Mansa Zulu tapped his obsidian hand toward Achilles.
The motion was almost dismissive!
Obsidian-gold light erupted from that perfect finger and crossed the distance between them in an instant.
Pain seared across Achilles's forehead.
An obsidian-gold tattoo scorched itself into his flesh, the design intricate and ancient and carrying weight that made his weakened existence shudder. The marking burned with authority he could not quite describe, power flowing into him from sources that existed beyond anything he had previously perceived.
"As THE Vilicus, you will be the representative of this Observable Existence."
Mansa Zulu's voice pressed against reality with finality.
"You will spearhead integration once the pathway and connection to another Observable Existence is made. You will be the bridge between what this stunted reality currently is and what it will become under proper guidance."
Achilles felt the branding settle into his consciousness.
