Not A Stranger

"Cage," Kyro mutters as he kneels over the robe-covered body of Cage, unruly black hair sprawled around his head like a pool of oil. It does seem a bit more put together, a bit less tangled. Though his time on Kalar had thrown a bit of the disheveled look back into his hair.

Kyro shakes the thought from his head, now is not the time to study Cage's hair. Kyro stares down at the motionless man, pushing some of the black locks aside to see Cage's face. His eyes are closed, and his face is lax. Kyro puts a finger below the man's nostrils, he is still breathing.

Kyro sighs quietly in relief, pulling his hand back. Ingen steps up beside him, looming and staring down at Cage, "So?" the giant Rajin asks.

"He's alive," Kyro responds, "Just unconscious." He bends over a bit, scooping an arm under Cage's midsection and throwing the man over his shoulder. Thank Betor he's light, Kyro thinks as he stands, we have a long walk back to the Stem, and the withdrawals sap more of my strength with each passing second.

"Well," Ingen says, eyes scanning the smoldering land, shifting the Tanzide on his shoulder, "The Massor seems to have taken its leave."

Kyro hums, walking past Ingen, who seems to be in a much better mood, judging by his wide smile, "Looks like I was right," Kyro says, his own lips curling, "Cage did his job. Raj will be safe now."

Ingen scoffs, walking beside him, "For now," he mutters, shifting his Warhammer in his hand.

"Yes, for now," Kyro says. The two of them walk from that volcano, passing by the single centipede carcass that Cage has yet to absorb. Kyro thinks of stopping and waiting for Cage to awake, so that he may dine on his meal. However, he needs his feet moving, if not to distract him from the thumping in his skull, then to distract him from the fate that awaits him back on Raj.

Kyro wants to believe that Ludan will spare him and Ingen, that he will allow them to continue with their lives, or even free them from their duties as Collectors for ridding Kalar of the Massor. However, as Ingen has said many times, that is not likely, and Kyro knows it. They know too much. Ludan had let his mouth run loose, spouting untold truths that the two Collectors have no business hearing.

And there could only be one reason for that. Ludan planned to have them killed. The Epoch does not care what Kyro and Ingen know, or what they don't for that matter. However, even with the risk of the information leaking through Yellen and into the branches, Ludan still allowed them to travel to Kalar. Kyro had suggested the idea as soon as it had come into his head, not expecting much, but still allowing himself to hope.

And now, here they are, walking to the Stem after having done something utterly impossible. Well, Kyro did not do it himself, but still, standing witness to the event has been preposterous enough. Though Kyro imagines another man in his position may not think the same. They may have gone mad, or perhaps even worse. They may have turned their blade on themselves by now.

Kyro is not just any man, fortunately, and after being in Cage's company for some time now, he has grown... desensitized. Truly, Kyro expects impossibilities now, and how could he not? It seems ages ago when his reality began to crumble, and Cage had taken it upon himself to build a new one atop it. Really, the entire process has been quite involuntary for Kyro, but even so, he cannot say which reality is better. The new, or the old.

"Kyro," Ingen suddenly says.

Kyro is pulled from his river of thought, and turns to look at Ingen, who has halted his steps a few paces behind, "What is it? We really should be going-"

"Cage's plan?" Ingen interrupts, one thick silver brow raised.

"Ah," Kyro pauses, his lips parted, "Right. It slipped my mind."

On their way to Kalar, Cage had explained his plan. Eliminate the Massor, and remove the trackers before leaving Kalar, which will leave Ludan to believe that they are dead. Then, they will return to Raj. Kyro and Ingen will stay a good distance from the city while Cage retrieves Yoru, and apparently, Alyra.

The plan almost seemed too good to be true in Kyro and Ingen's minds, but it is the only thing they have. Now that the first task has been fulfilled, Kyro knows that he never should have doubted. Even if he is following the plan, Ingen is undoubtedly still a bit skeptical, Kyro thinks. But when is he not?

Ingen and Kyro stand in silence, ash falling on them and the surrounding black land. Kyro glances at Cage on his shoulder, "Um..." he mutters. It will be hard to remove the trackers when the only one that can do it is dead asleep.

"Give him a good slap," Ingen says, "That'll wake him."

Kyro raises a brow at the large hard-faced man, then hums. He kneels and sets Cage down on the rock gently, then with a sigh, he slaps the pale man with a big blue hand. Cage's black hair flips and his head jerks to the side, but the man does not wake.

A few more slaps echo across the land, and a volcano erupting in the distance causes Kyro to Jump. He sighs, peering up at Ingen with disappointment clear on his face.

Ingen shrugs, thick silver brows raised in helplessness.

Kyro shakes his head, looking down at Cage's unconscious face. Kyro puts two fingers on Cage's eyelid and opens it, revealing those pitch-black eyes. The Rajin pulls his hand back, and the eye disappears again. Kyro scans the surrounding land with narrow eyes before looking at Ingen again, "We'll have to camp out and wait for him to wake up," he says.

Ingen grunts, glancing down at the unconscious man, "And if he doesn't?" he locks eyes with Kyro, one brow raised.

"He will wake up," Kyro responds with hard eyes, "Just give him some time. Absorbing that massive beast must have done a number on him."

The two Rajin men hold gazes for a moment, the smoldering wind blowing ash into their faces. Ingen nods silently, looking back at the dead centipede they left behind, "We'll need food," he says.

"Right," Kyro says, following Ingen's gaze. Centipede flesh is not the most appetizing, but since Cage has absorbed all of the other carcasses, it will have to do. He scoops up Cage again and throws the man's feather-weight body over his shoulder, "We need to find somewhere to hole up for now as well."

They set off across the black land. Kyro winces every few seconds, the thumping in his skull growing with every passing second. It's been days since he's ingested a Rage Stone, and standing has long become difficult. Just a little longer, Kyro thinks, Just let me get off this damned planet. If he stays on this planet too long, or worse, finds a Rage Stone growth, Kyro fears he won't be able to resist the urge.

---

Cage's eyes open slowly. He gasps, springing to his feet and squatting in a battle stance. His black eyes dart in every direction, but only thick darkness greets him, "Where...?" he whispers, brows furrowed in confusion. Cage's feet are planted on something cold, and he looks down to find a stone platform beneath him, somehow visible despite there being no lights nearby.

Cage steps to the edge of the platform, peering down. Far below, he can vaguely see objects floating in space. The Rage Stones, boulders, and swords. He's in the vault, but... it's different. Usually, when he peers inside of himself and into this space, he is only a pair of eyes with no form. Yet here he is, robed body shivering in the cold, bare feet pressed upon the platform.

Cage's eyes widen, and his heart drops into his stomach. The Massor. Kyro and Ingen. The last thing Cage had seen was the Massor with its ghostly jaw opens to devour the Rajin men. What happened after that? Are they de-

"Your friends are fine," A quiet, echoing voice says from behind, startling Cage. He spins, eyes wide. Merely a few paces from him, a grey throne rises from the platform. A man relaxes on it, legs stretched out before him. Bright blonde hair sags to his shoulders, framing a pale, square face and thin lips. And his eyes, they are pitch black all the way through, just like Mavyl... Just like Cage.

Two pairs of black eyes meet in the heavy silence. Cage looks the man up and down. He wears a form-fitting black suit, a black tie hanging over a black undershirt, and shiny black dress shoes. Clothing that Cage cannot imagine seeing anywhere but on Earth. He meets the man's eyes again, brows furrowed, the edge of the platform blocking him from stepping back, "Who-"

"Lithi," the man interrupts, not an ounce of emotion on his face despite practically reading Cage's mind. That silence takes over for a moment as the two men hold gazes, one calm, and the other anything but, "You truly do not recognize this face, then?" Lithi asks, words flat and monotone.

Cage stares back with wide eyes, frozen in place. He recognizes the name as the one Mavyl mentioned, but he does not recognize the man's face. However, he does recognize the pressure of Lithi's presence. It's the same as what he had felt when walking with Alyra the other day.

Lithi hums, "Strange..." he mutters, eyes never leaving Cage's, "...Your memories should have returned in full by now. I suppose miscalculations should be expected," Lithi sighs, attempting a smile, his lips curling a bit too far, "I know you have questions, so ask away. I will answer all... most of them." despite the unnatural smile, his tone does not change in the slightest.

Cage blinks, forcing himself to relax a bit. Lithi doesn't seem to want to hurt him, for now, "Uh..." Cage hesitates, struggling to choose one of the hundreds of questions swirling in his mind, "...Who are you, really? I feel like I should know you, but... I don't."

Lithi sweeps his hand before him, as if presenting the darkness surrounding them, "I rule this place," he says, pointing at Cage, "But not for long. You will take my place, eventually."

Cage furrows his brows, looking around before returning his eyes to Lithi, "What are you talking about?" he asks, "I still don't even know what this place is."

"Oblivion," Lithi responds quickly, "The afterlife, as you might call it... That is all you need to know."

Cage cocks his head back in confusion, "Why?"

Lithi pauses. He leans forward, flat eyes staring at Cage, "The truth of this place is not something your mortal mind can handle. Grow stronger, and you will learn what I mean," he says slowly, "Next question."

"Okay..." Cage says, trying to hide a shiver bolting through his body. He purses his lips, thinking. This time, it doesn't take him long to find the right question, "Why am I here? Why am I alive? Why did I spend so long in that darkness before reawakening?" Cage asks, "Was it you? Did you give me this second life?"

Lithi nods, "Yes, but not without help. Our power is not to create," he says, suddenly standing from the stone throne. He walks towards Cage, hands clasped behind his back, eyes staring up into the endless darkness, "Your life ended on Earth, that much is true. However, the circumstances of your and your brother's death were... unique. Your soul came to me in this place, along with a certain power. That power kept your soul from merging with Oblivion. The billions of other souls that once resided on Earth, well... let us say they no longer belong to me."

Lithi steps in a circle around Cage, stopping just before him and staring into black eyes the same as his own, "Long story short, I needed someone to help me keep reality from crumbling. You were the only one left, and fortunately, you still had the will to go on. Even if it did take a few words for you to realize that will."

Cage nods, lips parted as he takes the words in, "My..." he says, words nearly catching in his throat. Even after all of this time, the mere mention of his brother causes his eyes to get hot. Cage takes a deep breath, steadying himself as he meets Lithi's gaze, "My brother... you said his death was unique like mine. Did you lie to me when you said he was alive?"

"So you realized that voice was mine?" Lithi asks, nodding with an imitation of surprise on his face, "No, I did not lie. Your brother died along with you on Earth, but his soul was taken and reforged to fit this universe before he was revived. He is undoubtedly much different from the person he was on Earth, but even so, he is still your kin."

Cage pauses, brows furrowed, "But the Earth was destroyed a thousand years ago," he says skeptically, "How do you know he's still alive? Is it even possible for someone to live that long?"

"It is, here in the Praesi. If one grows strong enough, they will live forever. Well, until someone stronger comes along to cut that forever short," Lithi responds, turning and walking back to the throne, "Believe me when I tell you that your brother is alive. The man that took him is not one to waste a life, especially when that life is from his first creation."

Cage sighs in relief at the words. Those last words about creation confuse him, but he has a more pressing question to ask. He watches Lithi walks away, stepping forward, "Can you tell me where he is?" Cage asks, his expression solid, "Please. I'll do anything."

"Even if I knew, I still wouldn't tell you," Lithi responds without looking back, "I have done my part by giving you this life. You may return here to speak to me, but I will not dabble in your person affairs. If you are to take my place, then you will need to learn what it means to struggle."

"What if I don't want to take your place?" Cage asks, clenching his fist until his knuckles turn a shade paler than normal.

Lithi laughs, turning back to look at Cage as he arrives before the throne, "If you don't want to, then have one of those brutes strike you down when you wake again," he says, that unnatural smirk plastered to his face.

Cage grits his teeth, however, cannot bring himself to speak.

"As I thought. Your brother would be left all alone if you did that, wouldn't he?" Lithi says with a chuckle, "But alas, while I have enjoyed the company, I have never been one for long conversations. Being stuck in this place will do that to you... but I supposed you are well aware of that." He grabs the arms of the throne and begins to lower himself, smirking at Cage all the while, "Until next time."

Cage steps forward again, "Wait!" He yells with an outstretched hand. However, as Lithi settles on the throne, the world around Cage twists, and once again, his consciousness leaves him.