Changes(part 2)

Caster had gotten up earlier than Michael and was now seated outside on his chair having himself a warm cup of tea. The ghastly light of day tore through the cloudless, somber skies plunging the world in the embrace of a monotonous hue. The mist in the horizon held true, however, it appeared to have slightly receded. It was not very noticeable, it's imposing presence still devouring most of the horizon, but to a keen eye the change was apparent. The area around the cottage was still barren and lifeless, dark rocks and jagged stone littering it's vicinity lacking any semblance of life.

Standing by the door, Michael made his way down the steps in light footsteps towards where Caster sat. He wasn't sure whether their relationship was sour or not, Caster earlier words still in his mind.

However much he tried to suppress them, they loomed; a constant reminder of his rock bottom.

This however, was not the time to remember his pain and wallow in his suffering. He wanted to go forward and figure out his life's purpose and desire and Caster was hell bent on fulfilling a gods wish or whatever it was; this was the recipe for a mutually beneficial acquaintance. He was not going to let it pass him by. So he shoved those dark thoughts to the back of his mind.

The oppressive feeling of something watching him; that caused goosebumps all over his body, that he had experienced time and time again while outside appeared to have lessened greatly. This was a welcome reprieve, allowing him some semblance of serenity, but also a curious one. Was he only assaulted by the feeling because he wasn't awakened back then, or was it for a different reason entirely. It was safe to assume that the feeling receded because he awakened but he wasn't so confident that the Nether was so straightforward.

Walking on the hard ground, he felt lighter and more agile, his body brimming with such strength that he could crush a rock in his grip. Matter of fact, he might as well put it to the test.

He bent down and picked up a rock and proceeded to experiment. The results were not to his liking. Either the rock was tougher or he had misjudged his true strength because the rock didn't even chip.

As if noticing his experiment, Caster spoke up.

"They are enchanted, in fact, everything around here is enchanted. Good luck breaking stuff. Why do you think the mist never covered my house despite it lingering at the horizon and there being a wind that blows in unpredictable directions."

Now that he mentioned it, Michael finally saw it.

He had assumed- in all honesty, he had not even thought deeply on the matter, assuming the mist to be some ominous reality warp of the Nether whose mysteries he couldn't begin to fathom. To find out that it not devouring the area around them was the work of magic made his heart beat with anticipation. Amelia had hinted that there was a chance he could cast after awakening and Caster had reignited his hope when he pointed out that he still had some mana in him.

Maybe all was truly not lost.

He decide not to dally; he could of course try to learn more about the Nether now that he purposed to brave its horrors, but that too could wait. Immediate more pressing matters needed attention.

"I take it you want to know more about what you have become and I am your closest source of information? Seat." Caster spoke and Michael felt the cold sweat of apprehension cover him in it's chilling embrace once more. The issue of Caster reading his mind had not been addressed. He had almost forgotten about it, yet now, he couldn't help but feel dread at the nifty ability. He valued his privacy, that of his thoughts even more. Before he could voice this out, however, Caster continued.

"Calm you worries, I can no longer read your thoughts. Seat and I will explain." Michael did as prompted and sat on a boulder that had been carved into the shape of a chair.

"Don't be mistaken, I still despise you, but I will indulge your curiosity and see how this all pans out. I have not gone through awakening like you have; for the average person, awakening is very different. However, I do know what your awakening entails. Care to listen?"

What kind of question was that? It was the entire reason he had come out in the first place. He did not voice his annoyance, instead nodded for Caster to continue.

"Normally, it involves closure or coming to terms with ones fears or fighting against a version of yourself in the void. At least that is my inference from the countless experiences I have listened to. Once that test is passed, the legacy bestows upon you a seed of Deaths power. It is merely an infinitesimally small fraction and it's up to the emissary to grow it into it's true might. As you are now, you are a like a child. The strength you posses is nowhere near the true might of an emissary. However, since you have awakened, I am obligated to guide you" He said, concluding the last part begrudgingly earning Michael's annoyed look.

For a brief moment, Michael appreciated that Caster, by his words, didn't have access to his thoughts. He could finally think in his privacy, and currently he was ending Caster's life in many gruesome ways.

The process of awakening that Caster had highlighted was nowhere near what Michael had experienced. He pondered further, choosing to not be too rush with his conclusion.

He had, at one point in the void, decided to follow the course of his new life. Did that qualify, then, as a pass? Was that what prompted the child to appear and guide him to the thing. That reasoning felt insufficient and inaccurate.

Also, now that he thought about it, why was there a child. It had to have been a figment of his imagination, yet he couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to it. And in the end, the child wore a face familiar to him. Mysteries, mysteries and more mysteries dizzied his mind.

The child had eventually transformed into shadows that were now his soul? While in the void, he had accepted the changes, appreciating their beauty and basking in the deep connection he shared with the void. He hadn't, however, questioned their true nature.

Were the shadows the seed that Caster spoke of? Maybe.

What did that make the child then? Him? On this front, his mind drew blanks, he lacked the knowledge to venture further into that rabbit hole. So he stopped short of his steps and diverted his mind to something else.

He recalled his meeting with the being of light, there were shadows then too. The memory was hazy and parts of it were empty, but he remembered shadows flowing into him, or was it from him, then the ones that left; shaped in the silhouette of a man, and dissipated into nothingness. What were they, what was their purpose? Another dead end.

However, they were different than the once from his awakening. This ones were a dark purple.

It begged the question, what was the difference? Why was there a need for two different processes that seemed oddly similar save for a few nuances. If the legacy was the cause of both events, why not just merge them into one?

With all the questions that rose and the mysteries that plagued the start of his journey, Michael regressed to an earlier hidden thought. Did he really want to learn this truths? He was not that invested in his path; riding the flow only to make his second chance meaningful in hopes of finally getting the fulfillment he so craved from life. In that light, he had no real reason or need to pursue this truths, he could just let them be. A part of him was not content with this course, demanding he pursue the truth of his journey to all the ends.

His head felt heavy from the dizzying thoughts. 'One thing at a time' He found himself cautioning his raging mind. If at all he survived the Nether and whatever came next, maybe he would find all the answers. Maybe.

[Authors Note: Share your thoughts. Enjoy!]