At Their Mercy

Chapter 40: Magic

A/N: OKAY.

SO.

AS AN EMPATH, I CAN SENSE SOME OF YA'LL WERE A LITTLE UPSET.

You all never trust the author. 

Enjoy

The roaring of the Void was loud, overpowering all other sensations as the two were swallowed up within it. Near instantly, the threads that had been binding the two deities together dissolved under the crushing presence of the blackened landscape. Erratum felt as though their body was attempting to split apart, trying to give under the wasteland that had pulled apart many unlucky travelers before them. They couldn't hear Ink's screams anymore, surely swallowed up in the depths of the Void. It was unbearable, and at any moment they were doomed to fracture apart entirely.

A pained grin made its way onto Erratum's face as the environment suddenly shifted at a dizzying rate, leaving nausea in its wake. Both deities were soon suspended in a new darkness, though they could see one another now. Ink gasped in horror as he stared at Erratum, who was currently shuddering and trying to keep from falling apart. "Wh...what did you do? You... you threw us into the Void! You killed us!" He was trembling at the mere thought.

Erratum huffed a weak noise, a sound of relief washing over them briefly before burning shot through their system. Ink could only watch as the Guardian was engulfed by a shapeless mist of white, said Guardian's mouth opened in a silent scream. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it felt like another eternity of burning ascension to Erratum. They gasped in relief as they were released, body stabilized for now as glitches and pixels jumped from their body rapidly.

"Hah... we aren't dead."

Ink seemed confused by this, feeling entirely out of his element in this vast darkness. He tensed more as they were suddenly descended upon by more bright beings, all of which held no true shape. They felt like condensed magic, and some even felt familiar to the creator. One, in particular, seemed to approach him, the feeling almost like a hand caressing him rested upon the blackened spot on his face. The creator couldn't stare too long, feeling a burning sensation in their sockets when they did, and the burning on their face receded as the form pulled away.

"My wonderful creation,"

Ink tensed at these words, recalling them very clearly. They had been crystal clear since the day Erratum had pulled forth the memories in his mind, which he supposed truly were his memories now. "You... who are you?" He breathed, glancing frantically around. "Who are all of you??" He continued shakily, uncomfortable with how relaxed Erratum was among them all. The beings formed a circle around the creator, further intimidating him.

"We are the Guardians of the multiverse. We have shaped its beginning, maintained its form, and blessed champions with the ability to carry out our wills." One being spoke, though Ink could hardly tell where it was coming from.

"Fate,"

"Destiny,"

"Time,"

"Faith,"

"Hope,"

"Karma,"

"Order."

Ink spun around, which was more of a weak flail in the air, to glance back at Erratum. The Guardian gave him another pained smile and Ink could tell their presence here was somehow agony to them. "What...?" He whispered, desperately confused and frightened.