PROLOGUE: A FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.—Opening Prayer for the Departed

I take it back. Every horrid thing I said. This world is dimmer. An absence that will grow. What will fill those boots?—Anna McQuire

What did I see on that hauler? That’s what the Crystal Home was made for?! To remove that hideous thing from Eliza’s chest?! I need a drink. For the rest of my life. Man was not made to contain such evil.—Jonas “Eddie” Olsten

Of my first death? Flashes. Each trial? The Highest sealed away certain aspects. To protect my soul. One cannot understand the realms of Life and Death without losing a piece of themselves. Only the Highest should know all. Being mortal? That is a precious gift. Yes, he granted divine power unto my brother. To me. But do you think we shall bear such a mandate forever? We are not full Thronebearers. We are a bridge. One only He knows of in the fullest.—Sleeping in Starlight: Lands of the Dead

Downtown New Ashbury

Central Landing (St. Alman’s Cathedral)

April 8th, 2116

Eddie held his head up high. His sword pointed upward. An honor guard for the casket that passed by. Pulled by over 2 dozen horses. His dress uniform, space black, was immaculate. Eliza’s immediate family awaited the procession at the Central Landing Cathedral. The streets were lined with people. Not only from New Ashbury but other countries, other universes, and numerous Earths. Those that had been entrapped by the Urraden. Eddie sent his holo cam circling the city with a blick of his eyes.

His wife stood next to their children. So serene. He wanted to be anywhere but here. The sorrow from the crowd was reflected in the solemn silence interrupted only by the cry of a baby or toddler. Lorain was in her dress mess uniform. The brim of her cap lowered enough to hide her eyes.

*****

J’ino concentrated on breathing. A part of her demanded poise. The other part wanted to scream. Mary and Professor Archibald Lanis stood on either side of Lorain. J’ino’s mind clung to that message swimming in the back of her HUD. ///Crystal Home purge initiated. Keeper Device removed from Arbiter. Analyzing. 30 days remain before full body reconstruction. The Soul Abides within the Domain of Unity. 5 Primary anchors remain.///

A body changed for what purpose? To somehow save them all? J’ino didn’t care about that. She just wanted her daughter back. The image of the bright red rocket splashing against the pool waves made her eyes water. That memory played on a loop. J’ino reached out with her other hand to hang onto Thomas. He wrapped an arm about her.

Thomas said, >>We are two of those anchors.<<

Cooper nudged her open hand. His fur was soft and inviting. J’ino bestowed a gentle scratch behind his left ear. He leaned into it. Poured all of his faith into the woman next to him. On a private link, he said, <>

He didn’t want them to perform this human ritual for she was not gone. Eliza was becoming the Arbiter they would need. The one who could walk between realms. Paths that even Bardaxians could not tread. This outpouring of grief could not be allowed to reach the Halls of Crystal Home. He formed a link to Augustus, <>

Thomas squeezed his wife’s hand. >>Here we remain. To the breaking of the dawn.<< J’ino inhaled slowly. An old Typherian saying. In case a soul was lost. Family would pray to provide a source of light to carry the missing home. She finished it.

>>Across the distance. Each star a candle to guide her.<<

Images of the red rocket ship remained. She knew of what Thomas dreamed of. Every night he would hack away at silver branches with his Khophesh. Guiding their little girl along a dark path. With each strike, silver sparks filled the air, he would cup his hands before her. Bright arrowheads would fall into her waiting palms. She would smile. The truth. She knew her father would protect her. Behind his little girl were Ta’mathon, C’alain, endless figures. Their ghostly fingers wrapped protectively across her shoulders.

He would dream every night. The sky of Unity would meet its end in silver flame. Crafted by his hands. He would not fail her. Not ever.

He would shed no tears today.

They would be the Wall that endured.

*****

Auggie trotted around the “coffin.” Each sigil was locked in place. Gulliver quacked, <>

The Bardaxian Light Shamans and Weave Speakers circled. Joined by the newly awakened Dogs of Earth. Their prayers fed into the matrix of the Crystal. The battle for the soul was just beginning. Trouble circled the uppermost portion of the containment field. << Tracked where the Tripod of Nyx went.>> A few Bardaxians broke off.

A Saint Benard growled, << Z’ahramdus’ Outer Membrane.>>

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

While Eliza had destroyed much of its corporeal body during the battle, dark remnants of its presence had been strewn about the multiverse. The most dangerous had been swallowed by its jaws. Reforming into the Nail of Woe. A Dyson sphere necropolis. Many of Nyx’s failed projects had been stored within that wheel. What had nearly bloomed from that long ago crimson syringe of Nyx now joined the despots of that fallen place. A population of the cursed. Hidan kneeled next to the crystal coffin. A golden soul shard cradled in his hands. “Thank you Arbiter. For protecting this innocent soul.”

The soul of the embryo trapped within Nyx. Over the years it had fled, transferring bits of itself into Eliza. Not into full awakening. Just enough to escape its physical shell trapped within Nyx. Without a soul? The embryotic flesh encased within the Keeper would wither. Until nothing remained. Hidan rose. “I will place this soul within her true mother.” The angel they had recovered from the corrupted Arcway so long ago.

Both would finally heal.

Hidan rested his palm against the heated surface. His skin remained pristine. The heat was for Eliza alone. To purge her body of all that remained. All the cover of her mortal life. She would be the bridge. To travel the High and Low Path. The In-Between. To contain a mote of the Highest. Not a soul shard of the Creator. When the time came, all would be revealed, upon the Throne of the Multiverse. Outside the Bulk. Within the Domain. A place he would never see. He knew now why the Highest had chosen her. Her twin brother. The Twilight Thronebearer of the Eternal Empire.

None wanted that power. Yet it was thrust upon them.

Hidan spoke, “My brothers and I greet you. May your path be marked with the blessings of all.” The sigils upon the clouded crystal surface glowed for the briefest of moments. The Thronebear word for Perseverance was foremost on the shifting surface. Not by human hand. Nor J’uka. Typherian or Bardaxian.

The script flowed. Perfect in every way.

Hidan bowed his head, “You honor us Father on High.”

A warm glow filled the Bardaxian vessel. None of the K-9s wanted Eliza on Earth. The slight vibrations through the metal told him they had jumped to FTL. He glanced at Trouble. “I know where you wish to go. Wise. It would never think to look within the grove of that place.”

*****

Lorain stared out into the sea of faces. Their grief rolled over her. She bit the inside of her lip and then let out a trembling breath when her father steadied her with his hand. They weren’t out of the woods just yet. Not by a long shot. She would see Eliza. Beyond the fever dreams within the dead of night.

One day at a time.

The Priest began his sermon.

“What is Legacy?” His voice carried. Beyond the INet enhancements. It echoed across Universes. Those aligned with the Arcane Order. Eden was the renewed seed of the Multiverse. They would not abandon others to the void.

A person shouted. The crowd turned.

Row upon row of demis flew past. Any able of flight. The missing man formation. A kaleidoscope of symbols and colors upon every chest. Lorain’s eyes burned with the effort to keep the tears from falling. While the world mourned she would remain true. The Captain would return. That easy-going grin stamped across her features. Lorain watched as white lilies rained down upon the streets. The fragrance was sweet.

Typha (Edenverse)

House of Healing (Grove)

The Crystal Home floated.

The light of the twin suns filtered through the protective barrier. Gulliver padded around the grassy knoll. The Cliffsidewas a short distance away. A burst of color filled the space as he positioned the prayers of Bardax and Earth’s dogs against the clouded surface housing Eliza. For the next twenty years, they would continue to bring these blessings to her. The hope burned bright.

They would not lose faith.

No doubt would bring harm.

A wreath of white lilies brushed the top of the coffin where Eliza’s head would be. Trouble watched as each petal sunk into the crystal. Not all doubted. That would make the difference. Gulliver and Trouble stilled as the Arcane beam carried them back to the ship overhead. Its systems cloaked them from the roving bands of Artock. Unlike the Terran Alliance who had been integrated into the Order in pieces? The Bardaxians had been working with Noah from the beginning. The ghostly form of the first Arbiter stared out over the slumbering form of Typha.

The final binding had begun.

Unity would have no recourse. Hell was no longer a prophecy.

It would be the final home of all Fallen. He turned. Dawnbreaker pressed his bare palm against the crystal. He whispered, “Find her name. You can do it, sister. Follow her pain. For it is your own.”

Every day he came here. Guided his sister across the twisted landscape of Unity’s combined mind. Its corrupted soul shards were made of slain Thronebearers. For they would never have their own. Not in this life or the next. Unity only knew death.

The pale imitation of life.

He turned as Q’vera knelt beside him. “I am a coward. I couldn't bear witnessing the false death.”

Dexter hugged her. “There is no shame seeing the truth.” He pointed. She gawked. The bright red blades were clutched within clouded hands. Each finger twitched. Dexter continued, “Your gift will allow her soul to escape. Never underestimate the bonds of blood or family.”

Great Point Gardens

Florida, Earth (Edenverse)

Lorain leaned out the window. Took in the salty tang of the ocean. Nothing in this place reminded her of Eliza. Not in the way the world wanted her to mourn. The Jupiter Rising would keep all of the Captain’s personal items. Save a certain jacket. Lorain shrugged said blue jacket over her shoulders. Its sleeves were far too long for her. The edges hung past her knees. She didn’t care. Every night she dreamed. Her Union piece was dormant. That didn’t matter. Not now. Faith. That was what Auggie said. The corgi trotted in. Floated onto the bed.

His nub of a tail wiggled, <>

A man in a three-piece demi suit jumped across the waves. HeroNet updated.

///New Demi recorded. Notifying Union Hall.///

A pitch-black dachshund on his heels. Its space suit Bardaxian standard green. Complete with fishbowl helmet. His ears perked forward, <>

Auggie barked rapidly, <>

Lorain held back a derisive fit of laughter. Everyone knew that was a myth. One propagated by the Muthra. She patted her corgi on the head, “Let’s go. We have work to do!” The man waved, “I’m…..” A giant shark catapulted from the water. The man pivoted, “I am not food!” It crashed into the rocks near the pier. HeroNet updated. ///Oddity noted. Please be advised. May have a blood curse.///

Lorain added the unusual man to the Alpha Observation roster.

Blood curses were rare. Even within the magical arena of demi life. Proctor Gansys rippled across her H.U.D.

///We have our eye on that one.///

A golden retriever nosed his way into the pickup. Gansys smiled, “Mr. Peabody!”

Lorain winced. “Is Florida always like this?”

She pictured Eliza saying, “What doesn’t happen in Florida?!”

She nearly jumped out the window when she saw the Shark levitate. It spat lightning at the demi. The man’s short black hair was covered by a blue trucker hat. He cracked his knuckles. “You have entered the Domain of…..”

Citywide sirens blared.

///Living Stone detected!///

Lorain changed into her Doctor Impossible gear.

The work of a demi never ended.