Dark Earth Anthology

A New Purpose

??? 18XX

Forget all that it is you know, you won't be needing it here.

Falling.

Turning.

Darkness enveloping their body and becoming darker still.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Stop. breath. Can't breathe. No need.

"Hey. Get up..." Their eyes opened onto a skull-like mask with dark eyes. They started causing their heart to... They felt their chest yet felt no beat as the strange figure before them stood up to an impressive height. It was only then that they could see the body of their new acquaintance was like that of a shadow. Oversized limbs and unnaturally smooth movement only served to illuminate the otherworldly visage. A small very small memory itched at the back of their frightened brain "You are N'kune, aren't you?" The N'kune cocked its head almost seeming to grin "You are a smart one huh? Well you had better get used to it, newbie." "What?" The N'kune bent down and gracefully helped them to their feet. When they drew up fully they realized that there was little to no height difference between them. Gazing into the empty eyes of the figure opposite made them want to panic. "W-where am I?'' The sound of their own voice seemed foreign "Who am I" they looked down at their hands which were also like shadows in their own right. The N'kune laughed "Oh, silly me I forgot that your brain is reset. Allow me to make some formal introductions." It straightened its back "I am Brother Suterin of the Justicar Brynn, 5th sect. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He bowed so deep that its skull almost touched the void on which it stood. "What am I? I'm N'kune aren't I? '' Suterin nodded grimly "Yes, you may have had a long and fulfilling life but now begins your life, your new purpose. You are my new charge: Sister Fawn." Fawn felt light in their head why is this happening to me? Almost as if Suterin sensed her thoughts it put a hand on their shoulder "Don't feel down Sister, this will be good. Come, walk with me." He walked away into the void leaving Fawn behind. Not wishing to let it get away they started running after him. When they came to a stop they faced an infinite expanse of ink stretching to the heavens. What happened to it? As Fawn examined the wall a familiar hand melted out of it and seemed to gesture for them to take it. At first they hesitated but after a patient minute of hesitation they took it. The hand slowly dragged them into the wall and through the thick liquid. At first it was cold then suddenly hot, scalding. It burned their ethereal flesh causing them to scream as the agony overcame their senses. "Relax, submit to the ink...everything will be OK, just think." a voice came from only a couple feet in front of them. Despite the burning they tried to focus on the hand that grasped theirs. Fawn closed their eyes and...it stopped. The burning, the pain, it was over. "You can open your eyes now..." Their vision was blurred for a moment and as it came into focus they were greeted with yet another familiar sight: Suterin standing over them yet again, he seemed pleased with them but they couldn't imagine why. "Congratulations Sister, you've just taken a step up!" As he helped them to their feet they could see that they stood together in a sloping field. Where the horizon should have been, it was replaced by a large city stretching out in a sprawling pattern that caught the eye and held it in an unerring grasp. The night served to show its splendor with lanterns lighting up the squat buildings. The orange hue clashing softly with the white light of the moon. "Its beautiful...is this a dream?" Fawn stood in awe in the long grass. Suterin laughed, "What do you think?" Not waiting for the answer, his long legs were suddenly moving at an inhuman pace across the field. "Wait..." Not wanting to let it get away they took a couple steps forward. The new legs felt too long for their body, too unwieldy. They stumbled and fell. If their flesh were human they would have bruises but instead they simply sat wrapping their mind around the limitations of their new body. "Suterin?" They cried into the night. Their tears were met with nothing but wind blowing gently in the star lit sky. "Get up and run." a voice came from the darkness. "I can't," Fawn wailed, "this is all so strange I don't even know what's going on." Suterin stepped in front of them "Damn it man, if you don't pick yourself up right now and run with me you will never know." They were startled by the stern tone. So much so that they barely noticed their feet on the ground. At first they stood, then began to walk. Slow at first but it grew into a stride then into a jog. Soon the ground rushed below supernatural feet. They knew Suterin ran beside them but they paid no attention to anything but the grass and stars. Not a single breath came in and not a single one out, they were free. Eventually the grass morphed into the hard cobble of the city on which they had looked on minutes prior. Without a second thought Fawn jumped. Their visage of a body flew through the air with ethereal grace. They deftly landed on a roof and ran, jumping from brick roof to brick roof never letting up pace. Ahead was the tallest building in the town: the church of Ashallalah. They came upon the spire and jumped once more. On the tip of their foot rest that of the spire. The air is cooler up here. They looked upon the now small town. How insignificant everything appeared, how fragile. As they looked on the roofs their eyes settled upon their companion sitting on the edge of what appeared to be a home. He saw them and gestured towards the roof on which he sat. A death defying fall and a single bound later and they landed beside Suterin. He gestured for them to sit and they did. After a moment he pointed at a building across the way. The window was open and revealed within it was a single bed on which lay a man who looked to be as fragile as dry bone. "What do you see?" They pondered it for a second "A man on his deathbed only waiting to die." Suterin nodded "Yes you are correct but it is what you do not see that truly matters, watch." As they did a young boy not much older than 12 entered the room carrying a steaming mug. The boy sat in the chair beside the man's bed and only looked upon him with a steady gaze. As they watched the boy started to cry, slow and silent tears. "Come." Suterin stood from his perch and lept to the roof across the street, Fawn followed. Carefully, like a feather on the wind, he climbed into the open window and slipped into the room. When Fawn was in Suterin was already at the shoulder of the boy. He looked up at them with sadness in his demeanor "He shall not live the night." Fawn looked at the man on the bed "Do they ever see us?" Suterin nodded "only when they are close to death or sometimes in their dreams." The boy set the mug on the bedside table and stood up. As he exited the room the N'kune followed. The boy went to what could be assumed to be his own room. The boy then reached into a drawer beside his bed and pulled out a simply made yet elegant hunting knife. He stared at the handle then slowly looked up making direct eye contact with Fawn. Without a single word the boy was gone. They felt their gut become a knot, if they could throw up they would but instead they just watched the body fall to the wooden floor. Where the boy once stood was a column of mist that slowly fell away to the visage of eternal youth. Suterin knelt to one knee before the boy, taking his hands. Suterin looked up at Fawn "These people, lost and broken are your new purpose, Sister Fawn. Treat it with the utmost respect and you will go far. Now, lead him to your Justicar for judgment." Fawn inched closer and timidly took the boy's hand. He looked up at them and spoke in a soft reassuring voice "Don't be scared, you've got this." They chuckled "Are you not scared?" The boy smiled back amicably "Of course not." Suterin opened a small doorway that served as a gap between reality and the land that is beyond. The last thing that he saw was the back of his charge stepping softly into their new life with dignity and solemnity. As the door closed he couldn't help but feel proud they had come so far in such a short amount of time. His gaze was drawn back to the bedroom wherein stood the old man from earlier, his misty form staring blankly at Suterin. "Where is Leo?" The man asked, his tone curious but in his eyes was the truth of his grandson. Suterin took a step closer and laid a shadow hand on the man's shoulder. "Worry not, he is in very good hands." The door opened once again and closed as it had before. This time was different, this time was final. All stood still in the once house. As wind blew through the window it took on a hushed silence of the darkness, for even nature respected the duty and pride of the N'kune.