Vaen was in his fern and moss bed. The rhythmic thud of his heart—a heart that had carried him through betrayal, clan-slaughter, and now this strange encounter.
He opened his eyes to find he was in a vast emptiness filled with soft violet light. Air here pulsed, as if the darkness were breathing.
"Great," Vaen growled. "Dreams now feature mood lighting."
Suddenly, before him a single figure materialized—a skeleton wrapped in dented Eastern Field Army uniform. Its empty eye sockets glowed with purpose.
"Lieutenant Colonel Mortis," the skeleton stated, its voice surprisingly pleasant for a stack of bones.
"Eastern Field Army, Dark Unification Army. At ease, Vaen of Dravidian."
Vaen's brow furrowed.
"I'm… dreaming. And yet you wear rank insignia. Lovely."
The skeleton went on,
"Sorry for the abrupt introduction. General Primus Tenebris employed you in a rush so that I could not reach you immediately. I am Lieutenant Colonel Mortis, your superior in the military."
Vaen then saluted Mortis and then stated,
"Nice to meet you, Sir Mortis."
"When there's no one that you can call me by, Mortis. I don't mind. After all, we are comrades in arms. Don't stiffen up so." Mortis instructed him.
And then, Vaen folded his arms.
"Alright. So, General… that's the Eastern Dragon General who taught me Tenebris Energy?"
"The same," Mortis confirmed.
"He's Field Marshal of the Eastern Field Army, too. His title, Primus Tenebris, makes him the first to derive Tenebris Energy from a higher, unidentified energy. That makes the way itself effectively 'Rank 10' energy. But, currently a Rank 7."
Vaen's heart skipped a beat.
"So he's the founder, and he's only Rank 7?
Mortis nodded. "Early Rank 7—Umbral Dominion. Even he hasn't reached the full potential of his own work."
Vaen's head reeled. He made the path… and he's still going up?
Mortis leaned forward, voice hushed. "There's more you have to know. Because, he is the General so don't think he's going to personally inform you of everything. The Tenebris Path has ten ranks:
1. Umbral Initiate
2. Obsidian Flow
3. Abyssal Surge
4. Twilight Adept
5. Nightforge
6. Void Walker
7. Umbral Dominion
8. Tenebris Apex
9. Dusk Sovereign
10. Eternal Gloom
You are Rank 2. The General is Early Rank 7. The Union Emperor wields a still higher ranked energy. He is a Mid Rank 8 in our system.
Vaen stroked his hand across his hair. "And somebody is above the Primus? A cosmic emperor?"
Mortis's jawbone snapped.
"Indeed. His Majesty the Emperor does not use Tenebris Energy. He channels a higher-ranked force—ancient, more primal than you think. The Union's stability relies on that power."
Vaen exhaled, absorbing the implications. He had destroyed his clan to purge corruption, only to discover he'd been recruited into a cosmic army whose true might lay far above his own.
I'm a pawn in an inter-universal power struggle?
He shook his head. "So, what now?"
Mortis's bone characteristics relaxed.
"Because you have to choose where your allegiance is. The General looks into you not just as a weapon. Do you even know what Dravidian is? The House of Dravidian is the royal family of the union. The family of His Majesty. Because, very soon Her Majesty is going to ascend onto the throne of the Empress so you were employed in an emergency."
Vaen's heart pounded. "And what do the Union want me to do and what is the story about the name?"
Mortis's smile was a whisper. "Your world has an abundant providence now. Because, the Heavenly Story started and you are the hero."
"Me! The hero? And you still haven't answered my question yet? Moreover, what is the deal with this Heavenly Story stuff?"
Vaen believed that he heard the worst joke of his entire life.
"Strange, but true. You are destined to walk a path of destruction and break many hearts. Let us say no more of it when your rank is too low."
"Why?"
"I dare say you are more aware of the reason than I am." Mortis snorted.
Vaen slowly stood up, his mind spinning with names, ranks, and truths too great for any one world to contain. But before he could catch his breath.
Mortis placed a bony hand on his shoulder.
"We're not finished yet, soldier. Don't wander off. While we are friends from now on, don't think you can ignore me."
Vaen turned his head.