Chapter 4: First contact.
Have you ever faced something so dangerous it could kill you with barely any effort, and still not be afraid?
I look at the colossal serpent with a sense of awe. This beast is bigger than anything I have every seen, it was probably the size of a mountain --- I've never seen a mountain before though. But I think the analogy fits.
"Greetings, human. Indeed, I am Ashur, the undying. I believe we have some things to talk about."
The voice was quiet. Strong but not as overwhelming as I expected it to be, considering it being a colossus.
"Are you going to destroy my mind and take over my body?" I asked without preamble. It's not everyday you get to talk with a serpent the size of several buildings. I don't feel any danger or malice from this beast.
"Are you always this.... Forward?" It chuckled. "Let me get a good look at you."
The colossus began to shrink. Rapidly. Within moments it was the size of a willow tree. It coiled around itself, eyes still blazing blood red.
"Did Quan tell you that?" It asked. It's forked tongue flickering in and out. If I didn't know any better I would think the serpent was amused.
"He did mention something to that effect. I noticed you haven't given an answer though." I sit on the floor, it was made from a type of black stone, I have no idea what it was.
"That remains to be seen. I have high hopes for you, but if you prove worthless; I'll have to make other arrangements." The threat was delivered without malice. "Now, what has Quan told you?"
"Nothing I understand. He did mention something about you being a dreadgod, but I don't know what that means." I shrug.
"What is your name, little one?"
It... Ashur, I really should start using it's name. Ashur lower it's head until we're at eye level.
"I am called Heron. Can I call you Ash?"
"No! Absolutely not. I am Ashur the undying..."
"Ash has a better ring to it, no?"
"It does not. But... Why don't we make a bet of it? The rules are simple, if you win you can call me Ash, if I win I get to eat a piece of your mind." The serpent smiles. It was discomforting, at best. Downright terrifying at worst.
I see the trap, I could easily turn this bet down. It was just a name anyways. But my gut tells me turning down this bet would be the wrong move.
"What's the game then?" I say, affecting a nonchalant air to my words.
"I'll show you a skill. If you can learn it within the span of three days, you would have earned the honor of calling me Ash. And as a side bonus, I may decide to teach you a few things appropriate for your level. But if you lose, I gain control of a part of your mind. Are you willing to make this bet, little Heron?"
"I am. All I have to do is master this skill in three days, yes?" Nothing ventured, nothing gained... Or so matron Tess used to say.
Ashur chuckles again. It sounded eerie. "So you agree to the terms?"
"I do. Now, show me this skill." I try to keep my excitement at bay, but I don't think I'm successful. There was fear mixed in, but the prospect of learning a magic skill outweighed the fear. I was positively giddy.
The serpent was gone in the span of a breath, and in its place stood a tall man. Easily the tallest man I've ever seen. He stood eight feet at the shoulder, broad, and muscled. He wore a simple shirt and pants, both completely black and seems to be of fine quality, his feet were bare.
"Brave child." He takes he knee in front of me. I can see silver and black underneath the clothes. My eyes are glued to them.
He stretches out his hand, his finger pointing to the middle of forehead. Slowly he brings it closer. "Close your eyes little Heron. This will hurt more than a little." I obey.
The tension rises, so does my excitement. This wasn't a real place, I am sure of. If it were I would be sweating.
His finger touches my head, and I realize something too late; he did say this would be painful. I expected something akin to when I broke my arm on my sixth birthday --- I fell from the oak tree in the back. That hurt like hell, but this... This put a whole new definition on the word 'pain'.
My body locks in place, I can't breathe, every fiber of my being screaming in agony. I never thought pain like this was possible, it felt like my soul was ripped out of my body along side my heart and then both were battered into paste.
I tried to scream, but no sound cane out, I couldn't even open my jaw. Such was the severity of my agony.
"It will be over soon." Ashur purred.
I think he might be enjoying this. The bastard!
Finally he pulled his finger away and I collapse. Heavy deep breaths, my body spasms. Still unable to scream, tears leaked involuntarily from my eyes. I feel like throwing up.
It lasted all of two seconds, yet I felt like it's been an eternity and a day.
Ashur sits by me, cooing. He strokes my hair for a while until I start to get the use of my body again.
"Why did it hurt that much?" I croak. It hurts to speak, my voice cracks. "This isn't a real place, it shouldn't hurt so much. I've had nightmares where I get hurt and I don't feel it much."
"Oh, but it is a real place. This is the realm of your soul." He give me a weird look. "I take it Quan hasn't taught you much then."
I nod.
"Well, here's a little piece of information. You have a body, a mind and spirit. The body, I believe I don't have to explain to you. The mind is and the spirit are deeply intertwined, but they're separate aspects of you. The union of the mind and spirit gives birth to what is called a soul realm. Usually this is impossible to achieve until you hit the rank of an herald. And even then, not all are able to create a soul realm."
"My binding to you has made you a unique case. As is the case with all voyagers. But even at that, your case is special. Never before has a dreadgod been bound to one at the copper stage of ascension."
"Quan said you chose me. Why?"
"Let's just say you have something that will be of great use to me in the future. It's not relevant right now. You still have to prove yourself to me. Three days. That's all you get."
"Our time is almost up, before you go. I'll give you hint. It's the core. One more thing, when you get back to Quan, tell him to show you how to breakthrough into iron rank."
With that I was whisked away, in a blink I was back under the old oak. I felt wrung out. I took heavy breaths, trying to calm down.
I think back on the things Quan told me. And I center myself, trying to feel the flow of Vita in the world. It was slow going. But I kept up. He said everyone perceived the flow of energy differently. For him, it was like listening to the wind.
I have been trying to feel the flow without success. But I was undaunted, I've only been practicing for a few hours anyway.
Slowly I sink into a state of concentration so deep I lost all sense of my surroundings. The world around me changed, narrowing to a single thread of bright colors and dark shadows...
I dug deeper, trying to grasp the flitting thread in hand. It was like playing hide and seek in the dark, with a blindfold on, in the middle of an old gnarled forest.
Faint sounds made their way to me, I could sense I was nearing my goal. Though I know not what it was, I am guided by instincts, I don't know why catching hold of that rainbow thread is paramount but I knew it was of utmost importance. I pushed even deeper.
The sounds became clearer, the colors brighter, my senses sharper. I was glowing, simultaneously getting heavier, slower. Weaker. I was becoming pure energy. If I don't get the thread soon, something horrible would happen. I don't know how I know it, but I knew it as surely as I know the sun would rise.
I pushed harder. My left hand disintegrates. In this world of energy, everything was prey. I have run out of time.
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What an interesting boy indeed. I sensed no fear in him. There he was, standing before a dreadgod, and I couldn't sense any fear. Feeling satisfied with my choice, I pat myself on the back. Mentally.
I watch from within his soul as he attempts something he really shouldn't. What a magnificent little boy, in him I see the potential for greatness untold. 'Those who dare to reach higher than their station in this world... Usually achieve great success or perish horribly.'
Oh, for such a sharp boy he can be stupid.
I watch quietly, noticing his errors, one too many times he comes close to completely erasing himself. Floundering about like a limbless spider. But then he starts to get the rhythm, the ebb and flow of energy, he moves with it, still obviously terrible and reckless but there's growth.
A savage smile splits my lips. A man with instincts such as this is nothing short of predator. Then and there, I decide to nurture this boy. I didn't chose wrong afterall. I can't wait till he awakens his bloodline. Oh what fun will we have, what calamity we will rain down on our enemies.
But first he has to survive. I notice his time is running out, he is very close to what he is seeking. He just hasn't realized it. Maybe I should give him a hint...
His left hand disintegrate into fine dusts of energy. That does it, I will not let such a fine specimen die of recklessness.
Just as I was about to step in and curtail his experiment, something that should be impossible happens.
His left hand regenerates.
I have lived for eons, watched civilizations rise and return to dust. I have seen talents that were stupendously overpowered. I have fought and killed gods, with pinnacle insight into energy conversion.
Yet this little boy has just done something miraculous. Something all the great talents labeled 'impossible'
I laugh. A full belly laugh. This boy... This boy is a monster in the making. And I intend to make him the meanest, baddest monster to walk the worlds.
My thoughts turned sinister. It's only a matter of time, soon we will be strong enough for my plans.
What a first impression he's made. Our first contact was better than anticipated. I am pleased.
I turn my attention to the spinning orb of dense energies I've been working on. It was Heron's core, or should I say cores?
This will be a tale for the ages. I could not have picked a better candidate. My smile grows wider, almost touching my eyes.
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I once read about the story of Virgo, a warrior of magic and might. During the final fight against the evil dragon, he almost died, but then with a stroke of inspiration he used a magic reverse spell to heal the damage he sustained during the battle. He defeated the dragon and there was peace in the land.
I wasn't battling an evil dragon though. I was fighting against the world, suffused as it is with energy. This energy seeks to tear me apart, piece by piece. First it took my left hand. It hurts like hell, felt like a piece of my very existence was siphoned away. Then it started encroaching on my arm up to my elbow was fading away at a steady rate.
My mind races to find a solution. It was an absolute chore, I've always been quick on my feet. Then it hit me, it's a world of energy. I recall Quan saying Vita was the source of life itself. And a daring plan begins to take shape in my mind.
Within this whirlpool of energy, I stand in the midst of life itself, yet I was being stripped of mine. Little by little.
So what if I flipped the switch? Reverse what is being done to me...
But first, I need to find my core. I look within myself, searching for the floating ball of swirling energy. It was easy to find this time, I've never been able to do it before. Till now.
There were two of them. Since when? That doesn't matter now anyway, I'm almost out of time. Mentally I fix my cores firmly, then I opened myself up to the Vita, letting it fill my cores. It hurt but it's nothing I can't handle.
The energy poured in in waves, my core soaking it up like a desert experiencing rain for the first time in years. I thread the energy through my left arm, from the stump. Working on building my arm and hand.
It was difficult at first, but then it was as if something click and the arm regenerated instantly. I kept pulling in energy filling both cores to the brim, and kept going. I was on a role now.
Condensing the energies held in the core while it purged out some toxic green energies, they gave off the feeling of impurity.
The rainbow thread I've been chasing was nowhere in sight, but I was still undaunted. I kept feeling for it, led by nothing but instincts. I extend a thread of Vita from each core to connect with the energies of the world.
And found purchase immediately. The sounds of a flute playing was clearer than before. The thread was right before me, a solid mass of glowing, intertwined coils of energy with various colors. Instinctively, I grab it.
The world goes white and I lose consciousness.