by Greg Laurel
“Have they got mead here?” he asked. “Honey wine?” Miles’s new friend nodded, ordering one for each of them, and soon both had tankards in hand.
“We never did properly introduce ourselves,” she said. “Veralis Stratenheim.” And raised her drink.
“Miles Radien.”
The two started to down the mugs, and their contents, staring at each other the whole time, wondering who was going to do the successful one-up. It ended up a tie, and both slammed their mugs on the bar counter. “Damn, but that’s good!” Miles exclaimed.
“No argument here!” Veralis added, and they both laughed. Almost two hours passed as Miles finished his food and chatted with Veralis. It was honestly the most conversation he’d had in months, and likely the only one he’d ever enjoyed partaking in. It didn’t matter that Veralis wasn’t human, and that some wisecracks had been lost on both sides of things every now and again, but it just seemed right to have a good conversation with a good person. Or Vulpian, as it were. But Miles found it odd, how quickly he was accepted here on Cynofrax. For the longest time, he imagined that across the universe, calling someone ‘Human-like’ would be an insult enough to warrant a fight to the death. That his people were the exemplar of inherent evil in an entire species, even with the vastness of the universe. He had even asked Veralis and a few others if they had heard of his species, and got no answer.
“So, what’s on your mind, then?” Veralis asked of Miles, seeing him ponder the strangeness of him not being dead yet for his species.
“It’s just... I hope you don’t think of me as the average of my race. I mean that in the way of that any other human is as... tolerable as me,” Miles responded.
Veralis tilted her head slightly, clearly confused.
“The Humans of Earth... the ones I’ve always hated being among, they’re evil. They’re a species of liars, backstabbers, and cowards with hearts as black as the void between galaxies.”
“So what does that make you?”
“I remember a wise man once said ‘a person is smart, people are dumb, panicky animals.’ At this point, I’m the only one of my kind who’s ever been to a planet other than Earth, let alone so far out here, meeting all these new peoples. But I know that as a species, the Humans could never be trusted with the knowledge of this wider universe.”
Veralis sipped her replacement drink. “But that doesn’t answer my question. What does that make you? An exception? If all your kind is evil save for you, then how do you know it’s not the opposite?”
“I know and understand my own nature, that I don’t do good things as a good person, but to hold back my inner darkness, the darkness that all Humans have. I know my enemy, this inherent evil, and thus I know how to fight it. To subdue it, if not defeat and destroy it. Make no mistake, Veralis. You’ve no reason to trust me, and you’d be right to not. I wonder if that Melaqros guy was just fucking with me, and decided to show the universe to me, and fake his death so he could watch me have a good time before taking it away. Probably by knocking me out and taking me back to Earth, make me think it was all a dream. Another fantasy.”
As soon as Miles mentioned the name Melaqros, Veralis’s ears perked up. “Melaqros? Is that the name he used?”
“Aye. Did you know him?”
“Melaqros isn’t the name of a person. It’s a word in Draconic, literally meaning ‘out of time’. It’s not a word used lightly by any of the Draconic peoples. Only when one knows he or she is about to die do they use that word to name themselves in those last moments, and to make their last requests and arrangements. If a Dragon of some kind called himself Melaqros, and gave you his ship, he knew he was dying, and he knew there was something about you that needed saving before it was too late.”
Miles looked over to Veralis, the look of solemn preparation to face reality replaced with intrigue, and maybe even a little hope that the universe isn’t that cruel.
“Trust me Miles, no Dragon would call themselves Melaqros in any other situation. Even the most manipulative of despots and tricksters didn’t use that word as part of a sick prank.”
A moment passed before Veralis spoke again. “You need to get to The Mountain, don’t you?” Miles nodded. “He told you to find answers at The Mountain?” She seemed almost ecstatic for some reason. “Then once those drinks wear off, it would be my honor to take you there to meet The Aura Prism!”
Chapter the Second
Miles spent the night at Veralis’s home in Kaldres-Viane, sleeping off the few drinks he had, so he could be in optimal shape to meet The Aura Prism. When he woke up that morning, he was ready to simply be in his own bed at his home, seeing that this was just a cruel dream. But that was not the case. He woke up in the guest room Veralis showed him, on Cynofrax.
For it, he felt happy for the first time in his life he could remember. Maybe he’d been happy before, but that was before he could keep memories. As little as it seemed, just to wake up today, it meant the universe to him. To show that at long last, he had escaped. Finally, he could declare a victory. It wasn’t just a dream, and that made him happy.
Miles looked out the nearby window upon the town of Kaldres-Viane, and sighed in satisfied relief. He bowed his head slightly at the scene before him, as if to thank all of the powers that may have finally let him stand where he did.
“Just let me know when you’re ready,” Veralis’s voice said from outside the room.
“Whenever you are,” Miles replied.
Not long after, the two were on their way. Veralis said that the ship he arrived in would be at the Starport at Sorrenikas, as it was the closest major city to Kaldres-Viane. She also assured that it was policy that in situations like Miles’s, his ship would be moved to a place at the nearest major Starport. Coincidentally, Sorrenikas was the city they would head to in order to get to The Mountain, as it was along the Kandorian Sound that allowed for easy passage to The Mountain. Soon, the two had arrived at the water-port of Sorrenikas, and Veralis quickly was able to spot someone able to get them to The Mountain reasonably. Miles, of course, trusted her judgment on this matter, seeing as he was the foreigner here. A short boat ride later, and the two stood at the base of The Mountain, a tunnel leading directly into the stone itself, and stairs spiraling upwards.
“Those stairs go all the way to the peak,” Veralis explained. “You may have wondered why this place isn’t full of people. Tourists, looking to sneak a peek at the Prism, so-called sages and wisemen, hoping to ask questions of it. It’s because those stairs are are the most they see. They try to enter this tunnel, and cannot. They are blocked by an impenetrable force field, and only those that the Prism is expecting to see can do so. This is the final test, as it were. If that Dragon told you to come here, and to seek the Prism, you should be able to do so. I can’t go further, I’ve already had my meet with it to gain access to the power it guards.”
Miles looked over to Veralis. “The power it guards?”
“The Cosmic Powers are known by many names. Some call it Chainbreaker, others know it as the Thuul or the Kaln, or any number of words. To the Vulpian peoples, we name it The Aura. Those with the ability to tap into the ever-present current of energy that is all things have on occasion become the greatest heroes the universe has known, while others simply live for untold years as they travel and participate in the grand scale of reality. Sometimes they just live normal lives, and use power to aid in just... living. Some, very few are born inherently able to tap into power, others train themselves to do so. For many, they must pass a trial to be granted the capability to draw power. It’s what I did.”
“Then I should quit making the Prism wait,” Miles said as he walked towards the tunnel’s entrance, and placed a single foot inside. He discovered no obstacle. The Aura Prism indeed awaited, and Miles had no plans to let it down.
The stairs themselves didn’t seem to tire Miles as much as he thought they might. Perhaps some power kept his stamina going. Perhaps he was just too excited. Either way,
he pressed forth, albeit in near total darkness. He could only see the steps themselves, and even then, only their outline. The walls of the tunnel itself were pitch-black, and maybe even vastly far away, perhaps this climb was far more precarious than Miles was giving it credit for.
Suddenly, a spark seemed to shoot across the dark wall, and Miles whipped around to look. Nothing followed, so he kept going, until another spark crossed his vision. Miles tried to find where it went as he continued stepping up and up, but he could only ever catch these wayward lights in his peripheral vision. The corners of his eyes soon danced with light, more present than before, and a voice... didn’t boom in the darkness, but it’s presence was made known.
“Miles, Human of Earth,” it said.
“Aye, that’s me,” he replied, almost disappointed in its truth.
“I do not make a habit of theatrics, so I say to you something you’ve known, but never told: This is not the first time you have beheld a power beyond your world.”
Miles would’ve frozen, but he kept climbing the stairs, despite how his heart skipped a beat. But he could not lie now. “Aye,” he finally said. “But I never knew that this was what I saw.”
“Then tell me, what did you see, and what did you make of it?”
“You already know the answer.”
“But you still should give it, for your sake more than mine.”
“I’ve dreamed of this moment. And I don’t entirely mean that I’ve fantasized of it, nor do I mean this exact moment. But all my life, I’ve had visions and dreams of other worlds. Other planets, stars, peoples, galaxies...”
Miles felt he may have stood still right there, but he kept moving. Not because something made him, but because his unconscious body knew that this needed to happen, and had no intention to delay it, let alone stop.
“Never an exact world, but the idea of it. Never the name of a species or a person, but the raw concept of what or who they are. A universe born of my mind’s eye, and all the dreams I’ve had of living in it. And in a way, I did.”
“Don’t cease now, Radien,” the voice encouraged. Miles figured it had to be that of The Aura Prism.
“I spent my whole life seeing and imagining these worlds, and the adventures I’d have on them. I acted them out in my own backyard, with a piece of broken wooden dowel to pretend was my sword against the dark forces of Creation. In the eyes of the world, I was just a kid waving around a stick. But in my eyes... I held a blade of incredible power, and with it, I fought the most fearsome of foes, wandered many planets, walked all kinds of lives. I imagined my powerful allies, and the good for all Reality we did.”
Finally, Miles did stop. Then, he let out a great sigh.
“But sooner or later, I had to wake up, as it were. For all that wonderful fantasy, there was still a reality that had to be gone back to. To trudge through, to suffer the weight of. Even now... I wonder when I’m going to wake up.”
All the sparks faded.
“Miles, Human of Earth,” The Prism said again. “That is a title with no place being the one you bear.”
Suddenly, Miles found himself atop the mountain, facing a great prismatic gem of deep, swirling blue, well over twice his height. “There is no dream to wake from anymore. You stand at the cusp of the universe you always wanted to explore.”
“So, what’s the catch?” Miles asked.
“The catch is that you believe there is one.” The Prism’s voice echoed in Miles’s head. “I will not deny that it is a consequence of your upbringing, surrounded by countless twisted, manipulative souls. You seek out what catch there is because you know one always exists, and in your defense, one always has. All your life, you’ve needed to scrutinize every word, either ones that you said, or were said by another, for you knew that the slightest fault, the most minuscule slivers of what could be seen as weakness would be mercilessly exploited and battered upon. A world where the only true goal, the only cause that could ensure your thriving was to exploit and destroy all others that did not meet and further your own. What does that sound like to you?”
“That sounds like Earth,” Miles stated with barely any hesitation.
“What planet do you stand on now?”
“I stand on Cynofrax.”
“How many planets called Earth contain Humans?”
“Only one that I know.”
“Of all the planets and all the stars, the Humans of Earth are the only ones I’ve ever seen that would ruin a good thing and enjoy it, thinking it was the right thing to do. They exist on one planet, and one planet only as it stands. You are only Human in body, Miles. You heart, your mind, your very soul... They belong to another race. Which exactly, I cannot say. Only you will be able to, in time. But beyond any doubt, I can guarantee you, not by destiny, but simply by what I know of the universe... You will be far, far greater than a Human could ever dream of being. Because even your dreams aren’t Human. They’re anyone else, from anywhere else.”
Miles had never heard such things said to him before. Even with the unfortunate truth some of them did bear, his spirit still never felt more lifted by just how right he was all along, and how it will finally save him.
“I offer you the power you’ve deserved, and gone without for too long. I offer you The Aura. Your friend Veralis, she will teach you how to wield it. To temper power with wisdom, as she has over her years. You, like her, will become ageless, time will never wither you. You will be hyper-regenerative, able to heal any wound naturally in moments. So long as a single cell of your being remains, you can regrow your entire body, and you consciousness will remain intact. You will undergo a process known as True Physical Optimization, wherein your body will enter the peak physical fitness it possibly can as it stands. Excess energy, such as fat, or whatever waste you may produce will simply be absorbed to fuel this regenerative nature you will gain. You still, of course, can eat, drink, or rest, but it no longer is required to survive. And to top that off, you will be granted Universal Understanding, wherein you shall be able to speak and understand any language spoken to you, this ability will evolve as languages do so naturally.”
Miles felt his heart practically rise in his chest as the Prism made this incredible offer.
“The Aura is that, and so much more, as you will discover in your journey.”
“I shall gladly accept your offer, Prism of The Aura,” Miles declared. Almost instantly after, he felt something hit his chest, and spread through his body, like the tingling sensation one experiences when listening to epic orchestral music. It was as if his entire being flowed with raw power, and... was he being lifted into the air? He was! Only about six inches, but there was no mistake. This raw energy that flowed through him, its power was unquestionable. His feet touched the ground again, and he righted himself, and held his left hand in front of him.
With a snap of his fingers, a deep blue flame ignited in his hand. He closed his fist, and the flame went out. He couldn’t even explain to himself what he did to make it happen. It wasn’t a thought, a command... he just knew that’s what he needed to do.
“I owe you a debt I can never repay,” Miles finally spoke.
“Your deeds will decide that,” The Prism told him. “You may be immortal, but you are not invincible. You can still die, but it would practically have to be by your own will. Your form will adjust to your power.”
With that same just knowing that lit a flame in his hands, Miles warped to the base of The Mountain, where Veralis was waiting for him. As soon as he appeared before her, she smiled.
“I know that look, because that was my look years ago.”
Chapter the Third
Veralis and Miles headed back to her home in Kaldres-Viane, and the Vulpian set up a straw target for him. “Let’s see what you can do,” she said. “And mostly, I mean ‘You should see what you can do now.’”
Miles looked to the target a good thirty paces away, and thrust his left palm towards it. A bolt of white power blasted from his hand and struc
k the target, blowing it to shreds. Miles was ecstatic, laughing in joy that he could do something he found impressive now! It wasn’t the fact he blew up a target that mattered to him, but that it was a literal power he wielded, and could call upon! Out of curiosity, he made a turning motion with his hand, and that same knowing concentration that gave him a flame, and a bolt now reassembled the target, as if it had never been struck in the first place.
Miles cheered, hooting and hollering, running in circles, in a state of pure euphoria that this was what he could do now. The responsibility he knew he’d have to adopt wasn’t what was on his mind, he believed in himself. But just even that... he believed in himself! That was never something he did before!
“By all the stars, and all the worlds... it’s real! It’s all real!” he finally said to Veralis, before hugging her tightly, to her surprise, but not her protest. “Thank you! Thank you so much!” His eyes watered with pure joy. Veralis placed a handpaw on his head, she was a good foot taller than him, after all. “There won’t be a day I regret this!”
“And I’ll bet there’s so many things you’ve done today and are doing right now that you never believed could be,” Veralis calmly said.
“Hell, I’m not a hugging person,” Miles said once he finally let her go. “But that can change now! I could be that kind of person now! I’ve got reason to be! At long last, I’ve got a reason to be!”
The ecstasy lasted for the whole day, before Miles calmed down in the mid-evening.
“So,” Veralis started. “What first?”
“Gods, I’m not even sure!” Miles responded, then thought for a few moments, when he calmly answered. “Now that I think of it, there’s some loose ends I need to tie up on Earth, if you can believe it.”
“Well, don’t let me stop you!” Veralis said. “Unless of course, you start being an ass about your power.”
