The pure silver celestial body known as the moon painted a beautifully serene sight in the night sky, but then like the shattering of a mirror the peace fell to peices.
A rapidly moving crimson star left a bright scar through the sky as it was followed by 3 more prominent screaks closely behind.
“How could the three of you call me your sister and treat me like this!” An angry yet grief riddin womans words echoed thoughout the night.
Oh, how she had fallen it seems. Her the Vermillion Bird of the south, a naturally born Phoenix, a woman almost without equal in terms of beauty and strength this world.
As arrogant as this all might sound none of it were lies and millions of souls worshiped her for these reasons alone, but it seemed her friendly words of advice had been taken out of context by the lower god that had visited their plane of existence.
Responding to her accusing shout 3 other beauties stared at her back with emotionally thick eyes.
“Oh shut the up Vesta! You know we wouldn't have to this it wasn’t because you angered a being from the God-realm. You must repent of your life otherwise the punishment will spread towards us as well!” Your stupidity and arrogance led to this! How is telling higher being they should take some beauty advice from you a bright idea?” The maiden of the East The Azure Dragoness shouted.
Anyone could see that their eyes contained tears, as the other 3 maidens of the Cardinal Directions of this world chased closely behind their fellow sister.
“Just because I can be reborn doesn’t mean I will regain all my memories! That's also just the beginning you were all told to keep me sealed in my egg for 1000 years! NO WAY IN FUCKING HELL WILL I BE DEGRADED IN SUCH A WAY FOR THAT LONG!”
As a phoenix death was simply rebirth for Vesta. She was also a pure phoenix birthed by the universe itself, something that had probably occurred less than 10 times in the trillions of years since the beginning of existence. This meant her soul would forever be bound to her egg. Even the gods couldn’t kill her for good, leading to sealing being the only available punishment.
But all this came at a cost because while some of the memories would return to her it would be slowly over the course of dozens of years. In this time period the development of a new ego/personality was bound to happen even it was the same soul. To the new her all the old memories would simply be those of a different person.
The individual from the God-Realm was also being somewhat merciful since they could have chosen to seal her in the egg for over 10,000 years if they really wanted to be cruel.
“Just accept it Vesta, don't make us have to hurt you! You're our little sister! We will protect your egg with our lives. With our help, I swear that within less than 20,000 years you’ll be back at your peak! The words of The White Tiger maiden of the west were full of pain, pleading for Vesta to just accept fate.
The Black Tortoise maiden of the North remained silent, but Vesta spotted free-flowing blood coming from her tightly closed hands, they had been extremely close as children.
Though she didn’t want her sisters to die she wasn’t going to allow herself to be sealed. The God-realm being would be satisfied enough with her temporary death. This fiasco was simply a way for it to torture her.
In the end, though she was going to lose who she was, something she had never experienced before unlike other phoenix's. She would come back into the world not knowing anyone or anything besides wisps of knowledge that wouldn’t make any sense to her. Pity is all she could feel for such an existence.
The chase was coming to a close as Vesta was quickly drained of her energy having to defend against the attacks of sisters, as well as run away from their lessor servants.
She was really reaching the end here apparently. Her fate was sealed, and she would lose her memories, and herself regardless of what happened, but she wouldn’t give that dam higher being the satisfaction of sealing her.
Abruptly turning around Vesta smiled wickedly, and yelled: “Be stunned in awe by my beautiful end my sisters, and their foolish followers!” Shattering her core Vesta began to glow bright crimson!
Seeing this the 3 maidens realized that this was the end of their sister as they knew her, but still gave one quick tearful look at Vesta. They would retrieve her egg after her attack was over and protect it for the next 1000 years until they could release her from her seal. She wouldn't be the same as before but they would make sure she would stay pure, and sweet like in their childhoods instead of the arrogant, and brash woman she had grown into.
“Teleport out you fools or you'll all become less than ash in the wind!” Following their own words of advice the sisters teleported just out of Vanessa's range which was an absurd 1500 km, but thankfully they were over the ocean 6000 km away from any form of civilization. Though some coastal towns were sure to be destroyed by the Tsunami that was about to be formed.
Back at Vesta location, she laughed sadly. “Seems I forgot to tell you all it takes me at least 10 seconds to detonate myself”.
The seconds ticked by but in the mind of Vesta, each second was an eternity reminding her how she was about to lose who she was. Would have been better if it all ended at once she thought wistfully.
With a swipe of her arm, she tore a rift in space. She didn't know where her egg was going to end up but hopefully, the presence of life would be scarce, death would await any near its landing. Digging into her core she removed the egg that would become her in the future.
“I hope you have better luck than me in the future Vesta spoke to the egg. At the moment she was simply an existence of energy about to blow with a conscious. The egg contained her true self as well as a portion of her memories despite them being locked away.
Taking some of the energy around her she covered the egg in a warm blanket of her aura and sent it flying through the portal where it would appear no different from a meteorite. The aura would attack, and shatter the soul of anything within 100 km of where it landed, a precaution against predators. The egg would awaken around a day, and her new life would begin.
The seconds reach their end, and she smiled as he brought her current life to the close with the most beautiful explosion anyone witnessing had ever seen.
At a distance where the other sisters were, they saw a radiant flash followed but a bright explosion visible over 50,000 km miles away lighting up the night sky over the ocean. Her new life now awaited her somewhere else.
Unknown Location
It’s been almost an entire 11 months since the boy without a name woke up for the first time. Despite the soul-crushing loneliness he felt some nights, his days were always exciting, and he had become a little more confident moving around his general area, to explore somewhat, but never more than 3 km.
Not having to worry about food really took a load off his chest as he became happy, losing a lot of the fear he had held in his heart.
Using the hatchet to cut down some trees, he had made himself a large windproof shack. It took him 1 month but once it was done his joy was boundless as he looked at the little home against stone wall he had made himself.
While winter had been extremely mild so far, it was still cold enough to force him to chop into larger trees to try and gather firewood to prevent himself from freezing during the night.
In his physical endeavors, he learned how to push the strange energy in the air into his limbs allowing him to enhance them increasing his strength up to 5 times. This was the main reason he was more willing to explore his surroundings now.
With further experimentation, he even learned how to increase his body's temperature reducing how often he had to go fetch firewood.
This left him with a lot more time in the day to study the books he had found in the old man’s dwelling. He also found out sadly that his reading abilities were abysmal despite knowing how to read the titles of the books. They also contained dozens of words he simply didn’t understand.
Not willing to be put off by this though he poured himself into the books to understand as much as he could. As his only form of entertainment, it kept his every available free moment occupied.
Like a sponge, he absorbed information learning and remembering the continents he couldn’t understand.
The first textbook Alchemical Ingredient Encyclopedia V. 1 was the easiest to understand as it was simply a book of common plants, and all the uses they could have. For example, he went looking for some Bambac Roots which could be found almost anywhere and had the common use of warding of weak animals, and insects when burned. The moment he had read about that he had excavated almost all the dirt within 200m finding enough of it to last him for months, happy to have his worries decrease.
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The next book Anatomy of the Human Body Fifth Edition was extremely boring but detailed on a lot about the average human body, but with little else to do, he devoured its contents, coming to the conclusion that he definitely didn't have an average human body. At least he would be able to provide basic medical assistance to others in the future.
The last book was really thin, no more than 20 pages, and a lot more abstract in understanding. A Shallow description of the Soul By Lacron Fellwood explained the most simple things known about the soul as a whole.
The Soul was an existence that could never truly be destroyed, it could be torn apart but would always reform itself if enough time passed. It seemed that all souls were of equal standing when it came to reincarnation. This meant that one life you might be at the top of the food chain, then the next the lowest form of prey. Though apparently, this was different if you had a guardian deity, who if enough individuals accept could become in charge of all the souls of its specific species allowing them to constantly be reborn as the same race. Most plants and animals didn’t have this luxury though, stuck with the chaotic cycle of rebirth without a guide.
The book even talked about individuals who once they reached a high enough realm could choose to reincarnate without the need of a deity to handle their soul. They would slowly regain their memories over time as long as they cultivated mana in their body in the next life.
Cultivate. Realms. Both these words seemed to hold additional meanings besides the ones he already knew. Then there was the word Mana. The energy source of the soul, and of life itself. While the soul could produce its own, most of it within the bodies of living beings came from the world itself.
That strange energy that he has been feeling since he woke up was Mana. When he found about that, he went crazy trying to scour the book for how to cultivate since from what he could understand to cultivate, and raise one’s realm meant to become stronger!
But then a stray thought terrified him out of his crazed state. “Didn't it say animals could also cultivate?” Dread filled him as he realized that even if he did find a way to cultivate he would have to deal with beasts who could also cultivate themselves. They didn't even need to be taught since they improve themselves with nothing but instinct to guide them.
He didn’t leave his shack for an entire week when he realized that.
Winter had entered its last month, and while it's been weak almost its entire duration, it seemed to have given its all near the end, as a blizzard brewed and unleashed its fury on the poor boy's shack. Spending the entire night shivering even with the fire, and his internal burning mana, all he could do was wrap himself tightly hoping he didn’t end up frozen solid by the morning.
The hours dragged on as the cold prevented him from falling asleep, but eventually, the howling wind from outside began to die down, as a peace settled in on the shack.
Though still as cold as before it was now slowly starting to heat up, as the stray beams of light from the rising suns began to warm up the world.
Glad that the storm had finally ended the boy looked at the dying embers of his fire in his makeshift oven. All his spare firewood had been consumed, and he would have to spend part of the day restocking it or risk freezing the coming evening.
Groaning as he left the little heat his blankets provided him, he grabbed half a loaf of bread from the ring, washing it down with some milk. He was going to need as much energy as he could since he would have to clear not only the snow around his shack but the snow towards the small trees as well. Bundling up in oversized clothing the boy opened the door only to find the snow all the way to his waist or around 55 centimeters if he wanted to be accurate. This was going to be a long day it seemed.
Using a small wooden shield he found in the ring as a shovel he spent the next hour clearing the snow around his shack. Then gazing at the area with small trees he started shoveling snow out of his way.
Four hours later he had enough wood to last him for days as long as it didn't snow again. Feeling drained, and chilled to the bone, the young boy began his trip back to the shack. It was halfway through the journey that he felt the mana in the air react in the strangest way since he had become aware of its existence.
The air seemed to surge, and the fabric of reality warped and twisted high above him in the sky. A rip in space the size of a small door opened, and a blazing light tore through the sky raising the average temperature of his surroundings to that of a blazing summer day.
The boy's eyes locked on the light in awe as it proceeded to impact the ground few kilometers in the direction of the mountain which he liked to believe was south. The following blast took only took a second to reach him but it was powerful enough to shatter his eardrums, and knock him off balance, sending him into the melting snow.
“Was that a meteorite!?” His thoughts in chaos as he forced himself back up into standing position. A powerful ringing echoed in his ears, as they began to try and heal.
The mana in the air was on fire as he could literally see the snow melting around him. He felt like he was in an oven, forcing him to take off as much of his clothing as he could.
At least the snow would be gone sooner he thought as he started heading back to the shack. He wasn’t going to risk going near a meteorite that was probably hot enough to burn him just by getting near it.
It was at the moment though that the surging mana in the air seemed to change, and began to force its way into his body with malicious intent.
“What the hell!” He screamed feeling a strange aura with a will to kill enter his body, the altered mana being its vessel.
The mana raged throughout his insides as though searching for something to attack, which was quickly found in the center of the boy's chest.
The boy for the first time ever was able to sense his own soul and was left dumbfounded at what he found. A perfect violet sphere floated silently not at all concerned about the blazing inferno that was heading its way.
Seeing the flames make contact with his soul the boy felt a deep sense melancholy compared to his usual fear.
“It seems that even with how careful I was I’m still going to lose my life without having found any answers.” Acceptance of his fate was swift, and unlike his usually fearful self, but maybe this was for the better he thought.
“Crack” The sharp sound of sound beginning to break entered his mind, looking back towards his soul expecting it to be on the verge of shattering he was astounded to see something else entirely.
His Soul was rotating at terrifying speeds, as it ripped apart the foreign entity to shreds. The floating remains were quickly absorbed by the sphere, as though the previous blazing flames had never existed.
The boy was scared but amazed at his soul. He had read about this situation in the book A Shallow description of the Soul By Lacron Fellwood. He had just survived a soul attack, but his soul had dealt with it as though the situation were nothing more than a mosquito attacking a human.
While impressed by its tenacity, and strength the boy wasn't going to take any more chances he prepared to charge back towards his shack.
The moment he turned though he felt his soul stir once more. A powerful tug pulled at him, as though indicating him to move towards the impact zone.
“Do I really have to?” He asked his soul. It responded by increasing the strength of the pull.
Sighing he accepted his fate, if his soul the deepest representation of himself was telling to do it, it must be important.
Gathering as much courage as he could, the boy began the long trek, hoping his thin frame looked unappetizing enough to avoid being eaten.
The minutes rolled by and, luck seemed to be on his side as he made his way towards the meteorite. All the snow had melted, and the only animals he came across all laid dead on the floor. Moose, deer, badgers, and even a massive black bear all seemed to have taken their last breath recently as all the bodies were all warm when he touched them.
For all the fear he held against the animals of the forest, it seemed his stomach was fearless, as the thought of roasting some deer over the flame made his mouth water with no end. Fresh meat after only consuming jerky since his awakening was a tantalizing idea he could now afford to entertain. Putting all the dead bodies in the ring that hung around his neck he slowly got closer to his goal as he felt the temperature around him continue to rise.
His goal came within sight as he watched the smoldering remains of woodland burn slowly around a deep crater. A scorched circle around 50m left the ground barren, and black. If it wasn't because of all the melted snow dousing the flames this part of the forest would probably be an inferno.
Now wearing nothing but boxers, and the shoes he made himself with spare leather, the boy continued on into the stifling heat.
His head was woozy, and it was starting to get hazy but his soul kept telling him to keep moving forward. Without rest, he continued onward forgetting his fear of the situation if it meant he could rest soon.
Making it to the lip of the crater, he peeked inside the surprisingly shallow pit. It couldn’t be more than 1.5 meters deep, and 3 meters wide. Seeing how hot the area still was though, he poured some snow he had stored in his ring, which he originally planned to keep for the hot summer months.
Huge clouds of steam rushed out of the crater but it still wasn’t enough, so he poured the 2 barrels of water he had originally found in the in-ring but never had to use because of the stream near his home. He could always refill them later anyway.
After a while of pouring the steam eventually stopped to his luck. He didn’t have any more water, and something was telling him he wouldn't be able to leave until he found whatever it was that was down there.
Climbing into the shallow crater he felt himself step into the hot muddy water and knelt down to look around, with his soul pointing him along. Coming to the center of the pit he started digging, feeling his hands start to burn, from the almost boiling water but it was almost as though he lost control of himself, the pain irrelevant to his goal of procuring whatever had landed out here.
Touching upon a metallic crimson oval the size of a chicken's egg, he watched in fascination as the skin on his hands boiled and peeled off because of the heat, yet he felt no pain. Even the skin on his arms and body was sizzling. He could feel a thin fog in his mind clouding his thoughts somewhat but he simply ignored it, focusing on the object before him.
The object perfectly smooth, lacking even the smallest blemish even after its massive impact. Whatever it was, it sure was durable, maybe he could have it turned into a dagger once he reached civilization.
Maybe his soul had sensed the strange treasure and wanted to acquire it. Who would have guessed that his soul could detect treasure! The childish thoughts of becoming rich with such an ability making him smiled, which made a terrifying sight, as the bones in his hand became visible.
Now that his soul wasn’t tugging at him, the boy decided to head back home but not before trying to put the egg into his ring only to find out he couldn’t.
Though curious as to why he couldn’t he chose to head back with the egg in his hand which at the moment was nothing more than a few strips of flesh, and blackening bones.
He didn’t seem to notice though as he took the extremely hot object, back to his camp, first stopping by his stream to cool the egg down. Holding it under the water with his good hand now that his other hand couldn’t seem to grip it anymore, the egg cooled down all the way until it was slightly above the temperature of his skin. Not being able to cool it down anymore he returned to his shack to lay on his pile of blankets holding the egg over his heart with his good hand.
Around this time though he felt the strange fog his soul had placed in his mind leave, and worst pain he had ever experience in his life come from all the severe burns, with the pain in what was left of his hand being the worse. Unable to endure the pain any longer the boy promptly passed out.
The shack became still with only the pained breathing of the small boy and shining egg over his heart.