《At The End Of The Universe》


 Warbringer - I

    Adonai:


    "The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It''s the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared." Said a famous author from our current era, so let me tell you a tale, my name is Adonai, and where I''ll send you now is at the beginning, beginning of my story, a story where the gifts I had and the hard work I put in might as well be my greatest misfortune.


    Boring, sheer absolute boredom was the general consensus of this room, a university class, where we study to try and have a normal job in a broken system, trying to strive for a good payment in today''s day and age. Most people my age have an idea of a future career hence they are here to begin with, dreams about becoming a game designer, a programmer of any sort or maybe just leaving this country to go somewhere else on this planet.


    But on the other side of the spectrum are the people who have no hope, who think of dropping out every single day or doing worse and yet they don''t, and I never could figure out why, and I don''t care to figure out why.


    If I have to put myself somewhere I would say I''m in the middle, I don''t have aspirations but I''m not in a doom spiral either, I''m content with how my life is going, as a more or less outcast with few friends spending most of my days reading the books my father left behind in his library and telling myself that when the time comes I''ll figure it out.


    "Hey, what''s with that gloomy face, try to smile a bit more, it wouldn''t hurt ya. Also fyi we''re not in class anymore, you''ve been walking as if you''re on autopilot all this time, tell me tell me what is in your mind at this very moment, I want to know!"


    The voice that keeps pestering me is Kathlyn, a classmate and one of my few friends. She''s a short girl with dark blonde hair, wearing the university uniform, a white shirt with a black skirt and a black jacket that has the stack of books, logo of the university on it.


    The sight of us together to other people is probably off putting to say the least, a beautiful young energetic girl with good grades, that''s also coming from a wealthy family spending time with me, a not so tall black haired guy that doesn''t stand out and might as well pass off as a stranger and on top of that an orphan.


    "Just thinking about how meaningless everything we do is, most of the jobs nowadays are handed based on your connections yet we still try so hard, or well they do. I''m not saying it''s wrong, just saying it''s meaningless, just like how meaningless it is to think about it. I guess."


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there."Pfu, hahahaha, here you go again, you might be right but it doesn''t hurt trying, does it now? After all... we''re young only once, so we might as well try and enjoy what little time we have before we get to deal with the adult world, unless some sort of apocalypse comes upon us that changes everything."


    It''s not hard to figure out this girl, most of the time she''s talking like she''s a carefree student who cares about having fun and living in the moment, but she fears what''s coming after, she''s not ready to face the real world, not yet, she''s maybe hopeful that something will change, or scared that it will not, either way she has a good job at her father''s company already secured so I think she should worry less, but I''ll never say that out loud.


    "Well if an apocalypse comes upon us, that at least will trigger an interesting domino of events, even if it might lead to our ultimate doom, at least we will get to see a change in this world that''s been stagnant for years."


    "You''re right, but enough with the gloomy mood, we should talk about what we''re gonna do later!"


    "We?"


    "We."


    "What do you mean we?"


    "It means you and me."


    "Why?"


    "If you''re gonna spend one more day in that dusty library I''ll burn it to the ground, you need to spend more time in the sunlight."


    "But we are already outside, we''re walking in the same direction, this is enough sunlight for me."


    *Sigh* "You really need more hobbies other than reading."


    "No, no I don''t think so."


    The library is the only thing my father left me before he disappeared, a lifelong work of his, books written by himself, some by other people, friends or just strangers. He used to travel a lot, and document places and study legends, that''s what he told me, and one day he was gone. He has been taking care of me alone for 13 years, my mother passed away when I was 4, and it''s been 3 years since he''s gone. Now at 20 years old most of my days are spent there reading through his lifework.


    "The library, Kath, is the only tangible memory I have left from my parents, I just want to spend as much time there as possible, before I have to move on."


    "..."


    Our homes are close, but the rest of that trip was silent, silent as if the rest of the world could hear the feelings of sorrowness deep inside my heart, and her feelings of pity towards me.

 Warbringer - II

    Kathlyn:


    The road was silent, I didn''t want to say another word to him, no, not after that, stupid jerk. I just wanted to get out, to get him out, he always spends all of his days in that dusty place, he thinks of himself as high and mighty but he''s easy to read, easy to me that is, haaa....


    "Margarete, can you prepare the bath for me?"


    "Yes m''lady."


    It''s not like I don''t understand what he''s going through, living alone, I might not be an orphan but I also did not have my parents close to me growing up, we''re a wealthy family which means they were mostly overseas, taking care of business. Since I was little, Margarete and the other house ladies took care of me.. I understand how it feels to be alone.


    ... I''m wrong, he had his parents growing up, they just disappeared, compared to mine which were not here to begin with, I guess that''s the difference, it''s a different type of loneliness that stains his heart.


    "For fuck sake, this is bad, but he needs to go out, he needs to experience the world before... Lady Saphira I would really want your advice now..."


    Adonai:


    I''m such a jerk, I should''ve not refused her, she has my well-being at heart, but that feeling of pity I felt. I just can''t stand it. I might view a lot of stuff as meaningless but that doesn''t mean I''m cold hearted, no. Just because I don''t care where I end up after university that doesn''t mean I don''t care for the people around me, well the few that there are, Kathlyn, Anwir, Maverick, Stella, my only friends. I do care about them, but three out of four don''t butt in my life so much. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    When we departed today I could feel how that pity in her transformed into anger...


    "I can''t even understand why she''s angry at me, she wanted to go out, I refused, what''s there more to it."


    Sometimes saying things out loud helps clear the mind, acknowledging a situation can possibly point you in the right direction but sometimes it just doesn''t. While I was standing there like a dumbass waiting for the moment of epiphany to hit me I realized, I don''t know. The truth is I just don''t know, I''m so used to being by myself that interactions like this makes no sense to me. Maybe someday I''ll understand it but for the moment I should..


    *Ring*


    A message?


    "Be sure to prepare for the test tomorrow, we don''t want you to fail, best of luck - Maverick"


    What''s this dumbass even talking about, he''s the one who almost fails all the time. "You should tell that to yourself, you almost had to repeat the year not so long ago."


    "I know, but I figured you''d probably feel down, I heard that you and Kath got into a bit of argument so I wanted to check on you, Anwir is pretty worried as well but he has to take care of the matters at his house so I''m here for him as well, well as far as sms goes."


    "How did you even find out?"


    "Words go around you know, it''s a ''small city''."


    "She talked to Stella."


    "I wouldn''t know anything about that, but you should consider your words carefully, just because you''re in a bad situation doesn''t mean no one else is, anyway take care and make sure to make up with her tomorrow."


    ...


    Haa.. I get it now, she''s hurt as well, I didn''t even thought about her history for a bit, my parents vanished, hers were not here since the beginning, I should''ve not act like that, I should''ve not use that excuse, this place has sentimental value to me, but does she even have something like that?


    I acted like I''m the only one in this situation, if anything she probably has it worse than me yet I couldn''t see that. We don''t know each other for that long, all of us got together when the first year started and they kinda forced me into this group, but that''s no excuse for how I acted, I should''ve thought it more, since I knew about it, she was open to me about it, and she did that so I wouldn''t feel alienated by her in the first place¡­


    ...Tomorrow is gonna be a long day.

 Warbringer - III

    Adonai:


    *Yawn*


    "Oh fuck. I''m late"


    Late would be a light way to put it, I missed two of my classes already and I''m gonna miss the third if I don''t start rushing. On top of that after the next two are over I have to find Kath and make up with her.


    *pant* *pant*


    "I ... made it in time."


    "Good morning sunshine, or well good afternoon."


    "Anwir, hey man good to see you, I heard you had some issues at your house yesterday, hopefully all turned out alright."


    "Oh well, you know how it goes the usual bickering with my father, he has a good business opportunity for me and at the beginning I was quite annoyed by the proposal, but I think I might just take it after our argument yesterday."


    "So, uhm, Mr. BusinessMan, what''s the big deal?"


    "I can''t tell you that right now, it''s still in progress, but someday you''ll learn about it, once it''s closer to see the light of day anyway."


    "Whatever you say, anyway have you seen Kath?"


    "No? Not like I spent any time looking for her anyway but for what it''s worth, no, not even a single time."


    "That''s unfortunate, well either way I''ll have to find her later, and I need to rush to my next class before it starts, see you around."


    "Take care dude."


    Anwir, a man around my height, with a sturdy build, silver hair, and striking blue eyes. Needless to say, a hot shot around a woman, and there''s also the fact that he comes from a really rich family, his parents deal with business all over the world. That only amplifies his charm with ladies.


    But unlike Kath''s they have been present in his life and try to introduce him to more and more opportunities. Overall a happy family to my knowledge even with their arguments that happen from time to time, and a good person, always helping people around him. I''ve not even once seen him raise his voice or hand at someone, and he also carries sort of a pressure with his status, a bit weird but a good guy.


    The next two classes passed like they didn''t even happen, maybe I should''ve just stayed in bed today I thought, but I have other stuff to take care of. I''ve been looking around the campus for a while but nothing, asked friends of her but nothing.


    It''s weird, but maybe I should just give up for today, if no one has seen her, probably for the better to reach out tomorrow, doing it over the phone would feel impersonal and ...


    "What are you daydreaming about?"


    That voice, I didn''t even need to turn but I knew who it was.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel."So Ms. Spotlight decided to finally show her face today huh?" I joked


    "Oh shuush, I''ve been dealing with some stuff you know, couldn''t make it earlier than this, but I really really wanted to see you today ... to apologize."


    *Chuckle*


    "What?"


    "I should be the one to apologize, I was very neglectful of how you feel, I know you want to help me but I treated you like crap so I''m sorry."


    "You damn right you were ... I accept your apology and at the same time I want you to accept mine. I didn''t really consider that our situation was so different, and thinking it over made me realize ... I''m sorry."


    "I won''t accept it."


    "What?!"


    "If you want me to accept it you have to uphold your initial idea, let''s go out, with the group or just the two of us."


    "Quite bold aren''t you? Making me pissed at you, come back the next day, give me an apology and now you want a date with me?


    "Hey, you apologized as well, remember?"


    "Yes I did and since it was my idea it was my idea in the first place, I''ll give you a chance."


    That''s what she said, with a smile that made me feel relieved, I didn''t plan to make it sound that way but seeing this really makes me question my feelings towards the woman that''s been closest to me so far. I was glad that she didn''t hold me at a distance over such an argument, sure we argued in the past about multiple stuff but this one felt rather insensible from me.


    Putting a smile on my face I planned to give her a more mischievous response but I couldn''t ... before opening my mouth I saw the change in color, everything around us suddenly started to turn darker.


    "What in god''s green earth is that?!"


    A person around us shouted pointing at the sky, I looked up and I saw it, it is surreal, a giant hand, no, not hand it was a claw ... that clearly had scales or something similar on it, a giant claw was prompting on the moon, like it is trying to sustain a body ... no, it was leaning against it or just putting a hand on it for the show.


    And then more of the body came into focus, it is a beast, something that I thought exists only in legends and stories. But in this case it is real, a giant head with multiple rows of teeth, red scales, a long neck, and a pair of feline-like golden eyes that''s all we could see in its attempt to show itself while not obstructing the sun if I had to assume.


    This is the real deal, this is a real dragon ... it looks exactly like how the books described it, even if we can only see so ''little'' of it that is more than enough to start the panic in the crowd, with such a display everyone in the world should be able to see it ... how and why?


    As I was asking these questions the giant head opened its mouth and it spoke, no word came out of it but I heard it, almost like it was speaking directly into my mind and by the expressions of the people around me they were hearing the same thing. A few minutes passed after the dragon stopped talking and no one moved anymore, stunlocked by the words they said or because the dragon had such a suffocating presence that it would leave people with a weaker heart trembling and crying.


    They spoke in a deep slow voice that exerted nothing but absolute authority, letting us know who''s the one in control, the words they said were equally as reassuring and as scary to think about.


    "Fear not humans, I am not here to cause harm ... the opposite. I am here to bring you information, words of advice and" The dragon paused to take a look at the whole world before speaking again "... as you can see I am a dragon and I am ... The Warbringer.

 The Greater One And The Four Races

    The Warbringer:


    "The last race is due next month, prepare your speech, this will be the last time you''ll act as a mediator between the races so don''t disappoint me."


    "Yes, sir." I said without a shred of doubt in my voice, and with utmost confidence.


    Even after all these thousands of years he still gives me the glare like it''s my first time doing this. I fear that my lord still doesn''t trust me enough. *Sigh* Yet this speech is nothing special, just another race entering in this mess, no ... the last race entering this mess. As a dragon I swore my alliance to my people, but these poor creatures won''t have that choice, even with enough time to prepare it just won''t be enough, and the worst of all ... they won''t even realize they are tricked into submission."


    .....


    That''s what I''ve thought back then and now that I look at them I can''t help but feel the same way, this planet, insignificant like the rest, but equally important to The Greater One plan. I can''t help it but feel a bit of pity for these lessers, they are not aware of the impermanence of being, the permanence of him. ...


    At least frozen with fear they will listen, and after all this is over so will be my job ... I''m the Warbringer ... mediator between races, the one announcing the beginning of their end.


    "Listen here, humans, what I''m about to tell each and everyone one of you will mark the beginning of a new era."


    That''s how it always starts, vague, almost positive, maybe even peaceful, but that''s not how it ends, and once this story is over they will have to make the decision for themselves.


    "First and foremost you need to know the real history before you learn the truth and what''s in store for you ... So I shall begin the tale and you better LISTEN." I said with a tone as menacing as possible, asserting my authority so that I make sure they won''t dare to ignore my presence ... that''s my job. A job that I''ve been doing for so many years...


    "Your race ... to my knowledge has two explanations on how the universe came to be, and I''m here to clarify that both are right, the "big bang" and your "god" are one and the same. Before everything came to be, there was nothing but one consciousness, a consciousness that existed in nothing, but this entity I''m telling you about started to have a feeling hard to describe, maybe it was loneliness, maybe just dissatisfaction with how nothing was happening. So THEY created ... the primordial explosion that gave birth to everything are the consequences of THEIR action, THEIR hammer striking what would be called the beginning of life, the beginning of time ... the beginning of everything itself. And what you''ll get into is an order from THEIR majesty ... The Greater One ... The universe as you know came to be from one explosion that was created by The Greater One for their plan ... a plan to create another one like THEM, to find a suitable partner for the everlasting contemplation, and the way to find them is through the most basic selective process ... the war."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Survival of the fittest, a cruel fate for multiple races that fail to meet the standards, but a fate that doesn''t mean total destruction The Four Great Races concluded, there''s another way out in this, this way still bestows a miserable outcome on some, but nothing in this is fair, not even ... The Greater One.


    "THEY created everything for a selfish reason you might say, and that''s entirely true, take my words to the heart you lessers, NOTHING, not even GOD THYSELF is fair." I said as I opened my eyes larger and larger like I was trying to impale their very soul so they don''t forget my warning.


    "The Four Great Races are the ones you will have the first encounter with: The Dragon Race, The Leviathan Race, The Demon Race, The Angel Race, we''re the four pillars of The Greater One, and the most promissable candidates. ... I''m but a mediator right now, and you''re the last race to awaken so next time, based on your choices, we will be either allies, or enemies."


    I said letting as much malice leak from my voice to make them believe the choice is obvious, but it wasn''t, in reality the war had yet to begin, at this very moment the real war is on what these lessers would call political field, getting ''allies'', a fancy word to describe cannon meat. Soldiers born from subjugating the weak, making them think they fight for the greater good, for victory, soldiers to throw against possible large scale attacks, when someone was dumb enough to create a scene upfront. ...


    Most of the important battles are dealt with using the promising candidates from the prime races, the elites of the four leaders. If one of these lessers shows potential then they are brought forward and they are implanted with more knowledge, brainwashing them in the process, making them the perfect beasts to attack an enemy of a higher caliber, an ally ... or their own kin.


    " ... The history that you know so far, the myths, the legends about everything mystic in this world are all true, they have always been true. ... There are different planets, with different races in this universe, all created from the beginning but all planned to awaken at different times. It might seem unfair to you, like you have no chance, and that might as well be true but don''t lose yourselves humans ... The Greater One wouldn''t have made it in this way if THEY only believed in the The Great Four. Now onto the main subject, how do you have a chance to fight in this or to prove yourself and maybe *chuckle* even possibly win? The answer is very simple, it''s what you humans often dreamed about, it''s a power that will change your lives forever, or bring your ultimate doom ..."


    "... It''s magic."

 Magic And Ultimatum

    The Warbringer:


    "Magic is a tool existing since the dawn of the universe, a gift bestowed upon races by The Greater One, a limitless power that has no shape or form, it''s the user''s imagination that gives it everything.


    ... A race becomes aware of magic when they are scheduled to awaken, and then something called ''mana veins'' open in their bodies, these veins, they are directly connected to your heart which would be the center of what you would call your mana pool. The veins are what you''ll be using to manifest your spells, and the mana pool will give limits to your spells."


    This explanation is at the basis a correct and not biased one I thought to myself, every race is set to awaken at a specific time and once they do they are given an ultimatum for mastering whatever they can in the form of magic ... before the gates to the floods of the universe open... Before the vast sea of stars recognizes them and judges them.


    "If it isn''t clear magic uses mana, mana is present everywhere around you, always has been. It''s a natural element of this world... no, of this universe. ... With magic as I said the potential is limitless but to reach greater heights you first have to understand it, nurture and develop it along with your body. The easiest way to start in the art of magic is by using the following four elements:


    - Fire


    - Water


    - Wind


    - Earth"


    "After you take ambient mana into your body you give it shape using your understanding of the said principle or element, if you want to create a tornado of fire, you will think about how hot it is, the shape, the speed, but ultimately you''ll be limited by how much mana you can control within your own body. ... You don''t retain the mana that you use to create spells, but how developed your veins and pool are will determine the firepower of your spell, and your understanding of a principle itself will determine how far into that path you can go. That being said there are no limitations on how many paths you can walk, but the more all around you lessers will try to be, the more you will lack in depth, the choice is yours to make."


    That''s almost all of it done ... The last part is the hardest, the true cold reality of what awaits these pitiful creatures ... but something doesn''t seem right. Now I can feel it, how long has it been there? ... no, it probably was always there, and only now I became aware of it. There''s something different about this planet... a scent that I can''t quite grasp, it''s familiar, yet alienating at the same time ... Now''s not the time to worry about that, I need to complete my mission and return to my lord.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "The Four Great races not only have been the first to awaken, soon after THEY created everything, they were also the first to receive blessings from The Greater One ... Each of the four races have been given the ability to naturally use an edict of The Greater One power, and they are as following:


    - The Dragon Race: Edict of Time


    - The Leviathan Race: Edict of Space


    - The Demon Race: Edict of Destruction


    - The Angel Race: Edict of Creation


    The Four Races with the four edicts of power are the major players in this war, they will be the ones to come to you, they will be the ones to sing your ode of alliance or ... sing your requiem."


    While it''s true that The Four Races have the four edicts power, power that The Greater One used to create everything, the truth is that it comes naturally ... we do not possess a deeper understanding of it, and I always think about why that is. As a dragon I''m subject to this fate. If I become strong enough in the art of normal magic, using the edict of time will become as natural as breathing for me, yet I can''t comprehend how it works at its basis, and neither does my lord...


    That''s the unfortunate fate for us, we were born in greatness but we can''t ever fully comprehend the length of our power, we can never reach our greatest potential... But that''s irrelevant, these lessers, they don''t need to know more because they will never reach our point anyway.


    The greatest mages from the alliances that formed in the past were chosen based on their prowess in magic, but not even one has ever shown signs of being able to use any of the edicts, perhaps unless they are blessed like us they will never be able to ... which is what gives us leash on them... The reality that they don''t need to know is that no matter how much they try they will never be able to reach the potential of a prime race leader and not even their elites.


    "And since now you know ... train humans, train like your life depends on it ... because it does. You have ONE YEAR from tomorrow to try understanding and developing your magic, in this one year teleportation gates will be naturally built on your planet, they allow interstellar travel. And after this period is over ... we will come for you ... so prepare ... make us see something in you, make us want to make you our allies ... and if you will choose to go another way ... the choice is yours. But remember, the dragons always value a strong ally. " I said in a tone trying to give them excitement and at the same time fear, trying to rile them up, but keeping a regal presence, not as giving advice but as reciting an order to them.


    "Until we meet again..."


    And I left, my last mission as the mediator now complete, my long years of work in this role finally came to an end. Now it''s time to return to my lord and prepare ... After all, not long after this charade is over the real war will start ... The ultimatum they have is nothing compared to the ultimatum we possess ... And that scent or maybe radiance, what''s around this planet that gives me second thoughts ... While it''s true that I didn''t notice it at first, when it struck me it felt ... absolutely terrifying.

 Terror

    Stella:


    "..."


    I am screaming, screaming but the sounds won''t leave my throat ... completely paralyzed, even now after they left the time was still not moving ... not for me ... not for anyone, was this power what they called "edict" or was it just the connected minds of everyone on this planet agreeing that we still should not move.


    But it''s better, better than before ... when the dragon was talking I almost couldn''t take it, I almost fainted, the pressure was so much ... it felt like my rib cage was exploding from the pulsations of my heart, my blood, my muscles, my everything ... myself could have ended here if they had decided to. But in spite of all that I stayed awake ... I had to, even if I wanted to perhaps I could not ... it was pure dread even if everything he gave us was information ... but I felt it, like a killer having a knife at my throat ... I felt the danger of dying.


    Minutes passed


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"


    ... I did it ... I finally did it, with tears of joy of being alive, of feeling alive, I thought, or tears of fear for what''s to come, but I got it ... out of my system ... out in the air and with it the time feels like it started to move again.


    I started shaking ... no ... everyone started shaking, crying, weeping like their most beloved one died on the battlefield, more less than the others, but it is a generality, something no one can deny, not even the most fearless or dumb individual can ignore it.


    I am looking at the people around me ... panic, everyone, it was like our entire planet was about to be crushed by tides of something we didn''t ask to ... a war ... not it wasn''t "like" it was going to happen, we''re in this, we have no other choice but to play it until the end, like actors on the stage, a stage too big for ourselves to handle, we''re just decor.


    But I have to get up, I have to look up for my friends ... surely they know what to do, they always know what to do, I need to get to them, I need to get their advice, I need to ... need to ... oh ... it''s going blank ... mom ... help me.


    Maverick:


    It passed ... it finally passed, I can move, I need to get myself together, and help people to calm down, there''s no imminent danger we need to think it through ... that''s right we HAVE to find a solution for this ... we can''t just stand here forever, we WILL find a solution for this!


    "EVERYONE CALM DOWN!"


    I shouted ... in the midst of chaos managing to draw some people''s attention ... but then I saw her ... no, I saw them but the most concerning one was Stella. My dear friend, with her dark purple long hair and ocean purple eyes ... Now she looked expressionless, blank ... like a corpse, no light in her eyes, her face pale as the last bit of life was sucked from her and then she fell, fell to the ground, and I started moving, time catching up with me. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Like trying to catch a bird flying, I rushed trying to make it so that she doesn''t hit the ground, but I couldn''t, and she kept falling. More than physically I can see it in her, she is going down a deep spiral of confusion, hopelessness, fear, a lot, a lot more than I can comprehend but I understand it ... and then she hit the ground ... and blood.


    "STELLA!!!"


    Anwir:


    The shout of her name woke me up from the nightmare that played in my head. I looked in the direction where Maverick was shouting just not so long ago and I saw her laying limp onto the ground with a wound to her head ... no. I started running, like my life depends on it, perhaps it''s nothing serious but the recent incident urges my senses, amplifying my feelings.


    I''m in a chaotic state but I can''t help it. If everyone is feeling the same way I do then this means the greatest union humanity has ever seen, that''s the thought that crosses my mind as I see one of my very best friends in the proximity of death.


    "How''s she?" I asked


    "Breathing but we need to stop the bleeding, the wound to her head is not too serious but if not treated it can definitely get worse."


    What a relief ... I sighed and then Adonai and Kathlyn approached, my expression a mess just like my thoughts, while Adonai looks not so different from me ... Kathlyn looks speechless but composed ... I never thought this girl was this tough but I''m relieved she takes it this way ... I couldn''t risk her as well ... no, she has to live ... at least a while longer.


    Adonai:


    As we approached them I could see their faces, theirs were as messy as mine, but it was good, at least they didn''t give in ... After the dragon left Kathlyn quickly composed herself and helped me out of my eternal trance, while the feeling of dread was still hanging I knew I had to get myself out of that mind space, and thanks to her I did.


    I certainly did not plan things to go this way when I asked her out but that''s not relevant now, we have other pressing issues at hand, treating stella wounds and looking for the whole planet''s decision. As much as we want to believe this was a hellish nightmare we can''t, it was all too real to be a dream .... magic, edicts, races ... war. A lot of changes are about to happen in the next few hours, and they will dictate the destiny of our planet ... our home.


    "Unless some sort of apocalypse comes upon us that changes everything ... that''s what you said back then Kath and I guess your words came true." I said in a rather joyful manner trying to make the situation less tense.


    "Kath?"


    I looked at her, her expression telling me she is contemplating, she didn''t acknowledge what I just said, perhaps she did not even hear me, she was lost in thought, thinking probably about her future and how this will change everything. And I can not blame her, this is as the dragon said "a beginning of a new era".


    In this one year that we have we need to make choices, and our lives from tomorrow onward won''t be the same ... sacrifices, blood, military, war, they are all possibilities and the more gruesome the more likely. After all we have only one year to prove our worth to the other races that had hundreds and thousands, some even billions of years in advance to prepare for this ... and each and everyone one of us have to choose a road for themselves ... an untraveled road.


    Kathlyn:


    "..."


    Lady Saphira ¡­

 The Day After - I

    Morning the next day


    Adonai:


    *Yawn*


    Morning routine, the usual, or so I would like to say, but everything is canceled today, everywhere on the planet. In fact, yesterday after Stella passed out we had to rush to a hospital, thankfully nothing too serious, it was just the already existing panic rushing us, we should''ve realized then. And by the time we got there things calmed down quite a bit.


    A council was formed, hours later the same day, with the most important people in all the continents, but not the presidents, the presidents were not the ones to make decisions, they were the ones to appear in public and be first we will send in front of the enemy either to greet them or to have their heads blown up, nothing of value will be lost either way.


    But until then there''s one year of preparations and right now we wait. We wait for the news of how things will change and how we will move forward, what choices we have, if we have any at all, what''s coming is without a doubt affecting every living person here so thanks to the recent dragon reveal almost every country and their extremists agreed to cease any kind of on going silent or out right war. Either way, until then I''m gonna head to the library.


    The library is a part of my house but it''s a bit more secluded from the main home, and I''m gonna brush through some fictional books to expand my imagination and my understanding of what not so long ago I considered only fiction and nothing more.


    *Creak*


    "I really need to oil this door, it sounds pretty terrible."


    "Yea, you really should do it, in fact I can help you clean this place, all of it looks terrible." A voice said from the shadows.


    "Thank you, that would be really helpful ... wait a goddamn minute!" I said with a tone not so surprised by her presence here, and a face imitating a shocked expression.


    "You don''t sound surprised at all to see me here, or look that way either, did I become that predictable?" She said in a rather joyful manner


    "If I would have a nickel for every time you snuck in this house, I would be able to afford another one, you''re the reason why I also stopped locking my door." I said with a sigh and a shrug.


    "That''s really concerning, what if you get robbed?"


    "They don''t have a lot to steal from me anyway."


    "You''re really honest, aren''t you? Anyway I came here to hang out until we get the news. Waiting at home, without having the maids around as well, was absolutely killing me."


    Even when everyone is free I guess her parents still don''t care to come home, or maybe they can''t but either way I don''t mind keeping her company.


    "Well I''m planning to read some fictional books to expand my knowledge or I hope that will do, I would recommend doing the same, we don''t know if we''re gonna get a choice to take part in this or to stay in the sidelines, truth to be told I would prefer to stay and keep living my peaceful life if possible." I said in a dead serious tone.


    "Hmm, you got a point well then let''s get started, shall we? I''ll look some books up for myself, after all your father was really generous with this place, it''s so filled, bookshelves over bookshelves dusty with spider webs and mold and ... I''ll beat you up if you don''t clean this place especially when you claim to care so much about it." She said also dead serious and exasperated.


    "Alright alright ma''am I shall be obedient and do that later, but for now go look for something and stay down, if the principles in fiction apply to our universe as well, more or less we will learn something and if not at least we spend our time doing something."


    "Alright!"


    And so the hours passed, hours after hours, I am reading a book with a dark cover and a pentagram on it with the title "The Incoming Apocalypse", while it doesn''t seem to have a lot to do with magic itself, it describes some entities which at this point wouldn''t surprise me if they exist in reality, and their respective roles in bringing an end to everything.


    There are three characters present, all without names, but all with descriptions for their appearance, from which one stands out the most and is more prevalent in the whole story, almost like the rest were not known or not so many people have seen or heard about them to write more. But this one that stands out, a tall gentleman with dark hair, part of it being white at the center of his head, red eyes with the intensity of the depths of hell itself, a hat with a black suit and an appearance that looks human? What the hell is this, while I wouldn''t put it past the recent revelations for a person like this to exist I doubt they would have a human look, after all they can''t be a human and be this strong.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    And this book doesn''t have an author, I wonder who wrote it, and I wonder if this was really a good use of our time but it doesn''t matter because now our phones are ringing. The sound of an alarm, and a message with a link to a video made its appearance on our screens, simultaneously the same message was playing on the radio, tv, everywhere.


    "Dear citizen of Earth, we understand that the recent news shocked you, and sent fear through your hearts, but we, the council, are here today to announce that we will move forward in these trying times, and we will not give up our earth to anyone. If it''s war that awaits us, or a good alliance that''s for the future to decide, but now, in the present, we have decided that every school and workplace, every kid, teenager, adult will shift its and their focus to training into the arts called magic. Truth to be told we don''t know much right now but we all started to feel the change in our bodies, feeling more sensitive to everything around us and many more. This is just another beginning for us but we will stand proud, it is not the first nor the last time something life changing hit us and just like in the past we will survive. We will learn and in a year we will be prepared!" The message until now was narrated with an inspiring tone, somewhat apologetic as well and then a pause followed.


    "... One month before what we call the "doomsday" there will be new recruitments for the military, the most promising candidates will be drafted in the main lines and if a war awaits us, I wish you the best, if it''s peace then the privilege to travel the cosmos and not be someone that can be made fun of it''s yours ... Now from tomorrow please do your best in figuring it out, because we will do the same, please help each other. In these times we need information, we need guidance but more than anything we need cooperation, and it will be this cooperation between everyone that leads us to the protection of our home."


    After the video message finished playing I looked in the direction of my very best friend with the most serious expression I made in my whole life and I asked her: "What are you gonna do?"


    "I''m gonna do my best, I''m gonna learn as much as possible, create as much as possible, take control of magic itself if I have to." She returned my gaze with one as equally serious as mine, and a tone with no hint of doubt, or fear in her voice, she was serious and determined.


    "I didn''t know you were so keen on defending this planet." I said keeping my face straight, it was not meant to be a joke, but a serious remark and she took it as such before responding.


    "I wonder if it is for this planet, or for myself, but I feel this determination, I feel like trying to change the destiny itself, I want to challenge it ... if you want to stay on the sidelines, maybe you should try reading this, I found it while looking for books explaining more about mana."


    "Mana Concealing" was the title of the book, author name: Melek, our family name which could only mean one thing ... It''s a book written by my father. It''s true that even I and most likely Kath as well started noticing the change in our bodies, we became more aware of our surrounding, more sensible probably would be the perfect word, while our body center became slightly heavier, and our veins have more pressure, something coursing through them, something other than blood. The only fair assumption being that the ''mana veins'' are just our usual veins, a deduction we should''ve made already when the dragon said they are connected to our hearts.


    "Thank you, I didn''t know my father wrote a book like this, and it''s so thoughtful of you to give it to me ... in the hopes that it will do something and make me stay on the sidelines like I wanted." I said with a smirk.


    "This is ... the least I can do for you." She said with a smile that didn''t quite reach her ears.


    Not being able to quite grasp the feeling I panicked and looked outside only to see that it was almost dark, so out of consideration I said: "You should perhaps head home, it''s getting darker outside." Those words left my mouth without realizing that there''s no one waiting for her right now anyway.


    "Yea, I should, well see you tomorrow!" And she left.


    I couldn''t really get a look at her face when she left, she rushed outside, and I feel bad, but the time for apologizing is tomorrow. I returned my attention to the book my father wrote, which described a process that in his fantasy world would conceal an individual mana.


    ''Normal people take ambient mana in their body to infuse it with their understanding of a principle to give it shape and create a spell'' that much was written in the book and it is the same with the dragon description, to conceal an individual mana they have to take it into their body, and keep it there, removing the impurities from it.


    Ambient mana works on the principle of impurity, coming from outside it''s impure due to the nature of the universe and the constant in and out from casting spells, while mana should be infinite there''s also constant in and out mana from the castings of the users, well according to his fictional universe at least.


    Purifying mana and keeping it in the center of the body will shrink the particles and make it less detectable, giving the impression that the user has very little of it, or that they have almost no understanding or training. Unfortunately it has no description on how you ''purify'' it but it is worth trying to figure it out, even if it''s just fiction in a way or another I''m training something and whatever happens happens. I thought, taking the book with me in the main house and closing the door to the library.

 The Day After - II

    The Warbringer:


    *Step, Step*


    It took about a day, in human time, flying from Earth to the nearest spot from which I can enter "The Temple of Time", realm of dragons, sanctuary for my lord, for all of us dragons. Now to put an end to everything I have to report my status and get my name back. And prepare for what is in store for me, whatever my lord will want.


    As I''m approaching his chambers I get the feeling of expectation, something weird for someone as old as myself, but it''s been so long since I''ve become ... warbringer, warbringer this is the person I started to be in my long life work, but now I''ll get to be myself.


    "Bow in the presence of the dragon lord!" A guard screamed as I entered the hall, looking down to the base of what started to be the staircase to the royal throne I kneeled.


    Dragons like every other important house are taking pride in their decorations, and in their lavish palaces, nobles, elites, we value image, appearances more than some would care because it''s a shield to protect our pride. And so the royal palace is decorated in emerald and gold, with long corridors, firmly crafted decorations and luxuries displayed in carefully arranged rooms all over.


    The throne room is a high ceiled cathedral with long pillars holding status of the previous dragon lords, honoring their name and what they did for our kin. It''s true that we get to live a long life, but that doesn''t guarantee we won''t be killed in our long life, and betrayal is no stranger to anyone in this universe.


    Even the current dragon lord, the longest one as well, has gotten in this position by betraying and slaughtering his father, his older brother, and his mother is incarcerated by his orders, a really cruel lord, but a fair one when it comes to judgment, all of us in "The Temple of Time" agreed.


    "Raise your face, look at me, and speak." He demanded in a cold tone.


    I looked up at my lord to see his face that hasn''t aged, his turquoise eyes, smooth white skin, with long hair that peeked out of his hood covering his head, and the white long robe marked with emerald gems at wrists and waist, with drawings of the various lines signifying the universe connecting ultimately at the top of his head.


    The meaning beyond that display is that the dragon lord has seen all, will see all, have solved everything, and will solve everything. In other words it''s for pride, our greatest ally, as one of the superior races we along with the other scums that got to be blessed by "The Greater One" are affected by this phenomenon.


    Taking the appropriate time after he finished talking, I started "Oh you lord of dragons, supreme one above time itself, I, your servant have completed my long almost everlasting mission. I informed the human lessers about what''s coming and gave them information as I previously did with the others as well... Now with my mission over please, I beg you, allow me to return to serve by thyself, give me my name back and free me of my duty as the warbringer." I said in a pleading voice, begging almost for this chance, even if I knew it was not necessary I needed to be humble ... to know my place.


    My relationship with the dragon lord is amicable in the best days, but in situations like this when it''s something official, where ears are everywhere I need to make it look real, and give no doubts about my loyalty or give no hint that I''m more than a humble servant to my lord.


    Acting as an agent for him along with my usual role of the warbringer brought great risks but we didn''t get caught, despite my convictions, my thoughts that some races should not take part in this. I did my job as I was instructed and collected while giving information as my lord asked me to. I need to keep pretending for the eyes of the world now more than ever.


    "Indeed ... it''s been quite a journey for you, my loyal servant, and I''ll grant your wish as your reward. From now on you are relieved of your duties as the warbringer and you''ll claim your true name back. You will also be rewarded with a greater position than before, you''ll be in charge of the special taskforce, the elites, military strategy and training in other words, do you understand ... Bahamut?" He said with a piercing glare, keeping his cold tone and looking straight through my eyes, into my brain.


    I couldn''t help but just look down and shiver a bit when I gave him my response "I''m grateful for your generosity my lord, I''ll gladly accept everything you give me, I can''t thank you enough for all this ..."


    "Enough." He retorted. "Everyone here leave ... I want a private conversation with the new strategic head here." He demanded and so everyone but me left. "Get up and tell me how this journey marked you."


    His majesty wants to understand everything to make sure he controls everything he can, so his demand was nothing special back then, when he asked me to remember details about intriguing planets, and not now when he puts me to speak about them. What he''s looking for is information, if anything sparked my attention.


    That should be for his ears, and his ears alone, not risking any eavesdrop. After all, sometimes you can''t trust your own kin, and there are ears in the palace from the other high races as well, no one knows when they are listening. I thought as his majesty put on a sound barrier.


    "Yes, your majesty... My journey was long and it wasn''t so different, some planets are more advanced in other directions than others, example being the Luyten, a more rocky planet but this brought technological advancements to exploit the natural resources there, abundant precious rocks, and other minerals. By this point it should be a trade centered planet, one that swore their alliance to angels. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Enaiposha was another intriguing one in my journey, the planet who''s made entirely out of water is now housing the strongest water type elementalists, few of them could gain control over another concept with the little exposure they had to it. What''s intriguing is how they will survive once and if they step out of the water they might be strong but their rationality is limited, and they are not ready to face the surprises of the cosmos. Now the planet is allied with the demons, producing slaves and succubuses, training nymphs to seduce that''s the public face ,while in secret torturing warriors into trying to "clay" them to their maximum potential, truly pitiful.


    And then in the vast sea of stars, when you just travel you can see them, sometimes ... the huge snakes, the ones that threaten the entire universe like an ocean, just minding their own business casually destroying planets, floating in the space itself, as they are the absolute ruler of it. Their huge bodies are obstructing solar systems without even realizing. You see them just floating there, in the depths of darkness, having their eyes on you, and their rows of teeth preparing to strike if necessary, the leviathans." And I came to a stop trying to not make this brief longer, waiting for my lord''s response.


    "Interesting but nothing new, we knew all of this already after the negotiations for alliance, and as for the leviathans, that''s how they have always been, animals. I guess I can''t say I''m surprised but I have to ask, have any of the planets you have visited given you the idea that they might pose a threat to us?" No emotion displayed on his face.


    "Why are you testing me my lord, you already know the answer to this question ... no ... there are planets which have the aura of potential around them, but nothing could be of a threat to us as you already knew ... my lord, may I ask a question?"


    "Ask."


    "While I was in the middle of my speech on Earth I started feeling something familiar but terrifying at the same time there, I don''t know what it is, or what it could''ve been. And I''m ashamed to say but ... it gave me chills, while it''s not a threat, that planet is worth keeping an eye on, maybe even make them allies through more underhanded methods if I may suggest that." I said in my humblest tone possible, lowering my head to the lowest point on the floor.


    "Keep your head up ... we will not intervene with the decision the civilization there will make, and we cannot go that low as to use underhanded methods. As for what you sensed, it''s better for yourself to pay no mind to it, Bahamut. If the time comes you''ll learn, if it doesn''t then treat it like you never felt it, we will keep doing our best like we always did to make allies but we will not pull strings on this. If we do, we might infuriate THEM."


    *Gulp*


    I couldn''t help but swallow the nothingness in my throat at that time, while my lord attitude remained unchanged, and his tone remained the same cold at face value, one could feel a subtle change if you knew him well enough, which indicates one thing only. I should forget everything I felt about that place and just treat it as a normal location, nothing more, nothing less.


    "Yes, as you say your majesty." I said as I prepared myself to leave.


    "Before you leave, I need to inform you that taking the lead of my elites is no easy feat, strategy, training or not, you will have to deal with a lot more than that. And also make sure you set a meeting with the other three high races and the ten sephirots ... six months from now, we need to discuss what is going to happen next ... and extend an invitation to them as well."


    "Them?"


    "They call themselves "The End", they are a faction led by the three individuals who received blessings from "The Greater One" for their accomplishments. As they seem to be powerhouses we need to at least notify in advance. That meeting will be about the course of action we will be taking, no one will oppose their participation, I can guarantee you that."


    "As you wish ... but if I may ask, how do I find them, where should I extend the invitation?"


    " ... The Black Parade."


    I had a dumbfounded expression hearing his words, I knew, we all knew about the special individuals that got blessed, they have been around for ages, but not taking the spotlight. To think they would form a faction. It is hard to believe, they seemed to have different goals, so what could be that united them at this point, what happens now that couldn''t unite them before, why would they take the spotlight now, when they haven''t done it for all this time. I asked myself in my own head, my lord noticing my uneasiness.


    "The Black Parade is a public group, ''recently formed'' and led by one of these special individuals, his name is Ragnarok, send a letter to The Black Parade, they should be easy to find as they host entertainment programs for the ones who pay more, almost like a circus, if you send them an official letter, he''ll surely get it."


    "Now now, no need to get so worked up just to invite us to your little group chat. I heard you loud and clear, and I''ll deliver the message to my fellow colleagues. I can guarantee my attendance, but I can''t say the same for the other two." A voice said from within the throne room sound proofed walls, and my lord expression slightly frowned.


    "Since when you were listening?" My lord asked the voice in the walls.


    "Who knows, and why would I tell you anyway, you''re lord of dragons, but you''re not my lord." The voice said in a humorous tone. "Anyway as I said I''ll deliver the message oh you mighty lord of dragons, and I''ll also take the liberty to look into this Earth your loyal servant advised you about, now if you will excuse me I have some items I want to trade ... but which city and where should I pick? Oh I know! Kaenbara in the great trade center Luyten should do, hahahahaha. Well as I said I''ll take my leave, until I may have the opportunity to perform on stage for you again gentle-dragons." And then the voice vanished.


    How could he mock my lord like that, eavesdropping since the beginning, interrupting, showing such insolence, even for a blessed being that''s unacceptable. I could feel the burning rage boiling inside me, as I took a step forward and I pleaded to his majesty "Please, let me go after him!"


    "Sit!" He retorted faster than ever "You''ll do as I say and nothing else ... no matter how valuable I have no use for non loyal and rebel dogs, do you understand ... Bahamut?" His voice resonated in my head with absolute authority, there is no room to discuss this.


    "Yes ... I''ll inform the other leaders and the ten sephirots about the meeting, your majesty, the latter party already knows, and after that I''ll go and prepare for my new duty ... I''ll take my leave with your permission."


    "Leave."


    ...


    As the huge doors closed behind me, I started walking the long corridor towards the informants room, the message had to be sent, and it had to be quick, I''ll waste no time in doing such a task now that I''ve regained my name... But to think we could not sense his presence during that entire time ... no ... I couldn''t do it, I''m sure my lord let him hear on purpose, yes it was on purpose, it had to be.

 Inside one own heart

    Adonai:


    "Mamma, mamma!" I called out to my mother while dragging her long skirt and looking up at her in awe. Her long white hair that reached the bottom of the floor and golden eyes were more enchanted by the beautiful sunlight that was coming through the window. She was cooking food, a lot of it in fact, in the half assed language I could muster for a three year old I asked while pointing at the machine that was so alienating to me at that time: "Magic there?"


    My mother looked down to me and smiled, then she took me into her arms and brought me up to look at the oven. "This is not magic, this is just common day umm advantages, you will learn about them when you grow up. Oh and what beautiful little boy you will be in the future, I can only imagine, After all you take after me and your father I presume!" She said giggling and smiling but also proud of her good looks.


    She was probably looking for fitting words for a three year old to understand, and I did my best at that time. "Your father should come today from his trip, any moment now ... and I still have so much to prepare aaah, sorry my dear but can you wait a bit until I''m done with this?" She asked me with pleading eyes.


    "Ya." I responded.


    Daylong work for the most awaited return of this household, a moment of enjoyment and bliss for a family soon to happen. My father who is usually on trips always let''s us know ahead of time when he''s coming back, even if he said he doesn''t want anything too grandiose for his return, she always goes an extra mile to make sure he has time to enjoy himself and relax every time he''s back. And while grateful my father always said that she''s overworking herself and she should pay more attention to her own person. I couldn''t really understand what he meant by this at that time.


    Half hour later


    *Knock knock*


    "Coming!" My mother shouted as she was sprinting to the door and she then opened it. My father with a mask on his face dropped the luggages at the sight of my mother and went in for a hug, but his appearance was strange to put it at best so she was scared and kicked him right in the stomach, a kick that sent him flying a couple meters back.


    "Aah! I''m so sorry, you startled me with that ... thing on your face."


    "Hahaha, as strong as ever, but don''t worry I came prepared." He said with a laugh as taking off a material that was made to protect his body from under his clothes. My mother looked back at him with an infuriated expression and retorted: "Smartass aren''t you, came prepared to get beaten up even if you were the one who scared me in the first place? Sounds like a challenge." Her facial expression changed from infuriated to scary in a matter of seconds, as her eyes closed, and a weird shadow seemed to place perfectly on her face.


    My fathers eyes lost light as he shot up straight and went into an apologetic stance, bowing to my mother and expressing his apologies "I''m sorry, I should''ve not done that, I''ll never do it again, please, please spare me!" he almost cried. But words can only take you so far I thought as I saw my mother rushing towards him with an incredible speed for what was my perception of the world at that time, and then she jumped, arms raised up and prepared.


    "I''m so glad you came back safe, even if you made an idiotic entrance!" She exclaimed with teary eyes while hugging my dad tightly, almost like he came back from a near death situation. As they stood up and came closer to the door I stood up and started to walk towards them.


    "Papa, papa!" The words left my mouth with an expecting look and my hands up in the air expecting. And as my father lifted me up, he hugged me, then we headed to the living room to wait for my mother to finish up the food. My father had a tradition of telling me a story every time he came back from a trip, and this time it was no exception, he sat down on the couch and put me on his lap as he started.


    "Listen here, my boy. I''ve read this on my journey in the south, it''s a book about a planet called TrEs-2b. It is said it''s a planet mostly covered in dark, the darkest planet ever discovered orbiting a star, less reflective than coal even. Red waves could be observed in the night sky, waves that were reflections from the surface of the planet, a weird view when you think about it, to this planet where life couldn''t exist, and where there was no sunlight that''s where our travelers went.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    There they met a group of fire gigantic birds and tried to talk to them but to no avail, the fire birds, thankfully not hostile, understanding the intent of the travelers guided them to the oldest of the tribe. The oldest was well known into the different languages spoken out there in the universe and they assumed a less imposing form, adopting a human body, but a body that couldn''t escape their race traces, normal skin but infused with patterns of feathers burning inside their bodies, and a tail with a pair of wings remaining behind him.


    They befriended the stowaways after some conversations and translation thanks to the elder and offered to give them shelter, light and food so they could survive. In exchange they had to write about their history, no, about their existence, if worse came to the worse there would be at least records left about the mighty fire birds that soared the skies so proud, the phoenix.


    And so the stowaways stayed, and learned about phoenixes history, about their enemies, about how they became so efficient and powerful with fire magic. And it was because magic was what gave them light in this world, what gave them a chance at survival.


    You see they were not born on that planet, but were forced to go there, millions of years ago because they were hunted by really bad guys. These villains wanted to take their feathers and put them in cages, displaying them as trophies and taking advantage of their ever burning bodies, but they didn''t give up and they fled their planet to come here, a desolate place where no one would think to check.


    Now in a safe place they could only hope the tragedy won''t come back again, but soon after the stowaways arrived so did the tragedy, and so our group of adventurers was forced to leave the planet because of the imminent danger. They didn''t want to involve strangers into their military affairs so no matter how much they pleaded to help them, they refused and sent them home.


    Gigantic Snowy Owls started ravaging the planet along with a few individuals from which one was named Boreas. A natural enemy for their race because of his natural ice manipulation, it developed to such an extent that it could freeze the everlasting flames themselves.


    That''s part of the knowledge the stowaways learned about the phoenixes'' enemies before being forced to leave and part of what they saw before they departed. Unfortunately they never got to see what happened to the friends they made on the desolated lightless planet, but they can only hope ... maybe if a second volume comes out we will get to know!"


    My father finished his resume of the story with an optimistic smile on his face, while I could understand most of the words that he just told me it was fascinating. For my young brain something like magic was fuel for fantasies, a myriad world of possibilities that''s how I felt back then.


    "Enough stories boys, the food is ready!" My mom shouted from the kitchen, my father soon after the shout picked me up and started going towards the soothing voice of his wife. Putting me down we all stayed together, sitting at the table. Pounded by my curiosity and adopting the look of innocence in my eyes I asked my father "Magic there?" pointing outside the window.


    My father looked at me with a blissful smile and answered "Of course, there is magic out there, everything is magical out there, every day you live and you will live will be just as magical as long as you have people close to you and as long as you are good with who you are. The true magic doesn''t come from fantastic battles or never ending adventures, the true magic ... the people you have around you, isn''t that right dear?"


    "Absolutely." She answered almost immediately with the same blissful smile as my father, the magic in everyday life comes from being happy. No person can bear loneliness and remain sane, so make sure whatever friends you make out there, make sure you''ll cherish them. Happiness is magic, and happiness is in your heart, but try to remember, happiness means nothing if you''re not yourself, so make sure your soul stays just as magical."


    "If mamma and papa are together, we are happy." I said while looking at my parents and smiling with my eyes filled with joy and my innocent smile reaching my ears.


    ....


    I opened my eyes to the place filled with nothing but white.


    "It was a dream, but where am I and why was I a spectator in my dream ... " I asked myself, filled with confusion.


    "Boy..." A voice called out to me from a place in this white room, but I couldn''t pinpoint from where, and then they continued "What you just saw is a precious memory to you, but more than that it''s the answer you''ve been looking for."


    "... Who are you?"


    "Irrelevant" The voice retorted immediately "And you don''t have time to waste, you''re still dreaming and it''s time to wake up." The voice continued in the same indifferent tone.


    "What are you even talking about, why have I been reminded of this and what?"


    "Irrelevant right now" the voice continued over my own, stopping me from posing more questions and finished the sentence with "This is but a small price of a favor."


    "A favor, a favor to who?"


    *Snap*


    As I heard the sound of fingers snapping I woke back to reality, this time for good. In a state where I can''t make sense if what I saw was my imagination, or if it was real, as real as a dream could get anyway.

 Beyond one own heart

    Adonai:


    My mind, still hazy after the most recent alienating dream, can''t seem to let go of the words my mother said to me in the dream ''Happiness is magic, and happiness is in your heart, but try to remember, happiness means nothing if you''re not yourself, so make sure your soul stays just as magical.''


    The words sound like an adage at face value, and I can''t honestly bear to think about them right now, I think it''s better to get out and get some fresh air.


    And with that thought in my mind I headed to the door, deciding it is better today to walk and try to avoid any type of concourse. But even then the road is strangely empty, suspiciously empty if I have to say, so as to confirm my suspicion I took a look around me.


    Tall buildings, in them rooms for people to live, and at least one pair of eyes peeking out of the windows, out of almost every one of them. Thinking twice I realize that it''s still a day after the announcement from the council came. So perhaps most people are still afraid to go out, or they are thinking of what to do... Business at a surface level keeps operating like usual, at least the necessary stores are still running, some of them, with a few employees. Despite the governmental order to prioritize magic over everything else some stuff still needs a human touch.


    "The center of the city sure is pretty nice without a lot of people around" I said aloud while looking for any familiar face, but there was none.


    It is a strange feeling, almost like everyone on the planet died and I got to live and stroll the earth alone. Moving from place to place, I stumbled upon a poster "May the Angels bless us, do not fall for the temptations of the EVIL!!!".


    "Signed: The continental church ... I guess it''s only natural for them to try and shift people to what they consider divinity, after all, for all these years religion''s been a big part of the earth''s culture. On second thought, isn''t this a bit unbalanced?" I said aloud without expecting a response in return.


    "It sure is, who''s gonna make the final decision anyway?" To my surprise a voice responded to my question, and so I shifted my eyes to see who it was.


    It was a man of the same height as me, his body built to be the textbook definition of a gym rat, if I''m not mistaken his name is...


    "Excuse my rudeness, but your name is Damian right?" I asked without much thought put into it, but after a few seconds I realized that I forgot something very important "Oh sorry, I forgot to introduce myself, I''m Adonai, I''ve seen you around the campus a few times, I should''ve introduced myself before asking for your name."


    "It''s all good G, I''ve just seen you around here and thought of inviting you to join my group, we''re gonna go partying now that we don''t have to study anymore, you know living the best life."


    G? Ahah and my suspicion was confirmed, much muscle, not too much brain, in a situation like this is partying really the best thing to do? I thought to myself as I looked at his group of around 20 people, people like him, all well built, and screaming testosterone with a few women as well. If I would go with them I would stick like a sore thumb.


    "I''m thankful for your invitation but I have stuff I need to handle so..." I excused myself.


    "That''s unfortunate, you looked like a nice guy, maybe some of the girls wanted to take you for a spin, ei?" He humorously asked the girls in the group.


    "Don''t joke around with something like that, grossssss!" They said in a way that imitates a choir and then they started laughing. That''s when I had the second revelation of today, that being the correct choice I just made. If I would''ve tagged along I would be no more than a joke material to them.


    "I''m sorry for their harsh words G, but if you change your mind .. actually you won''t change your mind, so." And they left.


    "Douchebag." I said aloud, this time no one responded.


    As I continued my stroll, the sun started setting down, and with it I decided to head home. On my way back I noticed a few people gathered around, in the space between two buildings, an alley that was mostly dark, only one light still standing. As I made eye contact with what seemed to be the leader of the group he started shouting at me "Young man, don''t stay there, we found it, WE FOUND IT!" The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Right there and then I had my third revelation of today ... They are drunk, utterly drunk. Trying to ignore them and get away I started running, but as I did I felt the wind pushing me back ... forcefully?


    "Why did ya try to run away young man, I just told you we found it, WE FOUND HOW TO USE MAGIC!" He screamed for everybody to hear, but the only people around are me and his group of alcoholics.


    "Certainly what I felt right now was not natural, the wind was really pushing me towards you in a weird manner, so care to demonstrate again?"


    "Ohoo, from running away to asking for demonstrations hmmm, should I?" He said in a confused voice.


    "Don''t ya wanna help out a young man like me on his career to success? Maybe when I strike it big I''ll remember your help and pay you back." I said trying to mimic a drunk tone, truth to be told I was never drunk before so it is kinda embarrassing even trying.


    "Pfoa Hahahaha, okay okay young man." He said as he stood still and seemingly did nothing ... but I saw the gusts of wind around me moving towards his side.


    "Controlling the wind?" I asked.


    "More like redirecting it, I''m a meteorologist so understanding how the wind moves it''s an easy feat for me." He said proudly, ignoring the state he was in.


    "But how did you get to this point?" I asked


    As he seemed to ponder whether to tell me or not I just waited trying to figure out how on my own.


    "Stay down boy, I''ll teach you just like I taught these other fuckers...


    So the "we found it" it''s "I found it" I thought.


    I did as he said and I assumed a sitting position waiting for his next command.


    "Now close your eyes and focus on trying to feel how your blood circulates through your veins. After you do that, open your senses to every particle around you, try to block the people and feel nature itself. Keep your sensation of the blood as well"


    Easier said than done, I thought, the level of concentration needed only to feel the blood circulating through your veins was already horrendous when you tried to do it consciously. After that I had to keep it and at the same time add to it, meditating with more steps is how my head categorized this process.


    "Hmmm, good, very good, now boy while you can''t feel our presence you can still hear us, keep focused and try to drawn in from your surroundings, don''t ask, don''t hesitate, just draw in everything around combining it with what you feel it has a movement that counters your bloodstream."


    I had to draw in what? The air, the what? ... But as he said, questions were pointless. I just had to try and feel it, drawing it in ... drawing it in ... storing it in my heart... As I stayed in that stance I realized that this process is nothing more than making us aware of what we''re drawing in, we''re drawing in something already existing in our bodies, something that already circulates in us, we started this natural process already.


    It was after we felt the changes in our bodies, after the dragon left, but becoming aware of it on more than a surface level, and in my surroundings as well, means I can voluntarily increase the volume, accelerating the process. Drawing in the essence of everything itself, drawing in mana ... But to achieve my goal I have to purify it if what the book says is true.


    After I got up I said "Thank you ... I understand it now ... no, I''m aware of it now, I''ll head home and practice." I said as an excuse to leave the drunk people. It''s true that they helped me with the process. Understanding the mana you draw in your body as it is the everything around you, makes you able to increase the volume your body receives ... as for the purification ... I had to find out on my own.


    "Just leave young man, no need to stay with us drunks, now I can''t stop you even if I want to hahahahaha."


    ...


    And then I reached home where I restarted the process the drunk man taught me in the shabby alley ... Thinking about it I could''ve got killed, not to self to never do that again.


    While entering the meditation state I gradually tried to increase the volume of mana my body receives. Until I reached what I understood as the limit of my ''mana pool'', which was namely my own heart. Trying to increase it over the limit gives me a constraint on my own body so better not to do it.


    "But how do I purify it?" I asked myself again, and again, and again, until I wanted to bang my head against the floor.


    As I calmed down I thought of my mother''s words once again, if mana is happiness means I only need to make my soul magical as well ... to be happy ... my soul ... As if possessed by something I started focusing on reaching beyond my mortal comprehension of the body, reaching for my soul, reaching for a glimmer of hope that the dragon didn''t tell us everything. All to just try and see if this fictional theory my father left me is true or not, to try and accomplish my own goal of staying in the side lines.


    ....


    As I opened my eyes I found myself standing in the white room yet again, this time no voice around but my perspective shifted. I can clearly see that this white room now has no limitation, infinite space, and as to achieve my previous goal I guided the mana from my heart into my soul, letting it occupy this vast white canvas. Looking at the mana changing from its mix of colors to pure white waves I couldn''t help but smile thinking of one thing.


    "It wasn''t only real, but I also did it ..."


    Pure Mana.

 T-minus-Nine Months

    Adonai:


    Three months have passed since I figured out how to filter mana particles and transform them into pure mana. In these three months I was a shut in, focusing on reading, and filtering mana, trying to achieve the best outcome, which would be a natural filter, but having to actively think about where the mana should go and how it should reach the destination takes time.


    At first I could only do it by forcing myself into a state that separates me from everything around and filter only the mana that is already stored in my mana center, in a month and a half I managed to open a passage while in the meditation state that directly connected the exterior mana to the depths of my soul, eliminating the middlemen in the process.


    That is still a far cry from my goal but at least right now I don''t need to depend on stored resources to do the process. But because I didn''t get rid of the extra need for concentration required, I devised a system that helps me the most in my current state. While awake I''ll focus on storing mana like I previously did but significantly increasing the quantity during the day, and at night I would filter what''s stored then continue filtering a natural flow of outside mana, refining the process while switching from stored to outside mana.


    This way I can train my assimilation process at day and my filtering process at night, while my sleep took a big hit, it''s worth it, mana consistently flows into the body in a natural rhythm, so I need to reach a stage where the process of filtering becomes like breathing if I want to pass like a nobody.


    I''ve spent the rest of time until now trying to get myself to think of it as something natural, but today is a big day, today I finally see the sun again!


    Kath, Anwir, Maverick, Stella and Me. We decided, soon after everything started, that each of us will focus on our training and objectives and meet every three months to catch up and report our progress. Today is that day. And we''re meeting at Stella''s house ... even after she got discharged her condition didn''t get better, she was weak ... she is weak .... she doesn''t have a strong heart and she became a shut in but not to develop her abilities ... out of fear of the outside world.


    "Seems like I''m the first here" I said aloud while waiting outside, knowing my friends. I expected an ambush from at least one of them, but she didn''t get here yet. So instead of waiting I went ahead and rang the bell.


    *Ring*


    No response ... While it might be impolite to enter someone''s house without their consent we already informed her of our coming, also she agreed more or less with this three months ago. And also to make sure she''s okay I made my way through the entrance, up the stairs and to her room.


    *Knock*


    "Stella, is me, I''m here a bit sooner, sorry for inviting myself in but since there was no response I got a bit worried."


    "A... come in." She said from the other side of the room in a frill voice, almost non audible.


    And after that I opened the door and saw her ... thin ... pale ... almost a corpse ...


    "... Why?" I asked, looking at the poor display of a human being in front of me, asked with a voice that expressed nothing but concern for my friend.


    "You know ... I just don''t feel like eating ... or drinking ... I force myself to ... at least to survive a bit longer." She responded to my question, again, in almost a non audible tone.


    *Sigh* "Forget it, let''s get you changed before the others arrive, you might not feel like it but you need to take more care of yourself, how long since you''ve taken a bath?"


    "Two weeks..."


    "... Let''s get you to the shower first, I''ll start cleaning and you try to find something to wear before you''re going. Kath can take care of the cooking when she get''s here."


    "..."


    "You move on your own, or I''ll drag you into the bath and take a shower with you"


    "... I''ll go." She said in the same frill voice as before.


    And now that she left, it''s time to start cleaning this place out.


    After about half an hour of labor I heard the front door bell.


    "Coming."


    As I came face to face with my friends, two out of the three that should be present I realized the state I''m in ... looking like a ...If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Woah, since when did you took a job as a housemaid, or are you a husband?" Marwick said with the ring of a joke in his voice shortly after he saw me.


    Meanwhile Kath is looking at me ... deadpan.


    "It really suits you, but how you can''t be so active in your own house disturbs me, did you propose to her or something?" She asked with a face filled with a mocking confusion.


    "I''m gonna propose your face to that wall, now get in."


    "How overprotective of your new wife awh." She said.


    "You know what they say, happy marriage?" He said.


    And so they both started to make fun of me. When we got to Stella''s room I started explaining to them the state I found her, and that she''s taking a shower as we speak.


    Without a second word Kathlyn went out of the room heading to the kitchen, leaving only me and Maverick to discuss.


    "So where''s Anwir?" I asked.


    "He said his father took him abroad to give him more opportunities to learn from different cultures and stuff like that, he won''t be back until the next reunion." He responded as a matter of fact.


    "I guess it''s just the four of us then, so how''s your progress going?"


    "Nah, nah, nah, no spoilers until everyone is present, I think I''ll surprise everyone of you."


    I''m looking at him with an air of disbelief but after all nothing we can do now but wait.


    As Stella came out of the shower, and Kath came back with the food, we sat together in the not so big room.


    "If no one wants to start, then I will, better than to sit in silence." Maverick said, the slightly older one of us, reliable most of the time, and full with humor at other times. "As you can all notice ... I started working out!"


    Me and Kath went ahead to take a better look at him while Stella remained in the same position barely lifting her eyes from the food.


    "You started working out ... brain cells?" I asked.


    "How rude of you, it might not be that visible but I''m trying to get in shape as much as I can, after all we can''t only rely on magic in the future."


    What he said holds a bit of truth, while magic is useful, having a body that can''t handle running or anything else that requires an excessive physical effort would be troublesome. Note to self to start exercising.


    But in reality it was a bit noticeable, the tall guy with a decent build now started to show muscle, confidence, he keeps his blue hair as short as ever and his green eyes always looking for the best outcome. Like how he did back then when he tried to calm everyone up after the dragon left.


    "What about magic?" Kathlyn asked.


    "I have basic control over all four elements as most of us, I''m not trying to go into a specific direction ... so I''m just trying to get a hold of everything and see if I can find something I excel more at."


    A normal response, at this stage none of us should have a speciality, and this road might led him to become a jack of all trades which is not too bad.


    "Hmm, well I can''t say I''m doing a lot better, as you know I''m training to stand on the side lines but my progress is there." I said as a matter of fact.


    "So you train in doing nothing?" He asked me confused.


    "Pretty much." I responded again as a matter of fact.


    "How about you Stella?" I asked in hopes that this will make her talk to us.


    "I ... uhm ... don''t know, didn''t try a lot ... I''ve been stuck here with my thoughts mostly ... bad thoughts."


    I can sense the mood in the room changing, and I need to do something.


    But just as I thought that.


    "Plant Magic." Kathlyn said.


    "What?" The three of us asked at the same time.


    "While our Mav here might not have a special line of magic I do and it''s plant magic."


    "So uhm like flowers, and thorns and such?" I asked, confused.


    "Yea like that, and on top of that I also started to delve into lightning magic." She said while puffing her chest out.


    That''s impressive, not only has she been able to go past the basics but in two different domains of magic, as expected of someone like her. I thought


    "That''s truly impressive, I agree." Stella said ...


    "What are you talking about?" Maverick asked.


    "Ado, he said that it''s pretty impressive that she''s able to go past basics into two different domains of magic ... meanwhile I haven''t made any progress cause ... I''m scared." She said while keeping her voice down.


    "But he never said something like that, he would never praise me like that without blackmail." Kathyln retorted.


    "Huh?" She asked, confused.


    "Huh?" I asked, annoyed.


    "I never said it ... but I thought it ... word by word." I said, not knowing what''s going on.


    "I don''t know what''s happening either, Mav." Stella said again, seemingly responding to Maverick who wasn''t talking to begin with.


    ....


    "My assumption is that being by yourself while absorbing natural mana and going through your own thoughts have led you to a road of something like mental magic, you are able to read our thoughts and who knows what else." Kathlyn said.


    I felt impressed, not about Stella, but about magic itself. I guess it might''ve been sort of lucky but magic can really extend a person''s capabilities, even if they are not aware of them, or that they are not aware of developing them. But what else is this that I''m feeling ... hope, accomplishment?


    Feelings that are not mine are entering my body as I''m staying at the table, and by looking at the people around me I can tell they all feel the same.


    "Glad you can see some hope Stella, congratulations." I said aloud and started clapping, the others following me.


    "How did you know?" She asked.


    "You''ll find out for yourself."


    I said giving her a wholehearted smile, this is probably the first time since the incident for her to feel something other than terror. And so our reunion continued, and came to an end, leaving Stella with a positive feeling.

 T-minus-Six Months

    Adonai:


    Six months have passed since I figured out how to filter mana particles and transform them into pure mana. Thanks to the system I created, my assimilation and filtering process became much faster, and with enough meditation I managed to get rid of the extra concentration part required to filter.


    Now the process comes naturally, but the only thing I can''t seem to accelerate is the time it takes for mana to get refined. Either way, now I can go on with my day without having to think about how the process itself works, and I can focus on different stuff.


    My sleep schedule is almost back to normal, not too bad, all things considered. I''ve also started exercising following the conclusion I drew from the previous meeting. Speaking of which, the next one is scheduled today, and we''re going to Kathlyn place.


    Anwir should''ve been back yesterday, but unfortunately due to a bombing incident, his flight got canceled, and he will come back today. He might not make it to this one but tomorrow we will meet up and go drinking, like the old times.


    Going through my thoughts of what happened in the recent months I arrived at my destination without noticing. The Duska residence, Kathlyn home.


    *Ring*


    "Coming!" A voice said from inside the house, an unfamiliar voice.


    "Young master! Welcome home!" A relatively tall woman, and a bit chubby but with a gentle look on her face welcomed me into the house, with a strange greeting.


    "I must''ve got the wrong house, I''m so sorry." I apologized and started leaving.


    "Haha, I''m sorry young man, it was all m''lady idea, you''re at the right place, but since you arrived last, the young lady decided to play a prank on you. My name is Margarete, I''m the head maid of the house, pleased to meet you Mr. Melek." She said, clarifying the situation. "If you would please come after me, I''ll show you where the others are."


    "Ah yes, thank you Lady Margarete."


    "Just Margarete is fine, young man."


    "Then you shall refer to me as Adonai as well. Because it feels very weird to address someone which I assume is much older than me in such a casual manner."


    "I see ... you''re a fine gentleman, as she said. Now please follow me."


    Oh, like she said huh, interesting.


    "Please, right this way." She said as she showed me the door.


    "Thank you." I said as I bowed in a sign of respect.


    As I opened the door I saw a rather tidied room? Nothing from what I was expecting, the room itself, it was quite simple, in fact empty. White walls, with a desk, a bookshelf with a few books on it, quite dusty, a tv and a closet.


    "Oh my lady, the young master has arrived home, where''s the welcoming hug?" I said trying to make a joke out of the situation that happened at the door.


    "Oh young master, I see that Margarete made a fool out of you, as I expected, now get here and sit down or I''m gonna kick you out."


    "So merciless." I retorted


    "Should we leave?" Maverick asked while pointing at the door.


    "Ah.. uhm. hello." Stella greeted as she waved, a bit shy but in a much better shape than three months ago.


    Taking the sight of the three of them in front of me I felt a sense of relief, unfortunately we''re still in an incomplete formation, that is not for much longer still.


    "Your room is much emptier than I expected. It''s not uh, as girly as I thought it would be?" I remarked.


    "Oh but what do you happen to mean by not girly?" Kath looked at me, eyes closed, holding a cup in her hand, something that can be considered a weapon with the expression on her face.


    "But you''re right, this is not my room, this is a spare room, we keep guests in here." She answered, as a matter of fact.


    "It''s uhm ... still a nicer room than what you witnessed at my place ... I''m so sorry for that." Stella said, keeping a low voice.


    It''s a relief to see Stella here, and in a much better shape than before, she was always a bit shy around people but that time she seemed like she completely lost hope. Seeing her here means she probably started taking care of her again, and step by step getting back to her natural state.


    "It''s okay, it''s good to see you here, glad to see you''re making progress into becoming your usual self again." I said to her.


    "Maverick ... helped me a lot after our previous meeting, he really made sure I took care of myself." Stella said with a hint of blush in her cheeks.


    "Hmmm" Kath and I seemed to have the same response when we heard that, as we both took a look at Maverick, brows raised, and a smug on our faces. Sensing our stares he started talking.


    "You know, I can''t bear to see someone in a state like that, someone close to us as well, so I had to make sure she''s getting back on her feet, you know." He said.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Guess that''s how it is then, even if he might not realize it now, from Stella''s response and face, she took it for more than just a pure gesture of kindness. Well that''s intriguing, Anwir reaction to this will be legendary when he comes back.


    "Well then, shall we start with our progress?" Kathlyn suggested.


    "Very well, I''m proud to announce that on my journey of staying a nobody I succeeded, making it so that I can be naturally a nobody." I said proudly.


    "Yes yes, congrats, next one, Stella." Kathyln said, brushing me off completely.


    "I confirmed your assumption that I can indeed read other people''s minds through my magic ... IF I TRY TO DO SO, DON''T THINK I DO IT ALL THE TIME, I LEARNED TO CONTROL IT." She said in a rather panicked tone, an unexpected tone coming from her.


    "Hahaha." We all started laughing.


    "That''s all?" I asked.


    "Uhm .. I can seemingly influence other people''s emotions as well... I tried it on Maverick."


    "Hoo, what you did to find that out." I asked.


    "We don''t talk about that." Maverick responded in a rushed tone, brushing the question off.


    "Have you found a speciality yet, Maverick?" Kathlyn asked.


    "No, but I''m making steady progress in all the base four elements so far, and it looks like I inspired someone else to start working out as well." He said, looking at me.


    "How did you even notice?"


    "Tsk, tsk, after you''re in it for a while, you start to notice even the smallest changes in another person." He said proudly.


    "Woah, and I thought he''s only good at reading books and staying inside." Kathlyn said mockingly.


    "I exercise inside, so your point still stands."


    "Well, thank you then."


    "Pfu ..." A small noise left Stella''s mouth, almost like a laugh. "You both truly get along as well as ever." She said smiling.


    Yea we do, despite everything that happened, we still are as close as ever, and now, at this very moment it feels like there''s no danger coming towards us, spending our time like this. Almost like we''re outside of the whole natural order of the world.


    "So what''s your progress, lady of the house?" I asked.


    "I''ll seriously kick you out." She retorted and then continued "Well, I''ve been progressing in both my fields and focused on others as well and trying to get a grip on a few more concepts, but it seems like I hit a wall. Perhaps it''s better to focus on what I can already control."


    "And what do you want to do when the time comes?" Maverick asked.


    "I''ll join the military service, hopefully I pass the test to join, if there''s no need for the military, I''ll continue living my life." Kathlyn said with a decisive tone.


    "Military sounds scarry ... I hope I don''t get there." Stella said.


    "Don''t worry, you''re probably fine." Maverick tried to reassure her.


    Military huh, thinking about the future is scary, but I probably won''t be drafted anyway. I mastered this technique of being a nobody, that''s what I like to tell myself, but if the worst comes to the worst, will I regret this decision? If there comes a time where I need to do something but I can''t ... will I regret my choices?


    As I was looking at my happy friends I was reminded of the question I started asking myself not too long ago. Even if I say ''I''ll go with the flow'' and ''whatever happens happens'' I can''t shake the question. I can''t shake the fear of the unknown itself. I started working out on the premise that it goes well with magic, having a trained body as well, but I also forgot I have no control over magic, as I did no training in it except trying to hide it.


    As to try and shake off the feeling of uneasiness I started making conversation.


    "Kath, I have an important question for you." I said as seriously as I could manage.


    Kath took a moment to look at my face and with an audible gulp responded "Ask away."


    "How many maids do you have in the hou..." I couldn''t even finish the sentence as I saw the fist of a woman coming in contact with my face, thankfully, I dodged.


    "That was your ''important'' question?" She said with a look of frustration on her face.


    "I mean it''s a serious one, your house, not as big as Anwir''s, is still huge, the main lobby is bigger than Stella''s room and kitchen." I said.


    "Are you throwing hands at her?" Maverick interjected.


    "Please ... don''t fight, he''s right." Stella intervened trying to calm all of us.


    As everyone took their original positions Kathlyn said.


    "It''s more than an average home, the decorations are pretty big, the dual staircase sure is nice when looking at it, but it''s tiring to move here with the house being so big, and as for maids around 30. We also have a gardener, one cook, butler and ... ."


    The silence is so loud at this moment, the three of us that are not so well off feel the same thing, the problem of the rich people.


    As the discussion about her house and other trivial things went on, the night was approaching, and so a set of rushed footsteps could be heard coming for the door.


    As the door opened, what came into vision was a small relatively young maid.


    "M''lady, I''m so sorry to interrupt but there''s something I think you all should see, please turn on the tv."


    "Calm down Octavia, breathe in and out, what''s the issue?" Kathlyn asked.


    "It''s about the flight your friend was supposed to come home with, m''lady."


    And so she opened the tv, none of us expecting what we were about to see.


    "We''re here next to the ocean where the APEX plane fell. About two hours ago, the control room on land received an important request call from the plane in midflight, they said there was a bomb on the plane, and the ones talking were none others that the suicidal terrorists who planned to go down with it. The call was reported to be nothing more than a declaration, a declaration that even in these times where we should be united, some cults will do as they please. The search for survivors ended, unfortunately, everyone is dead ..."


    As Kath stopped the TV and as the voice of the report drifted away from everyone''s mind. We all put on the same expression, an expression that couldn''t be anything more than pure blankness, an irreversible truth just hit everyone present, something no one was expecting ... Anwir is dead.

 T-minus-Six Months-Ringmaster

    Six Months Ago, Kether:


    "I''m glad you''re all present, I convened this meeting in order to discuss a problem of utmost importance."


    Everyone being present is no surprise in moments like this, for meetings like this. The Ten Sephiroths are busy individuals, each with their own research of magic, but we''re ultimately the impartial judges, when the time comes, as it does right now, we all have to discuss the course of the next events.


    "I''ll make it short, now that the last planet unlocked their potential, The Dragon Lord proposes for us to meet in six months to discuss how The Great Races will proceed further. We''re the impartial judges so we''re asked to make the decision for the best of the universe after hearing each involved party proposal."


    "Do we all need to be present?" A voice and a hand raised from the table.


    "Gevurah..." I took a pause to ponder the question my colleague raised. "As the host of this meeting I''m responsible to ask for it. What do you, the esteemed, old, almost as old as the universe itself Ten Sephiroths think about our full attendance."


    Binah: "I don''t think it''s necessary, one of us should be good enough to make a judgment."


    Hokhmah: "I think it will be of good use if we all hear them and then respond accordingly."


    Gevurah: "I agree with Binah, considering how we all see ourselves I think one is more than necessary to handle the matter at hand."


    Hesed: "We''re old, Kether, even if we''re immortal, in essence we''re old, we should not disturb the order around here just for this."


    Tif''eret: "I think a larger group to make a decision is more wise, maybe not all, but a few."


    Hod: "The same old we already saw, at best one killed their own parents and took their place, but they should be kept in check by the older presences, that is if they are wise enough. I agree that one is enough."


    Netzach: "No need for more of us to be concerned with this issue, they know the consequences if they don''t respect our decision, supreme or not, we''re the law."


    Yesod: "I will abstain."


    Malkuth: "Are there any other parties who''re gonna come?"


    "The End is gonna be present as well, as they have started moving." I replied to Malkuth''s question.


    Silence soon filled the room. The Ten Sephiroths are a group founded soon after the universe, under the direct soul-bind from The Greater One. We''re impartial, changed to be this way, agreed to be this way, we''re the supreme court of justice that holds the universe in balance.


    But The End is not our jurisdiction, they are blessed, anomalies, we can''t lay a finger on them, that''s what a part of the blessing means, immunity.


    ...


    "Have any of you changed your mind regarding your answers?" I asked after a while.


    *Silence*


    "Then we will proceed with one person going, if anyone objects to my implication in this matter, please talk now."


    *Silence*


    "Then this meeting is over, sorry to have taken up your time." I said as I left, taking up your time is a polite thing to say ... after all we can''t die, and we can''t age, we''re just stuck in time, bound to our destinies.


    Present Day, Kether:


    The room we''re in right now is white, a secluded room, created by The Great Four Races, one made to be uninterrupted, a white room, with a table at the center of it, and eight seats.


    "I''m glad to see most of you could make it, and I''m honored to be in your presence again: Dragon Lord: Baldur ; Leviathan Lord: Varuna ; Angel Lord: Adam ; Demon Lord: Eve."


    "The pleasure to be in your company is ours, Kether." Eve said charmingly.


    "No need for the flattery, I''m but a judge, I have to be here." I said that as I looked to the opposite side of the table from me. "And I assume you''re Ragnarok, if I''m not impolite, where are your companions?" I asked the man in front of me who was wearing a suit.


    As he raised his head I could see his intense red eyes, everyone present are using their human forms for convenience, and are wearing royal like attires. But this man was wearing a simple suit.


    "I''m afraid they are not interested in participating in this little charade of ours, so I''ll be representing our faction, uh what was your name again, Kether?" He said in an impolite tone, not giving too much care to his surroundings.


    "You should be more careful when you talk to someone this old, a brat like you should learn respect before they learn how to open their mouth. I extend an apology on his behalf, Lord Kether." Varuna quickly interjected, for a leviathan she''s a bit strange, polite, fair, almost like she has no hidden agenda.


    "No need to call me Lord, after all I''m much weaker than all of you, all I have are my billions of years of research in magic, with no hope of reaching one of your caliber."


    While it''s true that we, the sephiroths, are immortal, and have been around for as long as the universe remembers, it is also true that we''re soul-bound, meaning we can''t go to another way, we''re bound to the way of impartiality, the way of judges which limits our magical potency. Most of us study different fields and evolution of magic, trying to break through these chains but yet we can''t.


    "I think we all need to calm down and set straight, so we can process the matter at hand. The Lord of Dragons called us to discuss the future. I think it''s time we get to business, after all we''re all busy individuals." Adam said, the angelic lord always had a smile on his face, brown short hair, white eyes with a golden circle in each of them, that we couldn''t see right now with his eyes closed. A smile that a lot of people can''t see behind.


    "Correct, Adam, we should calm and move forward. As I''m the one bringing you all here I propose that we proceed normally with our assessments of the planet called ''Earth'' and then they are free to choose." The Dragon Lord proposed.


    The Dragon Lord is humble, one can see it with the naked eye, it is his first meeting after the death of his father and him taking the crown, so perhaps he thinks he must evaluate his place first. After all, everyone here is much older than him, and has been in power for longer than him.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "That much goes without saying youngster, you didn''t call us for that here, so why don''t you tell us what''s on your mind, get straight to the point and I might actually reward you. <3" Eve said in her seductive, usual tone.


    Adam and Eve are the only one remaining from the original four, the dragon race holds the record for the most ''crown changes'', and the leviathan race only did it three times since the beginning, when it was needed. The previous Leviathan Lords have always been a bit more animalistic, but the current one seems more mannered than even some of the old people around, billions of years old individuals.


    "If you wish so, I propose we take it fast, one year after Earth made their choice, we start it, there''s no reason to wait, as we all want the same thing."


    Varuna jolted from her place and started talking, with an aggressive tone.


    "That''s not enough time, humans aside there are still issues within our own troupes, we need at least a few hundred of years more before we begin a blood war..."


    "Please calm down, Miss Varuna, what you''re suggesting is giving humans more time to evolve, while they have a short lifespan compared to others, they evolve fast."


    "Are you scared of them Adam? These creatures can''t reach us even if you gave them another 13 billion years, they just won''t do. Ah what a shame, they are close to us, they worship ''us'' even if they don''t know the reality of what they worship. If only you would''ve accepted my proposal back then, we could''ve created a more prominent race." Eve said as she crossed her legs and licked her lips while looking at Adam.


    Two expressed their opinions clearly, Adam tends to agree with The Dragon Lord, while Eve doesn''t seem to care. But the one representing ''The End'' hasn''t talked to us.


    "Mr. Ragnarok care to share with us your opinion on this matter? The Dragon Lord invited you here, along with the others, because you should have a saying, as a powerhouse, in the course of the future." I asked the man who has been sitting in front of me, hand in hand next to his face and his chin on them, not interjecting in the talk going on.


    "One year after, works for me, I agree with the one who invited me here, there''s no reason to make this longer than it should ... after all, you will all lose." He said smiling, eyes wide open.


    Just as he finished his sentence the pressure in the room changed, everyone stayed quiet and moved their eyes to the man sitting at the other end of the table.


    "What the hell are you talking about?" Varuna jolted from her seat again, and posed the question.


    "It is exactly as it sounds, you''ll all lose, you''re all flawed."


    "Mind elaborating more on what you mean by flawed?" Adam asked.


    "The Leviathan Lord, or should I say princess is out of touch with her own race, she can''t control them, she''s just a public figure that has magic power, but no respect, no influence, she''s just the face of her nation, but can''t make decisions for them. Always protected by her family, never seen the reality of the outside space."


    The expression on Varuna''s face changed into one of anger as she started emanating an ominous aura. But she quickly stopped herself and sat down in her seat.


    "Seems like you still can''t control that animalistic repulsive aura, at least I can continue. The Dragon Lord is the youngest here, he might have power, respect, but his nature makes him not good enough, doing everything in his power to win, backstabbing, egocentric, a bit curious by nature but ultimately more animalistic than the leviathans. I mean imagine giving into your own instincts and killing your father just because you feel you are better, then your brother, and the list can continue... Speaking of what you did to your daughter? I could never figure that out, did you just fucked her and then killed her?"


    The maniac laughed as he said something so outrageous that all of us felt disgusted by it, but Baldur was a boiling pot, from the expression on his face he couldn''t contain it much longer.


    *Rattling of chains*


    "I''m afraid you have to restrain yourself, the man here is of importance. And you Mr. Ragnarok you should be more careful, while a blessing gives you immunity from The Sephiroths, it doesn''t give you immunity when facing death."


    *Snorl*"Arrogant bastard, you and the demons are just two sides of the same coin after all. Angels so righteous and fair and a bunch of other bullcrap, while the Demons are just giving in their own carnal desires, and destructive impulses... But if I have to give a fair judgment, Demons would beat you, Adam. You have powerful servants but they, on the other hand, did some interesting stuff, meanwhile you lost your most valuable asset, that greatsword ... such a shame.


    "Aww, don''t spoil the fun now ... But since you know about it, I guess I should keep you in check." Eve responded with her tone changing from cheeky to serious in the second part, something you don''t see the Demon Lord doing often.


    In the short spawn of his speech it seemed like he made enemy of everyone present present, and worst of all he''s not afraid of any, he''s just smiling, eyes still open wide, smiling, laughing, a smile that is thirsty for blood.


    "Do you think you have any chance to win? You''re blessed, you have power, but you don''t have an army, you can''t take all of us on." The Dragon Lord added.


    "You''re right, I can''t win, but I can create the winner." Ragnarok responded.


    Everyone in the room turned silent, not knowing what to say, what to ask, but I did the most obvious one.


    "Create a winner?"


    "Yes, Kether, create a winner."


    "And how do you plan on doing that?"


    "Very simple in fact, please explain to all of us here the two creations that happened shortly after the beginning, so we can all be on the same page."


    ...


    "Very well, the first thing you''re talking about, all of you should be familiar with, it''s the creation of The Ten Sephiroths, ten individuals who made a soul-bind with The Greater One that forces them on this path, as the judges of everything, we can''t take sides, we can''t intervene either."


    "The other one now." He demanded.


    "The Archetypes ... They are a result of the magic in the universe combined with the way an individual exists, the system created itself naturally, with no intervention from The Greater One, or anyone. An Archetype means an original, a model, someone so glued to the path they are on that they will consume everything around them."


    "Very good, now let me continue. There have been only four Archetypes since the beginning of time. Two of them are present with us here, the other two are unfortunately or fortunately dead. Archetype it''s a title that represents the furthest an individual reached on their respective path, so close to it as becoming the origin with it. The Judges can''t become Archetypes since they can''t reach the depth of their own existence, neither change it because of their bounded soul. And The Greater One is excluded since they are the beginning itself." He continued.


    "Then you must know creating one is impossible, everyone is wicked and prone to change their course since their birth, they won''t follow the same path in life, with the same goal, and the title itself doesn''t give them power." I added to his explanation.


    And then the Angel Lord raised his hand and started talking.


    "I''m afraid you''re wrong, Kether, Archetype, the title, it gives you the power to draw from the existence essence itself and imbue it with magic. Myself and Eve, we are the Archetype: Creation ; Archetype: Destruction, as our special magic stands, that''s where our existence lies, and so we can do things that are not achievable through magic alone, be it as special as it is." Adam interjected.


    "Which means you and the slut over there have an advantage over the other two, but that''s not enough to make any of you win."


    "You keep sparking my curiosity, wanna go back with me after this <3 ?" Eve added.


    "I would rather drink acid." Ragnarok responded.


    After pondering the requests he made for a while, and the topic of the conversation I realized something that might change the course of everything.


    "So, you''re planning to do it?" I asked, looking at him straight into his burning eyes.


    "Yes ... I''m gonna create an Archetype, the strongest Archetype, and teach them enough to kill all of you."


    He said with a change in his voice, now no more laughing, no more insanity, no more large opened eyes, but holding a dead serious expression, looking at all of us like we were nothing.


    "One year, Dragon Lord''s suggestion is accepted, the meeting ends here."


    I said and left, the decision was made. If that man is capable of doing what he said he''s gonna do, then we must not let him, if he finds a strong vessel it will spell doom. Archetypes are kept in check by me since they are from The Four Great Races, but if this individual, Ragnarok, can create one and make him blessed...


    Ragnarok:


    "Act One, shall start soon then."

 T-minus-Three Months

    Adonai:


    Three months have passed since Anwir''s terrible accident, a terrible death for someone so young ... a plane crash caused by a terrorist attack. Now I, Adonai Melek, stand right here in front of the grave of one of my dearest and few friends. This time around there is no meeting to share any progress or anything else, just mourning.


    Long trees devoid of any signs of life are the cages that keep the soul of the dead in this place, this cemetery. The fallen leaves represent the respite of the people damned by misfortune or age.


    Inside the cage, tombstones left and right at the end of soil tattered by the touch of time. Some tombs were taken care of, some awaiting the inevitable demise that could be seen from the growth of grass around them, and the indecipherable names engraved on them with photos long since gone.


    Under what would normally be the shadow of a tree crown lies one such tomb, a simple look at it could tell someone how new it was. And only one name is engraved on it, Anwir Doyle.


    "I never expected you to go first. I guess life really is full of surprises." I said while drinking from a small cup filled with alcohol.


    Sharing a toast with the soul of my friend, the casket underneath the soil being empty.


    "It''s a shame, they couldn''t recover the body, not for you, not for no one really, that bombing got rid of every single one, and if not, perhaps they are laying somewhere in the deeps of the ocean."


    Forming thoughts in such a situation sure is hard, in this ocean of silence around me I can''t be interrupted either. I can only take my time contemplating about the meaning behind it all, and the things I want to say to someone who can''t reciprocate.


    "After you died it was a mess you know?" I said while taking another sip. "Kath started shaking, saying that she can''t cry, it''s not right for someone who wants to become a warrior. Stella fell on the ground crying. As for me and Maverick, well I can only talk for what I felt at that moment."


    The feelings you get when someone close to you dies it''s something that never changes no matter how many times you experience it.


    "Absolute sadness, you can''t instantly get accustomed to the fact that you won''t see someone else ever again, you won''t talk to them, you won''t hear about them. From that point they are just a memory in the passage of time, a memory that becomes more blurry the older it becomes, that''s how time heals everything, by making us forget about it."


    It is a cold but true reality, once someone dies there''s no going back, it''s something that can''t be fixed no matter how much you try. Even in the books that have magic at their base, reviving someone is in the realms of miracles, and who knows how reviving would even work in our world.


    A world where there''s this one being above us all, a being who''s not fair, who wants to not be alone, who designed a war .... no ... a universe for their own personal goal, ironically a goal that they can just make it happen by willingly, but they probably don''t want an empty shell. No, they want someone who lived, someone with memories, someone who can share something with them, something that he doesn''t have a big hand in, someone different yet equal to them.


    "It''s ironic isn''t it?" I asked, waiting for no response, drinking another sip, thinking that maybe in this very moment he can read the thoughts in my head.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Staying in this place makes me feel like time itself stagnates, almost like I can feel the touch of the dead clinging to me, the pressure of the world resting here.


    *Gulp*


    "It''s strange and magical, isn''t it? Almost like you can interact with them, even if they are not alive anymore. Maybe that''s why we come here to chat, in the hopes that our voices will be heard."


    A strange yet familiar(?) voice started talking so I turned around. When I turned my sight I saw a relatively short woman wearing high heels, a white business-like dress. Long dark blonde hair with brown eyes can be seen under the shade of the umbrella she is holding.


    "Young man, don''t you think it''s weird?" She said in a calm tone approaching me and then standing down next to me.


    "Huh?"


    "We stay here talking to ''people'', knowing they can''t respond, hoping they hear us, knowing the truth all along yet we still choose to do it. Is it truly magic that makes us come back? is it just hope alone? is it something more?"


    "Who are you?" I asked.


    When she heard that question she turned her head who was looking down at the grave to me and showed a gentle smile, while patting my head. The sense of calm and familiarity that comes from it ... it''s strange.


    "Just someone you''ll never see again, so don''t worry about my name, let me just enjoy your company for a bit." She responded with a bit of a cheer in her tone.


    "Okay... are you here visiting someone?" I asked.


    "Yes... someone very dear to me died and I''m here to have one last chat with them... Well I did that already, then I saw a young good looking man staying here alone so I came to see what''s happening. I thought something like ''what if he''s trying to steal'' I can''t let that happen." She laughed.


    I have been here for a while and I never noticed someone entering this place, maybe she''s good at making no sounds or maybe she was already here long before me and I never saw her.


    "I would never do such a thing, and I''m here to visit a friend." I said as a matter of fact.


    "I''m sorry for you, it must be hard, and yes I''m sure you would never steal, you''re not a bad person."


    "How do you know what type of person I am?" Curiosity and trying to make a joke made me pose the question.


    "It''s just intuition, female intuition."


    Unable to continue after such a response, silence took once again over the place.


    "Was he a good person?" The blonde stranger asked me.


    "Yea, well essentially I guess, he was dealing with some stuff at home, and took a deal his father offered him but that eventually led to this. I wonder if his father is regretting it."


    "Almost every parent would mourn over the death of their children ... but the world is also ugly and cruel so some of them don''t care at all ... make sure to remember that and cherish it if you have loving parents, as not everyone is that lucky." She said with a sense of bitterness.


    "My parents are not with me anymore ... but I cherish the memories they left me with." I said automatically.


    It feels strange how I can be open with a stranger, usually something like this wouldn''t come out of my mouth, but this time it just did.


    "I''m sure you do, as you should." She said while patting my head again.


    "I''m not a child anymore, so can you stop doing that?" I said.


    "Oh but you''re looking like a child from my perspective, maybe I''ll listen to you when you grow a bit taller, even if that''s unlikely at your age."


    "Hag." I said straight into her face.


    "Foolish youngster, who are you calling a hag?" She closed her eyes and showed a smile that only spelled imminent danger as she grabbed my check and stretched.


    After her hand left my face she got up and looked down at me, while I was still sitting.


    "Looks like my time is up, it''s time for me to go home." She said with a bitter smile


    "Thank you for keeping me company, I guess it was the other way around from what you said." Expressing my gratitude I got up and looked at her, her heels making her a bit taller than me. "Also without the heels you''re shorter than me, so who are you to talk?"


    "Haha ... yea ... you''re right." She said as she turned to leave.


    As if something was moving my body I extended my hand trying to catch the woman in front of me. Getting a grip of myself I stopped and said "See you again."


    Noticing my words she turned her face to me, crying while saying "No, not again, this is a goodbye for the past. Goodbye Ad... young man, make sure to not lose yourself in despair."


    The breeze starting from behind me took my attention for a couple of seconds, turning around to see what was not there. I stared at the sun, and when I turned my head back to the strange woman ... she was already gone.

 T-minus-One Month

    Kathlyn:


    *Chatter*


    "Shut up and listen to me! You all vermins are here today to take part in the assessment exam, not to chit chat or have expectations. My name is Buch and the other name is none of your goddamn business. We''re not here to play around today, in this very military camp you stand with your foot on are a total of 20 000 soldiers, you''ll all be split into groups of 2000 each."


    Tall, muscular, bald, typical image of military prowess, aggressive, a pain in the ass, that''s the man in front of us right now. As it was mentioned before, the time has come for our examinations, recruitments, the day I''ve been waiting for.


    "Each group will be assigned to a different Captain, one of them being myself, along with us we have mages who are advanced enough to be able to recognize the mana and aura in and emanating from someone''s body, that will be the first and eliminatory test. As for the second test you''ll be taken into a room with your Captain and you''ll conduct a 1:1 duel, based on how you perform you''ll be drafted into different teams. Understood?!"


    "YES SIR!" The crowd echoed.


    "Check on the official site using your ID to see where you are repartized and move in said direction, we don''t have all day."


    And after that he left.


    "I hope I don''t end up in his group." A middle aged woman said


    "He looks so scary." A young boy''s voice said.


    "This is surely ... exciting." A maniac said.


    This is a sight to behold, everyone HAS to participate in this type of testing, as a national order, actually I''m surprised they managed to split the whole population so much .. and that they have already many experienced mages to be able to read mana levels, either way it''s time to check who I ended up with.


    "Unfamiliar names huh but ehh Buch. Tough luck I guess."


    I sighted, it''s only normal to expect this outcome, after all, there are a lot of civilians ... I need to be serious today. I can''t afford to be cheerful or excited.


    *Ring*


    "Best of luck to everyone" - Stella messaged in the group chat.


    I guess she came despite what happened half a year ago... a lot has changed and more is about to change... This is something I have to do, it''s the first step I need to walk first, to be able to strive into the future I envisioned. Melancholy, regret, happiness, sadness, pain, anger, suffering all of them need to be cast aside just for today.


    "Oh Lady Saphira, the type of trial you gave me it''s not fitting for my attitude, but I''ll rise to the challenge, so watch me from the land of the dead as I''m about to change the future."


    With those words said in a low voice, only audible to myself, and with my determination in mind I left towards the designated location.


    Two hours later


    "Next, ..., Rejected! Next, ..., Rejected! NEXT, ..."


    The screaming had been around for hours, we were all positioned in rows a few hours ago, waiting to hear our names in order to be assessed. Surprisingly enough General Buch is skilled enough to do the assessment himself, so this is all really ... inefficient. Instead of having the candidate move directly in combat now we have to wait for it to be over. Not a lot passed the first exam, from the few hundred that got examined so far only a handful moved onto the next ''stage''.


    "Next, Kathlyn Duska ... Passed, move behind me!"


    "Yes, sir!"


    What was that smirk on his face when he saw me ... maybe he''s into younger? But no way, I already have someone in mind who I cherish, so if he tries something I''ll smack the crap out of him. I thought with a small grim on my face as I went past Buch.


    "What''s the smile on your face girl? This is no amusing matter, take it seriously or I''ll crush you."


    ...


    "Next, ..., Rejected! NEXT, ..."


    And so this kept going for another two hours, a time in which we had nothing to do but chat, in a low enough voice so as to not piss off the already pissed general.


    "So what do you guys specialize in?" A man seemingly in his thirties asked us.


    "Shouldn''t you start with your name when creating a conversation?" Another man, no, a boy, much much younger, probably a highschooler, retorted.


    "Learn to respect your elders, but you got a point, my name is Zach Gonzalez. Thirty-three years old, my favorite type of woman is..."


    "Enough, enough information, we don''t want to hear more." A girl here quickly stopped the man.


    "Uh, my bad."


    "Haa... my name is Elizabeth Burnett, twenty-seven years old, and this is my younger brother, who should really learn to respect the elders. His name is Caiden Burnett."


    "Osu."


    *Smack*


    "I mean hello ... and big sister you don''t have to hit me so hard."


    She kept a smile on her face as the rest of them started talking. But also a lot of us, myself included, are not joining in, as this is not a time for casual conversation, we need to preserve energy, not knowing the extent of power Buch has.


    And the chat went on for a little while until the first name got announced.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "Caiden Burnett! Come and follow me into the room."


    And so the young sibling did, the chatter toned down, none of us knowing what to expect, how fast it would be? what would happen in the duel? how far is Buch willing to go into testing us. But after two minutes it was clear, the boy left the room in Buch arms, bleeding but alive.


    After the medic took the younger sibling the next name got called.


    "Elizabeth Burnett! Follow me and I''m sorry." He said with a hint of remorse on his face as he soon changed disposition.


    "Sorry that I didn''t crush your brother when I had the chance, I would''ve done your family a big favor, getting rid of that weakling for free." He grinned.


    There and then everyone stopped breathing, taking the response of the general, picking it word by word ... how cruel ... so that''s how it is.


    Elizabeth soon left, infuriated, and entered the room ... but her faith was not so different from her brother.


    "Ilyas Lam! Follow me." He shouted without taking even a minute of respite.


    And so person after person entered the room, some leaving with the medics, some holding themselves but barely, they are exhausted. But the man in front of us didn''t stop, not even once, not even one break after all these duels, he kept going.


    "Kathlyn Duska! Follow me."


    And so my time has come.


    The room we entered is empty, nothing but blood painting the white walls, no sign of nature, or natural sunlight entering or leaving.


    "Oh you''re the smiling girl, where''s your smile now? Got chicken legs after seeing how serious this is?"


    "Please do not misunderstand, my attitude back then was a slip up, and while I like to think I''m joyful, playful in general, this is a serious matter, so I wish you would not discriminate me based on our previous encounter, or because I''m a woman, if that ever crossed your mind. Go for the kill.


    *Whistle*


    "I didn''t expect these words from a pretty face like yours, but if you wish so, I''ll give it my very best, don''t blame me for whatever happens." He said changing his demeanor to a relatively cold one compared to before.


    Buch:


    I have to admit, I didn''t expect this girl to have such a serious composure, cold as ice, eyes devoid of any sign of life but instead a flickering determination can be seen.


    From the moment I laid my eyes on her I knew she''s strong, compared to the other people whom I tested today she is the real deal, it''s evident from the amount of mana emanating from her.


    I couldn''t help back then but smirk, a defect, or not, I love one thing, COMBAT. The thrill of combat is exciting, so when I see an opponent this strong I can''t help but be impatient.


    This testing room was made to offer no advantage, as you can''t choose your combat place if it comes down to it, it''s almost equal for everyone.. almost.


    Without so much of a warning I bolted infusing my legs with lightning behind the girl and clenched my fists in a raging fire preparing to strike.


    *Whoosh*


    "You think you''re the only one who can use lightning magic, old man?" She said after using the same technique to go behind me.


    I couldn''t help but grin at the display of such moves. I haven''t encountered a single lightning user today, everyone had basic magic and a bit of talent in other fields, but to infuse your legs with lightning is something that takes a lot of practice. You have to think about the direction of it, and what nerves it will amplify and by how much so you don''t cripple yourself.


    "Good, STRIKE!"


    In response to my command Duska released a water bullet in my direction, keeping her distance from me. In response I dodged by simply ducking down.


    Good, figuring out the enemy strength before revealing more of your abilities is the way to go in scenarios like this. I didn''t let anything about me slip and made sure whoever left the room couldn''t and would not talk about it, so everything is new to them.


    "You have to show me something better if you want to have even a chance, WOMAN!" I said in an attempt to bait her.


    Calling her a girl wouldn''t fit anymore, from the split second decision making and the abilities she has shown it''s worth to say she''s at least a woman.


    Not being able to fully follow her movement she appeared above me striking at me with more water, this time instead of bullets, full blasts. To protect myself I created a fire tornado to engulf and dissipate the water, hoping she will be caught in it as well.


    But that wasn''t the case, as soon as I lost her from my vision she appeared in front of me.


    Grinning, I laughed, "What fool move is this?"


    But before I realized I was bounded by plants that latched onto me out of nowhere.


    "Since this is a confrontation in the scope of making a judgment of my abilities I should go all out shouldn''t I?" She said while keeping her deadpan expression.


    "Shit.." I was caught off guard, as she was talking to me her hand moved at an unnatural speed and the hand which was protected by vines is now inches away from my throat.


    "Well well well, this is such a predicament you put me in, I guess I can''t afford to hold back either. Now feel the pressure of gravity."


    Gravity magic, albeit a bit hard to control, comes in hand, changing her gravitational center to throw her off, and manipulating parts of the walls to crash in her direction is the best I can do at my level. But even then she created a cocoon of vines as defense from the incoming projectiles.


    From a grin to a wholeheartedly smile, I can feel my expression changing, and then into laughing and screaming.


    "GOOD, GOOD, DON''T LET THIS BE TOO EASY." Infusing more lightning into my feet I jumped higher, almost hitting the ceiling, and projected myself into the cocoon, my whole body covered in flames, and with a weight modified by gravity. Similar to a meteorite but on a lesser scale.


    As the cocoon was destroyed, the girl was nowhere to be seen, feeling the pressure from my back. I turned around to see a beast formed from flowers and vines, a snake hurrying towards my direction.


    "Tch..."


    Concentrating all the fire my mana could produce into one point while giving it lightning attributes I released what I would consider my strongest move. Waiting for the monster to approach me I released a point blank bullet that pierced through the head of the vine snake and then bolted straight down into my target direction.


    A bullet with the intensity of a few thousand degrees, lightning speed and the ability to change direction once.


    "You''re strong, but I''ve left something out of our battle until now, general." She said as watching the approaching bullet.


    "And what that might be?" I said puffing.


    "I''ve already seen this battle, you''re watching a reflection made to look like me from nothing but plants."


    Once she finished the sentence I felt the small yet powerful hand pushing my back.


    "Such a strong warrior in such a fragile body... I need a break ... you''ll be assigned to a special task force, if your services are needed we will contact you, we can''t teach you much on our own so please continue your training... Cadet Duska."


    With a completely different attitude from the one she had previously, smiling and in a playful manner she said "I''m glad you come to recognize my strength, as you should. Now if you''ll excuse me I have to brag about it to a certain someone."


    "...If that certain someone is a man ... I''m so sorry for him."


    Aight let''s take a short break then continue, the rest of these vermins shouldn''t pose that much of a trouble. I said to myself while sitting down in a room that wasn''t covered only in blood anymore, it was covered in the sweat of two warriors clashing against each other, and imprinted with signs of a battle.

 Doomsday

    Kathlyn:


    "Cadet Duska, reporting for duty!"


    "Mhm..."


    With a ''mhm'' he checked my name and moved onto the next person. Today is the expected day, their arrival day.


    One year ago the dragon that shadowed the stars appeared and announced how we will enter a war without our consent and how we should be ready. He revealed to us a new power, magic, which in turn allowed us to awaken. And how we will have to choose our own fate soon enough, choosing to form an alliance with one of The Four Great Races.


    I know that monster didn''t tell us the whole story or even the correct story but here we are. The teleportation gates he talked about are real, at least, large gates, but not big enough to fit that draconic form, so one can assume they will take another form to reach us. Big, stoned gates with inscriptions from top to bottom, unreadable to us.


    A group of radicals tried to destroy the gates but to no avail, we could not touch them, a protective barrier was made and we were simply not strong enough to do so. We were not strong then and we''re not strong now.


    One look at a cadet''s face can tell you how ready and determined they are, how ready we are. On the surface that''s how it seems, but I know that deep inside we''re all terrified, we can''t take the words they said for granted, if someone comes and just decides to kill everyone in sight that''s where it ends... But it won''t.


    Following the incidents from a month prior I was allowed to continue my training and I was assigned to a special task force. I''m here today on orders. We MUST make a good impression.


    Adonai has succeeded with his plan of being a nobody, they asked him, and I quote ''What kind of race are you boy, your mana signals are so weak they are barely visible.''. Back then I made a joke about it, but today''s not the time to remember it.


    Stella more or less faced a similar response, while her magic was more unique she is just too scared and emotionally weak to be able to handle the military.


    Maverick got accepted and entered into a physically intensive training camp, while also focusing on developing his magic.


    *Gulp*


    Only minor sounds are audible right now, the tension is so dense, you can almost cut it, they are not knowing what to expect, not knowing what will happen. The fear of the unknown is one of the greatest fears known to humankind after all. But I can keep my composure, I casted my usual attitude aside for this key moment.


    And after waiting in this insufferable silence a ray of light started to appear from within the cold stone of the portal, the dim light that expanded into a myriad of colors settling into a blue dusk with a stellar pattern inside.


    "Everyone take a step back!"


    A man of a higher rank shouted, but now no one could discern what rank or who it was, we just did as told. And soon after, five figures emerged from the portal.


    Not even taking a moment to look at us, one out of the two women present snapped her finger and they were gone.


    That was our brief encounter with the high races... But why are there five people? And where did they go?


    Adonai:


    As a mere human I''m requested to stay at home today and watch the news to see what''s going on, unlike my dear friend, Kath, and my other dear friend, Maverick, who needed to attend, I''m here, with Stella, waiting.


    Kathlyn''s attitude has been a bit off since one month ago, but I guess it''s expected, her goal was right in front of her eyes and now she has to take this more seriously than ever.


    Why is she fixated on this thing? I can''t tell, but she must have her own reasons and it''s not my place to pry.


    "Do you think they came by now?" Stella asked.


    "If they did I assume we would''ve heard something, or feel something, so maybe not?"


    "You might be right."


    Stella''s situation has been going back and forth from bad to good, to bad, and now to relatively good again, so that''s a relief at least.


    Watching and waiting, even without having big implications in whatever will go down, is nerve wrecking. Because my friends are there. If only something would happen sooner.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Seemingly as a response to my thoughts the perspective shifted, now, I''m floating high in the air, with no one surrounding me, looking down to a podium where five strangely looking figures were present with the presidents of the continents.


    A dose of adrenaline rushed through me for whatever reason, shocked but not surprised at the scenery before me.


    "I guess the negotiations started." I said seemingly to no one.


    With nothing better to do I looked down and started taking notes of the figures I''ll probably never see again. Based on their appearance it''s quite easy to guess who''s who. Even taking human form they can''t hide their distinct features, and I assume that''s something for all races out there.


    Human form seems to be convenient. Truth to be told, when I saw the size of the gates I didn''t expect to see them in their real forms.


    Angel Lord - Eight Pure White Wings emanating from his back, brown short hair, white halo hovering above their head, and full white eyes with a golden circle inside them. Wearing a full white robe with no inscriptions or anything on it, just a pure white with golden touches robe.


    Demon Lord - Seductive, almost no clothing, woman in appearance, a red halo hovering above their head, no set of wings, no tails, but a pair of horns rising from their forehead. Full red eyes with a black circle inside them.


    Dragon Lord - His presence could reach me in this space, which seems to be isolated form the outside world, giving me an urge to kneel. Turquoise cat like eyes, normal eyes compared to the other two, white skin, with long white hair. The so white skin was modeled with shapes of scales, almost like imprints on the skin, the shapes glowing a faint green color. Wearing, like the Angel Lord, just a white robe but with draconic drawings on it, subtle, yet royal. Their looks almost make them look like women.


    Leviathan Lord (I assume) - Woman, wearing military armor, nothing royal, long ocean blue hair, one that looks like a cascade falling from the top of her head instead of actual hair, nothing much could be seen from her because of the armor. Eyes abnormal, not even close to humans, they looked like the depths of the ocean itself.


    But who can the other person be, tall, dark hair, wearing a normal, plain suit, from the build you can tell he''s a man, his eyes are hidden under the shade of a hat so I can''t quite see it.


    "Listen, humans."


    The voice came from all around me, it was clear, full with authority and surprisingly soothing.


    "I''m Adam, the Angel Lord, you find yourself right now in an isolated space, one created for each one of you. It can be considered as your little pocket dimension, courtesy of Leviathan Lord Varuna."


    ...


    Adam is the Angel Lord? I always assumed it''s Jesus or something, then the woman on the other side is Lilith? I thought to myself.


    "I''m sure you''re all confused, but we will explain, since things are moving rather slow, I''ll speed up the pacing. I''m Eve, the Demon Lord, the name you just heard before, Varuna, she''s the Leviathan Lord, and the grumpy youngster present with us is Baldur, the Dragon Lord."


    The woman interjected Adam, stopping him, and giving us a rather short introduction.


    "The other man you see with us is Ragnarok and he ... where is he?"


    The man she was supposedly pointing at is not present anymore, I haven''t noticed when he left either and by the other lords expression, I assume they didn''t either.


    "Well that aside, since you''re the last planet, we came in person, we want to hear your thoughts on this matter, and we will work towards a common goal, to assure the satisfaction of both parties..."


    Eve stopped suddenly, it feels like she remembered that''s the end of her part in the script, and stepped back.


    "Ahem ..." Baldur started talking "As Eve said, we want to work with you, and we will do our best to support each other, no matter which race you will choose to go with, I can assure we''re all capable ... now if Varuna would please assist me in conveying the next message on an universal scale."


    The woman named Varuna nodded and stepped further into the podium. Her hand started emanating an ominous aura as she seemed to have passed it onto the Dragon Lord.


    "Thank you... now listen... everyone in the universe will be hearing this message, right now, we''re here on Earth, after we leave and make the announcement regarding their status, this planet will be open for visits, and more importantly in a year from the announcement day we will be starting the proper war. The time for slumbering is almost done, the time for slaughtering will be up. What our dear people here will choose is up to them, and do not act harshly before the time comes. I''m not speaking to my kin, or my allies, I''m speaking to all of you here, this was a common decision made by us and the Ten Sephirots. Thank you."


    After what seemed like an interstellar broadcast, Baldur started moving aside, leaving only Varuna on the stage.


    Her mouth opened in a strange way, unlike the rest of them her mouth opened up to the ears, a split mouth with shark-like rows of teeth.


    "Everything that needed to be said was said, my purpose as of right now is to show you what we''re capable of. A small fraction of our power, in order, we hope, for you to understand your status and to do an evaluation beside ours, then take the most correct approach. Now if you would all please look up you''ll be able to see ... a black hole."


    After hearing her words I moved my eyes upwards and I saw it, next to our sun, no ... behind our sun is a black hole, one that is bigger, at least 5 times bigger than the sun, yet strangely enough it doesn''t consume anything, it is just there. An illusion?


    "I know what you might be thinking, but no, this is not an illusion, this black hole was created by me, and it''s held into a separate dimension created also by me, I can allow you to see it, but it won''t do any harm."


    As she finished the sentence, the black hole shrank until it was smaller than a human hand, and then it appeared in the palm of the Leviathan Lord hand ... and she swallowed it.


    "Delicious..." She said while licking her lips. "Now I''m gonna return everyone to your places, the broadcast is done, and we have business to attend to. As for the military, I''ve seen you, you''re dismissed, wait for your superior orders, and until then enjoy your leisure time. I can guarantee that as long as we''re here, your planet is safe and no incidents should occur under our watch."


    After she said that I returned into the room I was in before, with a shaking Stella beside me and a fear taking deep rots inside my heart.

 A dream ... a premonition

    Adonai:


    "It''s been a while since I''ve been in this room, it is as white as I remember." I said aloud.


    "At least I''m glad you''re not a scared cat anymore, when you ended up here the first time I could feel it. Now, Boy, it''s time we have our first proper conversation, surely you remember my voice."


    From deep within the infinite white a silhouette showed up. I recognize the voice, a voice of a man, but this is the first time I see something to associate the voice with, not like it''s much anyway. The silhouette is so disproportionate that might as well be a mix of everything.


    "So, you''re the one who gave me advice after that strange dream."


    "Indeed I am, it''s been a while, human child."


    The first time I came here the pressure was immeasurable but now I can at least stand on my own. And most importantly I need to find out who this stranger residing in my soul is, and how they ended up here.


    "Irrelevant, I won''t tell you anything right now, I didn''t appear before you so that you can ask me futile questions." He responded to my own thoughts. "You can''t hide anything from me, you''re not strong enough to do so and I''ve been here long enough to know your ins and outs, you''re just an open book to me, boy."


    "What does long enough mean?" I asked.


    "... I''ve been here since the moment you were born, and I''ve lived long enough before that."


    Meaning he''s an outsider which made its home out of my soul, but how? I thought magic wasn''t a thing before the revelation.


    "You''re wrong ... let me give you a piece of advice. DO NOT take anything the dragons or the other races say at face value, there''s much more that you don''t know, that your race doesn''t know, it was hidden, it was wiped, just like for others before you, consider yourself lucky to be alive even."


    "I appear before you right now not to give you a history lesson anyway. They are here, they stay here, they will make the decision ultimately, a decision outside of your influence, so I wouldn''t worry about it in your place. But your decision comes after, so tell me will you stay?"


    What is he even talking about? This doesn''t make any sense.


    "... I thought you would be a bit brighter considering who your parents were but I guess not." *Sigh* "I''m talking about your decision to stay here or to leave the planet."


    "Leave the planet?"


    "The teleportation gates are a two way street, they can teleport you to the closest one, or somewhere else, on neutral planets you''ll find teleport hubs that can lead you anywhere. The gates on your planet are fixed, but modifiable gates exist."


    "Why leave?" I asked.


    "Because you can, obviously, because you will have things you want to do."


    Things I will want to do? What''s that supposed to mean, I just made it so that I''ll be able to not take part in anything big, so why would I leave? I asked myself, forgetting that the thing next to me can hear.


    ...


    "Because things don''t go as planned, pure mana is not something made so that you can take shelter in being weak, pure mana is far more dangerous than you can imagine ... but I will not be the one to educate you in such trivial matters." He said and then continued "So I''m asking you again, what do you want to do?"


    ...


    "Thinking to myself is useless anyway so I''ll be direct, I have no idea what you''re talking about, I just know everything I know from a book. I know you know I didn''t take everything the dragon said at face value, or as an ultimate truth. And as of right now I plan to continue what I''m already doing, being a nobody, living my life peacefully and along with my friends, since they are my family. No matter what choices they make, I''ll support them."


    ...


    [¡õ¡õ¡õ]:


    Foolish human, idiot human, right after I told him things don''t go as planned, he keeps saying how he wants everything to go and how he envisions it. A plan is not wrong, but having full expectations that such a plan will go smoothly is nothing short of a delusion.


    "Then let me ask you this, if something terrible were to happen to one of your closest ones, would you be able to give me the same answer? Will you not come to regret your decisions? Will you not come to regret the decision of being weak?"


    Adonai, the human I''ve watched over since the day he was born, was not trying to hide his thoughts from me anymore, but he still took his time empty minded.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "I guess I''ll cross that bridge when it comes, speaking in possibilities is as bad if not worse than planning ahead ... but let me ask you something. Why are you here?"


    At least another question I''ve expected.


    "Failsafe, I''m just a mere, limited, failsafe." I said as cold as I talked until now, he probably still can''t make right and left of my actual form, but in time, with more exposure he''ll be able to see me.


    "I guess you won''t tell me more than that ... is it true that magic can achieve anything?"


    Foolish.


    "With enough practice, yes, but the road to perfection is one filled with hardships and despair, if you''ll go down that road... let me tell you a saying that a special person once told me and may these be your guiding words if in the future you''ll go down this path." I said.


    ''Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, no matter how difficult, no matter how unfair, you will do more than simply survive. You will thrive in spite of it.''


    Adonai:


    "I got it, this conversation told me almost nothing, if anything it made me more confused. But I''ll think about your words... and if it ever comes down to regretting my choices, well not if, it will surely happen, in what form is yet to be seen. But I''ll get over it, time heals everything. Right?"


    "I''m afraid you are mistaken, your constitution doesn''t allow for such a thing, you cannot forget/heal, you WILL NOT forget/heal. He said as he was approaching me, the mix of shapes staying right in my face, and what I could make out of everything was a pure filled white eye staring at me.


    As the amalgamation of shapes blocked my vision I felt the coldness of a blade going up my spine, stopping at my neck.


    "I''m afraid we''re out of time ... and I have nothing else to say to you either, may my greatsword send you back to your senses. [¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õbolg]


    As he said what I assumed was the name of a sword I could not understand I snapped back to reality and found myself sitting in the lap of a very beautiful damsel.


    "Am I in heaven?" I asked after opening my eyes.


    "You will be, if you don''t get up and forget about this incident, I''ll book you an express ticket there as a matter of fact." She said while gently putting two fingers on my neck, showing me nothing short of a death smile.


    I hurried and got up and looked around me only to find myself in a restaurant, bewildered by my surroundings I couldn''t help but ask.


    "Why am I here? Wait, why are you here?"


    "Wrong, that''s not what you should ask the girl you invited out yourself." *Sigh* "While I was talking you suddenly passed out, but it seemed like you were dreaming so I let you be, you better be grateful."


    "Oh thank you my goddess. I''ll never forgive what you did for a lowly life such as myself


    "Very good, now are you okay?"


    I guess I can''t tell her that a random dude who happens to reside inside my soul just snatched me to talk. Or can I?


    "So a random dude who happens to reside inside my soul just snatched me wanting to have a talk, that''s why I passed out." I said that without a hint of a joke in my tone.


    "I''m calling an ambulance, just stay with me." She replied deadpan while reaching for her phone.


    "I''m joking, I don''t know, guess I was just tired."


    ...


    "So may I ask you something?"


    "So polite all of a sudden, just ask." She replied.


    "You think you can get over regret? let''s say if you come to regret something you have done, will you be able to forget it or do you think it will haunt you for the rest of your life?" I asked in a rather pathetic scared tone.


    I guess what that entity said to me before leaving really stuck with me. ''You WILL NOT forget if you come to regret something.''. I''ve always asked the question myself to be honest, will I ever regret my choices right now? And the answer is just as obvious, but the true meaning is will I be able to heal/forget the grief of the outcome?


    Kath seems to be taking her time to think about the answer, I wonder what''s on her mind... if only I could share the space in her soul maybe I could read her like that dude read me.


    "I think regrets are inevitable, as you probably know, how big the regrets are will be the detrimental factor on how long it will linger, but eventually time heals everything. Or at least patches the heart mostly, but the idea of doing things differently will always remain, will always be present. So don''t worry much about it."


    "Wow, you really gave me a response I didn''t expect."


    *Sigh* "You know, I may be the way you see most of the time, but even I have a hidden side, even I have secrets no one knows."


    I guess she is right, I shouldn''t worry too much about it, and take the approach of crossing the bridge when it happens, but still...


    "Besides, if you''re set to do something you should not think too much about it, and just try your best to achieve your goal right? I''ll tell you something someone very special told me once."


    ''Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, no matter how difficult, no matter how unfair, you will do more than simply survive. You will thrive in spite of it''


    "Aren''t those words inspiring?" She asked me.


    "What?" I couldn''t help but appear shocked and scared at the sound of that phrase ... What''s the meaning of all this?


    "It''s time to wake up... sleeping beauty." She said as her face with everything around me disappeared, leaving me in an infinite falling status.


    "AAAAAAAAA!"


    I suddenly woke up in my bed, sweating with nothing and no one around me in the room that obliterated sunlight, as I heard footsteps approaching, the door opened and she came into view.


    "ARE YOU OKAY!?" Kath was here, strangely enough, she rushed to my side, scared, checking for fever.


    "What happened?" I asked, still sweating.


    "We were out, you passed out and when you came back you started talking till you fainted again, but this time you had a fever so I rushed with you to the hospital and then home, I''ve spent the night here waiting for you to wake up. So ARE YOU OKAY!? You made me scared for good."


    "... Yea... I''m fine."

 Another not so ordinary day

    Adonai:


    "Are you sure you are fine? Not long after you woke up you decided to head out." Kathlyn asked. She never left my side since I collapsed the first time.


    "Yea, staying indoors with that much dust would be bad for me right now anyway."


    *Sigh*


    "And I told you to clean it up, but no and no, such a bad child." She retorted.


    "What are you, my mother?" I asked.


    "At this point I might as well be. After all you''re indebted to me, I took care of you, remember?" Kath said while making an expression that indicated mischief.


    With an audible gulp I looked in the opposite direction to see the streets being lively, despite everything that''s going on right now. Thinking about it makes sense, no one is working still, and even the military is off for a while, so it''s bustling more than ever.


    "Did the four races'' appearance don''t do anything to their mental?" I asked myself, but the answer is obvious, they said nothing will happen while they are here and after witnessing that display of power combined with the fact that they could''ve killed us all at any moment... It makes sense.


    Why would we not trust them, even if we don''t or if we do the outcome would still be the same, so lingering onto a dim light of hope is better than falling into the abyss.


    As we continued our stroll to a place meant for sightseeing Kathlyn didn''t say anything else, even if it was her idea to begin with, to go to this place. I just wanted to get out of the house, to clear my mind.


    Surely the dream I had was strange but I''m pretty sure the encounter I had in it was real. Whoever he might be, he''s real. And without much hope of finding the answer to that question now I chose to toss it aside. After all trying to find the answer to everything when you know almost nothing will only drive you mad.


    *Bump*


    "Ah, I''m so sorry young man, I didn''t mean to. You see, it''s my first time coming to this city so I was taken aback by the fantastic views." A man in a black costume said to me.


    He bumped into me, cause being not paying attention, but it''s no big deal, nothing was spilled or broken so we can move on.


    "I''m fine, don''t worry, I should''ve paid more attention as well. I''m sorry." It is true, the fault lies on both of us, a collision that could have easily been avoided if one of us paid attention to where they were going ... but why the hell didn''t she say anything?


    "Hey Kath, why didn''t you say anything huh? Where is she?"


    "Hmm, sorry you were with someone? I thought I saw her leaving while you apologized, she went ahead."


    ...


    "That piece of ..." I said furiously while taking off to get back to her.


    "Before you leave, I need some directions if you don''t mind. Tell me where can I read about the Salem Witch Trials?" The man asked me.


    "Should be a library like 100 meters from here if you keep going straight."


    "I see, I very much appreciate it." The strange man bowed and left.


    I started running and after a while I caught up to Kathlyn.


    "You sure left me behind. You didn''t even say anything before I bumped into that man."


    "Huh? What are you talking about? You suddenly stopped in the middle of the road and started apologizing to no one. I thought you had an episode of dementia so I left."


    "So much for taking care of me, anyway what are you talking about? I bumped into a man, you know fairly tall, wore a black suit, and a hat that made it impossible for me to see his face ... waa maybe he was a robber. But he looked for books so I doubt that''s the case."


    "..." Silence was her response to me. I found the situation very odd but not like I could get any information, when I looked behind, the man was gone. I ran far enough anyway so it would be impossible to see him but.


    Better to not worry about it, sure strange things keep happening to me.


    "Anyway we''re almost there, why don''t we stop somewhere to catch our breath before hiking into that forest" Kath proposed.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it."It''s not that much but you''re right, sure as hell I wouldn''t want to be exhausted when getting there."


    The place we''re heading out to is somewhere high up in the forest, outside the city, a distance that we walk because ... maybe we have big masochist tendencies, why do we walk it?


    .....


    They sure look lovely, and he was honest, this is indeed a library. Now let''s see what I can find in your history ... Abigail Williams. Because, I, Ragnarok shall be the one to put an end to the sins you''re accused of once and for all.


    ... My dear audience, you probably wonder what''s going on, what''s my agenda and it''s a shame but I''m afraid I can''t spoil everything. Our meeting with Ms. Williams will take some time. But meanwhile you do good and remember that not all the faces of history are in play yet. Ha hahahahaha. Ahem, excuse me.


    I shall take my leave once I''ve learned what I''m here for, soon enough they will move ... and so will I. Back to the lovey-dovey couple POV, you''ve seen enough of me. Oh but before I leave, remember that this part is not a canonical 4th wall break, you don''t play any role in this story, so don''t get ahead of yourself.


    .....


    "So how''s Maverick, you probably kept in touch with him more than I did recently, you know due to the training and stuff." I asked


    "He''s fine, he really got in shape but his magic is still lacking. I expect some progress but he''ll get there."


    "No mercy, shouldn''t you train your body a bit more as well? To keep up with your magic and stuff?" I asked without realizing that I had unleashed upon myself.


    "Oho but please explain what that''s supposed to mean? You want to say I''m fat and I should work out or you want a pure demonstration of my physical prowess right here and now. Do tell me, my dear old friend, you want to get beaten to a pulp right here or somewhere else?"


    Rookie mistake, I thought to myself, I should''ve not said something so obviously stupid.


    "I ask your majesty for forgiveness, I''m but ignorant in the face of your ability. Thus a peasant like me could never hope to understand your greatness."


    "Very good, I will forgive you." She said with a pleased smile. "What about Stella, I assume you kept in touch with her right?"


    "Oh yes, we went shopping a couple of times, and recently she went to Anwir''s grave by herself. I think she''s quite stable."


    When I looked up to my companion I realized that I made the second greatest mistake of today. An aggressive smile, eyes closed and a twitching ear is what I saw.


    "Hmm, is that how it is, but hmm, you seem to be very fond of your newlywed life, shopping hmm. You know you promised me a date, you even asked for it and there was no follow up on that hmm. Guess it''s too late now, maybe I should indeed rain god''s retribution on your ass."


    Realizing I''m cornered I had no choice but to kneel and pray.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I promise I''ll take you on a date, I''m not newlywed and I don''t wish to be for the time being."


    "... You really transform into an idiot when you''re around me, but I prefer this version instead of how gloomy you seem some days." She said.


    "Takes one to know one." I said


    "What did you say?"


    And that ladies and gentleman is when I realized that I''m toying a line that I should never toy even with a gun.


    "Nothing, I think we should go on and start hiking, if we want the best view, we must be there when the sun goes down."


    "Very well."


    After almost two hours of hiking we reached the spot we wanted, somewhere far up that we could see almost the entire city from above. We could see how vast it is, how the dimensions are so ridiculously big that it seems to be going until the end of the earth. So far up we now are waiting for a single thing, the sunset.


    "You know these have been some crazy months. No, a crazy year if you think about it. Who could''ve expected something like this. I guess life is as they say, full of surprises." I started making conversation, reminiscing about the past.


    "Yea, and we find ourselves here, standing together in a place that makes it look like we''re above the world itself, with the addition of magic it seems surreal."


    "Come to think of it, we can think of this as a d..."


    "Finish that sentence and I''ll finish you off." She interjected before I could finish.


    "Very well."


    Standing here we could see how the sun is going down and down until it passed the city and now the night sky is approaching. Seemingly a clear night sky, stars can be seen without any problems and more than that, now we can even see different lights coming not only from the objects we''re used to see. Light laying on a canvas among other celestial bodies.


    Perhaps they are the lights coming from different species, different things? with a very different lifestyle from ours. If one should embark on a journey to travel the stars ... I''m sure they would be delighted. Here in this forest, with the moon bright above us, with magic, with the view of the city driving into the sleeping world and the beautiful girl right next to me ... it feels like the world has come to a halt.


    ...


    But such peace can never last long.


    *Ring*


    "A message?"


    The message said the following: We''ve already expressed our preferences for a choice, but you, every one of you are also part of this, so before making an ultimate decision, we, the council, would like to ask the people that inhabit earth for their own choice. You''ll find a description of each Great Race under their box. Please choose until tomorrow afternoon. Thank you for your cooperation.


    ... So that''s how it is. I looked at Kath who seemed to be done reading and without a need of words we knew what time it was.


    It''s time to go home.

 Familiarity

    Adonai:


    "You know, I thought it''s time to go home, but I never expected you to be here."


    "Why not? We''re friends after all, nothing wrong with this."


    "Oh but something is very wrong with this, you know." I retorted.


    "Hmm? Oh my! I never perceived you as a beast, ready to jump on your female friend at the given occasion." She said with a hint of playfulness in her tone.


    "I don''t know if I should be pissed or grateful."


    "Think about it, after such a romantic outing, it''s only the natural course of development is it not?" She said.


    "This is not a romcom, and you know it."


    Well, this is an unexpected turn of events. After we left she just followed me back home and invited herself in. Surely I didn''t question it considering how much she has been around, but now it seems like she''s planning to stay the night, which is concerning.


    "You know I only have one bed, so there are only two solutions to our predicament, and I''ll choose to sleep on the floor." I started by establishing the rules, knowing fully well she doesn''t intend to go home at this point.


    "Well I intended to go home, but if you insist that I sleep here I will gladly accept your request." She said while holding a big smile, big to her ears, laughing almost. This bitch.


    "Suit yourself, I''m going to prepare dinner."


    "No can do." She interjected. "In moments like this it''s time to show my feminine charm, I''ll handle the dinner with whatever you have in your fridge and you can just wait."


    Speaking of surprises, I never thought she''s so considerate.


    "Well thank you. I shall be as merciless as possible when judging your skills." I said as a matter of fact.


    "Do so and you''ll never see the light of day again." She responded as a matter of fact and she was on her way.


    With nothing better to do, and no interesting books around I started scrolling my phone.


    After a good 10 minutes of nothing but absolute brain damage I decided it''s time to put it down, and I went to the kitchen.


    There I found a maiden wearing an apron, the one my mother used. I don''t know where she found it but I envisioned in this very moment the image of a housewife, imagining her older is something easier than I thought.


    The image of older Kathlyn resembles a person I''ve met not so long ago, or at least that''s how my head associates it, maybe because of the hair or the eye colors. The woman who kept me company while I visited the grave of one of my dear friends.


    "If you''re staring at my ass, you''ll be thankful if you get to sleep outside." She stopped my train of thoughts with something that I guess makes sense to worry about as a young woman.


    "It''s my house you know."


    "Say that again to my face."


    *Snicker*


    And so we both laughed at the situation until silence took the room again.


    One hour later the food is ready, something she prepared and some stuff she found and heated it up. I''m not complaining, after all I didn''t have to do any labor.


    "Thanks for the meal."


    *Munch*


    "This is really good!"


    I''ve eaten her cooking before, at Stella''s house, but this time is different. I can''t point out what''s different but I''m sure of it.


    It is a genuine feeling, not a compliment. Her food is delicious, even more so than what my mother used to cook.


    Taking my eyes off my plate to look at Kathlyn''s expression ... I saw a smile. A genuine sincere smile, her eyes brimming with happiness. This side of her left me speechless. I''ve never seen her like this, my playful, joyful, annoying at times, serious when needed Kath was now the perfect happiness picture. It is so genuine, so radiant.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "I''m glad." She said with a tear rolling down her cheek.


    I can''t make fun of this, I can''t say a word. I don''t dare to say a word, I don''t want to be the reason for this smile''s disappearance so I''ll keep my mouth shut and I''ll keep eating.


    Some time after the dinner was gone we decided it''s time to go to bed.


    "Hey, so, uhm, why don''t we just sleep together?"


    "I beg you pardon?" Bewildered, I asked.


    "Not like in a s-s-s-s-s-sexual way you know, we can just share the bed. I would feel really bad for making you sleep on the floor after I barged in." Kath said embarrassed, stuttering and her face bright red. I guess she truly is a maiden at heart.


    Not wanting to prolong this situation I said: "Well, if you insist."


    And so we found ourselves back to back. I don''t know about her but I''m too nervous to sleep.. I found her always attractive and this situation is bound to be stimulating.


    "Are you asleep?" She asked.


    "I''m as awake as you are."


    "How come you''re so happy now? You used to be a lot more gloomy before." She asked in a shy tone.


    "Well you know how we people are, sometimes we''re happy, sometimes we''re sad. We have our ups and downs and some things influence us more than the others."


    "But you were the picture definition of sad." She said in a rather concerned small voice.


    What she said left me speechless, it''s true, I used to be more gloomy before. But I changed a bit myself. I can''t say I don''t harbor insecurities or overthinking along with concerns but I''ve tried to take a step for the better.


    At that moment I don''t know what took over me, but I stopped thinking.


    "You know, I''ve always thought that life is in essence meaningless, and I''m always saying about how we should go with the flow. How things are working so underhanded that it''s not even worth trying."


    *Silence*


    "But in reality it''s all just because I''m scared of the future. I don''t know what to do. I don''t know what I am supposed to do. I don''t know what direction my life should take. I find myself in this continuous doom-spiral of uncertainty where all I know is the end of the road. I don''t want to lose people dear to me anymore... I don''t want to worry about what will happen... I just want to live peacefully with the people around me, I don''t need a lot of money, or a lot of friends. No. I try to say that it will work out, it always does, but it doesn''t you know. The uncertainty of tomorrow is what''s holding me back today!"


    Without realizing I turned around to find her already facing me standing half up, with teary eyes.


    "After we had our little dispute I realized how selfish I was, thinking only about myself. I failed to realize how gravely the words I said back then affected you. And once again I''m sorry, I wanted to become more considerate towards everyone. I realized the need to cherish more the people close to me. Something that I should''ve been already aware of because life is short."


    Am I good now? Is this the right decision? Is it the right approach? Questions I can''t bring myself to ask her. Because she has no way of responding genuinely to them, the answers will always be within myself. Laying my heart bare right now, I responded instinctively.


    Her hand raised and was going in my direction, not knowing what to expect I stayed still. And her hand touched my head, patting me.


    With a teary smile the only words that left her mouth were: "You did good. You are a good person."


    At this display of affection I couldn''t control myself anymore and I jumped to hug her. Crying.


    With her hands embracing me I feel asleep, her presence, the sense of familiarity overwhelming me.


    Kathlyn:


    "You look so peaceful right now. Don''t worry, you''ll be fine. You''ll not die, you''ll know what you have to do. You just don''t lose yourself in despair and I''ll handle the rest. Now keep sleeping. Everything will be alright."


    I will always be with you. So no need to worry. I will guide you.


    While embracing my dearest person in the world I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror not so far from the bed. The pattern formed in my eyes glowing a white I''m so familiar with, extending down my neck is a floral pattern from my right eye. It is a ''forget-me-not''.


    "It is almost set in stone. Not even the dragons themselves will be able to alter this future. It''s close... The Point Of No Return."


    I thank you once again Lady Saphira, thank you for this gift.


    With these words said to myself, I fell asleep.


    Adonai:


    I haven''t slept this well in ages, and it looks like she''s still sleeping... Hell man, what was that situation even? I better go and clear my head and also prepare breakfast.


    Some time later


    "Breakfast in bed, my my, such a gentleman."


    "It''s the least I can do after you ...uhm... barged in my place."


    It''s a bit embarrassing to tell the truth right now, so let''s leave it at this.


    "I see, I see, you still have a long way to go."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?" I asked, a bit annoyed.


    "Oh I wonder." She said while flashing a smile.


    "Anyway we should make our choice by the afternoon... I will pick the Leviathans, and I encourage you to do the same." She said.


    Silence overtook me, questions made their way into my mind but nonetheless I trust her.


    "Okay, shall we go out after this?" I asked.


    "No, let''s stay together like this for a bit more."


    With a straight red face she said that to me, so I had no choice but to accept it, let''s indulge her for a bit more.

 Collective result

    Ragnarok:


    "Are you sure it is the best idea to let your people decide? You are biased, so are we, but there should be a clear answer on the majority before the voting starts. After all, aren''t you all worshiping ''God'' the angelic being?"


    "Who''s to say what is predetermined or not? I have faith that humans will fuck themselves over every day of the week. And that their impulsive decisions will get the better of them, so I would say this vote is not decided." The human sitting across from me said.


    "Whatever you say you nutjob."


    Quite intriguing, he doesn''t show any signs of fear. I can''t read his emotions either, but his soul is clear as day to me, twisted and evil. More fucked is that he''s one of the big shots in this new power system.


    But even he had the courtesy to let his people vote.


    "I have to know, why did you ask for a private conversation with me? You''ve been anywhere but present when the important discussions took place. Yet you''re here, Mr. Ragnarok."


    Insolent piece of work, asking for justification from me. But who am I if not honest.


    "I like to see damned souls before they will perish, and you are on a hell of a road to self destruction, maybe not now, but later. Mr Doyle."


    "Such hurtful words from a presence such as yourself, but if that''s all you wanted, you could just watch me without requesting my presence."


    A grim devilish smile formed on my face. It''s always good to deal with direct people.


    "You''re right, excuse me for going in circles, or don''t, I couldn''t care less. I wanted to see how you''re holding up. I heard your son died in a terrible accident not so long ago. It must be hard, a grieving father... But you''re smiling." I said stopping before my expression changed to an even bigger grim.


    This son of a bitch in front of me is one of the worst kind of people, even I''m disgusted by his stench. One of sacrifices for personal good and countless walked over corpses.


    "You see, I can take a look deep inside a soul if I want to and I can see in yours how you tortured that poor boy''s mother just for him to accept your proposal. To be honest with you I''m utterly disgusted with how you handle your business and I wish nothing more than killing you myself here, but you see that would take the fun out of it."


    "I would appreciate a bit of privacy or a warning before-hand, after all taking a look into my history is not a thing one would normally do if they know what''s best for them. And as disgusted as you say you are, it is a fact that you have a smile up to your ears even now.


    He said while he stared in my eyes not blinking once.


    "You see I''m a twisted individual myself and I take pleasure in the death of other people similar to me. I''m smiling because I''m overjoyed at the anticipation of your death. I''ll make sure to not miss it, the torture you put that boy mother through only to kill her. And your own son died from your decision, oh I can''t contain myself with how EXCITED I AM!" I shouted while jumping from my seat right into his face, staring Doyle right in his eyes with a smile and with a voice carrying the weight of countless corpses I said: "YOU ARE A TWISTED HUMAN DOYLE AND YOUR DEATH WILL BE ONE I WILL REMEMBER!"


    And so I left. Decided on the fact that I''ll return here one day and if this piece of shit is not dead by then ... I''ll kill him myself.


    ...


    Now it''s time to head to the main venue, the time is approaching.


    Adonai:


    "It''s been a hot minute since we''ve been together like this isn''t it?"


    "Yes man, we got to finally eat something together, outside." Maverick said.


    "You should be more careful with what you order, you don''t want all your hard work to go to waste." Stella added.


    "Don''t worry, it''s a cheat day today." Maverick responded with a smile, while Stella blushed.


    Taking a look at my companion, Kath, besides me, we realized that they got closer and we couldn''t help our expressions that gradually transformed into smiles that spelled nothing but trouble.


    "You two seem like you got a lot closer together in the time we didn''t see each other, how cute." Kathlyn said with a hint of tease in her voice.


    Stella pouted and then concentrated. It took me a bit to realize what she''s about to do but ultimately I figured it out and concentrated to avoid a certain type of memories from resurfacing.


    "Oh... but you''ve spent the night together at Adonai''s place right? I can feel how flustered you still are and judging by how you both arrived at the same time, sure it could be a coincidence ... your feelings are too strong."Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Seems like Kath didn''t catch in time what Stella was planning, touche.


    "Stella, dear, at this very moment I can say I liked you better when you were depressed."


    Hearing this Stella sulked and her voice grew once again weaker.


    "I was just making a joke... sorry." She said.


    Kathlyn realized she fucked up and she took a look at me. In response I could only sigh and move my head from left to right.


    "I''m sorry sorry sorry, I wasn''t meaning it that way okay?" Kath apologized desperately.


    Stella looked back up again and nodded in approval.


    A sense of nausea came back to me as my vision changed, what happened before when they first arrived seems to be happening again now. Isolated, each and every one of us with their own bubble, while the stage is on.


    But this time there was one more person in the middle, a person I encountered, the same person who asked for directions yet no one else seemed to see them... Maybe I was hallucinating but even then how could I hallucinate about someone who I''ve never seen before.


    "I''m sorry for the sudden interruption of your day. You all remember me I assume so I''ll skip the introductions, we''re here now to announce what your planet will be doing, since your leaders felt this is a more appropriate way to reveal it." The Leviathan Lord Varuna said.


    "I''m sorry as well for this but the council has come to a conclusion, and I''ve been chosen to deliver the news to every citizen of earth. First and foremost I want to thank all of you for your participation and for voicing your opinion on this matter. I''m deeply thankful for all the support and for the collaboration. Since I don''t want to prolong this we''ve decided that earth will become a trade center in the universe. Trade centers are neutral planets under the protection of a higher race, we will welcome new life on our planet and have a delegate from this race help us govern it. And as for your choice... no... our choice is to go forward with Lord Varuna from the Leviathan race."


    Well this is a surprise, I could swear we will pick the Angels no matter what. I made my choice based on Kathlyn''s recommendation but I didn''t actually expect them to win.


    "Thank you, thank all of you for your choice." Lord Varuna started her speech. "It brings me honor to know I''ve been chosen to represent all of you. Let me add a bit of information to what was already said. As a trade center your planet will keep working normally, only that you''ll start adding alien life here. To make it possible for trades to be conducted we must first make sure you''re on friendly terms with all kinds of species. No racism will be tolerated, I''ll make sure someone good will be appointed to help your leaders. You will get to keep your military but trade centers are strictly prohibited from being attacked by the rules of the Ten Sephirots. Whoever will do this shall be declared a war criminal..."


    And I thought that''s where the speech ended but...


    "We have the right to choose the most promising warriors from your planet and add them into our army, and call upon you if needed, but I refute that right... Let me show all of you something."


    *Snap*


    After the snap of her fingers I found myself staring at a planet in the middle of a conglomerate of gasses somewhere in the vast space. The planet''s surface was a mix of normal rock, land and black oceans, black oceans filled with a glowing white mixture in it.


    But the crater that seems to take 30% of the planet is what left me speechless. A crater with a castle right in the middle of it. It is not very deep into the surface and the exterior of the castle is just ocean. The exterior of the planet has a ring from which cascades flow into the deep of the universe.


    "This is my home planet... Galactic Mare. I''m showing you all of this because I want my allies to have a good understanding of where the help is coming from and how their allies live their lives. Here you can see how we adopt a human form for convenience while living just about as you, only maybe more advanced... Hence I don''t want to rob you of your freedom. I want you to advance further and reach our level under our guidance and protection."


    After a brief silence she started again.


    "My mission here is not to rob families of their sons or their daughters neither to send them to slaughter or to slavery. My mission is to win without sacrifices. My mission is to respect your decision and to do my best to see it fulfilled. That is the mission of a ruler, that is MY MISSION!."


    She finished exclaiming while shouting with a calm and carrying voice... the voice of a mother looking to protect their child rather than someone ready to go to war. With teary eyes she stared at me... no at all of us probably and hoped her feelings would reach us.


    "Please take a better look, I''ll amplify the vision from the pocket bubbles and you can see for yourself our ordinary lives."


    And it is true, they live just like us, not a lot different, they might be more advanced but they are not different.


    As I took my eyes off the planet to look in the deep space I saw the blurry figure of a monstrous gigantic serpent, I could feel their burning sight on us... no... on me.


    I threw up instantly and was corrupted by the fear that came to me the instant when I came face to face with it my mind went numb and I lost control of my whole right side of the body. My half stopped heart could see yet could not process such dimensions and what I could make of its multiple set of eyes spelled nothing but danger.


    As if sensing my growing distress Varuna turned to face me, seeing her expression of concern she immediately teleported me back first, back to reality.


    I''m gasping for air, even now that I''m safe. It is terrifying, not being able to see it fully yet get this feeling is truly terrifying. I want to forget ... I want to forget.


    ...


    Ragnarok:


    Well well if he wasn''t right.


    "Thank you Varuna, that was spectaculous."


    "Why did you want me to do this? Why show that poor soul that?"


    "Why do you ask? Well I believe I''ve told you before. Regardless I''m now indebted to you. Truth to be told I didn''t want to but it was something that needed to be done."


    ...


    "Seeing as you have nothing to say I''ll take my leave. Your horrid face makes me sick and don''t worry, she won''t do anything to you as I promised. Well at least for the part that I needed. For your speech and your decisions I''m not so sure, but I''ll leave you to deal with it."


    "You..."


    "Goodbye, puppet Varuna."

 Changes in the daily life

    Adonai:


    One month has passed since the council announcement, the great four races left and all the portals around the globe became active. Day by day extraterrestrial life enters our home, but they are peaceful, most of them at least. There are sure to be troublemakers that you''ll find everywhere but that''s no concern.


    The leader Lord Varuna appointed to advice us arrived first, his name is Vice Golgotha, a sleazy looking guy, a bit old, short hair, the common traits in the leviathans human appearance seems to be their hair that looks like a cascade falling in it''s own, their anormal eyes and their split mouth.


    Unlike Varuna''s eyes his seemed more tamed but powerful nonetheless. He presented himself and his family, a son and a wife. After that he gave a boring speech that I won''t bother to reiterate.


    But he keeps the truth of what the Leviathan Lord said, the streets are peaceful, new laws have been incorporated and our police was instructed with how to handle different matters. The elite military squad and the rest have to keep training in their own houses and be ready for a call if necessary.


    Wherever you go on the streets now you can see multiple creatures, people with green skin, sharp features, wings or small, or slightly gigantic, werewolf or vampire-like, whatever we thought of as mythology is in fact a reality.


    But you can''t solve the racism all together and the troublemakers, they will slip through, always, but he''s at least trying.


    Right now I''m heading to meet with a teacher specialized in martial arts. After the recent incidents from a while ago I decided to not keep the status quo and to at least put a bit of effort into learning self defense. Because of my focus in magic I decided it would be in my interest to be able to try and protect myself if the need arises.


    "Zinyuan Dojo" I guess this is it.


    As I entered the dojo I was greeted by the sight of multiple species. Some of the other races took residence on this planet so it''s not out of the question to see them taking lessons in our culture and self protection either.


    "Hello, I talked with you on the phone, I''m here to enroll in this dojo."


    "Ah yes, you, once again my name is Zinyuan and please follow me."


    Zinyuan is an old human male but very fit from a single glance, he really practices what he''s preaching about I guess.


    "You said you want to learn martial arts for self defense, am I right?"


    "Yes, that''s correct."


    "I have to congratulate you, young man, with magic going around. People gave up the training of the body which is sad, what if one day magic stops working? You''ll be forced to rely on nothing but sheer strength and technique to survive. This is even more important if you''re on a squad that does beast hunting."


    Beasts are a big concern for society, not everything is stable, beasts manifest on every planet wilderness, just like humans they are a form of life that we have to either coexist with or kill. But coexisting is rarely possible, beasts feed on souls of the deceased, instead of letting them wander they eat them. Teams have been formed to take care of them and keep them out of society boundaries.


    What the old man said it''s true, not the magic disappearing part but the fact that people started to ignore body health for magic, but who am I to talk?


    "You''re completely right, people should take more care of their bodies, that''s why I''m here after all."


    "Very good, the fee will be 2000 parallax for 3 months, advanced payment."


    "Old man ... aren''t you a bit expensive?" I asked as I handed the money half-heartedly.


    "In this economy this is cheap. Now let''s get you changed and start on the basics."


    With us becoming a trade center we had to change our currency to something called ''parallax''. Parallax is a concept for us humans but seemingly a currency for everyone else. The mutual understanding of everyone is realizable through magic as well so there are no language barriers.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    A few hours passed.


    *Phew*


    "Tired?"


    A young man with feathers on his body, but a delicate figure approached me and asked.


    "First day, I''m bound to be tired?"


    "Water?" He asked.


    "Don''t mind if I do. My name is Adonai."


    The young man hesitated a bit, looking curiously at me.


    "My name is Halo. I''m a Kinnara."


    "Like the video game?" I asked.


    "What?"


    "Nothing."


    A Kinnara, I can only assume is a bird like creature from the way he looks but better to ask than to assume in such situations.


    "What''s a .." I got interrupted.


    "A Kinnara is a half bird species that specialize in singing, my name is not from some game but from a song. You see we''re part human part birds, but essentially our half body is more bird and we have feathers all over our skin."


    Taking a look at his feet I saw them, birds like legs, not even resembling humanity, they are just what you would see at a big bird.


    "So what''s a singing bird like you doing in a martial arts dojo? No offense" I asked.


    "You''re less racist than I expected, or not at all for that matter but self defense is something we all must know right?"


    "Point made, you''re right, that''s the same reason I''m here."


    And then silence overtook both of us, not knowing what to talk about. It is annoyingly suffocating.


    "Do you want to go eat and get to talk a bit more? You know, it wouldn''t be bad to have a few friends who are locals." I said, trying to break the ice.


    "Sure, you pay." He retorted.


    Son of a ...


    Some time later


    "And then I told him ''Get the fuck out of here, you ass''. And the dude started running and singing with his pants on fire. Man it was great"


    The bird in front of me got drunk and really talkative.


    "I have to ask, but are you allowed to drink?"


    "In bird years yea. And we''re using bird years, why? Because I''m a bird that sings. Pfoa hahaha."


    ...


    Personally I''m not the biggest fan of alcohol but hey a time like this is nice to get to know another person and to share stories.


    "Anyhow man I have to give it to your race, you have really beautiful womens around here. Mind introducing me to someone?" He asked.


    Without being able to help myself, I spilled my drink.


    "I''m sorry but I fear that if I go in the proximity of another woman looking like I want to introduce myself or flirt even if for you, one of my friends will chop my head off." I stated as a matter of fact.


    "Oho, do tell me *hic* is she cute?" He said while eye browning me.


    "I''m not letting you near her even if my life depends on it." I said as a matter of fact.


    "Such a pity, anyway it''s great that you have friends."


    Do I look like the anti-social type?


    "Because you know you look like the anti-social type."


    "Can you read my mind?" I asked.


    "No, but you''re pretty obvious."


    *Sigh*


    "Anyway, how do you find your staying on Earth?" I asked.


    "It''s been nice, except you know the occasional racism but it can''t be helped, after all we are alien life that came here, some for trade, some settled. While it would be nice to be able to live in peace I don''t think that will be so easy." He said with a let down face.


    "I''m telling you it won''t get better, until alien life came here we had issues with our own, based on skin or part of the world they come from. These issues still exist but they are less frequent, all the attention is on everyone who is new."


    Pondering my words for a while he seemed lost in thought.


    "I guess its the same everywhere then, fuck it, we will get used to it, nothing to worry about"


    A smile formed on my face when I saw the positive attitude this stranger adopted in face of the inconvenience he''s posed with. This is a good approach for living your life.


    *Ring*


    "Come home I prepared the food, better be here in 5 minutes or you''ll sleep outside."


    "Your wife?" No, worse, my best friend.


    "Is she cute?"


    "I have to leave."


    Before getting up, Halo put his phone number in front of me with a clear intention.


    "I would like to chat again sometime, we''re colleagues in the dojo but I mean outside."


    "Next time, you pay." I said.


    "You bet."


    We both laughed and then I left.


    Kath''s been staying at my place overnight after the first incident quite a bit, not constantly but she visits quite frequently. She put it as ''Better to spend as much time together as possible, who knows what might come tomorrow.''.


    I told her she''s a bit paranoid but either way there''s nothing other than what''s left from my sanity to lose in this deal. Come to think of it, I have a beautiful girl at my house cooking me food and waiting for me, isn''t that what a wife is?


    From being lost in thought I didn''t realize the distance I walked and I found myself in front of my house. The door opened and I got greeted by the sight of Kath with a smile on her face telling me "Welcome home."


    "I''m home. Is the food ready?"


    "That''s what I typed you about isn''t it? Now eat up and go to bed, we have to start the day tomorrow early."


    "You''re right."


    Involuntarily I reached out and patted her on the head. Blushful she didn''t seem to mind.


    Tomorrow is the day I promised her about for a while, it''s our date.

 Point of no return - I

    Adonai:


    "Morning." I said aloud as soon as I woke up.


    The voice of the sweet girl who started taking residence at my place a couple of times per month could be heard from the other room, her greeting was the most soothing thing a human can hear in the morning, and it was: "My ass, I''ve been awake for the past hour, you late bloomer."


    "That''s not what a late bloomer means." I retorted


    "Cry me a river, now get up and get eating."


    I guess she''s a bit excited for today hence the impatience, after all this is a promised date, and it was promised for a while so I better bring my best game.


    And so I got out of the bed, changed, went to the bathroom then to my most awaited breakfast. The benefit, well one of the benefits of living with such a beautiful young woman from time to time is that she prepares the meals.


    In today''s day and age of gender equality one could expect both of us doing the meals but she knows that if I were to cook it would not be the greatest result so I''m deeply thankful for her dedication to both of us wellbeing.


    "Eggs with pancakes is a weird way to start the day." I commented right after I saw my plate.


    "You can choose to not eat it and starve." She responded immediately.


    "Thank you for the meal!"


    A smile formed on her face as I started chewing the well prepared food.


    Half hour after being done with the dinner.


    "So where are we going?" She asked me.


    Thanks to the genius that I am, I figured it''s better if I keep her in the dark when it comes to the details of my plan. All to be revealed right now leaving her bewildered. Nice me, I deserve a pat on the back.


    "The place with all attractions, the place where entertainment is at every corner and you can have fun every few meters, none other than..."


    "A brothel?" I got interrupted.


    "No, what the fuck is wrong with you, the amusement park!"


    "Ohh." She said completely unimpressed.


    Shoving aside the meaning of her remark or suggestion, whatever it was, I couldn''t help but ask "Do you have complaints, or other suggestions?"


    "No, not really, we should get going."


    Without taking suspicion in her quick response and not repulsive attitude I started to get ready to head out.


    "Be back later." We both said in synchronism and we left while laughing.


    In moments like this it really feels like we''re a married couple.


    ...


    Some time later


    "I''m gonna *throws up* beat your *throws up* ass later *throws up"


    Today I found something very surprising, Kathlyn doesn''t like fast ridings at high heights. We''re currently on a roller coaster. A new attraction around here, recently implemented, so we wanted to try it out.


    But I think only I would like to try it out a second time.


    "Son of a *throws up* bleh"


    I tried my hardest to not laugh for one simple reason, the bag she has been holding is full with something that I would try to keep out of my space.


    "Now now try to inhale, exhale, breathe in and out, and try to calm down."


    Her reaction to my comfort words was a piercing glare advising me to not say another word. And so I did until the ride was over.


    "Now are you okay?"


    "Yea I''m fine, no thanks to you."


    "And what did you want me to do? Throw up with you?" I asked.


    "That would''ve been nice." So she said with a flick of her nose seemingly looking in the other direction.


    Resigning with myself I decided the best approach is not to poke the bear so I ignored her for a bit until she felt bad about it.


    "Hey, that doesn''t mean you should ignore me."


    Bingo! I said in my head.


    "Then are you ready to go to the next attraction?" I asked.


    "And what that might be?"


    "A haunted house obviously." I said proudly.


    *Sigh*


    With a resigned sigh she said "It really feels like we''re in highschool all over again"


    "Do you have complaints, or are you feeling old?"


    "Call me old and you might consider this date already over."


    "There there."


    Instead of reciprocating the remark I chose to pat her head and move on.


    Her response was more feminine than I expected.


    "Idiot!" She said while turning her head from me, her face I assume flushed red from her ears.


    After a while we arrived at the haunted house. And we went in together.


    Kath isn''t a scared cat and I know that for a fact but even so I wish I could''ve seen a bit more of her expressions while we were in there.


    Frankly speaking we just kinda went in and got out. Nothing too exciting, nothing too scary. Just about what you would expect from such an attraction made for kids mostly.


    "That was really a let down wasn''t it?" Kath asked.


    "You bet, I thought it would be a bit more exciting but I guess you can''t really expect a lot from a place made for kids." I said with a resigned sigh.


    We walked a bit farther away and we found ourselves in a park with the sunset near us.


    Kath was looking somewhere in the distance, she was in her own world but peaceful and quiet like this I could observe her figure more.


    "The dark blonde hair set free in the wind, accompanied by the black long dress she is wearing and her beautiful dark brown eyes being enchanted by the beautiful sunset that seemed to take place perfectly. I should count myself lucky for even having the chance to get this close to such a girl, not only because she''s beautiful, but she''s also considerate and gentle, even in the times where she tries to punch me. I''m so grateful for everything she did to me and for her just being in the present day with me. She..."


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation."You inner monologue slipped out. I heard everything."


    That''s when my heart stopped. How I didn''t realize I was actually talking with my mouth not only in my thoughts. Looking at everyone around me they all have the same expressions "So bold of him."


    Well this is certainly not the development I expected from today but she looks bashful?


    "If you like me that much you can just say so. It''s not like I''ll reject you, I think I made myself pretty clear about my feelings so far."


    She said while stopping right in front of an alley that seemed to extend to infinity, trees on each side, and she right now was the center of everything, the center of my everything.


    Looking at her in this scenery, and after what I just said. I might as well go all out.


    Taking a knee I looked up to Kath and I asked "Kathlyn Duska would you officially go out with me? Having the prospect of marriage in mind." I added at the end.


    Seeing her bashful and shy like this when hearing my proposal I could not help myself but smile, she really is as her name suggests a pure soul.


    "Having marriage in mind, don''t you think you''re going too far?" She asked and did not give me a response instantly.


    "I mean we''re practically living together at this point, we haven''t had sex yet but.."


    "Stop stop stop! Not in public, don''t bring this up!" She exclaimed while waving her hands at me to stop from making this moment even more embarrassing.


    After what seemed like an eternity she came closer and stayed down so she matched my eyes.


    "Adonai Melek ... I formally accepted to be in your care."


    Her acceptance made me happy, happier than I ever was in fact but the situation developed into something unexpected, she leaned closer to me and kissed me.


    While looking bewildered at her she just winked and told me "A reward and a punishment for making me wait so long."


    "What''s the punishment in this?" I asked.


    "It''s a secret." She said while she turned around and stood up.


    "Should we go home?"


    I nodded and then we started heading home.


    Some time later


    The night is out, we stayed late a bit more than expected and we found ourselves now standing next to the building where I''ve met the drunks who taught me about magic. Right now they were nowhere to be seen, but another group took their place.


    A group of leviathans from their characteristic features, one tall and one smaller. The tall one has a bit more of a sturdy build and black hair. While the smaller one was more akin to an imp physique, very strange but he was a leviathan nonetheless, same hair color, maybe brothers?


    "Hey you stop there."


    We initially decided to ignore them but they called to us and rushed to stop us in our track.


    "Man *hick* you have a really cute girl with you, mind if we borrow her a little? *hic*" The taller one spoke.


    "Yes, yes, we will take good care of her." The smaller one interjected while doing disgusting movements with his tongue.


    I couldn''t help but snarl at such display. These two aren''t fit to even look at my cute girlfriend.


    "I''m sorry boys, but she''s with me, so if you don''t mind we have to go."


    I tried to pass them but they stopped me again.


    "Now, now, what''s the rush? We only asked for a bit of time with her, isn''t that right brother?"


    "Yes, yes, now don''t be selfish, you see we''re part of the special protection squad for Mr. Golgotha son, if you do us this favor we can put a good word for you. *hic*"


    Disgusting, I wanted to argue with them but I figured it would be best not to and just start running, they probably can''t keep up with us anyway.


    "What a disgusting display, even if he agreed, and he would never agree, I would still decline, now get out of my face before I beat both of your asses."


    She said while emanating fury and an aura even I could sense.


    "Now, now, you really have a beautiful face *hic* even our lord''s son would be pleased to have you, even after we already had our way with you. I mean I can sense you''re strong but you''re not near enough to beat both of us, and that boyfriend of yours over there is nothing but a *hic*"


    The tall one stopped talking and kicked me in my abdomen. The impact sent me flying a couple of meters.


    "Weakling." He said, smiling at the lack of my power.


    "You!" Kath burst in anger.


    Without realizing the imp leviathan disappeared. I found him sitting next to me, while my body got frozen, well my hands and legs more accurately are chained by ice to the ground and my mouth is covered in ice so I can''t talk.


    He then put a hand on my neck and said to Kath "I would advise you to surrender if you want him to live."


    Cowards, I murmured but to no avail, no one can hear me.


    Kath please, you have to run, I said but again no one could hear me.


    "...Fine, you can have your way with me if you promise to let him leave."


    "Oh but of course, we''re man of our words ... but hey that will happen only after he watches the whole show."


    "What!?"


    Kath''s body was put to the ground and her dress got ripped in two in an instant, the smaller leviathan kept his hand at my neck, making sure Kath doesn''t do any sudden moves.


    "A bitch like you should respect the ones who are superiors and obey." The taller leviathan said while engulfing his hand in fire and slapped my girlfriend.


    Then what followed was torture, no, pure mutilation. I watched my girlfriend, my best friend, the one that matters most to me in this world as she got beaten with fire, punches to the face, to the stomach, limbs ripped from her, hair ripped from her head, scratches forming all over her body as the fire took place and blood started pouring out ... violated in front of me. She cried and begged the beast to stop.


    But to no avail the animal had no sense of stopping, he devoured her, consumed her right in front of my very eyes while applying marks of fire to her body. After a while he was done.


    This time I could do nothing but cry and try to scream but it was useless, the ice was too strong for me to break it. But at last this was over, Kath looks bad, like really bad, almost like she could faint any minute. She cried a lot, she screamed a lot but no one came to help her and I could not help her either...


    "Now that I take a better look at you, no one would want to play with a broken doll like you. So I''ll do you a service and end your misery."


    Wait NO, STOP.


    I watched how the tall leviathan raised her by the hair and kissed her at the surface, but the red marks soon became visible on her body, he incinerated her from inside out, slowly.


    "You were really a satisfaction to have. Now die slowly darling, even my hangover is done after this, so I''m thankful."


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"


    Was all I heard in this hell, he took her hand, ripping off the nails from her fingers, and using them to puncture her eyes while the fire was consuming her from inside out.


    STOP, STOP, SOMEONE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING.


    But no response came, all I could do was watch. The consequences of my own actions finally came to me. My first regret is right now. I cried, I raged, I begged, I pleaded but no one could hear anything.


    "Now I guess it''s a good time to take care of the boy right, big brother?" The imp leviathan asked.


    "Just set him free, he''s too weak to do something and if he comes after us he''ll only find himself killed like his little princess, let him have a goodbye."


    I rushed to Kath, she couldn''t open her eyes.... she had no eyes to open anymore, the monster took them out and kept them as a trophy. There is no way she can survive right now, her pride, her life was taken from her in a moment right in front of me.


    "Kath, Kath, I''m here, don''t cry, everything will be alright, I promise I''ll heal you and we''ll go back together okay? Stay with me" I said, tears pouring down my cheeks uncontrollably.


    Kath''s face looked up at me and a white glowing forget-me-not pattern formed on her face, down her neck for a few seconds then disappeared.


    "I''ll always love you..." She said as her heart stopped beating.


    I''m standing here, in a pool of blood made from my beloved, her limp body lying in my arms and the only one I can blame ... is myself. I cried, and even more so but this pain doesn''t even compare to what she felt in the moments prior. I hated them for what they did to her but more than anyone ... I hated myself.


    Kathlyn:


    Moments before her last breath.


    "Even if I don''t have eyes I can see you right now, ah my dear, don''t cry this is how it should be, this is how I chose it to be. Can you come out of him now? I know you''re here."


    "What is it that you want and how do you know I''m here? I can sense you, even if I don''t have my eyes anymore I can still sense you, angel, you''re here to protect him right... Lady Saphira ... she told me about you, the angel who has forsaken his title, who has cut his own wings..."


    "Yes that is me ... I see, so you''re her apprentice?"


    "I was... you''re here to protect her son aren''t you? Then please accept my memories so he can accept my death someday. I''m sure there will come a day where he''ll be in desperate need for answers.


    I chose to transfer my memories to the angelic being in front of me, I can''t see his expression but I can hear the tone in his voice. He''s sad.


    "This is the path you choose, but you didn''t do it for yourself, you did it for him... Farewell woman of the present and the future. I shall carry your memories until the day comes."


    "Thank you... This is the ... point of no return..."


    Adonai...


    I mustered what left it was of me to say these parting words.


    "I''ll always love you..."

 Funeral

    Adonai:


    "Help me... help me... I don''t want to die, Adonai help me ... help AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA."


    "It''s your fault she''s gone, it''s your fault, she will never see the light of day again. You chose this road, and you failed to protect what''s dear to you. Never forget the cries, never forget the blood you held her in. You did this to her..."


    "Why did you let me die? Why did you not choose another route? Why did it have to be this way?" The image of a lifeless, butchered Kathlyn made its appearance in front of me.


    "...It should''ve been you!" An echo of voices said.


    *Ring*


    The morning alarm.


    The voices in my head started to appear the day after Kathlyn died, it''s been three days since and I keep getting haunted by them.


    Every night I go to sleep, sometimes even when I''m already up. It''s not the weird entity living inside me that does this... it is my own guilt. The choice I made back then¡­ the consequence of me not being able to protect what is dear to me in the present. And I''m speechless on what I should do from now on.


    I am a zombie, the happiest day of my life became the nightmare fuel that keeps me up at night. The person that I saw as the scope of my happiness became the thing I got to fear most.


    My inability to act in a crucial moment defines my guilt and my regrets, my choices are just fuel to amplify the continuous storm inside me that pushes me closer to the edge of my existence.


    Today is her funeral.


    I''ve grieved, I don''t want to admit it to others but I cry, I can''t help it. What I considered most precious to me died in front of my very eyes in a terrible, gruesome way and I can''t blame myself less than I blame the people who did it.


    No... not people, monsters who should be eradicated from the face of the earth, from the face of the universe. Scumbags who should serve as nothing more than food for the beasts living outside the habitable regions.


    A death punishment is just mercy for what they did ... they should suffer, they should crawl and I should hear their screams of agony and pain as I look at the flame of their life going extinct.


    ...


    But I can''t do any of that, a trial is set in place after the funeral and all I fear right now is just rage. A bottomless pit of rage that sometimes takes the place of what remained from my half broken heart.


    The regrets, the pain, the anguish, the suffering, the guilt, the self-harm instincts all come at me, all live inside me right now. At night is the worst, being alone with my thoughts and what before used to be a moment I got to spend with her now became a moment of contemplation over the question "should I just end it all?."


    It is a desperate situation, something that leaves me broken in more than one way, and I don''t see an ending, a ray of light in this clouded mind of mine that could save me right now.


    All I know is that I want the voices to stop... I want the pain to end ... but I have a responsibility to her who sacrificed herself for me to keep living, a sacrifice that could''ve been avoided if ¡­ I made better choices in my life.


    ...


    Today I find myself standing in this church, next to a coffin holding my lover ... It is a rainy day...


    "Kathlyn has been my ..."


    I couldn''t finish the sentence, I broke down crying in front of everyone here. I couldn''t finish a speech, I couldn''t lay down my final words to her as I can''t bring myself to stand here.


    As the voices said It should''ve been me...This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Time passed and Maverick and Stella gave their speeches, both crying. Her parents came home now and they held their part in this.


    And now we move on to the next event ... putting her into the ground.


    I can''t bring myself to see, I can''t look at the decorated coffin going down. The same place where Anwir rests, the same cemetery.


    One that now seems to be grieving along with myself, one where the souls of the deceased seem to accompany my thoughts. I will never hear her talk, laugh again, I''ll never see her smile again.


    I''m standing here, next to a tree, on a bench, looking at the crowd of people weeping for my dead lover, my best friend, a cheerful innocent girl who went away too early. The tears keep going down my face and I can''t stop them.


    "It is a terrible day for rain, isn''t it?"


    A voice suddenly started talking to me out of nowhere, but I ignored it.


    "I''ll be real with you, crying over something that you should''ve not but was not able to, it''s pathetic to say the least. I bet you''re wondering ''but oh if only I chose better, if only I could''ve avoid the situation'' and let me tell you, Adonai, you could''ve not."


    The voice keeps talking ... and they know my name and my grief... who?


    "Finally looking up, your face is a wrecked mess, here take this handkerchief and wipe your sorry tears from your face."


    The person talking to me is a gentleman who''s wearing a costume. A tall dark haired, black suit, man wearing a hat to try and cover bits of the white hair under it, but it''s still pretty visible.


    He talked to me while looking down but when he finally met my eyes after I raised my gaze it struck me. The red eyes with the intensity of hell itself.


    "You are..." I started talking but he interrupted me.


    "Ragnarok, pleasure to be meeting you again, quite a pleasure, leader of the Black Parade and one of the three leaders of The End."


    He was telling the truth, he''s the same man I bumped into, the one Kathlyn could not see and the same one who stood at the platform with the other great four.


    Why is he here? What''s his agenda? Honestly I don''t care ... just let me grieve in peace. I thought as I moved my eyes from him back to the crowd, a crowd that now is going to their own places.


    ¡­


    She''s put into the ground now... gone forever.


    "It is quite a sad view, I have to agree."


    He said while sitting next to me. I continued to be uninterested in his words.


    "Believe me young man, I don''t know everything but I know a lot, I''ve been around for years, this is a situation that would have not been avoided. You died or she died, neither of you, even if you trained, were strong enough to take them out."


    ...


    "If you''re not interested in a conversation then I''ll continue my monologue. I heard she was a strong woman, maybe the best the earth had to offer. It''s a shame really."


    Taking out another handkerchief to wipe his non existing tears, as to making fun of me he continued. "But it''s not the end of the world, people die everyday, and that''s even more true now that you know about the rest of the races. So don''t despair, justice or something similar will reach them."


    Trying to take my mind off the situation as it is clearly not doing me any good I started talking, entertaining the deity(?)


    "What are you anyway, another god? What does even ''something similar'' mean? There''s no justice in this world." I said while holding a scornful gaze.


    He smiled, putting a hand on my shoulder.


    "We are THAT something similar, I''m not a god and I''m not justice. The trial that is set will not have the outcome you deserve. I can at least tell you that much. You see Golgotha and his son are scumbags, and I wish someday we could take care of them."


    ...


    "We?" I asked


    "The Black Parade obviously, we''re an entertainment group, a circus if you will... But we''re also professional trained murderers. We''re above the cosmic law because I''m one of the End leaders."


    Cosmic law? The End? I don''t even know what this means. Black Parade? A circus? What anything of this has to do with the current situation.


    I pondered, and then he started talking almost like he was reading my thoughts.


    "I can see it in you, you''re not aware of it yourself but you''re special. You could''ve not stopped this incident from happening but you can stop others... or create them."


    "What do you mean?" I asked.


    Grinning even more than before he continued.


    "Justice won''t come your way so you must make it yourself... I came here to personally deliver an invitation to you..." His eyes grew as he approached my face more, his right hand ready for a handshake at any moment. Being right into my face he proposed "Join The Black Parade."


    Bewildered by the sudden proposition I had to ask "But I''m useless. So why?"


    He pulled his face and hand back before he continued.


    "Because you have potential, because you''re special, because I want you to. If you were one of us you could be free, we could aid you to become powerful ... or we could aid you to get revenge."


    *Gulp*


    "I know where your state of mind is right now and I''ll not take advantage of that, I''m a lot of things but I''m fair when it comes to making deals. My offer still stands" He said while getting up seemingly ready to leave. "When you''re ready to leave your home behind, your planet behind, your whole past self behind come and find me. I''ll make sure to make you a great ace ... or a great joker." He said while giving me a side eyed devilish smile, seemingly laughing internally to himself.


    And then he disappeared.


    He came and went out of nowhere, leaving me with a question to answer for myself. Should I take a step towards revenge? Should I take a step to overcome myself who was and is powerless to protect that which I hold most dear ... or should I keep going into the circle of contemplation forever.


    Right here under this tree, in this cemetery where the dead were witnesses to this conversation I got offered ... a way out.

 Trial

    Ragnarok:


    Everything''s set in place, my proposal is out and the trial will be going exactly as expected. No one can suppress their greed and the leviathans will surely have it their way. Two faced beasts that''s what they are, both of them. Finding what I''m looking for on this planet was a touch of luck along with intuition.


    "Where are we going next? Show yourself to me, my dear Valkyrie." I said aloud.


    The shadow of a woman spawned behind me and soon from it she emerged. Caera, the harlequin, my most trusted advisor and second in command also one of the last alive valkyries. Short haired, black suit, if it weren''t for the wings on her back and the wings on her crown that are not really attached to her, and are just floating above, you could never guess she''s a valkyrie.


    "Cancrie, Ringmaster."


    "The diamond planet, excellent. For whom?"


    "Some rich family wants to throw a party for the marriage of their kid. No special target."


    "Sometimes it''s just business I guess. We will take our fill from the planet''s resources."


    Strolling around she didn''t say anything else but I can see that she''s troubled about something so I will make small talk until my point.


    "Did you know the planet used to be covered in lava, and the beings there were lava golems, until magic happened and the planet made a conversion to a big blue-green gigantic diamond surface. The citizens also went through a metamorphosis of sorts and now they are beings made of diamonds, keeping their golem like features still, albeit more human. Fascinating isn''t it?" I said not showing my expression to her.


    "Yes, Ringmaster."


    Turning around in a second I asked her point blank with a big grin of my face: "You know you can''t hide it from me so spill it out or I''ll force you to do so, what''s bothering you? What''s your question?"


    At that moment I saw the harlequin composure shatter a bit, but she regained it the next second.


    "Why did you return to earth? What''s so special about that human?"


    I guess it only makes sense, powerful as she might be, she doesn''t have the insight I do into the souls of others.


    "He''s ... special ... Inside him there''s a former angel, one which chose to cut his own wings off and forsake his title ... his whole essence even. Very deeply hidden but is there, if you have enough insight you can see traces of draconic lineage ... and more than anything his mental state makes him the perfect target. He walks a fine line between sanity and insanity, a fine balance that was tipped recently and very soon he''ll make the decision I expect him to make. He will have to find us still, I''ll not be making this easy and as special as his lineage might be ... nothing that can''t be replaced."


    I said to her changing my expression to serious and my eyes prying deep into her thoughts to see if her uneasiness got cleared.


    "Understood." So she said and so she felt.


    Moving on from her face I stared at the ceiling, not being able to hold my excitement I raised my arms as in a victory pose and screamed, letting a bit of my bloodlust out in the open, my face transformed into one of a maniac.


    "Let''s move on then, we have business to attend to, money to make and more planning to do. Also Caera, dear, how is my ''dog''?"


    Adonai:


    The jury selection finished yesterday which means now I''m going to the murder trial I initiated after Kathlyn''s death. They thought I wouldn''t dare to come after them but I did and if somehow the judge rules in their favor it won''t end up good for me. But I have faith that it won''t end like that.


    The Judge, Matthew Hopkins, a human suggested by none other than the human side of the government so if anything the bias should be in my favor. If I have to go through mud and underhanded schemes to see these two bastards behind bars I''ll do so.


    "Good morning" Maverick said, greeting me, he came here today with Stella, both wanting to be present for this moment.


    "Morning." I said, keeping my mouth shut after.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Silence overtook us, they were looking at me like I''m a bit mad for going with this, but I didn''t care.


    "You ... don''t look very good." Stella said in a small voice.


    The effects of this incident were more minimal on her, seemingly she and Maverick started dating so now she has a person she can rely on. I wish I could say I''m happy for them but these days I don''t even know what happiness is anymore.


    "The voices keep me up at night, they don''t let me go, they keep blaming me... I keep blaming myself... we should enter."


    And so we entered the court of law. Maverick and Stella took a seat while I stayed beside my attorney, one that Kathlyn''s parents recommended. Seeing on the other side the two monsters that are the source of my undying rage.


    "Stand up!" The Judge entered the room.


    "We will be starting the murder trial, deceased: Kathlyn Duska, the suspects: Tyrannosaurus Brothers."


    You''ve got to be kidding me.


    "Mr. Adonai, you and your lawyer opening statements please."


    I stood up with my lawyer and I started giving a horrendously detailed explanation of how the whole altercation went. And the effects it has on my mind. My lawyer only helped me articulate my points even further.


    "The accused, your opening statements now."


    They stood up and looked me in the eye with a smirk on their face and an attitude that wanted to make me jump and kill them both myself... but I can''t.


    "Your honor, we were drunk that night and we admit to it. But we were not the first one to attack or provoke. Ms. Duska and her barbarian boyfriend present right here were the ones to engage. Me and my poor little brother here could only defend ourselves."


    "WHAT?" I jumped from my seat at the blatantly false truth.


    "Sit down and let them finish!" The judge demanded.


    And so I did, not listening or arguing at this point would make things only worse.


    "Yes your honor, you see what I''m talking about, such brute, they took my brother hostage and wanted to blackmail me. So I had to resort to violence. I had to defend myself!" The bigger brother said, with a victim display on his face and his behavior, almost outraged that this trial even exists.


    Hold yourself together, I told myself, but something deeper inside me was boiling.


    "As a result, we had to kill Ms. Duska before she could kill us, it was clearly self defense... And we even have a witness."


    A witness? Who? There was no one there.


    "Who''s your witness?"


    The bigger brother looked down and smirked, something the judge and the jury couldn''t see, then gave me a side eye.


    "Mr. Golgotha son."


    An audible shock could be heard from everyone present in the room.


    "As you can see your honor, with the presence of such an esteemed witness and the outrageous declarations presented. I say we lock Mr. Adonai for starting this trial even."


    "THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!" Strangely enough it wasn''t only my own voice who left my mouth but someone else as well, while the vision in my left eye changed. "HOW CAN YOU EVEN SPOUR SUCH BLATANT LIES WITH SUCH STRAIGHT FACE, MY(HIS) LOVER, BEST FRIEND DIED IN YOUR BARBARIC HANDS AND YOU DARE TO STAND AND LIE RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY(HIS) FACE.


    Blinded by rage and fury I ignored the judge''s warnings and kept going.


    "YOU SAID SELF DEFENSE? WAS IT AN ACCIDENT THEN? TELL ME WHY DID YOU RAPE THEN KILL HER, WHY ARE YOU UNSCRATCHED? WHY IS SHE DEAD YET YOU STAND HERE WITH NOT EVEN A PHYSICAL TRAUMA." Ah... this is not my rage alone, this is someone else''s rage as well, it''s his rage... but why now.


    "THAT''S ENOUGH!" The judge screamed. "Mr. Adonai take back your seat or I''m sorry to say I''ll be forced to kick you out of this courtroom and have this case dismissed."


    "I''m afraid there are no evidence to prove your point, Mr. Adonai. Their lawyer said. After all, the body was too mutilated due to the combat that happened because of you."


    I forced myself to calm down, the vision in my left eye turning back to normal.


    "I''ll wait for the jury to deliberate and in 15 minutes we will come back for the final verdict."


    *Bonk*


    The audible sound of a hammer hitting a wooden plate was heard.


    I left the courtroom to calm myself down. But I was stopped on my way to the bathroom by the brothers. Who should''ve not under any circumstance approach me.


    "You think you''re a hot shot huh? Such cheap tricks with your eyes and your voice, listen to me dip-shit, you''re nothing, you will be nothing and more than anything this case will be in our favor so prepare yourself. Cause after this is over we will silence you for good."


    Consumed by the rage before and not caring anymore I turned my head to face them and said "..." Nothing.


    15 minutes later.


    "The court has decided that the Tyrannosaurus Brothers are not guilty and are free to leave. And at the same time Mr. Adonai is free to leave and will be excused from his behavior because of his trauma."


    Two people told me the same thing, that it is a lost case. I could feel the presence of the burning red eyes on my back yet when I looked he wasn''t here.


    Looking back at the jury I could see the brothers walking up to him and handing him a bag, along with a pat on the back.


    There I realized, I took it all in, this world is already doomed.Their witness never showed up, it was here just in name¡­ and that was enough. Leviathans aren''t here to be equals, they are here to enslave us. It all made sense ... I should''ve not trusted Varuna''s words.


    Not having the power or the will to fight anymore I left without saying a word to anyone else.


    It is a rainy day... and as I''m walking towards my home I''m rethinking my choices yet again. This is all my fault but corruption isn''t something I decided alone¡­ It''s something we brought upon ourselves.


    Stopping in my way at the beginning of a crossroad I looked back on the road I just came from and I sighted.


    "I guess there''s nothing left here for me anymore."

 Departure

    Adonai:


    "Are you going to leave?"


    The voices asked, meaning that right now I''m sleeping.


    "Yes, there''s nothing left for me here."


    Debating if I should entertain them or not I decided to try and talk to them, after all I have nothing left to lose.


    "We will follow you!" They said.


    "I know."


    I know they will not leave my side no matter what, after all, this is my guilt, my punishment.


    "You will have to live with your own failure. Today... and forever."


    ¡­


    "Enough, get lost." Another voice from inside me appeared.


    This time I can see a physical form at least. Tall, long white hair, tattoos inscribed on his arms, and arms alone with forms that I can''t figure out what they are. Almost normal human eyes, only that outside the blue pupil is full white. Long robe, with a hood covering his head, pure white robe and six bones(?) that stretch out of his back.


    "So you can see me clearly now? Looks like that girl''s death did a number on you."


    But I was having none of it. No matter where I am these days, I always find myself tired and without motivation... without a purpose, just like before.


    "Your name." I stated.


    "Huh?"


    "I demand your name and what you are first before we start talking."


    I said in a serious tone and without a hint of hesitation, my eyes purely dead.


    "You demand nothing of me, boy, and I''m not interested in keeping a conversation with you either. All I came here for is to dissipate the voices, they might make sleeping hell for you but they are also annoying to me."


    ...


    "Then leave." I said.


    "Arrogant child, shouldering a burden inflated by your own ego and sense of responsibility. You know you could''ve done nothing to prevent it from happening, Ragnarok told you as much."


    Can he see the outside world through me? How does he know about my meeting with Ragnarok?


    "Why didn''t you step up?" I asked, and then continued "You''re inside me, you''ve always been ... you said it yourself, you know my life like it''s the palm of your hand yet you never stepped up to help us there. So why? Why the hell are you here now? WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT FROM ME?"


    Rage... anger, the only two things I feel at this point and they surface at every possibility... Rationally I know screaming at this entity does absolutely nothing but I can''t help it, I want to shift the blame, I want to lessen the burden...


    "I''m not to blame for your incapability to defend yourself or someone else, so don''t try to put this on me ... and to answer your question ... I had no obligation to."


    "What!?"


    "My only binding is to protect you, and that mechanism won''t trigger unless you die in what would be an instant. If you bleed out I won''t save you, if you are bedridden I won''t save you, but if you die in an instant ... I''ll save you, that''s my vow."


    And he turned to leave, just as I wanted.


    "Before I go I''ll answer one more question ... I was once an Angel¡­ I''ll see you on the day you die, boy."


    And he left. Leaving me no choice but to wake up myself.


    ...


    Today I will visit Stella and Maverick to tell them I''m leaving. I should get going.


    "No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn''t stop for your grief." I muttered to myself, a quote an author left upon this world, and it reflects the reality of today.


    Everyone''s going with their day as usual, I can''t expect them to behave differently anyway, there are too many people that die everyday, so why am I even thinking about this?


    I''m not the center of the world, I''m not even the center of my world... She was the center of my world.


    "Adonai, good to see you and I''m sorry ... I heard what happened."


    Halo approached me, and I realized all this time I was looking down, so I lifted my head to face my friend.


    "It''s okay... the world will not stop for me to grief so I''ll not either."


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation."That''s ... a bittersweet smile you are putting on."


    It might be true, but frankly speaking I don''t really care. But now that he''s here I could ask some questions.


    "Are there any regulations when you teleport?" I asked Halo, as he has more experience than me.


    "Hum? Generally speaking no, trade centered planets are free to go and in times of peace any planet if you visit or are planning to move or to cross. If you want to reach a destination you''ll have to find a hub planet."


    "A hub planet?" I asked, confused


    But shortly after it hit me, I had a similar conversation before with that once was Angel inside me, the teleportation hub ... he asked me if I wanted to leave this planet before... Just how much does he know? And also he was quite moody today, before he was a bit more uh actually let''s not think about it.


    "Teleportation hubs are usually on trade center planets, the biggest and nearest one you''ll find is the Lonely Lilac, a weird planet, one without a parent star that couldn''t sustain life under normal circumstances but it was made a hub and a trade center by an alliance of multiple races. A purple planet."


    "I see, thank you."


    Seeing that Halo has nothing else to say I continued to my destination but he stopped me.


    "Tell me ... do you want to leave?" He asked, with a tone of sadness in his voice.


    "Yes ... I''ll be looking for someone."


    "Reaching the Lonely Lilac won''t be simple, you can teleport but not directly to it, and you''ll have to pass security and multiple problems on your journey but ... I wish you the best and hopefully we can see each other one day again."


    The half bird in front of me smiled while wishing me the best and ultimately giving me the goodbye. HIs chicken legs were visibly shaking, and a few tears could be seen in his eyes.


    It is true that I''ve decided to leave, regardless of what my friends will be doing ... because there''s nothing left for me here and nothing that I can do to change an outcome already seemingly set in stone.


    After a while of walking I finally arrived at Stella house, where seemingly Maverick has been for the past month or so.


    *Ring*


    Stella rushed and opened the door for me, her attire was uh ... light to say the least.


    "Stella I can see more than I wish with something like that on you so please slap the door in my face, get changed then come again. Sorry if I interrupted and came unannounced even but I have something to discuss with you both."


    Stella seemed flustered, red in her checks even and she quickly nodded and did as I said.


    Even with that view I can''t feel anything ... even good acting can''t mask a shallow heart.


    "Sorry for taking so long ... please come in."


    And I entered, taking the steps to Stella''s room where I found Maverick in some shorts and a t-shirt. Doesn''t take a genius to figure out what is happening here but I let them be. I don''t have any words nor an interest in their couple time.


    "Sorry for the..." Maverick started.


    Quickly to stop him I said.


    "No need to bother, I don''t really care either way, all I came today for is to announce that I''m leaving."


    "Leaving?!" They both exclaimed simultaneously.


    Before they could bombard me with questions I decided to keep it short and explain my point.


    "I saw the brothers responsible for Kathlyn''s death handing the judge something after the trial finished... my parents are either dead or disappeared, my lover died while I could do nothing, one of my friends is dead as well due to an accident, you''re the only ones important I have left here ... and you both have each other right now."


    And I stopped to take my breath a bit before continuing.


    "I received an invitation which I''m willing to accept but I''ll have to find the said person first so I''ll be leaving this planet, heading for the Lonely Lilac and hopefully finding information on their whereabouts on the way. I''m not asking you to come with me ... I''m here to say my goodbyes before departing, because I don''t know when or if we will ever see each other again."


    They both took my words in, curious, and then they looked at each other and smiled. All this time I could only watch from afar as they seemed locked in a world of their own world ... knowing that I once experienced such light but it was taken away from me on the same day ¡­ I couldn''t help but try and restrain myself ... everything but a tear that rolled down my face.


    The memories flashed in my mind in the silence that overtook the room ... or was it that the silence was in my head and I can''t hear them talking.


    "Why are you leaving and where?" Maverick asked, taking the initiative.


    Stella took refuge behind him a bit, not fear but concern displayed on her face.


    "The Black Parade, a group owned by Ragnarok."


    I could see the fear gradually taking over the concern on Stella''s face and Maverick''s position changed to something more serious.


    "I won''t ask you why you know him and how but you''ll have to tell me why you''re leaving."


    Looking at both of them right now these might be the last words I ever say to them and I don''t want to end on a lie ...


    "A part of me is looking for revenge ... a part of me is looking for power ... one for freedom ... one to grieve ... one to forget ... I''m being ripped away by my own self but it is also my whole self that is looking for a purpose."


    After a brief moment of silence they responded.


    "Then we don''t need to say goodbye, we''re coming with you." Maverick said, I suddenly jumped surprised.


    "That''s true, we don''t have a lot left here either so we will embark with you on this journey, we will help you out until the end." Stella said, flashing an optimistic smile.


    Maverick then stood up and patted me on the shoulder.


    "We will leave whenever you want."


    The surprise took a bit of my heart and reformed it to normal, not expecting this outcome I smiled and laughed a bit.


    "You are ... really good friends to me, then we will leave tomorrow, let''s meet at the closest teleportation gate and we will go to a nearby trade center to look for information, understood?"


    They looked at each other and laughed.


    "Sure thing!" Once again, they said it simultaneously.


    After a little while I left their house and started moving towards mine, on the way home I passed the place where Kathlyn died but this time, I saw the same group of drunks that taught me magic going at it again...


    A sorrowful thought took place in my mind ... if only they would''ve been here then. But nothing can be done about the past


    The world doesn''t stop for my grieving and I will not stop until I find my purpose. I''ll drag myself along with this misery, regret, resent, pain and suffering until the day I die if I have to. I have to keep living for the one who sacrificed herself to me ... and if possible... Maybe once in the future I can do something to change the course of this wicked universe.

 Afterword - End of Volume 1

    Blacksquare here, end of volume 1 which is the end of act zero.


    Act Zero has been the prologue of the story to be honest. I wanted to give more of a backstory to the MC''s motivation rather than a flashback or anything so I decided to write it in the form of a short novel.


    I started this because I wanted to express my story, a story I formed over years, and I don''t know if someone''s reading this now or in the future, but if you do I''m deeply thankful. I appreciate every feedback and I''ll try to do my best. I know my English is not the best and that I might make mistakes and I might make things confusing so ask anything if you want to know the answer, as long as it''s not spoiler territory.


    Let me be honest for a moment here, I''ve been really scared about the consistency of this. I have documents over documents that explain characters, planets and rules of the world, quite a bit. And as a first time author I fear I might''ve not done the best when it comes to writing the characters into their respective personality. Let''s talk a bit about Adonai here. I wanted him to start a bit depressed, as any college student, and then his life changed as time passed and realizes it''s worth living for, only for him to lose everything again. I wanted the transition to be visible and not to feel like it suddenly changed or he''s out of characters. I feel like I didn''t give enough time for some things to really take place and I''ll try my best to correct that in the future. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Lastly, I''ll explain a bit about Ragnarok and Caera names, they are The Carnival Hierarchy, you can look it up yourself, but because it''s basically a moving circus, The Black Parade uses a hierarchy system internally.


    I can''t really think of a lot more to say so I''ll leave it at this to be honest. Once again if you''re already reading it or if you just did, or if you will pick it up in the future I''m very thankful for giving a bit of your time to read this, as good or bad as it might be. Next volume is gonna be the beginning of the story, the prologue is over, and now we''re gonna get into Adonai searching for the Black Parade and more Points of No Return, please look forward to it.


    Ragnarok:


    As this foolish author said, the act zero ended here, and now the first act shall begin, what will be in store for our protagonist? What hardships will he endure, what pain and suffering will he go through, and what the majestic me will get from all of this? You''ll have to keep reading and find out.


    As I mentioned previously this 4th wall break is not a canon event. Please look forward for the Next Volume/Act One

 Epsilon Eridani

    Adonai:


    It''s been a bit over 2 weeks after we left Earth, our home, and we teleported to the closest planet that holds life, Aegir, a planet located in the Epsilon Eridani star system. This star system is located roughly 10 light years away from our planet.


    A year and a few months ago a distance like this seemed impossible to be traveled by human foot, but with the teleportation system it was done in an instant. No fancy tubes, or anything, we just popped in and out of the portals just like that.


    I met up with Maverick and Stella at the intended time and we went through the portal, no strict regulations to stop us and no military checks up or anything. It is fairly easy to leave the planet.


    Epsilon Eridani is a fairly "recently" discovered star system, with its main star being slightly smaller, cooler and less luminous than the Sun. The actual discovery is the existence of Aegir, a planet that was speculated to exist, but now it''s confirmed a reality.


    The planet we''re on right now is a red gas giant. Unlike my expectations we have a standing ground beneath us. It''s not only gasses. The surface of the planet is hard, but the atmosphere is harsh. You can see weird construction of gasses being blown away by the wind on this planet. If you look far into the distance you can see the planet rings.


    It''s a beautiful contrast considering the barely visible Debris Belts in the distance. Epsilon Eridani has two of them.


    The people inhabiting Aegir are called Enenra, we found out as soon as we exited the portal. They have a human appearance but you can clearly see the smoke behind them. They seemingly have a huge form made purely out of gas but we haven''t seen any of them using it.


    This planet is under the Angel jurisdiction and is not a trading centered planet like ours. We''re fine since we''re just visiting.


    We planned to leave as soon as possible but reality hit us. We were hungry and we had no money. To be able to get parallax we have to work mundane jobs, which is fine. The higher paying jobs which would be hunting beasts we can''t do since we''re not registered officially as a team or as an individual.


    It didn''t cross anyone''s mind to do that before leaving, because we didn''t know. We should''ve informed ourselves better I thought to myself at that moment. But I can only blame myself since I was the one with the idea of leaving.


    But we are mostly fine. We decided to stay a bit more and learn about the culture, or well try to learn anything that could lead us to the Black Parade but they haven''t been here yet. For an artistic group they are surprisingly annoying to find. But we will soon leave.


    It was and it is very hard to find jobs and survive. They are not technologically advanced. Or should I say not like us. They eat and drink like the rest of the species more from a curiosity point of view rather than the need. From what people told us they feed on the gasses in the air. But thanks to their curiosity we are not starving.


    The city is structured like one of our own, and there are goods that the Enenra pay money for. We were lucky to be shown around by a group of twins after the first few days so now we at least know where we are and where we need to go. This group of twins also became fond of us.


    *Yawn*


    That''s the sound of Maverick waking up, him and Stella share a bed, unsurprisingly, and they are quite proactive so I have to find moments to excuse myself or pretend that I''m sleeping.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "How long have you been awake for? How long have you been sleeping?" He asked.


    "A few minutes, not a lot, I''ve slept the usual." That''s a lie, and I don''t know if they can see it anymore but I''m tired. I can only sleep 4 hours each day.


    After 4 hours the voices appear, the guilt kicks in and I wake up involuntarily. Some people would''ve been over the death of someone by now... But I can''t, as I''m moving forward I have to drag this with me...


    Stella is still sleeping so not wanting to wake her up we went outside.


    "You''re a real life safer, you know?" Maverick started talking. While here he developed a bad habit of smoking.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well you know, leaving the house while we ..."


    "Stop, I don''t want to be acknowledged for something like that, you don''t have to thank me."


    I said while looking at his face, but he seemed to misunderstand my intent.


    "Want to join in?"


    Taken by surprise by the proposition I couldn''t help but blink rapidly at my stupid friend that just sprouted a stupid proposition.


    "No. I don''t think Stella would be fine with that either." I said as a matter of fact.


    "What are you thinking? I asked you if you want to join in smoking?"


    "..."


    "Ignore it and no."


    He chuckled while I''m at a loss for words. Who in their right mind would think of smoking in this situation.


    Sigh. Anyway after she wakes up we have to get going.


    "Our job for today is to sort some emails and packages. We should get going after she wakes up."


    "Say, Adonai, how long are we gonna stay here for?"


    I''ve been thinking the same thing for a while. It''s been two weeks and we learned nothing new. It''s perhaps time to wrap this up and move on.


    "A few more days. I want to do something for the twins, they have been so much help. I would feel bad just leaving like that."


    A shouting can be heard in the distance. As a pair of figures is approaching us.


    "Goooooooooooooooooooooooood moooooooooooooooooooooooooorning!"


    Speaking of the Devil. Liam and Noah are here.


    "You little devils, stop shouting, or you''ll wake up Stella." Maverick said.


    The twins are young, but they have been nice, unlike older people who treat us as complete murders when they see us. But children are innocent.


    "Hmm, you are half naked, does that mean Stella''s half naked too? I''m gonna take a peek!" Liam said as he started straight into our home. But Maverick stopped him right at the entrance.


    "Brat, you''re too young to see something like that."


    Liam is fond of Maverick, they share uhm same "interests" a special one in Stella apparently. While Noah, more quiet, he has been talking to me a bit but he''s not big on words.


    "Tch. I bet if you were my age you would want to see a beauty like her topless." Liam said.


    "I''m not your age but I''ll give you that. I see her topless quite often."


    Maverick said without a hint of hesitation while grinning at the poor young buy. Judging by his face he''s trying his hardest not to laugh on the spot.


    "Noah, what are you guys here for today?"


    The child was startled when I called his name but he quickly regained his composure.


    "We''re gonna help you at your job today. Our parents are quite busy and we want to be useful."


    Ah, the boy''s voice resembles Stella at times, going slightly quieter the longer he talks.


    The door behind us opened and Stella came outside, thankfully fully clothed.


    She took a look at us and the kids and then stood down and took both of them in her embrace. Me and Maverick could not understand the gesture but she felt something in their hearts that made her move.


    Stella''s ability has been quite useful so far. But I hope she doesn''t use it when they are going at it, so she can''t detect that I''m not sleeping.


    Maverick magic didn''t see much use, being more of a defender if we ever need it. But except the occasional moments of racism everything''s been peaceful.


    Me on the other hand... looks like I handicapped myself. I can use magic but my output is very low. I can''t do anything big, fancy or useful for that matter. The enhancement layer we all supposedly have around our bodies is a natural process to survive and understand each other while in foreign planets. So I can''t even say I did that on my own.


    The twins seem to be happy in Stella''s embrace. While Liam has a mischievous grin Noah has a blissful one. Honestly they kinda resemble me and Maverick at times. My friend, while reliable most of the time, also has a more perverted side to him so I guess they really are alike.


    Liam showed us time and time again that he''ll protect his brother if he needs to. And how he can help him overcome challenges, so I think they are a great pair that should stick together.


    After Stella stood up, so did I and I looked at the group of all four of us. No visible smile on my face, just my usual serious expression and I said: "Let''s go."


    Being the one who proposed we leave I''ve also become the leader of this group. And with all 5 of us together we moved forward into another ordinary, peaceful day on Aegir ... or so I thought.

 Same difference - I

    Adonai:


    "Morning, we''re here for our sorting job."


    I said to the not so enthusiastic looking receptionist. We''ve seen her for quite a while but her face never fails to inspire me to try and sleep at night. She looks like she hasn''t seen the face of the bed in a couple of months.


    "Go to the back and get started, don''t bother me too much humans." She said and never looked at us again. I don''t know if she ignored or just didn''t notice the kids we have with us, but maybe she just doesn''t care.


    When we arrived at the room storing our job we found mail and packages that haven''t been touched since the birth of the solar system. We''re on a planet made of gas but damn it was truly gaslight that got us into this job in the first place.


    Noah and Liam stared at the mountain of work in front of us and they started marching towards the door, but Maverick was quick.


    "Now, now, you decided to help so be both man of your word and stick to it."


    "But we''re not exactly ''man'' you know? We use different terms."


    "Listen here, you little shit. You get my point, so move and I might just allow you to peek at Stella sometime."


    Suddenly Liam moved closer to Maverick and whispered something inaudible to me. But judging by Stella''s reaction, it wasn''t anything good.


    "Enough! Stella stopped them. Let''s start working."


    "Yes ma''am!" The kids responded at the same time.


    Stella indeed looked like a mother in this moment and I couldn''t help but look at Maverick who had a smug look on his face, looking prideful as if they were his own kids.


    It''s at least nice to know that Stella doesn''t have just the scarry cat attitude and can take action... at least when it involves kids that is.


    And with this our so ordinary day of underpaid labor started.


    A few hours of unpaid labor later


    *Boom*


    A loud sound came from the main entrance. And I have a bad feeling about this.


    "Stella, keep the kids with you here, Maverick we go." Instantly I acted.


    Maverick without words or hesitation followed behind me and when we got there, the head of the receptionist was blown off and a man was stealing from the main counter, seemingly absorbing her body.


    "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"


    The man looked at us, pointed the gun and shot. We dodged. I knew this place is not crime free, but this is a grave crime I haven''t even heard of being committed until now.


    "What does it look like I''m doing? I''m feeding on her corpse.. I need money... for my kids. SO DON''T STAND IN MY WAY!"


    The man put the small gun down and from behind he took what seemed to be a machine gun. But what it shot were not normal bullets. Magic enhanced ammunition that can go through almost anything if not blocked. There are a few planets who delved into the combination of magic with technology and this is the result of such a product.


    "GET DOWN!" Maverick shouted as he conjured a cage made out of wood and enhanced by water magic. Not the best ammunition quality out there since it can be stopped, but it''s enough to kill a person.


    What should we do? I asked myself. Stella''s not oriented to fight, Maverick can only do so much and I''m practically useless.


    "Just let him leave... or even better ... jump in front of his gun!"


    Not now, not now, don''t cloud my judgment now. Rarely but the voices surface in tense situations during the day, they are not as common as they are at night, and they disappear rather fast during the day.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Adonai, you''ll distract him while I prepare a hidden spell, something that will go under the ground and knock him down, okay?"


    "Understood."


    After a while, when the machine gun stopped, Maverick let the cage down and we saw the man standing still pointing the gun at us. Outside a crowd of people gathered that didn''t dare to intervene.


    "So, you''re doing this for your family right, why this approach?"


    "You really don''t know? you are an outsider right. In this world is eat or be eaten, only the strong will survive, that''s how our planet works... if my kids were to find out I can''t provide for them... they would kill me themselves. It''s a moral obligation. So I''ll do whatever it takes, there''s no law to stop me, she was simply too weak to resist a magic enhanced bullet."


    Is he stupid or stupid? But if what he said is true then this is not so different from our planet where the weak get trampled over and the strong have free reign. Either way this is not of my concern, hopefully Maverick is done soon.


    But he wasn''t, the man shot Maverick, and he had no choice but to defend himself rather than finishing the spell, the force of the bullet knocked him unconscious. Shortly after the twins ran out the door and Stella chased them.


    "DON''T MOVE!" He shouted pointing the gun at one of the kids.


    Stella is sitting next to me, and I can see her mouth moving. After I tried and read her lips I figured out she said "He''s afraid". And by looking at his shaky hand and feet I could see it as well. But this is bad, it means he''s unstable so this can go in any way.


    I need to do something... but what can I do?


    As I thought that a bullet of fire shot right at the man in front of us, it was fired from Noah''s palm, but the man just changed that part of his body to be incorporeal so the bullet went right through him.


    This got me thinking that unless he doesn''t see it coming we have no way to deal a blow unless there''s a technique the twins know to deal with their own kin that we don''t. But they are too young for that and the outsiders don''t intervene.


    I need a weapon. I need something to deal with this.


    *Rattle*


    The loud sound of a machine gun being ready.


    Noah is frozen, he probably never thought what will happen after he shot at him and if he failed.


    The machine gun fired, but Liam moved and pushed Noah aside, the burst of bullets hitting him straight.


    After the gun stopped I looked at Noah who was horrified, his face was the ugliest mix of fear and anger I could possibly see.. he could do nothing but scream.


    "BROTHER!" as he saw the corpse of his lifeless brother sitting next to him. The same brother who protected him with his own life.


    "He''s hesitating." I said to Stella while I looked at the man. Killing an adult is one thing but killing a child... even in this world kids must be protected.


    "I want a weapon." I told myself as I started running straight for him.


    Lowering the position of my body to be just under his arm after he raised it I begged for my body to do something. I tried to let go of myself with the mana and feel it, but I couldn''t create any thoughts to help me. All I can ask about right now is a weapon.


    *Click*


    I heard in my head. A seemingly burst of something creped out of myself and I could see my veins being flooded by white, not blood, but something that concentrated right in front of my palm. And then it bursted.


    A scythe ... a white scythe. The handle is purely black. The head of the scythe, the curved blade is white, a pure white that has some decorations going onto the handle and a pair of chains seemingly locking in place the whole thing. With a circle engraved a bit further from the end of the handle. At the other end of the handle the decorations are nothing fancy, purely gray, and another chain is coiled around it.


    For whatever reason holding this feels so natural to me... almost like I''m holding an extension of myself.


    The gun seemingly ran out of bullets after the tragedy from a few seconds ago. And I took the swing, the world around me seemingly came to a halt and the speed of my body improved.


    I visually saw him going incorporeal, and he adopted a smug face and he prepared to change the gun ammunition.


    "I''m gonna live, and I''m gonna kill you all! I''M GONNA PROVE MY WORTH TO MY FAMILY!"


    But to my surprise the scythe hit him. I could feel the scythe pushing through the gas, feeling like flesh and bones, and pushing deeper than just slicing his heart.


    "You... are a soul-forger... curses!" He said as the body dissipated in the air, not being eaten like the receptionist the body became gas and just disappeared.


    At that moment I realized two things. The gasses in this planet''s surface might just be the soul of the deceased and ... I added to it.


    I killed someone. The white of my blade got covered by a slightly red curve near the top of it.


    Kerubiel:


    "Lord Adam! We have news sir. We detected a small portion that fits the reading of his mana. It happened for a brief moment but I''m pretty sure he''s there.


    ...


    "Kerubiel, send Michael to investigate."


    My lord sat atop his throne in his castle looking indifferently at me.


    "But, sir, I can go and do it myself!"


    Irritated, he stood up.


    "If he''s really there I need to make sure he remains as dead as the legend says. I can''t allow even a fragment of that greatsword to touch this world again. The only one who can reach the greatest weapons is MY POTENTIAL! I''M THE ARCHETYPE CREATION."


    My lord bursted out in rage as his 8 wings became visible, their gigantic shadow overshadowing me in the light of the palace.


    "I don''t want you to mess this up" He said in a barbaric rage, with an echo to his voice. "Get me Michael, and destroy Caladbolg for good."


    I nodded, not saying another word and left. Going to announce to Michael that he has to embark on a journey, following the track back to Aegir.

 Same difference - II

    Adonai:


    The instigator''s body disappeared and its soul went high up into the sky adding to the already existing atmosphere. But so did Liam''s body and soul.


    Noah passed out from the shock and Maverick and Stella are looking at me with a curiosity that speaks volumes. I have never done such a feat. I never knew I''m capable of just summoning a weapon out of thin air... a soul-forger he said.


    Reacting to my thoughts the weapon vanished into thin air and I felt a surge of energy coming back to me.


    *Sigh*


    "I don''t know what that was either... but I think we better get moving, we have to bring Noah and the sad news home to their parents." I said without hesitation and moved to pick up Noah''s passed out body.


    Stella started walking towards me but she suddenly came to halt.


    "Adonai you..."


    I knew what she''s about to say so I got out of the building and she stopped talking, ready to take on whatever was ahead of me... what I just did left me speechless.


    I killed a person... but more than that I don''t feel anything about it. At this very moment I don''t feel sadness or ecstasy or joy or fear, it''s just... clarity.


    "This is how they felt when they killed her?" I asked aloud, but it is just myself, the rest of the world is not present around me anymore.


    All I can hear are the voices that are trying to communicate but even they have become inaudible in this vast ocean of clarity in my head.


    The road to the brothers house was one filled with silence.


    ...


    When we got there no one was home, so we laid down Noah wherever we could find and waited to explain the situation to whichever parent came first.


    We did not have to wait for long thankfully as their father just got here.


    "Outsiders... what brings you to my home?"


    Maverick and Stella looked away, not wanting to be the one to break the news but I can still see the path ahead clear, and I didn''t hesitate.


    "Liam died, he protected Noah from someone attacking the place, and as a result he''s not here anymore."


    The father took a second and became incorporeal, seemingly going to check up on Noah... but he just woke the boy up and made him face the cruel reality of this world.


    "Noah... my son, your brother died protecting you, is what I heard, is it true?"


    "... Yes father, I tried to shoot the man and it backfired, and Liam... sacrificed himself for me."


    "I see."


    *Slap*


    "What are you doing!?" Stella shouted.


    "Silence outsider, this is a matter of this household, you have no reason to intervene."


    After he said that he became incorporeal again and his form increased drastically, lifting Noah up from the floor.


    "You were WEAK!" He said.


    Acid started pouring out of Noah''s eyes and mouth, and from under his skin, seemingly burning it down.


    "FATHER STOP, PLEASE!"


    He begged, the most logical solution right now is to take his gas form and flee... but I don''t think that''s a possibility in this case, the father seems to have him too strong in his grasp.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Squeezing the poor boy while the acid melts the skin off his bones and goes deeper.


    "Only the strong will survive in this world, son, your brother was weak protecting you and you''re weak for not being able to protect yourself and him. As a result, you must return and be useful to the space. You will die here."


    No hint of hesitation, or remorse could be seen on his face. But I was getting a bit angry, and I called upon the scythe as naturally as I thought it should come.


    The weapon manifested in my arm and I looked up at the gas giant.


    "That''s enough, he''s just a kid, put him down."


    "... Put down your weapon, outsider, or you''ll suffer the same fate as him. You are not subject to the law of this world but that doesn''t mean I can''t kill you either. Aegir is under the jurisdiction of Angels... if I deem it necessary you''ll meet your destiny here."


    He''s right, I have no reason to intervene but this is just not right, as clear as I was back then now I''m starting to get filled with anger. It''s like two sides of my feelings are clashing with each other... It makes no sense.


    Acting on instinct I jumped trying to cut him the same way I did before, but he dodged.


    "I''m not stupid enough to not recognize a soul-forger weapon. But you''re stupid enough not to realize that you''re just throwing your life away."


    He said as he grabbed my legs in the gas body and lifted me upside down.


    I acted but I think it was already too late, Noah''s body started to disappear and there was no more struggle to be seen... he''s dead.


    The father started absorbing the body. We''ve seen this before already but it''s grotesque everytime.


    ...


    "Don''t worry outsider, you''re not gonna go the same way, I have nothing to gain from torturing or absorbing your body, I''ll just take the air out of your lungs until you die."


    "But you had something to get from torturing your son? You sick fuck!" I said spitting from the upside down position I was in.


    Compared to the past right now it didn''t feel bad, maybe because my own life is at risk and not someone I care about? Do I value myself so little? I thought but it is pointless.


    Stella and Maverick seemed frozen from the scene, not knowing if they should act or not... and considering after her death I had no motivation to go on, maybe this is for the best.


    I tried to live and I failed. Nothing I can do about it, right?


    "Yes... you''re right." The voices said, bringing me... peace of mind.


    I could feel the air starting to leave my lungs as my breathing got progressively harder, to the point where I was losing consciousness¡­


    Stella:


    I can feel it... he gave up on himself, we have to do something, but what? Maverick''s frozen and I''m not a fighter to begin with.


    ...Can we only just watch as another of our friends is about to be taken away?


    ... Curses.


    ...


    What''s this?


    Who''s this?


    I can feel it inside, something is coming to the surface, threatening to break a barrier?


    Who''s emotions are these?


    Who''s threatening to take over?


    "...Who are you?"


    I said half scared, half shocked, not knowing what''s coming, but feeling the pure pressure of it.


    Adonai''s body remained the same, but inside him I could feel a second person... someone else''s feelings are in there.


    "...Who are you?" The gas giant said as well, seemingly feeling the imminent danger.


    While feelings alone are not enough for an indicator, there''s also the presence that''s surfacing with them.


    "Outsider... soul-forger... this presence is not human."


    He''s... shacking.


    The more he''s threatening to kill Adonai the more he''s shaking. He has to let go.


    "LET GO OF HIM!" I shouted between the tears rolling down my face... When did I start crying again?"


    "Maverick move!"


    Out of the trance Maverick came back to normal and started throwing different spells at the gas giant, passing right through him..


    But he let go, he went back to being corporal and fled the scene in a rush.


    His last words were... "I don''t want to die."


    "Quick, we need to do chest compressions."


    We came to a halt while running, noticing that from his right eye down his neck a floral pattern was formed... a forget-me-not pattern.


    We still need to check on him and fast, and so I started¡­ but


    "He''s fine... no shortage of breath, not anything, almost like everything that happened in the past few minutes didn''t actually happen."


    The pattern disappeared as he woke up from the slumber.


    "Are you okay!?" Me and Maverick asked at the same time.


    But he seemed unbothered.


    I''ve come a long way from the coward I was thanks to my friends'' help... but this is something that throws me into chaos. I''m not as big of a crybaby but that presence, these feelings of a single person, or were there two?


    "I dreamt of a person... threatening to rip me to shreds and break free¡­ it was him, but then Kathlyn appeared and she stopped it..." He said while crying¡­ a person¡­ him? Kathlyn?


    What it is there that he doesn''t tell us.


    I took a peek and he''s completely himself now, he''s feeling sorrowful and regretful... like a little kid who just remembers that his mother was taken away from him because he just exists...


    I couldn''t help but hug him, after all they were always there for me, and there''s only so much I can do to help them in this journey.


    "It''s time to go... it will be alright."


    I whispered to him, Maverick sat next to us and hugged us.


    Adonai stopped shaking but the feeling of uneasiness from what I just witnessed and saw... me and Maverick exchanged a glance and agreed to not mention what happened at that time to him.


    ...


    We must leave this place at once.


    ... Between Aegir and Earth and probably the rest of them... it''s all the same difference.

 Loyalty is the first law of God

    Calypso:


    My name is Calypso and I''m one of the White Face Clowns in the entertainment group Black Parade... and later today I''m gonna get my advancement in the hierarchy and become a Harlequin.


    Right now we''re performing for the locals, the payment is not that great but it''s publicity, which The Ringmaster is very fond of.


    My job as a White Face Clown is very simple, supporting the main actors and the master anyway I can. Today the master''s not here either nine out of the ten Jesters or Harlequin''s, but as long as there''s one the show must go on. And I have to do my best to support them in the long run.


    "Now, now ... ladies and gentlemans, monsters and creeps and killers and crackheads and a lot more shit that I''m not gonna spell out loud. For our last attraction we have a match. A death match if you will, we managed to capture a wild beast with seven heads, each of them spitting a different type of magic. Intriguing isn''t it?" The Jester said.


    A death match, we''re doing it but very rarely and it''s usually before something big happens, to determine someone''s worth. I''ve seen it before and if my speculations are right...


    "Who''s gonna fight this beast you say? None other than our upcoming and rising star CALYPSO, please give her a round of applause"


    *Applauses*


    It''s time to take the scene.


    "Thank you, thank you, now please Calypso my dear do your best, you know what this match means right?" He said aloud, as for the entire audience to hear.


    ...


    "Good, silence is a virtue, means you''re ready." *Ahem* "Now everyone please let''s watch this fantastic entertainment moment. We will witness now the beginning of a beast struggling in their own cage... a cage made by their own hands. How will the story end? Who''s gonna be the winner, well all we can do is enjoy."


    He said as he started leaving the stage, but he stopped on his way to whisper something to me. "Do your best, little nymph." And then he was off.


    This was one of my only interactions with The Jester: Osman.


    The beast I''m fighting is now free and it''s ugly seven heads are looking straight at me, trying to figure out my power.


    Not looking for long the beast jumped and one of its seven heads shot lava at me, but I dodged.


    I didn''t get where I am right now by being weak and now it''s time to demonstrate my prowess.


    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"


    I screamed, my magic is sound related, and what I did just now is something called Vertigo Inducement. Trying to make the beast lose balance and feel dizzy, after all it would be a total shame if this ends too fast...


    But the beast is not stopping... is it deaf?


    *Tch*


    Another head launched at me lightning while the other one started freezing the ground.


    This is getting bad.


    "Oh what''s this? Are you struggling little nymph? You better not disappoint us, after all, the Ringmaster is waiting for you after this."


    That little cunt is taunting me... fine you want a demonstration of power, I''ll show you a demonstration of power.


    Hyper Acceleration... by manipulating the sound waves I managed to outspeed the ice and now I''m standing behind the beast, ready to hit it with a black... Shit


    One of its heads has a pair of eyes behind, and the beast''s reaction speed is...


    *Thump*


    ... Fast


    *Cough*


    It started running at me... I need to do something. It can''t hear me so the sound itself is not really useful...


    "Burn!" I said aloud, giving an order to the molecules in the air, if I accelerate them to the point of ignition then the beast should burn. I just need to control it so it doesn''t reach me.


    But it didn''t stop... after the air exploded and it started burning the arena it kept charging at me, one of its heads shooting water right around it.


    This is getting ridiculous... I guess there''s no other choice. I need to create a black hole. Manipulating sound at over 1.100db should... it''s an imitation of gravitation magic but it should work.


    "The air quivers." I said aloud going over the 1.100db limit, normally this should kill the spectators but there''s a protective barrier between us always, one but by our master so it should be strong enough to... but the black hole didn''t come.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    The beast used a quantum blast to annihilate the moment when the black hole started to form.


    ...I''m getting sick and tired of this conveniently placed monster.


    Accelerating my whole body again I went behind and struck it with my fist, if magic doesn''t work then it''s time to get physical. I might be a nymph, I might be a lady but I''m not to be underestimated.


    The beast is sent flying to the other side... and it''s struggling to get up. Now it''s my chance.


    Releasing soundwaves into the ground I made it unstable and accelerating my own molecules I set my arm on fire and struck the beast right through its chest. Putting an end to this miserable fight.


    It sure was a tough fight, but I did it... but the audience doesn''t cheer for me... The Jester is not announcing my victory either...


    I''m tired... that shit got a few good hits on me and I used a good portion of my magic today and on top of that I had to give up my own hand.


    "What matters is that I passed, and now I get to become one of them..."


    *Clap* *Clap*


    "Well congratulations my dear, you indeed passed."


    That''s... the Ringmaster.


    I immediately took a kneeling pose.


    "It''s good to see you, Ringmaster, Ragnarok." I said with humility, bowing before him.


    "Get up and look at me." He demanded.


    And so I did, looking straight into his red hellish eyes.


    "Look where your magic brought you, you should''ve spent more time learning a bit of diversity. If you knew the basics of fire magic then you wouldn''t need to burn your hand from inside out." He said as he grabbed my hand and uplifted it along with my body.


    "It... it hurts, please stop."


    "You even got your suit ruined." He said almost disappointed, letting go of my hand and turning around.


    Silence overtook us, strangely enough the audience didn''t say anything either, they were just watching us. But I couldn''t let them, our rule is the show must go on.


    So I got up and prepared to give a speech.


    "Thank you everyo..."


    But he stopped me.


    "Stop, answer me, how does a rebellion start?"


    Huh?


    A strange feeling started to overtake me, the pressure emanating from Ragnarok was stronger than usual, he moved his head to look at me and I instinctively took more than one step backwards.


    "You don''t know? Well let me tell you, every dream of rebellion starts with a spark."


    Why''s he telling me all this, and why does he look so scary.


    He then turned his whole body around. Behind him there was the door from which light came, the door from which he came, and around him there was nothing but blood from me and the beast.


    It is a horror scenery.


    "You did good today, you defeated the beast I specifically brought in to give you a hard time, but you proved your worth. Congrats."


    He said while closing his eyes and smiling.


    "Thank... Thank you. So does this mean that I..."


    And he did it again.


    "But... you''ve gone so far right that you''re wrong... You know I could stir you up for fun but I''m getting sick and tired of your pretending already."


    ...


    "What... What do you mean? I dedicated my life to you, to The Black Parade. I didn''t betray you."


    "Who said anything about a betrayal, dear?"


    ... Shit


    ...


    "Nymph, you were allied with the demons, yet you deserted them because you didn''t want to be a sex worker and instead you became a warrior and joined us. How intriguing is that. You had potential, unfortunately your incompetence made you unable to realize the true nature of my power."


    This is bad... if this is going into the direction I think it''s going then I won''t be making out of this alive.


    "Calypso, mother to a child made with an angel. Isn''t that wonderful? You, a nymph, under the demon''s command betrayed your planet and alliance and joined us. But before that you met a man, you had a child with him, and both of you started wandering the world along with your child because of the shame he brought by just having sex with a lowlife like you."


    "HOW DARE YOU!" I said getting ready to attack, but he burned my already burned hand again, just by looking at it... with blue flames.


    I got down again, it hurts, it hurts like hell.


    "In exchange for getting back into the nice city of angels you got instructed to infiltrate us and leak information, am I wrong?" He asked mockingly... he already knows the answer


    Ragnarok, leader of The Black Parade and one of the key members from The End. Curses


    "No answer? Well you know I already know I mean, when you joined our forces you already sold your soul to ME." He started laughing, uncontrollably so, putting his right hand over his eyes.


    And he just kept laughing for a while, giving me enough time to heal a bit so that I''m able to listen to him completely.


    "You see, I can see your soul, I saw it from the beginning and yet I still let you in. I knew you were a traitor and I still let you in, you know why? Because I purely don''t care, there''s nothing you can DO to stop me from achieving my goal. THERE''S NOTHING ANY OF YOU CAN DO."


    Right now he looks like a maniac, in front of the audience nonetheless. His eyes wide open and his bloodlust set free.


    "Are you sure you want to do this in front of the audience?" I asked.


    "Oh, so thoughtful of you, unfortunately, you''ll have to take a better look at the audience."


    At that point the light started to shine on the audience and¡­


    ...


    "YOU BASTARD!" I started charging towards him, tears in my eyes, screaming, filled with rage to the brim, how could he, how could he do this to me.


    But he stopped me with a burning fist to my stomach.


    "You don''t like the audience? After I spent so much time hunting down... each... and every... member of your god forsaken family and friends ... even your kid ... and your husband, they are all here right now... CORPSES BROUGHT HERE TO WATCH YOUR DEMISE."


    He whispered that in my ear, laughing while doing so ... I saw them, my parents, my family, my child, my husband, everyone I ever cared about, even some friends. They are all here... half of their skin is missing, the eye sockets burned... each of their hands holding their lifeless eyes...


    *Crying*


    "Don''t cry now... you already knew Loyalty Is The First Law Of God... but the only god present here is ME." He said while sitting down in front of me and looking at my crying face.


    ...


    "I''ll do you a favor for the sake of the time we spent together and make it fast."


    "Please stop, please I beg you, please..."


    But no matter how much I begged, his hand was approaching. I want to run... but I can''t get up... I want to cry... but my tears are burning before they can get down on my cheeks.


    His hand caught my face and lifted me up in the air.


    I can feel it... it hurts... it burns... IT BURNS.


    He let me mouth free so I can scream, he''s enjoying it... the last thing I saw before my eyes were covered was his evil smile.


    "STOP, STOP, IT HURTS, STOP I CAN''T SEE, MY EYES, MY EYES, MY HEAD IS HOT IS BURNING IS HOT STOP STOP STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!"


    ...


    Ragnarok:


    "Was this really necessary?" Caera asked me, she was watching the whole massacre going down.


    "She''s just a toy, always has been, always will be, well now she''s nothing anymore, her face along with everything above her neck is not even there anymore."


    ...


    "I know you don''t like the way I handled it Caera... but if you''re looking for a villain... shoot the traitor."

 Humility is the seventh law of God

    Ragnarok:


    "Caera, do you believe in retribution?"


    "Excuse me?" She asked, as serious as always, despite the most recent incident.


    "You know, retribution or punishment, do you think the day will come when I will have to pay for my doings?"


    I asked, lost in thought to be honest. Killing people, closers or strangers is not alienating to me. I do it on a daily basis almost, so then what''s bothering me about this situation? Is it the thought of questioning my power, is it ulterior motives?


    Do Angels take me for a fool? Do they take me for a powerless idiot? ... No, I''m sure they don''t, they are not that stupid. This plan must be a bait, something I rolled with, but now I have second thoughts about their agenda... why did they do it?


    ... This is an excuse to get rid of a shameless part in their public history.


    In this world there''s no right or wrong, or good and bad, or evil and good, not in this world, not in this universe. The only thing that exists are egoistic choices, choices done for our own survival in the midst of chaos. We didn''t choose this life... this path... but it''s a requirement to walk it in order to survive.


    Choices we have to make to look good... or to appeal to someone, or perhaps to seem humble and to enter someone''s graces, all of that just for us to follow the motives we''re set beforehand and our own selfish desires.


    Everything has a purpose in this world, every minuscule movement is with intent, with a story behind it... and because of that we''re here.


    "Caera, stop, and seem surprised in about 20 seconds."


    "What?" She asked, as serious as always.


    And as I envisioned, 20 seconds later it happened.


    A beam of light shot down from the sky, right behind us, as we were walking. From its radiance a silhouette made its way towards us, holding a headless corpse in his hands.


    I don''t know who he is but I sure know what his alliance is. And I started smiling even if he didn''t see it.


    "Identify yourself young boy, so at least I know who I''m about to decimate." I stopped and started talking.


    What I said was full of intent, keeping my back at the guy and not intending to look back. Holding my bloodlust in check just for now.


    "My name is Perceval, I come here under direct orders from my lord, Adam. I came to retrieve the body of one of our own and punish the one who did such a horrendous thing to her and her closest."


    The man, relatively young, white hair, black armored, blue eyes, carrying a sword by his side. His hair is a bit weird to describe, but let''s put it as "rebellious". Definitely not angelic of essence, he''s an elite. Truth to be told, I don''t need to look at him to perceive him, the colors of his soul tells me everything from his hair down to what he''s wearing right now. Even if he wants to, he can''t hide it from me.


    "What race are you part of?" I don''t feel the angelic essence in your soul and I don''t want to turn around... cause if I do I fear that they will have to send another one to retrieve two bodies."


    I said as a matter of fact. I have no reason to keep this boy alive, but killing him and making them send someone like Michael or Kerubiel to deal with it would be a total pain in the ass. Especially while I still have a show to run.


    "I heard about you, Ragnarok, one of the three from The End, cocky, madman, a lot of ways to describe you."


    "Why but thank you." I interrupted him. "I hear nothing but compliments."


    He sneered at my words.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "Why prolong this charade hum? Tell me, what if I kill you here and I just put an end to my lord worries about you?"


    But you can''t, I thought. If he could he would''ve done so already. It is true that inside him there''s no sign of fear towards me. Perceval is just an arrogant brat.


    "But why fight when we can just hang around and have fun?" I said, my grin grew bigger by the moment at the thought of not killing but playing with my victim.


    He took an audible step back when I said that. Still not afraid.


    "Why did you kill her?" He asked. "She was a traitor but you could''ve let her go, she didn''t provide anything useful, only locations to us, you could''ve let her live. And why go the extra mile, family, friends, do you get joy out of this?"


    Funny is it not? Trying to pin the blame on me when they might as well have sent her to her own demise.


    "Don''t you act all high and mighty, you did it on purpose, not you as in yourself, but the race of annoyances called Angels. Always playing the good guy, but all of this was so that you can hide a part of your shameful past. Whatever is public from it at least."


    With a snap of my fingers and a menacing laugh I kept going.


    "You didn''t send her here to spy and collect info, you sent her knowing full well that I''ll kill her and on top of that you''ll be able to come after me in the future. Giving you a reason, well another one on the list at least. So don''t give me this bullshit you two faced goody two shoes hypocrites."


    I took a brief pause so that the reality of the situation could sink into this young soul.


    "So do it! Come after me, I don''t care, but before you do tell me, why not get a little more info on the enemy... want to come and visit my Underworld Palace?"


    "Ragnarok, stop!" Caera said as a matter of fact.


    She likes to stop me in the middle of the fun, before I do anything extreme. What a good second in command I have picked.


    "Your subordinate tried to stop you? That''s pathetic, a true lord''s authority should be supreme and unquestioned!" The arrogant foul said, not knowing the gravity of his own words.


    Annoyed by the statement made without too much thought I retorted.


    "You don''t know anything about this world, no, no. You''re just a blessed infant and you don''t know about true LOYALTY." I started dancing. "You don''t know about DRAMA, TRAGEDY or ADVENTURE! You just don''t know anything at all."


    And I ended my dance with a bow to the same side of the road, not looking back at the individual behind me even now.


    Caera seemed taken aback a bit by my statement but not overly surprised. She knows me well.


    "My comrades are not brainless followers. I might be a madman or whatever, but I treat people as people if they deserve it. Each and everyone of them has shown me their worth and they even entrust me with their lives. They would follow whatever order I give, knowing it''s all for OUR PURPOSE and they will stop me when I''m about to go too far. That''s just who my comrades are, this is THE BLACK PARADE!"


    I took a moment before continuing the idea.


    "Don''t misunderstand Caera, she didn''t stop me for my sake, but for your sake. I could kill you right here, right now, and even your superior if I put my mind to it. But I don''t want to... because... the show must go on!"


    "You''re insane! If you could kill them right now why don''t you put the final straw in this war?


    Because I can''t kill everyone. My words are purposefully misleading, there are some beings I can take on but there''s no guarantee I would win... and even then, where would be the fun in that? If only the strong were to fight all the time then this war would have no purpose to begin with.


    "Because... I sold my soul to the stage... now my life is a... circus..."


    I said, letting my aura overtake the scene, and its force made Perceval kneel before me.


    As a response he drew his blade and started emanating an aura of his own... but my burdened one weighs much more than the feeble dreams he''s carrying.


    "Don''t make it hard on yourself, you are already kneeling before me. Like you did before your own God, which means only one thing..."


    "You hypocrite, calling yourself a God!" He cursed, trying to resist my presence.


    Caera turned to me and put a hand on my shoulder, signaling me to stop this from going on. There''s no reason to keep going... Now there''s fear.


    "You can''t stand my aura while my subordinate has no issue moving in it. Don''t you think you''re overestimating yourself?" I said and I started laughing at myself. "Humility is the Seventh Law of God, recognize the limits of your power and knowledge and remain humble before God... but the only god you kneel to right now is ME! So leave since I still allow you to."


    So I said as I let the earth crumble beneath my feet, not leaking any mana, the earth is crumbling because my intent and my aura is just too strong for it to take. This is the extent of my own arrogance.


    *Tsk*


    That was the only thing he "said" before taking his leave with the same beam that he came here, taking the corpse with him.


    "I hope the story of her ends with this incident. Don''t you hope the same, Ringmaster?"


    Caera asked me, knowing full well what I was about to say next... she''s trying to please me.


    "Where would be the fun in that? But maybe for the sake of it... I hope so."


    We left the scene and I laughed, both of us going to our next parade.

 The White Eye of Piscis Austrinus

    Adonai:


    We''ve left Aegir, and now we''re on a trade center planet, just like Earth. Fomalhaut, The White Eye of Piscis Austrinus.


    This planet is a lot different from the one we just left. This is more in line with Earth. But strangely enough it is also less developed. If I have to say we''re back in the 2010''s when smartphones were barely a thing.


    But we decided to come here for a very specific reason. We talked and decided to register as a team. Once we do that we''ll be able to take jobs in hunting as a teams and we will be recognized in the whole universe.


    The big differences from our previous home or our planet this time would be the sky, there''s no day/night cycle. But here, on the loneliest star of the Milky Way, is always clear and we can see a hue of blue intersecting with red all the time, shining brightly above.


    Piscis Austrinus brightest star is one protected by a magical hue of ice and fire all around it.


    People who inhabited this planet drove themselves to self destruction, from what we got told, and now there''s no one taking ownership of it. It is a neutral trade center. Which makes it pretty lawless as well.


    But it''s good to be back on a more civilized planet, with cars and bikes all around, magically modified. I guess they made up for the non existing resources in this way.


    Right now we''re heading straight to the main building. The Beast Hunters Association. While I''ve been holding up fine after the incident, Maverick and Stella feel a bit distant from me. But I guess I''m not surprised, after my miraculous survival, from what I heard at least, I can''t remember much after I lost consciousness.


    But it''s better this way, the dream I had while thinking about dying drove a big blow onto me, reminding me of my past, as if the voices haunting me were not enough... I saw her face again, saving me again...


    "We''re here." Stella said, and as I turned I saw her looking up.


    We made our way through the hall and we reached what seemed to be a reception.


    "Good day, I would like to register me and my friends as a party for beast hunting"


    The receptionist, a man, turned around and he seemed strangely human. At least until he opened his mouth and I saw his teeth, once he opened his eyes and the blood soaking red pupils came into view I realized what he is.


    He''s a vampire.


    "Yes but of course. I can see that you''re fully fledged humans, how spectaculous. You''ll just have to fill out this form and we will be done. Please return it to me, and I''ll bring your badges in the meantime."


    He is talking... way too fast.


    But thankfully we understood the assignment.


    *A few minutes later*


    "What do you guys think about a team name?"


    "I don''t know, I don''t have any particular idea in mind, " Stella said.


    "What about The Joestars!"


    I was looking at my friend, Maverick, deadpan, I don''t know from where he got that name but that certainly felt like one designed for a group of muscle men going on an adventure through Egypt or something, hunting a vampire.


    Definitely not a fit for us.


    "Well the name shouldn''t matter that much, so we''ll go with this, what do you think?" This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    I asked and they both nodded in approval.


    We went to the counter and we got our badges which magically lit with our names and the name of our team on them. The badges are specially crafted and they will stick with us for as long as they are not destroyed or our team disbanded or other misfortune.


    Once he handed them to us I noticed the slightly long nails that don''t seem to be an artistic choice but rather the characters of the vampires with their bit pointy ears.


    "Enjoy your hunting... Team Dusk."


    He said as we left.


    There was no appraisal, no anything which is the weird part.


    "Are they just handing these to everyone?" I asked my two companions, bewildered about what just happened.


    They took a bit to think and they responded.


    "I don''t think they care if we die or not honestly, so why not hand them over, this is kind of a lawless place anyway."


    "I agree." Maverick said in response to Stella statement


    ...


    "Take your sweet time to think and all you have to say is ''I agree''?"


    I asked, raising an eyebrow, he clearly paid more attention to other aspects rather than thinking about my question but that''s irrelevant now.


    To take jobs we simply have to use Magic on our badges, which will then connect us to the Hunters System where everything is posted. Every job, every monster, every danger.


    Since I''m not really trained in magic, we relied on Stella to do it. And so we take our first job, which will be to hunt a pack of headless mules in the eastern part of the planet. We''re currently in the North so it will take a while to get there, but one of the benefits of being a hunter is transportation. We can take the nearest train until the station for free and then into the wild following the map to reach the hunting site.


    The job has two objectives, hunting some dangerous beasts and bringing back their skulls.


    Contrary to popular belief headless mules have heads... it''s just that their heads are detached from their body and are in a state of levitating above their normal body.


    But for now, thanks to the emblem we found a free place to stay for a couple of nights. Beast Hunters have quite a few benefits but the job is also very dangerous.


    From what I noticed while, shortly, being here a few of them just like to take advantage of the system and take easy jobs like this one. And honestly I don''t care, they can do whatever they want.


    "We will be staying a bit here, to gain some parallax and a feel for things. I think we should also train in combat as a team specifically." I said aloud, not wanting what happened before to happen again.


    "I agree, I don''t want to stand helpless while you struggle again." Maverick said.


    Internally I smiled, outside I couldn''t really do it, so I just looked at him. Stella only nodded and we agreed to take our first, easy mission as a training ground as well.


    Once we reached our hotel we got set. Thankfully I got a room for myself while these two got one for themselves. The place is a bit shabby looking, but everything around here is. In some places we even saw phone booths.


    I left my non existing stuff in my room and got down to the hallway when a girl was calling out to me.


    "Hey, hey"


    "Hello?" I answered, taking her appearance into account.


    Small girl, red lines were outlining her eyes and going a bit under, directly on her cheeks. Wearing a floral crown in her and her ears are a bit pointy. And she opened her eyes... She''s a vampire.


    "What do you want from me?" I asked.


    She didn''t really stay in one place but mostly just rushed around me, checking me from every angle.


    She''s wearing a skirt and a lousy blouse, maybe she''s a local.


    "Hmm... you don''t have any special characteristics, are you a human?" She poked my cheek, curiously.


    "What if I am?"


    "Hahahah, what is your name? I''ve never seen one like you before." She asked


    "Adonai." I answered.


    She looked a bit at me and waited for me to say something else.


    "Can you get off my shoulder? You''re a bit heavy despite being small."


    She rushed down.


    "I''m not small, neither heavy and I was just appraising you."


    "Appraising?"


    "You know, I''m a vampire so I was thinking how your blood must taste. Also don''t let my appearance fool you. I''m an adult in every way, despite my height."


    She said, giving me a devious smile.


    "Anyway I have things to do now, but play with me later, Adonai."


    She said and then she left.


    "Who was that lost child?" Maverick came from behind me and asked.


    "Hell if I know, she didn''t give me a name, and apparently she''s just small, not a child." I answered.


    "Why the details?" Maverick asked.


    "I feel like she would punch me if I said anything else."


    Hmm? Why do I get the feeling I''ll see this girl more in the future. But probably as long as we stay here that''s what''s gonna happen.


    Well nothing wrong with getting friends with her, as long as she joked about the appraising part, right?


    "Anyway, you should go to sleep soon, Stella wanted me to check up on you." He said as he left.


    "If you''re gonna be too loud I''m gonna smack you in the morning." I yelled.


    "You must... avoid... that girl... dangerous..."


    The voices came back again. It feels weird, sometimes my own guilt feels like it''s amplified by the cries of these shadows.


    I''m pretty sure they are in my mind and they just serve as a reminder... that I can never forgive myself for what happened.

 Headless Mules - I

    Adonai:


    "And then they started dancing like a pack of wild clowns, man I couldn''t believe my eyes, such dumb fucks."


    *Hahahahaha*


    This is such a pain¡­ currently we''re on a train going to the hunting site, more specifically we''re going to the nearest train station from which we will walk.


    The seats we got are right in the front of another group, cabin seats. And they are annoying. Two girls and a man I didn''t bother remaining the names of.


    A blonde dude, with two brunette girls by his side. They are a team going to do a similar job, hunting some low beasts for some cash.


    Even if I don''t care a lot about them and I''m quite tired I can at least notice their dynamic. They have been together for a while and they look a bit more experienced than us.


    "So what do you think, uhh, what''s your name again?" The man asked me.


    Stella and Maverick elbowed me, taking me off my trance.


    "Adonai, sorry, I''m a bit sleepy and I didn''t catch that."


    "That''s fine, he''s too friendly to care anyway." One of the two girls said.


    "Madie, that''s mean. You should apologize to Cleidsman right now."


    So the name of the mean girl is Madie, and the dude is called Cleidsman.


    "You''re annoying Maddie. Why do you keep following me anyway?" The mean girl asked. Apparently the other girl''s name is Maddie... is this a joke?


    "Because you''re my sister, and because of Cleidsman obviously."


    ... This has to be a joke. Cleidsman and the two sisters Madie and Maddie.


    "Now that I look at it, they look rather similar." I said to Maverick.


    "They don''t look that bad either." He said back to me.


    *Sigh*


    "Be careful, Stella would sulk at you if she heard that, you know she can be emotional at times."


    And then he zipped it and put an apologetic look for Stella, who didn''t bother to hear us or listen to our thoughts.


    "Anyway." Cleidsman started. "What do you think about our job? We have to hunt supposedly this big beast and we will get plenty of money for it. It''s said the beast is not that intelligent and relatively weak. So we should do good right?"


    He asked me as if I would know the answer.


    "How would I know the answer? This is our first job anyway as a group and our first time hunting as well, we can''t make assessments." I said as a matter of fact.


    "Huh, but you''re a soul-forger, aren''t you?" Madie said.


    ... Soul-forger, I''ve heard that term before but I don''t know what it means. Back when I stopped the burglar on the other planet..


    "What is a soul-forger?" I asked, without much hesitation.


    "You don''t know? *Sigh*"


    Why did she make that sound, should I know?


    Cleidsman started talking instead. "Soul-forgers are a different type of mage from Elementalists. You don''t see them very commonly because this isn''t really presented as an option because of its high risk."


    "Can you elaborate?" I asked.


    I want to know more about what supposedly am, and what that scythe has to do with any of this.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    "... So you really don''t know huh, thanks to Maddie here we figured you out, her magic helps with insight in other people''s magic. And she tells me you reek of pure mana, which means you''re a soul-forger. You see, elementalists use atmospheric mana to create spells, and use magic as a whole. Soul-forgers on the other hand purify the mana and work on reserves stacked in their mana pool...


    I obviously knew about the latter part, it''s the basics of how the dragon explained it as well... but I had no idea what pure mana is supposed to do.


    ... what makes this so dangerous and how it''s different is that you are very limited in the usage of normal mana and spells, but instead you gain a soul-forged weapon which is a direct representation of your soul. How strong the weapon is... depends on you, and since it''s directly connected to your soul if it shatters, breaks or anything then you... See these are the drawbacks of using such magic. It''s not even considered worth mentioning."


    Now this makes a lot of sense, why the weapon felt like an extension of myself, why it''s so easy to call upon it after the first time... and why it feels like I''m holding my own blood out in the open. That cursed book really left me with a troublesome type of magic. Seemingly I can use normal magic but very limited.


    And a soul-forged weapon from what he said is strong but it has the drawback of being able to die if you''re weak. You''re fighting with your life in your hands, literally. Beyond mana pool, mana veins and mana I guess everything is related to one''s own soul in the hand. Beast feeding, magic itself, the whole universe in essence is one soul''s selfish desire.


    "I see, thank you for shedding some light on my powers." I said, really meaning it.


    "You mean to say you didn''t know?"


    I was left speechless, this is a big revelation. I''ve been filtering mana on a daily basis, because it''s not easily detectable this way... but this Maddie did it, and now I learned that I have a limited reserve on which I can call upon that weapon... and if it breaks I''m done for.


    An image of the person inside my soul flashed before my eyes when I thought about my own death.


    ''Failsafe, I''m just a mere, limited, failsafe.'' He said when we met inside my soul... tch.


    "This is an interesting revelation, don''t you think?"


    "Stella? How are you speaking inside my head?!" I asked, in my own head.


    "This is just an extension of my power, I can connect our thoughts together so we can talk like this and avoid open discussion."


    Her magic is useful in some weird ways sometimes.


    "I heard that!" She exclaimed.


    "I''m sorry, so why''s Maverick not saying anything?"


    I thought and then I looked at him to realize... he fell asleep.


    "We still have quite a bit of road ahead before we get home, and let him rest, he has been uh, staying up very late."


    "The downside of this is that I can feel a bit of your embarrassment from saying that."


    ...


    She disconnected. I can feel it.


    Well best to leave this for now. I''ll figure it out with time... but I need to be extra careful now.


    "What are you guys going to hunt anyway?"


    "Headless Mules." I said as a matter of fact.


    "That''s not a bad first job." Madie continued.


    I don''t know if on the inside she''s making fun of me or not but I need to take a break.


    And so I stood up and walked away.


    On my way through the train I stopped to look outside the window to see... The sky... one of the advantages of being able to travel through multiple planets, galaxies and all of that.


    Being able to sightsee such a beautiful mash of blue and red taking over the sky, making this feel like one of the most calmed scenes everywhere... I wish she could''ve seen it, but she''ll never have that chance...


    "Because of you... because you were weak.... you are weak." The voices started... this was a bad idea, I should keep going and see if I find someone who sells food."


    *Click*


    "Oh welcome dear customer, would you like a drink, food, or maybe a prostitute?"


    A what? On a train?


    "What food do you have?"


    "We have this special dish that''s a mix of space octopus tentacles with salt from a planet that''s so sweet it will freeze your tongue. Hahaha"


    ...


    "I''ll have the closest thing to water, thank you."


    "Right ahead!"


    ...


    "Since it''s so empty, do tell me boy, what is bothering you?"


    "The barman asked, he looked more like a werewolf with the amount of fur sticking out."


    ...


    "Oh I''m sorry my appearance is quite unpleasant. I fear this is how we look in our human forms. Werehyena look very similar to werewolves but the main difference is in our hands. In case you didn''t know werewolves look more human than us, they don''t have our huge claws or our rib cage that looks rather skinny compared to them."


    Thanks for the lesson on races I guess.


    "A lot, death, revelations, a whole new life ahead of me, searching for someone, searching for a purpose..." I said to the creature without thinking.


    "... Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. And always leave room for wonder. You won''t have everything figured out right now, maybe not later, but as long as you walk down a path you''ll get to your destination, be it good or bad. Being alive in the end means to endure and suffer."


    ...


    "Thank you." And I left.


    "Always a pleasure to help." The barman said, barely audible from when I was leaving.

 Headless Mules - II

    Adonai:


    Looks like this is our destination.


    "We will go our way, and you''ll go your way. If you don''t know how to reach the specific location just check the badge and it will guide you out. I wish you all the best, newbies." The man named Cleidsman said before he left.


    We waited for Stella to check the badge and deducted that the direction where they have the hunting site is not far away from ours. But at the end of the day the objectives are fairly different.


    "Let''s start walking and let''s think of a plan." I said aloud, gesturing to Stella and Maverick to start moving.


    We need to think about how we''re gonna coordinate ourselves. The headless mules are not so dangerous but in big numbers they can gain the upperhand. The number advantage is never to be underestimated.


    I have to ask to make sure, I already know the answer but it''s better to confirm it rather than regret it later. "Stella, how can you fight with us?"


    Maverick didn''t intrerupt the question or even respond. He acknowledged that if we want to move together as a team everyone must be aware of every other strength.


    Stella took a second to think about it and then she responded.


    "I know I might not be strong, and mental magic is not the best when it comes to fighting. I haven''t really studied and used normal magic either... What I can do right now is manipulation of perception. I can instigate illusions into the mule''s heads. Thankfully they aren''t smart, otherwise it wouldn''t have worked... in order for this to be working on stronger opponents I need more practice."


    ... Well I didn''t expect this, the childish, rather scared Stella has grown into a bit of a dependable woman, at least on the surface. Maverick''s influence and his presence helps in keeping her together. He''s her cornerstone... one which hopefully no one will take away.


    I have this fear that if someone were to take her only anchor into this world away she would crumble and become nothing more than a zombie. I wish for her safety and Maverick''s as well, they are the only two ones I have left after all.


    "When did you figure you could do that?" I asked, cause I never saw her practice.


    "Even if you didn''t see me practice, I always tried it on small animals, and sometimes on passerbys... I discovered the limitations... I want to be useful at least in some form to this team..."


    I already know Maverick strengths and he should not freeze this time around. The enemies are not that scary.


    "I hope we will get some info sooner on this Black Parade group. They are sketchy, but they are strong. Maybe someone could train us once we join them." Maverick said, looking at me in excitement.


    Gradually the fear they felt initially toned down. But at the end of the day I shrugged, and the invitation was extended to me. I frankly don''t know what will happen to them once we find Ragnarok.


    But if I have to choose between dying alongside them and refuse to join, or join and watch them die... I would never betray my closest ones.


    "Are you sure you want to fight?" Stella asked me, the question hanging over her head for a while... and for a good reason. "If that weapon in your hands crumbles then you will..."


    I know the risk.


    "There''s no other way... if I die then I can just go see her, but I won''t just throw my life away."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Or at least I wish I can see her, since the souls of the deceased are eaten by beasts. I don''t know what awaits us in the afterlife.


    "Nothing awaits you there... you''ll become.... like..."


    The voices answered my question. They do that when I expect the least, almost like my own grief cursed me.


    *Smack*


    "No dying on my grounds, I''ll save you and Stella, I''ll protect both of you even if I have to throw myself away." Maverick said.


    Such a righteous display, almost like he''s the main character. A hero who started ordinary and is on his way to become strong. He''s too good willed at times for his own good, and also too perverted for his own good...


    "No one''s gonna die, this job is fairly easy and we''ve seen scarier things already, we only need the money and go to the hotel, besides..."


    I stopped, lifting my arm up and summoning the white scythe in my palm.


    "It will feel like a good training session for us... this task is easy but if we want more intel and more money we will have to take harder jobs. We have to get better and fast, there might seem to be a lot of time left until the real war will start but it will be gone in the blink of an eye."


    And what I said is true, we have one year before the real deal starts. In this time we have to get accustomed, get a feel of the real world, a world that expands beyond just earth.


    Hmm?


    "Somethings been bothering me for a while but don''t you hear the same thing? Like I''m pretty sure we keep hearing the same songs everywhere we go on this planet. Even now walkling, the broadcast is reaching us. What''s with this background music?"


    "You noticed it too? Apparently she''s the most famous idol in the universe, everyone loves her and she''s always trending..."


    Maverick said, but stopped once he sensed Stella gaze on his back.


    Now that I think about it, I''ve seen her in news and posters... her name was uh... Nariella I think.


    Well I guess this is just something we have to live with.


    "We''re almost there, you two better get ready as well."


    And after my warning Maverick started using earth magic to conjure some sort of armor for him and Stella.


    He extended the offer to me as well but something tells me this will bring me more bad than good, so I shook my head.


    Nevertheless, that''s a good use of magic. Earth for defense would be just as someone would expect, maybe he''s the main character with such a bland choice. I instead would''ve picked something more radical like a quantum barrier or something.


    But I doubt I could''ve done that even if I wanted.


    ...


    With the scythe in my hand and my companions behind me we''ve reached the hunting site.


    ... And here''s nothing, our surroundings are trees, this is quite literally a forest. A strange looking one.


    Due to the light on this planet the leaves appear more turquoise or even silver-blue, the contrast between light and shadow is more accentuated than ever.


    The tree''s bark has a reflective texture almost like a polished silver or bronze colored shield, and at the bottom of the tree you could see the beginning of the roots that look like crystalline.


    The light makes its way through the forest dense and layered canopy making it almost surreal.


    This forest doesn''t only feel otherworldly... it feels alive, shimmering lights, strange hues, surreal interplay of shadows. It''s a place of beauty and mystery, familiar in forms yet so alien in its presentation... This is the forest we''re in... the Shimmering Wilds.


    *Growl*


    How do they growl if their heads are... right they have heads, just not attached to their bodies.


    Well here they come I guess.


    And as I thought that they started coming towards us from the shadows.


    The headless mules look like an ordinary mule only that instead of having a head they have a fire and blood ravaging from their neck... and their head is standing proudly above the end of fire. Making it quite hard to hit, but you don''t need to anyway.


    As a matter of fact you need to be quite stupid to aim for a headless mule head... if they couldn''t survive without it well then they would be dead already.


    Their appearance is not that scary but they usually go around in groups of at least 20.


    "Unfortunately we don''t have time to count them right now, but they don''t do much either, just circling us."


    I said, hinting at the fact that they might be stupid... but not totally brainless, contrary to popular belief.


    Acting on instinct and judging if it''s worth it to take on this enemy... but unfortunately the choice is not theirs.


    "Maverick NOW!"


    I screamed and he knew exactly what to do, an earthquake to destroy their balance so Stella could inflict the illusions. There''s no reason to make this harder than it should be.


    The earth began trembling and the mules struggled to keep their positions. I could see Stella glowing softly and the screams of our enemies could be heard as they saw god knows what illusion my sweet companion put them through.


    ... I took out my scythe and took a battle ready position. I might not be trained to wield such a weapon but if it''s my soul weapon I better know how to use it.


    I took a look behind me at my two companions who nodded in agreement.


    "Let the slaughter begin!"

 Headless Mules-III

    Adonai:


    I swung my scythe in the closest way to what I thought it''s the right movement, and to whatever felt most natural to me. The enemies are brainwashed so there''s really no reason to get all worked up about this, but since we have the opportunity to train on basically a target dummy, we might as well try to get the best out of it.


    The downside is that our teamwork can''t really see improvements in such a scenario. As of right now Stella stays behind and keeps her spell up, although I can see the sweat and the strain it puts on her, she probably runs low on mana. While me and Maverick are guarding her from the front.


    We each took a side and the middle is somewhere we meet if needed. But in this case things are going smoothly. I don''t really feel my pure mana running low, but if what was said it''s true I should have plenty. I kept naturally processing mana into pure mana for a lot of time by now. But I also don''t know how much the materializing of the scythe consumes from it.


    It certainly doesn''t feel like a lot but I need to find the threshold before we go into something more dangerous. Maverick on the other hand is just using magic left and right, a combination of ... a lot of things.


    Honestly I can''t really tell if he''s taking into consideration our safety or not at this moment, but it doesn''t matter. We''re almost done.


    "This is... my limit." Stella said as she collapsed on the ground, sweating profoundly.


    Maverick went to her side to check on her while I took care of the beasts that are trying to make left and right after the spell got deactivated.


    "How is she?" I said once the battle is over.


    "I''m fine, it''s just that I exhausted my mana by keeping the illusionary spell up on so many enemies for so long." Stella said.


    While useful she needs to work on her mana pool more, it wasn''t a lot of time and they weren''t hard enemies either.


    I checked the badge and I saw that our mission has been completed and the rewards have been issued. Which is true, in my bank account I saw the deposit of a new parallax.


    And with this our first mission as a team is over.


    "We should head back now, the sun will be setting soon. I mean I''m sure this place looks marvelous at night and all but I don''t want to risk running into something that doesn''t potentially make us any money."


    I said to my companions, who agreed. And so we started heading back towards the train station.


    "That was easy, wasn''t it?" Maverick asked, I''m sure in a more rhetorical way.


    Truth to be told, we can''t let this get in our head. We can''t risk a misstep or arrogance in such dangerous times. The world is still as ugly and depressing as ever, just because we took a win in our path, that doesn''t make it sunshine and rainbows.


    "We should not let this get in our head. I would like to point out how our teamwork didn''t improve really since our quest was so easy, thanks to Stella. Which brings me to my point, I want to congratulate you for your hard work, but at the same time you need to train more. We won''t leave you behind but you need a bigger mana pool and also stronger and a more variety of spells. You did good today, but there''s still much more to do."


    I saw the look on Stella''s face going through joy, depression, and then a shyness determination. She knows it is true, she made this easy, which didn''t benefit us in the long run, but it''s something we should also be thankful for.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "As for you Maverick, well, to be fair this was a great way to assess our capabilities at least to some degree. You''re strong, stronger than me so I can''t really comment on much, I also don''t really know what''s going through your head but try showing consideration about your surroundings when you attack."


    Maverick took a bit to think about the answer before opening his mouth. "I know what you mean, I got lost in the thrill a bit, and I realized later I could''ve hurt someone. After all, my range of spells is big and I need to consider the area of effect more."


    Good.


    "As for myself... I didn''t feel my pure mana depleting much, honestly I have a long way to go. And I''m not too optimistic about the road I''m taking. This might get a little bit emotional but bear with me please. We''re searching for The Black Parade because they extended to me an invitation... this is a road I choose to walk myself but is it really if I''m going to join a group led by other people? I don''t want to lose you like I lost them... Honestly it would be so unbearable and will probably break my already... half broken self."


    Maverick and Stella patted me on the back and just smiled.


    It''s true that I need emotional support, as any human being. The times where if a man would cry that would be a sign of weakness are long gone. But there are still these... teaching engraved in us.


    Sometimes I''m wondering if there truly is free will in this world. It feels like we''re walking a predetermined path... if that''s the case then what about the decision we''ve made along the way? Do they amount to something? Do the sacrifices of people, of our closest ones, or the tragedies amount to anything more than pure entertainment for someone else?


    But is there entertainment in an already predetermined future? Can ''god'' see it? If yes then why go through this... the answer should be obvious yet...


    "YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"


    As I was contemplating my inner, deepest thoughts, a battle cry from the distance could be heard... that direction is where the Cleidsman group went.


    "Should we go check it out?" Maverick asked.


    Honestly I have to stay true to myself. "I don''t think so, I don''t see the merit in us doing it... it''s a mission they picked so they should carry it by themselves."


    Stella looked at me a bit furious, while Maverick was still in the middle of the two choices we had. But I already knew which side he would pick so... god fucking democracy.


    We rushed to the direction the scream came from... and what we saw when we rechead it was a giant.


    A giant mule, at about 20 meters, fat and covered in blood and fire. The blood came down from its neck down to the toes and the fire was spread around its body not only the head... without a doubt this is the pack leader.


    Not so far from the mule Maddie was staying on the ground, breathing hard. Her right leg was crushed, blood was running down from top to bottom and it looks like she might not be able to use it again.


    Cleidsman and Madie... They are trying to keep the leader away from their immobilized companion. Cleidsman has a steel sword infused with something that looks like turbulent water... judging from the clouds above the mule head and the heavy rain but the lack of thunder...


    Looks like an incomplete type of storm magic... or maybe he''s holding back. And Madie is holding a pair of double shiny black katanas in her hands... and judging by the non usage of spells¡­ so that''s why they knew about pure magic, she''s a user as well... but these swords look almost... shattered.


    "Help them... please!" Stella said with a trembling voice


    Maddie saw us and looked like she wanted to say something but considering the amount of blood lost judging by the pool of blood she''s standing in... it''s thanks to Stella that she could read her thoughts and feelings.


    "WRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"


    A war cry, another one, came from Cleidsman as he launched a tornado towards the enemy. But the mule didn''t hesitate and jumped... as surprisingly as that seems the giant mule jumped, covering the tornado in fire from top to bottom, nullifying it.


    I drew my weapon, readying myself to enter the battle. Maverick conjured his armor and prepared to launch as well... but we were taken by surprise.


    Madie jumped behind the mule and used its tail as a way to propel herself towards the hearth, going full force trying to strike it down... but her katana''s were almost shattered... and the mule already showed signs of intelligence.


    "Idiot, STOP IT!" Cleidsman shouted but it was too late.


    The pack leader saw it coming and used the same fire breath to counter Madie strike... pushed back by the force of the fire she fell onto the ground, half of her body being burned out... and one of the two swords making up her soul¡­ completely shattered.

 Headless Mules - IV

    Adonai:


    I started running, sprinting towards a desperate situation, running towards a man at the brink of collapsing.


    There are no words that need to be said, no emotions that need to be displayed... only a single look at his face could tell you that his eyes become duller by the second. His own essence, what made him whole is slowly crumbling in and on itself. He probably had dreams with, dreams shared with these two, aspirations, hopes for the future... but now, one of them is laying in a pool of blood possibly never to walk again and her sister is laying half burned, half of her soul shattered.


    In this moment the reality wraps its ugly claws around him and shreds him to pieces. From inside out he wants to scream but he has no voice, he wants to cry but his tears become dry. The feeling of helplessness, pain... the fear of losing one who you hold dear... the thoughts, the wonder of ''what if tomorrow never comes''. What if it all ends now.


    And I''ve been there... I''m still there... I want to help- but not him, I want to help myself. I can''t let him go through this. Maybe he''ll be reacting differently, most probably will, but the grief will be nonetheless the same. And the thought of letting this unfold on its natural course, sickens me.


    After I reached him I sat down and smacked him on the face. "Get a hold of yourself!" I said, my white blood bathered scythe in one hand, and my eyes fixated on the monster that doesn''t intend to stop just because he''s in pain.


    I hesitated, not knowing if what I was about to say it''s right or wrong... but I knew I had to at least get him going.


    The worst he could do right now is just watch... for himself as much as for us, we have to get out of this alive.


    "That''s just how it is, your friends, lovers, whatever they are to you, I don''t care, but they are in this state right now because of you. You had a duty, as a warrior.. no, as a leader, to protect those under you. And you failed."


    ...


    "Sitting here doing nothing won''t change the situation. If you''re gonna stay here and wallow in regret while this tragedy unfolds... I might as well put you out of your misery myself. But if you wish to move, then, pick up your arms and start fighting... I didn''t have the chance to fight but you DO!... even if it''s the smallest chance, the smallest rays of sunlight dripping through the unending clouds that roam above this ungodly situation... you have to keep going."


    ...


    I couldn''t see him, as my eyes are fixated on the beast but I could feel him gripping my hand, trying to get up, struggling to hold back tears, wishing for a different course, wishing for a chance to change this. Hoping for a good ending despite the sorrowful state he''s in.


    I don''t have the heart to tell him that at least one of them is probably not gonna make it back... but he should know by now.


    He was well aware what soul-forgers are... and from his reaction he''s more than aware of the risk. But at the end of the day this decision wasn''t his to make.


    Everyone must pay the price for their own choices, the only thing we can do is accept and move forward.


    "So stand up, move into the future... cause if you''re gonna stay here and not take actions... you''ll regret it for the rest of your life..."


    I could feel his arm reaching my back as he was standing up... and undeniable rage cursing through his veins right now.


    I don''t need special powers to be able to read his emotions, some people are just connected by tragedy itself.


    And to avoid another sorry case like me, what we have to do right now is kill the pack leader of the headless mules.


    "Maverick! Start attacking from the back, use long range spells."


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident."Got it!" Maverick shouted, spells already ready to be thrown.


    I turned to face Cleidsman. His eyes angrier than ever, more determined than ever yet his face was a display of sadness...


    "Cover for me, I''m gonna kill it."


    But of course that didn''t work... because one in such a state wants only one thing... to be the one who killed the source of the pain. And so he stopped me. "But!"


    I knew better, his judgment is still clouded, he''s a long rage fighter, and to deal a final blow would require to overpower this entity completely. Our best show is to deal with it by sneaking. And he can''t do it... but I can.


    "No buts, do as I say otherwise I''m gonna let you die here. Listen, I have no obligation to help you, or them... I''m just doing this for myself... because what I felt back then was what you go through right now, a despair covered in powerless thoughts. So cover for me."


    Just as I thought the beast moved its attention to Maverick who became essentially a spammer, throwing whatever spells he could. After all this strategy is about the quantity not the quality.


    But isn''t he going a bit overboard? I''m looking at the mix of spells he''s using and I have to say I''m impressed, fire, water, wind alone, there''s even bits of lightning, ice and even poison. I don''t know when or what kind of training he undergoes but it sure feels like he''s evolving weirdly fast.


    I don''t know what I can do... pure mana, soul-shapers were told to create weapons to fight but is that all there is to it? If mana is a part of my body then...


    As I thought, I tried to redirect the pure mana from my mana pool into every part of my body, wanting to achieve one thing and one alone... speed.


    This might not be the equivalent of having lightning go through your body to enhance your nerves but it sure did something... I feel lighter.


    The mule is still chasing Maverick, the advantage of having such a small body in comparison is the distance you can take from your enemy, and so I started running.


    Cleidsman:


    The weight of his words still linger onto me ... That was a hell of a lecture but he''s right. I can''t possibly make a good judgement call right now so I better try to asses the situation and do what''s possible.


    I can''t let these rookies teach me on how dangerous life can be... but the face of that dude... Adonai? I think it was almost like he''s still in pain.


    *Whoosh*


    I jumped.


    Oops. The tail almost hit me, even if he''s not focused on me, that giant body is a problem. Seems like the ''little'' leader went to wait for the moment to strike...


    While that dude attracts his attention... I guess I should try to do the same and make the beast not know what to chase.


    The problem with having just a bit of intelligence is that it gets in the way of natural instincts... so while the mule is preoccupied with us then the chance to strike.


    I should''ve thought of that sooner... instead of rushing in like that.


    Maddie, Madie... I''m sorry... I promise I''ll find a way for both of you to get better and... I promise I''ll make our long lasting dream come true... we will escape this war and...


    *Whoosh*


    Piece of shit... "At least let me finish my train of thought won''t you?" I said, while instigating the wind to take me up, making the illusion of flying... my magic is an incomplete type of storm magic... but it is this way because I''ve been holding back...


    Now that they are both unconscious there''s no reason for me to worry about instigating trauma... I''m sorry... I promised I won''t go and use this but I have to... not to kill like my father but to protect like I''ve always wanted.


    Clasping my hands together I envisioned... envisioned the monster skeleton, every bone, every muscle, every vein, drop of blood in it, everything... "Everything must be unraveled in the storm fury."


    The beast sensed my gaze and probably my mana building and stopped chasing, but just as we suspected he blocked, not knowing who to choose after. The one who keeps spamming it''s body or the one ready to unleash a destructible attack.


    ...


    But we underestimated it, the mule chose neither, instead launched a fiery breath in the air while rotating with its whole body and body to mimic a vortex of fire that protects its user inside... but to me this is nothing more than a coffin.


    The moment my spell was unleashed, violent burst of wind and lightning erupted from the mule insides, small tornadoes making quick work, shredding their muscles and veins, erupting through the skin, outside... But the bones... the bones were harder than I thought and my lack of mana couldn''t compensate for it... it stopped the rotation but it didn''t collapse, and I could only take care of about half a body before I was completely depleted... but this is enough.


    The Headless Mule wailed in pain... a smirk formed on my face at this sight... I might not be the one to deal the final blow... but I''ll enjoy your miserable end to the fullest.


    Gently gliding down with the wind I saw something... or did I?


    It was so fast I couldn''t even get a clear picture, it was even faster than lightning itself but after it reached its destination it was all clearer to me.


    Barely holding myself together, trying to stay awake and not pass out from exhaustion I saw a scythe... an almost pure white scythe... the blade of the weapon had a red curve going on it... blood. And the one holding the weapon was someone who I thought it''s not fitted for the battlefield...


    But in this scenery, a wild, mythical forest, where we fought a headless mule leader, where our comrades suffered injuries that might never be healed... he seemed the most appropriate... almost like he has been born to bathe in bloodshed.

 Headless Mules - V

    Cleidsman:


    "Call the doctor, he''s awake." The first words I''ve heard as I''ve opened my eyes.


    White ceiling, white walls, a tv, a bed and... this is clearly a hospital. I guess I passed out and they carried me here...


    I need to get up and check on them.


    "Not so fast, we need to check a few things before you can get out of the bed, so stay where you are." The doctor said to me.


    And so I went through the tests.


    *Half Hour Later*


    "Everything seems to be in order, now we can let the visitors come in."


    Visitors? Who?


    "How are you feeling?" A sweet voice came from the behind of a relatively tall human, Maverick and Stella, two of the people who saved us in the fight against the leader of the mules.


    "Could''ve been worse." I said smiling. "Where''s the other guy, you know the one who dealt the final blow?"


    I asked the question, wanting to thank who I assume is the leader. My rage... my pain, he brought me back to my senses in the middle of the storm that clouded my judgement... but he also looked in pain while doing it.


    I don''t know if he did it for me, or for himself but it is irrelevant. Such an act must be thanked accordingly.


    "He decided not to come, he said he''ll be better off not witnessing this."


    Maverick said to me. "Witnessing what exactly?"


    "Cleidsman..."


    A figure made its way from behind the other two... it''s Maddie.


    Her right leg is replaced by a robotic one, one that is powered by mana, but at least she''s alive... I''m so glad...


    "I''m so glad... thank you... oh lord above thank you."


    Without noticing, tears started running down my checks as a sense of warmth covered my heart.


    But that blissful moment was soon over as I noticed the expression on Maddie''s face and I realized something... Madie was not here.


    "Where''s Madie, is she alright?" I asked, the hint of frustration and worry hanging on my words.


    Maddie couldn''t handle the pressure and she broke down crying.


    "I''m sorry... I''m so sorry she weeped... if you didn''t need to protect me, we could''ve run..."


    Sorrowful and in pain she cried... and I looked up to the other 2 people accompanying her.


    "Madie''s alive but..."


    "But what?"


    Stella''s face told me that there''s something really bad going on, she doesn''t want to say it... and so her boyfriend took over.


    "She will never be able to do anything again... she''s effectively in a vegetative state... there''s nothing that can be done about it..."


    Oh... so this is the price we had to pay for our survival...


    I felt lost. It is good that she''s not dead but what am I supposed to do... it is my fault that she''s like this... if I use it sooner then...


    "It''s not your fault, you kept your promise to them, in this life you have to be ready to make sacrifices, more hardships will come your way, but you have to stick together... That''s what it means to be a team."


    Stella said, stopping my train of thought... I guess she can do that...


    "You two better go and see her, the doctor will give you the proper explanation on her condition." Maverick continues, giving us a reassuring smile, trying to tell us that everything will be okay, without putting the actual words out.


    ...


    Walking down the hospital hallway is depressing. I can''t keep my head straight, and I''m still so tired. I passed out from exhausting mana and my body is so tired, the doctor said it will take at least a week to fully recover.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    But at last we''re here.


    On the hospital bed, motionless yet pristine and beautiful is Madie, seemingly sleeping.


    Holding Maddie''s hand we passed through the door and we greeted the doctor, who started catching us up on her situation.


    "Your friend here, she''s a soul-forger, you already know that. But do you have any idea how you heal soul-forger injuries?"


    We both shook our heads.


    "A soul-forger naturally heals their injuries as long as their soul is not broken, for normal elementalists we do what we can do with their physical injuries, but as you know healing magic is the equivalent of creation magic which no one but Angels can use. We can replace limbs, and heal diseases through multiple means but some things are just off limits for us, ordinary folks."


    Yes... I know all that... but I saw clearly that her sword was broken so how come she''s alive, yet she can''t heal...


    "From the analysis we were given and what we could see for ourselves, thanks to some special individual who just happened to be passing around... Madie soul is split in two parts... We don''t know when this rift was formed, and we can''t guess which part of her soul is safe, but we can guess that the part she chose to sacrifice was the one that made her able to live well... Whatever she held so dear it was more important than her own self... but because of the rift and the damage that part of her soul can never be recovered... she''ll be like this forever."


    ...


    "I''ll give you some time to decide what you''ll do with her... seeing as she has no legal guardians is up to you to decide... I''m sorry for your loss."


    The doctor left, leaving the door open for Maverick and Stella to enter... Stella...


    "Please, I beg you!"


    I kneeled down to Stella''s feet and begged her.


    "I want you to try and read her mind, you''ve already heard the doctor''s explanation... Please try and tell us what she doesn¡¯t want to let go... whatever it is we must protect it."


    Following me Maddie also kneeled and begged, and cried and screamed like a small child, just the same as me.


    "Please do it! Please help me protect my sister!"


    "You two get up!"


    Stella said furiously.


    "What do you take me for? I would do it if you just asked nicely..."


    That''s true... for a short time we got to know this girl so why did we react so instinctively.


    5... 10... 15 minutes passed and the girl who we begged for help didn''t seem to move...


    She was concentrating... but soon we got the answer...


    Tears started rolling down Stella''s face as she told us what Madie didn''t want to give up on...


    "It was you... both of you... she chose to preserve her feelings for both of you rather than everything else making up her own self..."


    ... Curses...


    As both me, and Maddie started feeling guilty for this outcome, Madie woke up and her hands reached both of us, tugging our clothes from behind.


    There were no words, just a blissful smile on her face, and tears as she gestured us to get lower... and so we did.


    She hugged us...


    She tried to speak... but she couldn''t.


    She tried to hold herself up... but she soon fell back onto the hospital bed.


    And drifted back into the sea of weaving dreams.


    "I''m so sorry Maddie... all the misfortune I brought upon you and your sister... from the very beginning... I''m so sorry."


    I said, knowing full well that words can never return to her what was lost...


    I gently brushed Madie''s face as she instinctively returned to me a smile, unconscious.


    The weight of the world felt heavier on me more than ever...


    "It''s probably better that we talk outside, and put our friends here up to date with our plans, isn''t it... after all... we wouldn''t be here without them."


    Maddie said, showing a sorrowful smile to the two people who dared not to say a word.


    ...


    "Everything started a couple of hundred years ago... when my father... killed their mother... My father was an alcoholic and all three of them were slaves to our house... one night when he got too drunk and wanted to assault their mother, she refused and in exchange... he killed her with the same technique I used to weaken the leader of the mules."


    Recreating this image in my head is beyond disgusting... I saw it... I was forced to see it... brought there and forced to watch...


    "Looking at that poor woman suffering, forced to do it... I couldn''t take it, my mother died in the same way and so I killed him... I killed him and took both of her daughters in as my companions... no... as my new family."


    Maddie noticed that I was shaking and she took my hand... reassuring me that it''s alright...


    "Our race was aware of magic for a long time and we thought we will have more time on our hands, after I took them in, I tore down the house where I grew up in and became Hunters... our goal was to make money, buy supplies and avoid war by going to a non populated planet... living there until the end of times."


    They could''ve called us deserters... traitors... or whatever... I didn''t care and I still don''t.


    All I could care and now care about are the two sisters that became my family that day... I would throw this whole world upside down even for the smallest chance that their dream of peace would become a reality.


    "But now that is off-limits isn''t it... Maddie''s injured... Madie''s... I''m so sorry."


    I can¡¯t hold back any longer... the truth is I''ve failed... in the beginning they hated me, but they were reliant on me... slowly we grew closer together... but now I''ve failed them... and myself...


    "It''s fine, I''m sure if Madie could she would say the same thing..." Maddie said, hugging me from behind. "We will be fine... we might not participate in the war now and if you don''t want to... we will keep you hidden even if it costs our life..."


    Her grip onto me is getting tighter, and I can feel how fast her heart is beating.


    "You gave us a chance... you gave us a life, family, hopes, dreams, we know you shouldered a lot for our happiness and you are the most selfless person when it comes to us... but it''s fine... this isn''t your fault, this is a choice both me and my sister made... so don''t feel sorry..."


    Her tears are so cold... I can feel them going down my neck but beyond the tears what I feel right now is a different kind of warmth, one that I could¡¯ve only dream about a long time ago...


    "Let''s keep on living, we will take care of Madie and we will survive whatever comes our way!"


    ...


    "Yea... thank you... both of you!"


    Albeit she is not in the hallway with us and she is most likely sleeping... I can feel her presence from above me...


    Thank you...