NOVEL NEXT The proxy
As the portal sealed shut, the grand palace fell into an eerie, serene silence. The energy in the air seemed to still, leaving only the faint hum of power that radiated from Carter’s presence. He descended slowly, his six wings folding back as his feet touched the cold, golden floor. Without a word, he strode back to his throne, its gleaming surface reflecting the faint light of the cosmos swirling outside.
Carter sat, leaning back into the familiar weight of the throne, his arm resting on the side and his chin perched thoughtfully on his hand. He stared into the vastness of space, contemplating everything that had led him to this moment. “When I first came into this world,” he muttered to himself, his voice quiet but resolute, “the thought of playing god would’ve felt strange, maybe even wrong…”
He paused, feeling the immense gravity of what he had just set in motion, the lives he had created, and the worship he would soon receive. His lips curled into a small, almost amused smile.
“But now…” He glanced down at his palm, still faintly glowing from the power he had just bestowed upon Ralak. “Now I wait.”
And with that, Carter closed his eyes, settling into a long, patient silence, knowing his reign as the Primordial God had truly begun.
On planet Carter, Ralak moved through the colossal alien forest, where trees stretched high into the sky, their massive trunks glowing faintly with an ethereal light. The canopy above was dense, and long, thick vines hung down, covered in glowing fungi that pulsed like breathing organisms. Despite the unusual surroundings since he only knew the mines all his life, Ralak felt an unusual peace, knowing his purpose now and feeling liberated from the oppressive rule of the Vorasis.
As he continued, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the forest, and from the corner of his eye, he noticed shadows—tall, nimble figures jumping gracefully from leaf to leaf. He wasn’t startled, though. In fact, he welcomed the encounter, knowing it was his duty to meet and guide the races on this planet. The figures landed before him with a thunderous thud, shaking the ground slightly. There were about 20 of them—Nytherix, their tall, slender forms towering over him.
They averaged around 8'7, making Ralak, who stood at 5'6, feel almost insignificant in size. Their blue, elf-like features seemed to glow faintly in the dim forest light, their black, pupil-less eyes fixed on him with suspicion.
One of them, visibly enraged, stepped forward, his voice booming, "WHAT ARE YOU, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN OUR TERRITORY?" His posture was threatening, but Ralak remained calm.
Ralak looked up at the towering Nytherix with calm resolve and spoke clearly, “I am the proxy of the Lord Primordial. I come to spread his word across this world.”
His statement was met with confused glances as the Nytherix exchanged looks. The one in front of him, towering even taller than the others, sneered and leaned forward. “Who is this 'Primordial,' little red thing? Speak up now before we tear your limbs apart,” he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Despite the threat, Ralak remained unshaken, raising his arms slightly in a gesture of calm. “The Lord is the creator of this world, and His lordship asks for nothing but your devotion in return. Through Him, we will find purpose and strength.”
For a moment, there was silence. Then the Nytherix started chuckling, one after another. The laughter grew louder, echoing through the forest. They all looked at each other, unable to hold back their amusement at Ralak’s words, as if the idea of a higher power meant nothing to them.
The Nytherix warrior, his sharp features twisted into a grin, sneered down at Ralak. “Good, little red thing. You’ve made me feel joy... now you die.”
Without hesitation, he reached behind him, pulling a long, jagged spear from his back. With a single swift motion, he hurled it toward Ralak, the weapon cutting through the air like a flash of lightning.
But Ralak had been waiting for this. Calm and composed, he stood his ground. “Behold the power of my Lord,” he declared, spreading his arms wide.
In an instant, a shimmering forcefield materialized around him, glowing faintly with celestial energy. The spear collided with the barrier, but instead of piercing through, it bounced off harmlessly, as if it had struck a wall of iron. The Nytherix watched in shock as their mighty weapon was deflected like it was nothing.
Ralak stood untouched, his expression unchanged. “This is the protection of the Lord Primordial. Do you understand now? You cannot harm one who serves Him.”
“EVIL MAGIC!” the Nytherix leader shouted, his eyes wide with fear as he and his comrades scrambled back into the trees. They leapt from branch to branch, vanishing swiftly into the dense forest canopy, retreating with the same agility they’d arrived with.
Ralak stood still for a moment, watching their hurried escape. He then lowered his arms, letting the shimmering forcefield around him dissolve into nothingness. A faint smile touched his lips as he whispered to himself, “Good... lead me to your people.”
Without any rush, Ralak began following their path, the towering trees and alien foliage around him swaying gently as if acknowledging his presence. His steps were steady and deliberate—he knew his mission had only just begun. Soon, all of Planet Carter would know the name of the Primordial God.