Ikrei P.O.V.
Mirror World. Day of Ioƛl, fourth week of the tenth month, year 9002.
‘Inhale, exhale, release.’
I was standing inside a formation, one of the underground floors of Orgis. Darin didn’t let me see how we had arrived to the place. It was all very secretive.
Thirty breaths.
Akathos appeared wearing the standard ceremonial cloak of the elders. Once he was at arms length, he began speaking.
“Eriel, I have confirmed through the blood samples that you are almost certainly speaking the truth. You are different, Mikros and Freslia are as well. So there are certain things that we are going to do. And I want you to remember that whatever happens, I am trying to help you.”
The floor lit up, revealing people surrounding the formation in a circle. I didn’t recognize any of them. Then power steps, almost thunderous.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
“We are allowing your suggestion to proceed Akathos, you have twenty-seven hours. Don’t disappoint us.”
Tall, white beard, olive skin and deep almost silver colored eyes. An old monster, the terrifying kind.
‘Freslia’s master!’
“Stormbraker, Burin!” I couldn’t help but speak with surprise and preoccupation.
Akathos and Burin shared glances.
“See, he knows you and he shouldn’t. Everyone begin preparations immediately!” Akathos gave an order.
Akathos sat in lotus position right in front of me, right in the center of the formation. With a slight nod I understood and did likewise. Being surrounded by the many unknowns and Burin I wasn’t going to play rebel.
Akathos placed two pills and several drinks, twelve of unrecognizable materials in front of us.
“Let me be completely clear. This situation is anything but good. You are going to take these two pills here and half of the concoctions. This was a hasty impromptu, sorry, Ikrei.”
I wasn’t too shocked; the cat was out of the bag.
“What happens now?” The obvious question.
“We soul commune Ikrei and we get to figure out exactly what is going on. We want Eriel back but this is your one and only shot at getting out of this, unscathed. Please be understanding, fake world? Freslia isn’t Freslia? Mikros isn’t Mikros? And you are here!”
I couldn’t say that I didn’t understand their point of view.
‘This shit is bonkers!’
The thirty or so Andurin were feverishly preparing the formation. It reminded me of the dammed ritual.
The place was even more intricate and elaborate than the one the cultivators had. Orgon, jewels and formations upon formations. Whatever was getting activated was going to be humongous.
“Where’s Zaraki?”
“Darin took him; he is faster than Eriel’s bird.” Akathos seemed proud of that.
“Elder, excuse me, do we need all these preparations so that you can soul commune, a little over the top, right?”
He smiled. The smile he gave me when I originally met him, a little disarming.
“We are going to Eriel’s training ground and we are going to push it. If you are truly the manifestation of future probability, you need to be helped not eliminated. I’ll determine that. Since I am the only elder in the order that is close enough to your type. Things are going to get crazy, Ikrei.”
‘Note to self-5: Akathos is warm and gentle with threats. Scaaaaryyyy!’
“What happens to Freslia and Mikros?” I stuttered.
“Nothing for now, they are being tailed, you are the oddity, tri core blessing. I thought I was odd. We got thirty minutes let me tell you in general terms what is going to happen.”
The longest and scariest thirty minutes of my life began.
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Freslia P.O.V.
Mirror World. Day of Ioƛl, fourth week of the tenth month, year 9002.
“You have been quite a surprise my lady, I wasn’t expecting such an approach.”
“Seize the day, seize the day, Basgram!” I was uncharacteristically bold for the young me.
Walking down the main streets of Katopr was hard. Too many memories, too many feelings. The stalls and the lights were exactly as I remembered them. Even down to the little guy selling bread. I decided to head over to his basket.
‘I’ve missed you, my young lad.’
“Hello kid, how are you?” I saluted my old acquaintance.
“Hello my lady, beautiful, radiant.” He handed me a couple of choice breads from his basket.
“Five Ucra, my lady.”
“I got it, Freslia.” Basgram paid the kid with a little hesitation.
Five Ucra for two pieces of bread from a basket in a corner without a stall is steep. But I wasn’t here for the bread, just for the kid. The kid and his words.
I bended a knee for him to place myself at eye level.
“So, what will you say to me today, huh?” A welcoming gesture followed.
“There once was a man who was trapped inside a grand castle with four massive walls around him with wards, guards and formations. As the great master he was, he spent years trying and devising until one day, he escaped. Then he went to live in a small town away from everyone he ever knew.”
As he was telling the story he gave a couple more pieces.
‘Yummy, I missed this taste.’
“In time, scavengers and mercenaries lead by powerful brigands crossed paths with the townsfolk. A town burning, lottering, stealing and raping began. The great man fought valiantly to save as many as he could and many he did save. Sadly, he fell, he fell on the verge of death. The little girl he had taken in came running, shouting, suffering, looking for help. Help that would never come.”
This tale is terrible kid; you need help? Are you nuts?” Basgram put a word in.
“Let him finish, Bas.” I held his hand, Basgram backed down.
“The little girl asked the man why he didn’t run away with her? What was so precious that he had to fight to the death with people more powerful than him? You asked me to protect this place remember? Pinky promise. That’s all he managed to say before he died.”
Basgram was mad, a ruse, that’s all that he thought. His energy wanted to leak out. The kid gave me another bread.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
I was waiting, waiting for whatever punchline he would give. I was on edge.
“You are the same as that man. Your own heart holds you captive. A very long time ago, wasn’t that little girl named Karis?”
‘There it is; you are not just a boy. Who are you or who were you?’
“I think we have had enough of this charlatan Freslia.”
I gave the boy ten Ucra. It wouldn’t matter anyhow. He waved goodbye.
“How much do you love me, Basgram?”
We began walking among the people again, a bustling picturesque time.
“Enough to save the world or to destroy it if brings me the whole of you.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled without glancing back. A carefree smile and a hard dash, things were about to get wild. You are not supposed to use awakened powers in the midst of common people for simple matters but this wasn’t simple and I was dead serious.
“Freslia, wait!”
Basgram’s eyes were full of intrigue. I knew he was smiling within himself.
THUD! THUD! THUD! ZOOOM!
“Watch out! “Crazy pair!” “Knights! Knights!”
The stalls went flying, produce, vegetables, ornaments, toys, food scattered all over the streets and on top of the heads of many vendors, dripping liquids.
“Catch them!” “Catch them!” “Don’t let them get away!” Guards, guards!!”
I sped up some more. Avair’s personal modified art. Star steps, second core version.
ZOOOOOOOOM!
“FREEEEESLIIIAAAAAA” Basgram screams were noteworthy.
“Girls just want to have fun!”
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Ikrei P.O.V.
We had finished soul communing ten breaths ago.
The results were not good. Akathos searched my memories and the findings were as follows:
Akathos wanted to retest everything once we were soul transferred through the formation.
Akathos believed me but he wanted Eriel back, I either do this or its curtains and Burin takes me, whatever happens, happens.
My previous lives memories were nonexistent. An oblivion seal.
The seal of Amaterasu is extremely powerful.
He was going to give me one chance, he was going to train me just in case this was the correct choice for the future.
Nothing has prepared me for what outer darkness truly is.
By going to a different plane, they will determine the extent of the illusion. You are not supposed to transfer to another plane through illusion magic. If it is an illusion we will be back here, if not, I’m in trouble.
If I make it or not was dependent only on my performance, probabilities of success less than 7%.
Remember, Eriel’s training ground before Akathos, two awakened lives prior to me.
‘I’m not afraid, you are afraid, I am not afraid!’
“So, Ikrei, you go it?” Akathos was confirming that I knew where I stood.
“We are going to Outer darkness and figure out all this fake world business. And in case we can’t break the fake world, we will stay there and train. Either I become the conqueror or the one conquered., That about, right?”
“More or less, yes. Please take the alchemical dilutions in the proper order, we are about to begin. Silent count everybody, fifty breaths!”
I did as it was explained to me. I drank the stuff, it tasted horrible, so lots of gulping. And finally the pills in the prescribed order. Soul stabilizers, heavy sedatives and some very special psychedelic mix. Preparations for true astral projection.
The chants and the sigils and blood were filling the large formation, thirty people participating. Burin guarding proceedings.
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH!”
“ARVEN AELZIR SAREN DES GLAOH!”
Blood began dripping into the formation
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH!”
“ARVEN AELZIR SAREN DES GLAOH!”
Ten breaths. I was scared a little.
‘Fucking Freslia! Why?! Why am I trapped in the lives of others?!’
“Focus, Ikrei.” Akathos placed his index finger on my forehead. The same type of poking that Yun Hee did, only far more controlled but same energy. I calmed down.
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH!”
“ARVEN AELZIR SAREN DES GLAOH!”
Twenty breaths. It was time. Akathos took a pill. We touched palms just as he explained. The energy of the entire formation was converging on the two of us. At least four times stronger than in the ritual.
It felt like being energized by a thousand rays of light. Elation.
‘What the hell is this place? Oh my god!’
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH!” We chanted and what was explained to me transpired.
‘No explanation prepares you for this!’
Two elders stood right behind each one of us.
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH!”
“ARVEN AELZIR SAREN DES GLAOH!”
Forty-five breaths.
Our souls fused into one. Akathos began playing supervisor, I remained under control. Our bodies fell back, received by the pair of elders.
The formation shone a blinding light, a transparent dome became visible, the conflagration of energies activating. The dome shone as well.
“ANAM KALIM DES GLAOH!”
“ARVEN AELZIR SAREN DES GLAOH!”
Fifty breaths. We shot like a beam of light into a multicolored tunnel on top of us. The access to the realms beyond the world.
Did I scream even in soul form? What do you think?
The ray of light we had become disappeared upon contact with the tunnel of energy.
ZHEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHZH!
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Freslia P.O.V.
Katopr. The Jasmine Twilight Luxury Camere, Fourth Royal Suite. Thirtieth floor. Fifteen minutes after sundown.
I was overlooking the entire city through the magic strengthened glass window, everyone seemed so small. I had always wanted to come here for my first night in this life. The clothes were far from what I deemed, proper Freslia, but the constraints were unavoidable.
The perfect place for absolute seclusion and larges-se at the same time. Wards, formations, crystals, art, magic beast sheets, three different rooms with their themes plus liquor, flowers and ambiance music. The best this world can offer for a night.
Twenty thousand Ucra. A lovely slow paced rendition of Road to Lemuria was playing.
“I cannot believe we are here.” A beaming Basgram was behind me.
“I cannot believe I am doing this.” The words came exactly as I wanted, perfect intonation.
Basgram embraced me trapping my waist from his position.
“Be gentle.” A whisper, barely audible.
And the dream of many girls and women, a princess carry unto a flower filled bed with just the right amount of light for a viewing experience but also just enough shadow to let you be expectant.
‘It is time for a show!’
Basgram’s hands traversed my velvet clothing with expertise. One hand on my waist and the other unbuttoning everything that could be unbuttoned.
“Mm.” The kiss on the neck was so good that I hummed.
‘Is this the so called ancient dark arts?’
Pluck!
My special metallic bra gave way. I always carry it on me, no matter what for extra protection, dire conditions can occur at a moment’s notice.
An absolute expert, an absolute scammer.
Basgram was enjoying the slurping. He had been eyeing my big guns for a long time.
He knew that I knew that he knew kind of thing, just like someone I missed dearly used to say.
A sudden large covering of Will infused energy enveloped the entire room.
‘Here it is!’
“Whaaargh?” Basgram was still sucking my right nipple when he gibberishly worded something.
He was unable to move anymore.
He began floating backwards and hung in the air like a crucified death row prisoner of the empire in the days of old. His pecker was all excited even after all that.
From my temporal ring, hundreds of needles came forth. Mikros controlled them and inserted them all over his body through his clothing. He bled, Mikros showed no mercy.
Perfectly placed acupuncture needles on all the main energy points. He was still floating in front of the bed. I slowly stood up and walked besides Mikros who was turning “crucified” Basgram around. She wanted him to see her.
“I never get tired of seeing your art, blessed of the Will.” A sincere compliment for my sister.
“I’ll check him, give me some minutes.” Mikros got up close and personal and started to do her grandmaster healer thing. A full body, soul checkup on this world’s replica of Basgram.
Prisdirum, a force field type ability where anything within it or in the limits, touching the field, Mikros has full control. Healers need that for successful operations on extremely delicate patients. From blood flow to energy canals and even for reconstituting cores, total control over a space and the patient, it is everything.
Reconstituting cores is her specialty, but if she does you cannot progress any further. Only those who understand their limitations and cannot progress in their stages will use her services to regain back their prowess.
‘You are amazing, blue raven! Brown raven, sorry!’
One thousand breaths.
“He has the dark baleful energy. Unreported increases in affinities. He had them before he started training with Eriel in the year 9006. All that was his cover, funny how things transpired later from that point on. He is the hidden necromancer, sister.”
Mikros judgement was final.
“So, you are the one who took Eriel away after all, a hidden deviator.”
All the years of investigation were finally going to bear fruit. The bastard was terrified; he couldn’t move but even more, he couldn’t believe it. I knew those eyes all too well, I loved this bastard once with all my heart. I believed in him, I believed over every doubt in my heart and even a vision from the Will.
“A stupid girl in love just doesn’t want to see some things.” Mikros said as she patted me on the shoulder.
‘Unforgivable!’
“This bastard wanted Eriel’s dark energy sister.” Brown raven gave an educated guess.
“Jealousy and envy amongst the Andurin? Despicable, loathsome, detestable!”
I was angry. And yet thankful for the opportunity to right a wrong, even if it was inside a magical reality.
Mikros passed me an eyepatch she had bought for me. I was growing attached to using that thing, a small ritual for sadistic imprinting. Perfect for what was about to go down.
“Enjoy the view, necromancer. It is the last thing you are going to be delighted with.”
My puffed out milky orbs were in full bloom in front of the hanging, lying, cunning bastard.
“Lift him up just right, sister.” Mikros placed him right at the perfect floating distance for a torture slice with her Prisdirum.
The beaten up offender had tearful eyes, he couldn’t move a muscle thanks to all the needles that were placed upon him, not even a twitch.
I placed the eyepatch on my eye.
“It is time for us to get thoroughly acquainted Basgram, Claimere Freslia, mad eye bitch at your service.”
The words managed to create a surprising result. Even though he shouldn’t have been able to, he trembled, his body trembled.
As Akathos says and does when telling tales, I couldn’t help but smile.
Insurmountable torture was all that awaited him for a while. Information would come later.
SWIIIISH!
No powers, no defense, he screamed like a bitch.
“AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGHH!”
Mikros got close enough for a whisper in his right ear and spoke sweetly yet menacingly.
“Girls just want to have fun.”
A bitch to bitch, heart to heart began.