Chapter Two

But all things must come to an end and so does your pleasant little journey. What's laid out before your eyes is a construct which defies all logic. An upside down pyramid supporting several structures and orbited by many small moons.

"Here we are! This is Lord Champas own personal planet!" Vados declares.

"W-Why are we here?" You ask nervously.

"What? Did you think I'd stay on that stupid little planet of yours? No... You'll cook me my meals here! In my home!"

Upon landing at the structure you feel your legs give out under you after literally flying through space. Being in such an alien environment is really putting a strain on your mind. It is unbelievable to think that you of all people would be the first to make contact with alien lifeforms outside the afterlife. It's even worse that now you're standing on an alien planet.

But luckily your new employer is quick to snap you back into reality. "Hey! Get up! I wanna show you around so you know your place!"

"R-Right. Say... Lord Champa." You speak up as you look to the side and spot some people far away. "A-Are those... people?"

"Ignore them. They are of no concern to you." He then turns to the other aliens. "HEY YOU! THIS IS MY NEW SERVANT! ANY OF YOU WORTHLESS MAGGOTS TOUCH HIM AND I'LL DESTROY YOU! GOT THAT?!"

Your boss then shows you around his "crib" as he refers to it. Mainly he showed you a garden which can apparently grow any type of vegetable, a pond with pure water and the kitchen which will serve as your new workplace. According to Vados they can "procure" any tool you'd ever need so if you lack something you should just ask. But after everything was said and done they pulled you aside and sat you down at a table.

"Now then, I believe it's time to discuss your compensation for your troubles. Since you know how much it'd take to procure the necessary ingredients I'd like to hear what you have in mind."

"What do you mean?"

"What would you like as payment?"

You scratch your head at her offer. "I guess... Gold?"

"I see. So you use precious metals as currency. How much?"

You start counting on your fingers until Vados hands you a piece of paper and a pencil.

You have no idea where she got them from but whatever. Though you aren't too up to date with the standard market value of fucking gold you do manage to somewhat figure out a decent little wage for yourself.

In the end you decide on roughly 30 kilos of gold as initial payment for the various tools and equipment you'd need. And about 3 kilos of gold for your monthly wage. She looks at the paper and nods.

"Is this the average where you come from?"

"Not really. It's a pretty decent one.

But I thought since I work for a god I might as well ask for something more fitting. Wouldn't want to disrespect Champa now would we?"

Vados chuckles at that. "Very well then. I'll get onto-"

"Wait! Before you say anything may I ask a few questions?"

"Of course!"

"Well... for starters, how am I going to get back home? Do I get a ride or... maybe a teleporter?"

"Oh goodness no. Such a thing would be too dangerous for someone like you. No, I'm afraid I'll have to handle your transportation. But don't worry. I'm sure we'll have a great time together!"

"Y-Yeah... About that. What... exactly are you? I mean if Champa is a god then does that make you an-"

"An angel."

"Literally or metaphorically?"

"Literal."

"Great. Now to wrap my head around THAT.

So... you are both divine. And I work for you now. Does that come with some sort of a... perk? Like knowledge or other stuff? Enlightenment? Immortality?"

"None of the latter. But the first one. Well... we might have to leave that for later."

"Okay... And finally about the entire rest of the galaxy-"

"Universe."

"...That. What's that like? How do people pay for stuff? Can I use my gold?"

"It's mostly electronic but I believe the exchange of material goods like precious metal is still lucrative pretty much in any civilized part of the universe. Anything else?

Because if not then I'd like to pay you."

"Wait... like right now?"

Vados points her wand at the table and it begins to glow. She murmurs something in some strange language and you see some sort of light growing on the table. When it subsides in its place are ten golden bricks, each big enough to clobber a man. "There we go. That is the first payment taken care of!"

"D-Did you just-"

"Angel."

"Rrrrright... I'll need to get used to that."

"Oh don't worry. You'll have plenty of time.

Now... back to what we discussed before... You mentioned "knowledge", correct?"

You nod. "Well, I may not have been entirely honest with you up until now. You see it's not only Lord Champa who's interested in your planet. I for one am fascinated with your species since you went extinct before ever reaching a high enough level of advancement to be worth noticing. But now you're here. A creature whose exact capabilities nobody in this universe knows... Now that's interesting. And I want to find it out. So what do you say? Would you be interested in finding it out with me?"

You start a heat rising in your body as you continue to listen to Vados and begin to visibly sweat. "W-What do you mean?"

"Want to find out?"

"YES!" Your reaction is immediate and absolutely certain.

But as you reach for your belt you are stopped. "I appreciate the gesture but no...

Come with me."

"S-Sorry..." As you go outside you continue to apologize to her vehemently. "You know, it was just because I watch a lot of shows and thought this was like in Star Trek aaaand you don't understand a thing I'm saying. Look I'm sorry okay I didn't me-"

"Water under the bridge my friend.

Honestly I've seen stranger things in the universe." She then tells you to stop and walks a few steps away from you.

As she turns to face you the air suddenly shifts around you, seemingly becoming much colder than before as she begins her explanation. "We'll need to go over a lot of basics given the limited development of your species. But we can do that gradually over time. However what's most important is deciding how to handle your training."

"Meaning?"

"Hmmm... How should I say this? There are four main ways to grow for a mortal. Out of which there are three I can assist with."

"Why? What's the fourth?"

"Technology. To compensate for your biological shortcomings with advanced machines and weaponry. Some favor it and utilize it to great effect. An entire universe in fact. But that's not something I can help with. The other three however... are free game. And I see something in you... what are you?"

"Human."

"Humans that I haven't seen in a while. Potential. You are like a blank slate. A canvas a good painter could turn into anything. But instead of blindly sculpting you into whatever I desire I'll let You choose the direction in which you'd like to go. Aren't I nice? And who knows... Maybe you have what it takes to become proficient in more than one."

"Uh-huh. So I get to choose the form of my destroyer. Great. Well, let me have it!"

"Very well. There is the standard method. To utilize your life force, or ki to boost your capabilities. Then there is the less direct way of doing it. Psychic powers. The power of the mind-"

You smirk. "I know what psychics are, thanks.

We got a very vivid imagination."

"It's not a work of fiction I assure you.

But let's just say it allows you to bend the forces and laws of the universe to suit your needs. And finally magic, The one that most differs from the rest. The principle of violating said rules of nature. So... which one tickles your fancy?"

"Hmmmm..."

You ponder on the potential options. To say you're spoiled for choice is no exaggeration.

Unfortunately you doubt you'd look great in a wizard hat so you decided to choose between whatever that life energy is or psychic. You spitball ideas around until you decide to go with what you are more familiar with.

"Psychic eh?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"So that's actually a thing you say. Okay then. Color me curious. How do I do that?"

"I believe the easiest way would be teaching it through exposure. Close your eyes." You do as instructed and you hear the sound of her steps getting closer to you. Visibly tensing up in anticipation of what's coming you quickly relax as you feel Vados gently ruffling your hair as she touches your head.

For the first few seconds you don't feel much of anything. "Huh. That's... odd. Why does my left arm tingle?"

You think to yourself as you feel something jolt through your body. The same weird vibration is now felt throughout your body as if something is constantly poking every nerve ending in your body with a cold needle. You try to open your mouth and scream but your body is suffering from an overload of impulses. Silently you bear with the pain until your eyes snap open and a strange glimmer flashes in your eyes.

You shout and you feel a wind picking up around you which manages to amuse Vados.

"My my... looks like you were hiding quite something after all. Who knew all your species needed was a bit of impetus?"

"What the... hell are you... talking about?"

You gasp in exhaustion.

"You seem weathered. Would you like a glass of water perhaps?" She conjured a nice glass of iced water and held it out.

You reach out for it but find your body lacking the energy to go for it. However your eyes go wide when you see the glass being janked out from the hand of Vados by some unseen force and the shattering as it hit the ground.

"W-What? Why did you-"

"It wasn't me." She gets closer and bends over to hand you a new glass. "Here. Drink! My new pupil!"