"There isn't a single thing I like about this place,"
A young boy with dark hair spoke as he watched himself in the mirror. He sat quietly in a dark yet crowded room.
"The unending restrictions, the flawed mindset, being treated like a 4-year-old."
"So what do you want then?" a strange, unfamiliar voice echoed.
"I want to leave this normal life behind."
.....
Everything went blank.
Cole heard a charging sound that jolted him awake.
"Where am I?"
Cole found himself in what he could only describe as a daydream. His eyes took in the deep green, healthy-looking pastures, the sparkling stream of water, and... giant catfish surfing through the air?
No, the three moons of different colors?
Or rather, the giant squid with human eyes casually gliding through that sparkly stream? Genuinely, just what was he looking at?
"Is this hea..ve...Nah, that can't be right," Cole surveyed the area with his eyes. "This is hell, most definitely, but... where are the flames?"
"The flames are in the 3rd Eldritch," a familiar female voice spoke from behind.
Cole paused, then shot back from the surprise. When he turned, nothing was present.
'This trick's getting too old.'
TAP! TAP!
He felt something tap his shoulder. Cole stayed still, ignoring the gesture. As a result, the tapping got tougher and more violent.
Cole held in a hearty laugh and turned to the side.
"Ahaa..." He gaped.
The last tap cleared the bush where he stood before.
"Oh? You got me!" She spoke enthusiastically.
Cole burst out, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
In that second, his eyes gleamed with realization. In front of him, a blonde woman with green and red strands on her frontal hairs, a youthful face with sharp blue eyes and dark lipstick, was playing with him.
Of course, the deity that made his life miserable happened to be a gorgeous stud of nature.
Cole did not falter one bit.
"Just where the hell am I?" He gave her a piercing stare as he furrowed his brow.
"Oh, I forgot to greet you!" Her demeanor sparkled. She took a little bow, leaning closer to Cole's ear, "Welcome to True Earth."
'True earth?'
"Just what is this place?" He asked quite curiously.
A vein rose on her forehead, "How rude of you, we meet for the first time and you bombard me with questions?!" Her mouth twitched at the side of her cheek.
Cole was taken aback, to his dismay, she had a point. He bowed politely and rephrased, "My apologies, can you please teach me more about this world? It's a delight to finally meet you... ma'am."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere," she scowled intensely.
'Oh damn, I'm already in her bad books?!'
"It's fine though, I'll cut the formalities and carry out the reason I brought you here," she sighed.
"Oh yeah... that is?"
"Unlike you, I have manners." She clapped her hands, and the dirt beneath the grass rose, took shape, and reconstructed into an antique tea chair and table.
"Sit down, Cole," she curled her lips in a mischievous manner.
Cole followed accordingly; he wasn't dumb enough to protest. After sitting, she clapped her hand once more, and two cups of tea fell from above.
Cole was a bit shaken by the sight, 'Where did they even come from?!'
"Have a sip, it's good," she spoke.
"Th...Thanks?" Cole took a small sip. "By the way, what's your name?"
'This tea is surprisingly good.'
"I can't tell you my name for personal reasons. However, feel free to refer to me as 'You,' 'her,' 'she,' or 'girl.'"
"Huh..."
Cole couldn't help but be drawn to her outfit, a traditional kimono from Japanese folklore, mixed with palm sandals and white socks.
"Are you..." He felt awkward to ask.
"You noticed? Well, yes, indeed, I am a Japanese deity, but you've probably never heard of me."
"How can you be so sure?" Cole jokingly asked as he sipped his tea.
She pressed her finger against her cheek, "Because I no longer exist."
"Pffffft." Cole spat out his tea like he sprung a leak, gaping at her like a poorly constructed mannequin. "You said what!"
"The indulger world in false earth is truly a painful sight to behold. They disrespect and torture for the sake of power and ascendance. Truly, it sickens me," she placed her hand on her chest and ranted.
"That's not an answer to my question."
"That's why I want us to form an alliance! In exchange, I'll brief you on everything you need to know about the indulgers..."
'Is she ignoring me?'
"And help you just like I did today in the trial!"
Cole parted his lips as his eyes shrunk.
The glass in his hand shattered as it collided on the floor.
"Are you saying... I'm still alive?"
She grinned, "Did I ever say you were going to die?"
Cole's lips shivered, then stiffened, then stretched, then curved at his cheeks, and a mad smile formed on his face. His eyes glowed a murky red.
Seeing this made her look devastating, "That smile really suits you, Cole." She chuckled in a slightly depraved manner, "I promise you, we'll smile like this from now on."
'We?'
Cole's facade was working well; he definitely wasn't buying what she was selling.
"You're right, it's been too long since I've been this happy. The thrills and excitement, I want more... No, give me more power!"
"Stick with me, and you'll have all that," she composed herself.
'Is what I would say if your act was believable. Your words and expressions are in sync, well enough to fool an average human at least. Unfortunately for you, I can read your heart,' she thought.
'No problems, all I need is a scapegoat, that's all. You'll serve me to your very end without realizing it... I'll toy with you and toss you away. Till then, have as much fun as you want, all I need you to do is say...'
"I agree," Cole decided.
'Check,' she concluded.
"Nice," she clapped.
A wine glass fell from the sky, landing flawlessly on the table.
"Let's seal the deal with a friendly handshake," she smiled warmly.
"Sure," Cole smirked kindly.
Both joined hands and shook each other.
"I guess it's time to start filling you in on everything you need to know." She spoke bluntly
"Oh o..." Cole gradually tensed his face as his body twitched. "What are you..."
Unable to act, Cole watched his blood leak out the handshake and drip into the glass. His legs quivered, with his hands gripping the chair from the pain. Cole's calm expression flickered like a switch, his eyes dimmed watching each drop splash and occupy the glass.
Once the glass was half full, its pure white edges were stained with messy red splashes. Cole quickly covered his hands, staring at the injury with an unstable gaze.
The deity took the glass, shook the contents finely, and indulged in it.
When she concluded, she set the glass down and snapped her hand.
CRACK!
The glass shattered into a thousand fragments, each piece sluggishly flew past Cole's face. The blood-stained glass, under the influence of light, projected images.
Images Cole had never seen before.
"Pay attention now, Cole. I'll be taking you through a crash course."
Cole, though still perturbed, kept his hand covered, staring baffled like a lost child.
"The topic... Eaden."