Sam fell noiselessly.

It felt like hours. Days, maybe. Or perhaps just the blink of an eye. An endless void twisted and spun around him as soft blue, gold, and purple glowing tendrils began to caress and envelop him, tugging him further into the nothingness below and above. He felt himself being pulled in every direction, bending him, warping him, threatening to…

With a noiseless clap of thunder, he was.

He stood on the cobblestone floor of an open-roofed temple, and he spun to look around himself as the tendrils gently released him, retreating into the star-drenched night sky above.

Galaxies, nebulous clouds of gray-green dust, and massive stars stared at him from above, judging him as he stood alone on the ancient stone floor. Crumbled statues of decaying marble stood before him in a semicircle, each with a throne at their feet. Only the colossus at the center remained standing. A cloaked figure carved of black and gold marble, with eyes that glowed a deep maroon under her cowl, gazed down at him.

“You are here," stated the motherly voice from his final moments.

Sam turned, trying to find the source of the voice that seemed to come from the crumbling walls of the archaic temple. A light flashed into existence in the direction of the throne, and he looked back.

Seated in her throne was a living cloak of shadow, sharing the appearance of the colossus above.

“Uhhh…” Sam started, still trying to wrap his head around where he was. ‘Not Earth, that’s for sure,’

“Correct,” the voice answered.

“You… Can you hear my thoughts?” He asked her.

“Yes.”

“Who are you?”

“You spoke my name then, in the canyon,” She stated, her reverberating voice warming with mild amusement, “Have you so soon forgotten me, child?”

“I… Senire?”

“One of many names I am referred to, across endless worlds and times,” Her tone was pleased, almost proud “It is certainly the most pleasant of them.”

“Where is Ellie?” Sam demanded, his memories flooding back to him like a dam collapsing.

“She is with me. She is safe.” The Goddess answered with some finality.

“I want to see her!” Sam gambled, taking an involuntary step forward. He was already dead, after all, it wasn't like his situation could get any worse. A mountain of pressure collapsed atop his shoulders, his knees buckling under the weight as he tried in vain to resist.

“You are not in a postition to make demands, Samuel Caulfield.” Her voice was neutral as the weight faded from his shoulders. “But it would be a lie if I said that I did not understand.”

As the echoes of her words faded, she extended her upturned hand towards Sam. Shadows coalesced upon it, and within seconds, a small, dark version of Ellie sat cross-legged in her palm, a toothy smile spread across her small face.

“Is she…” Queried Sam, looking between the void-like Goddess and Ellie.

“She is as you are,” Answered the Goddess, a smile evident in her voice as she rested Ellie on the arm of her throne, “I must admit, your concern for her is heartwarming.”

“I…” He trailed off, the right words refusing to come, and simply nodded

“I’ve never had one of my Gatherers sing the praises of a mortal so highly before,” She continued, the maroon glow of her eyes twinkling, “You clearly did something to impress Elayah, though I wonder if you can repeat that for me.”

The small, translucent form of Ellie began angrily chittering from the stone arm of the throne, stomping her foot once and pointing at Sam. The Goddess turned her head almost imperceptibly towards the diminutive woman, and snorted in amusement.

“It would seem I have understated things.” Senire chuckled, turning back to Sam. “However, our time runs short. Are you ready for your first assignment?”

“I-“ exhaled Sam, relieved that Ellie was alright, at least at some level. “Yeah, I am. What’s the job?”

“Well,” She leaned forward, surprise coloring her voice. “Aren’t you full of surprises, little human?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Most try to bargain with me at least once.” Senire responded, her glowing red eyes snaring Sam from under her cowl, “Even the ones already sworn to my service. Perhaps my D-“

She paused mid sentence, seeming to consider her words, her eyes boring into him.

“Perhaps my Ellie was right about you. As a blessing, I will give you a boon of my choice for your new life, and a gift of your choice from my collection.”

With a wave of her hand, space warped and twisted around them. Row after row of weapons on racks spread around them, from every era of history. Eying them greedily, Sam walked to the first rack, gingerly running his hands over an ancient sword that whispered promises of glory, a blood-stained bolt-action rifle that echoed of death at unimaginable distances, and a weathered-looking M-14 that sent a heated desert breeze through his psyche.

Still, nothing called to him. The ancient weapons didn't want him, didn't need him. They could be used, but they would not serve.

“Can you tell me where I’m going? What I’ll be doing?” he asked, turning back to look at the goddess.

“You’ll be going to a world much like your own, in a time after the industrial revolution.” She stood from her throne and walked towards him, the translucent figure of Ellie once more seated in her palm. “As to what you will be doing? You will be answering a prayer.”

“A prayer?” Asked Sam, quirking a brow.

“Yes,” Senire answered, waving a hand dismissively as a tear in the fabric of reality opened between them. Images of a war sprang to life in the shred, and Sam watched from the perspective of a small child as soldiers looted, burned, and razed the town before him.

“This is what you will prevent. You must succeed where another has failed.”

“Cryptic and unhelpful.” Snorted Sam before she strode through the tear, causing it to blow away like mist.

“That is all I can say without breaking the accords further,” she sighed, “Although I can tell you that you will find your goal soon after you arrive.”

“How will this help that town?” He asked. “Looks like it was already hit.”

“Time is malleable, to an extent.” Senire clarified. “A prayer to me with that much fervor, that much hope allows me certain power and leeway to change the clock. While many in my position would wish to store the power and use it for their own ends, the cry of a child in need is not something I can ignore.”

“You’re a goddess,” stated Sam coldly. “I thought you guys ignored children all the time.”

“It was not her time!” Senire boomed, rattling the walls and floor beneath his feet. Even his bones felt the pressure of her words before she recomposed herself and sighed, a singular murky black tear falling from under the cowl and splashing to the floor, burning through it like acid. “I am a very old Goddess, Samuel. I was old when your civilization crawled out of their caves. I have seen empires rise and fall, abided the accords, and all those millions of years have gained me is a crumbling temple in a forgotten hole of the Etherium.

“So please, Samuel,” The Goddess asked, “Help this dying goddess save a single city?”

“What about after?”

“Live your life as you see fit.” Senire answered, “I will claim you in your twilight years, long after the work is done. So again, choose what to take with you before this opportunity ends for both of us.”

Sam turned back to the row of weapons, an idea tugging at the corners of his mind. Hoping for clarity, inspiration, or some time to think, he looked to Ellie. Who was currently staring at him hopefully from the Dark Goddess’s palm.

A single spark of inspiration struck him as he stared into the diminutive sprite in her hand. Looking up to the glowing red orbs beneath the cowl, he lifted a single finger.

“Her.”

“You wish to take my oracle as your gift?” Senire asked in a lighthearted tone as Ellie bounced up and down in her palm, clapping noiselessly.

“Your… Oracle?” Sam asked, smirking as he looked between the pair, “Well that explains a fuckin’ lot. Yeah, I want her with me. I like to think we did well back on Earth together.”

“It would seem,” the Goddess chuckled, “That I have been outvoted.”

Senire then lifted Ellie to her chest, holding her close for several seconds before whispering something in her ear. She stooped down to Sam, opening her two-foot wide gray-purple palm before him. Ellie bounced off her palm and dissipated into a small ball of gray-gold mist and circled him several times, flashing excitedly.

As the ball of exuberant dark energy settled on his shoulder, the Goddess knelt before him and leaned down to his height. The light from the night sky above cascaded over her cowl as she leaned forward and placed a singular kiss to his forehead, much like a mother sending a loved child off to school for the first time.

As she retreated, he saw her soft deep-fuchsia chin, jawline, and full violet lips retract into the cowl, a small smile wrinkling the corners of her mouth.

“And now, you go.”

Once again, Sam knew no more.

* * *

Sam awoke with a start.

Jerking up in his seat, he surveyed the space around him. The small eight by ten foot room had two long seats facing one another, a large wooden door, and windows on the other side. Rich chocolate hardwood walls with elegant trim made up the majority of the cabin as a small chandelier dangled overhead.

“The fuck?” Sam whispered, slowly peering around the room.

He shifted his position on the leather-upholstered cushion beneath him as he looked out the window, the dense morning fog hanging low to the ground, obfuscating his view and any chance he had of getting his bearings. At the farthest point of where he could see was a forest of trees flying past.

More specifically, he was flying past them, as he now realized the gentle rocking and rumbling under his feet and posterior was actually the machinations of a train. He ran his hands over the rough material of his pants, then did a double-take as he looked down at himself.

He was wearing an unfamiliar military uniform, not unlike the ones worn by Western Europe at the turn of the century. His double-breasted brown top with starched, high collar was clearly pressed, clean, and well maintained. A small bundle of metal pins sat on his upper left breast, with a small tag that read ‘Volkjel’ that mirrored the small fruit salad of colored ribbons on his right.

“Shit, did I reenlist without knowing it?” He asked himself, peering down at his polished boots and mint-condition brown leather holster on his belt. “God fuckin’ dammit, am I a boot?”

The door opened next to him, almost jerking him out of his seat. Looking up, he found Ellie grinning down at him in an almost mirror image uniform to his, her dark skin contrasting with the muted browns and greens of her uniform. The cut and tailoring of her jacket and pants cinched tight around her waist clearly displaying her feminie curves, and the large leather holster on her right hip only added to the allure she carried with every step.

“Hello, Sam.” She said, sauntering to the cushioned bench opposite to his.

“Shit, Ellie, I was beginning to think Senire didn’t hold up her end of the bargain.” He replied, leaning back against his side of the train car.

“No, she always keeps her word.” Ellie replied with a dismissive wave of her hand, “I just arrived in a different car. Apparently enlisted aren’t allowed to sit with officers, normally. I had to convince them that you desperately needed me.”

“Eh, pretty common,” Sam replied, meeting her deep red eyes. “What can you tell me about this place?”

She gave a loud sigh. “Unfortunately, I know as much as you do. Something very bad is about to happen, and we’re here to stop it. Apparently it has something to do with the military, given our outfits. Thankfully, whoever tailored mine did a lovely job of it.”

“I can tell,” replied Sam, quirking a brow and smirking. “Unfortunately, I can’t see shit in this fog. Do you know where the hell we’re headed?”

“Hmmm,” she smiled, running her tongue on her canines, “I can’t be certain, but I heard some of the enlisted talking on my way here. If they’re right, we’re headed to a city called Gerra.”

Sam nodded, his eyes landing on a knapsack stuffed under the seat. He pulled it free, finding a large, toggle-action rifle strapped to the side. Extricating the rifle, he looked it over.

On the top was a large rollmark on the receiver, denoting it as a Whitney Weapons Mk. 14, along with it being property of the Lenit Ducal Crown.

“So, we’re in Lenit, then?” Asked Sam, looking to Ellie.

“As I said, your guess is as good as mine,” She replied, flashing him a toothy smile, “Think of it as an adventure!”

“Well, shit.” He returned the rifle to its original position, and set the knapsack on the bench next to him. He opened the top of the leather holster, pulling free a firearm remarkably similar to one from his old world, a hammer-fired pistol with wooden grips, a blued steel slide, iron sights that felt just a touch too small, and a nine-round magazine.

Snorting once, he reinserted the magazine and placed the pistol gingerly back in its holster, securing the strap. He looked back out the window as the trees began to fade in frequency, furrowing his brows in interest and confusion as he scooted closer to the window of the train. His eyes widened as he looked at what appeared to be a large city revealed itself from the morning fog.

It reminded him of the picturesque Bavarian castles he’d seen when he was stationed in Germany all those years ago, if increased to an unimaginable size. Large stone walls encircled the majority of the livable land in the area, with white and brown Tudor-style multi-story houses inside the stone fortifications. He couldn’t see the other side of the city, let alone the sky, but the scale was of a proportion that boggled his mind.

Forty-foot walls stretched skyward, obscuring all but the top floors of the buildings inside, with small farms and shops eking their way outside the walls of the fortress city. Green and blue banners hung periodically on the walls, the emblem of a lion wearing a crown etched firmly in gold in the center.

“I take it that’s Gerra?” Sam asked half-heartedly.

“That would be my guess,” Said Ellie, gazing out the window briefly before turning back to Sam with a smirk, “An Earth-Mage must’ve worked incredibly hard on those.”

“I’m sorry, did you just say ‘Earth-Mage’?” Sam asked, turning quickly to Ellie.

“Sam, you literally met a death Goddess, why is the existence of magic surprising to you?” Ellie answered with a light chuckle.

“I…” Trailed Sam, turning back out the window, “Yeah that’s fair, I guess.”

Companionable silence fell as they both watched the city creep closer, the train slowing as it neared its final destination. When the train clacked to a stop on a crowded platform, Sam looked to Ellie and nodded before standing and slinging his pack over his shoulder.

Stepping out of the train cabin, he walked through the rapidly-crowding hallway to the doors of the car. He dropped down to the platform, and realized what he had failed to notice about the crowd. Some were human, while almost as many, if not more, were decidedly not. Tall, slender people with slanted large eyes and pointed ears, short and stocky men with beards, bipedal reptiles with large, clawed hands, and a woman with furry digitigrade legs that ended in hooves all pushed past him, seeming eager to get onto the train as quickly as possible.

A soft, warm force pressed into his back, and he turned over his shoulder to see Ellie hunched up, leaning her face against his shoulderblades. She was almost shaking as she turned up to him and fixed him with a bright, if nervous smile.

“Really don’t like crowds…” She stated, placing her head against the side of his ruck once again.

Snorting, he continued walking forward, if slower to allow her to follow in his wake, as the denizens of the train station parted around him like a boulder in a river. He pushed through the crowd, even accidentally shoulder-checking several passers-by as he shuffled forward.

“Lieutenant Volkjel!” A voice cut over the din of the crowded station. Ignoring it, he continued his trek as the press of bodies began to thin and taper off. At the end of the platform, several people held name-emblazoned signs, clearly waiting for someone else to arrive.

“Lieutenant Samuel Volkjel!” The voice proclaimed loudly through the din of conversation again.

Hearing his first name, he turned his head slowly, analyzing the direction that the voice came from. He made eye contact with a short woman, standing several yards away in a military uniform much like his own, but with a single deep-red stripe on the sides of her legs and arms. Then he remembered his name-tag on his uniform and looked down.

‘Volkjel?’ He thought, quirking a brow before internally jumping at the realization, ‘Oh! I’m Lieutenant Volkjel!’

Making a sharp right turn, he strode up to the woman.

She was short, barely 5’1” by his reckoning, with broad shoulders and waist. He would’ve thought her to be plump if it weren't for the fact that her sleeves were rolled up to reveal incredibly toned and muscled forearms.

“Dwarf,” Ellie whispered in his ear, extricating herself from his back as the crowd thinned to walk beside him. “She’s quite tall for her race, actually.”

Mentally shrugging at the unbade information, he pushed through the remaining platform-goers and stood before the stocky woman. He extended a hand and smiled.

“Good morning,” he said, giving a polite smile, “I’m Lieutenant Volkjel.”

“Morning sir,” she replied, a brief flash of shock evident across her face before her plastic expression returned, “I… I’m Warrant Officer Mukdrekara Coalbelt, sir.”

After releasing his hand, she snapped to attention and delivered him a crisp salute, which he quickly and half-heartedly returned.

“Ease up on the formalities when it’s just us, okay?” Sam ordered with a chuckle, remembering his days of being enlisted around officers that demanded perfect decorum at every possible moment.

“Yes sir!” Snapped Mukdrekara, before turning to Ellie and glancing briefly at a pad of paper in her hand. “I take it you’re his aide, Sergeant Elanor Vezir?”

“That's me!” Stated Ellie with a wide smile.

“Outstanding!” stated the diminutive Warrant Officer, waving her hand, “If you would follow me, I’ve been sent to escort you to the command pavilion here in Gerra for assignment.”

“Lead the way then,” replied Sam, and the three of them made their way out of the station..