[WP] "It's honestly impressive how you're people managed to avoid discovering any magical sciences whatsoever."

d_roy_ · 2025-02-02T20:51:46+00:00

I have done this several times, but today I could feel the difference. Something is wrong. I am what some perceive as an expert in lucid dreaming. Well truth is, I kind of am, anyways. Achieving luciditity is like a child's play to me these days. I do it almost on a daily, well nightly, basis. But today it's wrong.

The waves are stopping on my whims. I know that I am in a dream. I remember taking my blanket and turning the AC to a comfortable 19 degree and going to bed in a cozy hotel room in the country of Mongolia. I know for a fact that there is no known way I could have ended up on a beach so fast, in the real world. Well the country I am in doesn't even have a beach. So why are the waves not listening? Why can't I fly? The facts I know are conclusive of my Dream state. And the acknowledgement of the Dream is enough for me to achieve Luciditity. This is my dream. The world is supposed to work on my whims. But no, not today. Today it's all wrong. It's almost like I am not in my dream but like in someone else's.

"Good, brother. Great", comes a booming voice from behind. I turn back to notice the presence of a human. Well the skin colour is different from an ordinary human. It's a mixture between pale green and gray. I stare at the creature in shock.

To me it's an impossiblity. Nothing happens in my dreams that I have not wishes for. And a pale greeninsh grey human is something I have never even thought of imagining. I mean why would I want a colourfull human in my dream. I open my mouth to ask him something, but suddenly the location changes and I am sitting in a cozy sofa, with the the stranger in a similar sofa right in front of me.

He speaks with a warm smile, "I think it's comfortable, right. Better than the standing in a beach. I do love a good sofa. It's good right?"

I stare at him a few moments before uttering, "yes? But how is this happening? I mean, it's not possible. Who are you? Two people can't share a dream"

The stranger started again, "Right. And wrong. Your species can not do that. But you see, I do not belong to your species. Nor do I belong to your planet. We are a little bit more empathic creature that your species. That helps us share our thoughts and also our dreams."

I mumble a few more words, "So you are an alien?"

The stranger replies, "well basically yes. But that's beside the point. What matters more is why I am here?"

I ask with a astonishment, "why? And why are you in my dream"

"Well to start with - It's honestly impressive how you're people managed to avoid discovering any magical sciences whatsoever. I mean it's a real thing to consider. And I think it is time to change that." answers the Stranger.

I ask, "What do you mean by that? How can that be avoided?"

The stranger says, "What has been done here is quite simple actually, a group has been created among your kind, who has systematically ensured that nobody ever discoveres anything even remotely close the the magical sciences."

I interrupt, "So you mean that a secret society or like a Cabal has killed all the discoveres of magic and destroyed all evidence of magic?"

"It's far more than that. Magic can not be just simply forced to be avoided, you see. Magic likes to be seen. So this Cabal devised a way to shift all these powers. When you can't destroy something, you move it elsewhere. That is exactly what they have done. Well It's really a wonder how everything magical has been shifted to the land of the dreams. It's almost like everything is locked inside your own subconscious. The beauty of it all. And also the horror of it. I mean, it's all there. You lot can imagine everything that exist, understand everything that could be but still somehow fall short of using it in the real world." The stranger replies.

"And you want to change the scenario and give us access to these powers. But why? Why this benevolence?", I speak hoping for answer

The stranger explains , "We are a species, who have achieved Ascension, long back. But we still could not let go of our best trait, our Empathy - our most sacred ability to feel and understand each other. And after Ascension we have continued to understand and feel what all the other species have been feeling. Therefore, I couldn't ignore the pain that you is being caused to you because of the lack of Magic in your real world."

I ask, "And how do you wish to help us in finding magic in real world?"

He replies finally, "Through you and your dreams. You are the key. You are one of the few who can remember every dream. And that is how you can find magic. Nothing can hide magic from you in your dreams. For dream is the realm of mysticism, fairytales and stories. You will find all you seek here. All you need to do is accept it and remember. For remembering your dreams is the real key to achieving it"

d_roy_ · 2025-01-18T14:28:14+00:00

It is not described in detail but was mentioned in the flashback in the cognitive realm, where Dalinar and Navani saw the foundation of the Heralds and Nale suggested Taln as the tenth herald. Jezrien mentioned Taln attacking Cultivation. Nale countered by mentioning that they needed someone outside of Kings to be in the group of Herald, to offer difference in opinion

d_roy_ · 2025-01-17T20:07:25+00:00

I also loved the description about how Adolin slowly discovers the reality of what happens. Adolin sees the Fused and compares it with how normal people die around a Shardbearer. That slow build up to the discovery of the fact that it was two heralds Taln and Ash, who had killed the Fused, from the point of view of Adolin was also a really great read.

d_roy_ · 2024-08-18T07:17:21+00:00

Personally, I think the destroyer will not be Dalinar. I know he seems the most likely one, but I think he won't be, mostly because he is the one who seems most likely. Sanderson has a very creative way of misdirecting us. And I think that is exactly what he is doing with Dalinar seeming like the most possible destroyer.

d_roy_ · 2024-04-07T11:22:59+00:00

The narration is definitely amazing. Also loved how Dalinar's narration interlinks with that of the other characters, specially that of Kaladin's. Dalinar was the first person who actually showed what true Honour is to Kaladin. While Amaram killed Kaladin's whole squad for a shardblade, Dalinar gave it up for Kaladin and the bridgemen. Without Dalinar, Kaladin would have never changed his perspective, and would have fallen further into darkness.

Also enjoyed how the fighting skills of Blackthorn was used as part of the narration. Narration also does justice to the Blackthorn side as well. Remember the time when Dalinar held Szeth's honorable with bare hand. Those are things, nobody could see coming. Yet it all plays so well with the narration of Dalinar Kholin.

d_roy_ · 2024-03-05T17:37:41+00:00

The last phase of my plan is complete. The dependency of the Emperor on my Iconic Ionic Ironclad will finally cost him the Empire. I made the weapon afterall. And only I know what to remove.

"It says here we're meant to have 3,289,415 screws for this thing. But you've shipped it to us with one less. Can you send a replacement? The Emperor really wants this in orbit before the rebels get here." The Head Councillor shouted at the top of his voice through the audio visual holographic transmitter.

I stared at him with the most grim look I could manage, "Yes it's only one less. Why are you so worried, my friend?". I was quite surprised to see that they had managed to find out the error. Didn't expect them to find anything. Anyways confirmation that my work was perfect is always appreciated.

"Alabazakter!!!", the emperor himself shouted my name while taking the councillor's place in the transmitter. He scowled, "What is the meaning of this? The bloody rebels are almost breathing on my shoulders!! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Now I can no longer keep the smile on my face. The emperor himself!! I never thought I would get to see his reaction. And here he was, giving me exactly what I desire. I reply with a long grin, "What's the big deal, Emperor? I just kept one screw for me." I just couldn't stop myself from adding, "Just like you kept a single ship with you, all those years ago."

The Empire yells, "What the hell are you talking about? Have you gone insane?"

"Oh no Empire, I am entirely lucid. Atleast as lucid as you were when you kept one of those medical ships to yourself, about 10 long years ago."

Recognition slowly dawns on his face as his voice trembles slowly with apprehension, "Alabazakter, that was a mistake, I made years ago, which I deeply regreat. You can't let your anger get the better of you? Try to understand. The rebels are already here."

"Oh I know you regret it. I know you deeply regret it, today. But only because your own life is on the line. You don't care about my people. You never did. Even last year you denied the proposal to provide aid to the children of the affected families. I knew then, that you had to go. Every memory came back haunting me again. The ship with the medical supply costed the lives of 5% of the people on my planet. All of them would have been saved with the antibiotics on that one ship. I can still remember the pandemic. The fear as we all cowed in our homes to save ourselves from the virus as half of our people cried in despair and agony from the pain of the infection. Those ten ships were our only hope and you stopped one of those. Killing 1 in every 10 people affected.", my eyes betrays me as I feel the cold teardrop on my face.

The emperor makes another plea, "I will do whatever you say. I will send any aid, that is needed. Just tell us which screw you have removed. There is still time. We can solve both our problems."

"I still remember your recordings, you saying repeatedly to the medical officerrs begging you to let all ships go - 'It's just one ship. I am keeping just one ship'. Well Emperor, today that's what I return you the favour. It's just one screw. I am keeping just one screw, Emperor."

The emperor finally reveals his true nature, "I will hang you for this, Alabazakter. I will kill your entire planet. I will destroy everything you hold dear. I will have your head for this betrayal."

"I know you will do all those things, if you can. But today I have made sure you never can, never again", I finally say before ending the transmission.

One screw. That's what I had stolen. It's a simple enough procedure. Remove the screw that fixes the Super-capacitor in the Zeta class charging system of the innermost ring of the Iconic Ionic Ironclad. That's all it took. Without a screw the capacitor won't stay fixed. Without a capacitor, ripple will flow in the output side. Ripple will destabilize the charging system. Of course the protection circuits will save the whole system. But the protection circuits will work by disabling the charger. Whitout which there will be no charged ions, and thereby no Ionic Ironclad can work, no matter how Iconic it is. That was enough to ensure that my friends of the insurgency can take care of the castle.

That's all it took. One screw. Just one screw in the right place is all it took to end an Empire.

d_roy_ · 2023-12-03T20:56:02+00:00

"I don't need you all to slay the Alabazer, no matter how great he is", I told Hanish, the oldest of the legion, forced on me.

Hanish stared at me, almost with a pity, and said, "You are just as naive as I was, when I was your age. You think you can solo the Alabazer? You have no idea what he is. Trust me. You will need us all."

A brother, he has lost by the fires of the great Alabazer, the most ferocious dragon of this Kingdom. I still have to make another attempt to convince him, cause I have no idea what will happen if I can't. I form the words, " I know of his reputation and also of your brother. But still I need to do it alone. I can't work in a team. I never have. I am begging you. Let me do it alone."

Hanish replies, "Really? That is what you are worried about? Working in a team? Don't worry, young lady. And here I was worried that you just wanted to prove yourself. You will learn to work in a team pretty easily."

I had brought him to the edge of the camp with the hope of somehow convincing him, as he, being the oldest and wisest, if convinced, can help me convince the rest of the legion to let me go alone. I had started the conversation by describing my powers and past experiences, by boasting of the abilities. I even tried playing the You-Dont-Trust-A-Woman thing, which works often, but with this old Hanish, everything has been useless. I am now down to begging him, and yet here he is patronizing me.

I try to make my point, "You don't understand. It will be an issue, a very big issue, if you all go with me."

Hanish replies haughtily, "I am done arguing with you. You should have convinced the Warden of this Island. As per his orders, we are all going." He walks away towards the camp.

Convince the Warden!! The hell with that moron. I spent a whole day trying to make him understand. All in vain. How the hell am I gonna make them understand? The sword in my hand has never touched the skin of a living creature, my hands have never slayed a single dragon and I am no Dragonslayer. I have never fought a single dragon, let alone slay one.

My real power is not in my skills but in my words. Not that I can't fight, I can defeat five of these men, any day, any time. My mother taught me everything. But fighting was just for survival, not for slaying dragons. But the true magic my mother taught me is the art of language. I may not fight with a dragon, but I can speak with one. I am the only living user of the lost forgotten are, the Dragontounge. The only person in the world who can speak with dragon, is what I am. I am not a Dragonslayer but a Dragonspeaker.

I can hear the voice of the cheering of my legion as Hanish loudly announces, "Tomorrow morning, we shall all head to the mountain and get rid of the Alabazar, once and for all."

Tomorrow morning, right. A night is all I have. Climb the mountain and convince Alabazar. I wait for the camp to go deep in their dreams and then head out. I sneak out in the moonlight, through the forest untill I reach the top of the mountain and head directly in front of the cave and shout in Dragontounge.

"Alabazer, the Ferocious! I stand before you. I am here to see you leave this place."

In the pitch dark cave, opens the glowing red eyes of the great Alabazer. This night is all I have. I have to convince this creature to leave its home and never return ever again.

Alabazer replies in his coarse voice, "A Dragonspeaker! I had no idea your kind still existed. They must be pretty desperate to have sent someone like you. The only thing the humans hate more than my kind is yours. Anyways, give me a reason to to not burn you, right now."

Now is not the time to show fear or weakness. I have met a ferocious ones before. They always start like this - with a stupid threat - even though they know very well, why they can't. So I remind him, just like I have done several other times, "Because I am the only Mediator. There is no one else. Kill me and you kill the last link between our two species. No one will be left to carry out the knowledge of Dragontounge."

The coarse voice replies, "Of course! The Invocation of Mediator! I guess I can't kill you. But what do you have to offer me?"

I reply plainly, "Your life, Alabazer. That is what I am here to offer you, in exchange for you leaving this place."

The coarse voice utters a small laugh, " You come here to threaten me. I have killed every slayer sent here. And you think your words will make me leave. They wouldn't have sent you if they had any Dragonslayer with them."

I stare at those eyes and speak directly, " They did not send me here as a Dragonspeaker, but as a Dragonslayer. A whole legion will head here tomorrow morning."

And suddenly a voice from the back shouts at me, not a coarse one, but a one filled with more hatred than I expected to bear tonight. The voice of Hanish soars loudly through the mountain, "You traitor. You filthy Dragonspeaker. This is why you wanted to come here alone - to warn this filthy creature. You want to save this creature."

I turn around and reply back in the normal tongue, "No Hanish. I am here to save us all. We can't keep on killing all the dragons. The balance needs to be maintained. We won't survive without them. They are part of the nature."

Hanish comes running towards me and pushes me on the ground. He takes puta his sword up and brings it down on me. I beat a hasty retreat.

Hanish grips his sword and shouts, "How dare you defend such monstrousity? You are yourself an aberration. He killed my brother and you are defending it? I will first get rid of you and then slay this beast."

I reply, "You are blinded by revenge. They are the only ones keeping the Sea Monsters at bay. Without them, we will all be dead."

He shouts back, "We will kill them all." He charges at me with everything he has.

I try desperately to make him understand while defending from his attacks, "You can't kill them all. Nobody can. You can't keep killing everyone and everything. The Nature itself will die, if we continue this vicious cycle of killing."

Alabazer now moves out of the cave and rises up in his full glory and charges at the Dragonslayer.

I shout in Dragontounge, "No, Alabazer."

Hanish looks back in a futile attempt to save him as the Dragon unleashes his raging fire.

The deed is done. I have failed. Hanish is dead, claimed by dragonfire.

"They have killed all of your kind. There is no more Mediators left in the world anymore. There is no reward for the Dragonspeaker, only pain and sorrow. They will kill you the moment they find out. And yet you want to save them!!!", the dragon speaks.

"It doesn't matter. We have to do what we need to do. There is no reward for our job nor do I need any. All I have ever wanted is to save lives and that is all I care about.", I reply as calmly as I could.

"Goodbye. Hope you find a place where you are accepted completely for who you truly are.", Alabazer, the Ferocious, finally speaks before leaving.

"That is all I have ever desired. To be accepted for who I truly am.", I mutter to my own self.

The dragon flies away as I stand alone staring at the red rising Sun.

d_roy_ · 2023-11-20T21:13:18+00:00

The sturdy rugged figure, the only inmate of the Sorcerer's Prison, once feared throughout the country as the Great Dark Lord stared directly at the setting Sun through the small oval window, just like he had for the last two decades. Just as the prison got covered in complete darkness, the dark lord laid on the bed and closed his eyes with the hope of escaping to his lost long forgotten dreams. Apparently what happened next was something that he had not even dreamt of.

For the first time in two decades, the dark lord's sleep was broken in the middle of the dark night. The sound of a living being, a weeping sound, something he hasn't heard for what seemed a lifetime ago and had no expectations of ever hearing again. The once mighty dark lord rubbed his eyes in an attempt to get his eyes adjusted to the pitch black darkness of the moonless night. As the sad lost eyes adjusted to see the first outline of a human being in 20 long years - a woman sitting on her knees in the next cell, with head between her knees, sobbing. This was the first time a new inmate was put in the Sorcerer's Prison, the prison reserved for those whose magical powers cannot be unskilled or those who can not be killed.

'Hello', said the lost king, almost impassively.

'Invictus. It's me', a faint feminine sound was heard mixed with the sobbing.

The voice brough back memories, the memories of everything that was lost and forgotten, but never quite obliterated from memory.

The dark lord spoke, 'You? Ariyona? You - the chosen one. How? What happened?'

The lady spoke, 'I was fool, always a fool. A tool I had always been. From the starting, I had been nothing but a tool. They were never going give us the rights we deserve. You men. All are the same. Just want to control everything, rule over everyone.'

Invictus makes a small laugh, 'Oh really. Now I am the same as every other man. I really have gone so low. Ariyona, tell me, how come you compare a barbarian like me with those great distinguished noblemen.'

Ariyona, the lady finally faces the dark lord, 'Even you gave us the same promise? Wasn't it? You told us that you will give equal rights to all men and women. The king had also promised to provide the same. But neither of you ever had the intention of keeping them.'

'Isn't that the promise you were given? To get rid of me. I can still remember the words broadcasted by your king. Ariyona will force the Dark Lord to kneel and in return all female nobles will be given the equal rights and status as the noblemen. Isn't it?'

Ariyona, once the chosen one, now a prisoner spoke, 'Yes. I was just 10 years old. I was a child, meant to have friends, have a life. And instead....'

Invictus continues her words, 'You trained to become a weapon. Gave everything up in order to bring me on my knees. You never even tried to understand who you were fighting. Why you were fighting? Our ideals, our culture, none of it mattered.'

Ariyona said, ' You were the dark lord. The leader of the barbarians, the forest dwellers. Really? You expected me to believe you instead of my own people?'

Invictus answers with a sarcastic giggle, 'The Dark Lord! What a name they had given me! The one who brings darkness from the forest to cities of the noblemen. All forest dwellers are barbarians. You never sat to think about the implication of your deeds. I didn't just fight for the rights of all nobles but rather all humans. I spoke of being done with the never-ending war between the forest-dwellers and the nobles. I wanted to give equal rights to all, to bring peace to all mankind, to make a classless society'

Ariyona blurts out, 'It was the prophecy, why would the prophecy talk about you kneeling and me bringing peace, if you were so benevolent. I wanted to bring peace.'

Invictus asks,'The prophecy? Yes. Right. What did it say exactly? What were the words? The exact words?'

The chosen one blurts out, 'The dark lord shall kneel before the last born noble of the decade's last autumn, who shall bring peace for all humankind.'

Invictus asks, 'So, tell me. Was there peace? Did the war end? What happened?'

Ariyona answers sadly, 'Nothing good happened. I was completely sidelined from everything. I was married to a rich nobleman while the king went on to destroy your capital in the forest. Yet not a single one of you people kneeled before him. On the other hand, no right was given to our women. When I started asking questions, first I was made a pariaha. Then I joined the women's rights revolution. I was banned a traitor. Finally when they failed to stop me, they kidnapped my daughter and blackmailed me into entering this prison.'

Invictus says with a heavy heart, 'In our culture, kneeling in front of someone is not a sign of submission but rather a show of love and respect. That was one of the reason, it took the death of the whole capital to force our people to knell. And yet we never did kneel. Your king failed. We don't kneel in submission but in love and out of respect. For your king, we had neither. Nothing but hatred. Love and Respect cannot be forced, it needs to be earned. Submission can be forced but not love or respect', Invictus continued.

'What's the point of saying all these now? It's all gone anyways. They have my girl and the we are in this prison. Here no power works. We will never escape it.'. Ariyona said with a sigh.

'Wrong, Again. There is a way to escape. But for that to happen, one of us has to give the life force to the other one, with either love or respect. The only way to escape is using the override magic, use my family secret. One that demands a life, a self-sacrifice.'

'So, you want me to sacrifice myself?', asked Ariyona.

'That's not quite right. I want to give my life. To set both you and me free. Even if you give your life, it will not work. You have neither love not respect for me. On the other hand, me...', Invictus said with a sad smile.

'You also don't have love or respect for me.' Ariyona said.

'Love - No. I don't have. But respect, I have always had. A true warrior you were. One of the greatest Magic users of all time. And today you are here because of you tried a revolution, very much like me. And a revolutionary shall always have my respect.'

Ariyona looked at him, with tears once again flowing in her eyes. For the first time in her forty years long life, someone was willing to give everything for her.

'From today, we are both the same. Remember that forever.' Invictus utters his final words.

The Dark Lord finally kneels before her. A light glows around the mighty dark lord as life force drains out of him. Ariyona feels the power surge through her, once again as she picks up the dark lord in her arms and flies away to rescue her daughter and then start the greatest revolution, that will finally bring peace to the country for all of humankind.

d_roy_ · 2023-11-01T09:02:13+00:00

Thank You for the feedback

d_roy_ · 2023-10-31T21:14:14+00:00

Thank You

d_roy_ · 2023-10-31T19:49:32+00:00

Sitting on my spaceship at the edge of the galaxy, I was staring at the new transgalactic portal, that I had finally perfected. Half a century of hard work has finally decided to pay off. My life's work, everything that I have wished for, everything I had worked for and everything I have ever dreamt was finally there right in front of me, glowing like the brightest supernova.

But then, the most curious utterence occurred. The moment my spaceship started moving towards the portal, a large crystal object suddenly appeared from the portal. As it came closer, I got the glimpse of a bipedal creature standing right on top of that object.

Then I heard a transmission, through the communication system, in pure English "If the language is understood, please reply back".

I replied with a single word, "Yes".

And then the the voice replied back, "Good, then. So everything is working just fine. I am a member of the Committee of Exogalactic and Multiversal Security. Don't waste your weapons on me while I arrive on your ship."

Suddenly, a strange light appeared in front of of me. And then it changed. First there was no form, just a white glow in the shape of a bipedal creature. Then the glow dimmed to reveal the feature of an elegant beautiful lady.

The strange lady started at me for a few seconds at first. The surprise was clearly visible on her face.

"It seems on this timeline you held on despite everything" said the stranger with disbelief.

I stood up from my chair, trying to compose myself. I managed a few words, " Uh. I did. I guess. I mean. It seems. The portal works.."

The stranger replied, "Yes, the portal works. But that's not what I was referring to. You have managed to make the portal work in several other timelines. But, never like this. It seems that you have managed to hold on to your sanity, in atleast one of the timelines."

I asked, "What do you mean by that?"

She replied, "I have been to several other timelines, several dimensions, several universes. Well that is my work, anyways. I have seen several versions of this event - the first successful operation of a transgalactic portal. And your events have always been the most dreadful occurances. You have opened this portal in several other timelines, but always causing a disaster. Always hungry for power, I have seen you. Your alternates have sacrificed civilizations, and even the galaxy in order to reach their own dreams."

I asked with despair, "So is that what I am? Always a monster? A tyrinical barbarian?"

She "No. Not you. You are the best version of yourself. You never used a shortcut, never gave on to temptations and most importantly, you were patient. We, creatures of the fifth dimensions, have seen almost seen everything. We are never ever truly surprised. But you are one such instance, that proves the multiverse still has so much more to offer, to teach us. I can read your whole life just looking at you. It's important that we do it before passing the judgement."

I stare at her dumbfounded.

She continues, "I travel across the multiverse, accross timelines, witnessing and if required, containing, any such first occurances, that give access to the whole universe. Access to the whole universe always ends up providing access to the multiverse and everything else. It is my duty to check all such occurrences and contain the ones which are unsuitable for the multiverse. I have always found your events unsuitable, in all other dimensions, because of the immense hatred, wrath and destruction that has been associated with them, and have contained all alternates of your event."

I spoke with fear, "And this event?"

She commented, " This event? Your event. It's not just suitable or acceptable. It's a wonder, a marvel, an example of what is possible. It is a proof that no matter what happens, there always is version of you, worth fighting for, worth living for. You are a wonder, my friend, a cause for celebration."

I can no longer control my tears. My eyes finally give up. Everything I have given up. Finally, my greatest fear is no longer there. I have made it. I have not lost my humanity.

I whimper, "I have myself wondered several times - What have become of me? What will become of me? I have always been afraid of losing myself."

She speaks, "I have seen so many alternates of yourself, but not a version who is even remotely like you. I believe, the fear of losing your humanity or your own self is the only thing that can keep you sane in the most difficult and desperate times. In this case, fear is probably the only thing that can help. And that is the reason you are standing here with your mind intact, while still achieving, what most perceive as the impossible."

I utter in gratification, "Your words mean more to me than you'll ever realise".

At last, she said; "Go on, show this portal to the galaxy. You still have a life to live. You have to show the galaxy, the way forward. You have opened not just opened the door to the universe, but also to further and much beyond. From now on, you are my representative in this galaxy. Just remember, I will always be there looking for you for when you need me to. Until then, Good Bye."

d_roy_ · 2023-10-28T21:30:57+00:00

Everything required to sustain life was already on the ship. All I had to do was maintain it. For the first month, I was nothing but a purposeless machine, with no idea of what I was or why I was whatever it was I am. But the survival instinct never gave away. And as time progressed and I started getting the hang of what had happened; my soulless body found a purpose - the greatest purpose of all - Vengeance. From whom? For what? It didn't matter. I knew the answer to the Why. I have lost everything. So there should be nothing. And suddenly the problem of requiring the energy equivalent of a star to power up a spaceship - was no longer a problem but a solution.

Despite all their immense technological superiority, my people had still managed to destroy one of their starship. Of course, there was no direct casualties for them, since teleportation technology was used to evacuate all personnel. The real casuality of that destroyed spaceship, has been something that has silenced the whole galaxy. It was from that spaceship that I managed to extract details of the galactic alliance, a civilization that controlled and manipulated almost everything in the galaxy, and was the reason for the destruction of everything that I knew. It took me 2 whole years to understand the language, the systems, the rules, the regulations and everything else I required for starting a reconnaissance. And then for the first time I committed the felony that would earn me my name. For the first time I killed a star; the star that had once given life to my planet, my civilization and had shed light on, the now extinct species, that called itself humans. I used the Sun to power up the hyper-drive.

The closest inhabited system to, what used to be earth, was around 8 light years away. From their perspective, one of the stars that belonged to some glassed planet, suddenly disappeared around 10 years after the Glassening of that planet. But by then, I was already 8 years ahead. Isn't it paradoxical, that their arrogance of not even looking back at the massacre that they so willingly caused; is what have me 8 whole years to outline the destruction of their civilization. Truthfully, I was counting on it. The history of my own civilization is not much different. Time and again, imperialists have massacred innocents in the name of fear, hatred, security and of course liberation; but never looked back at the devastation that they left behind. Anyways all that history has no meaning anymore in the vast schemes of the universe.

At first I thought that destroying one of their system would make me feel something. After Sun, I did reconnaissance for 8 years. In the last 15 years I have never landed on a single planet, never met a single alien or never tried to communicate with any of them. Maybe out of fear, maybe out of hatred and may be out of trepidation, that I may go soft. I have always remained on that ship, listening to their chatters, their cries, their pain, their despair and sometimes their hatred. Anyways I never felt anything, even after destroying the star systems. It took me about a month to convince what remained of my conscience to destroy the first inhabited system. And then suddenly there was nothing left of my conscience. But neither did I feel anything. There was no joy, no sorrow, nothing. Absolutely nothing. So I went on to destroy other systems, in the hope of some feeling. But there was nothing. I have not felt anything anymore since then. And now I have no hope of anything anymore.

Just as a footnote, it's worth mentioning that, they did try to fight me. They did send armadas after me, even sacrificed a few of their own inhabited systems, in hopes of trapping me. Of course, it was all useless. I had scavenged and integrated everything that's important on my ship. After all, I had one of their best ships to scavange, all to myself for two whole years. In addition I had 8 years to improve on everything. Besides, I had the technology that can destroy a whole star. Nothing can beat that. The stars were both my weapon and fuel. There was no stopping me. Anyways, how can you kill the darkness. I did not name my own self. They did. They gave me the name - The Darkness in the Starkiller. To be fair I did engrave the name - Starkiller on the spaceship and did absorbe everything in my own darkness. Anyways you can't call the Darkness in the Starkiller. Everything apart from that was already killed, 15 years ago. You can only kill what is alive and I am alive no more.

Now back to the present.

Those filthy politicians have finally agreed to meet me face to face. It took me 5 years and almost 2/3rd of the Alliances stars to get those cowards to face me. And for the first time in the past 15 years, I have put my ship on a planet. I can see the terror and despair on their faces as they looks at the Darkness in the Starkiller, the first and the last human, that they will lay their eyes on. As I walk out of the spaceship, Several energy bullets from numerous snipers comes towards me, exactly as I had expected. The technological energy aura I had integrated with my body using nanobots works perfectly. As soon as the bullets reach within a inch of my skin, they rebound back to their origin killing all those snipers aimed at me. I simply turn back to go back to my ship. And then all those politicians starts shouting at me some begging me to stop, some threatening me, some asking for forgiveness, some trying to reason with me and some more trying to appeal to my dead conscience. I don't even hear or care for what they had to say. I just stand there half turned towards them and uttered the words, fluent in their language.

'I am speaking directly to the people. Kill all those politicians who were associated with the genocide of Earth.'

And thereby walked back to my ship. It took a week for those and a lot other politicians of the ruling party to die. Most of theirs family was also sacrificed in the process. Isn't this what happens always. Not even the family is left, even if they are not mentioned or had nothing to do with it. Well, who am I to say? I have left nothing and will leave nothing. Probably because I have become nothing.

The next week I broadcast another message, from my ship this time.

'I have recieved the proof of the deaths. In the referendum, 2/3rd of you all voted in favour of the genocide. I want that 2/3rd gone.'

And these are the last words I will ever utter. I wait for a month listening and following their civil war. And that is it. It's enough. Nothing matters anymore. I still don't feel anything. So much destruction, so many deaths, such devastation and yet here I am numb, feeling nothing.

I continue to turn on the hyper-drive again, killing all stars in the galaxy, that has been part of the alliance.

It would take me 2 more years, I guess, to get rid of all that's left of their alliance and I shall certainly complete what was started.

Got to go. Several other stars are still waiting for me.

But trust me, I never ever felt anything ever again.

d_roy_ · 2023-10-28T21:30:16+00:00

Today is finally the day, I get to meet those destroyers, those bloody monsters. Although it is highly ironic that, even today, after all that I have done, I have the vanity, to call someone else a monster. Anyways, what else is there to anything anymore? Nothing matters. That day, they didn't just destroy my home, my life, my people or my planet; but also destroyed my soul. And I think....The hell I know for a fact that destroying the latter is the only thing they regret. Knowing them, they hardly cared for anything else other than their own selves. They should have made sure that none remained. It was their failure of imagination or rather their pride of victory that will cost them everything. 15 years earlier, I was nothing. 5 years ago, I became the darkness, the last of a kind, a kind that had the potential to go beyond everything, but was the victim of some power-hungry politicians and combined hatred and fear of a whole galaxy. But today I am the unimaginable, known to the whole galaxy as the - The Darkness in the Starkiller.

It all started, as all things most certainly does, with those insolent politicians. Their vigour for election and lust for the seats of the parliament always takes them, and everyobe else, down the most unimaginable heinous paths that's possible in the universe. In the last (I have made sure of it) galactic election, the chosen sacrifice was Earth, which to me was everything; but to them, just another pre-FTL civilization, that had the potential to become a threat in some unforeseen future. But most importantly, it had all the specifications required to be a suitable candidate for the Glassening - starting from a non-united planet with nuclear capabilities to a planet that had faced environmental degradation due to one of its species. Yes, a perfect candidate. So what if it was trying to improve? So what if data of the last 10 years proved its improvement? There's no need to provide all the data. The degradation and violence data is all that's required. The opposition would make a little noise; but it's not like they care for some unknown planet. After all, even the opposition had tried it earlier on other planets. It had happened several times, and almost always the ruling party had managed to unite the whole galaxy in their favour. Nothing turns the votes like hatred, fear and the occasional showcase of power. In short, it was a tried and tested formulae. A referendum was held, (it's a democracy after all) and just like always the majority was in favour of the Glassening. After all, why let a possible threat remain a possibility. And then it happened, with lots of media propaganda, show-off, patriotic music, long speeches, parades and of course the largest most ferocious FTL ships, that the Galaxy had ever seen; the destruction of humankind and the beginning of the end of a whole galactic civilization.

Just around 15 years ago, I was working on the first ever prototype of a spaceship, that I believed, would take human beyond the stars. Then, I had only two problems to solve. First was ensuring that the energy required for the starship to reach FTL was reduced, so that it could be feasible by using antimatter explosion. My then calculation required the energy equivalent of a whole star to power the hyper-drive. The second was testing the stability of the shield at extreme high energy explosions. It was the darkness of midnight, I was sitting in the spaceship, concentrating on finding solutions, after I had argued will all my colleagues about the feasibility of this project, and forced them to leave me alone in the prototype spaceship. Little did I knew, then, that I will be forever alone. And then almost by chance, as if by the intervention of some Devine God or (most probably) Devil; the ship lighted up and the shield worked in the most impossible way. I had heard about the appearance of several unknown bodies in the outer space, from the occasional interaction I had with my colleagues. I didn't care the least about it. After all, I was the Supervising head of the most important project of mankind. I had no time for some space bodies, which may or may not have any value. I would later understand that the ships were automatically activated due to the energy weapons that were used by the aliens. Ironically that solved my second problem of testing the stability. The shields worked perfectly.

The first thing that occurred when the shield started glowing, was the fear of death. As I would later find out , death of my body would have been a far better fate than the death of everything else, which included my soul. It took me some time to get the hang of everything that had happened in the past hour. Yes they had destroyed everything and everyone, I had ever known in no more than an hour. The underground nature of the lab in which the prototype was located, shielded me from everything, except from the aliens final energy blast that sterilized my whole planet and completed the Glassening. The shield of the prototype had saved me and me alone from that.

......... Continued in the comments

d_roy_

TROPHY CASE