The man before me was of large stature. His skin was a crimson red with a full mane of, what appeared to be, a white fire that hang, yet also sway. The sight was surreal as the man wore what appeared to be a toga, a piece of it draped over his right arm as he beckoned to me with his hand. He was the epitome of what you would think the bulky version of God would be. That is if you thought he had red skin. I had not noticed it at the time however I had apparently been walking towards him and had somehow ignored the fact there were others there with me.

When I got close enough to him for him to reach my head, I was snapped back into being by him placing his still outreached hand on my head. It felt… good. Like when your parent pats your head when you had done something well. At the same time, I felt something leaving me. I didn't understand what it was, but it felt important somehow, and the idea of losing filled me with an overwhelming feeling of fear and sorrow. I had to hold onto it, I couldn't let it get taken away. But it was a fruitless struggle and in a moment it was gone. All that was left was a feeling of empty quiet and a feeling of newness, like waking up after a long sleep. I looked up at the man as he towered over me. Though I was used to that. Wait, why was I used to that? I racked my brain for reason but I found none.

‘Oh well,’ I thought to myself ‘must not be that important if I can't remember it,’.

“The last of you Vaettir have completed your third step into rebirth. So we shall now begin the path” as he spoke, he jerked his hands to his sides. With a burst of flames reeling from his body. His eyes burst into fire as he was lifted from the ground. Six sets of wings all made of a white flame formed behind him looking ethereal in shape and nature.

“I am Ignis. Your All Father and you have chosen the path of power. If you live to obtain it all shall be yours! Now, we will test you on how worthy you are of this path!” His voice boomed and echoed as though a herald of the end times.

With that, the flames died down and he lowered to the ground his eyes returning to normal. Leaving only a slight white wisp of fire at the outer edge. He flipped his hand with a flourishing motion, and a small pebble was produced from his fingers. We all gathered around him to see it. He then reeled his arm back and chucked the pebble, as it soared through the air it split into fifteen pieces.

‘One for each of us.’ I realized following the path of one of the pieces. It didn’t fly far.

“Now, go bring my pebbles back little ones.” He chirped behind us as though he was herding dogs. Several burst into a sprint to chase them down. Some sat on the ground as though pouting, their faces were not fully defined so it was hard to tell. A couple started to brawl quickly deciding on a winner who stayed while the loser left. The rest started walking in the direction of the pebbles. I decided to join them.

I feel a tug in my chest as if directing me to where I need to go. I wandered for what seemed like forever. It felt as though days, if not weeks, passed as I wondered in this one direction. I wasn’t sure if I was getting closer or not. The savannah stretches for as far as I could see.

‘I must be doing something wrong. There must be a trick to this.’ I stopped walking and looked around me. I sighed deeply and as I took a step forward the ground seemed to fall out beneath me as I jumped back just in time as a perfectly round pit formed where I had just stood.

“Damn! That was close, I almost died.” I stared blankly for a moment then chuckled at myself self laughing at the idea. Before I stopped suddenly.

“Why did I find that funny?” I wondered in bewilderment. Death was no laughing matter, if I died that meant I would fail my task. I needed to get that pebble for All Father.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

I peered into the hole. And what would you know? There was the pebble smack dab in the center of the ten-foot hole. The problem though was that it was too deep, once I dropped in there was no way to get out. I wasn’t even sure that I could get down if I wanted to. I needed some form of rope. As I thought this I felt something heavy in my hand. When I looked to see what it was I found a sturdy braided rope that was golden in color.

The object I needed suddenly appearing in my hand didn't feel strange it felt as though it was normal. I needed it and now I had it. Simple as that. I looked for something to tie it off on, and would you look at that? I found a post planted on the edge of the hole. Perfect. I quickly tied the rope off and threw the other end over the edge of the pit and started climbing down. I felt a slight lurch as I was halfway down. Looking up I saw that the post slowly start moving, my weight pulling it out of the ground. I made a quick decision to let go of the rope, falling the remaining five feet.

“It may have held till the bottom, but I need that for coming back up more.’ I thought as I stood.

I walked to the center of the hole and reached out to grab the pebble when I heard a low growl coming from a darkened corner. As I looked the shadowy corner seemed to expand and move. I tensed at the sight of this ever-growing mass. A paw emerged from the shadows followed by another. A large maw with glistening jagged teeth then appeared, followed by a set of glowing yellow eyes. It was a large blustering wolf, rippling muscles pulsed beneath its fiery crimson coat. Its massive black claws, like blades of a sickle, dug into the soft ground creating deep claw marks. The beast stood around seven feet at its shoulder with its long fiery tail whipping back and forth behind it.

I knew this beast could rip me to shreds, I should have been terrified. But the only thing I could think of as it growled at me was how beautiful it was and what it would feel like to ride on its back over the savannah. The next moment it was gone. The pebble, the hole, and the fiery wolf had all vanished. I was standing next to Ignis again along with the others. A feeling that I had achieved something great spread through me, as I felt the familiar warm weight of Ignis’s hand on my head. I couldn’t help but giggle in happiness at the feeling.

“My children, you have all done well. You have finished your task and your journey. Some of you found the pebble, some returned with the pebble others forsook the journey altogether.” Ignis declared with pride, but at the mention of those who ‘forsook the journey’, his voice sounded hollow.

“You will be invigorated with a small boon and a choice to whom you may reincarnate as.” With a wave of his arm, a partially transparent red screen appeared. On it, a list of twelve names was scrawled in a blazing white text. I felt uncertain about what to do next. Did I pick at random? I decided to read through the list of names and go from there.

Rak Anubslayer

Godi Havenraider

Malkadian Bloodstorm

Makadian Bloodstorm

Idika Bloodstorm

Takar Bloodreaver

Abdul Bloodspear

Abi BloodFeast

Batu Lionbreaker

Altan Battledrinker

Ulgan Battleweaver

Umay BladeEater

A lot of these names seem to follow the theme of either eating or blood. I felt drawn to the three names near the top, they all shared the same family name. So they were family or siblings? I felt a longing from some part of me that I couldn't quite remember. Someone I looked up to, and wanted to be like. We looked out for each other, it wasn't a friend but something more . . . ‘Brother’. The word flashed through my mind with a mix of emotions I couldn't name. It was an odd feeling almost uncomfortable.

‘Idika Bloodstorm’ I selected the name.

“Now go! Spill the blood of your enemies and drink upon the night of their death in my name! Burn your desires into your hearts and waste not any passion!” Ignis bellowed and the ground gave way beneath us and we began to fall.