As I awoke, I found myself in an enigmatic world, dark and damp, each breath tinged with the cool, earthy scent of wet soil and moss. Shadows swirled around me, twisting and curling like smoke, but at the center of it all was a massive core, pulsating with an ethereal white light that seemed to pierce through the surrounding gloom. The core stood like a beacon in this murky realm, its luminosity casting stark contrasts against the darkness, illuminating the myriad textures of the earth—deep greens, haunting grays, and the glistening sheen of moisture on every surface.
Around me, puddles dotted the ground like mirrors reflecting the shimmering core above. But they were larger than usual, expanses of water that stretched farther than I remembered, their surfaces rippling gently as if stirred by some unseen force. Each step I took sent ripples cascading across the water, the sound echoing subtly in the quiet air. I could feel the weight of familiarity pressing in on me; it was a sensation that sparked memories long buried. This place—I had been here before, but in a different time, a different state of mind. The puddles were bigger, expansive pools filled with tranquility.
Curiosity propelled me forward, my heart racing as I studied the surreal landscape surrounding me. I felt drawn to the radiating core, its light captivating and warm, and I instinctively moved closer. My senses heightened with each step; the air was thick with anticipation, and I could hear the soft trickle of water around me, serene yet haunting. It felt like a pilgrimage to something significant, something I was destined to encounter.
As I approached the core, its brilliance intensified, bathing me in a gentle glow that chased away the shadows clinging to my skin. I reached out a hand, drawn to the warmth that emanated from its center, an inexplicable connection tugging at my very essence. Just as my fingers grazed the surface of the light, a familiar voice broke through the silence.
"Dont touch that. I' tell you now just dont-"
Before Venus could finish, I had already begun to leave, to ignore her pleas. It was more of a petty matter, I could have already forgotten about that, yet, what kind of person would lead a friend into a trap, to be "interrogated" by her sister? If there's one thing I hate, its a rat. I was whipped one time in the cave, just because some geezer I trusted snaked me for a few hours off. I never trusted anyone in that damned cave again.
"Listen to me" she tried to say, the words muffled as I left. I stopped and turned around to hear her out.
"What is it?"
"This is very important. Do you know where this is?" she asked.
"No. What does that have to do with anything"
"This is called a sub-space. Its a pocket dimension common among us guardians. Its a trait that was inherited by the gods, intended to be a prison, a sort of seal meant for specific threats. Some monsters and dark beings just cannot be killed, so this was the next best method. You know what that means?"
"I'm a-"
She seized my arms with an urgency that sent waves through my body, her grip firm yet almost tender, as if she were trying to anchor herself to some fleeting, precious moment. But it was her eyes that truly captivated me—those once familiar, ordinary eyes now ignited with a newfound sparkle that shimmered like stars being born in a dark sky. It was a light I had never seen before, an intensity that held a world of emotions, a scope of hope and determination, reflecting everything we had shared and everything that lay ahead.
In that instant, the air around us crackled with an unseen force, and time itself seemed to stretch and warp, every heartbeat echoing against the backdrop of our reality. The vivid luminescence in her gaze threatened to swallow me whole, pulling me deeper into a whirlwind of feelings that churned within the depths of my soul. I felt a surge of vulnerability rush through me, the weight of our unspoken words hanging thick between us as if the very atmosphere crackled with possibilities.
But this news was too much for me. My mind raced as the implications rushed quickly through my thoughts like a strong current, each wave crashing against the ragged stone which was my resolve. What would happen now?
"Yes you're.... you're one of us. You have guardian heritage. This is- this is great"
I tried to calm myself down, this was too much. I had never known my father, and had only a few minutes worth of memories with my mother, I could barely make out her face, it seems plausible.
"W-Wait hold on, just, get your hands off me" I expressed, slipping my arms out of her firm grip.
"I know what I did was unnecessary, wrong even. I did what I thought was right at the time, not knowing it would end up this way. But please, this is important. Dont let feelings distract us from this matter. Please."
I closed my eyes, letting my instincts take control.
"What's so serious?" I said as nonchalant as it could get.
Her eyes widened with shock.
"Normal humans, or any regular of any race I've encountered across the sea of endless realities would've been a little bit excited that they held even an ounce of divinity. Then there's you." she said, as her face fell into her hand, completely disappointed.
"When the gods sealed us in the depths, they lessened all of our power, weakened our existence to a singular body, in the shape of man, to mock us."
"That means they locked off all sub-spaces."
"Correct. Since a sub-space is an area with a massive amount of 'space', we could've easily absorbed all that energy, little by little. See those puddles? That is navitas. You're absorbing it. Little by little. Each time you come here, it'll be bigger, until the depths, finally become empty"
"So, I can free you guys?"
"Not exactly, but yes. The time it would take for you to completely and safely absorb all of it would be 10 years, cue to how dense and pure navitas is. Unless you decide to swallow it, which we have calculated to be suicide"
"Great. Now, do you mind explaining why you lured me into Mercury's lair? I think there should be mutual understanding between us." I took a step back, still burning of rage from that horrifying encounter.
"It was because, we thought you were a spy, sent by the gods. Even Xilan could not easily comprehend the teachings of great beings who have lived more than the mind could think, nor catch up and beat us at our own game. Even though she let you have the advantage to some degree, it should've been impossible. Just your access to the place is very concerning. only ones with certain structures of energy pathways similar to ours can freely interact with the depths. Bu then doing all this and then just reaching 20 years of age? Something had to be up."
I thought about that for a moment, and it made perfect sense. "Why would they even trust me in the first place?".
They might have been valid in theory, but to trick someone into something like that? Its not okay. And I stand with my judgement. Nevertheless, the past is the past now, and she meant the best for her people. Who could blame her?
"Well, now that's out of the way, how do I get out of here?" I asked.
She giggled.
"You decide whether you want to be here or not. So just think about leaving, and you'll leave." she said bursting in laughter.
"Right, right haha. How do I actually leave, and what's so funny?" who thought a universal being, living for an unhealthy amount of years, witnessing the rise and fall of legendary civilizations, could joke around?
"You really are slow. Its actually laughable. The same way you leave the depths, dummy"
I grit my teeth, as she continued to tease me.
"Can I punch you, just this once?"