Margana: To Seek The Truth

20. The Call of Strings

"No! This is impossible! Just how much must we suffer?!" said a mysterious entity in a childish manner. A holographic form of Lino and Margana appeared before this being, and for obvious reasons, it wasn't happy. It picked up a glass of unknown substance, nothing that a normal life form would know of.

There was a switch the being kept her grasp on, not letting go of it even for a moment. It had the words "Start" and "End", along with some kind of protective barrier that surrounds the button labeled as the end. The question that floats around is what are these switches actually capable of? The being seemed impatient and heavily inclined to click any one of these, alternating between lightly pressing down on these. "Hmmm... Which one, now, which one indeed!" It said this as if it were going insane. The funny thing was is the striking resemblance between the gates of the start and the floating panel.

The entity then had summoned four things: A dandelion, a leaf, a crystal shard, and a thorn. It hummed an unsettling tune softly, seemingly trying to contemplate on something. As the items had swirled around the specimen, it simply went faster and faster with no stop in sight. It stayed silent for several moments, just to laugh with an eerie smile. The room in which the creature darkened as it came to a horrid conclusion. The air surrounding the room had a peculiar pressure. The unknown entity seemed to have an idea. It didn't look exactly fun.

The creature had made a doll-like figure using the lead, the dandelion, the crystal shard, and the thorn. It seemed happy to see the puppet to have formed, yet in a blink of an eye, it had been thrown way across the room. Being picked up again, the entity fixed the doll immediately, now with a different aura to it. Instead of the puppet glistening with light from the crystal, it has been tainted by the tear that had came from the entity. It simply sobbed tears colored in red whilst staring at a broken mirror; trying to get itself together.

It screamed for a moment, recollecting its thoughts together for a moment beyond summoning holographic images of different overseers, looking like their current selves. The entity seemed to give each and every one of them a handful of lectures, along with their respective punishments for how 'easy' their trials were. It simply hated the idea of life looming within this space. Everything was supposed to be done right from the start if it weren't for a single being messing with the entire plan.

"One of you is either fooling around or purposely messing with my flawless system! Even if you do not admit now... I will be sure to have your head. Another slip up by any one of you—the consequences will be severe."

The others seemed terrified despite being in their own sections, away from this figure. Even so, its wrath can be felt even through this. Being called to a gathering is something that only occurs once participants have gotten too far into the core of this world for their own comfort. This entity had a flawless system, the system of this side of the Esse-ver. It lived for no other reason but to protect the essence of the way it has lived.

The figure has been monitoring the progress of each participant who has ventured in this area of the realm, just to prevent further intrusion of the weak. The irony is how high the standard is for the governing entity to the point that all challengers suffer and pay the ultimate price despite being brought here against their will.

"Defective overseers... I have chosen you all for a reason, and it seems that I was wrong. I'm the wrong. Blame me. The sanction still stands for your future incompetencies."

The mysterious figure continued thrashing away, with the puppet it made still settled right above the panel with the two switches. The doll simply sat there, lifeless, despite the ominous energy that it emits endlessly. The entity continued its condescending lecture on the overseers. This unknown being's state was truly unstable, yet it held great authority seemingly the keeper of this realm's traditions.

As it disabled the holographic connection amongst sub-realms' rulers, the doll began moving. Each and every action of the figure being copied to an unimaginable level, and of course, it seemed pleased. It was as if the two had became one. The doll mumurmered the words "It's showtime" with a little smile plastered on its face. Both of the lifeforms seemed excited about something,

The figure began going across various profiles, one of each remaining contestant. Their strengths, weaknesses, background, planet of origin. If they wanted to live in paradise beyond the trials, they had to earn it. That was the principle behind the ideology of the unnamed being, perhaps even the Esse-ver itself. It began rummaging through each contestant, taking note of each and every one to develop the ultimate adversity that will stand at the end of the "easier" hurdle. It wants to unleash hell before they can attain heaven. A game of all-or-nothing. The ultimate gamble.

It realized that there is a defect or a traitor among the beings it has chosen to create and eliminate the weak, letting the unworthy proceed even further along the Esse-ver's surface. It was unslightly to the figure, disgusting even. Based on statistics, it knew that more than 80% of surviving contestants wouldn't even be breathing right now. The figure decided to take matters into its own hands, perhaps even considering to get rid of all overseers, not only the defect or the traitor. The criteria for one who creates a trial is almost impossible to achieve for the general population of even the universe. Sadly, the being's selfish and self-centered desires are not to be debated with.

Unfortunately, in the near future, perhaps even the current overseers may become one with the contestants... Going through the same process as punishment.

Turning towards the hologram of the participants, the entity said:

"That's right."

It simply smiled.

"Everything was so simple all along."