For many stories, there is a definite good, and a definite bad.
The protagonist is a good guy. The friends are good guys. Everything that opposes them are bad guys. Sometimes the good guys become bad guys, and sometimes the bad guys become good guys.
Sad to say, this simplicity is not present within Words of Power Quest.
It is, by no means, a simple story. It is so complex, that a Western style of writing will never portray it in the light that will bring forth its true potential - Thus the need to write it in a light novel format.
For this post, I shall touch on Yvolki and Hraxiif's interactions with each other - From just this alone, witness with your eyes how deep the story actually is.
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There are two recurring themes in most stories.
1) There is a dream.
The main protagonist has this dream (s)he wants to achieve, and he or she will go to great lengths to achieve it - Even if they don't want to. I don't read Western works often, but just from the back of my hand alone, One Piece, Hunter X Hunter, Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Ao no Exorcist, there are many shows that feature this particular theme of wanting something.
2) There is the fear of whether this dream becomes a reality or not.
This is pretty self-explanatory. For every success that exists, there is a chance at failure. For every 'yes' there is, there is also a 'no'. (hint hint) For every dream, there is a fear of that dream not becoming a reality.
So, let's recap :
1) There is a dream.
2) There is the fear of whether this dream can become a reality or not.
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These two themes are interlinked - Where one exists, the other must, too. What is a story without a conflict? And what better conflict is there, than the very opposite of the element you are inputting?
Such is the reason why elemental stories are extremely popular. There is light, there is dark. There is fire, there is water. There is an A, there will be a B. Stories like that are actually quite easy to write - Their difficulty is super low, and all you need to do is know one element well enough because the opposing element is everything the one element isn't.
This too is true in Words of Power Quest, albeit a bit different.
Yvolki, the Bird of Dream, is a manifestation of all the dreams and ideals in the world. If there is a tyrant that rules over people, there will be the hopes of a hero to defeat said tyrant. If there is a girl a certain guy likes, there is the dream that the guy will be able to win the girl's heart.
But, there is also the fear that said hero will fail in his quest. There is also the fear that said guy will fail to win that certain girl's heart. And that fear derived from the possibility of these failures, is what allows Hraxiif, the Wolf of Fear to manifest itself. This world is equal and balanced in an extremely interesting manner, in that all that holds a success also holds failure.
Thus, Yvolki and Hraxiif will always be equals.
That is, should there be no intervention at all.
There is actually a way for Hraxiif to overpower Yvolki. And, there is also a (similar but completely unrelated) way for Yvolki to overpower Hraxiif.
Let us begin on how Hraxiif will overpower Yvolki.
In order to tilt the balance between the two, they must first locate the common ground between both dream, and fear. It is only in finding common ground, and then manipulating the common ground to turn in their favor, do they overpower the opposing element.
In Hraxiif's case, that would be to find a fear manifested from dreams - A nightmare. If Hraxiif can create a nightmare, a type of dream that leans towards fear, then Hraxiif will be able to tilt the balance in its own favor, even if by just a little.
Thus, Hraxiif needs to create a nightmare.
What better nightmare is there, than an undefeatable warrior who proclaims himself an avatar of Hraxiif itself? That is the story of the Herald route - Where Hraxiif trains Katachi into a truly fearsome, undefeatable warrior, such that he can tilt that great strength into its favor. To have Katachi understand and control all fears, to live his own life in fear, and to prepare him for the biggest fear of his own life without giving him the dream nor the hope that Katachi will survive the ordeal.
To become a fear that devours the dreams of all who stand before him.
Now, let us talk about how Yvolki will overpower Hraxiif.
In the exact same order, Yvolki must find the common ground between dream and fear. However, Yvolki needs to look for a dream born of fear, not a fear born of dream (nightmare). It naturally falls upon people who have been twisted by their childhood, and have a great sense of self.
Before you look at it and think the bullied kid who goes on a journey in search of strength, much like Katachi himself? Yes, that is a model example, but not the only one. There are far... Darker, examples.
Yvolki can also target people who are bullied when young, who grow up to become criminals themselves to bully others too. As long as it serves as a source of power for Yvolki to defeat Hraxiif, it does not care about the repercussions of its actions - Simply moving forward is its priority, after all.
So, small-time pickpockets can become robbers, harmless children who prank a lot can be transformed into murderers and slaughterers who hack and slash at everything in their paths. To trap these people in a delusion, and make them live their fears out as a dream.
Remember - There is no right or wrong with this story. There is nothing in the story that dictates Yvolki being the 'force of good', and Hraxiif the 'force of evil'.
Truthfully, from a human's point of view, Hraxiif is the 'force of good'. It is more humane in the sense that it simply needs people to not move, cower in fear and fuel its vessel Katachi with that fear, but Yvolki needs people who will take action and live their fears out in a life-disregarding, delusional dream-like state, even if the actions turn out to be harmful.
Knowing this, there is one question I must ask -
Would you follow the manifest of dreams, Yvolki? Or will you follow the manifest of fears, Hraxiif?
There is a definite good, and a definite bad in most stories - Not this one, though.
And that, is the true depth of Words of Power Quest.
Whichever side do you like better? Whichever side do you want to root for, now that you learn of this truth?
And now, a word from the author of Words of Power Quest.
Food for thought - Something this deep and engaging, being written with no income in mind. With no plans to be published as a book that will be sold for money.
A story of this depth, being completely free, spare the fees for using up that little broadband to access it. And the only thing I beg of you, is that you don't copy this story or any of its content without referencing it or claiming it as your own.
Why are you not reading Words of Power Quest yet? What are you doing with YOUR LIFE?!
GO READ IT NOW, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON AN UNREFINED GEM.
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