Freya’s glowing form took off from his nose and zoomed around his head faster than he could track. Before he could react, she flew straight between his eyes. Expecting a painful smack, Ori blinked as he felt a shiver followed by his tongue swell with the flavour of ozone and the tingle of a nine-volt battery. While his skin pricked with goose bumps, something in between his mind unlocked, spreading a cold sensation. The feeling grew until his body began to glow in the same colours Freya’s tiny form once had. The light grew blinding until he suddenly felt a second presence within his mind. Ori’s eyes widened as a flood of knowledge in the form of instincts came to him, it was overwhelming at first, his heart racing as he tried to get to grips with so much all at once.
Freya Creisidottir seared the image of her young to her memory, they were newly hatched from eggs and took the form of pale larvae, the first form of an Aurora Sprite. This would probably be the last time she would see her children for she was leaving them in the care of her loving husband to journey outside the glade for the rest of her life.
While it was a blessing to be bestowed with a calling as clear and noble as her own, having what would have been a perfectly normal future with friends and loved ones, community and continuity, exchanged with one of adventure, uncertainty, and exploration was equal parts daunting, exciting and heartbreaking. Knowing that to linger any longer would only bring her pain, and with the image of her children and loved ones etched forever in her mind, Freya left the Singlet Glade and travelled deeper into the realm of Twilight.
The realm was vast, and through its many people and written histories, Freya followed her calling as a researcher of paracausal mysteries; Her calling, often a profession a sprite would follow to near obsession, was something few Fae were blessed, or cursed with, but was a common aspect of the Fae out in the greater lands of her realm and beyond, driving wild Fae like herself, back into civilisation or at least into contact with the communities and institutions of the realm as they single-mindedly fulfilled whatever impulse their calling provided them with.
Years passed by and while never famous, Freya became a respected researcher at several well-known institutions before residency at the Arcanum Collegium Deo at Vespasian, the realm's capital. Through her work, she discovered and crafted arcane rituals that allowed practitioners access to abilities beyond their spell constellations. Over time, she gained Peritia through accolades granted to her by the Library of Fates and before long, she had selected her first rare class; Arcane Researcher, granting her a spell constellation with powers of analysis, divination and dream walking. Upon discovering answers to one of the major mysteries of Vespasian, Freya uncovered a clue that related to a mystery so large that its unravelling would single-handedly grant her an accolade great enough to evolve her from Aurora Sprite to Pixie.
She spent years doggedly following up on that lead, burning all her resources, the respect of her colleagues, and even her vitality on more than one occasion to accumulate clues. Steady progress with signs that all pointed to a location far from civilisation, on the distant reaches of Twilight.
After plans were made and precautions taken, Freya had travelled alone for over a year to reach these hidden hinterlands, covertly, to the best of her meagre ability, exploring abandoned caves and mine shafts.
It was in one such shaft where she had been captured by an infernal demon. Taking the risk to postpone escape with the belief that she could later attempt to do so if her life were truly in imminent danger, she was taken deeper underground, deep enough for the air to turn sulfuric, for the number and ranking of infernals to grow, and for more and more clues to point towards this location is the answer to her greatest obsession. And as that certainty and danger grew, so did her hubris, and before she could escape, she was bound by chains that drained away Lifeforce and syphoned Will.
At first, the demons came daily to break and unmake her, tearing off her wings and carving varying runes of pain into flesh only to begin again, her body restored to full from the brink of death while hope and sanity ebbed away. Then they would ask for simple things, innocuous things, deals that seemed reasonable, bargains that she might have felt grateful for, after days or weeks of predation. But Freya knew better, for she was of the Fae after all, and what was a single death when compared to a soul signed away for eternity?
Years passed with increasing periods between their visitations, seemingly content to harvest her modest reserves of Lifeforce and Will until her bindings were inexplicably unlocked by a broken boy resting beside her plinth.
‘This was a trick, this had to be a trick,’ she thought as she could taste the stench of demon spit all over him, and yet, no infernal taint emanated from his mortal form. She was about to leave when she felt something, a spark or aura, an unconscious ripple from dreams she could feel so strongly in the waking world she could taste them. Dreams of a mother he never knew, dreams of a world she had never seen, dreams of rage and longing so sweet she had no choice but to weep.
Just where had this boy come from? This mortal, broken boy with dreams so bright they cast shadows on Fate. She would wait, for as close to death and weak as she was, she could still take one of the hellspawn with her if this was just another trick. She would just wait, see what it had to say, before one final bargain, one last ritual to end her life and as much of this infernal prison as she could.
When he had recovered, Ori simply stared at the ceiling after finding himself flat on his back. Inspecting himself, he found that he had stopped glowing which he was strangely disappointed by, and while the same aches and breaks persisted, that new inner chill remained.
‘I’m sorry, I should have believed you.’ Spoke a small voice that came from within. It was clearer now, clipped and self-effacing in an accent that felt, if not sounded like Scandinavian.
“Freya? How? You’re in my head!?” Ori asked, goosebumps prickling throughout his skin as he experienced the wonder of telepathy for the first time. It was similar to the way she had made the air resonate with her voice, except there was no reverberation, attenuation of sound or lack of clarity. It felt oddly invasive but given his recent fear and the desolation of the subterranean nightmare, having a voice in his head was a comfort he didn’t realise he needed.
‘The familiar bond, it has taken root.’
“You can’t read my thoughts can you?’
‘Not unless you can focus them directly at me, no, and even then it’ll just be words most likely. There are other limitations such as communicating beyond hands reach requires mana, pain and other stimulation can make receiving or sending difficult, and certain paracausal effects can block our link.’
“Okay, wow, this is weird,” Ori said. ‘Can you hear me?’ Ori thought at Freya.
‘You’re screaming your thoughts, Ori, you need only direct them at me.’
‘Like this?’ Ori asked internally.
“Better, though it’s curious that your internal voice is so strong. You’ve not done this before, have you?’
“No, I mean, did you…” Ori croaked, as his mind solidified and he felt more like himself. “With the memories, did it happen to you too?”
‘Yes.’
“So you saw my… it doesn't matter. Did you know that would happen?”
‘No, not at all.’ Freya answered.
“Really?” Ori pressed, unconvinced.
‘It was an old ritual, one I’ve had little use for until now as the very idea of becoming a familiar to anyone, let alone a mortal human boy…’ Freya cut off her exasperated tirade with a sigh. ‘Well, I think the knowledge exchange of our contract must have triggered those… memories, though there is no way to be certain.’
“Fuck.” Ori groaned more out of pain and partially remembered nightmares than anything Freya had said, as he tried to raise his back off from the cold, rocky floor, there was a dull throb behind the eyes that accompanied a mild nausea. Beyond it, were residual feelings of melancholy, loss and pity, and alien feelings that were gradually being replaced by an incandescent rage. “And here I’ve been feeling sorry for myself like a little bitch, while after everything you’ve gone through, still going through… I don’t know how you managed to… to keep from breaking.”
‘I don’t think I did.’ Freya said, and the truth in her tone chilled Ori to the marrow.
“But you never gave in, even after all those… years, those dickheads never stole your soul.”
Freya was simply silent in response. Though the vividness of the memories, as if he had lived snapshots of her past, had started to fade, Ori was still able to figure out much about her state of mind. After years of abuse, she had burned up all of her outrage until all but a kernel of defiance remained, one she had just exhausted on him in a ritual that should have killed them both.
‘The chances that you weren’t infernal, that this wasn’t a trick—’ Freya started idly.
“It’s okay, like you said, I had very little to offer,”
‘No, you don’t understand, I am of the Fae, it is in our nature to trick and forge lopsided bargains. But what I’ve done was a type of thievery, a form of abuse,’
“Er, it’s fine, I mean, I have no idea what you're talking about but, it’s still fine.”
“If you die without awakening, a mortal who has slain a Greater demon, it will forever damn my soul as surely as an infernal slave contract…’
“I mean, I still have no idea what you’re talking about.”
‘Introduction to Awakening, Vespasian, Seventeenth edition. Chapter three, paragraph… seven’ Freya announced, and before Ori could parse her words, a memory from a textbook he had never read appeared in his mind’s eye:
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
> Through meritorious deeds, paracausal comprehension or feats of extraordinary craftsmanship, individuals may come face to face with their place within all of creation and gain awareness of the Library of Fate.
>
> This is called Awakening, and those who have done so are known as the Awakened.
>
> Once Awakened, the universal Library of Fate acknowledges an individual's existence, granting them their unique "Page of Fate." This dynamic record grows with them, capturing their evolution and accolades while allowing their owners to fine-tune their continued growth through the assignment of Peritia.
>
> While it is theoretically possible for any Mortal to Awaken, the vast and highly variable Peritia requirements can make it difficult for most. In addition, achieving a feat worthy enough to be considered an Accolade, is something few mortals ever deliberately attempt, let alone survive.
“Erm, yeah, that’s gunna take some getting used to,” Ori said blinking out of his mind's eye.
‘Did it work? The rote knowledge, could you understand it?’ Freya asked pensively.
“Yeah, ‘think so.”
‘Good. At least that much I could help you with.’
“So you’re saying what you did will stop me from this Awakening?’
‘You’ve killed two demons in single combat, one of which was at least three major ranks above your own, these are feats worthy of an accolade, if not a rare one. You would have needed only the Peritia to Awaken if not for my spiteful actions. I am sorry for taking this from you, I am sorry for repaying your kindness with something that may doom us both.’
Ori tried to work out the gravity of her admission on his own. Was this purely a cultural faux pas he had stumbled into? Something religious? But no, there seemed to be some practical outcome in all of this. And by the way, she described those demons and rank…
“Those demons, s’that why they were so much faster and stronger than me? ‘Cus they Awakened?” Ori asked.
‘Yes they were Awakened, at the very least,’ she confirmed.
“At the least? And it’s this Library is how everyone gets so powerful? These accolades and this Peritia, it’s all to Level up and get stronger, like some kind of computer game?”
There was silence for several minutes though through the soul bond they now shared, he got the sense that Freya was distracted. ‘Yes, there are various realms above Awakened, stages where one's strength and speed increase by orders of magnitude. Refer back to Awakenings, Vespasian, Edition twelve… chapter nine.’
> By assigning Peritia via one’s Page of Fate to advance their levels, individuals amplify their Lifeforce. Every 25 levels marks a new rank, indicating on average, a tenfold increase to their Lifeforce.
>
> Awakened may often find themselves stuck at the boundary between ranks, as not only does the Peritia requirements to progress jump significantly between ranking levels but there may also be a comprehension, accolade or racial evolution requirement to advance. These bottlenecks and the limited resources required to advance beyond them are one of the major driving forces of conflict throughout Fate.
>
> An individual's societal rank can be discerned by their life force's intensity. This ranking system signifies meaningful milestones in power and capability that are rarely, if ever bridged by talent.
>
> Mortal (Level 0, G to F Rank): The initial state of unAwakened beings.
>
> Lesser (Level 0 - ???, F to E Rank): Devolved entities that may have once possessed access to their page of fate but now lack Lifeforce. Entities may also be born as devolved species that have fallen from fate.
>
> Awakened (Boundary: Level 1, E Rank): Awakened are defined by individuals undergoing a process of introspection and self-realisation. This entails the recognition of inherent abilities, with an emphasis on understanding one's inner nature. Requirements: x1 Accolade. Peritia (varies)
>
> Nascent (Boundary: Level 25, D Rank): At Nascent, individuals venture outward, exploring the world and the broader magical landscape. This stage emphasises the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and experiences from external sources and interactions with the environment and other entities. While those who reach this stage early in life rarely remain at this rank, it is the plateau where most Awakened end their journey. Requirements: x5 Accolades. Peritia (varies), Selection of at least one class. Comprehension of a Nascent Affinity.
>
> Greater (Boundary: Level 50, C Rank): Attaining this rank by age 50 is a talent marker in many societies. The Greater realm is characterised by individuals who have achieved a deep understanding…
Once again Ori found himself zoning out of reality, suddenly knowing paragraphs of text all at once. It was still unsettling, but he found that this second time felt easier, as if he had more control over the information he wanted to read without as much disorientation as before.
As for the information he had just read, it seemed like there were indeed actual levels, with bottlenecks that needed additional requirements, like accolades, whatever those things are. It was all too… unreal, and yet he now actually found himself getting angry which was understandable after finding out that a way of becoming Superman had just been denied him.
‘...This computer, and these games, from your memories… I can see the parallels, but this is not a game Ori, this is all life and death, our fates far too close to the latter than the former.’
“What were the terms of this contract again, until one of us dies, or you evolve?” Ori asked, now almost desperate to find either a loophole in the contract or some way forward with the established terms.
This time unbidden by one of Freya’s references or prompts, paragraphs of text flowed into Ori’s knowing.
> Evolution transforms an individual by fundamentally changing their physical, cognitive and spiritual characteristics along racially defined paths. This process offers no downsides and is sought by all who have the drive and the means, as evolution not only enhances Lifeforce by an entire rank but enables access to more class slots, rarer classes and Spells, as well as racially defining signature abilities.
>
> There is no one-size-fits-all pathway for racial evolution. While some races are born evolved, others must undergo challenges, find unique locations and gather vast resources to achieve their next evolutionary state.
>
> Evolutionary Ranks:...
‘To evolve. I… All of my requirements to evolve are met bar Peritia. But…’
“But?” Ori pressed.
‘I am too far away, years of toil for the Peritia at the very least, and we do not have that long.’
“Yeah. Well, Awakened or not, I still intend to get out of here. Maybe if we stay out of sight while taking opportunities to free others, there must be more of us down here we could break out. Unless you have a better plan? I mean, you’re Awakened, aren’t you? With magic spells and shit?”
‘I was Awakened. I am Lesser now, with Mana that hurts to use and regenerates too slowly to be practical.’
“Because of those chains that were syphoning off your, what? Magic and life energy?” Ori asked, trying to understand while struggling to push down his anger and disgust at the nature of the depredations done to her.
‘Yes, my Lifeforce, as a result, I… don’t have much longer to live. I’m close to the end of my lifespan,’
“How long do you have left?”
‘Days, perhaps weeks if I can hibernate?’
“But you’ve been locked up here, what, years? A decade? You would have died sooner, had I not freed you from those bindings, wouldn’t you?”
‘Yes.’
“Pretty lucky that?”
‘The threads of fate may conspire to weave improbable tapestries, but… sometimes wild luck is just wild luck. In this case, I used what little Mana and no small measure of vitality to complete the familiar ritual.’ Freya continued dejectedly, as if even thinking about the chance of escaping was a weight too heavy to bear.
Ori tightened his fists, a pain shot up through his shoulder but instead of flinching from it, it reminded him of his rage. Awakened or not, evolution or not, he was going to find a way out, and while he didn’t have much of a plan or even a hint of one, Ori knew that Freya did.
“Well, we’re not dead yet, and until that changes, I’m gunna need you.”
‘I’ve already given you my knowledge, my spells….’
“We’re going need more than that from each other to get out of here, I can feel it, it’s going to take our all. Not just knowledge, but trust and determination. Because we ARE getting out of here. We have to.“ Ori demanded, somehow convincing himself despite the odds.
“So… I think I understand this lifespan thing, all life has it. There’s something in your books, a Vitality characteristic, if it’s high enough then you could live forever, but if you're wounded or you’ve been overdrawing on your magic, then it can get damaged and you’ll die sooner. Is that what you’ve done, or have had done to you?”
‘Yes.’
“So it's not just that you're old for a sprite then? I mean, you are a mum, maybe even a gran by now. Never would have pegged you as someone so old.” Ori said, trying to lighten the mood. For a long time, there was silence in the cave,
‘I am not so old.’ Freya said eventually.
“Oh yeah?”
‘Though we are a similar age in planar cycles, we sprites live much fuller lives than mortal humans.’
“You were what, two years old when you had your kids? You must be like a thousand years old in sprite years now?” Ori said, the ghost of a smirk heard in his voice.
‘I see what you are trying to do,’ Freya said, suddenly taking shape in her glow bug form as she zoomed out of Ori’s forehead and spun around Ori’s partially propped-up pose in agitation. “…if you believe this crude attempt at banter will lift my mood—’
“It’s working though?”
‘No.’ Freya lied. ‘Through my career, I’ve been exposed to such rhetoric, wit and satire that your boorish efforts, instead of mirth, bring me heartache over what I now miss,’
“I can imagine.” Ori smiled as for a moment, a part of Freya’s proud, academic background shone through. The aches of his broken body faded as he laughed at a random image.
‘What is it?’ Freya asked uncertainly, her light disappearing as her form flew back inside Ori’s… skull.
“I just… it’s a good thing you never had students or mentored anyone, I could imagine them being brow-beaten by your rhetoric, wit, satire, and lack of patience.” Ori continued, failing to ape Freya’s mannerisms so badly he couldn’t but laugh, “It’s so strange, I’m in this fantasy world talking to a sprite that now shares a part of my soul, if I didn’t ache so much, I would have thought this all to be a dream.”
‘It’s strange to me too. I never said thank you by the way. No matter what happens next, I’ve had at least this moment… Your memories, I find myself reliving them.
“Oh yeah?”
‘I must admit keen interest towards certain aspects of your realm.’
“Realm?” Ori asked, this time clamping down on his rote knowledge
‘Is this also one of your peculiar gaps in understanding? This is something everyone should know.’
“Yeah, I have no idea what’s going on, we have stories and legends about all of this, but it’s not… real. Except that it is, and for some reason no one knew.”
‘Your Earth and solar system and… universe? Do I have that right? I believe that all reside in a single realm in the Material Demiplane. At least that is what my divination spell stated as your planar origin.”
Several questions flowed through Ori’s mind upon those words as he tried to piece together what he knew.
“And this is the Twilight realm… on the Elemental Demiplane? And not somewhere else like hell or the Underworld? And how could I go back to… my realm.”
‘Hpmf, we’d have been long since dead if we were in the underworld. No, We are in..’ Freya sighed as she answered. ‘Ghigrerchiax, an infernal prison deep underground at the edge of Twilight. And to get back to your realm… Usually, I would suggest returning by the same method you arrived,’
Ori was simply silent for a long while as a series of conclusions solidified in his mind. While simple vengeance and the vague possibility of escape had been enough to get him this far, he had just about been done as he crawled into this cave, and freed the sprite. But now, new goals coalesced in his mind like a surge of blood to the head, a confidence building with the momentum of an avalanche.
“You probably know this already, but when I was younger, I used to believe that my mother was still alive somewhere, maybe trapped and unable to get home. I mean, I knew she was dead, that’s what they said, she died giving birth to me, but I always wanted to believe she was alive somewhere and would come back.”
‘Oh, Ori…’
“It’s stupid, I know. But, here’s the thing, you can go back to them. I don’t know if they think you are still alive or not, but you are alive, and you can go back.”
‘Ori you can’t!’
“What choice is there?”
‘I didn’t mean for—’
“Well, it’s done. If I can’t awaken, then you need to evolve, and if I understand the reason why you ended up here in the first place, then we have to find out where this god lives.”