“Wait, what are you saying, I was born in the desert, not on some far off world” said Koren in confusion.
“Yes Koren, this is your home, but your roots lie elsewhere.” Said Hope as she waved her hand, and the sand retreated and the nothingness came back. However this time it wasn’t just Koren and Hope, but also a locust of vessels surrounding a world.
“Don’t be surprised Koren, it’s a hologram of the war, here let me show you.” Said Hope as she zoomed in on an odd looking ship and continued to speak.
“Although the Godless were lucky, they relied on magic too much. Their ships were archaic compared to human standards but they reinforced their metals with magic, hence they could go toe to toe with our emporium class battleships.”
“Their physical bodies were strong, an effect of their evolutionary process, but they also wore Armor crafted with magic, forcing us to start the guardian Armor project. And to top it all off those rascals were a warring race. Their entire civilisation was built on the occupation of other worlds and confiscating technology, repulsive creatures.” said Hope as she zoomed into the ship showing human like creatures with a single golden horn.
“But we weren’t far behind, the crux of our technology were our Dyson spheres, massive structures we built around stars, harnessing their power, and Dimensional Cores, devices that are capable of storing unlimited power, it could theoretically even contain all the matter in existence, theoretically.” Said Hope smiling toward Koren.
“So to even the odds we decided to send a Dimensional core to a universe filled with magic. The idea was to send this core to a universe like the one connected to the Godless world, however every time we sent one, we would be unable to bring it back, we did not have the luxury of a stable dimensional gateway, just to send one to the other side we had to artificially create a super nova, due to time dilation, it was supposed to return instantaneously, with enough magic power to push humanity to new heights. We attempted a total of 4 times, 4 entire systems destroyed. That’s when my creator decided to send me, I was to be the control mechanism for the 5th and final Core. I was supposed to guide it back. I was fitted with the most advanced version of the Guardian Armor, it would act as my body.” Said Hope as her voice fell.
“I failed Koren, I quickly realised that this very universe was forcing me to stay. And so I fell into this world, where I felt the presence of the 4 other Cores. But I had a contingency, a present from my mother Dr Clare Escanor.” Said Hope as the nothingness began to retreat once more, and they were in the desert again.
“I had with me living human tissue, I used matter from the terran universe as well as matter from this one to recreate human beings. I left them in a devolved state, with the Hope that they would adapt to this planets environment and learn to use the power system of the world. I couldn’t use the dimensional core myself, its power would corrode my system, so I went to sleep, with the Hope that one day humans would find a way to awaken me.” Said Hope while looking at Koren with joy in her voice.
“You woke me Koren, You. As I was sleeping, without realising the Core had already started to integrate with me. Hence, I was no longer just its control mechanism, but its main intelligence, its Soul. The magic of this universe had transformed the dimensional core into something unique, even though it is technically part of me now, I haven’t the foggiest of what it can do” Said Hope while scratching her head.
“And you, Koren, actually fused with that Core, fused, with me. Now even I don’t know what your future holds. You have become a vessel with the capacity to store all the magic in the universe, and then some.” Said Hope.
“I..I…I…” mumbled Koren with wide eyes, information kept being pumped into his little head from the network, but he was still confused.
“Ah, don’t worry, it’s just me mouthing off Koren. Ok look here, all you need to be worried about is how to gather magic energy, or as you call it spiritual power.” Said Hope reassuringly as she patted Koren on his head.
“Big sis Hope, I have even more questions now, all that you’ve said, I know it to be true, but it still feels impossible.” Said Koren while looking dim.
“But what ever the future brings, I want to face it. I want to grow up and gain strength, so I can confront the draconian’s who attacked my village. I want to give hope to other humans like big sis gave me, the hope of a better tomorrow.” Said Koren as he stood straight and stared at Hope with vigour.
“Hope looked at the confident little boy, patted his head with her hand and ruffled up his hair. “Well time to wake up Koren, and don’t worry, this time, I’ll always be with you” said Hope as her body turned into mist and disappeared, followed by the tent and the desert surrounding. Koren felt a force yank at him and he too disappeared.
Koren opened his eyes, and Infront of him was a young girl. He tried to get up, but his whole body felt stiff. ‘how long was I out’ thought Koren as he noticed the wet cloth in the girls arm, it seemed as if she was taking care of him while he was unconscious.
Enri, who had been staring at the boy’s golden pupils for a while, suddenly snapped out of it, there was a burning feeling all over her face. The screamed and threw the wet rag right at the boys face, and then stood up to face the exit.
“Oh, please don’t move, I will go get my Amma(mother) and Uncle Sappa, they will know what to do.” Said Enri as she rushed out of the tent trying to hide her rosy cheeks.
Koren took off the wet rag sticking to his face, and looked around the little room, he could tell he was on a sand ship as the floor was made of wood, and that the ship was moving, probably towards the village.
“ahh, Young Love” said a voice as Hope suddenly appeared Infront of the exit. “Big Sis!!” said Koren with surprise, and just as he was about to speak more, Hope quickly shushed him.
“Hey, keep it down kid. I’m not actually here, I’m just in your head, so no one else can see or hear me.” Said Hope as she seemingly floated in the air. “Just keep you cool, and pretend like you don’t see me.” Said Hope in a whisper.
“Big sis Hope, why are you whispering” said Koren.
“Hope, who’s hope” said a voice coming from the exit, as a woman walked in moving the piece of cloth acting as a door to the side. She was as tall as Hope, but older. She had curly brown hair, and light brown skin, a staple of the desert. She looked like an ordinary woman from the desert, but she had something in her eyes, something that reminded Koren about his mother.
“Well boy, who were you talking to” Said the woman as she approached Koren and sat down. She calmly looked at Koren , as her hand came to rest on his head. She appeared to be checking his temperature.
“I..I.. No one, I was just confused” said Koren as he looked at Hope floating over the woman’s head. Koren noticed a little arm tugging behind the woman’s clothing, it was the girl he met when he woke up.
“I am Zena, from the shale Village, south of the Lagan Oasis, and this little one here is my daughter Enri.” Said Zena in a calm, soothing voice.
“I’m Koren, thank you for saving me.” Said Koren in a scruffy tone. Zena noticed the difficulty Koren was having, so she untied an animal skin bag around her waist and moved it closer to him. “Here, have some water” Said Zena.
Koren grabbed the bag and started to drink in mad glee, he downed the whole thing before realising his error.
He looked up at the woman called Zena and said “I’m sorry, I was very thirsty.”
“Its ok, Koren. You don’t have to be embarrassed, you’re in a safe place, we just came back from the oasis, drink all the water you want.” Said Zena with a chuckle.
“I like her, nice lady.” Said Hope as she hovered around Zena.
“We found you close to the Oasis, what were you doing all alone out there, where are your parents.” Asked Zena.
Just as Koren was about to answer, a man walked in. This man was huge and had to crouch while in the room. He wore classic earth Spiritualist drabs, an earth medallion and a short leather tunic. But what attracted Koren the most was his shiny bald head.
“I thought the sun was still up” Said Hope as she looked at the incoming mans head, trying to hold in her laughter.
“Stop, you don’t need to answer that, we are already close to the village. Everything can be discussed in front of the Chief.” Said Sappa as he approached Koren.
“Lady Zena, please refrain from any more questions, the boy needs to be fed and clothed. You will know the details surrounding him after he meets the chief.” Said Sappa as he handed a bundle of leather drabs to Koren.
Koren noticed that he was mostly naked, except the shawl blanketed over him. He looked at the sly Enri and floating Hope who were both snickering and quickly grabbed the bundle from Sappa’s hands.
“I have your sword, I will give it to the chief, don’t worry.” Said Sappa as he approached Koren’s ear and whispered.
Koren was relieved, he had already noticed that he didn’t have his bag on him.
“Sappa, I will listen to you this once, but I will speak to the chief about this.” Said Lady Zena as she got up to go out, so Koren can change. Enri also followed her mother, smiling the whole way.
“Your name is Koren, right. I know you have been through hell, but please don’t tell anyone else what transpired till you speak to the village chief, we don’t want panic.” Said Sappa as he patted Koren on the head.
“We will reach the village in an hour, I will have some food sent in, for now you should rest” Said Sappa as he too left the room, leaving Koren with Hope.
