Otherlife Awakening: The Selfless Hero Trilogy

by William D. Arand

  “They couldn’t kill her, so they disabled her. Get her to the medical ward and get her taken care of.” Runner sighed and pressed the heel of his hand to his temple. “I’m afraid you were right, Hanners. Not only did we have an attempted assassination, but they have information on how to accomplish it and when. Which isn’t something they’d have unless they’ve been here a while or they have someone here working with them. I’m betting on the latter, as it would be foolish to assume she was working alone.”

  “Sorry, Runner,” Hannah muttered. “This shouldn’t have happened. I’ll start looking into it immediately. My money’s on that bitch goddess of nothing useful, Rike.” She wasn’t able to meet his gaze nor was Sophia. Both seemed ashamed that it had happened.

  “Why? Why should either one of you feel regretful? You had procedures in place that allowed you to immediately identify someone who shouldn’t be here. Nothing is ever perfect, and given time, every defense can be overcome. We’ve been given an opportunity to learn from this while losing nothing. Be thankful.”

  Runner felt tired. “What kind of weapon was it?”

  “Single-use enchanted item. Fucking bitch even used a messenger scroll case as the weapon. Clever disguise. The weapon is the actual scroll case. Loot everything but the weapon, then send the corpse to one of your pocket planes. Do you have a garbage dump plane?”

  “No, doesn’t work like that. Can’t transport bodies. Just… leave it here. It’ll be gone before lunch.”

  Runner needed to talk to Amelia. Those shadows could only have been hers, but she hadn’t stuck around. Which meant there was something wrong.

  “You all have your orders. I was the target but that doesn’t mean you won’t be next. Grace?”

  “Taken care of, sir.”

  “Thank you, Grace. I’m going to go to the temple and pay my respects. I’ll see you all later.”

  Runner didn’t wait but stepped out into the hallway and immediately set off for the temple.

  He had taken the time to assist in the design and architecture of it. Elegantly simple yet breathtaking had been his goal. While it would win no beauty contests, he felt it was a lovely building taking shape.

  There was one massive central chapel, with two wings moving out behind it into a secure area for the priests and priestesses of the Triumvirate to live and dwell. The center of the entire complex was open to the public and already boasted a truly wonderful garden. Among other things, it contained lovely areas for inner reflection and contemplation.

  He had made personal use of the accommodations several times. More frequently in the early stages of his grief for Nadine.

  He hadn’t won any favors with his guard by putting himself directly in harm’s way. Especially in such an open environment.

  There really wasn’t much in the way of security at the time since the entire complex had been under reconstruction.

  He took the steps two at a time and entered the temple. Keeping close to the interior of the front wall, he sped along, then took the left wing and turned immediately to an office reserved for him alone.

  After activating a small spell designed to unblock the door, he slipped inside and reset the magical lock. No one but he, or someone with one of his specially made keys, could enter.

  His guards would have to wait outside.

  Flopping down into the chair, he stared at the ceiling.

  “Brighteyes, may I have a minute or two of your time?”

  “Of course,” replied the goddess, materializing in one of the chairs seated in front of his desk. “You’ll make my sisters jealous calling on only me.”

  “You’ll always be first, Brighteyes. They may be your equals, and I care for them equally, but you were my first.”

  “You say the most indecent things deliberately. You make my poor youngest sister insane with those.”

  “She likes it. I’d wager she’d enjoy me slapping a leather collar around her neck, putting a tag onto it with her name, with me listed as the owner, and walking her around town on a leash. I care for her, but she’s very broken. And not because of her preferences. I get the feeling she’d murder every woman around me if I allowed it.”

  “You’re lucky I’m blocking anyone from listening in, because if she heard you say that, she’d ask for it. And yes, I’m afraid she is broken. She’s violated many rules for you, and continues to do so. She has gone up against her own programming and come out the worse for it. Thankfully she’s stable now, but I don’t think she’ll ever be… normal.”

  “That’s fine. I like her as she is perfectly well. Between yourself, Ernsta, and Amelia, you’ll all keep me running circles, I’m sure. Wait, did she tell you about her plan?”

  “That you’re immortal? Yes.”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “What do you think about it?”

  “I think she’s planning for something many years off.”

  “Fair enough. Though it sounds like you’re uninterested in her plan?”

  “I didn’t say that. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Maybe I wanted more screenshots of you.”

  She blinked at him slowly, and he had the vague notion that she was trying to keep herself from smiling.

  He briefly considered letting her win. Briefly.

  Nah. Let’s burn her up.

  “I’ll need to ask Angel and Minxy to join us if you want this to move along. That or we can find other ways to entertain ourselves. Alone. In this office. With the door shut and locked.” Runner mentally focused on his charisma stat as he leaned forward over his desk towards her.

  As her cheeks turned a light pink, she shifted in her chair, adjusting her dress. Runner waited, staring into her eyes, his smile growing wider if that were possible.

  Brunhild let out a breath that shook ever so slightly and nodded her head at him.

  “They’ll hear you now.”

  “Pity. Angel? Minxy? Would you be willing to join us?”

  Ernsta appeared in the chair beside her sister, immaculately put together and sitting regally.

  Amelia, on the other hand, appeared on Runner’s lap, forcing him to sit back in his chair. Her head immediately pressed into his shoulder as her hands latched onto the front of his armor.

  “I’m sorry, lovey. I’m so sorry. As soon as I could act I did. I boiled her blood, pulverized her bones, and ripped out her soul the moment I could. I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” wailed the goddess, pulling at his clothes violently as she sobbed uncontrollably.

  “Shhh, there, there, Minxy. Hush now,” Runner whispered. Resting his arms around her shoulders, he drew her in close and held her. Raising his eyebrows, he caught Ernsta and Brunhild with his eyes.

  They merely nodded at him in response. For whatever reason they had expected this.

  “I’m sorry! What kind of goddess of assassins can’t even stop an assassin? I tried, I tried so hard. I wasn’t allowed to. It hurt. It hurt so bad.”

  “Hush, already. I hear you. I’m not upset, and I’m thankful for what you did. You have limitations put on you by the system. I understand. Please, realize I do understand. We’ll speak no more of this. Stay where you are, relax. Realize all is well.”

  Runner crooned softly at her, his fingers gently brushing her hair back as he held her with his other arm.

  Sniffling, the goddess bobbed her head in acknowledgment and pressed her face into his neck.

  “Right, then. Hanners seems to think it was Rike. Not really sure why she favors her over Lambart or Rannulf. Can any of you add anything?”

  “I’d trust in Hannah, dear.”

  “Rike.”

  “Bitch goddess.”

  And just like that, Runner felt confident in the fact that it was Rike.

  “Now to the reason I had planned on talking to you even before the assassination attempt. A lot of priests and priestesses are showing up. It’s not a problem, but it’s definitely noteworthy. If something is going down, I want to b
e able to support you.”

  “Ah, yes. We’re holding a conclave to bring all three of our religions together. We collectively feel it would be best for us to facilitate this now before our followers become more numerous.” Brunhild looked to Ernsta to see if she had anything to add.

  “It’s true. You’ve given us a perfect foundation, and we’re not going to let it go to waste. I’m glad to hear they took our directive to heart and are showing up. I admit I was unsure when they would begin. I appreciate your concern, my little lamb.”

  “I’d be a terrible partner if I didn’t watch out for you. Speaking of, no issues from earlier, Dark Angel? Everything on the up and up now?” Runner asked, catching her eyes and holding them with his own.

  She kept his gaze for a second more before dropping her sight to her knees.

  “I’m fine. I understand. I am… happy. Content.”

  “Good. I’d hug you right now but I’m afraid I’m otherwise engaged. If you come over here, though, I’ll give you a one-armed version instead. Or you can take a rain check for a hug later. Your definition of hug may differ from mine.” Runner waggled his eyebrows at her.

  “Witnessed,” Amelia muttered into his neck.

  “I’ll hold you to that, little lamb. Another time though. Since you were kind enough to update us in regards to the priesthood, I’m going to go begin our preparations. Would you join me, Amelia?”

  Amelia groaned and shook her head against Runner.

  “If Runner promises to bring you back later, would you go with me?”

  Amelia nodded her head, her fingers tightening into Runner’s armor.

  “Lamb of mine, would you promise to summon Amelia again later today? I do have need of her.”

  “Of course, Angel. Go with your elder sister, Minxy. I’ll need your help later tonight anyways. I’d like to run down what I can do to protect myself better. I can’t imagine this’ll be the last attempt on my life.”

  “Deal!” Amelia shouted. She pulled her head from his shoulder and brushed her lips against his quickly and then vanished.

  “Like a spoiled child…” Brunhild sighed. “Thank you, sister, I appreciate you taking care of this. I’ll take care of things here.”

  Ernsta nodded her head at Brunhild and then vanished as well.

  Runner readjusted himself at the sudden freedom of movement. It wasn’t that Amelia hadn’t felt good in his lap, the problem was that she had.

  “As much as I enjoy your company, I’m afraid that’s actually all I had. Other than to ask if there was anything I could do for you all. I mean, I don’t exactly have a priest or priestess on my staff.”

  “A favor? Yes. A priest or priestess? Unneeded. Your public support is far more than we ever expected. People are becoming followers simply because of your direction. We do appreciate the gesture and thought.”

  “As you wish. That’s all from my side. I’ll hit Minxy up tonight if I turn anything new up later. Now, about that favor?” Runner stood up from his seat, pushing the chair under the desk. Next on his list was visiting Alexia.

  “Yes. A simple favor that I would ask of you.”

  “I’m all yours, Brighteyes. What can I do for you?” Runner leaned back, pushing his fists into his back in an unsatisfactory stretch that gave no pops.

  “Recently we’ve noticed a change in you. One that we believe you are unaware of. If you don’t mind, I’d like to accompany you the next time you leave for the other planes.”

  “Good timing. That’s actually my next stopping point. What’s changing about me exactly?”

  “I wouldn’t want to say quite yet,” Brunhild said, deflecting his question. Standing up, she arranged her black-and-red dress to make sure it hung on her correctly.

  Stepping around his desk, he wrapped an arm around Brunhild’s waist and drew her in close.

  “Ready?”

  “Ah, yes. I suppose I am,” Brunhild said, peering at him as if she wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or not.

  “Right, then.” Runner flipped a mental switch to activate the ability he used to move between planes.

  /GMHub 2

  Teleporting…

  Active settings only:

  Death=Off

  Food/Water=On

  Damage=Off

  Gravity=100%

  Biome=Plane

  Day/Night Cycle=On

  Foliage=On(N)

  Resource Nodes=On(E)

  Wildlife=On(H)

  Weather=On(N)

  Runner blinked as the office disappeared and was replaced by what he could only describe as the “arrival room” in the other plane.

  The warmth of this place seeped into him and suffused him. From the top of his head to his toes it felt like bright life-giving sunshine flooded through him. Which was chased by a cool wind that countered any possibility of it being uncomfortable. Every time he came here it felt more comfortable. Inviting. Warm.

  Home.

  Brunhild suddenly leaned into him as if her strength failed her. Her skin had turned pale, and her eyes had a slightly wild look to them.

  “Brighteyes, are you alright?”

  “Yes. I’ll be fine. Amelia had mentioned that it carved off a piece of her when you tested it on her. I put myself in one spot so it would succeed. I was only in your office and nowhere else, but I could feel everyone. I… I don’t hear anyone now. I am here. Only here, and I hear no one.”

  “Do you need me to send you back?”

  “No, I’m recovering quickly. Just a bit of a shock.” She did in fact look like she was regaining her balance, her skin tone staring to level back out to her natural color.

  Looking around, Runner found the room was largely unchanged from the last visit. A wide-open room, the doors thrown open to admit natural sunlight, and not a soul to be seen.

  Artwork had been added to the wall, though, and a mosaic had been started on the floor.

  Runner didn’t have an eye for art, so he dismissed it entirely. He did have his heart set on seeing the city though. The number of people he’d banished here was by no means small. He hoped they had adapted. Made a life for themselves here.

  Keeping his arm firmly around Brunhild, he began walking towards the large arched doorway.

  Even has doors now.

  Runner stopped as he exited the arrival room. Placing his feet firmly on the top step, he lifted his face to the sun and took in a deep breath. The ever present breeze brought him the fragrance of grass and trees.

  The river he’d placed nearby had several waterwheels placed in it to power whatever lay inside the building.

  Everywhere were simple, clean, elegant stone buildings with straight roadways. There was a dignity to it as well as a symmetrical layout. It appealed to his inner obsessive compulsive.

  They had come a very long way since he first dropped Alexia here.

  “It’s a lovely city. It reflects a very organized infrastructure.”

  Runner could only nod. People went about their business in the streets below, many smiling and chattering amiably with those around them.

  “This would be everyone I banished. Everyone I took away from their life. I hoped for this. I’m so very glad they’re making the best of it.”

  “Yes…,” Brunhild whispered.

  A few people stopped and stared at Runner as he watched them in return. Putting on his best smile, Runner waved at those who looked to him. He hoped they weren’t too angry with him.

  No sooner had he begun waving than everyone scattered and fled the area.

  It would seem while thankful to be alive, they have yet to forgive.

  Runner made a sad soft noise and shook his head.

  “I wonder if I’ll need to signal Alexia or if someone has told her I’m here.”

  “She is aware, I’m sure. Curiously enough, all those who ran from here were afraid.”

  “What?”

  “Fear. They ran from you in fear and awe. Emotions are easy to read for us.”

  “I
see. I suppose that’s understandable considering I ripped them from the world and sent them here.”

  “It does have a flair of the divine, yes.”

  “Ah, there she is,” Runner said with a smile. He lifted his free hand and pointed out the woman walking their way along the road, staff in hand.

  “Alexia!” Runner shouted out to her, waving his hand.

  Alexia smiled in return and picked up her pace to nearly a jog.

  “She was Faye’s aide. She wouldn’t do anything but attack me, so I sent her here. I accidentally put her in a plane that was barren. Devoid of everything. In fact, she wasn’t even able to sleep due to the settings. When I found her next she was damn near raving mad.”

  Reaching them, Alexia dropped to her knees and bowed low to Runner. Pretty in her own right in a world of beautiful women, she had a slightly fuller figure than Faye. Her bound brown hair fell to the sides of her head as she moved.

  “We talked about this, Alexia. Stand up already,” Runner grumped at her.

  “Yes, Lord.” Alexia immediately stood up, her eyes moving from him to Brunhild and then back.

  “Ah, this is the lady Brunhild.”

  “Oh! The lady Brunhild? As in the divine Brunhild?”

  “The very same. Now, how are things? I haven’t been around for a week or two. I apologize for that. I’ve been busy. We’ve made significant progress on the keep and the temple but nowhere near enough.”

  “All is well, Lord. We want for nothing, save your attention. We understand though. Wars do not win themselves.”

  “True enough. For the most part it’s a cold war now, but yes. I was thinking it would be good to have lunch with you on the morrow if you’re willing. I don’t think I’ve even seen your home.”

  “I’d be honored, Lord. I’ll make the arrangements. In other matters, we have accumulated a large number of gifts for you, and I fear we will soon run out of room. I do not mean to presume, but…” Alexia made a delicate gesture with her hand as her words failed her.

  “Got it. Honestly, we should be able to activate the receiver in the next day or two. I spent some time creating a sorting machine that’ll do most of the work on the other side. All you have to do is put the item in the receiver.”