The glowing garden world was peaceful enough that even time seemed to slow its breath. Erik lay on the hill for a while longer, simply listening to the breeze hum across the lake.
Death sat beside him, knees drawn up, absentmindedly tracing shapes in the grass.
Eventually, she glanced at him with a curious tilt of her head.
"You always listen." she said quietly.
Erik blinked. "Hm?"
"You listen to everything. Even the things no one else hears."
He thought for a moment, then smiled slightly. "It's a habit. When you're born from sound, silence feels incomplete."
Death hummed thoughtfully. "I never realized how much I ignore. I walk across worlds every day, but I've never stopped to hear them as you do."
Erik rolled onto his side, propping himself on an elbow. "You could, if you wanted to."
"Perhaps." Her lips curled into a soft smile. "If I knew how."
He stared at her for a moment, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone.
Then, without overthinking he lifted his hand.
A shimmer rippled through the air, and an instrument appeared in his palm.
A small, elegant wooden lyre, smooth and warm-toned, carved from the vibrations around them.
Death blinked. "You made me a…?"
"Lyre," Erik finished gently. "Simple. Easy to start with."
She took it carefully, holding it like something fragile. "I've never played an instrument."
He chuckled. "I know."
She narrowed her eyes. "Is it that obvious?"
"You hold it upside down."
She paused, glanced at the lyre, then flipped it. "Yes, well. Instruments aren't necessary when your job is collecting souls."
"And yet you make it look like an art," Erik said, sitting up and moving closer.
Death smiled at the compliment, faint but genuine.
"Show me?" she asked.
Erik nodded.
He reached out, and for a moment his hand hovered near hers—not touching, simply guiding.
"Relax your grip," he murmured. "It's not a weapon."
She loosened her fingers.
"Good. Now rest your hand like this."
He gently repositioned her fingers along the frame, his touch warm but careful. Death didn't flinch, she only watched him with quiet curiosity.
"What next?" she asked softly.
Erik settled beside her, close enough that their shoulders brushed.
"Music is emotion," he said. "So don't think too hard. Just let the feeling come to you."
"Feel?"
"Yes. What does this world make you feel right now?"
Death looked at the lake, the fireflies, the glowing grass. She took a slow breath.
"Calm," she said finally. "Gentle."
"Perfect." Erik nodded. "Let that be your melody."
He demonstrated one soft pluck of a string. The tone drifted softly, merging with the breeze.
Death hesitated, then imitated the motion.
A note bloomed from the lyre. Shy, uneven, but warm.
She blinked. "It made a sound."
Erik grinned. "Yes. That is generally what instruments do."
She smacked his arm lightly. "Don't tease the person who can end anything she wishes."
"Ah, but you wouldn't end me," he said confidently.
Death pretended to think. "I might."
"No, you wouldn't."
She rolled her eyes dramatically, but couldn't hide her smile.
Erik shifted closer again, guiding her hand. "Try plucking two strings. Softly."
She did.
Another set of gentle notes drifted out, still unsure, but less shaky.
The world listened.
Birds perched nearby. Grass bent slightly as if leaning in. Even the lake rippled delicately, reflecting the melody.
Death exhaled, stunned. "It answered."
"It always will," Erik said. "Life responds to sound. Even when it doesn't understand it."
Death stared at the lyre in her hands as if seeing the universe differently.
"Erik," she murmured, "this feels peaceful."
"It should," he said softly. "Music was my only peace for a very long time."
She looked at him then, really looked, seeing the weight that lingered beneath his calm expression.
"You're sharing something precious." she whispered.
"Yes," Erik said. "And you're the first person I've ever shared it with."
Death's eyes widened slightly.
For a moment, the world went still, not with silence, but with attention.
She plucked another string, and this time the note was clear, warm, confident.
Her expression softened. "Teach me more."
Erik leaned back, smiling as the sound drifted between them.
"We have time," he said gently. "All the time we want."
Death continued playing, hesitant at first yet imperfectly beautiful.
And Erik played alongside her, giving her space to make mistakes, to discover, to learn.
For the first time in existence, Death did not guide a soul.
She guided a song.
And Erik finally, had someone to play with.
__________
The lyre's final notes faded slowly, drifting across the quiet lake until they dissolved into the warm night air. Death sat with the instrument resting gently in her lap, fingers still tingling from the last pluck of the strings.
Erik leaned back on his hands, gazing up at the shimmering sky. Neither spoke for a long moment, not because there was nothing to say, but because neither wanted to disturb the peacefulness they had created.
Finally, Death broke the silence.
"Erik," she said softly, "have you ever thought about settling down somewhere?"
Erik blinked and turned toward her. "Settling down?"
"Yes." She looked out over the glowing water, her expression thoughtful. "We've wandered for weeks now. It's been wonderful, but… sometimes it's nice to have a place to return to. A place that feels like home."
Erik stared at her, surprised by the idea.
Home.
The concept felt foreign, warm but strange.
He hesitated. "I've never had a home. Just… existence, creating and surviving."
Death smiled gently. "Then maybe it's time you had one."
Erik looked down at the grass between his fingers. "Where would someone like me even settle? Any world with life might not react well to what I am."
"You underestimate how big the universe is," Death replied calmly. "There are populated worlds with beings who'd never notice you. Worlds full of noise, music, emotion. Places where you could walk freely. Blend in, live."
He tilted his head. "You think I can blend in?"
"Erik, you wear a tuxedo everywhere you go. You already look like a dramatic mortal musician."
He opened his mouth, then closed it. "Fair point."
She nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "We don't need to pick anything today. Just think about it. A world with people. A world with sound. A world where you can play music and not hear only the echo of your own voice."
A soft hum resonated from his chest, not sad, not fearful, but contemplative.
"It would be nice," he admitted quietly. "To have a place that wasn't a cage."
Death's smile grew warmer. "Then let's find one."
Erik looked at her, surprised. "Together?"
"Of course together. You didn't think I was going to abandon you now, did you?"
He looked away quickly to hide the faint warmth on his face. "No. Just wanted to make sure."
Death stood and offered her hand. "Come on. Let's explore. We'll find a world that feels right."
He took her hand.
And the universe shifted.
__________
Weeks passed again, this time with purpose.
They traveled through galaxies, drifting from star to star, world to world, each filled with life or emptiness or something in between.
Erik found himself learning more about existence in days than he had in eras.
(gonna do a quick overview of different planets. Don't really know how to word it so bear with me.)
…
First world - The Metal Planet
A world of living machines.
Skyscrapers that walked. Cities that breathed metallic steam. Every sound rang like clashing gears.
Erik winced. "This planet is too loud."
Death covered her ears. "Agreed. My skull is vibrating."
They left immediately.
…
Second World - The Garden Moon
Beautiful, peaceful, alive, but too quiet.
Creatures whispered instead of spoke. Leaves glided instead of rustled.
"It feels like a library," Erik murmured.
"A sacred one," Death added.
Neither felt right.
…
Eighth World - The Crystal Desert
Shimmering dunes that reflected the sky in fractal patterns.
Gorgeous, but empty.
Erik shook his head. "No sound."
"No people," Death agreed. "Not even potential."
They moved on.
…
Fifteenth World – The Ocean Sphere
A water world with floating civilizations.
Voices echoed across waves, music carried by tide and wind.
Erik almost stayed.
Almost.
But after a day, he shook his head sadly. "They're beautiful. But, their world already has its own song. It doesn't need mine."
Death understood.
They continued.
…
Twenty-second World – The Ember Spiral
A world shaped like a massive spiral, glowing with eternal embers.
Creatures of flame danced through burning forests.
Erik stared, mesmerized. "It's impressive."
Death nodded. "But not home."
He agreed.
…
It happened on the thirty-ninth world.
A shift of light.
A gentle warp of space.
A calm pull, almost like a soft tug on Erik's chest, the universe humming a note he didn't recognize.
When they arrived, Erik felt the difference immediately.
The planet was enormous—at least ten times the size of a normal Earth-like world.
Oceans gleamed like polished sapphire.
Forests sprawled endlessly across continents that reminded him of Earth, yet not quite the same.
For us familiar shapes showed itself.
A continent shaped like a distorted version of North America.
Another resembling Africa, larger and wilder.
A vast new landmass stretching across the northern hemisphere like an unbroken expanse of pristine wilderness.
Archipelagos scattered across deep blue seas.
Mountain ranges piercing clouds like spears of stone and snow.
Life thrived here. Vibrant, loud and unrestrained.
Voices echoed faintly from far cities.
Wind carried the sound of laughter, engines, ocean waves, animal cries, music. Layers upon layers of life interwoven into one vibrant chorus.
Erik stood at the edge of the atmosphere, listening.
Death watched him quietly. "We can keep searching," she offered. "If this doesn't feel right—"
"It does." His answer came instantly.
Death blinked. "Already?"
Erik didn't move. Didn't breathe.
He just listened.
To the wind.
To the pulse of the world.
To the chorus of billions of voices rising and falling like a heartbeat.
Softly, he whispered, almost reverently:
"This world sings back."
Death tilted her head. "Erik?"
He closed his eyes.
A hum escaped him, instinctive yet powerful.
The world below answered with a distant thunder of sound. waves crashing, winds rising, countless lifeforms harmonizing unconsciously with the frequency he released.
A perfect echo.
A perfect match.
Erik opened his eyes, glowing faintly.
"This is the one," he said. Quiet and certain.
Death smiled.
"You finally found home."
Erik shook his head softly.
"No" He exhaled. "We found it."
And together, they descended toward the world waiting for them.
__________
__________
Its finally here the real start of this Fanfic. I hope this book so far has not bored you all.
I'm looking forward to continuing this and hearing what you all think.
Please leave some powerstones so we can be seen more easily.
Once again if any questions or concerns leave a comment here.