The Magicians

"Xil? Can you hear me?" 

His voice echoed through the empty vastness. 

"A new troop for the journey, I see." Xil answered, his voice ringing louder than a bell. 

"He's a kid. A lost kid. Just like me."

"He will be worthy." Xil said it assertively. 

The Astral Realm's silence was starting to hunt down Yin's inner thoughts. 

"Yin Kang. I can see what you are thinking of." 

A giant sheet of wall appeared behind Yin, displaying a live video. It was home. It was her.

"Mei." Yin whispered. 

He walked towards it and placed his hand on the wall, but his hand went through like there was nothing there.

Mei was at the academy, practicing for the upcoming tournament. She had her black gloves on, her silver suit, and her mask, but the sword was not hers. It was his. She was using his kit. 

Beside her was Master Li, his arms folded together with a stern look on his face. Mei was fighting Kim Yao, the only one who could put up a good battle with her. Mei and Kim were Master Li's favourites, so the two of them always had a clash over winning his approval and admiration. 

"Both of you are not giving up. That's good." He gestured for them to stand in front of him. 

"Kim, I can see that you have improved your footwork. You're trying to stabilize your position before attacking. Good." 

Then he turned to Mei. 

"Mei. Somehow, you're finding ways to attack the opponent without catching a breath. You are playing aggressively, going for points."

…

"Just like Yin." 

Mei's eyes sparked. 

"I'm not judging you. If that is the playstyle you want to implement, do it. You're not that bad at it." Master Li stroked her hair gently with a smile. 

"Understood, Master Li." She bowed.

The sheet of wall disappeared, but Yin's eyes were still locked. 

"Do gods ever love?" He posed a question. 

"We must. Without love, we would cease to exist." 

"I don't think gods love the way humans love." 

"We love because we must; you love because you can't help it." 

"And yet it is the power of love that made you choose me. A purposeless human." 

"Indeed. Gods stand no chance in front of two things. The power of evil and the power of love. The two great forces." Xil replied.

"Then what makes a god?" 

"Balance."

Yin was silenced by the answer.

Xil continued. "Gods are everything that is in between the two great forces."

"That's you."

"Yes. I'm the God of Gods. The almighty creator."

"Then how were you overthrown, God of Gods?"

"My entire kinship betrayed me. They formed an alliance with the Gods of the Under Realm. My family betrayed me, and my enemies killed me." 

Yin was speechless for a brief moment.

"Well, we're fighting for the same destiny. To return home." 

Xil's voice exhaled.

"So it's one against all?" Yin asked worriedly. 

"You might need an army for yourself to get started. Once you've retrieved my sword, things will get significantly easier for you." Xil informed.

"Fuck." He whispered.

"I can hear everything."

…

Yin Kang snaps out of his sleep, panting like he has survived being drowned. The others were already wide awake and munching on raspberries and apples, but Neilus had gone to the village to get a bowl of stew for himself and Lars. 

"You alright?" Vegas asked with her mouth stuffed with berries. 

"Oh, I'm completely fine, just passing time, you know, talking to God and what not." He replied sarcastically.

No one was bothered. They were busy devouring the fruits. But Lars was crouched next to the Lake, gently dipping his hand in the water. 

"Sunny day, isn't it?" Yin asked. 

"East is hotter, more unbearable. This is relaxing to me." Lars said.

"I see."

Every minute or so, the yellowbeak birds drenched themselves in the lake and flew back up. They are winter birds, and they had to make themselves cooler in the time of dawn. 

"You should start training with the ring and learn how to control it." 

Lars remained quiet. 

"You have to learn to use your powers, Lars." 

He nodded.

"Vegas told me about you. Your death and all that." 

"It's true. I died saving a very close friend of... 

"Mei Chang. You love her. You named the Realm after her, Meiland. She told me." Lars interrupted.

"Yeah. That's also true."

"So anyone who dies gets a second life as a god?" Lars posed a question. 

"No I… I don't have any idea about that." Yin admitted.

"Why don't you ask the God inside you about it?" Lars suggested, almost in a threatening tone.

"I will. You don't have to get upset about it."

There was an awkward silence between them.

"Lars. All I know is that I was chosen. Chosen by the God of Gods. Not for some fairytale to tell the kids. But for a purpose. To dethrone the other remaining gods so that I can get back to Mei. To home." Yin explained.

"And how are you planning to do that?" Lars asked with a hint of fright in his face.

Yin looks up to the sky, gently breathing in the warm air. 

"I'm going to unite the Realm. Make myself known to everyone that exists in this Realm. The North, the South, the East, and the West. Everyone. They will serve me." He ended his philosophy.

"Sounds like an impossible idea." Lars sighed with disinterest. 

Yin smiles at him and quickly unsheathes his sword from the back.

"Lars. Take the sword and stab me." 

Lars, helpless, holds onto the insisted sword, his eyes frightened and his body shaking.

"Think of the guards that killed your brother." 

Lars immediately plunged the sword deep into his chest before he could even finish the sentence. 

"You fuckin' asshole!" Vegas and Colt rose up from their feast with raging eyes and ran at the little boy. 

Yin puts his hand up as a gesture to halt them. 

He was unharmed.

Lars saw the living revelation in front of him. His eyes were wide open. 

There was no blood. Nothing.

"You see. This is also impossible. But I can do it." Yin says it politely. 

Lars refused to move his body, and Yin pulled out the sword himself. 

"Should I be afraid of you? Because I am." Lars mumbled and trembled at his words.

"Hahaha!" 

Everyone broke out laughing, but not Lars. He was truly scared and confused. He has never felt so out of place. 

"Lars. You are a magician, and so am I. If anything, we should be afraid of you too." He comforted him.

"I guess." 

"Come on now, show us some magic." Vegas insisted. 

Lars slowly got up, brushed off the dirt from his cloak, and lifted his arms. The sunlight hit the fiery red ring.

"Um… So… This is…Um… The…Th… The…Orb Of…Um…"

It didn't work.

"Lars!"

He jumped. 

"Own the power! What are you afraid of? Go on!" Yin encouraged the poor boy.

"Yeah. This…Is…Um… The Orb of the Storm." He chanted a little boldly. 

From beneath the ground rose five levitating orbs, and a red beam of light was pulsating from within.

"Ah!" He hurled one of the orbs far into the distance.

Everyone's eyes were locked onto it like an eagle would on its prey. 

As soon as the orb touched the ground, it burst and denoted a heavy storm. 

It destroyed four trees in its surroundings, and a shower of red sand rained down from the sky.

"Wow. He'll surely be of use." Said Vegas.