There exists a place known by different names to those who have at least some knowledge about it —the boundary, the all-encompassing, the boundless, the eternal, the void. No entity, no matter how powerful, can claim to truly understand the void or comprehend what lurks within it. The very fabric of existence is enshrouded by its presence.
The void serves as the origin and protector of dimensions, where reality takes shape, thrives, or ceases to exist. Events repeat themselves in an eternal cycle, unending.
Now, we are not here to ponder the existence of the void itself, as our intellectual capacity falls short in that regard. This particular topic is solely meant for the powerhouses, those who traverse the void in search of discoveries or for their progression.
Within the void, one can find numerous abandoned and broken realms, shattered by the very essence of the void or entirely new ones beaming with wonders. This is the natural cycle of things, on a multiversal scale, embodying the inherent nature of creation and destruction—opposing forces yet intrinsically connected.
Life, even on a multiversal scale, is unjust. Some new realities are born from a tremendous surge of condensed energy in a singularity, bursting forth with fervour during the creation of a new reality. Any being traversing such space may face annihilation if they lack sufficient power. Even the most powerful beings suffer injuries and flee far away. Funny, isn't it?
The new reality then blossoms, and a multiversal symphony unfolds. It takes considerable time for the creation to stabilize, for the matter to bond with other matter and initiate a sequence that eventually gives rise to dimensions. Within dimensions, multiverses emerge, clustering numerous universes together, each with its unique shapes and sizes.
How long will it take, or how many sequences must unfold, for life to emerge within a constructed matter that meets all the necessary criteria for its existence? Then comes the evolution of life itself, as it undergoes continuous change over time. And so begins the journey that will one day give birth to countless tales.
However, not all tales are grand. As mentioned before, life is unjust, even on a multiversal scale. If a reality successfully fulfils numerous sequences and requirements, it gives birth to a unique energy referred to by various names. Let us call it "mana," as that is the widely accepted term within the folds of the void.
Mana is an exceptional energy because it can be harnessed to influence reality itself. However, harnessing it requires a multitude of steps and conditions, making it infeasible for most beings. Only a select few who rule over various realities can wield this power at the scale to influence reality as a whole. But that is a story for another time.
So where does that leave us? Mana enables the progression to a grander scale, empowering it to grow in power and accumulate more within itself. As time passes, the creation becomes larger, incorporating energy and matter from the void, assimilating them and gaining strength. There are other ways to progress as well, such as the merging of two realities or universes, whether naturally or driven by powerful beings. Nevertheless, at the root of it all lies mana—the energy that facilitates smooth transitions.
I have simplified everything, but it is not as straightforward as it seems. There are numerous variables and the potential for entirely new occurrences. A wide range of things can go wrong at every step, even on a multiversal scale. Realities without mana cannot endure for long; they crumble, broken down by the void itself.
A highly powerful being can initiate mana in a newly emerging reality lacking it, but as time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult. Without desires, individuals lack the motivation to initiate the necessary actions. As their power grows, they no longer yearn for most things. It is exceedingly rare to find a benevolent being who acts selflessly without any hidden motives. Therefore, those realities without mana and the beings residing within them cannot bend reality to their will, forever confined and left behind.
However, the void encompasses more than just realities. It holds numerous secrets, untold tales, and countless mysteries that may forever remain unrecoverable. Our story begins with a being that somehow drifted into the void after its demise. Every reality with living beings has laws in place for reincarnation or something similar.
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Realities with mana possess more complex and intriguing laws, while those without mana have less robust versions. When someone dies, their soul or essence undergoes a definition process and then gets recycled into a new being, with their memories erased. The specifics vary across different realities, but that is the general idea.
Hence, you can understand how a being could end up lost in the void after death. It was an error, a coincidence, but it happened. The being drifted beyond its universe, into the multiverse, then the dimension, and eventually found itself within the void.
Souls are intriguing entities. They represent who you are, your will—an intangible essence not bound by matter but something else entirely—spiritual and boundless. However, souls are fragile. For a soul to drift into the void and remain intact requires an extraordinary series of circumstances that would require countless volumes to explain logically.
We won't delve into that level of detail because all souls, regardless of their origin and reality, are destined for reincarnation. Nobody knows where the first souls came from, or if they were ever created in the first place. It's a ponderous question, one that perhaps our drifting soul will find the answer to, if such an answer exists.
The oblivious soul slumbered and drifted into the vast void, unaware of its final destination. The duration of its drift remains a mystery. Existing in this emptiness, the soul gradually gained resilience and eventually became invulnerable, enduring the wear and tear of the void. It underwent a transformative process, cracking and healing over time. Once a mortal soul from a reality deprived of mana, it now bore little resemblance to its former self.
After aeons of drifting, it evolved. It shed all bindings that other souls may possess. It became a unique and in a sense powerful entity, unlike the typical souls of universal powerhouses, divine beings, or spiritual entities like ghosts or spirits. It was something entirely new. Venturing deeper into the void, where few beings tread, it relied solely on instinct, devoid of sentience. It was truly pure.
One day, it stumbled upon a place that resonated with its being. It felt a pull and followed it, perhaps having always sensed this tug, which had grown stronger over time. Eventually, it found itself assimilated by the fold of space, transported to a vast expanse filled with ethereal energy, unfamiliar to the soul.
The energy felt soothing and comforting, prompting the soul to absorb it instinctively. Assimilation occurred in a manner akin to drinking cool water after a long day. As the soul assimilated the energy, it grew and felt more complete.
The passage of time in there brought about visions of the past, revealing a world where the soul had once been born—a planet called Earth. In this world, people relied on science and mechanical progress. The soul couldn't recall its name or the faces of its parents or relatives. Perhaps it was for the better, as the memories it did have weren't the brightest.
It had been an average person, struggling to fit into society but never quite managing it. As time passed, it became increasingly solitary. Life had been harsh, especially for the soul, as those around it failed to understand its perspective. Life unfolded day by day in this manner.
Eventually, the soul succumbed to symptoms of depression and became what people in its world called an introvert. Time flowed on, and it struggled, facing an unkind fate. It reached its late 20s, still feeling depressed and preferring solitude.
In its youth, it had admired vivid fantasies, anime, illustrations, and simple novel writings. Deep down, it longed to be like the people in them. In its mid to late twenties, it struggled to find a job, unable to find fulfilment in any work. The ones it liked were out of reach.
Money ruled the world as far as the soul could remember. Everything depended on it, but the soul lacked financial means. It tried its best, but nothing worked. There was always someone more deserving, either by sheer talent or by weighing gold. The soul fought on, silently listening to the concerns of parents and scorns of relatives.
Sometimes, it contemplated engaging in unethical deeds but never acted upon those thoughts. Its values remained intact.
The soul held onto the wisdom of sages it heard in life, believing that hard work and virtuous actions would lead to divine blessings. Yet, as far as it could recall, no blessings came, neither for helping others nor for its struggles. And so, on a fateful night, it passed away in its sleep. Why? The soul doesn't know for certain, but it suspects that the cigarettes might have been the cause.
It remembers seeing itself lifeless, without a physical form, and experiencing unfathomable pressure pushing against its new form, trying to judge it or maybe taking it to the afterlife but it only succeeds rendering it extremely weak and eventually causing it to lose consciousness. And then, it recalls finding itself here, in a sea of energy, contemplating the resurfacing memories.