I smiled as I was reminded of my first days of life. Those book seemed to offer the same thing the Shadow was. Answers to any of my questions, but I needed to be understand them. Unlike those pages, I also needed to know what questions would actually need answers.
"Humans and Beastkin often ask, what's the catch." I respond to him, which causes a feeling of amusement.
"They are often overly suspicious creatures. Too used to their own lies to believe that anyone could be honest." It spread its several hands and arms once again, "It's as I have said, I would like you to travel this world, and if you find old things sleeping. Wake them up." The sky was looking a bit odd compared to what I was used to in the Realm. Faint colors were streaking the sky, and it looked like things were moving far above.
"If you are lucky, you might find a working Realmheart, and if you aren't. Well you will be able to give some hope to those who have been waiting for it." He pointed to the sky, my eyes locked on the various lights moving there, "Some of the ancients left this world in hopes of finding a better one, but I fear they never found their haven. At least here there is security." His words were interesting, hinting that other worlds existing out there. Yet, he had said that I would die at some point, but I wasn't a human.
"How will I die if I am a dungeon?" A pair of hands snapped their six fingers in sequence. The white smile returning.
"That is an excellent question, and I suppose it's a question of how much of your mana you will need to use. See, this world always makes magical or supernatural creatures physical, with natural bodies. Even if our stories claim we cannot die save to cold iron or true silver. If you cut off our heads we still die." His hands motioned to act out the various deaths, when did I start thinking of it being a him? That was odd to suddenly notice.
"What's worse is how it forces certain forms onto us, and the memories of flesh seem to infect our ways of thinking. Yet, we can live for ages as long as we have enough mana, and you are pretty mana hungry." A white circle opened in the utter void, "In fact, you might use more mana than I need, and I don't even know what's going to happen to your extra dimensional space. Your dungeon space within you."
I frowned at that. I couldn't feel a door or anything within myself I could pass back into my self, but there was a faint feeling that I could return. I would need to experiment with it after I got through all of this.
"I have a feeling it will work out." I paused, something told me that my time was ending, "I get that I can move around and channel mana, but I still don't understand why you couldn't just move her around. She is the same right?" His whole body froze, but not because he was surprised, more like he was thinking.
"The Hearts only process so much energy, and release it over time in a very controlled manner. Any attempts to improve that just break the stones, and they are made on a level not even the Tuatha understood." Gestures at my own body, "Now you are a creature that is born to consume raw energy and convert it into mana. As well as being efficient with the process, you are the only dungeon to have enough sentience to be talked to. You even managed to make independent life, even if they will need a good bit of mana from you if you want them to continue living once they get here."
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I tilted my head at that bit. Then, I remembered that they intended to bring everyone out into this place. Though it didn't seem large enough for the hundreds of thousands that I heard about within the Realm.
"This place is rather small for everyone." Another feeling of mirth from him.
"Of course it is, but that's why we aren't taking everyone. Even if the System was a cruel torture they made, it did give us access to the personalities of every living being." He then wiggled his hand, "Aside from a few, namely your creatures and you. So, we are grabbing everyone who could survive and won't make too much trouble on this side."
"I assume most Mages are out as well as the noble and royal families?" It was a guess, but I had my reasons for believing it.
"Some will be brought to maintain order, and because they aren't terrible when alone. But, generally, yes. I also have a deal to only take humans from the Realm." That made me freeze.
"What? But the Realm is collapsing and will cease. You said so." I didn't have any great fondness for any race, but my creations. Yet, something new twisted inside of me at the many lives that would be lost. And, even anger at him for doing so.
"That is correct, but it was the wishes of the most powerful leader of the Beastkin. If they had a king than Remus would have been it." My anger doubled, hands clenching in fury, and even my mana began to burn the air. This rage wouldn't be denied until he was a broken form beneath my feet, and brought them all....to me?
Like the waves of ice Mirabella loved, I felt my whole body freeze over. The memories of flesh twist us. Like the way the System scratched at my mind with "instincts" and "urges", but these were so much more blunt while getting past my mind. I shivered.
"That is why I sleep and let my shadow wander." His voice was solemn, "The curse of flesh we call it. It's why we sleep, and why we die. The drive to dominate and control along with the raw flood of emotions takes a long time to manage."
"Is there another way?" My voice soft, perhaps too soft for most, but I know he will hear and understand it.
"No, another reason for you to travel. It will give you the time to adjust to the curse, and I hope that your children will help even more. Though you will likely need to help them first, since they will be of flesh for the first time, and they are very young." His words bringing memories from Pyra and Yana as they struggled to understand the difference between themselves and others.
"You lied." I couldn't help but growl at him, "This is the cost of your deal. I can do everything I wanted, but this curse..." He shook his head.
"I could never let you die within the Realm." His void pulling into a frown with a sad air, "Even if you weren't the answer to the ancient prayers, you are a being of unique origins. I feel like a parent much like you do to yours." The sky seemed to become more active as the colors of the light faded into a curtain of orange and pink.
"I want to see where this light of yours will take you, and what wonders you will bring to the world again." It spread it's arms to the sky, the dozen of limbs and odd hands reaching into the stars. "Now, it's time to fulfill my promise." And like that the stars began falling towards us.