One moment, he was sprawled out in a steam-filled hot spring looking at stars; the next, he was outside on a grassy ground, peering up at a cloudy midday sky.

He recognized the method used to violently rip him away from a place with a flash. It was much worse than the lesser bridges that tore across the fabric of space; this was more unwilling and hard to adapt to.

He also recognized the voice.

Vin leaned up to glimpse where he'd been taken and rasped as his wounds pulled. When he finally got a glance, his sun-soaked body became petrified. Not a single muscle moved; even the pain seemed to take a background as he completely blanked out for short, blissful beats.

He didn't know why that librarian had chosen here, but Vin was home.

His gaze hung on the soothing setting of the skate park he'd practically lived in. The surrounding grass and trees were greener than ever, and the ramps were inviting, begging to be used for tricks.

His family visited this very spot so many times. Hellen, his mother, was a fashion designer, so she wasn't as athletic as the rest of the family. Still, she did her best to help his younger sister, Macy, with practice.

A soft breeze ruffled Vin's hair as he looked out at the jungle gym they used to stand on for "balance training." The memory of them up there, getting strange looks from kids and their parents, made him want to chuckle. He thought it was silly as a kid and still does now.

Further to the right were the ramps and rails he and his father would abuse for hours with their skateboards. There were many bitter moments of failure, but they were overshadowed by the sheer number of cheerful memories. After they exhausted themselves, they gathered on the grass and ate their fill of homemade lunch- only to do it all again.

Directly behind him was his family's two-story home. He was too exhausted to turn around to look, but he knew his bedroom window on the second floor would be visible from where he was sitting.

A sole, unwanted tear rolled down his cheek. He didn't truly know how much he missed this place until now. He could have lost himself for hours staring out at this paradise...

A despicable entity ruined it. The historian spoke, her voice feminine and unexpectedly mild considering what he had just done: "I take it you find the location for our conversation favorable?"

Vin wiped his eyes. He breathed, allowing all the darkness and numbness that came with his traumas to sink back in. It snuffed out all the light in his eyes like an eclipse, and he turned his head to see them. This time, in physical form, sitting on a park bench.

The librarian who sent him into the story was unsurprisingly attractive. But she looked nothing like how he envisioned her. She was a tall, pale, black-haired Elven woman. She had straight-cut bangs, charcoal-colored lipstick, and heavy eyeliner like she'd just left a metal concert. Even more peculiar, she wore a sleeveless leather top and a spiked choker like bikers that rode in gangs.

The punk Elven woman flipped to the next page of the book she was reading, saying, "I can't say I am a fan of this new story. The heroine is distressed, and the surrounding characters are in turmoil because of you."

She swept her jet-black hair behind her pointed ear and sighed, "This chapter should feature a heartwarming sentiment between the princess and her childhood friend, Nilick. But not only did you kill him, but you pilfered his iconic quartz sword."

Vin, tired of sitting in a pool of his own blood, limped to the bench and sat next to the historian. He felt his second spine touch the backrest, reminding him Bonely was there too, but its presence was closed off. It was too terrified to talk.

"Glad you hate it," Vin replied, his eyes hardly open, staring out at the serene scene he'd missed so much. "I plan to ruin the story more once you send me back."

The Elven woman, whose attire was clearly inspired by Human punk rock culture, closed the book and joined him in enjoying the park. "And here I had hoped I could appease you by recreating your favorite place from Earth."

A flick of light made the first book disappear, and then another appeared in her hand. Its black and purple cover was decorated with skulls and gloomy flowers. "I have read and memorized everything about your tale, Gavin."

She shut her eyes, and her head bobbled back and forth as if falling asleep, "If I were mortal, I'm sure I would have dozed off in the early chapters."

A sudden jolt brought her to life, and she snapped back, opened her eyes, and tossed the book into the air with an enormous smile, "HOWEVER, you, Human, have been quite the topic of interest among deities lately."

The goth historian turned and flared her excited expression at Vin, exclaiming, "Ever since you slew that monster in its own domain, your story has taken a captivating turn for the better! Gavin Dance JR, the Eternal! The strongest Human!"

Vin's eyes flickered and then closed in exhaustion. With the warm sun's sensation on his skin and the comfortable setting, it was hard not to succumb to his injuries, "...That so?"

"Aww," the Elven woman with the spiked choker sounded, disappointed he had begun to fade. "I suppose I will have to be brief."

Vin's head limped forward, his breathing weak. One could assume he'd died, but the fictional being knew better. The resilient Human was alive and just conscious enough to hear everything she'd said. Since that was the case, she uncrossed her legs, leaned in, and poked his unmoving face, "Put simply, Gavin, you do not belong in that story."

"It is an Ascendant grade book chosen for individuals who have advanced through all four ranks of Adventurer: Novice, Expert, Master, and Legend."

"You may have been previously assessed as an Expert, but you have already outgrown every mortal rank."

Vin understood what she was getting at. His performance against the Elves in the market had jumped him far higher than he could have predicted. And, if she claimed he was too strong, he'd even surpassed the benchmark for the current story quest.

Archival Dimension: Seeker

> Ascendant: 1000 - 1500 SR <

Seer: 1501 - 2500 SR

Sage: 2501 - 4000 SR

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Curator: 4001+ SR

Bonely had gone quiet, so he couldn't confirm. Nevertheless, if he had to wager, he was probably promoted to Seer after killing so many Elves at the market. And, since Seer was one rank above Ascendant, she wanted him gone.

Vin's lips moved, only a whisper, "If you cared about ranks, you wouldn't have sent a bunch of Novice to their doom..."

"You only care now because your creations are being destroyed," he muttered. The black Phoenix knew this would happen if he went wild enough; everything was going according to its plan, yet it hadn't said anything yet.

"You are correct," she shamelessly admitted. "They are developed to live and to die, but for them to be senselessly slaughtered by your hand is not- as your people would say- humane."

"While artificial, they are living beings to this dimension. They exist as you do, and have memories and family. They can smile, or cry, love, or hate."

"Furthermore, remember that this is an active story. If another mortal were to join now, they would find their situation desperate."

The pointed-eared woman in leather stood and summoned a tall bookshelf with many different titles. "The first row is now off limits. However, you can choose any story on par, or higher than your current rank."

He wasn't surprised when the dark creature pricked his mind. It didn't give him a lot of instruction; it simply told him to choose a story based on the planet Volcorath. Its command put together more pieces of the puzzle. The reason this diety didn't communicate with him sooner was because he was in the wrong place. That God wanted something from its home world, but Vin couldn't complete their vow because he was still on Auroraan.

But, now, he had the opportunity to do so. He just had to leave everything and everyone behind...

He was quiet for a while. His mind created various images, such as Maeve's woe-stricken face that night she cried in the bedroom, Tristen's smile when he learned the Center Gravity spell, and Gideon's hidden worry as he left the music store.

Vin fought to open his eyes, leaned back against the bench, and breathed... A moment later, he told the Phoenix, "Nah."

"I'm a Dance. We don't go back on our promises," he added. 'I told Maeve I'd be with her through all this, and I'm going to keep my word.'

The dark diety stabbed at his mind, reminding him of their vow and how it held control over his immortality. Vin took everything it stated with a grain of salt, then simply responded, "Kill me."

"Once I'm dead, you can find a new servant and wait another three years for them to hatch. Hopefully they're as fast a learner. Doubt even your first Eternal developed as fast as I have, right?"

Its silence said everything he needed to hear. "Thought so. I'll go to your planet and do whatever you want, but right now, I'm trying to save your people, so sit back and continue to do nothing while I do all the work."

The historian was standing in front of the bookshelf with a straight face, biting her charcoal-colored lips in frustration. "Are you done ignoring me?"

She walked toward Vin, grabbed both of his hands and lifted them as if in joint prayer. "As this decision was based on my personal feelings, I will not force you."

"However, If you decide to return it will be without the aid of those flames."

Vin looked at her weakly, stating, "It'd be easier to kill me yourself."

Since she had followed his actions, she had to have known those powers were his only chance of survival. "You are contracted with a very dangerous God. Ravenours believe it symbolizes lasting strength, and second chances, but the rest of the planet acknowledges it as Death itself. The only diety capable of killing even divine beings- it poses a significant threat to every dimension."

A magic light wrapped around Vin's wrist, and gold bracelets manifested around them like chainless shackles, cutting off his power. He could still channel his essence but couldn't set it ablaze. He felt like a broken lighter, where his ability to release gas worked, but the steel starter that created the spark was nonoperational. One was useless without the other.

It was frustrating, and after he'd just begun to get used to controlling fire... The moment she released his hands, Vin rested his eyes and shot her the bird. The punk rock Elf bent down and grabbed his middle finger, saying somewhat humorously, "Don't be rude."

A whisk of energy began to funnel from the woman into Vin's body. It felt like mana, yet fundamentally different, superior, omnipotent in comparison. This new fuel, which she called Astral Ichor, was yet another power source that began flowing through his veins. It was entirely unknown and, quite frankly, unnerving.

"You didn't think I'd seal your powers and leave you defenseless, did you?" she said, her voice laced with sharp confidence. "As it turns out, there's a power only you can wield."

She followed with a drawn-out explanation that he would have rather not received while bleeding out, yet it came. She felt it necessary to begin with an explanation of the planet's structure. Vin already knew there were three dimensions; however, he didn't know a different powerful entity was in charge of each one.

The Body was first. They were the commander of the [Mortal Realm], regularly interacted with the living, and controlled the shape and course of the physical planet.

The Mind was next. Vin already knew she was the administrator of the [Archival Dimension.] Her primary role was maintaining the history of all assimulated planets. She also acted as an advisor since she learned from other worlds' successes and mistakes.

The Spirit was last. It was the ruler of the [Astral Plane], in charge of maintaining the balance between gods and mortals. It was also the being who created the rule that deities were forbidden from living in the Mortal Realm.

As the Elven woman educated the motionless Human, she wandered around the bench's rear and leaned over his shoulder. She told him the reason he could use Astral Ichor was because he was different. That he inherited something very powerful from her.

Her authority.

She wasn't entirely sure how, but once Auroraan bridged with Earth, a small number of Humans somehow linked with one of the three overseers and could use fragments of their abilities. They called these people Strays.

There were distinct symptoms that suggested someone was a so-called Stray. Those who merged with the Body felt extreme pain in their physique during the first contact with Auroraan three years ago. Later, they found that they could alter the physical shape of matter on the planet.

Those who connected with the Spirit felt a severe ache in their essence, otherwise known as the soul. They began seeing and being able to communicate with invisible entities, such as deities who broke the law and traveled to the Mortal Realm.

And of course. There was the Mind. Vin vividly remembered the terrible feeling, like his head was splitting in half. As a result, his brain was unlocked, and he could think faster in intense moments and perfectly recall past information.

Still leaning on him from behind the bench, she pinched and pulled his ear, "You know, im offended."

"You used to be curious about your mind's capability, but, now, you don't show the slightest interest." She released his ear and moaned in frustration, adding, "It is because I've experienced your entire life that I ALSO know you don't care about anything I'm saying right now. The origin of your powers doesn't matter to you, only how they benefit you."

The historian placed both her fingertips on opposite sides of his forehead. For the first time, her voice leveled, not dramatized in high or low pitches. "Just remember, power is only a perk for people like us. The real reason we survive is because we are a superior intellect."

Even cloaked in exhaustion, Vin's mind worked enough to pick up the undertones of what she'd said. He weakly muttered, "You were mortal once too..."

"Perhaps," the long, black-haired woman teased. She walked her fingers across Vin's shoulder, frowned, and bitterly told him, "At times, you very much vex me. You are no doubt the villain in this story."

There was a pause, then a chipper shift in her tone before she added, "Luckily, my fondness for you outweighs my frustration. So, I will let you be for now."

Feeling his body become weightless as light flooded his space, he fought his eyes open to see the Elven woman return to her bookshelf and pick up a new story. She gave him one last glance, telling him, "I'm looking forward to reading more of your tale."

With that, he was erased from that space.