"Yeah,. About that, i think I'll be needing a bit more information. You can't just ask me to go ahead and kill someone." I said.
I didn't even know who the Heroes were. Granted, there was some information and memories about them in Ramiel's mind which i inherited.
"The Heroes are warriors summoned from distant Otherworlds to defend against the threat and darkness of this realm. They are a part of a much bigger 'System' you'll understand eventually. Whatever the case, in some years in the not so distant future, the same Otherworlders praised as Heroes will bring about the fall and destruction of this world. Your job is to stop it." She explained fleetingly, almost as if chatting about the weather with a friendly neighbour.
I let the silence fill the weight of Moriah's words. I realised once again how crazy and absurd everything sounded.
All she had said was pretty much textbook for a fantasy novel plot and setting. I wanted to cry out that there was no way this could be true, but here i was — already possessing the body of a young lord.
"If what you say is true, then the alleged Heroes haven't destroyed the world yet. Moriah— your original is a god, why can't she take care of it?"
"That has to do with the 'much bigger System' i talked about." The will's reply was prompt as if she had been waiting for my question.
"Moriah is the Patron goddess of Fate, Luck and Crossroads of those of this world. It is through her authority and influence she foresaw the destruction of this land caused by its Heroes themselves. But that is where the limit of her control lies. Even for gods and deities, there are rules...consequences of power and restrictions that bind them, many of which you as a mortal may never begin to understand."
I continued to glare at Moriah's will sceptically.
She waved her hand and space twisted. The entire room around us warped into an illusionary vast, glittering and dark purple void, strewn with shimmering strings and strands of what resembled tapestry of stars.
I jerked a little from my seat, but relaxed my nerves as soon as I heard Moriah's will continue to speak. Her voice flowing like autumn spring.
"As a patron of this world, Moriah is unable to directly interfere, especially in the strings of its Fate. That's where you come in; your own soul, unshakled by prophecy, unburdened by its Fate from another world are 'exempt' from the system."
As she spoke, the Fantastical strands of what I assume were casualty twisted and wove together, forming links of what resembled celestial golden chains that represented the 'restrictions' Moriah spoke about.
The mighty chains pulled taut causing a thunderous rattle to shake through the void of eternity.
At this point, i was completely mesmerized. I couldn't explain what i was seeing, but a sense of profound feeling that something about it was right. Something about what she was saying was the truth.
But i had to remind myself not to be swayed easily. Using Ramiel's and my will as one, i grounded myself and mind in place.
Moriah's will smiled. It was that same old knowing smile the original kept giving.
"It is why you were directly Transmigrated and not completely reincarnated as Ramiel of Montclairre. In other words, you are Moriah's Champion against the Heroes."
As she spoke her last words, the illusion around us dissipated and vanished. The warped space of empty void with stars reverted to the colourless black, white and grey environment of my bedroom.
Managing to keep my expression in place without a change, i parted my lips with a sigh.
"Moriah's Champion..." I deadpanned unenthusiastically, "i don't know how to feel about that."
For some reason, it all sounded a little too convenient for me. Talk less of cliché.
A god or deity which foresaw the destruction of their world and summons a Hero — a champion.
But wasn't there a kind of paradox here?
"Wait." I interjected almost frostily.
The little Moriah who's hand was still suspended halfway through the air regarded me with a look. Taking a little bit of effort to ignore her arrogant, dismissal gaze, i coldly narrowed my eyes.
"You said the Otherworlders were summoned to fight against some darkness of this world, and now they'll become the ones to destroy it. If Moriah was so gracious and all-seeing as she claims, how come the enigmatic Goddess of Fate and Luck didn't 'see' this when summoning them?"
You would think a God would be more careful or take measures when bringing in strangers from another world to fight for them, right?
I still didn't understand why, or even how exactly the Heroes end up turning against Moriah and destroying the world. Something instinctively kept telling me there was a lot more to all this.
If i decided to use my imagination and explore as many possible scenarios as there could be, i could bring up dozens of theories or storylines. But whatever the case, i really could only take whatever Moriah said with a grain of salt.
I was Moriah's Champion, to kill her heroes...
The more i thought about it, the more disturbed and suspicious i became.
The little Moriah looked at me silently for a couple of seconds then bobbed her little head with a nod.
"I understand why you would have doubts like that. In fact it is only normal you would ask questions when you've been handed the task to kill. You value your own life after all." She said slowly, calmly — first of all acknowledging the way i felt deliberately.
"But I've already said before; all will be revealed and understood in due time. It would honestly be much easier for both of you; you and my original if we strictly stuck to each our ends of the bargain, but you're a stubborn soul, Aiden Walters. Alas, you're currently too weak and lack enough authority to receive most of the answers or understanding you desire."
She basically asked me to shut my trap and do my job.
"This reeks all over..." I grumbled outwardly and leaned back in my chair.
The will paid little attention to my quip, continuing regardless of my opinion like always.
"However, even my original acknowledges how great and overwhelming of a task killing the heroes is. Especially to one like you, a mundane soul from a mundane world. Even while the Otherworlders were originally earthlings just like yourself, the moment their souls crossed the thresholds between worlds, they were gifted and awakened tremendous power and potential." She explained with a profound sense of grace as if dropping some important piece of lore.
"In this world, they are called [Traits]."
My brow raised inquisitively.
"...Traits?" I said again.
The little Moriah nodded, adding incomprehensibly; " Yes. The Uniqueness of this World."
She continued.
"Otherworlders in this world are fundamentally designed to be more powerful and dangerous than the natives as a result of one of this Uniqueness that limitlessly unleashes their infinite potential unknown from their own World, Earth. Coupled with each their own Unique Traits or abilities, they possess Fragments of this World's Will; the System."
Moriah's will began to finally explain one of the most vital features of any Fantasy story; it's Power system.
This new world was immense in multiple sense than one. It was woven over foundations of lores upon lores and the immensity of the world building was unbelievable i barely understood a thing Moriah talked about if it already weren't for the parts of Ramiel's memories and intuition i inherited.
But even with that Moriah was discussing concepts not even Ramiel's memories could recall, talk less of me understanding. It was especially so when she discussed the power lores of the Heroes who were vastly distinguished from the natives of this world.
Each time i tried to have Moriah's will explain further, i was repeatedly denied and reminded that it's not something that concerns me immediately at the moment. I would at least have to get stronger.
"You'll understand what this all means sooner or later. For now, it's better to know the nature of who you're going up against." The little form of Moriah shook her tiny head slowly.
"The Heroes have greater power. For one, they are the only Humans in this world to possess to Unique Traits of grand proportion. And not only that, they are also aided by the System that grants them extra abilities; this is what distinguishes them greatly from the natives of this world, and it is only possible because they are Otherworlders."
"Wait. Does that mean I'll also get perks and special abilities just like the Heroes?" My eyes gleamed, finally a good news.
Or so i thought.
Moriah's will shook her head again.
"Negative. You're case is fundamentally different from the Heroes, unfortunately." She said.
"What? Why not?" I exclaimed disappointedly. Moriah's will gazed at me; her cold, gold jewels for eyes sweeping over me.
"That's because the Heroes were directly summoned from Earth," she sighed a quiet, yet weighted breath. "While you just like them are also an Earthling, at the moment, only your 'Spirit' housed within your soul is."
"What?"
"Basically, what i mean is that, you technically weren't Transmigrated entirely. The Heroes were summoned completely; their body, mind, spirit, essence, soul— everything. You on the other hand, only the core of you essence and spirit was brought forth and channeled into a different body serving as a vessel."
Moriah — the actual goddess of Fate and Luck's Will delicately explained my situation:
"Simply put, you were reincarnated— except without the proper cycle of rebirth cleaning your soul and spirit and instead transfering you between worlds."
I gazed at Moriah as she bobbed her little head to the side at an angle, yet her flawless face remained devoid of a proper expression. I gazed at her like i was looking at something from another world.
"So..." I paused — " I'm not a complete Transmigrator then?" That was the simplest way to put.
Moriah regarded me for just three seconds then shrugged.
"Not quite."
"..."
'Explain, dammit! Don't just go quiet!' i screamed internally.
And even despite being certain Moriah couldn't read my thoughts, she moved on like she couldn't.
"You're existence is by unconventional means employed by my main body and original. Hence you are exempt from a great number of laws and rules, but at the same time shackled by unique and unseen different ones. One of them is that you're unelligible to possess abilities on a similar scale to the Heroes right of the bat. Especially their perks; the System doesn't acknowledge you in this world after all."
That was a lot to take in. For a couple of seconds i didn't move or say anything. My mind raced struggling to make sense of all she said.
"You won't have abilities like the Heroes but Moriah has taken measures to ensure you're aptly supported and equipped to complete your mission."
I looked up at her, unimpressed with a brow raised. " Wow, sounds professional."
Moriah's will shook her little head and sighed.
"You may not understand now but you will soon. No. In fact, I'm sure you already have an idea due to the memories implanted in you."
Then something strange began to happen. The little Moriah's form slowly began to turn ethereal and transparent. An illusionary buzz hummed through the air as slowly as she visibly began to fade.
" What's happening?"
I immediately jerked up in my sit, full of alarm. Meanwhile, Moriah's will simply glanced down at her gands passively. " Seems like our time up as well," she said as if she wasn't watching the tips of her fingeres crumble into dusts of illusionary light and vanish like particles.
Little Moriah's words brought more urgency the moment i realised.
"What? No, not again. You haven't told me how to kill the Heroes yet! I still have questions." This was exactly what happened with Moriah at the Golden Hall.
The little goddess shook her head. She was slowly but gradually becoming more fainter and transparent.
"I can't tell you exactly how to kill the Heroes, that's something you'll have to figure out on your own."
Then she showed a very rare small and sad smile i hadn't seen before.
"It's unfortunate, but there is no guidebook for you, Aiden Walters. And dumping all this on you may seem unfair—"
I scoffed. "You think?"
I sighed, frustrated, and fell back into my seat. Slowly my lips parted open.
As her figure slowly faded, the Will's expression reverted to the usual empty and aloof mask. She returned back to her cosmic arrogant way of speaking to a mortal.
"Lest i forget. Right after this, you need to head into the [Eastern Nightmare Region]. You may not have the guidance of the System like the Hereos, but you're still a champion of the Goddess of Fate herself; you have her various Blessings and nexus points weaved into your destiny. In the Eastern Nightmare Region, you'll find something that will immensely help you on your mission."
Then she added.
"There are also other Nexuses, but you'll arrive at them in due time. Trust your [Intuition]."
I stared at her intently for a beat.
"I suppose i shouldn't bother asking what I'd find in this terrifyingly sounding Nightmare Region since you won't tell me?"
The Will just smiled back coldly and i scoffed in irritation. "That's about right..."
At this point, she was mostly already gone. The Will's figure was as transparent as a colourless hologram; she was like a fickle ghost. It didn't take a genius to know she had only few seconds left.
Yet Moriah's will wasn't done talking.
"Finally, Aiden. You'll learn more about your abilities and blessings immediately this is over. Make the best of them and everything I've told you today. And so..."
Her thin smile widened in the last moment.
"The goddess of Luck may always be with you... Ramiel of Montclairre~"
-FSHHH~
Leaving those irksome words behind, Moriah's will was gone. And with that, everything reverted back to normal; the time that had seemed paused and reality suspended broke free.
Colours returned back instantly to my room, and the suffocating sense of surrealism i felt slowly dispersed.
But before i could take a proper breath with all the tension still stuck in my shoulders, something flickered against my eyes. I blinked, staring in a dazed at the spot over the table whete the Will had just say against.
"What the..."
There was something unbelievable hovering before my eyes.
• • •
[Name] Ramiel Se' Mortaniel De'monttclairre
[Race] Human
[Class] Swordsman | Lvl 1
[Title] None
[Tier] 0 (Awakened)
...