Michael

"On your marks, get set, go!’’

Hannah shouts and we are off like shooting bullets from our starting stances. Max and I used the traditional earth athletic stances of kneeling and pushing off for acceleration. Rigdis in what looks to be a heavy breastplate type armour is already 40 meters ahead and looks to be jogging, Erebus a 12 year old is on my heals with Max slightly behind us.

I’ve never ran so fast in my life and I can feel it, I can feel my momentum, I can see and feel the ground I’m covering in every second, I can feel the wind and air resistance rolling smoothly off me as though I were on my motorcycle. I feel like I’m flying as I cruise through the wooded park in a race I bet two silver Stela to win.

I’m slightly faster than one of Saya’s step moms that’s also in the race, Thandeka the cute quiet one far to the left. Everyone else is watching the race with Saya cheering me on and jumping up and down like a little girl, I’ve never seen her this care free and I grin at how infectious it is.

A shadow passes by my left leaving within its wake a cool sucking breeze before I see him broad back and realise I’m seeing Saya’s granddad Damage in action for the first time since ive been here. I don’t know how he figures it out but suddenly the breastplate falls with a crash and as I eventually run past the dust Rigdis and Damage are almost neck and neck as they move like shooting bullets.

I grin as a sense of euphoria washes over me as I stretch my legs trying to close the quickly extending gap as though I were watching a pair of corsas race off into the distance. My lungs feel wondrous as I fill them with these sweet tasting air and take another step, everything is heightened as it is on Gaia. Everything here is brighter, clearer, cleaner, easier, better.

I run as though I were a child and we cover miles in the first 120 seconds of the race but I can still hear the beautiful sound of Ingwe’s laughter, the zipping sound of the toy Kira is still playing with, the clear sounds of birds other people and nature in general. I lose the race by a large margin as Damage and Rigdis reach Sigrur, Andrew and Nikita far ahead.

We spend most of the day in the park in leisure, the dynamics of the family interactions interesting to watch but seeing Sachi with his children does cause a stab of envy and hurt as I think of my own children. The kids on Gaia aren’t normal though, there is a fighting ring with blunt weapons for the really small ones but the 12 year old clash with sharp hard steel like the adults.

Intellectually I do understand that having access to these elixirs that prevent bleeding out, magic that can attach severed arms or processes that can regrow damaged eyebrows will can the dynamic of what is considered too dangerous for children but I still cringe as I watch it. Saya’s twin kid siblings are hard not to watch though when they face off against each other both wielding short swords as great-swords and performing amazing acrobatic feats.

*

Brandon

My escort of two dark cloaked, mask wearing spear wielding guard’s leads me through the strange dark city of Orion people getting out of their way as I walk behind them trying to be as inconspicuous as I can. This is the strangest land I have ever been to but this city takes the cake as the gloom of the light absorbing streets is only eased by the ambience of peace and security that I have never felt in any other city.

The item in my possession I was told to bring here, though I’ve gotten attached to it, though it has brought me great power and abilities I am bringing where I was told to because I’m not stupid. Stealing from the cults is a sure death for anyone even suspected, even now I left a purge taking place in my wake as the cult searches for its holy grail.

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I was marked and enchanted and given the best charms and talismans the Conclave has at its disposal for the mission but I still feel pursued somehow by some unseen force watching my every move. It would be stupid of me to believe that in a world where I’m as powerless as I currently am I could keep possession of the grail and retain the gifts it has bestowed upon me.

Even with its light absorbing gloom Orion is a strangely captivating city with its sparkling stone buildings and friendly inquisitive people. Celestia is one of the few places I didn’t want to visit but Master Erickson was clear, ‘’go to Orion to a man named Corvus Glaive that acquires things for the emperor, follow his direction.’’ So here I am.

I have heard the godking of Celestia is an all powerful madman that has incest with his children, his children’s wives and his grandchildren producing an elite bloodline that lives in its own part of the city. I’ve also heard he cannot be denied anything nor lied to nor stolen from.

There used to always be a little feeling of excitement when I hear that someone cannot be stolen from but since I acquired the grail I’ve come to realise some things should not be stolen. The moment I had my hand around the large egg shaped thing I wanted to put it back but it wouldn’t let me.

It wanted to be taken from where it was currently residing, apparently on its way to the centre of Hala to where ever this ritual is taking place that’s being protected by the mercenaries and roving bands of the Walish armies. I would swear the thing helped me get away as on more than one occasion I was sure I was a goner as the priests and the

‘’Welcome sir, you are expected. This way please.’’ A beautiful mature looking woman with dark her that reminds me very much of princesses Rosellet one of my father’s wives.

I follow the woman leaving my two escorts at the foyer of the mansion using smoke perception to study my surroundings without giving my unease away. The woman could be anything between 45 to 65 years old by her appearance and aura but her beauty and smoothness of her walk would imply she is a girl still in her adolescents. Walking behind her is also no displeasure as I’m reminded by the sight of her behind that’s been years since I’ve been with a woman.

The trip from Pangaea to this continent has not been an easy one and I had to separate from Dan years ago as our pursuers somehow seemed to track him. The people man is probably dead now or worse, in the hands of the cults. The trip from Sandaria to Pangaea was eventful but smooth, leading me to believe travelling from one continent to another is easy, but it’s not, far from it in fact.

But finally I am here and though I’d love to somehow keep this thing I’ve been carrying around for years now I know I wouldn’t survive for very long, either from the grail itself finally doing me in or the many people that want it.

I’m escorted into a study where a man about my height stands with his arms at his sides and a small stand in the form of an alter on the table in front of him.

‘’Place the egg on the platform please.’’ The man says without preamble and I hesitate as my smoke perception feels two unseen creatures in the room.

The one to my left and the ornately robed mans right materialises out of the bookshelf into another dark cloaked masked man wielding a rune carved spear while the one of the right is a white bearded gnome looking man if gnomes where taller and had stooped backs.

"I am Corvus, this is Asis to my left and a representative of the Hezbollah to my right. That is Iyana behind you closing the door now place the egg on the platform, quickly.’’

The door is closed with a light click and I’m trapped in this pseudo library with these four people I was to deliver this object to but I hesitate still. The room is completely sealed that much I can sense, there is no air flow or opening of any kind. I’m sure there are even wards and enchantments placed on the walls, I’m not much of a fighter in comparison to an Awakened Hazbela and the entire population of Orion is said to be at least level one Awakened.

I reach behind under my filthy travelling cloak to my interspatial poach made especially to hold an item stolen from the gods. Why the Conclave thought I could pull this off I’m not sure but its with a sense of loss not accomplishment that I place the warm glowing egg on the platform as instructed and step back.

It’s light pulses once, twice, thrice and then it dims and quietens taking with it all the energy, power and abilities it has lent me through the years. The room begins to spin as I find that I’m suddenly exhausted and so so parched.

‘’Wa...ter....’’ I think I manage to say seeing noticing the ceiling for the first time before I know no more.