There was nothing in this realm, lest the screaming of souls, reflections and malice permeated from the concepts of desire and ambition. And upon this realm, only a being walked free. The Master Mirror, Merchant of Mirrors, or as some people still living know it, Evil Incarnate.
In his halls only silence echoed with an eerie silence, for he was absorbed in his defeat. His usually impeccable yet simple attire hung disheveled upon his form, a stark contrast to the air of confidence that had once surrounded him.
There were only two mortals that have beaten him, the first one, his reward was oblivion, no one, Gaunter O Dimm would not remember him nor his wishes that previously made the mortal bound to him out of spite. The mortal was clever, and Gaunter was impressed, because he thought that it would have been a once in an eternity event, an impressive wit the lad had, yet it stung his pride to its absolute core to have been bested that time, but time healed all wounds.
And then, once again… he was bested.
Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf had ruined it, his plans, the delicious scheming, the allure of adding one more soul to his domain and savor its suffering for eternity, all of it was unraveled. For centuries, he could only reel in frustration.
Memories of their confrontation flashed through his mind like shards of broken glass, each one a painful reminder of his own fallibility. He had underestimated Geralt, dismissed him as just another pawn in his grand game of manipulation. But the Witcher had proven to be a formidable adversary, for an educated mortal at least, it may have been a desperate gambit, but with the right man and mind, win and cunning could match his own as O'Dimm has experienced previously. It's ironic… a heartless being like a Witcher, was compelled to help such a ruined soul as Olgierd von Everec… was it indeed in a gesture of empathy and good nature from Geralt of Rivia to save the man? Or was it in a seized opportunity to "hunt, exorcise or banish" what the witcher at the time considered the greatest threat in all of existence, surpassing dragons or Elder Vampires.
For now, the master cared not, he could only focus on his languish, admonishing his arrogance, the Merchant of Mirriors had believed himself untouchable, invincible in his power.
He indeed cannot be beaten, he will return, he prides himself on his ability to twist the threads of fate to his will, to manipulate the very fabric of reality itself. And yet, he found himself staring into the abyss of his own limitations, forced to confront the harsh truth of his own fallibility. Amidst the despair and self-doubt, there flickered a spark of something else – something that O'Dimm could not quite name. It was a sensation he had not felt since the beginning of his existence, a stirring of emotion that threatened to consume him whole. Only mortals felt this when he laid his hands upon the threads of their destiny once their contracts where due, once they had no way out.
He didn't want to admit it, but he was experiencing and feeling it.
It was fear.
Fear of what lay beyond the boundaries of his control. For the first time in eons, Gaunter O'Dimm found himself standing on the precipice of uncertainty, his path forward shrouded in darkness from his banishment.
But as he gazed into the void, he felt disturbance, something was intersecting with his realm…
An opportunity was opened like a door, there was an essence, the adopted daughter of the Witcher. The Gate of the Worlds had created a bridge and three doors, one blocked, to the world he was banished, one to his own realm and another… to unknown lands.
Strange… this has never happened before when the Heiress of Cintra worldjumped to other realms of existence, normally the teleportation incurred a link between the Globe and the Spiral was the bridge which then intersected to other realms within the Spiral. Gaunter O'Dimm forgot his own angst thanks to curiosity, he walked this bridge produced from the sorcery of the Elder Blooded Daughter, and for once, opened this door.
War
Malice
Conflict
Greed
Desperation
Ambition
Oh how disgusting, yet so, mesmerizing, this emotions intensity were a hundred fold, more than what the 3rd Northern War produced. These 'winds' roused his expectations, he just needs to see whats on the other side of the door.
And as he opened it he let a part of his essence, a simulacrum, out and experience this new world. The first thing he noticed was that there was no 'Chaos', no magic on this land, the second was, the destruction. This land was ravaged, nothing but rubble, brimstone, and ash. Disturbingly enough, there were silhouettes made from this ash, as if mortals were combusted and framed upon this very ground, leaving shadowy impressions that mirrored the souls from his realm that languished in their own loathing.
He just had to see what happened, if there was no magic, then what could conjure this destruction.
The Master of Mirrors entered a destroyed house, and upon all the destruction, the was a trinket, a piece of glass that reflected the gloomy sky. It reflected a cloud that simulated to be a mushroom, its figure towered upon the heavens as if to defy them.
With a flicker from his hand, piece of glass expanded itself and coalesced into a bigger frame, and by his will, he commanded it to reflect the cause of this event.
Oh how disgustingly marvelous had this humanity sinned.
For the mind of the common humans, the flow of information that the mirror invoked upon the Master mirror would have broken their mortal minds, for it encompassed the beginning of this realm to its current age. Gaunter saw how nothing became everything, not by Chaos, not by gods, not by any supernatural event, but by chance, no Conjunction of Spheres that birthed magic, no Order or Harmony. This realm was no one's possession.
He saw how the Earth had been borne from clouds of dust and molten rock clashing with eatch other. How life began, and how every being evolved to their current standards. Since no one commanded this domain, he could see how it would end but what's the point if you cannot enjoy the journey for destination is not where the experience is.
What was important now… this humanity, has created the most powerful thing they could create, without the use of anything but their own intellect and a desire to bend the elements to their own will.
He stood upon the land of "Japan", specifically a placed called Hiroshima. An hour past the first nuclear bomb used in war. And from the mirrors reflection, if this country did not surrender soon, well they would receive a second one three days later.
It dawned upon Evil Incarnate, how small fry the people from the previous world where compared to the ambitions from these mortals. This was a new opportunity, somewhere new, somewhere HE can exercise more control than he could ever before, the staggering progression this realm experienced is unparallel to what mages could hope to achieve with their stagnating traditions and methods!
The essence of creativity that permeates here… the possibilities of new schemes, new technologies, better potential for malice, to experience new souls!
The Master of Mirrors has forgotten his pain, for unbridled elation has healed it once anew. He will begin to see where he can thread the fates of this world, because he, as he has done before, with a whisper, swelled a wave that started chains of events with consequences momentous.
Now he must begin experiencing and studying this Earth, and when he is ready, he will begin his machinations on this land he has appeared. But first…
"Mirror, mirror, of this Earth, who is the mortal that is the most ambitious of all?" Evil Incarnate asked in mockery as he ordered the trinket on to his will.
And it showed him a singular person that wallowed on the defeat of his nation in the compound of his long lived family, blind from an eye, a cripple that wished that he had a dignified death over the skies, with a subconscious and deep hunger, for revenge against the westerners and bring greatness to the Land of the Rising Sun
Saburo Arasaka, Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Pilot, survivor and self-imposed dishonorable "samurai"
"He is not a man of the road, but right now…hehehe, we both are nearby to 'help' each other."
Asaka, Kanto 1945, Several months after the surrender of Japan
The air was heavy with the scent of ash and despair in the aftermath of the devastation. Gaunter O'Dimm made his way through the war-torn streets. Dressed in the guise of a humble Japanese servant, he moved with purpose towards the traditional estate of the Arasaka family. He had sensed the impending tragedy, the final act of a man consumed by shame and failure – Saburo Arasaka, patriarch of the Arasaka clan, was preparing to commit sepukku.
Arriving at the gates of the estate, the merchant of mirrors was met by a solemn gathering of Arasaka retainers, their faces etched with grief and resignation. In the center of the courtyard stood Saburo Arasaka himself, clad in ceremonial robes, his sword gleaming in the dim light.
As the ritual began, Gaunter approached with measured steps, his presence unnoticed amidst the somber assembly. But just as Saburo raised his sword to perform the final act of atonement, Gaunter stepped forward, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.
"Saburo Arasaka, I beg you to stop" he spoke, his tone commanding attention, with a hint of mischievous submissiveness. "I come bearing a message from your father Sasai Arasaka."
Saburo's eyes widened in surprise and anger as he turned to face the intruder, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Who dares to interrupt this sacred rite and claims ?" he demanded, his voice tinged with anger.
"I am nothing, but a merchant of mirrors." He bowed deeply, kneeling and postrated his head to the floor, all in the name of his plan. "However you must hear me for he has confided me his will," his voice echoing with otherworldly authority, Gaunter O Dimm never lies, but no one needs to know the methods he used to willingly persuade the souls of this world. Arasaka retainers were abashed that a charlatan claimed to have the will of the previous patriarch or the clan, but there was a compulsion to not defy this 'peasant'., "Your father confided in his wisdom, so you can control the threads of destiny and unravel the greatness you can bring not only your family but Japan, if you would hear me for a moment in private, if my words are not to your convincing then you can execute me for I would have dishonored not only you, but your father's spirit!"
Something subconsciously compelled the current patriarch of the Arasaka family, while he would not tell anyone publicly, he desired redemption first and foremost. He held a sliver of hope that this… person actually had something important from his father, Saburo Arasaka, a proud samurai, desired one last chance.
"Come, but if this is buffoonery I will gut you like a pig myself and will not honor you by giving you a swift death!"
"Of course, lord Arasaka, if you would, just give me a moment for I have something you need"
The Merchant of Mirrors, retreated to the gates of the , Gaunter O'Dimm presented him a beautiful mirror, it was adorned in laces of gold, silver and the glass was slightly tinted in black.
"Why are you showing me such bauble?" The naval soldier asked in frustration.
"Your father commanded me to tell you this death poem, and for to leave it your own conclusion what you must do onwards." And as he said so, he began to recite a poem from ages long ago.
'I have been on the path of the war for three years.
And now I became the prison of the war Tears are everywhere in the mount and river.
Who will say the heaven is wide I know my death is close.
And hard to farewell my homeland.
On the day of my soul coming back I hope I can see the Manchu troops is defeated'
As Gaunter O Dimm finished his recitation, an eldritch spell coming from the mirror, shimmered a vision into the eyes of Saburo Arasaka, a vision possible futures. He watched in awe as the images unfolded before him, his resolve wavering in the face of this unexpected revelation.
"Your destiny is not yet written, Saburo Arasaka," The voice of the mastered mirror prowled on the mind of the so called samurai, his voice seemed to be low and persuasive. "But you must choose your path wisely, for the choices you make today will shape the world for generations to come."
The first vision revealed a towering skyline, bathed in the neon glow of a futuristic metropolis. Saburo stood at the pinnacle of a towering skyscraper, gazing out over the sprawling cityscape below. The Arasaka Corporation reigned supreme, its influence stretching far and wide, shaping the world in its image.
In the next vision, Saburo was surrounded by a legion of loyal followers, their faces obscured by masks of chrome and circuitry. They hailed him as their savior, their messiah, their guiding light in a world consumed by chaos and disorder. Under his leadership, Arasaka Corporation had become not just a corporation, but a beacon of hope for all humanity.
But amidst the glory and adulation, there lurked a darker truth. In the shadows of the corporate empire, whispers of conspiracy and treachery echoed through the halls of power. Saburo's own ambitions had led him down a path of corruption and deceit, his hunger for power consuming him from within and then, he could only see shadows and mist, for the darker futures were darkened by uncertainty.
Even in the depths of his despair, there remained a glimmer of hope – a chance for redemption, a chance to rebuild and renew. Saburo's fate hung in the balance, his choices shaping the destiny of not just himself, but the world at large.
Saburo Arasaka contemplated and understood, that he indeed was 'tricked' for this servant was something more, he has offered clarity, and he must take the chance while he still can.
As the visions faded and reality came crashing back, Saburo was left reeling, his mind awash with conflicting emotions. The path before him stretched out like a maze of possibilities, each twist and turn fraught with peril and promise.
Once reality was set again, he noticed that his retainers where not anywhere near, it was just the two of them. Somehow this person has compelled them to leave them alone in private.
The air crackled with anticipation as Gaunter O'Dimm and Saburo Arasaka stood face to face, the weight of destiny hanging heavy in the air. Saburo's mind raced with visions of the future, his heart torn between ambition and fear.
"You have shown me a glimpse of what could be," Saburo spoke, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "But what must I do to make this vision a reality?"
Gaunter O'Dimm's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. "It is simple, Saburo Arasaka," he replied, his voice casual but embroiled in shadows. "You must make a choice – a choice that will shape the course of your destiny."
With a flourish of his hand, Gaunter conjured forth a parchment scroll, its edges frayed and weathered with age. Saburo's eyes widened in surprise as he beheld the ancient document, its contents written in a language long forgotten by mortal men.
"This is a contract," Gaunter explained, his voice low and hypnotic. "A pact sealed in blood, binding you to me and me to you. With your signature, you will pledge your allegiance to the powers that be, and in return, you will be granted the power to shape the world to your will."
Saburo hesitated, his mind racing with a thousand doubts and questions. But deep down, he knew that this was the moment of reckoning, the moment when he would decide his own fate.
"And what of the price?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Gaunter's smile widened, revealing gleaming white teeth that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. "Ah, the price," he mused, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "The price is simple, Saburo Arasaka. You will owe me a debt – a debt that must be repaid in full, lest you're willing "tamashi" be forfeit."
Saburo would have scoffed at the idea of a merchant making deals with where the soul was the payment, in this world there was nothing and no one that could claim the soul for it is the spirit, not something that corporeal hands could touch. And yet… this man… no, there was no other way he could describe the being in front of him, he did not believe in folklore for it was just superstitions of men who did not understand the world but…after experiencing these visions… he dares not invoke his grandfather name in vain but if Hideo's words were true, this being was like an unholy child of a Noppera-Bo and Tsukumogami.
He was being tempted by a being disguised as a man with a deep connection to mirrors, temptations that border the impossible and yet. He knew that the path to greatness was paved with sacrifice, and he was willing to pay whatever price was required.
With a steady hand, he reached out and grasped the quill offered to him by Gaunter. With a single stroke, he signed his name upon the parchment, sealing his fate for all eternity.
And as the ink dried upon the page, a sense of power and purpose filled Saburo's soul, driving out the shadows of doubt and fear. He had made his choice, and now, he would face the consequences – whatever they may be.
The contract was sealed, the deal… struck.
And the world without knowing it, had doomed itself. Because this contract would be the first that would define corporations from now on. From being a written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment or deals.
Into a binding of your individuality to a system, that at the end. Served the only god that would exist on this world, for it was godless before it arrived.
A/N
Thank you so much for reading this story. Honestly, I think I could have done better, but this idea and concept was gnawing me everyday for the past month and I needed to let it out. I didn't care if it was just a short one-shot, while I have a low grasp of lore of The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 universes, the idea of Gaunter O'Dimm intervenes in Cyberpunk verse was to intriguing to pass out. It took me a whole evening to write this, and I entered into hyperfocus mode making this vomit.
If you get inspired by reading this story, I implore you to explore this concept deeper as I don't have much time to write and its my first short story in a long while. Thank you for your attention. Have a good whatever time you're reading this :)