The Beginning Ch. 12

A/N: To all my readers, thank you. I hope you're all safe during this troubled time, and I hope you and yours remain safe and healthy. I apologize for the delay in uploading this chapter, but like most of you, the spread of the virus has impacted my personal and professional life, and that will always come first.

Speaking of firsts, this chapter contains the first sex scene I've ever written. Based on how it's received, I may include more, or go back to writing this as a non-erotic series. I hope that makes up for the shorter chapter.

To any first-time readers, the rest of this series is under the Non-Erotic category.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

*****

Chapter 12- The Lady

25^th January, 2013

7:54 p.m.

Outside the Food Hall

The first thing that struck me as soon as I stepped outside was how cold it was. Night had fully claimed the world while we ate, and in keeping with most forested areas, had brought with it an otherworldly chill— or maybe a worldly chill, since this place counted as another world? Did this place count as another world? I was just about to call out and ask, when Mathias turned around and noticed the shiver that swept across my body.

"Sorry about that!" he exclaimed, as he squinted at my clothes, "I keep forgetting that you can't Wield!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed what looked like a bright yellow barrier come up around him and reach out towards me, but as soon as I tried to focus on it, it was gone. Chalking it up to the strain my brain was going through to process everything that had been dumped on me over the course of this long, long day, I just smiled tiredly at Mathias, the question obvious in my gaze.

"I just activated one of the embedded spells in your clothes," he explained, "and gave it enough juice to run till tomorrow night, by when you should have enough control to do it yourself. The spell basically encloses you in a bubble that adapts to external temperatures to keep your body at a cool 24º Celsius. It's basically a watered-down version of an elemental barrier spell that you'll learn more about as your studies progress."

"Thanks." I said, with a tired smile.

He just nodded back at me and we set off again, the Academy itself to our right as we plunged into the forest again, following a well-worn path through the trees. Contrary to what I expected, it wasn't pitch black under the canopy, though I couldn't see any discernible sources of light.

"Enchanted trees." Randal called out behind him, seemingly predicting my question, "They shed enough soft light for everybody to see. There's a darker path too, for Wielders Bonded to Companions who see better in the darkness."

"About that," I said, pensively, "why do you think I don't have a Companion yet? I mean, how could I have access to magic without a Bond? Isn't that a paradox?"

"We don't know, to be honest." Randal answered, sharing an indiscernible look with Mathias, "Most of us assumed that since your parents' Bonds were severed decades before you came around, that you wouldn't Emerge or have any Gifts at all. We were all taken aback when you displayed budding Gifts that day in school, though we wrote it off as some of your parents' lingering magic affecting you in some way. The entire reason that Vaishnavi moved in with you was so that she could keep a closer eye on you and document and study anything else that happened. Even so, when you Wielded Power against the Darks that attacked us, it took us all by surprise. I think that was one of the strongest Emergences I've ever witnessed, mine included!"

"When we brought you to the Academy," Mathias pitched in, "we half-expected a Companion to just pop into existence and make itself known. Since that hasn't happened either, all of us are eager to see how you get on with actually accessing your Power tomorrow, and whether doing that would spark something off. Failing that, I'm afraid none of us have any answers for you. Never, in the history of the Wielders, has there been someone who's Unbonded and yet Wields."

We walked in silence for a while longer, my mind abuzz with questions and theories, slowly but surely processing and internalizing everything that I'd learned since waking up in this strange place. An indeterminate amount of time later, I could see the tree line thinning up ahead, the woodland path changing to one paved with stones. A mishmash of noise and music started filtering through to us, and I had to stand still and let the sounds of civilization wash over me.

"That has to be the longest I've ever gone while only hearing the sounds of the forest!" I exclaimed, some of my fatigue washing away at the thought of experiencing something akin to normal after what felt like years.

"Yeah, I remember our one and only attempt at camping," Mathias said, grinning.

"Oh, shut up!" I retorted, "It wasn't all that bad!"

"I mean," he replied, "you did fall into a patch of poison ivy while foraging for berries, run into a hibernating bear— that stayed asleep, thankfully— fall into a creek, get lost for hours, get bitten by a jillion mosquitoes, and then finally, at the end of the day, somehow make it back to camp, covered in cuts and welts, soaking wet and shivering, and simply beg us to pack up and leave right away."

"Fine, it was bad!" I huffed, embarrassed by his retelling of my ordeal, "Let's just get out of this stupid forest already!"

I rushed forward, the remembrance of my harrowing foray into the woods overriding all the chaos in my head. In that moment, all I could think about was stepping onto some nice concrete or asphalt, rather than crummy dirt and grass. In later retellings of that day, Randal would insist that he called out to me to stop, but right then, nothing was getting through to me, other than the overwhelming need to see anything man made again.

I really, really wish I'd listened to him.

Right as I cleared the tree line and saw a cobbled pathway in front of me, I felt like I passed through a sheet of ice. As my foot hit the cobbles, I was blasted backwards and slammed into a tree, the impact nearly knocking me out. A loud, clanging noise rang out around me, and as I looked up groggily from where I'd slid to the forest floor, I came face-to-face with the business end of a blade. A deep-set instinct recognised that a spear was being pointed right between my eyes, and that the person holding it was male, unarmored, and positioned rather well for a swift kick to the gonads. Before I even realized what I was doing, I swung both legs upwards, right into his sweet spot, which unfortunately pushed him and the spear forward. I moved my head to the left, the edge of the spearhead gouging the right side of my head as the man holding it lost his balance and fell atop me. I struggled out from under him, my ear and the right side of my head now warm with the blood flowing down my face, as my assailant rolled over, cupping his jewels with his left hand as his right somehow maintained his grip on his spear. I scrambled to my feet, but immediately fell back onto my hands and knees, my head reeling from my impact with the tree and the blood loss.

"Stay down!" a voice boomed, as a small iron ball bounced into view, stopping below my chest. There seemed to be something inscribed on it, but try as I might, I couldn't make it out. All of a sudden, it felt like a crushing weight slammed onto my back, and I was driven into the ground, hard. I felt it as a bunch of my bones shattered under the weight, the cumulative pain threatening to knock me out.

"Stand down, goddammit!" I heard Randal cry out, as I struggled to stay conscious. I felt more than saw him crouch down next to me, and I heard a lot of blades being sheathed.

"That's Commander Michael's kid you just attacked!" I heard Mathias yelling, as Randal rolled me over, though I couldn't see much aside from a blurry outline where his head should have been.

"Chris?" he asked, concerned, his face coming a bit more into focus as he came closer, "Can you stand?"

A gurgling sound was my only response as warm blood gushed out my mouth and down my chin, the darkness finally claiming me as I fell into the painlessness of unconsciousness.

*****

When I opened my eyes again, I was surrounded by nothingness. True nothingness. There were no sounds, no smells, and no sources of light at all. It was like I had been reborn, albeit devoid of my eyes, ears, nose, and presumably my entire body, since I couldn't move nor touch anything, either. I couldn't tell you how long I was in that void; I had no sense of time whatsoever. It could have been a minute, an hour, a day, or even a year. All I know, is that it felt like forever had passed, before I heard what felt like scratching.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

It wasn't a consistent sound, starting and stopping at random, sometimes ceasing for a long time before picking up again. However, it was something, and so, I began to follow it. A short while later, I saw what looked like a silhouette of light hunched over a desk, scribbling onto a pitch-black sheet. As it reached the bottom of the sheet, the silhouette pushed it over the far edge of the desk, and just kept on writing.

Curious, I decided to move even closer. The closer I got, the more I could see, and the more bewildered I became. The silhouette wasn't at a desk, but was standing over a tightly-wrapped scroll that was just suspended in the air. The scratching noise I'd been hearing weren't from a quill or any sort of writing implement, but was the sound of the silhouette's fingers against the scroll. As the silhouette "wrote", images came into being on the scroll. As I moved ever closer, I witnessed a myriad of animals, creatures, flora, and even planets flit across the surface of the scroll. Each time the silhouette reached the very bottom of its sheet, a life seemed to end, and another began. Captivated, I moved forward.

Millions of lives passed by the time I was close enough to actually touch the silhouette, which was when the sheer size of it finally clicked. Up until that point, I had been too absorbed in the images I was seeing on the descending and never-ending scroll, entranced as I saw civilizations rise and fall in the same time that it took me to take ten steps. When I finally tore my eyes away to ask the silhouette what was even going on, I realized that I couldn't see the top of it, nor the rolled up scroll itself, anymore.

This being, whatever it was, was gargantuan enough to dwarf a whole planet.

I stretched a finger out towards it, expecting to encounter nothing but air. However, I felt something, though it was like no material I'd felt before. I wondered whether the silhouette would even feel something that minuscule— the equivalent of a micro-cellular organism touching me, I'd imagine— but, to my surprise, it moved. Nothing happened for a second, but then, the silhouette seemed to vibrate and I was surrounded by sound.

◊֪᷁•¤*ꜘ□‡᷁᷀ᴥ֪֩֫֬ͽ¬±¨

It paused for a moment, probably waiting for a response, but I just stared dumbly up at (where I hoped) its face was.

◊֪᷁•¤*ꜘ□‡᷁᷀ᴥ֪֩֫֬ͽ¬±¨

The sound repeated, and when I continued to stare at it, silently, it began to glow brighter. I squeezed my eyes shut, but the being grew so bright, that it still seemed like I was looking right into it. Just when I thought it was going to render me blind, the glow disappeared, and I opened my eyes with a wince. Blinking rapidly to try to dispel the afterimage, I was surprised when a divine, mellifluous, and distinctly feminine voice washed over me.

"Can you understand me now?" it asked.

I nodded and blinked some more as the world hazily started to come back into focus.

"I hope you find this space comfortable," the voice said from behind me, as I looked around, dumbfounded, "I recreated it from your memories."

I knew that I was still in whatever place I'd seen the silhouette of light in, but right then, I seemed to be standing in my old room. It was just as I'd last seen it, unmade bed and all. I turned around to get a look at the owner of the voice, and ask her what was going on, but the words died in my throat as soon as I saw her.

Standing there in front of me was the most beautiful woman I'd ever see— Vaishnavi included! Long, lustrous, yet slightly curly red hair framed an elegant face that looked like it had been sculpted by a god. I was looking down into bright green eyes that sat above a cute button nose and a pair of luscious red lips that were just begging to be kissed. Her face was symmetrical in every possible way, high cheekbones leading down to a soft chin and slender neck. Her sun-kissed skin bore that perfect tan that every fair-skinned woman aimed for, and her pert breasts looked like they would fit right into my hands—

"Uh, umm," I stammered, pulling my eyes away from her and focusing on a spot between my feet that was suddenly the most interesting thing around, "y- yo- you're, umm... you're naked." I suddenly realized that I could see my feet and my very erect, very modest 5.5-inch cock. "I'm naked, too!"

"Why do you avert your gaze?" she asked, walking closer and placing a really soft hand on my cheek.

I could feel my ears burning up, a deep blush doubtlessly coloring my face as her proximity to me brought the lower half of her body into my line of sight. I tried to look away, but my eyes were compelled to follow the way her slender belly flared into her hips, before narrowing down to her hairless—

"Vagina!" I gulped, tearing my eyes away to look to the left.

"Is that what your species calls this?" she asked, as I sensed her moving the hand that was on my cheek lower down her body, "It feels considerably more pleasurable than other forms I have taken thus far."

I nodded firmly, blushing fiercely and staring a hole into the wall, as I tried to avoid looking back at her.

"Do you not find this form pleasing?" she asked, again, placing a hand on my chest, "I created it to match your image of a perfect partner."

"It's not that," I gulped, as I looked back at her, forcing myself to look her in the eye and nowhere else, "I'm just not used to speaking to a beautiful, naked woman, while also being naked."

"This barrenness makes you uncomfortable?"

I simply nodded again.

"This space around us has been recreated to resemble somewhere you would be comfortable. Is there anything here that we can use to remedy this barrenness?"

"Of course!" I almost shouted, turning around and running to my wardrobe, sighing in relief as I yanked it open to find it full of my clothes. Pulling on a pair of purple lounge shorts and a blue t-shirt, I tossed her a black t-shirt with a longer hem over my shoulder.

"Is this better?" she asked, and I turned around to see that she'd slipped the t-shirt on, which was just long enough to keep her decent, as long as she didn't make any sudden moves that might have caused it to flare out.

"Much, thank you," I said, walking over to the bed and patting a spot next to the headboard, inviting her to sit down. She flashed me a radiant smile as she did so, and I sat down next to her, turning around so I could face her.

"Where are we?" I asked, able to focus on something other than her body at last, "What are you?"

"I would ask you the same," she said, sizing me up with her eyes, "What manner of species are you?"

"I'm a human being, from Earth, the third planet in the solar system."

"I saw as much in your mind, but I do not recognize your species, nor this 'Earth' you speak of. What is the universal code assigned to your planet? Also, why does your species not speak Unilan? Were you Created by others? Does that mean we are not alone?"

"I don't understand any of those questions." I responded, truly confused now.

"This is truly perplexing," she mused, "but there is always a way to find some answers. Would you be opposed to letting me see into your mind and soul once again?"

"I'm sorry, again?"

"I skimmed the surface of your mind to create this space, this form, and to learn your language. I apologize for doing so uninvited, but it was the only way I could see to communicate with you. With your permission, I would like to go deeper and learn about the history of your species, as well as who Created you."

"I guess that would be okay, but before you do, could you tell me where or what this place is?"

"Very well. You are presently in ΅ǾЮ‡‛◊°, though you may call it 'The Creation Study' in your tongue. This is where I, and the rest of Юᴥ֬±᷁◊ or 'The Council of Nine' Create and run all the Creations within The Prime— a Universe of our design. We do so by writing in what you would call 'The Scroll of Life'. My name is ͽ΅‡ᴥ□֪Ǿ, though you may just call me 'The Lady', and it is currently my turn at the Scroll."

"Is that what you were doing right before this?"

"Yes. I was in the middle of creating a galaxy when I noticed you."

"Right, and if I've understood your question, neither you nor the rest of this 'council' created me, my planet, or my galaxy?"

"As implausible as it may sound, I do not think any of us created your universe or anything within it."

"My whole universe, huh? I'm sorry, but that's a lot to take in."

"Do I have your permission to enter your mind and soul while you 'take it in'?"

"You do. Will it hurt?"

"If it did, you would already be in pain."

If she'd done it before, she could easily have done so again, without even bothering to ask me for permission. The fact that she did, and that she showed me that degree of respect, spurred me into agreeing with her. I just nodded and she smiled and stared into my eyes, a soft, comforting light filling them. I just stared back, enthralled, until she suddenly frowned, and the glow receded.

"This is most peculiar. There is more than one mote of strangeness in you. Two feel familiar; one resonates within myself while another reminds me of ᶕ΅¬ᴥ΅᷁‛ẟæ◊, The Chronicler. I do not recognize the other three. Perhaps if I was to remove the one I can, I could look deeper and discover the purposes of the others."

"I'm not sure if I like the idea of you removing something from inside me."

"Do not be afraid. I mean only to remove the mote that resonates within me for as long as it takes me to discover the identity of your Creator. I promise that no harm shall come to you."

"You haven't given me a reason to doubt you so far, so I guess it's okay."

Her eyes lit up again, and as I stared back into them, I knew that I should have been trying to wrap my head around the ever-increasing pool of new information that I found myself burdened with, but all I could think about was how it would feel to kiss those perfect lips, or even how they'd look wrapped around my-

"Those are some interesting thoughts," she said, with a coy smile, "and the biological responses this form experiences are quite fascinating. I do not think any of us have yet created a species so charged with sexual energy, that they view sexual activities as more than simple procreation, and actually engage in it for pleasure. I need to study these emotions and better understand them. Would you be willing to guide me through this experience?"

"Umm, what are you asking me to do, exactly?"

"I do not understand the social conventions of your species. Was I not clear in saying that I wish to engage in sexual activities with you?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I exclaimed, scrambling away from her and all but jumping off the bed, putting some distance between us, "You can't just ask someone for something like that! Also, weren't you trying to remove a 'mote' from me, or something? What's going on with that?"