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[Analyse]
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[Moonwell] : [???]
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“Oh? Now that’s a surprise. It’s the first time I am unable to tell something’s nature. Moonwell… that does make sense considering what I'm supposed to get. Must be directly under the water. Or maybe the primal essence is the water itself.”
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Akhenamen, however, soon realised a very simple problem.
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“Yes… I’m clearly much too big to fit inside. I’ll shrink myself.”
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Using his control over the nanites in his body, he started to shrink down, smaller and smaller. Reaching the size of a simple human compared to his previous massive body. He climbed above the well’s wall and fell down the well for a few seconds. The moment his feet touched the well’s water, a notification popped inside his mind.
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[You have entered the Primal Moon Essence Realm. You will be considered as an enemy and invader to this realm, as your [Unknown] does not fit the realm’s nature.]
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***
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Akhenamen opened his eyes to see… a night sky. A never-ending solid night sky, he was standing on. Massive moons floating above him. Each moon felt… divine. Every moon definitely owns a Law or Intent related to the Moon. On some of those moons, Akhenamen saw figures, humanoid and alien shapes sat down, their eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
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“Are those… owners of Moon-related Intents and Laws. How interesting. Would that mean Saphira had a body there, too?”
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“Yes, I do.”
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Akhenamen’s robotic mind allowed him to keep his calm as he would absolutely screamed from the sudden familiar voice coming from a Moon not far from him. And as he turned toward its point of origin.
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He spotted a peculiarly huge Moon. Far from the biggest, but still very huge next to some others. On top stood Saphira. Not just her, in fact. A few more shapes sat down on top. As he observed this, he started to understand how everything worked. It was actually pretty simple.
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Each moon corresponded to a certain Transcendent rank. So every Transcendent who sat down on a moon had to be all part of the same rank. The one Saphira’s body… or most likely soul… was sitting on, had to be exclusively for the Dominions.
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“It has been a while, Saphira. So… Do you mind explaining what that place is? While I have a small idea about it… I’m still wondering if this place is only for dead Transcendents or if every Transcendent with a Moon-related Intent or Law is here.”
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“It has indeed. Got bigger and stronger, I see. The true question would be if you have a death wish, too. Did you not receive a System notification when you entered? You're an enemy here.”
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“I… am aware. I did not expect to suddenly appear in the middle of everyone.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
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“It’s fine. Most of them are alive. You can only be conscious as I am by being dead. Linking yourself to a Law or Intent links you naturally to the realm it comes from.”
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Saphirra floated down from her moon, her body now around one head taller than his. Making him think she was doing it on purpose just to be taller than him. She had not changed much. the same as he had seen her in the Prothean Complex.
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But this time she actually looked healthy. Her eyes radiated a soft blue light, her hairs gently floating as if she was submerged in water. Her tail gently swayed behind her back. Her body was slightly transparent, too.
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“So you cannot be the only one. I’ll have to be careful.”
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“Don’t worry. There are very few dead here. Most are isolating themselves to be left alone by “newcomers” like me. Just be careful not to touch anyone, sleeping or not; this part of their soul is still linked to their main body.”
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Akhenamen’s eyes were attracted to the smallest moon, despite its size… Akhenamen knew that an Aspect was standing there. The most powerful being he had ever met until now. A tier 8th Transcendent Aspect.
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“Oh? Could you feel her? She's the most powerful being in this realm. No one really even knows who she is. She’s just… there. Everyone calls her the Guardian. She’s killed many invaders. So if you’re still alive, it means she doesn’t consider you a threat, or she doesn’t mind you being here.”
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“I see. Do you know where I could find some Primal Moon Essence?”
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“Why would you even need that? By the way, why the fuck do you still have my sapphire! You should have brought my children right away! You’re a Transcendent; the travel should have taken you a few days at most!”
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“I know, I know! But trust me, I’m doing what is best.”
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“Doesn’t matter you’re putting my children in danger, you hot steel ass.”
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“What kind of insult is that even supposed to be?”
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“My my, this is quite a lot of noise you both are making.”
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Akhenamen froze, Sapphyra’s eyes widening as she quickly rushed in front of Akhenamen, bowing down politely before the Guardian.
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“Please don’t kill that Cygilite! Or at least don’t destroy my children with him!”
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“And here I believed you would have courageously given your life for me, Sapphyra. I’m truly disappointed.”
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Sapphyra’s eyes thundered toward Akhenamen angrily, but before she could even open her mouth, the melodious laughter from the Guardian stopped their arguing.
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Akhenamen looked at her; she looked strange. She was a rabbit. A small, floating, purely white rabbit. Yet… Akhenamen didn’t doubt that this was simply what his strength allowed him to see of a tier eight transcendent.
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A being far above his or even Sapphyra’s rank. He wondered how she saw the Guardian as Saphyrra was two ranks above him. She had to see more of the Guardian’s true form. Yet his vision got a bit blurry, his title as Herald of the Unseen Truth flaring to life.
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The rabbit’s shape started to morph, getting bigger, more… humanoid, but completely monstrous. A body as sleek as ice of a pure white color, with holes going through the body. Each hole seemed to contain a drop of water.
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The rabbit stood on its two hind legs, its arms almost as long as its body, hanging down to the ground. A flaring red gem glowing in the middle of its maw, and having replaced both its eyes. The flesh seemed to twist, twitch, bulge… the shape before him clearly struggling to contain the almost incomprehensible power contained within the Guardian.
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The “rabbit” before him would give genuine nightmares to any mortal. It also had a very, very gruesome injury in the middle of its chest where a horrifying heart made from a mix of blue crystal and red flesh was pumping blood, still linked and held up in the middle of the injury by veins and arteries.
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Akhenamen knew his title could go further, stare even deeper into the Guardian’s true shape. But he stopped himself. He knew that if he did. He would see something his spirit wouldn’t be ready to understand.
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“You can see more than most… albeit I suppose it’s not that surprising coming from a fellow Aspect. What are you here for, brother?”
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He stared at Sapphyra; she seemed frozen in place. Time itself didn’t seem affected… no, it was like the realm itself had been put on hold.
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“You're doing, I presume? Is our status as Aspect this… protected?”
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“It’s not that big of a secret, but most of us prefer to keep our nature hidden. You wish to obtain some Primal Moon Essence, right? I can give you some.”
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“What will you ask in exchange? You’ll have to excuse me, but I do not believe in free generosity. Why would you help me?”
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“Would you not help a sibling?”
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“I would but-”
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“Then that’s it. You seem to have the wrong impression of beings like us. We’re no different from those below. yes we might have… responsibilities. But we’re still very much beings with goals, dreams, feelings… Do you know how many fellow Aspects exist?”
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Akhenamen did have the knowledge of some Aspects but not all. It wasn’ t in the memories he was granted.
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“No more than... fifty, maybe?”
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“Once yes.. almost a hundred of us existed. Now, no more than fifteen remain. At least that I know of. We’re a rare and dying race, brother. So yes, I can help you freely. I seek nothing and demand nothing from you.”
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“Remember simply that all of us, Aspects, are trying to survive in our own ways. You will too, once you reach a higher rank. Here’s the primal essence. I suppose you will use it to resurrect this Felinide? Your wife?”
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“No.. I’m already married.”
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She stared into his eyes for a few seconds. Sighing.
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“A mortal wife… you’re aware that she will die so quickly that her lifespan might as well be a simple speck next to you? Your children will wither and grow old while you remain untouched by time. You will not even be able to show her your true self once you start forming your Divine Body as you reach the rank of an Authority and Dominion.”
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Akhenamen did not feel any malice in her words. Simply a senior warning a junior of fate she might have known herself.
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“I do not tell you to disregard the one you love. Simply to be ready. To understand that you’re not and will never be the same once more.”
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