Nil

Something grabbed and dragged me into my tunnel; I couldn’t see who or what as it was a blur the being was so fast. In a matter of moments, I was on solid ground. What am I looking at? All around me was some swirling galaxy, centered around a massive blue moon. Countless trees with no leaves covered the ground along with odd rock formations. There were cyan wisps floating along the ground. It all looked like things I should recognize but were all just slightly off. All of it had this peculiar, unnatural quality to it. So, this was the Realm of . All around I could see figures that looked like odd amalgamations shifting; I guess did not overly resemble anything. As I walked forward, I could sense their displeasure. After maybe twenty feet, that displeasure was replaced with immense rage. A figure that resembled some kind of werewolf landed in front of me, baring all of its fangs; resembled as in it was covered in black fur, had roughly a wolf head, was humanoid in shape, and it had the brightest amber eyes.

“Um, hello.” I said, wondering why it seemed so angry.

“Who?! Who let Nil in?!” the wolf roared loudly, echoing unnaturally through the space.

“What do you mean, let in?” I inquired. The wolf gave me a rancorous stare in return; a bad feeling was beginning to creep up my spine.

“None of us wanted to be your this time around, so none of us stabilized on this side.” The wolf snarled at me.

“What do you mean? Can you clarify? How do you know my name? What’s your name?” I probed. The wolf seemed furious I was talking to it.

“I’m Ori, and I am not helping you again.” Ori growled. What did I do to anger Ori this much? Wait, again? I had a terrible sensation nagging the back of my mind.

“What do you mean, again?” I checked. I noticed more figures shifting nearby, also looking at me with fury.

“I was your the first time, and I am not risking the wrath of the Void King a second time. You cannot reset time to try again anymore; it was the only reason any of us were helping you.” Ori snapped. No. According to Luna, were incredibly helpful. No. Just like this? No and there was nothing to change their minds?

“Please reconsider.” I pleaded which only got aggressive formed around Ori.

“No.” Ori spat at me, looking ready to attack. I began taking some composing breaths, trying to calm down.

“Who let him in?” Ori growled again. Did that mean I had succeeded earlier? This last attempt was one let me through just so I knew to stop trying?

“I need some help. Please.” I begged. At that point, Ori went to backhand me. A sigil appeared in the air, blocking the attempt. It looked like nine eyes around some kind of tree.

“Oh. Him.” Ori grumbled, begrudgingly walking away.

“Wait! Please!” I called after Ori, but the presences quickly began disappearing.

I tried hard not to start crying in frustration. What was the point? Who did that sigil belong to? Would they help me? Were that important? Please be no. Some part of me knew that was likely wishful thinking. That blasted . I had a feeling it did way more damage than I realized. The issue was, I had no idea what else it influenced other than what it stated. I tried wandering around for a while, but the instant I got near I was treated like a pariah as the were actively avoiding me. It was brutally obvious that they were not going to change their minds on the subject. Even they were scared of the Void King. How grim did that make my chances then? No. I didn’t want to believe I was living on borrowed time. That couldn’t be true.

“Oh, but you are.” A tinny voice chimed from behind.

Whipping around I saw. I saw. I. What was I looking at? The figure was my height, but it just looked off. It had no face for starters; its skin was this light blue hue as it stood there. Nine crimson eyes were floating around the figure, all looking at me. For some odd reason, I could feel joy emanating from this thing. It had black armor that resembled feathers, with a black cape covering most of its body. The being had these dual horns on each side, but the front horn on its left looked broken. Its left hand was some swirling black fog. What happened to the left side of this ? Unlike the others, it didn’t seem disgusted by the fact that I was here.

“What are you?” I probed, trying to grasp what this was.

“The who let you in.” the figure answered. There was this odd glee around it which was not reassuring.

“Why? All of the others clearly hate me.” I inquired, trying not to sound too depressed.

“Because I’m about to have fun.” The figure informed me.

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Before I could ask for clarification, I was launched. Or the world was moved around me? What was happening? The swirling galaxy seemed to be forced to form some earthen hall of roots and twisted rock. All the that had avoided me were forcibly brought there, all staring daggers at the faceless figure. It didn’t seem to have a care in the world as they all looked on with visible hatred. Wait, they seemed even angrier than before. Did they hate this thing more than they hated me? Who was this? Why did they dislike him so much? The figure summoned a gnarled tree which it took an odd, perched seat on. There was this smoldering wrath in the small hall the being made as the glared at the one sitting.

“Relax guys. Sheesh, you’d think you’d have a say in the matter with how you all are acting.” The figure taunted them. No one said anything, but I could feel how much they wanted to attack him.

“Who are you? Why did you drag them here? How is this fun?” I pressed, trying to get some idea of what was happening.

“Mortals and their desire to ask questions. Sheesh, shut the forl up and let me have my fun.” The figure shot back in an indescribably condescending tone.

“I’ll just leave.” I sighed, going to cast . In an instant, there was a hand over my eyes, lifting me off the ground. My wasn't forming at all for some reason.

“Big baby. Don’t do that. I haven’t had time to mock you yet.” The figure snapped. I could sense some of the try to leave, but the reaction of the figure made them comply with its desire.

“What do you want, Krahinn?” Ori growled at him. I was dropped, and Ori was in front of me, writhing in immense agony.

“Maybe my hearing is shot, but I didn’t hear a title from you. Is it painful? Ahhhh, is the big baby gonna cry? Ori wealizing he needs to show wespect?” Krahinn mocked, making his smoking left arm into some malformed hand while he used both hands to make a motion to mock the fact Ori clearly was on the verge of screaming.

“Screw. You.” Ori stated through gritted teeth. Krahinn chuckled, before Ori began howling in agony.

“Be a good dog and play along. Now, I am going to stop the here in about another whenever I feel like it, and I better hear some respect in that voice.” Krahinn threatened, making the coldest smile I had ever seen paint itself across his blank face.

He let Ori writhe for another ten seconds before stopping whatever he was using. Ori glared at Krahinn but said nothing. While Krahinn was clearly proving his point to Ori, I tried casting the tunnel to leave again. Krahinn materialized in front of me, made a tsk tsk sound, and covered my eyes with his smoke hand again. All my seemed to be consumed and scattered in an instant.

“You are not leaving yet. Relax Nil, you’re my guest.” Krahinn assured me.

“I feel welcome, let me tell you.” I sassed him. Krahinn chuckled.

“I’m glad.” Krahinn retorted, before launching Ori to the sidelines with a kick.

“Now, the reason I have gathered you all here is simple, I am quite bored.” Krahinn announced as he made the smile vanish from the blank face he had. The seething hatred oozed out of every present. Who is he and why is he such a di-

“Krahinn. Pay attention.” Krahinn interjected. Wait. He could read my thoughts?

“And here I thought you were a complete dilwaul.” Krahinn praised with fake sincerity.

“What do you want us to do, sir?” one of the he was holding hostage asked in a tone of thinly veiled contempt.

“Good question.” Krahinn answered. Was he some friend of the Void King?

Before I could think much else, all nine of the floating crimson eyes focused on me. An otherworldly anguish leaked from each eye, enveloping me in some black mist that made it agonizing to breathe. Krahinn walked slowly towards me, each step sounding like muffled thunder. The eyes went to his face as he glared at me with absolute abhorrence. This inky darkness leaked from around Krahinn, as the space trembled from his . All the other averted their gazes as Krahinn was now in front of me.

“Do you want to repeat that?” Krahinn checked. His voice lost that grating tone, replaced with this somber disgust that sounded like a hollow abyss as he spoke.

“Are. You. Some. Friend. Of. The. Void. King?” I asked out loud, struggling to even speak. I could feel the discomfort of the nearby as they clearly wanted to run away from here.

“No.” Krahinn stated with this endless horror in his eyes. Despite the blank face, something about it was utterly terrifying.

“You. Act. Like. Him.” I gasped. The I could see went wide eyed as Krahinn’s eyes vanished for a second.

Then, nine crimson moons appeared in the sky. Wait. Those were his eyes. All the previous hues of blue now bled a deep red. What was Krahinn? The air itself seemed to be dyed a crimson color as Krahinn’s blank face stared into my soul. The edges of my vision were starting to turn black as I was struggling to even breathe from his presence. Why did I come here? This was a mistake. Wanting to come here was looking more and more like a mistake. Krahinn took a deep breath, and it all vanished in an instant. I was gasping on the ground, taking deep breaths to recover as Krahinn’s eyes returned to his face. I then noticed strings of attached to me.

“Look at me, I’m Nil. I’m hopeless.” Krahinn mocked in his tinny voice, forcing me to move along to his words like a marionette.

“I-“ I began, but a string shut my mouth.

“I’m sorry , you gave me so many chances and I still couldn’t defeat the Void King. Look at me, I’m gonna die.” Krahinn continued as he made me move how he wanted. I think it was safe to say, Krahinn despised the Void King.

“I’m Nil, the one who thinks he’s clever, but I pale to the great Krahinn. Oh Krahinn, let me have your babies.” Krahinn mocked while resuming his puppet show. How long was he going to make me do this?

“Oh great Krahinn, I will give you the best performance as repentance for my stupidity. I know that you are busy, but I hope you can watch my full four-hour show.” Krahinn answered.

I knew it was pointless to try and argue with him. He made me move around like that for the promised four hours. After about ten minutes, he made signs that said cheer!, clap!, and laugh! which he’d make float in the air. All of the present begrudgingly complied with his order. How did he not get bored? His goal clearly was to humiliate me for insinuating he was friends with the Void King. But it just felt so hollow. Something about Krahinn just looked miserable as he made me perform. Why did I think that? There was no expression. His floating eyes were more like neon lights floating around than anything else. The nearby didn’t leave and were clearly annoyed Krahinn was making them watch his puppet show. Then why did none of them oppose him? Leave in protest? I was missing information. But what? Did it even matter?