The night has passed.... After that strange meeting in the starry realm. I had no desire to stay awake. Though everything I had witnessed was a magnificent spectacle, I knew that I could not stay awake too long like this. Sleep was important too. Plus, I was dead tired.
So I slept. Unfortunately, I could never be at peace, even in sleep. I was in another darkness. A void just as endless as before. Big surprise, or not. I met someone, again it was a voice stemming from the depths of nowhere.
Right now, I had the urge to punch someone. But I can't. And I can't punch the person in front of me, because they're not human. Not a monster either though. He called himself a Demigod, I asked him if that meant he was a child of a God and half mortal, to my surprise he was not.
He kind of dodged the question, which was weird. So here I am, talking with him about some-
"You know I can peer into your mind right?"
....What? You can?
"Yes. I've actually been sorting through your memories while we were talking about what happened in that meeting of yours."
That- that is an invasion of privacy! That's not how a Demigod should act.... Or is it? I mean, I don't even know if you're evil or not, maybe since you're a higher being this comes natural to you. Is that the case with other powerful beings? Come to think of it, I also don't actually know how a Demigod, er, a union between divine and man would act.
"Funny. Those were the exact same words my partner told me before they ascended."
Your partner's dead? I couldn't help but ask.
"No. They're alive. They're just like me now."
Right. And when you say that your partner is like you, you mean...
"They're a Demigod." We said in sync. That explains some things. From what I gather, Lustres could allow one to evolve to a higher stage of life and existence. Presumably it can lead one to be a Demigod.
"Right. Very good. You're a smart one."
Thank you, by the way, are you ranking below the Gods? Or higher, cause it's confusing. You said you were a Demigod. Then you also said that high ranking Luminaries, um, no. You said Gemstones. Right. You said they were merely the 'other type' of Demigod. So, what are you exactly?
"To be frank. I can't tell you that. All I can say for sure is that all us Demigods; we're rooting for you."
Hmm. You guys are weird. Why're you rooting for me? I haven't even done anything yet. Also, for beings supposedly very powerful, you tend to use quite a lot of modern lingo.
"Yes. We Demigods are quite modern. Modern as you are. Though, not modern enough to handle whatever the hell the later generations are saying apparently....."
What was that? This guy's confusing.
"Nothing! Anyways, let's get to the actual part of this chance encounter of ours. You won't get to see this often."
What do you mean by that?
As if on cue, a light splashed the entire space with white light. Then all turned to black, the scene before me was cloaked in shadows. A ripping velvet curtain veiled my sight. Frustratedly, I pushed it away, and as light streamed into my eyes I saw a fantastical new world.
As I took my first steps into this vast new realm, I found myself surrounded by a vibrant cityscape constructed entirely of delectable treats. The buildings rose tall and proud, their structures formed by layers of mouthwatering confections. There were towering gingerbread houses adorned with colourful candy decorations, their rooftops glistening with sugary icing.
The streets are paved with smooth chocolate, shimmering under the warm glow of a candy-coated sun. As I stroll along, I couldn't help but marvel at the creativity and whimsy that went into crafting this edible wonderland. Every turn reveals a new culinary delight, from towering ice cream sculptures to cascading fountains of flowing chocolate.
And there, in the heart of this food-filled realm, I spotted a truly remarkable sight. A cool-looking chariot, elegantly designed and seemingly defying gravity, gliding through the streets. It is a masterpiece, crafted entirely from spun sugar and adorned with intricate caramel designs. The chariot moved effortlessly, drawn by an unseen force, adding an air of mystery and enchantment to the scene.
As I watched the chariot pass by, I caught a glimpse of the driver, a figure dressed in a wine red robe, exuding confidence and creativity. I assume they are the voice I heard before and the master of this realm, guiding the chariot through the streets with a sense of purpose and flair.
The tanned figure came in closer and I managed to take a more vivid mental picture of his appearance.
His robe is crafted from a luxurious fabric, flowing effortlessly around him as if it's an extension of his own fiery spirit. The colour of the robe is a deep, rich crimson, reminiscent of a blazing inferno, symbolising his intense passion and untamed nature.
The robe featured intricate patterns and designs that were an enigma to me; but I could feel a strange sense of strength emanating from it. Golden accents adorned the edges of the robe, catching the light and adding a touch of radiance to his ensemble.
To complete his cool and handsome look, he paired the robe with a pair of sleek, tailored pants in a complementary shade of dark charcoal gray. The pants fit him perfectly, accentuating his tall and statuesque figure.
As he moved with grace and confidence, his fiery red eyes shone with a mesmerising intensity, captivating all who are fortunate enough to cross his path. And I was in his path....
With this new attire that embodies his wild and passionate nature, this divine 'gentleman' exudes an air of mystery, coolness, and irresistible charm. He was truly a sight to behold.
"Hot damn. You look great." I couldn't help but exclaim. The uniform he wore was really cool. I wonder if I could have something similar in the future. Stricken by envy, I pondered to myself how I could have a fantastical and cool attire as well.
The unknown Demigod swished his brown hair up, dramatically I'd say. "Thank you. Honestly, I haven't worn this uniform in a while. Can't help but feel nostalgic about it...."
He had a bit of a saddened expression, and like he said, he seemed nostalgic. Honestly, the clothes looked like they came from some sort of role playing game.
If I hadn't known this was real life, I would have thought it was some bizarre lucid dream.
"...You accepted all this way too fast. Kind of a surprise, that's for sure. Props." The Demigod definitely seemed impressed, so in turn I gave him a smile and answered in response to his praise, "Thanks. Sometimes you have to accept reality otherwise you won't be able to move forward in life..... If I didn't I would have lost all hope back in my old world..."
Those last few words came out as a brief mutter. But since he could read my mind, I don't doubt the fact that he could have heard it. But for whatever reason, he ignored it and moved on, fortunately for me.
"Let's start with introductions; I am Chariot. Demigod of Pursuance. Some like to call me the Trailblazer or the Impassioned One. Others will refer to me as Head Cook, or the Disciple of the Culinary Conquerors.... By the way, my partner is one of those Conquerors just so you know..."
Wow. Lengthy introduction with a little bit of bragging at the end. How amusing.
"Yep. I always try to tease my partner, I mean; when it comes to Chef. I can't help but try to embarrass them."
Awww. That's so disgustingly sweet.
"I know." He states in such a matter of fact tone, that I don't think he knew I was being sarcastic.
"Salty sarcasm can be a little bit of a nice seasoning when used right."
I'm not salty! I just.... I would rather not think about relationships right now. Especially when I haven't even had the chance to say goodbye to my last ones.
Truthfully, that wasn't what I wanted to say. There was more to it than just mere farewells. I yearned to not only tell my parents to not worry for me, but also say goodbye to my friends before I had gone.
My friends probably won't even realise I'm gone, but at least if I told them, I'd feel no regrets leaving that world behind. But since I haven't, I still cling on to that. A desire to return home.
"Home, huh. Been there before. But you no longer need to worry, you're under the Nation of Warmth. A Nation governed by the Xenia Empire. A nation of hospitality!" As Chariot spoke, his soft voice grew louder and louder in volume until he growled his final word.
Right. I honestly don't get this country, they're all about being hospitable. But they have the most demanding, most gruelling and intense culinary sector. It's like reality shows about cooking back at my home world, but amped up to showcase all the screaming and stressful events.
"Well, it is the Nation of Flames. The roiling power of my Pursuance and the symbolic conceptions of flames culminated into a deeply rooted influence on the nation. The main characteristic exhibited due to the influence being fervent passion....." The red-draped Demigod spoke tenderly. There was a strange feeling that welled inside of me as he spoke those words.
I had no idea what Chariot was yammering about, but I kept them in mind. Pursuance involved passion, flames and cooking. Was there a deeper meaning in these three?
Passion is indeed often associated with flames, and most cooking requires flames to handle. So, the core of Chariot's powers probably lay in flames.... Xenia Empire, the Nation of Hospitality and Flames. Sanctified Flame....
I'm starting to understand something. Could the Sanctified Flame that the Church of the Sanctified Flame worshipped be referring to Chariot? It does make sense, but there's no way to confirm this now unless I ask him.
I looked up at Chariot, contemplating over this possibility as he smiled at me amiably. Since he can read my mind, he probably knows that I'm thinking of this.
It doesn't seem like he'll want to talk about it. But that's fine. I think this piece of knowledge that eludes me now, will be known to me in the future.
After a brief period of silence between us, Chariot then spoke as he walked out of, or more rather; phased through his carved candy vehicle and advanced towards me slowly.
He then spoke, his voice blooming with passion and hope. "Child blessed by the stars. I hope you shall find your way on a Path you can call your own. I, Chariot.... The...— Hereby declare, the one known as Zach Albright; under the guise of Nicholas Lei and Hydra, shall be gifted with a blessing."
This declaration was odd. There were some parts of it that I could not hear at all, despite knowing for sure that he spoke. It seems Chariot is aware of this, but doesn't look like he minds it at all. Pity, I wonder what he was saying....
As Chariot let his words sink in, he then rapidly clenched his right hand and compressed it into a fist. A flash of gorgeous crimson burst from the crevices of his closed fist. With a satisfied grin, Chariot slowly opened his fist, revealing a small ball of crimson-orange flame that sparked with white and gold hues as it flickered in the breeze.
"You're a lucky one today, little one. The Holy Originator has acceded to my declaration. You truly are blessed; Mr Protostar of the Heavens." Chariot chuckled in mirth as he played with the flame in his hands as if it were a baseball.
Wait. Holy Originator? Where have I heard that.... Then it dawned on me.
"The incantation...."
Amidst my realisation, Chariot then returned to his caramel-spun chariot quietly with the flame in his hand now being more agitated.
The vehicle started to glow with an ethereal orange aura, radiating outwards before being reined in. I saw this as a sign he was about to leave.
"Hold on! I have a question!" I wasn't done with him yet. I still had things that I wanted answers for.
I was about to run towards him, but before I could even take a single step forward, the flame above his right palm grew to the size of a volleyball. With a bounce of the back of his left hand, the flame then jumped high. Feeling a sense of danger, my mind made the decision to turn around instead. But as I took a heel turn around, I could hear a solid bump.... Like it was an actual volleyball.
I could hear the sizzling of air, the rise in temperature. The savoury scent of cooked meat.....
Merely around a few seconds had passed, and I could then feel an all encompassing warmth spreading from my back to my entire body. Orange flames silently spread over me as I was forced to my knees, a smouldering emotion arose within me.
I knew what it was. A distinct sensation that actively went hand in hand with passion. It was— Desire. Pure unadulterated desire.
The orange flames did not burn me. It merely instilled me with a fervent passion, ambition and amplified my desires. It gnawed away at me, and the more it consumed me; I could see now that the flames too could burn me into ash without any pain.
It only filled me with an intense desire. A yearning to act upon a desire beyond anything I've ever known before. A passion to pursue.....