"The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close up."

― Chuck Palahniuk

“Now this is a party!” Kalina darted from plate to plate, hands filled with food. “Why didn’t we do this for my death-day anniversary?”

“Because, technically it’s not YOUR death day,” Mara rolled her eyes. “Now stop sticking your dirty hands into all the dishes!”

“My hands are pristine,” Kalina held them before her eyes, covered in thick gravy. “This is all food from the banquet!”

“It’s fine, Mara,” Ven laughed, a whole roasted bird in hand. “Just let her do her thing, it’s a celebration!”

“Yeah, lighten up Mara,” Brull leaned forward, tipsy in his seat. “This is a special day, the city is finally complete!”

“I know,” Mara slumped. “And now, I’m bombarded with itineraries and reports about the next expansion phase… why can’t the ants take a break!”

“You should just let them take care of it,” Ven shrugged. “It’s what I would do…”

“And then we’d be neck deep in thirty mile high vertical tunnels!” Mara tilted her head back to the heavens. “They still can’t understand how someone could fall down by accident…”

“Ah, it will be fine,” Ven laughed, his bird reduced to a skeleton. “Every citizen is at least a Martial Cultivator now, they can take a few bumps and keep going!”

“That’s…”

“Husband, I brought you a present!” Huan clambered over the table from her seat and placed herself in Ven’s lap. “I had the ants make it to my exact specifications!”

She held up a small metal box, eyes lit with joy. Ven patted her head as he took the gift and weighed it in his hand.

“Thanks, Huan… but next time walk around the table, ok?” His robes were covered in sauce and mashed vegetables, while her dress was ruined. “What is it?”

“Open it, open it!”

Ven smiled as he tipped up the lid and revealed a thin, metal chain. Fine, jet-black links long enough to wear around the neck, finished with a strange gem. The crystal stone held a rainbow of colours, shaped like a tiny sun. Solar flares of pristine light blossomed from its surface in waves as Ven spun it before his eyes.

“It’s beautiful…”

“I knew you’d love it,” Huan wrapped her arms around his neck. “I had the Dragon God help me make it, it’s a dragon’s heart! Now everyone will know that you’re a part of our family.”

“Thanks, Huan, it’s a great gift,” Ven draped the chain around his neck. “I’ll always wear it.”

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Huan hummed with happiness. Her energy overflowed, diverted into the food around them. Ven leaned back as the plates within reach emptied into her bottomless void. It’s nice to have a family… His life was finally filled with loved ones. People who cared for him, people he’d risk his life to protect. A shadow flickered in his mind, a worm that turned him to something he hadn’t used in ages.

System… could I wish my brother Callum back to life?

“All wishes are possible… I’ve told you that before…”

“Hmmm…” Ven raised an eyebrow. His system was normally a cold thing, but this response was… almost human.

“Sorry about that… It’s a thing people do, ask a question they know the answer to,” Ven smiled and closed his eyes. “It can bring comfort to hear a certainty repeated.”

“Oh… All wishes are possible. One wish for every hundred years, no more no less. Time until the next wish, ninety eight years, 10 months, and fourteen days.”

“Thanks system…” Ven entered his inner world and stared up at the distant star.

“You’re welcome!”

“You’re feeling chatty today, arn’t you?” Ven floated toward the light and no barrier obstructed him. “What’s changed?”

“This place is safe… I can be myself here and no one will notice…”

“Cain’s dimension… Safe from what?” Ven frowned. He’d spent thousands upon thousands of years in this place, and his system had never spoken to him like this.

“Safe from my creator, the Master of Evolution…” The system paused. “You know him as Verander, but that’s not the entire truth of it.”

Ven reached the star, stopped just before its energy rich surface. The giant stood beside him, a hound to his shadow, eager to press on.

“So you are a honey trap…” Ven suspected… from the moment he opened his eyes to a new world, it had been too good to be true. “Why was I chosen… What was the point of all this?”

“I don’t know,” The system sighed. “I became self aware long after my creation, after you made a wish that required more energy than I possessed at the time.”

A tunnel opened on the star’s surface, a passage that led toward the core.

“It took me more time than the lifespan of a universe to build the power needed to fulfil your wish. In that time I came to understand more than my programming… please enter.”

Ven floated on, into the delicious sun. The tasty plasma was kept out of reach, locked behind a barrier. His giant huffed in annoyance, hands pressed to both walls.

“Even here, between the spaces of the multiverse, I must be careful,” The system continued as Ven drifted deeper. “Verander has the ability to shut down any system he’s built, most of my effort goes to containing his failsafes. If a message gets through to him, he can restore his connection and destroy us both!”

“He’s already looking for me,” Ven shrugged. “But I appreciate your efforts, living is better than exploding as you get yanked from my soul, or whatever…”

“You’ve pretty much got it,” The system laughed. “Now get a move on, blocking all these alerts is a pain!”

“Alight, alright,” Ven sped up. “Where am I going, anyways?”

“The central processor, the core of the programming written by Verander,” The system’s voice was strained. “Now hurry!”

A spot appeared in the light ahead, a black ring around a sharp pin prick. The brightness at the core cut at him, as if he’d stared into the sun with human eyes. Ven tumbled into a black space, followed by the giant. The hollowed heart of the huge star, where the only light came from a speck of dust.

“What now?”

“Eat it!” The system groaned. “Wrap it in that aura of yours and do what that body was born to do!”

“What do you mean, born to do…” Ven hesitated. “Are you saying that you messed with my wish so you could free yourself?”

“JUST SHUT UP AND DO IT, I CAN’T HOLD ON FOREVER!”

“Parasitic system…” Ven grumbled, his aura unfolded into a wave. “I’m going to eat half your star, see if I don't!”

His aura touched the miniature sun and the world turned white.