Star Eater - Chapter 2

Jacob’s Point of View

Black Hole

“A guest.” I heard it speak in the echo of many voices. It sounded female and motherly. “It appears we have injured you.”

It told me in a sad tone, and it approached me. Even though I had no body at this point, I was still shocked, to say the least. Although I couldn’t speak and should be dead already, I didn’t move. Whether I could or not was unknown to me as I seem to be a floating consciousness. Maybe all that remained was my soul.

“We are the essence of this star, and we are rebuilding ourselves elsewhere.” The creature spoke. “We have seen thousands of years go by and have decided to move ourselves. Another galaxy, perhaps, or maybe even another universe.”

I was confused as to why it was speaking in multiple voices and about the entire situation in general. Yet, I was even more confused about the fact that this unknown creature could exist in this amount of raw energy that was being generated and destroyed, by this black hole. To me, the star creature in front of me almost seemed to be God.

“However, we would not feel right in leaving you in this state.” She echoed. “Shall we restore your form?”

I tried to answer no and just finally pass on, but for obvious reasons, I couldn’t. Shaking my head didn’t work either, as my essence just seemed to wiggle. However, the creature seemed to know what I was trying to portray. Unfortunately, she didn’t care either.

Floating up slightly, she seemed amused. “A creature who wanted to die has found its way to me. Amusing” Her features started to become more prominent. “What about your life has left you so broken you’d want it to just simply end?” Touching me, she went quiet, as black orbs began to float around her.

The creature’s body morphed to a more human like appearance. Black seemed to make up most of her body, and it somehow clashed with the void we were in. Just like her pink hair and blue accents across her body. Tendrils of sorts shot out from the skull that was fixated atop her head, and there was an orb floating in-between the skull’s points.

“Yours has been a life of tragedy.” The creature spoke, and for the first time, revealed her eyes. “So much lost, and so little gained. Never living for yourself, but only for others. The one time you tried to break free, you were promptly shackled once more. Those chains still remain.” Her piercing gaze seemed to turn calculating as she continued. “It is why you cannot move on. Interesting.”

Removing her hand from me, she floated back slightly and looked off somewhere else. Confused and nervous, I didn’t know what to do. As a mere consciousness floating around in the heart of a black hole, I felt overwhelmed even in death. This is not what I expected the afterlife to be like for me, but somehow, it was fitting.

“I will not let you die here. Not in my domain.” She stated and turned back to me. There is another world where you can start over. Unfortunately, you are a creature of tragedy and cursed. Nothing I do will change that. Only you can.” Moving back towards me, she held out her hand. “You have no choice here. As the one responsible, it matters not if you were seeking death. My actions led to this, so I shall prevent it from happening so easily in your new world.”

No

“The body I shall grant onto you will be more powerful than you can imagine. It will be your job to understand how it works. Clues will be given to you, as will knowledge, but unlocking its full power will rest solely in your hands.” To my surprise, her multiple voices stopped, and her hand appeared where I thought my mouth was. “Consuming a part of me will ensure your abilities will carry you forward.”

My mind went numb as I felt my body reforming. At least, I thought it was my old body. The creature seemed amused at my speculations.

“You will be given a new body capable of withstanding almost anything. Keep in mind that I control the power of the cosmos and have entered eternity. Eventually, you will have to do the same.” She informed me. “A new body, with new looks, and new powers. Nothing as mundane as your previous life.”

No!

“A tormented soul such as yourself deserves a chance of salvation. It pains me to say it, but I doubt you will take my offer and try to make yourself as miserable as possible. That is something I can tell just from seeing your past. Because of this, I will take away your ability to choose.” She said simply.

NO!

Her arm straight up glowed for a moment before it entered my mouth, and shoved something down my throat, which seemed to solidate my body.

“So, I shall give you a warning. There is a terrible lie covering the world you are about to be sent to. Danger lurks where one cannot see, and the obvious answer is not the correct one.” The Star Creature began. “Solve the mystery of this world, or it will haunt you forever. Even in death. Unless,” She started and seemed to give me a softer look. “You finally find happiness. Then you’ll need to solve it before you pass. Yours is a cursed life, and this is my task, and condition, that I am giving you to be free of it. One way, or another.” Then her tone lowered. “Do not disappoint me.”

Fingers formed first, along with my toes. Stuck in the air and unable to move, I felt my body fully form, as my hair fell in front of my eyes. Armor and equipment formed around me. No longer was a mere consciousness, but a living being once more. The creature backed away as her arm stopped glowing slowly. Her hand was the last thing to flicker out, but she backed away and created a sword.

“This sword is connected to you and your abilities. It will be an aid and crutch for you until you have a deeper understanding of your powers.” Raising my hand unintentionally, I took the sword in my grasp. “Your new home will not be kind to you. You will have to fight for the life you want, for that is your fate. Should you choose to accept that destiny, you will be able to pass on peacefully when your time comes.” With a flick of her wrist, she poked my forehead. “I know you’re plagued by nightmares. This should help you immensely. Consider it a gift.”

Floating behind me and wrapping her arms around me, I felt her fingers touch my face as I kept my arm raised with my new sword in its grasp. My right eye felt a sharp pain as her fingers made their way to my mouth once more. Her touch was hotter now, and as if needing no prodding, I opened my mouth again.

“I used a part of myself to form your body. Now, you just need one more for other reasons. Enjoy my gifts. For there are many.” Her hand moved to my neck as she continued. “One will be a blessing for you in your dreams and for your mind. Now, leave in peace and enjoy your chance at a new life.” She whispered to me as runes seemed to light up around the room.

The creature told me as it broke off a part of its body in my mouth. As it did this, I noticed that its colors began to change. This startled me as I watched helplessly, and I felt something move throughout this new body and force its way in. Looking up at the star creature as I slowly floated away, it almost seemed sad, but soon ignored it as I felt a burning sensation as I ate the part of the creature that the star woman had given to me.

“You will be put somewhere safe. Somewhere that holds secrets. Learn what you can, my Star Eater.” She told me. “For it might be the only thing that saves you. Just know that your time is limited.” Was her last warning as I left.

Looking into her eyes as I was thrown into a new vortex, I felt my brand-new body being torn asunder. Even as it was, I looked into those dark eyes, with strange symbols replacing her iris and pupil. However, she soon disappeared from view, as did chunks of my body. Piece by piece, molecule by molecule, I endured. My screams were silenced by the emptiness of space once more, but something was different this time.

While the pain was vast, and my confusion even more so, I felt my body beginning to resist. Putting itself back together repeatedly, I became more accustomed to the pain. Now, it was almost a dull sensation. How long had I been in this vortex of nothingness for it to come to this? It felt like thousands of years had passed. Yet, it came to an end suddenly and without warning.

“Shit!” I shouted as I was thrown from the vortex and into a wall.

Immediately standing up and looking over my body, I realized that I was, indeed, alive. An odd feeling. While I wasn’t sure if I was grateful or disappointed, I began to take note of a few things. First, my clothes were completely changed. Armor donned my body that seemed to match my sword. Next, my sword reminded me of the Star Creature and pretty much confirmed this wasn’t just a bad dream. Lastly, my body seemed perfectly fine, but my vision was a little off. Bringing my right hand up to my eye, I touched it lightly and felt that it was there.

“You can’t decide these things on your own” I whispered to myself, angry.

Almost as if instinct, I knew that there was a holster on my back for my sword. Once it was put away, I began to take in the area. Books, furniture, mirrors, and more lined a small room. A very magical looking room. There was a small waterfall of green water flowing upwards towards the ceiling and illuminating the room. Odd, but I’d seen my fair share of odd things today.

“Where is this place? Why send me here?” All questions I would never get the answer to. “Can you hear me, Star Creature!?” I shouted and got no response. “Didn’t think so.” I said bitterly as I eyed the mirror. “Might as well see what I look like now.”

Stepping in front of the mirror, my eyes widened in surprise at how vastly different I looked. White hair was the first thing I saw. It was long, in a ponytail, and rested on my shoulder. Next, I noticed my face was completely different. Thinner and certainly more attractive than I would’ve ever cared for. However, what stuck out most was my right eye.

“Why give me this?” I asked myself as I looked at the strange symbols.

My eye matched the Star Creature’s, and I was unsure of what it meant or the powers it might hold. It was slightly different, but not by much. I did have the purple glow from her iris. Frowning at it, all I could do was sig, and take in everything else. The white armor that decorated my body was covered in designs that meant nothing to me. In fact, it looked like something a King or Prince would wear in a fantasy world.

It wasn’t long before my gaze settled on my sword’s pommel sticking out above my shoulder. Reaching back and grabbing it by the grip, I pulled it forward. Now in my right hand, I studied the otherworldly blade. There wasn’t a guard, and the blade was actually two separate blades that wrapped around an orb that matched my eye. The sheer size of it told me that it should’ve been heavy. Especially considering it was almost as long as I was tall.

“I can feel it,” I said to myself as my left hand came up and began to trace it. “This has been the weirdest day I’ve ever had.”

Putting the sword away and taking one last look at myself in the mirror, I sighed. Eventually, my gaze began to focus on the keener details in the room. Specifically, the books. How else should I learn new information on a world? Moving over to the bookshelf, I began reading through titles.

“Tales of Aridia, Legends, The Two Royal Families, The Three Realms, and The One True Goddess.” I read out loud. “All of these are massive. Doubt I have the time to even read these.”

Touching the books, I noticed they were old. Very old. However, they also seemed to be protected. When I tried to pull one out of the shelf, it was impossible, and a green barrier of sorts appeared. Pulling my hand back, I felt something powerful from this energy and was immediately on guard. Although, when nothing happened, I decided to look elsewhere.

A few statues caught my attention, and I moved across the room to them. “I wonder what this says” Four statues lined a doorway, and I quirked a brow as I looked at each one. “This is some sort of writing, but none that I’ve ever seen. It almost looks magical.” Again, a magical barrier erupted when I touched the wording. “Shit!”

I hissed as I felt the green energy trying to crawl into my body. Frowning with a glare at the statues, I took notice of how detailed they were. However, only two were detailed. The others were faded and looked like they had been eroded over time. Three were normal height, while one towered over the others.

The tallest one was of a woman. Power seemed to radiate off of her even though it was just a statue. One detail I did find interesting was her ears. She seemed to be elvish or something of the sort. It was impossible to know for certain, though. However, she was very beautiful if this statue was anything to go off of.

Next, my eyes skipped over the lesser detailed statues and looked at the last one. Another female, but the ears weren’t the same. This one looked human. A fierce look was etched across her face, and two hammers dangled from her hands. Not quite like Thor, but forging hammers that belonged in a smithy.

As I was looked over the words, a wind blew through the room, and the doors slammed open. Immediately turning around with my sword in hand, I quickly took a defensive position. This was a mistake. From behind me, I heard creaking and the grinding of stone.

“What-” I began only to be cut off when a hand grabbed my shoulder.

Hissing in pain, I looked over my shoulder to see the two eroded statues had grabbed hold of me. Trying to shake them off was impossible. Their energies seemed to grow and fill the room. They restrained me fully, and I struggled to get free as I felt the energy prod and probe at my body.

Looking at one of the faces, I saw glowing green eyes glaring at me. “You should not be here”