ALISTER (Tales of evolution)

Acceptance

...

...

The dust slowly cleared out.

The man stood up from the center of the curator, his body beyond recognition, his jaw and right arm were severely broken, his left arm and leg were missing, his right eye was blinded, enveloped in blood, his ribs stuck out of his chest, and rest parts of his body was covered in blood, burs and deep cuts.

“Hahahahhahahahaa!!! Incredible!!! You really do live up to your reputation. However, When will you realize Alister?” he yelled.

His body, suddenly engulfed itself in white Misty substance, as he regenerated.

The mist glowed with an otherworldly green energy. Suddenly, The Myst disbursed, and what remained was unbelievable. It was the man, standing firm, his body unharmed, like nothing ever happened.

Witnessing this, a cold sweat ran down Alister’s face. “Damn, you’re a real pain in the ass aren’t you?”

He knew that he wouldn’t be able to out much longer, but he wasn’t anything else to do besides fight. The battle raged on, the two warriors exchanging blows that could shatter steel.

Alister’s Chronomancy slowed time, allowing him to land critical hits, that would bring even god’s to their knees, but the man’s regeneration accelerated, healing his wounds in seconds, like it was nothing.

As the fight intensified, the plain itself began to shatter. Cracks spread, and boulders shattered, as if the earth couldn’t contain their fury.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Alister stumbled, his manna waning. The man seized the opening, unleashing his magic, SEVER skill, biting deep into Alister’s flesh, leaving him crashing to the ground.

As Alister struggled to rise, the man’s magic sliced open his stomach, separating his intestines and leaving him seated in a pool of blood. Alister's vision blurred, as he vomited blood.

With one final blow, the man sent Alister crashing against a wall. Alister slid to the floor, his back resting against the wall, his body a canvas of bloody slash marks. The man was merciless, ripping Alister’s internal organs apart.

His eyes, once gleaming with confidence and power, now held only a faint sparkle of life. Alister’s wounded chest heaved, each breath a struggle of pain.

The man stood over Alister, placing his foot on a deep cut on his shoulder, his chest heaving, his eyes blazing with triumph. “Do not look down, for without a doubt Alister, you were strong,” he said, his voice dripping with respect.

“Maybe in another lifetime you could have won, but you see, In this world, there’s no room for weaklings, as a law of nature, the weak gets crushed under the heels of the strong, as you are experiencing right now.” He said, squishing Alister’s shoulder beneath his feet.

Alister’s gaze locked onto the mans, with reverence and dread, his body a rollercoaster of pain, his heart holding on to faint beats, and all instincts telling him to run. “Wh… What manner of man are you?”

The man smile grew wider. “I am a force not of this world, and believe me, I am no man!”. He said his eyes emitting an otherworldly green glow.

Alister was scared beyond reason, his very soul trembling at the sight of the being before him. “Hmm!, I see, the next time we face each other, I’ll make sure I cut out your heart” he muttered, coughing blood

“That’s sounds tempting, but sadly, there won’t be a next time” the man said, looking down on Alister, his aura, murderous.

Alister, looking helpless, a faint smirk escaping his lips. “don’t be so sure about that” he murmured.

Tharros’s eyes widened as he watched the man’s relentless assault on Alister. The sound of cracking wood and crashing debris filled the air, and Tharros heart sank. He knew he wasn’t strong enough to match the man’s inhuman power.

Instantly, there was a gush of blood, and the man’s leg which was placed on Alister’s shoulder fell to the ground, decapitated.

The man’s gaze shifted from Alister to Tharros. “ah!, that’s right, I forgot about you….Devil!”.

Fear gripped Tharros’s chest, threatening to paralyze him. But he refused to give in. He scanned the area, searching for an escape route.

The man longed for Alister’s demise, but Tharros swiftly intervened, throwing a sword that sliced the man’s leg clean off, Tharros moved swiftly, grabbing Alister’s hand and pulling him away. “Come on, Alister! We need to get out of here!”

As they fled, the man smiled and gave chase, his summoned lightening down on them. Tharros expertly dodged and weaved, avoiding the Lightning attacks. But he knew he couldn’t keep this up for long.

That’s when he remembered his self-protection magic. Focusing his energy, Tharros conjured a shield around himself and Alister. Forcing the lightning to bounce off the magical barrier.

Seizing the opportunity, Tharros brought out a rectangular piece of paper which had an incantation written on. “Hold on!” he shouted.

As he slammed the paper against the ground, there was a bright flash of light that enveloped the surrounding, forcing the man to close his eyes.

On opening his eyes, Alister and Tharros were both gone. A smile escaped the man’s lips “Teleportation magic hun, not bad.” “I shall let you live this time, I look forward to fighting you again, Alister!”

Once out of the man’s range, Tharros carried Alister back to their house in green hills. Breathless and shaken, they collapsed onto the couch.

Alister’s eyes held almost no sign of life, as he slowly grasped for air.

IN A BLUR THE FLASH BACK ENDS AND WE SEE THARROS AND ALISTER IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION’S.

Alister’s eyes widened, his interest peaked.

“so what you are saying is that all that happened to me?” he asked, trying to relate to the Tharros’s explanation.

Tharros replied, his face edged with seriousness “exactly”

“Hmm!”, Elian placed his hand on his jaw, trying to add things up. “but if all you say is true, why don’t I remember.

Tharros expression although serious had a little sad expression on it, “you see, after we escaped, you were on the verge of death, your wounds were too deep and Severe, so you came up with a plan, you used the last of your manna to shape shift into an infant.

After this, I used a very powerful spell to send you to the mortal realm so you could recuperate there for a hundred years.

Alister interrupted “ wait a minute, I turned my self into a baby?”

“Yes, it was the only way to ensure your survival. After that, I sent you to Earth” Tharros explained.

Alister’s brow narrowed, seeing sense in Tharros’s words.

Elian’s mind became open to reason, as he sensed no Deception in Tharros’s words. “But that doesn’t explain anything about my memories” he said.

Tharros’s eyes fell to the table, his expression calculative. “I mean this is only theoretical but, the spell I used in sending you to Earth, was also meant to heal you and suppress your manna, to avoid being tracked down.” Tharros said.

“And the spell was meant to do so for at least 80 mortal years, meaning you were suppose to die of old age. So it’s a possibility that your untimely death on Earth must have confused the spell some how. So instead of sending you back here complete, and fully recuperated, it just brought you back with your manna still sealed and your memory loss must be some kind of side effect .” Tharros added.

Elian remained quite, pondering on what Tharros had said.

“Well I…I guess that makes sense” he said. “So those this mean that I’m still injured?”

Tharros nodded “it seam’s so, however it’s not anything life threatening, the only downside to it is your manna” he said, his eyes closed, as if sensing Elian’s vitals.

“hun! What does that mean?” Elian asked.

Tharros explained “well, the thing is, while your manna is still sealed, I can easily unseal it…”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Elian interrupted.

“yes, but however, …your body isn’t ready to access the terrifying amount of manna you possess,” Tharros explained, his eyes serious. “If we unseal your manna now, it could lead to catastrophic consequences. Your body might not be able to handle the strain, and it could result in…unpredictable outcomes.”

Elian’s eyes widened, concern etched on his face. “What kind of unpredictable outcomes?”

Tharros hesitated before responding, “At best, it could lead to a loss of control over your magic. At worst…it could destroy you from the inside out.”

Elian’s face paled, and he looked away, trying to process the risks. Tharros’s words hung in the air, heavy with foreboding.

After a moment of silence, Elian turned back to Tharros, determination etched on his face. “If what you say is true, then I need to know what happened to me, Tharros. I need to remember who I am and what I’m capable of.”

Tharros’s expression softened, and he nodded. “I understand, Alister. But we need to be cautious. We’ll work together to find a way to safely unseal your manna and recover your memories.”

Elian nodded, a sense of resolve settling within him. “Let’s do it.”

As they began to discuss their plan, the air in the room seemed to lighten, the warm sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated the room, casting a cozy glow over the space.

With Elian’s memories still locked away, Tharros suggested, “Today, we can start working on unlocking your memories and understanding your magical abilities. But first, let’s focus on getting you settled into your new life here.”

Elian nodded, eager to learn more about himself and his surroundings. Tharros continued, “I was thinking we could visit the town’s market. It’s a great place to get familiar with the local culture and people. Plus, we can pick up some supplies and gear for your training.”

Elian’s eyes lit up at the prospect of exploring the town and meeting new people. “Sounds like a plan! And you could even tell me more about this world” he exclaimed.

Tharros smiled, pleased with Elian’s enthusiasm. “Great! Let’s get going, then. The market awaits!”

After their conversation, Elian got up from the table and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. He brushed his teeth with a small, delicate brush and toothpowder, feeling the cool, refreshing sensation of the minty flavor.

Next, he took a quick bath, washing away the remnants of sleep. The warm water and sweet scent of rose petals filled the air, invigorating his senses.

As he dried himself off with a soft, fluffy towel, Elian felt refreshed and revitalized. He put on a crisp, white linen shirt with billowy sleeves, brown leather breeches, and sturdy knee-high leather boots. The outfit felt comfortable and familiar, as if he had worn it before.

With his hair still slightly damp from the bath, Elian walked back into the living room, where Tharros was waiting for him. Tharros smiled, nodding in approval at Elian’s transformed appearance.

“Ready to head out?” Tharros asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Elian nodded, feeling a sense of excitement and trepidation. What would the day bring?

Tharros stood up, and Elian followed suit. On reaching the door, Tharros smiled, with a deep breath, he turned the handle and pushed the door open. A blinding light burst forth, swallowing the room whole. The air seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy, making it hard to breathe.

Alister shielded his eyes, squinting against the intense radiance. The light was unlike anything he had ever seen – pure, unadulterated, and mesmerizing. As suddenly as it began, the light began to dissipate, revealing a landscape that defied explanation.

As the contrast settled, Alister’s eyes adjusted, and he stumbled forward, his mouth agape. Tharros stood beside him, a knowing smile etched on his face.

“Alister, welcome to Altheoria,” Tharros whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of Alister’s heart.

Alister’s gaze wandered, drinking in the impossible sights before him. Rolling hills of iridescent grass stretched toward the horizon, punctuated by crystalline spires that refracted light into miniature rainbows. The sky above was a light shade of blue, with clouds that seemed to shimmer like stardust, and inhabiting them were creatures not yet to human knowledge.

“This…this can’t be real,” Alister stammered, his mind reeling.

Tharros chuckled. “Ah, but it is. Altheoria, the realm beyond the veil.”

As Alister walked toward the door, the world outside began to reveal its secrets. Strange, glowing plants sprouted from the ground, emitting soft hums that resonated with the air. Creatures unlike any Elian had ever seen flitted about – winged beings with feathers that shimmered like opals, and creatures that seemed to be crafted from pure light.

The air itself vibrated with magic, an energy that resonated deep within Alister’s chest. He felt alive, connected to this mystical realm in ways he couldn’t understand.

“Tharros, how…?” Alister began, but the question died on his lips.

Tharros’s smile grew wider. “Some secrets are meant to remain hidden, Alister. For now, simply behold the wonder of Altheoria.”

As Elian stepped across the threshold, the door creaked shut behind him, sealing the world he knew behind. The sound echoed through his mind, a reminder that there was no turning back.

He stood at the edge of a new world, one that promised secrets, magic, and mysteries beyond his wildest dreams. Alister’s heart pounded with excitement, his soul thirsting for the adventures that lay ahead.

Elian wondered through the lush, emerald grass, his mind reeling with wonder. Every step revealed a new magical creature, each more breathtaking than the last.

To his left, a Luminari fluttered about, a creature with the build of a dragon fly, just larger, it one eye, its delicate wings shimmering like stardust. Its slender body glowed with a soft, ethereal light, illuminating the surrounding grass.

Ahead, a pair of gazlirian grazed on the grass, their coats shining with an soft, iridescent glow. Their antlers seemed to be crafted from glittering silver, and their eyes burned with an inner light.

As Alister continued, he spotted a mischievous Pixie darting between the blades of grass. Its wings were a blur of color, shifting between vibrant shades of purple and green. The Pixie’s laughter echoed through the air, a joyful, tinkling sound.

Just then, a deafening roar shook the air, sending tremors through the ground. Alister spun around, his heart racing, and his eyes widened in awe.

Before him stood a majestic black Dragon, its scales glistening like polished onyx. The dragon’s body was sleek and powerful, with muscles rippling beneath its scales. Its wingspan stretched wide enough to cast a shadow over the surrounding landscape as it flew by.

The dragon’s eyes burned with an inner intensity, shining like two glittering obsidian stars. Its snout was long and pointed, with nostrils that flared as it breathed. A crest of sharp, ebony horns adorned its forehead, and its jaws were lined with razor-sharp teeth.

“Incredible” Elian said to himself as he watched the dragon fly by.