Chapter 46

Little Brother

I was left in awe at the scenery in front of me. The world I once knew was suddenly strip away and was replace with a beautiful land filled with colorful flowers that grew as far as the eye can see. The blue sky I grew up watching was now a bright shade of purple that complimented the colorful landscape. And the moon…. No, that thing is far too big to be called a moon.

“What is that?” I mutter to myself as I stare in amazement at the huge blue sphere that nearly cover the entire sky.

“That’s Gaia, the world you live on.” Athena’s eyes seem to sparkle as she stares at the blue sphere in the sky. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“Yes…. Yes, it is.” All my worries and fears melts away as I stare at the tranquil scenery. This is definitely a place I wouldn’t mind staying at forever. Only if I knew where here is.

“Wait, if my world is up there, then where are we?”

“We’re still in your room.”

“Huh?”

“Well I should say you’re still in your room, I’m actually not on the planet. What you’re looking at is nothing more than a dream. I’m afraid I had to put you to sleep, it was the only way to stop you from using the black shard and for me to talk to you.”

I was completely lost. Nothing she said made any sense to me. For one, how did she put me to sleep if she’s not even on the planet? And how can this be a dream? Everything here feels real. I can smell the fragrance from the flowers and even feel the wind softly blowing on me. I guess this what mom meant when she said Entities powers defy logic. To keep my sanity, I’m better off just accepting everything she says rather than trying to figure it out.

“Why did you bring me here? What does someone as powerful as you want from someone as small as me?” Realizing that I was demanding an answer from an Entity, I quickly cover my mouth. If she knock me unconscious just to talk to me, then I don’t want to know what she’ll do if she’s angry.  “I’m sorry, I… I didn’t mean to say that so rudely. It’s just…. I’m kind in a confuse state right now.”

“Relax Aaron. I already told you I’m not here to hurt you, plus we’re family, so you don’t need to be formal with me.”

“Huh? We’re related?”

“Of course! You’re my little brother’s little brother, which means you’re also my little brother! Although I guess my little brother is my little sister now.” Athena giggles a little to herself. For some reason every little thing she does warms my heart. Maybe it’s because she’s the guardian of my world that I feel so comfortable around her.

“Hey, tell me how does it feel to be related to two Entities?”

…. Am I really related to two Entities? My mind swirled endlessly as I try to comprehend the weight of Athena’s question. If I’m related to two Entities, then does that mean I’m technically an Entity too or am I a demi god? Wait, if Athena is the mother of all elves, then does that mean I’m Claire and every elf’s uncle?!

“Pretty weird family tree isn’t it?” I guess she could tell I was struggling hard with her question. “If my brother was here, he would probably say ‘just because we’re from the same race doesn’t mean we’re related.’ He truly is a troublesome child.”

Troublesome is an understatement. From what I understand both Athena and the Demon King has been at odds with each other since the beginning of time. Even though the two never supposedly fought, Athena is the main reason why the Demon King failed to take over the world so many times. If she never created Excalibur, then it would never been possible for us mortals to defeat beings like the Demon King. As grateful as I am to her, I can’t help but to question her motive. I mean I understand the world is very important to protect, but if the Demon King is really her brother, then shouldn’t she have protected him or at least try to talk things out before created a weapon to destroy him. Of course I can’t judge her yet, since I don’t know the full history between the two and something tells me reading a history book isn’t going to help me get the full story between them.

“Hey, are you really related to the Demon King?” It still amazes me that I can talk causally to a being that pretty much shape my world. Although I’m sure if it was another Entity I would probably be cowering in fear.

“By blood? No. Every one of us was born differently for example…” Athena snaps her finger which caused all the flowers throughout the land to glow. The light spill out from the plants and soon spreads across the entire field creating an ocean made of white light.

A warm and pleasant feeling wrap around the part of my legs that was engulf in the light. This feeling I’m experiencing is definitely something I’m very familiar with. Magic.

“This is unbelievable.” I was in complete disbelief. The entire area was coated with magic. I never knew something like this was even possible. I always believe magic only purpose was to defend its user against the countless threats that inhabited this world, I never thought about using it and such a beautiful and creative way, and something tells me this little show is only the beginning.

“What... what's going to happen now?” A part of me was frightened that my mind wouldn’t be able to handle whatever Athena was going to throw next, while the rest of me was eagerly waiting for her next grand feat.

“History is about to happen.”  Athena points to an arm made of pure light rising slowly and elegantly from the glowing ocean. Particles of light rises from the ocean and gathers together to form another glowing arm.

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“What are those lights doing?”

“They’re creating me. This is how I was born.”

I see, so this isn’t just a random light show. She actually showing me her past. To think I get to see the birth of an Entity, I honestly don’t know what to say or how to even react in this situation. I guess the only thing I can do is observe and witness something no other mortal have ever seen before.

I focus all my attention on the glowing particles that was gently lifting a fully form body made of light off the ground. With all the particles gathering in the air, the sky soon shine even brighter than the ground, forcing me to close my eyes.

After the intense light die down, I slowly open my eyes to see a beautiful woman gracefully descend from the sky. It was weird seeing another Athena, but then again pretty much everything I seen so far in this dreamland was weird. I still have no idea why Athena is showing this to me. I look at Athena who was watching her past-self stare at my world in a daze.

“When I was born I was alone and confuse. I had no idea who I was and why I was born with such incredible powers. That is until I came across the others.”

“Others? You mean the other Entities?”

“Yes, it because of the others that I fully realize it doesn’t matter what race we are or how we’re born, we were all giving life by this planet. Which means this world is our mother and everyone on it is her children.”

Looking at Athena’s bright smile I began to realize why I feel so comfortable around her. It isn’t because she’s the guardian of our world. No, it’s because despite how strong she is she sees everyone as her equal and treats everyone as if they’re a part of her family.

“It’s unfortunate though...” The smile on Athena face vanish and was replace with a solemn look. “That I realize this fact far too late…”

Suddenly, an explosion goes off in the distance. The powerful shockwave from the explosion quickly spread an enormous dust cloud across the land devouring everything including me in seconds.

“Athena what’s happening!!”

“In the beginning, only four of us roam these lands…”

“Athena!!” I franticly wave my hands through the dust hoping I could find her.

“Things were so much simpler back then, we explored, we laughed, we enjoy everything this world had to offer for us. That is until you show up.”

Suddenly, the dust cloud that hindered my vision vanish, and I once again find myself thrust into a different world. The bright purple sky was now covered with dark menacing clouds, and the beautiful landscape once filled with flowers is now tainted with mud and corpses.

“Humans, one of the first complex creature to be born on this world. Due your short life span, it’s impossible for any of you to settle down and enjoy what’s in front of you. And because of your kind destructive ambition and our incompetence this land that once celebrated life is now rule by death.”

Black smoke rose from the dead bodies that was scatter across the battlefield. A cold shiver runs downs my spine as I felt a very sinister yet familiar feeling from the black smoke.

“And a land where it was impossible for life to thrive, a new being who power rival our own was born.”

“Is this the Demon King? Is this how my sister was born?” I felt like vomiting. The stench of the dead bodies seemed to have grown stronger when that smoke fled from their bodies. Just thinking my sister was born in such detestable place was heart-wrenching.

Just like Athena’s past all I could was watch as all the magic in the area gather to create a new being. Although unlike Athena, I wasn’t filled with wonder. Instead all I could feel was an intense fear. Even though I felt this power before and know it’s my sister, I was still shivering in fear.

Incredible, simply incredible. Despite this being a dream my instincts are screaming at me telling me to get far away from the black clouds. Honestly, I’m not sure if I should praise my sister for having a power that’s terrifying even in a dream or Athena for replicating my sister’s power so well. Either way this is genuinely horrifying and I seriously want to get out of here, but I refuse to run away. Athena must be showing this to me for a reason, plus I want to see how my sister was born too.

I continue watch the black clouds twist together until it took a shape of a man. The moment the black clouds took a humanoid form they dissipated, leaving behind a man shrouded in black aura.

I was petrified with fear. The thing that stood in front of me couldn’t possibly be my sister. Its aura was far more menacing and intense than hers and his red eyes didn’t seem to hold any warmth in them.

“Now that you know what your sister true appearance look like, what will you do?” Athena’s voice echo in my head, making it impossible for me to block her out. “Will you kill her? Abandon her? Or will you keep pretending that thing is a part of your family?”

“Thing? Pretend? What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I think what she’s saying is that you don’t actually love me.” I was suddenly grab by my throat and lifted into the air.

“Ah…. ah” I desperately gasp for air as the creature tighten its grip on my throat.

“What’s the matter Aaron? Are you afraid me, Your own sister?”

“You’re…you’re not my sister.”

“I can assure you I am, but then again I guess it would be hard for you to call me sis when I look like this.” The creature drops me on the guard as his body suddenly began to shrink. The black aura surrounding the creature vanish, revealing a black haired girl with red eyes. “Well? Don’t I look good?” The creature brushed its hair back with its hand while giving me a smug smile.

Another chill ran down my spine as I look at the thing in front of me. Not only does it look and sound like my sis, but it’s even wearing the same clothes mom gave her when we left home.

“Stop it. You’re not my sister. You’re nothing more than a dream Athena created.”

“Tch. Can’t fool you huh?” The creature sighed while scratching its head. “You’re right, I am a fake, but I’m sure anyone can figure that out after seeing Athena’s little light show.” The creature let’s out another sigh. “Damn it, I was hoping I could fool you, oh well might as well get on with the show.” The Creature’s snaps its fingers which cause a bunch of black tentacle to suddenly sprout from the ground underneath.

“W-what?!” The tentacles quickly wrap themselves around my limbs and held me in the air, before i had chance to move.

“Surprise? Even though I’m not the real Anna, I still possess the same abilities she does.”

“I don’t get it.”

“What’s not to get? This is a dream, anything is possible here. Hell I can even use your abilities too.”

“Not that. I fully given up on trying to understand this place, what I’m trying to understand is you. Athena created you right? So why are you tormenting me? Didn’t she said she was going to help me?!”

“You just don’t get it do you? Do you really think Athena will just help anyone that’s in trouble? While you may be related to the Demon King that doesn’t make you special. If anything it’s because your related to the Demon King that you’re going through this right now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh my goodness.” The creature shakes it head while letting another sigh. “You’re on trial kid. This isn’t something new. Every person who came here before went through this. If you pass Athena will offer you here service, if you fail then well…. Honestly I have no idea what I’m going to do to you, I think the best thing to do would be to erase all your memories of your sister.”

“E…erase?!” I wanted to call her bluff, but after everything I seen. I wouldn’t be surprise if she could somehow erase my memoires.

“Heh, heh that look of fear on your face is really cute. A world without your sister is really terrifying isn’t it? But fret not, if you past this test you’ll memories will remain intact, but if you don’t….” With sinister smile on its face, the creature pulls me closer to it until we were almost touching.

“If you fail, then, I’ll happily become your big sister.”