| Fan Fiction |
by Aelk
“Start a family…”
“As slowly grow old together...”
At the usual wooden lodge he built at the foot of the snowy mountains, where green meadows and the sky’s horizon meet, he will live the life he had always wanted as an orphaned child.
But before he knew, his time is up prematurely.
[The world is ending.]
An unfamiliar woman’s voice spoke to his consciousness. Although he could not feel, hear or see anything, somehow the message was just imprinted to his understanding.
Saying that the world is ending seemed like an almost believable joke. With Marduk’s rise in power, Mesopia could really be thrown into turmoil due to the unbalance caused by power struggle between the races.
[I caused the imbalance by sowing the last seed to humans, and I shall be the one to end this world]
He would love to see it happen. It was the hatred he had for the injustice in the world that made him into a thief.
”I believe ending it would be for the good.”
He answered the lady. Yet, something in him tells him that it was not right to terminate the entire world so abruptly.
“Who are you?”
He could not recall anything, and thus he asked the one person who may know.
[I am Ishtar… the sinned deity]
He remembered his last moments alive, and how he died protecting the two children.
Protect…
If the world ends now, would not his efforts be in vain? Then why would he choose to die protecting them when everyone will soon join him earlier than expected?
Perhaps bringing the world to its end is not the best solution after all.
“Why are you talking to me?”
He had never expected to be able to hear the deity’s voice; after all, Anzu should have been the only one who could.
[You are no longer living. All dead speaks to me before their souls set off to reincarnate into a new body]
The dead will be reborn, and the cycle of life will continue forever. Such is a chain that bounds all living inhabitants of Mesopia, and a chain that will never be broken.
Now that he is dead, he will definitely be reincarnated too.
[But you are special.]
“?”
[You share an uncanny resemblance to Anu, one I loved and lost. You do things based on what needs to be done, and was not driven by personal feelings. Though a little cruel at times, you cared for the overall instead of what was in front of you. Young one… perhaps you can tell me if the world’s end would be the best solution.]
He felt a little embarrassed for being complimented by the deity.
“I… don’t know whether you are the real deity or not,” he spoke unreservedly since he is no longer a living mortal, “but I would like to change my words from just now.”
[How so?]
“The world is, for real, in chaos. And I can vouch that a huge war concerning all races will start soon.”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“But then again, I am also sure that some amongst the others will step forward and bring order. Someone who had the wisdom and power to do so…”
Sooner or later.
Since he is not sure of when or who it will be, he is actually guilty of lying to the deity. But even if he knew his lies are as good as broken in front of the omnipotent being, he is sure that his heart’s desires were apparent.
”… Anzu would have wished for it to be so too,” he whispered under his breath.
A nostalgic feeling uncontrollably filled his entire soul. The meadows, the shack, the children, and her…
He missed the world he used to hate, so even if there is no chance that he can return there anymore, he hoped for a miracle.
Though not vocally expressed, Ishtar could tell his feelings straightaway, and with that, she smiled.
[The dead must not wish of the living,] Ishtar warned, [but…]
But?
[But you are given a choice.]
He is shocked to hear her words, but he dared not wished for too much.
[We shall forge a contract, and you can return to the living world.]
“An agreement?”
[Yes. But your reunion with Anzu will be short…]
Despite that he pushed Anzu away so that she would not be killed together with him, there was a selfish moment then where he wished that she could be at his side before he died.
Be it a day, or just a few minutes… He wanted to see her for one last time.
“I accept it.”
[You have not heard the agreement yet. It will be to your disadvantage]
“I want to return home, and nothing could have been more important than that.”
The tingling sound of his ear ring lingered in his thoughts. Ironic it was that he only realized how important Anzu was to him until his very last day as a human, but now that he is given a second chance, he will make sure that he treasures Anzu more than ever.
[Though imbalanced is the harmony of this world, it will take more time for it to mature. I want you to review the world once more when turmoil is in brew beyond salvation. It may be a decade or a millennium. But based on how you believed that there will be brave souls who delay it, a few thousand years of waiting could be in order.]
The future of Mesopia will depend on how he judged the world then.
“It is a huge responsibility, but nevertheless…”
He could not deny that he is a little selfish.
“I want to return to home once more.”
Another mysterious smile which hides Ishtar’s deep thoughts was worn on her face though he could not see it.
[And with your consent thus completes our contract.]
A blinding light of ocean blue filled all corners of darkness in the void his soul is in. Though he could not feel anything being only an intangible existence, he could tell that the deity is going to dwell in a corner of his mortal heart.
A strong pull dragged his soul into the unseen afar, and his consciousness faded for a while.
[I wonder why… I see Him in you…?]
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A/N
Noticed i never mentioned who's the He and the other Him XD?
So anyways, i guess this developement is very predictable and cliched. But then again i cooked up with this plot since about 1 year + ago rite? Didn't find it so cheesy then.... sigh. Humans do think differently as they grow older +_+ so i'll stick to the plot i had in mind long long time ago, til the end =))
Possibly two more chapters to go, but i havent typed them out =P