Except, the story hasn't started yet. Charlie felt... odd. He felt as if he, and by that, he meant the very essence of "he," was being dragged very fast and very far through a very narrow tunnel. It kinda made it feel like "he" needed to shit. If this were what he had to go through to make robots, then he'd go through it a thousand times; but it was still mighty uncomfortable. Oh well. He looked to the sides and saw what he could only describe as open space, tons and tons of glowing dots all around him. He could hardly think with how beautiful it was. If he looked far enough to the side, something intensely challenging to do in his current state, he could barely make out what looked to be a shooting star streaking hot white through the vast nothingness. The comet appeared to have a very hair-like trail. He guessed she had to travel with him.
Charlie began thinking about what was coming in his very near and hopefully not imagined future. He was still having some difficulty coming to terms with all of this. Some pretty lady grabbed him before he could go to hell and offered him the deal of a lifetime. Or post-lifetime. Whatever. He'd be saving a world—crazy stuff. More importantly, he'd be making robots! Somehow. Now that he thought about it, they'd never really gone over that part. Damn. He'd figure it out, he guessed.
"I can hear you," Aleph said to Charlie through some kind of weird fuckin space magic. He supposed this was all some kinda weird fuckin space magic. If it hadn't been for his current seeming non-existence, he would have died all over again. Holy shit! he thought. Don't do that to me! You could've said something sooner!
"You're right, Charles, I could have. But that would not have been as funny, would it?" Aleph laughed into his mind. She sounded like she was having a grand time.
What're you sounding so cheery for? Enjoying my discomfort? Or is something else tooting your horn? Charlie thought at her, rather forcefully if you thought it was possible.
"Oh, a bit of both. You see, on the one hand, it is fun watching you all squished up as you are. But also, I have won a bet with another Archangel! Archangel Yodrich Al Yottard, in fact. You see, he thought that I would be last to find an appropriate hero, but instead, I was third! Now, he owes me a tithe of his annual support! Quite a hefty sum! All the better to boost your abilities all the more! Which, of course, we shall do. Now, shall we start addressing some of those thoughts of yours?"
Charlie thought on this for a moment. He tried to clear a throat that didn't currently exist before responding in a manner that he didn't necessarily have to. Yes, he thought, I suppose we shall.
"First," Aleph scolded, "You were not going to go to hell. I cannot reveal any more than that of the workings of your world, but you were definitely not going to hell." He didn't need to believe that, but he would let her think he believed her, he thought. "Ugh." She groaned. "Why are you so adamant that—actually, nevermind. It is not important. " She refocused herself on the issue. "You will receive a Memento called Master Mechanist, crafted directly from me out of my power. It will grant you the ability to create mechanical wonders out of materials and mental blueprints that you have created yourself. As long as it makes sense to you, it should work. However, you may only do this once per Token, which is a soul currency that is rewarded when you have found a Remembrance."
Charlie continued launching forward for a moment, focusing on the passing cosmos before addressing the new dilemma he was now facing. That made no god-damned sense.
"Oh, yes. I forgot how differently your world works. Let me explain from the top." Aleph seemed to take a moment to find herself before continuing. "People of this world have titles called Memorandums, gifted to them by the Circle of Lord Tourmaline, the one true god, of which I am a member. Memorandums describe who you are and what you do and may be changed. It may be changed by collecting all required Remembrances, which are insights into your Memorandum. It can also be changed by pledging yourself to an Angel's service, though that does not apply to you. Do you understand?"
Charlie took a moment to really think about this before responding. I kinda get it. I think. Continue? he thought at her, trying to put up a strong front. Aleph sighed.
"Next is your Memento itself. A Memento is a scarce and awesome gift given to you by the angels or even the god of this realm; long may his eyes rest in his slumber. The ability will always match who and what you are at your core; it is an imprint on your soul, reflecting your soul. And of your Memento, there are parts, as any whole will have. These parts are more manageable sub-abilities of your Memento, referred to as Souvenirs. Souvenirs will directly describe the abilities of your Memento. Very easy to comprehend, yes?"
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Charlie looked back from the cosmos he was momentarily pondering. They really were beautiful. Maybe, with one of his robots, he could go out and explore them...
"CHARLES!" Aleph shouted in his mind.
YES! Yes. He tried to clear his throat with no success. Yes, I understand, sorry. Damned stars are just, beautiful. Y'know?
Aleph took a moment before responding; It seemed as if she were viewing the stars herself.
"Yes, I suppose they are. Anyways, back to business. A Token is a method used by us angels to turn your power into a tool. Instead of flailing about, trying with no success or form to make use of your power, you may use tokens to act upon the world around you or to enhance your own abilities. This limitation will be removed once you have found 100 Remembrances. Similarly, Remembrances will reward you with Tokens, as well as unlocking your abilities for you. For instance, for every 10 remembrances you find, you will be able to create 1 Delta class wonder. Does this make sense to you?"
Charlie perked up at that, real fast. What do you mean by gamma class wonder? Is that a robot? Are you saying that I may make 1 robot every 10 Remembrances?
Aleph responded quickly, stifling a laugh as she did.
"Y-yes! Sort of. Not exactly. You will learn what it means when you're officially in the realm. There, you will be able to check your skills yourself! For now, though, you will be happy to know that you will be able to create 1 robot every Remembrance, actually."
To this, Charlie, surprisingly, went completely silent. Too silent even. His mind was an empty void. Just before Aleph began to speak again, she was interrupted by an explosion of noise and color within Charlie's mind, along with a single sentiment. Thank you, ma'am.
Aleph couldn't help but laugh. And so she did. She let out a long, stuttering cackle, domineering and powerful, so powerful that Charlie felt it in his very soul. Charlie sat there, dimming his excitement, curious as to what he did that set her off.
What did I do? he thought at her. You're laughing like... well, honestly... you're laughing like you've got a few fuckin screws loose! It's damned scary, holy shit!
After another minute of laughter and confusion, Aleph finally seemed to calm down. She actually cleared her throat before responding.
"My, Charles. It is hard to remember that you're a grown man! Your excitement is like that of a child in his 16th year, out to explore the world. And you have no need to call me 'ma'am'; I am your partner in all of this!".
Charlie projected nothing but feelings of affection towards her. He was getting good at this mind-speaking thing. Of course I'm fucking excited. You're granting my blasted dreams here! Also, no, ma'am, I insist. Calling someone ma'am is a sign of respect.
"Oh? Are you implying that I was undeserving of respect before?" she purred to him, an obvious jest.
Yes ma'am. He replied immediately, with no hint of sarcasm. She was taken aback.
"W-what?!? I was undeserving of respect? Why?" she asked, hurt emanating from her. He took a second to think back at her.
It's not that you don't deserve respect, It's more that I hadn't seen that you deserved it yet. Nobody earns respect just for existing, y'know? Sorry for misspeaking, I meant no insult.
"I suppose I can understand that. However, I would be careful of who I said that to if I were you. There are some who would be at odds with ideologies such as that, you know."
Oh I know. He thought back. Just don't care. I am who I am; don't give a damn who likes me and who doesn't.
"Very well." She said back. She would not judge him for who he was; she chose him after all.
"Well, it seems that our time is coming to an end. We are nearing the realm. I will place you in an old abandoned church of mine, where you may check your Memorandum and Memento upon the altar. Fair thee well, Charles. I will speak with you in your dreams." And before he could fit a word in, he was gone, off on his adventure.