Joining a second club

Roland observed Di in silence for a short while. When he was Zachary, back in his old world, there was an unanswered theory concerning the existence of a multiverse or at least other dimensions. Despite the incredible leaps and technological advancements during his time, no one could ever say they cracked the truth behind it. 

Young Di's face undoubtedly had a layered undertone of seriousness. Roland considered this strange space and, more so, those ascending stairs rising into the unknown. 

'Maybe it's not as simple a question as it seems.' 

"Erm, what kind of club is this?" Eventually, he asked Di, who stared into his eyes without blinking. 

"Well, it's called the Emerald 5 Gardens, and I guess you can call it a school, I guess…but it's more of a club these days." The youthful-looking child fell into deep thought while subtly lowering its magenta-coloured gaze. 

Roland waited for the little fellow to raise its head before asking. 

"And…what do you do in this club?" He asked plainly, trying to mask the very shady feeling he was getting listening to the shorty.

"Great question. Ahem, the easy way to put it is… it's for people like you and me. Erm, no, that's a little more confusing, right? Ok, let me try again. How about this? Anyone who has seen the Caldor's Rune or, I guess, anyone chosen by the Rune of Space & Time is eligible. And don't get me wrong, you are very strange and not usually the kind of fellow I'd meet on these trips, and even though I was trying to get to Booba-...well, that's not important. But there's no denying you're part of us. Considering there's only two ways you can jump realities." 

Roland swallowed a large gulp and carefully took in everything being told to him. He didn't want to reveal how panicked he was right now, so he played it cool and chose his words carefully. 

"Jump realities, you say…I see. Ahem, and what are the two ways to do this...little br-brother?" He said with a wry smile.

Di tapped the smooth chin a few times before delightfully raising a finger. 

"Firstly, joining our club will grant you clearance for rational jumps. Oh, and it's safer jumping when you know where you're going. The second option is, well…doing it incognito." Di whispered 

"And why does that sound like a bad thing?" 

"You have the right thinking big brother. Personally, I don't think it is. But each time you jump, 'they' somehow know about it. They being those dastardly Time Chasers, but there's also a more annoying variant of them. We call those Riff guards. And all I can say is ...Blergh! We hate those busybodies. And if they catch you performing unlicensed jumps, then that spells…" Di made a striking gesture across its neck. Roland shivered but dutifully nodded in understanding. 

'Riff guards, multiple realities, ancient rune and this… peculiarly dressed little child extending an invite to join a club.'

Roland sensed a headache approaching, and he really wished Omega was functional so he could help him with these strange new terms and choices. 

But alas, he was alone. A concept he wasn't usually too bothered with before the Ai system.

'Maybe I've gotten a little used to having Omega constantly in my head. It feels a little empty without the robotic voice to be fair.' 

Roland scratched the side of his head a little whilst he thought of something. "Actually, kid, I might have, well, already been part of a club?"

He admitted slightly wearily. Roland couldn't describe this feeling, but he felt like a noose dangled around his neck whenever he thought about that 'tea party.' That voice still lingered, the dark oath he swore of his absolute secrecy. But Roland wondered to what end did this oath carry. Was he being watched? If so, then how? How would he know if the oath was broken? 'Magic.' Roland thought. That was the logical answer. A mental thought flashed across his mind; the chilling, obscure image of the fishbowl head sent chills down his spine. 

Di looked a little troubled hearing his response, but the little fellow seemed to gain clarity in his thoughts again. 

"That's quite alright if you already belong to another club, big brother. Actually, I heard one can be aligned with as many clubs or factions as one's own will allows. Of course, as long as you're not breaking binding oaths, all is well." 

'Ah, is that so.' Roland felt relieved hearing that but still had reservations about how risky that might be, considering he still knows little about that so-called overlord. 

'For now, I need to worry about this phenomenon of jumping realities.' 

"Besides, Emerald 5 Gardens will ensure you learn the ins and outs of jumping between realities; hell, if you're good enough, you might even learn how to be in two places at once, hehe. Now, let's test how sensitive your Astral essence is." 

Di stepped aside and gestured towards the rising tall steps. Ascending into the unknown with an aura of majesty and eerie mystery. 

"Approximately 137 steps up there big bro. Each step is a portion of mental pressure against your mind. You don't need to worry about climbing all of them. That's impossible. But the pass mark is 12 steps. You do that, and welcome to the Emerald 5 gardens, big brother." Di announced with open arms and a wide smile.

On the other hand, Roland tried to remain poised and not wholeheartedly weirded out by the whole situation. The main crux of his problems was whether or not joining this so-called club would impact the oath he had sworn to that fishbowl-headed creature. It was hard to honestly know what he could and couldn't do. And considering his current options looked somewhat limited due to these unforeseen circumstances, Roland quickly realized he had few choices. 

He reluctantly somewhat agreed to take the test. Albeit it beat the other alternative. 

Roland placed his foot against the fourth step. A deep breath broke free of his mouth. The entire air seemed to shake again. But just like the first three steps, the feeling arrived and went. 

'Perhaps it's not as hard as I first thought.' 

He placed another foot forward and performed the same breathing method. Only this time, Roland heard a noticeable distortion in the air. A crash of glass erupted way too close to be a coincidence. A troubled Roland suddenly searched the empty air frantically for answers but found nothing out of the ordinary. He looked beyond the few steps, finding Di standing where he had left the little fellow. The expression was neither here nor there. It just was. 

Rubbing the side of his head, Roland exhaled another breath before pressing ahead. He quickly climbed the 6th and 7th, and Roland heard the world whine into a terrible symphony. 

A series of voices arrived in a downpour of noise.

"Brother, are the ghosts all gone? Remember you told me they weren't real? And how nothing would ever bring them to life? Then why did I die like that? 

The voice sent a shiver through his entire body. Roland stared at the 7th stairwell in horror. Why on earth could he hear that voice? He shook his head in defiance. 

"Stay focused. This is clearly some kind of trick." 

Roland took the eight-step nervily. He slowly placed his sole down, and a vibration crashed through him. He staggered and barely caught himself from falling. 

"Zack! We're best friends, aren't we? Come, you are my brother." 

"Zachary Jurgen Lynch, congrats on becoming the youngest commander ever to fly the Zoa Quince 7-4. The federation looks forward to your achievements." 

"You say you love me, but you'll always choose your career before me. Zack, look at me, we're meant to be together, you and I. Don't throw that away for some…fleeting dreams." 

"When it's all said and done, Mr Lynch, you will decide what kind of tale the world will sing when the curtain closes. Only you carry that power."

"Sing about me when I'm gone, Zack. I heard you tell the tale of my life best. And as your Grandmother, I want my life to forever dance in song." 

"Hey, brat, if you ever learned anything from me. It's this. Don't waste your time chasing my shadows. Your Mother and I are who we are. But perfect your own way. Your own form. And, by heavens, die in style. You damn unfilial son of mine." 

The voices swarmed Roland in an unhinged storm of noise. His heart was racing, and his mind felt full. In a desperate attempt to end it all, he ran up a few more steps. And then the glass shattered like a cloud bursting and rain falling.

He was falling, free falling off the stairwell, heading for the sandy dune below.

Darkness swallowed his vision, and he heard a soft sound. The sand beneath him broke his fall. 

A sole voice crept through the void. This one, he didn't remember who it belonged to. 

"Dear traveller, is my grace sufficient enough? Why has one sought to untie the knot from a door that has been barred since the beginning of time? It pays one little to search for gold in things bereft of true light. Thankfully, the wretched Goddess is yet to find you. Nonetheless, you must bear the consequences of those before you. For there is no going back from here on out. I have chosen thee to wear the scars of my people. My clan. The ones who bent time and stole the entire universe.

For I am him. And her. I am all the same, within dreams and within nightmares. I am Caldor. The one who swallowed the stars." 

Roland's body felt light as breath itself. At this point, he was devoid of any control of his limbs and could only remain where he was: sprawled against the white sandy ground helplessly. Footsteps approached, and since he lay flat against his back, he could see the shadows and the blurred vision of little Di hovering over him. 

"H-hey big brother? C-can you hear me? You haven't died on me, have you?" The voice echoed through, slightly distorted. But Roland could just about hear the little fellow. He only now grasped how slightly annoying Di sounded.

"That was quite the reckless attempt there. But look, you did it! Full marks on reaching the 12th step. Don't worry too much, we'll be seeing each other again. But here, this is yours. Oh, right, yo-you can't move? Let me just…" 

Roland watched the foggy outline of the short figure busying around his arm. Di raised his hand and slotted something against his finger. 

"Remember if you ever need me…just ????? Then ???? Right? Good talk! I'll help send you back this one time. But…considering I don't know which zone you came from. Errr… I'm going to try something a little risky." 

Roland blinked heavily and saw Di holding onto a small silver ball. He twisted it a few times like a dial and held the object just above his abdomen. A series of violet lights rippled away from the ball and danced across his prone body. Once the darkness finally seized over his vision, Roland heard a ruckus, like the sounds of an engine, followed by a series of strange mechanical peeps and grinding gears interlocking. 

The pause in the darkness felt like forever.

Until… 

{…} 

{Welcome back, my Host} Omega's clear voice sounded within him.