As we walked, the forest around us seemed to grow denser, and the sounds of distant creatures echoed softly. Glancing ahead, I could see the illuminated area was still a long way off, and our pace was deliberate and measured, likely to conserve energy for whatever challenges awaited us at our destination.
I saw this as an opportunity, not just to prepare physically for what lay ahead, but to understand the person walking beside me, to forge a connection that could be vital in the trials to come.
“So, you mentioned the Vollan were once on the brink of ascension. What happened?” I ventured, my curiosity piqued.
Aspirant hesitated, their gaze fixed on the path ahead. Then they began to speak. Their voice was firm and authoritative, each word spoken with a conviction that commanded attention. Yet, there was an underlying softness to it, a smooth, almost sensual timbre that contrasted with the gravity of their words. It gave their speech a compelling quality, drawing me in.
“Long ago, the Vollan were a leading power in our sector. We were pioneers in magic and technology, a beacon of progress and harmony. But, then the system came…. Our ambition bred envy and deceit.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, so the system just came to their world? Is that what happened to mine?
They looked at me then, their was something in the gaze, they looked to be… assessing me? Finally, Aspirant finally nodded, almost to no one. “I will kill you eventually, doesn’t hurt to educate you first.”
I scoffed at this, I was reasonably confident I could take them, unless they had some trick I didn’t know about.
They continued as we walked, their face took on a look that became more wistful the more they spoke. “As I was saying, we were a power in our sector before the system came. No one knows what brought the system to our sector but with it came the opportunity for power.”
“Power that the Vollan quickly seized. We grew by leaps and bounds. We had largely been a technological force before then. Space travel, medicine, we even began looking to the stars for other life forms, some think this is what brought the system. I am skeptical.”
“With the coming of the system came magic, and the Vollan took to magic with an ease that would shock you. It was completely natural, or so they say. We gave up our technological pursuits and completely became engulfed in our magical studies. It wasn’t all positive though. With the system came invaders. Initially we were fine but a few gained footholds. They were strange to us and we underestimated them. As we gained in power so did they. Eventually as we were challenging for greater glories, we were overthrown. The Vollan has been fighting a losing battle for relevance ever since, we are second class citizens in our own sector, on our planet.”
“Once it started our downfall came swiftly, orchestrated by those we considered equals, nearly allies even. They sabotaged our ascension, plunging us into a war that drained our resources and spirit. Now, we are but a shadow of our former glory, struggling to regain our standing and protect what’s left of our culture.”
Who betrayed you? I asked, curious to learn more.
"Everyone, all of the invading forces. The Blood Orcs, and a faction of Vampires were the main conspirators. Also there were rumors," Aspirant continued, "rumors that a member of the Ascendancy, the ruling powers of the galaxy, aided our enemies. They saw us as an upstart that could be an eventual threat to their dominance, a disruption to the status quo they had so carefully maintained, so they prematurely neutered us. The vampires and the Blood Orcs have been our eternal enemies ever since."
“So that is the reason you helped me against the Blood Orc Berzerker earlier?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“I would have helped anyone against a Blood Orc. I would not piss on one to save it dying from thirst.”
I felt a chill at the implications of their words. I changed the subject, "So, the Vollan's downfall wasn't just a local power struggle. It may have been a galaxy-wide maneuver to keep you in check or something?"
Aspirant nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Our rise to power was systematically dismantled. The betrayal was not just a stab in the back; it was a calculated strike to ensure we would not rise again. Our advancements in magic and technology, our culture, everything we had achieved, was either stolen or destroyed. We were left fractured, a shadow of our former selves."
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As Aspirant recounted the fall of the Vollan, their voice faltered, a rare glimpse of vulnerability. "Our people were betrayed, our dreams shattered," they whispered, fists clenching tightly as if grasping the fragments of a once-proud civilization. A pained expression flickered across their face, quickly masked, but not before revealing a depth of sorrow usually hidden behind their stoic facade.
The gravity of Aspirant's revelation weighed heavily on me. The politics of the galaxy were complex, and the Vollan's story was a stark reminder of how ruthless the struggle for power could be.
"Is that why winning this tournament is so important to you? To reclaim some of your lost glory?" I asked, connecting the dots.
Aspirant's eyes hardened with a resolve that spoke volumes. "Yes. Winning the Immortal Tournament is more than personal glory; it's a chance to restore honor to the Vollan. It's an opportunity to show the galaxy that we are still here, still fighting. And with the boon and the new ability, we might even start the long journey back to where we once belonged."
Listening to Aspirant's tale, Everett felt an unexpected kinship. I thought of my own loss, the gaping void left by my girlfriend and child. "Loss... it reshapes us," I mused silently, understanding more deeply why Aspirant and I, despite our different worlds, were fundamentally the same - shaped by the tragedies we had endured. Their determination was infectious, and I found myself silently rooting for them. In Aspirant, the Vollan had a champion, a beacon of hope for their future.
After a stretch of silence, Aspirant's looked at me with a quizzical expression. "Everett, before this... what were you? On your world? Did you have a family?" Their question surprised me, no one had really asked me about my Earth or my family. Not even Korrok or Elyria.
"I was a professor," I started, noting Aspirant's puzzled look at the term. "A teacher," I clarified, seeing their understanding dawn. "I did have a family, a girlfriend. We were very happy and expecting a baby." I hesitated, then decided to share the series of dreams I had about my girlfriend. As I recounted the events, especially the part about her assailant during birth, I noticed a dark expression fleeting across Aspirant's face.
I then shifted the topic to Earth, expressing my concerns based on what I learned from the Iron Princess. "I'm worried about what's happening back home. It sounds like Earth might be facing an invasion or something similar."
Aspirant listened intently, their expression thoughtful. "It does sound like Earth is being invaded," they acknowledged solemnly. "But there's not much you can do while you're here in the tournament. Perhaps after, if you win, but not from this place."
Their words were a harsh reminder of my limitations within the confines of the tournament. I felt a pang of helplessness, realizing the gravity of my situation.
Aspirant then asked a probing question, "What will you do after the tournament, if you win? Have you thought about how you might use the opportunity to help your world?"
Their question lingered in the air, prompting me to consider the future. What could I do for Earth if I emerged victorious? “I have no idea, maybe fix my arm if I can? Maybe try to enlist some help for Earth.”
“Both have merit.” They said. “Do you even know what happens in an invasion?”
I thought for a second. “Not really.” I admitted.
After a moment of hesitation, Aspirant began to speak again. “There are differences of course, I think. I know what happened in my world and sector. I’ve heard of a few others but who knows about the authenticity of these things. It usually happens where you world gets triggered for implementation into the system. Don’t ask me how worlds are picked, I have no idea. Somebody does but I don’t. Anyways, when a world is brought into the system they get the whole deal, basic classes, quests, monsters, npc’s and unfortunately, invaders.”
“Who are the invaders?” I blurted out an interruption.
“That depends.” They continued. “A faction jockey for a position, you know try to put themselves in a good spot to be picked but for the most part it is random. The system picks who goes. If your faction gets picked for invasion, you go. You don’t pass up the opportunity.”
“The opportunity for what?” I could not help but blurt out.
They stopped walking and looked at me.
“Sorry.” I said, regretfully.
“You are lucky you look like you do.” As Aspirant's smirk played across their features a light filtered through the trees, casting a soft illumination on their face, subtly accentuating the contours and gentle determination etched in their expression. Their eyes, usually intense, now held a flicker of something more playful, a quiet amusement that hinted at depths not often revealed. It was intriguing, this brief glimpse into a different side of Aspirant, one that wasn't all about battle and survival.
There was an elegance to the way they were standing in that moment, a kind of poise that spoke of strength and confidence. As I observed this, I couldn’t help but feel drawn in by the complexity of their character, by the resilience they exuded, and the subtle softness that lay beneath. I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to linger too long on these thoughts. It was a simple, fleeting moment of acknowledgment, nothing more.
They continued, interrupting my thoughts. “You don’t pass up the opportunity to go to another world and gain a foothold, plus there are many new opportunities on a new world that a settled world might not have. New resources, new rare classes, more land, rare opportunities to gain the systems favor. Any of those things could be enough to give you a leg up on your competition and send you up the ladder. All factions and cultures within the system are constantly striving to move up the ladder, more power, more rewards, and a better life await up there.” They had answered many of my questions before I could even ask them.
“Wow, you have given me a lot to think about. You just told me so much, but I feel more confused somehow.” I said as I tried to wrap my head around everything the Aspirant had just told me.