The hole was empty. Void of all pain. After the ascension, the hole had grown, becoming a true void. Empty of all but one.
Within that void was an echo. Slowly growing in power as it resonated within the hole. Forever bouncing off its walls, In perfect harmony with itself.
The source unknown and its call incoherent. One thing was clear. It hungered. For what, was unclear.
-Aku/Isaac-
Rage coursing through my veins, I dashed forward towards the goddess. She smiled as if she’d just seen a puppy wag it’s tail. That’s fine, let her underestimate me.
My body felt heavy, but I still managed to jump forward, going a few feet into the air. I followed it up by swinging my fist. I put all my weight into my attack. It wasn’t much, but using your whole body to punch was a recipe for a devastating blow.
The only reason I was confident I wouldn’t miss was because she was sitting down. Thanks to that I had no issues with putting every ounce of strength behind my fist.
The goddess stayed cocky, as I rapidly approached her. I growled out a battle cry, “Catch these hands!” Her hand quickly moved literally catching my fist in her palm.
“What!?” I cried as she grinned at me.
“Did I win?” she asked innocently.
Once my body lost its momentum my glass covered feet clacked, as I landed on the arm rest of her ridiculous chair. We stared at each other, tears threatening to spill down my face, as my rage swelled within me.
“Aaaah!” I screeched, throwing another punch, and another, and another, until it turned into a game of patty cake, and by that I mean, she caught each of my fists while clapping between my attacks.
She even started singing the appropriate song. “Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, baker’s man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it and mark it with “B.” Put it in the oven for baby and me.”
I refuse to believe this lady thought we were playing a game! This is the most ridiculous flex I had ever seen!
She was so annoying only adding fuel to my anger. This wasn't a game! I was serious!
That was when she went on the offensive. “My turn!” She reached out taking hold of me and pulled me into her lap. “limit break! Tickle attack!” She started digging into my side with her dainty fingers.
I began convulsing as she dug into my ribcage. “Ahaha! Stop it! Haha! I'm sorry!” I laughed.
To my relief she stopped. “finishing move! Nuzzle requiem!” She hugged me and started to rub her cheek against me.
Fine, she wanted to play games, I’d play games. “Special move! I'm married!” I cried before biting her arm. It wasn't my strongest move, but it was super effective at escaping holds.
She shrieked letting me go. I quickly pushed off landing on all fours. In an attempt to avoid any long range attacks I zigzagged away. Once I was a few feet from her, I turned around and glared daggers at the goddess.
“Oh my goodness.” She laughed. “It looks like Shadow is rubbing off on you.”
I realized what I was doing and stood up straight. “Don't do that!” I growled.
“Understood little one, but remember you attacked me first. Now, why were you trying to hit me?” She asked.
“What the hell is wrong with you!? You’re the most bipolar person I've ever met! Do I have to spell it out for you!” I yelled.
“I haven't done anything to you child.” She responded.
“What about my mom! What did you tell her!? Why did you turn her into a psychopath! Stop playing these stupid games! You’re not a very nice person! You’re as fake as that $30 hair dye!” I accused. Halfway through my tears started flowing.
Sighing, she took on a more serious expression. “I get it. Look… what happened to your mother was a mistake.” She said.
“A mistake! A MISTAKE! Your actions tore my family apart! Your actions stole my life away!” I cried.
“Honey, you don’t know what’s going on.” She said. It looked like she wanted to say more, but she held her tongue.
“Then tell me! Why did my family have to fall apart!” I screamed.
She was quiet, but to my surprise there were tears in her eyes. How dare she cry! How dare she pretend to feel bad! I was about to yell at her again, but then she started talking.
“I wasn’t the one that turned her into a monster, but it was still my fault. I was supposed to look after you, but the time dilation was too high, so by the time I realized what was going on, your mother had already died.”
“What the hell do you mean it wasn’t you!” I felt like an ant trying to take revenge against a human for absent mindedly stepping on my home, only to find out it was someone else.
“Isaac… I might be a god, but I’m nothing compared to the god that hurt your family.” She kept her gaze away from me. “He took advantage of your mother’s vulnerable state and twisted her core until she was no longer herself.”
I got angrier with every word. Was this really not the end? “Noooo!” I cried. I held my head as my body crumbled onto the floor.
It couldn’t be! When the hell was I supposed to enact my vengeance! I just wanted someone to hate other than myself! I wanted a target to let out all this anger!
Ever since I relived my worst moments, all those wounds had been reopened. Once what was numb was replaced by overwhelming pain! It wasn’t fair! How could the world treat me like garbage and get away with it! Someone had to pay!
“Isaac.” said Cosmo. She had moved to my side without me noticing.
The goddess put her hand on my back. “it was my enemy that controlled your mother. I let him. It was my fault. It’s very hard to be everywhere at once. I’m really sorry for what happened. It didn’t help that you became invisible to me, once your mom became his follower.”
I wanted to die, I wanted to hate her. To hurt her, but then I felt something else. It was distant. Not my pain, but a different one. It was inside her. Guilt…. not just the guilt of letting my family fall apart, but so many others.
The screams and cries of children. The horrible whaling of trillions of people. Every last one of their worst moments were present within her.
She watched their horrible lives play out on loop. Constantly thinking up ways of how she could have helped them. How she could have helped me.
It didn’t end there as I looked even deeper, and got a glimpse at her very soul. Cosmo standing atop a world of dead bodies. Surrounded by millions of other worlds in a similar state.
People crying, begging for help. She was holding a spear hiding from a hungry god far in distant reality. Worlds away, between the fabric of space-time and the realms that inhabit it, swallowing whole universes and adding to it's ever growing power.
That space between was so vast. To big for my mind to comprehend. I thought about what the implications were, only to be unable to relate, so I stuck to my own scale of reality. The tiny sliver that was my insignificant microscopic puzzle peace. The only thing I could relate to.
I had trouble running one country. I couldn't imagine the stress of trying to manage multiple worlds. Much less the stress of watching her people suffer one after the other. What the hell was that eldritch horror? Was that her enemy?
Forget that! She was still a god! Why the hell did I pray all those years just for someone as incompetent as her to ignore me! It wasn’t fair! She was supposed to be perfect! She was supposed to keep the world fair! Why! Why was she so useless!
But, she wasn’t perfect… I'm wrong. I’m blaming her for all the crap that went down. She wasn't all knowing, all powerful, or even all good. She was like the rest of us, just on a grander scale. Cosmo even felt pain like I did. Like me she had her own Squirmy to deal with. I wish the world was more black and white. Not this never ending gray.
I pulled myself to my feet. As the goddess cried softly beside me. She kept her eyes on her feet not daring to look at me. At the person who’s life she ruined through neglect.
Why couldn’t there be a big bad evil guy? One of those pure evil people with no redeeming qualities. It would be so much easier if I could blame a single person and not feel bad about their well being. Maybe, that eldritch horror was to blame, but it was too high on the food chain for someone like me.
There was Squirmy, but while Squirmy had no redeeming qualities, I couldn’t blame him for everything. He was just a parasite taking advantage of my crappie circumstances. Of course that didn’t mean I wouldn’t make him pay for it.
The truth was, finding someone to blame was pointless. It didn’t help anyone. The only thing it did was keep the pain going. That’s why I forgave Centa. Everything was fucked and that’s just how it was. The only thing I could do was to push forward and try to preserve what’s left.
I reached over and gave Cosmo's dress a gentle tug. Then smiled as brightly as I could when our eyes met. “I forgive you.” I said.
She looked surprised, as one of her tears fell from her cheek. “What... Are you sure? Just like that.” She cried.
“It’s okay. I wouldn't have forgiven you if you didn't feel bad about it.” I wiped my own tears away.
She eyed me suspiciously. For a moment her eyes becoming a soul silver. “Your not a demon, so why do you have the sympathy of one?”
I shrugged my shoulders and said “I don’t know what that means.”
She shook her head. “Of course you don’t.” The goddess started sobbing again. “Isaac, I’m really sorry. I never meant for it to get this bad. I’ve been trying really hard. I mean look at me! Who wears this stuff.” She twirled around showing off her fancy mini dress. I got to see the white lacy panties underneath as her dress spun.
The goddess then turned to her throne. “Look at my chair. Do you think sitting on marble all day feels good? It doesn’t! my butt hurts! I have to do squats every day, just so it doesn’t go flat! Look at my butt Isaac!” She turned to one side showing me the shape of her ass.
I covered my eyes only leaving a small slit between my fingers. It was a nice butt. Plump and round. I think Alice had a nicer one though. Hers was normal sized and complemented her figure. The goddesses however looked like it had been stuffed. I managed to squeak “It’s… nice.”
“Right! You should check out my onlyfans.” She got embarrassed for a sec. “Uh… never mind. Forget you heard that!” I nodded.
The goddess hugged herself. “I’m tired of trying to act like a perfect goddess, only to fail when it comes to the important things. My admins know I’m bull shiting. That’s why they don’t respect me anymore.”
“Why do it then? The white void? All the fake smiling?” I gestured to the entire realm. “This entire place is nothing but a stage.”
She sighed. “I guess, I just wanted to look competent. Everyone has this image of what a god should look like and I just wanted to fill that roll. I feel so… silly… I’m wearing a push-up bra right now.” The goddess laughed, then proceeded to snap her fingers and switched into some shorts and a hoodie.
“It’s okay. All we can do is try our best and push forward. Maybe, hope for an ice cream sandwich at the end of the tunnel.” It didn't come out the way I wanted, but the meaning was still the same.
She giggled “When did you get so wise. It was only yesterday you learned to walk.” She ran her hand over my head.
“That was years ago.” I said.
“When your as old as I am a few years feels like a second.” She wiped away the remaining tears, her heart a little lighter than before.
It was time to get to business. “Why am I here? Did I actually die?” I asked.
“Not yet. Your bleeding out right now. If you focus I’m sure you can feel your body back in B2015630, or the new world as you players call it.” She said.
I tried to do that focusing inward. There was physical pain there. It was distant and felt kind of cold, but it was there. “crap.” I said.
“Don’t worry this is actually a good thing. A lots happened and we need to get you ready.” She straightened my dress. Motioning me to turn around. Then started to readjust my pigtails. “Time dilation has given us an opportunity to train you up.”
That sounded wrong somehow. “Wait!” I said whipping my pigtails around to look at her.
“Whoa!” She took a half step back.
“Why me? Why not send an admin or yourself! You’re a god so you must be really strong. I bet you could beat Squirmy up with one hit. Like how you did in that strange dream I had.” I was excited to watch her go creative mode on Squirmy’s butt. I could just imagine her typing in a “/Kill @Assholebug” and Squirmy just getting deleted out of existence.
“I cant do that. Right now that part of the world is on lockdown. You are the only one that can stop him, before he eats more cores.” She said.
“Me?...” I thought for a second. “Why don’t you just send everyone home! Back to the old world! You can do that right!? Besides there’s a lot of people that want to go home!”
She shook her head. “That won’t happen.”
“Why the hell not! The players have been dying left and right! Haven’t you noticed! Why would you even send us to that place!?” I argued.
Shadow needed to take care of her kids and Luca needed to go apologize to her family. I needed to get back to my wife. My Alice.
“The energy cost to send all those people home is way too much. The whole point of these trials is to find candidates for ascension. Dying isn’t that bad. You’ll all get reincarnated later anyway. Did you also forget that part of the world is locked. I can’t pull people out, and besides, what about the NPCs.” She said.
I think she was making good points, but I didn’t understand half of them which only made me feel like a kid wondering why I wasn’t allowed to stay up late, eat candy, and drink energy drinks.
“Okay, okay. So what? You just want to train me up to go clean up the server? You know since you say death doesn’t matter.” I said.
She shook her head. “It does in this case. Squirmy isn’t just killing people. He is also turning them into demons and eating their cores. I can’t reincarnate them if their cores are eaten or broken.”
I raised my hand to her surprise. “Isaac there’s no need for that. I’m not your teacher. If you have a question just ask.”
I put my hand down. “What’s a core? Is that like that raging ball of energy in my gut?” I asked.
She sighed as if I’d just opened up a huge can of worms. I didn’t need a full explanation, I just needed the cliff notes.
“Alright. They’re not the same thing, but they are similar to one another. Simply put, cores are souls. They can also be called the middle dantian. That raging ball your talking about is called a lower dantian. Though we usually refer to the middle one as a core since that’s the most important part of a person.” She said.
I felt the need to raise my hand again but instead asked, “Is Jesus canon?”
She narrowed her eyes giving me an “are you serious” look.
When I didn't budge she answered, “I don't know honey… Maybe, I'm sure the story came from somewhere.”
That was disappointing. What else should I ask? Maybe Shadow? If this lady had been watching us this whole time then maybe she could explain why my guild mate acted so crazy.
“What about Shadow. Why is she so clingy? She acts like everyone’s mom, but she seems extra attached to me.” It was something that’s bothered me for a while. At first she was just teasing me, but then it turned into something else.
“Haven’t you figured that out yet?” She asked.
I shook my pigtails. “No, she’s very strange. Is she trying to replace her kids with me?”
The goddess laughed. “I suppose that would make sense, but it’s a bit more instinctual. Shadow has imprinted on you.”
“What? WHAT!?” imprinted! Like she’s bonded to me? Did Shadow really see me as apart of her litter?
“Beast-kin are instinctual creatures. They tend to imprint on a single person and will do anything to keep that person safe. Most gods like to have them as guardians since their so powerful as they ascend. Shadow is different in that her core is human and not beast.”
“When! How did this happen!” I questioned.
“Right…. I’m pretty sure she imprinted on you the moment you face planted into her butt. Back when you first ran into the kitchen crying. You should be happy. This means she will do anything to protect you.” Said Cosmo.
That didn’t make me happy at all! Shadow had been too clingy. I don’t like the fact that she sees herself like my maternal figure. Not only was it weird. It was also misplaced. She should be worried about her children not me.
What else should I ask? This lady was basically a dark web version of Google. I could figure out the secrets of the universe.
“What about lizard people, or the pyramids. Why does platypus fur glow under UV light!? Oh! How about the useless male nipple!” I was starting to get excited at having all these secrets unveiled.
“Isaac I love it when you get excited, but we're on a schedule how about one more question and we move on.” She said.
One? Only one? What should I ask? The meaning of life. What white dog poop is. What really happened on 9/11. If dad were here he would have a field day! What about… oh. In the end there was really only one thing I truly wanted to know.
I hesitated as my eyes started to water once more. Was I really going to ask? It was a stupid question. What if… what if she says no? That would be horrible. Do I really want to find out? Would she really know?
I started breathing faster and faster as my heartbeat sped up. The white void became darker as everything started to get scary again. The goddess must have noticed something was wrong because she put her hand on my shoulder.
“Hey, it’s alright. Don’t freak out on me. Breathe Isaac. I am the goddess of space and you are in my domain. This is the safest place in existence.” She said.
My eyes darted back and forth before I managed to make eye contact with Cosmo. I asked, “Did mom really love me?”
The goddess smiled warmly. “Of course she did. How could you even ask that? Your mother loved you more than anything. You were everything to her Isaac.”
I started sobbing uncontrollably. The goddess frowned, her own eyes starting to tear up, as her responsibilities weighed on her conscious. She opened her arms and wrapped me in a hug. “It’s alright kiddo.”
My mother loved me. She loved me, and whatever monster out there took advantage of her, had to pay. I felt the echo ring within the hole in my chest. I still wasn’t sure on what it was. A desire? An anger? It was different somehow.
The hole was empty. All that pain was no longer contained. Instead I was only left with the memories of what happened.
The pain was out there in the world killing people. That pain was mine. I didn’t overcome it. I didn’t become better. All that happened was the pain was casted out of me and set free upon the new world.
I was responsible for whatever happens next. It’s my job to kill that asshole. To save Centa and as many people that I can.
“Isaac. I know your hurting, but we need to get moving. Your body is bleeding and we cant stop it, unless you learn to heal yourself.” Said Cosmo as she pulled away.
Stolen novel; please report.
My tears had been wiped against the goddess and my face possessed not the fear of causing the death and deletion of people, but determination and direction.
“Isaac its you or nothing. Now are you with me or not, because there’s a lot you need to learn.” She held her hand out to me.
I was hesitant. There were people in trouble and I was the only one that had an idea on what was going on, but still could I trust this so called god.
“Isaac if you don’t do this, then Shadow will be erased, Luca will be erased. Your wife Alice will be erased. Is that what you want?”
My head went blank for a moment. “Alice?...” That implied that she was in the new world.
“She forgot her work ID and came back to get it. She was caught up in the transfer sequence. It’s all very technical, but the system found her old avatar and let her loose in the new world.” She said.
I couldn’t speak as the thought of Alice being out there by herself filled me with fear. Knowing her she must have been really worried about me. If I’d have known I would have went looking for her the moment I woke up on that hell spawn bed.
The goddess continued “She then fought her way through the wild to get to you. I might have helped her a little in the form of quest rewards and my admins intervention, but she worked very hard to get to you.”
I remembered what Squirmy told me back in the hole.
(Once I get my new body, I’m gonna find that wife of yours and make her feel what your whore of a mother did to you!)
Without even thinking about it my hand clasped with Cosmo’s, causing a portal to open up before us.
“I’ll do it! Whatever it takes to save my wife and my friends.” There was no questioning it. I’d walk to hell and back for my Alice.
“Okay, in that case it’s time for you to begin your training. I can’t go with you. There’s a lot of work I have to do, but he should be waiting for you on the other side. In one week you'll come back here and I'll use some of my power to send you back.”
I nodded.
“listen up. My power can get you to wake in the new world, but you'll have to act fast to heal yourself, otherwise you'll go back to purgatory and eventually be reincarnated.”
I nodded again. “Thank you” I said.
Cosmo then materialized a pink backpack. It looked like something a 1st grader would wear. I guess I kind of was a 1st grader.
“Here, I packed you a few things. I made you a lunch. There’s a sleeping bag, some clothes for training and pajamas. I also added a few pairs of underwear.” She handed it to me.
The bag was so small yet it fit a sleeping back inside? Strange magic I guess. I slipped it on, but only one strap to prove I was still cool. The bag felt empty. It must be more magic mumbo jumbo.
The lady then waved her hand again and brought Snowball to this world. I was pleasantly surprised to see my support plushy and snatched her up, hugging her.
“Snowball! You made it!” I cheered. This Snowball was different. “What’s this?” I asked, pointing at a zipper on Snowball’s back.
She smiled. “Well, that’s for emergencies. I hid an extra pair of panties inside just incase of an accident.” She whispered.
My face went red. Had she really been watching me even then? That’s so embarrassing! “That was an accident!” I cried.
“Calm down. I know you didn’t do it on purpose. That's why they're called accidents.” She patted my head.
“I don't need them!” I huffed before attempting and failing to bite the goddesses hand.
“Oh, sweetheart of course not. It’s just in case something happens. Don’t worry I’m sure you won’t even have to unzip Snowball.” She placated.
I wanted to throw Snowball at her head, but she would probably just catch her, so instead, I went on the defense and hugged my friend to my chest, giving myself a feeling of comfort.
“Go on then and say hello to the lore keeper for me.” She said, as she lovingly patted my head again.
“Kay…” I nervously responded.
Robotically, I turned to face the portal and walked forward. Before walking through I cautiously examined it.
I couldn’t see through to the other side. The thing looked like a swirling circle of pure blue light. It made me uncomfortable. Was there a path inside, or would this be like before with the railroad spikes and all the pain?
I walked around the portal to get a look at the backside. “What happens if I go in through this side?” I asked.
“Nothing, You’ll be fine either way.” Said the goddess.
How did that make any sense? I walked back around to the front. It looked just like the back, so how could people tell?
What if the other side was the front and I just didn’t realize? What if it was upside down? I did a quick handstand to check, but my dress fell over my face blinding me. That’s when I remembered I wasn’t properly dressed for this sort of activity.
In a panic — brought on by embarrassingly exposing myself — I fell onto my side and quickly pulled my dress down a bit farther than it needed to. My cheeks burned as I pulled myself to my feet and dusted myself off. Looking back at the goddess I saw her trying to hold back a laugh only adding to my embarrassment.
I turned back around and looked the portal over some more. It looked like a normal portal with swirls and everything. Then again this was the first one I’ve ever seen, so what would I know.
Anxiously I turned around and looked back at the goddess again. She waved at me gleefully smiling just. Cosmo was like a parent sending their kid to school. I just thought “screw it” and jumped through the portal, hoping I wouldn’t accidentally cut off a limb by touching the corners.
It was a strange experience. Unlike before I didn’t see a bunch of lights. Instead it was like being sucked through a vacuum, or underwater current.
The tunnel was as wide as the portal was. Its walls were pure energy. The sight was akin to Moses parting the sea. Except, it wasn’t the sea. It was the fabric of reality.
Within the sea of energy was everything. Not just a storm of primal energy, but countless worlds floating within a raging sea. Some worlds had multiple galaxies and others were nothing more than a single planet with a sun, and moon.
This was nothing like Cosmo's soul. It was scaled down to my perception. I was grateful for that.
One world was covered in lush forests with dome like energy structures all over its surface. Another world was dark with a strange metal planet floating next to it.
Another world was covered in giant metal towers and along one side of the planet was a giant black storm.
The tunnel curved and I was finally able to see my destination. It looked like a normal world. It was covered in green and looked to maybe have a few cities and towns dotted throughout the landscape.
As if entering light speed, everything sped up in a short burst. I found myself closer to the world and could now see the area I was being dropped off at.
The land was covered in mountains. I Found myself floating down near one of the higher points. This mountain was covered in pink flowery trees. I’d watched enough anime to know a cherry blossom tree when I see one.
At the top of the mountain was what looked like a monastery. I didn’t get to look at it for long before everything sped up again and I was ejected through the portal.
The same way I entered the portal was how I came out. I wasn’t expecting to fly through the air like a drunk after closing time, but it happened, and I ended up falling on my butt. “Ow!” I cried rubbing my backside. It didn’t hurt that much. It was the surprise that got me.
Gathering myself, I found that I was in some sort of courtyard. There were a few of the flower trees here. The ground was littered with their petals.
In the middle was a statue of some lady. The statue gave off an unnatural golden glow. At first I thought it was a statue of Cosmo, but it looked nothing like her. She looked a bit like a Japanese princess with her flower pattern kimono and haori. Maybe Cosmo was apart of a pantheon. In which case I’d love to switch to a more competent deity.
I wonder if I can get some cool power boost if I became a follower of Thor. He is a war God. Nah, I wanna be Kratos's follower! That would be so cool! He would be all like “Boi! Bring me my axe!” and I’d be all like “Yes daddy!” …on second thought that would be weird. My bad, I tripped out. My imagination fell as I realized I’d gotten distracted again.
Anyway! The entire property was surrounded by a stone wall with a wooden support structure. There were also quite a few sections to the building. Everything was centered around what looked like a big temple.
As far as I could tell there was not a single nail anywhere. It was all held together by wooden pins or simply cut in a way where the individual parts locked together like a puzzle. I half expected Jet Li to walk around the corner.
Despite how large it was, There wasn’t anyone here. The thought “What do I do now?” entered my head as I nervously got to my feet.
Why wasn’t anyone here? Had I been betrayed? Before I could freak out I gave Snowball a hug. “What do you think Snowball?” I turned her around and held her up to look her in her dead black eyes.
“We should make a little noise to see if someone comes out.” Said Snowball. She didn't really say it. It was more like a feeling of what she wanted to say.
I guess she could only talk in my dreams. To bad, her Morgan Freeman impression was so good, if not a bit terrifying.
My anxiety was coming back. No matter how I looked at it this had to be a trap. I was so stupid. Now Squirmy was going to eat everyone and it would be all my fault. I hugged Snowball in hopes of finding comfort.
Someone shouted behind me, “Hey, what are you doing here!”
Their voice pulled my attention, causing my pigtails to swing, as I turned to face the newcomer. It was just some teen girl dressed in a kimono looking thing. She was about 15 or so. Strange, she had magenta colored eyes. Her silky long black hair hanging in a single braid.
New face. She looks really grumpy. All of a sudden I felt super nervous and awkward. “Um… h-hel-“ Before I could finish my greeting, she jumped forward attacking me! Snowball and I barely avoided her kick!
My body felt heavy for some reason. Now that I thought about it, I felt something like this when I tried to attack Cosmo too. I was noticeably slower. It was almost like the sluggishness you feel during a hangover.
The girl came at me again trying to punch me. “I’m fucking tired of you thieves coming into my home and stealing my stuff!”
I did my best to bob and weave, taking on a stance my dad showed me where you press your arms together in front of you like a shield. It came in handy when her fist managed to connect with my arms, leaving me with an all too familiar sting.
My glass slippers clacked on the ground like a tap dancers, as I did my best to avoid her. My pigtails were also doing there best to move with me. She was fast, but I could still follow her body movements thanks to my rediscovered ability to read people.
She must have realized I wasn’t a pushover, because she switched her tactics and started attacking me with aggressively quick and short jabs. Then followed it up with a wide scissor kick that I easily ducked under, before going for the ability sweep.
I couldn’t use martial arts anymore, so the ability didn’t have that fancy green wave, but it didn’t matter, as my leg connected with hers. Since she was on one foot I managed to sweep her, knocking her over.
I didn’t want to fight, so instead I backed up and tried to explain myself, but my anxiety took over and it ended up sounding like… this, “I um…Tr-training.”
The girl exploded with energy as a violet aura raged across her body like a California weed fire. She charged forward screeching in anger as she came after me. That was when I could no longer avoid her.
I did my best to block, but She managed to knock me down with a single strike. “aah!” I yelped as the power behind her attack nearly broke my arm.
Immediately, I started crying. It sucked not being in control of your body. Now, because of my crying I couldn’t try and explain myself.
“You think your tears will save you! Don’t be stupid! Bad children like you need to be taught a lesson! As punishment for trespassing! You’re going to sweep the entire courtyard!” she yelled.
As I was now I couldn’t do much. No magic, no martial arts, no sacred arts, no psychic abilities, not even a proper weapon, or a single stat point. I was out matched completely.
“Okay.” I cried.
She then snatched Snowball from my hands. “Hey!” I yelled trying to reach for my friend.
“I’m holding on to your dolly until your done.” She pulled me to my feet and started to lead me over to a barrel. Within the barrel was a bunch of tools. Mostly just rakes, brooms, and a few shovels.
The brooms were made with twigs wrapped in a tight thin rope around a thick walking stick. The rakes also looked to be hand made. Only these had every individual peace whittled into shape, and were held together using wooden pegs. The shovel was just like the rake.
She handed me one of the brooms. To which I just stared at her. The girl glared at me. “Um… excuse me… I-I’m here for training.” I weakly mumbled.
It looked like I’d fallen back into that shy kid again. There was nothing I could do, so I took the broom from her. I noticed how heavy it was. Maybe this was a wax on, wax off situation. Like maybe this was how I’d learn how to fight with a staff.
“Get to work, and I don’t want to hear any crying from you!” She then went inside one of the entry points.
I started sweeping and after a minute, the girl came back, only now she was carrying a chair. She sat down and watched as I worked.
I started from one end of the courtyard and swept everything towards the middle. The girl watched me never giving any input. At some point I put my backpack down, so I could work better.
It felt like I was back at grannies. Half way through, I started enjoying the task, finding better ways to sweep and hold the broom.
As I gave myself to work my mind cleared itself and I started feeling like myself again. The job still needed to be done, so I continued working. Pushing all the petals into multiple piles.
I ended up asking her what to do. She sighed then went back inside and cane out with what looked like some kind of sack.
“Use the shovel and rake to put the petals in the sack, then drag them over that way, and put them into the compost. Don't worry I'll be watching.” She said.
I tried to grab the bag, but she let it go causing it to drop to the floor, then walked away. It was no big deal, there was only about 6 piles and I think I can fit half a pile in this sack.
It had been over 2 hours since I stared, but my task was done. The girl had fallen asleep in her chair. I put the tools back and made my way over to her.
“Excuse me. I’m done.” I said.
She woke up. “What!? Your done?” She looked around. “Oh… yeah looks good.”
I tried to take back Snowball, but she held her out of my reach. “Hey!” I cried.
“Why do you want this thing so badly, huh?” She questioned.
This girl was a bully. “Give Snowball back. She doesn’t like you.” I cried.
“Oh, what’s this!” She spotted Snowballs zipper and tried to open her up.
“No! Don’t touch that!” I tried again to reach for Snowball, but the girl stood up and held her out of my reach.
Curse these stubby limbs!
“What’s in this thing, money, drugs!? Lets find out!” Before I could jump for Snowball, she pulled the zipper and out fell a pair of white panties. My face turned red as my body froze in place.
How was a grown man supposed to explain this away! Oh, don’t mind them. They were forced upon me by god. Yeah right!
Well, it wasn’t all bad, at least they didn’t have a strange design. I'm so dead! Calm down Isaac. It's fine. They’re your underwear, remember. There’s nothing wrong with a girl owning them. Crap! I’m not a girl though!
The girl reached down and held the underwear up, as I started crying. “Why would you put this in a doll? Did you steal them!? You’re not secretly some kind of pervert disguised as a little girl, are you!?”
My eyes went wide. That's too specific and technically true! I shook my head unable to answer. This was the worst day ever! How could this girl be so cruel!?
She waved the underwear in my face adding to my shame. “Speak up you little pervert. Why do you have these hidden!?”
I didn’t know what to say. Maybe if I went with the truth she would understand. I motioned for her to come closer. She looked a little irritated, but leaned in. I whispered what Cosmo told me into her ear.
“Ew gross!” She stood straight up, then threw the panties at my face. “You piss yourself on a regular basis!? What’s wrong with you! Are you sick, or just some kind of piss baby!?” She yelled.
I couldn’t take much more of this. The pressure I felt over my entire body grew as the area around me became darker. This crap again!
Its not real Isaac. Remove yourself from the situation. Stop caring. I tried to do just that and fell back into the apathy of the hole.
It wasn’t about stuffing my feelings inside. This time I abandoned them while retreating into the void.
Squirmy and Centa took with them all the stored up pain. While that pain was gone the source was still around.
The memories were apart of me now, leaving the hole empty. After everything my soul was hollow and thanks to that I could use it to zero out my emotions. For a moment everything stopped. It was quiet and calm. Until… it wasn’t.
I could hear it. An echo in the vastness of the void. It called to me, but I didn’t know where to go. It came from the left. Then the right, constantly changing directions growing in frequency. In volume, until I couldn’t take it and left.
“What’s going on here?” a new voice emerged prodding at both of our attentions. Before us stood an adult woman. I hadn’t even noticed her, yet she still managed to make it to the center of the courtyard without detection.
Her hair a dark green, styled into twin braids. Like the bully she sported a similar kimono.
“Lore keeper! This girl broke into the Monastery! I’ve punished her accordingly.” She came off smug. Like a cat bringing a dead bird to it’s master.
Was I still in trouble? I don’t want to be here. “Th-that’s not true.” I cried wiping my tears away.
“Yukio. What the hell have you done?” the lore keeper rubbed her temples.
The girl now known as Yukio gave off an expression of confusion. It quickly turned into fear. She tried to act like she did nothing wrong. “I-I was protecting the monastery.”
The lore keeper narrowed her eyes glaring at the bully. “This girl is Master Brutus’s new disciple. And besides, What threat could she possibly be! She can’t even cultivate! Look at how she’s dressed! Does she look like a thief to you!?” The lore keepers words seemed to finally sink into the bully.
However, instead of feeling sorry the girl looked angry. “Why the fuck didn’t you say anything piss baby! Its your own fault for not speaking up! Acting all innocent and weak! You were asking to get picked on!”
I flinched, my old habits resurfacing. I couldn’t even do anything. My body paralyzed, becoming heavy as if composed of sandbags. My underwear was still on the floor and Snowball was in that girl’s hands.
In other words, I had no shield and might as well have been naked right now. The tears kept falling one after the other, as I started to really feel like this was my fault.
If I’d just spoken up before, everything would be fine. If I hadn’t pissed in that dungeon…or… that other time… then Cosmo wouldn’t have stuffed those underwear inside Snowball.
My eyes were glued to the ground as my cheeks burned in shame.
“Yukio! This is clearly your fault! Apologize.” Demanded the lore keeper. She surprised me. Somehow hearing it wasn’t my fault made me feel a little better. Taking my transmission from park to neutral.
My eyes were drawn to the older woman. There was a strange glow to her. A rainbow of colors swirling around her body. It wasn’t so much that energy was escaping her. It was more like it was being channeled through her. It looked like focus.
“Fine!” The bully glared at me, “I’m sorry you can’t speak up!” She then tore one of Snowballs legs off and dropped her on the floor. “oops… I guess it’s trash now. We better throw it away.” She then stepped on Snowball, grinding her into the ground.
Finally I felt anger rise inside me. How could she do that to Aku’s friend! She was just like the assholes at school that ripped Buddy’s wing off!
I wanted to hurt her, but without power I’d just end up eating dirt! There had to be a way to close the gap! I ascended! I was supposed to be stronger now! Oh, what about that fuzzy bubble thing? Yukio made one too, so why couldn’t I? How did I do it before? It was like… that, right?
I reached for the ball of energy in my tummy. The thick power reacted to my call. It almost moved on its own. I felt it cycle through me like when I was falling to my death. It surged through my body in a star pattern, passing through each limb like electricity running through a copper wire.
A thin blue light surrounded my body. It sputtered and danced over my skin and clothes like a raging flame. Parts of it were thin while others were thicker.
The power seemed to have trouble with holding its form and chunks of the power leaked mixing with the air. I had to add more energy just to keep it going.
This power was like what Yukio used before. It was similar to the fuzzy bubble I felt back when I fought boner and his band of IPad kids. The effects were very noticeable. My body was lite and full of vigor. As if every single one of my cells had entered the fourth state of matter. I was living plasma.
The girl had an “Oh shit” look on her face, but before she could surround herself in a similar cloud of energy, my fuzzy bubble exploded under my feet, causing me to move at an unreasonable speed.
The fuzziness quickly shifted Into my fist, as it slammed into her gut, causing her to lean forward and vomit up her lunch. There was a little bit of vomit on my shoulder, but it was worth the horrified look on Yukio’s face.
She stumbled back and fell on her butt, then shifted on to her side expelling more vile. There were tears in her eyes and snot coming out of her nose, as she gave me a look like she wanted to kill me.
The power in circulation had decreased in volume, causing the light around my body to turn into a discreet soft glow. Almost like the glow of a pregnant women.
The lore keeper laughed. “My goodness. You ruptured her intestines. She might go septic. That was well deserved. Yukio use this as a training opportunity. Focus on empowering your aura with healing and cleansing aspects.”
Oh crap! Did I just hit a girl? Was this okay? She was asking for it, but still! To be fair I’m technically a girl too, and smaller than her, so it should be okay. Besides, I was defending Snowball!
“Snowball…” I started crying again, as I looked to my fallen comrade. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, then picked her up along with her severed leg. She wasn’t too dirty, but she was hurt. Seeing her like that made me cry even more.
How was she going to do parkour now. I hugged her to my frame. If I hadn’t been all useless a moment ago it would have been fine. Even now all I can ever do is react.
“Isaac, I can fix her up for you.” Said the lore keeper. She reached her hand out.
I was afraid to hand Snowball over. What if this lady was tricking me and was about to light Snowball on fire?
“It’s alright child. Cosmo told me you’d be coming. It looks like your teacher got too drunk last night and over slept. I can fix your little friend. I know Aku must be really upset.” She smiled warmly. It wasn’t the smile of a beautiful woman. It felt much older.
This lady kind of reminded me of a grandma, even though she was in her twenties. She was a bit strange. Her presence was that of nature itself and her movements were so gentle and perfect that she gave off the feeling of a tree.
It was like she wasn’t supposed to move. Like she was apart of the world. Like a plant or the wind. She was like a garden contained within a person radiating with life.
I felt safe around her, so I handed Snowball over. I could feel the Aku in me still upset. She was a bit like a pouty child. At the moment Aku was too emotional to realize this lady was only trying to help.
The lore keeper gently took Snowball from me. The way she handled the plushy was like one of those visually satisfying videos Alice likes to watch. It was so nice that Aku seemed to settle down into neutral territory. She was curious and wanted to watch this lady do more gentle stuff.
Snowball floated midair as a blue magic circle appeared under her. “Negentropy” said the lady as a multitude of runes flashed one after the other. Some in tangent, others flashed twice, but the effect was the most interesting.
I watched as Snowballs leg reattached itself. It wasn’t some kind of healing spell. This was the reversal of damage. Time was being rewound before my very eyes.
It didn’t take long for Snowball to look like her fluffy self again. Once it was done. The lore keeper handed her back to me. I hugged her putting Aku back into happy territory.
“Thank you! Thank you!” I said.
“That’s more like it. Little girls should be happy.” Said the lore keeper smiling brightly.
“Actually, I’m 39… and a half. Also I’m not a girl. I’m a man.” I said a bit embarrassed. Seeing as I’d be spending a week here with these people, It was best to get it out of the way now, before they decide it’s girls only and accidentally undress in front of me.
“39? Why that’s so young. Your just a baby.” She laughed.
I was confused. “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”
“Did no one explain anything to you?” she asked.
I shook my pigtails before she continued.
“Well, have you noticed your height? Does it seem any different?” She asked.
Now that she mentions it. There is something strange going on that I’m not sure about. I didn’t know what it was until she said it, but I felt different somehow.
The lore keeper started shaping energy into a ruler. She then increased its size putting it next to me.
“If I remember correctly from your file, your height was originally at 4 feet exactly, and now your 3’11.5 You lost half an inch child.” Said the lore keeper.
“What!” I cried.
What the hell! Half an inch! Also, what’s this about a file!? I never agreed to that!
“Don’t worry, it’s not permanent. That’s a natural side effect from ascension. If you were an old hag like me you would have turned into a young maiden, but because you’re so young, you might have reverted by a month or two.”
That didn’t sound too bad. At least I knew I was still growing. “So ascending early really doesn’t make any sense then. I could live a much longer life if I wait till I’m 60.”
“I suppose you could do that, but once you hit the angel rank you stop aging passed 25 and your body becomes harder than steel. Your body is in the lower spirit rank. That makes it sturdier than someone in the mortal rank.” She said.
Was that why I could still do impossible things? I didn’t have stats, but I was for sure stronger than your average little girl. How else would I have been able to jump and attack Cosmo like that, if my body wasn't augmented in some way.
“Okay… so what does this have to do with you considering me a kid?” I asked. Clearly it was because she saw herself as much older than me, but it felt like we’d gone in another direction.
“As you progress through the ranks your aging slows down. As of right now at your rank, you’ll age twice as slow as a regular mortal. That means that you could live twice as long. People in your rank aren’t considered an adult until they’re 32. Of course that number can change depending on the culture you are apart of.”
“So… wait, but I’m 39! That’s like… 7 years ahead of 32!” I yelled.
“You are a smart one. In your case it’s a bit different since your avatar was physical 5 years old before you ascended. Usually you lose half your age when ascending, but because of Cosmo’s avatars that can be mitigated. You should be happy your not a two year old right now.” She explained.
A two year old that ages twice as slow… that sounds like a nightmare and what the hell does she mean by 5 year old. I was clearly 9 and a half! “But I am 39 so you have to treat me like an adult!” I retorted.
“You might be an adult to another lower spirit rank like Yukio over there, but to an angel like myself your nothing, but a child.” She said.
That kind of sucked. Did that mean that even if I had my original old man body she would still consider me a kid? This was awful! I couldn’t change her perception of me, so I might as well just roll with it.
“Okay, I get it now.” I waved her off.
“Don’t worry. Show me your mature enough and I’ll gladly consider you an adult. At least in some regards.” She said.
I looked back to that girl. She was still in pain, but her body was glowing a faint blue and silver. Next to her was my underwear. I was still embarrassed about them and worst of all they had vomit all over them.
The best choice was to detach myself from the situation as a whole. Not my panties, not my problem. She could have them. It’s not like I ever wore them anyway.
The thing that upset me the most was the vomit stuck to the back of my shoulder. My dress was so pretty and now it was just gross. I needed a bath and Shadow wasn’t here to help. I guess it was my turn to act like the parent. I am Aku’s father after all.
It would be just like when I was little, taking a shower with dad and Cain. I'm pretty sure Julia did it too. Dad would always try to embarrass her with that fact. That and how he changed her diapers. Apparently she was like a poop volcano. It turns out Julia was just lactose intolerant.
My brains all over the place. Focus Isaac! I clapped my hands over both my cheeks then shook my pigtails back and forth.
“Yukio! Once you’re done healing, you can clean up this mess, and throw those underwear away. I’m sure Isaac no longer wants them after your… artistic expression.” The lore keeper turned around and started walking away. “Come along little one. Let’s get you cleaned and settled.”
I followed not wanting to get left behind with the vomit covered girl. The lore keeper seemed like a reasonably nice lady. I gave Snowball a squeeze to let out a bit of my nervous energy, as I followed the green haired mage.
She had a nice fragrance… like fruit and old books. Both things I loved.