As I climb up and reach the top of this side of the gorge I let out a relieved sigh. I’m hurt, bruised, clothes probably in tatters, knives probably dull and wrecked - I say probably because I honestly can’t be bothered to check - and full of excitement. Sheathing my knives I take a look around and realize I’m out of the canyon area and staring at a massive expanse of flat, with the pylon not that far off. Well, two or three miles, but that’s not too far.
Reaching up, stretching, and taking a big breath I lean forward and start running for the pylon. Keeping my eyes peeled there doesn’t seem to be much of anything around here. It’s, well, empty. I was expecting to see rocks, dust, debris, plants, critters. It looks like, from this edge of the canyon area all the way to the pylon in the distance, is just smoothish flat nothing. The ground feels like stone, or very densely packed sand. Weird.
While I am curious about what caused this I’m more excited to really see how fast I can go. The ground has enough grip and stability that I might be able to really push it.
As I lean forward and push with my toes I shoot forward. Getting a feel for my body something clicks and I start to glide across the ground. Feeling the pressure through my knees, down into my ankles, and flexing into my feet and toes I’m amazed at the precise and delicate nature of Vorben’s work and the elasticity and strength of my body.
What was it Jobi said… something about this no longer being his work and it being reconstituted? Does that mean I created this body? No. That doesn’t feel right. Maybe, and this feels more right, I absorbed the body, the energy field, and some other stuff and modified them all to better work with my soul. Seems a little shifty and vague but the theory seems on the right track.
Sprinting flat out I watch the pylon grow quickly in my field of view. In proportion to its size is how tired and winded I’m getting. It is downright unbelievable that I haven’t dropped from exhaustion yet, but I can tell I’m getting very close. Good thing I had a nice meal before this disaster.
As I get closer I really start trying to take in this pylon. I’m a bit confused by what I’m looking at. Is it a pillar? A gate? A pyramid? How am I seeing three, no wait, five, no it’s… What the hell is a pylon? What is this thing? Why does the ground look different? I know I was like two miles out, and now I’m like 100 feet, or is it still a mile away? How can something look like its fifty times further away then it looks…?
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Slapping myself in the face I groan knowing I’ve been punked, “This is some magic bullshit!”
There’s no fucking way Jobi and Vorben don’t know exactly how fucked and weird this thing is. I KNOW they did this shit on purpose. “Run out and touch the pylon.” HA!
Grumbling and walking in circles I stare at the obviously giant magically shifting and warping and distorting object that is impossible to actually touch since it’s apparently NOT PHYSICALLY HERE!
As I start walking circles I realize it’s kinda… small? Huge? It’s weird because I know I’m walking at a normal pace but it looks like the land is zooming past me. Cool!
Wait… me? Are you there me? Why yes, of course me, I am. What did you have in mind, me? Well… Wanna run really fast? Why yes me. Yes I do.
“WHEEEEEE!!!!” I scream into the wind as I just sprint in circles around the pylon. The land is just newming by. My laughter is booming out of me, getting caught in whatever the hell is going on here, and warbles out. I can almost hear my squeals of joy overlapping with each other.
What is my top speed? I’m wondering because, well… things are still going faster. Should I be concerned? Nah. I mean, it’s not like I can do anything to this pylon that Jobi or Vorben haven’t tried.
Speeding up and cackling madly, I’m noticing a weird distortion in the air ahead. Huh? Wonder what that’s abo–BOOM! ~ZZZZZ~ *CRACK* *ktshhhchs* BOOM!
Blink. Slow breath in. Breathe. Check in with the body. What hurts? Head’s ringing, ears ringing, brightness hurts. Likely concussion. Fingers, arms, legs, toes? Check. No nerve damage. Breathe out. No shooting pain, no hitches, no voids where feeling should be.
Brightness fading down, ears no longer ringing, head pulses flow down towards spine… Whew, thank fuck. I’m good. Ok, so what the fuck happened?
Blinking rapidly, vision clearing, focus is on a… wait, do I have a concussion? The pylon is shifting right in front of my face - like, right there. I’m standing, arms work, around me is… a space rainbow. There is a rainbow made of space. It’s like I’m looking up at the night sky and it’s waving at me with a dim fluorescent rainbow from an angle that doesn’t exist.
Close eyes, deep breath, breathe out, open eyes… “Ok, still there, still weird, and I still don’t hurt. No concussion. Magic bullshit!” I grumble.
“You know, no. I’m not okay with this. Not the fuck alright. That is the second time I’ve thought of it as ‘magic bullshit’ and that’s not acceptable! Magic is the single coolest fucking thing and this is the most fun I’ve ever had! Granted I’m today old, but my point stands! We do not talk badly about magic bullshit!” I’m screaming at the rainbow.
Turning around I reach out and slap the pylon. Ha! I’ve touched the pylon Vorben, whatcha gonna do about it?
[ DEADHAND ARMAGEDDON FAILSAFE ACTIVATED ]
Flinching at the sudden very loud noise that screamed in my face I pause, then ask in the most polite way I can imagine, “Can you repeat that?”