After the doctor took X-rays, my parents and I were confused by the other tests they asked to run. I didn’t understand, and they spoke to my parents outside while I was asked to wait in the room. I knew something was wrong when Mom came back in tears. Dad was holding it together but looked shaken.
Regardless, I didn’t have a say in the next set of tests. They had my blood drawn and scheduled a whole-body MRI scan.
All of it confirmed the initial worries. The doctor seemed nice and tried to explain it in a way I could understand. I remember looking over and seeing my parents’ hopes crushed before they remembered to comfort me. I was too shocked to care as I realized my life was now set on a short countdown.
I only heard the word terminal, along with immediate aggressive treatment. The rest was all doctor lingo and long Latin names for medical terms. I didn’t need all the details. I wanted to live, so there was only one choice. Fight it.
Looking back, I don’t regret that decision. Even though the treatments failed, I think giving up would have been worse. So, despite no other options, I still live whatever days I have left with the best modicum of hope I can muster.
Journal Entry days before Jeff stopped by with his proposed treatment.
#####
In an unknown layer of the Source
I found myself crash-landing on a couch. Of all things, a white piece of earth-like furniture. I was in the Source so I couldn’t feel my lung injury. Hopefully, I won’t be here long enough to bleed out.
Are you fixing the lung? I asked my system. There was no response.
“Every bit the curiosity I was told to expect,” a humorous yet kind feminine voice spoke but was unseen.
“Do you mind telling me why I’m here, where this is, and what you want?” I spoke while craning my neck, searching for the woman.
“Such a demanding young man,” she pouted. Then, as if walking around an unseen wall and into view, she slid into view and stopped a short distance in front of me.
I awkwardly moved on the couch away from the woman who had arms spread wide. I was too slow and unable to resist as she wrapped me in a hug like I was a loved one.
“There, there,” She pets my head, “You’re safe now. That wolf was just meant to get your attention. That stuck-up Royal will need to pay for the damage he allowed. But…he did deliver.” Her smile never faltered or left her face. She seemed serenely happy and caring.
“Then why?” I asked slowly.
She paused, moved a seat away, and turned to look at me while reclining into the deep couch. She was beyond beautiful but hid most of her feminine figure behind a flowing robe, and the longer I tried to look at its detail, the more my eyes slid away. What was apparent was that she had an allure and honestly seemed like she was…safe. Important, definitely, but benevolent? Maybe.
She turned as I had that thought, and her smile grew wider as her eyes lit up.
“Yes, exactly. You are here to see me because I wanted to see you—the first to tie the knot between the opposing paths— and your other questions. We are in a partition of my home, so you are protected here under my authority. What do I want? To help you, of course.”
The more sincere she seemed, the more a little voice in my head gave me a Hansel and Gretel vibe of warning. My eyes widened as I tried to get up from the couch inconspicuously.
Her hand was on my chest before I could stand, and I was pulled back till I was almost fully reclined onto the couch.
She sat very close to me, still smiling like nothing was wrong.
“Tell me, Jordan, what is it you want?” Then she sat expectantly, tapping her fingertips over my heart.
I was at a loss for words and out of my element, yet I still answered.
“I want to get strong enough to save Earth.” my voice grew more confident and firm.
“And then?” She leaned so uncomfortably close I could feel her breath on my face.
“Well, protect it and my family?” I spoke more of a question by the end than an answer. My thoughts fluttered for more significant goals as my voice lost confidence.
“How will you protect them?” Still leaning in, she spoke softly but left me no room to gain space or sit up. I felt like a fly in her web.
“Get stronger. I’m going to the academies, and I’ll learn and eventually get strong enough to get back and protect my family,” I had found my voice despite the woman breathing down my neck. I didn’t know if she was eyeing her next meal or if I was just under the microscope of some mad scientist.
“With the right backing,” She nodded and tapped my chest, “I believe you will. But what is your purpose? What good is that power if all you do is protect? Eventually, you need more…a lot more purpose.”
“I think we learn best under challenging trials,” She continued as she leaned back, so I turned and looked at her. “It is a weakness of creatures to crave comfort. The System and the Source are not designed for the complacent but the hungry,” her last word turned breathy and passionate, like the thought of a long-awaited kiss.
“Yes, most are not lacking power because they have goals for their future. They lack power because they don’t crave it; they need to bleed for it, hungry like they have never eaten but only watched others enjoy the meal.”
“Jordan,” her passion had only grown since she mentioned hunger, and now her face was blank and severe, “Do you have that kind of hunger for growth and power?”
I wanted to answer. Part of me wanted to say, yes, I do, and make her happy. But I couldn’t do it. I tried to be strong, but the passion she spoke with and the cost she hinted at…I hadn’t voiced that kind of commitment…not yet.
“Don’t worry, I already knew you lacked it,” she knowingly nodded and reached into a pocket under a fold in her clothes. “That is why I will give you one of my own. This little child of mine has been growing and devouring for a long time, yet she still hungers. She is nearing the next stage of evolution. Lucky you, right?” She was practically giddy now.
She opened her hand and waved her other hand over it with a flourish.
“Isn’t she beautiful?” She seemed like a proud mother sharing the news of her child’s accomplishments.
“What’s it for?” I hesitated between apprehension of offending and fear.
“Don’t tell me. You don’t like bugs? It’s for feeding, of course. Like all living creatures, she must be fed. So feed regularly and sufficiently, or she will grow anxious and eat whatever’s nearby,” there was more than a hint of mischief in her voice.
“I’m not afraid of bugs,” I defended. “Only ones that suddenly appear too close to me. You’re giving me a pet caterpillar?” My confusion was only growing.
“Oh, no. Not a pet. She is more of a crucible. A challenge to keep you far from complacency.”
“What’s the challenge? Hold on, does it have a name?” I froze as my mind turned back to the dark potential before me. “It isn’t going to eat me, right?”
“Not specifically, no. She does need to be fed, so if you neglect her, she will surely take a few bites to remind you.”
“What?” My voice cracked, losing my projection of confidence with that one squeaky word.
“It’s simple. You must enter the Source to feed Insatiable. That’s her name and what she is. Her name is not a joke or nickname. She will need a steady diet of the residents from the various layers of the Source. The more powerful the prize collected, the longer you can go before she needs to feed again.”
“Her name is Insatiable,” I repeated, “and she collects living creatures in the source. Like enslaving them or eating them? Aren’t some of them aware and nearly human?” The thought of hunting sentient beings was more than I could stomach.
“Yes, so you understand. She will join you during your dives through the various Source layers and handle the collection,” her pleasant smile returned.
“Insatiable will also help you in other various ways. Your Arc and Zan channels would take far longer to clear otherwise, and you’d never be able to use a strong enough suit to protect Earth without a core. If you dive deep and often, you will fill her stores and have a strong enough collection. So don’t forget I helped you at the start. And I won’t tolerate you mistreating my little Keeper and Creeper of Souls.”
“How could I forget you?” I mumbled, then said, “But did you ever tell me your name? I don’t even know where here is.”
“You have a point, but names are too powerful to share. Maybe someday. But our first meeting isn’t the time. For reference, Insatiable is an Image, capital ‘I.’ I am something else. You are too freshly initiated to the System and the Source to know what that means. So remember it for later.”
“So Insatiable is important, and I need to protect her. How is she traveling with me? Can she survive in my ring?” I was hoping and trying to keep my expression from showing my growing anxiety as I raised my finger to display my ring.
“Oh, silly, she is a creature of the Source and must reside within yours. She will be your greatest boon and bane.” With that proclamation, she took one of my hands and placed the little creature on it.
It looked cute and fuzzy, like something from a kid’s book my mom read me years ago. Then, looking up at me with a tiny, wide, teeth-filled smile, Insatiable bowed her head toward the lady before bending down and burrowing into my hand one bite at a time.
I would have swatted away at the painful chewing, but the lady held my hands as I went to swipe.
Insatiable entering my Source body felt like a drill bit boring into my palm. I screamed. But the pain receded.
“That hurt,” I said, finally getting my hands free; I shook them and rubbed the entry point in my palm, “is there supposed to be pain inside the Source?”
“Oh yes,” She smiled hungrily again like a Cheshire cat down a rabbit hole.
“She’s been well-fed, so you have some time. But I have two more little gifts for you. Your first collection of many. Hand this to the Prince who sent you here.” She again grabbed my hand and set something small in my palm.
“What is it?” I asked while I suspiciously eyed the tiny box. I avoided dropping it out of fear, but my hand shook.
“A gift, of course. See the bow and the shiny wrapping?” She seemed puzzled I didn’t recognize the box’s intention.
“ And my final parting momento. Take this.” She produced a stone the size of a basketball out of her robes. “An actual gift, free of attachments or need for reciprocation. Besides, you couldn’t even afford my preference for a pleasant trinket. Not anytime soon, at least.”
She handed me the glowing ball; I attempted to hold it in my free hand and steady it with my box-filled hand. At a closer look, the stone ball appeared to have scales on its surface. I carefully balanced it with both hands before me but not touching my chest.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Then, unexpectedly, this kind, beautiful, and smiley woman smacked my hands using great force. I watched the glowing sphere fly from my hands and smash into a previously unseen wall. The impact cracked the ball of stone. As gravity took hold, it quickly hit the ground and turned to dust. Out of the dust, a small bright light appeared. She got up and grabbed the light source and the dropped box. Then, she casually walked back to me.
“There. You will see what just happened later, but not now; you dropped this,” I extended my palm—having gotten used to accepting her gifts. I got the box in my right hand, but she took the light source and quickly pushed it between my lips. Before I could shut my mouth or spit it out, I felt it melt on my tongue like a snowflake. The pleasure was wildly distracting.
“Did you just Roofie me?” I moaned in pleasure.
Then, as if she hadn’t just given me a creepy cough drop, she said her goodbyes.
“It was good to meet you. I look forward to watching your rapid rise or even your spectacular fall. Either way, have fun. And I suppose, good luck.”
She pulled me to my feet and walked me forward. A door appeared, and she turned me to face her.
“Truly a pleasure,” She said, pulling me in for another hug. At the end, she whispered in my ear. “Sorry for the surprises and the pain; maybe this will help when it gets too bad to bear,” she said. Then she pulled back and placed a kiss on my lips.
I was full-on stunned. My first kiss, and it was some Source-queen insect collector—still, my first kiss.
Then, in a daze, I was softly pushed through the door.
I appeared where I’d come from, with a man holding a leash and a wolf sitting patiently.
“I was told to give you this,” I rapidly gathered my wits, stepped to the man, and handed him the small box. He eyed it momentarily, then snatched it and tore it open. Inside was nothing visible, but he reached in any way and pulled out a long, thin thread.
“What is this? She isn’t one to joke around like this?” he gasped as the thread hanging from his finger pulled taught. One end wrapped around his finger, and the other whipped to my hand. There was no time for us to dodge the thread, and I suddenly watched as the man screamed. But no sound came out. His body changed from slightly wispy and insubstantial to a stone statue.
When the transformation ended, only his eyes were moving. He had a look of pure hatred, but that melted away, and fear was somehow communicated through only his eyes and the tears they shed. Then the thread, which neither of us controlled, pulsed to nearly a continual stream of light. It brightened to where I had to look away. Then it was gone, and so was the statue of a man.
“What just happened?” I felt something pop into place inside me. Like a joint out of place was set back. It hurt, but the contrast was euphoric, like when I gathered Arc but in a much more substantial wave.
The euphoria rose, and I dropped to my knees in the Source, fell over, and awoke back in my body inside the Temporal Gate.
#####
That was quite the trip. Do you want a summary?
Why didn’t you tell me anything during that whole thing?
The connection to communicate with you was blocked. Here are priority updates in order of relevance.
Your lungs and physical body are healed. I handled that while you were gone.
You were in the source for one hour and were unconscious for 10 minutes upon your return.
Eld killed the wolf when the Prince’s aura left, and after checking, you were healthy.
Felicity had sustained bloodloss and a Source attack. Eld said he needed to get her back immediately. He also left a system person-to-person message. It said he would return shortly but to work your way back to the exit if you can.
What about the stuff that happened inside the Source? Could you observe it all?
Yes. As you were taken first to the Kingdom layer depth of the Lands, I was a silent passenger with you. That is where the Prince was waiting. He sent you much deeper, but I couldn’t determine how far. Based on the description of Insatiable as an Image, I would speculate that the lady was something more extraordinary. You don’t command Images without being at least a strong Absolute.
I’m going to need more context.
The Source is vast, and I can’t teach you everything now. But to summarize, there are 7 or 8 divisions. The first layer is called Base and is the easiest to access and gather from. Beyond that is a second layer with three subdivisions. This is the most widely trafficked for anyone with the authority to traverse there. The Prince came from the middle sub-layer known as the Kingdom.
The 8 Source Layers
1) Base
2) Lands with three sub-layers (Field, Kingdom, Affinity)
3) Empires
4) Bonds
5) Images
6) Absolutes
7) Sovereigns
8) Speculated Unknown
The crazy part begins with Insatiable. If she is an Image, and I believe she is, then she would originate in the fifth layer. My question would be if she is the actual Image or a shadow of one. Having either inside you is risky. There is great potential, but she will influence you.
Again, I can only guess, but the mystery woman is likely from the sixth or seventh level. Those are the furthest reaches of the known Source. Eight layers are speculated about additional potentially unexplored layers.
She could have destroyed you without effort and was using her authority to keep you safe at such a depth. What you saw was just a way for her to interact with creatures of lesser authority. That wasn’t who or what she was.
But the good news is that rather than destroy you, a being of unknown but extreme power gifted you at least three things.
I don’t like not having a choice in the matter, though. No one asked me. They just kept tricking me or leaving out information for me to choose from. Aww. I kicked the dirt and sprinted toward the TG exit along my systems-displayed path.
Even Eld and Felicity. So what can you tell me about the gifts?
First, she gave you Insatiable. Sure, it is questionable if it will pan out for you, but it has priceless potential.
Second, she helped you collect your first Source Remnant. And a Prince for your first! Also, for your human moral conscience to be clear, you should know you didn’t kill that guy. You just collected a remnant of his authority.
So what about the third thing? Was it that ball she shattered?
Yes, and that wasn’t a ball. It was a dragon egg from a Level 240 Arc Dragon Matriarch. The light that she made you eat was the egg’s loot drop. Its destruction counted as your kill; your hands were the last to send it flying. That means it is your first time receiving a Temporal Gate drop.
That leads me to the critical notification I want to show you.
Well, go ahead. You got me really excited now!
Congratulations on the first Temporal Gate drop you collected.
Arcana and Zancara drop pools are active. Your System Rewards for killing a Level 240 Dragon Matriarch (Egg) are spread across both pools.
Choose one of the following within seven days, or it will be chosen at random:
1: Arcana Armor Seed (Epic)
2: Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity)
3: Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank)
4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1
I stopped in my tracks. I just read the message over and over.
Then, without asking for descriptions, I closed the messages and ran for the exit.
Don’t let me read the descriptions or choose until tomorrow. If I have seven days, I should think this through when I’m not reeling from today’s chaos. I need to get back and crash.
My mind was overloaded; my body was no less powerful but still felt heavy. The weight of what just happened felt like a lot to unravel.
I ran as fast as possible along my system’s outlined path. Then, I shoved my fist into the bowl atop the exit pedestal.
I arrived, standing in my blood-covered clothes, in the mansion garden, exactly where I’d entered from.
I yelled into the large garden, “I’m back!” then I walked mindlessly to my room. I wasn’t aware of my actions until I was in the shower. I must have kicked off my shoes, but I still wore my now-soggy pants.
I took enough of my focus under control to strip the rest of the way and tried to enjoy the shower without thinking. I repeatedly pulled up the reward options.
Seeing them made me very anxious to accept them. They all were powerful and beyond my reach. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get something to catapult me beyond the normal progression of power.
I’m already an outlier, but this is how I save Earth. The weight of that thought only added to my indecision. But I’d told my system not to let me make a rushed decision. I felt stuck both in the hot stream of the shower and in my new world. The first thing to snap me out of my thoughts was the smell. I scrubbed again. I still smelled.
I exited the shower to find more soap or a rag to scrub harder. That’s when I had to cover my mouth and hold back my gag reflex. My blood-filled bath from before was still filled, and now I saw a congealed layer on the top. I looked away and thought about what to do.
It took a few minutes and a lot of mental gymnastics not to think about the torturous pain or the blood that went up past my elbow as I pulled the release to drain the tub.
I immediately returned to the shower and stayed there cleaning and doing anything to distract myself from that tub.
I am never going to take another bath here! Never will I ever.
I recommend not making promises to yourself. Various methods utilize immersion that you might need in the future.
“Never!” I spat through the stream of hot water spaying upon my face.
I eventually decided to get out and get dressed. I found the most comfortable and casual clothes I could.
Knowing Eld and Felicity likely knew I was back since they previously could tell when I left my room the moment I stepped out, I decided not to worry about finding them. Besides, I wanted to process today and start planning my decision.
“How?” I asked myself, “Should I do that? Journal!”
I searched the desk in the study room. There, I found several paper notebooks. Out of habit, I just started streaming my thoughts.
Dear Journal,
Since I wrote last, a lot has happened. Where to start?
I’m on another planet. Mom and Dad don’t even know I’m alive, let alone have a System.
I’m about to get another shot at going to school. I’m heading to two academies soon. So cancer can suck on that.
The gamer inside me is freaking out with each new turn of events! There has been both pleasure and a lot of pain. Despite the pain, I have grown beyond my cancer-ridden body. Thank God…
Actually, I haven’t considered how my religious beliefs factor into a System-controlled Universe—something to ponder another time.
Did I mention Dungeons…I mean, TGs; they call them Temporal Gates or Gates or TGs—so many new things to learn.?
So do I like them, you ask? Heck, yes, I do. A new body with superhuman strength, speed, and cognition makes it a blast. And let’s not forget NO CANCER! Did I mention that?
Oh, I have a unique system or two. It’s still sweet, but currently my only friend. But I’m going to work on that.
Still, with all that’s happening, today was some kind of extra?
I learned some meditation techniques to absorb Arc and Zan; they call it gathering. It was super cool to see, and I have some talent for it.
I made a sweet replica of my favorite knife. I tried my hand at a sword. Not blacksmithing! No, I just gathered stuff like mana but different and formed them. It’s way better than blacksmithing. Who wants to pound on metal when I can create it?
So today was my first time in a TG; as I said, I killed my first beasts—levels 1 through 5. I have a long way to go, but I felt powerful using my body and a sword to kill them. The kills still drop loot like on Earth.
When my hunting was going so smoothly, suddenly, everything went sideways.
In short, I got sucked deeper into the Source. Basically, that is the layer of the Spirit world we can access through meditation. There’s no comparison for it on Earth. It’s the source of Arcana and Zancara, our form of Mana.
Anyway, A powerful being called a Prince took me deeper into the layers than I’d gone before, yet he threw me even deeper to meet…what do I even call her? The Lady.
Yeah, The Lady wanted to meet the guy with both Systems, me! I got a few parting gifts for my time, and now I’m stuck with the fallout of meeting some high and mighty being.
So now I have to figure out what to pick from my rewards. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I killed one creature that was a little higher, just a level 240 dragon egg. So here are my options, as the system shows.
1: Arcana Chest Armor Seed (Epic)
2: Harvested Remnant - Dragon (Fire Affinity)
3: Whispering Dragon - Zancara Epi-Suit (D Rank)
4: Crave Class - Zancara Class (Unique Rank), Level 1
It’s a lot, I know. That’s why I promised to take time to process this decision. I’m going to write out the entire description and weigh the options. I might as well start with number 1.