- Why did you choose a name like this?

- You should figure that for yourself. Ought to seek answers another time, I’ve heard you say.

Emptiness, a quality sought after in every killer, a complete disregard for compassion and human life. That’s what I figured from my latter years in the band of mercenaries, though I might have overestimated the power of a name. It may be as shallow as the moment, not as dense as water.

It is rather disappointing how things have developed. Isn’t it that I’m still being led by the assassin’s code? I can’t envision anything outside of it. The existence of this world opens up new paths for me, I just need someone to show me a different point of view.

Immediately returning to the cave, Storyteller asks me to breath into a round cup. It is a test that reveals the shape of your voice, which can come in a variety of ways.

- How unfortunate… Albeit this should be for the better good.

- What did you see that makes you say that? I ask her, for I cannot see the form.

The woman approaches me with a caressing hand and touches my cheek, showing a gentle smile from which I can only see pity.

- You, my dear, possess what we call a flat. Your breath took the form of a very thin layer that can’t hold itself for long, falling flat into the cup’s bottom before vanishing. People born to a flat have very limited capabilities, they won’t go far regardless of the path they choose to follow.

- You phrase it like an undeniable proof, but I’m not convinced. The guardian mentioned once that some rules don’t regard outsiders like me. What makes you expect this one to apply?

- There’s only so much variation your world can bring to ours. There are exceptions for every rule, but thus far there has been none regarding the voice. Hmm, we better move further down, there are some people you would like to avoid.

- Are there assassins after us?

- I wish, she laughs jokingly. There are people like me who give outsiders a chance, but there are also others who would rather not run the risk. Rest assured, so long as you are with me, no one will do you any harm, I promise you. You know what to do, right? We’ve done it before, haha.

She curls her lips, placing a finger between then, and whispers into my ear a drowsy wave. It doesn’t feel so bad, I suppose…

- Shhhhhh, close your eyes…

***

As I woke up, the only thing I saw was the fire pit burning intensely in front of me. Nearing the edges is Storyteller and two others, which I recall could be the ones present that night. The guy to her right seems calm and wears plugs in his ears, must be the one who hates noise. Sleeping a little bit far from there is the other, he has no redeeming features that I can tell, just plain.

- The girl woke, he said, suddenly getting up and lively. What now?

- As promised, we will answer whatever questions she might have, to our best efforts.

- Haah, that’s so bothersome, I’ll be out for a while, called the other, and suddenly it was only me and Storyteller yet again, as the two went to do their own things.

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- Who are you people, and what do you want with me?

- You see, near the First Gate I made my home, mapping these caves and pining down stories on the walls, stories that otherwise would be forgotten. Those are the link to your world and mine, but I’ve been doing it for so long that I’ve lost track of the origin. It’s yet another unfortunate event. However, I can tell you a story about what’s been happening. For this, just close your eyes.

The drops of water fall down like ink deep inside me, and with my eyes closed I see an entirely different place, should I call it, more resembling a child’s drawings. They move as if alive, and though rain is the only thing whispering my ears, I understand it all. The story is called “The gates are open”

“Walking by the premises of the barrier of two worlds, there was a man sowing his fields. Curious about that, one of the guardians approached him and asked ‘what is it you sow in this barren field?’ The man simply stood up and looked at the guardian, ‘seeds that will make this field not barren’ he said. ‘What will you do when the soil is fertile?’ the man’s response was: ‘me? I won’t do anything. Others, however, will come to plant their own seeds.’ After a brief moment of silence, he continued. ‘Those who can’t plant won’t come, but some of them shouldn’t come anyway…’”

Right before disappearing into a pool of black ink, another story took place in the theater. This one should be a follow up, called “The first outsider”.

“Crossing the barrier was a youth with curly hair and a radiant look on his eyes. His voice, however, had neither color nor shape, but it was warm and beaming. His name? It was revealed to be Bringer of the Light, and he sought for knowledge of our world and wisdom among the guardians. Everyone loved him, for he was unique and spirited, except for the one who beckoned him with the name, for he knew the boy was fated to bring change. It was latter known that his heart was evil and filled with hatred, he was the cruelest being to ever enter the realm. Many of us, blinded by his radiance, followed the trays of his darkness – to never return”.

Another pool of black ink, diluting into a drop of tea streaming from a jar. I can now open my eyes.

- Want some?

- I will go with it, I say just noticing my own thirstiness.

- As you can see, people like you aren’t always welcome. That’s why I said it’s rather good that you have a flat, it will be easier to lower their guards and make them accept you.

- And why should I seek acceptance?

- Oh, but you should. We don’t bring in outsiders unless they manifest their powers, putting us at risk of being found. If you don’t follow our rules in the other world, you will be hunted down. If you choose to live here, instead, the only barrier you will have to surpass is the distrust of my people towards newcomers, but it is otherwise simpler. It was the choice of those two, and now they’re living with me.

- I guess I never had much of a choice, nothing changes up to this point. Do you know anything about my death, my life before all this, and about Aspersius?

- We know very little about your life till now. Aspersius is a plant that only grows in our world, but the existence of outsiders with the ability makes it so they can see Aspersius where it shouldn’t exist, extract it and use it for their own purposes. Its effect is that it disturbs space-time and brings you back to a point in the past, however it also changes past courses considerably. It doesn’t affect our reality, back then it was used to prolong one’s life span.

- I see… So that’s what happened. But why have I come back with the flask?

- Hm, she makes a puzzled look, I don’t know why. However, there’s one thing I didn’t tell you. Aspersius is extinct in our lands and it now only appears for outsiders. Much like the plant itself, the ones who used it have already disappeared and the knowledge has been lost, it is possible the current Aspersius is much different than the one we know of.

- One more thing… Ever since I’ve turned back in time, I’ve been feeling strange… Fear, despair, anxiety, maybe even excitement… Shame. Does it have to do with the plant?

- There is the possibility, but I don’t see why is this a bad thing. Many outsiders relate such experiences, so it is okay.

Right, she probably doesn’t know I’m an assassin. It must be very easy to get in and out of a place, so they have no knowledge it was an institution for this kind of training.

After talking some more, it was settled that they would teach me to use the voice and in return I would agree to be tested by the authorities later on. However, I really doubt the order will let this pass. The flask is still with them, this matter is not over yet, and I’d rather deal with it myself than wait for them to come.