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Chapter 05 meditations

After the harrowing events aboard the spaceship, Sif found himself drifting in the open ocean, clinging to a piece of floating debris. The gentle waves rocked him back and forth as the sun began to set. As darkness settled in, he noticed something strange: two moons illuminated the sky, and the stars were unfamiliar, a constellation he had never seen before. It hit him—he was definitely not on Earth. He felt a mix of fear and relief for the first time in over three years. The realization that he was somewhere entirely new was both unsettling and oddly comforting.

As the sea's quiet enveloped him, Sif heard a faint melody, an old song he recognized from his past. It was eerily familiar, stirring memories long buried. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness behind him—an apparition from his past. It was Ethan, his older brother who had been killed when Sif was just sixteen. Ethan appeared as he did in his younger years, around nineteen. Sif's heart raced; he was convinced his mind was playing tricks on him again, but the vision was too vivid to ignore.

Ethan spoke, his voice a haunting echo from Sif's past. “Well, hello again, little brother.”

Sif, shaking and bewildered, asked, “What are you doing here?”

Ethan’s gaze was both warm and knowing. “Oh, nothing much. Just saving your life again, like last time. By the way, do you remember who my favorite fighter was when I was young?”

Sif, gripping the log tightly as the waves grew stronger, replied, “Yeah, George S. Pierre.”

Ethan smiled. “He had a quote I always lived by—or used to live by. ‘Ships don’t sink because of the water around them. Ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s around you get to you.’”

Sif nodded, the words resonating with him even as he struggled against the encroaching cold. “Very inspiring, brother.sif answered Rhetoricaly”

Ethan continued, his tone shifting to something more profound. “I have another for you: ‘If you can’t control the wind, adjust your sails. The point is, it’s not what happens to you, but how you react.’”

Sif, shivering as the night air grew colder, asked, “What’s your point eathan ?”

Ethan’s voice softened. “You figure it out.ur the snart one Don’t give up, littelbrother.”

As Ethan's figure slowly faded into the waves, Sif was left alone with his thoughts. The memory of the time machine came rushing back. The sensation of his limbs feeling shorter and lighter made him realize that it must have been involved. His confusion deepened when he remembered the program named Ogma.

Inside his head, Ogma's voice chimed in. “[System operational. Ogma 100%. Host name: Sif. Condition: Operational. Species: Prime human clone. Age: 16. Gender: Male. Abilities: Anti-poison, perfect aim, great reflexes. Location: Unknown.]”

“Sixteen?” Sif muttered, astonished. The age listed seemed incongruous with his memories.its must be the time machine , no wonder sif felt weaker his arms felt shorter and his skin softer ‘well i guess i am sixteen now ’ sif said acceptingly , and after a moment of siilence sif ask the program question was in his mind for a while now

“Ogma, are you loyal to me or to NighTech? Be honest,” Sif demanded.

After a brief pause, Ogma responded, “I am only loyal to NighTech. However, I have protocols to serve you as a person of great importants and instrument to the company.”

“Fair enough,” Sif said.and after a moment he continued “Get me out of here. Where is the land?”

Ogma calculated the wave patterns and answered. Automaticly Sif paddled through the dark, cold water.and After two kilometers, he began to see the silhouette of land he rested a bit , Sif continued to paddle towards the shore, his exhausted eyes caught sight of a massive shadow beneath the water. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Before he could react, a colossal tentacle emerged from the depths, swinging around with terrifying force. The creature was unlike anything he had ever seen—a gargantuan octopus, more like a Kraken from ancient myths.

The sheer size of the beast made Sif’s makeshift raft seem insignificant. He could only stare in horror as the Kraken's massive tentacles thrashed through the water, creating waves that threatened to capsize him. Panic surged through him; he wasn’t about to wait around to see what the creature would do next.

With renewed urgency and with the help of ogma with direction , Sif paddled furiously, the adrenaline fueling his efforts. Hours of grueling work ensued as he fought against the growing waves and the cold. The Kraken’s tentacles loomed ominously in the distance its looks like the kraken was looking for bigger prey than him, but he dared not look back. His sole focus was reaching the safety of the shore.

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Finally, as exhaustion began to overwhelm him, he spotted the silhouette of land in the distance. Summoning every last ounce of strength, Sif paddled with all his might

When Sif finally reached the land, he staggered onto the soft sand. The sensation of the sand beneath his feet and the gentle breeze against his wet, chilled skin was a welcome comfort. He turned to face the vast ocean, feeling a profound sense of peace. The war, the danger, and the madness seemed to be behind him.

Suddenly, Ethan's voice pierced the silence. “Nice, isn’t it?”

Sif jumped, startled by his brother’s sudden reappearance. “What now?” he asked.

Ethan's presence was calming. “Now, live free, brother. I’m not going to be with you for a while, but whenever you need me, I’ll be around. Remember that.”

As Ethan’s figure gradually disappeared into the depths of the water, Sif stood alone on the shore, a mix of emotions swirling within him. The waves continued their rhythmic dance, and Sif felt a quiet resolve settle over him. With Ethan’s words echoing in his mind, he was ready to face whatever came next, carrying the wisdom and strength his brother had imparted.

As Sif stood on the shore, the salty breeze tugging at his wet clothes, he cast one last glance at the endless ocean before turning toward the dense forest that loomed ahead. The forest was dark and foreboding, the tall trees casting long shadows as night fully settled in. But Sif knew he couldn’t stay on the beach—he needed shelter, food, and answers. His muscles still ached from the long hours of paddling, but he pushed through the discomfort, determined to keep moving.

The forest was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures. Strange birdcalls echoed through the trees, and the rustling of leaves hinted at unseen animals scurrying in the underbrush. Sif moved carefully, his senses on high alert. He had no idea what kind of dangers lurked in this new world, but he wasn’t about to let his guard down.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, Sif's sharp eyes caught the flicker of distant firelight through the trees. He crept closer, staying low and silent, until he reached the edge of a clearing. There, he saw a camp—several tents were set up around a large fire, and a group of rough-looking men sat around it, talking and laughing loudly. Sif quickly assessed the situation, noting the number of guards, their weapons, and the layout of the camp.

But it was the cages that caught his attention the most. There were several large, crude wooden cages placed near the back of the camp, each filled with huddled figures. As Sif’s eyes adjusted to the firelight, he noticed something that made his heart skip a beat—some of the captives had pointed ears and slender, graceful features. They were unlike any humans he had ever seen before.

“Elves,” he whispered to himself, his mind racing with questions. He had never seen anything like them, he only read about them in the most fantastical stories like lord of the rings . This world was stranger and more mysterious than he had imagined.

Sif’s stomach growled, reminding him of his dire need for food. But he couldn’t just walk into the camp and take what he needed. He would have to be careful—stealth was his best option. He waited until the guards’ attention waned, then silently slipped into the shadows, moving closer to the tents where supplies were stored.

The food was simple—dried meat, bread, and a few fruits—but it was enough to sustain him. Sif quietly stuffed his pockets, his movements quick and practiced. As he was about to retreat back into the forest, something caught his eye: a ring of keys hanging from a peg near one of the tents. His mind raced as he glanced at the cages again. The elves, and the other captives, were all tightly bound, their faces etched with exhaustion and despair.

Sif’s conscience gnawed at him. He was no stranger to captivity, having been manipulated and controlled for most of his life, and the thought of leaving these people—whoever or whatever they were—behind, felt wrong. He made a quick decision, grabbing the keys and slipping toward the cages.

One by one, Sif unlocked the cages, his heart pounding as he worked as quickly and quietly as he could. The captives looked at him with a mix of fear and hope, but he motioned for silence, pointing to the forest where freedom awaited. A few of the elves stared at him in disbelief but didn’t hesitate to follow as the cages opened.

Sif didn’t stick around to see the aftermath. As soon as the last lock clicked open, he melted back into the shadows, making his way back into the forest. Behind him, he heard the faint sounds of the captives slipping away into the night, their chains clinking softly as they moved.

By the time the alarm was raised in the camp, Sif was long gone, sprinting through the dense foliage with the speed and agility of a seasoned warrior. He didn’t stop until he was certain he was far enough from the camp. Only then did he allow himself to rest, sinking against the trunk of a massive tree, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

The reality of his actions began to sink in. He had freed slaves—beings he didn’t even understand—from a fate he could only imagine. What would happen to them now? Where would they go? And more importantly, what was this place he had stumbled upon?

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Sif forced himself to focus on what was ahead. The forest was vast and unknown, and he was still alone, with only the echo of his brother’s words to guide him. But as the night wore on, a new determination began to grow within him. He had survived the impossible before; he could do it again.

With that resolve, Sif closed his eyes, letting sleep take him for a few precious hours. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, he would rest and gather his strength. The journey ahead was uncertain, but he knew one thing for sure—he would face it head-on, just as he always had