Infinite Realm: Monsters & Legends

Axiom

The silence in the dark room was deep and all consuming. The three of them sat, not sure why they were here, but each of them knew that it was significant. The Dealmaker didn’t just pull people into his realm. The only thing they knew was that they had done something that they shouldn’t have. If the Dealmaker’s previous words were anything to go by. The Dealmaker didn’t take long to begin.

“I do not interfere in the matters regarding the chosen and their lives without being invited to, and never without a cost,” the Dealmaker started. “I monitor and oversee the Framework, making sure that important events come to pass at a proper time. It is my task to ensure the proper flow of existence. To that effect, I enact changes, I improve, I remove, and I integrate things that have an impact on the Framework and the flow of the Grand Plan. The creation of the Ways is one such event, one that was not intended to happen at such an early time. Yet, it has happened through the confluence of events that were within the parameters of the proper flow of the Infinite Realm development. What you have done, was not within those parameters.”

Ryun tilted his head. “Why?” He asked. He felt Selia stiffen next to him the moment he spoke. Their bond was inactive here, but he didn’t need it to know what she was thinking. Both her and Erdania had grown up in a society that feared the Dealmaker and entering his realm. Whether it was a compulsion that was an intentional part of the Framework or not, it existed. To them, the Dealmaker was a god. Which, in many ways was the truth. Now that Ryun had the access of the memories of the True Death’s past, he understood it better than anybody else in the world. There were reasons to fear the Dealmaker.

Selia would have the same memories now, he knew, but they were still themselves, and perhaps the two of them had more reason to fear the Dealmaker than most. They had been defiant before.

“Because,” the Dealmaker answered. “Of who you are. The only reason why you are not dead, is because it is partially our fault. We’ve integrated the Aspects of True Death into you, into this version of the Framework. But we’ve not taken into account what the memories would do, nor did we imagine that you would be able to absorb them in such a manner. And those memories hold within them the entire history of a reality. It is too much, it has granted you insights that you were not meant to have, that you were intended to gain on your own through the ages yet to come.”

“Ah,” Ryun just said. “The Oath and the Image?” He asked, remembering the notification he had seen.

“Indeed,” the Dealmaker inclined his hooded head.

Selia swallowed, then spoke. “So, what now?”

“We have stopped your full Ascension, you do not understand what it is, nor will I elaborate. It is not the time yet for it, despite your evolution. But,” the Dealmaker paused, his head turning so that he took a moment to look at all three of them directly. “But, you have achieved something, and I will not take it all away from you. You will make an Oath; you will not speak on any of this to anyone until such a time when you Ascend properly.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

They all nodded, there was no need to ask what would happen if they didn’t agree. It was implicit in the Dealmaker’s words.

“For now, your Souls are changed forever, your Axioms are yours, claimed already though you will not have full access to them until you Ascend.”

“Axioms?” Ryun asked.

“Your truth, your domain,” the Dealmaker just said, not explaining further. “And no, you cannot make a deal to learn more, you already know more than necessary, I am certain you will figure it out yourselves.”

Ryun bit what he was about to say.

“Your Authority will be reduced to a more manageable level appropriate for your Axioms and current advancement tiers,” the Dealmaker finished, then grew silent.

“So, that’s it?” Ryun asked once the silence stretched.

“That is all that I require you to know,” the Dealmaker said.

“What about Ra’azel?” Ryun asked.

“What about him?”

Ryun narrowed his eyes. “You won’t stop him?”

“Like you with True Death, Ra’azel has taken fate in his own hands and integrated through the means that fall within the rules. All chosen have free will to make their own choices, to act as they see fit and advance within the confines of the Framework. The acts themselves are meaningless.”

“I thought that he wasn’t chosen,” Ryun added.

“He has taken the right through his actions, through his defiance and might. There are paths open for everything within the Framework, as long as his choices don’t infringe on the stability of the Framework, he is free to do as he wills.”

“But not us? We get our power removed,” Ryun tilted his head.

“I will forgive your tone, for you do not understand. The Framework is an evolving construct, a frame that holds reality together. What you were becoming would’ve threatened its stability. If the Heavens were opened at this time, without the other prerequisites fulfilled, reality would’ve collapsed. The Three would have reached into the marble of reality and started again from scratch, deeming this reality as a failure.”

That made Ryun pause. He felt Selia squeeze his hand, and knew that she was urging him not to antagonize the Dealmaker any more.

He squeezed her hand in return, and then bowed his head. “I understand.”

“You do not, but that is fine,” the Dealmaker said. “Do not think that you are being robbed here, despite our failings, you have achieved something great, the Framework has taken notice, you will be rewarded.”

With the Dealmaker raised his hand and sent them back to the Real Realm.

They looked ahead, all six of them. Zach and Naha were sitting on a long piece of rock that had tumbled over. Nayra stood with her hands crossed, a complicated look on her face. She held her spear in her hand, not willing to let it go until she was certain all danger was gone.

Ryun, Erdania and Selia sat on the grass. Erdania had Selia in her lap, and Ryun sat next to them with her legs over his, and leaning his shoulder onto Erdania’s. Their bond was back, and all three were fully linked, thought and emotion. What was once one, then two, was now three, and he knew that their relationship would change with this too. But that was for the future.

They watched as the giant flying mountain Island fell and crashed into the ground. There were no survivors that they could detect. They had found some bodies, but not nearly enough for how many people there were supposed to be.

Zach had told him that Berion had turned on his people, on Kaeliss and the Unchained. He believed that he had taken the weaklings away.

Ryun didn’t particularly care about them, and perhaps this way was better. He didn’t have to make any choices.

They sat and rested, the fight was done.