A valley stretched out before him, its rolling hills covered by fields of tall amber grass. Thin rivlets of water slicing down from above, down to the river he stood in, the warm mud below encapsulating his ankles. The sky was dark, it’s brilliant stars finally snuffed out by the endless void. A shattered moon hung in their place, its light the last remnants of a dying star.

At the center of the valley sat a hill that parted the waters, on it stood a pale woman shrouded in white. Her head craned up at the moon as her hair covered the hill behind her, he shuffled forward towards her. His limbs were not his own and fought his will. He stumbled and fell, the water dyeing his limbs red.

The bodies hidden amongst the grass on the hills fed the river with crimson. His mind screamed with the voices of millions yet he crawled forward, his body trembling like a leaf as it collapsed time and time again. The mud grabbed at him like hands, yet he moved forwards, ever grasping forward.

“You're late.” Her soft voice echoed in his mind as he drew closer. Finally his fingers reached her, and like a drowning man he held her ankle. Tears ran down his face as his body shook silently. Without a word she turned around and crouched down to him. Her porcelain hands held his head gently to her chest. His screaming mind fell silent as he wrapped his arms around her. Light faded from the sky as the void took hold.

Eurus’s eyes shot open, his body covered in a cold sweat. Sitting up in his bed, he brought his hands to his head as he felt like it was about to split open. His bedroom was similar to the rest of his house with its color scheme, grey and blacks making up the vast majority. On either side of his large bed sat nightstands with a lamp to his right and a dresser against the wall next to the entrance. Across from him was a glass wall, and even with it currently filtering light he could tell it was day out. With doors flanking his bed leading to the bathroom and closet.

Sighing deeply he layed back down, his arm covering his eyes in a vain attempt to wait out the headache. After a few minutes of failing to retreat to the dream world, with a great harumph, he swung his legs out from under his sheets and sat back up. “Miranda, how long did I sleep for?”

“Five hours, master.”

“Only five? That sucks…” Standing up and stretching his arms over head, he walked over to the window. With a simple gesture from his hand, the windows undarkened, allowing light to stream in full strength.

A string of gestures soon followed, his body becoming instantly cleaned followed by a grey robe materializing around him.

“You know, you own a shower and dresser for a reason.”

“I suppose, but magic is quicker”

“Yeah, but your outfit looks terrible. Who wears one color anymore?”

“It matches my hair though, although I guess it’s more of a hellish fashion.” shuddering at the thought, Eurus walked over to his dresser.

“While you were dead, your mother dropped off a present for you.”

“Is there anything else that happened while I was dead you wanna catch me up on?”

“Once you replace the printer, I will happily give you my rep-”

“Yeah, yeah ok.”

Opening drawer after drawer he checked to see if anything was out of place and found nothing strange.

“Oh yeah, she might have left it in the closet.”

Hanging his head he stood up and looked around the room, feeling every second of Miranda's silent amusement. Walking over to his closet, he opened the door and there an opened box sat on the floor. Inside the box was a carefully folded robe, stark white with veins of gold color running along it.

Eurus picked up the fabric “Woah.” Thicker bolts of gold ran along the arms to the wrists, where all the veins seemed to meet, creating a thick band that surrounded the area. “And she gives me crap for being irresponsible.”

Snapping his fingers, his clothes disappeared as quickly as they had arrived and covered himself with his new present. “Miranda, if you talk to my mother before I do. Please thank her for me. Although, she really shouldn’t be making clothes using threads.”

“What is she supposed to make fabric out of then?”

“You know what I mean Miranda.” Walking over to his window a portion of it became like a mirror. “It is comfortable, and looks rather nice. But wearing somebody's life makes me a little uncomfortable, you know?”

“No, I find the idea of wearing a person's soul to be quite thrilling.”

“Hmm, creepy.”

“Rude.”

“Hey, you were the one talking about wearing someone's soul!”

“And you are the one wearing one.”

“........Fair.”

“Maybe more than one.”

“Please stop.”

“Who knows how many poor souls were cut short to ma-.”

“Anyway, how's our guest?” Quickly leaving his room, he made his way over to the kitchen. Turning the corner around his island he quickly came face to face with his guest, the man’s eyes just as wild and questioning as before.

“Obviously still tied up. He woke up an hour or so before you did.”

“Huh, I see.” Stepping past the man he opened the fridge and pulled out a few items and began cooking himself breakfast. With less ease than he would have liked he scrambled a few eggs and cooked it with chopped up bacon and cheese, the only noise coming from the sizzling of his pan. The secured man’s eyes followed Eurus’s actions with great confusion. Finished with his cooking he went into the fridge and grabbed a bottle of black liquid and poured it into a glass with ice.

“You know that stuff is terrible for you.”

“Shoosh.”

Pulling a chair over to the counter side, he sat down in front of the man with his food sitting on the counter in front of him. Having ignored the man the entire time Eurus began eating where between bites he finally spoke towards him. “So, why’d you break into my house?”

The man moved his mouth but was unable to make a sound with Miranda blocking him.

“Actually, lemme guess. You are some poor nobody from the crater. A person walked up to you, told you you'd make it big if you broke into Eurus’s house. Or, more likely.” Sitting away from the counter he looked directly at the man. “Someone hired you to break in.”

The man continued to try to speak, a pleading look in his eyes. Eurus went back to eating. “You can let him speak Miranda.”

The block finally removed, the man moved his jaw a bit before speaking. “This is all a big misunderstanding! I was called in by the building owner to check on all the apartments!”

“Really? Then what's her name?”

“Uh, Raven!”

“Trick question, the owners a guy.”

“Oh, then it was the front desk worker!”

“Doubt it, so if you don’t start telling me the truth, once I finish my breakfast, I'll break your legs and leave you in the desert.”

“Okokokok! I broke in because I was hungry, the building and your apartment don’t have locks so I just let myself in I swear!”

Miranda chimed in after “He did go straight for the kitchen when he entered.”

An apple materialized in Eurus’s hand which he then tossed to the man who caught it as Miranda freed his arms “Hmm, where are you from?” An awkward silence followed with the man averting his gaze from Eurus. “Ok, so you are homeless then. What crazy thought possessed you to break into a house along the Path of Angels?” Leaning back from the counter he looked at the man. “You know how lucky you are they didn’t just nab you for looking out of place?”

The man avoided Eurus’s gaze as he sheepishly bit into the apple. “Sorry, I was just in the area… I didn’t really….” He mumbled to himself, getting quieter as he spoke.

Squinting at the man, Eurus spoke again. “What's your name?”

The man continued to avoid his searching look. Sighing loudly Eurus turned back to his food. “Just so you know, I count not answering as lying.” The man's head shot back up, looking up at him. “So my previous vacation offer still stands if you don’t wanna talk.”

“I really d…..” the man trailed off quietly.

“What? I couldn’t hear that?”

“I don’t really h….” he mumbled off again.

“I guess the desert is really calling for you huh, I hear scenic nowhere really is beautiful this time of year. Especially with the sandworms in their breeding season, they really like fresh meat.”

“I don’t have a name!”

“What?”

“I do not have a name.”

“..........Your fucking with me.”

“No, I really don’t have a name!”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m serious!”

Eurus turned back towards the man, his irritation plain on his face. Going from his chair he crouched in front of the man. “I hope for your sake that you're not lying to me.” Eurus gripped the side of the man's throat with his right hand. Held firmly in place, the man tried and failed to move away as Eurus starred, unblinking into his eyes.

Darkness filled the room as all the lights went out, the air shimmered and the walls shook. The man's eyes filled with terror, as Eurus’s face became increasingly contoured with a disturbing grin, the left side of his face slowly growing a horn while the eye shifted colors seemingly at random. Eurus’s entire body shifted and morphed, every feather and hair on his body standing straight up as his flesh bubbled and moved on its own accord. The man was frozen in abject horror, his eyes unable to turn away as Eurus’s gaze burned through him like the sun.

Suddenly releasing the man, Eurus stepped off towards the fridge, a deep laugh coming from him as he grabbed a glass from a cabinet on the wall. The man's mouth hung open as he watched his captor move away, a thin layer of sweat covering his body. Opening the fridge, Eurus poured himself a glass of clear liquid from one of many bottles, his appearance having returned to normal.

“Isn’t it a bit early in the day to be drinking, Master?”

“I’d drink paint thinner if it was the only alcohol I had right now.” Downing his entire glass, he brought it back down to the table with an audible clink. Taking a moment to collect himself, he walked around the island. His hands held his face as he walked around, before smoothing his hair back as he turned the corner to face the man again, a tired and wild grin on his face.

“You are one very, very lucky bastard you know.”

The man swallowed nervously, yet remained silent as he stared back at Eurus.

“Lucky, lucky, lucky. Lucky I showed up, lucky to be here, lucky to be born.”

“Eurus, are you ok?”

“Oh Miranda, I'm perfectly fine. After all, our guest is voidborn. Isn’t that just great?”

The man, feeling brave, spoke “Uh, what was all of that? What are you talking about?”

Eurus sat back down in his chair to eat, his posture noticeably worse as he lazily played with his cold food. “You remember when you showed up here?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Just. Answer the question.”

“I don’t know, I just kinda ‘woke up’ and was standing in an alley nearby.”

“How long ago?”

“I guess a day or two? I’m not really sure.”

“Heh, fucking fantastic. Just my luck…”

“What’s a voidborn?”

“Hmm?”

“You said it earlier…”

“OH, that.”

The man sat for a moment as he watched Eurus stare off blindly at his plate. “Um…. Could you answer.... Please?”

Sighing deeply, Eurus rested his head on his folded arms. “You won the proverbial lottery bud, out of trillions of human souls, you.” he points at him for emphasis. “You, somehow ‘ascended’ and gained an immortal soul like those of the ‘gods’, all on your own.”

A puzzled look crossed the man's face as he absorbed the information. “Does.. Does that make me a god?”

“Sure, yeah, let's say it does.”

“Ok… Well, then I command that you let me go.”

“Hmm, no.”

“You would defy your god's command?”

Eurus immediately crouched down before him and flicked him on the forehead.

“Ouch! What the hell?”

“Let's get things straight shall we? First, you are a god, you are not anyones god yet. Second, everyone you meet will be a god, so any thoughts of grandeur are dead on arrival. Third, you broke into my house, meaning, until you pay me back you're worth less a bucket of sand. And finally, if you ever talk to me like that again, well.. I’ll leave that up to the imagination for now.”

With Eurus close to him again the man spit in his face. The liquid never reached as if it was suddenly caught in the air. A large grin grew across Eurus’s face as he stepped away from the man, the spit floating off and dropping itself in the sink. “What's your name”

“What? I already told you I don’t have one.”

“I know that, idiot. You need a name though. So what is your name?”

“I don’t know, I'm terrible at names.”

“Heh, I know what to call you. How about Cypher?”

“Cypher?”

“Yeah, sounds like a cool name.” A smirk covering his face as he looked away from the man.

“Yeah, I like it! Call me Cypher!”

“Oh... Alright. Well Cypher, I’m Eurus.” As if on cue, Cyphers restraints released him and disappeared into the walls. Finally freed, the man stood up and stretched his limbs. He stood not much shorter than Eurus, his dirty robes ill fitting for his smaller frame, compared to whoever must have owned them previously.

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“Where did you get those rags from anyway? The garbage?”

“No…. They aren’t that bad are they?”

“They look terrible, there is a massive hole right there, see.” He says pointing at a gaping hole near the bottom.

Cypher shifts awkwardly, hiding the hole behind him. “Ok, maybe I did find them in the trash.”

“Well, at least it’s better than you being naked. But I refuse to walk around the city with you dressed like that.” With the snap of his fingers, a folded set of plain grey clothing appeared on the counter before Cypher. “There’s a bathroom on the other side of the house in the bedroom. Take a shower if you’d like, change, and come right back. Because I've got errands to run, and this has taken way longer than I would have liked.”

Cypher stared at the clothes before him with marveled eyes. “Can I do things like that?”

“Eh, I don’t know, maybe.”

With a big smile on his face, he took the clothes and walked off towards the bathroom, snapping his fingers as he went.

Sighing, Eurus rested his head and arms on the counter before him.

“Master, you can’t be serious about this.”

“I really wish I wasn’t, Miranda.”

“You know master, if we just kill him and ditch him in the desert. It wouldn’t be our problem anymore.”

“Yeah, I know. But that IS illegal to do.”

“Yes, but it's a voidborn. Not like anyone would care.”

“Yeah…. I don’t know, I'll give him a chance.”

Miranda sighed loudly. “Fine, but when he makes a mess, YOU have to clean it up.”

“Hey, weren’t YOU the one who let him in, in the first place?

Miranda mumbled a response and went quiet.

Feeling slightly successful from his argument victory, Eurus shifted from his position and stared at the ceiling as he planned his day in his head. His thoughts were quickly interrupted as Cypher walked back into the room, his black hair now slicked back. The short sleeved shirt and pants looked baggy and oversized on him.

“Hey, Eurus. You got anything smaller?”

“Nope.”

“Wait, can’t you just” snapp “and make them the right size?”

“Heh, I’d probably make them too small. We will just have to make a clothing stop before you pay me back.”

“What are you gonna have me do anyway?”

“You’ll just have to see for yourself.” He said winking suspiciously. Getting up from his chair, Eurus walked past Cypher to the living room. “Now, let’s get going. You’ve wasted enough of my day already.”

Following Eurus closely, the two left the apartment and made their way down the stairs. Back in the lobby of the building, Eurus approached the front desk again and looked over the other side again and swore under his breath. Cypher looked at him strangely as he followed him out of the building. “When I get back, that fucker better be there.” Eurus muttered to himself.

As they stepped out onto the street, the sun hit the pair like a truck. A heavy heat hung in the air, practically visible on the road as Cypher followed Eurus’s rapid pace as the pair walked. Compared to the vibrance of the night, the city's colors seemed flushed and its streets empty, the brickwork of the buildings practically radiating with heat.

Tugging at his shirt collar, Cypher felt the sweat rolling down his face after only a few minutes. His mind boggled as he watched Eurus’s indifrant stride. “How are you not dying in this?”

“Welcome to Heaven.”

“Wait, Heaven? I thought this place was supposed to be paradise.”

“Nah, we are in Elysium, Paradise is at the south pole.”

“Huh?”

“Eh, don’t worry about it.”

More confused than when he had started, Cypher followed along quietly, fanning himself to try to stay cool. His confusion only grew as suddenly, Eurus took a turn into an alley. And while he was able to keep up, his sense of direction disappeared as they turned down alley after alley. The numerous brightly lit signs and colors of doors and buildings only added to his confusion, as the winding nature of the city took them. The pair passed through the occasional throng of people as they weaved from street to street seemingly at random.

“Where the hell are we going, Eurus?”

Without speaking, Eurus stepped out of the alley they were passing through onto another indistinguishable street as the others and pointed to the store to his right. Cypher took a moment to catch his breath as his gaze fell on the store front. The front of the building was dominated by two large windows that flanked the entrance with posing mannequins at the forefront.

The mannequins moved on their own, changing poses as the clothes on their bodies shifted. From lounging in loose clothes, to walking with a sundress, to standing heroically in metal armor. The mannequins seemed to have thousands of combos which enchanted Cypher, who was watching them with great excitement.

Thrusting his hand forward, Eurus held a palm sized metal disc before Cypher’s face. The disc itself wasn’t very thick, yet it was deeply engraved, with numerous lines swirling in seemingly every direction at once. At the center rested the face of a woman, her eyes covered by a band of cloth.

“Show this to the clerk, and get whatever you like.”

Carefully taking the disc from his hands, Cypher nodded his head as he looked away from the disc. His eyes played tricks on him as he thought that the lines were actually moving for a moment.

“Oh, just remember. It is really hot, so don’t get something stupid like a coat.”

Wordlessly, Cypher nodded his head and went inside as Eurus leaned against the corner of the building. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the heat of the sun on his skin as he waited, the soft sounds of the city drowning out his thoughts. His peace was short lived however as a stout man with pulled back gold hair burst from the door, his bespectacled gaze searching around until it fell on him.

“Oh, so that guy isn’t lying.”

“Sorry.” Said Eurus as he smiled at the man.

“Ya know, the least you can do is come inside. For a second I thought some punk actually robbed you.”

“Wow, you think it's that easy to steal from me?”

“Nah, that's why I was surprised. So, when did you come back?” The man says as he leans against the doorway.

“Eh, just the other day. How's business?”

“Ya know, same old same old. How was being dead? Go anywhere interesting?”

“Not really, just some iron age civilization. Although, I am getting sick of going to places named ‘Earth’ and ‘Terra’ like why can’t people come up with a better name for their home planet.”

“Pfft, like you could do any better.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

The man smiled and shook his head. “Well, I'm going back inside. It's too damn hot out. Also, in the future Eurus. Just come inside, because I don’t like surprises.”

Eurus nodded his head as the man went back into his store. Closing his eyes again he pondered for a moment. “Who was that again?” Before forgoing the idea entirely as it quickly led nowhere. Calming his mind again he let the sound of people passing fill his ears. While the streets were far from busy, there were still enough to create a hum that echoed throughout. The numerous individuals snaking their way through the labyrinthine city streets.

Much to his chagrin, this moment ended as Cypher stepped out of the store moments later. His form was garbed in a similar style as before, the differences being in the yellow that wrapped around his wrists, waist, and ankles. While the whole outfit seemed to fit better, Eurus did notice that it seemed to billow quite a bit.

“How do I look?”

“Good enough.”

Cypher attempts to hand over the disk and the clothes he borrowed only for both to disappear suddenly.

“Well, I suppose we should be on our way then.”

“Wait, hold on for a moment.”

“Why?”

“Well, I have a few questions.”

“And this affects me how?”

Cypher's face quickly changed from one of curiosity to anger.

“Well, I'll just leave then.”

“If you leave, I will kill you.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”

“Eh, you broke into my house. So no, not really.”

“No way, that can’t be right.”

“Heh, ok.” Scanning the area, Eurus spotted two angels, a man and a woman talking outside of a building. “Ok, you see those two.” He says as he points. “They are what passes for law enforcement around here. You go tell them your little story and see how it goes.”

Cypher looked at Eurus with uncertainty, but after a go on gesture from the latter he walked over to the pair.

Looking on with amusement, Eurus watched as Cypher walked up to the two, and after a few seconds of trying finally got their attention. The two towered over the seven foot tall Cypher as an adult would a child. After a few minutes of conversation mostly from Cypher, and a handful of glances from the angels towards Eurus. The pair moved towards him.The woman grabbed Cypher by the back of his collar and lifted him effortlessly in the air, his entire body becoming stiff as a board and just as unmoving.

“Hello sir.” The man spoke, “It appears your newest servant doesn’t like the way you’re treating him.”

“Oh really? Did he tell you about the part where he broke into my house?”

A savacious grin creeped across both of the angel's faces. “Oh yes, he told us how you planned to kill him if he doesn’t comply with your requests.”

“Yep, I even got him new clothes just now to keep him from looking like a bum.”

“Oh, you really are a kind lord.”

The woman spoke, her eyes on Cypher like a wolf eyeing its prey. “Well, if he doesn’t appreciate this chance to make amends. We would be overjoyed to keep him, show him the error of his ways.”

“Hmm, I don’t think that will be necessary.”

“Oh, are you sure? He has already had a chance at redemption. You should let us show him the King's justice.”

“Nah, I plan on giving him another chance. We’ll see after that if he ignores me again.”

With great disappointment, the woman puts Cypher back on his feet before Eurus. The former however remains stock still and bug eyed as the woman puts her hand on his head. “Alright I suppose, you know how to contact us if he acts up again.”

“Yes, thank you.” Eurus says as he grabs Cypher by the wrist and pulls him along. Cypher awkwardly walks with, his knees shaking slightly as they go. The pair quickly disappear into an alleyway, away finally from the hungry gazes of the angels.

After taking a few turns into different alleys, Eurus comes to a stop, releasing Cypher from his grip. The latter falling to his butt and leaning against a nearby wall.

“Wha…. What…. Was that?”

“Those were angels.”

“I.. I thought angels were supposed to be nice.”

“They can be, most however aren’t.”

“But why?”

“Why? They are like anyone else, no one’s perfect. Especially not angels.”

“I... felt them in my mind. Like they were digging into my brain.”

“Yep, fun isn't it? Angels really and I mean REALLY like to enforce the laws of the King. It's practically orgasmic for them, the harsher the punishment. The greater the enjoyment.”

“What the fuck, how is me breaking into your house illegal. Yet YOU basically enslaving me with the threat of death, legal.”

“Eh, that's just how Heaven is. There really aren’t any ‘laws’ per say, as long as you don’t really harm anybody else, hell even if you do. You generally won't get in trouble.”

“Then what's your problem if it’s not illegal? I didn’t do anything wrong then!”

“And that's where you are wrong, you broke into my house. And the district I live in has rules, on top of that. Since I'm the wronged party, I chose your punishment.”

“That seems pretty fucked up, how is death equal to stealing?”

“Oh, yeah. I forgot you're new here. People don’t really die here, you come back after a while.”

“Wait, so I'm immortal now? Why don’t I just kill myself then to get away?”

“No, and because you're a bum.”

“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, everyone, no matter how poor or weak, will eventually return. But, if you don’t plan and pay for a new body ahead of time. You could have to wait for like a thousand years or more to reform again.”

“Oh, that's a long time. But I'm a god though, it would be nothing right?”

“Eh, maybe. Personally, I don’t like the idea of floating in the void for that long, sounds. Uncomfortable.”

Cypher stared at the wall across from him, his breathing finally steady after the run in with the angels. “Well I guess I don’t really have a choice do I?”

“You always have a choice, whether or not it's the best one. Well, even the fates don’t know.”

After a few moments of thinking Cypher stands back up. “I suppose i’ll do as you ask then, what do you want from me anyway?”

“Don’t worry, you’ll know soon enough. Now, if we could keep moving that would be great.”

The pair begins moving again, weaving through the alleyways like it was second nature. The maze-like structure boggled Cyphers mind, his sense of time slowly going out the window as the sun slowly moved across the sky. Yet every time he saw it, it seemed like it was further along than it should be. His only sense of progress was the slow degradation of buildings.

The city transformed as they moved further from the center, the area becoming noticeably poorer. Going from the clean and well made brickwork of the center, to mixes of brick and metal buildings in various stages of repair, and finally turning to mostly sheet metal constructions with carefully constructed buildings becoming few and far between. The lights however remained the same throughout, an endless stream of neon advertisements and screens promising the world for nothing.

Cypher soon became more familiar with Eurus’s movements as he realized they were moving further east. Despite this, he noticed the directions were becoming increasingly erratic. Sometimes recognizing an alleyway they passed through minutes earlier. Where initially he thought nothing of it, and perhaps thought himself wrong, he began to feel increasingly convinced. His feelings were validated upon realizing that the feathers on his guide's wings were standing straight up.

They quickly made their way into a four way intersection of alleys, only for a group of rough looking men to appear before them. As they attempt to turn down another road, another group appears until they are entirely surrounded. A large ogre in a finely tailored suit steps forth, his rotund belly sticking out making the already massive man that much bigger.

“Hello Eurus, how was the vacation?” The man's voice, a deep rumble that echoed throughout the alley.

“Oh, you know. Lived as a farmer I think? Was pretty boring. Anyways, I'm kinda in a rush so I think I'll be leaving. Tell your boss I said hi.”

“The boss is dead, Eurus. That means your ass is open season.”

“Won’t the boss be mad once he finds out you killed a friend of his?”

“Accidents happen, things break, people die. He’ll be fine.”

The hair on the back of Cyphers neck was straight up, every part of his body telling him to run. Yet everywhere he looked there was a thug waiting for their orders. His eyes flickering between Eurus and the ogre. The man himself was greenish in skin tone, with big tusks coming from either side of his mouth with a nearly bald head. Yet he carried himself with an attitude of absolute perfection, contrary to his brutish appearance.

“Hmm, that seems kinda problematic. Ya see I got things to do so I can’t really die right now.”

“That so?”

“Yup, I mean I got these errands to run. Plus it would be a shame if I messed up this new robe of mine beating all your guys.”

“So, not only should I kill you. I also need to trample your stupid little outfit yeah?”

“Eh, I mean you can try. But I don’t think my mother would be too happy since she made it for me.”

A small murmur ran out through the surrounding thugs, many of them taking a few steps back.

“Plus I was planning on meeting her later, and well. If I don’t show up, she's probably gonna go looking for why. And we all know how easy it is to hide from fate.”

With this, all but the people standing next to the ogre fled as quickly as they had appeared. His face contorted with malice, the ogre stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves as he walked.

“Fuck you Eurus. I’m not scared of you or that bitch you call a mother. When i’m done with you, all that's left is gonna be-”

The man stopped in his tracks as his breathing suddenly became increasingly rapid, his hands going up to his chest and neck.

“Hmm? Did you say something? Seems to me that you got your words stuck in your throat.”

The man fell to his hands and knees, his chest moving rapidly as he fought to catch a breath held just out of reach. His goons watched wide eyed and frozen in fear.

“Ya know, people say that when you die from drowning that it’s just like going to sleep. But I have a buddy that has died that way. He told me it hurt, that it hurt a lot.” Eurus spoke as he sauntered over to the man, kicking a rock as he went. “I can only imagine how much more it hurts when you're surrounded by air. Your lungs fighting fruitlessly, the air flowing in, yet your body still slowly suffocating. I imagine it must be terribly painful.” Placing his right foot on the man's back, he forced him flat against the ground, his sandal digging in. “Luckily for you, a kind wind is in the area. And if you say the right words, he might be able to help your ‘condition’.”

The man's breathing slowly recovered as the seconds past “I.. I am sorry, your outfit is very nice. And your mother is a wonderful person.”

“Ah! That's exactly what I thought you said!” Stepping off the man, Eurus sauntered back over to Cypher. “In that case, please be out of my way. You’ve already wasted enough of my time.”

The man, with assistance from his goons, fled the area, knocking over an already broken wall on their escape from the width of their group. Even though their faces were hidden from Eurus’s view, he knew they would be back, angrier than before.

Cypher, finally unfrozen from his place by the sudden flight of their would-be attackers, spoke. “Yeah! You better run you pricks!” Running towards them, Cypher made to pick up a brick from the fallen wall. Only to suddenly stop as he failed to even slightly lift the cast away object.

A bewildered look crossed his face as he brought his other hand down and failed to lift the seemingly immovable piece of rock. “ Eurus, what the fuck is going o-.” He said as he turned to look at his master only to stop in his thoughts.

The jig now up, Eurus was bent over, his hands resting on his legs, sweat dripping from his body as he fought to catch his breath.

“Uh, Eurus? You ok?”

His glassy and unfocused eyes looked up at Cypher. “Yeah…. Yeah.. I’ll be fine. Just gimme a sec.”

“Uh, you look like death. Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

“Last time I checked… I didn’t have a dog for a head. So yeah, I'll be fine.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nevermind…” Regaining his composure, Eurus stood straight again. His forehead, covered with a sheen of sweat. “Anway, what was it that you wanted?”

“Well… If you're really all right.. This brick here, I can’t even move it.”

A puzzled look crossed Eurus’s face as he looked down to where Cypher was pointing. After a moment of thought his visage changed to that of amusement. “Oh, you mean that brick.”

“Yeah! I can’t make it budge at all.” He said as he pushed at it with his whole body weight behind his foot.

“Oh yeah, here, back off. Lemme show you a trick.”

Cypher backed away obediently as Eurus approached. And with very little fan fair, bent over, and casually lifted the brick into the air.

“What?”

“See? Nice and easy.”

“How did you do that?”

“Here, hold out your hands. I’ll show you.”

Eager to understand the trick, Cypher immediately put his hands out beneath the brick. After a nod on both of their behalfs, Eurus released the rock from his hand. Immediately, Cypher found himself flattened against the ground. The brick remained suspended just above his hands, a cushion of air keeping them from being crushed.

After a moment of confusion, Cypher yanked his hands from under the brick which fell to the ground with a soft *thunk*. Bewildered and brushing himself free from dust, he stood back up and looked at Eurus. “What the fuck was that?”

“Sorry, the bricks here are a little heavier than where you're from.”

“How much heavier? Because that was insane!”

“About four tons I think it was?”

“What?!? Why?!”

“Eh, when you get as strong as some people do. You gotta create something strong enough to survive them.”

“Nothing here makes any sense….”

“Well, I'm hungry now. Let's go find somewhere to eat.”

“No.. I have way too many questions, so I'm not going anywhere until you answer them.”

“No dice, I’d rather not get ambushed again. Buuuuut, I am more liable to answer questions when I have food.”

Sagging his shoulders, Cypher sighed deeply. “Fine. But I want noodles.”

“Perfect.”