The one retrieved from The Void

Vastian awoke disoriented, surrounded by the skeletal remains of concrete structures. Before him loomed a colossal, wheel-shaped contraption. It was divided into enclosed compartments, resembling cabins. As he watched, the wheel began to turn, and from one of these cabins emerged a man and a woman, identically attired in formal suits. The vehicle continued its rotation as the pair approached.

Their appearance was unsettling, almost inhuman. It was as if human faces were masks worn over an alien form. "Fear not, young one," a voice declared, the words seeming to emanate from both figures simultaneously.

"Please follow us," they declared.

Vastian had no choice but to obey. They led him through the surreal landscape, where the floor seemed to dissolve into an abyss. Their journey culminated in a stark white building.

"This is where you'll be tested," they instructed. "Ask the receptionist for 'The one who retrieves the void.' Your actions thereafter will determine your fate."

Vastian entered the building, the room was stark white. Behind a desk sat a person with an unnerving resemblance to the ones outside, as if a human face were a mask worn by something else. A creepy, wide smile stretched across their features.

"I'm here to see 'The one who retrieves the void,' please," he said.

The person maintained the unsettling smile and nodded, their gaze shifting to the right. Vastian followed their line of sight to a seemingly endless corridor. From its depths emerged a man clad in white scrubs. He too wore a disturbingly large smile, revealing a perfect row of pristine white teeth.

"I'm the one who retrieves the void," the man said.

Vastian stared at him, a conflict raging within. A compulsion to greet the man warred with a deep-seated intuition that something was amiss. He had always been obedient, but in that moment, defiance surged within him.

"No, you are not," he declared.

The man's smile widened, an unsettling transformation.

"Good, then follow me," he replied.

Vastian followed the man into the darkened corridor. Soon, a door appeared, its surface marred by a grotesque, smiling window. A single, terrifying yellow eye filled the aperture, its intensity magnified by the darkness.

Vastian resolutely ignored the door, trusting an unseen force to guide him to his destination. With each step, he felt the weight of countless eyes upon him. Some doors echoed the first, their windows ablaze with monstrous orbs. Others were devoid of windows, emitting eerie, colored lights from beneath. The temptation to investigate grew with every passing moment.

"What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?" he thought to himself, panic creeping in. "I'm just a child, following who knows what through a corridor of horrors."

As he pondered the absurdity of his situation, the pressure intensified with each passing step. The number of doors dwindled, but the sense of dread they evoked only grew stronger. He resisted the urge to glance behind him, convinced that whatever lurked there was best left unseen.

Vastian wasn't sure how much time had elapsed, but eventually they reached an ordinary-looking door. He stopped, drawn to its normalcy amidst the bizarre surroundings. It was the first door that felt right. As if in a trance, he reached out and opened it.

The room beyond was equally unremarkable. In the center sat a man, his movements restricted by a web of straps and belts.

When Vastian entered, the man, who had been gazing at the far wall, turned his attention to the young boy. Vastian's vision blurred, unable to focus on the man's face. He didn't understand why, but something obscured his vision.

"Good, you chose well," the man said, his voice a distorted, glitchy mess, like damaged computer speakers. At least, that's how it sounded to Vastian.

"Listen kid, I'm the one who was retrieved from the void," the man continued, a hint of what Vastian interpreted as a smile in his voice. "There's someone interested in you."

"If, within five years, you manage to discover who I am, you'll be able to meet this someone." As the man spoke, the room began to crumble around them. "See you in five years," were his final words before Vastian jolted awake in his bed.

Vastian was still grappling with the night's events, but he was certain the dream had been a prelude to the unveiling ritual. Adrenaline coursing through him, he leaped out of bed and raced to share his newfound knowledge with his parents. The Hek Mansion was a three-story, cylindrical structure, with the living room, kitchen, and other communal spaces on the first floor.

Before he could reach the first floor, Vastian heard his father's voice.

"It was a failure, Father," Arthur said.

"I know," Gerald replied.

"I've been informed that there's a child in one of our sponsored orphanages exhibiting strange phenomena. I'm going to investigate, and if it's true, I'll see about adopting him," Arthur added.

That was all Vastian needed to hear. Although he could try again in five years when he turned thirteen, his father was already seeking a replacement. The "strange phenomena" Arthur mentioned were likely early manifestations of Anima and a subtle influence of Amrita.

Disappointment washed over Vastian as he sat on the stairs. Just moments ago, he'd been eager to share his extraordinary dream. Now, the harsh reality of his insignificance within his family sank in. The man's words, "Discover who I am," echoed in his mind. If his own father could so easily discard him, perhaps he was not truly a Hek after all.

Five years had flown by. During that time, Aleara diligently studied the fundamentals of Anima manifestation and Amrita influence. Typically, during the initial Unveiling ritual, a deity would contact an individual and present them with a task. While there was a time limit to complete the challenge, those who succeeded early could progress to the second Unveiling ritual and forge a bond with their divine counterpart. Aleara had focused solely on her given task, adhering to the strict rule of secrecy to avoid interference.

Now, the day of her second Unveiling ritual had arrived. Concurrently, Vastian would attempt the ritual again. Over the past five years, he had withdrawn from the family, a noticeable change observed by all but largely ignored. The situation had worsened with Arthur's decision to adopt Beck, a boy with dark hair that stood out starkly against the family's fair complexions. Surprisingly, Beck proved to be a prodigy in Anima, effortlessly completing his first Unveiling ritual. He had been contacted by Ares, the primordial force of conflict and change. Having also finished his assigned task, Beck was scheduled to undergo his second Unveiling ritual today. As with the previous occasion, the secluded Hek mansion would be the venue, with Aleara commencing the proceedings.

Just like the first time, Aleara found herself alone within the ritual circle. This time, she began to meditate, seeking a deeper connection. The ritual itself was largely unchanged, except for the intensity of the purple glow, which was significantly stronger. Aleara had successfully bonded with Nexus, granting her access to new abilities, the nature of which remained a mystery. The path forward was hers alone to discover.

"Next it will be Beck" Arthur declare. Since Beck was an adopted son he was supposed to go last, so this was an irregularity that Arthur was trying to force.

A simple "Huh" escaped Beck's lips. "To be expected," he added smugly. Always prideful, Beck's self-centeredness had grown since his adoption. He often saw himself as superior to Aleara and Jacob, and any opportunity to belittle Vastian was eagerly seized.

Before Beck could take a step, a palpable tension filled the room. It was Gerald, his disapproval evident. This was a situation he couldn't allow to escalate. But Vastian intervened, "I don't mind. He can go first."

His words defused the situation, and Abigail was certain that without Vastian's intervention, Gerald would have reprimanded Arthur on the spot. Their relationship had been strained for years due to Arthur's treatment of Vastian, and this incident could have been the tipping point.

"Are you sure?" Gerald asked, his voice laced with doubt.

Vastian nodded resolutely. Beck stepped forward and entered the circle's center. His ritual mirrored Aleara's, beginning with a meditative stance. Soon, an intense crimson glow enveloped him, lasting several minutes before fading. He had successfully bonded with Ares.

After that, Vastian calmly stepped into the center of the circle, his demeanor in stark contrast to the tension in the room. Traditionally, children underwent the ritual at a young age to allow more time for the initial test. Success at this stage would significantly shorten the overall process.

As time passed, the collective anticipation dwindled. Yet, Vastian remained composed. A sudden, sharp bang shattered the silence.

"Again!" Arthur roared, his face flushed with anger.

Vastian turned to meet his father's furious gaze, his own expression remaining impassive.

"I guess we should just leave and not waste any more time," Vastian said calmly.

The anger in Arthur's face intensified at Vastian's words. His son's apparent indifference was a fresh insult. "What makes you think you have a say in this?" he demanded.

"Maybe the fact that I'm the one doing the ritual?" Vastian retorted with disdain.

Arthur raised his hand, a precursor to a physical outburst, but Jacob intervened. "Come on, Dad. I just got here. Let's not fight today."

Arthur's emotions were still raw, but Jacob's words had a calming effect.

"I agree with Vastian," Abigail added.

With his mother's support, Arthur was forced to relent, though his anger simmered beneath the surface. He stormed off, leaving Vastian with an impassive expression.

"You really don't care, brother?" Aleara asked, her hands clenched into fists, trembling slightly. "You seriously don't give a fuck…" Frustration laced her voice.

"Al, you wouldn't understand," Vastian replied, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about it. Everything will be fine."

With that, he calmly walked out of the building and towards his room.

That night, seated by the window, Vastian replayed the events of five years ago. The eerie similarities between then and now were unsettling. He couldn't be certain if history would repeat itself, but the intervening years had given him a clearer perspective on the enigmatic question posed all those years ago. With a mixture of hope and trepidation, he drifted off to sleep.