The heavy wooden door thudded shut behind , and the sound of its click made release the breath I’ve been holding. I pressed my back to the door and rested my head against it. I was finally alone, sort of. A strange part of could feel Shaed’s presence actively watching . A sense I had co to forget about due to his long absence. Despite my fears and anger towards him, I couldn’t help but feel comforted knowing he was back, even in his weakened state.
“You have so explaining to do,” I said hushedly after a mont of composing myself. I pushed myself off the door and glanced around the rustic bathroom. It looked so much like the one at ho, with its fine wood and tal sink, and the aged, smooth floorboards. The floor was decorated with purple-and-yellow-trimd bath mats, and at the far end, beside the toilet, was the bathtub. On the wall hung a painting that looked like a window gazing out upon a sunlit adow. Even the scent reminded of ho, my village, Oren, now most likely rubble.
Don’t think about that. A soft part of soothed.
Yet, before I even had the ti to try to divert my thoughts. The painting shimred and rippled like disturbed water; it bubbled, and then, suddenly, a shadowy figure pushed forth. I stifled a scream as my back stumbled back into the door as Shaed’s shape took form as he stepped, or really glided, out of the painting. His body was caked in inky black shadows that evaporated off him like mist, similar to that of ether cast from a spell. As his image grew clearer, I noticed sothing wasn’t right: his body was fuzzy and slightly contorted, like a low-resolution image on a computer screen.
“What the hell?!” I gasped, hand resting on my chest. “Scared half to death!” I snapped and looked over the fuzzy Shaed from head to toe.
The last remaining tendrils of ether lted off Shaed’s body. They evaporated into the air, and he side-eyed as his form finished materializing before , or at least as best it could as the fuzz persisted.
“My apologies, I’ll be sure to warn you going forward,” He said, though his lips did not move, his voice instead still echoing in my mind.
I gawked at him for a mont, then gestured outward with an open hand. “How long could you do this? Are you even here? I an… Like physically?!”
The fuzzy image of Shaed glanced down at themself then back up at . “Do I look like I am here?” He asked with genuine curiosity. “How solid do I appear?”
I looked him over again, frowned, then waved my hand from side to side. “You look… Iffy. Like, grainy. Not entirely there, I guess.” I shook my head and chopped the air. “But that’s beside the point! Answer , how long could you do this? Can others see you?”
Shaed sighed and liplessly said, “In a sense, I’ve always could do this. But originally, my imprisonnt forbade from doing so. Yet, ever since the encounter hours ago, my restrictions seed to have… loosened.” They ended thoughtfully, before adding, “And no. I don’t think others can see , unless I willingly show myself.”
I pursed my lips and crossed my arms. “Your restrictions loosened?” I asked.
The visage of Shaed nodded. “Indeed, I’m just as curious as you are. I do not know why, or if it was intentional. But my power feels closer to this realm now. I wonder if the other wielders are aware of this.”
“Wielders?” I asked, that was sothing I hadn’t heard him say. “Who’re they?”
Shaed’s head perked up, and he stared at blankly. “Wielders are those who control the Constructs power…” They trailed off, and the visage frowned. “Had I not explained this already?”
I huffed and shook my head. “We were interrupted last ti we spoke, rember?”
Shaed leaned back, his eyes staring off blankly. “Ah, I do…”
“Did you forget?” I asked with an arched brow. “That was like what… a day ago?”
“Ti beyond differs from here, Luna. What is only minutes or hours for you feels like days or weeks to . Even this conversation now drags for .”
I nodded. “Right, I rember you saying sothing like that.” I crossed my arms, leaned against the door, and looked at him. “But no, you didn’t explain anything about wielders. Though you did speak about the gods being constructs… which honestly I still don’t fully understand.”
Shaed gave a flat look. “Nor do I ever expect you to.” He said dryly. “The gods are, in fact, constructs. Beings of great power created by those we do not know. Yet, the power they represent cannot be controlled by themselves. Instead, they require an outside force to wield them.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Right, so, what you’re saying is… the gods are actually just regular people wielding a very, very strong weapon.”
Shaed stared at . “That’s an imnse oversimplification,” He said bluntly. “But, if that helps you understand it, then that is one way you could put it. However, it is far deeper than that.”
“Sure,” I shrugged and took a deep breath. “Let’s get onto why we’re here.”
“Was it not to relieve yourself?” Shaed asked.
I frowned. “No. I ca here to think and chew you out.” I then paused and glared at him. “And even if I was going to use the toilet, why the hell did you co out of the painting if that’s what you thought?!”
Shaed’s eyes widened briefly. “I uh… this joke didn’t land, I see.”
“A joke?” I glowered. “When were you one to make jokes?”
Shaed shook his head and disregarded with a wave of his hand. “Nevermind that, let us resu our discussion. You are here for what was it, again?”
I sighed. “I ca here to chew you out, that’s what.”
“Chew … out?” Shaed’s visage frowned and cocked its head.
I crossed my arms. “Don’t play stupid with , you know damn well why I’m pissed off at you…”
There was a slight delay in Shaed’s response, and finally, his avatar sighed and shook its head. “Luna, please, get on with your point. I’ve said it already, that ti for is that of a glacial’s pace–”
“Blah, blah, blah, I need to get on with the point!” I huffed. “Yeah, I will. Where the hell have you been?” I growled
Shaed looked at expressionless. “You are such a child…” He huffed, and I held my tongue. “Ever since the incident since we last spoke, I’ve been picking up the pieces, and keeping my head down…” He fell silent.
I waited for him to keep going, but he didn’t. “And?” I prompted him.
“I was pausing because normally you would but in with sothing unhelpful. Or another pointless question.”
“Oh fuck you,” I said, and for a brief mont, Shaed’s visage smirked.
“When your mother’s Well connected with your own upon contact during our eting, it caused a micro rupture in a higher reality. Imagine a teorite impacting an ocean. From it a steaming geyser of water blasted upwards, and in every direction ripples the size of tsunamis.”
“A catastrophe caused entirely by you,” I stated, and Shaed paused and glared at .
“Exactly what I said before. A quip that isn’t helpful.”
“But it’s true,” I said flatly, crossing my arms. “What happened back then was one hundred percent avoidable if you had simply told and my mother that we were not to touch. Hell, anyone could’ve touched during then but…” I held my tongue and sighed. “Whatever, what’s done is done…” I shook my head.
“You are right,” Shaed said after a mont, their voice low and… genuinely remorseful, or so I thought. “I should have been very clear then. I am sorry for what has happened to you, Luna, and your mother. Truly, I am.”
Without realizing it, my tense shoulders loosened, and I allowed my arms to fall back down to my sides. “Can you help her?” I asked softly. “Venra said he could help earlier–”
Shaed perked up. “You’ve spoken to Venra?” He cut off, eyes widening.
“Yeah. We have, for the past day, we’ve spoken off and on a couple of tis.” I cocked my head. “I’ve told you last ti that an individual nad Ami helped us. Venra said that was him, or at least… a part of him. Whatever that ans… why do you look surprised?”
Shaed shook his head. “It isn’t relevant–”
“Don’t start with that bullshit again,” I snapped, though Shaed waved off.
“Genuinely, Luna, I do not wish to speak of it.” He said firmly. “You knowing my relationship with him will not help us.” Before I could press the issue any further, Shaed noted, “As to your prior question. That’s what I’ve been doing, regarding your Mother.” He turned his head away, eyes locking onto a piece of the bathroom wall as if sothing interesting was there. “Her strength… it is admirable.”
My heart shuddered. “What do you an?” I asked my voice barely a whisper.
“You’ve experienced it, Luna.” Shaed said, “The Cerebellium. That realm, is not made for mortal minds. Any being here from the material plane would go mad within minutes when their consciousness is freed from their form, constantly expanding in every direction simultaneously. Even those with iron wills can only hold out for so long.”
“And my mother is okay?” I asked, stepping forward. “Are you able to help us pull her out of there–” Shaed silenced with a held hand.
“I am doing what I can.” He said solemnly. “It is only with my interference that her consciousness hasn’t been stretched thin or torn asunder by the denizens.”
“Denizens?” I blinked. “Wa-wait, th-there are things that live there?”
You’ve t Cereb, you fool. A part of reminded myself.
“Cereb is separate than those who call the Cerebellium their ho, Luna.” Shaed said, “But yes. That realm is not only a vast void of nothingness. It is a realm not so different from this very one, not withstanding the rules on how it functions mind you. Without a piece of materium to act as an anchor you saw what happens. For now, that’s what I’ve been doing to keep your mother from falling completely into madness.”
“Is she with you now?” I asked him. “Can I speak to her?”
Shaed slowly shook his head. “Yes, she is with . However, I’m afraid I cannot offer you a way to communicate. Not yet, anyway.”
“So maybe in the future?” I asked desperately.
Shaed grimaced. “I don’t know, honestly.” His yes t with mine. “In her current state, I’ve found it best to leave her be. Trust , Luna, she is safe.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. “Thank you,” I said quietly, and said nothing for a few monts as I stood there collecting my thoughts. Knowing my mother was safe wherever she was, protected and held together by Shaed’s will, was a great relief. The burden I hadn’t known I’ve been carrying on my shoulders seed to ease ever so slightly.
With that knowledge, my thoughts began to clear, and finally, I straightened up and t his gaze again. It was ti to ask him the question I ca in here for. “How have you seen Mr. Blaxen before? You peer into my mories or sothing?” I asked.
Shaed thought for a second, then nodded. “Sothing of the sort, yes. However, not within this lifeti.”
I blinked. “Huh?” I cocked my head. “Like… one of my other lives or sothing?” I asked softly, my stomach twitching faintly at the idea.
Was he soone from back then? Soone from Earth who also got reincarnated? I wondered.
The probability of that happening is nonexistent. A rational said.
Shaed shook their head. “No, Luna, they are not soone from that realm. The one you know as Lorzio Blaxen has always been tied to Enora, from what I’ve gathered that is.”
“How would you know that?” I asked curiously, yet Shaed waved his hand dismissively.
“We do not have the ti, nor I the patience, to explain the workings of the Pattern. Take my word for what it is. Blaxen has always remained on Enora,”
I frowned and swallowed. “Then how would I have seen him in my past life?”
Shaed gave a flat look. “Do you not recall what we’ve already spoken about?” He asked, disappointed.
I scoffed and threw my hands up. “So much has happened today, give a break!”
Shaed rolled his eyes but nodded. “I’ve told you that this is not your first run on Enora, Luna.”
My jaw fell open. “Excuse ?” I shook my head. “That doesn’t make sense!” I jamd a finger at him. “You said all of those attempts with before failed!” I snapped, recalling all the shattered bells within his tower. “You said all those tis I went loony or so shit, and you had to wipe my mory, which by the way is fucked up!”
“Luna, you are being irrational,” Shaed frowned. “Calm yourself, and let speak.”
I growled. “Why? So you can spin more lies? I’m sick and tired of you–everyone, really, hiding shit from !”
“Those attempts from before do not relate to your life now,” Shaed said bluntly. “What I’ve seen before was not from this echo but another.”
There it is again. That word… Echo.
“Yes. I see you’ve already co face to face with it.” Shaed said, “You’ve seen the Progninetor. Spoken to it, and… befriended it, so it seed.” He said curiously.
My lips felt dry. I blinked slowly, took a step back toward the door, and looked at him. “You’re talking about Cereb.”
“I’m talking about you, Luna. Or really, your source.” Shaed tried to clarify, yet it made little to no sense to .
“My, what?” I asked quietly.
“The Proginetor is the source of your echo, Luna. Think of it as the one who casts the shout from the top of a mountain. The voice that cos back to it, being the echo, is you. But also, the one who casts it is as well.”
Is he saying we’re not real? A goblin asked, concerned.
Well, clearly that’s bullshit, we’re right here. Another added.
Cereb did say sothing about us returning with a perspective. So what are we, a slave? A third chid in.
“Quiet those thoughts, Luna.” Shaed said, “I do not wish to scare you; I am rely speaking the truth as you asked.”
“By… what?” I mumbled, my mind drawing a blank. I ca here wanting answers so I could make my own decision. To finally take the reins and do things how I thought, yet not even minutes later, I’m being told that I’m not even my true self?
Shaed let off a sigh. “And you see why I did not want to tell you this before, Luna?” His voice softened. “Let be clear, that what you are is still you. You are a piece of sothing greater, sothing that has never been done before. When we t I said you were special, I was not lying or trying to be cliche.”
“Then what am I?” I whispered, eyes wide and eting his.
Shaed’s dark form lowered before , his black cloak stretching out beneath him as he crouched to et my gaze. “You are sothing new. You are my creation, separate from the Pattern and anything beyond any wielder’s creations. You are a piece of sothing greater, but more importantly, you are still your own being.” He reached out with a pale, thin hand and tapped my upper chest, though it phased through slightly like an ethereal ghost.
“I-I don’t… I don’t understand…” I admitted, my mind racing with and repeating his words in my head.
I was his creation, yet I was also my own being. But I was also part of sothing greater? This sounded like so bullshit spun together to make feel unique, but then again... I t Cereb. I’ve spoken to them and…
“That creature, that… thing.” I swallowed anxiously. “Cereb, was the na I gave it.” I looked to Shaed. “It–they called you the Master of Pains, they seed terrified of you… why?”
Shaed’s softened expression hardened once again, and he pulled away his form unnaturally, standing up straight in a far too smooth a motion. “Because I am what they say I am. I wield the construct of agony and death, the twilight that is the end.”
“That doesn’t really explain much–”
Shaed’s expression darkened, and he glared at . “The thods I’ve used to create your Progenitor and, in turn, you, Luna, were in ways no mortal should witness. It required vast quantities of ether to create a well so vast it could harness it all.” He held out an open palm, his fingers soon curling into a tight fist. “Do you know how I gathered all that ether?”
My stomach sank into a deep pit, and my mouth dried. “How many people had to die?” I asked, recalling what Shaed truly looked like. The massive, roiling mass of black tar, and contorting bodies of screaming victims. Were those the ones keeping Cereb and, in turn, alive?
Shaed didn’t et my gaze; he looked away again, this ti his attention focused on the mirror above the sink. A mirror that did not show his reflection but only my own. There, we could see my pale, terrified expression.
“Far too many,” He said softly. “But enough to satisfy the cost–”
“Are you fucking serious?!” I scread without thinking, my mind stuck on the idea that hundreds, if not thousands, of people, innocent or not, were sacrificed to make .
“And this is why…” Shaed growled as he sideeyed . “I withhold information from you.”
I trembled and looked down at my hands, small, pale, and scarred with small cuts I had yet to heal properly. “What am I?” I asked again. “What am I really?”
“You are Luna Ashflow.” Shaed said flatly.
“No!” I spat. “What am I really? What am I too you, Shaed?” I demanded. “Why did you make ? Why did you reincarnate ?”
“We’ve already gone over this–”
“Go over it again!” I ordered.
Shaed sighed and lowered his head, but did as I said. “I created you in order to defeat those that co from beyond.” His eyes t mine. “You’ve already encountered one of them, Putinov, a being that Mr. Blaxen referred to as a Prophet. A title that suits them well. As I told you previously, and honestly, I do not know much about these beings that co from beyond the threshold, Luna. All I know is that they are vast, and sothing here is keeping them at bay. Sothing that the Prophet wishes to disrupt. So as a counterasure, I made you.”
I shook my head; my mind was spinning. I was trying to understand, but it was so much. So much to take in at once.
“I know this is a lot,” Shaed said, “I wanted to wait until you were older and acclimated to this world and body. But, alas, outside forces began to ddle in my plans. Wielders with thier own agendas, similar, yet separate from my own stepped in.”
“What?” I asked, only half listening.
Charity and Venra were right. I was only a tool—a weapon, grood for his use.
“And then, they caught your scent. You and the Prophet t once again, and now the current of ti and the Pattern flows again.” Shaed said, twiddling his fingers in the air, “Like always, the cycle continues.”
“What the fuck are you going on about?” I barked, but then a knock ca from the bathroom door.
“Luna,” my father’s voice said, muffled and concerned. “Is everything alright?”
I looked over my shoulder at the door and sucked in a deep breath. Beside , Shaed spoke, “It seems our talk will be cut short, yet again. With our connection re-establish we shall speak more… but, Luna, let tell you this.” I looked at him, his face dark and serious. I felt a chill run down my spine
“The path I’ve chosen to walk is one I know will lead to misery. Many will see as the villain. Let them. You may not agree with either, but soon you’ll understand, for this is what I’ve created you for. Hate if you will, but know in the end that I am right.”
“It’s said the dark one’s armies first landed upon the golden coast in southern Eurion in the kingdom formally known as Aeilvian, which is modern-day Aeilhart, at the start of his Invasion. “Ancient reports indicate that the ships of the ti were unlike any seen before. Massive, long vessels made of an ingenious mix of hardened wood and tal, sturdy enough to brave the intense environnt, and leviathans of the Westriden Ocean. However, so scholars argue that, despite such brilliant engineering, a journey from the Southern Continent to Eurion would be impractical, even with an amphibious assault. Therefore, another staging area for the dark one’s Invasion had to exist…”
- Enora’s Last War, a Modern take on the Twilight Conflict, Rodger Bribbleham.
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