Side Story 1.1

The Game begins

[The Old Gods’ Archenemy’s champion’s shepherd]

The light fades and I’m greeted by a peaceful sight of a sunny day in a countryside. On a small hill, not far from where I landed, stands an old and slightly neglected monastery surrounded by a crumbling stone wall. However, my destination is a wooden building not enclosed inside it and instead leaning on it for support. The orphanage is in similar shape to the monastery but I’m certain that it’s the one I was looking for.

I see children joyfully playing outside their home. Kicking some kind of ball, all the while making loud and happy noises, typical for kids their age. I can feel the warmth of their happiness inside me like my own. I smile as I get closer to the building.

Suddenly they halt their game as one of them kicks the ball too strong and it lands on the roof of the orphanage. It seems that it’s stuck there and when the kids realise this, their happiness vanishes. I sigh and expend small amount of my power, responding to which the ball moves a little and falls down. It’s immediately grabbed by the kids who, once again happy, resume their game.

I enter the building. The interior is poor and simple but - unlike the outside - seems tidy and admirably cared for. One kid by the table is eagerly finishing his meal, seemingly wanting to join his friends outside. An old nun sitting in a wicker armchair is busy sewing up holes in children’s clothing. I move past them, unnoticed.

Next room houses several beds and a makeshift cradle, probably made just to accomodate the newest and unexpected inhabitant of the orphanage. Within it, soundly sleeping is an elven infant, letting the staff rest for a while.

My target.

The one He chose. I am to accompany him for the years to come. To introduce him to his great work. To let him become a person who will change this world. This is going to be a long mission. But one that must be accomplished.

* * * * *

[The Hero]

I don’t like being interrupted while I read. I really tried not to pay any attention to the sound of that fucking trumpet. But even in complete silence it would be impossible to read a book with words jumping all over its pages and randomly switching places and meanings. It feels like trying to read in a dream, when text just doesn’t want to be read.

Then again, what’s the deal with that hellish trumpet? It’s a university for crying out loud. Someone should’ve already made the one playing it stop. Or… going back to the very uncooperative book… maybe it really is just a dream and the trumpet is supposed to be my alarm going off in an attempt to wake me up? However, if that was the case I should’ve already wake up by now - especially after realising that it’s a dream.

I pinch my arm… and it hurts! So it can’t be a dream no matter what. But if it’s real then what’s going on with my book? How come I’m physically unable to read it?

Any further thoughts on that matter are however brutally cut off by a far wall of the assembly hall I’m sitting in suddenly crumbling to pieces revealing a flood of blinding white light. After my eyes adjust enough for me to see again, I notice humanoid silhouettes emerging from the illuminative hole. They’re all wearing white robes and… white wings. Are they trying to put on a play or something? With those cheap angel costumes? They don’t even have halos…

But each and every one of them has a long trumpet. Which they all now put up to their mouths and TRY TO BLOW OUT THEIR LUNGS THROUGH THEM!

And before I thought that just one trumpet was annoying. On the second thought - it was. This isn’t annoying. This is insufferable. I need to leave, now, or I might become deaf.

I try to stand up and quickly take all my things scattered on the small desk but that's exactly when a whole choir of high pitched voices starts screaming somewhere in the hole.

I can’t stand. I barely even see anymore. But as if by some miracle I still hear everything as loud and clear as at the beginning, if not more so.

After maybe five minutes of pure sonic torment everything comes to a halt. It takes me a while to even comprehend that my suffering is now just an echo of the torture that’s already in the past. I open my eyes and look at the cursed hole. The supposed angels already swarmed the whole room. Most of them still holds their trumpets ready to repeat their performance, but some have light, wicker baskets instead and they’re busy throwing white petals everywhere.

The light shifts. All the while shining from the hole it slowly moves towards me. A roughly human shape appears in the center of it, but instead of being a dark silhouette blocking the light behind it, it looks like the light is originating from it. It wraps around it, flowing in and out as if the enigmatic figure was breathing it.

It takes a few steps and now I see that it doesn't stand on the ground. It actually walks in the air. Another few steps take it over the numerous rows of seats and very close to me.

“Rejoice, human. For you have been chosen, by the goddess of light, sun and order. In my name you will venture forth to achieve great deeds, vanquish the evil, slay the unjust and purify the corrupted. And for all that you accomplish you shall be lavishly rewarded with riches, fame and glory. Which most definitely is a remarkably gracious offer for a recently deceased non-believer such as yourself…”

What?

No, seriously… what?

That’s… insane. Am I on drugs? I never took any, but maybe this is the first time? Or maybe I was drugged by someone else? Because What The Hell is even happening!? I’m legit panicking! Wait… I’m not. I feel like I should though.

Something's not right, even aside the overwhelming insanity of everything that happened so far. I mean - thinking back, I don’t even remember how I got here in the first place, which would, again, point to it all being a dream. If only it wouldn’t hurt.

But what other kind of delirium could it be? Am I in a coma in some hospital and this is a semi realistic way my brain deals with still receiving inputs from my senses? I don’t want to be in a coma… That’s about the worst thing that could happen to me! And judging from the behavior of the book I was trying to read earlier - I won’t be able to read anymore!

How could this happen to me?! I didn’t do anything dangerous! I always wore my seatbelt… and ate healthy… I even worked out… sometimes. I don’t deserve a fate like this! I can’t be in a coma!

Or maybe I really am on drugs? Now I hope that’s the case. Anything would be better than coma. But who drugged me? And how close this hallucination is to reality? Am I really in my university? Am I acting insane during a lecture right now? Just a moment ago I acted like I was having a stroke during that trumpet-choir torture.

And who would drug me? I wouldn’t do it myself, would I? Just because I don’t remember anything like that… AM I BEING RAPED RIGHT NOW?!

“Mortals and their little dramas. Every time is different, and yet every time it’s the same silliness.” Did that… thing… made of light… just say something? Oh, It did earlier, right? Should I listen to it? Only now I actually take a good look at it… and somehow - I really don’t know how that’s even possible - it looks like a person. Like a tall woman. With an ugly grimace on her gorgeous face.

“Ehm… yes, in that case let me reiterate, since you are quite obviously lost. You are, in fact, dead. And you can very much stay dead.” What? ”However! If you agree to become my champion in a… game of sorts, you may very well earn yourself a second chance at living.” I can’t be dead. ”You seem to be frightened by a perspective of not having access to books anymore. But I can assure you - If you agree to become my champion, you’ll have enough new, otherworldly even, reading material for a whole lifetime.”

She just announced all that as if it was that greatest news in a whole universe. I mean… it does sound nice but…

“Moreover!” She interrupts my thought. “You’ll have a unique chance to become an inspiration! A protagonist for numerous or even countless stories and legends to come. You’ll have a chance to quite literally, create history for yourself and a whole other world.” And just how the hell am I supposed to react to that?

I get that it was a really strong hallucinogen I must’ve digested. It seems like a power fantasy. Or a ‘dreams coming true’ scenario… I don’t buy it though.

I need to find a way to get myself out of that nightmare, or at least somewhere away from that woman. Her presence is too overwhelming for me to think about anything constructive. Since it’s all fake, let’s just politely agree on whatever she wants and then quickly evacuate.

“So… what will be your answer? Will you take my proposal or will risk finding out what afterlife your deeds have earned you during your life?”

“Yeah, sure, whatever you want… wait, what was that last…” But before I can finish my question the woman coyly smiles all the while I can see triumph in her eyes and I can’t utter any more words. She reaches to me… and suddenly everything is replaced by darkness.

I feel as if my body is separated from me if that makes any sense. I can’t feel anything, as if my consciousness was left to exist on its own… Is… Is this death? Am I really dead? I know I didn’t really consider this option before, but now it seems somehow possible, however unlikely.

I feel numb… I don’t know how, since I still can’t feel my body… but… my thoughts are…

Ok. Nothing wrong with them. What the hell just happened to me?!

It hurts! It hurts so much!

I open my eyes… It’s weird to feel them again. I’m lying on a soft carpet and I’m surrounded by wooden pillars. The perspective seems distorted because it looks like the room I’m in is huge, and the pillars don’t even reach the ceiling.

Suddenly a giant man appears above me. He’s looking at me from above the pillars… he’s quite young, why is he so huge?

“Welcome, Shimmer’s Chosen One, to your new life.” Judging solely by his size, his words should sound much louder, and lower… What’s going on? No, wait - what did he just say? Chosen one? Chosen for what?

“…” I try to speak but nothing comprehensible leaves my mouth.

“You do not have to speak. I can hear your thoughts. My name is Basiliscus and I am one of myriads of servants of Shimmer, the Goddess who decided to choose you, to represent Her in the upcoming conflict. I’m aware of your confusion, however it is time for you to understand that this is no dream, but reality. Your new reality.” Ok, step by step. I assume that by ‘shimmer’ he means that woman made of light, however cheesy that might sound. And I think I remember her saying something about her champion… And that’s supposed to be me?! And most importantly - what new reality?!

“Your new name in this world is Natalia Ostrowska.” This world? “You were born today as the youngest of fourteen children of Kazimierz Ostrowski, duke of Nameria and of kings of Visenia’s faithful vassal.” Born? Today?! “I was entrusted by the Goddess to provide assistance for you.” Assistance? “For now I will be helping you act like a proper child to ensure that no one ever finds out that you are not from this world. I will control your body whenever someone will be around, as I did until now. In the future, however, my presence will also grant you certain benefits.” What do you mean - benefits? “ For example learning magic. You are a winged one and from a noble house at that, so you should have plenty of natural talent for magic, but with my help this talent will develop faster and stronger.“

I… think I’m starting to understand what’s going on. I’m definitely on drugs.

“Well… in that case… let me try again… from the very beginning… and this time step by step…”

* * * * *

[Messenger of the Old Gods]

It took them a whole year to make a decision. Theoretically it wasn’t a problem since even after the decision was made they still had to wait four more years for an occasion, but still! To spend a year arguing about some bullshit like that…

Then again, they eventually decided to go with the most retarded option available. WHICH IS INFURIATING, BECAUSE I WAS AGAINST IT ALL ALONG! But who would care what I have to say, huh?! And these bastards even made me the messenger, simply because I was ‘arguing too much’.

They made me do it… and they’re going to regret it! There’s no way this madness is going to work. The only thing I can do now is my best and then hope that when the shit hits the fan it won’t spray all over me.

At least detecting the summoning was easy, since after the first time we made sure to receive a warning if it ever happened again. We still have no idea who knows magic so strong to make a safe passage to a whole different world, but after years of research of the first spell they used we managed to make our own version of it. We still couldn’t reach another world with it… unless there was already a hole, made by someone else. So when we detected that they were summoning someone again, we found their hole and I went through.

Which means that now I’m in an unknown universe with a mission to find a suitable candidate.

I rummage through this world’s collective consciousness and it seems that, for an unknown reason, most of the population is outside my reach, but out of the few I can get to, I quickly find a perfect match.

A young man, properly versed with all the knowledge I was instructed to search for. But it seems that this world’s common sense deems it as… fantasy. Ha, fantasy! Ridiculous.

He’s going to fit the task quite nicely having that wide range of concepts to relate to and, what might be most important, a wild imagination. It’s going to benefit him immensely when he’ll start learning magic. Perfect, just perfect!

The only requirement he doesn’t fulfill… is the availability of his soul, annoyingly still connected to his body. Which in turn means that I’ll have to sever this link by any means necessary. Let’s see…

What? No… it can’t be true… It seems that my ability to influence physical world is severely limited. Which actually is to be expected since this place is really far, FAR away from my domain. I spend some time testing limits of my power and it turns out that it’s at best really marginal. Maybe, if I try very hard, I can make a few leaves move a little. This is seriously insulting… I may be a minor one, but I am still a deity.

Damn it. How can one kill a person using so limited, so miniscule actions?

The answer is - using the environment. Though it would be MUCH easier if I actually knew anything about the place I’m forced to work in. Almost all of the… things around him are something I… I… have no idea what they all are or how they work. It feels like another insult. But at least I can sense that most of them to use electricity… as a source of power? It’s insane how non-magical this world seems to be. One could achieve the same results using just basic magic.

BUT! The electricity can very easily be deadly. And there’s a lot of it flowing through those small… pipes? I look into the mind of my Chosen-To-Be and learn the right word - cable. But… it might not be strong enough to kill him without a necessary… conductor. Water should do nicely.

It actually takes me around a week in local time to make all the preparations. Thankfully the connection to my world seems unaffected by the delay. I’m slowly pushing one thing, then slowly cutting another. And finally… everything is ready. It’s even the exact time when he usually comes to bathe. The old metal tub is perfect, and now that it’s full of water it’ll work even better. I just need to make the last tiny adjustment… and the deed is done.

His heart gives in almost immediately and I can feel his soul slowly severing its connection to the body. Time to shine! Entering his dying brain is a child’s play but I also temporarily keep his soul linked with the body - I need this to talk to him properly. Thankfully by now even this world’s finest medics couldn’t reanimate him.

From his brain I take memories of a pleasant and familiar environment - it looks like it’s his bedroom - as it might be better than making a conversation right next to the bathtub in which he just died. After that I invade his consciousness and begin the final part of my mission.

In hindsight I should’ve probably make him forget his death, since right now he is only confused. He remembers a rather painful experience of electrocution. And he didn’t even notice me - he’s too busy trying to understand what happened. I make my presence obvious with a loud grunt.

“Well… I’m sorry to interrupt you, but… you’re dead.” I guess there’s no delicate way to put it. Though let’s omit the fact that I killed him. “Although I can… let’s say, fix this unfortunate state of affairs.“ I’ll give him a moment to swallow the news.

“Dead? Like for real? No, no, no... I’m here I can't be dead. I’m just sleeping or something. I must’ve fell asleep in bathroom. This is not what death should be like.“

Oh come on, this whole mortal drama is… well, quite typical for mortals dealing with such situations. I guess I can’t really blame them, huh?

“Yes. For real. By electrocution. Metal bath. Water. You inside. The effect - your heart no longer beating. And it’s gonna be at least an hour before anyone finds you.” Additionally, when his soul weakened I could finally modify his body directly and I made sure his heart Is NOT going to work ever again, even if some, mind reading help me, paramedics miraculously reach him. “I’m afraid that you’re dead and you have to get used to that. Of course… if you choose to answer ‘no’ to my… generous offer.”

“What offer? Wait… didn’t you just say that I’m dead?! Don’t change a subject like that! Help me or something!” Oh for fuck sake… what a moron…

Is it really that hard to comprehend?! Ok, as someone who literally cannot die I might not be the most qualified on this subject. Even still, his way of doing it isn’t helping at all! Uh, working with my believers is so much easier… all you have to do is tell them to do something and they oblige. Unlike this one.

“Yes. You’re dead. Done for. Kaput. Things happen, you know? Get over it. You can feel sorry for yourself as much as you want, AFTER saying ‘yes’ to my question. I’m offering you a second life. And pretty good that that. Have you ever fantasised how awesome it would be to visit a fantasy world? I’m pretty sure you have. With all your current knowledge, and on top of that magic granted to you by a god who decided to help you a bit? That’s me in this deal by the way. So, what do you say?”

“What?” I feel like killing him again…

“Ok, one more time from the top…”

“No, no. I hear you. I get what you’re saying, it’s just that…” And the drama continues. Such a pain. “This isn’t, this can’t be happening. It must be a dream, right? A really bad one.“ They should totally send someone else for that. Someone who is better with people. Right now I am seriously considering just letting him go even if that means spending even more time plotting death of another promising individual.

“No. It’s not a dream. You’re dead. And I’m giving you one last chance of living yet another life in a completely different world. Swords, magic, elves, dragons, and so on… Is it really that hard to comprehend?! You say ‘no’ you’re still dead, for good, and your soul goes wherever souls in that world go. You say ‘yes’, you get to live another life. Just. Answer. Now. PLEASE.”

“Um, ok just…” That’s good enough for me! One slightly slow but surely good enough chosen one ready for shipping. Time to do something less stupid and time consuming back home.

* * * * *

[the one who can be safely ignored]

“Hello fiery lady. Am I dead?” I thought for a second that my current state might be a dream, but it doesn’t feel like one. And that - combined with a woman composed of nothing but flames lead me to conclusion that I might be dead.

“Precisely. Though, you reconciled with it surprisingly fast. Shouldn’t you, mortals, be more afraid of death?” Said the woman. Interestingly, her voice sounds like a bonfire trying to speak, but I have no problems understanding her.

“I must admit that it was just a possibility and I didn’t really take it seriously… But now that I think about it nothing can be done to change it, so there’s no point in reacting to it any other way.” Also, how did I die? I don’t remember anything out of ordinary. I had a perfectly regular day…

“And there was a fire in your flat.” She cuts me off mid thought.

“Mind reading isn’t a polite thing to do. I would most likely ask you about it in a second.”

“I know.” Oh. Not only telepathy but precognition too…

“In that case let’s at least try to keep pretending that I have any privacy left and continue this conversation purely verbally. What do you say?”

“My name is Conflagration. The primordial Goddess of fire and one of four prime elemental divines of the Pantheon of Elements. All Mother of…” Yeah, that’s enough.

“And what do you want from me?” Is that a smile?

“Few hours ago you suffocated and died. Your body burned and turned to ashes. However, you lived your life as an atheist and because of that your soul would be left unclaimed and eventually scatter in the void.” Not much of an optimistic vision. “But, there is yet a chance for you. If you agree to my proposition you shall live again.”

“Sure.”

“You would become a pawn of the Pantheon of Elements in a game…” Seriously?

“As I said - sure. I agree. New world, new life, working for you, anything I should know about the assignment?” Again with that smile…

“You will be assigned a guide who will fill you in with most important details. And for now your new body is going to be locked away in a safe place far away from any civilization.” Am I going to be a secret bio weapon that has to be kept hidden from the world? “You will spend the next few years in seclusion, training your mind and body alike.” Yup. Bio weapon. “And to ensure that you will be at your peak performance we will allow you to choose from a selection of physical traits designed to fit your self image.” Interesting.

“It’s all really nice of you, but I imagine giving me this much from the start means that my task is going to be a difficult one?” Can I hope to hear ‘yes’?

“There will be obstacles, naturally. The game is very appealing and we are obviously not the only contestants. You will face the champions of our competition backed by other pantheons of Gods. Yet your mission will be different than theirs.” Interesting. Do I smell PVP?

“And their preparation will be similar to mine? Years of training and a battle royale?” Not that I have anything against that… No, wait. I suck at battle royale.

“Not exactly. The starting conditions, or should I say, the amount of effort we can expend on creating them is inversely proportional to our standing as a divine faction.” So… you’re the dark horse. “Yes, and you are going to fix it.”

“How? I understand the… conditions. But what exactly will be my mission? To win the whole game just because I’ll have a stronger start?” I wonder how much stronger?

“It is a nice perspective, but no. We weren’t originally invited to participate in the power struggle, so even if you were to best all the others our win would violate the precepts of the game.” Are you telling me that you’re a bunch of hackers? Am I going to a pirated version of a universe?

“If not to win then what’s my goal?” Please - straight to the point this time.

“You are to make an alliance with one of the other champions. You will aid them in their mission, just slightly altering their metodes. Our pantheons are unknown for the current civilizations. Our worshipers disappeared alongside their Empire. Your mission will come down to reinstituting the Pantheon of Elements as the patrons of all that takes its form from the elements.” Excuse me?

“Could you expand on that last sentence? What do you mean by that?”

“The world in question is inhabited by numerous beings representing the nature and elements. Nymphs, pixies and elementals no longer governed by us. No longer serving us. This current state is… insulting.” Which gives me a strong impression that it’s not just ‘insulting’.

“And you want me to round them up and make them bend their knees?” It wouldn’t be half bad. Make them submit to my will, that is…

“Not quite. Their sheer numbers would make such venture unbearably lengthy and the game won’t last that long. And sending millions of champions like you is not exactly a possible option.” Should I feel special?

“Then what is?”

“Just because presently they are not our subordinates does not mean they are free. Conquer their overlords, best their masters and they will have no choice but to acknowledge you - or rather us - as their sovereigns.” Good thinking, whoever came up with that idea.

“Ok, but why do I need to find an ally? So far my understanding is that I’m going to have the best starting position, can’t I just accomplish that on my own?”

“You could. But you are not going to act in the void. Other champions will try to slay them on their own and if they succeed it will do no good for us.” Oh, right. I can’t believe I overlooked the multiplayer aspect…

“Is that what you meant by ‘altering their metodes’? I have to persuade them to… what exactly? Let me kill steal everything?”

“Yes.” Again with that smile. What’s so funny about it?

“That… might actually be hard…” …est part as I’m not the best at making friends… or even interacting with people…

“We are well aware of those traits of yours. Regardless, your mission is not to create a nation nor command an army, you are to become an unstoppable assassin of mightiest beings dwelling among mortals.” I know that it’s just a short summary of everything already said… but I can’t help but get hyped after hearing it. “The time for your departure is upon us. My daughter is waiting for you.” Daughter?

But I’m not getting an answer. I can’t even properly ask that question as in that moment everything is engulfed in darkness and I’m falling… thinking about the smile on the goddess’s face. Or should I say… a sassy smirk.

I don’t know how long it took, but the fall is eventually over and I’m lying on a cold surface. I feel dizzy and my body is stiff. It takes me some time to stand up and the fact that there’s still no light around me doesn’t help in my efforts. It’s hard to keep my balance, I have no other option than to believe that I really have a new body as it doesn’t respond to my intentions the same way my old one did.

Finally, after carefully adjusting my posture and consciously holding myself in an upright position instead of relying on my old reflexes I call out in the darkness…

HELLO! IS ANYONE THERE?!” I hope no monstrous abomination is going to hear my shout…

“Yeah, I’m here. And you don’t have to yell, I can hear you well enough.” A high pitched female voice somehow resounds in my head without making its way through ears. Con… fla… something… the goddess from earlier mentioned a daughter, is that her?

“Are you my guide?” Let’s give it a shot.

“Yeah, didn’t mom tell you everything already?” I wouldn’t say everything…

“More or less… Though she left a few things for you to help me with.”

“Like what?” Let’s see what I can get away with.

“Like helping me turn on the lights here. Or torches? I don’t know exactly what you use here for illumination…” Light is probably the most important of my current priorities.

“Sure, just walk straight forward till you find a wall and then follow it to the right, the light switch will be there right before the door.” Seems simple enough.

I take a few steps in the darkness… and fall. Painfully. I’ve been standing on a platform and didn’t see the step down to the floor. After getting myself back up and making a few more steps - much more carefully this time - I find a wall made of something resembling stone to the touch and after following the rest of the instructions my hand touches a metal button.

Let there be light!