Living on Borealis-9: The Story Of A Reincarnated Human

Chapter 4, Part 4: Ogher

"Nice going there, Romeo." The Grim Reaper said to me, eating what I guessed was an apple.

"Fuck off. I'm not in the mood to talk." I said, turning away. But The Grim Reaper merely shifted, and was suddenly in front of me again.

"Aw...That's no fun. I mean, I was actually saying nice going. Good job, you know. But, I guess you're not ready for that."

"Oh, fuck off!" I yelled. "Do you know what I just did?! I performed an unforgivable act! I MURDERED someone!"

"Actually, you didn't. As a Werewolf, until you learn how to separate your bloodlust from yourself, it's not YOU who does what you do in wolf form. And you're not even there yet!"

The Grim Reaper laughed, then threw the apple core behind him.

"But I do appreciate the balls you got, man. I mean, I could just put you in The Waiting Place if I wanted to. Yet, you stand irreverent before me, telling me to...ah, what was it? 'Fuck Off'?"

"Take your own advice." I said, turning to face the floor. A mirror appeared at my feet, reflecting the face of The Grim Reaper. Gah! I can't look away from him!

"Alright, it's getting a bit old now. Look, you're advancing the plot pretty well. I'll give you that much, but you gotta move a little slower. I mean, you're starting to uncover Luna's past, yeah? Piecing it all together?"

"No, I'm not. Leave me alone."

"Come on, Man. I'm trying to help you. Look, I'll even give you another gift, yeah?"

"I don't want another gift," I mumbled. Then, I shouted, "I just want to be left alone!"

The Grim Reaper took a deep breath. "Alright. If that's what you want. Go ahead, be 'alone' if you wish. I won't be here when you come back. You'll be happy, alone and all. If you ever want me to come back, just holler for me. You're not indentured to me, after all. I'm just here on my own good, free will."

"Thanks."

"No issue. Bye now." The Grim Reaper said, evaporating into black dust that floated off. As The Grim Reaper vanished into the air, I sighed with relief. I can finally be alone in my...headspace...

Huh. In the distance, I swear I can see some kind of...person. Coming towards me. Is this the part where I run, get caught, ask for help from The Grim Reaper, and get screwed over or something? Best start running then. But running did nothing...Instead, it seemed to expedite the process. But I didn't feel scared. Instead, the figure seemed...comforting. It was some kind of Angel, with six giant black wings, a blacklight halo, a black cloak, and...no face. It reminded me slightly of The Riverman, but...it couldn't be.

"Uh...Hello?" I asked. "What's up?"

"OGRE." The thing blared.

"What? No, I'm not an Ogre!"

"OGRE." It blared again, and pointed up at the sky. Er...Up. There was no sky in my dream. But there was an up, and the up had a bright glowing white door frame. I walked over to it, with the weird Angel following me as well. Before me appeared several stairs, which I walked up to the door. I expected to see Heaven or something, but as I walked through, I came out to a...field? There was a guy sitting on a rock nearby, with several multicoloured sheep nearby him.

"You sure took your time." The person said.

Now, I use the word 'Person' VERY loosely. Before me was a man, or maybe a woman, wearing a robe, which was translucent. They had a head, but it was a rainbow-coloured triangle. They had an eye, but only one, in the centre of the triangle. They had a staff, or a 'crook' as shepards call it. Their voice was both masculine and feminine, deep yet high. Old and weathered, yet young and springy. It was freaky. Duality, sorta.

"Who...are you?"

The person let out a laugh, which felt both like listening to Markus laughing, and also a complete stranger.

"That's a good question. I simply am. You might have met my messenger earlier. Don't worry about him. Just walk with me." They said, grabbing up their crook.

I waded past the sheep to go over to the person. As I did, the triangle flipped, revealing another side with another eye, only this side was black and white instead of the colourful triangle before.

"Are you God?" I asked. It wouldn't be the weirdest thing yet.

"Hm...No, I'm not. Not in this world, at least. I am simply...Ogher (Pronounced Og-he-yer)." Ogher explained.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Well, it seems you're meeting the whole family. I decided that you might want to meet one of your uncles as well. Or rather, two of your uncles."

"What?" I asked.

"I am...One being, unlike what most down there think. I am Ogher," The triangle flipped. "And The Destroyer."

"That's...a bit on the nose."

Ogher laughed a mighty laugh. It just sounded straight-up comforting. "Yes, I suppose so! But I was young, and rather bad at naming myself. In the end, I just gave up."

"Huh."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"But why did you actually invite me here?" I asked.

"Well...I just wanted to chat. Tell you some about the family." He said. "Though, if you have any questions about me, I'd like to answer them first."

"Alright...What's up with your weird composition?"

"This? Oh, I am both. Man and woman. Clothed and nude. My head is a shape, and it does make sense, but it also does not make sense, and is unnatural. My crook is a tool of comfort and violence. I shepard, and I slaughter. I simply am both sides of the same coin." He explained.

"Okay then." I said. I mean, it made sense. Guy is two sides of the same coin, half-n'-half, like Baphomet when they were worshipped by the Templar Knights on Earth.

"No questions?"

"I'm sorry, it's been a long day. I killed someone in cold blood, while I had no control over myself, and..."

Ogher kneeled down in front of me. I felt like I was a little kid crying to my parent, but...I dunno, it felt a little comforting seeing them kneel down to talk with me.

"Dear Matteus, do not fret. We all kill at some point on this planet. Many people here aren't absolved or clean of sin. Such a thing doesn't exist."

"But I KILLED!"

"And that is fine. You fought to defend yourself and your loved one."

"I don't love Luna!" I yelled. All of the pent-up anger and bane I had just spilled out of me. "I don't know! Do I?! I don't know! And I don't know why I'm in this world! And I don't know why my dad is a God or something! And I don't know why Anubis hates me! And I don't know anything about this world, despite my efforts! I hate it! All of it!"

"Boy. Have no fear. You do love Luna, but you are not ready for her yet. You are here because your father loves you, even if he doesn't show it very well. Many others here are children of Markus, they are called Winekin. You are simply another child, and he can't give attention to all of them at the same time. Your turn will come eventually, just be patient. He does love you. And Anubis does not hate you. He and your father simply have bad blood. It is not personal. You are a good person, I can see it within your heart. You have the potential of being good. And you will be. You will do good in this world, however large or small. That is something many of the people, both here and in your world, forget. The good that you do can be of any size, as long as it is done. You, boy, will do good. Trust me."

And with that, I woke up to find Luna cuddling me in her sleep.