Inside of an inn— the atmosphere was tense.
Sweat dropped from a chin. Eyes darted to a book.
"The Truth…" Falcon whispered.
*What could it be..?* Marie gulped.
"Damn it!" Naomi grabbed the book from a table and read out—
"The Truth."
Her fingers flipped the cover and read out—
"The Truth behind the Empire. Behind our nation, behind this continent."
"And the truth about the First Emperor."
The page had flipped.
"A millennia and some time ago, the First Emperor was descent upon the world."
A millennia ago—
A baby cried out.
The baby's eyes purple like a gemstone. Sparkling as if it was illuminated by a thousand stars.
"waaa! waaa!" The baby screamed.
"Haha! It's a boy it seems!" A man proudly said.
"What shall we name him..?" A woman said tiredly said.
The man had thought— *My boy.. a great name, a name that will be immortalized.*
"Austeci." The man looked to the baby.
"Your name is Austeci."
Years had passed— Austeci grew into a fine teenager. He was righteous and fair. Benevolent to all, his parents especially proud of the boy's patience and kindness.
It was a certain day.
The world had not birthed a man of righteousness— but a king of kings.
The tides of this planet had shifted— permanently.
Austeci lied in a forest, underneath a tree.
"Shade for a hot day, splendid." He sat reading a book.
BA-DUMP. He felt a sharp pain in his chest.
"Mmffgg…" Austeci groaned. He tried not to attract any attention to himself.
*What could this possibly be?! Is my life depleting… Everything is turning so dark!* Austeci held his chest in pain.
"AAAGGHH!" He screamed with all his might.
His body went numb— and he gave out.
A world of possibilities bestowed upon him.
He had looked around and seen countless nebulae, galaxies, and realms.
"What is this…?" He glanced upon this realm of possibilities.
A voice spoke out to him—
"This is your Soul State. The place where your soul's current state is reflected and materialized into a realm."
Austeci had looked around — "Who are you..?!"
The voice responded— "I am you."
"I am your soul speaking to you."
"My soul… speaking to me?" Austeci couldn't wrap his head around the idea.
"You see— everyone has a soul, and a soul state. Only powerful souls will be able to cross over to their soul state, or souls who have been granted a Soul Pact."
"Once they cross over— a question is posed."
"Will you take the role of protector in this world?"
"People will choose— some say yes, some say no, those who do agree, become corrupt and unfair. Some go insane because of the powers bestowed upon them. This phenomenon had occurred 500 years ago, nobody has taken the role of Protector." Austeci's Soul spoke.
"Austeci— Will you be the Protector of this World?"
Austeci thought for a moment.
*Protector of the World…? Unbeknown powers bestowed upon me…? That's too much power for one man to handle.*
"No— I pose you a question. How about I share my powers with the world?" He looked across the realm.
"Hmm.. you truly are good!" The Soul spoke.
"Ultimate Creation— that is a befitting Pact for you."
Austeci was sent into the real world.
"Hha.. hha.. hha!" He panted.
He stuck out his hand. *I'm alive..* Closing his fist and reopening it.
"Ultimate Creation…?" He whispered.
*Alright.. let's see if this works.* He closed his eyes and concentrated his efforts into his hands.
"I want to create… an apple." He mumbled.
bzzzhhkkttt!
An apple formed from nothingness into his hands.
"Haha! So it is real!" Austeci yelled out.
He had stood up from underneath the tree.
"A spear!" He had created a spear from nothing.
Austeci had looked at the spear and apple he made.
"This power.. is it really responsible for a human to hold?"
Austeci shook his head— *Faith in humanity. Faith in my brethren. Faith in myself as a protector.*
He stuck his hand out.
"A fruit bowl!"
"A cow!"
"Herbs!"
"A great-sword!"
Austeci had created all these things— exhausting himself.
"Haha! So.. it… really is reality!" He smiled lying on the floor.
"Mooo.." The cow licked his face.
"Perhaps it's about time, to share this with the rest of the world."
Austeci's eyes filled with life.
The state of the world had altered.
Austeci's hands formed together.
He closed his eyes.
He opened the Soul's of every being on Earth.
"I bestow unto this planet."
"The gift of the Soul Pact."
The entirety of humanity had fallen unconscious.
The change of their body and soul required rest and relaxation.
"Alright.. I shall get some sleep too."
"Undo." Austeci raised his hand. Erasing the creations he had made in the forest.
Time had passed—
Austeci revealed his Soul Pact, how he did it, and what it could do.
A young boy had walked up to him one day.
"Sir, sir!" The young boy said.
"Ah, hello little one!" Austeci knelt down and patted his head. "What's your name?"
"Artemis!" He smiled. "Sir… Sir Austeci, if you don't mind. Could you I be your apprentice?"
And there it was.
Austeci and Artemis had met, taking the young Artemis under his wing and altering the course of history.
Austeci had been hailed the King of Kings— Creator of Nations, and formed the first empire the continent had seen in millennium.
Austeci had spoke out in a crowd of many.
"In honor of my late father— I shall name this nation, the empire of Laveton. We will be good to our people, our neighbors, and this planet."
The crowd cheered—
"First Emperor! First Emperor!" A chant had started.
Soon enough, nations were created— with the help of Austeci, a dark age of the continent was no more.
He had assisted in the birth of—
Maveli, Archaia, Laveton, and Velarun.
4 distinct nations that had shaped the world, with their profound culture, innovations, traditions, ideas, and people.
On a specific day—
The birds chirped, the sun shining on a field of grass.
Artemis and Austeci spoke.
"So how old are you now, Master Austeci?" Artemis spoke.
"I'm 43 now.." Austeci chuckled.
"20 years older than me.." Artemis laughed. "I was just 6 years old when you took me on. Can't believe you did that."
"Artemis." Austeci looked at the sun.
"I believe I have found what it seems to be an angel." He spoke sternly.
"An… angel?!" Artemis scoffed.
"The angel spoke to me— apparently my deeds on this planet have much weight to them. So much in fact, I can transcend my being into one, protecting the souls that have passed on." Austeci looked down.
"So, Master… are you doing to do it?" Artemis looked at him.
"Yeah. I've given it a lot of thought. I'll transcend. This will be the last you see of me." He chuckled.
Artemis had jumped into Austeci's arms. "I'll miss you… one day, you will take me."
Austeci patted Artemis on his back—
"I'll promise you that. I will."
Naomi flipped the page—
"That is the truth."