Darian was initially stunned by her uncontrolled enthusiasm. He had just told her the world had gone through major destruction, just because its people turned their back on their creator. He thought she would still be in shock, maybe even more so after the story, even with him constricting her emotions. However, she wasn’t even being restricted anymore, she had broken through that somewhere after the first minute of his story. Shortly after the visual had started. She was her own person again, and wanting, seeming to be begging to go.

He leaned back from her embrace, his head raised, he released a powerful laugh. It was his first true laugh in a long, long time. It was borderline hysterical. He laughed so hard tears began to slide down the sides of his face.

Shae looked on with a mixed bag of feelings. Mostly hoping she hadn’t broken him. He had just told her the world was a broken mess, simply because people were people. But she couldn’t deny the larger part of her that hoped, even begged to become a part of what he had seen. She wanted to join him on that adventure. Maybe she could even help him to rewrite the pasts mistakes. To fix their broken world. Re-writing history so the world never suffered. She was imagining the world full of magic and wonders again. Her soul and mind yearned for this adventure.

His laughter subsided relatively quickly. It was unsightly after all. Darian began to pull himself back under control. Maybe I need to use the constraint on myself here. He mused to himself.

“Ahhh, girl. Sit,” he waved his hand toward her empty seat, he chuckled a bit again while she did so. “You are always a surprise to me. A strong beacon against the storm, guiding others to the safety of the shore. Your mind and soul are strong yet pure.” Here he leaned in a lot less jovial. “What you’re signing up for is not just a life of wonder, it is also very much a life of danger. In a world of strong magic, there are strong people, monsters and even elements that will try to tear you down. Even kill you to just prove themselves your better, to appease their own ego. Monarchs who enslave entire villages to work fields, slaves tortured for dropping a mere grape. Though,” he leaned back again looking at the ceiling, “There are a lot of worlds out there, and not all of them dark ones. You will have your choice of worlds to travel to. You,”

Shae cut him off here “But uncle, I thought you were allowing me to join you in the past! The creator, God, could allow this couldn’t they?”

Darian pulled on his pipe thinking. “I am sorry niece, but that ship has sailed. This worlds people as all his creations, were allowed free will. They chose their own fate. You however are proof that not all is lost for everyone. You will be given this chance to go forth to once again claim your birthright, a chosen of the creator.”

She frowned slumping into herself.

“Bah, don’t be that way!” He waved his hand at her laterally. “You will get to see a true world, that has accepted the creator. You will find not everyone will choose to follow, and most are not even outwardly pious. But they all believe in a greater power and accept it. While some strive to meet that power, and maybe some do,” he waggled his eyebrows “These worlds have accepted him in their own way. Which is enough. The power flows and the worlds thrive.” With a frow and a far off look he continued “Though there will always be those that put themselves above that power. They still receive power through the connection, usually in a twisted way. Some wield powers of chaos, or necromancy. They will almost always be a part of the dark arts. After all, he created free will, and in the balance of all things, there can be no right without a wrong.” He bounced a bit sitting up straight, his mood changing like a summer breeze.

“Enough of that. It’s time for you to decide your fate. You may choose any type of world. Fantasy, what you call steampunk and… Xianxia, I believe you call it. Anything your heart truly desires. Though that last one can be a lot harder for a young lady to navigate. Especially when you have little or no power yourself yet. Though you will be given a small boost to get you started. Oh, and one more thing, it can even be a world that is game like… with stats or pop-up screens to view your growth and options. Like a video game or even a paper and pencil game with a character sheet.”

He stopped there, occasionally drawing on his pipe as he waited for her to question him or choose.

Shae mulled all this information over, she had taken some notes as her spoke. It all sounded fun as hell. Like she had been offered the literal world on a silver platter. She looked through her few notes, looking up.

“What’s the catch though. I mean it cannot be for free, can it? I cannot be THAT lucky?” Shae asked head down but eyes up to look at her uncle… Merlin! The fact that the Merlin was her,’ I guess I cannot call him just great grand anymore. After all he was here during the age of dinosaurs! If he wasn’t pulling my leg a bit. Hell! This could all be a nightmare brought on by a brain tumor or something!’ She thought.

Darian chuckled a bit, then choked on the smoke he had pulled in. A bit green he answered “While there is no catch per say. You are an experiment for those in this world, to see if they could also be worthy. They, all the creators, are using you as a Guinea pig, for those after you. Can you acclimate, will this break your mind, are humanoids able to withstand all the… crazy and constant challenges that will be thrown at you with some survivability. After all, why send a deserving person who may have died before their time into another dimension, only to have them die right away. It would be cruel. Though I guess they would allow for some margin of error in survivability. You knowing what is going to happen will hopefully take away that margin and see if you can acclimate. You, being my niece, I am sure you will do just fine though. They even might use this as a hero project for needy worlds. Or even villains for other worlds heroes to struggle against. This worlds people have a unique perspective that can go far to helping fix another worlds ails.”

She looked back down to her notes after he was done speaking.

“Would I be able to visit home? Or even see you again?”

“Well, that is up for debate. If you achieve enough power on your own, like me, you would be able to travel dimensions. Come home, even try out other worlds as I have. It can be a lot of fun starting over. I might be able to bring correspondence between you and your parents if you like. I cannot however help you in any way. This is a controlled experiment.”

“Any world?”

“Well, they will choose the world. You get to choose the type of adventure.”

“Can it be through time?”

“Yes, they are not limited by time. They may even use this project to bring worlds back into alignment.”

“Then I choose earths past.”

“Nice try. I already said that is off limits.”

“But you said any world any time.”

“No, I said they will choose the world, you get to choose the type. Look I know you want better for earth, and maybe it could have used a champion back then. Creator knows I wasn’t smart enough to affect change. However, it is being given a new chance. Don’t take that away from those deserving.”

Shae sighed; she knew she was trying poorly to swing things her way. There was no intelligent way to bypass the rules, since they would choose which world, and dimension as a byproduct.

“Sorry uhhh what should I call you There are too many greats in your title.”

“Uncle is fine” he chuckled”

“Sorry uncle I do want better for earth, but I understand this opportunity for everyone. Including myself. I promise to let it go.” ‘ until I get stronger’ She thought.

He sighed at her. “I know what your thinking, well, they know. You will not be allowed to affect any change on or to earth. Past present of future. By agreeing to their terms you are allowing earth’s worthy to be given a second go.”

Shae sighed. “Guess I can’t hide my desires from them, can I?” He swung his head in denial. She continued, “Alright, give me some time to decide. I promise to try to make you proud uncle. And hopefully have a grand adventure of my own to share with you.” She brightened up as she made her declaration. He smiled in return. Going back to his pipe.

They both sat back in silence. This was not a spur of the moment decision for her. It was a once in a lifetime chance to do something amazing.