The Five Calamities

Chapter Four

Ahlan stood frozen in time, suspended in limbo. He couldn't move a muscle but, through his connection to the Calamity, he could feel and see, as flashes of images in his mind, what was happening to the outside.

His eyes fluttered open and a mirage of the Calamity appeared before him, looking like him.

"Is this what it felt like being trapped in the Reality Ring?" He asked mentally.

"This is what it felt like being under his control," the Calamity replied. "Being aware of everything happening around you, and despite being powerful, you are still unable to do anything about it."

Ahlan could feel great sadness radiating from the Calamity. Despite being the holder of the Ring of Waters, Ahlan had never inquired about the history of the Calamity of Water. After all, he was told that they were nothing but weapons to be used by the holder.

"What is the Forge?" Ahlan asked. He had never heard of it from his predecessor, and none of the records mentioned anything about there being a forge.

"The Forge is where we were imprisoned," the Calamity answered. "It is where I last saw my siblings and the man we called Father." Anger could be felt when the Calamity said the word 'father'.

"You mean the Darkened Royal?"

"That is what the whole world called him, but to us, he was like our father. Until he used, betrayed and attempted to kill us. All because he feared us." The Calamity answered, and then added as if an afterthought, "The Forge is also where we cleaved the Reality Layer."

Ahlan could see how much the Calamity loved the Darkened Royal, and also how that love turned into a hatred so profound that it lasted three millenia, just boiling beneath the surface.

He could understand why he felt more connected to the Calamity at that point more than ever - they were both betrayed by what they thought loved them most; Ahlan by his country, and the Calamities by the person they called father.

"So what happens to me?" Ahlan asked sadly. If he understood correctly, he was supposed to die, and then the Calamity would claim his body.

"The choice is yours, Ahlan," the Calamity answered with a smile.

"But you said -"

"I know what I said," the Calamity cut him off mid-sentence. "I doubt my siblings will be as kind as I am to their chosen hosts, but I am giving you this choice. Right now, I haven't fully taken over your body, and I could reverse everything that has happened. However, the people out there still want your head."

"And if I choose you, what happens then?" Ahlan was honest.

"I shall merge with you," the Calamity answered. "You shall become one with me, and I with you. We shall become one entity."

Ahlan did not understand what the Calamity meant but something about the way it said it made him trust it.

"Before you choose, know this, Ahlan," the Calamity raised a hand, "I intend to release my siblings from capture and find the Forge. Once that is done, we shall lay waste to this world and hunt for the Darkened Royal."

"I know,” was all he said, and took the Calamity's hand.

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Merging together with the Calamity was not an experience a human was supposed to have. It felt like their body was torn apart, limb from limb. And then those parts were taken and fused with the Calamity's.