I returned to the temple where I died.
Ever since I taken the Archeon of Bondage, this place no longer belonged to Enheduanna. The temple had accepted me. As long as I thought about visiting the temple, I could teleport there no matter where I am.
The long hallway stretched before me. Once, it had been covered with murals nut now the walls were empty.
I walked slowly. My footsteps were soundless thanks to Soundless Nautica. Every breath sent faint ripples through the dust, and each ripple seemed to hum, as if the temple itself remembered I had returned.
Then, a voice broke the silence. It didn't come from the air but inside it. It was a male voice.
"Long, long ago, there were eight who reshaped the third world of the Solar System."
Before my eyes, faint light began to bleed through the stone. The murals returned, drawing themselves stroke by stroke as the story unfolded.
"Uh... okay..."
"The eight were the Goddess of Combat, the Goddess of Space, the Goddess of Memory, the Goddess of Nature, the Goddess of Existence, the Goddess of Death, the Hidden God of Chronology, and the God of History."
On the left wall, eight radiant silhouettes appeared. They surrounded a blue-green sphere glowing like an infant star in their palms.
"The eight beheld the Earth drowning in chaos. Beasts ruled the lands and the fragile minds of early humanity trembled beneath extinction. So the eight intervened, altering the structure of the world. They wove threads of resonance into the creatures that could dream."
I saw the murals shift. It was the same murals I saw where dinosaurs roamed the world and ancient humans were being eaten by them and other beasts.
"To save their chosen children, they birthed the First Peculiarity. It was a surge that entered the blood of the most intelligent among mortals. The first Fluxers awakened."
The murals flickered. Neanderthals had eyes of fire, humanoids were casting lightning from crude spears and ancient seas were splitting under whispers.
"They survived the meteor's fall. They survived extinction. The eight watched with pride but also with fear."
I paused mid-step. What do you mean by fear?
"Not all were blessed. Those untouched by the Peculiarity remained plain, yet numerous. The gifted hid among them, fearing persecution, living as myths in the cracks of history."
In the murals, ancient tribes gathered around campfires, worshiping "gods" who were simply gifted ancestors. A woman was pulling stars from her breath. A man was shaping beasts from soil.
"For ages they worked in secret as scholars, seers, warriors and architects of destiny. Their children intermingled with the ordinary, spreading the bloodline unseen. By the time mankind forged its first empires, the gifted were countless, yet invisible."
The murals turned to Babylon, Egypt, the Maya, China, the African Tribes, the European Kingdoms and the Asian Empires too. The voice continued but this time, his tone changed.
"But secrets cannot remain forever beneath the veil. The eight saw what they had wrought. They brought an imbalance that even gods could not undo."
Then the right wall exploded with light. Waves of energy pulsing from the sky into the Earth, wrapping the planet in luminous bands of Flux.
"So they summoned the Second Peculiarity, the event mortals would later call the Fluxwave Phenomenon."
Wind roared through the temple... or perhaps it was only memory echoing through space-time.
"This time, they did not merely bless humanity. They divided reality itself."
The Earth split in two like a reflection breaking across still water. On one side stood cities, oceans, clouds. That is definitely Altera Earth. On the other stood crimson skies, inverted oceans, black forests. That was... the world where Fluviums came from?
"The Goddess of Existence created a mirrored world, one that could bear the overflow of energy. Fluve Earth became the reservoir, the shadow and the dreaming echo of Altera. And between them formed bridges called Fluve Fields that few could cross."
Wait wait. So the origin of Fluve Fields is the same size as Fluve Earth? Just how many Fluviums exist then? Are they the same in population as that of Earth?
"But where there is creation, there is corrosion."
The murals darkened. On Fluve Earth, twisted shapes crawled from the lakes. Their bodies were different and monstrous.
"Those who absorbed the Peculiarity without balance were consumed. They became Fluviums, beings of corrupted Flux, bound by instinct to devour the living light of Altera."
The murals showed Fluviums tearing through cities and warping landscapes into a second version of hell.
"And so began the First Great World War. Fluviums descended upon Altera through the Fluve Fields, and humanity, now awakening en masse to Flux, rose to defend its realm."
The walls flared, golden veins crawling across the stone.
"Five principles emerged from the chaos, gifted to mortals."
Each appeared as a sigil burning onto the stone.
The Combat Flux sigil was a crimson light shaped like a blade.
The Psyche Flux had violet patterns spiraling like eyes.
The Elemental Flux sigil was made of a sphere of air with fire, earth and water surrounding it in rings.
The sigils of the Alteration Flux had a green circle that represented a magical circle.
The Concept Flux sigil was a black crystal thorned crown.
"From each Flux arose a champion blessed by the Beings, becoming the first God-touched Fluxers. The Five led humanity against the tide of corruption. The battle raged for years. Fluve Earth and Altera Earth bled into each other. After the war was over, the Fluxers lived their lives as usual."
The murals showed countries splitting, cities floating upside down and storms of color tearing through dimensions.
The temple's light dimmed again like someone had drawn the curtains over the sun. The air around me became quieter before the voice spoke again.
"But power is never content to rest. It grows, hungers and corrupts."
The murals came back and not with grandeur this time but tragedy.
I saw cities made of stone crumble under their own weight. I saw Fluxers wielding fire scorching other beings. Fluxers stood upon mountain peaks, declaring themselves kings, gods, rulers of fate.
"The Eight watched as those blessed with the Flux turned on one another. Nations rose only to fall within the span of a century. Mortals began to think themselves as divine. The Eight convened."
The murals moved like liquid. The Eight were gathered around a radiant circle, their energy intertwining into a single burning sphere at the center of the temple wall.
"They foresaw what would come from the Hidden God of Chronology. There would be a time when Flux would drown the world and mortals would use energy to tear the seams between Altera and Fluve Earth once more. And so, they came to an agreement. They would not strip mortals of Flux. That would be to undo the tapestry of existence itself. Instead, they would place anchors of their will upon the world who would act as beacons of restraint and balance."
The murals shimmered again, transforming the circle into eight radiant relics. For some reason I knew all their names in my mind.
The Silver Gloves of Infinite Possibility.
The Staff with a Massive White Pearl.
The Crown Of Light That Bled Shadow.
The Beautiful Giant Sundial.
The Mirror that Reflects Only Truth.
The Tree Wine Glass.
The Black Faceless Mannequin.
The Tome Surrounded by Darkness.
"Each of the Eight forged a relic called an Archeon to serve as both key and covenant. Whoever possessed an Archeon would be chosen by the being who created it, blessed with a fragment of their essence, and burdened with their judgment."
My hand instinctively went to my chest where the Archeon of Bondage rested. The moment I touched it, the murals glowed brighter, reacting to me as if in recognition.
"The Archeons are within this temple, waiting for the soul most aligned with its will or its despair."
I stepped closer to the wall, my reflection flickering across the light. The voice grew quieter now, like it was whispering right beside my ear.
"Hello, Phaser."
I froze.
"You are the first Archeon to be chosen in this generation."
"Generation? What do you mean by that?"
The murals changed again. Centuries were flipping by like pages. Plagues, earthquakes, floods and wars were illustrated in agonizing beauty.
"Since the Second Peculiarity, the Eight have allowed the world to test itself. Each age brings calamity, plagues, eruptions, floods and wars not by malice, but necessity. These events are the world's reminders. Mortals grow arrogant. Fluxers grow complacent. Calamity restores balance and humbles the pride within them. It reminds them that they are still human."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Who knows? So before that happens, one among mortals is chosen by the Hidden God of Chronology himself. That being forms the group of seven other beings who will act alongside him."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"So, you're saying that's me?"
"You are the one chosen by Chronology this time."
"Figures. I come here for a walk, and I leave with divine paperwork."
The voice actually chuckled. It was a deep, warm sound that didn't match the gravity of his words.
"Humor in acceptance. Good. You will need that."
And that is when it hit me.
"Wait. You said 'this time.' Meaning there were others before me?"
"There have been eight before you each separated by an era. Some brought salvation. Others brought ruin. None were remembered correctly."
"History's a funny thing. People rewrite it until it makes them the hero."
"Exactly why the Hidden God keeps choosing," the voice said. "Every few centuries, balance must be restored. And the chosen one is never alone."
The murals shifted again, showing one central figure surrounded by seven others.
"The chosen must gather seven who will walk beside them, each representing a fragment of their conviction, their sin, or their truth. And so now, I come to you, Phasnovterich Vecria Argemenes, the one who walks between corrosion and control. The Archeon of Bondage has chosen you. Chronology has confirmed it. Now the circle must be complete. Please go to the hall where you were chosen."
I walked to the hall. That's when I saw the tablets floating above me. So those are the Archeons, huh? But why are they tablets? Shouldn't they be relics like the murals?
"The first step is to name your circle. The world will know you by it."
"Hold on, you expect me to come up with that now?"
"A name defines intent. You stand at the genesis of your era, Phaser. This name will carry your purpose through ages. What will you call your group?"
I rubbed the back of my neck. Seriously, how am I supposed to come with a name all of a sudden?
"Do I get a hint? A suggestion? Maybe a divine brainstorm session?"
"No. Names chosen by mortals hold more power than those given by gods."
I sighed. "Of course they do. Gods always leave the hard part to us."
The laughter came again.
"Then tell me, Phaser what will you name your seven and yourself the next circle of Executioners?"