53 The First Reincarnation (1/2)
”The realm of the between.” A distorted voice called from the empty black a mixture of feminine and masculine; which caused the child to hastily glance around. He would be unable to distinguish where the voice was coming from though considering it echoed throughout the darkness. ”The realm of the between?” Riyku would repeat in question.
”Yes. You are being judged. If your soul should ascend or descend. We are in the process of that determination. However, the soul should not wake up in the realm of the between. In fact, you being awake as of this moment is abnormal.” The voice would reply which caused Riyku's eyes to widen. ”Soul? Ascend? Descend? Are you talking about heaven and hell?” His voice trembled anxiously, unsure of what was going to happen to him.
”To the mortal concept, Yes.” The voice replied which caused Riyku to grasp hold of his frame with both arms as if hugging himself. ”So I am dead...?” For a moment there was silence before the voice came over in reply, ”You are.” Riyku would close his eyes and shake his head softly. ”What of my friends and family? Did they live?” Once more a silence befell the darkness, a bit longer than before which caused Riyku to open his eyes and call out again. ”What happened to them!?” His voice broke out into demand of anxiety and hope.
”If you are referring to after the events after your death. They are alive. Tell me though, child, why does their future mean anything to you? You are the one who is dead.” The voice answered Riyku's question. but asked one of its own. ”Why? Because I wanted them to live. I wanted them to carry on happily. What happened to our tribe was... not right.” Riyku would remark gritting his teeth as he cast his gaze downward when he spoke about what had happened to be not right.
”If you say so. The actions of mortals are difficult to understand. Even if your friends and family did not die then, they will die eventually. Just as you have. All weak being succumb to those stronger than them. The natural laws of the cosmos have never once changed. The weak will die and the strong will survive. Therefore throwing away your life is meaningless since they will all die eventually anyway.” The voice would reply in a monotone state. It wasn't upset or angry, it was as if there was no emotion. Compared to the voice, Riyku was starting to boil. He could not understand why this thing was being so apathetic. ”Why?” Riyku muttered as he glanced down below him in anger. ”Why do you view my actions as meaningless? Wouldn't you want to protect your friends and family? Wouldn't you want to keep them safe?” Riyku's voice trembled in anger. He was mad because he did not understand, he did not know that what he was speaking to was a being different from him. Unlike before there was no silence though, a reply was quick.
”No. As I said. The weak perish and the strong continue on. If someone dies it is their own fault. They should have been stronger than the other. You are no different, mortal. You died because you were too weak. Your deeds to prolong the lives of 'friends and family' are meaningless because they will die later on anyway. The World known as Gaia is doomed, along with those who live upon it. While that world was brought to ruin because of a Goddess; it was doomed far before the intervention of another entity. The beings living in that world brought it to ruin themselves through famine, war, and death. The only reason that world still survived after it was brought to ruin was that the individual to brought about it's ruin also attempted to resurrect it. However, that person is far too weak. So his attempt did nothing, but prolong the inevitable. Do you understand now that your actions were meaningless? You've only prolonged the inevitable.”
Riyku was stunned, shocked even by what he was just told. He was told by his father and elders that the world was indeed brought to ruin; however, someone returned the world to what it once was. ”How? How is Gaia doomed!?” Riyku would exclaim, not necessarily shout; but it was clear he wanted answers. Once more the voice would heed his call.
”The creatures you call Neuromoprhics. They are creatures born of ruin and vile. Belighted creatures that are far beyond even our control or knowledge. They are not demons, nor are they angels. They are creatures of the abnormal. They take the forms of anything living and become increasingly stronger by devouring the essences of another. Needless to say, they are the sole reason Gaia will fall. It has already been declared that Gaia is doomed. Those creatures will wipe out everything, even themselves. When the last one remains, it will devour the world.”
All of this knowledge was beyond him. Riyku knew the Neuromorphics were bad news. However, he didn't know that they were that dangerous. He figured it was just another beast that needed to be slain. It was then that he realized something. The voice spoke of a Goddess' intervention. ”Why not intervene? Why not aid the people of Gaia?” Riyku inquired anxiously. There was a short pause before the voice spoke again.
”There would be no point. We will not repeat ourselves again.” The voice would reply before continuing onward. ”We have come up with a decision. You are to be sent to an underworld as a demon. While your determination was pure, your actions have caused your soul to be bound to something vile. Therefore, to prevent vile from contaminating the overworlds you will be sent to an underworld. As such you will not be resurrected should you die again. Instead, your soul will wilt and fade into nothingness. Be grateful that we decided to allow you a second life instead of throwing you into the abyss.”
With those words from the voice, a suction effect started to pull Riyku downward. He panicked and began to freak out trying to break free; however, there was nothing he could do. He could not even get out another word before his body was taken into the depths of the inky black. His vision started to blur and his eyelids shut tight. There was no pain; although he did feel queasy. It felt like a whirlwind was tossing him around like a rag doll until he passed out.