Six Paths of Reincarnation

Precursor

Capital Outskirts, Grassy Prairie

In a distant corner of the capital, an effeminate man donned in a lab coat was on a task to pinpoint the root cause of the enigmatic signals he had begun receiving a few days prior. This sudden surge in transmissions had coincided precisely with the Empire's initial report of the menacing entity known as Pain, a correlation that left the scientist intensely intrigued. 

He didn't believe in God though; its very narrative crushed everything he believed in. Faith removes the dignity of reason, expels science, and despises human knowledge all the while applauding the invisible. He hated the possibility of a real God existing to the very core. 

No proclaimed God shall stand tall while he is here; he will unveil the charlatan behind this facade.

He already made amends to his scientific equipment to go through with this investigation and he harbored a steadfast belief that a significant link existed between the appearance of this newfound threat and the peculiar energy signals pulsating through his scientific instruments.

He expected to find the cause of what made his tracker overheat. It's been getting high readings from an unknown power source around this area for a few days now. 

The readings on his equipment intensified as he neared a village, prompting him to shift his focus toward it.

Arriving at the entrance of the village, Dr. Stylish couldn't help but wrinkle his nose in distaste as the pungent scent of horse manure assailed his senses. Visits to places like these were typically reserved for the sole purpose of acquiring unique test subjects, a venture that had him reluctantly setting foot in these forsaken environs.

He stepped past the fence that demarcated the village and began his quest, scanning the area for any individuals who might possess valuable information.

"Ugh, mingling with these common folk is utterly distasteful," he mused with a silent sneer, his crimson eyes scanning the modest huts and meager streets. "But if there's a shred of data to be extracted from these peasants, I shall do what's necessary."

Spotting a villager tending to a modest vegetable garden, Dr. Stylish approached with calculated intent, suppressing his disdain for the rustic surroundings. 

"Excuse me," he said with an affected politeness, "I couldn't help but notice I'm in a rather peculiar area today. Have you come across any unusual occurrences or developments in this region recently?"

The villager's brow furrowed in thought as if trying to recall something from a few days past. "Well, now that you mention it," he began tentatively, "a few nights ago, I did see some strange celestial lights way off in the distance. But I reckon I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me. You know how the night can play tricks with your eyes."

Dr. Stylish's interest was piqued, though he concealed it with a practiced nonchalance. "Strange celestial lights, you say? Can you describe them, even if you thought it was your imagination?"

'Oh, these rural villagers, he thought with a mental grimace, so wrapped up in their rags and rustic surroundings that they mistake celestial beauty for mere tricks of the mind.' Stylish thought with antipathy.

The villager scratched his head, a distant look in his eyes. "They were sort of... glowing, I guess. It shimmering and bright, but really far away. I didn't pay much mind to it, I thought it was some odd trick of the moonlight. Probably nothing, now that I think about it."

'Common folk, common thoughts, ' Dr. Stylish mused internally, a touch of disdain in his mental voice. 'Their drab clothing is as uninspiring as their imaginations. Nonetheless, this could be a lead worth pursuing, regardless of their lack of style.'