Avid Adopter

28 - Worth

Dust. 

~~~~~

This was it..today was my tenth birthday, and I had just passed the oral exam. Horror hadn't gotten a free day like Killer did; we assumed it was because none of us had known that we were going to be Guardians with Dad at the time. Dad led me to my bedroom tonight, as he had with Horror one year ago; I felt my fate coming upon me with each step. The others had already gone to bed; we were the only two awake at the moment. I took deep breaths when we entered my bedroom. We were sleeping in the lower house tonight, to make me feel safer, but it only helped to a certain extent. I thought of my childhood up to this point; there had been many bad points, but there had also been many good points. I tried to look more on the good points, like after I first summoned Ash! Dad had taken me to Outertale to stargaze for a while afterwards; he had said he was proud of me. Actually, he had been saying that a lot recently..was it because it was true, or was he just trying to cheer me up? He wouldn't have lied to make me feel good, right? I didn't think so; Dad wasn't like that. When we finally sat down on my bed, Dad took my hands in his and looked at me very seriously. 

"Dust, this is going to be very important." He stated. "Are you listening?"

"I am." I nodded.

"All right. When you first fall asleep, you may think that you're awake, but you won't be; you'll be in a semi-lucid dream state. You will have a body, but your surroundings will be completely black; don't freak out."

"Okay..I won't."

"There won't be a visible floor, nor will there be a roof or walls; it will be an infinite blackness, but there are no humans in there, and there are no scary monsters in there; there will only be you and the multiverse."

"All right.."

"When the multiverse speaks, its voice will be a bit loud, but you'll get used to it; remember to stay alert. Listen very carefully to what is said to you, and remember what is said; do you understand?"

"I understand."

"Very well. Remember to respect the multiverse; it is your new master."

"I will."

"All right." Dad laid my skull down on my pillow. "I'll be here when you wake up."

"Okay..I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Dust." 

Dad held my hand as I closed my eyesockets and fell asleep. When I opened them, I saw nothing..blackness..a void; I looked down to see my hands..this was it. I took a deep breath, waiting for the multiverse to speak to me; I wouldn't panic..I was fine. I had everything under control, and I wouldn't freak out. I could be terrified when I woke up, but I couldn't be right now.

"Greetings." A loud voice spoke to me.

"H-hello, multiverse." I had to stay calm..this was just like Dad said it would be.

"I believe you already know the details of your service. Is this correct?"

"Yes.."

"Explain."

"I am to be a Guardian, as my father and older brothers are, and as my younger brothers will be. I assume there is no way to avoid this?"

"Correct. Conversation is shortened due to this knowledge. Do you have any questions?"

"Will I be faced with the task of killing someone tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Is there any way to avoid that?"