《Alter-Grey: Mysteries Beyond The Outer》


 The Wheeling

    The living world is a dream. The greatest unknowns are the horrors beyond the veil we might one day lift onto a stage riddled in the fears of our clouded insignificance.


    This world and every other world are all different only connected by merely that they exist and one day they will not.


    One is to wonder then as to the context of everything and everyone born of this order, a logic for the world. A world of concept.


    Even so, the hands of time coldly and slowly chase each other, eternally bound in a rut unending.


    The cycles die out and are born anew. A doggedly hell of cat and mouse.


    -N.A.V


    ...


    The ever-present full moon loomed over this city; a work of brilliance.


    There walked a feminine figure making her way down an empty street barely lit as her shadow appeared and vanished from street lantern to street lantern.


    She walked hurriedly as though she were here and elsewhere simultaneously.


    Her right eye, as pale as snow, stalked her periphery, seeing nothing of notable distress, yet an uneasiness persisted, gripping her heart tighter.


    Silent, heavy breaths, rhythmic and constant, drowned out the beauty of the night, framing the sky a darker shade and the stars barely a dot of interest.


    It should have just been a night like any other, and yet the senses were off-kilter, and she felt the madness of it even in her blood as it burned; nudging her closer to a sprint. Her pace quickened, and her misty breaths grew thicker.


    In truth, it seemed she knew not what she did, and who was to say any different?


    She simply knew she could not stop moving as she peered back and across the street, dimly lit and too dark to see, yet not for her; even darkness could not allude her gaze.


    With the moon barely a whisper, she cut corners and made her way down the next street; her eyes blurred in a frantic haze with the streets around her now fading in and out, like a chaotic soup as the corners and roads seemed to bend and twist before eventually blending into one.


    The sky itself crashed onto the earth and fractured the land beneath with thunderous lightning.


    The moon, cold and dark masking the stars; an age and era of void, where time spasmed and wrecked the living world of sense and meaning. Not that there was much to be found there anyway.


    Her footsteps turned from a walk to a sprint then a run, a melody of fear.


    The darkness around her grew and beat a harrowing silence, the houses started to lose all structure and collapsed on themselves leaving only the faint scent of iron carried by a sharper stinging smell.


    But amidst the rubble, one building stood against all the dismay, only distinguished by a blood-red door marking its entrance.


    Seeing it, a desperation threatened to consume her. Her legs a flame and heart a thunder beating in her ears, a tune true to being... "Terror" a language of the universe.


    In her pursuit of safety, she outstretched her hand almost as if hoping it would shorten the distance; even a sliver would be enough.


    With the red door close at hand, hope began to flower within her heart before reality briefly blinked away and she felt her legs give out from under her as soft skin dragged across concrete.


    Now she lay there, muscles tense and sore, paralyzed as her body refused to persevere further.


    So unable to do anything else and frightened of what lurked just beyond the borders of her vision, she paled and flashed her eyes frantically for even a glimpse of the door, hoping desperately to reach it and be enveloped by its comforting presence.


    With her vision impaired, a haze overtook her surroundings as she succumbed to darkness, slowly, and in the empty silence of darkness''s victory, she felt... cold.


    She watched helplessly as the red bled off the door and puddled onto the floor leaving behind withered oak. It slowly ran down the steps and towards her vessel.


    "Corr- No, not here... Wh- Why now?"


    She muttered incoherently as her conscience sunk deeper in, drowning her in thoughts passed. Uncontrollably, she was attacked by ideas that she had conquered long ago.


    In her stupor, she heard in an echoed breathy voice, an otherworldly tongue speaking to her its voice melodic and serenely disturbing in its familiarity:


    "Dear sweet child, you are broken. I can help you; I can save you, I can fulfil you.


    There are cracks in your soul child, and I can hear it trembling, quivering, stirring deep inside you.


    It is close at hand now... Please dear sweet mirror, let me mend you."


    Shivering quietly, she eventually collapsed and let the broken pieces of herself succumb to darkness, as all her muscles lost tension and a deep slumber clouded her judgement, dragging her deeper into the inky corners of her mind.


    Silently and weakly, she drifted in a sea of missing memories. As thoughts of work, love, dread, despair, and desire all grew smaller and smaller as she sunk further in.


    Then, as the silence turned harrowing, a whisper echoed in the darkness, some inaudible echo causing her to frown and engage seemingly in deep thought as her eyes jumped from one spot to the other.


    "I remember it all so well, I ate all the smiles and lies you fed to me... then came the poison as the word ''Father'' rotted in my mouth.


    ...


    It''s long passed now, but in silent corners of my mind, I still repeat the things you said to me... The rest is quiet."


    A sigh of relief escaped her as her lifeless figure faded away into the inky pools of her mind; below her was eternity, and it was frightening in its comfort.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Falling through, she was about to close her eyes when suddenly a red door appeared in the pool, drawing her in.


    The next thing she knew, she was woken up to the sound of thunder and met with a familiar ceiling.


    Strong winds blew outside and grey shrouded the skies, veiling the light of day.


    She looked around and could tell that this was her abode, just a house. In confusion, she froze, not knowing how she got there.


    Concerned she quickly surveyed the house, checking almost every room for abnormality, but alas, nothing; everything seemed like she''d left it, not a pen out of place, not an easel out of order.


    Opening the door to the outside, strong winds blew in, scattering papers across the floor from atop her shelf near the wall; ignoring it, she poked her head outside, looking left to right... but again nothing.


    Somewhat satisfied she closed the door and locked it behind her as she leaned against it for a moment and let a tired sigh escape her.


    She calmed partially and looked down, noting she was still in her coat and work attire from the day prior; gently she put her hand over her face, trying to remedy her distress.


    "Well, at least this uniform proves something; I went to work yesterday. So what happened probably wasn''t a dream meaning..."


    She sighed tiredly.


    "Man, I hate this crappy job, be an Astral they said; it will be fine they said. Liars all of them, at least I''m not contracted to the government, though. Oh, who am I kidding as if the government even cares."


    Pushing herself off the door, she gathered the papers from the floor; neatly organizing and placing them on the shelf. This time making sure to put a paperweight over them.


    Lazily she made her way to the bathroom and met a strange door that glowed with mystical runes as she passed by. But used to the eerie object by this point, she paid it no mind.


    Reaching the bathroom soon after, she ran a hot bath while she brushed her teeth looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. Her reflection was a marvel, almost like marble, with no bruises or scrapes of any sort, just her pale visage staring back at her.


    Her face was framed by cascades of long, ebony hair that tumbled in silken waves over her shoulders with a streak of white on a section of her bangs.


    Her fair skin, smooth and luminous, held a delicate porcelain quality, adding to the striking contrast of her features.


    Dark, thin eyelashes framed her eyes, one of which was a mesmerizing grey that slowly turned a shade of wine, deep and rich as it almost as if her iris was bleeding, near the bottom. The other eye was an inky black, gleaming with an enigmatic allure.


    Her eyebrows were gracefully arched and equally dark, perfectly balancing the sharpness of her gaze.


    She smiled and her lips parted to reveal healthy white teeth with two canines slightly pronounced, almost playful seeming.


    Checking if everythias everything was in it''s correct place.


    Finished she sighed, put away her toothbrush and walked towards the running bath, her work attire falling behind her. The room filled with steam, and the mirrors got foggy.


    She briefly ran a finger through the water and exhaled softly before plunging a foot into its depths and eventually submerging herself fully into the calm waters.


    Her soul seemed to find peace in the privacy, allowing herself a breath of relief for once in an isolated moment.


    As the outside winds picked up their melody, she started to drift in the ocean of her mind, lost at sea to her questioning thoughts.


    "So we survived; but how and why?


    The last thing I remember was darkness then... The door to my house?


    What does it all mean?


    Did the house'' arcane barrier somehow extend its reach to protect me and teleport me inside somehow...?


    Or maybe Solace or Cassie discovered my unconscious body and carried me in?"


    Unconvinced, she sighed and sunk deeper into the tub until her head was but barely an island among the soapy debris, remaining that way as seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned silent.


    Until finally, two hands grabbed the tub on either side, and she rose from the water like art, as meaningful as night unto day.


    Standing at full height in the bathtub and clutching what seemed to be a washing cloth of a blue palate.


    She quickly and thoroughly scrubbed her body clean, making sure to rub down on every curve and crevice, a soapy grave for every grime and spec of dirt.


    She dried herself off, wrapped a towel around her body to cover her nakedness, grabbed her clothes from off the floor, and returned to her bedroom.


    Her footsteps distorted as a thunderous poetic symphony ever so majestic in performance carried on the winds.


    She entered her room, instantly throwing her clothes onto the bed and sitting on its edge with her face planted firmly onto her open-palmed hands as her body slowly sunk onto the floor.


    Sitting there, knees up and hands to her face, she leaned lightly onto her bedframe.


    "These headaches are such a bother. Persistently and reliably like a... Fly or perhaps some sort of parasite. Why won''t they just leave me alone?"


    Heavy breaths followed as her index fingers slowly made their way to her temples as her hands clutched gently at her face. Emanating from somewhere a croaky voice spoke:


    "Be gentle, won''t you? We wouldn''t want a repeat of last time now would we?"


    She applied pressure to them, lightly pressing and increasing in strength more and more as she rubbed them around the delicates of her mind.


    "I said leave me you pest. I don''t have time for you now, can''t you see?"


    Feeling her head give a little she applied more strength to her motions, almost trying to maybe plunge her fingers into her skull. The voice persisted once again, remarking flatly:


    "Stop... Stop it now. Don''t you see what you''re doing?"


    Exploring her temples, her fingers finally found the point of most tension and pressed as hard as possible, following subtle but decisive motions disturbed only by a flat voice that beckoned her:


    "Self that''s enough."


    The voice was her own, and soon after that, her hands suddenly spread to either side outstretched as a heavy sigh of relief passed her lips, and her eyes fell closed. The headache faded.


    Sat there on the floor; head rested on the edge of the bed as silent breaths escaped her, basking in the sound of heavy rain as her pluviophile nature peeked through, if only a bit.


    The droplets of rain played their lullaby for her as she collapsed her head of wet ebony locks onto the bed and leaned against the front of it, looking up at the ceiling, sinking into a calmness.


    "Rain... Lovely rain... Nature''s tears, and a tear for all the little boys and girls to chase away the tragedy of their birth, even if for but a moment."


    Almost lifelessly, her arms fell to her sides as she grinned, giggling to herself in almost silent manic glee.


    Her voice, coupled with a rainy backdrop'' melody, mused distress into playful mischief.


    But suddenly something gripped at her heart like a gentle call or creeping murmur.


    She froze, and looked around the empty room; growing quiet, she listened to the murmurs, trying to locate wherever it was that they were coming from.


    A listen here, a listen there, and a few minutes later her sights were set on the sliding door to her bedroom''s balcony. She could not help but think:


    "Good grief, I can never catch a break around here. It''s always something."


    Coldly she more than plainly uttered, Her voice croaky and oddly unsettled:


    "Uhh Hello! Who''s there!?"


    The room fell static as she slowly lifted herself onto her feet, her brows furrowed as she approached the sliding door, darkness falling onto her features as she looked out at her balcony from behind the glass.


    Yet again, all was normal; all was as it should be. Unconvinced, she guided her hands, slow with caution like those of a thief in the cover of the night, reaching for the door as she silently slid it open, and soon poured in a cold gust of wind.


    Stepping onto the partially wet balcony, her skin bare against the elements, the winds blew her hair in her face and threatened to steal from her the towel she used to cover up.


    But this seemed to pose little concern to her for now as she held it tight with one hand.


    "Who''s out here? I know someone is out here so you best show yourself now..."


    Her words were carried along the winds and dispersed just as easily, as they fractured against the beatings of the storm.


    She looked off into the distance as grey veiled the sky above as far as the eye could see. A thought suddenly entered her head.


    "That''s it I''ve officially lost it, haven''t I? Maybe father was right; maybe I am a fr-."


    Interrupting that line of thought, the feeling called to her once more, and her grey-coloured eye glowed a golden yellow, revealing there in the middle of the street to be what seemed like an Outer-Existial.


    Wreathed in distorted reality and peering up at her the entity was almost featureless somehow.


    Her expression turning pained and sorrowful, she rushed back into the house, headed directly for the dresser, and quickly put something together so she was properly clothed.


    She wore black shorts, an oversized plain white t-shirt, and black sandals with white lining tagged "Verdant Weave".


    Rushing over to the balcony she leapt off from the second floor of the house, over her fence, landing gracefully on the sidewalk and maintaining her balance.


    Her clothes quickly got wet as the winds of the storm picked up their pace, yet even so, her eyes never faltered, and her expression remained neutral, keeping sight of the figure, her heart beat with adrenaline.

 Weird Monsters

    Golden eyes, stalking flickering shadow upon stormy day, on cloudy, grey hazy May.


    "Golden Rule: Eyes of ill, fade to yellow and haze. Yellow of heart, Coward Lord of frenzy, laid to claim its greed a flame.


    Eyes of the sickly smudged ilk, so their souls full and ripe crack a fruitful birth of old; the forgotten ones."


    ...


    A disturbingly short time ago. In a land uncomfortably close by... A secret slipped, and it robbed the world of gold; not that of minerals, but its symbolism.


    In it''s gluttony it drowned the world in yellow, and it loved every minute of it. Which is how some had come to say:


    "The Loving and Devouring are all the same things."


    -N.A.V


    A few feet from where she''d landed, her eyes bore witness as energies phased through; distorting reality as they crept across the empty road corrupting the living world.


    The entity itself was vaguely there as if reality was struggling to materialize the creature''s form or make.


    However, its presence was unquestionable even as it flickered in inverse to the empty street lanterns; appearing to disappear, born to die.


    The young lady silently gulped and steeled herself for battle; her fists clenched tight enough to dig into her palms.


    She was no stranger to the rhythm of battle, and knew the viciousness of it which is why she felt something was... Off, and although she couldn''t place a finger on it; something was strangely missing. Something essential to battle; a certain dehumanizing aspect of it.


    She took a step closer to the entity, and felt the voices pick up frequency. The entity was standing still; flickering and distorting slowly as its dead eyes; never left her.


    And although lacking pupils, they seemed to see perfectly well, as they trailed her movements, intently like a predator.


    Sometimes even seemingly glancing at where she was gonna be before returning to where she presently was. The creature eminated a sense of danger; intentionally or not.


    And that was the only familiar aspect she could discern from the entity. Everything else about it seemed to diverge from her current knowledge of Outer Existials; seeming almost like a weirdo amongst the weirdos.


    "What''s up with this one? I swear these things just keep on getting stranger the more I see them."


    She took a few more steps closer to it and said flatly:


    "You''re a smaller one than usual; I''ve seen a lot of your ilk in my lifetime; you''re the most human-looking one out of all of them.


    But that changes nothing; today I die, or you die, just as it''s always been. Monsters killing monsters."


    Lightning flashed in the distance and the heavy rain drummed in her ears and obscured her vision as the strong winds played with her hair.


    Extending her hand, she materialized an Onyx-Longsword; much blacker than the night sky such that it almost seemed to make the dim darkness around it appear brighter.


    The sword''s blade was of a translucent material, and within seemed to be littered with stars and constellations never before seen by mortal man, as gold and sapphire runes along its blade stringed into a short sentence that Arcanists would often coin an "incantation".


    The runes shimmered; illuminating the underside of the sword''s cross guard in a warm radiance.


    Its hilt was a delicate royal blue design laced with gold. The weapon was eye-catching, to say the least.


    Ready to cut to the chase of things she lined it up and assumed a battle-ready stance with an open grip on the hilt.


    There were two flashes in the distance, followed a few seconds later by the earth-shaking rumble of thunder before returning to an eerie silence.


    Her eyes narrowed, and her hair blew about the winds.


    Practicing caution, she waited for the entity to attack; hoping she could counter with a decisive slash to its vitals, thus ending the fight quickly, and yet nothing; the entity flickered more and more as it grew distant little by little.


    Its presence became fainter with every second passed; its flickers growing in intervals. Everytime she would blink the entity would be further and further away.


    Yet never out of sight, as if it purposefully kept within the limits of her periphery but never beyond that. Like a shadow at the corner of one''s eye that could be confused for a person at a small glance.


    It seemed the creature wanted her to follow it.


    Confused by the entity''s odd behaviour, she paused, pondering the anomality of it.


    "This is most certainly a trap. This clearly not a normal Outer Existial that I''m dealing with; it seems smarter then most of the ones I''ve fought.


    And by the looks of things its purpisefully masking its rank from me. I can''t pick up much of any intent from it. It''s dangerous."


    Or so she thought, but even then, she knew the consequences of letting such an entity freely roam the streets; the loss, the tears, the cries of bloody murder.


    These were all in the realm of possibility should she lose sight of the creature.


    She sighed and slowly trailed the shadowy figure to wherever it was leading her; remaining close enough to not lose sight of it in the rain but far enough to keep some breathing room.


    For although the creature seemed rather docile, if not a tad weird from the usual Outer Existials she''s faced, its nature, like the rest of its kin, was fundamentally opposed to hers.


    For she used Ether, physical energy. Which, for all intents and purposes, served as a way to manipulate her environment and the forces at play around it.


    While her opponent was a Cogni user, which was the energy of thought, or in other words, metaphysical/conceptual energy; meant for the creation, manipulation, and unification of ideas in tangible reality.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    And so the danger in fighting these kinds of creatures was the ways in which Cogni and Ether would interact. How they would annihilate one another on contact, making combat difficult for both parties in any normal circumstance.


    Stoic and expressionless, she followed the entity through street corners, narrow alleyways, and nearly desolate roads, and occasionally moving past Arcanum Automobiles.


    Which the entity often stopped to gaze at, lingering on their design briefly as it passed by them.


    Whether it looked at them longingly, disdainfully, or even favourably was uncertain, as it could have also been that it was intrigued by its own reflection in the windows of such marvellous vehicles, but who could say?


    What was certain, however, was that whatever fascinated the creature only made it seem all the more enigmatic.


    The young lady raised an eyebrow trying to replace her confusion with curiosity. As she thought to herself:


    "A monster with feelings; imagine that. What was the phrase again? Uhh yes now I remember," she twirled her wet finger in the rain, "It goes: ''The most monsterous monster is the monster with noble feelings.'' What a brilliant phrase; Too bad the author of it had to turn out to be a murderous shape-shifting Ooze of all things. Gods rest his Soul."


    Time passed in empty silence and although she didn''t mind it, she had to admit:


    She''d quickly grown tired of the tension that tainted the air between them as they walked, and thus filled the silence with more thoughts.


    "Good gravy, what I wouldn''t give to go curl up in my bed right now, and fall asleep to the sound of rain," she took a few whiffs quickly, "even the scent is nice."


    She imagined it in her mind and sighed tiredly once more, how wonderful it would be before the storm raging all around her brought her back to her current circumstances.


    "But instead, I''m here, outside in the rain, following a creature of unknown horror into what is likely a trap meant to kill, maim, and toil my soul. What a wonderful world to live in, huh?"


    Some faint unreadable expression quickly flashed across her face as she jokingly grinned and said:


    "You get your body mangled on a Monday, Lose hope on a Tuesday, Fall into despair on a Wednesday, Get your soul gorged out on a Thursday, And Steel yourself for next week on a Friday. All before steak on Saturday and Noodles on Sunday."


    She shook her head, and noticed the entity briefly glance back at her with a nod in acknowledgement as it continued on its path.


    And although the moment was short, that one act bridged some cavernous gap in her heart.


    She suddenly saw the entity slightly a bit differently, and although her guard kept steady and her distrust of the creature did not fade whatsoever, she could not ignore the humanizing aspect of that nod.


    The storm was relentless and unquelled, but it seemed the entity didn''t mind it at all as it led her for what felt like hours through the storm, almost enjoying the severeness of it.


    Finally, it stopped and turned to look back at her.


    The muscles in her feet grew tense in anticipation ready to pounce at the slightest misstep, but then a murmur emerged from the entity, it said coldly:


    "???? ??, ??????" [(8)(5)(12)(16) (13)(5), (16)(12)(5)(1)(19)(5)]


    And whatever the words were, they reached her as distorted whispers, but even so, their alien presence made her head spin in nausea.


    Yet, those words. Those unfamiliar, almost nonsensical words, she felt were somehow not all together rubbish.


    Shaken by the alieness of them, she nearly collapsed to her knees: almost succumbing under what felt like the weight of the world laying heavy on her shoulders.


    But being somewhat familiar already with the meddling of these kinds of beings, she caught herself mid-descent, and for a moment, beyond the shroud of madness that tried to claim her, she could have sworn she heard a "voice".


    Not a murmur, not a feeling, not a fear... Just a tired aching soul burdened by... Something.


    And she thought to herself, "I heard something... I know I did; the gentlest melody I have yet heard." Using her sword as a crutch she straightened, "Am I crazy...? Am I going crazy? Surely it couldn''t have come from the..."


    She paused and looked at the entity still rooted to the spot. It seemed to be fading rapidly as the lights around them fell into a more regulated, constant, warm amber glow. Its disappearance seemingly imminent.


    Her face contorted into a mix of emotions as her brows furrowed.


    "Uhhh... Was that... Was that you?"


    The entity, its voice hoarse, echoed to her these final words:


    "[(9) (4)(15)(14)(20) (8)(1)(22)(5), (13)(21)(3)(8) (20)(9)(13)(5). (16)(12)(5)(1)(19)(5) (6)(15)(18)(7)(9)(22)(5) (13)(5). (16)(18)(5)(16)(1)(18)(5) (25)(15)(21)(18)(19)(5)(12)(6) (6)(15)(18) (2)(1)(20)(20)(12)(5).]"


    The nausea resurfaced, but this time ever more pressing as the maddening sickness of the alien mutterings made her bowels quiver. Fearing she might vomit she tightly held her mouth closed.


    Then she took a step back, shocked, as the entity reached out its hand to her, but seeing her hesitation; it paused and looked down at itself.


    Then to the woman''s confusion, the discordant shadow sat down; crossing its legs, and reaching out its hands to her. Leaving itself vulnerable to attack.


    The woman frowned at such a sincere gesture coming from a creature seen as so foul and soulless. It was unheard of, after all, for creatures from the Outer Mirror to display any emotions that weren''t twisted and corrupt.


    The sight of it made her want to turn her head away, to ignore its seeming plea, to hate it indiscriminately like all Outer Existials for all the pain, suffering, infliction, and slaughter they have wrought across existence. Her existence especially.


    However, in her heart, beat something strange, some odd bond between the creature and her, luling her in, and although she tried to push it away, she felt that feeling tug at her, drawing her closer.


    Gritting her teeth she slowly and cautiously reached out to touch its wispy hand, and found herself nearly phasing through the entity''s form, her other other hand tightening its grip on the hilt incase this was truly a trap.


    To her surprise inside the distorted shadowy mass she felt something as their hands finally met.


    Then, fluidly, the darkness around the entity fell in strips, almost like clothing, revealing a heart-shaped facial structure with high cheekbones and a gently tapered chin that made it look all the more symmetrical.


    The figure had a rich medium-brown skin tone and a warm complexion.  Its hair was long and styled into dreadlocks that slightly reached past its shoulders and covered some of its face, obscuring many of its delicate features.


    Her eyes were wide with shock as she looked at the entity in silent awe; not sure what all of this could mean. Her mind ran through hundreds of scenarios trying to ration her next moves carefully.


    Her grip on her sword loosened as the rain receded from her immediate surroundings seemingly distorted by the entity''s fading presence. In this way, the entity was almost like a momentary shelter for her.


    In the silence of this brief contact, reality seemed to fracture around them, as space and time broke in their immediate surroundings; warping reality and leaving empty spaces of snowy static.


    She looked around her, then back to the entity, its presence completely fading away, and that softness disappear from her grasp. Now, alone in this broken spec of reality she somehow felt lonely. Although only having met the entity but briefly she felt bothered to see it leave somehow.


    "And just like that the universe has made me the butt of its joke, yet again." She took a deep breath and exhaled, "At some point I''ll have to applaud you universe, you have a very unique sense of humour."


    With the creature''s disappearance so did her temporary shelter. Her eye returned to its crimson colour, and the rain fell once more.


    And with it she snapped back to her senses and a grim realizations finally hit her. She was standing in the epicentre of what was a burgeoning "Spacial-Fract"; Tears in reality that allowed creatures known as Outer-Existials into reality.


    Or rather that was what''s been deduced from Arcane and Scientific Study. Why and how these tears occured however is subject to much debate still.


    Quickly without breath, she jumped back in a feat of superhuman physicality with her jump launching her high into the air and back; leaving a fair distance between her and the Spacial-Fract.


    Knowing what was next she tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword with bot hands, and wore her face with a chilling cold. Her eyes painted with dewy sadness masked by a seething determination.


    Not much was certain when it came to Spacial-Fract, except the eventuality of bloodshed.


    "This isn''t good. Usually, I''d call for backup right about now, but I left my communicator at the house."


    A tired sigh was quickly drowned out by the rain as she thought to herself:


    "I guess I''ve been a bit too reliant on Solace and Cassie being by my side as of late. This must be the universe''s way of reminding me."


    An impartial and bitter smile adorned her face as she worded quietly:


    "When you court death, you do so alone."


    Following that sentence, her sword emanated a deep-blue energy that oozed an Inevitability and absoluteness of death, as the dots of stars in its depths vibrated violently and gradually turned blue.


    It seemed she was resolved and ready to kill or be killed, backup be damned.

 Blood and Ichor

    We are all broken, and that is precisely how light gets in.


    Broken does not mean "Bad". Some things are better off broken.


    Breaking infers being dragged down to your lowest point, and to me, it''s there where we are the most open to change.


    We are all broken, and that is how our darkness gets out.


    Darkness, which sits and waits deep within, slumbering.


    If the heavens truly exist, then this world of ours must be hell''s cousin. This darkness will tear us apart, and we will all die lightless.


    -N.A.V


    It was a rainy day, wet and windy. Her clothes clung to her skin like ink to paper. Her breaths were misty and paced, her eyes focused yet lingering.


    She could not shake the feeling that doom lurked nearby. Skulking just beyond her sights; loosely obscured by the thin veil of reality that was the Spatial-Fract.


    Her mind raced while looking at that tear in the fabric of existence:


    "What category of rift is this? It''s the strangest I''ve seen yet. Usually, these things at least offer some signs of detection before appearing, but with this one..."


    Before that line of thought could finish, a giant lanky hand of inky darkness creeped out from beyond the veil.


    Clawed and sharper than a razor, its hand dug into the bridge''s white stone surface and tried to pull the rest of its mass out from the rift.


    As its other hand managed to breach its way through the tear, followed by a black featureless face with long-thick jagged frontal horns, which stretched to the sides.


    Its legs were hoofed but hairless and its form was hunched.


    The creature itself was as tall as a two-story building at full height. Its body was skinny, yet one could observe it harboured much strength from the strings of muscle fibres visible as it moved its arm to point at her.


    At this moment, the only things present were her and the Outer Existial to her centre; it wasn''t a hoard of Astrals against a hoard of Outer Existials, charging into a slaughter; this wasn''t a disagreement that escalated into a petty squabble; this was a simple prelude to murder.


    Not all that different than any other day in the life of an Astral.


    Thus, she was ready, patiently waiting for a chance to let her metal sing, when suddenly, she felt a shiver sneak up on her as all sound left her senses, and her vision dimmed with darkness pressing over reality.


    Leaving only her shallow breaths and heartbeat for levity; in this hollow expanse.


    Her body heat took a plummet as she felt her reserves of Ether rapidly dwindle, at which point her mind was flooded with a feeling not entirely of her own but masquerading as such.


    Yet, before it could settle properly within her heart, she leapt into action, tightening her grip on her sword and guiding Ether into her legs for immediacy in speed.


    Reacting quickly, the creature bent down to reach for her, its elongated hand clearing much of the distance to catch her, but found itself swiping at air as she ducked underneath and charged straight for its legs.


    Like a stream of water, she let her sword flow past both its legs as she cruised by them in one fluid motion, letting her blade glide across their surfaces, slicing tendons and splitting sinew.


    Her preferred method would have been to sever its legs completely, but the effort it would take wouldn''t be worth the risk.


    Conscious not to get greedy; she opted to pull back after her attack. Focusing Ether into her legs, she leapt back to gain some distance.


    Only for moments later to feel her Ether be devastated by some invisible entropic force, as a withered finger, moving faster than one could blink, briefly touched her shoulder, numbing it and a bit of her arm along with it.


    Without pause, she let loose a slash, only for the creature to pull back, and missed. Landing, she Augmented her legs with Ether, and charged forward, jumped up and brought her blade down on the retreating entity; cutting it at the shoulder.


    Her sword bit deep into its flesh but met fierce retaliation as her blade sunk partially into the creature''s dense bone, then stopped altogether. But unphased, she pulled herself up by the hilt and delivered a devastating kick to its face, sending ripples through the rain.


    Augmenting her other hand, she then used it to push herself off into the air, nimbly pulling her sword free and fluidly manoeuvring her body to dodge a swipe of its claw midair, only to feel a five-fingered hand dig into her side, followed by a minor disturbance to her Ether Network.


    Although bold, the plan was to try and subdue any chance of further damage to her Ether Circuits by cutting the problem at the roots.


    As whatever the entity had done earlier to her shoulder, she''d realized despoiled a section of her Ether Network, causing lasting damage to her Ether Circuits that would take what she estimated to be around two days to restore.


    These metaphysical circuits were how creatures circulated their Ether throughout their bodies in order to augment certain parts of their biology in finite ways that helped to accomplish a variety of effects.


    So, as one can imagine, they were rather important, especially for Astrals, who often had to put their lives on the line.


    Thus having hers getting damaged in a dire situation like this placed an even greater burden on her predicament.


    Reacting almost instantly, she swung her sword at the entity, pumping massive amounts of Ether into the blade, which allowed the sword to evacuate a miniature star from its deep reaches, exploding on contact with the creature.


    In the star''s temporary but violent outburst, it managed to knock the entity back; as the creature almost seemed to shy away from the light.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity with both hands, she easily pried the creature''s clawed fingers from her side and used its hand to jump off and land atop a street lantern.


    Her side felt like it was burning, from all the blood doing work to keep her from bleeding out, while the rest of her felt cold as the rain washed over her. Although it was obscured by ever-pressing darkness, she had no doubt it was there.


    Her sights never left the entity; calculating her best method of attack, she observed something; its featureless face was cracked and withered, seemingly due to her attack, and for her, its significance was obvious.


    "That''s its weakness, light, it''s ''Meaning is light."


    Seeing a path to victory, she opted not to waste the opportunity; she propelled herself toward the entity at imperceptible speeds, sending shockwaves through the rain as ripples marked her path.


    She slashed the entity down the middle, yet no blood was drawn. Quickly pivoting off her right leg she let off another miniature blue star.


    The entity seemed to pause for a moment, but then, as the orb exploded on its navy black skin, the girl''s vision was obscured ever so slightly by the intense light.


    Without question, it threw itself into the depths of the attack and reached out to pierce her with its many clawed fingers.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Not expecting this desperate of a manoeuvre from the creature, she paled as its hand plunged deep into her abdomen and lifted her into the air, skewered on its bony fingers.


    The other hand soon followed, sinking into her chest and grabbing at her beating heart as it watched intently, waiting for some abstract spark of energy to drain from her eyes.


    Her skin turned a shade paler, instantly, as her blood ran cold. Whatever the creature had done seemed to have somehow reached the very depths of her Ether Network, bordering on touching her soul.


    The entity, although faceless, seemed somehow gleeful at her shock, but did not linger as it tightened its grasp, trying to crush her heart.


    Unfortunately, however, try as it may, her heart proved rather tenacious in its duty to keep her alive as it refused to tear, burst, or even skip a beat at her expense. This was to be expected after all; Astrals aren''t exactly a normal bunch anyway.


    They were those chosen and proven by the "Spire" to possess the necessary aspects needed to brave the "Outer Mirror".


    In less than half a second of it happening, she put all her strength into an upward swing.


    Gathering Ether into her sword, its glow deepened and in one decisive action, she cleanly severed the entity''s hand that was holding onto her heart.


    Then went for the other, only for her blade to whistle in the empty rain as the entity drew back its elongated limbs.


    She jumped at full force toward the entity but missed as the creature rather gracefully danced around her and moved back still.


    Growing frustrated, she urgently but carefully pulled its severed hand from her chest and threw it at the unusual creature. The creature caught it and seemed to linger on it as it tilted its neck inquisitively. It put it''s to the stump and the flesh conjoined almost as if it was never severed to begin with.


    She winced in pain; clutching onto her now cavernous chest cavity. Her sword grip was tight enough to break any normal weapon, and with a gaze cold enough to freeze the world''s oceans over ten times, she briefly almost looked monstrous herself.


    A deep frown found its way onto her face as violent murderous thoughts flooded her mind. She did not believe herself to be a violent person, but this thing, something about it made her blood boil.


    She couldn''t help but start to get a little serious. Readying to charge the creature again, she froze when, in the corner of her vision, she saw something unheard of.


    From the Spatial-Fract emerged a figure of short stature moving at almost imperceptible speeds, rushing at the Outer Existial.


    Like a speeding "Arcane Missile" the figure leapt up and pierced a blade entity''s heart from behind, or rather where a heart should have been.


    The Outer Existial seemed puzzled for a moment not sure what just happened, although it was hard to tell with its featureless face.


    However, this did not last long as it quickly snapped out of it and curled an arm back to reach for the mysterious humanoid.


    Seeing a chance at victory, the girl dashed toward the entity. Side-stepping an earth-shattering slam that sent cracks snaking through the bridge, she side-flipped onto its arm, using it as a sort of ramp.


    The entity tried to shake her off but it was too late. She''d already scaled up to its shoulders letting her blade sing once, as she reached for its neck.


    Before she could reach it, she jumped up, easily dodging a slash to what would have been her abdomen.


    With that, the entity had successfully thwarted her chance at a swift victory, or so it would seem.


    For little did it know that the girl had been plotting, scheming, patiently waiting for the most opportune moment to attack; the moment when the entity was most sure of victory.


    For as she descended back down, it made its move; simultaneously clutching onto the figure on its back and reaching out a bony finger to pierce her through the heart.


    But faster than one could blink she slashed at the air while also focusing Ether into her blade. An ethereal arc of light formed and carved through its hand, cleaving cleanly through its neck. Cutting past the rain and disappearing into the stormy clouds above.


    Seconds later a horned head with a featureless face rolled onto the ground. The creature was now presumably dead, decapitated, as its lumbering mass fell to the floor its head rolled over to her feet.


    In the aftermath, the mysterious figure stood on top of the headless entity''s lifeless body, hunched over with what looked to be a black blade with an outstretched raven''s wing on its crossguard.


    The sword quickly faded in a flash of indigo light as the figure collapsed. Turning her head she saw the Spatial-Fract seemingly collapse on itself.


    Slowly after that, the darkness receded and a familiar voice found its way to her ears.


    "Existial Felled: Night Defiler"


    "Existence Type: Catagory 1"


    "Existence Rank: Ascendent"


    "Existence Tier: 1"


    "Remembrance Claimed."


    Ignoring it, she made her way up the entity''s cadaver. With a single jump, she landed next to the unconscious figure.


    The figure was lying on his stomach but was obviously lean with subtly musculature, and covered in dried blood and ichor.


    Tired and aching profusely she clutched at her chest and side. She thought to herself:


    "What kind of day is this?


    I''m an Astral, I know, and I should expect things like this on a daily, but it feels like today has been especially... strange.


    First, a Spatial-Fract appearing out the woodworks, undetected, and now this?"


    She frowned a bit deeper as she glanced over the figure form:


    "People cannot usually interact with Spatial-Fracts much less exit from them. So what''s really going on here?"


    Looming over him, she used her foot to gently nudge him onto his back. Her eyes widened as she silently stared at him in confusion and frustration.


    The boy had a familiar heart-shaped face; only now, without the darkness and distortions cloaking its form, he had an oval shape.


    His face was a mix of soft and subtle sharp features and black dreadlocks that stretched near to his shoulders.


    Her sword shimmered brighter with each passing moment, her grip tightening around its hilt as her grey-coloured eye turned golden with a small displacement in purity as it yellowed at the edges.


    Her mind started flaring as the thought of being used rummaged around in her head. She felt used, a small part of her felt betrayed somehow. But betrayal never comes from your enemies.


    The hole in her chest was slowly closing and getting replaced with new flesh and bone.


    Her hair tossed and turned in the winds of the storm, mimicking her as she was truly in her heart.


    Looking up into the tempestuous sky above, she sighed deeply and turned her sights toward the boy, her sword in its dream-like construct fading into a ghostly blue light.


    "Until this very moment, I don''t think I ever truly knew the depths of my own ignorance... What is even reality anymore?"


    A scream built up in her throat and died there. For although she wanted to, she could not; the storm was loud enough for the both of them.


    Her hair was drenched and stuck to her skin as the storm raged on all around her; no praise, no thanks, no glory, just hollow victory... Alone.


    Slowly her eye returned to its more golden hue before returning to its grey splendor. Hesitantly she reached down at the boy with both hands.


    It takes her a minute or two but she manages to carry the unconscious boy back to her street and into her house with one hand under his knees and the other on his back.


    A flustered look plastered itself across her features as she did her best not to look at his naked form as much as possible.


    However, it didn''t help that she had a photographic memory. Minutes later she reached her house.


    Making her way up the stairs, she passed by a familiar strange door with Runes and Alchemical Symbols that remained slumbering but seemed to shimmer ever so slightly as she passed by.


    This was a daily thing for her, but today, for some reason, she could have sworn she heard a silent, shallow breath from behind it, sending a shiver down her spine.


    Suddenly she was more aware of her physical state, the dryness of her lips, the ache in her chest, the pain in her side. Fixating on it for a few seconds, she reached for the handle, but it remained locked; shaking her head, she continued on her way.


    She entered her room and laid the boy out on her bed, then leaning back against the bookcase, her breaths shallow and pained. Reaching for her bedside shelf she grabbed a sleek device that gleamed under the dim light.


    It had a cylindrical body crafted from polished white metal with detachable ergonomic grey grips. A transparent chamber along the side housed a glowing vial of green liquid, pulsating faintly like a heartbeat.


    The shelf housed multiple of these chambers., another version displayed a fiery red hue.


    The cylindrical design had a slender tip extended into a sharp, needle-like point, poised for precise delivery.


    She took the red one and self-medicated, carefully inserting the needle into a vein through her forearm. The liquid rapidly circulated through her body and all her wounds accelerated their rate of healing.


    Removing the now empty vile from the device, she replaced it with another, made her way to the boy and administered the same treatment.


    "Ok, he''s in our house... We''re both healed. What now?"


    Looking down at her hands she noticed a slimy substance of no discernable colour clinging to her skin.


    "This is... Echor, why is he covered in echor? Was it from that Outer Existial...? No, it couldn''t be; it didn''t bleed."


    She looked at the slumbering figure of the boy before quickly remembering the boy''s vulnerable state and looking away in embarrassment; turning beet red, she sighed.


    "I should get him some clothes and clean that gunk off him. Now where''s that towel I was using?"


    Grabbing the towel from near the wardrobe, she mentally prepared herself for what came next.


    After a few long minutes of intense blushing the boy was dry and clean... Well, cleaner cleaner than before, which was more than could be said for the bed sheets and the towel.


    Laying the boy down on the carpet she quickly replaced the bedsheets and took a shower as she let the towel soak in the soapy bathtub water.


    The sound of rain and distant thunder was muffled somewhat by the relative safety of her house.


    Remembering the voice from earlier, she focused her mind, and holographic screens formed in front of her, but oddly, they didn''t reflect in any of the mirrors.


    The screens displayed:


    "Existial Felled: Night Defiler"


    "Existence Type:  Catagory 1"


    "Existence Rank: Ascendent"


    "Existence Tier: 1"


    "Remembrance Claimed."


    Focusing on remembrance, the following displayed:


    "Rememberance Title: Soul Hook"


    "Remembrance Type: Weapon"


    "Weapon Type: Scyth"


    "Remembrance Rank: Ascendant"


    "Remembrance Tier: 1"


    "Description: It was night when it happened. It was at first light when it ended. It took time to love, but this darkness it could abide. To be heartless meant to keep alive. What else could it do? A whee-lil babe in the calamity. It filled the heart to devour, afterall."


    Her eyes went wide with shock as she stood up in the tub:


    "Ascendent?! The fourth rank?!"

 Hero?

    In a dark and dimly lit interior of a lavishly furnished bedroom, a modern Victorian design, enveloped in dark, rich tones such as deep forest green and burnished walnut, with walls that spoke of intricate wooden panelling, reminiscent of old world craftsmanship.


    On one side, old bookshelves stretched to the ceiling, crammed with worn volumes of forgotten lore, whose spines told tales of years gone by.


    The shelves framed an arched alcove, casting a shadowy nook perfect for contemplation or drowning oneself in captivating literary works.


    In the centre, nestled against one of the book-lined walls, was a bed draped in thick, sumptuous linens. The bedding was a moody mix of dark, velvety greens and deep greys.


    A woollen throw, casually draped across the foot of the bed with a book quietly nested atop its fabrics, as though someone had just stepped away from a cosy night of reading.


    Then there, on the balcony of such a luxurious bedroom, stood a silver-haired half-elf dressed in smooth, deep navy silk pyjamas that draped over his lean-muscular form.


    The high-quality sheen of the fabrics seemed to shimmer subtly in the twilight of morning, partially covered in a robe comprising the same material, hung loosely on his shoulders, untied.


    Leaning over the balcony railing, he marvelled at the beautiful sight of the city at dawn as the first light of S¨®l crested the horizon and bathed the city in a soft golden hue, illuminating the intricate spires and winding marble streets below.


    S¨®l was a yellow dwarf star with a diameter of 1.3927 million km, which was smaller compared to its distant cousins observed all throughout the vast cosmos but beautiful nevertheless to him.


    As dawn broke over the city, the first light spilt across the horizon, bathing the sprawling metropolis in a golden, ethereal glow.


    The city sat perched along the edge of a shimmering azure bay, its waters glittering as the sun stretched its rays over the ocean, reflecting the promise of a new day.


    White sails dotted the harbour, as ships lazily swayed in the gentle morning breeze, their crews beginning to stir from their slumber.


    The city itself was a marvel of architecture, a cascade of pale stone structures that rose like grand sentinels from the sea to the hills beyond.


    It sprawled on the land like a scroll rolled across a table, it just fit, a vibrant labyrinth of pale-red rooftops and winding streets that shimmered under the embrace of the rising sun.


    Its crown jewel was a towering spire, a structure so immense and intricate that it seemed to pierce the heavens, its tip reaching toward the lavender-hued sky.


    The Spire stood as both a beacon of faith and a monument to the boundless creativity of its creator, with its runic carving and glyphs revealing its arcane nature.


    Rivers snaked through the heart of the city, their gentle currents dividing neighbourhoods yet also stitching them together as though veins in a living organism. Bridges, each a marvel of design, arched gracefully across the waterways, bustling with merchants, musicians, and weary travellers.


    The grand plaza, dominated by a towering obelisk, was a gathering place for the masses¡ªa stage for declarations, celebrations, and protests alike. Its circular design reflecting what was the unity the the city sought to embody, though its stones now carried the whispers of countless forgotten footsteps.


    Beyond the bustling core, the city had stretched toward the horizon, its edges softening into rolling hills and distant mountains cloaked in mist.


    At dawn, the peaks often glew in shades of rose and gold, a distant promise of serenity that contrasted with the lively chaos of the streets.


    The architecture was a mix of styles¡ªold stone towers bearing the weight of history standing alongside newer, elegant structures speaking to a more modern approach, both mingling in an uneasy but beautiful harmony.


    The scent of salt from the nearby sea mingled with the fresh fragrance of blossoms from the gardens, carried on the light breeze.


    As the sun climbed higher, its rays revealed the distant hills and rolling plains that surrounded the city, their soft, golden-brown hues blending seamlessly into the horizon.


    The people of the city were just beginning to wake, small figures moving along the walls and streets, ready to begin their day under the watchful eye of the towering fortresses that encircled the metropolis like protective arms.


    Far below, the waves gently lapped at the base of the city''s sea-facing walls, and seagulls called out as they soared in the morning air.


    The entire city seemed to glow as if touched by the gods themselves, a place where history and beauty had converged to create a civilization of elegance and grace. Breathtaking in its beauty.


    A warm smile seemed to spread across the young man''s features at the sight of it, welcoming yet another day of possibilities.


    But lingering on the beautiful sight no longer, he took a deep breath as he allowed the clean air to blow past him and his smile deepened; stepping away, the young man left the room and quickly took a bath, brushed his teeth, and dawned his usual attire of black with silver accents.


    He emanated an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence. His long, silver hair cascaded in elegant waves down his back, a river of light that shimmered like moonlit silk.


    A few strands hung loosely across his sharp, angular face, framing high, sculpted cheekbones, and their eyes were piercing, reminiscent of glacial ice caps in colour with a calm appeal to them.


    And not afraid to accessorize, an intricate earring dangled from one ear¡ªa dark, obsidian spike adorned with delicate carvings that hinted at arcane origins or a noble heritage steeped in magic and tradition.


    Their lips were a soft, pale hue with a delicate pink that only enhanced his alluring beauty, coupled with a mischievous subtle curve to them that suggested a mind always turning over some intricate plan, a smirk that never quite reached full expression.


    Draped across their shoulders was a long, charcoal-black coat that stretched to their knees.


    The coat was made from a luxurious fabric, that swayed slightly with every movement, giving the impression of shadowy wings.


    With a small collar and intricate silver thread embroidery along the edges that glinted softly, depicting cryptic symbols or perhaps familial insignias.


    Beneath the coat, their form-fitting attire was visible, consisting of sleek, dark garments that clung to his lean, tall frame, emphasizing the lithe grace and poised elegance of someone accustomed to both combat and nobility.


    Their long sleeves were adorned with intricate braids and threading, drawing attention to the delicate yet dangerous hands beneath them¡ªhands capable of wielding magic, swords, or anything that might be required of them with deadly precision.


    Not bothering to make his way through the castle halls, the young man simply stood over his balcony railings and prepared to jump.


    Right then, one of the new maids tasked with cleaning his bedroom knocked and stepped through the door, and upon seeing him, her mind instantly started to race.


    Thinking the young noble had finally decided he''d endured about enough of life''s tortures and committed himself to ending them and living up to that divine face of his, becoming an angel.


    A gasp escaped her as she frantically thought of something to say to stop the young noble from making what she saw as being a mistake on his life, but before a word could escape her lips, without even hesitating or thinking twice he leapt from said height.


    The maid slowly sunk to her knees in disbelief and leaned limply against the side of the door, not sure what she had just witnessed as her mind ceased all thought.


    An intense few seconds of silence settled in the empty chambers before suddenly his familiar figure lifted up into the sky carried by the winds.


    One of the other more experienced maids noticed her distraught form at the entrance of the young noble''s chambers and quickly rushed over.


    By this point, however, it seemed her fears of losing her job on her first day had finally caught up to the metaphysical shackles of her mind.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Elizabeth, are you ok?! What happened?!"


    The older maid grabbed her shoulder and gently lifted her face up. Listening for a heartbeat, her brows relaxed as hurried but steady rhythmic beats filled her ears.


    She let out a sigh then flinched as an elegant husky voice emerged from behind her asking:


    "What''s happening over here? I came to check in on my brother, but instead, I find two distraught maidens at the foot of his door; whatever might this mean?"


    Her tone was playful and a tad sarcastic, masking a devilish curiosity. The maid looked back knowing exactly to whom the voice belonged and shakily uttered:


    "Uhh, I''m sorry Young Miss. I was on my way to retrieving your morning breakfast but..."


    The figure looked into the room focusing on the outside of the balcony window as the older maid spoke, noticing there in the distance a black blur with silver hair that blew in the wind.


    Her thin and delicate full lips curved upward subtly, and dismissively, she waved at the nervous maid.


    Awkwardly she scratched the back of her head gently, disturbing her  own voluminous, tousled, wavy blonde hair that somewhat covered her eyes, and spoke:


    "It''s fine... I always tell you not to worry too much about these things Josephine.


    Although I appreciate it, you don''t have to bring me breakfast every morning.


    Also, we''ve known each other far too long for you to keep referring to me as Young Miss, don''t you think?


    Why not just, Isolde?"


    "Ah yes... Miss Isolde. My apologies again for our loitering, I will quickly go get this one checked out. If you would excuse me please..."


    She responded as she lifted the other maid into her arms. Isolde chuckled a little and asked:


    "Do you need help?"


    "No, no, no, I couldn''t ask malady to take on a trivial task such as this. I am fully capable of escorting her to the medical ward myself. There''s no need to worry yourself Young- I mean Miss Isolde."


    She said, bowing, waiting for her dismissal. Isolde noticed this and let out a barely audible sigh of resignation and spoke gently like the Luling Koos of an owl on a moonlit night.


    "Well, then, be on your way. I''d hate to disturb you while you''re doing your duties after all."


    The maid relieved, lifted her head and gently nodded at Isolde before quickly and urgently rushing down the stairs to the south wing of the castle.


    Isolde watched in silence and lingered outside her brother''s chambers a few seconds more before closing the door to the room and departing to her own.


    The young elf, not knowing the commotion he''d caused in the castle, continued on his way, unburdened.


    During his flight over the marvellous city, he noticed ominous clouds gathering in the distance with crawling lightning that thundered their tempestuous wraths.


    "Hmm, A thunderstorm is nearing; it''s likely going to rain tonight. It''s odd looking but... Sumi''s probably going to love it. I don''t know many people that I can say like rain quite as much as her."


    A few minutes passed as he remained airborne; occasionally, along his flight, he propelled himself up using short bursts of fire that allowed for rapid changes in direction midair for greater control and immediate rapid changes in position and speed for explosive mobility.


    The cloak itself was fitted with an enchantment that made it more durable than metal armour and allowed the wearer the ability to fly magically by siphoning Ether into it.


    Looking down at the city, he saw the citizens getting ready for their day-to-day lives as small businesses started to set up shop in their permitted spaces, and many industry workers crowded the roads in their automobiles and other such methods of transportation.


    At the sight of it, he couldn''t help but smile subtly as sonder emotions welled the confines of his mind, ruined only by a cold morning breeze that felt inappropriate against his warm face, like a sneeze that died out in one''s lungs.


    "Hmm, I can''t with mornings.


    I wish I could''ve stayed in bed more. Because by this point I swear I am dangerously close to declaring war on Mother Nature itself if I have to endure a second more of this breeze.


    Last night, it was raining cats and dogs with how bad that lightning storm was, and now I have to deal with this dreadful morning cold?


    That storm did make for some cosy weather, though, nearly made me spend all night reading, a good way to help lose track of time, rainy weather."


    A deep and tired sigh escaped the elven gentleman''s lips as his gaze then shifted to a towering Spire in the middle of the city that outstretched to the sky, taller than any building seemingly stretching onto infinity.


    On its surface were weird symbols, runes, glyphs and sigils that were seemingly carved into the Spire''s very structure and were likely crucial to the processes that occurred inside such work of brilliance.


    His expression seemed to dim a bit at the sight of the towering structure, but before he could ponder on it more, there was a sudden boom that came from the direction of the banking district section of the city as an automobile of intricate design emerged from the smoke and barrelled onto the streets.


    The vehicle seemed to, in many ways, break the laws of physics.


    It was made of a golden alloy and in place of wheels, had orbs of a warm, reddish-brown light like burnt sienna in colour.


    "A robbery...?


    So early in the morning, what kind of idiots would...?


    You know what let''s not bother thinking about it and just take care of the problem."


    Having lost the will to question the criminals'' life choices, the elven male started trailing the vehicle from his high vantage point, flying above in chase of the wonderous magical creation as it tried desperately to avoid capture, springing past scores of people and nearly hitting dozens of pedestrians on its escape route, if one could even call it that.


    Seemingly appalled by the reckless behaviour exhibited by the driver of such a fine automobile, the Elven male could not help but feel a tinge of frustration fill his mind and, deciding he''d had enough, hurriedly flew down, landing a distance away in front of the automobile.


    He looked coldly at the magical vehicle, sighed and slightly shifted his right foot; then, like a disease, a trail of ice and frost suddenly sprung forth from underneath his leg and raced to meet the vehicle.


    Upon contact, it froze its two front orbs of light, or I suppose it''s more accurate to say the icy sorcery encased the orbs of light, causing them to flicker off and on, seemingly losing energy rapidly, and for a moment, it looked as if the car would either stop entirely or flip over in the air before collapsing.


    However, to his surprise, a luminescent glow of blue arcane energy surged through the car; then, without a word or warning, the ice quickly shattered, and the vehicles'' speed increased two-fold and barrelled toward the young elf at near imperceptible velocities, attempting to run him over.


    In a heartbeat, he leapt mere inches from the automobile, twisting in midair, as his flames propelled him upward just as the vehicle tore past.


    With his flames, he rocketed himself forward with explosive speed, quickly catching up to the vehicle as the chase continued throughout the city.


    After what felt like hours, although only close to 30 minutes of relentless chasing, the drivers of the automobile finally decided they were fed up with this little game of cat and mouse. Robber One spoke:


    "For Spire''s sake, he just won''t let up. I was hoping things wouldn''t come to this, but at this point, we''re not left with much of a choice."


    Sighing he then loudly declared:


    "Dragon Of Apricity! Let''s test your metal then, why don''t we!? Are you a hero or a fraud!?"


    Without looking back, they tossed what appeared to be a small amulet, which gleamed with a pale orange light that nearly blinded him from its sheer intensity.


    Taking form, the light materialized into a giant gaping maw filled with rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth that took up most of his vision, snapping furiously in the young elf''s direction, threatening to devour him whole.


    Using his flames, he successfully propelled himself to the side in one burst of motion as the creature fell to the wayside.


    The creature was large, about as tall as a house; it squirmed on the ground, then screamed a deafening roar that bellowed with misplaced anger and resentment, striking fear into the hearts of man, woman and child as its manic eyes burned with seething fury.


    Its thick, tough purple-hued carapace plates, each ridged and textured, offered a natural armour that gleamed with a dull sheen and shimmered under the light of S¨®l.


    The creature had foxing horns protruding along its sides, especially concentrated near its head and tail.


    Its back was a mess of bone-like spines that spammed from head to tail and Its eyes were abominable.


    All in all, the creature appeared to be quite a menace to look at, but for all its horror, the young elf knew it was nothing but a distraction to keep him occupied as the thieves made their getaway; his heart wavered.


    The worm loomed behind him, its roar sending ripples of terror through the streets, while the vehicle tore through the city like a bullet.


    The question now was: Could he abandon his pursuit of the criminals for the sake of these middle-class citizens and small business owners, or did their lives hold less value than the burdens of duty?


    Knowing about the creature as he had read about it once in a book during his younger years he understood the risk it posed to the city and its citizens.


    He sighed, deeply analysing the situation and took a closer look at the worm, noting its much smaller size relative to the ones depicted in the books leading him to deduce that the worm was likely a juvenile and thus less of a threat than the crazed criminals, who may have had even more of the foul creatures on hand.


    Dejectedly, the young elf gritted his teeth and forced his gaze away from the creature and the panicked citizens, of whom some were running away while others stood still, frozen in fear hoping for a miracle to save them.


    The streets were a mess of motion as panic quickly overtook the masses. Despite this, however, the young elf readied to give chase to the criminals as he grimaced, disgusted by the severity of his decision.


    Launching himself into the air, he couldn''t help but look back one last time, trying to weigh the grim nature of his choice, a decision that to many of the city officials would be for the greater good of Atharys as a whole, though at the expense of possible thousands of innocent lives.


    Lives that trusted Astrals to serve and protect them as they would any civilian regardless of class or power but rather simply because they were a citizen of great Leydrithia.


    Reflecting on that thought for a moment, his face contorted into an ugly grimace that seemed all too alien to the otherwise model-esque features of his face.


    But he could not help it, he knew the dirty truth of it all, the inner workings of his organisation.


    The lies, the cover-ups, the propaganda, all of it. As such, he knew claims of Astrals being selfless heroes were unfounded or, at least in his mind, they were nothing but fantasy, for one does not fight monsters and remain wholly human.


    So he knew that even if he left, he would be fine. His reputation might receive a slight decline, but he''d live, praised for catching the robbers as the bodies of innocents loitered the streets, forgotten.


    The thought haunted him, causing his brows to knit, then the jets from his hands ceased, and he landed on his feet as they slid on the ground a few meters, displacing dust around him on the polished stone road before finally stopping, hunched over.


    He turned his back and set his sights on the worn as the vehicle made its getaway behind him.


    However, in the wake of their hopes of escape, a wall suddenly erected along their path with a speed and fervour that left them little wiggle room. Their hopes dimmed.


    Survived only by the fact that this was no normal vehicle, it was a wonder of the Arcane and Science, made to thrive in a multitude of terrains and situations.


    The driver of the vehicle looked back at the young noble for a moment as their eyelids slightly curved upward, reflective pearls of jade visible from the round eye holes of the porcelain, gold-threaded mask of a flowing intricate patterned design.


    Their face beneath the mask was telling as they seemed to delight in his desperation to manage both capturing them and saving all the people from the Crownfissure worm, but to them what was even more delightful was knowing what his choice had been.


    He would protect the people at the expense of their escape if unavoidable.

 Better Saviours.

    From a distance, his eyes widened as he watched the runaway vehicle. s it showed no sign of slowing or hesitation from the driver, it was then, he knew the earth wall was likely to fail.


    Hurriedly, he analysed the creature for weak spots that could help him end the fight as swiftly as possible.


    He observed that its form tapered slightly toward its tail but remained impressively thick and muscular throughout.


    The worm''s wide, gaping maw was filled with rows of jagged, needle-like teeth, each slightly yellowed and stained, likely from years of devouring prey, and wet with saliva.


    Its teeth were arranged in concentric layers, designed to tear meat and grind bone. The creature was essentially a living death machine with no observable weaknesses.


    With this in mind he concluded that hand-to-hand combat would be rather taxing.


    Due to its myriad of spikes that adorned its back, it would prove to be a perilous endeavour so the most likely position of attack would be its front.


    Even so, the front presented little room for mistakes. No matter where he chose, death was a possibility.


    He figured the most effective solution would be either ranged bombardment with spells or close-quarters combat using a weapon, and for a moment he contemplated using his arcane gifts but decided against it.


    Figuring he would need as much Ether as possible if he wanted to capture the criminals, so with a limited number of options he bawled his fists and shifted into a battle stance.


    With his mind made up, the icy depths of his eyes seemed to momentarily glow with a pale radiance.


    He waved his hand and fierce torrents of cold and winter quickly enveloped the worm, near-instantaneously freezing it, along with anything within its vicinity.


    From first interaction alone, the large worm seemed to already be at a disadvantage; as whatever ice magics the elven man had used proved rather potent or at least enough to render the creature immobile for a time.


    Without wasting even a second, he quickly glanced in the direction of the automobile and his eyes widened. The construct was effortlessly scaling the wall.


    Almost to the top of the wall and racing to breach to the other side, it looked like a rocket about to leave base.


    But unexpectedly the young elf smiled. Then with a wave of his hand, cracks began to snake along the wall''s surface, breaking it apart.


    And in a loud rumble, the wall crumbled into several chunks of debris that made multiple deafening impacts.


    It seemed the wall, after all, was not meant to stop the automobile, seeing as many of these wonderful inventions had been predisposed to have means of adapting to various environments and situations.


    Thus, stopping it was out of the question without sufficient information about the Arcane Vehicle''s inner workings. Instead, he opted to buy himself more time to deal with the Crownfissure Worm.


    And it seemed everything went accordingly, now was his chance; the fruits of his labour were ripe and ready for harvest.


    It was then that  from the corner of his eye suddenly flashed a purple streak through the air but before he even knew what he was doing, instinctively he ducked underneath it as a thick muscular tail collided into a building next to him, leaving an imprint where it had struck and deep cracks along the structure.


    Wordlessly he glanced at the streets once more as small business owners and other such middle-class citizens ran away in fright of the harrowing creature.


    And far off in the distance the automobile began to stir once more, as Ether began to circulate through the vehicle.


    Swiftly he breached much of the little distance left between him and the creature, delivering four consecutive punches to its underside, cracking the creature''s smooth carapace, revealing the tender flesh beneath.


    However, the worm didn''t seem ready to surrender yet, steeling itself to endure as much punishment as necessary to ensure the escape of its masters.


    Bruised and nearly broken, there was no winning here for it. The best it could do was survive.


    Understanding this it was now largely flailing its giant mass around thoughtlessly; its only strategy seemingly being unrestrained destruction as its tail smashed into the building behind it.


    Lunging at the pale elf, the worm feigned an attack with its maw, and the young elf readied to dodge. What he wasn''t expecting were three serpentine tongues shooting out from the worm''s mouth to try and wrap around him.


    Shrprised he took a step back, nearly tripping as he shouted out into the universe:


    "Oh for Spire''s sake, where are all the Enforcement Arcanum when you need them?"


    Catching himself he unleashed another torrent of attacks on the creature, batting away all its tongues with ease.


    Then fluidly he uppercutted its jaw closed then delivered a punch to what he assumed was its cheek, sending the creature spiralling and impacting against the building behind it, falling slumped on the floor.


    Ready to end this, his fist ignited with a yellow flame that glistened like gold as it wrapped around his hand.


    Leaping into action he brought his fist down on the entity, but met no resistance as the golden flame melted the through the pale stone and a small shockwave of fire billowed out.


    Confused, he glanced back at the runaway automobile far off in the distance and frowned as he watched burnt sienna-coloured sparks stream towards it.


    The stream travelled straight to a hand peeking out the window of the vehicle, holding an identical amulet to the one that had summoned the worm both glowing orange in tandem, slowly undulating.


    Taking a running start, he swiped the trinket off the road and sprung into the air using the flames to launch himself far up at incredible speeds.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    But due to fearing what other tricks the thieves might have up their sleeves, he opted to trail them stealthily from a distance, in an attempt to keep innocent civilians out of any possible crossfire, using the buildings as cover, he kept track of them, making sure to keep out of their sights.


    After a few minutes, they eventually came to a stop at a big abandoned warehouse of sorts near the overgrown section of the docks.


    He landed atop its roof, and lifted his right sleeve to reveal a small, sleek industrial grade silver bracelet of a utilitarian design.


    It had a sagmented construction with clean edges, on both sides had a slit that glowed blue, and a rectangular interface with markings resembling buttons. Putting it close to his mouth he quietly said:


    "Contact Cassie, communication format: Voice."


    Silence rang over the harbour only briefly chased away by distant voices and the cawing of passerby seagulls. The blue strips on the bracelet were undulating then a few seconds later turned green. Calmly he spoke:


    "Uhh... Hello?"


    "H-Huh... Uhh Solace?"


    The voice spoke softly into his ear. He responded:


    "Yeah, it''s me."


    "Why are you calling so early in the morning?


    Some of us need our beauty sleep, you know."


    The young man smiled.


    "Morning? Oh, uh, you were asleep? Sorry then..."


    The feminine melodic voice emerged once more:


    "No, no, it''s fine, just tell me what you need."


    Solace paused considering his next words.


    "Well, I thought you''d be at the station right now, so I was gonna ask if you could dispatch a unit of automatons or androids to my current location?"


    "Automatons...? Oh, you didn''t know?"


    Confused the half-elf asked quietly:


    "Didn''t know what?"


    The voice paused for a moment as her mutters filled the silence, returning the voice responded indifferently:


    "Last night, the government detected two large electromagnetic distortions one of which emerged from deep under the city and the other appeared on a bridge close to the Spire, so they sent out a distress signal to any available Astrals to come try to neutralize it.


    Thus, most of the Astrals went to take advantage of the disturbance and get themselves some Mirror Fracts... The fools.


    Good news is they said one seemed to have resolved itself but the other still needed containment, they''re still unsure what happened with it."


    The young elf sighed.


    "So they''re using the Automatons and Androids as backup... Well, thanks anyway; I guess I could handle this on my own."


    The voice sighed then spoke once more.


    "Don''t worry, I''ll go see what I can do. There might be one or two Automatons who are available to help or maybe even some Astrals; if nothing else, I''ll come join you myself."


    A quiet chuckle escaped the half-elf''s lips.


    "Thanks, Cassie, I appreciate it."


    Soon after the sound of rustling bed sheets emerged from the other side of the connection as slippers tapped against hardwood. The voice yawned and tiredly responded:


    "No need; I received a last-minute call from the organisation a few hours before this anyway. I just get to kill two birds with one stone this way."


    "Sorry for making you skip out on your beauty sleep then. You don''t need it anyway, you always look wonderful."


    He said teasingly as a mischievous smile clearly visible on his otherwise chiselled features widened. Cassie seemed to audibly sigh at the remark and commented:


    "Tell that to the dark circles under my eyes why don''t you?"


    Solace laughed and the connection severed as the sound of running water started streaming from the other side. With a warm smile plastered across his face, Solace''s eyes softened as he warmly gazed at the bracelet before putting it away.


    Finished, he jumped down and gliding on the wind, noticed a collapsed window along what he assumed to be the second floor of the complex.


    Flying in quietly with the grace of an owl. He landed behind some crates on the gratings of the second floor.


    Peering over the crates, he looked down at a gold-plated automobile parked in the middle of the compound, as it hovered slightly in the air with one of the masked figures lounging comfortably in the back seat of the convertable while the other surveyed the perimeter.


    They seemed to be waiting for someone or something so Solace decided to postpone taking action until he received a response from Cassie on backup.


    Hours passed in silence, as the petrichor slowly crept into the compound, becoming stronger as time danced away, pulling Solace into a nostalgic embrace as he started to relax a bit, letting out a heavy breath.


    A storm was approaching, its tendrils of lightning creeping across the horizon as sparks of reds and blues battled in its depths. He sat thinking to himself.


    "So this is the ponder weather Sumi always talks about. She always said don''t shy away from it. Now I might finally get why, ''as beneficial to the mind and soul as sleep'', indeed."


    Chuckling internally to himself Solace smiled warmly.


    "What did Cassie say about it again, Nature''s Therapy? Its not bad, I could certainly acquire a taste for this... best be careful though; I''ll have to tell the girls they were right later. Curse those pluviophile women. They''re starting to get to me with all this rain dribble."


    He watched as the clouds slowly consumed the light of day and made way for dark, grey skies that stretched as far as the imagination.


    During all of this, he brought his wrist close to his mouth and whispered:


    "Data Collection Mode: On"


    "Data format: Voice"


    "Recording: Start"


    The slits of the communicator blinked red. While this went on, the robbers wholey unaware of his presence,  patiently waiting. Seemingly relaxed yet cautious.


    "So when are these guys supposed to show? We''ve been here for what feels like hours. Personally, I''m starting to get bored."


    The first robber said as he leaned against the entrance to the warehouse staring back at Robber Two.


    "Don''t worry brother, they''ll be here soon. Thanks to our little chase around the city by the Dragon Of Apricity, they''re probably just being extra careful."


    Robber One crossed his arms and sighed.


    "Careful!? If they really wanted to be careful they wouldn''t have given us such a specific time to break out of the bank.


    I mean, really, in the morning... We could have done this operation at night and escaped before anybody could have seen us, but no, they wanted to have their cake and eat it too.


    You know the phrase goes ''Like a couple of theives in the night'', it doesn''t go ''Like a couple of dumbasses in broad daylight''.


    You know, I don''t know if I''m crazy, but who in their right mind would send thieves to steal in broad daylight if they wanted to be careful?"


    Robber Two shrugged his shoulders.


    "Who knows maybe they have a plan in mind."


    He sighed.


    "And I think I might just have an idea as to what it might be. But without any evidence, it might as well just be a shot in the dark."


    Robber One scoffed and went back to keeping watch of the perimeter.


    "Pfft, well, so long as they pay us well, it won''t matter too much to me."


    Robber Two chuckled a little.


    "Well, that''s surprising. Knowing you I thought you''d want a piece of him for yourself."


    Silence followed, then Robber One looked back at him.


    "Huh? What do you mean?"


    Robber Two waved his hand in a dismissive gesture and calmly said:


    "Well, their plans seem like they involve the Dragon Of Apricity on some level."


    Hearing this from his place of hiding, Solace''s eyes went wide in confusion.


    "Their plans involve me...? How?"


    Robber One looked at his companion and responded indifferently:


    "So? I don''t see how that would affect me?"


    Robber two chuckled.


    "Well, if you plan to fight him at some point, how will you do that if he''s dead... or worse?"


    Robber One turned his head away and responded calmly:


    "He''ll be fine. He''s fought a dragon before and won, so I doubt these guys would be enough to kill him."


    Robber Two smiled intrigued.


    "You seem to have a lot of confidence in Mr Acustes. And here I thought you hated all nobles."


    Robber One shrugged.


    "Well, he''s not like those asshole; he''s a true warrior. A defender of the weak and the strong, a man of the people. Don''t lump him in with those phonies."


    Robber Two nodded, leaned deeper into the white leather seats of the vehicle and put his hand to his chin in a contemplative gesture.


    "Maybe, but there are so many more people out there stronger than him, people who have sacrificed for the greater good even more than him...


    For example: Erakis ''Little Red Star'' or Isolde ''The Written Tempest'' or Clive ''Sprite in Bloom'' even Yakim ''Free from Sorrow'' can likely defeat him in a brawl. So why not them?"


    Robber One scratched his head and remarked warmly:


    "Because they''re not him. They lack a certain aspect of him, they lack his greed. He isn''t a hero for show like them, I know the look of a desperate man."


    Solace winced at the utterance.


    "Desperate...? Greedy...? Me...?! Am I?"


    As Solace pondered on the revelations from his hiding place. Robber One quickly fell silent and looked back to check the perimeter.


    There, in the distance, he noticed an armoured automobile making its way to the compound.

 Weve Got A Problem.

    Parking next to the entrance, the armoured vehicle powered down, and out came two figures of a vaguely humanoid shape, although notably half the average height.


    Behind them stood a tall and muscular figure, dressed similarly to the two. Their expressions were unreadable under the pale masks as they approached.


    The masks had six vertical slits where the mouths should have been and dark chasms in place of their eyes making their presence all the more intimidating.


    The robbers stood at the entrance to the complex to greet them, their body language much more stoic and domineering than during their earlier conversation.


    Stirn and unyielding, they strongly shook hands with the figures, then allowed them passage into the complex, guiding them to the hovering Vehicular Arcanum.


    Eying the vehicle hungrily, one of the figures spoke, his voice deep and husky.


    "Ohhohoho! What a beauty this one!"


    The figure whistled and petted the automobile gently as he circled it, taking in the brilliant sight of such a marvellous Arcanum.


    "Truly one for the ages! Aye, tell me something then; how much was it, eh!?"


    A brief silence followed as Robber One simply stared at him with an unamused glare. Easing the tension Robber Two put his hand on his brother''s shoulder and chuckled.


    "Oh, well sorry to disappoint you... friend, but it seems your luck has run out. This one is beyond simple money; it cannot be bought. It''s a one-of-a-kind you see."


    The short figure laughed and looked at the two in amusement, then he let his face slowly grow serious as he asked:


    "So then, I assume you were able to snatch it, yes?"


    The two robbers, their demeanour emotionless and confident, calmly moved to the boot of the car.


    "Of course, of course, just as you asked a fully functional ''Mirror of Life Trapping''"


    Robber two said as he opened the boot of the vehicle and pulled out a small 4-inch long gold capsule with a 2-inch glass window on its front showing a holographic 3D image of a mirror hovering inside.


    "So, seeing as we''ve gone and kept our part of the deal..."


    Pleased, the gnomish man gestured to the Orc, prompting him to approach with a metallic suitcase in hand. He placed the case on top of the car''s boot and opened it, revealing neatly arranged stacks of Leynotes, Leydrithia''s most prominent form of currency.


    The currency of Leydrithia included denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 Leynotes.


    Additionally, there were smaller denominations represented by Sigils, which served as a coin-based currency carved from a common type of crystal found all over Leydrithia that held a low "Athar Capacity".


    Derivatives of Sigils included values of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5.


    Athar Capacity was the total amount of Athar that an object could hold or produce at any given time.


    From his hiding spot, Solace quietly observed the case''s contents; it was filled to the brim with Leynotes, most of which were in the 100 Leynote denomination.


    Seeing the money, Robber Two pulled out a colourless lens that he placed over his eye to scan the case. After a few seconds, he smiled and closed the case, seemingly satisfied.


    The robber then pointed the 4-inch cylindrical device at a spot on the floor as he focused his Ether, into the device.


    The hollow top of the device glowed a vibrant blue light that projected the image of a tall mirror, materializing it out of the way of the car.


    "Well then, gentlemen, it''s been a pleasure, but I''m afraid me and my partner here have things to do and people to see... I would hate to bore you with all the details, so we''ll simply bid you farewell."


    The gnomish man chuckled.


    "Well of course. We would hate to stall you, especially after all the good work you''ve afforded us. We hope to do business again soon."


    Robber Two shrugged and glanced at Robber One, signalling him to get the vehicle ready.


    "I see... Well, unfortunately, I do believe this will be our last job."


    Laughing the gnomish man petted him on the side and sighed as he looked around the compound.


    Catching some vague, curious scent from somewhere on the second floor of the complex, his eyes eventually landed on some large crates that leaned against the railings.


    His eyes narrowed for a second before returning to normal.


    "Hoping to turn your lives around, huh?"


    Robber Two followed his line of sight as he shrugged. There, he noticed a barely visible shadow on the wall shifting ever so slightly; he suppressed a smile.


    "Something like that, I guess."


    "Well, good luck on that endeavour then."


    Said the Gnome. Robber Two nodded and walked away as he repeated back to him:


    "You too, you might need it."


    The automobile suddenly boomed to life humming and glowing a Burnt Sierra colour with Robber One at the wheel. Giving the man a polite nod, Robber Two jumped into the convertible.


    Smiling, the short figure whistled to his companions, gesturing for them to make way so the Arcanum could safely drive past.


    They complied, and the robbers slowly drove past them, then from the second floor erupted two jets of flame, rocketing a figure wreathed in black and silver accents 35 feet above the rest of them as he sent a sphere of pale Ether towards the exit which exploded on impact, blocking the exit in a mountain of ice spikes.


    Simultaneously, the gnome had materialized a crossbow in his hands and let loose a silver bolt that grew midair, aimed to pierce the half-elf''s stomach but only managing to catapult him to the ceiling.


    Despite the hit, he didn''t even seem affected. Gathering his Ether on his way down, he converted it into a burst of air to pillow himself and break his fall, landing gently on the floor; prone in front of the blocked entrance.


    Urgently, he picked himself up, watching carefully as the automobile accelerated toward him, spying for any exploitable features, but other than the orbs of light, he was stumped.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Unbudging, he readied for a head-on collision with the vehicle, but to his surprise, the automobile vanished, and the ice spikes covering th e entrance shattered as an invisible construct bolted past him, barely outlined by the rain.


    "They escaped... Impressive. But if they could turn invisible this whole time then why did they have me trail them all around the city? Why didn''t they just... Turn invisible, unless they were meant to lead me here..."


    Solace froze as a chill crept up his spine.


    "And they said they were ordered to break out of the bank at a certain time, which also happened to be when I usually head to work, meaning they were supposed to cause a disturbance during their heist to lure me in."


    Finally, a terrible realisation dawned on him.


    "This is a trap."


    Smiling nervously to himself he muttered under his breath:


    "How terrible..."


    He sighed tiredly as he turned his sights to the three remaining figures. His eyes narrowed, and scanning them briefly for less than a second, he determined the Orc was the biggest threat.


    Then, without word or warning, he unleashed a bolt of lightning at the orcish man, knocking him back into the gnome woman and crashing, destroying a crate full of an unidentified powder, obscuring them like a smoke cloud as they lay in the wreckage.


    Lunging at the gnomish man and picking him up by his throat, delivering 3 earth-shattering punches to his body and breaking his nose before the gnomish man rebelled letting his blade sing, but only managed to cut the air, missing Solace by an inch and pulling himself free.


    Jumping back, he noticed the Orc emerging from the veil of smoke, behind Solace, rushing in with a blind fury.


    Trying to keep Solace distracted, the gnomish man pounced, letting his shortsword whistle in the air as Solace pulled back, ducking and dodging each attempt with relative ease, eventually stepping on his sword during a downward swing and pivoting on that foot with a reverse axe kick.


    Taking advantage of his momentary windedness, he ground swept him and caught the Orc''s blade mere inches from his face with his other hand in one fluid motion.


    With an unreadable expression, he looked into the Orc''s eyes for a moment, piercing deep into his very soul with an icy chill. His stare heavy with a cold determination, made the Orc shiver.


    Noticing that imperceptible change, Solace let go of the blade of the heavy greatsword and ducked underneath, letting the obvious instrument of death impact with the floor as he advanced the Orc.


    Struggling to quickly balance itself from the power of the swing in time, with one precise hit to the Orc''s solar plexus, Solace watched as it painfully sunk to its knees, leaning on its behemoth of a sword for support.


    Standing over him, he turned his head to see the gnomish man struggling to find his way onto his feet, then coldly he exclaimed for all to hear:


    "I suggest you all give up now; from your uniform, you seem to be government-sponsored Astrals, right? I''m uncertain why you would decide to stoop so low as petty theft or why you would target me of all people but it ends here."


    The gnomish man exploded in a horse laugh.


    "You know... ''Apricity'' I doubted all the rumours around your ruinous strength, attributing them instead as bloated adoration... But seeing it first-hand makes me wonder why you''re not an ''Ascended Existence'' yet. Ehh, I suppose it doesn''t matter anyway; you seem to already possess a strength comparable to some of those monsters."


    Solace glanced at him coldly as he continued his verbal dribble.


    "Your older brother is a Tier 2 Solivigant, and your younger sister is a Tier 4 Ascendent, isn''t she? So then what''s preventing you from doing the same... Family troubles maybe?"


    Solace didn''t speak, slowly growing impatient.


    "Do you surrender or no-"


    His sentence got cut short, as he felt a familiar pull tugging at his "Soul". His sights landed on a 3-foot wide, 6-foot tall gold crested mirror with intricate patterns on its gold platting, glowing as a feminine figure of short stature muttered archaic "Runesmith Incantations" under her breath, next to it.


    The mirror was fashionable and sophisticated in design, much like those one would normally find in the rooms of young noble girls or many of the beloved idols of Leydrithia.


    However, this mirror was very different; instead of reflecting the world as is, it showed a darker, more distorted version of reality, twisting whatever reflection it cast to show a corrupted version of it.


    Feeling the pull of the mirror, Solace averted his gaze, focusing instead on the gnome woman standing next to it, as she muttered Runic Scripture to strengthen the mirror''s trance and further activate its dormant traits.


    Recognising it as a Mal-Empirica and its possible ties to the Outer Mirror, a dimension entirely removed from reality... Well almost anyway. A sickening murmur called to him.


    "That mirror... It''s not possible... It''s a Mal-Empirica. What does this mean...? Uhh, No time to think about it now; the threat levels have changed; I''ll have to capture her first."


    His thoughts concluded and with that, he rushed to the mirror, enduring the ever-looming call of the distant realm, beckoning him to join its ranks.


    The gnomish man was barely able to even take a step before Solace was already upon the woman.


    Focusing some of his Ether into his feet, he violently shook the ground beneath her, causing her to lose balance momentarily and tip over to one foot, trying not to fall, leaving herself vulnerable to attack.


    Taking full advantage, he swept her into a leaning uppercut, sending her high up into the air, while his other hand manipulated the air above her into a powerful gale that cratered her into the floor.


    A distance away, the gnomish man hurled his silver shortsword at Solace in a desperate attempt to stop him but came up short as Solace merely tilted his neck, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the blade''s polished metal as it whistled past his head.


    Suddenly stopping, the sword snapped back mid-air, nearly slicing Solace''s throat open if not for his lightning-fast reflexes. He bent backwards, narrowly avoiding the blade as it swung above his face before returning to the gnome''s hand.


    Jetting past the gnome, the Orc made a charge toward Solace, reaching him just as he straightened and, without a second''s notice, brought down the full weight of his greatsword with audible effort, putting all his strength into the swing.


    Which made it all the more disheartening for him to see Solace deflect the blade with his left forearm as it made a cut in his sleeve and slid frictionless against bony scales, deflecting off to the side and partially biting into the floor with the tip.


    But determined to land at least one blow against him, the Orc brought his exceptionally sharp claws down on Solace, who was anticipating it and ready with a counter.


    Or so he would have, were it not for the call of the mirror ravaging his mind once more, briefly stranding him in cycling thoughts whispering to him.


    That momentary distraction allowed the orc to slash his face, leaving a five-fingered claw mark in the form of pale bony scales where he''d struck.


    Trying to snap his arm back for another slash he readied his other hand for an upward swing with the greatsword.


    At that moment, the orc''s eyes widened as the elf caught his arm before the slash could connect and drew in a deep breath.


    Struggling against his grip, the orc let out a bestial roar as he grew bigger, inheriting more primal features, hidden under the armour.


    The orc oozed a deluge of physical power, as Solace felt the sword begin to shake and slowly lift off the ground from under his tight grip.


    He raised an eyebrow, and then, finally releasing his breath, he exhaled a torrent of cold energy that chased away any bit of warmth that might have been present inside the compound.


    As cold winds formed ice and snow in every direction, covering the entire warehouse in thick layers of the elements. Knocking back the gnomes.


    In the aftermath of it all, the Orc stood frozen with its hand lying on the hilt of its sword. The gnomish man shivered at the sight of it and glanced at the gnome woman with a knowing look.


    Noticing it, she nodded and sprung into action, dropping a gem littered with runic inscriptions near the mirror and activating it one last time as a distraction as she ran past Solace to the gnomish man who was running to intercept her halfway.


    Shrugging off the nauseating effects of the mirror, the dizziness faded, and he realised their plan but already it was too late; the two touched hands and wisped away in a flash of green light.


    "They escaped..."


    Sighing, he slumped and looked back at the frozen figure of the Orc, commanding the ice to thaw as its deathly and inevitable grasp seemed to slip from the air.


    The Orc''s hand fell from the hilt of the sword as his body hit the floor. Solace was certain he didn''t use enough Ether to kill him and signed in relief as he saw the Orc''s chest rise and fall.


    The Orc looked fine or rather alive at the very least; his armour seemed to have dissipated somehow, likely destroyed by Solace''s icy breath weapon, and his clothes underneath were frozen so thoroughly that they had shattered into pieces when he fell to the floor.


    Looking at the Orc, his relief quickly turned into concern, as the Orc''s skin rippled and paled, its flesh turning grey and slimy as its muscle mass rapidly shrunk and its height grew to elongate much of its form.


    Where there were orange eyes before, now were cavernous pits of inky blackness.


    Solace paled, for there on the floor was no Orc but a shape-shifting creature often termed a "Doppelg?nger" by the public but more officially coined "Mimic-Shades".


    Paralyzed by shock he froze in silent disbelief as the far-stretching implications of such a discovery rummaged around inside the canvas of his mind, processing everything to come after this.


    "This... This can''t mean anything good for us. How long has he... Have they been...?"


    Grim silence seemed to settle comfortably in the pressing quiet of the compound disturbed only by Solace''s own beating heart drumming in his ears.


    "I- I need to warn everyone, fast."

 Hello, Old Friend

    Quickly activating his bracelet, he contacted Cassie. The two slits undulated a blue light as silence overtook the compound.


    "Come now, Cassie. Pick up..."


    Solace''s right foot repeatedly tapped on the dusty floor; leaving an imprint behind.


    Then, as he started to think she wouldn''t answer, the undulating lights turned green, followed by a whispered voice, quiet and tremulous, yet somehow still soft.


    "Solace, don''t worry. I sent someone your way about 2 hours ago, so they should be there soon. I-"


    Noting the strain in her voice, he whispered back:


    "Are you ok? Do you need help?"


    "No, I can handle it."


    She whispered, her tight voice loosening ever so slightly.


    "Are you sure?"


    Solace asked, only to be met by a half-hearted sigh as Cassie ever so elegantly worded:


    "You worry too much; ding dong. I''m fine."


    "Well if you say so, but you''ll have to explain it to me later. Anyway, I need you to listen well. Tell every Astral to be extra careful from now on; especially of each other, even more than usual."


    Concerned Cassie asked:


    "Why? What''s happening?"


    "D?ppelgangers, we''ve been infiltrated, Cassie."


    Whispering still; her voice was calm and measured, almost unsurprised as she spoke:


    "So, they''ve finally made a move."


    "Huh, what do you mean? You knew about this?"


    She paused briefly; then answered:


    "Not exactly; I just had a sneaking suspicion, is all. I''ll explain everything later, but for now, I have to go."


    Abruptly, the connection was severed. Solace sighed.


    "Great... So I guess it''s just me and you now, my formerly Orc-ish fellow..."


    Looking back at the Orc, his words died in his throat as a gem with runic inscriptions on it floated in the air in front of the mirror.


    And faster than he could blink, the compound was filled with whispering shadows, rapidly consuming the light of day and threatening to desert him in absolute darkness.


    Then, from the depths of that dreadful silence, laughter emerged, one all too familiar, the laugh of a man he hated to death. Soon, his face was wet with lines, and his vision quickly blurred.


    Looking down he paled as the realization hit him. He was the one laughing, with tears rolling down his cheeks, and although he tried to stop, the compulsion was far too strong.


    He couldn''t walk, speak, or even to breathe. He could only sob and weep as he cried out into the universe in a deranged laugh.


    Trying to think of ways out of this mess, he suddenly found his mind nearly empty with the only thing left being a splitting headache.


    But as he would soon find out, things would only get worse from there, as the whispers quickly burrowed into his mind from all angles, smothering him in their forbidden lore.


    The pain escalated as he tried reaching out his hand to claw out his eyes and sink his fingers into his skull to somehow ease the pain, as if to give himself something else to focus on, but petrified by the mumbled knowledge he remained in the agony of that moment.


    Powerless to stop them, the creeping shadows began to close in all around him, but before they could reach him,, suddenly something small pierced through the broken window, followed by a faint crashing noise, as the shadows were quickly sucked back into the mirror.


    Yet not content with leaving empty handed several shadowy hands reached out, trying to drag the d?ppelganger back along with them.


    But four shots of arcing lightning pushed it back forcing the rest of it to retreat.


    Finally, the madness that overtook Solace started to subside, and the pain slowly went away. Replaced by a duller lingering sensation. Shakily he picked himself up and looked in the direction of the shots.


    In the distance, on a stormy roof, he watched as a bolt of lightning retreated into the tempest above. Then, looking at the entrance of the warehouse, lightning flashed, and thunder roared, forming into an hourglass figure of a woman.


    As the light faded, the figure was revealed to be wearing sleek black armoured gloves with a short black jacket over a white button-up shirt tucked into smooth black pants and delicate black segmented leather bound boots tagged "VW". With a confident demeanour, she walked into the compound, rifle in hand.


    Her hair was wavy and slightly covered her eyes. Scanning the compound she relaxed and smiled, looking at Solace expectantly she said:


    "So, no ''Thanks for the save, sis''? Kinda rude if you ask me."


    Relieved, Solace took a step towards her only to quickly stumble, still shaky from the experience; luckily though, Isolde caught him, putting his arm around her shoulder for support.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Woah! There buddy. Take it easy, we can''t have you cracking your cranium open right after narrowly missing what would have been almost certain death. Now can we? Just imagine me at your funeral weeping over your passing only for your tombstone to read ''Hit his head and died'' I wouldn''t be able to keep a straight face."


    Efficiently, she folded her gun into a more compact shape and attached it to a small rectangular black leather book bag strapped to her lower back. Solace spoke, his voice hoarse.


    "Haha, at least you''ll have a body to bury. The people will get to see my dumb face one more time."


    Reaching into her bag she took out a cylindrical device with a slender tip that extended into a sharp, needle-like point, poised for precise delivery. The device''s chamber housed a red liquid.


    "Heck, who knows? We might even see Father shed a tear for once."


    Solace chuckled.


    "Bold of you to assume father would even arrange a funeral for me."


    Taking his hand she carefully injected the serum into his arm.


    "No, I''m sure he would, but if nothing else me and Seth would do it."


    Putting a silver bracelet of a sleek utilitarian design similar to the one Solace uses, close to her lips, she uttered.


    "Virtual Systems: On, Destination: Current location."


    "How long is it gonna take to get here?"


    Solace asked, his voice slightly more audible. She looked at her bracelet.


    "About 3 minutes. Luckily I didn''t park too far away. Oh, and sorry for taking so long. I got a little sidetracked is all. Didn''t expect the fight to escalate so rapidly."


    Solace shrugged.


    "It''s fine; I''m just glad you showed up when you did."


    She smiled and turned to look at the unconscious d?ppelganger.


    "Yeah, me too."


    Following her line of sight, he smirked and jokingly said:


    "What? Surprised to see you have a twin?"


    Nudging him gently she chuckled.


    "Shut up... But I do wonder how the organization''s gonna go about solving this problem? Because honestly, I can''t see this panning out well for any of us."


    The sound of rain drummed softly against the dilapidated rooftop of the compound as a small Vehicular Arcanum streaked through the storm to their current location.


    Solace sighed and shrugged.


    "No blood, no glory..."


    Tiredly she sighed as well.


    "No blood, no glory..."


    ...


    The rain sang outside, a distorted melody. On a bed of sumptuous linens rested a lonely figure shifting and turning amidst the voluptuous fabrics.


    The figure''s breaths were heavy, seemingly stopping for a time only to resume moments later. The expression on his face never changing.


    Slowly being consumed by the warmth, he struggled against it. Then shooting open, his eyes darted around the room taking in his surroundings as his thoughts gathered:


    "Where am I? Where is this?"


    Calmly, he sat up, displacing a sea of navy blues and greys.


    "Am I dead?"


    Putting his hand over his face, he sighed and took a good look around the room. To either side of the bed stood matching bedside tables, each with a table lamp that cast a soft golden glow.


    The room was barely visible under the dim light. As dim darkness seemed to creep around every corner. Yet he could see better than most.


    "I- I think I did it."


    He gulped, thinking to himself:


    "I survived; against the odds, I made it."


    As he said that, a tear made its way down his cheek.


    "But then... Why don''t I feel something? anything?"


    He moved his left hand to his heart and climbed off the bed.  Noticing the rain outside, he slowly and deliberately dragged his feet against the cold wooden floor and over the carpet as he walked onto the balcony.


    The rain was unforgiving as thunderous whales shook the ground beneath. Opening the balcony door he walked onto its edge.


    The rain was cold against his skin, and the storm screamed in his ear; he could feel his dreads become dishevelled in the winds. And craning his neck, he looked up curiously at the sky. As for the first time in a long time, he spoke:


    "(18)(1)(9)(14)"


    The lamps inside the room next to him flickered, and the sky boomed with thunder as he said that word; it seemed the forces of nature were trying to drown out their alien presence.


    "Oh right, sorry universe."


    Clearing his throat he tried again.


    "Rain..."


    Gently he lifted his hand up to gather the water on his palms.


    "It''s been too long, old friend."


    The edges of his lips curved up ever so slightly, and he leaned up against the railings; as he looked up into the storm.


    Time seemed to pass in absolute silence as seconds turned to minutes.


    A shadowy figure too fast to see jumped past the fence, then from downstairs, the door quickly burst open, and less than a second later, the door to the room he was in swung open, nearly flying off its hinges.


    Looking back, a figure adorned in sleek, tactical armour crafted from matte black composite materials, stood at the entrance.


    Both her hands were palmed and raised as she shouted:


    "Stop! Wai... Wait just a second."


    "Huh?"


    The boy replied, his clothes stuck to his skin. Slowly she approached the balcony.


    "Don''t jump! I- I haven''t told anyone about you, I swear."


    "Jump...?"


    Glancing back at the storm then at the railings, he sighed and left the balcony. Closing the door behind him, he looked up at her.


    Steam emitted from her person while her eyes hid under her white-streaked, jet-black bangs. She stood taller than the boy, perhaps by a couple of inches. Silence quickly spread across the house but it wasn''t awkward just... Curious?


    The feminine figure was looking down and fidgeting with her fingers while the boy looked to the side with his hands behind his back as he leaned on the door. The woman was the first to speak.


    "You''re finally awake... Oh, uhhh, I mean, hello..."


    She lightly lifted her face to look at him but found her eyes meeting his. Quickly they both averted their gaze. Finally, he spoke:


    "Hello... Uhh, sorry about the last time we met. I didn''t mean to put you in that much danger."


    The boy spoke calmly with clarity, maintaining composure, but looking at his hands she saw movements ever so subtle in nature. Behind his back, the boy was fidgeting his fingers.


    The promise of a smile crept its way onto her face. Her voice croaky and shaky she spoke:


    "My name is Sumi. What''s yours?"


    He paused for a moment, his eyes slowly blinking as they moved to look at her. He thought to himself:


    "My name? I have one of those...? Oh right, I''ve got two of those. Now what were they again? Wait, are people supposed to give their names to strangers? What does it matter? She already gave me hers, and without her, I probably wouldn''t be here right now..."


    Fearing she might''ve been asking for too much, too quickly, she was about to apologize when the boy suddenly spoke. His voice leaden with a sense of quiescence.


    "I... Am... Al- Altha. Sorry, I just haven''t heard it in a while, so I had to word it out a little to remember."


    Smiling she reached out her hand for a handshake.


    It''s very nice to meet you, Altha."


    Tilting his head curiously, he approached her carefully and shook her hand.


    "Indeed, it''s nice to meet you as well."


    Noticing he was dripping wet, she asked:


    "Need a new set of clothes?"


    Looking at himself he shrugged. She nodded and said:


    "You should probably take a... Uhh, are you a shower or bath type of guy?"


    "I don''t really have a preference, but I''m a bath type of guy, I suppose."


    She opened a holographic screen from her communicator and said:


    "Noted... Oh, also, I''ll be having some friends over tonight that I''d like to introduce you to if you don''t mind. Is that ok?"


    He shrugged again and muttered:


    "I suppose... What for?"


    "Well, you sort of popped up out of the blue, and I''m not quite sure how to proceed quite yet. So it would help having some of their input on the situation."


    She said as she walked over to her wardrobe and pulled out a black shirt and long black shorts, and walking to the edge of the door to the room. Altha walked over and she handed him the clothes while pointing at the bathroom.


    "How strange, no Ether Signature."


    Quickly changing, she headed downstairs to the kitchen, readying for tonight.

 Friends Arrival

    The rain tapped loudly outside the warm interior of the 2-story house.


    Tap, tap, tap¡­


    The house was quiet, only brought to life by the golden glow of the ceiling lights and the sharp whistle of a kettle.


    A tall figure danced to rock music from a small bracelet device lying flat on the countertop.


    Gracefully, she moved between activities, cutting the onions and carrots as the cooking oil heated up, then moving to wash the meat and prepare the seasonings while a bigger pot filled with rice, water, and a pinch of salt boiled on the stove.


    Meanwhile, In the upstairs bathroom, a figure sat on the toilet contemplating very serious matters.


    "Ok, so¡­ am I supposed to use her washing cloth or¡­?"


    Clasping his hands together in front of his face, using his thighs for support, he stared intently at the bathtub as the steam rose and fogged up the mirror.


    Good thing for him, though; he doesn''t have to struggle trying to avoid his own reflection anymore.


    "I mean, she gave me these clothes and sent me to go bath, so she must have known there were no other washing cloths in here, right?"


    Pausing, he leaned deeper into the pose.


    "But, what if she just forgot or something? She''s only human, after all; mistakes happen."


    Overthinking himself into a corner he sighed.


    In the meantime, Sumi was putting the finishing touches on her dishes before leaving them to mature.


    "Ok, so next I have to wash the dishes and set the table. I wonder how Altha''s doing."


    "You know what I''m just gonna take a shower instead. Cause this isn''t going anywhere." Altha said as he got up from the toilet and undressed.


    Ding Dong!!!


    The doorbell rang from downstairs. With dishes in hand, Sumi was on her way to set the table but decided to make a quick detour toward the door instead.


    As she opened the door, the light from the warm interior pierced the darkness, revealing long, dusky-rose-coloured hair that cascaded over one shoulder, tied into a loose braid that draped over her chest.


    Strands of hair escaped from the braid, its lustre giving it a silken sheen, catching the light in subtle, shifting tones of magenta and crimson.


    The figure looked into her eyes and then slowly shifted her attention to the plates she was holding in her left hand with bowls on top.


    Her lips were full and delicate seeming as she subtly smiled.


    "Need help?" She said as she reached for the plates.


    Sumi returned the smile and hugged her gently as she said:


    "Cassie, you''re earlier than I expected. It''s good to see you."


    "It''s only been a week." Cassie said, "You''re acting like I''ve been gone for months on end."


    Sumi hugged her tighter and said:


    "I know, but I''m just so used to you sleeping here."


    Cassie hugged her back balancing the plates in one hand, and croakily said:


    "Yeah, me too."


    A rumbling boom rolled through the streets and reminded them of the raging tempest above. Quickly Sumi welcomed her in and closed the door behind them.


    Soon after Cassie made her way to the dining room.  While neatly setting the table she noticed her long jacket of a rich and deep black fabric on the outside and white insides was crooked. The jacket had gold embroidery and a small insignia on the back. Quickly adjusting it, she then dusted herself off.


    It was odd, for although she had walked unprotected in the frigid rain, she remained wholly dry. It would be strange to most people, but for her, it seemed all too normal, as natural as breathing.


    Happy with how she looked, she joined Sumi in the kitchen.


    "I hear running water coming from upstairs. Is Solace suppressing his Ether or something?"


    Sumi pulled out a tub of ice cream from the fridge and sighed.


    "It''s not Solace," she said "It''s¡­ you''ll see for yourself."


    Cassie raised an eyebrow.


    "Hmm, how curious."


    Her emerald eyes darted around her surroundings.


    "Don''t bother getting into detective mode now. There aren''t any clues for you to go off." Sumi said, crossing her arms.


    Responding Cassie sighed and wagged a finger at her.


    "Tisk, tisk, tisk, you know nothing of my craft. Earlier today you called asking me about boys'' fashion. So clearly that should be a boy up there, Correct?"


    Sumi rolled her eyes playfully.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Yes, correct."


    "And then I heard from Solace that you had invited him to the dinner too and that you insisted he bring Isolde." Cassie stated, "Meaning, you want our opinion on something, and I bet I can guess what, or rather who?" Her eyes looked up in the direction of the sacond floor bathroom.


    Leaning up against the countertop Sumi asked:


    "Oh yeah, Miss Detective, tell me then. What more insight might you have on this meeting?"


    "Well, you asked specifically for Isolde to come, so I assume there''s something you want her to identify, meaning whoever this person is might be an Astral. Let me guess, he helped you rebel the Spatial-Fract on the bridge last night."


    Sumi''s eyes looked away, as she said:


    "How do you know about that?"


    "I see, so it is true," Cassie said as she walked over to the tap for a cup of water. "I wasn''t all the way sure at first, but now you''ve confirmed my suspicions. I can''t wait to meet this mystery Astral of yours."


    Taking off her jacket and hanging it over a chair, she put on an apron over her black crop top with gold detailing and asked:


    "So anything else to say about my craft?"


    A brief silence settled in the kitchen but was quickly drowned out as they both chuckled and returned to cooking.


    A few minutes passed as Sumi and Cassie cooked and joked around and as they were close to finishing a gentle voice emerged from behind them:


    "Uhh, hello?"


    Hearing the voice they both turned to look in surprise. The person to whom the voice belonged was wearing sleek black shorts that stretched a little past his knees and a black shirt that read "Keep Moving Forward"


    "Sorry to disturb," Altha said. "I was just wondering if you needed help or something."


    Sumi quickly walked over to Cassie as she asked:


    "Dang kid, you''re very quiet. I''m surprised neither of us heard you approach. What are you, like a ninja or something?"


    "A ninja?" Altha thought to himself, "Also, I''m not a kid; I''m 16."


    Sumi wrapped her arm around Cassie''s shoulder and said:


    "Cassie, this is Altha, Altha, this is Cassie."


    "Don''t start with nicknames as a first-time introduction," Cassie said as she approached Altha and put her hand out for a handshake. "My name is Cassilyth; it''s nice to meet you."


    Altha looked up at her and shyly shook her hand. Cassilyth had warm, golden-tanned skin, a narrow waist similar to Sumi and a flat, sculpted stomach with a golden piercing.


    She also wore an asymmetrical skirt made of a sleek material with one side cut higher than the other and a gold trim along the edges. Keeping the skirt secure was a sturdy black belt with a metal buckle.


    Black stockings covered her legs, with black and white sneakers covering her feet. Her eyes met Altha''s for a moment but he quickly averted his gaze and let go of her hand. Pointing at the used dishes he uttered:


    "Sumi, I could wash those for you if you want."


    Smiling pleasantly, she nodded, and Altha quickly scooted on over there. Leaving Sumi and Cassilyth to discuss amongst themselves.


    "Well he''s cute, I''ll give you that." Cassilyth said, "Can''t sense any Ether from him, but who cares."


    Pulling her into the dining room, she asked:


    "So, I''m not crazy then. You can''t sense any from him too?"


    Cassilyth nodded.


    "Yeah, not even a little. It''s unusual, almost impossible even. He''s a weird one that''s for sure."


    "I-"


    Sumi was about to speak when all of a sudden two flashes of lightning roared their tempestuous winds in the middle of the road and formed into two elven individuals.


    "They''re here," Sumi said as they both rushed over to answer the door. As soon as they did bickering followed as Isolde exclaimed:


    "How does it feel to lose, huh?"


    "It would sting more if that was actually a race." Solace said as he waved at the two women. The two briskly sprinted over to the door.


    "I thought I told you two not to do that anymore," Sumi shouted, "my neighbours are going to file another noise complaint."


    "Well we thought this was urgent," Isolde said as she entered behind Solace, "so obviously we had to take the quickest way here."


    Sumi squinted her eyes at them in disbelief and sarcastically asked:


    "Is that so?"


    "We''re sorry, Sumi," Solace apologized. "It may have slipped our minds."


    Sumi closed the door behind them and gestured Solace to the coat hanger. Then she asked both him and Isolde to make themselves comfortable in the dining room while her and Cassilyth finished up in the kitchen.


    Meanwhile, Altha was finished washing the dishes and had resigned himself to looking around the kitchen.


    The floor under his feet was strangely warm for a polished, light-toned tile, reflecting the warm glow of recessed ceiling lights, creating an airy, open feel.


    The ceiling itself was a stylish tray design, that added depth and subtle architectural interest.


    The cabinetry was a striking fusion of wood and metal, with flat-panel doors, accented by long, minimalist handles. The lower cabinets and drawers provided ample storage, while the upper sections housed built-in stainless steel appliances, including double ovens, a microwave, and an expansive refrigerator and freezer set.


    The stainless steel elements extended to the range hood, which hung dramatically over a professional-grade gas cooktop embedded into one of the islands.


    The islands featured pristine, light-toned stone countertops and darker base cabinetry. The main island included a sink with a modern, curved faucet, as well as a neatly arranged selection of decorative trays, potted plants, and small accessories that enhanced the space without cluttering it.


    The secondary island, positioned opposite, housed another sink and additional prep space, along with seating for casual dining or socializing.


    From the kitchen, he could see into the living room.


    The room was a stylish modern design while remaining minimalistic. From where he stood, skies of grey and rain were visible tapping against a towering floor-to-ceiling window.


    The walls were adorned with angular, high-tech panelling in dark metallic hues, featuring glowing accents that suggested advanced technology.


    The windows were framed by vertical light fixtures, their cylindrical forms radiating a soft, ambient glow, adding to the ethereal atmosphere.


    A plush, curved sectional sofa of tonal deep-navy and white colours offered a comfortable gathering space that lay next to the ceiling-to-floor window. Its low profile emphasized openness, while its positioning invited relaxation.


    Two bean-bag chairs of deep navy and white tones sat nearby.


    A round, gold-framed coffee table with an intricate lattice design rested atop a subtly textured rug, adding an artistic yet functional focal point. Small decorative objects and a potted plant sat atop the table.


    The ceiling featured angular skylights, allowing even more natural illumination to filter in, casting subtle, shifting patterns throughout the space.


    And Altha just stood in silence at the sight, taking in his surroundings. It all seemed so surreal, thathe felt maybe he was dreaming.


    As he kept to himself some strange reflection in the living room window caught his eye, cautious he approached.


    But nothing was there. Checking to see if anyone was outside he looked around some more but again, nothing...


    Until suddenly from behind him Sumi''s voice called out, it seemed it was time to start plating the food.


    "Altha, you can make your way to the table if you want," Sumi said as she grabbed a pot with both hands, "we can handle the rest."


    "Do you two need help?" Altha asked as he moved over to grab a pot.


    Sumi paused for a moment, thinking, but before she could answer, Cassilyth smiled and responded:


    "We could use as many hands as we can get. Go ahead, Altha, grab the rice. Sumi you grab the meat from the oven. I''ll grab the tub of ice cream and the gravy. This way we''ll only need to make one trip."


    "Uhh, is it ok if I try something?" Altha said almost whispering. "I think it could help, alot."


    Cassilyth raised an eyebrow.


    "Umm sure, what do you have in mind."


    Lifting his hand and focusing they watched as, slowly, the pots lifted into the air, along with the tub of ice cream. Cassilyth and Sumi''s eyes widened, nervously they looked at each other.


    "So I''m supposed to take these to the dining room, right?" Altha asked.


    They both slowly nodded, too busy processing how to approach this new development to even speak. Putting a hand in his pocket, he walked to the dining room as the floating objects followed, trailed by Sumi and Cassilyth.

 Potential New Existence

    As the three entered, they found the dining room buzzing with laughter. Isolde¡ªthe main one laughing¡ªleaned over her book in hushed hysteria.


    Solace, on the other hand, was leaning over the chair with a smirk. As the door opened, they shifted their attention to it, expecting to see Sumi and Cassilyth come through. Instead, a figure with a medium-brown skin tone appeared.


    Dreads of uneven lengths framed his face, partially covering his eyes, while the rest were being tied into two high ponytails on either side of his head.


    Pots of food and a tub of ice cream floated past him and settled on the large wooden table, which was set for a formal dinner. It had everything one could hope for in a dinner¡ªwhite plates, silverware, crystal-clear wine glasses, and neatly folded napkins.


    The table featured a white floral centrepiece around which the pots were gathered. The figure waited next to the door, keeping it open for Cassilyth and Sumi.


    Solace and Isolde glanced at each other briefly as Sumi and Cassilyth took seats  parallel to theirs.


    Ten sleek, black dining chairs with smooth, curved backs and slender legs sat around the table; two chairs were at either end of the table, and three were on each side. Feeling that all eyes were on him, Altha silently made his way to Cassilyth and Sumi¡ªnearly stumbling during his retreat.


    Cassilyth pulled out a chair between her and Sumi for Altha to sit; Sumi smiled at the gesture.


    Once they were all properly settled, Isolde cleared her throat, looked directly at Altha, and said:


    "No Cogni nor Ether Signatures? How strange. Tell me where did Sumi manage to dig you up from? Well, care to explain, Sumi?"


    Sumi sighed and glanced at Altha, who was silently looking at the table. It was obvious he wasn''t all too comfortable speaking yet, so she told them about the night prior¡ªhow they had met and the remembrance she''d gained from it.


    "Where am I? Is this a dream?" Altha thought, "Be thankful self, your hopes actually panned out for once, show a bit of pride in yourself." Looking around the room he retreated to his thoughts again, "I will not deny that there is hope, but for us... I don''t quite trust it." He responded to himself, thinking, "So no faith, is that it? You''re free and yet still you restrain yourself, you shackle your freedoms and for what? Altha, the whole future lies in uncertainty; live immediately; simply surviving can only take you so far. These people are not a threat to you right now; you can ease your shoulders a bit."


    Taking in a deep breath, Altha responded to himself, "Most people are afraid of the unknown, and in that regard, I have often found there is no greater outlier than myself."


    His thought responded "Right... I forget sometimes that you solve problems by letting them devour you; just masked perfectionism if you ask me. I swear to think too much is a disease, and you are chronically ill." Looking around the room for possible escape plans should things go sour, he considered the window or sliding door.


    Finishing her retelling of yesterday, Sumi glanced around at her friends, their expressions were mixed. Solace seemed deep in thought, his hand on his chin; Isolde was scribbling in an interesting-looking tome; and Cassilyth looked at Altha in fascination.


    Altha stayed silent, looking down at the table, his eyes occasionally darting around the room, his expression unreadable.


    Hesitantly, Sumi put her hand on his shoulder and faced the others as she said:


    "I know you all have questions that need answers; I also know that this differs greatly from what you currently understand to be a trend among the Outer-Existials¡ªand I will not claim that I am not weary of him myself. However, I will say this much: for the very little time I''ve known him, Altha has only ever been kind and helpful." Sumi stated.


    "Indeed, for instance: he washed the dishes, held the door open for us, and even carried all this food here," Cassilyth added. "Plus, just look at him. He''s too cute to be an Outer-Existial."


    Solace turned his sights to Altha, looking him over as he pretended not to notice. "He does seem rather well mannered, very gentlemanly too. Isolde, what do you think?"


    Isolde sighed and looked up from her tome momentarily. "He''s dangerous to us and the city as far as I''m concerned, and until we can get some answers out of him, that''s my verdict on the matter. Innocent seeming or not, let''s remember that he came from the Outer." Her tone, indefferent.


    Solace shrugged. "She''s not wrong, and I ''m afraid I have to agree."


    Sumi nodded. "I agree, and I know I cannot speak on his behalf, of course, as only he knows the full extent of what he is and what he''s done. It is up to you at the end of the day to decide whether you trust me enough to give him a chance."


    Cassilyth smiled and placed a hand on Altha''s shoulder following Sumi''s lead.


    "Indeed, he is an odd one. I''m sure all of you have already noted his lack of an Ether Signature differentiating him from most of us Sequenced-Existances, but let us also take into account that he also lacks a Cogni Signature, which also separates him from the Outer-Existials as well. He is no Outer-Existial, just as much as he isn''t a Sequenced-Existence, so perhaps¡­ just perhaps, he is a new existence," she said, looking at Sumi.


    Isolde shot Altha a few glances alternating between him and her book as Sumi cleared her throat to speak:


    "As Cassilyth ever so eloquently put it, ''Perhaps he is a new existence,'' which is precisely why I have called all of you here today. I would like all of us to work with Altha to figure out what he is and what that might mean for the Spire and Existence as a whole¡ªthat is if Altha agrees."


    Sumi''s gaze shifted to Altha. Feeling their eyes lying flatly on him, Altha glanced around the table while Solace and Isolde listened intently.


    "I¡­ uhh, I wish I could help, but I don''t really know what I am either," Altha said quietly.


    "You don''t know? What do you mean?" Solace asked.


    Altha looked up slightly and spoke in Solace''s direction:If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "My mother was a Nephilim, and my father was a Tarnished," he said quietly. "I was professed to die at birth but by some omen, I survived."


    Cassilyth shivered and closed her eyes at the utterance as the idea sewed across her mind a seed of knowledge. Her grasp grew weaker on Altha''s shoulder before suddenly growing firmer.


    "Unlikely," Isolde said, "putting aside how rare Nephilim are, they can only successfully reproduce with other Nephilim or stellar beings. Otherwise, they are only born if an angelic being were to procreate with a human. So your story isn''t adding up there buddy. Care to backtrack?"


    A faint smile adorned Solace''s face as he asked "A Nephilim, you say? An extremely rare bunch, those are. Forgive me for asking, but could you show us your wings?"


    "In here?" Altha asked, his voice louder than before¡ªnearly breaking on the question.


    Solace looked at the others and said:


    "Well, it''s not every day that one encounters a Nephilim, now is it? And I am quite the ever-so-curious chap."


    Gently tightening her grip on his shoulder, Cassilyth said:


    "You don''t have to if you''re not comfortable, though." She came closer and whispered in his ear, "Solace is just trying to give you a chance to change Isolde''s mind about you, no matter how slight that may be."


    Altha remained quiet for a bit, thinking; then, silently, he stood up¡ªand, apparating out of thin air, a lengthy, ghostly wing of black and white light with jagged reptilian tendrils of an ethereal nature stretched far enough to eclipse Cassilyth and Sumi.


    The wing was on his right side and housed three small shadowy eyes with ghostly white iris.


    What should have been a reflective surface of prismatic crystal was, instead, a phantasmal shadow.


    From the ceiling hung multiple textured glass orbs, varying in height and emitting a warm glow that threw the wing''s shadow on the floor. The group of friends seemed to pause at the sight of it.


    "Weird, right? I know¡­ I''ve seen my mother''s wings before, and they were altogether drastically different from mine. My father had bat-like wings."


    Looking at her hand briefly Sumi reached out to touch it only to find her hand passing through. Cassilyth followed in her lead but the result remained the same.


    Letting the wing vanish, Altha slowly sat back down and, in an indifferent tone, said, "But as you can see, I struggled to inherit either of their appearances or even their Aspects. Those, of which I did inherit have proved¡­ defective."


    "You don''t seem all that torn up about it," Cassilyth said, placing a hand on his shoulder.


    "Well, as the years dragged on, I lost the will to care. By the time I was eight, I had already lost interest. I wish I could help youc¡êiser  but I''m afraid I''m just as in the dark as all of you."


    "What about the Spatial-Fract you came out of? Surely you must know something about that," Cassilyth stated as she leaned in closer to establish eye contact with Altha.


    "It was the first time I''d done it. It was my only escape," Altha said, looking away.


    "Escape?" Sumi asked.


    Altha turned to her and answered:


    "I was stuck somewhere I assumed to be the Outer; I wasn''t sure for a while and thought maybe I was dead¡ªor worse¡ªbut that theory quickly died after the first horde of Outer-Existials appeared."


    They all exchanged looks; then, Sumi asked:


    "And how long were you there for?"


    "About a year or so¡­ or maybe a few months¡ªhard to keep track of time in a realm estranged from the concept," Altha replied.


    Hesitantly he turned to Sumi, fiddling with his thumbs and bowing his head, as he quietly said:


    "Weary from the hell of having to survive each day, I thought up a plan of escape. I travelled far to find a region where the barrier between the Outer and the Living Multiverse was thinnest, and I led an Outer-Existial there. But, fearing I could not defeat it alone, I lured you there and put you in harm''s way. I''m truly sorry."


    Turning red, Sumi looked away and said:


    "No harm done¡ªI was just doing my job." Gently lifting his head, they locked eyes. "I''m just glad I could help. In my occupation, we often see people die; I''m glad I could at least save someone."


    Altha averted his gaze and quietly said:


    "Thank you, again. I meant to fight that entity with you, but a horde of weaker Outers appeared, and I ended up having to hold them off for a while. Again, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."


    She gently squeezed his shoulder.


    "No, seriously, it''s fine. There is nothing to apologize for; you did what you had to do to survive. I might have done the same if our roles were reversed," she replied.


    "Extraordinary..." Solace stated flatly. "To think someone could actually survive passing through a Spatial-Fract. It''s never been done before¡ªor at least, it''s never been heard of. You must be a rather high Existence, yes?"


    "Existence?" he uttered in quiet confusion.


    "And done!" Isolde said as she finished writing in her tome and gracefully tore a page out of the book. Imbuing the page with Ether, the runes on its surface began to glow with a pale blue light.


    The symbols rearranged into words in a flash, and then she slid the paper to Sumi and said:


    "Well, it''s hard to determine much at all¡ªmost of his attributes are obscured somehow¡ªbut I can at the very least say that he is, in fact, not an Astral."


    Sumi picked up the piece of paper and read aloud:


    General Status:


    Name/s: Altha, Noctorin


    Surname: Valkeriel


    Age: 16


    Gender: Male


    Height: 5.5 feet


    Weight: 48.5 kg


    Meaning:


    Dream Name: ???


    Runic Name: ---


    Insignial Name: ---


    True Name: ---


    Existence Status:


    Existence Sequence: ???


    Existence Category: ???


    Energy Status:


    Energy Output: ???


    Energy Input: ???


    Energy Signature: Grey (???)


    Energy Type: Psyche


    Energy Quality: Einer


    Energy Quantity: ???


    Conversion Rate: ???


    Overall: ???


    Astral Status: Selected


    Remembrance(s): ---


    Inner-Existial(s): ---


    Spire Sequence: ---


    Essence Status:


    Soul: ---


    Genius: ---


    Psyche Factor: ???


    Aspect Status:


    Unbound: Exception (???)


    Deific: Congnisance, Clairvoyance


    Divine: Esper


    Primary: ---


    Auxiliary: ---


    Minor: Fate, Prisma


    "Psyche? What kind of energy is that?" Sumi asked.


    Altha shrugged.


    "Forget the Energy Status¡ªare you seeing what I''m seeing from his Aspects? What kind of Aspect rank is ''Unbound''" Solace asked.


    Cassilyth remained silent the whole time, quietly observing. Seeing Altha twiddle his thumbs under the table, she smiled and then said aloud for all to hear:


    "Okay, everyone, I think that''s about enough talking for tonight. Some of us are hungry and need our beauty sleep. I''m sure Altha is tired as well at this point, so I say we all eat and then think all of this over as we return to our own homes. Sleep will do us all well after a long day, and just because tomorrow''s a Saturday doesn''t mean I want to stay up all night with you hooligans."


    "Hooligans? Of all the words in the world, and yet you choose that one?" Solace said, "Also, you still owe me an explanation for earlier today. Why didn''t you tell me we had a d?ppelganger problem?"


    "What!? You knew?" Sumi asked, her voice cracking as she did.


    She put  her index finger to her lips and said "Shhhh," shushing them, "that will have to wait for another day."


    Solace looked at her, confused, and said:


    "Is this because I woke you up in the afterno¡ª I mean, in the morning?"


    "D?ppelgangers?" Altha whispered to himself.


    She sighed and plated herself some food; everyone else followed her lead. Once the dinner had concluded, everyone went their separate ways.


    On her way out Isolde grabbed Altha''s wrist gently and placed a folded piece of paper in his hand then joined her brother outside. The two in a flash disappeared into the storm.


    Cassilyth remained, seemingly having decided to sleep over.


    "Well time to get to cleaning then. Do you mind lending a hand Cassie?" Sumi asked as she gathered all the plates and headed to the kitchen.


    Cassilyth sighed and gathered all the pots, "Altha my hands are kind of full. Could you bring that tub of ice cream with you once you''re done?"


    Altha nodded and Cassilyth smiled as she walked away.


    Unfolding the piece of paper Altha read:


    "D?ppelganger: Shapeshifting mind readers found throughout the living multiverse and thought to have once been normal humanoids who had been altered by the Outer''s Influence."


    He smiled and neatly folded the piece of paper, putting it away. Grabbing the half empty tub of ice cream, he headed to the kitchen.


    They all cleaned up before everyone retreated to bed for the night. Altha was shown to a guest room where he could sleep.

 Early Hour Visit

    It was night, and the moon loomed high on a canvas of stars, adrift among a sea of deep navies and blues. Above him, a rift tore across the sky, leading into endless darkness; from that abyss, dozens of voices screamed out in powerless rage.


    Grotesque abominations and shambling masses fell all around him like rivers of flesh, a waterfall of razor-sharp talons, claws, and teeth.


    From the depths of the rift, meteoroids rained down, collapsing whatever structures remained of the once bustling city landscape. In his hand was a familiar dark-grey double-edged, spear-sword hybrid, its blade made of a non-reflective crystal, his grip on it tight enough to crack bone.


    A metallic scent carried on the wind and assaulted his nostrils as his chest rose and fell, his breaths, a powerless upstart.


    Blood-curdling screams and booming impacts rang out from all around him, the ruined city painted red by the bodies of innocents. In the surrounding forest, collisions sparked growing embers, engulfing much of the wildlife, leaving ugly scars.


    Something considered destructive to some and revitalising to others, like a rebirth, as to temper metal, it must first burn.


    It was all so nightmarish, in fact, that he felt nausea start to overwhelm his senses before suddenly a figure with long ashen hair charged past him into the approaching hoards, their clothes worn and in strips.


    Using whatever sliver of strength they had left in them they cut through scores of Outer-Existials, carving a path to a central cathedral that stood firm against the assault.


    Altha reached out his hand to them, his heart tight in his chest trying to say something only for his eyes to shoot open, woken up by a gentle croaky voice at the edge of his bed slowly nudging him awake.


    Sitting up and rubbing the sleepy from his eyes, he asked:


    "Sumi? Uhh... Sorry, did I oversleep or something?"


    Sumi shook her head and said, "No, no, you can sleep as much as you want, but something''s come up."


    "Something''s come up?" Altha asked as he turned on a bedside lamp. Upon looking at Sumi''s face he felt uneasy.


    "Could you follow me downstairs? There''s someone here to see you." She said in an even tone.


    "Uhh, sure. Did something happen?" Altha quietly worded.


    Sumi smiled at him and shook her head, "They would just like to see you. They have something to share with you."


    Tiredly Altha stretched and swiftly got out of bed. The two silently made their way downstairs; looking down from the safety railings of the second floor, Altha observed that the kitchen light was on and noted shifting shadows, leading him to believe they were waiting in the kitchen, these mysterious figures.


    Reaching the first floor and making their way to the kitchen Altha heard a familiar husky voice. Whom he identified as Solace, complaining about being woken up in the early hours.


    "Have I ever told both of you how much I hate mornings? Better yet, have I mentioned before how I don''t like to be woken up during a peaceful slumber?"


    "Tell me about it," Isolde said tiredly.


    "Don''t you start with me, you''re the reason we''re here, to begin with." Solace stated.


    "What was I supposed to do? I was just doing deeper research on Altha''s... Information and happened to stumble upon it. How was I supposed to know what I''d discover?"


    An audible sigh followed. Stepping into the kitchen Sumi stared at a third figure, one whom Altha had not met yet. Stepping into the kitchen light he looked around to see Isolde writing in her tome as Solace handed her a cup of coffee while drinking some himself.


    "Quite a busy day for your first time back in the Living Multiverse, huh Altha?" Cassilyth said, leaning over a table and using her hands as a pillow.


    The unknown figure approached Altha, extending a handshake; Altha obliged.


    The figure had silver short hair that was longer at the back and maintained a messy and layered appearance as silver strands fell over his forehead haphazardly. His face resembled that of Solace and Isolde. He wore a large white button-up shirt, dark baggy jeans, and black push-in slides. He wore a warm smile and had glacial blue eyes that turned pink near the pupils.


    "Hello Altha, it''s very nice to meet you. My name is Seth and I''ve been looking for you for a while now." The figure said.


    "You have?" Altha asked.


    "Well, not exactly, it''s more accurate to say that I''ve been looking for someone like you or a phantasm of you." He chuckled quietly and continued, "To be honest I was beginning to think I was just chasing a figment of my own insanity. You''re a very hard man to track."


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "And even harder to read," Isolde added as she took a sip of her coffee. "Diviner after diviner, yet no dice. Somehow their Aspects couldn''t quite seem to manage even a glimpse of you."


    "Ohh, is that so? Well, I''m glad I could...  Uhh, Alleviate your concerns?" Altha said jokingly.


    Seth chuckled and said, "I like this one."  Walking to the kitchen, he gestured for the others to join. "Altha, you sit next to me, please. Isolde and I have something to say in inquiry of you."


    Everyone took a seat on the sofa then Seth spoke:


    "Everyone here seems tired so I won''t waste your time. Altha here has been chosen by the Spire and within a week''s time, he will be transmigrated into the ''Somniate-Ethear'' in the Outer."


    Sumi looked at Altha, trying to gauge how he felt about it, but he seemed just as taciturn as ever; she then exchanged looks with Cassilyth and Solace.


    Isolde stood up and placed a small cube on the table which projected a holographic image that read:


    Astral Status: Selected


    Remembrance(s): ---


    Inner-Existial(s): ---


    Spire Sequence: ---


    Trial Period: 7219,24,30... 29... 28... 27...


    Pointing at the Trial Period she explained:


    "When this clock reaches zero, Altha will be teleported into the Somniate-Ethear, where he will become an Astral."


    "How is it possible for the Spire to force someone to take its Somniate-trial?" Sumi asked.


    Before Isolde could speak, Cassilyth answered, "It''s extremely rare, but there have been cases in the past where individuals had claimed to have somehow ended up on the Somniate-Ethear without ever having been in contact with a Spire."


    Isolde added, "Today there aren''t any known living candidates chosen by the Spire. That is until now. It''s a one in a google chance that you''ll survive."


    Seth cleared his throat, "But being that I''ve waited so long to meet you, I would like to offer a helping hand to increase your chances of surviving this ordeal, and in return, all I ask is to run a few minor tests on you if you survive. Sound good?"


    Altha lookedaround a bit, "But I''ve already survived the Outer once, what makes this time so special that I would require your help?" Altha asked.


    Raising a finger, Seth stated, "Indeed that you have; however, from my readings over the years, you were in the borders of the Living Multiverse and the Outer for a majority of your journey. Powerful Outer-Existials were few and far between I imagine. However, this time you''ll be deeper into the Outer meaning closer to the Outer-Mirror."


    Solace yawned then turned to Altha, "You know I still can''t believe you survived in the Outer alone for a year, and you''re not even an Astral. You''re made of different stuff man."


    Solace extended his fist to Altha, who looked at it for a few seconds, thinking, then gently bumped it with his own.


    "Frankly, I was shocked to find that out from Isolde myself... But back on topic. This time, there will be more Outer-Existials, a greater need for resource management, and danger lurking around every corner. Thus a greater concern for equipment. Equipment which only I can provide." Seth stated, "You don''t have to agree just yet. However, the clock is ticking, so do try to be quick about it. Anyway, I have some errands to run and will be gone for a few hours; I''ll expect an answer from you by the time I return."


    Altha nodded, and Seth smiled. Then, waving everyone goodbye, her disappeared in a flash of indigo light, leaving the faint remnants of an insignia in the air where he was.


    Altha leaned deeper into the sofa and took in a deep breath. Noticing Sumi stood up.


    "So anyone feeling like breakfast? Cassie maybe..." Sumi shot her a glance.


    "Uhh, oh yeah. Definitely, and you should probably make some for Altha as well." Cassilyth responded.


    Solace looked at them and smiled, then asked:


    "Are you hungry too Isolde?"


    "Depends on what you''re serving. Anything sweet?" Isolde asked.


    Solace looked at Sumi.


    "We have cereal if you''d like," Sumi answered.


    "Indeed, that would suffice," Isolde said as she took a seat next to Altha.


    "Do you need any help?" Altha asked.


    Sumi shook her head and walked over to the kitchen joined by Solace.


    Grabbing her tome, Isolde started scribbling inside.


    "You just got told you''ll be facing almost certain death and yet you don''t seem all that concerned. So either you''re very confident in your skill or you''ve already accepted your fate." Isolde stated, "So, which is it?"


    Altha was silent for a moment, his eyes distant, then he spoke, "Neither, I am eternal. I know I won''t die. Existence hates me far too much to let me go, even should my body fail me; I know freedom is a far cry from here."


    "Oh, is that what you tell yourself? Rather arrogant wouldn''t you say?" Isolde spat.


    Cassilyth observed in silence, making herself more comfortable.


    "Do not mistake it; I do not doubt my own mortality. Should my head be severed or my heart impaled, I would most certainly perish." He smiled to himself and looked at Isolde, their eyes crossing, "I hold that given long enough; eventually, from my rotting body, flowers would grow, and I am in them. That is eternity, no?"


    Isolde fell silent lost in the shadowy confines of Altha''s eyes as the room fell quiet with only the faint crashes of lightning in the distance.


    "We all are eternal, but the difference between me and you is, there will be someone to collect your flowers; mine will probably blow gently in the wind." He turned to look out the large floor-to-ceiling window at the rain, "They''ll likely be a decoration on some forgotten hill."


    Isolde for a moment found herself lost in thought brought back by Cassilyth''s voice, as she said:


    "That''s so tragically beautiful, Altha. Are you a poet or something? You''re nice to listen to."


    Altha looked in her direction with bags under his eyes, "Unfortunately not, but one can dream, I suppose."


    She chuckled, "I suppose one can. So then mister philosopher, are you planning on taking Seth up on his deal?"


    Altha sighed, "It doesn''t seem like I have much of a choice, to be honest."


    Cassilyth shot him a smile and said:


    "Perhaps, but it''s still all yours."


    Isolde was quietly writing in her tome and said:


    "You should be as prepared as possible before you go, I would suggest you took his offer, and I''m sure Cassie over there is thinking the same thing. Since my brother wants you alive you have more leverage here than you think, you could learn and earn so much from him."


    Altha looked at her and then at Cassilyth. She nodded and said:


    "She isn''t wrong, he may be the only one who can help you in such a short time." She looked at the Trial Period.


    Altha stared at the clock in silence, trying to make up his mind. Minutes later Sumi and Solace came back, breakfast in hand and they all enjoyed a moment of relative peace together.


    Like clockwork Seth reappeared in the same spot he had disappeared from. Looking around he faced Altha and asked:


    "So then what will your answer be?"


    Altha looked at him and answered:


    "I accept"

 Somewhere In The Wilderness

    Overjoyed by Altha''s response, Seth posited to him, "Well then, all of you pack up your things, and we can be on our way." The room paused.


    Looking around, Seth asked, "What? Is there something on my face?"


    "No, it''s not that. It''s just¡ªwhat do you mean ''pack your things''? Where are we going?" Solace asked.


    Following Solace''s question, Altha asked, "Am I being tracked, so you wanna move me out of the city in fear of me being discovered?" His tone was quiet and nonchalant.


    Everyone in the room looked at him, their surprise all too visible on their beautiful faces.


    "Well, yes... But how did you know that?" Seth uttered, his voice tinged with curiosity.


    Curling in on himself, Altha sank deeper into the sofa, trying to make himself as small as possible.


    "You said earlier that you''d been tracking my movement for a while, so I just reasoned you probably weren''t the only one," Altha said, almost whispering.


    "And when he said to pack up, you figured he was trying to take you away from the competition," Sumi stated, "You figured that out pretty quickly, Altha, maybe you should try for the investigation division of the A.S.O like Cassilyth."


    Sheepishly he shifted his gaze to Cassilyth. Smiling she waved at him, not knowing what to do Altha awkwardly waved back.


    "So then, since you plan to spirit him away, Seth, what do you intend to do with him? Nothing nefarious I hope. I know how you Arcanists can get when it comes to things like these.


    Everyone looked at Seth. Putting his hands up, he spoke: "Look, you''re better off with me than those lunatics; trust me, they''re not quite as open-minded as myself. I am a lot of things, but one thing I''m not is a liar. The only thing that''s kept you from being discovered so far has been the potent Arcane Barrier adapted into this house''s very structure."


    Listening, Altha looked around, then eventually out the floor-to-ceiling window at the grey sky that seemed to stretch on forever.


    "You''re safe right now, but how long will that fragile peace last before you find yourself strapped to an operation desk, getting probed by all manner of instruments in a meaningless attempt to see what makes you tick?" He walked over and took a seat next to Altha. "It''s your choice at the end of the day; however, staying here won''t better your chances of passing the trial."


    Looking out the window, Altha stated, "So long as it''s cloudy wherever we''re going, then I''m in."


    Seth smiled. "Smart choice, kid." Looking at everyone else, he scratched his head and said, "You guys should probably sign up for a high-risk, high-reward mission that will require you to leave the country for a week or so. There have been complaints about an infestation of giant insects near the area where we''re going, but I''d suggest you hurry before another group picks it up."


    Solace stood up and faced his brother. "Have we all forgotten something? There is an investigation underway trying to root out d?ppelgangers. Is now really the time to leave?"


    "Don''t worry too much about that right now. They''ve already made their move; it will likely be a while before they show their cards. Patience is key to solving a case like this," Seth explained.


    Responding, Solace asked, "And what will the citizens think? It would seem pretty sketchy for a whole cohort of Astrals to vanish right after the discovery, wouldn''t it?"


    Sumi and Cassilyth looked at each other, and then Cassilyth spoke: "Simple, we''ll claim we found a clue as to the origins of the d?ppelgangers and left to investigate."


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "We''ve been looking for an excuse to leave the city anyway, and this is about as good as any," Sumi added.


    The two women smiled and looked at each other in excitement.


    "Alright, alright, that''s some pretty solid cover, I guess," Isolde said. "I see no reason to stay, so I say we get a move on?"


    Almost instantly, they all dispersed, leaving Altha to his own thoughts.


    *I have no luggage, so... Wait, am I technically homeless?* Altha thought to himself as the house became a whirlwind of motion.


    Hours later, they were all ready to leave. Altha was confused as they piled their luggage into the living room. However, his confusion quickly faded as Seth enchanted an incantation and formed a portal right in front of their very eyes.


    A breeze blew through the portal, carrying a familiar scent, leaving Altha taken by memories. Every part of him wanted to see what that curious scent was. Placing a hand on Altha''s shoulder, Seth smiled and walked with him into the portal. The others lifted their bags and followed.


    As soon as he walked through the portal, a cozy tranquility enveloped him. All around them were tall evergreen trees and lush deciduous foliage that surrounded a warm and rustic cabin with a steeply pitched, weathered metal roof. It looked like an A-frame log home with a stone chimney that jutted out from the peak.


    Taken by the sight, Altha took in a deep breath and looked around; on the treetops, a misty fog lingered, and in the grassy meadow was rich wild vegetation, small shrubs, and scattered saplings.


    Moving past him, the others made their way to the cabin and climbed onto the wraparound porch.


    Leaving only Seth, Solace, and Sumi to bask in the moment, Altha couldn''t help but feel his shoulders ease a bit.


    "Beautiful, isn''t it?" Sumi asked as she walked next to Altha.


    "Very," he answered. "Reminds me of home."


    "You lived in a cabin in the middle of nowhere?" Seth asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "For a time, yes..." Looking over to Sumi, he pointed at the luggage and asked, "Do you need help?"


    Confused, she paused. Seth took his shoulder and said, "She''s an Astral, kid, and an exceptional one at that. I doubt a bit of luggage is gonna be a problem for her."


    Altha nodded. "I realize. I don''t doubt her strength at all. I''ve seen her fight before. I just wanna be helpful where possible."


    Smiling, Seth pointed into the distance. "Venture first into that forest, and you will eventually come across a lake. Once we''re all done here, we''ll meet you there." Altha paused, noticing his hesitation. Seth patted him on the back. "I''ll help her with your luggage if that makes you feel better."


    Thinking back to the day prior at the dinner table he remembered a thought he''d had, "Self, the future is uncertain, live immediately," looking into the forest he thought to himself, "Here I open wide the door; and blur uncertainty."


    Sighing, Altha nodded and quietly walked away in the direction Seth was pointing. Sumi shot the silver-haired elf a suspicious glare. He paled and turned to Altha.


    "Oh, and be careful. I''ve given a clear warning to most of the dangerous inhabitants around here not to approach the cabin, but the forest is fair game. However, if you can make it there before we all finish up here, I''ll reward you. So try your best."


    Altha''s long shorts billowed, following the grasses'' direction as he nodded. Looking at Sumi, he waved goodbye.


    In her head, she heard, *Bye*, as she waved back and Altha continued on his way.


    Jumping up and down to loosen himself up, he took in a deep breath and then sprinted into the forest. Leaves and dust kicked up in his wake and danced momentarily in midair, to his faded echoes.


    Sumi and Seth looked on in shock at having witnessed a non-Astral move at such velocities, as Cassilyth observed from a window of the cabin.


    Silent as a shadow, Altha ran through the woods, using the trees as cover and minding his footing to make as little noise as possible. Further along on his path, he heard earthshaking impacts and quickly hid behind a tree.


    Taking a peek to see what all the commotion was about, he spotted a lumbering mass of rock and crystal a few meters away. The creature had a jutting underbite that held large crystalline teeth.


    *Well, this is just unfortunate now, isn''t it... This might be where I die. I can just imagine the universe cackling to itself about this¡ªletting me escape the Outer just to die to a rock," he thought. "There''s no benefit to fighting this thing. I just need to sneak around it."


    Analyzing the golem one more time, he noticed multiple crystalline eyes dotted about its body. Looking at his fists, he silently sighed and glanced around. In the distance, he saw the remnants of a fallen tree. Focusing his mind and trailing his hand, one side of the tree slowly rose¡ªthen he let it fall, causing a deafening crash.


    The lumbering golem turned toward the noise and stomped its way over. Moving from cover to cover, Altha snuck around the towering creature. Careful not to alert any other forest inhabitants, he kept using the trees for cover.


    A few minutes more of sneaking around, and he''d reached the lake. Slowly walking to its edge, Altha, crossed his legs and looked out into the calm waters. Its grey reflection, felt as though a piece of the sky had fallen and left a spec of heaven in its wake.

 The Honeyed Voice

    Often the truest tragedy in life is to understand. Many convince themselves that there is a lesson in everything, but this is a great deception.


    How you know life to be... is flawed. There are no sinners nor saints; good and evil turn to bloodstains drying on a wall, and the kind man is the dead man. Peace is fleeting, it comes and goes and comes and goes... And gone.


    All these things you know and love are temporary, and although one could argue things are more precious because they fade, these are just the truths of mortals who have not yet understood eternity.


    Knowledge is power; knowledge is never-ending and ever-giving, so knowledge must be God. But knowledge is corruption, purification, transformation, and regression so what is the nature of knowledge...?


    If logic and rationale hold true, then knowledge is the garden and the grave, and if one can comprehend that; then knowledge proceeds into eventual meaninglessness.


    The nature of knowledge is the inevitable collapse of knowledge, the fall of God. So do we even really know anything at all?


    -N.A.V


    For 5 minutes Altha had been staring out into the misty waters in quiet contemplation, waiting for the others to arrive. That was until he heard a voice say:


    "You are ever the odd one, aren''t you?"


    Startled Altha quickly glanced around but saw nothing. The voice spoke again, its presence omnidirectional:


    "What? You act like you''ve never encountered a disembodied voice before."


    "No, I don''t think I have... And I don''t think you are." Altha answered.


    The voice made an effort to sigh, its tone seductively playful, and said:


    "Is that so? Prove it then. Unless you prove it, it''s your word against mine."


    Altha looked around, "You''re masking your location by having the voice originate from all around me, a smart move. Is the voice even yours?" He asked. Glancing over his shoulders, he said, "You''re a hard catch, and I hardly know anything about you, but I know you have Ether Control meaning you''re either an Arcanist, an Astral, an Arcane Creature, or all of the above."


    An amused chuckle resounded all around him. The voice then spoke:


    "An Arcane Creature you say, do tell¡ªwhat manner of creature could I possibly be?"


    Altha shrugged, "Never mind, you''re not an Arcane Creature." Looking around and up, he stated, "I feel like I''m being watched. Are there a multiple of you?."


    The voice chuckled once more and said:


    "Huh, how strange."


    Altha pointed at the lake and asked, "Are you even on land?"


    The voice giggled.


    "Perhaps, perhaps not, who''s to say? How about this," she spoke, and a small cube of an indeterminable colour formed in front of him. "If you can lift this cube for a total of 5 minutes, then for every minute you finish I will reveal myself slowly to you. Does that sound fair?"


    Skeptical he sighed, and went to pick up the cube. At first, it was as light as air, after a minute, he felt that the weight had increased exponentially, somehow.


    "You seem to be holding up well so far. Hope you can keep that up longer. Time to keep my end of the bargain."


    On the surface of the water, two-toned legs appeared, one crossed over the other. Her thighs were smooth and plenty. They seemed to glow subtly with faint golden markings.


    "Ha! So I was right." Altha stated.


    The voice chuckled. Taking in a deep breath, Altha made it through another minute with the cube now feeling twice as heavy as before.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    A lavish white fur coat appeared draped over her shoulders as the long and voluminous sleeves of the coat gathered at her wrists, while on her hands, she wore black rings with golden lining alluding to runic inscriptions on their surface.


    Holding steady, he continued to lift the cube and before long two more minutes had passed. At this point, Altha felt his muscles start to burn.


    Looking at the misty surface of the calm waters, he saw a form-fitting dark green dress along with a bodice adorned with gold embroidery while golden clasps and white tassels draped across her chest.


    Determined to finish this last minute, Altha gritted his teeth beneath his neutral expression and held strong.


    The voice resounded once again but from only one direction this time. The voice sounded honeyed and soothing to the ears.


    "You''re almost there. Just a few seconds more. I must say you''ve shocked me, I wasn''t expecting you to last this long." The figure said.


    Altha flexed his muscles and mustered up the strength to keep going, his goal clear and right in front of him.


    It was torturous, and slowly, he felt his arms start to give out, the cube slowly slipping from his fingers. Luckily for him, however, the cube disappeared from his grasp into strings of crimson light.


    Turning his sights to the ominous figure on the water, he saw a wooden chair sitting atop the water, and on it, a figure gripped an ominous black staff, twisted and gnarled as if carved from the remains of blighted wood. An animal''s skull adorned the staff, its eye sockets still burning with a faint, eerie light, encircled by a spiralling crown of thorned black metal.


    An emerald gemstone, similar to the one on her black choker, was embedded at the base of the staff, swirling with an ancient power. The aura surrounding it hummed with restrained chaos, as though it could bend reality itself if uncaged.


    Looking up, he saw an imposing wide-brimmed witch''s hat with a regal white trim on its tattered outer and black inner fabrics with a singular curved horn merged onto the strange design; the hat was slightly tipped to cover much of her face.


    The voice spoke again, its tone challenging it said:


    "Tell me young one, what do you make of the world?"


    A stark silence lingered between them for a time then looking at her hat he said:


    "That''s a hard question to answer; I often wonder about the value of it. If I had a wish, what would I desire more or rather, to rephrase the question: What is greater? This entire world or to be free from it?"


    The misty surface of the calm waters shifted a bit, parting slightly.


    Altha continued, "To be truthful, it causes storms to brew within me and ruins the garden of my soul."


    Speaking softly behind the hat, the figure said:


    "And yet you persist. How admirable."


    Altha shook his head, "Not really, it''s just that I''ve survived too many storms. They''re starting to feel like raindrops, and I''m an ant."


    From behind the witch''s hat, she spoke:


    "You seem plagued by something, something you won''t talk about. It must be all those pyrrhic victories. If the multiverse holds true then first came need, then desire, then suffering."


    Chuckling softly to herself she went quiet. The mist parted more.


    "Tell me something, Altha; what is power to you?"


    "Huh?" Altha blurted out.


    "You have been chosen by the Spire, so I have to ask to be sure of the kind of person it would choose to face such peril for a chance at greater power." The witch stated


    Afterwards, she went quiet. Clearing his throat Altha answered:


    "How I see power is as meaninglessness."


    Prodding the figure asked, "Meaninglessness?"


    Altha nodded, "Part of me wanted to say knowledge, but for a while now, I''d realized that knowledge that is dense enough and deep enough unravels into gibberish, and becomes meaningless."


    Stopping to look at her, some fleeting thought parsed his lips, "I know the more I speak on this, the more nihilistic I will sound, but, to me, if there is any claim to power in this existence, it remains meaningless. It has power but is vacant of meaning as are all things."


    The lake was quiet and its mist as wild as they were parted. Atop her wooden chair or throne unknown, she put her staff aside, letting it levitate above the foggy waters.


    "It''s a weird answer... I''m sorry to disappoint." Altha uttered.


    The witch shifted one thigh over the other and said:


    "Meaninglessness you say... Please, come closer. All that is left now is for you to do is lift the hat and open wide the door, eternity there and evermore. Follow the mists and let this mystery unfurl."


    Hesitating, Altha took a step forward, placing a foot onto the water''s surface; he found himself walking on water. The experience felt... curious was the only credible word he could think of to describe it.


    As he made his way to her, he would glance at the ghostly mist and the clear water beneath, unable to shake the feeling that just below the surface, tragedy awaited.


    A few steps later he stood a short distance from her.


    "Do not falter now, young one. Divest yourself of fear." The figure urged.


    Stepping closer and lifting the hat, a large part of him expected to see some eldrich entity with a face so unending that it would drive him to madness, but to his relief, a smiling face looked back at him, a face of beauty and graceful charm.


    Her eyes were framed by long dark eyelashes, and greys mingled with greens within the depths of her gaze. Meeting her eyes and caught off guard, Altha averted his head, but she gently nudged his face back with both hands, their touch soft and patient.


    The figure had black hair, yet her pale complexion and piercing eyes reminded him of Isolde, Solace, and Seth.


    "What pretty eyes you have, Altha." The figure stated, "Such comforting solitude the hold."


    Pulling away, Altha asked:


    "Who are you?"


    Standing up, she flicked the staff and it disappeared into strands of crimson light. Covering her feet were small dark-brown loafers which she used to walk across the water. Answering him, she said:


    "Many know me as Cecily Acustes."

 Secret Trial

    Following her through the misty water''s surface he asked, "Acustes? I don''t know what that means. Is that like a famous clan that I should know about or something?"


    Looking back over her shoulder at him she smiled and said:


    "No, I suppose not really... You are of a different origin after all. You remind me of... Nevermind.


    "Hey, can I assume you''re another one of Solace''s siblings?" Altha asked.


    Giggling to herself she answered, "Huh? No, not a sibling. Have another guess."


    "Ok... You''re... Their Cousin?" Altha asked.


    She shook her head, "I''ll afford you one more guess."


    "Uhh, well, my intuition is screaming, aunt. So are you their aunt?" He asked.


    Looking over her shoulder she nodded and said in her soothing voice:


    "Good intuition, you should listen to it more."


    Altha nodded and said, "Mmph"


    As they talked, the two were quickly gaining on land, and Altha couldn''t help but look into the mists now and again. Noticing, Cecily shot him a smile and said:


    "Careful, one shouldn''t look into the abyss so deeply; you don''t know what might be staring back at you."


    Suppressing a smile, Altha said, "It is my parent, born and raised. I know it all too well."


    The two reached land not long after, and as he left the waters of the lake, Altha felt his mind spin as the world around him unravelled, and he could see things that were previously obscured by some thin veil of reality.


    Sumi and the others were there wearing sleek, form-fitting attire, including padded gloves and shin protection. They all mostly wore black with traces of white accents.


    "Training gear? What is this?" Altha thought to himself. "Am I expected to fight these guys or something?"


    "So then, as you may know, Altha, your Somniate Trial isn''t all that far from now. The trial will be harrowing and will require a lot out of you if you hope to make it back alive." Cecily stated as she approached the group.


    Seth spoke:


    "You may not know this, but ever since you got here, you''ve been on trial, our trial. We apologize for the secrecy but we needed the most genuine performance out of you."


    Isolde placed a familiar coloured cube down on the floor and said:


    "Here are your results. You made it through the forest in 18 seconds, with a constant velocity of 25.9 m/s for a total of 12 seconds split between before and after the golem."


    "So I was being watched the whole time, predictable. How do they have such precise measurements though?" Altha thought to himself.


    "For the golem, you chose stealth over fighting. With that in mind, we''ve deduced your possible combative strengths to be: infiltration, ambush tactics, assassination, and diplomacy." Isolde said as a holographic screen appeared, projecting from the cube.


    "Next was the cube to confirm your strength, of which you were only expected to last a total of 1 minute instead of the full allotted period, so congratulations on that," Isolde stated.


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    "Yeah, you should have seen their faces when you got to the second-minute mark until the fifth, pure gold, I tell you," Seth stated as he struggled to hold back a laugh.


    "Don''t pretend like you weren''t taken a little by surprise too. I read your face." Isolde stated playfully.


    Cassilyth approached Altha and gently grabbed his arm to examine it, "Such slender hands you have, Altha; I wonder, where you get all that strength from?"


    Sumi approached as well and said:


    "Cassilyth, ask before touching someone. Don''t just jump straight into it."


    "Oh right, sorry Altha. I may have let my curiosity get the better of me there." Cassilyth said apologetically.


    "It''s no problem really," Altha said quietly.


    "Also, strength isn''t determined by muscle size alone; more important is one''s ratio of muscle fibre types," Sumi added.


    "Ooh is that so? Well, thank you for the info, Doc. You are truly knowledgeable beyond your years." Cassilyth said playfully.


    Crossing her hands and dramatically lifting her chin, Sumi said:


    "Indeed, and don''t you soon forget it."


    Clearing her throat, Isolde called everyone''s attention to the holographic screen.


    "Anyway, for now, he''s been able to lift a total of 2400 KG worth of mass equating to-"


    "22,520 Newtons of weight." Altha thought to himself.


    "22,520 Newtons of weight." Isolde stated.


    "Nice work, Altha!" Solace said as he extended his hand for a fist bump.


    Altha happily obliged. Smiling Cecily stated:


    "You''ve done exceptionally well so far, Altha. Now all that''s left is an evaluation of your Aspects and your fighting style then we''ll begin your training tomorrow."


    In her palm crimson strings gathered and coalesced into a cube of an indeterminable colour. Placing the cube on the ground she then walked 4 metres over to Altha.


    "Ok, Altha, so like before, you''ll be lifting that cube, but this time, I''ve removed its immutable enchantment so you can use your Aspects on it more easily," Cecily said flatly, trying to dull her curiosity.


    "Immutable enchantment?" Altha asked in a whispered voice.


    "That''s a lesson for tomorrow, for now, focus. Try to lift that cube for as long as you can. The weight of it will increase over time. Are you ready?" Cecily asked.


    Slowly nodding Altha took in a deep breath and put one hand in his pocket while he made an upward gesture with the other, causing the cube to slowly lift and levitate 1.5 metres off the ground.


    Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to mind-numbing strain for Altha. Then, after some time, the cube started to slowly descend, despite his efforts to keep it stationary.


    "You have lasted seven minutes and forty-two seconds; your total mass lifted was 6895 KG with a total weight of 67571 Newtons."


    Collapsing to his knees with beads of sweat trailing down his face, Altha felt exhausted, Rushing over, Solace and Sumi helped him onto his feet.


    "That was amazing, kid! You''re the strongest non-astral that I''ve met yet." Solace said excitedly.


    "Are you ok? Do you need to take a break?" Sumi asked her voice cracking as she did.


    "Amazing Altha, simply splendid. One more trial left. Are you able to keep on going?" Cecily asked.


    "I think he needs a minute or two." Solace answered.


    Walking over to them, she manifested in her hand a glass bottle full of a glowing yellow liquid. Telling Altha to open his mouth, she poured a drop of the liquid into his mouth, and a sudden burst of energy rushed through his body.


    "That should hold you over for long enough to finish this last trial," Cecily stated.


    Steeling himself, Altha resolved to end this as quickly as possible.


    Shooting him a smile, Cecily parted some mist from the lake and watched as from it slowly floated out a monstrous crablike creature with three clawed tentacles that resembled vertebral columns, hovering above the misty waters.


    Looking at the creature, Altha thought to himself, "Well, forget about the Somniate Trial. I''m about to die right here." Turning his sights to Cecily, he looked at her, and she smiled.


    Taking his hand she put a golden bracelet with a runic insignia on it. As soon as she did Altha noticed the creature turn to look directly at him.


    "Good luck, Altha; we''ll be watching closely, so give it everything you''ve got or at least don''t die." Snapping her finger she disappeared along with the rest of them.


    Altha frowned as he noticed the creature hovering toward him, "Yep, seems about right. I guess this is where we die self. You know, somehow, the circumstances of our death seem predictable." He thought to himself, "Don''t you give me that; I know we have a plan. Stop fooling around and get to enacting." His thoughts responded.


    Sighing, he looked at the golden bracelet, paying attention to the design and form of the insignia as he kept track of the giant crablike entity and slowly backed up into the forest. Waiting for it to reach land, and once it did, he telekinetically pulled the cube into his hand noticing its weight had reset and dashed into the forest.

 Step 2: Seafood

    The forest was a mess of dirt and leaves, existing in halves like light and dark, death and life. Shadows danced at the fringes of the treelines, given word only through perpetual twilight that cleaved the trees into mirrored sentinels.


    With barely a rustle, a figure jetted through the calcified darkness. His dreadlocks, tied into two ponytails, whipped against the wind. He wore sleek black shorts stretching past his ankles, black slides, and an oversized black shirt, his silhouette ducking past gnarled branches.


    Not caring to maintain full stealth, he studied the runic insignia on the bracelet, trying to burn the image of it into his mind. Occasionally, he would glance back, trying to gauge the distance between him and the creature.


    Noting the creature was still a far distance away, he slowed deliberately as to lessen the distance between him and the skittering horror at his heels.


    As he did that, a small ghostly wing of darkness limned by light manifested on his face and rested over his right eye.


    Waiting until they were deep enough into the forest, Altha looked back and saw the creature lunge at him; he turned on his heel while simultaneously jumping 3.35 metres into the air¡ªa calculated arc.


    Midair, his wing flared, unleashing a corona of ash-grey light, temporarily stunning the creature.


    With the cube in hand, heavy from being carried, Altha hurled it at the creature with all the strength he could muster, and as the momentum bled from his muscles, it was soon replaced by a shameful afterburn.


    Impacting the creature''s bony spiked carapace with a thunderclap, it spiderwebbed the creature''s armour and cratered the ground beneath. The impact ran across the forest reverberating into the trees.


    Altha landed in a crouch, the grey luminescence pooling around him like irradiated fog as trees shed their colours under its gaze, bark blanching to bone, leaves withering into monochrome leprosy.


    "That should at least buy me a bit more time." he hissed.


    Looking around, he saw the tree he had used as a distraction earlier, and already he was sprinting toward it¡ªa gnarled titan half-consumed by luminescent fungi.


    Behind him, the creature''s eye pulsed with feral incandescence, its mandibles gnashing air, still vibrating from the cube''s aftershock.


    Knowing that death was on his tail, only kept at bay by a few metres of distance, Altha hurried his search, widening the distance between him and the creature by the second.


    Erupting suddenly from out of nowhere, crystalline talons carved through the darkness, splintering trees as they made their way to him, shearing through the space where Altha''s form had been.


    Saved only by his reflexes as he jumped up gathering his thoughts midair. Landing, he found purchase on the monstrosity''s stone forearm and allowed the ashen light to burst in intensity effectively blinding the creature momentarily.


    With little wasted effort Altha scaled its jagged anatomy in two fluid strides.


    Climbing up to its shoulder, he swung behind its head hanging onto it by its rough head of colourful crystal spikes.


    The rune on the bracelet glowed a noticeable crimson light, and looking along the trees, he saw the crablike creature approaching.


    Recalling a mental image of the insignia on his bracelet, he reinforced his hand with some invisible force then with a slash of his hand, he branded the creature''s nape, the insignia a mirror to the bracelet''s.


    The creature roared as Altha vaulted away, jumping into the air and landing on a sturdy trunk of a tree with feline grace. Letting the wing spirit itself away like a fleeting fog he looked into the undergrowth.


    The golem-like creature lumbered around in confusion and anger, not sure what had just happened as it looked for the squishy human who dared to climb onto its shoulders and carve stone from it.


    Focusing his Psyche Energy into the rune, the insignia gleamed a grey radiance.


    The forest held its breath capitulating to the whims of the enraged figure of quarts and shale.


    Cutting through the oppressive silence, Altha thought to himself, "Step 1: Complete," feeling his muscles throb in dull resignation, he was reminded of his time limit; he could not keep this up for much longer.


    The woods bustled with whispered threats, hiding just beyond the borders of his vision.


    "Now for step 2, then I can be done with all this nonsense and go to sleep; I call that step 3. My arms are gonna be sore tonight I just know it."


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    He sighed to himself, "Come on you overgrown crustacean, show yourself." He muttered, "Survival is a bitter pill to swallow, but one we are forced to stomach. Let''s make this tragic."


    In the brush and wild vegetation appeared the silhouette of a floating saucer-like body with three jagged tentacles barbed and lengthy. A singular slit eye burned at the centre of the mass and blazed an eerie orange colour, an average furnace of molten amber.


    The alien creature''s eye locked onto the golem, which creaked as it turned, its joints grinding like tectonic plates.


    But before the golem pivoted to face it, the creature pounced, coiling its tentacles around the lumbering giant''s stoney body and started to constrict its form, fracturing quarts into glittering shrapnel.


    Then, from its underside, it tried to pierce the golem with its cylindrical tongue of grotesque pink flesh but failed to comprehend in time that this was no regular organic being.


    The golem cracked into its already damaged carapace with its fist causing the alien creature''s grip to weaken, then peeled the creature off with a crystalline talon.


    And unleashing the full menace of its wrath, the golem slammed the creature onto the ground repeatedly, slowly chipping away at its outer layers and spraying clods of dirt and body matter, eventually revealing the tender flesh beneath its carapace.


    The forest swallowed the creature''s telepathic shrieks, its cries dissolving into the static hum of the woods. Looking up, the creature saw Altha standing upon a limb of oak with a frown flat across his features, his expression seemingly pained.


    No one could hear the creature''s psychic screams, or so it thought; the look on Altha''s face, however, made the creature think otherwise as it reached out in a weak attempt to reach him with its tentacles.


    Knowing the creature was in pain and unsure of when the golem would finish it off Altha''s weapon materialized in a sear of indigo light¡ªa hybrid of spear and sword, its edge humming with condensed twilight. He hesitated, the weapon''s hilt cold against his palm.


    Offording the creature a bow he looked it in the eye, his face betraying his troubled nature.


    Reluctantly, he aimed his weapon and syphoned energy into it, causing it to glow a pale grey light. Throwing the hybrid weapon at the creature it whistled through the air and plunged straight into the crab''s brain, instantly extinguishing its eye like a snuffed candle.


    Taking in a deep breath Altha turned away as his weapon disappeared in a flash of indigo light, leaving the crablike creature lifeless in its wake. Ready to leave, Altha dropped down from the tree and stealthily moved away from the area, fearing all the commotion may have alerted unwanted guests.


    Dashing across the forest, he went back to collect the cube of an indeterminable colour, its weight as light as ever and headed away from the lake in the direction of the cabin, following the path back.


    A few seconds later he''d just left the tree line into a clearing as the winds picked up their melody. There, on the porch of the cabin, Sumi, Cassilyth, Solace, Isolde, Seth, and Cecily waited for him with multiple holographic screens that projected out from a familiar coloured cube.


    The screens were of cerulean and mercury. Seeing him approach, Cassilyth smirked and turned to Sumi. Sumi smiled back at her.


    Standing up Solace jokingly asked:


    "What took you so long?"


    Altha trudged toward the cabin, the cube cradled in his hands, slumped. Close enough to the porch, he tossed the cube in front of him, and it hit the ground with a loud thud.


    "Next time," Altha muttered, collapsing onto the floor "You fight the seafood." His voice was nearly a dry rasp, betraying weariness.


    Seth leaned against the porch railing with the casual grace of a predator at rest and let out a low chuckle. "Good job, kid. You just slayed a Tier 4 Inceptious Existence. Not bad for someone who doesn''t know what a Somniate Trial is."


    Cecily stepped forward, her movements as fluid as water over stone. "Indeed," She said, her voice tinged with praise and curiosity." that''s a very impressive feat of strength for one not yet possessed to the benefits of the Spire." She said as she extended a hand to him, she then snapped her fingers, and the cube dissolved into threads of crimson light that spiralled into nothingness.


    "Congratulations to you, Altha. You have successfully completed your examinary trial and surpassed even my expectations of you. Tomorrow, we will be beginning your training," Cecily said, her voice softening.


    The group gathered around him, their congratulations a cacophony of warmth and camaraderie. Seth ruffled Altha''s hair with a grin, while Solace slung an arm around his shoulders in a mock wrestling hold. "Welcome to the madness," Solace said, his voice tinged with both humour and pride.


    As the first drops of rain began to fall, they retreated into the cabin, the air inside thick with the scent of herbs and woodsmoke. Altha was shown to his room¡ªa shared space with Seth and Solace, its walls lined with maps and strange artefacts. He collapsed onto his bed, the fatigue of the day pressing him into the mattress like a leaden blanket.


    Meanwhile, the cabin buzzed with activity. Solace and Cassilyth worked in tandem in the kitchen, their banter punctuated by the rhythmic chopping of vegetables. Sumi hovered nearby, her holographic screens flickering as she cross-referenced some arcane recipe. Isolde sat by the fireplace, her quill scratching furiously across the pages of her tome, the ink glinting like liquid shadow in the firelight.


    However, Cecily and Seth were nowhere to be seen.


    In a secluded study, Seth leaned against his desk, his arms crossed as he regarded Cecily. "Well, as you requested, we''ve trialled him. And he''s proven he''s no mere Outer-Existial. But you already knew that, didn''t you?"


    Cecily sat in a high-backed chair, her fingers steepled in thought. "He has no Ether. Not a single drop of Cogni. It''s as if the multiverse itself refuses to acknowledge him. And yet¡­" She trailed off, her gaze distant. "He''s ''real''. Flesh, bone, and defiance. How is that possible?"


    Unable to answer, Seth turned to look at a globe of stars shimmering with the light of distant celestial bodies.


    "No idea... If anyone knew or could find out it would be you. For now, we prepare him as best we can. And hope he survives the Somniate Trial. Like you said, imprisoning him without cause would be¡­ counterproductive." Seth stated.


    Cecily sighed, her eyes drifting to an hourglass on the table. The sand within trickled steadily, each grain a stolen moment. "The things I do for the pursuit of knowledge," she murmured, her voice tinged with both resignation and resolve.


    Seth smirked, though his eyes remained serious. "Knowledge, power, chaos¡ªit''s all the same in the end. Just don''t forget why we''re doing this."


    Cecily''s lips curved into a faint smile. "Oh, I haven''t forgotten. But sometimes, I wonder if the multiverse is playing a game we don''t yet understand."


    As the hourglass emptied, the two fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down like the gathering storm outside.

 Step 2: Seafood

    The forest was a mess of dirt and leaves, existing in halves like light and dark, death and life. Shadows danced at the fringes of the treelines, given word only through perpetual twilight that cleaved the trees into mirrored sentinels.


    With barely a rustle, a figure jetted through the calcified darkness. His dreadlocks, tied into two ponytails, whipped against the wind. He wore sleek black shorts stretching past his ankles, black slides, and an oversized black shirt, his silhouette ducking past gnarled branches.


    Not caring to maintain full stealth, he studied the runic insignia on the bracelet, trying to burn the image of it into his mind. Occasionally, he would glance back, trying to gauge the distance between him and the creature.


    Noting the creature was still a far distance away, he slowed deliberately as to lessen the distance between him and the skittering horror at his heels.


    As he did that, a small ghostly wing of darkness limned by light manifested on his face and rested over his right eye.


    Waiting until they were deep enough into the forest, Altha looked back and saw the creature lunge at him; he turned on his heel while simultaneously jumping 3.35 metres into the air¡ªa calculated arc.


    Midair, his wing flared, unleashing a corona of ash-grey light, temporarily stunning the creature.


    With the cube in hand, heavy from being carried, Altha hurled it at the creature with all the strength he could muster, and as the momentum bled from his muscles, it was soon replaced by a shameful afterburn.


    Impacting the creature''s bony spiked carapace with a thunderclap, it spiderwebbed the creature''s armour and cratered the ground beneath. The impact ran across the forest reverberating into the trees.


    Altha landed in a crouch, the grey luminescence pooling around him like irradiated fog as trees shed their colours under its gaze, bark blanching to bone, leaves withering into monochrome leprosy.


    "That should at least buy me a bit more time." he hissed.


    Looking around, he saw the tree he had used as a distraction earlier, and already he was sprinting toward it¡ªa gnarled titan half-consumed by luminescent fungi.


    Behind him, the creature''s eye pulsed with feral incandescence, its mandibles gnashing air, still vibrating from the cube''s aftershock.


    Knowing that death was on his tail, only kept at bay by a few metres of distance, Altha hurried his search, widening the distance between him and the creature by the second.


    Erupting suddenly from out of nowhere, crystalline talons carved through the darkness, splintering trees as they made their way to him, shearing through the space where Altha''s form had been.


    Saved only by his reflexes as he jumped up gathering his thoughts midair. Landing, he found purchase on the monstrosity''s stone forearm and allowed the ashen light to burst in intensity effectively blinding the creature momentarily.


    With little wasted effort Altha scaled its jagged anatomy in two fluid strides.


    Climbing up to its shoulder, he swung behind its head hanging onto it by its rough head of colourful crystal spikes.


    The rune on the bracelet glowed a noticeable crimson light, and looking along the trees, he saw the crablike creature approaching.


    Recalling a mental image of the insignia on his bracelet, he reinforced his hand with some invisible force then with a slash of his hand, he branded the creature''s nape, the insignia a mirror to the bracelet''s.


    The creature roared as Altha vaulted away, jumping into the air and landing on a sturdy trunk of a tree with feline grace. Letting the wing spirit itself away like a fleeting fog he looked into the undergrowth.


    The golem-like creature lumbered around in confusion and anger, not sure what had just happened as it looked for the squishy human who dared to climb onto its shoulders and carve stone from it.


    Focusing his Psyche Energy into the rune, the insignia gleamed a grey radiance.


    The forest held its breath capitulating to the whims of the enraged figure of quarts and shale.


    Cutting through the oppressive silence, Altha thought to himself, "Step 1: Complete," feeling his muscles throb in dull resignation, he was reminded of his time limit; he could not keep this up for much longer.


    The woods bustled with whispered threats, hiding just beyond the borders of his vision.


    "Now for step 2, then I can be done with all this nonsense and go to sleep; I call that step 3. My arms are gonna be sore tonight I just know it."


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    He sighed to himself, "Come on you overgrown crustacean, show yourself." He muttered, "Survival is a bitter pill to swallow, but one we are forced to stomach. Let''s make this tragic."


    In the brush and wild vegetation appeared the silhouette of a floating saucer-like body with three jagged tentacles barbed and lengthy. A singular slit eye burned at the centre of the mass and blazed an eerie orange colour, an average furnace of molten amber.


    The alien creature''s eye locked onto the golem, which creaked as it turned, its joints grinding like tectonic plates.


    But before the golem pivoted to face it, the creature pounced, coiling its tentacles around the lumbering giant''s stoney body and started to constrict its form, fracturing quarts into glittering shrapnel.


    Then, from its underside, it tried to pierce the golem with its cylindrical tongue of grotesque pink flesh but failed to comprehend in time that this was no regular organic being.


    The golem cracked into its already damaged carapace with its fist causing the alien creature''s grip to weaken, then peeled the creature off with a crystalline talon.


    And unleashing the full menace of its wrath, the golem slammed the creature onto the ground repeatedly, slowly chipping away at its outer layers and spraying clods of dirt and body matter, eventually revealing the tender flesh beneath its carapace.


    The forest swallowed the creature''s telepathic shrieks, its cries dissolving into the static hum of the woods. Looking up, the creature saw Altha standing upon a limb of oak with a frown flat across his features, his expression seemingly pained.


    No one could hear the creature''s psychic screams, or so it thought; the look on Altha''s face, however, made the creature think otherwise as it reached out in a weak attempt to reach him with its tentacles.


    Knowing the creature was in pain and unsure of when the golem would finish it off Altha''s weapon materialized in a sear of indigo light¡ªa hybrid of spear and sword, its edge humming with condensed twilight. He hesitated, the weapon''s hilt cold against his palm.


    Offording the creature a bow he looked it in the eye, his face betraying his troubled nature.


    Reluctantly, he aimed his weapon and syphoned energy into it, causing it to glow a pale grey light. Throwing the hybrid weapon at the creature it whistled through the air and plunged straight into the crab''s brain, instantly extinguishing its eye like a snuffed candle.


    Taking in a deep breath Altha turned away as his weapon disappeared in a flash of indigo light, leaving the crablike creature lifeless in its wake. Ready to leave, Altha dropped down from the tree and stealthily moved away from the area, fearing all the commotion may have alerted unwanted guests.


    Dashing across the forest, he went back to collect the cube of an indeterminable colour, its weight as light as ever and headed away from the lake in the direction of the cabin, following the path back.


    A few seconds later he''d just left the tree line into a clearing as the winds picked up their melody. There, on the porch of the cabin, Sumi, Cassilyth, Solace, Isolde, Seth, and Cecily waited for him with multiple holographic screens that projected out from a familiar coloured cube.


    The screens were of cerulean and mercury. Seeing him approach, Cassilyth smirked and turned to Sumi. Sumi smiled back at her.


    Standing up Solace jokingly asked:


    "What took you so long?"


    Altha trudged toward the cabin, the cube cradled in his hands, slumped. Close enough to the porch, he tossed the cube in front of him, and it hit the ground with a loud thud.


    "Next time," Altha muttered, collapsing onto the floor "You fight the seafood." His voice was nearly a dry rasp, betraying weariness.


    Seth leaned against the porch railing with the casual grace of a predator at rest and let out a low chuckle. "Good job, kid. You just slayed a Tier 4 Inceptious Existence. Not bad for someone who doesn''t know what a Somniate Trial is."


    Cecily stepped forward, her movements as fluid as water over stone. "Indeed," She said, her voice tinged with praise and curiosity." that''s a very impressive feat of strength for one not yet possessed to the benefits of the Spire." She said as she extended a hand to him, she then snapped her fingers, and the cube dissolved into threads of crimson light that spiralled into nothingness.


    "Congratulations to you, Altha. You have successfully completed your examinary trial and surpassed even my expectations of you. Tomorrow, we will be beginning your training," Cecily said, her voice softening.


    The group gathered around him, their congratulations a cacophony of warmth and camaraderie. Seth ruffled Altha''s hair with a grin, while Solace slung an arm around his shoulders in a mock wrestling hold. "Welcome to the madness," Solace said, his voice tinged with both humour and pride.


    As the first drops of rain began to fall, they retreated into the cabin, the air inside thick with the scent of herbs and woodsmoke. Altha was shown to his room¡ªa shared space with Seth and Solace, its walls lined with maps and strange artefacts. He collapsed onto his bed, the fatigue of the day pressing him into the mattress like a leaden blanket.


    Meanwhile, the cabin buzzed with activity. Solace and Cassilyth worked in tandem in the kitchen, their banter punctuated by the rhythmic chopping of vegetables. Sumi hovered nearby, her holographic screens flickering as she cross-referenced some arcane recipe. Isolde sat by the fireplace, her quill scratching furiously across the pages of her tome, the ink glinting like liquid shadow in the firelight.


    However, Cecily and Seth were nowhere to be seen.


    In a secluded study, Seth leaned against his desk, his arms crossed as he regarded Cecily. "Well, as you requested, we''ve trialled him. And he''s proven he''s no mere Outer-Existial. But you already knew that, didn''t you?"


    Cecily sat in a high-backed chair, her fingers steepled in thought. "He has no Ether. Not a single drop of Cogni. It''s as if the multiverse itself refuses to acknowledge him. And yet¡­" She trailed off, her gaze distant. "He''s ''real''. Flesh, bone, and defiance. How is that possible?"


    Unable to answer, Seth turned to look at a globe of stars shimmering with the light of distant celestial bodies.


    "No idea... If anyone knew or could find out it would be you. For now, we prepare him as best we can. And hope he survives the Somniate Trial. Like you said, imprisoning him without cause would be¡­ counterproductive." Seth stated.


    Cecily sighed, her eyes drifting to an hourglass on the table. The sand within trickled steadily, each grain a stolen moment. "The things I do for the pursuit of knowledge," she murmured, her voice tinged with both resignation and resolve.


    Seth smirked, though his eyes remained serious. "Knowledge, power, chaos¡ªit''s all the same in the end. Just don''t forget why we''re doing this."


    Cecily''s lips curved into a faint smile. "Oh, I haven''t forgotten. But sometimes, I wonder if the multiverse is playing a game we don''t yet understand."


    As the hourglass emptied, the two fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down like the gathering storm outside.

 Aethear Theory 101

    Altha stirred awake to the amber embrace of dusk, its light pooling across the bedsheets like molten gold. Outside, the forest blurred into a watercolour of burnt orange and violet, the sun sinking low enough to set the horizon ablaze.


    Shadows stretched long and skeletal across the walls, and for a heartbeat, he forgot where¡ªor when¡ªhe was. Then he heard the rustle of fabric, the soft inhale of breath beside him.


    Cassilyth sat perched at the foot of his bed, her silhouette haloed by the dying light, her gaze fixed on the sky''s slow unravelling.


    "I like the sunset too," he murmured, his voice hoarse.


    She turned, her smile softening the sharp angles of her face. "You''re awake." Her voice low and melodic, reaching out her hand brushed his arm, a fleeting warmth. "How are you feeling?" she asked turning her body to face him.


    She wore a delicate, two-piece loungewear set made from a soft ribbed fabric that clung to her contours, accentuating her hourglass figure. The fabric was white and adorned with small, scattered cherry prints in soft pink and red hues. She wore a tank top with spaghetti straps that rested lightly on smooth, sun-kissed shoulders.


    Mirroring her top she wore high-waisted shorts. The shorts sat just above her hips and accentuated her slender waist before flaring over toned thighs. Trying to avoid staring, Altha looked up at the ceiling.


    "How am I feeling...?" He paused, cataloguing the dull ache in his ribs, the phantom sting of serum in his veins. "Tired?"


    "That''s a good sign," She shifted closer, her eyes scanning him like a physician assessing a wound. "No pain?"


    "None I can name," he said, uncertain.


    "That''s great," She took to her feet, "I''ll fetch you some food and drink, you sound like you could use some water. Then we''ll go meet Cecily."


    Altha sat up, the blanket sliding to his waist. "What happened? I remember sparring with Solace, then¡­ nothing. Where is everyone?"


    The shorts she wore¡ªhigh-waisted, hugging the curve of her hips¡ªflared as she turned, catching the light.


    She pressed a hand to his chest, gentle but insistent, urging him back. "They''re scouting a village nearby. Only Cecily and myself stayed. Solace insisted he should be here when you woke up, but the cohort would have been worse off without him." Her tone brooked no argument.


    "And it wouldn''t have without you?" He asked freely.


    She shook her head, "It''s not that. I had something more important to attend to." She stated.


    "And that was...?" He asked.


    Smiling, she gently pushed on his chest, laying him down, "Rest. I''ll be back in a few."


    Coming back minutes after leaving, she opened the door to his room, and in came a warm radiance spilling across his bed. The stew she brought steamed with herbs and root vegetables, its aroma earthy and medicinal. Altha ate slowly, each spoonful a negotiation with his body''s protests. Cassilyth watched, her palm glowing silver against his shoulder¡ªa soothing, liquid light that seeped into his marrow, unravelling knots of fatigue. The light seemed like metal trying to take on the formless nature of fire.


    When the last of the stew vanished, she led him downstairs, her hand lingering on the small of his back. The garage door groaned open, revealing Cecily bent over a workbench.


    The room thrummed with arcane energy: tools levitated in midair, etching glowing runes into a skeletal bracelet, while tools and crystalline shards orbited her like planets around a star.


    "Ah. The patient lives," Cecily said, not glancing up. Her quill scratched across a tome filled with diagrams that seemed to shift under the light.


    Altha stepped closer. The bracelet on the bench was no mere trinket¡ªit pulsed with a faint, bioluminescent glow, its surface a lattice of interlocking metals and what looked like a network of metal veins.


    "Is that alive?" He asked pointing at the bracelet.


    Cecily finally looked up, her eyes sharp behind smudged goggles.


    Cassilyth answered for her, "Alive? No. Sentient? Debatable." She tapped the bracelet, and it emitted a low, whale-song hum.


    "It''s merely a prototype for now, but in a day or two, we should have the final product," Cecily stated.


    Altha arched a brow. "We?"


    Cassilyth smirked, walking over to Cecily''s side. "She means me and her. And maybe Seth, if he should ever feel so inclined."


    A chair rolled toward him, nudged by an unseen force. Cecily gestured. "Sit."


    He complied, watching as they exchanged notes filled with intricate diagrams and calculations. Evening melted into night, the air humming with the murmur of work. Breaking that static equilibrium, Cassilyth asked:


    "Hey, Altha, I know we''ve only known each other for a few days but I have to ask¡ªWere you this wuiet before or after being stranded in the Outer?"


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    Altha spoke, "Uhh¡­ No I was always considered a quiet child."


    "Huh, why do you think that is?" Cassilyth asked.


    He shrugged "I don''t know. I just prefer keeping to myself. Staying out of the spotlight."


    Cecily smirked. "Ah, The shadowy type, huh? I like that."


    Cassilyth chuckled, adjusting a component on the bracelet''s exoskeleton. "Yeah, me too."


    Silence settled, comfortable yet expectant. Then Cecily set her tools down and turned to him, her expression unreadable.


    "Well, since we''re already talking, I think it''s time you knew something about your Somniate Trial."


    Altha straightened, attention sharpening.


    "See, when people usually do their Somniate Trial, it''s of their own volition, so they have as much time as they want to prepare," Cecily stated.


    Adding to her comment, Cassilyth said, "By that, she means they can gather weapons, serums, charms, trinkets, and all that jazz. But..." She turned her gaze to Cecily.


    Continuing from where she left off, Cecily stated, "But you''re a different case. Since you don''t have any Ether or Cogni, and our Remembrances require it to activate their... Traits. That means we can''t really provide you with much support in that field."


    "Today you almost died even," Cassilyth stated.


    "Well, yeah, but you guys had healing serums, so I couldn''t have been that close to dying," Altha murmured


    The two women looked at each other briefly before turning their sites back to Altha.


    Cassilyth spoke, moving her seat closer to his, "Altha, you didn''t get healed by a serum. I healed you."


    "Huh, why?" He asked.


    "Sumi frantically ran into our room and woke me up. Then I rushed outside and you were on the ground coughing up blood." She stated.


    "You see Altha, the healing serums are designed to interact with a person''s Ether Network so that they can replicate your specific kind of Athar Type." Cecily Stated.


    "Athar Type?" He asked.


    Stretching, Cecily got up and rolled a large whiteboard over on its wheels. "Well, I wasn''t planning on doing it this way, but I guess now is about as good a time as any. Your first lesson on Aethear Theory starts now." Rummaging through multiple shelves she recovered a multitude of different coloured markers.


    Petting Altha on the shoulder and shooting him a warm smile, Cassilyth stood up and stood beside her.


    "Interpretation 1: Aethear is the Soul of all creation." She worded as she wrote on the board, "By this, we mean all energy, including matter, light, heat, etc... Were created from this. And if you wonder what ''this'' is, it''s a field that overlaps and is found through every nook and cranny in the Living Multiverse or at least, from what we can tell so far."


    Altha nodded. Beneath that initial statement, Cassilyth wrote:


    Conclusion 1: "Athar, Ether, and Cogni are all connected. However, Cogni and Ether are inversely related for the purposes of one''s Internal Energy Ratio."


    Conclusion 2: "One''s Internal Energy Ratio determines their Athar Type. There are four known Athar Types, those being A, E, AE, and C of which are further differentiated into groups ''Positive/Negative''."


    "Are you keeping up so far?" Cassilyth asked.


    Nodding Altha said, "They remind me of Blood Types like A, B, AB, and O."


    Giving him a fistbump, Cassilyth said:


    "Very good analogy there, Altha. And like Blood Types, your Athar Type can be..." She gestured for him to finish her sentence.


    "They can be hereditary?"


    "Indeed, however sometimes your Athar Type can change depending on circumstances like exposure to different Arcane Phenomenons, Arcane Energies, and Certain Entities, or Viruses, etc..."


    As Cassilyth spoke, Cecily bent over to write underneath her statements, her form vaguely hinted at by the white fabric of her lab coat; feigning ignorance, Altha turned his sights to Cassilyth.


    Cecily wrote:


    Key Term: "Athar"


    She tapped at the board with her marker and asked, "Do you know what Athar is?"


    "Not really." He said, shrugging his shoulders.


    She sighed, "Well at least you''re honest. I''m just gonna assume you know nothing and explain three out of the six." Below key term, she wrote:


    Athar: "Physical Energy that gives form and matter to all things in creation with only a few exceptions to that rule. Forms the physical building blocks of reality."


    Ether: "Metaphysical/Physical Energy emerging from the soul. Often thought to give one''s will, physical form in tangible reality. Alters reality to fit one''s Will"


    Cogni: "Metaphysical/Conceptual Energy brought about by conscious thought. An energy that Alters reality to fit one''s Thoughts."


    As she wrote that Cassilyth was on the right doing the same, "Now that you have some baseline foundation of ''Aethear Theory'', let''s dive into an important principle of ''Arcana-Mathematica''", she wrote:


    Conversion Principle: All six energies are aligned and can break down to form each other or be broken down to adapt to one another. For a Mage, Arcanist, Sorcerer, Augmenter, etc... The most important skill to learn and work on is the breakdown process of these six energies.


    Underlining the principle, she bumped fists with Cecily as she asked Altha, "Now, with all this in mind, what do you think is the reason for the H-Serum not working on you?"


    He looked between them for a moment, then stood up from his chair, gesturing for a marker. He felt short in the presence of the two women as they both seemed to tower above him by an extra 5 inches of height.


    Giving him their markers they both sat down and listened. He wrote:


    "If your Energy Type affects your Athar Type, then to heal someone, you must have an Ether or Cogni type that supports their Athar Type. Meaning the H-Serum, once ingested, facilitates the breakdown of your Ether or Cogni into a more useful form of Athar..." He scratched his head, trying to gauge their reactions, and they seemed rather intent on listening, so he continued, "Once formed, that Athar heals any wounds present at that moment. But because I have no Ether or Cogni to speak of, I can''t be healed through that using the H-Serum. Is that right?"


    The two women looked at each other and shot him their warmest smiles before applauding.


    "A quick study. Dangerous." Cassilyth teased.


    Cecily smirked, erasing the board with a wave. "Dangerous indeed." Standing up, she rummaged around the lab a bit looking for something, while Cassilyth approached Altha.


    "Good work there. You picked that up pretty quickly. It takes time for most people to wrap their heads around the concept of Aethear Theory." Cassilyth said confidently.


    Blushing at the compliment, Altha looked down and murmured, "Uhh no, I- I still don''t really fully get it."


    She let out a quiet chuckle and said, "No need to be humble, you''ve done great so far. You might not know all the mathematical terms and units of it but knowing some of the basic concepts deserves a celebration in itself."


    Pulling a chair closer, she asked him to sit, to which Altha complied. Placing a hand on his shoulder, metallic radiance oozed into him like liquid metal, easing the fatigue.


    Letting out a heavy sigh Altha asked, "If the H-Serum doesn''t work to heal me. Then how come you can?"


    "Serums are crude tools," she said, her voice edged with disdain. "They force the body to obey. This¡ª" The light flared, sudden and bright, "¡ªis a conversation."


    Sensing something in the distance Altha''s intuition guided his sight to the horizon as a storm front rolled over a part of the forest. Brilliant energy crackling around the roiling gray and black clouds, while thunderous booms and the sound of raging wind assaulted the surroundings and intermingled with lightning flames that danced within their depths.

 Beginners Luck

    Above the canopy, the sky roiled like a living thing¡ªobsidian clouds churning in a slow, predatory spiral. Within their depths, amber light pulsed like a dying star, veins of lightning fracturing the darkness in jagged bursts. The forest below shuddered leaves curling inward as if the trees themselves feared what fell from that wounded heaven.


    Altha sat frozen at the cabin''s threshold and asked, "Is that fire or just hell coming to claim me?"


    Sat beside him close enough that their ankles touched. She smelled of vanilla and sandalwood, "Huh? Oh right, you''ve never seen one of those before, have you?" Cassilyth asked.


    Altha shook his head, "No, where I''m from it''s usually just water. The rain can be really acidic sometimes though."


    Cassilyth offered a chuckle, "Yeah, well, the same is true for this world. However this forest is a bit special, you see. This is what common folk refer to as a dark forest. Those flames are minor deific fires, keeping its blight and corruption contained."


    "Huh, talk about raining down hellfire." He said jokingly, "I guess it''s like its own self-sustaining system."


    Cassilyth looked up and smiled at the comment, "Yes, I suppose hellfire isn''t far-fetched from what they are. They''re said to form in places where the Living Multiverse overlaps with the ''Ashen Pyre''."


    "The ''Ashen Pyre''?" He asked


    Finding the book she was rummaging for, Cecily tossed it to Altha, and without thinking, he caught it effortlessly. The book''s cover read "Arcana-Mathematica: Vol 1" and held approximately six hundred pages of content by Altha''s measurements.


    The cover felt surprisingly warm, its pages edged in gold leaf that shimmered like bottled lightning while the book''s spine held an insignia that smelled like petrichor, "Uhh, am I supposed to read this whole book in less than 5 days?" Altha asked, his voice nearly breaking.


    Cecily chuckled, a witch''s laugh, "Obviously not," Cecily drawled. With a flick of her wrist, a second tome disintegrated from a shelf, unravelling into crimson threads of light before reforming atop the ''Arcana-Mathematica''.


    The book read ''Eidolimancy Script: Vol 1'' and was nearly as thick as the first book. Its spine bore an Insignia that made Altha''s emotions calmer.


    "Start here¡ª" Cecily said, tapping the Eidolimancy text. "before diving into the ''Arcana-Mathematica''. I don''t want you confusing yourself. Eidolimancy Script will teach you some much-needed fundamentals."


    She sat back down on her workbench, "You did very well carving that Insignia into that Golem''s nape, Altha. You seem to possess a high aptitude for Eidolic Script, and it seems your... Unique Essence allows it. Gods know we could use more practitioners of the Runic Arts. Arcanum Studies are only getting bigger and bigger so we need more innovations."


    "No, I just copied the symbol on your bracelet is all. That was simple but this..." He paused, "I was simple beginners'' luck."


    "You didn''t copy¡ªyou interpreted." She raised a finger, "Adapted its structure to the golem''s Athar Signature and forced resonance. Instinctively. That''s no feat of mere luck."


    Gently squeezing his shoulder, Cassilyth spoke softly, "She''s right you know. It took me multiple attempts to scribe my first Insignia, and that was me after already knowing Runic Script, making it easier to do, but you were able to replicate her Insignia with no prior exposure to even Aethear Theory. It''s honestly really impressive. I won''t lie and say I wasn''t caught off guard by your performance during that whole trial."


    Altha''s face flushed at the compliment, and he reflexively looked down in embarrassment.


    A thunderclap split the air. The ground trembled, and for a heartbeat, the storm''s amber light painted Cassilyth''s face in stark relief¡ªa queen of ash and ember.


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    "You know what this means, don''t you? If Cecily''s trusting you with Eidolimancy¡­"


    He shrugged and jokingly said, "That I''m your lab rat for whatever nightmare you''re building?"


    Cassilyth laughed, low and rich. "Worse. You''re our colleague now."


    Before he could respond, the storm flared. A tendril of amber flame lashed downward, incinerating an ancient oak in the distance. The blast wave hit them seconds later¡ªheat and force.


    "Uhh, should we be worried about that reaching the cabin? Also are Solace and the others gonna be ok?" Altha asked.


    "Still thinking about your spar with Solace, huh?" Cassilyth asked, her hand dimming before eventually squeezing gently on his shoulder.


    He sighed, "Is it that obvious?"


    Cassilyth smiled at him warmly, "People usually mention the name of the first person they think of when referring to a group."


    On the side quietly listening, Cecily crossed her arms, "You know you could have won against him in such a weakened state. It wouldn''t have been easy, but if you''d gone all out, you could have certainly had a fair shot at it."


    "Why do you think I held back?" He asked, challenging her notion.


    "Just call it intuition. I gathered all the data, I cranked all the numbers, I did the calculations. Long before I gave Solace that bracelet to limit his strength. You were holding back." She stated.


    Cassilyth comforted him, "Are you mad at him?"


    He shook his head, "No, I think I''m just unsure how to express to him that he''s not at fault for what happened during the spar."


    "Socially Anxious too, noted," Cecily said,


    "I think it''s sweet that you''re concerned for his safety and peace of mind, and if you were to ask him, I''m sure he''d say something similar. Both of you just need to talk to each other about this. Just to clear the air between you two."


    He gave her a little nod.


    Cecily snapped her goggles into place, fingers already dancing across the bracelet''s circuitry. "The storm won''t reach us here, and if it did, I''ve placed certain countermeasures. Solace and the others are extremely capable Astrals, so they''ll be fine, I''m sure." She flicked her wrist, sending tools floating in a lazy orbit around her workstation. "Now I think we''ve talked enough. We each have our objectives so let''s get to it."


    Cassilyth drifted to the adjacent bench, her shadow stretching long in the arcane workshop''s amber light. The device under her hands hissed. Sighing internally Altha cracked open the ''Eidolimancy Script'' as they all worked the night away.


    He didn''t sleep. Couldn''t. The Eidolimancy text unfolded in his mind even when he closed his eyes¡ªequations rearranging his neurons.


    Hours of intensive study passed, his mind and intuition trying to generate alternate interpretations of the ideas as well as integrating them into his own perception of this world as he fought off the whispers of slumber. Trying to remember the book''s content through a method of a relation of ideas.


    The night made way for morning''s tender grip.


    Waking to the sound of voices outside, Altha opened his eyes to find Cassilyth dozing next to him; flushed, he pushed himself off the workbench and looked around the garage. Cecily was nowhere to be seen; lazily, he opened the garage door, creaking as it lifted up, stirring Cassilyth awake.


    "Five more minutes..." Cassilyth mumbled into her folded arms, lavender hair fanning across schematics like a mix of copper and strontium.


    The morning breeze rushed in, its icy touch too lively on his tender warm skin. The grass was a vibrant green that glistened under the light of Sol¡ªas it stung his eyes.


    In the distance, four figures emerged from the treeline and into the canopy. Two warriors glistened in shredded form-fitting combat gear, with four insectoid carcasses heaped on their shoulders the size of Hippobears. Behind them were their pristine companions dragging an Ox-looking creature with red fur and horns as black as night. It was the cohort.


    Despite the torn clothes and their blood-covered garments, their skin was untouched and remained flawless.


    Altha sighed knowing what had to come next, his talk with Solace.


    "Distressed about Solace?" Cecily asked, suddenly behind him.


    Altha''s heart skipped a beat at her sudden appearance, but quickly calmed. She spoke again, "You''re overthinking this. The sooner you approach him the quicker your anxiety will go away." She gently nudged him forward.


    Sighing, he went to meet the group, all the while cycling thoughts told him of all the ways it could go wrong no matter how unlikely he convinced himself it was.


    "Altha," Sumi waved as she ran over the insectoid bodies bouncing at her shoulders, "You''re-"


    But before she could get another word in Solace was already running past her, another four bodies jumping on his shoulders, frost patterns crackling across his latest kill. The corpses hit the earth like wet thunder as his glacial stare pierced into Altha.


    He spoke, his voice steady, "Yesterday I- I didn''t mean to..." He scratched his head "I''m sorry. I made a mistake, please forgive me." He fell to one knee.


    Following in his lead, Altha fell to one knee and said, "It''s not all your fault. I should have been more careful¡ªI should have known better than to hold back against you."


    Solace''s eyes widened, taken aback by his kind gesture. Solace''s fist shot out - knuckles still flecked with alien blood stains, a gesture Altha was all too quickly getting accustomed to. He bumped fists with him.


    Better than bumping heads I suppose.

 Beginners Luck

    Above the canopy, the sky roiled like a living thing¡ªobsidian clouds churning in a slow, predatory spiral. Within their depths, amber light pulsed like a dying star, veins of lightning fracturing the darkness in jagged bursts. The forest below shuddered leaves curling inward as if the trees themselves feared what fell from that wounded heaven.


    Altha sat frozen at the cabin''s threshold and asked, "Is that fire or just hell coming to claim me?"


    Sat beside him close enough that their ankles touched. She smelled of vanilla and sandalwood, "Huh? Oh right, you''ve never seen one of those before, have you?" Cassilyth asked.


    Altha shook his head, "No, where I''m from it''s usually just water. The rain can be really acidic sometimes though."


    Cassilyth offered a chuckle, "Yeah, well, the same is true for this world. However this forest is a bit special, you see. This is what common folk refer to as a dark forest. Those flames are minor deific fires, keeping its blight and corruption contained."


    "Huh, talk about raining down hellfire." He said jokingly, "I guess it''s like its own self-sustaining system."


    Cassilyth looked up and smiled at the comment, "Yes, I suppose hellfire isn''t far-fetched from what they are. They''re said to form in places where the Living Multiverse overlaps with the ''Ashen Pyre''."


    "The ''Ashen Pyre''?" He asked


    Finding the book she was rummaging for, Cecily tossed it to Altha, and without thinking, he caught it effortlessly. The book''s cover read "Arcana-Mathematica: Vol 1" and held approximately six hundred pages of content by Altha''s measurements.


    The cover felt surprisingly warm, its pages edged in gold leaf that shimmered like bottled lightning while the book''s spine held an insignia that smelled like petrichor, "Uhh, am I supposed to read this whole book in less than 5 days?" Altha asked, his voice nearly breaking.


    Cecily chuckled, a witch''s laugh, "Obviously not," Cecily drawled. With a flick of her wrist, a second tome disintegrated from a shelf, unravelling into crimson threads of light before reforming atop the ''Arcana-Mathematica''.


    The book read ''Eidolimancy Script: Vol 1'' and was nearly as thick as the first book. Its spine bore an Insignia that made Altha''s emotions calmer.


    "Start here¡ª" Cecily said, tapping the Eidolimancy text. "before diving into the ''Arcana-Mathematica''. I don''t want you confusing yourself. Eidolimancy Script will teach you some much-needed fundamentals."


    She sat back down on her workbench, "You did very well carving that Insignia into that Golem''s nape, Altha. You seem to possess a high aptitude for Eidolic Script, and it seems your... Unique Essence allows it. Gods know we could use more practitioners of the Runic Arts. Arcanum Studies are only getting bigger and bigger so we need more innovations."


    "No, I just copied the symbol on your bracelet is all. That was simple but this..." He paused, "I was simple beginners'' luck."


    "You didn''t copy¡ªyou interpreted." She raised a finger, "Adapted its structure to the golem''s Athar Signature and forced resonance. Instinctively. That''s no feat of mere luck."


    Gently squeezing his shoulder, Cassilyth spoke softly, "She''s right you know. It took me multiple attempts to scribe my first Insignia, and that was me after already knowing Runic Script, making it easier to do, but you were able to replicate her Insignia with no prior exposure to even Aethear Theory. It''s honestly really impressive. I won''t lie and say I wasn''t caught off guard by your performance during that whole trial."


    Altha''s face flushed at the compliment, and he reflexively looked down in embarrassment.


    A thunderclap split the air. The ground trembled, and for a heartbeat, the storm''s amber light painted Cassilyth''s face in stark relief¡ªa queen of ash and ember.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "You know what this means, don''t you? If Cecily''s trusting you with Eidolimancy¡­"


    He shrugged and jokingly said, "That I''m your lab rat for whatever nightmare you''re building?"


    Cassilyth laughed, low and rich. "Worse. You''re our colleague now."


    Before he could respond, the storm flared. A tendril of amber flame lashed downward, incinerating an ancient oak in the distance. The blast wave hit them seconds later¡ªheat and force.


    "Uhh, should we be worried about that reaching the cabin? Also are Solace and the others gonna be ok?" Altha asked.


    "Still thinking about your spar with Solace, huh?" Cassilyth asked, her hand dimming before eventually squeezing gently on his shoulder.


    He sighed, "Is it that obvious?"


    Cassilyth smiled at him warmly, "People usually mention the name of the first person they think of when referring to a group."


    On the side quietly listening, Cecily crossed her arms, "You know you could have won against him in such a weakened state. It wouldn''t have been easy, but if you''d gone all out, you could have certainly had a fair shot at it."


    "Why do you think I held back?" He asked, challenging her notion.


    "Just call it intuition. I gathered all the data, I cranked all the numbers, I did the calculations. Long before I gave Solace that bracelet to limit his strength. You were holding back." She stated.


    Cassilyth comforted him, "Are you mad at him?"


    He shook his head, "No, I think I''m just unsure how to express to him that he''s not at fault for what happened during the spar."


    "Socially Anxious too, noted," Cecily said,


    "I think it''s sweet that you''re concerned for his safety and peace of mind, and if you were to ask him, I''m sure he''d say something similar. Both of you just need to talk to each other about this. Just to clear the air between you two."


    He gave her a little nod.


    Cecily snapped her goggles into place, fingers already dancing across the bracelet''s circuitry. "The storm won''t reach us here, and if it did, I''ve placed certain countermeasures. Solace and the others are extremely capable Astrals, so they''ll be fine, I''m sure." She flicked her wrist, sending tools floating in a lazy orbit around her workstation. "Now I think we''ve talked enough. We each have our objectives so let''s get to it."


    Cassilyth drifted to the adjacent bench, her shadow stretching long in the arcane workshop''s amber light. The device under her hands hissed. Sighing internally Altha cracked open the ''Eidolimancy Script'' as they all worked the night away.


    He didn''t sleep. Couldn''t. The Eidolimancy text unfolded in his mind even when he closed his eyes¡ªequations rearranging his neurons.


    Hours of intensive study passed, his mind and intuition trying to generate alternate interpretations of the ideas as well as integrating them into his own perception of this world as he fought off the whispers of slumber. Trying to remember the book''s content through a method of a relation of ideas.


    The night made way for morning''s tender grip.


    Waking to the sound of voices outside, Altha opened his eyes to find Cassilyth dozing next to him; flushed, he pushed himself off the workbench and looked around the garage. Cecily was nowhere to be seen; lazily, he opened the garage door, creaking as it lifted up, stirring Cassilyth awake.


    "Five more minutes..." Cassilyth mumbled into her folded arms, lavender hair fanning across schematics like a mix of copper and strontium.


    The morning breeze rushed in, its icy touch too lively on his tender warm skin. The grass was a vibrant green that glistened under the light of Sol¡ªas it stung his eyes.


    In the distance, four figures emerged from the treeline and into the canopy. Two warriors glistened in shredded form-fitting combat gear, with four insectoid carcasses heaped on their shoulders the size of Hippobears. Behind them were their pristine companions dragging an Ox-looking creature with red fur and horns as black as night. It was the cohort.


    Despite the torn clothes and their blood-covered garments, their skin was untouched and remained flawless.


    Altha sighed knowing what had to come next, his talk with Solace.


    "Distressed about Solace?" Cecily asked, suddenly behind him.


    Altha''s heart skipped a beat at her sudden appearance, but quickly calmed. She spoke again, "You''re overthinking this. The sooner you approach him the quicker your anxiety will go away." She gently nudged him forward.


    Sighing, he went to meet the group, all the while cycling thoughts told him of all the ways it could go wrong no matter how unlikely he convinced himself it was.


    "Altha," Sumi waved as she ran over the insectoid bodies bouncing at her shoulders, "You''re-"


    But before she could get another word in Solace was already running past her, another four bodies jumping on his shoulders, frost patterns crackling across his latest kill. The corpses hit the earth like wet thunder as his glacial stare pierced into Altha.


    He spoke, his voice steady, "Yesterday I- I didn''t mean to..." He scratched his head "I''m sorry. I made a mistake, please forgive me." He fell to one knee.


    Following in his lead, Altha fell to one knee and said, "It''s not all your fault. I should have been more careful¡ªI should have known better than to hold back against you."


    Solace''s eyes widened, taken aback by his kind gesture. Solace''s fist shot out - knuckles still flecked with alien blood stains, a gesture Altha was all too quickly getting accustomed to. He bumped fists with him.


    Better than bumping heads I suppose.

 Just Another Icarus?

    Waving over Seth, Solace pulled everyone aside further from the cabin home. They stopped near the treeline, by which point Isolde summoned her Tome in a flash of crackling pale blue light.


    Flipping it open to a specific page, she channelled Ether into its core. The moment the spell took hold, silence blanketed their surroundings. All sound¡ªbirds, rustling leaves, even the distant crashes of lightning¡ªvanished in an instant. The world around them blurred, smearing into indistinct shapes of colour.


    Cassilyth''s voice broke the quiet, a serene melody in the weightless stillness. "An Obscura Spell on top of a Silence Spell? What exactly are you trying to keep hidden?"


    Solace answered by raising his hand, revealing a ring. Its shape was both elegant and untamed as if sculpted by the very currents of the Arcane.


    Forged from silver that gleamed like liquid moonlight, the band bore delicate, windswept etchings filled with a deep cerulean hue. Small, jagged spines jutted from it like the branches of an ancient tree, each tip cradling a glistening sliver of the same eerie blue material.


    Holding the ring aloft, Solace pointed it toward the centre of the group. A shimmer of Ether twisted through the air, and with a pulse of unseen force, a mirror materialized before them. The mirror was fashionable and sophisticated in design, much like those one would normally find in the rooms of young noble girls or many of the beloved idols of Leydrithia.


    Instead of revealing the world as it was, the mirror twisted reality, distorting their surroundings into something darker and corrupted. The grass at their feet turned withered and black, shifting unnaturally as if trapped between states of being.


    Seth stepped forward, his expression unreadable. Though his posture remained composed, his sharp gaze flicked over the mirror¡¯s surface with quiet scrutiny. "Where did you find this?"


    Sumi, staring into the reflection, noted that she remained unchanged. Only the world around her had warped. She frowned. "What is it?"


    Altha folded his arms. "A Mal-Empirica."


    The name itself carried weight, and the air around them seemed heavier as he spoke it. ¡°All I know is that they¡¯re dangerous artefacts used in the distant past to connect the living world to the Outer Mirror. Supposedly, Mages and Arcanists once experimented with ways to traverse the Outer Mirror without relying on the Spires. That research led to the creation of occult objects¡ªthe Mal-Empirica¡ªwhich were eventually outlawed across the world.¡±


    He turned his gaze to Seth. ¡°But I bet dearest brother here knows more.¡±


    Isolde crossed her arms, fixing Seth with an expectant stare. "Care to explain, brother?"


    Seth sighed, "Fine, but on the condition that not a word of this reaches Aunt Cecily, at least for now, and you can''t ask me why. Do we have a deal?"


    They all exchanged looks but eventually nodded in agreement.


    Seth let out a slow breath, glancing around at the others before finally speaking. "Fine. But on one condition¡ªnot a word of this reaches Aunt Cecily, at least not yet." His eyes darkened. "And don¡¯t ask me why."


    A brief silence fell over the group as they exchanged glances. After a moment, they each gave a slow nod.


    Satisfied, Seth stepped closer to the mirror, running a single finger along its smooth surface. The moment he made contact, a whisper curled through the air, too faint to make out. A ghostly afterglow trailed his touch, pulsing with an eerie rhythm before fading.


    "Like Solace said, these are illegal artefacts," he murmured. "They tether themselves to the Outer Mirror¡¯s energies, granting the wielder greater access to its power. But there¡¯s a cost." His eyes flicked to Altha. "Using them strengthens the Outer¡¯s hold on our world."


    He paused as if considering his next words carefully. "After the first Category-6 Spatial Fract¡ªnow called the Coded Event¡ªmages realized how dangerous these things were. To prevent another disaster, they designed fail-safes into the Mal-Empirica¡ªone of which is its ability to function as a gateway."


    Sumi stiffened. "A gateway?"


    Seth nodded. "These artefacts allow creatures to enter the Outer Mirror. But more importantly¡­ with the right inversion of Ether, they can let something out."


    A cold silence settled over them.


    "For that reason," Seth continued, "these artefacts were outlawed, and most were lost, hidden, or exchanged. Only a few still exist today." He hesitated, then exhaled. "However, there''s something else you should know."


    He met each of their gazes in turn. "The Mal-Empirica would not exist without one¡ªCecily Acustes."


    The name hung in the air like a hammer waiting to fall.


    "It was her discovery of the Adaptive Rune that made them possible," Seth admitted. "And without that same discovery, the entire industry of Arcanum Studies wouldn¡¯t exist as it does today."


    Cassilyth asked, "Well if they''re so dangerous, why weren''t they disassembled?"


    Sumi added, "Did they have some unforeseen consequences?"


    Seth nodded, "The Artifacts were now bridges between the Living Multiverse and the Outer Mirror and, for that, became indestructible." He took a step back from the mirror. "Now that you know what it is, I¡¯ll ask again¡ªwhere did you find it?"


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Solace exhaled, rubbing his temples. Over the next few minutes, he and Isolde explained everything.


    As they spoke, the distorted reflection in the mirror remained still, as though listening.


    After leaving the garage, Altha took a long bath. He lost track of time, letting the warmth of the water lull him into a trance. Was he thinking? Perhaps. Pondering? About what? He didn¡¯t know.


    When he finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel and rubbing at damp bundles of hair, he barely noticed Sumi standing outside the door¡ªuntil he bumped into her.


    "Oh¡ªuhh, hello¡­"


    Sumi startled slightly, gripping the book in her hands. "H-hello¡­"


    For a moment, silence settled between them in the dimly lit hallway. Then, as if remembering herself, she cleared her throat. "So, how has Cecily been treating you? Have you made any progress with the lessons?"


    Her voice was even, but Altha caught something beneath it¡ªhesitation, maybe? Or was he imagining it?


    She stood before him in a delicate two-piece loungewear set, the soft, ribbed fabric hugging her form. White with scattered cherry prints in soft pink and red hues, it gave her a casual elegance. The tank top¡¯s thin straps rested lightly on her pale shoulders, mirroring the high-waisted shorts that accentuated her slender waist and toned thighs.


    Altha forced himself to look away, rubbing the back of his neck. "If I¡¯m being honest, I have no clue. I¡¯ll just have to wait and see, I suppose." His gaze flicked to the book in her hands. It didn¡¯t seem like the same one from yesterday, but still, he asked, "Planning on doing some late-night drawing?"


    Sumi glanced down at the journal, brushing her thumb over the cover. "Just felt like writing a little." For a moment, her eyes softened, a distant memory flickering through them. Her cheeks flushed faintly, but she quickly composed herself.


    Altha gave a small nod. "Well, I won¡¯t keep you. I¡¯ve got a few more basic rune incantations to cram into this noggin of mine." He gave her a lazy wave, stepping aside.


    "But you haven¡¯t eaten all day," Sumi blurted out.


    Altha blinked.


    She shifted, clutching the journal a little tighter. "Studies show that the brain needs sugar to function at its best. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to eat something, would it?" Her voice came out a little croaky, rushed, as if she hadn¡¯t meant to speak so quickly. "Even if it¡¯s just cereal¡­ or if you¡¯re too busy, you could ask Cassilyth. She¡¯s in the kitchen right now, making herself a midnight snack."


    Something about the way she said it¡ªthe way she stumbled through her words¡ªmade Altha¡¯s stomach feel oddly light.


    Was this¡­ care?


    Did she care?


    Or was he just fooling himself into thinking she did?


    Clearing his throat, he nodded, pretending not to notice the warmth creeping into his own face. ¡°I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt¡­ if it puts your mind at ease. I wouldn¡¯t want to stress you out, now would I?¡± His lips twitched slightly at his own words.


    Sumi¡¯s face brightened with a radiant smile.


    Altha turned away before she could see how much that smile affected him. Heading back to the garage, he grabbed the Eidolimancy Script and briefly told Cecily he was going to get breakfast. She barely acknowledged him, too focused on connecting the bracelet she had crafted to the exoskeleton of a watch Cassilyth had built. As the monitors scanned for anomalies or error codes, she simply nodded at him and continued her work.


    The kitchen was well-lit, the warm glow of a single hanging light casting soft shadows across the room. The faint scent of toasted bread and crisp bacon lingered in the air.


    Cassilyth stood by the counter, subtly shaking her hips, dancing to some distant tune humming in her head, as she stirred something in a bowl. She wore pyjamas similar to Sumi¡¯s, or perhaps Sumi wore pyjamas similar to hers.


    Hearing the door creak, she turned, her face lighting up in amusement. ¡°Knew you¡¯d show up eventually,¡± she said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°Even weirdos need to eat. I would know.¡±


    Her voice was melodic, a teasing lilt in her tone that immediately put Altha at ease.


    She pulled out a chair for him before he could even ask, and he accepted it gladly. Placing the Eidolimancy Script on the table, he flipped to a chapter titled Rune Placement: Coherency.


    His fingers idly traced the text as his eyes flicked to the table¡ªa hundred-piece puzzle lay scattered across its surface. On one of the countertops, a Rubik¡¯s cube sat, half-solved.


    Cassilyth slid a bowl toward him. ¡°Eat first. Read later. Give the books a breather¡±


    Altha smirked. ¡°Bossy, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Call it guidance.¡± She winked.


    Serving him food, Cassilyth settled into her seat, and the two ate together in comfortable silence.


    Not long after, Sumi emerged from the bathroom, hair slightly damp, her journal tucked under her arm. Without a word, she slid into a seat beside them. Together, they began piecing together the hundred-piece puzzle that had been left out.


    The soft clatter of puzzle pieces filled the quiet kitchen. Occasionally, one of them would sigh in triumph at finding a match, or quietly curse when a piece refused to fit. It wasn¡¯t much. Just a simple, peaceful moment. But to Altha, it felt like something more.


    For the first time in a long while, he felt¡­ comfortable.


    And maybe, just maybe, cared for.


    By the time the puzzle was complete, the night had deepened into quiet stillness. They cleaned up together, washing dishes and wiping down the counters before retreating to their rooms.


    ---


    3 Days Left


    Altha woke to the soft rustling of pages beneath his cheek. Blinking groggily, he lifted his head from the open book, its pages slightly crinkled from where he had pressed against them in his sleep.


    To his right, Solace snored softly, sprawled across his bed. To his left¡ªempty air.


    Sitting up, he stretched before trudging toward the garage. The moment he entered, he found Cecily already at work, looking as sharp as ever. which was to him strange, considering he''d never seen her sleep.


    ¡°Morning,¡± she greeted, giving him a casual wave before diving back into her notes.


    For most of the day, they alternated between survival tactics and Eidolimancy Script. At some point, Cassilyth joined in, her presence adding an ease to the intensity of the lessons.


    Meanwhile, the others had set out to cull more of the Tenebicula population. By sunset, they returned, hauling in twelve more corpses.


    As Altha retired for sleep he found Solace strangely awake that night.


    "So, only two days left after today, huh?" Solace murmured. His voice carried that rare, contemplative tone¡ªthe kind that usually led to conversations one couldn''t walk away from.


    Altha exhaled. "Is it even possible for someone to feel ready for something like this?"


    Solace smiled faintly, gaze still fixed on the ceiling "Fair enough, I suppose. The future is uncertain, after all. I mean, look at Icarus. He thought he had everything figured out¡ªuntil time caught up with him." He shifted slightly, turning toward Altha. "Ambition carried him too far too quickly. It made a cautionary tale of him."


    For a moment, the room was still. The dim ember-glow of the lamp cast soft, flickering shadows against the walls.


    Altha rolled onto his back, staring up. "Not to worry. There are no grander goals at play for me. Just¡­ surviving. Escaping the Outer for a second time."


    Solace hummed. "Ambition isn¡¯t that simple, Altha. You never know when it¡¯ll come peering around the corner."


    Altha closed his eyes briefly before sighing. "I know." He reached for Eidolimancy Script, shutting it and placing it on the bedside table.


    A pause. Then¡ª


    "But I believe in you," Solace said, his voice even softer this time. "Sumi believes in you. Cassilyth believes in you. Even my Aunt. And I say¡ª" He turned his head slightly. "You won¡¯t be just another Icarus."


    Altha didn¡¯t answer right away.


    Instead, he let the words settle, let them sink into the parts of himself that had doubted, that had questioned.


    "¡­Thanks."


    And with that, they drifted into quiet, their hushed conversation fading into the steady rhythm of sleep.