The Star Of Depravity - Chapter 5

By the looks of it, Ervin felt the heavyweight of its metal clothing that accentuated every shape on the creature’s body.

His eye zoomed at the center of what looked to be a well-polished breastplate. Engraved intricately were concentric circles alternating between fading shades of silver.

Something whispered at the back of Ervin’s mind that the creature was somewhat the judge of this place.

A loud thud resonated in the whole place when its metal sabaton settled on the cement in front of the crystal prism.

“Welcome, welcome,” the deep rumble of its voice made Ervin’s heart constrict with uneasiness.

The creature presented its steel, gloved hand as if to embrace them, “I am The Keeper of this land, and you are all gathered here, in the Garden of Vera, to fulfill your purpose.”

Murmurs around the entire colosseum washed the pounding of Ervin’s heart. He focused his gaze on the creature’s red hood as if he could pry the thing off with his stare.

What’s he saying? I thought we were all dead? 

To fulfill a purpose didn’t sit well with him. He’d wanted to… rest, and not to pick-up another role to live.

The creature directed his hands toward the balconies, “Children of Paradise,” he called them.

Ervin wasn’t entirely sure why the label made him feel uneasy, or let alone that it addressed the fact that there were more people besides him inside the floating balconies.

Then, the creature pointed his index finger around each floor on the chairs surrounding the arena.

“The Spectators,” called The Keeper to the creatures that Ervin knew didn’t exist minutes ago.

The Keeper’s stare weighed as if he was assessing every last one of them.

“I am here as their messenger and keeper of peace,” he continued.

A messenger? A keeper of peace? Ervin’s hunch of him being the judge grew and grew.

The Keeper drew in a breath before he spoke again, “You are called upon the great Deities to be vessels of the power they possess.”

What…? 

Ervin’s brow creased.

Aren’t we supposed to die…? Aren’t we all dead? 

“Vessels?” he heard a timid voice that seemed to be on the verge of crying beside his balcony.

Ervin glanced at the balcony next to his and saw a silhouette of a woman with bright, auburn hair. He wasn’t able to get a good look on her face as it was slightly shadowed by darkness.

“But we’re dead!” the woman with auburn hair yelled, echoing all over the place. “We’re dead! We can’t do it!”

“We don’t need to be vessels,” said the person from above him, “we need to cross over the place we’re supposed to be.”

Based on its baritone, Ervin knew it was a man’s.

“Let us out of this place!” screamed the man above him.

The Keeper turned its head to the direction of the shouting voices.

“Ah, if it isn’t the Children of Paradise.” It dipped its chin into what seemed to be a bow. “Welcome to the Garden of Vera. The Deities are pleased to have chosen all of you.”

Ervin thinks it’s all a dream. It must be! How can this all turn into a ninety-degree angle he didn’t expect? And on top of that, it happened after he finally achieved his freedom from the world of the living.

“Now, you’re all tasked to surrender your physical forms to our Deities. In exchange, as long as you remain alive and well, the Deities are going to entrust you all the absolute power that they possess.”

Ervin vigorously shook his head.

This can’t be happening. He was very against where this is going. I’m supposed to be…dead. Dead! Not some vessel—

“It’s with great honor that you are chosen to represent the balance in all of Lestra,” The Keeper folded its hands like it’s going to pray.

Ervin’s anxiousness rose higher than he usually felt. It made him sweat as the beating of his heart felt like it would shatter his breast bone.

What was even the purpose of taking his own life if it’s just going to be used by someone else in the afterlife? And on top of that, to maintain the balance in this so-called Lestra?

“I wish you all a long life,” said The Keeper before it pointed its metallic fingers upward, the loud beat of the drums echoing in the entire arena.

Ervin disappeared.

* * *

The hot wind caressed his face. And when he tried to pry open his eyes, sand got caught inside.

Ervin continuously blinked to remove the stinging itch that made his eyes tear a little. The wind grew more robust, and he instinctively used his arm to shield his face.

Just like how fast it came, the wind abruptly stopped.

When he opened his eyes, the overseeing view in front of him was a vast plain that’s made up of sand dunes and stones covering the entire land—he was in a desert waste, and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, the sky above him weaving toward darkness.

A tall, narrow pillar with a pyramidal top towered over him. It was an obelisk that had vertically engraved inscriptions he couldn’t read.

Ervin roamed his head in an attempt to find a way to escape the situation at hand.

There must be a way out of this! He thought as he pulled his fluttering hoodie down.

Just like the one he saw on The Keeper’s breastplate, Ervin noticed he was bounded inside the space of a concentric circle.

He staggered away from the obelisk, his heart pumping fast that the sensation made him want to vomit. Concluding the suffering he felt was the ultimatum he wanted, and it didn’t matter what barren land he ends up in. He didn’t leave his previous life only for him to wind-up living a second time…!

Ervin glimpsed at either side of him. The circle each human was standing on began radiating in different varieties of colors. A course of wind came from below where they stood.

He almost ran if not for his instincts, telling him that he didn’t know what will happen if he stepped beyond the circle. He yelped as the purple light traced the circular lines, causing the entire loop to glow despite the dimness.

He counted the other humans standing in front of the same obelisk—

…seven, eight, nine, ten. Ervin didn’t have the time to take a look at each of their faces.

There were at least ten humans in total, and based on what he saw, they were aligned with the same looking obelisk as he had before him.

Ervin froze. He couldn’t move his legs as the confusion caused by the situation halted his actions. Usually, he’d know what to do no matter how complicated the situation is, but now, nothing would come to mind.

After a bolt of lightning, The Keeper appeared before them. It hovered in the air for a while before descending on the sand a foot above it.

“Welcome, Children of Paradise.” As it said those words, The Keeper’s baritone voice deepened even more. “Rejoice, for you have been chosen as the vessels for the Deities that bring balance to Lestra.”

Ervin’s forehead scrunched in confusion.

Lestra? He thought while panicking. He wasn’t entirely sure what Lestra is.

The Keeper elevated higher as a massive concentric circle formed on the dunes underneath it. “The Deities have brought you to their home. Touch the obelisk, and fulfill your duty to protect this world.” The red cloak that hung on its back waved in the wind’s direction.

There was a sudden tug in Ervin’s joints. He didn’t know what it was at first, but when his hand gradually moved toward the obelisk, his fingers reaching for the layers of stone—

Stop, stop! 

Ervin caught his hand, and he held onto it with all his might. He gritted his teeth as his fingers dug on his skin. It continued to move on its own as if someone else is controlling his resolve.

“No!” he yelled, his light brown eyes glaring at the obelisk before him.

If he didn’t hear The Keeper wrong, once he touched the obelisk’s surface, he’d be bound to a Deity for the rest of his remaining days.

The inscriptions engraved on its narrow stature pulsed at his declaration.

Ervin gathered his resolve to fight back to whoever—whatever was making him move his hand.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind.

No, no, no—shit! 

The veins on his neck popped, his hand a foot away from touching the obelisk, when suddenly, it halted mid-air.

He didn’t resist as the invisible force let go of his arm. Ervin let out a long huff. He wondered what he did to drove it away.

A prickly feeling grabbed hold of his attention. Ervin turned his head, searching. Then, it landed on a woman with wavy, auburn hair. She was staring at him, alertness reflecting in the charming blue of her irises.

Tears threatened to fall on her cheeks; her face a mixture of confusion and dread. Her plump lips quivered as if she’s about to say something.

Ervin opened his mouth, but he was lost for words.

He watched as her entire body trembled, her slim fingers grazing the obelisk’s exterior.

Ervin blinked.

The woman disappeared, a breath of fresh air slicing his way.

Warm liquid moved down his cheeks.

His eyes widened in surprise, eyebrows drawn together at the sting that spread on his face. His hand swiftly went up to trace it. He didn’t know what to make of it when the sight of blood dripped down his palm.

Why…why am I bleeding? Does that mean I’m still…?