theplayingcat

[theplayingcat]

Echoes of the Past

inspo: a tiktok that i can't find :(

prompt: a romance about an immortal person who meets someone that makes time move fast and make life exciting. can’t possibly wait any longer to be with them despite having all the time in the world

everyone stuck at table in comatose due to being under spell that prevents them from moving. run by parents or high ups to fix the problem of their son/ prodigy who has lost their memories and sense of being. they sent out letters to important people of this persons childhood so that the boy can regain his memories and come to terms with his life. all throughout his life, he had to push people away because of his job as a saint/duke/idk. but this led to an unhappy life and one filled with isolation and insecurity.

one letter gets sent to a girl that he was friends with when he was younger. they spent a lot of time together before his duties became more important than their friendship thus spending less time with her. there was a blowup fight that she had with his guardians that resulted in their friendship ending.

she only responded to the letter out of curiosity but didn’t expect to have to go on a journey going through the past memories of her once so called friend. will their friendship be restored? or did they ever have one to begin with?

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In a world where time and power intricately danced with human emotions, Aleron was a paradox. Immortal, yet bound by the ennui of forever. Days, months, and years blurred into a colorless void, until one fateful day when he received a letter sealed with the emblem of the House of Elyrian. The insignia of the realm’s saint and duke, the guardians of time and memories.

The letter, beautifully penned, detailed the situation: The young Lord Elyrian, a prodigy of power and grace, had lost his memories. The revered council of Elders had trapped guests in a timeless tableaux, a comatose dinner where time stood still. Those summoned were the key fragments of the Lord's scattered memories. Only by piecing together these living remnants of his past could he be restored.

Aleron wasn't surprised to find himself at that frozen table. After all, as an immortal, he’d crossed paths with many. But he was stunned when he recognized the woman seated across from him: Isolde, his childhood confidante, the one who'd made time race and his heart soar. Their shared laughter, dreams, and innocent rendezvous had been abruptly severed when the weight of Elyrian's responsibilities eclipsed their bond.

Isolde had aged, but her beauty was more profound, etched with the wisdom of years and the bitterness of abandonment. She had attended not for Elyrian, but out of curiosity, having received the same summons.

As the spell began its work, memories unfolded around the table like a vivid tapestry. Aleron and Isolde found themselves reliving their past—the tree they’d carved their initials into, the secret glade where they'd whispered dreams, and the heart-wrenching confrontation with the Elyrian guardians that had torn them apart.

The journey through Elyrian's memories was as much theirs as it was his. As they ventured deeper, they realized their bond had been the young duke’s envy. He had yearned for the freedom of their friendship, the genuine connection they shared. But duty had always stood as an insurmountable barrier.

When the final memory ebbed, the room stirred back to life. Lord Elyrian, his memories restored, locked eyes with Isolde. “Thank you,” he whispered. Yet, she turned her gaze towards Aleron, her look filled with unanswered questions.

The council of Elders, their task complete, released the guests from the mansion. As they exited, Aleron approached Isolde. "Time may have paused for me, Isolde, but with you, it always raced. I've missed you."

Isolde, touched yet hesitant, replied, "Our past was stolen, Aleron. But perhaps we can write our future."

And in a realm where time could stand still, two hearts chose to move forward together. The immortal and the memory-bearer, rekindling a love that defied the ages.

[theplayingcat]

The Glass Stars of Illusion

inspired by: https://uquiz.com/quiz/28hMrA?p=5624393

prompt to chatgtp: a plot line that includes people being used for something and their remnants or essence are falling stars made of glass. i’m thinking something like elites or people fighting to get to a high point of life (but also physical) but it’s not what it seems. their sacrifices come in the forms of their body parts that are converted to shards of glass that get thrown away down to earth. the people on earth use the glass shards as construction for their infrastructure and buildings. they believe it is both a blessing from their benevolent gods and a warning to stay “good” because the shards of glass can also cause injuries or death if you’re caught in its showers.

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In a city atop the clouds named Caelistis, every citizen aspired to become one of the elite. To be elite was to be chosen, to reside in the highest towers, close to the heavens, basking in the perpetual glow of the sun, a place where dreams came true. Or so they believed.

Reaching that zenith wasn't an easy task. One had to pass through the treacherous Gates of Ascension—a series of trials that demanded not only intelligence and physical prowess but personal sacrifices. Those who embarked on this journey understood that these trials could require a limb, an eye, or sometimes even more. What they didn’t know was the true nature of these sacrifices.

Upon completing a trial, the sacrificed body parts would be transformed into shards of glistening glass, encapsulating the essence of their dreams, hopes, and aspirations. These shards were then cast away from Caelistis, released to cascade down to the world below.

On the Earth’s surface, inhabitants waited eagerly for these showers of glass stars. With the fall of every shard, there was both celebration and caution. The people molded these glass fragments into their cities, constructing towering edifices, roads, and sculptures. To them, these fragments were both a gift and a warning. A gift from their gods, who they believed resided in Caelistis, and a warning of the cost of ambition, as many were injured, or worse, killed by the falling shards.

Among the Earthlings, there was a young girl named Lyria. Curious and insatiable, she'd often wonder about these shards. "Why did the gods send them? What did they really signify?" she'd ponder.

One day, while playing near a newly constructed glass monument, Lyria discovered a shard larger and more intricate than any she had seen before. Within its depths, she saw a vision—a flash of the Gates of Ascension, the faces of those giving their sacrifices, and the elite of Caelistis, no happier than the average citizen, but bound by the weight of their choices.

Determined to uncover the truth, Lyria began her ascent to Caelistis. With each step, she deciphered more from the shards she collected. By the time she reached the Gates of Ascension, she knew the whole truth.

Instead of attempting the trials, she approached the city's council and presented her findings, revealing the grim reality of their civilization's foundation. The council, faced with the undeniable truth, could no longer perpetuate the illusion.

From that day on, the Gates of Ascension were closed. The glass showers ceased. Both realms, high above and down below, worked to bridge their differences and misconceptions. And as for the elite towers, they became a place of learning, where the history of their world’s mistakes would be taught, so they'd never be repeated.

In the heart of that very city, a new monument was erected—a statue of Lyria, holding a shard of glass up to the sun, a symbol of truth and clarity in a world once blinded by ambition.