From death, existence formed.
A foreign man was dislodged from the embrace of the void. He floated in a pool of gold and gore liquid. The body, dead but alive at the same time, floated gently. Then a flash ignited the liquid as it glowed in holy light with unholy flames; the scorch of a flaming baptism began. Essence of the universe coalesced and life was born like a new dawn’s light that crested a sleepy home. Gentle and slow, then too harsh too quickly.
The man’s body jerked and spasmed. Limbs thrashed like a savage animal as the substance in the pool was absorbed in his body. The air ignited holy energy. Power coalesced to funnel into the man’s heart and mind.
Time shuttered; at moments it froze then sped up too quickly and repeated endlessly. Throughout the process eternity stretched as the man’s body formed whole while the golden liquid dimmed and the ethereal light faded. Then a heart beat its first.
A new soul was welcomed to the Realms.
Eyes of vacant oblivion sparked consciousness and his hollowed heart beat and life flowed through the man. He was awake. Then like the strings of a puppet were cut he was released.
He screamed only for the water in the pool to drown him. AIR! his mind commanded in primal desire. Adrenaline surged as gangly and pale arms spasmed for salvation as he punched through the water. Weak hands gripped a stone ledge and dragged himself to the edge of the pool before he flopped on the ground and greedily gulped in the stale air.
Moments passed as he panted, letting the cold stone soothe his body before he came to his senses and sat up. The blotches in his vision faded to bear witness to where he was.
A domed room of stone and metal seemed to pulsate and hum with life as carved runes from an unknown language glowed on every inch of the walls. On high floated a cluster of balls of light that illuminated the bare room except for the pool of water embedded in the ground. There were no windows, doors, or any means to show how the man got here.
He was alone in some unknown place.
Then a translucent emerald creature materialized where once there was nothing. Its voice, childlike and high-pitched, echoed with a maniacal charm.
“Greetings Initiate, and all those other human niceties. I’m a smidge delayed as my designated Initiate didn’t fare as well as you. The transference can be quite an exciting time for those as weak as your kin so I’ve been transferred to assist you instead.”
The creature was as tall as the man’s hand but flew about with six large shimmering wings and glowed with a faint green light. Oddly long limbs with emerald veins carved through its pale skin as they connected to a crystal embedded in the thing’s chest. Yet the most odd feature were the haunting eyes far too big for its head as they sized up the man. The creature floated around him, tapping at the air while humming along to a happy tune. A few moments later and it excitedly clapped its hands.
“Well, well, well... It appears that the astral body transference has gone... fairly well.” It voiced with an insidious giggle before the thing gathered its focus again. “Of course the soul is another matter entirely, so can you confirm that you are whole?”
Silence answered the question.
The man was far from keen on answering questions when he wasn’t aware of what was happening. Trapped in some room, with no knowledge, only for a freakish creature that looked like an addict searching for its next hit didn’t exactly conjure trust.
Wait, what’s an addict? The man thought as he realized he had some vague understanding and knowledge but it was vague. Like there was a completed puzzle of information in his mind that had lost most of its pieces.
“Can you hear me Initiate, or must I re-sync you?”
“I can-”, The man’s baritone voice cut off as he hacked up liquid. It burned something vile before he spoke again. “I can hear you. Where am I? Who...what are you?”
“Oh question time is it? How very human but what else could be expected. The where part is easy. You are right where you are supposed to be. As for who I am?” The creature giggled insidiously as it spun in the air. “Isn’t that a rude question to ask since you humans are supposed to introduce yourself first?”
Myself? The man thought as he opened his mouth only to stop and stare. His mind was blank. He tried to search his memories, his name or who he was, but it was like trying to grasp the darkness. To grab something intangible that wasn’t there. More pieces of the puzzle were missing.
So he merely stared at the creature in silence.
The creature stared back, seconds ticking by as the feral smile wilted away and a bored look replaced it. Finally it huffed and rolled its eyes in annoyance.
“You’re no fun. You can’t even try to panic and make it interesting? Well, no matter. They’ll be plenty of excitement to watch soon enough. Come now, the sooner we get through this the sooner we can join the others. I have a job to do after all.”
Without giving the man a chance it continued. “Your body transference is complete but the soul connection can sometimes go awry. Let me first confirm the soul connection is stable and get you out of the Soul Well.”
The creature waved a clawed hand before a pulling sensation gripped the man and lifted him in the air. A second flip of its hand manifested a halo of light at his feet before it was guided up and down the length of his body. Soothing warmth followed where the light shined.
Then pain followed pleasure. Light sparked from the halo into his body. Electricity coursed through his being as the creature zipped about, tapping the air again and nodding for nearly a minute before it made a twisting motion and the halo went away. The return of gravity came before his senses returned to normal and the stone floor met his body.
“Good, you are fully synced and ready. Follow me.”
It was all the instruction the creature gave before it flew to a spot in the wall. Another wave of its hand made the wall open as a new source of light flooded the small room. Without a look back, the creature flew away and left the man on his own.
The man did not follow. He instead looked around the room for any hints on what the actual hell was going on but there was nothing.
Even more concerning was the absolute lack of prior memory. It was as if he didn’t even exist before he woke up in the room. Like a newborn, which was exactly how the creature treated him. But it didn’t make sense. He could understand the creature, speak, and had a general but vague knowledge. It all meant there was more to the situation he had found himself in.
The inner perspective didn’t last long however as the creature's head popped back into view. One hand motioned him to follow while its second hand produced a ball of light just like the halo.
He didn’t need to be told twice.
Naked as the day he was born, just a few minutes ago, the man followed the creature through the opening of molded stone and found himself in a divine hall. As large as a football field, the floor was a pane of glass that trapped a swirling ocean beneath its grasp while the ceiling high above warped with purple and gold liquid as an orb of flames floated in the middle of the space. It shone with golden splendor like the gates of heaven welcoming the chosen to their new home.
A home that was fast becoming full as other humans congregated. Dozens of people ambled about as other people continued to stream in from their own hidden rooms with their accompanying flying creature.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
As he watched, the man saw the other people forming groups and talking and they walked down the hall. Yet he remained on the perimeter and watched his surroundings with a hungry gaze.
“Don’t dally Initiate and join the others at the end of the hall. The Alpha doesn’t have patience for those unprepared.”
The man’s small creature buzzed around his shoulder, motioning him forward. He heard the command in the voice so he joined the procession. Interestingly enough he found that other people he passed were talking to their floating creatures about what was going on. Seeing the discussion gave the man a hint. Either the other flying creatures were more kind then his own, or they were meant to talk and help those like him. There was one way to find out.
“Hey, uh...sir?” The man asked the creature who floated beside him. “Can you tell me what is going on?”
“I could tell you that and more. Actually choosing to tell you is a different matter entirely.”
The man bit his tongue to stop the colorful reply as he sized up the creature and saw the not so sly smirk on the being’s face. The little devil is taunting me, the man recognized. He quickly checked and saw that most of the others were in the same situation. It looks like they are all sizing us up. It’s like a test then.
“I understand and only wish I had something of value to trade for your valuable insight but maybe I can repay you in the future?” he asked submissively to test the obvious enjoyment it got from feeling in control.
“Your attempt to beguile me is as pathetic as your fleshly body but what else can I expect from a being without real intelligence?” It huffed with a childish eye roll. “Fine, I’ll take pity.”
“Thank you. Can you tell me what is happening?”
“You have been chosen as an Initiate and have been summoned to take on the first of many challenges to see if you are fit in your role. This is merely the Summoning Ritual for all those newly born Initiates to start their journey in the Trails. The rest is for the Alpha to explain.”
“That...sounds interesting.” Left with more questions than answers, the man switched tactics. “And what is your position in the Trails?”
The creature gave the man an inquisitive stare before shrugging its tiny shoulders. “You can think of me as your teacher, although I have many other roles. I have been sentenced, along with my fellow kin of Fairies, to serve as the shadows of the Realms for those who have been granted the right to this life. We are Guides.”
The answer was vague. He was making headway, but it seemed he wouldn’t get details from the fairy. So he settled for the simplest question next.
“Thank you, and what is your name and mine as well?”
This time the fairy smiled something wicked at him and shook its head before motioning the man forward to join the gathered humans. The Guide’s response sent a spike of annoyance through him but he repressed it. The fairy hinted at an order of things. More was to come, hopefully soon enough, so he would wait for now and then decide his next steps.
So he settled among the other Initiates and gauged his surroundings. There looked to be around a hundred people, with more stragglers joining them. The group was an odd mix, with most being middle-aged men and women, but a handful were teens or elderly. Already small groups formed as people huddled together. Many looked around dazed and afraid but not all. A select few eyed those around them with the same look of calm the unknown man possessed.
The minutes stretched as the noise rose. Humans trying to talk over each other while the Fairies formed their own group in the sky. It was only until the final human joined the group did the Fairies turn solemn and form a circle around the group before they bowed.
At the front of the hall the air shimmered and formed a portal before a ghost stepped into being. The new creature constantly shifted shapes and sizes. One moment a hulking stone giant then a blue alien child before becoming a shadow of eyes and arms. The constant change was eerie and many of the gathered shied away. They stopped as the new being commanded attention with its voice.
“You are welcomed Initiates. Welcome to the Realms and new life. You have questions. Some may be answered. Most will not be. Only power demands answers. You are gathered to-”
“Heya! Do you-”
“Silence.”
The word summoned power. A blast of energy emptied the world of meaning as the man felt his body freeze.
“Weakness is not tolerated. Hold your breath lest I remove that. Listen well. You are Ascended. What little value your lives currently hold are from your past deeds. Your prior life assured grand achievements. Achievements that merit your riss to the Realms. Ascension is achieved by infinitely few in the multiverse. It is a rebirth. Know that this means nothing. Merely being chosen is just the beginning. It falls upon us Guides to weed the slag from the steel. Only then do you join the Realms.”
The Alpha drawled as it glided down from its high perch and drifted among the frozen people.
“You will be tested. Trails to merit your continued fate. Fail and be cast to Oblivion. Succeed and you will be strong. You do not know the value of this Initiates. You have been chosen. But so too must you choose. It shall be a grand gift for many. For you it is tainted. Ascended souls gather like yours across the multiverse. Most are nurtured slowly. Yours is to be harsh. A faction has claimed your Trails. Be forged by this challenge and rise high. For only strength survivs.”
The alpha spoke nonchalantly, as if explaining the color of the sky. Yet the man found what was not explained more telling. The Alpha had some unique power to make him a puppet to control at its whims. It spoke of challenges they would face and possibly gain their own power, but it seemed the odds were already against them by being in this group.
“Time is limited so we shall begin. You are to be awakened to grant Status. It is the rules after all,” the Aloha said this last part with a look of caution to the Guides. “The Guides will assist. Fate will provide its succor.”
The Alpha explained no more as it signaled the gaggle of Fairies. Each of them flew down to a human as the fairy assigned to the man floated to rest on his shoulder. He was still unable to move. A fact the fairy seemed to appreciate as it lounged comfortably.
“Oh poor Initiate. You must be so confused,” the fairy mocked in fake sympathy. “Quite the comfy seat you make when you listen and don’t move. Now let us do as the Alpha commanded and best not be slow about it. I have a job to do after all. Open your Status m’kay? Say the words in your mind like you want to echo them in the very air. Breathe them to life and you’ll find who you are as the Status screen will appear in your eyes and we’ll move to the next stage.”
Helpful, the man thought dismissively as he watched the fairy clean its wings. Ignoring the being, he turned his attention inward as a spark of excitement ignited at the chance to find more information. Status, he commanded.
Nothing happened.
He remained frozen. Status! He tried again, shouting the word with force and everything remained the same. STATUS, he demanded to no avail. Irrigation flared when a smack on his brow brought his attention to the Guide who floated in front of him.
“I see you are not as smart as no doubt give yourself credit for. Speak meaning into the word. Status! Yearn for the desire to view yourself truly. Picture yourself. Your identity. Again, if you would prefer to be quick about it my Initiate. Lest you fall behind.”
Around the room he found other people beginning to move. Fingers pointing at something in the air as they spoke to their Guides. Others had figured out what to do, so he would too.
Status. Again he spoke the words, but this time with the yearning to know the truth. A demand to grab something out of reach. Then something inside himself snapped into place as his view changed. A screen of words and numbers dominated his vision.
Name: Silas
Level: LVL 0 (0 / 50)
Class: N/A
Race: Human (F)
-
Health: 65 / 65 (3.25)
Stamina: 65 / 65 (6.5)
Mana: 65 / 65 (6.5)
-
Vitality: 5
Endurance: 5
Fortitude: 5
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 5
Wisdom: 5
Focus: 5
-
Core Skills: Universal Translator (N/A), Basic Cultivation (F), Insight* (D)
Prime Skills: N/A
Class Skills: N/A
None of what he saw made sense to the man but the fairy on his shoulder hummed in contemplation. Its tiny head bobbed up and down. A nod of approval was all the man needed to know it was pleased.
“Well, well, well...” The fairy leveled a smug look at him. “It might just be my lucky day, having an Enlightened as my Initiate. It looks like you and I will do well together Silas.’