In black, there is now white, and with this disparity comes a return to sensation, to feeling. A blinding white light tears a rift in the darkness, spreading up and then to either side as if a great pair of doors are swinging open before you. Within this chamber of light, you see
her. Where she stands, the hem of her gown ripples into the floor and moves like gentle undulations across a still pool of water. Drifting feathers from her many wings float past you, trailing tiny golden motes as they stroke your face with the gentleness of a mother.
“Greetings, mortal soul.” She extends a hand to you, as her loving smile takes you off guard.
“I am Jehanne, Divine Spirit of Light, Redemption, and Conviction.” But she senses your hesitation, and turns her palm to sweep towards the floor. She presents an image below your feet...an entire world laid out before you. A world that is not your own.
“By grace, I have been allowed to speak to you across time and space. For you have been selected to be reborn.” She bows her head for a moment, and the infinite expanse ripples.
"The world you see below you is called Aedven. In some ways, it is like your Earth, as it was long ago…in fact, there is a striking level of similarity between this world, and the myths and legends of your own.” Jehanne begins to spin the globe, and the image grows closer and closer.
“Brave knights of Men, with shining blades, and wise sorcerers wielding mysterious magics, fight against the likes of monsters and demons here alongside Elves and Dwarves. This is a world plagued by Demon Kings…”As she spoke, a shadow emerged beside you, startling you to an extent you hadn’t thought yourself capable of experiencing any more. This “thing” was much like yourself—but it seemed made of pure, writhing shadows. It slowly walked to Jehanne’s side…and sat down near her feet, like a sulky child called to heel by a strict parent.
“...and rescued by Heroes.”On your other side, another “thing” entered the chamber, but its form was almost too bright to look at, and so warm it might burn you without meaning to. It too knelt at Jehanne’s feet, taking a knee and bowing its head like a knight before royalty. Then it relaxed opposite the dark shape…though the two seemed to glare at one another every so often as Jehanne continued. Her smile faded somewhat, as she cast a sober eye over you once more.
“Unfortunately, you were not called to play out such a tale.”She holds out her hand again, but this time she beckons you forward. Before you can move, however, a sharp, soundless breath is drawn out of your non-existent lungs. You feel a vital part of yourself drawn out by her power, numerous threads wound into a single ball that condenses until its smooth, marble-like surface is smoother than glass.
“Thus, I bestow upon you the only gift I am able.” Jehanne begins to roll the sphere between her hands, though it seems to float in her palms. You see your life playing out again over its frictionless surface, but the images are growing brighter and brighter.
“In this world, when Souls re-enter the Cycle…Every memory, emotion, attachment, and experience, is scrubbed clean. Like skim from milk, these things are taken and purified. The Soul, now stripped of everything it once was, takes on a new life in the physical realm…and what is left is poured into the Sea of Mana to become the fuel for Magic.”She casts the marble back to you, and as it enters your chest you feel a new sensation thrumming through you where your heartbeat used to be.
“Instead, I return this to you in its purest form. You shall retain all of who you were…and the Magic it has created shall be imbued in your very Soul, no matter what form your new body takes.” She then redirects your attention to the image of Aedven.
You now see a settlement of some kind. Even that, perhaps, is too complex a term for it. It’s…a camp. Something primitive, barbaric, as if you are looking into an era of Earth long gone. Jehanne continues to speak. You can only partially pay attention, but she seems to know everything about you…and she gives you a choice, of some kind, related to the “Magic” that now rests within you…Hesitantly, you reach out as a floating parchment filled with words you only think you understand floats in front of you. You make your choice.
“You will be Blessed, to understand all tongues, as is the way of Otherworlders. You will, as one who retains this memory, have a Connection to the System not present for most native beings. But, in return for this, your new life shall be quite different. You shall become an Orc—a race with many enemies, and many flaws, but much potential. This is why you were called.” Jehanne closes her eyes for a moment…and when she opens them again, her kind expression and bright eyes have become subdued. You realize that there is steel within her—that the armor she bears is not merely for regal ceremony. And the realm around her seems to shiver with her power, as the dark and light figures to either side of her flinch back.
“Show me, then, what you can become.”The great doors swing open again, and a powerful wind like air being sucked from a space shuttle pulls you backwards. Even if you struggle with all your might, it tugs you inch by inch. As you watch, Jehanne turns away from you, and the figure of bright light waves goodbye before it too turns to follow her.
The dark one, however, continues to watch you. It has no face, and yet you feel as if…it grins.
Then you are pulled through the doors, and they slam shut with a deep, reverberating shock. Moments later the sound repeats itself, even though all light is gone. And again. And again.
Your heart is beating again. You can feel stone under your back. You open your eyes.
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