Altura

I stood alone, floating in a pale white space. A calm serenity filled my mind, leaving me bereft of most thought. So, I floated there, thinking occasionally, but mostly remaining in this meditative state.

Why was I here? I did not know. I didn’t even know what I was, let alone who, but it mattered not. I was what I was.

And then things changed. A voice called out to me, from somewhere to my left. The voice… I knew that voice. A word came to me from the deep recess of my restive mind, ‘Mother’ it said.

So this was my mother? What was she saying? Curious, I floated closer and her voice became clearer to me.

“Hear me, my child, and hear me well, as I tell you the tale of how you came into this world of mine. Years ago, before you were even born, an attack came, splitting space before your previous self and bringing your spirit here, to my world.”

“The spirit wandered the world for many years, its mind silent to thought, until finally it heard the call of birth and found itself tethered to the child growing within me. Months passed, and my daughter was born, with you inhabiting her body, for that is what you are, you are my daughter.”

“And then, when you were ten, a mishap occurred. The powers of a natural manifested within you, and it confused your spirit greatly. To recover, your subconscious went to the one source of knowledge it had, the memories of your past self, the one from Earth.”

"But the power of a natural is instinctive, not methodical. In awakening your previous memories your mind forever changed you, but mistake me not, you are you. The ten-year-old Altura and 17-year-old Varsha have combined to birth you. And all emotions that come are natural too."

"So calm yourself and remember, you are you.” my Mother finished her talk. I did not know what her words meant, I had no idea who Varsha and Altura were, but I felt the speech sink into my mind and settle into my brain.

I went back to floating, occasionally wondering, would this state ever end?

Altura

I woke up back in my room, staring at the face of my Mother. I just stared at her blankly for a few seconds as my brain processed what had occurred and when it did, there was only one thing for me to do.

I summoned a cone of fire, and blasted it at her face.

“I see that you're still angry at me.” my mother said as the cone died a quick death before her. Yep, I wasn’t even close to hurting her.

“Yes, you attacked me. Invaded my mind. Why would I not be angry?” I answered.

“Because I did heal you up and-” I did not have the patience to listen to her anymore. I got up and walked out of the room, ignoring whatever she had to say. I needed to kill something and I knew exactly what needed killing.

I summoned the pebble to me, somehow knowing how to manipulate space. I was sure I had Mother to thank for that. Or maybe my experience manipulating the spirit space, it didn’t seem very different at all.

The King’s image appeared before me a few seconds later, accompanied by a bowl of purple grapes.

“Altura. What has you calling me today?” The King asked.

“I remember telling you that I would be killing whoever attacked the duchy. And I just got a name. But I will give you a chance, mind telling it to me?” I said, bluffing. I had a pretty good idea who it was, but I did not have names beyond the Shadow Prince.

“The Duchy of Merden is the one to blame. And the Shadow Prince. The plan was primarily made between the young duke and the Organization’s district chief, but both the Shadow Prince and the Grand Prince are complicit. I would suggest that you do not hunt the Shadow Prince down though, the Confederacy has declared him its heir, a clear move to protect him from retribution.” The King said.

“I know. But you can let me kill that Ducal family, seize their wealth and give me the locations of every Organization base in the Kingdom, so I can destroy it for you.” I stated.

“And what would I get in return?” The King asked.

“The friendship of an eleven-year-old Treeling with three elements and a bloodline.” I answered in a matter of fact manner. I wasn’t promising anything concrete for this. As a transmigrator I had a right to fair revenge. Now was the time to exercise that right.

The king looked at me for a few seconds, and then replied, “Very well. I surrender the Duchy of Merden to the Seventh Jewel.”

“And I declare the Kingdom an ally and friend.” I replied as I switched the pebble off. Now I needed to figure out how to get there. I didn’t exactly know how to teleport.

“I can help, your grace.” one of the Rotere guards said, suddenly appearing before me. The guard was the same one that had asked about my staff.

“Why?” I asked. The Rotere guards served my mother, why were they helping me?

“The Rotere guards were founded to serve and protect your family, your grace. And that includes you. The portal leads to the Ducal palace of Merden.” the guard said as a black portal formed before me. Well, a free ride was a free ride.

I stepped through the portal, finding myself standing before a large palace gate. Immediately, I took to the air, hovering above the gate, and then speeding in. The search for the family did not take long, they were all in the grand hall. A celebration of some kind was going on.

I ignored it as I flew over the guests and landed before five thrones. The thrones were occupied by an old couple, a middle-aged couple and a single empty one… The Ducal family no doubt. But I had to verify, it should be easy enough, the old man had already opened his mouth.

“What do you think you are doing barging into this hall? I shall have you hanged for this!” The old man said.

“Are you the Grand duke?” I asked, emotionlessly.

“Yes, now tell me, who are you? The force behind you has to be powerful to teach you to fly so young. What is your cultivation level? Are you a Plantling yet?” The old man said. What was up- whatever, what did it matter what he was planning, I was going to kill him soon.

“And is that all of your family?” I asked.

“Well yes, though my grandson is not here yet, it is his birthday after all. The duchy has a rule to produce only one heir, this is really the only way to stop inheritance wars. Are you fleeing one? I can offer you sanctuary if you become my grandson’s retainer.” the old man said. Ah, the classic recruit the talented.

“No, I would rather kill you, actually.” I said as I sent a burst of fire at the old man. The old man tried to resist, Qi covering his body in an attempt to stop me, but the response was lethargic. The old man was rusty and inept. And it would cost him his life.

I burned away a large portion of his chest, watching it heal back as the old man attempted to counter. I just conjured a shield of ice before me as I sent another burst of fire. And this time, it finished him off. But I was not satisfied, far from it. The old man had been disappointing really. But I had stuff to do.

I sent bursts of fires towards the escaping members, killing them before they got very far. Now for the ‘young duke’. I turned to the guests, who were running away from me.

“Does anyone know where the grandson is?” I asked, in the same tone I had asked the old man about his family.

I turned my attention towards one server in particular who had fallen down in panic.

“Can you tell me?” I asked her.

“I-In the room through tha-thatt door ma-am.” she stuttered out.

“Thank you” I said as I gave her a spirit stone. I quickly flew to the room, burning the door away, and found myself looking at Artin staring at himself in the mirror. I could spare him I suppose, he was young and children were supposedly innocent. But really, what was innocent about him?

No, for once I needed to kill. I sent a burst of fire towards him, who had yet to realize that I was even in the room. A bit self obsessed huh. Well, he was dead now. And I didn’t really feel that much better. Just hollow. Perhaps I would feel something once I killed the Organization goons.