ALISTER (Tales of evolution)

The Devils reunion

“Huh!!! it’s so dark !” Alister’s voice echoed

“Where am I ? What am I ?” his voice continued to echo, having no memory whatsoever of the past or present .

Alister floated in an endless, dark abyss, his consciousness untethered. His body , once a tangible anchor, now felt distant, unreachable. Time lost meaning as he drifted, suspended in nothingness , all that remained of him was his presence of mind.

“Alister!!”

“Alister!!”

A soft feminine voice called out.

“Wh… who’s there? , who said that?” Alister’s responded his voice calm with no tremors, his words composed. “Who’s Alister”

“ Is it me…or you? ” his voice added, his mind still blank .

Suddenly, he felt a warmth envelope him, it felt like the gentle touch of sunlight on a winter morning. The sensation was intoxicating, banishing the chill from his very soul.

Alister’s eyelids fluttered open, his consciousness returning to his body, and he found himself still shrouded in darkness. Yet he sensed a presence. A woman wrapped around him, her arms encircling his waist, her forehead resting against his back.

No fear nor adrenaline surged through him. Instead, an overwhelming sense of security and relief washed over Alister. This woman’s embrace felt like a sanctuary.

As his gaze adjusted to the darkness, Alister beheld the woman’s ethereal beauty. Her skin radiated a golden, warm glow, illuminating the shadows. Bright leaf-green eyes sparkled like emeralds, shining and shimmering with kindness.

Her hair, braided with intricate white strands, cascaded down her back like a river of moonlight. A flowing white gown draped her slender form, accentuating her elegance.

Alister’s heart, once a distant memory, stirred. He felt an inexplicable connection to this mysterious woman, as if she held the key to his very existence.

Her gentle breath caressed his skin, and Alister’s thoughts dissolved into serenity. For the first time in an eternity, he felt so much peace.

"Who are you?" Alister asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The woman's smile illuminated the darkness, and she replied, "My name is Athena."

Her gaze turned solemn, and she continued, "You have much to do, Alister. Your path is fraught with darkness and shadows."

Athena's hand extended, pointing into the abyss. A faint light shimmered in the distance, drawing Alister's attention.

As he focused on the light, a vision assaulted his mind:

A blood-red sky rained down blood and thunder, scorching the earth and dyeing the earth red.

People disintegrating into dust, their screams echoing through the chaos. Savage Beasts ravaged the streets and sky’s feasting on the fallen. Children wailed, their tiny bodies wracked with pain.

Black birds plummeted from the sky, their songs silenced forever. Buildings crumbled, burying the living beneath it’s rubble. Death's dark shadow loomed over the land.

Admit the chaos, Alister saw himself sitting on a black throne, his legs crossed, hands on the throne handle, his eyes vacant. He gazed down upon the carnage, unmoved.

The vision ended, leaving Alister shaken.

Athena's voice pierced the darkness, "A day of carnage approaches. The world of Altheoria will soon be plagued by a destruction that threatens the universe."

Her hand grasped Alister's jaw, her forehead touching his. “Alister, Your role in this catastrophe has only just begun. Wake up!!"

Immediately, Alister's eyes snapped opened, grogginess clinging to his mind. He sat up, rubbing his temples, trying to shake off the vivid dream.

“What kind of dream was that?” he wondered.

The woman, Athena, lingered in his thoughts. Her words echoed: “A day of carnage approaches… Your role in this catastrophe has only just begun.”

Alister’s mind raced with questions.

Who was Athena?

What did she mean?

Why did he see himself on a throne, unmoved by the chaos?

As he struggled to make sense of the dream, his gaze fell upon his surroundings. The bed, covered in a crisp white sheet, was unfamiliar. His bed didn't look like this.

Confusion deepened as he took in the small, simple room. Where was he? How and when did he get here?

Alister scanned the room, searching for clues:

- Cream-colored walls

- A single window with curtains drawn

- A wooden door with no visible lock

- A small dresser with a mirror

No signs of his own belongings.

Panic began to creep in. Alister swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting his feet firmly on the floor.

“What’s going on?” he muttered, standing up.

He approached the door, slightly pulling back the handle. A blinding light crept into the room.

“Long time no see Alister” a deep masculine voice call out from inside the room, interrupting Alister from opening the door completely.

Shock gripped Alister as he didn’t remember seeing anyone else in the room when waking up “… huh!”

“wh…who’s th…there? ”Alister said his voice trembling as he slowly looked back to see the source of the voice.

On looking back, Alister was dumbfounded as a man in a black suit stood before him. It was the same man who brought him through the portal.

In a surge of adrenalin, Alister quickly leaped back against a wall “who are you, and how did you get in here?” Alister questioned.

The man’s expression changed from excitement to confused “ What are you talking about?, It’s me” he said.

Alister’s brow dropped , trying to recall the man’s face “ sorry but I don’t believe we’ve met before”.

“impossible, it can’t be, you really don’t remember do you?” the man said realizing that whatever history he once shared with Alister was like what never happened.

Placing one hand on his jaw and the other at his back, the man began to move left and right murmuring to himself like he was deep in thought.

“Um I don’t mean to interrupt your… whatever it is you are doing but what the hell is going on!!? ” Alister yelled snapping the man out of his reverie demanding for an explanation.

Still in his movement loop, the man completely ignored Alister and keep on murmuring. “Unless!” he yelled, looking at Alister like he had just solved a math equation.

“What?, unless what?” Alister asked, his curiosity running wild.

The man’s eyes widened in realization “you see Alister, five years ago, you proposed a theory, although never proven, you said that a persons Manna is closely linked to their soul”. “So I think, that in sealing away your Manna in the fragile state you were in, it must have also sealed your memories with it”.

Silence enveloped the room. Alister stood quietly, not altering a single word

“What the hell are you talking about!!!!? ”he screamed, breaking the silence.

“hmm…correct me if I’m wrong but I’m getting the feeling that you have a question” the man said.

“A question!!!!!” Alister yelled, “ I have a million questions!!”.

“starting with what the hell is going on!!, who the hell are you!!?, and that talk about Manna and soul, what’s that about!!!?, what do you mean by five years ago I postulated a theory!!?, when the hell did that happen!!?, and what did you even mean by sealing away my manner in my fragile form!!?, and for the record!!, my memories are completely intact!!!, and were on earth am I!!!?.” Alister yelled aggressively.

“hmm, that is a lot of questions, let’s see, where do I start from?, alright let me start by introducing my self” the man said.

The man took a step towards Alister and made a gentle bow, one hand on his chest and the other on his back. Looking at Alister, his eyes emitted a bright otherworldly red glow“ My name is Tharros, and I’m a Devil.”