Caleb’s head was starting to hurt as his eyes flicked back and forth across the tablet, skim reading another paragraph before moving on to the next. He sighed, massaging his temple as he flexed the stiffened fingers of his left hand, sitting up.

  The reading had been fun when he’d been fun when he’d been looking over small stuff for himself. But now, with this nebulous weight of uncertainty pressing down upon him he couldn’t focus. He looked up to the others. Just glancing at them it was clear the former air of joy was gone, replaced by a cold dread.

  Harrison was pacing around, his excited demeanour gone, replaced now by jittering hands and a constant mumbling. Layla was silent, unmoving as she sat a hand covering her mouth, her gaze distant – just like it had been back in Arrell. All the while Sierra sat in her seat, scouring over her tablet gaze focused. Caleb didn’t know what she was looking for, she couldn’t read anything from the database, but she seemed just as determined as him, if not more so.

  Ria was the only one unchanged, her flat expression mirrored by three clones who sat around her, all reading from separate tablets.

  He sighed again and looked back to his tablet.

  What can I search next? he thought. Trial protocol allowed information? Won’t that still be blocked?

  “Have you found anything yet?”

  Caleb glanced up at Harrison who still roamed around nervously.

  The four separate Ria’s all remained silent, ignoring him. Harrison looked to Caleb; his desperation clear.

  “Sorry, no” Caleb replied quietly.

  “R-Ria?”

  [Let me focus] Ria said curtly.

  “Sorry” Harrison mumbled stepping back.

  Caleb looked down to the in front of him, frowning. It was useless. There was basically nothing to be gleaned that he didn’t already know. And worse, there was nothing directly on the trial either. Just everything referencing the trial protocol.

  He glanced up, frowning as a muttering Harrison slowly grew louder and louder.

  “This isn’t the end. This isn’t. You’ll still get to go home. See whiskers again, mess around with Jamie, even let Chelsea annoy you twenty-four seven.”

  [Harrison] Ria muttered.

  “And then you can just go back to school, show off your healing and pretend everything’s ok. And- shit. No. What if this is it? But h-how can this be it? I mean you have to survive right? You can’t have come this far just to die.”

  [Harrison stop]

  “I mean if it really comes down to it we could even try and hide. Get out of it we need to and just stow away. Who cares if they call you a coward? You’ll be alive. That’s all that matters. The only thing that matte-”

  [Harrison!] Ria said, her voice hard. He looked up quick, flinching, before looking around embarrassed.

  “S-sorry” he muttered, hanging his head.

  The room was silent, shreds of Harrison’s anxiety permeating through the space. Caleb clutched his tablet tighter, flexing and unflexing his hand.

  “There’s no need to shout or be nervous” Sierra said, setting her tablet down. “If we have to go through this again, then we have to. We’ll face whatever’s coming head on. We’ve done it already; we can do it again”

  He looked to Sierra, the look in her eye different. He could see the focus so clearly written on her face, the determination he’d seen during the trial. She was thinking about things properly again.

  He looked back down to his tablet, before turning it off. As he set it down Caleb considered her words, reminded of the grim determination that’d given him these scars in the first place.

  She was good in that way. A leader. Someone always willing to charge into danger first, but strong enough to survive.

  She was the one who’d convinced him to follow her to the mountains after all. Without her they might not have even been here. And on top of all that, even after experiencing the comfort of safety, she could snap right back into the right mindset almost effortlessly.

  He wanted to speak up, tell her she was right. But his trembling hands betrayed him.

  Sure, he hadn’t had the chance to forget like the rest of them, but he wanted to. Now, he wouldn’t ever get the chance. In a way he felt robbed. To wake up in the comfort of safety only to immediately have it ripped away.

  How cruel.

  Without another word she stood, walking off with clenched fists.

  “Where are you going?” Harrison called out.

  “The training rooms” Sierra said.

  The others watched her go before Layla hopped up, quickly following after her.

  [She’s right] Ria said, closing her tablet too. There was a fizzle of magic and the clones at her sides disappeared as she sat back tired.

  “W-what’re you doing?” Harrison mumbled.

  [There’s no point searching] she muttered. [It’s designed not to give anything away. The only thing I found was an article that hinted at a bunch of stuff. All I know is that it’ll probably no- maybe, be shorter than the first phase.]

  She went quiet leaning her head back as she stared up at the ceiling.

  [Dammit, I should’ve been learning how to fight better. Not just reading. What am I going to do, attack the monsters with a book?]

  Caleb let out a half-snorted chuckle, before Harrison turned to him.

  “S-sorry” he mumbled quickly going quiet.

  Harrison stood still, his eyes darting side to side – frantic – as he looked over the floor, his panic building. Then just as quickly as it came it vanished and he was gone, walking off as he muttered to himself.

  Caleb had never seen someone’s change so quickly. But he couldn’t say it wasn’t understandable.

  “Is… is he going to be ok?” Caleb asked.

  [I don’t know] Ria mumbled, still lying flat on her chair. [He wasn’t… he’s not good with stress. I’m not either but I think… I don’t know]

  Caleb looked back to Ria, noticing the hints of anguish in her expression, and the well-hidden fear. Her mana fluctuated almost in tandem with her emotion, like the shimmering surface of rippling water. Caleb could feel the waves

  “Are you… ok?”

  [No] she replied flatly. He waited for more, but she didn’t speak again. So he sat in silence, the halls of the database quiet. He glanced behind him, then forward again, before looking up to the murals of Daen’s ancestor’s, the space suddenly feeling larger.

  What now?

  He looked down to his hand, the lines of his scars glowing dimly his hands trembled. His skill responding to his fear. It was a little unsettling he didn’t have control over something so dangerous, but probably necessary. If he wanted to learn how to use it properly. Knowing a trigger was a first step.

  “I should probably get to training too”

  [Uh… well… good luck] Ria replied.

  “You’re going to stay here?”

  Ria nodded, hand still covering her face. He nodded too, then stood, making his way towards the exit. The halls of the database felt cold now, empty as he walked alone. He’d been so excited to see his friends again, and now he was left with the same emptiness he’d felt after seeing Kana and Ryan.

  He exited the database, his thoughts falling to the back of his mind as he looked around, attempting to retrace his path via memory of the architecture. But as he walked he found the corridors and halls of the palace twisted and turn, a new yet profound sense of abnormality meeting him at everywhere corner as he retraced his steps, then retraced his retracing in an attempt to find a familiar sight. But the palace led deeper than he’d known, and bit by bit he found himself in stranger and stranger places, steadily growing more concerned at his circumstance before he finally accepted reality.

  He was lost.

  “Crap” he mumbled. He took off his crown wiping the sweat on his forehead, before looking around the now empty torchlit corridor he found himself in. “I thought this was… dammit. These stairs look exactly like the ones that lead to the courtyard. I should’ve just asked for directions. Why don’t they put signs around here?”

  He looked to the crown.

  I should’ve asked how to work this thing, he thought.

  Sighing, he turned starting back up the marble steps when he felt a powerful yet familiar energy stop on the landing above him. He looked up, watching as a group of silhouettes – all women – came to a stop talking amongst themselves.

  They were all well dressed in simple but detailed and varied garments and graceful in manner. But one woman stood out amongst them. He could tell who she was from the crown atop her head. Esaeni. Daen’s wife.

  He pulled his crown on again She started slowly down the steps towards him, her gazed fixed on him, as her troupe remained on the landing behind her, still talking quietly.

  [You really are awake] she said with a smile, her sharp blue-white eyes in stark contrast to her tan skin and dark hair. She offered a hand. [Welcome to my home Caleb Earthchild.]

  “Esaeni… milady” he mumbled awkwardly, taking her hand in a half curtesy half bow. She considered him for a moment then burst out laughing. He chuckled awkwardly letting it go as he stepped back.

  [There’s no need for such titles here. Please, just call me Esaeni]

  “Right. Sorry”

  [It’s ok] she said with a warm smile. [Walk with me]

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  “H-here?”

  [Yes. Why? Would you prefer something more inviting than the halls of Faena?]

  “I- no. It’s ok” he replied, not wanting to be rude. She nodded and started down the steps. He followed after her, glancing back up to the silhouettes of her retinue against the sunlight from the skylight before looking back to Esaeni.

  She was shorter than he’d expected, but held an air of grace about her that made her stand out. Her magic was interesting too. Strangely unnoticeable in a way he hadn’t quite seen before and yet familiar.

  His mind wandered for a moment, back to the first moments he remembered after waking. He frowned.

  “Did you- were you my healer? With the waves?”

  [Yes] she said smiling as she looked back to him. [It was quite comforting healing you. It’s rare I find someone with such a shared love for the seaside here given Falleon’s Fables]

  “Falleon?”

  [An old folktale of my people. Pay it no mind] she said, taking a torch from the wall of the corridor. She continued on silently, and he followed, the natural light behind them quickly fading. As they reached the far end, they turned a corner a corridor that stretched into darkness beyond. Caleb took another glance back at the stairs, distant now. He looked back to Esaeni, finding her further down the corridor, medieval torch still in hand.

  “Is this… safe?” he mumbled. She glanced back to him, her eyes almost glowing in the darkness of the corridor.

  [It’s fine. A relic of an old age, but still fine] she said. [We can leave this for another time, but I have something important to show you. And I doubt I’ll have much time before your second phase.]

  “I- you were looking for me?”

  [Of course] she replied, turning away. He jogged quickly, catching up to her.

  “How- I don’t understand? How did you find me? How did I end up where you wanted to take me?”

  [Maera, Daen asked her to keep an eye on you after all. If you were lost you should have called to her, or at least used your crown.] she said with a small smile. [As for this place… well it’s not in only one location shall we say]

  He frowned, then looked to the corridor, feeling the sudden shift in the magic around him. He looked around but was met with only darkness, the only light that of the torch. He expected it to creep him out, to throw what little sensibility his frayed nerves had left to the wind. But with the sound of flickering fire filling his ears and the slow pad of their footsteps he felt weirdly even.

  “Where are we?”

  [A transition point] she mumbled.

  “Transition point?”

  [I can’t explain more without using what little favour I have left]

  Frowning, he looked around again, then to the flames of the torch, it’s light constantly flickering in tandem with every waving lick of fire. The mana in the air warped again, the darkness taking on an even deeper quality.

  How the hell did I even end up here? he thought.

  One second, he’d been lost, and the next he was following some kind of magical healer Queen into a darkness that even his mana couldn’t escape. He reached out for the darkness, watched as the black of the shadow receded at his touch before filling the space once again as he moved his hand.

  “It’s all weird” he mumbled, still looking around. “Usually there’s noise… but now it’s just. Like my trait can only sense the mana of the darkness itself. It’s… flat”

  [Really? Interesting.] Esaeni replied.

  “I- what are we doing here?” he said. “What did you want to show me?”

  [It’s difficult to explain. I think it’ll be important for you to see, to understand. You have religion back on Earth, this is similar in a way. But this is… it’s a little more than that. Though a little less in some ways too]

  “I don’t understand” Caleb muttered, bewildered. The surroundings shifted again,

  [What do you know of the systems? Of our universe and those who wish to destroy it?]

  “Uh… I know that the system controls the Akashic Federation. I read it in the database. I know that there’s others too, that help it. Guides or something. And there were evil ones too. They control the Hilaric and Moshaic. I can’t remember their names, and I don’t really understand any of it. My friends, they explained it in passing but- I was lost to be honest”

  [Seems like a succinct summary for a beginner. What don’t you understand?]

  “I don’t understand any of it”

  [Would you like me to explain?] Esaeni asked.

  “Yes” he said.

  [It’s a long story]

  “I don’t care I just… s-sorry” he stuttered. “I- yes. Please. Some answers would be nice”

  Esaeni nodded, chuckling to herself, even her laughter graceful.

  [Alright. Since you’re so eager, I’ll start from the very beginning. With the fables.]

  “Fables?”

  [Yes child. The fables of everything] she said, her footsteps slowing as she turned him, eyes glowing softly. He gulped slightly unnerved, and Esaeni turned, continuing with her walk.

  [As the story goes, and as it has been told many times before, first there was nothing, then there was everything. In this everything there was chaos. Raw unfiltered power. The fundament, or primordial soup as my father likes to call it.

  The surroundings shifted again, and Caleb noticed the scars on his arm begin to glow dimly.

  [And from the chaos came order. No one knows how long it took, but a being emerged from the mess of base reality. A being of absolute and divine power.]

  “The system?”

  [Listen child, listen.]

  “S-sorry”

  Esaeni continued walking, and Caleb glanced to the flames of the torch growing brighter.

  [This being – The Super – as all refer to him to, is the father of magic. Through his will, he manipulated physical space and reality, shaping the chaos of the fundament energy into order. His will is mana itself. All who connect to his will, to mana are enlightened, given dominion over the universe in a way regular life is not.

  [But in doing so, in manipulating reality and giving it order, shaping it into what we currently know, love and cherish, he destroyed parts of himself. Key parts even he could not repair.] Esaeni paused suddenly, making a gesture over her heart and muttering to herself. [In his sacrifice we remember him, and live.]

  “Is… is that a prayer?” Caleb mumbled, his curiosity getting the better of him.

  [In a way] she replied. [Now. After recognising his inevitable doom, The Super decided to create his children. Three aspects of himself to oversee and maintain order his new and great universe. And so he created the great systems – The Akashic, The Hilaric, and The Moshaic.

  [The Moshaic – Everaan. His youngest and the embodiment of his desire for domination and control over all things. The Hilaric – Gildarch. His second and the embodiment of his determination and will, and The Akashic – Yuniea. His eldest and the embodiment of his desire for order.]

  “The systems” Caleb muttered.

  [Yes. They were created with the last of his strength, in perfect balance and harmony to maintain order, prosperity and peace within his new and wonderful universe]

  “But then why’re they fighting?”

  Esaeni smiled for a moment suddenly coming to a stop, as a small joyless chuckle escaped her lips. Her eyes lingered on the floor a moment before she looked back to Caleb, their sharp blue suddenly almost frightening.

  [All have asked that question Earthchild. Most have relinquished the idea of receiving an answer, but many have devoted their lives to it. Some have prayed for answers, some fought, and others, a small few sought to find the answer through greater means, though those are stories for a later time. Regardless despite how long this great civilisation has existed, how many great scholars and warriors have sought such answers, we still do not know.]

  Caleb gulped, unnerved by the hints of cynicism and in her tone. He felt like he’d missed something, stepped over some kind of line. But his curiosity got the better of him once again.

  “So- I know they’re fighting, but how exactly… the Akashic Federation is big. How big is this fight?”

  [It permeates all corners of space, Every known land, sky and sea. All men are its soldiers and all matter it’s grounds. It is a complete and utter intergalactic war, all three thirds of the universe fighting with each other]

  “And this is all… this just everything? This war?”

  [Yes] Esaeni said, solemn.

  “I- the entire universe it at war? That- how? How would- wouldn’t we have been able to tell beforehand?”

  [The universe is large Earthchild, and this war feeds on it. There are hundreds of planets like yours wiped out every day by its chaos, with every decision, every ebb and flow of battle billions are lost overnight.]

  “Can’t the system, our system do more? I mean- she’s basically God right? Isn’t… I don’t know, isn’t there a way to stop this?”

  [Do you not think she does everything she can? Yuniea, is our greatest asset, and the only one who truly embodies her father’s wish to . The others manipulate, break and bend reality in horrific ways that defile the sanctity of their father’s order. But Yuniea remains true to it, even if it costs her. She grants many more than the Everaan or Gildarch would even consider with her direct power. With records. She puts faith in us, in all her subjects in this federation, whilst putting her own existence constantly on the line. And you ask if she could do more?]

  “S-sorry” he mumbled. “I didn’t mean- I just”

  [It’s alright] Esaeni said calming. [She is a being of absolute order, and she prioritises what she must. I understand it’s hard to accept. It is a harsh reality, but it is reality nonetheless]

  They both went silent, Caleb mulling over the words she’d told him. The entire universe, at war. He couldn’t even fathom it. The space around him shifted again and the darkness disappeared revealing a wealth of mana so potent Caleb’s sense was instantly overwhelmed. He reeled from it for a moment before Esaeni steadied him, soothing him with the touch of a hand.

  [Apologies] she said. [I had not realised your trait was so sensitive. I should have warned you]

  He looked to her, then around as the ringing in his ears subsided, and found himself in an almost ethereal circular cavern. It was quiet. Only the soft and low hum of wind, the ruffling of grass and the tweet of birds carried into the cavern from a hole in the overhang above, through which a singular and soft beam came through illuminating the space. Infront of him lay a path, surrounded by water that led to the centre where a stone structure stood, bathed in the sunlight that streamed through a hole in from above.

  “It’s beautiful” Caleb mumbled.

  [Yes. Yes, it is] she said.

  “Is this what you wanted to show me?”

  [No. Come]

  Esaeni held him steady, and then slowly, they made their way down the path and into the structure.

  Caleb looked over the stone as they entered, studying its strange texture, before his eyes were drawn to an even stranger stone embedded in the far wall, and bathed partially in sunlight. He stepped over to it, looking over the marking engraved into its surface.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  [What I wanted to show you. Can you read it?]

  He looked over the words, reading them carefully.

  The world for which we inherit, and all manetic will,

  kingdoms of above.

  Destined soul, and the strands of fate,

  Do to all as the guide does.

  Our descent, and all that is divine,

  we bless unto you, The Super and his love.

  In golden fire, In skies of ash,

  flies the Earthbound dove.

  From this day, and forever more we shall wait,

  For thine hero, sent from above.

  Ender of Ends, winner of wars,

  by his fist, all will be reborn with order, liberty, and love.

  “Yes” he said. “Is it a poem? What does it mean?”

  [It’s a totem. A prophecy or... hope of sorts. They’ve been found all over the place, written by our ancestors on this planet and many others years before any were even part of the federation, before many had even made the connection to the Super's will. And they all read the same. No one knows their true meaning, but many believe... things.]

  “What do you think?”

  [I think it’s about you]

  “What? Me? I- what does any of this have to do with me?”

  [IAs of right now, it would be unwise to explain more. I don't know if I even could. Using more favour than I already have... I'm sorry, it's not possible.]

  “W-why?”

  [It’s the way things work. I’ve already informed you of far more than you should know.]

  He looked back to the stone.

  “I don’t understand”

  [You will in time]

  “I- do my friends know about this?”

  [No]

  “Can I tell them?”

  [You can try. Though I do not know if your favour will be enough. Many believe this to be about you, but Supreme Guide Yuniea does not yet seem so convinced. I doubt she'd allow you to share this information so freely]

  Caleb stared at the stone, before looking at the scars that ran along his hand. He’d come here looking for answers, and he’d received them. But now he had far more questions too.

  “Why’re you telling all this to me?”

  [When you defeated Arithorson with the power of your punch and the detonation of selected Eriana’s sword, you did a great favour for this family. Restored honour in a more than meaningful way. People already believe you are special but my husband think’s you’re connection to this family is divine. And I do too. But my Daen is a powerful man. He will make you an offer before the end of today, or at least before the second turn of your trial is upon you. He hopes to guide you to the future so many believe you can achieve. You would be wise to accept.]

  “I… alright”

  [I’d talk to you more, but I’ve said too much already] she said, with a small smile. [Sorry if I’ve unsettled you, I’ve found myself rather unable to keep my emotions in check. Must be the baby. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. These are exciting times after all]

  She took Caleb’s scarred hand, looking over it for a second before letting it go. As she released it, Caleb found himself back in the original courtyard, outside his castle door. He looked around surprised, sensing no shift in the magic, then looked to Esaeni as she made her way back down the walkway. She paused suddenly, turning back to him as her silver blue dressed flowed beautifully in the wind.

  [Caleb?]

  “Y-yes?”

  [You should visit our child some time before you leave. Hold her] she said, nodding to herself. [It’d be good will for both of you.]

  “I- ok” he said. With that she offered a smile and turned away continuing down the walkway as people bowed for her.

  He stared at her in silence, confused sort of tranquillity settling in his stomach before looking up to the sky. The wind washed over him, ruffling his hair gently as he sighed.

  “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” he mumbled.