Observed in a Tavern on Gol'Damish, an 11th Wave Planet. Recorded by a Member of the Shadow Assembly

I watched as a peasant, deep in his cups, began to criticize the recent ascention of General Almon. He had never served in the military and seemed bitter that this would rob him of any power in this new government. His friends tried to calm him down but that only made him more beligerant. Eventually a group of soldiers arrived, looking for a drink and a good time.

It was not long before the poor fool was dead. We must keep an eye on this planet and this Almon in particular. I have a suspicion that he will become a powerful force within his Wave.

I walk out of the Genesis Academy with a confident step. Slow, long strides take me through the city and I make sure to look around and appreciate everything that I see. If everything goes to plan, I won’t be seeing this place for quite some time.

Fisherman, enormous nets cast over their shoulders, call out their greetings as I walk past the docks. Regardless of what they did before Genesis, they have begun to adapt to their new circumstances; their faces have become weathered, their skin deeply tanned. A few have even given themselves anchor tattoos on their forearms.

I exchange a few casual words with them and then let them get back to their day. Within moments they disappear into the chaos of the docks, the only remnant of their presence being a trail of water that seems to have dripped down from their nets.

My long strides then bring me back into the center of the city, towards the opening square of the market. Following the sound of yelling vendors, it doesn’t take me very long to reach the center of the now sprawling market. Tents cover the entirety of the square, a temporary measure against weather that had slowly become a permanent installation.

Walking into one of the dozens of entrances, I walk amongst the crowds of my citizens. I watch as they barter over food, jewelry, weapons, armor, and services. A balding and pot-bellied man dramatically grasps at his heart upon hearing a young woman’s offer, causing the two of them to fall into a good-natured haggle over the price of a small dagger. A child sneaks underfoot, moving with a nervous energy and hoping no one notices him. His wandering hand sneaks out into different stalls, taking pieces of food, and then darting back into the crowds. I raise an eyebrow to one of the merchants, but he just raises a single finger to his lips with a smile.

Chuckling to myself, I walk with the crowds and find myself at one of the exits a few minutes later. Gently pushing through a small group of surly teenagers, I apologize and watch their eyes widen as they realize who I am. My long legs carry me away from them before they have a chance to do anything, however.

I wander in this manner for another thirty minutes, taking the time to appreciate the city that I’ve helped build. I’m surprised to find myself tearing up slightly as I consider not seeing this place for a long time. This place has become home and I find myself missing it already.

But duty waits on no man and the continued happiness of these people rests heavily on my shoulders.

I reach the gate a few minutes later and am pleased to see everything as planned.

Two battalions of guards, each one thirty men strong, are lined up in formation. They all wear breastplates and helmets of gleaming steel, with the familiar cobalt tabard over their chest. Leather armor covers the rest of their body, creating a practical combination of defense and mobility.

Each of them carries their own weapon of preference, as well as a standard shield. The vast majority seem to have chosen swords, but I manage to spot a few spears, maces, and even a solitary halberd.

A whisper seems to spread through them as one guard catches sight of me. They all spin and face towards me, slamming their shields and weapons together as they yell, “Battalions, reporting for duty Primus Cael!”

Almost instinctively, my hand reaches up and pinches the bridge of my nose. I’d specifically asked my father for a well-trained, cohesive, and ‘non-military’ group of guards. Our destination is already going to look at me like a marauding conqueror and this is only going to make it worse.

Of course, that is when a single figure separates himself from the battalions with a cheesy grin on his face. The figure wears no armor, only clothed in a loose cobalt robe that seems to billow and shift in the wind, hinting at the powerful frame underneath.

Hakim walks over to me, barely able to contain his laughter when he sees the look on my face. “I’m sorry Cael, I couldn’t resist. I asked them all to do it, blame me not them”, he says as he chuckles and wipes away a tear from his eye. The joke apparently up, I see a few of the guards crack a smile or smirk, suppressing their own laughter.

Taken aback by the situation, I can’t help but join them. Hakim has turned into a little prankster and it reminds me of the kind of antics that I used to get up to before Genesis arrived.

“Ah, it’s all right, don’t worry about it. You had me going there for a few seconds though”, I respond, walking towards the gate with Hakim in tow.

A grin lights up his face. “Yes! I had a few bets with the men, most of them didn’t think you would fall for it.”

I feel a small scowl form on my face, but I manage to control myself. Letting a hint of the frustration of being deified into my voice, I respond, “I’m human just like everyone else.”

Hakim’s laughter dies down and we walk in uncomfortable silence for a few moments. He glances at me furtively but seems to be holding his tongue. After a few sideways looks, I frustratedly say, “Oh, go on, tell me what’s on your mind”.

He looks up, his faced locked into a serious gaze. The prankster is gone, replaced by the young man who has become the strongest warrior of our city. “Can you really blame them though? You say you’re human but the things you’ve accomplished … Cael, you can do things that we never thought were possible. I mean, I’ve seen you throw lightning from your fingertips and cause my entire body to lock up from cold. For god’s sake, you just became the Primus of our entire planet. These men and women are barely able to fight against the monsters on their doorstep. To them, you’re basically a god.”

I’m taken aback by his outburst. I’d known that the guards occasionally struggled against the monsters on our borders, but I’d never considered that within the context of what I am capable of. When he lays it out like that … it almost makes sense. Regardless of how I want to be viewed, my position gives me a level of public perception that I can’t change.

The large gate looms above as we walk through. The scent of freshly chopped wood wafts around us, carried in by a cold breeze that cuts through our clothing and causes a few of the trailing guards to shiver. A few moments pass in this manner, Hakim and I watching from the gate as our two ‘battalions’ gather their equipment and prepare themselves for a long march.

Out of earshot of all of them, I finally respond. “I’d never thought about it like that before. I need to work on being more approachable.”

He looks up at me and seems surprised from my admission. “Why? These people love you already because of what you are not because of how you seem. Your power is so far beyond their comprehension that all they can think about is how lucky they are that you are protecting them. If you try to be approachable then it won’t be long before they begin to criticize or turn against you.”

Before I have a chance to respond, the guards begin to part as a familiar figure makes her way through. The respect that they showed me is nothing compared to the undying loyalty that this person manages to illicit. Guards bow in her presence and a few of them even fall onto the ground, prostrating themselves.

Trying her best not to become overwhelmed with the sheer love and loyalty that they display, she uncomfortably shakes a few hands and nods before pushing her way out and joining me, collapsing against the wall of the gate with exasperation.

“Remind me why I agreed to go on this trip with you?”, Joselin asks, catching her breath and pointedly not looking at the guards who stare in our direction with blatant admiration.

I can barely keep the amusement out of my voice as I respond. Hakim will never understand but Joselin ensures that I won’t have to suffer by myself. “You agreed because I offered to continue teaching you and because we’re going to be out in the wilderness. These men will need healing even more than the ones in the city and you’re too kind to say no to any of them.”

She nods her head in agreement as the two battalion leaders walk over to us and let us know that they’re ready to leave. Nodding at Hakim, he walks back towards the guards and begins laying out a simple route. We’re hoping we won’t lose anyone along the way, but we don’t have the time to stop and re-connect if they happen to get lost.

Reaching down, I help Joselin up onto her feet and we walk outside of the city gates, into the fields that are covered in wheat and other grains. The cold breeze jostles the wheat and makes the entire field shift in odd patterns, drifting in different directions as if under the control of an energetic maestro.

Twenty minutes outside of the city, we crest a small hill that overlooks the farms and fields. The view from the top isn’t enough to see into the entire city but it allows me to glimpse just over the walls. The tops of houses, each one letting out a small plume of cooking smoke, are visible and give the city the feeling of immensity and depth.

This location is perfect.

Pulling up the Primus Screen, I quickly click on the ‘Gate’ option and watch as a new notification, tinged in the familiar gold, blooms into vision.

You have selected Gate placement. Would you like to construct your permanent Gate in this location? Reminder: This placement cannot be changed and will be the permanent location by which other civilizations, travelers, or merchants enter your planet.

Taking a breath, I confidently respond, “Yes.”

The world around us seems to shudder for a second. The already dimming sunlight flickers and the air seems to warp. The hill then begins to violently shake and I watch in rapt fascination as veins of stone begin to flow upwards out of it. Defying all sense of reality, they seem to pulse with a feeling of life.

The stone veins, inching their way into the sky, eventually meet and form a large ring, nearly thirty feet in diameter. It shudders again and then begins to descend, causing the bottom third to sink into the hill as if it were water. A point of pure blackness then forms at the heart of the ring and spreads outward with voracious speed, only stopping when it reaches the edges of the stone.

In the end, it looks like a giant stone gateway that opens into a land of darkness and shadow. I can’t see through the gateway, but I remain twenty feet away, unwilling to get any closer. The unbridled darkness fills me with a sense of … unease. It reminds me of the energy that Linus, the referee of the Primus Trials, wielded; it feels distinctly different than Mana.

A notification pops into existence.

Congratulations! You have created your Gate and have connected your planet to two different Networks. Travel to Planets within these Networks is considerably cheaper and does not require permission if the destination’s Gate Policy has been set as ‘Unrestricted’. Here are your Networks:

The Eleventh Wave The Market of Sol Invictus

I pull up the Primus Screen in order to set our Gate Policy, but another notification appears before I have the chance. A quick glance at it makes my blood run cold.

You have been greeted by the Primus of Dur Hulan. He has sent the following Message:

Primus of Earth, I greet you. I am Pri’Kalus, Primus of Dur Hulan. I now see that Faul’Dir wasn’t lying when he spoke of a frail human surviving on Helldarvin. What a sight it would have been to see you fight against monsters.

I contact you out of obligation. My underling, Faul’Dir, has called upon his Mentor’s Right and demanded that he be sent to your ‘Earth’ for his Challenge. I commanded him to wait and his bloodlust compelled him to act foolishly. He now lies in deep recovery and will spend a long time healing his wounds.

His Challenge, however, will be honored. He is correct to claim Mentor’s Right. When he is finished recovering, I will inform you and you will meet him on your world for his Challenge.

Do not try to escape. Faul and my men will wreak havoc upon your world if you do. He will be there in [One Earth Year]. Grow stronger and maybe you will have the chance to survive.

I read the message a few times, feeling my heart rate rise slightly as I feel the weight of another deadline fall onto my shoulders. The only difference is that this one might result in my death.