Chapter 12: The Void Encounter

Chapter 12: The Void Encounter

In the previous chapter, Mateo, Luar, Ofurd, and Kamil were taken to a hotel. They met a man named Gramwaer who escorted them to their selected floor. Gramwaer gave each of them a card to access their rooms, then left.

Luar told Mateo, "Hey Mateo, I am feeling a little sleepy. I should rest for a bit."

Ofurd and Kamil agreed. "Yeah, we should take some rest for now at least."

Mateo thought to himself, Well if they are sleeping I might as well sleep too.

Time drifted on, long and slow.

Then Mateo woke up. He got up and went to the bathroom to wash his face. When he tried to use the faucet, nothing came out.

Mateo muttered to himself, "Ugh, damn it. Whatever."

Then he remembered something. Did this same thing happen to me about ten years ago?

He shook it off, went back to his bed, and tried to sleep. But sleep would not come.

Mateo thought to himself, Maybe I should go to Luar's room. I think he would not mind.

Mateo opened the door and then froze.

"Wha...t? Not again. No. Why is he here?"

There was nothing. Just the void itself. The hotel carpet stretched out endlessly. There were no windows. Rocks floated in the sky as if gravity did not exist. The emptiness was overwhelming.

Then a voice echoed through the darkness, laughing.

"Welcome back, my good sir."

Mateo called out, "Who summoned me here? Why have I been summoned?"

A man appeared, dressed entirely in black. He looked imposing and dangerous.

"Welcome, The Traitor King," the man said.

Mateo tensed. "What do you want? Have you come to take my abilities, Void King?"

The man laughed. "Hahaha. Don't call me the Void King."

Mateo said, "But you just called me The Traitor King. Don't ever call me that name again."

"Fine," the man replied. "What do you want to be called then... Erevos?"

Erevos raised an eyebrow. "What name are you using?"

Mateo answered, "I am using a strange name but it is none of your business."

Erevos said, "I have been told to take your abilities from you. It is very dangerous. The Chief warned that you might do the same thing you did many years ago."

Mateo said firmly, "Only on one condition. I will still keep my immortality."

Erevos laughed, harsh and bitter. "You say this planet has become what it is, and yet you still seek life? That is sad."

Mateo said, "My friend, I am going to put an end to all of this. I have prepared someone who looks like me. Or perhaps my inaction has created this situation. You mean to say that you want life in this void?"

Erevos asked, "How long will that take?"

Mateo replied, "It will take time."

Erevos smirked. "If that day had come, you would have had the full clan as your chance to live like this." He sighed. "Mateo... remember when we used to go hunting together?"

Mateo said, "Ok. Now go on and do what you brought me here for."

Erevos disappeared, then returned a second later.

Erevos said, "I made some changes."

Mateo asked, "What changes?"

Erevos said, "You will continue living forever. But if you get killed or if you age, you will die."

Mateo opened his eyes slowly. "Tell me everything in detail."

Erevos hesitated. "I don't know too much either..."

Mateo said, "Stop calling him 'he.' Why not say his name, huh Erevos?"

Erevos looked nervous. "Why do you want me to say his name? You know that when I say it, I lose part of my memory."

Mateo said, "Fine. I will say it. You can only call him whatever you want. Mal'dureth."

Erevos screamed in pain. "Say it again please! The pain will go away if you say it!"

Mateo said slowly, "Mal'dureth."

Mateo asked, "How does that feel?"

Erevos shuddered. "I found out how to give this curse to someone else."

Mateo said, "Never mind that. Tell me everything I need to know before I leave."

Erevos continued. "I can give you these powers. But before that, I will take all of your abilities and your immortality, and they will be passed to someone else — the one who takes your life, or the one who..."

Mateo felt a chill run down his spine.

This is only the beginning, he thought.