DEKA - LARA KAI (2024 CONCEPT ART - EVOLVED)

The New Year is said to be the perfect time for a Drifter to "shed old skin", and transform into a newer and more powerful version of themselves. In the field of science, it's called "Metamorphosis". Some Drifters can undergo "Molting", which involves casting their old body to develop a new one. The difference between metamorphosis and molting is that the former focuses on total change of the shape and form a Drifter takes, while the latter is just replacing skin. A Drifter's soul is called a "Core", which cannot be seen by higher beings, but Drifters can see their own Cores and others' as well.

Drifters can also evolve to merge with their own element or energy. This is how their form is unable to be directly damaged by physical or ethereal weaponry. It is said that only a Drifter weapon can kill a Drifter, but that theory was thrown off the window when the Final Drifter - the last of the species, is proven to be unkillable by its own arsenal. Their mythological "parent", called the "Dayosa", is an anomaly in itself, and in the case of science. It cannot be killed, but it does not know its own origins. Thus, it exists as an anomalous entity, whose existence is a paradox.

-----

(Story warning: Brief mention of death, but the artwork isn't 18+. It's just the plot.)

Lara Kai was just having fun with the little spirits that followed her from the Spirit Grove. They would often hear her stories and laments, which deepens their relationship with one another. For the New Year, she chooses to visit the spirits in their newfound habitat - a forest full of elemental magic. They have seen their new "mother" arrive, and they, like little children, gather around her to give her a family welcoming.

In a small demonstration of fireworks, Lara felt her right arm sting. She noticed her palm darkening, followed by her fingers, then to her wrist. She removed her arm bandages, including the ones on her leg. The little spirits noticed their mother breathing heavily. Then the voices in her head became louder. What are these voices? They are her memories crying out, crying for the mad Lara Kai to stop her madness. They plead, beg, the voice of her old self wanting to see the goodness of the universe once again. The spirits looked up to her, wanting to get close to hug her. But she backs away, worried that she'll hurt them if they get too close.

Her eyes kept turning on and off, her pupils smoothening and sharpening. The irises flickered between blue and dark brown - the former eye color of her human self. But the crying affects her as well. Lara Kai began to cry, pleading, begging, yearning for someone to end her existence; she wants someone to put her soul to rest. The memories hurt because they were suppressed for so long. Now it's useless to stop the dam from flooding, and Lara accepts what is coming next.

The corruption is not really corruption. It's how much Lara is using her power to the point that it changes her, warps her. It reveals to her truths that no one can deny, not even her human self. This madness isn't really madness. It's suppressed wrath and hatred made manifest as she wishes nothing but total annihilation of all that is. Deep down, she was trying to shelter her broken human soul, to give herself the love and affection that no one else would. It had backfired when she grew aggressive, yes, but what else can she do when, thanks to the little spirits that ignited her motherly instincts, the last person to nurture and protect is herself?

If the world is gone, then would you protect yourself? Would you allow yourself to grow in the face of oblivion and nothingness, without the pressure of all of creation?

To truly master her own corrupting power, Lara has to accept what she is: An anomaly, an enigma, a person who will never fit in, but can always create her own meaning in the face of a blank and monochrome reality. To not end up corrupted and mindless, she must accept her own flaws. She was never perfect, and will never be. Lara had loathed such a thought, that she had no regrets for what she did, for defecting from her cowardice.

The only regret was not bringing herself to love herself. And now, she will have the opportunity to make it right.

She became engulfed in her own unstable flame, with the spirits backing away from the scene. They looked at her transformation, cooing in worry and fear. Some cried for their mother, wanting to save her. But they are little babies, children even. They can do nothing but watch as she transforms into something else, something that is more of herself, rather than an ideal vision of the Dayosa.

-----

The flame subsides, and Lara Kai stands up from her crouching position. Her lower legs and feet are on fire, her forearms and hands are also ignited with the same ethereal flame. The corruption is at her lower body, and bridged her shoulders and arms as well. Perhaps the same corruption is spreading from her spinal cord? Her torso has a flame bursting through her plasma upper body, which feels fluffy when touched.

The little spirits are amazed by her transformation, reaching out for her touch. Lara picks one up, awaiting their reaction.

The spirit on her hand snuggled on it, loving it. It jumps to her flaming chest, cuddling with that weird flame that was... meant to be fur? Or a crest of sorts? The spirits jumped on her, loving her new fiery body. With her new form, they can get all the motherly cuddles and hugs in a higher level of love. Yes, love, that is what drives Lara Kai to do what she does. But caring for these vulnerable flaming spirits makes her realize how it is not lost, rather buried and suppressed by terrible memories of her past life.

As a result, Lara softly smiles at the spirits. She snuggles back, gives them little kisses on their tiny heads, and finally lets out a breath of relief. She lets them rest on her new body as they feel her new primordial warmth. Is she even called the "Dayosa" at this moment? Well, it is but a title that can be obtained by the Final Drifter. It does not define Lara Kai, but her traits exceed the expectations of the ideal Dayosa.

She slowly chuckles. Then the spirits giggled with her. Lara Kai bursts in a maddening cackle, with the little ones laughing in joy and ecstasy with their mother. It went for a long time, until Lara embraces all the little spirits in one big motherly hug. She sheds a small cosmic tear on one of the spirits, feeling the freedom she so longed for.

"I love you, my little ones," reassured Lara.

"Mommy!" cries the spirits.

This moment, where it's just her and these little innocent children that understand the things their mother went through to be this loving and nurturing, is like a break from her deranged rampage across realities. To her, these spirits deserved to live, to grow like real children, and to be released unto the world to spread the same love and compassion that she gave them. Maybe when there is nothing left to do, she can focus on nurturing these ethereal beings, before their time of birth is at hand.

~~~~~

I had to seek out some opinions and suggestions for palettes to depict an unstable character with unstable powers.

It took me the New Year days to finish the piece, lol. But the ink style and cel shading shall be what I wish to keep experimenting on. I'm still yet to revisit the Ink Wash style (Sumi-e) for backgrounds and landscaping, and do the challenge of relying on nothing but ink.

Ink is power. Ink is life. Become the cel shading, lol.