6 A Fool's Story

In a hall of black, the tapping rang out.

A slow deliberate tap that hid an impossible surge of manic violence, like a brewing storm that had been kept contained for too long.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

"How long has it been?"

"I wonder when you will awake."

"Take your time... it doesn't apply to me."

Tap.

Tap.

Ta…

"I think, I will tell you a story. One from long ago, set before many of the worlds and realms that are known. This is not a story of the creation, but the finding."

"I hope you are comfortable, this is a long story without a happy end."

Chuckling slightly to himself the skeleton looked down at the cocoon beneath his throne as it throbbed with a dark luster. Inside of it he could see the figure of a woman as she took slow deep breathes in a restful slumber but beneath her was the figure of Eva as her body was disintegrating.

Ever so slowly, a single strand, a tiny shred of Eva was peeled from her body by invisible forces only for it to twist and curl below Luhra, as if finding a place for it to fit.

This process had continued on long enough for Eva to wish for death, but it was not to be, instead she could only watch her own body melt and regrow in an endless cycle, causing her to cry out in constant anguish.

"Luckily for you, your voice cannot reach her."

Sitting back in his throne the skeleton peered up as he spoke, looking not up but back.

"A long time ago a foolish man set out to find the truths of the universe. And find them he did, for he created a map, a map that scanned and encompassed all of the worlds and realms."

"With this map he went on a great journey from one land to another, discovering great civilizations at their peak but also at their worst, as they wore away, letting him see the end of what once was."

"It was on this journey that the man made a mistake. The map he so painstakingly made was of a price that he could never understand, but to those that heard of him… it was, priceless."

"Through multiple worlds the man was chased, hunted by so many that wanted his knowledge and power but luckily the man had friends that helped hide him. They protected him as entire worlds descended from the skies above, armies composed of all manners of creatures fell on him like rain as he hacked them apart, his right hand holding a sword tightly, as his left held the map… never letting it go."

"Safe against all… until he was betrayed…"

"The friends that the man believed in so strongly convinced the man to cede them part of his knowledge, his power, so that they may help him end the fighting once and for all.. and so the man foolishly agreed."

"Having gained this power the group of them wrested the map from the man's hands, using its power against him as they twisted the worlds and realms, ruining the cycle that even he did not dare to interfere with. By doing this the map was destroyed… torn to pieces that they vainly struggled to grasp, but such knowledge was out of their understanding."

"In rage they struck the man, over and over, attempting to force the man to speak of his knowledge and create a new map… one that they could use to rule as gods."

"But the man refused… time and time again he refused. Despite what they did to the man, the tortures they put him through as he was buried inside dying planets and forced to experience their demise, he held on, fully understanding that the knowledge he gained should never be passed on…he would take it beyond death."

"And so finally they grew tired, they locked the man away. They hid the man where no one would ever find him, in a lifeless world, trapped beneath that of all other worlds, with only a single entrance that was to remain forever closed."

"He was left alone, suffering for his own foolishness. Left with nothing but the knowledge of his mistakes."

"So what do you think of my story?"

"I hate the story of such a foolish man… I would kill him given the power."

A sigh escaped the skeleton as he peered down, his voice faint.

"When will you awaken my dear?"

The figure of the woman stirred slightly, her brow crinkled and a single tear rolled down her cheek, perfect in shape, but unseen by the skeleton as he looked up once more, not even having the heart to begin his echoing tap.

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