Karma.

Among the primordial restrictions defining reality, few are as misunderstood as Karma. The monks preach of its presence within the elusive folds of Samsara, the root of causality in all living beings. The cold and calculating dismiss the hymns of the enlightened as the mutterings of fools, though cede ground to the undeniable truths of linearity. Many choose to ignore Karma's presence, for a concept lacking power has no claim to the attention of the truly powerful.

All are right, all are wrong.

Such was Karma. Such is Karma. Such will be Karma.

Misunderstanding is born not by ignorance nor by intangibility; their duality permits its existence. Enforces symmetry where chaos lords supreme.

You do not understand. When you do, you will find that you always have and always will. That understanding will drive you, feed you, become you, and then devour you. In the end, you cannot understand, for you are understanding itself.

You are Karma, and Karma is you, such is Karma.

Karma's eyes snapped open, emerging from unseeing darkness to blinding light. The blazing sun shone down on eyes bare of humanity, instead commandeered by the perpetual paradox of a bronze serpent feasting upon its tail.

The eternal devourers grew faint as his vision focused, eventually dissolving into hazy brown pupils, reflecting the brilliant canvas of gold, white, and blue above.

Vision was only the first of the five senses to greet Karma, for Touch soon followed, joined shortly by the siblings' Taste and Smell. Though all three held sway over different aspects of perception, they converged upon a single sensation: the marriage of metallic sweetness and viscous liquid subsuming his mouth.

Blood.

"Senior Brother, you didn't kill him, did you!?"

A lark-like voice rang out in the distance, notifying Karma of Sound's presence, much to his chagrin; the grating pitch of whomever just spoke proved far more irritating than the crimson fountain dwelling within his throat.

Amid a cacophony of shuffling weeds, a deeper voice responded, "Relax, Junior Sister, I modulated my strength down to the second realm of Qi Formation. If he still succumbs, it can't be considered me killing him, but him choosing to die."

Contrary to his confident proclamation, the hurried sounds of displaced flora grew increasingly rapid and distinct. Karma counted out three shaky breaths before a shadowy figure appeared between him and the beautiful expanse above. Faint beads of sweat subtly dripped down, briefly refracting rainbow-colored light in their descent upon Karma's skin.

If I die, the sect elders won't let him off easily, silently thought Karma, unswayed by the man's flustered appearance. The instant after the thought flitted through his mind, Karma felt a sudden shock.

Where did that come from? What's a sect elder?

Even disregarding the absurd content of the observation, its natural fluidity baffled Karma to the extreme. The thought felt like it was his, as much as the blood flowing through his veins and the name rooted within his identity.

Loud, discordant shouts broke Karma out of the quagmire of inner turmoil.

"Hello? Junior Brother, are you there? Respond if you can hear me."

As the words finally evoked some measure of meaning, Karma instinctively nodded.

The inquiring figure of his 'Senior Brother' became more focused in his vision, allowing him to see the outline of a pristine deep green robe sewn with interlacing white stitchings. Most glaring was the emblem featuring an abyssal crow mid-flight beneath the left lapel.

Confusion still plagued his being. Karma opened his mouth to speak, "Wha—" A spurt of blood shot out instead of words, causing the well-dressed figure to slightly flinch.

"Yuc—yikes, Junior Brother, I must have done a number on you this time!"

The green-robed figure quickly fiddled with a small pouch hung on his hip, producing a sealed bottle. Uncorking it, he procured a tiny sphere of leafy green, which he hastily shoved into Karma's mouth, cautiously avoiding the previous splash zone.

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The instant the pill dissolved, as if armed with sentience, its purifying streams diffused throughout his being. The viscous panacea worked through his system like a warm summer breeze, rejuvenating his flesh and mind.

The altruistic crusade coincided with another arrival. They sported a similar style of dress as their predecessor, perfectly matching the deep green and trademark symbol of a crow in the flight. The ensemble differed slightly, however, in that where the former's robes ended near the waist, the newcomer's robe ended at the knees.

Karma ignored their presence, noticing his rapid recovery had triggered something within him; in a realm unseen, bronze ouroboroi briefly manifested in each eye, bringing changes that only Karma was privy to.

Karma bore witness as golden threads spanning infinite lengths flashed into existence, their mesmerizing crisscrossing patterns forming an impossibly complex network.

Even a glance at the magnificent tapestry burned, not physically, but at the depths of Karma's soul. He sensed viewing the scene for a second longer would snuff him out of existence with horrifying permanence.

Unlike the unfamiliar landscape that greeted him moments ago, Karma did not panic at the mysterious phenomenon. The threads, while lethal, felt familiar, even bordering on friendly if he was true to what he was feeling. Nevertheless, he knew the source of his peril was undoubtedly real, reluctantly willing the threads away.

But not all.

While no longer qualifying as a network, sparse threads remained: those binding the two green-clad figures hovering over his prone figure and two more.

The remaining two differed from the taut golden string connecting the pair, instead stretching from those standing to Karma's lying body.

Yet, despite their efforts, they simply couldn't.

No intangible barrier impeded their movements, nor was some force or entity halting their advancement. Instead, they swayed vaguely in his direction—as if a kite suspended in the moment its string was cut, destined to drift aimlessly throughout eternity.

Karma nudged his focus back to reality, inciting the dialogue he'd been tuning out to stream in.

"..told you he was fine. How could I, your incredible Senior Brother Lione, inflict harm upon a beloved Junior? We were just exchanging pointers; no need to freak out."

An air of confidence permeated the speaker, a green-eyed male with sharp features and long black hair. His bearing oozed a cinematic perfection; even the direction his hair drifted in the wind appeared choreographed.

His conversation partner was similar yet different.

Notably, they were female; instead of sharp features, their visage was impeccably soft. While Senior Brother Lione's eyes were green, hers were hazelnut brown; where his smile ended at his lips, hers reached her eyes in an exaggerated squint.

Both had facets of perfection, but to Karma, it all seemed so … artificial.

"Of course, Senior Brother Lione. Junior Sister Tang never doubted you. If you believe my actions appeared otherwise, then please accept my sincerest apologies; what you saw was merely my undying concern."

She punctuated her sentence with a deep bow, only rising once several seconds had passed, eliciting a hurried nod from its recipient.

Eager to change the subject, Senior Brother Lione turned toward Karma.

Ahem—"Naturally, as I was saying. Since Junior Brother … "—cough—"Since this Junior Brother appears alright, the matter is settled."

Nodding to himself, he continued, "Don't worry about the healing pill, treat it as a gift from the older generation."

Seemingly satisfied, Senior Brother Lione made to depart, though he was halted midstep by a hand quietly landing on his shoulder.

"Not so fast, Senior Brother. I think you've forgotten something."

Miss Tang's smile remained unchanged, though her squint appeared slightly more pronounced.

Woodenly turning back, Senior Brother Lione replied through slightly clenched teeth, "And what would that be, dearest Junior Sister?"

"As such a distinguished and perfect Senior Brother, would it not be uncouth to leave as it stands? After all, if the previous pill was a generous gift, then a token of apology remains outstanding. Wouldn't you say so?"

"But these pills are—" catching her narrowing squint, Senior Brother Lione continued, "unsuitable for such an important gesture. Alas, it's the best I have on me."

Tossing another pill toward Karma, he said, "Here, take another, Junior Brother."

Not glancing at the pill's destination, Senior Brother Lione bolted.

Trailing his figure through narrowed eyes, Miss Tang's attention eventually fixed back on Karma.

"Today's matter was due to carelessness on all ends. I hope the provided compensation assuaged Junior Brothers' worries. You may call me Senior Sister Tang, by the way."

It was eerie how, despite her caring words, her tone inflections remained consistent throughout the interaction. Nevertheless, Karma was happy to move on from today's events and stiffly smiled in gratitude.

"Very good! Well, I'll be off. See you soon, Junior Brother!"

Left alone, Karma's eyes flashed as he lay there unmoving. He paid no heed to the departing figures in the distance, instead regarding the pill resting atop his stomach. Like its predecessor, it was uniformly green and emanated gentle fumes.

However, Karma gleaned something more—something abstruse: a tiny golden thread. As he focused on it, an indescribable hunger gnawed at him, screaming: eat, devour, consume.

Licking his lips, Karma intended to satisfy his craving, consequences be damned. Yet, astonishingly, the golden enigma beat him to the punch!

Radiating a palpable excitement, the thread ripped itself from the pill and shot directly toward his face.

Karma jerked back, but the thread arced in tune, swiftly burrowing through his parted lips.

As he sat frozen in utter shock, a corrosive chill wormed its way through the space he'd endured an unimaginable threat moments ago.

The target of imminent destruction should he glance upon that all-encompassing network of golden threads.

His soul.

It was fleeting. So quick, in fact, that Karma doubted its existence in the first place.

A creeping sense of hunger lingered still; it was insatiable, endless in its wants, as if swallowing everything in existence barely qualified as a snack.

Vaguely, Karma wondered, If I ate the entire golden network in one bite, what would such a delicacy taste like?