You breathe out.

"...what?" you ask quietly. "Wh-who is Julia?" You find it isn't that hard to move, unlike in the white plane of your Patron's domain.

"Ah, I guess you are not Awakened yet, Nova. I won't spoil the ending, not for you, yet." The decrepit, hanging man responds, he speaks like he is simply chatting with a small child about an amazing book the kid will one day read. Flowing ups and downs in his speech accentuate different words, but mostly "the ending".

"Wh-who are you?" you ask, stepping forward unconsciously.

"That is nothing of your concern, I really want it to be a surprise when I am finally free, Julia." the man chuckles, his voice sounding fatigued.

"Who is 'Julia'?" You demand. "That isn't even remotely close to my name..." You shake your head slightly, trying to clear your confusion.

The man laughs an arid laugh. One that hasn't been used in months, years even. It sounds wrong, almost like he has forgotten how to use it correctly. "You are already two-fifths of the way there!" He laughs cryptically. He shakes his, unbound, right arm and his head. "You are almost whole, Julia..."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

You squint at him.

"Are you mistaking me for someone else? Is this a dream or something?"

He laughs again, grinning toothily at you. "Oh no, I would never! Not after we did so many great things together!" clenches his right hand into a fist for emphasis. "And I guess you could call this a dream. But not for me."

This doesn't sit well with you. He is most definitely crazy, some feverish creation of your mind in a futile attempt to wash away the guilt of taking a life. That is the only thing that makes sense.

The man shifts, causing the chains that bind him to rattle and ping together.

"You are really annoying, do you know that?" you suddenly say.

"Ha! If you think I am annoying, you should see Them!" The man responds. "They were the ones who locked me in here!"

You cock your head, thoroughly confused. "Them? Who are They?"

"Them, They are the self-imposed supreme rulers of Brade's Creation. The sovereign Scholars of The Grand Chapter. Tasked with the divine quest of discovering the true extent of Brade's greatest achievement."

You pause.

"...Who?"

"Shut up!" He snaps. "I'm explaining it to you!"

"Who is Brade!?"

"Rend the Flames! You Xulaains have such a minuscule worldview... Completely unaware of what happens outside of your tiny, backwater planet..."

"...Wait, what!?"

"I told you, shut up!" He barks, "This Shard is so annoying!" he continues to himself.

"You are the one being all cryptic and mysterious! Be more blunt!"

"Leave!" He roars, "Just leave!"