Seeker and Savior

Lightning was making her way through a remote corner of the wildlands when she came to a low hill. She was surprised to find someone standing on it. She had not run into anyone else here. The only reason she was because she had decided she had enough time to make sure she would not miss anything important. And having concluded there was nothing worth her attention here she had in fact been meaning to leave.

For a brief moment she wondered if she should just keep going. There were still things to do, and so little time. She had bought all the time she could. But now the end had gone beyond her ability to postpone. But somehow this strange character alone in the wilderness had piqued her curiosity. And it was her job to save souls. For all she knew this stranger was the thing she had been concerned she would miss…

As she was climbing the hill her radio crackled to life. "Light? Be careful. I'm detecting…" Hope said before his voice turned into a garbled mess.

"Hope? What's wrong?" She asked. But all she got was a few broken syllables before the radio shut down completely.

"Hope? Hope! Dammit…" She cursed. It looked like she was going to be on her own for a bit…

As she got closer she began to feel an inexplicable sense of unease. Once again she considered turning around and going elsewhere. But she decided to continue. If anything she was even more curious now. She could already know there was something strange going on. Something strange about this person in front of her. And she wanted to find out what.

The stranger just stood there, his back turned to her and arms folded behind his back. He was a younger fellow with long white hair and wearing a black coat. A fairly inoccuous sight if not the feeling centered on him. A slight twitch of his head told her he had noted her approach.

"Well… if it isn't the Savior. Greetings." The stranger said, giving her a smile over his shoulder before turning his attention to the landscape he had been observing.

"Who are you? And why are you all the way out here on your own?" She asked.

"I have come to watch the end of this world. Perhaps it shall inform my own work." The figure replied.

She blinked, confused. "But why would you come all the way out here for it? You do realize the end is for the whole world? You could watch it anywhere."

"Correct. But I'm afraid you misunderstand. When I said I came here I did not mean this hill." The stranger said.

"Then what did you mean?" She asked.

"To enter somewhere there needs to be an outside to come from. The end will come for the whole world. So no matter where I happen to stand I get to see it. So in that case where is the outside I came from?" He said.

She was about to say she had no time for riddles. But then it finally clicked in her head. "You… claim to not be from this world?"

The stranger nodded. Lightning sighed, rolling her eyes. Apparently she had stumbled onto some madman. What a waste of time. She turned to leave.

"You need not believe my words. And you may go if you wish. Meeting you was not in my plans. We both still have a great deal of work ahead of us." He said, waving dismissively. Something about his words… it made her stop and turn back to him.

"…What work are you here to do?" She asked.

There was a pause, the stranger seeming to consider if he should tell her.

"Work not unlike yours. This world is not the only one dying. There is an ending that is coming for each and every one of them. All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. Like you I've decided to accept this inevitability and focus my attention on ensuring a new world will rise from the ashes. One better designed, where the eventual doom is forever averted. But unlike you I won't require a deity to do the crafting. I intend to see to it myself." He finally explained.

"You really think you have that power?" She asked, sounding skeptical.

"Not yet. It's why I've come. I'm on a journey to acquire the knowledge and the means. I walk my destined path, as I have before." He said.

"Before?" She asked.

"You need not understand." He said.

"I wonder…" He then said, turning around. For the first time Lightning saw the peculiar yellow coloring of his eyes. He gave her the strangest look, one that made her feel extremely uncomfortable. Like she was being… evaluated. Her hand moved closer to her weapon.

"My… what a vessel you would make. Among the strongest no doubt." He mused.

A vessel? She did not know what he meant, but she certainly did not like the sound of it. Her hand was now on the hilt of her sword, ready to fight if need be.

"But alas, no. I sense that you are not one of the ones I am to choose. Besides, if I claim you I'll trespass on the property rights of a being I have no interest in quarrelling with. I'm here to watch a master craftsman work, not steal his tools." He said.

"No one owns me. Never forget it." She said, offended.

The stranger merely chuckled. "Such a rebellious tone. I can see now why you weren't chosen. The contest of wills would be a tiresome affair. Never mind then."

"I believe I have talked away enough time. Duty beckons both of us. We shall not meet again. But rest assured I will be watching you closely. I look forward to seeing what you will do when the end comes."

"Go forth and win your future, then enjoy it with those dearest to you for as long as you can. No doubt you will have more than earned it. May your heart be your guiding key in the remaining days ahead." He concluded.

Then to her surprise some kind of portal opened. He walked in, and then he was just gone. Moments later her radio came back to life:

"Light? Light!? Please answer me!"

"Hope? Good, you're back. What can you tell me about that guy?" She asked.

"Guy? What guy? Light, all I got was an off the scale anomaly of some kind on my instruments before everything went blank. I've been trying to contact you ever since but I couldn't get through. I was worried something might have gone wrong." He told her.

"Wait. You really saw none of that?" She asked.

"No, nothing. What happened?" He asked.

"I just had the weirdest conversation with… someone. Don't know what to make of it to be honest."

"But… we should get back to work." She said. She hurried away, suddenly feeling like she didn't want to be anywhere near this place.