Arthur looked at the Giant wrought of darkness before him, his thoughts kept to himself within his bubble. The implications of Ra's words dawned on him. Ra was just like the hero Arthur had watched over for half of his life.
"The Demons invaded our world and my people fought valiantly. I was the greatest warrior my world had cultivated. I slew the strongest demons. As the demon King's descent became imminent, I was made King of my world. And my people turned me into the vessel for The God of our world. I who had become a God in essence was charged with defeating the demon king and delivering salvation upon my world."
Arthur listened in Silence as Ra told his tale.
"When i faced the demon king, i came to know how powerful he was. how out classed i was. And how he had already seen the fate of our battle. There was no victory for me, there. I saw death! And before it's gaze i fled. I abandoned my world. I betrayed hope. The demon king descended and he brought the devourer with him. From the void between worlds i watched as my world was devoured, my people erased from existence!"
"There was no hope for my world. There is no hope for Terros!"
And a silence settled about them, as Ra stewed in his despair and Arthur searched for an answer.
"Then what would you have me do?" Arthur asked, His voice beyond the bubble sharp and rejecting Ra's conclusion.
"Waste away in this place while my hero faces certain doom? I have lived my life as a bedridden cripple, unable to do anything, unable to truly live. I have watched the hero fight for his world, unable to be part of that journey. And then i died. that's all my existence up to this point has amounted to."
"Perhaps it might be futile. Perhaps there is nothing i can do to help. perhaps all i can do is watch, even as a ghost. But i want to be there in that world. That's why i am asking you to tell me how to get there."
"Why do you so badly wish to save this hero? why do you wish to be a part of his world?" Ra asked The boy before him.
Arthur met Ra's crimson starry eyes. This was the easiest answer that dwelt within him.
"Because he was all i had."
"I have wandered the void for eons." Ra said after a moment of thought.
"Without my world to sustain me, my cosmic power faded and i have continued my existence by feeding off traces of energy given off by worlds that i am incapable of entering. In all those eons, the death of my people has haunted me. The demon King's existence has haunted me. I wish to atone for my betrayal against them. Perhaps by helping you help your hero, i might just be able to do that."
"So you will tell me how i can enter the world of Terros?" Arthur asked excitedly.
"While you have this unique soul and are untethered to the body in your world, You don't have sufficient energy to Push past the boundary between any world and the void. Had i not drawn you to me, your soul would have wandered in this place until either your soul energy diminished and you faded, or became a void creature like me or were devoured by another void creature."
That was not comforting For Arthur to hear. he got metaphorical goosebumps imagining his soul being devoured by a creature like Ra!
Ra went on to say. "But let's say you make your way into the world of Terros, as a soul not from that world, you wouldn't be able to effect anything, much less acquire a body because the world would not recognize your existence, and you would end up watching your Hero suffer the fate i have told you about."
A sense of helplessness started to worm it's way into Arthur. it seemed his desire was to remain unfulfilled.
"Besides, Telling the hero about the future doesn't guarantee anything. A change in his actions could result in his death earlier before even facing the demon King. To give your hero a chance, you must find a way to make him stronger by the time the demon king descents and you must be strong enough to keep him alive from any deviations and to help him become strong! And you must do all this while hiding Your fate from the demon king! You Arthur have no such capabilities as you are!"
Arthur was lost for a reply. Was he fated to only watch the hero again and wait for his inevitable doom?
"Ah but you have me to help you. I have watched over many worlds in the void between places. I possess the knowledge and means to aid you in this Quest that will most surely fail. But i have a condition!"
"Name your condition!" Arthur demanded right away. his conviction set. If the Giant truly offered to to help him then he would even sell his soul if he had to.
"It is both necessary to help you and a personal desire. You, Arthur must carry me in your soul! That way i will offer you my power and knowledge and in return i will watch you and see, if you will run when you stand before the demon king with your hero or you will embrace death before him!"
So that was what Ra was after! Arthur realized. He wanted to see if another would make the same choice as he when faced with the overwhelming might of the demon king.
"What say you Arthur?"
"DEAL!"