A Realm Above – Chapter 1
“Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand.” - Neil Armstrong
The universe. A place which seemingly have an unlimited wonder. Every intelligent being who reside in it cannot help but think,
“Is there really something beyond this? Is there really something beyond me? “
This is also the question that one man asked in his mind while embracing a teary-eyed woman.
The man looked like in his early 20s with a black hair and black eyes, he has a tall build and a handsome face. The woman he embraced also looked in her early 20s with a deep blue hair and blue eyes, she is slightly shorter than the man. Anyone can tell that she is a beauty.
“Where will you be going?“ the young woman asked with a worried look while holding her tears.
"A better place, my love," said the young man. "a place where I will become a higher state of existence, to where there is no suffering and pain." the young man said with a voice full of hesitation. He is clearly unwilling to part with her. "You don't have to worry about me my love, I will be okay."
The man’s body starts to glow with a radiance and a particle of light come off piece by piece from his body. Then the particle of light starts to rise up to the sky.
She looked deeply into the man's eyes and asked "Will we ever meet again?"
The man clenched his fist before he affirms his conviction and replied
"Of course, someday I will come for you and finish everything we started," he said while touching the engagement ring on her finger.
The man then forms a dark aura in his hand and then willed it to gather in her ring. The dark aura fuses completely with the ring leaving no trace as if nothing happen.
"With this, I will be able to sense where you are. So please wait for me, for I will never give up on you.“ said the man while wiping off the tears in her eyes. I will not regret this, because this is all for her sake. He thought.
The woman finally smiled and answered "I will my love, I will wait for you. Even if it took me forever,” she puts her hands on his cheek and continued "because you are the only one I love."
"I love you, Ellise"
"I love you too, Wayn"
The two lover then closed their eyes and lock their lips together as the man's body keeps disintegrating. No words were exchanged between them because they know, that their time together will soon come to an end.
As the last light particle ascends into the sky, the ascension ceremony has been completed and the man's body finally disappeared from this world.
Only by now that the woman's eyes opened. She lay her head down and the tears that she's been holding finally pours down her cheek. She then lifts her head up to gaze at the sky.
To where her loved one depart.
* * *
Light. There is only light wherever I looked. The light shine so intensely that I feel like it can burn my eyes. But then I realised that my eyes were gone.
I'm not sure why I can see, but when I looked at my body all there is just a transparent ball which radiated a dark glow. It's my soul, but there is something different. Now it has a dark aura radiating from it, an aura so dark that even light cannot escape from it. It's definitely different from the soul I usually see in the spiritual realm.
As I give up on that matter, I then remembered about Ellise. I can't see her anymore. But there is still hope. If what they said is correct about the dimension between realm, then with enough power I can tear them open and travel between realm, to where Ellise is. But as to how much power is needed, I still don't know. Anyway, it appears the ceremony of my ascension into godhood is still progressing.
Suddenly I hear an old voice that sounds so majestic as if it come from the one who ruled everything.
"Nexus....Nexus...."
I can't see the one who said it, but it keeps on repeating the same word.
"Nexus....You have to keep ascending....You have to go higher..."
He said with a monotonous voice.
"Only by then....we can become one....we can become complete...."
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
"For you are the nexus between me and everything....the nexus between all natural laws....and the nexus between realms..."
He keeps on saying things, and what's with this nexus? If I remember correctly, nexus means a connection. Does he refer to me?
"Indeed...."
....I assume you are able to read minds?
"Yes...."
I see, that is very convenient as I cannot speak in this form. Let me introduce myself, my name is Wayn Zander. May I know your name?
Suddenly a gigantic red stone appears in front of me. It shaped like a long tall cube, and Its size is as big as a 20 stories building. It glows in red scarlet blood color with writings all over it. Once in awhile, there is a red light traveling inside it like a vein, giving off a feeling that it was alive.
"I have no name...."
That is not convenient. Anyway, what do you mean by....
Suddenly the light goes out and my surrounding become dark. Something is wrong.
"It looks like the day of our meeting will be delayed...."
I furrowed my eyebrow at the red stone which is the only source of light in this darkness and said,
Care to explain?
"It has no use....You won't remember it anyway...."
Then it also disappears, leaving me alone in this pitch black darkness.
I squinted my eyes trying to figure out what has happened.
Nexus? Connection? Me? Won't remember it?
As I'm trying to understand what he said, I suddenly feel an intense pain in my soul. I can feel that something is trying to suppress it, and slowly taking away my free will.
My consciousness is slowly fading away....
* * *
In an underground chamber.
One man is present inside a small stone chamber illuminated by a torch. The man has a skinny body and a bald head, he wears a robe with a gold lining and jewelry all over his neck and fingers, one could tell that he hold a high position. Moreover, the skull-shaped red crystal staff in his hand indicated that he is a magician.
On the floor in front of him, there is a very complicated magic formation as big as the room itself, painted with a black blood which emits an eerie feeling. In the center of the formation lay a transparent ball that keeps radiating a pitch black aura. The suppressing pressure it gives off makes the man's body tremble and his face full of sweat.
"This... this is not what the report said...." he said with a trembling voice. "I should've known employing those cheap bastard will be a waste of money." he cursed while gritting his teeth.
Then another man with a sturdy warrior build comes in. He wears a luxurious robe with a gold dragon imprint on the back. Luxurious jewelry and gems decorated his body. And on his head, there is a golden crown with a dragon head symbol on it.
The skinny man immediately kneels and said with a respectful tone "Your Majesty."
The man did not even spare a glance at him because his gaze is already fixed at the soul.
"Will the plan go smoothly?" he asked while observing the soul. The pressure from the soul did not affect him even slightly, which tells that he is a very strong warrior.
"Yes your majesty, we just need to wait until his body reconstructed and I have imprinted the Seal of Memories on his soul, so far everything is going smoothly." he answered while still kneeling and there is a hint of hesitation in his voice.
The man picked his hesitation and said, "Tell me."
"Be...because of the unexpected power his soul has, the Seal of Memories might be broken if his soul were to get any stronger"
"I see....we already at the end of this war so there will be no problem. When the seal has broken we can just dispose of him." the man said with a firm tone. "We might need to accelerate our plan." he said while walking out of the stone chamber.
"Yes, Your Majesty." he answered with a smirk on his face. he stands back up and looks at the ball of soul. "Oh puny little human, consider it's your bad luck to have such a special gift. But the luck is on our side, as you will be the key to winning this war." after he said that, a sinister laugh can be heard throughout the underground chamber.
- End of chapter 1 -