"Come no closer, child." The being warns. "The heat from my body will melt your flesh." The grounds grow still as the wetlands welcome new visitors. The darkness conceals the might of these two warriors as one is emboldened by the others' presence. The temperature rises around a large plume of smoke entrenched an intense smell of a fossil fuel burning slowly amongst the darkened path. Now, pointing towards his feet, the clouds dissipate to reveal an intensely steady flame. The flame, however, seems to be flowing through his body. Undeterred, she continues to traverse the murky plains as her pace continues slowly towards him. A self-serving smile embraces her as she keeps her head lowered to disguise who she is. A faint memory teases her as it resonates echoes of long before. Befuddled by her insistence, the brooding behemoth utters a warning once more. "I say again. Be wary of your alacrity, child. I do not speak bended words."
He turns his gaze upon her invasive presence. She walks closely to the beaten path. One so beaten that it now looks somewhat barren. A gentle swishing sound ejects from the waters as she treads onward. She reflects on several images that prolong her thoughts and entices her demeanor. "I know this being?!" Her mind slowly races with excitement as she briefly remembers several events with him. A large castle poses in the backdrop as she witnesses her family fleeing the courtyard. That thing was there! Amongst the crowded noises and insatiable screams, it was there!
He kneels to get a better look as the ground succumbs to his brutish might. "You there. State your name." His voice bellows with a foreboding tone as she can feel the immense heat warming the area before her. She stops for a moment and adjusts her crest. The crest, sensing the enormous energy shift, quickly fills with mana from his molten-steelish body. "Fear not, now, little one. Speak!" She dared not to provoke his anger as she remained silent no longer.
"A fair day it is to be in the presence of my lord." She offered a curtsy to show her respects. Acknowledging her kindness, he offered her patience as she had yet to identify herself. The cloaked "princess" became one with the darkness and vanished before him.
"A clever trick. Perhaps a game to soften the mood then." His large hands clasp as he uses cloaking magic to shield his aura. "Now…let's see who reveals whom first."
The urge to attack is only dampened by a need for information. Something's different about this one. A moment of familiarity awakens a sense of calm in this game and causes her to sheath her weapon just before impact. "That scent…I remember it from when I was young." She thought. The chamber grew colder as the being moved effortlessly amongst the shadows. "This was when Meiga introduced itself..:it was from the frozen fields near Gilden's Cross. Those plains are home to…" A strong, merciless swipe closes in towards her head. As she turns, she ducks before it strikes her. "Gilden?!" The blow decreases significantly upon hearing that name. "Does my ears deceive me? Has one learned of me? You! Where have you heard that name?!" He re-emerges near her. The air warms again as if ignited by a large flame. "The last I've known of you was just before I've known of Meiga." She stammered. "Do you know of that being? Surely this cannot be mere coincidence." Before he can say a word, his body language changes as if to be caught red-handed. "You're quite intriguing, little one. Perhaps I will indulge you." He raises his mighty hand and places a finger upon her head."Is this familiar to you?" He inquires. "You seem at peace with my presence. Perhaps you were apart of the factions amongst the Aegis people of Norah. Are you familiar with that name, little one?" His finger holds a similar power: foresight. The same as Meiga's but why? "Norah was a peaceful land with nearly no inhabitants. The Divine Guidance demanded a new species to interact with other cultures from different galaxies. The species had to be approachable, intelligent, courageous and strong. The Divine tried many times to use different materials from different worlds but made more oddities than anything close to what they wanted. Through several millennia, they sent scouts known as scrolls men to find worthy candidates to study their abilities. Several have come close but none closer than Meiga. A celestial being of sorts born from several dying stars, earth, stardust and a thing called a 'spirit'. These things could only be made by those of the Divine, only approved by the Divine and given dimensional protections once selected. But somehow, it seems you know of his presence. Therefore, you must be one of the experiments!" With this revelation, a new journey was beginning. "Wait…you know of my people?! How is that possible? The Divines are rumored beings. None of that makes sense."
"Have you heard of scrollsmen?"
"The protectors of wisdom and history?"
"Yes. One in the same. The beings are essential to the project you know as life. They are the connective fibers from your reality to the next."
"The next?! What do you mean by that?"
"I can share my knowledge with you but your mind will only reject this information. It is the will of the Divine to keep you from rising about your station. A way of control and a way to honor those before you…always."
"Always?!"
"It is the price of the life cycle. You give important data that helps their species survive. You live, you adapt to changes and adversity and then you die. In fact, the more you projects die, the more data created to maintain this system."
"So, we essentially have one purpose?"
"Yes. To be used to help elevate your creators."
The celestial being points towards the heavens towards a dark area in the great void of space.
"Do you recognize this location, project?"
She looks on but only sees a large empty section of the heavens.
"This is where you come from."
The majestic creature waves his mighty hand and points to a faint star amongst the darkness.
"There are no worlds here. Just a singular plain of existence known as Gilden. The celestial melting pot of the Divine. Great magical enigmas use complex building blocks to make species of creatures and anomalies so unique they eventually gained sentience. This production is known as fermentation of celluloidal prominence. The material is a byproduct of several influences from the ancients. Within it are organic materials that bind to things called spirits. For you, that would be your body. A result of galactic breeding with pure energy."
"But…what formed this energy? What formed these beings?"
"Again. I could tell you everything but you are unable to decipher the language necessary to understand it. I barely understand it anymore as the language is lost on my tongue."
The magnificent being lowers its cloak and allows the cloak to materialize into a new solar system.
"Did you understand what I just did?"
"No. Just felt a strong pulse and then I could see what looks like a cluster of stars form…from your cloak?!"
"Precisely, but as it formed, I explained the existence of all creation. You, however, only saw the result of my movements."
The being lowered its hand.
"Perhaps another lesson? Call your scrolls man. Have them interact with you."
"How exactly?!"
"Fret not with more questions. Do as I've asked."
Unsure of how to do that, a rush of memories flood her mind once more. This time different species celebrate moments of their existence in the plains of Gilden. She learns of its history and how the beings lived, fought and died. It seemed to be a meaningless and endless journey. No real purpose but to bide one's time until they pass. 'What a sad and joyless experience indeed', she thought. The plains were teeming with people and animals all beginning and ending at various stages for various reasons. They waged wars and sang together. They shared triumphs and failures but for what? What was the purpose?
"Still syncing with time, I see. Perhaps you'd like to try now?"
A large craft slowly hovers overhead. The craft makes no noise but keeps its position in the sky.
"Does it frighten or intrigue you?"
She takes a look and tries to make sense of what she sees.
"Intrigued. She lowers her cowl and gasps at the sheer beauty of it all.
"Take heed and enter the craft but only learn what I know you can understand. Attempting to learn the C'arna will cause you to have severe memory loss. The language is not for the ears of the projects. Do you accept my conditions, project?"
"Yes." She quickly responds.
"Very well. Now, before you do. You will need to do what was asked of you…"
Confused. She asks what that something was.
"To call upon the scrollsman. The vessel can help merge your reality with mine but you cannot stay in both for long. If you understand my words, begin."
The floor warms and slowly rises as it changes from stone to a glazed marble texture. The energy shift causes the craft to idle on but now a bit lower than before. The large crevice, above the two, begins to open. A magical dome appears around them as earth falls slowly towards them.
"Close your eyes and feel the shifting around you. Focus on that feeling and call."
With her eyes shut tightly, she can feel the odd warmth of the floor and can feel the pulse of energy shift from violent to calm. The rush of memories slowly fade as more recognizable images flicker in and out of her consciousness.
"Good. Breathe. Feel the crest within you fill with the energy surrounding you."
A bright hue emanates from below her bosom as her crest begins to heat up. A strange aura encapsulates her body as a faint glow surrounds the two. The craft remains visible for a moment then slowly fades as if cloaked by lighting and mirrors. The world around her fades and grassy fields come into view as the floor is now a plush plain filled with various flowers and plants. The great being fades from view and whispers. "Now…call it."