***ꡅꡚꡌꡨ︼ꡤꡒ***

***Eris***

“Oohh...” I moan and feel my eyelids flutter as I roll over. Squinting, I try to open my eyes, but the place I am in is too bright. Each time I try, a lancing pain stabs through my eyes directly into my brain.

It takes minutes before I finally manage to acclimate to my surroundings enough to look around and to find out where the fuck I am.

The ground seems to be white sandstone and it stretches out in all directions as far as I can see. There is no sun in the empty sky, but it is still as bright as day. Also, I am alone.

I reach for my temples, trying to suppress the pain from my still hurting eyes while I sort out my memories. The last thing I can recollect is being caught in the side-effects of a Chimeran weapon. Am I dead? For real? The great Eris died because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time!?

“AAAHH!” I scream out my frustration to the nothingness and wave my fists at my fate. “Is anybody here!?”

I get no answer, so I sit down to think about my situation. There were the Chimerans and that mortal who I saved right before I passed out. What was wrong with me at that moment? Did I feel guilty because it was my fault that he waved his ass at those monsters? Why would I risk my own well-being for some mortal? Well, it's a waste of time to think about it now. I can't change the past.

Just what the hell is this place?

Raising my hand, I try to cast a spell, but nothing happens. It’s as if I am suddenly some mundane mortal! All I can accomplish is waving my hands like some lunatic.

Or, could it be that I am not dead and that this is some sort of holding cell?

I get up and start walking, even if it seems pointless. It feels like this place is endless, but maybe that’s just a trick, so I look for signs of spacial manipulation without finding anything. There is also not the slightest feeling of any pathways. Is this the inside of a Void Zone?

Such thoughts and others keep going through my mind as I walk for minutes… hours… days…

It feels like an eternity passes but I arrive nowhere. There is just endless white and for some unknown reason, I don’t even feel hunger or thirst.

I scream, and this time it is not frustration, but the beginning of despair.

***

I don’t know how much time passed since I started crawling around on my knees, crying like a little child. Nothing I try works. A while ago I even attempted marking my path with blood.

But it’s futile. It’s like the sandstone is slowly sucking everything up, erasing any trace I leave behind. Is this really the end? Is this the retribution for my life as a Council member? If I had known I would have tried harder to change something about myself.

Crying, I try to fall asleep once again, hoping not to wake up this time…

“Up!”

I squeeze my eyes closed, trying not to react to the command. The delusions must be starting again, taking the last bit of my sanity with them.

‘Splash!’

“Hiiiii!” I awake as ice-cold water embraces me from below, my scream quickly turning into a pityful gurgling sound as I am suddenly underwater! I quickly differentiate up from down and swim upwards, breaking the surface with just two strokes and spitting out water.

I find myself inside a little pond! It can't be bigger than two square metres. Around me is still this endless white plane.

Unable to endure the water, I quickly reach for the edge of the small pool I am in and pull myself onto dry land, shivering as I do so. Then I realize that I am staring at someone’s feet.

“You are awake now?”

I look up and find a person looking down on me – with a large cat who is licking its chops lying next to him.

He is quite obviously either a demon from the Infernal Planes, or Chimeran royalty. Given the circumstances, I bet on the latter being the case. The man has dark horns which curve from his temples backward behind the back of his head, inlaid with golden insignia. The uniform he is wearing is a plain black jacket with black trousers, making him seem completely ordinary.

If it weren’t for those eyes. His slit, golden pupils seem to be weighing me against something. His way of looking at me creeps me out. It’s like he isn’t seeing my physical body at all, but judging my soul directly!

“I will take your stare as a ‘yes’ and assume that you aren't sleeping with open eyes,” he speaks with condemnation in his tone.

He sits down and just as I expect him to fall onto his butt, the sandstone grows from the ground, forming a comfortable chair beneath him. The man stretches his legs and leans back, looking completely relaxed. It is as if he couldn’t care less about my presence.

Then he starts grooming the dangerous-looking animal's head with his left hand.

“Aaah, I guess this will take a while. I already invested a week in Elsaria and in that elf, so I should give you at least that much attention. Where should we start?” He tilts his head while looking at me.

“How about telling me what happened and who you are?” I glare at the supposed master of this endless plane. “And where the fuck am I?”

I try to stand up in order to give myself more confidence, but the cat growls at me, opening its maw.

When I see that the animal doesn’t have only the two large canines which could as well be daggers, but rows upon rows of teeth which seem filling its whole mouth, I slowly sit back down. “Nice little kitty… I am not food, just so you know…”

“I think he is more closely related to a porcupine…” The man explains absent-mindedly and purses his lips while I eye the ‘cat’. “So many questions. Well, I guess it won't hurt getting you up to speed. I will stay civilised as long as you do the same and answer truthfully. I will even give you the introduction for free!”

Smiling, the man gestures with both hands at me. “You are Eris, a Council member. You happened to be in a city which was attacked by the Calamity’s fiends, the true mastermind behind your organisation. In truth, most of your kinsmen are just puppets, controlled by this entity. I don’t know why you were in that city, but one of my fortresses showed up and cleaned the menace up. You were caught in the crossfire and heavily wounded – your body and your soul. Fortunately or unfortunately for you, my men became aware of your presence when you tried to avoid the attack by using a pathway.” He scratches his cheek and looks at the empty sky which nonetheless illuminates this endless place.

Having collected his thoughts, he takes a breath and continues. “They picked you up and brought you to me. I am surprised that you don’t recognize me, but I guess it goes with the nature of your existence. My name is Angrod and I am the Godking of Chimera. Unfortunately for you, I have to inform you that your body was damaged beyond help.”

What is he talking about? I try to make sense of his words, but whatever he is hinting at escapes me.

He raises his finger. “But I was able to extract your soul intact – which was a big accomplishment I might say. I do hate it if my work goes to waste. And now you are here.” He looks around. “You could say that this is something like my personal soul-space. Actually, it's its own dimension – similar to the river of souls – just a few dimensional layers deeper down. Not even the inhabitants of the Infernal Planes dare to tread lightly in these places. Not enough mana for them.”

So, I was caught.

I look at my own hands, only now realizing that I am naked. “How is this possible? If my soul is all right, why is my body dead? Repair it and put me back inside! And why do I have a body here?” I pinch myself, feeling the pain.

Is he lying to me?

He shakes his head, apparently pitying me. “Repairing your body is not possible. A body has something like astral connection points to create a connection with its soul. My magic attacks all levels of existence. Though the physical world is affected less strongly, the astral plane is damaged very heavily. I am afraid that I don't know how to repair the damage to your body. You will have to reincarnate. Not that I would allow an enemy to just walk away like that.”

I bite into my inner cheek at his words. If he is telling the truth, I am fucked and at his mercy.

“Now that I’ve been so accommodating, tell me everything you know about the Council, the Spheres, where your friends hide. Do you know of any secret bases? I want to know simply ‘everythinnng’.” He looks straight into my eyes as the pronunciation of the last word sends shivers down my spine.

But I won't give up that easily! “Why should I cooperate with you!? I have no guarantees that you will let me go afterwards.”

He rolls his eyes.

“What makes you think that I will let you go? Anyway, you will cooperate. This whole place exists for the sole purpose of cooperation. If you don't talk, you will get to know another facet of my hospitality.” He waves his hand, and something akin to a portal with the height and width of a human being appears in front of us, its edges marked in red chaotic energies.

Beyond the portal is a place which I can only describe as a dungeon cell with a male elf inside it, held aloft by dozens of rusty chains.

“You see…” Angrod says. “There is an easy way of simply telling me what I want to know… or I will have to pick your mind apart.” He reaches out into the empty air as if plucking something – and the elf twitches spastically in one direction. “Bit…” Angrod repeats the motion and his victim cramps up. “…by bit…

“But that one is just a mortal puppet. He didn’t know anything of value. As for prisoners with valuable knowledge!” He claps his hands together and the portal switches scenes.

There is a beautiful woman floating in the air, one half of her body horribly disfigured, in what seems to be a throne room which is falling apart. The insanity of the scene only reveals itself as I take my time for a closer look. Things which make no sense like the shower of flower petals or the laughing statue of the very woman floating in the room – pointing directly at her.

“I call it ‘The Eternal Death’. Isn’t it a work of art?” He chuckles. “I put her back into that little bubble of frozen time after she spilled the beans about her master. The Plane of Chaos isn’t that particular about things like time or physics. Everything is more of a ‘floating’ concept there.” He tilts his head. “If I had to describe it, it would be more like a realm of dreams and nightmares?”

Then he shrugs as if what he showed me is of no importance. “As for you… I thought we would start out relatively benign. We could explore a new perspective on the word ‘pain’ together.”

A long row of torture instruments appears to his left. It stretches to the horizon until I lose sight of it. There is everything I can imagine and more. From an iron maiden to things I never even heard of, nor can I imagine how some of the tools and machines are used!

“And if you still won't talk, then we will work on the word ‘humiliation’.” Another row of BDSM toys and strange costumes appears to his right. He looks at me with a smug grin.

This pervert! Never! “B- B- Bastard!” I jump at him and swing my fist into his face with all my might, ignoring the angered roar of his pet.

He doesn't even twitch as my fist impacts his cheek.

I feel my fingers breaking! It is as if I hit solid steel without any help of magic. As if my body is mortal! Blinking, I retract my fist, the knuckles are quite obviously broken.

Before the shock can be replaced by pain, there is a brilliant white light from the sky.

I am flung into the air, accompanied by a roaring thunderclap!

For a moment I feel weightless before I hit the ground hard.

My ears are ringing as I try to get up and realize that my leg is bent in an unnatural way. The skin on my shoulder is charred and burnt where the lightning strike hit me. It hurts! Oh, it hurts so much! I gape at Angrod who is still chilling in his chair, the cat next to him.

He sighs. “I think I already told you that this is my personal space. My word is absolute. You are nothing. If I wish it, you burn. If I wish it, you drown. If I wish it, you die a thousand deaths while I have a nice evening with my family. So, why don't we try this again?”

Suddenly, I am sitting across from him in a chair and a table with tea and cookies is between us. I check my body, but everything is fine. I even have some clothes on: wide white trousers and an equally oversized shirt fitting the style.

“You see, I gave Tjenemit the same chance and he didn't take it. It had something to do with his pride. But believe me, if I tell you that you will talk anyway sooner or later.” He takes a cup of tea and a cookie. Then he places them in front of me.

This guy isn't right in his head! “B- B- But it will take you time. And you will never be completely sure if I'm withholding information or not!” I try to argue.

He tilts his head, looking at me as if I am deaf. “Oh, they all talk in the end. But you are right that it's less troublesome if you talk on your own, although, in your case, I don’t want to damage that marvellous soul of yours – or misuse the triggers I placed in your mind. You are still a little unstable, so I don’t want to risk anything coming loose.”

“M- my soul? What are you talking about?” I stutter, cursing myself for starting to lose my cool.

“Ah, they haven’t told you?” he asks. “Can’t you remember that time when you had that little accident a few thousand years ago? You were in a coma for several months.”

“I think,” I admit, “I was told that I had an accident with the Sphere of Sight, so I avoided it like the plague ever since. Everything before and shortly after waking up is very hazy.”

“You avoiding the Sphere was likely my work, even if unintentional. I didn't want you to mess up your mind again, so I compelled you with a strong revulsion against anything that could do so.” Angrod leans forward. “You see, back then the Council still trusted me. They assigned me the job of repairing your broken mind.” He chuckles. “And, oh boy, what a mess it was. Quite honestly, there wasn’t much left of the former Eris’ soul and mind.”

“T- th- f- f- former?” I stutter, as a feeling of dread squeezes my chest.

“Yes!” Angrod looks at the sky as if he is remembering good times. “Now I know that the Calamity took a good bite out of you, but back then it was simply an opportunity to gain control of a Council member. They really thought that having a few soul mages watch my work would be enough to stop me from placing a few triggers in your mind as I repaired you. I used one of them to make you destroy the Crystal City’s shield generators. I guess we can now unlock your memories about your deeds back then. Deus Ex Machina. Ita diis placuit. Carpe Noctem!”

The words remove some kind of haze which clouded my mind. Suddenly, I remember abandoning the battle for the Crystal City, betraying my fellow Council members! While others fought or prepared contingency plans, I walked away to sabotage the generators!

Why would I have done such a thing!? I reach up, squeezing my temples as tears well up in my eyes. The city's fall, it was entirely my doing! The Chimerans could have bitten their teeth out on that shield for years until they found a way in!

He snorts. “Incompetent fools. They didn’t even realize that there was not enough of your mind or your soul left to piece them back together.” Angrod fiddles with his fingers, smiling. He looks like a child who is proud of having solved a particularly challenging problem, his eyes feverish with glee. “Instead, I remade you! Soul and personality, handcrafted by me!”

Suddenly, he moves and is out of his chair before I can react, holding onto the sides of my head while looking directly into my eyes. “You are quite literally my masterpiece of soul magic! Centuries have passed and you didn’t turn insane or had your mind dissolve into a chaotic mess! You have a true soul – a superior one made by me! I even managed to duplicate your divinity! Admittedly, I had a few leftovers to work with, but most of it was my reconstruction. You will get a body that’s worthy of you once we are done here. Tjenemit’s moronic healers didn’t even realize the true magnificence of my work and the fools were watching every step of it!”

He lets go of me and I start hyperventilating, only calming down a little when he turns away, mumbling something to himself. “You know… you are already my creation, so I am kind of responsible for you. Why not go a step further?”

“Then.” I swallow, my throat feeling dry. “You will give me benefits if I tell you everything on my own?” I have to get away from this maniac somehow!

“Hm. What benefits?” Angrod turns his attention back to me.

“I want to reincarnate into a new body without being tampered with by you or anyone else. Then I want to walk my own path from there on out.” I look him directly into the eyes and hold the contact. It's hard with those eyes of his, but I manage it.

“You are a wanted criminal throughout the multiverse. Even if I did that, the other powers would get you sooner or later. I could give you a mortal life without your memories. El Shaddai got the same deal.” He turns back to the table and takes a sip from his tea.

“El Shaddai? How is he doing? Where is he?” I sit up straighter.

“She is doing fine. No problems.” He smiles at me.

“She?” Oh no! I don't want this pervert to tamper with my reincarnation!

“I want to keep my memories. I didn't have anything to do with this Calamity you are talking of. The rest of the Council apparently got influenced by the Sphere! I realize that now! But I am not involved in this Calamity business!” I really didn't know! “I just want to lay low until people forget about me.”

“Hmmm. If that's true, what help are you to me?” His tone turns dangerous and I remember a few of the rumours I heard about him.

“I know locations!” I offer. “Places the others always went to. Hideouts, personal places, their habits, and secondary bases! I know way more than Tjenemit! I often trailed the others when I was bored. Otherwise, I couldn't do my job as the Goddess of Strife and Discord.” A few anxious moments without answer follow.

“Oh, yeah, I know that. That desire of yours to know what the others are up to, I put it into you. The only thing I don’t understand right now is why you were in that city with the Calamity’s fiends,” Angrod mumbles, making me feel as if I was nothing more than his unknowing agent all along.

“It was pure coincidence,” I admit. “I planned to go into hiding and lay low. I didn't want to be involved because I always work from behind the scenes! But my habits got the better of me. I started to tamper with that world. I didn't talk much to any other gods in fear that they would recognize me. And then I was in that city when these creatures attacked and your fortress appeared! It was pure bad luck on my side!”

“And why did you save that mortal?” Angrod asks, raising an eyebrow but looking interested.

Why is he asking such stupid questions? Isn't he interested in the location of the Council? “I... I don't really know. It was kind of my fault that he was there and tried to fight the demons. And then that red maelstrom came down from your fortress. I didn't think and just grabbed him. And then I shielded him instead of me.” I look down onto the table, trying to fight a complete meltdown.

“Why?” Angrod keeps insisting.

“For no reason! I had no time to think!” I scream at him with defiance in my eyes. The outbreak causes the cat to stir, but it doesn’t decide to bite my head off.

“Interesting. I don’t remember making you overly compassionate, so your soul is capable of evolving. That’s good. Very good.” He furrows his eyebrows and puts his legs on another chair, which appeared out of nowhere. Then he waves for me to continue.

I talk to him about everything while I drink the tea and eat the cookies which for some reason don't lessen, but reappear after some time. They are really good... especially the ones with the chocolate flavour. It feels like I am telling him my entire life story and everything I ever learned about the Council.

Hours later, I stop talking, not knowing what else to say.

Finally, Angrod nods, seemingly satisfied with my confession. “Hm. I can't let you go completely unscathed. Even though you cooperated and gave some valuable information. It was just plain unlucky for you to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. But such are the workings of the multiverse.” He takes a cookie and eats it.

I sink back into my chair and start brooding. So my gamble was for naught.

“Do you want to join my society?” Angrod asks.

“Huh?” I look at him with the most dumbfounded expression ever.

“You will reincarnate, but your memories will be sealed until you are eighteen. That will result in a new personality and a new life. And a new family. You will still be a goddess instead of a mortal. That's the best I am willing to offer you under the circumstances.” Angrod looks at the white sky.

Um. It could be worse I think? I have heard a little about the Chimeran society from other deities I met since we lost the Crystal City. There could be a lot worse fates than that. Like the one El Shaddai got!

I shudder. “I accept!”

Angrod smiles at me with a devilish grin. “Good. Welcome to the family! My ‘darling daughter’.”

“Daughter!?” I squeak, but Angrod is already leaving through one of his portals, a heavy tome bleeding chaotic energies in his hand.

“Excuse me.” He waves over his shoulder. “I have a few arrangements to make.”

Why does it feel like I just made a very bad decision!? Why does it feel like I enlisted for a one-way ticket to hell!

The cat follows him, and I quickly step forward, seeing a chance to escape.

That is before I take a look at the other side – the true reality lying beneath my orderly, sane world.

I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out as I see Angrod and his cat strolling away, down a path that’s not a path and yet… my mind simply refuses to make sense of their surroundings. The cat stops for a moment and looks back, grinning at me, its maw growing and growing until the entire portal is nothing more than teeth!

And then it snaps shut – leaving me behind in this beautiful, white place!

I will never again complain about the emptiness!

Looking down, I find that I soiled myself while hyperventilating. What luck that the pool with the cold water is still there. I will also never again complain about cold water.

Anything is better than that place!