In the dark between worlds Eradin’s soul existed. Burning with a pale blue fire its core swirled with the energy of sentience. It floated there in that murky blackness among others of its kind for millenia. Time passed, stars grew old and died, Eradin’s Soul wandered. Suddenly, the soul’s core grew brighter, glowing a blinding white. Like a miniature sun, the light surrounding the soul continued to increase in intensity. By the time the light finally dimmed, Eradin’s soul was nowhere to be seen, having slipped between the fabric separating dimensions.
Eradin woke. As his mind regained control, his hands instinctively grabbed towards the top of his neck, hyperventilation overtaking his body as he struggled to fill his already filled lungs. Wait…
He stopped for a moment, the confusion evident on his face as he realized he no longer needed the air. Searching his neck for the rope that should have killed him Eradin collapsed onto the ground in drained relief. What had happened? How was he still alive? His last moments had been that of pure agony, the terror of dying strikingly vivid in his mind.
Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes as he stared up into the night sky. The sight was unlike anything he had ever seen. Bright purple clouds of planetary dust streaked across the darkness above, the multicoloured light of stars illuminated galaxies in a beautiful display of colour. It was awe inspiring. As he lay there lost in the work of higher powers a booming laugh shook him from his reverie.
“Beautiful isn’t it?”
Eradin shot to his feet, his body hyper tense as he realized he wasn’t alone. Taking in his surroundings, his jaw dropped as he looked upon the splendor that lay in plain view before him. Eradin stood among a massive open ceilinged temple built upon a grassy hill top. Massive pillars of marble lay splayed in a wide circle, each supporting a colossal bronze brazier burning with golden flames.
Looking towards the center of the room, the origin of the voice was instantly made clear. There stood an armoured construct of pure untarnished silver. Angelic wings sprouted from its back and in its massive hands was held a glowing spear of pure light. His angular metallic face bore a long beard and the angle of his eyes openly shared his amusement.
Eradin didn’t move for a few more moments instead choosing to stare at the giant that stood before him. His mind raced as adrenaline filled his veins.
“Calm yourself mortal, I mean you no harm.”
The words echoed like thunderclaps, each syllable carrying untold influence and power. Eradin bowed, before this figure he could do nothing. The giant sighed, slowly lowering himself into a cross legged sitting position.
“It always starts like this,” he murmured, gesturing Eradin closer with his hands. “I never thought I was fit to be a Soul Keeper.”
Eradin continued to stare at the being, his lack of comprehension plainly displayed upon his face. The being smiled once again.
“I guess I should introduce myself first. I am Kraton, an immortal of Paragon and as of right now, your guide to the second life”
Eradin stood silent at this, not sure whether he should speak or not. After a moment of debate he decided to ask the question that had been plaguing him since his awakening, “Am I dead?”
Sighing, Kraton moved to stroke his beard. “Hmmm, what you’re asking is a fairly complex question you know, one that the greatest thinkers of every civilization imaginable have struggled with. I guess I should start with this, do you believe in the existence of souls?”
A flash of pain crossed Eradin’s face, his experience with death all too recent in his mind.
“Regarding the system, yes. If you are asking me whether I believe in an afterlife, I can’t say- though my continued self awareness seems to be pointing towards such a thing existing.”
“Ahhh, we have a thinker on our hands! Anyways, you seem to be taking to this better than most. More often than not, I find myself watching newcomers struggle through some sort of existential crisis. It was entertaining the first hundred or so times, but it gets tiring you know?”
Eradin smiled awkwardly, unsure on how to respond.
“Anyway, the gist of it is that your physical body is dead, Kraton continued, seemingly oblivious as he planted his arms behind him in an effort to stretch his back. Long gone in the sense that you’re probably a mound of insect-ridden dirt? You get the picture?”
“Clear as day, Eradin replied dryly. “So if I’m getting what you’re saying, my physical body is dead but my soul has been moved to some sort of afterlife?
“Well done! Simple when you break it down like that right?”
“Ha, as if!” Turning to his surroundings, Eradin allowed himself a moment to organize his already reeling thoughts. “So if I’m to believe you in that this is the afterlife, what am I supposed to do? No offense, but if this is heaven, hell must be packed to bursting.
A wide grin split Kraton’s features as he gestured above his head. “Look above us my friend. Remember those pretty little lights you were so interested in? Those are actually souls, the essence of millions of beings much like yourself, that have lost their physical body and are patiently waiting to transition into the second life. Welcome to the Well of Souls!”
Following Kraton’s gaze, Eradin again peered into the sky above him. The spectacle was just as beautiful as before. Long curling lines of light and colour cast a spell on the mind, leaving it in a state of awe and wonder. It was a long while before Eradin spoke again.
“Why me? He finally asked, turning back to face Kraton. “What about all those other souls?”
The giant’s metallic face gleamed in the fire light, the dancing shadows accentuating the sharp contours of his face. “Luck, he eventually replied. “It was simply pure luck that you were picked. Turning back to Eradin he began to speak, “I am what people call a Soul Keeper. I spend my days within this dimension watching over and protecting its residents. Every day I call towards the heavens and select a single soul from the mass above us to be reborn.
“So my family, my friends...they’re still up there...waiting?” Eradin asked.
“I’d say that’s a likely assumption, yes”
“That’s…” Eradin paused. “unfair”
“Some might choose to say that.”
A sense of melancholy seemed to fill the air between them.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Taking the silence in stride Kraton guestured again to Eradin, “Come now, let’s not dwell on such unhappy thoughts. I still need to test you to decide which realm you will be sent to.”
“Is this one of your duties as a soul guide then?” Eradin said.
“Correct, though admittedly just one of many. Can you show me your status screen?”
Eradin complied, walking over while simultaneously willing his status screen into existence. Upon seeing the numbers his heart dropped.
Eradin Vastille Lvl 0
Title: None
Class: None
HP: 100 (+ 1/h)
MP: 100 (+ 1/h)
STA: 100 (+ 1/h)
Strength: 1
Endurance: 1
Vitality: 1
Intelligence: 1
Willpower: 1
Dexterity: 1
Skills: None
SP: 0
Paths: None
This time it was Kraton’s turn to be shocked. “Is this truly your status?” he asked, an expression of shock covering his metallic face. “You’re not hiding your true stats from me, are you?
Eradin let loose a heavy sigh. “Nope, everything there is real, I had forgotten what it looked like.”
Kraton seemed to ignore Eradin’s rapidly changing mood, instead continuing to point at the floating blue box in disbelief. “How is it possible to not have levelled a single attribute, let alone possess no skills! It’s inconceivable!”
Eradin’s blood ran cold, remembering the final battle for Andar. “My death was an unfortunate one,” he began, wincing as the weak sounding words left his mouth. “A powerful soul mage robbed me of my status.
Kraton’s face grew dark, sharp lines and angles taking over his visage. The stars above slowly began to dim, the lack of light plunging the temple into a temporary state of twilight. The golden flames around his figure seemed to grow in size, their movements becoming more aggressive and frenzied. When he spoke you could feel the unbridled fury barely contained in his words,
“That cannot be, the presence of such a being goes directly against the will of the Originator.”
Eradin could only nod, once again reminded of the absolute power standing before him. Tears began to leak out as he recounted the past. “He was my father’s best friend,”' he said, stringing the words out in a careful calculated manner. “A well respected soul mage possessing a mana pool many times that of even the best mages. His name was Azerell.” Eradin’s eyes narrowed, his right hand forming into a clenched fist. “By the time my father realized he had been betrayed, it was too late. Our capital fell in under a month.”
Kraton’s anger had gradually dissipated over the course of the explanation, though the surrounding fires had yet to return to their previous state.
“I’m sorry,” he said eventually, taking a brief moment to organize his thoughts, “But I need to inform the church of this development. Normally we would take this much slower.”
Moving to stand, Kraton grabbed the spear resting in his lap. The golden glow surrounding the weapon seemed to increase in intensity as if alerted to its owner’s intentions. With a casual sweep of his arm, The fabric binding together reality split, accompanied by a sound much like the tearing of paper, multiplied a hundred fold. Eradin watched warily as a swirling gray rift appeared before him, its center consisting of an ever moving mass of smoking tendrils.
Instinctually Eradin moved back. The entity that lay before him felt sterile, empty, desolate. Its presence was unnerving to the highest degree.
“What is that?” he hissed, turning to face the rift’s creator.
Kraton had lost his easy going attitude from before, answering in a no nonsense manner.
“Before you lies a portal to the lowest of the divine realms. Immortals call it Enthar, though many know it as The Barrens. It is an empty realm, one unloved by mana. Society’s unwanted call it home, a place free of law and order.
Before Eradin could voice one of his many newly arisen questions, Kraton had already begun to answer, shaking his head slowly.
“With the stats you currently possess, it would simply be impossible for you to survive in a higher tiered realm. The sheer density of ambient mana would disintegrate your very being. You’d last mere seconds before erupting into flames.
Eradin shivered at the grisly picture that came to mind.
Kraton’s face seemed to soften as he looked upon the lost soul standing before him.
“As it stands now you only have just two choices: Either choose to retain your sentience and live out a life in Enthar - which I’ll warn you, is admittedly not an attractive prospect - or allow your soul to be extinguished.
Finishing his ultimatum Kraton waited for Eradin’s response.
“Neither of those sounds particularly attractive, do they? Eradin replied, rubbing his neck.
“No they don’t, though one of the routes is admittedly an easy way out, “ Kraton said. “I thought I should at least give you the choice.”
“Well no need to put much thought into it, I’m lucky enough as is if I’m to take your previous words as truth.”
“I thought you’d say that.” Kraton sighed, a sad smile overtaking his features. You humans are known amongst the races to be persistent to an extreme degree. Even at the cost of suffering you continue to cling to life. Probably why your species is so common among the outer worlds.”
His expression took on a more pensive look. “You know, if you had retained your status you’d probably be placed in a low to mid tiered realm at the least. Not a bad result all things considered, a life in a major city is a life of comfort.
Kraton snapped his fingers, producing an odd bell like chime that rang out across the open hilltop. “Well, best not dwell on such possibilities. Let’s get on with it.”
Deeming the conversation over, Kraton reached out, placing his hand on Eradin’s shoulder.
“I know this isn’t much, but as of now, it’s all I can do for you.”
The moment the giant’s hand touched Eradin’s skin, a rush of burning heat seared its way through his body. After the intensity of the initial rush however, a much milder warmth began to fill Eradin, leaving him with a pleasant sense of safety and security. If he had to describe it, he’d say it reminded him of the days he had spent as a child, helping the family gardener work under the rays of the summer sun at his family’s estate. As the heat slowly began to dissipate, Eradin’s status popped up accompanied by a new notification.
Divine Blessing Received: The Keeper's protection
The Keeper of Souls has granted you his blessing.
Passive Effect: When subject’s health is brought below 30%, increase Health and stamina regeneration by 100% for one minute.
Status Effect - Touch of the Originator
A faint trace of the Originator’s presence can be felt upon you.
Before Eradin could make sense of these new developments he found himself being pushed towards the newly created portal he had somehow forgotten about.
“Wait I still need to...” Eradin’s voice was cut off as his soul was sucked into the spinning maw of the dimensional rift.
“I wish you the best of luck and pray to the Originator that you find your path. May we one day meet again.”
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Kraton watched as the final traces of the boy’s soul disappeared into the rift he had forcibly created. It’s been a long time since something interesting last happened around here he thought.
With an offhand gesture a new hole in reality opened itself. Stepping through, Kraton found himself in the main hall of Paragon’s Great Cathedral. The white marble flooring cracked and groaned under the weight of his metallic figure.
The odd assortment of clergymen stuck running errands late into the night simultaneously looked up at the newfound commotion; Their jaws dropped in an almost comical fashion.
“Alert the Head Priest!” Kraton called, his voice shaking the building's very foundation. “We are going to war!”