as a word, the other Guardians began to not exactly 'follow' Justice, but merely trek on their own accord while The Jester crawled and slithered along the ceiling to the gate, his psychotic, near irritating giggles filling the hallway densely for an instant.

There the King's Gate opened widely, revealing the space-ruptured floor, hundreds of floating rocks, and islands in the middle the largest island where The King sat on his throne as all the Guardians stepped in, The Jester dropped from the roof finally, making quite a loud thud, almost in sync with the entryway closing behind him, releasing a gust of wind from both outside and inside that would have knocked any normal man off his feet, and yet they kept their balance effortlessly.

"Welcome," The King said, their deep, monotone voice, exact to their ancient appearance as their tone was traveling around and about the Throne Room, to the point it was as if he was talking into your very ears, and in response, all the Guardians lined up shoulder-to-shoulder, standing formally as they faced before The King.

"Now that most of you are all here... Let us begin our first meeting in 20 years," The King put his arms tightly on the armrest as he raised his chin, overlooking the six Guardians who were all suddenly teleported to different floating rocks and islands, with a prescribed seat, specifically that of a smaller throne for them as they simultaneously all sat down, every one of those six chairs facing The King's front as an odd magical aura covered their surroundings.

And so, contradictingly, for a few seconds there lurked only silence amongst the broken space as all The Guardians stared blankly at each other from across the room, albeit, some had a very different reaction, whether it be competitive or hatred, perhaps just indifferent as regardless, they were all ghastly silent.

"Both the 1st and 3rd of the Floor Guardians have perished for an unknown reason," The King announced abruptly, in a tone loud and dominant enough, causing all The Guardians to change their attention to The King as some had a hint of surprise behind their masks. At the same time, the rest were only full of intrigue as some rested their heads comfortably on their hands.

"The reason for why I call you here now should be absolute, now... I ask, who is it that the culprit be?" The King questioned not in a voice of curiosity but a command rather, though they created this entire world, practically the god of it, their omnipresence and watchful eye were severely limited nonetheless, one could say through old age or... Perhaps something else, regardless, this question began to surface in the minds of The Guardians who all began to think collectively of a solution or possible answer.

But despite this, there was no real answer at this current time, due to the lack of magical and physical evidence, there was no way to pinpoint the culprit correctly, but watching this mental hysteria occur was Justice, whose head rested on both of his hands while his back slightly bent, appearing as though he were thinking, but not for the same reason...

Justice smiled behind his hands as his eyes narrowed down at The Hunter, then The Scientist before closing them shut, but the moment he did so, a confident voice spoke out loud which essentially broke through his thoughts at that moment.

"The truth is, given the current situation, we can't tell you the true culprit, Your Highness..." The Scientist stood up from his chair as The King's gaze turned and washed over him like a raging river, with he standing still unfazed.

"But if you allow me to be able to research this culprit's actions... It will be guaranteed he will be served justice... With enough time I may be able to develop something perfect to catch the culprit," The Scientist grinned as The King stayed silent for a moment, their chin raising at the mad scientist, and as this eerie quietness rolled on, with all The Guardians facing The King, Justice's smile turned just a little dimmer.

"So it's just as I predicted... Of course, he'll want to step up, but whether or not he'll be accepted depends..." Justice's eyes opened as he let out a sigh.

And after one of many long silences...

"Permission granted, for this situation alone... You are granted the main position to find the culprit, truthfully... The culprit could not just be one, so I advise you to trek safely," The King commanded as The Scientist bowed in mutual acceptance before sitting back down on their chair.

"Do note, simply because The Scientist is the one leading the main research, means not that you are excluded, you shall aid him in any way, even if only by once," The King stood up from their chair, shaking the room for a split second as he raised both of his hands.

"In my kingdom, traitors, criminals against The King... Is never to be punished by death, it shall always be a worse fate," The King spoke in a grim, intimidating tone as all The Guardians stood up in sync, turning their bodies to face their king.

"Meeting dismissed, but never will my control of this world be, do remember that fact," The King commanded, the bitterness beneath their tongue etching across every crevice of the castle, they elegantly sat back down on their throne, which the moment they did, all The Guardians were teleported outside of the Throne Room, their backs facing directly to the large door as they stood and now before the Main Corridor.

Again, without even a word spoken, all of the Guardians walked, one crawling into separate hallways as they departed, their being fading away from the obscure lens as they went on, except for two peculiar individuals.

"The last time something like this happened was 300 years ago, but it was not as deceptive as this," Justice sighed, putting his hands in his pockets as he looked up to the ceiling, on the other hand, The Scientist secretly eyed him from head to toe, before putting up a 'smile' as he then spoke.

"And it will not be getting any more deceptive," The Scientist raised his hand slightly above his shoulders as he faced Justice, whose head turned back down on an equal level, the two locking eyes at that instant, sharing a mutual smirk in the process.

"I see, well then... Worst luck on your 'research'," Justice said before turning and walking away into a separate hallway as The Scientist stood there, hands in his pocket.

"I wish you the worst of luck on your personal journey too," The Scientist gleefully said as he too turned and trekked the opposite hallway.

"The hilarity is... Awfully charming," Justice thought.

"Neither of us is truly good," The Scientist thought.

"But neither of us is truly evil."

"Nevertheless..."

"How much I wish it that you are the culprit, Justice..." The Scientist thought as he grinned from ear to ear.

"How much I wish to erase your light along with all the others."

"How much I dread your need for pain..." Justice thought as his face turned serious.

"And how many thousandfold more I dread you."