The man’s mind shrugs off whatever power was forcing him to be unaware. His body is lifting a metal ball up to his chest, then over his head. He can feel the ball is very heavy, but he can’t drop it, or stop himself from lifting it. It’s as if his mind is separate from his body, and he has no control of his limbs at all.
The man watches himself for a time, and two things become clear to him. The first is he’s not in a real place. He has sharp vision and can see far off, yet he can now see nothing past the ground that magically appears around him as he moves to various metal objects and manipulates them as if exercising. Some of these metal objects float in the air or rest on invisible ground. Beyond his immediate area there is nothing to see. Just empty air.
The man has keen hearing, and he hears no other signs of life at all, not even small insects. He is not in a real place. But the sun that hits his skin is real. He sees the start of calcification on his exposed hands. If the sun is real, then it is also sapping his strength; he would be able to lift heavier metal objects if it weren’t.
The man would care more about the first thing, not having control of his body and being forced to exercise in a place that isn’t real, if not for the second thing. His mind is restored! He can remember. Not everything, but enough to have a self again. Enough to have an identity again.
The man can’t remember the name his mother gave him, but he remembers the word for the name he earned as a man, Nut, is gira. He hasn’t had any faith at all, no belief in gods, since before even the rise of Agade, and he finds it strange all the reverence he feels when he recalls the name of the god his people worshiped, Koram. He isn’t sure Koram is the exact correct name, but it’s near enough.
The man has gone by many names other than Gira. He has been king of many great cities, and worshiped as many different gods. His most recent and clearest memories of titles he holds have his name as Yohannes, Ioannēs, Giovanni, and the like. He decides to go by the simplest and shortest version, John.
John remembers his youth, his people, meeting his old friend and master, Ahn, and gaining the power, their conquest of the lands of his birth together. Then, going far to the south and east, seeing his first real city, Gargamis, and being so in awe of its size and population. Further to the south, the mighty ocean, and down along the coast in Suma, the city of Gubla, ten times the size of Gargamis. And Gubla being small compared to later cities, such as Agade in Assir, or Oruk in Sumer, or White Walls in Kayhamut.
Ahn always was bored and restless, and traveled all the time, searching. Then Ahn went south and never returned. John was alone for a very long time before finally finding Lilitu, his love. “One more time,” she’d say. Always, “Just one more time.”
John’s heart breaks again when he remembers how things ended with Lilitu. How things had to end. And being alone, again, for a long, long time. Having to hide. His mind was nearly gone by the time he found Thomas, his stout and true companion. Thomas keeping him safe though John was a great burden to him.
Not only has John’s mind and memories been restored, but so has his body. He feels somewhat strengthened and more energetic. The pains in his joints and tendons, like they were twisted tight and close to bursting, are no more.
John had some of those pains since near the beginning, and the pains became much worse over the years, as his body increased in strength and speed and power, and it being gone feels strange, as he was so used to it. It feels strange with the pains being gone, but also fantastic and wonderful. He feels light and fresh, and more invigorated than even draining a man of his last dregs of vital essence makes him feel.
Remembering vital essence, John tries to send some to enhance his strength, but he isn’t in control of that now either. He would be doing much better in this test of strength if he could control his own body, and enhance himself, and if this test wasn’t being conducted in the direct sunlight of the noon sun, something that saps his strength greatly.
Since John has no control of what his body is doing, and is so excited he is able to remember again, he decides to explore some memories and enjoy them, and does so. Later, a change to his environment causes him to end his reminiscences. Instead of performing feats of strength, his body starts performing various feats of speed and agility.
John doesn’t know what is happening to him, or why, but he knows he could do better in this test if allowed to. Now, while paying close attention, he can somewhat feel his body being refreshed between tasks, following commands John thinks he hears as a soft voice on the periphery of his senses.
Focusing his mind on the task, John tries to wrest back control. The force of compulsion controlling his body is strong. With a willpower born of ages, he applies more and more effort to free himself. He nearly succeeds before he feels a great pressure applied to his mind, and he is returned to darkness once again.
----------------------------------------
Exceedingly bright light burns John’s eyes as he is startled awake. He is confused. He is standing, but cannot move. He is frozen in place, unable to even squint his eyes closed harder to dim the light burning them. He is glad his head is bowed at least, as it provides a little protection.
Nothing can be done about the light and the burning brightness. Nothing but the usual remedy for all that has ailed John in his too long life. He must endure, so he endures. He finds it strange he has no fear for what is happening to him, all these queer events. No fear, just curiosity. Maybe this is due to events being so far out of his control?
John sends out his senses and becomes aware of what he can. His bare feet are on warm, wet grass. Artificially warm grass, as a very cold wind tussles his hair. He is mostly immune to the cold, and it doesn’t bother him. He can’t see the sun, but he guesses it to be afternoon.
To John’s right and behind him he senses six people and one strange thing, formed up in neat and even rows. If he had to guess, he’d say the six people smell of his kind, and two smell somewhat familiar. One could be Thomas, but he is uncertain. The strange one has no heartbeat, but shifts and moves slightly, proving it isn’t frozen like John is.
Over ten paces to John’s front, where the exceedingly bright light comes from, are two others. These two have strange heartbeats. One beats far too strongly and loudly, and the other more slushes than beats. Both have very weird scents, and they feel all wrong. Weighty. Obvious.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
John puts great focus on taking control of his eyelids back, so he can squint his eyes tighter, and block more of the light.
The thing in front of John, the one on the left, in the weirdest and most indescribable voice he has ever heard says, “It’s awake again.”
A reply comes from a very deep and rumbling voice towards the front right, “Stop! The last was my compulsion it resisted. The compulsion was strong, and still lasts on its body. It could be harmed. We are near finished anyways. I know not how it does it. An early Mortal without even an open energy center resisting a high Exalted? This world is far too bizarre.”
The weird voice says, “I bet the Eternal knows. Maybe try asking it? It put the souls back for these freaks, didn’t it?”
“I know not. I only know tethering and returning souls is far beyond my capabilities, even if I were at peak. I had no idea souls could even be seen. It could have been either Magnus, or the Sublime, and not the Eternal. Mmmmm. It frightens me a Sublime came. I never thought I’d meet one, not before climbing much higher.
“The Eternal is energy so I know not if we can communicate with it. Even so, I would not presume to skip chain and speak directly with even the Sublime, why would I risk drawing the attention of an Eternal to myself? Know your place, Junior. We are dealing with powers far beyond us, and if we do well, we may be rewarded. If any of our betters want us to know why this world is so bizarre, they will tell us.”
The weird voice, in a monotone, says, “The Eternal is an energy being? How do we even know it’s here then?”
“Wait,” orders the rumbling voice.
A moment passes and the rumbling voice continues, “They’re bringing in the demons and dark ones and g’athu, so we’ll release them soon. I sent word to the others. We should be departing shortly after.
“As for your question, the Magnus from Galactic told me the Eternal was energy. I think she was surprised a Sublime and Eternal are here. Maybe they needed the Sublime for the shield? When we received instructions, they only mentioned the two Celestials. The original instructions came from our usual Exalted contact at the Galactic Council. When and how greater powers got involved, I know not. This is a great opportunity for our sector.”
John hears some shuffling before the extremely odd voice continues, “They didn’t tell you anything about what happened here? Why this place is so weird? Nothing? Just look at these outliers. I can’t believe how old they said this one is. And no mental fortification or mind enhancements at all! Ever hear of a mind go that long without any? And how’s it resisting us?
“It’s an abomination. We should kill them all. This is our sector, and whatever did this was blaspheming against the Supreme One. No one wants blasphemy in their sector. Maybe the Eternal is here to see if we do the right thing, and if we don’t kill these things, it finds our whole Sector Council blasphemous and wipes this whole sector clean. We’re purposefully working with Forsaken. None of this is right. I bet it’s a test.”
The thing with the rumbling voice laughs slowly, “Your kind really do have devious minds. This whole race is harmless. No major warrior societies. Cut off from the Tree of Life. Soft beings. So weak. These outliers are poor exceptions. The outliers of a weak race are still but only weak. Cute for humanoids. I love when they look like monkeys. Just adorable.
“Now stop being paranoid. We obey instructions from our betters. We cannot go wrong obeying orders from ones so high. You know the Peerless are expected to be here in about a standard year. Do you really think these weaklings can survive the demons, dark ones, and g’athu for a whole standard?
“If these cute little monkeys do somehow manage to survive that long, and I’d wager half of my treasures they don’t, this whole race is doomed to death, or slavery at best, once the Peerless arrive. The Peerless nearly overran one of my race’s worlds, and we are the oldest and strongest in this sector. Their struggle up the bloody climb will be short. Now this I do know, so stop fretting.”
A moment passes before the weird voice replies, “The Peerless don’t think like the rest of us. They should’ve been classified as Outsiders. Who turns down Council membership? That whole race should be wiped out. How are they already almost Tech 2? Unless they did it with blasphemy. My people first ascended over a hundred thousand standards ago and we’re still early Tech 1. I heard the Peerless’ oldest city isn’t even ten thousand standards, barely older than these monkeys here. Not that much older. How are they almost Tech 2? It’s blasphemy. We shouldn’t tolerate it.”
The rumbling voice becomes even deeper. “Enough, Junior! Your opinion matters not. I’ve treated you far too informally and you forgot your place. There’s a Sublime and an Eternal up there! Watch your filthy mouth or I’ll remove it along with your head. Do exactly as you are told and hope we are rewarded! I will have your best behavior regardless. Understood!?”
John hears the sounds of quick and precise movements before the weird voice replies, “Yes, Senior! Many apologies! This one understands!”
Other than some small movements, John hears nothing for a while. The strange heartbeat of the creature with the rumbling voice disappears. The feeling of the sun doesn’t change, as if it is frozen in place. John thinks about what was said, and thinks he knows what is going on. He focuses his will on freeing himself, so he can attack the weird-voiced being while it’s alone.
Fluttered movements from his left, where he detected nothing and no one at all, draw John’s attention. For a split moment he regains control of his body. His eyes fly open and out of the corner of his left eye he sees tan and shapely and bare feminine legs fly up violently. Then an unbearable pressure is applied all around him, and he sees a rough outline of an impossible figure through a soul far, far brighter than any he has ever seen shone.
The massive and unbearable weight crushes John to his knees, and as more bones snap and break he ends up as a broken pile on the ground. Then, as suddenly as it appeared the massive pressure is removed.
John is in tremendous pain and can’t draw breath, but he is still alive. His eyes are still open, though his vision is blurred and spotted, as his head is facing the too bright soul.
An even brighter soul appears, and John knows by the heartbeat it belongs to the demon with the deep and rumbling voice. John can’t make out much through the bright light, but he is certain these are demons. The newly appeared demon grabs the demon with the weird voice and yells, “You fool!”
The weird voice gets even weirder as it replies, “Ow! OW!!! Senior! Older brother! My apologies! Apologies! One of these things tried to escape! I released some pressure to stop it! Just a little! Only to stop it! I swear!”
“Stop sniveling you little prick. You dare lie to me? You just forgot these are low Woods, and you still unveiled? You are lucky three yet live, or you wouldn’t.” Two objects fly away from the weird-voiced being as it yells out in pain again. The rumbling voice continues, “Oh, I merely tried stopping you from escaping. Apologies.”
As John lies there, wishing he could draw breath to scream in agony, he notes the two objects that flew away from the weird-voiced being were severed arms with crab-like claws instead of hands, and he now has no doubt at all these creatures are demons.
As the demon with two missing arms rolls on the ground, screaming, the demon with the too-bright soul starts to approach John, then a voice like thunder crashes down around him like a violent attack.
[LEAVE THE SURVIVORS. I AM FORMING A TRIBULATION. YOUR JUNIOR WAS INSUBORDINATE YET RIGHT. SOMEONE HAS COMMITED GREAT BLASPHEMY ON THIS WORLD. THESE REMAINING OUTLIERS WILL LIVE OR DIE IN FAIR STRUGGLE, AS DESIGNED BY OUR LORD ON HIGH ABOVE ALL. PUT YOUR MIND AT PEACE. YOU HAVE DONE WELL AND WILL BE REWARDED. THE SUMMONING IS ALMOST FINISHED AND THIS WORLD WILL JOIN THE BLOODY CLIMB. SEND WORD TO PREPARE, YOU ALL LEAVE SOON.]
The demon’s soul is far too bright to make out anything clearly, but it looks to John as if it kowtows. The deep and rumbling voice replies, “Your wish is this one’s command, Magnus.”