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It was shortly after becoming the champion that EMF wanted to go and see all of the layers of civilization he was now in charge of. Despite being around when things were relatively better, giving him an idea of how things needed to be run, as a master, he wasn’t often able to go see what damage the Armored Champion had inflicted on the people of parkour civilization. Putting things back the way they were wouldn’t be enough; real meaningful change needed to happen.
All of the layers brought with them their own challenges. The noob layer had never really been given a chance; the people there, the few that remained, had never known a life without struggle; they needed hope and reassurance. The pros viewed the noobs as almost subhuman, belittling them at almost every turn to distract from their own problems; they needed temperance and to be reproved. The master had lived in opulence for so long, far removed from any situation; they didn’t outwardly show disdain for the other layers but viewed them as not worth the effort of caring; they needed humility and compassion.
All of the layers brought with them their own challenges, but it was manageable. However, EMF didn’t know how to handle the newly reestablished fighter level. So it was there he decided to spend most of his time. At first it was just to meet the people, who had been shunned so long from civilization. But soon he also found himself exploring this once unknown world.
It was on one of these expeditions that EMF found something he had only been told about but never seen for himself. The crystal district of the fighter level. The unique aspect of these crystals was they seemed able to record what people said into them.
It wasn’t long after EMF came into contact with these crystals that he thought of a solution to a problem he didn’t know he had. He loved his God more than just a worshiper should. His God loved him more than a deity should. However, their love couldn’t last forever. Neither of the pair would ever stop loving the other, but there would come a time when the subject would be separated from his god. Love, no matter how strong, couldn’t stop the inevitable fate that all mortals share.
EMF also knew another thing that weighed heavily on his mind. Even though his god loved him with all his heart, there would be a time when his memories would start to blurr. There would be a time where Evbo wouldn’t be able to think of his face. There would be a time where he wouldn’t be able to think of his voice. There would be a time where he wouldn’t be able to think of him.
Maybe with these crystals and the dics used to maintain the parkour legends, he would be able to keep his memory alive even for just a day more.
Evbo sat high above the world in which he was God. It was night, but that didn't say much; it had been a long time since he let the sun rise. Once it had been his dream to look at the sky stretching out above him while the sun warmed him, but now all he wanted to do was see the stars. They didn’t compare to the ones that he missed, but sometimes when he found himself slipping away into the fog of memories, he, for just a moment, would be convinced he was staring at his love once again. The person that made the night envious of his luster.
Besides, God laid a pack of records. Despite the man’s generally haggard look, it seemed to be in the utmost condition, like it had always and would always be handled with care. They were the most prized possession of this god. If asked to choose between saving his civilization and the discs, he would always choose the discs. Attached to this pack of discs was a note: “Even after I’m gone, know that I will always love. I hope these will help you remember that even after our time together is over.”
Evbo took one of the discs from the pack, summoned a jukebox in front of him, and placed the disc in. At first there was static, but it quickly faded, and when it did, an apparition tinted purple floated out of the box. This purple mist quickly formed into the person his heart longed for, his love. The fake looked at him like his love did, and the fake talked to him like his love did. But Evbo had long since known exactly what this disc was going to say. It was almost like a game—having the same conversation over and over again. But it was enough.
The God of Parkour Civilization looked down on his world from above. There was still the pack of discs next to him, but it was noticeably emptier. A few of the dics had been worn out; broken from overuse. But many still remained, and so he played another. It wasn’t real, but in the darkest of the night sometimes it would be hard to tell, and it was enough.
Atop the world sat the lonely man. In his hand there was a disc and nothing else. There was only one left. He tried not to listen to this one so much; he needed to make it last; he wasn’t sure what he would do when it broke like the rest. But as much as he tried, he could never stop himself for long; he needed to hear the man he loved again.
As he slid the dics in, the familiar purple fog immerged and took shape, and across from him sat his only. The conversation inscribed on it quickly started. “Hey, Evbo, guess what?”
He knew it was fake, but he still couldn’t help but smile. This was his favorite disc; he saved it for last for a reason. “What?”
“I got a gift for you!” More fog lifted itself from the jukebox and took the shape of a wispy ring; it matched the one that currently sat on his finger.
Evbo said his lines. "Oh, what’s that? Is it a ring?”
The chipper voice followed. “Well yes. But it’s a special ring. It holds a lot of importance to me, but I want you to have it. Give me your hand.”
Evbo put out his hand, and it made contact with the purple-tinted fog; when this happened, it lost its shape but quickly regained it once he stopped moving. He followed the script to the letter, not able to bring himself to change it. “You know I’m not really big on jewelry, but I guess I can wear it sometimes if it really matters to you. What does it mean anyway? There wasn’t much jewerly on the noob layer.”
The ghost in front of him tilted his head and smiled. "Well, jewelry can have lots of meanings. But this specific one means... I love you.” He tried to slide the ring forward but only ended up dissipating some more.
It was almost over. This was one of the shortest ones, but it held one of his best memories. “Ha! If that’s the case, I guess I don’t mind wearing it too much. And I love you too.” The EMF smiled more than Evbo thought possible at the time. Just as quickly as it had started, it was over. The fog retreated back to the box, and the disc removed itself.
It was over, but the disc still remained. He would be able to play it again. As long as it still played, it was enough. He would treat it well, for when it finally broke, what would be enough then?