A Reunion Between Father And Son (OG RISE: AU.)

A Reunion Between Father And Son (OG RISE: AU.)

…

Commissioned by Chaosbrain.

Word Count: 1000

…

The room has not a single shadow. 

You awaken without memory of how you arrived within it, yet you are seated before a tanned, black-haired woman clad wholly in white. 

There is a table between the two of you. Steam rises from a spout from a kettle. There is an empty cup before you and another before her. 

Again, everything is the purest white and casts no darkness.

[Infamy Check: 0: Success.]

Steeling yourself, overcoming your panic, and ignoring the shrill scream in the back of your mind with force of will, you sit straight in your chair and offer to pour the being before you a cup. 

“No. Guests do no such thing.” You hear the voice of a young woman, if a bit low and muted, but it is gilded with another form of speech. The speech of divine power itself. Your bones tremble and your nerves ache, while something deeper within your recoils and writhes in pain. “I will pour, Li Song.”

The tea offered to you is of the finest quality, a deep gold in color, and you’re sure that it cannot be matched by anything that grows in the beleaguered world that you know. Even in the lands of the Tuzi, recovering swiftly under the alliance of clans and their protection of the humans who reach them, will never be capable of such a feat. 

Yet you cannot taste it and enjoy it.

You admit that it is wasted on you, because you cannot pay it the attention it deserves.

“It is meant as a courtesy. If you have been pleased by it, then its purpose has been fulfilled.” The moment those words leave your host’s mouth the walls to the room shift. The most beautiful being you’ve ever met enters, bows, and retrieves the kettle and cups. The being’s power is beyond anything you’ve ever felt, beyond that of even Dimension Lost, and they serve the woman before you. “You will now answer my questions, Li Song. Truthfully. Completely. Utterly.”

You shall. 

Though something deep without you tells you to fight, to strive for victory, and to conquer, you know better than to try such things now.

This woman is utterly beyond you. 

“Good.” She places her hands on the table. She does not lean forward. Her golden gaze is filled with disinterest in you. Your answers, whatever they might be, are merely being asked. “Li Song are you aware that you are the Reincarnation of Lucifer?”

Yes, after Occisor came to you, you made that connection. The Sword of the Morning is recognizable; thus, you were able to research it, and upon her Ascension Occisor told you herself.

“Your explanation was not asked of you, but it is of value you to me. You have my gratitude.” The words are delivered without the slightest hint of appreciation or warmth. What you have said has been filed away, stored, and will be used to whatever end at a later date. “Now, tell me what you intend to do with your power and influence.”

[Karma Check: 5000: Success.]

You want to save the world. 

For the first time, the young woman before you blink, and you feel as though a dozen gazes have softened upon you. 

The moment does not pass, as you suspect, like your former words. It is not merely taken, archived, and stored for later use. 

Instead, for the first time, God looks upon you with a mote of interest.

“How?”

You’ll establish a nation through your strength and power. Then, you will watch over that nation while it grows. That is all you intend. 

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Another person would have asked for clarification. Doubt at your words, intent, and true goals would have been put to bear. However, you’ve said nothing besides the truth. All you wish for is a polity that ensures stability, to which someone can be born into and not fear death every day, and perhaps even lives without fear of hunger. 

A place where even humans, weak as they are, may stand tall and live well.

Apprehension fills your surroundings. Curiosity abounds amongst the invisible individuals with the room. Questions are left to die within throats as tongues are bitten.

However, all you care about is the gaze that looks upon you.

[Karma Check: 10000: Success.]

Until the owner of that gaze smiles the smallest of smiles. 

Very nearly, you address her instead of being addressed, but you’re stunned too much by the sight.

All you hear is a single phrase, before you forget everything.

“I look forward to meeting you again, Li Song.”

…

Opening your eyes, a dream flits through your mind before it is swiftly forgotten. Rising from your bed, in which you’ve slept so soundly that your wives are roused when you move, you do your best to remember the dream. 

A smile upon set of unfamiliar lips, below a gaze of molten gold, caresses the forefront of your mind, before fading away with the rest of your odd dream.

Shaking away your drowsiness, you feel the urge to rise from your bed and go train rear within you, but when you try to leave your bed to practice your typical routine, you find yourself staring at your loved ones instead… while an anxiety fills your heart and a tiredness seeps in your bones.

It’s strange, but you want to do nothing more than return to rest, despite just awakening. 

There’s much to do in the Tribe, but you decide to listen to the words of your loved ones, and settle back into your bed. 

Holding those you care for above all else in your arms, you close your arms to rest for the upcoming day for the first time in as long as you can remember.

Those many things will have to wait, until both your tiredness and want to hold your loved ones fades away. 

You’re unsure if you’ll be able to fulfill your duties as required until then, anyway.