Chapter Forty Five
A New Player (Epilogue)
KANE
There had be nothing for a long time. Just deep dark emptiness, floating in a void, with his consciousness merely existing in…wherever he was. With what little of his mind he had left, Kane assumed he was in the spirit realm. After all, he had died in his quest to purge the earth of corruption and evil. Or rather, he had killed himself thinking that he would finally be reunited with his family.
That, however, could not have been more wrong. Kane was dismayed to find that what he had believed all along had been a lie. The one thing that had kept him going through those years of pain and anguish was the thought that he would one day see his family again. He had never planned to walk away from his quest alive. Running the sword through himself, he had just a moment of bliss knowing that his suffering was all over and that he would join his family in the spirit realm.
Now, it'd felt like an eternity of existing without purpose in the endless abyss. Alone, and forgotten. Is this what was awaiting him for the rest of eternity? Was this the punishment that continued even in death? Kane didn't know. All he knew was that he had been wrong, and that in death, his sanity had returned to him. The psychological effects on his mind that had been brought on by the snake totem had long since worn off now that he was dead, and he could think clearly for himself once again. But what was the use of being clear-headed when he didn't have a body to follow suit?
Then, as if his question was being answered, a bright light suddenly appeared, illuminating the abyss and dispelling every trace of darkness in the spirit realm. What was happening? Kane could feel something strange, as if parts of his scattered being were in the process of being pulled back together and reassembled. His mind began to race, and he could hear a heartbeat again. But how? That was impossible! If he had eyes, he would have closed them, but instead, he shut off his mind from whatever was happening to the spirit realm. Nothing was making sense!
The bright light began to fade, coherence and clarity taking its place. When he finally "opened the eyes of his consciousness", he found that he was looking through a set of eyes, with his five human senses returned to him.
"What…is this?" Kane was surprised to hear that he could speak, and was even more surprised to find that he could hear himself. He looked down and saw a body…his own. Reaching out to touch his face, he flinched slightly at the contact, not used to feeling anything since he had spent his entire afterlife in the spirit realm thus far. Was this paradise? Or purgatory?
"Welcome." A second voice, not his own, rang out from behind him.
Kane spun round reflexively, amazed that he could still recall how to move his body, and saw a man dressed in a mud red military uniform staring at him with a mildly incredulous look on his face.
"Who are you?" Kane growled. "And where am I?"
"And I'm assuming you also want to know how you got here, and why this is happening." The man said.
"Am I…" Kane started.
"Dead?" The man shook his head. "Not anymore apparently."
Maybe all that had happened in the endless abyss had taken place in a moment within his mind. Maybe he was still alive. Kane felt for the sword wound, and found nothing but smooth unbroken skin.
"You're looking for your injuries, aren't you?" The man studied Kane. "Don't bother. That's how we found you, but she's found a way to bring you back from the dead."
"She?" Kane asked in bewilderment.
Two more men dressed in similar military attire flanked Kane and escorted him past the man and through a series of carpeted hallways. Kane was still disoriented, and the sights just seemed to breeze by. Everything was still a blur, his senses clouded and still trying to make sense of his sudden resurrection. He was brought before a throne, in a large room that was filled with more guards.
"Welcome, Victor Kane."
Kane looked up to see a young woman seated on the spacious throne which was heavily ornamented. "How do you know my name?"
The young woman smirked. "I've heard of your exploits, Major. Trying to save the world by purging it of humanity. Bold."
Kane stared at her. "How long has it been since…"
"Since you died? Three months."
"How am I even alive?"
"Let's just say, I've unlocked the secrets of life itself."
"The Eternal King." Kane said. During his preparation for his quest, he remembered reading about the mythical figure who ruled Ancient Hyutreno for centuries. "You found the Eternal King."
The young woman nodded. "You should be grateful. I gave you a second chance at life."
"My life is meaningless." Kane said bitterly. "My life is nothing without my family. I died years ago without even knowing it." Then it hit him. Now that he was back, he could attempt to get to Motunui, steal the snake totem again, and try to bring his family back into the realm of the living. But deep inside, he knew that he could not do it. He didn't even know where the snake totem had been taken, and he had no one at his disposal to help him.
"I believe I can change that. I have an offer to make you." The young woman smiled.
"Who are you?" Kane demanded. "Where are we?"
The young woman got up from her throne and spread her hands. "We are in the capital city of Exon, and I am the queen."
Kane backed away. "I don't believe this. What do you want with me?"
"As I was saying," The Queen of Exon smiled slyly. "I have an offer for you."
Kane narrowed his eyes. "I'm listening."
~ THE END ~
Author's Commentary:
And…that's the end for now. It's been quite a journey penning this novel, and at the time of this writing, I am just about finished with the first draft of a sequel. By the looks of it, Book 3 is going to be bigger and more intense than this story, revolving around the idea of war and insurgencies!
Please do let me know what you think of this story. I'll greatly appreciate knowing that you've followed me through to the end, and that you'll be sticking around for Book 3 in this series :) Till then, here's a sneak peak of the first chapter of Book 3!