Interlude: Outsider Views

An athletic looking man with black hair and bright glowing white eyes sat leisurely in a comfortable looking recliner. Wearing a comfy bathrobe and fur slippers, the man had a glass of brandy in one hand and a book in another.

The room the glowing eyes man sat in what appeared to be a cozy wooden cabin. A fireplace sat before him crackling away a warm comforting flame with a stag’s head on the mantle. Beneath his feet laid a fine-looking rug. Around him were a few potted plants, bookshelves, paintings and drawn up curtains.

Before the man was a large flatscreen television that was displaying four different viewpoints that the man periodically stared at with interest while reading his book.

One showed Bryson Coldwater walking out of the town center from the farming town. Another screen displayed a wasteland with monsters crawling all over it. The third screen displayed a coffee haired man performing a stage show. The final screen showed Afa, Goddess of Heroes, busy enjoying herself in some sort of party that she had set up.

The man gave a small laugh as he looked at the screen and watched everything, taking particular interest at the screen that displayed Afa. He couldn’t help but smile every time he recalled what will happen in a few years time.

“Ah, it’s so good when everything falls into place.” The mans laughs to himself as he took a sip from his glass, looking directly at Bryson, “You have done very well for yourself. It’s going to be pretty fun with you here.” He said pointing at the screen with his glass of brandy.

With a smile he turned the page on his book and continued to read. However in the back of his head he heard a small buzzing noise. Looking up from his book he pursed his lips and gave a slow frustrated groan.

The door to the cabin clicked open as it was unlocked, creaking open the man sitting in the chair could here footsteps enter the room. It sounded like the newcomer entered the room then moved further in, stopping upon reaching the middle.

The glowing eyed man sitting in the recliner closed his eyes and seemed to be contemplating something. After a pregnant pause he gave deep exhale before opening his eyes and taking a large swallow of his brandy. He then turned his recliner to face the newcomer. The man’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise however when he saw who it was.

“Ha, ha! Valer!” The man exclaimed with a slightly scratchy voice, “It’s great to see you again! It’s been ages since we last met!”

The person before him looked to be a small, skinny teenager with black hair and dark eyes, wearing some sort of school uniform that even came with a tie. Visually it seemed that the two beings in the room could be related.

“I can’t believe they sent you here! Thought you were busy with that thing, anyways, see you got a new suit.” The glowing eyes man in the chair said with a grin.

The one referred to as Valer had an expressionless face as he nodded his head in greeting, “Hello, Hallow. It has been a while.” Looking down at himself he then looked back towards Hallow, “Yes, I received this one recently.”

In comparison to Hallow, Valer’s voice was far more conserved, lower and monotone. It felt that their own voices would have better fit the other.

“So anyways, who sent you here bud?” Hallow asked jovially.

Valer, who’s face still remained expressionless, “You know that doesn’t matter. What matters is what you are doing.”

Hallow scoffed, “Pfft, me? Nothing! Nothing at all! Well, maybe a little something.” He admitted.

“What have you done.” Valer asked taking a step forward.

“Why do you care?” Hallow snapped, getting annoyed, “Aren’t you busy doing another job, hence that. Stay in your lane.” He said as he jabbed his finger towards Valer.

“What have you done.” Valer repeated taking another step forward.

Shaking his head Hallow opened his mouth, “I did what I always do, I made a deal.” He said with a sly grin, nudging his head towards the television.

Slowly Valer turned toward the television that displayed the multiple screens. Squinting at the screen he turned his head sideways as he watched.

“That boy.” He said after staring at the screen for a few seconds, “He shouldn’t be here… he should be in Setera.” Glaring at Hallow he asked, “You stole him?”

“What? They wouldn’t miss one guy. There was plenty already landing there. So, I took one for myself, changed a few things. Why are you so worked up about it? You can’t even take him back! There’s nothing to be done.” Hallow said defensively.

“You know you can’t just take him.” Valer warned.

“Please, he’s not the only one I grabbed.” Hallow said with a smile.

Valer stared back at the screen this time staring at Afa, “Who is that?”

“Afa, Goddess of Heroes, she’s in charge around here apparently.” Hallow said grabbing another swig from his glass.

“No… this isn’t right.” Valer said eyes glues onto the screen, “Where are The Six?”

“In slumber.”

Valer’s glare turned towards Hallow once more, “What did you do.”

“Woah there big boy, they were like that when I got here. Why else do you think I chose this as my vacation spot.” Hallow replied with a grin.

“So that’s why she’s in charge.”

“Yep. Well, I may have given her some advice, but it was mostly just her.” He said resting his hands behind his head, “Though I did make a few more deals to the more unsavory groups.” He noted

“How many others are going to arrive?” Valer demanded not looking away from the screen.

“Just another six in a few years.” He replied casually.

“Earth?”

“Yep.”

“You are going to cease this mockery at once Hallow.” Valer ordered, finally looking back at Hallow.

“Oooh, I would love to. But I already made a deal, and I have to keep my end of the bargain. Got an image to keep you know? So sorry, but no. Now you go head along back and play with those mortals.” Valer shooed.

“That wasn’t a request.” Valer stated.

Hallow’s cheek twitched, “Shove it Valer.” He hissed, “Why do you even care about this garbage world? I thought you would’ve had your fill of dealing with other worlders and worthless ‘gods’ with your current job.”

“It doesn’t matter how I feel, what matters is what you’re doing.” Valer replied with just a hint of anger creeping into his monotone voice.

“Oh, because what I’m doing is wrong, huh?” Hallow said as he leaned forward, “Please tell me, how does that body feel? Is it nice wearing the face of a kid who hasn’t even reached their second decade yet?” He goaded.

Valer stared at Hallow in silence before speaking, trying to keep his voice neutral, “This boy was dead when they gave the body to me.”

“Funny, because I recall that you need a living body to be able to posses.”

“He was comatose.”

“Ah, so he’s still not dead.”

Valer rolled his eyes, “If you’re trying to prove a point then you’re failing. We both know that you’re only doing this because you’re desperate for approval from him. Let me tell you now, he won’t care. Now cease.”

Hallow stood straight up and loomed over the scrawny looking Valer who expressionlessly stared back. Hallow bared his teeth before uttering, “No.”

“Strarth is not yours, those people you’ve taken are not yours. A power vacuum here does not mean that you can be in charge and change things. You will fix it.” Valer stated.

“Will I now? Who’s gonna make me? You?” Hallow asked as his eyes shone even brighter.

Saying nothing Valer’s dark brown eyes stared back into the glowing eyes of Hallow. Slowly the colour in Valer’s irises disappeared, leaving nothing but pure white, and they too began to glow.

As the two stared each other down the room began to shake, the pages on Hallow’s book ripped out of the spine. The glass of brandy cracked and shattered across the floor. The fireplace suddenly snuffed out and the charred wood splintered. The recliner burst open and cotton spilled out of it. The TV was blown to the ground as the stag head fell from it’s mantel.

The bookshelves and table broke apart, the plants immediately wilted as the curtains blew off the windows. Outside the room the windows revealed that they were currently within a black void. With nothing but this wooden cabin sitting in a black void.

As the windows cracked and the roof began fly apart, a high frequency hum filled the room. But before either one could progress this stare down any further the room was suddenly filled with light.

In unison the two began to look around the place in confusion, finally looking upwards they realized that a massive beam of light was shing down on them.

Do not engage. A voice ran through their heads. Deliver your message and leave Valer, you are needed elsewhere.

Taking a deep breath Valer closed his eyes and when he opened them, they returned to normal, “We are done here.” He said simply.

Hallow’s eyes turned back to a dim glow and the shaking stopped as he watch Valer leave, before he did however, he said one last thing.

“It is unlikely for me to come here again, but someone will. You are not the god of this world, and that boy is not what you think he is. He will stop your plans. Don’t forget that.” Valer said ominously as he shut the door behind him and the light disappeared, leaving Hallow alone.

Hallow stood still in silence for a long while before finally sitting down on his suddenly fixed recliner. As he took a sip out of his glass of brandy and the room was back to normal. Staring at the television he thought. We shall see.