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."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"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"