The Thirty-Third Entry

 Time is almost irrelevant next to the vastness of space. The traveling of light is not instantaneous, and events that occurred eons ago travel that vastness to be observed so far into the future. Inflicted changes on the cosmos, especially those I caused, go unobserved from a distance. I often wonder if perhaps the same is true of myself - waiting simply to be seen.

I looked at A’re, a man himself, age sheening through his metallic features. He carried himself differently, more confidently, perhaps more wisely and gently. So much had changed in five years.

“Axiom?” Yulthar concernedly asked, “Are you alright?”

“Yes, sorry. You,” I said looking between Yulthar and A’re, “both have changed so much. Wisdom has settled between the two of you, I can feel it.”

They both smirked at one another.

“We wondered how you would react. I hope you don’t take offense to this, but I’m happy it’s mortal.” A’re said.

I took a moment to absorb what A’re had said, and understood what he meant.

“Thank you.” I said.

“We’ve been to a lot of places, while you were busy. Exploring, adventuring, and a few occasional vacations. We made some good friends along the way.” A’re said glancing at Yulthar, “We went to some places you were, as well. Some of which you probably don’t remember being, Aberus told us how to find some of them.”

“He also told us not to go looking, but we did anyways.” Yulthar said.

“Some places were quiet, like nothing had happened – others were wastelands. A few were, to put it lightly, horrific. I wish to forget them, but I never will. We learned a few things about you, however, by doing so.” A’re said.

We were quiet a moment, before I spoke changing the subject slightly: “Where is Aberus?”

“He’s in the medical device in the back. When you went into meditation, he was around for maybe a few weeks before going catatonic.” A’re said.

“Wasn’t just him though, the whole ship did. At least, just the fun parts. We couldn’t travel as far as before and had to rely on just the FTL.” Yulthar said.

“I see. Then, I should share what I’ve learned about myself before we go any further.” I said.

“Should we wait for Aberus?” Yulthar asked.

“I have a feeling he already knows.” A’re answered.

We were quiet again as I gathered my own thoughts on what I had learned, and on how to present them.

“When I look upon the two of you – I see something I don’t normally view. The passage of time. It truly is good to see both of you again. Yet, I’m also reminded of what I am. I’m not even sure I age underneath this armor.” I take a moment to look at my hands, before returning my attention to them, “Every time I look out the viewport into the black of the cosmos and see a star explode, I am reminded that I am possibly the reason for its destruction. But its possibility is only a possibility because I can’t remember it. I can’t remember how long, or even when it started. I am a shell. A shell created by the Obelisk that was waiting to be filled by the souls it took from Human civilizations across space time. Countless trillions to build this being. And here I am. I keep telling myself there is a purpose behind it, and I believe there is. I think there’s someone waiting for me. But to know where they are I must go back. This time it has to be the Obelisk.”

“Waiting for you?” Yulthar asked.

“I’m not sure. I had a vision while I was meditating, and I met a being briefly. I don’t know where I wondered unconsciously but I do feel they are connected to the Obelisk somehow, and possibly me.” I answered.

“So, that’s what you meant before you went into meditation.” A’re seemed to say rhetorically.

“The answers to the questions I’ve longed for will be at the Obelisk.” I said. “The reasons for why any of this has happened, have just been sitting right behind me. I can’t ask you to come with me, as I will likely not be returning.”

A’re and Yulthar looked at one another before returning their attention to me.

“Axiom, we didn’t wait all this time to be left behind. I didn’t tell you that we saw the places you’ve been to punish you. It’s not your fault – we both believe that. We want know why, just as much as you do, as to why both of our worlds were sacrificed.” A’re smiled. “We’re your friends – we won’t abandon you. Besides, Yulthar and I have learned a few tricks since last time. We’ll protect you.”

All three of us laughed, and I nodded.

“Then, we’ll go together – to the Obelisk.” I said.

“I hope you weren’t planning on going without me.” A voice from the backroom said, the beads parting from the doorway.

Aberus walked over to the table, moving his arms slowly around as if to alleviate some stiffness.

“Aberus!” Yulthar exclaimed, “You’re awake!”

“Yeah, though a little sore. I guess that’s what happens when you just stop moving for Five years. Nothing like a good adventure to cure it.” Aberus said sitting down next to Yulthar, his runic mask dark against the warm lights overhead. “So, what’s the plan?”

A’re stood and walked over to the table with a stack of cards and retrieved the metal tube. He placed it down on the table in middle of everyone, and the tube opened at the top. It lurched open and became four separate pieces, that supported and lifted the bottom of the tube. It hummed to life and projected a holographic image.

“Yulthar and I had a feeling something like this might happen, so while you two were incapacitated.” A’re began saying.

“And unable to tell us otherwise.” Yulthar chirped in.

“We plotted a route to the Obelisk, utilizing the portals it uses to transport its forces across universes. Just like we did before, but now we know where to go exactly. We also timed their patrols around the portals, so we should be able to sneak in undetected.” A’re said a bit proud of himself.

“You two have been busy.” Aberus said chuckling.

“Just try to keep up, old man.” Yulthar said laughing.

“These sore bones can still outpace you.” Aberus retorted.

The two of them went back and forth for some time, but eventually relented as both admitted defeat to one another. After planning our route, Aberus admitted he still felt our previous trip to The Graveyard was his fault. Yet, none of us could forgive him, for there was nothing to forgive. Both Aberus and I were nothing but tools created by the Obelisk. It still held some grasp over us, even if we didn’t wish for it to. This time, however, we wouldn’t relent.

Yulthar showed me the other items he had gathered in the crate. A deployable arm shield which seemed capable of deflecting a great number of projectiles, and the final item: a dense cube a little larger than his grip. It deployed similar to the grip he had shown me, its metal sheening and liquifying in his grasp, and spread over his body. The armor completely coated his body and formed a shape similar to my own, though a bit less intimidating and more knightly in appearance. Red lines pulled from down over the top of the helmet that formed over his head and ended at the chin.

Yulthar tapped the side of the helmet, which slid up the visor: “Do you like it? I took some inspirations from yours but added in my own style.”

“It’s impressive. Have you used it before?” I asked.

“Plenty of times. Nothings dented it, and I don’t plan on it taking any.” Yulthar proudly said.

It was certainly impressive armor, and again I felt the similarities between the grip and armor to my own. I wondered where he had found these items, but it would have to wait. We began preparations to jump to the nearest portal and allowed ourselves some down time to relax.

Reading through some of the books on the shelf, I found myself at home in the lounge they had constructed. Aberus, Yulthar, and A’re began a game of cards – which Aberus admitted to not knowing how to play. Several rounds later they found out he had lied, as he was the only one winning.

I was prepared, the end of this long journey that had begun before I could see my own feet was coming. I was excited even, despite the terror of facing the black abyss that the Obelisk resided in.

With the help of the revitalized Harrower, we set our course to the closest portal. Much of our time on the journey was spent going over what to anticipate once we arrived, but the truth of the matter was that neither I nor Aberus remembered ever being to the Obelisk.

Instead, we spent the time with ourselves, waiting for the coming dark, or with each other. I asked Yulthar to allow me to examine the items he had given to me, their unique technology piquing my interest, and he was more than happy to oblige.

The structure of each item was similar in design, but each varied in size depending on its usage. I experimented by taking the hilt and removing a small piece of material from it. Admittedly, the process to do so would be beyond rudimentary technology – utilizing my own power to manipulate its atomic structure to remove it. Once the piece was removed, however, it lasted only some minutes before evaporating into nothing. At the center of the hilt was perhaps a core, which manipulated and controlled the material according to the user’s will.

While thinking upon the material of the hilt, I absently dropped it upon the floor of the Harrower. The floor moved upon contact with the hilt, at first away from it, then slowly towards it as if to assimilate it. Quickly, I picked up the hilt and the floor returned to its normal state. It was a troubling sight. The Harrower only assimilates material of similar design.

“Where did you obtain this again?” I asked Yulthar the next chance I saw him.

“I can’t really remember the planet’s name, but I think it’s a few universes over. I remember the old guy’s name though: Or’Chalis. We saved his life, and he gave them to me. He was surprised when they worked for me. I guess he tried to replicate them but was unable to do so. It was a weird world. Their culture was the strongest survive, but their technology was so advanced that they didn’t seem to understand it. It was like it wasn’t theirs, and it was given to them. Or’Chalis said he was a researcher of some kind and was trying to figure it out himself.” Yulthar said.

“Anything else unusual about the world?” I asked.

“Not that I can remember. Or’Chalis said a lot of things that I couldn’t really wrap my head around. Their world was constantly at war with itself, but it seemed like Or’Chalis was more scared of something else.” Yulthar said shrugging.

“I see. We’ll have to visit this world after this all over.” I said.

“Despite the war part, it actually wasn’t a half bad world. We’ll definitely have to go sightseeing, it has an ocean, and big mountains. I’d never seen any of those on Nathar.” Yulthar said.

As we travelled, I noticed Yulthar was not far from my presence, always close by. Most of my time admittedly was in their reading area, and thus Yulthar would also spend most of his time there. He would ask questions but was careful not to ask too many on a number of different subjects. Most of them were on the subjects of the books, but sometimes others.

A line of questions from Yulthar strayed onto the subject of parents. Yulthar was very young when his died, thus he only grew up knowing Uldet. I wondered if perhaps he had replaced them with myself. I was both honored by the notion, but also worried. I don’t understand what it means to be a parent, or how to be a good role model. But, a part of me regretted ever spending those five years away from him.

Had I known then what was coming, I would have chosen to stay with them for long as I could. But I am no seer. All I did was prepare and hope. That’s all I could do.