It’s impossible to know where it all began. Beginnings are difficult to discern, whereas ends are, as a rule, easier to predict. Mostly because humans are spectacular at causing them. It has something to do with forging ahead even when conventional wisdom raises glaring warning signs to stop, turn back; do not, under any circumstance, continue in this direction. But humans never quite listen, do they? If anything the glaring warning signs create the opposite effect by reeling in the curious and adventurous to engage in closer inspection. It’s happened before, it’ll happen again. Perhaps even now.
“Progress only comes with risks,” Marvin said to a young man looking worried next to him. He stood hunched over a laptop watching numbers scroll by. In front of him, attached to the laptop by thousands of cables twisting like snakes along the floor were two massive cylinders with doors opening into each.
“Marv, this might be taking the cake for risk. Don’t you think?” the other man said. They both wore long, white coats with a large D over the breast. D for Demiurge, a research company engaged in state-of-the-art genetic research.
“Deep breaths, Rom. This is interior research locked exclusively in this room. What do you fear so much? Have you not read through the mountain of papers already published?”
Rom had indeed, seeing as though half of which he had personally published or helped in creating.
“It’s not out there I’m worried about, Marv, it’s you. Surely you don’t think you can alter your own genetic material and take on multiple aspects while maintaining your humanity? There’s a reason humans are [Null].”
“Have you never wondered why humans are the only ones with a [Null] aspect when there are sixteen other aspects known to us with endless combinations spiraling out from there?”
“We humans are [Null] with extremely high intelligence. Thaeons bind to us, not the other way around. They change according to us and our infinite personalities and styles. So what if they can evolve different functions or shoot fireballs? Look around you, Marv, we have the power of gods in our minds to reason, create and explore with self-awareness. That is much more powerful than any aspect you could put into your body.”
“And all starter forms are [Null] as well. Imagine we take that god-mind and step into a higher evolution? Your scope is too narrow, Rom. There is no reason to believe that taking on aspects will in any way change our intelligence or humanity.”
“There is a reason why we can’t physically evolve any higher! Listen to yourself, you’re going to mess with the fabric of nature and no good ever comes of that. We are meant to work with Thaeons, not only from within ourselves.”
“What reason is that besides an evolutionary fluke?”
“A fluke that allows us to move with terrifying speed into a much broader technological future cannot be a fluke.”
But Marv wasn’t listening. He had no patience for endless philosophies or jabbering about the delicate balance of nature. What Rom didn’t understand was that humans had the intelligence for a reason: to ascend and evolve into something more. Something stronger. Something beyond anything this region has seen in centuries. Marv scoffed. What did Rom know about gods? There was a time when gods walked this land; stories about legendary Thaeons that had power beyond which was comprehensible to even the human mind. Even with that power, their time had come and gone in the blink of a cosmic eye. Their legacy? Legends and nothing else. Vague references in even vaguer writings from insignificant motes of dust somewhere in human history. Scary bedtime stories for children and baleful reminders from ignorant lab assistants that going against the fundamental nature of the universe could only end in disaster. Foolishness. All foolishness. Marv’s legacy was going to be grander than that. It had to be.
“It’s ready,” Marv said as a whirring sound filled the room making their gums itch and ears ring as power flooded the cables into the two cylinders. A faint, blue light rose and fell from inside each one. Trembling, Marv ran to the nearest cooler where he extracted a metal canister with a frozen label that read [Mind]. He hypothesized that this would be the first logical aspect a human could assume. The others may be more difficult, but [Mind]? A walk in the park. Rom should understand this.
Marv unscrewed the cap and withdrew a purple stone that pulsed like a heartbeat, placing it gingerly inside the right cylinder. Without delay he sprinted to the left one, motioning to Rom with a nod who returned the expression with a slow sigh and shake of the head.
“Begin the count, Rom!” You want to see gods? Feast your eyes.
“Initializing aspect transfer sequence in three.”
The whirring thrummed higher.
“Two.”
The entire room began to shake.
“One.”
Rom yanked down a lever that threw a shower of sparks over the assistant. He jumped back, using his clipboard to block his face. Corruscating light bounced between each cylinder with a purple tinge spiraling out from the cables. Then came the scream. Marv was pounding the door and thrashing about as the light grew brighter, almost neon, from both windows on the doors. But Rom didn’t dare stop it. There had to be consequences to each action, a risk to each step of progression. This was it, and he wanted Marv to feel the full weight of his decisions.
* * *
At the age of eighteen, every new adult gets a choice of profession. You’re probably asking, “Why eighteen?” Do you expect someone younger? Perhaps you’d prefer sending a ten year old out into the world with nothing but a backpack and a map to guide them between towns? How silly. Now, every child upon turning eighteen can choose to pursue any career they wish, but by far the most popular is the path of a Trainer. The world is vast, complicated, full of endless possibilities and paths anyone can take. Even now, a group of fresh new Trainers pile into a domed building with a big sign on the outside that says Demiurge where a professor waits, impatiently checking his watch, as the five youths skid to a stop in front of him.
“Welcome! Where’s Nil?” He flips through the pages on his clipboard and scans the kids again. Behind him there is a table with a line of six eggs sitting perfectly still, waiting for their destiny.
A girl with fiery red hair spiked outward says, “Idiot probably overslept. Ya snooze ya lose if you ask me.”
The boy next to her, tall and round, hums in agreement then says in a low rumbling of a voice, “You got that right.”
The professor, visibly annoyed, sets down his clipboard then takes off his glasses and white lab coat with a D emblazoned on the chest. “Either way,” he says, “we shall begin without him. My name is Professor Raven. Rose, don’t give me that look; there is a lot of repeat information coming up but, for the record, it needs to be said.” He cleared his throat. “Out of all the candidates to become a Trainer you six–er, five–have been chosen to take up the mantle and forge ahead along this difficult path. You have all shown a high degree of intelligence, resilience and competence through our extensive testing period over the last six years. Now, if you will introduce yourselves.”
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“Professor, you already know our names,” the large boy laughed.
He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Again, for the record. Please, state your names.
The redhead went first, “I’m Rose.”
The large boy: “Max.”
Two others, a girl and a boy identical twins, said together, “Pic and Poc.”
The last, a shorter boy with long hair and a mustache, said, “Dave.”
“Ah yes, the generation of single-syllable names. How could I forget?” Before Raven could continue on with his speech, there was a sound outside of someone collapsing, yelling, then doors slamming open. He knew who it was, much to his frustration. He wasn’t sure how Nil had passed the entrance exams, trials and testing period. It defied logic, honestly, but data was data and Nil had, against all expectations–even from his parents–had been allowed to receive a starter.
The double doors swung open with a slam, revealing the boy with heavy breathing and dark hair swinging on his forehead.
“Nil…present… Apologies, Raven.”
The others snickered to themselves, staring at his disheveled form with loose pajamas and sweat beading down his cheeks. They were just as confused as the other townsfolk as to how he had gotten accepted.
“Late as usual, Nil. Alarm clock fail again?” Raven smirked.
Nil looked at the others laughing to themselves. Underdog was an understatement but, honestly, that’s what makes a good story, right? The useless boy who rambles about the town with everyone snubbing their nose at him? Here he was, freshly eighteen with no discernible skills–mediocre from top to bottom. His only saving grace was his ambition to be the best Trainer in the town. Professor Raven had, as kindly as possible, explained to Nil that such an attitude was not only common as dirt, but played out. Everyone wanted to be the best that no one ever was, what made him special? The other five standing in a line all had their areas of specialization that would, he knew in time, show themselves in their training styles and future evolutions and he was eager to record all the data he could. Nil had no such luck in life. Ambition was useless without a steady foundation to grow.
“I didn’t want to seem overly eager, professor. It’s not in my nature to be a bootlicker,” Nil said, glaring at the others who stopped smirking and turned their attention back forward. Raven smiled at this. Kid was tough and a genuine smartass–he liked that, but unfortunately that didn’t count as a Trainer skill. Tough, maybe, but [Smartass] wasn’t an aspect that he knew of.
“Anyway, back to the basics. You have all completed the entry-level requirements; now we will register everyone into the Demiurge system. Please, approach a computer and put on the visor.” They all did, reaching up and pulling down the visor attached to a telescoping arm hanging from the ceiling. “Again, there will be some repeat information here, but please just bear with me. There may be some here that don’t have all the required information to continue along this journey without some preliminary stuff. Okay?”
They all agreed.
Nil, his face still hot from the running and dealing with being laughed at–he was used to it, sure, but it still stung to be such a pariah–pulled down the visor and pressed start.
[...]
[...]
[Greetings! Welcome to Demiurge systems and congratulations on being selected to be a Trainer! Before anything else, can you tell me your name?]
“Nil.”
[And are you a boy or a girl?]
“Seems like they could’ve had this prepared for us.”
[I didn’t catch that. Are you a boy or a girl?]
“Boy.” He rolled his eyes under the visor.
[Welcome, Nil, to the region of Specter!]
Nil sighed and shifted his feet around. As if he didn’t know his region’s name.
He couldn’t help but feel that this was a huge waste of time. On the visor screen appeared another man in a white coat who stood smiling with his hands in deep pockets.
[My name is Marvin, head researcher at Demiurge. It’s my honor and pleasure to welcome you aboard to our sponsored program where we take aspiring young Trainers and equip them with the skills to succeed!]
The man, Marvin, walked over to a similar table as the one in real life where a single egg sat on the table.
[In the days before civilization, we humans encountered what our records like to call “terrible beasts” and “atrocious monsters.” These terms do a great disservice to the beautiful life forms that work side-by-side with us everyday.]
He reached out and gently touched the giant egg. It rocked lightly, spinning in a circle until cracks of light began to form all over the surface. The cracks spread all over the egg until–flash–the shell burst out and disintegrated into dust, leaving behind a small creature standing on all fours. It was a pale green color, and on its head was a tuft of fuzz that looked like a bush. It ran circles then leapt into Marvin’s arms then stared at the camera.
[These we call Thaeons. Very soon you will receive your very own starter that will grow alongside you whether on your journey towards the top of the battle rankings. Very few people have what it takes to be a Demiurge-sponsored Trainer; but you, Nil, are one of the handful this year to qualify for the rankings. Isn’t that exciting?]
As lame as this entire showcase was, he was excited. The battle rankings and their various leaders were superstars that pulled major weight in each city. Not to mention the League where only the best of the best could win and rise to the top. It had always been his dream to stand on that podium in front of millions, holding up the trophy with his own Thaeon standing by his side. Anyone could enter, but Demiurge had a reputation of pushing out the strongest trainers through their programs. Hence why he had worked so hard to get in despite the growing conversation that he was, in fact, mediocre and completely unqualified.
[Isn’t that exciting?]
“Yes, yes it’s exciting.”
[Great!]
The Theon faded out and Marvin appeared inside of a laboratory with more white-coat menials scurried around in the background.
[...]
[As you know, there are currently sixteen aspects a Thaeon can assume. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. They are the only biological organism that can actively change their forms such that their abilities alter. What’s more, their changes, though it happens in nature on its own, are much more potent when bonded with a Trainer. Very soon you will choose your own Thaeon. Here at Demiurge we pride ourselves on giving our candidates the best start possible. Therefore, Nil, your very first Thaeon will have a {Null} aspect, meaning it will be soft clay that you two will mold together. Isn’t that exciting?]
Wild Thaeons morphed according to their environments, their fights and even celestial events at times. Having one with a [Null] aspect gave him a chance to start from scratch with his new partner. Frankly, it was the only reason he had applied to Demiurge in the first place. Meeting some random aspect in the wild might hurt his chances at becoming super powerful.
[Isn’t that exciting?]
“Yes, yes! It’s super duper exciting.”
[Now. Along your journey you will find new challenges, friends and rivals. The path of a Trainer is never easy and never ending. Welcome, Nil, to the wild region of Specter.]
The video panned to a compilation of shots from around the region, most he had seen as B-roll footage from T.V. He stifled a yawn and tapped his foot. He had always dreamed of having his own starter Thaeon to challenge the battle rankings. What else was important in life if you weren’t strong?
“Take off your visors,” Raven said, who was now sitting on a stool sipping a steaming cup of coffee. Close behind him floated a massive Thaeon everyone in the room knew well: it had a serpent shape with the head of a dog with a long snout and large teeth hanging out the side. Two massive wings flapped slowly, suspending its body as if on wires. Its scaly skin glowed with a faint silvery tint except for long yellow claws extending from its four muscular limbs. Raven was the only person in the town with an Evo3 Thaeon, the highest anyone could go. Nil assumed that’s why he was chosen for this position; to guide new Trainers, one needed to be a Trainer.
“You all know Dagger, my Thaeon.” He walked around to caress its rough skin. It let out a low hum that charged the air, making Rose’s spiked red hair wave around on its own accord. “Primary [Flying] aspect with a secondary [Static]. We have been partners now for almost twenty years. Our time together has been rough. I can tell you from firsthand experience that the path of a Trainer is not for the weak. I imagine at least half of you will quit before you reach the League. Or worse.
“What’s more, the Wilds between towns are completely unregulated and chaotic at the moment. Traversing them is not for the faint of heart. Nights of no sleep; days with no food; unforgiving weather conditions. Believe me when I say that the moment you signed up to receive a starter was the day you signed your life away.” He smiled. “Any questions?”
“Yeah,” Nil said, “can we get on with it?”
The five others sneered again. Pic and Poc shared a funny look with each other as if communicating something only they would understand. Dave just rolled his eyes.
“Always a prick, huh?” Rose said, her hands on her thin hips. “You shouldn’t even be here, Nil.”
“Enough,” Raven barked. “You will all have a chance to vent your frustrations after the egg ceremony. Now, please step forward. Each Thaeon will react to whichever trainer it thinks it will bond the best with. Given your…unique sensibilities and test results, we have chosen these six. Research, and all that. Who’s first?”