Originally uploaded Jun 10, 2023

Arthur Pov

The hooded man began pacing around me. A ominous air surrounded him, as if some unknown and unobservable physic shadow was clinging onto me. It took an active effort to be aware of his presence despite our close distance. As if my very mind was rejecting his existence.

He made this way to a soldier frozen in time. His face forever stuck in a shocked expression, clutching tightly at his spear. He reached out one of his hands and wiped the dust from the sharp point of the weapon.

"When my kind shed our mortal needs and left death for... lesser creatures we only thought of freedom from our complete annihilation and to safeguard knowledge that would never fade. We did not think of what else immortality through our means would entail." He spoke, like a well recited speak.

His speech now seemed to have stabilized. He constructed words like a well spoken noble. Each word filled with purpose and poise.

He continued pacing, taking a small stop between each object frozen within Static Void. Like he was organizing and maintaining trinkets in his collection.

Then he made his way back to me, each step was matched by the metal clanking of his staff. The orb of aether atop it seemed to pulse with raw energy. The elegant runes etched on its handles and sides glowed rhythmically, like a living creature breathing.

He stopped directly in front of me, and extended a bony finger. And touched my face, gently, but I felt dread and uncertainty. The aether seemed to be clinging to his robes and staff, awaiting for their master's command. Perhaps this is what other people feel in my presence.

"We thought in terms of wars, of destruction. But eternity also requires what your kind would call... entertainment. For me, I find infinity allows me to observe the myriad ways in which matter and consciousness manifest."

Now that his face was so close I could see his eyes. They were the eyes of an old man. Who has seen things that happen in thousands of years. His deep purple eyes seemed to glow and swirl with energy, as if they were whirlpools of liquid aether. He was an ancient remnant of a bygone era.

"I collect them. Objects, lifeforms, moments. This is a interesting one." He spoke as the pointed to the human and elf soldiers right behind us. "The lessers united to drive back the horde of beasts to gain access to lost Djinn technology within the beast glades. Of course the beasts know nothing of history but they are naturally drawn to such a power source. A device capable of creating roads under the skin of reality. Worth risking anything for, but nothing compared to what it has brought me."

My mind was buzzing with activity. So he was a Djinn survivor who collects people and objects? For what purpose? Research perhaps? Freezing living specimens within time to study and record them would be a great tool. But is that something that he should really be concerned about when his race is basically extinct.

Despite all of this I was still unable to talk so all I could do was indulge this Djinn. It seems he was rather lonely and has taken this opportunity to share his work with somebody else.

"This moment is locked in a sealing field, a pocket of space where events play out again and again. Sometimes the lessers win, sometimes they do." The Djinn said as he motion at the dead bodies of the mana beasts.

"Each instance is different in countless beautiful details." He finished as he carefully studied me.

"The body of a Dragon with a core of aether. How sacrilegious. And a foreign soul." He said with a mix of amazement and disgust.

"Tell me young one, have your masters enslaved fate itself?" He asked, a with a single tap of his staff several runes that ran along its long shaft glowed. And released me from my aetheric prison.

"I have no allegiance." I spoke sternly, pushing at his unnaturally strong aetheric aura with my own.

And in response he lightly scoffed.

"Wielding aether like a blunt tool. Your physical makeup does not lie, reincarnate." He spat every word full of venom. And I didn't necessary blame him. When your entire race was driven to extinction you tend to hold some sort of resentment towards the ones who did it.

But the more amazing thing was that he was a living Djinn. Surviving within the Relictombs, if I could rope him into my cause dealing with other aether wielders will be easier. But the trick was convincing him. Unlike Kezess, I couldn't goad him with aetheric knowledge. From this short interaction alone I wasn't sure if I could match him in terms of aether mastery.

"Who are you anyway, Djinn survivor." I asked, trying to be polite.

"My my, where are my manners. Lord Archaevoist Neoth. The Highlord of Sullamance at your service." He said while placing his free hand on his chest and bowing his head slightly in a mocking way.

I raised my eyebrows. I wasn't fully aware of Djinn's social structure. Not much could be helped when not a lot of written records existed.

Neoth then gestured me to introduce myself. At least he was being civil about this.

"Grey, Dicathen born." I curtly answered.

"Dicathen? Then care to explain your draconic body? As well as the aether that burns inside you like a star." Neoth asked, his eyes seemingly glowing with excitement. From what I have gathered he seemed to be some hoarder or collector of sorts. Collecting and displaying things he found interesting. For what purpose? I could only guess. But this was an easy way for me to buy time. But it was dangerous for me to reveal too much.

This one was very different from the Djinn fragments I have met. All of them were stored memories and partial consciousness of people who were long dead. They had no urgency or ulterior motives. They were only keepers of knowledge. But this one was alive, he had his own goals and wants. From the way he spoke to the way he talked.

"Do you care to explain how you survived?" I asked, pushing at his aura with mine.

"You are within my galleries, you will answer to me." He sternly spoke, each word felt like a mental punch. Bombarding my mind itself.

"And what if I refuse?" I asked, the aether within my body swirling and readying itself to manifest.

"You will tell with enough time. And unfortunately time is the one things I don't lack."

From his cloak he drew a small blue cube, small enough to fit in comfortably in his hand. He lightly tossed it at my feet. And as soon as it came to rest a gold and purple light erupted from it.

Without thinking I channeled aether into godstep, letting the rune carry me right behind the surviving Djinn.

In an act of pure instinct I drew a sword, plunging its crystalline blade into the back of the cloaked figure. The weight of my strike and Neoth's frail old body didn't provide much resistance. As we both tumbled to the ground and he died without a sound.

'Huh, I expected more...' I thought in my mind. Rolling over the body to examine the light purple runes that decorated his face was now gone. Same with his staff, they seemed to have disappeared without a trace. Perhaps it was a defense mechanism they created to avoid any knowledge they held from being leaked.

Activating godstep again my body was carried away. But it didn't take me away from these so called galleries. In fact I seem to have just returned to the endless hallways I was before. But this time the halls were filled.

Every couple of feet were a elevated platform. A faint purple light encompassing the area above the pedestal. And within that aetheric bubble were items, creature, relics.

All perfectly displayed and preserved, frozen in time. Guess having an actual museum piece frozen in time and place would be the best way to display such things. No need for just documents, pictures, or crude replicas when you have the actual thing.

And the Djinn's collection seemed to be vast, ranging from simple mana beasts to important figures in history as well as what appeared to be Vritra halfbloods. Made me wonder just how long he has been collecting these things to have such a intensive gathering. The displays seemingly stretched on forever along with the large cavernous hallway. I began walking along the displays, admiring them.

While I never was that big on history, it was one of the subjects that was shoved down my throat before I was crowned king. Maybe history classes would have been more interesting with displays and examples like these.

Some were just simple items, well things that seemed simple. Some ancient plates and pottery, a black steel suit of armor. Some were far grander. Large battles and carefully organized dioramas, all frozen within a specific point in time, arranged in a way where you could clearly see everything.

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'Was I supposed to master Static Void here or something?' I wondered as I continued down the halls. When I came across a large exhibit. Dominating the entire side of the hallway.

The powerful aetheric shield that encompasses the display reached up all the way into the ceiling. Taking up as much space as some of the full scale dioramas. It was clear, this piece held great importance. Needing no label.

It was no diorama, it was clearly centerpiece, meant to be observed and appreciated unobstructed.

Its large angel-like wings stretched to their maximum extent, wingspan so large that I had to turn my neck to see them fully. Bulky body trained for battle, beautiful gold runes adorned its flanks. Long snake-like arching neck lead to a monstrous head. A dragon, in its full glory.

Various scars and wounds were visible on its body, but it didn't seem to sully the beast's beautiful deep royal blue scales that shone like sapphires. Its large purple eyes, wide open conveyed various overlapping emotions. But above it all was a level of ferocity and intelligence only those high even among asuras can match.

I have battled dragons before. So much to the point I was sick of them, but this one was different. This specimen was far larger in size, its eyes seemed to convey a certain wisdom and knowledge only attainable through living hundreds of lifetimes. Who know how old this dragon truly was. Its size even rivaled Kezess, perhaps it was even older than that psychotic king. Not to even mention it was present within the Relictombs.

I was so captivated by the sight of the dragon that made other dragons I have seen pale in comparison that I as startled by the sudden voice.

"This one is my favorite."

Whipping my head around I saw a young man, perhaps in his late twenties or early thirties. Possessing deep lavender eyes and matching runes. He carried the same double winged staff Neoth carried. Behind flowed a deep emerald green cloak, made of thousands of tiny tiles. But the most striking feature was the pair of large devil-like horns that reached into the air from his forehead and his light grey skin. There was no mistaking it, a Vritra blooded human.

"Its my favorite, not because of the story behind it, no. Although the backstory behind this piece is quite interesting, liberated from a time even before Kezess' rule but indeed that is not the reason. No the reason is." As he said this he pointed up to the dragon's face. I didn't dare take my eyes off of his new person but he continued regardless.

"The look of fear forever plastered on his face. Answer me Grey, have you ever seen a dragon petrified with fear?" he said as he relished very one of his words while a wicked smile quickly bloomed on his face, disappearing as suddenly as it appeared.

"History requires two parties. The historian and the audience. Without that, one is just talking to oneself. So it brings me great displeasure that you do not admire my work."

Two tears in space and time appeared right behind me. Fresh wounds upon the frail curtain of reality was ripped open and out appeared to soldiers, both clad in blackstone armor, akin to my own.

They each wielded a large glaive , the blade of which hummed with aetheric energy. They both swung at me simultaneously, each perfectly coordinated with the other, one attacking my upper half while the other attacked my lower. Swinging with such force and speed I couldn't trust my eyes, relying on my own instincts and reflexes.

Two swords roared to life in my hands as I caught both of their attacks in the nick of time. My shoulders shuddered and buckled at the force of the impact. I could feel some of my bones in my shoulder and upper arm crack, sending electrifying pain throughout my body.

Aether rushed to heal my damaged bones, snapped them into place. Pumping my muscles full of aether I push back. Sending the two warriors momentarily back. The warrior on my left created more distance between us as it discarded his melee weapon and pointed a wrist mounted device at me. While the remaining one dashed towards me with insane speed, it almost seemed as if it was using burststep.

Our weapons clashed again, using my one free hand I slashed at the belly of my attacker, but my blade harmlessly bounced off of his jetblack armor. I felt a searing pain as condensed ball of super heated aether impacted my back, burning through both my aetheric defenses and armor. I channeled Godstep again, but I was only met with a nauseating feeling as I was bounced in and out of the aetheric void, as I was spat back out into reality.

"No, you are not getting away that easily." The Vritra halfblood said tauntingly. Several runes on his staff glowed a holy golden light. He didn't make a move, only keeping his distance and watched, observing. Like how a researcher would study an animal before capturing it.

I could already feel the hole in my upper back stitch itself back together before I made my next move. 'At least I won't run out of aether here.' I thought as I unleashed a focused blast of purple fire from free hand. It wouldn't kill the warrior, but it would create enough distance and give me time.

The sword in my hand extended itself, growing to the length of a building. Swinging the now massive blade I aim for the neck of the Vritra born. Only for my blade to be caught by his staff.

He looked at my sword for a moment before he swatted it away with his hand.

"You wield aether like a mindless fool. Only treating it like a mere tool for you to abuse." He spat with disgust.

"Who do you think you are incarnate? To invade this world and to disrupt its natural order. I have witnessed wars between gods before. While your physical makeup and core are an anomaly you are still nothing but a new exhibit for me in the end." He said as the staff levitated by itself, before it launched itself directly at me.

In a hurry I conjured a thick wall of pure aether pulled from the enviroment. But the sharp blades of the staff effortlessly cut through it as if it wasn't even there. In a moment of desperation I willed the aether to carry me away again, but it did not heed my command.

The twin blades impaled me square in the chest, the force of which threw me back and planted me to a hard marble wall. The orb floating in between the two blades began glowing a bright gold. As I could feel my own aether reserves being drained away. Like it was pulled in by a stronger magnetic force as I powerlessly struggled against it.

"A incarnate soul housed in a body of a dragon and fueled by an aether core. You will be a great centerpiece Grey." He said, the aether dancing around him.

"Neoth?" I croaked out as my body began to felt heavy, I was having difficulty breathing. My body felt like a iron prison as the aether fused to my very cells abandoned my body.

"You thought I who sent my entire life studying vivium arts wouldn't have mastered soul transference? You clearly are a big fish in a small pond." He chuckled at my idiocy.

He made his way towards me, this time he didn't need any of his fancy tricks. I was helpless, dangling from his weapon. My eyelids felt heavy, I knew it was only a matter of time before my body collapsed in on itself.

'Was this my fate? After all I have seen and done, to be defeated and be displayed as a trophy?' I felt fear, sadness, regret. But most of all rage.

It bubbled below my skin like boiling water. I couldn't believe this, I led a war against a nation of gods. I have gazed through the veil of reality and infinity. Wasn't that the promise I made myself? To break free from the chains of destiny, to liberate all of creation from the shackles of fate that binds us all to a predetermined destination.

'This can't be my fate, I don't believe it. I refuse.' Through gritted teeth I grappled at the weapon lodged in my chest. My feeble arms couldn't even make it budge.

Neoth looked at my with a mocking pity. "Struggling to the very end. Now that is like a true lesser."

Gathering the blood in my mouth I spat in his face. "Fuck off." I cursed. I only tightened my grip on his weapon as blood ran freely from my hands. He didn't even seem to mind as he wiped away the blood with his sleeve.

Suddenly I felt my core crack. The sound reverberated throughout my body. Feeling for my core I saw the now dim orb with a large dark crack running almost around the entire thing. A dark purple, almost black mist was slowly trickling out as it was pulled out of my body and into Neoth's staff.

From Neoth's tiled cloak he revealed a similar blue cube. "This is a sealing tesseract, suspending anybody captured in its light in a particular point in time. Pretty convenient if you ask me. But before we do that why don't we see what otherworldly knowledge you hold." He spoke with a devilish smile as he drew closer. I could feel his breath on my skin as he played his index finger on my forehead.

"Show me everything, Grey." He whispered as he psychically pushed into my mind, very much like how Sylvie or Regis does. But he was more forceful, tearing away at my mental defenses my bonds trained me to construct.

The irises of his eyes glowed a tinge of gold as runes along his face glowed purple. I felt a presence, an alien presence shifting through the endless sea of my memories and thoughts. A bout of painful headaches almost knocked me out cold as I began to sweat. It was only for a couple of seconds but it felt like a eternity. When Neoth pulled back his face was that of shock.

"You... what have you done, what you plan to do... You are the... Anathema..." He quietly muttered as he looked at me with disbelief.

"Yeah he gets that sort of stuff a lot." A new voice rang in.

We both turned our heads to see who it was. But I didn't even need to see to confirm the identity of the voice's owner.

His body seemingly made of dark shadows. The dark purple fires that made up his mane danced entrancingly. The pair of sharp obsidian horns that stabbed into the air. His wolf-like face.

"Regis." I weakly said, I couldn't hide the joy and relieve I felt to him in my weakened state.

"Save your breath princess. You knight in shining armor is here to save you!" He proudly said. Breathing in the ambient aether he grew four times his normal size as large wings of fire and shadow sprouted from his back.

"So you are the punk that bullied my master." His voice now a deep baritone range throughout the halls.

Neoth stared up at my companion with amazement. "The Edict of Destruction." He spoke with wonder.

Regis only raised his eyebrows at his response. "What a nerd."

With that he puffed out raw destruction, taking the form of a cloud of fire. Neoth's body was destroyed in an instant entirely, leaving no trace. When the two warriors that were standing guard sprang into action, as several new portals opened up. And from them marched what seemed to be a full legion of soldiers donning blackstone armor, all wielding various weapons.

Regis took the staff that pinned me to the wall in his mouth and yanked it free. I tumbled onto the hard ground but Regis caught me with his large body. "Thank me later." He curtly spoke as he turned his attention to the battalion in front of him. Forming a wall of jetblack warriors. Above them floated a woman, in her middles ages. The stern face and body of a fighter. The emerald green cloak and staff indicated this was Neoth in a new surrogate body.

I could already feel the aether rushing back into my body, mending by damaged core and fusing with my bones. Conjuring a sword I planted the tip into the ground as I used it to regain my footing. Regis drifted back into my body, giving me some of his own aether reserves to hasten my healing.

'So what's the plan?' His voice rang in my head. I couldn't help but feel joy at having my trusted furry companion back.

Regis sensing my emotions and only rolled his eyes. 'We can celebrate later, just tell me the plan.' But I could also sense his excitement and joy from finally being back.

'To get out of this alive.' I said back with a smile on my face.

'I freaking hope so genius.' he retorted, I could just picture a goofy smile on this wolf face. Regis' presence drifted downwards into the blade of my sword. Igniting it in dark amethyst flames, creating an ominous glow.

I turned my attention back to the battalion of Djinn warriors. The very front held large shields in a tightly nit formation. They were all awaiting for their master's command.

Neoth hovered above, staring down at me with the excitement of a expecting scientist. As if I was some new toy for him to play with. His voice rang clearly through halls as if there were speakers surrounding us all.

"Entertain an old man Grey."