To Choose a Path

They both sat on the shores of the beautiful reflective lake as the light of Galia's soul reflected off its surface bathing them in its soothing warmth.

Still, after hearing the small details about his task, Michael remained impassive on the matter. He had tried to, but he couldn't find the drive to plunge himself head-first into the matters of this new world. Sure he had been afforded a second chance, and sure he now had power that was supposed to rival that of many others, it was all alluring but it was all hollow to him.

Learning that he was bound to the fate of a dead god, to serve them with his life, didn't sit right with him. And it showed in his face as he processed the implication of Galia's words.

"I can tell, you know," she spoke and Michael stared at her quizzically trying to figure out what she meant.

"You may have tried to convince yourself but you don't want this do you? You may say you do, convince yourself that this is your life now and whatnot. But deep in your heart, you want something else. Have you figured out what it is?"

That question was a tricky one. Michael wanted to immediately blurt out 'freedom' or 'to fulfill his many dreams', but those words however he convinced himself, however much conviction he put into declaring them, were simply that; words. He didn't know what he wanted, or maybe he did and was scared that maybe that wasn't it. Or maybe, he was scared that it didn't matter what he wanted. That his new life, despite how much it promised was not his own. His free will had been taken from him, and he felt that was not the end.

So he didn't answer and instead remained silent, the dark pool of his iris devouring the light that shone into his eyes.

"Can I see your necklace then?" she proceeded with her questions, respecting Michael's silence and understanding his turmoil.

Michael was puzzled at the request. Then again was it shocking that she was aware of his necklace? She was a firstborn of Death, and he still didn't know what that meant.

"No, you can't. Even I can't. I don't even know how I got it or where it is stored. All I know is it showed up several times before but that was it. The how and why, I too am oblivious as much as you are." The last part was said as bait, crude but an attempt to see if he could get her to let on about the mysterious jewelry.

"I see, do you know what it does?"

"No" he answered, slightly disappointed.

"Oh. I'll tell you. It's a bridge between you and the first king."

Michael—the shock from the previous revelation still lingering—raised his eyebrows in obvious confusion.

"How do you mean?"

"Simply that. It's a bridge between you and the first king," she said and watched his face curiously as he processed the news.

It had not occurred to him that the necklace served such a purpose. He had seen it once, maybe twice when it had weaved itself into existence then disappeared just as mysteriously. His mind—burdened by somber thoughts—didn't pay it any heed. Now, the revelation of what it was shook him greatly. What kind of connector was it, was it a bridge that allowed the other to teleport to the other's location? Was its role to act only as a connector? Where was it stored? Could Michael get rid of it?

His mind raced with questions as he weighed the necklace in a different light.

"What does it do exactly?" he asked hoping to alleviate some of the weight of all the questions.

"I don't know. I only know of it from the old man, and even he doesn't know what it purpose is. I have seen something similar to it before but unless I have physical access to it, that is all the information I have"

Michael felt his heart sink. Another set of questions would go unanswered.

"Is this my life now?" he asked her allowing himself to become vulnerable and vocalize what plagued his nightmares.

It was tiring, terrifying, and deprived him of his freedom of choice; at least that is what he felt. His stay with Caster made him feel like he had no choice like this was irrefutably his new life. Here in Galia's domain, it was different. The truth of his emotions, the sense in his turmoil, and unspoken thoughts all became clear. He felt at ease almost.

"It doesn't have to be," she said and Michael felt a mix of fear and hope rage inside him. He had accepted that he would never get a way out. Confining himself to living out his new role to the fullest, condition his mind and heart to accept it. Her words made all that turn to dust. His eyes shone slightly.

"Like I said, it's a test. You can choose to go through with it or just live out the rest of your days scavenging in the Nether until death catches up to you."

Michael felt his heart beat wildly. This was it, this was what he yearned for since he learned of his new life. Choice. The freedom to follow a different path. He didn't have to go through with being an emissary. He could just walk the Nether and live. That didn't sound as good said out loud. He shuddered, yet the prospect of ignoring his task and living his life how he wanted was alluring. What would he do though? The Nether had already proved to be an unforgiving battlefield.

"What are the repercussions of walking away?" He was finally in a position to choose his path, but he doubted it came without a price.

"Well, if you choose to pursue the path of an emissary and challenge this first trial and many to come, you will grow stronger. Your 'void' will grow to become part of a larger domain, I am sure you have felt the vastness and emptiness of it. If you fail the test, however, your soul is bound for eternity to the Nether, and another emissary is picked in your place. Should you choose to walk away, the Nether will slowly devour your soul and whatever gifts the legacy gave you will be reclaimed. After a while, when your soul is completely eroded, you will cease to exist."