When the proxy wars of the gods were at an end and the races were being remade for other purposes besides slaughter, as a reward they were given a choice into how they should be reformed.

Most of the beast races chose to be in balance with nature. Thus, instincts were written into their blood. The lion instinctively knows how to hunt, the buffalo how to find water. The bear instinctively knows to hibernate through the coldest month of winter and birds all know their place of birth. The majestic antelope in the claws of the ferocious leopard knows no hate or regret. The fish doesn't curse the sun as it dies of thirst in a drought.

Humans chose the capacity to learn. A human being can learn a skill even inherent to other races, to offset this huge advantage the gods shortened the human lifespan and took all knowledge from their blood. Thus, a human is born helpless without any divine knowledge or even awareness of the Ether. Only through learning, can they achieve what the other races take for granted.

The Three, in their benevolence, chose to open a path to immortality for the mortal races through knowledge, discipline and breaking the limits of their mortal flesh.

Thus humans could 'awaken' to be able to feel Ether in the worlds and manipulate it as 'mana', the bread that is the gift of God. Those few who manage to Awaken live centuries longer than those who don't and pursue their next evolution and Ascendance through learning.

Excerpt from: The Book of Tears

by: Atticus The Bold

*

Sachihiro

I have been here hundreds of times before. I have boasted of my accomplishments in the extensive exploration of the forest with no one but my brother, Harold, and Om for company. I know the stream we were heading to like I know da's war axe Bjorn.

But today the longer we move forward the more I notice things aren't right. The atmosphere is oppressive, I'm starting to remember that I've noticed this same feeling many times before but never really paid attention to it. It's almost like a veil that has been preventing me from seeing things as they truly are is slowly being pulled away and I'm not liking what I'm seeing.

I'm remembering other instances of inconsistencies with things that should have scared my blood cold but hardly left an impression before today. There is malevolent energy here and my heart rate increases exponentially as the gravity of the situation dawns on me, this energy has led my brother potentially to his death.

I quickly look around realizing we are not at the bloody stream! I'm starting to panic as a cold sweat seizes me, can I fight all three of them to get myself out of here? Do I even want to leave this place without my brother?

I try to be more perceptive of my surroundings without giving away that I've noticed the grotesquely twisted skeletons that ward the place. The corpse of a child lying beside the path in its half preserved half decomposed defiled state looking like a plaything instead of an actual human corpse. Skulls of beasts mounted on poles twisted and unpleasant to the senses put on display along our path putting fear in my heart that weighs down on every step I take.

Why would Dee insist on coming here if it wasn't for some malevolent spirit whispering lies in his ear? I'm at a loss as to what to do, how I get out of this alive without having to hurt my brother.

"I was wondering when you would notice," Dee says as he pats me on the back.

I startle and yelp a little as I nearly jump out of my skin. I've heard stories of people being glamoured into doing the will of powerful witches or vampires going so far as to kill their own families.

No one can imagine the soul-cleansing relief I feel when I look into the eyes of my companions and to my relief realize they are still with me. They are also negatively affected looking at the twisted angles of every unnatural thing around the forest. I breathe easier, we are here to kill a witch I hope.

"We are here to kill a witch," my brother affirms as he hefts his spear experimentally. It's only now I realize it’s a fighting spear not a hunting spear. He apparently sees the confusion in my face.

"Another more obscure function of spirit-energy is getting people who are susceptible to not notice things.

"Like all the creepy shit that happened to us that I didn't remember, or notice happening in this forest that I suddenly started having bad dreams about as soon as I started training in spirit." He nods angrily and I relax a little. I'm still mostly confused but from his outraged tone I know we are here for vengeance.

He definetly should have told me we were here to fight, but I'm a fucking Norse so I roll with it. A Norse is always ready for a fight, and here is an opponent I won't mind killing. I don't care how 'misunderstood' they claim they are or how some of them are 'good'. Witches, necromancers, nightmares, vampires, all of them will die if they ever cross my path.

"My spirit-energy is showing you where we've really been going all these years before each of our hunts. Not to a magical pool of crystal green water connected to a stream but to the lair of a witch,'' he says indicating all the unnatural things around us. "I'm not sure why the thing didn't kill us the first time we stumbled upon it, but we need to be quick now before it realises we're on to it. I'm not very good at this shielding thing yet and she might overcome me if she realizes we are here to kill her," I give a brisk nod and our true hunt begins.

''You owe me answers after this.''

He nods, we move.

Om is at the front and signals he is going to scout the flanks. I nod and indicate to Harold to double-check our trail, not for a possible retreat, never that.

Imagine the horror of not dying in battle? I pray for the spirits to save me from such a fate. All my doubt, worry, and fear are quickly rolling off me. I can almost feel the influence coming from Dee now that I'm paying attention.

While I'm starting to gain confidence and righteous anger that I can turn into the berserker rage as soon as my blood gets hot in the upcoming fight. Dee is looking paler and weaker as we stealthily move towards the witch’s lair. I guess he is using spirit to reinforce me and it's taking its toll, interesting...

I see Om return and signal him to go around the cabin I see and suddenly remember so vividly.

Dee and I take the frontal attack. This witch dies today.