Troy drifted, through the emptiness of nothing, of endless space. He knew, somehow, that he was trapped in the Astral realm. He could feel it, the knowledge more than instinct, a simple knowing. With that awareness, however, came nothing more. Not fear, not doubt, just a simple awareness.

At least until something tugged on him, like a rope anchoring him to the world once more, shattering the endless void until he was looking flat out at Nathaniel. His loving friend, partner and protector. An Astral Demon, tall and purple skinned with horns, long black locks and muscles that had muscles. The raw fear, love and pleasure in his face merged into a sense of victory that Troy tasted.

“Troy, dear boy, you … are you… can you…?” He asked, unsure, so unsure it made Troy lean over and kiss his lover with all he had, with passion born of both his original self as well as the unbridled Astral echo that he had just defeated, the very defeat that sent him flying from his physical form.

The Battle that killed him.

“I am alright, love… just… elevated. I cannot explain it, my powers, my self, my everything, it’s more.” He tipped his head to the side, glaring at the excited calm in his heart. “We are one, myself and myself, the other me. My power, I know it killed me, I felt my heart stop… but enough of that, I felt a shattering, bigger than before.”

Nathaniel nodded, eyes worried, giving Troy the chance to look around him. They were standing in a floating white construct that looked like an old Greek Temple. Like the pictures he saw in textbooks. It radiated old power, the might of Hera. Queen of the Astrally gifted mortals, beings like Troy.

“Something was released, my love…” Nathaniel started, fear wafting off of him in green waves that were literally visible on the astral plane. “They were released, Astral Demons sealed away eons ago when magic started to be seen as evil, to be feared. I…we all can feel them.”

Frowning, Troy looked at his hands. “That was never my intention… who are they, these Demons? Are they like you, like me?”

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

“Beings like me, beings that are born of thoughts. Only they were born from evil thoughts, loss, trauma… they feed on that and become immeasurably powerful, so powerful that can overcome the earth. The past Astral beings put up a wall around them, eons ago, that stopped them from accessing anything more than trickles of their chosen emotion.” Nathan said, his eyes filled with unbridled terror. “They are what the Gods are based on, in all pantheons. Hera is one of them, or rather, a sibling to them. Some agreed to feed on limiting energies but these Demons were so potent, so hungry they could not be stopped…”

Jaw scraping the astral ground, Troy felt like vomiting. “That’s… how… how did I undo that binding?”

Hera, The previous Goddess of Motherhood, suddenly spoke next to them as she popped into existence. “Your power was, and is far greater than we realized.” She kneeled, her tall form still imposing even in that state. “We had no idea what you could do on your own, let alone when merging with your Dark Reflection. The simple truth is, you are now more like one of those beings, those Astral Demons, then you are human. You are beyond human, you are beyond a mere Psychic. You are a… well, there is only one word.

You are a Nexus, I cannot believe we did not notice it, but you are a rarity. Nexuses are pure connective beings, not born but made. You draw power from others as much as your own heart. You have suffered extreme tragedy in your life. You are a naturally potent Psychic. This all built you up to be more, but absorbing your Dark Reflection and all his power, it just balanced you out just enough to become a gravitational force of psychic energy that warps the world around you.

You are functionally immortal now, your very being pivotal to the Astral Realm. I am a Nexus, as are those Astral Demons Nathaniel just mentioned. They were born of the worst tragedies connected by shared experience, trauma and psychic echoes so potent they become living forces. They are also immortal, and that means that they can only be sealed, defeated, never killed…”

Looking at his hands, he focused hard, radiant white energy exploded into existence, a wave of energy that sent even Hera stumbling back. Standing up, tall as he could, he looked at them both.

“I did not intend to harm the world, but I did. I release what should not be… so I will restore the balance I fucked up.” The light flashed, and he felt his oath bind itself into the fabric of his existence.

From their horrified looks, they knew this too.

“Troy…” Nate started. “Please, think about this, you are untrained…”

Troy lifted his partner with a thought, making him stand. “Train me then, love… ‘

“I will.” His lover started, leaning in close, foreheads touching gently. “I will do all that I can, to fulfill your oath… for if you fail, your own powers, the power of the Astral Realm, will sear your essence into obscurity.”

“I know…” Troy started. “I can’t explain how, but I do. So… to training, where do I start?”

Hera smirked, proud and kind, her form shifting to a more militaristic state. Her body covered in potent silver armor, complete with a shield and sword, a literal gladiator in the psychic flesh. “Right here,... arm yourself.”