Jacob adjusted himself to be more comfortable, “It was when the monsters fell to this world. Four thousand years ago or so. Our years we use marks when that terrible event started. Post-Fall. PF. Everything that came after them… it’s why we call the year 4,008PF. Before-Fall is labeled simply as well - BF.”

“I know this much. I want to understand. What made it so significant as to change dates after the event??” Alister couldn’t help but raise his voice, fists balled against his pants. Four… no, at minimum five thousand years had passed. Everything he knew from his past was gone to rubble by now.

“I will get there. Be patient, young lord,” Jacob returned, giving a firm look, “Monsters came from somewhere beyond our world. Monsters that broke one’s mind before they broke your body. Mages could hold out, to some extent, but more common folk were driven mad by an errant look. They came in many shapes and forms. Some bore tentacles and many eyes and mouths, slithering across the ground. Some looked like humans, but… lacked souls. Others still looked like floating masses of flesh. It varied wildly. They came en masse. They overwhelmed nations of the time, culled millions of innocent people. They cared not for politics or speech. They had no care for their own well-being. If a problem stood in their way, they’d use numbers and body mass to overcome it. To fight a being that does not fear death nor harm at all… I shudder to think of it. Most entities of such sorts vanished after around four to five hundred years after they appeared. By then, humanity had managed to find ways to defend itself and was scraping together a living once more. Some monsters still remain today. We call them Eldritch. These eldritch beasts are a rare danger, luckily. They are primarily in only the furthest reaches of the world. Those that are still around in more civilized areas are not nearly so dangerous as their forebearers once were. Caution should be taken, yes, but just a simple look wouldn’t drive someone insane.”

Alister was dead silent, absorbing the stunning news. Reality travelers? Eldritch abominations? What… just what happened to his world? His home? What… he had to ask. Fury raged in his grey eyes, “What of the divine of the time? Did they do anything?”

“The gods? Oh… I’m not entirely sure. The books do not tell of it… but I’m sure they aided in some ways. I know that some small pockets, a city here or there that had major temples survived The Fall. So that was likely due to the grace of the gods. The scriptures teach that it was a difficult time for the gods as well. Perhaps the eldritch have their own gods that interfered. We know some cults have worshiped eldritch beings they call gods,” Jacob explained.

Ode sighed impatiently, “I hate listening to these basic things. Alister, kid, are you sure you remember stuff from before year zero? You should’ve had at least a few other lives between then and now. From what we know about the reincarnation process, it’s not that slow.”

Alister gave the woman an annoyed glare, “Among other things, I imagine it took that long for my soul to repair itself. I died in a very unpleasant way. Shut your mouth and let him explain, would you?” His words and lack of respect earned him a firm smack to the top of his head with the side of her fist.

“Mind your manners, kid.”

“Ode…”

“What?”

“That’s not a good way to get him to like you. Still… Alister, please be patient with us. This is a strange situation for us as well as you.”

Alister rubbed his hair and looked away, “Sorry. I can’t imagine so much time passing. I am trying my best not to panic about it. I should be more respectful to my teachers.” He looked to Jacob, “Thank you for answering my questions, Sir Jacob.”

Ode looked embarrassed now that he apologized, and Jacob simply smiled, “No need for thanks. It’s my job while I’m here. What more would you like to know?”

“The Opal Void, Sir. I don’t know the details of it. I have heard it changed the world, and it came after The Fall,” Alister said, giving a weak smile. He didn’t want to be on bad terms with these two. Ode just… frustrated him. She was a very blunt person, which was fine itself, but she didn’t care whether or not her bluntness upset people. Plus, he felt… empty. His chest hurt. He didn’t want to cry anymore. Not in front of these people.

So much had changed. It was only getting worse, his heart felt broken. Everything he knew before was gone. After this long, after a whole apocalyptic event like The Fall, he’d be lucky to find ruins of his former home. Even the graves of his much-loved disciples would be lost to time by now. Archeological digs, not a cemetery.

Why did he care what the hell the gods did during The Fall? Was that really his biggest concern right now?

“Alister? Alister! Did you hear a word I just said?” Jacob brought the boy back to reality after giving him a tap on the shoulder. He shook his head in response, and Jacob sighed softly, sympathetic to his pain, though he didn’t understand what he was going through, “The Opal Void. I was explaining it as you asked.”

“Sorry, Sir. I… I’m lost in my thoughts. I’m paying attention now. I apologize.”