My name is Alexander Evans but around here, everyone calls me dad.

  I fell asleep in my bed beside Aurora, exhausted after a day of training and preparation. The compound had finally begun to take shape, our family and closest allies now safely gathered under one roof. Two years and ten months until The Fall, and every day counted.

  Sleep claimed me quickly that night. Yet instead of dreams, I found myself standing on a familiar gray and black checkerboarded floor and massive obsidian columns rising around me like the legs of some cosmic titan.

  I reached instinctively for my mana, preparing to cast Spider’s Calm in this unfamiliar environment.

  “That won’t be necessary here, my Archon. Simply will it to be and it will be so; much like your Mind Palace function.”

  Lilith appeared before me, her obsidian skin absorbing light rather than reflecting it. Her midnight-black hair flowed around her like a living shadow, the tips shimmering with what looked like distant stars. Her eight eyes upon her shoulder and arms regarded me with interest, galaxies spinning where pupils would normally be. A smile played across her lips as she watched my automatic defensive response.

  I was wearing my finest suit, charcoal gray with subtle purple accents on the tie and pocket square; colors and clothes I hadn’t chosen myself. The Needle of Fate gleamed on my finger, its platinum surface catching starlight that shouldn’t exist in this enclosed space.

  “Where am I?” I asked, relaxing my stance but remaining alert.

  “This is the space between spaces,” she replied, her voice flowing like silk. “But tonight, you have been summoned elsewhere. You are to observe a gathering of the ascended.”

  She approached a section of the darkness that seemed no different from any other, yet when she touched it, a doorway of purple light materialized. She gestured toward it but made no move to lead me. Instead, she waited, clearly expecting me to take the initiative.

  I straightened my tie and stepped forward without hesitation, causing that smile to widen slightly with approval.

  “You must observe a critical rule,” she continued as I approached the doorway. “You must not speak unless directly addressed and given permission to answer. Even then, choose your words with extreme care. One wrong move and a species might never see the following day.”

  I raised an eyebrow questioningly.

  “The knowledge of this place is not meant for mortal minds,” she explained. “If you attempt to speak of what you witness here when you return to Earth, your words will emerge as painful gibberish that harms those around you. The cosmic truths cannot be translated into human language without consequence.” She casually continued.

  As I reached the threshold of the doorway, she added, “Stay close to me, and do not draw attention to yourself. Not all here are pleased by your presence.”

  I nodded and stepped through the doorway, Lilith following close behind as reality shifted around us. For a moment, we passed through a series of visions that staggered my mind:

  A world where crystalline beings communicated through geometric patterns of light, their cities floating among gas clouds of impossible colors.

  A realm of liquid consciousness where entities flowed together and apart, sharing thoughts as easily as water shares current.

  A barren planet where silicon-based lifeforms carved mathematical equations into mountains, each formula altering the very fabric of their reality.

  A sea of living plasma where fire-beings danced in complex rituals, their movements creating and destroying matter in rhythmic cycles.

  Each vision lasted only seconds but imprinted itself on my consciousness with perfect clarity. The sheer diversity of life, of intelligence, of civilization beyond Earth’s understanding was humbling and terrifying in equal measure.

  Finally, the visions coalesced into a single location; a vast amphitheater floating in a void filled with stars and cosmic phenomena I had no names for. Beings of impossible forms occupied thirteen shadowed viewing boxes that ringed the top of the circular space. Below them, countless lesser boxes filled with entities that ranged from vaguely humanoid to completely abstract, their forms constantly shifting between states of matter.

  In the center of the amphitheater floated countless viewing spheres, each showing different worlds, different realities. With a start, I recognized Earth in one of them; specifically, my compound, where my sleeping body presumably still lay.

  Lilith followed as I made my way to one of the thirteen shadowed boxes near the top of the amphitheater. As we entered, I felt countless eyes turn toward us, some curious, others hostile.

  “The Spider brings her pet,” a voice rang out, melodious yet cutting. “How quaint.”

  From across the amphitheater, occupying another of the thirteen premier boxes, a being of pure white light regarded us. Though formless at first glance, there was a suggestion of feminine features in the light, beautiful and terrible at once. Behind this radiance stood a figure in ancient armor, his eyes vacant, his posture unnaturally still.

  “Aeternia,” Lilith acknowledged with a slight nod. “How is Arthur enjoying his eternal servitude?”

  The armored figure didn’t react, but the light being flared brighter with what I sensed was anger.

  “At least I chose a worthy vessel,” Aeternia replied. “You elevate vermin and call it investment.”

  I suddenly became very glad that I could switch my emotions on and off at the briefest of worry in this place. The power of the entities around me, to snuff out a civilization, made a stone face the greatest weapon a negotiator could have. This was poker with lives as chips.

  Several beings around the amphitheater shifted uncomfortably at this exchange between the two Higher Constellations. I noticed one in particular; a massive ursine form with russet fur streaked with silver, his amber eyes watching the proceedings with measured interest from another of the premier boxes.

  “My fellow Constellations,” Lilith began, her voice carrying effortlessly throughout the vast space. She never raise her voice but it seemed to slither into your ears like fabric.

  “We stand at the precipice of a new era, one shaped by the actions of my chosen Archon.”

  A murmur rippled through the gathered beings, their whispers filled with disbelief and scorn. Lilith raised a hand, and silence fell like a heavy shroud.

  “Alexander has defied the very fabric of fate itself,” she continued, a hint of pride coloring her words. “Through his ingenuity, his relentless determination, and his unwavering loyalty to his family, he has rewritten the destiny of an entire world.”

  I remained still beside her as the assembled cosmic beings discussed me as if I weren’t present.

  “Your pet human got lucky,” Aeternia scoffed. “A Chaos Seed given too much rope will eventually hang himself; they all do! Humans lack the capacity for true cosmic understanding. They are fleeting creatures; with lives as brief sparks that extinguish before they grasp even the simplest truths.”

  “You forget yourself, Aeternia,” came a new voice from another of the thirteen premier boxes. A being comprised of shifting faces manifested, its form constantly rearranging into new ones with different features and races. “Some of US were human once.”

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  “And have since transcended such limitations,” Aeternia replied dismissively. “Though the stench of mortality clings to some more than others, Solomon.”

  Solomon seemed to grow more defined, his form solidifying into something approximating an aged king surrounded by scrolls, hands adorned with rings. “I find it curious how those who were never human seem most eager to dismiss them. Perhaps you fear what they might become, given the chance.”

  Across the amphitheater, in a middle tier box, a massive figure wreathed in lightning leaned forward. His beard seemed to capture thunderstorms, his eyes flashing with electricity. “They adapt quickly,” he rumbled in a voice like distant thunder. “That has always been their strength.”

  “And their weakness,” countered a being composed entirely of living flame from yet another box. “They change direction with every new discovery; like a child, lacking the consistency of true cosmic vision.”

  Other beings began to join the conversation, some supporting Aeternia’s dismissal of humanity, others defending our potential. I watched in fascination as cosmic politics unfolded before me, gradually understanding that I had become a focal point in some ancient conflict between factions.

  From a shadowed box directly across from ours, a being composed of absolute darkness observed silently. Unlike Lilith’s absorption of light, this entity seemed to be the absence of light itself, a void given consciousness. Though it offered no words, I sensed its interest in the proceedings was perhaps the keenest of all.

  Suddenly, a deep resonance filled the amphitheater, silencing all conversation. The viewing spheres in the center pulsed with unified light, and a message appeared in the air, visible to all present:

  Constellation Tier System Notification: Subjugation Quest Issued

  Subject: Alexander Evans (Archon of Lilith)

  Quest: Subjugate or Cull half of the population of Beastholme on the planet of ArcFauna

  TimeLine: Teleportation will commence Two Earth Years from tomorrow.

  Status: Mandatory for Temporal Reversal

  Additional Rewards and Quests will be given at a later date.

  The amphitheater erupted in chaos. The Ursine being I’d noticed earlier rose to his full height, towering over his premier box. “This is outrageous!” he roared, his voice carrying the growl of a predator. “The beast folk are under my protection, Ursus Sapiens. By what right does The System issue this decree?”

  Another Constellation, this one appearing as a swirling quantum probability field, pulsed with what seemed like amusement. “By the right of balance, Ursus. Your champion Toko slaughtered humans under Aeternia’s guidance. The System requires equilibrium.”

  From a box composed entirely of flowing water, a trident-bearing entity leaned forward. “The human has proven resilient thus far,” he said, his voice like the crash of waves. “Perhaps he will surprise us again.”

  “Or perhaps he will drown in the depths of his arrogance,” replied a somber entity wreathed in shadows, his form suggesting wealth and hidden power.

  I felt the weight of countless gazes turn toward me, some calculating, others furious. The bear-headed being, Ursus, stared directly at me, his amber eyes reflecting both rage and something deeper, almost like recognition.

  Lilith placed a warning hand on my shoulder as Aeternia’s light drifted closer to our box.

  “The human will fail,” Aeternia declared. “They always do when faced with true power. His mind will break under the pressure, his spirit will crumble, and his pitiful species will be extinguished as they should have been long ago.”

  Several formerly human Constellations bristled at this, their forms fluctuating with barely controlled anger. One, resembling a warrior queen wreathed in lightning, stood abruptly from the lower tiers.

  “You forget your history, Aeternia,” she said, her voice crackling with electricity. “Humans have overcome every obstacle placed before them. Where you see weakness, I see adaptability. Where you see ignorance, I see potential for growth.”

  “And where I see a failed experiment,” Aeternia replied coldly, “you see sentimental attachment to your origins. How... quaint.”

  As their argument intensified, I noticed something strange happening with the viewing spheres. The images of Earth and what must be ArcFauna were moving closer together, the boundaries between them blurring slightly. No one else seemed to notice, their attention focused on the escalating conflict.

  Lilith leaned close to me, her voice barely audible. “Watch carefully, my Archon. The pieces are moving into position.”

  A being composed of pure starlight suddenly chuckled, drawing everyone’s attention. “While you all bicker, wagers must be placed. The odds favor failure, naturally, but the potential rewards for backing this human... they could be substantial.”

  One by one, the Constellations began declaring their positions, some betting against me, while others placed their cosmic currency on my success. Throughout it all, I remained silent, absorbing every detail, cataloging every potential ally and enemy.

  In one of the thirteen premier boxes, a figure that had remained silent throughout the proceedings finally stirred. It appeared as neither male nor female, its form constantly shifting between polarities, its very existence a paradox of opposing forces in perfect balance.

  “I find it fascinating,” the entity said, its voice simultaneously ancient and youthful, “that we continue to debate the potential of mortals while forgetting that potential is precisely what defines them. They are not what they are, but what they might become.”

  A reverent hush fell over the amphitheater at these words. Even Aeternia seemed momentarily subdued.

  “I, for one, welcome this development,” Solomon added into the silence, his form fully resolved into that of an ancient king. “It has been too long since anything truly unpredictable occurred in our realms. The human brings chaos, yes, but from chaos comes creation.”

  “Or destruction,” Aeternia countered, recovering her composure. “I will not stand idly by while Lilith’s pet threatens the cosmic order.”

  “You will do precisely that,” Lilith stated, her voice taking on an edge I hadn’t heard before. Ancient power resonated in her words. “The System has issued its decree. Even you must abide by its decisions, Aeternia.”

  For a moment, I thought Aeternia might attack. Her light form pulsed with barely contained fury. Instead, she turned to address the assembled Constellations.

  “Remember this moment,” she declared. “When the human fails and the consequences ripple across realities, remember who championed this foolishness.”

  With that, she vanished in a blinding flash, her servant Arthur disappearing with her.

  The amphitheater gradually emptied as other Constellations departed, some casting curious glances in my direction, others pointedly ignoring me. Soon, only Lilith and I remained in our box, along with Ursus, who approached us with deliberate steps.

  “Spider,” he acknowledged, his voice a deep rumble. “Your Archon faces an impossible task. The beast folk will not submit willingly to human rule and culling them would mean genocide.”

  “Nothing is impossible for the right mind,” Lilith replied smoothly. “Perhaps there are solutions neither of us has considered.”

  Ursus turned his amber gaze directly to me. Despite Lilith’s warning, I felt compelled to meet his eyes. There was anger there, yes, but also a profound sadness, a weariness that seemed at odds with his powerful form.

  “Human,” he said, addressing me directly. “You may speak.”

  I glanced at Lilith, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

  “I have no desire for genocide,” I said carefully, my voice sounding strange in this cosmic space. “Nor conquest for its own sake. I do not do any of this out of malice, but necessity to protect my home; the same as yours I’d wager Great Ursus.”

  Ursus studied me for what felt like an eternity. “Perhaps,” he said finally, “that is something we have in common.”

  Without another word, he turned and departed, leaving Lilith and I alone in the vast amphitheater.

  “What happens now?” I asked; the weight of what I’d witnessed settling into my bones.

  “Now,” Lilith said, “you prepare. Two years is not long by cosmic standards, but it should be sufficient... if you are as resourceful as I believe.”

  She reached out, placing a cool hand against my forehead. “Remember what you can, Archon. The details will fade upon waking, the mortal mind cannot fully retain cosmic truths, but the essence will remain.”

  As darkness began to encroach on my vision, Lilith’s final words echoed around me. “The Threads of Fate have been rewoven, and a new tapestry emerges. At its center stands you, the mortal who dared to challenge the gods themselves with a contract.”

  I awoke with a gasp, sitting bolt upright in bed. Aurora stirred beside me, her hand finding mine in the darkness.

  “Babe? What’s wrong?” she murmured, still half-asleep.

  I opened my mouth to tell her about Pandemonium, about the Constellations, about the Subjugation quest that had just been placed on my shoulders. Instead, a garbled noise emerged, like static mixed with broken glass. Aurora flinched, her hands flying to her ears.

  “What was that?” she asked, now fully awake and alarmed.

  I tried again, focusing on just the simplest details, but the same painful gibberish poured forth. Understanding dawned on me; Lilith’s warning had been literal. I could not speak of what I had witnessed.

  “Bad dream,” I managed instead, the words coming normally when I avoided any mention of Pandemonium. “Go back to sleep.”

  Aurora studied my face in the moonlight, unconvinced but unwilling to press further. She seemed to know when I wasn’t myself.

  “Whatever it is, we’ll face it together,” she said, squeezing my hand.

  I nodded, lying back down beside her while my mind raced. Two years to prepare for a cosmic task I couldn’t even explain to my closest allies. Two years to find a solution that wouldn’t require genocide or submission.

  As Aurora’s breathing deepened, drifting softly back to sleep, I stared at the ceiling. The weight of worlds settled onto my shoulders. In the darkness, I could almost see the cosmic viewing spheres, Earth and ArcFauna slowly merging at their edges.

  The Fall was coming, but it wasn’t the only crisis looming on the horizon. The Subjugation awaited, and with it, perhaps the true test of what I had become. I closed my eyes, allowing my consciousness to drift toward my Mind Palace. There was work to be done, and precious little time to do it.

  The world might end in three years, but my deadline had just become much tighter.