"Come on, King Abythos. Let me read the other part of the book—I have to read it," the man pleaded, desperation heavy in his voice.
King Abythos, the 115th ruler of the Death Realm, stood tall and imposing. He was a shadow-wrought figure—dark, commanding, and terrible to behold. His gaze alone could silence a storm. One of his eyes burned red, like molten stone, and the other shimmered a deep oceanic blue. Those eyes were not merely for seeing—they were for knowing.
There was a power that pleased Abythos more than any other: the ability to perceive both past and future with a single glance. His right eye—the red one—revealed the past of anything it looked upon. The blue eye on the left unveiled the future. With this gift, he could unravel lifetimes in moments, secrets in silence. Yet, within the Death Realm, this power lay dormant, useless. The Death Realm was a place beyond time—where nothing was born, and nothing died. In a world without beginnings or endings, past and future had no meaning.
This realization plunged the king into a quiet despair. He longed to see the arc of existence—to witness stories unfold, tragedies blossom, and fates twist. But here, in his own realm, all was stagnant.
Then came a thought.
The Man, the one who created mortals across the multiverse, had given rise to people who were not like those in the Death Realm. They were born. They lived. They died. Their lives were vibrant, unpredictable—fragile and beautiful. And Abythos discovered that he could use his power on them.
So he summoned the Man and offered him a deal.
"All right," Abythos said in his thunderous voice. "I will let you read the other part of the book. I do not know what secrets it holds, or why you are so desperate to read it. But I will grant you permission… if you meet my conditions."
"Please," the man said, "just tell me what you want. I'll do anything."
The king's eyes gleamed. "First: I want to meet your elder son.Second: I want you to arrange a meeting between King Elarion's firstborn daughter—Water Lily—and my firstborn son.Third: You may read the book, but only for five minutes. You will have no more than that in the River of Books."
The man hesitated, his brow furrowing. "I understand the first and third conditions. But the second? You want me to arrange a meeting between King Elarion's daughter and your son from the Realm of Life?"
Abythos didn't blink. "You heard me the first time. I will not repeat myself."
The man's voice dropped to a whisper. "All right… I will do it. Just… please, let me read the book."
Abythos narrowed his eyes, and the air began to tremble. "Very well. But listen carefully—you will only have five minutes in the River of Books. If you exceed that—"
His words were cut off by a sudden burst of energy. He widened his eyes, and a furious gust of wind surged from his body, striking the man like a hammer. The force sent him staggering back, his heart racing in terror. He dropped to his knees, drenched in sweat, and bowed deeply.
"I won't take long," he whispered.
TO THE PRESENT TIME
After the crowd's cheer subsided, Elder rose high above them, his voice carrying across worlds and stars. His presence was not of one man, but of all creation's wisdom made flesh.
"My beloved people," Elder proclaimed, "listen closely. To live in peace, we must not only possess power—we must know how to use it. We must develop in all aspects: your homes, your garments, your knowledge, your understanding of life. And so I will teach you how to live, how to grow, and how to master your gifts.
"But teaching every soul in existence is no small task. Instead, I shall choose a select few from every planet, from every universe, from every galaxy. These chosen ones will be my pupils. I will teach them all I know, and in turn, they will return to their worlds and pass that knowledge on. In this way, progress shall spread like flame across dry leaves."
He paused, his voice now softer but no less powerful.
"Tomorrow, at this very hour, doors will appear before those I have chosen. Do not hesitate—step through them when they open."
From a distant planet, a voice called out. "Elder! How will we know who has been chosen?"
The Elder smiled faintly and replied, "I will choose from among the younger generation. You will know them, for the doors will open directly before them. That is your sign."
And then, without warning, Elder vanished from the sky.
But far beyond, across a thousand worlds, he was already at work—carefully selecting the few who would shape the destiny of the many.
Elder had begun selecting his pupils from countless planets scattered across the infinite multiverse. One by one, the chosen emerged—young men and women from many races, each one brimming with life, courage, and unwavering faith in Elder. Yet, despite all he had chosen, many worlds remained untouched, their youth still waiting in silence.
Then, Elder had an idea.
To reach them all, he would build a single place—a sanctuary of learning and transformation.
Doors began to open across the stars. Across thousands of worlds, these radiant gateways appeared—rippling with power, humming with the voice of the Elder himself. And those who had been chosen stepped forward without hesitation, guided by trust and destiny.
From his boundless power, Elder forged a castle unlike any other. He shaped it first from pure light—resplendent, glowing like the first dawn. But light alone was not enough to anchor its brilliance in reality. So he called upon his other gift—darkness. The dark power solidified the glowing halls, binding the light into form. That was one of the secret attributes of darkness: it could solidify anything, giving permanence to the intangible.
Within that radiant fortress of light and shadow, Elder began to teach.
He taught them how to fight—not for conquest, but for protection, for the defense of what is sacred. He taught them to read and write, to build homes, to cook and hunt, and how to survive with dignity. He showed them the hidden forces of the world—the powers that had been born from the original Man and Woman, though he did not name them aloud.
The chosen students absorbed everything with astounding speed. Their minds were sharp, their wills unshaken. They began to create tools, devices, and innovations that might one day solve the problems of their people. With each passing lesson, they shaped visions that could uplift entire planets.
So eager were they to learn that a single year passed for them—but for Elder, only one hour had gone by.
When their learning was complete, Elder gathered them one final time. He spoke of a plan—a vision for peace and advancement that only now could begin to unfold. With solemn blessings, he returned each of the chosen to their own worlds.
They did not waste time. As soon as they set foot on their native soil, they began teaching, guiding, building. Elder watched, hopeful. Everything was progressing as he had hoped. A new age was beginning—one that he would not control with force, but guide with wisdom.
But peace is often interrupted at its most fragile.
A sudden presence shattered Elder's calm. From the edge of the sky came the arrival of a force he had not summoned—the King of the Death Realm.
And with him came Man.
As they approached, Elder narrowed his eyes. Man spoke with a strange mix of pride and hesitation.
"My eldest son… this is—"
But before he could finish, Elder raised his right hand and cut him off.
"I know, Father," Elder said calmly. "This is the King of the Death Realm. King Abythos."
Man nodded, somewhat relieved. "Alright then… King Abythos wishes to speak with you."
Man tried to continue—perhaps to explain further—but Abythos stepped forward, his presence dominating the castle. He growled, "Stop, idiot. Let me speak."
Man fell back, lips sealed, as Abythos closed the space between him and Elder. His steps echoed through the chamber like thunder, and his mismatched eyes—red and blue—locked with Elder's.
He sensed that not only the beings in the death realm that he could not use his eyes but he can't see the past and future of elder and this made elder again sad but the reason he came to the elder made him happier than ever.
He stared into Elder's soul and laughed, cold and mocking.
A tense silence fell. The air thickened with unseen pressure. Yet Elder did not flinch. He did not yield.
"I'm sensing," Abythos said slowly, "that you've forgotten something… something you were meant to do when you saw me?"
Still unmoved, Elder met the stare with unwavering calm.
"And what exactly should I do upon seeing you?"
Abythos grinned, baring teeth like a beast savoring the moment. "You should bow to the King of the Death Realm. To me. To Abythos—the creator of infinite darkness and master of the void without end."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Elder answered.
"With all due respect, King Abythos…I am a king."
The words struck like lightning. Both Abythos and Man blinked in stunned silence.
Then Abythos burst into laughter—a deep, amused roar that echoed through the castle walls.
"What a truly charming young man," he said. "So full of courage… or foolishness. I like that."
He smirked and stepped back a little, folding his arms.
"Very well, then. Let me state my business—king to king."