Prologue 2 THE WANDERER
Author: _Sal_
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

How long has it been?

Hundred and fifty. Hundred and sixty. Hundred and eighty. Ninety?

No…! it’s been long. Too long. Two hundred years and over has passed since that day. At least I think that’s how long it’s been. The sense of time was lost to me long ago. It’s been so long I’ve lost the actual count of days.

The event: an unforeseen cataclysm which wiped out all of life leaving but a fraction… So they say, but I know the truth, even though I’m uncertain of how or why it really happened.

Three months wandering on this ocean of sand, searching. I’m searching for something I did not know. Rather someone.

It’s clear that I have no sense of direction and I may have been walking in circles all this while… but deep down I feel something drawing me in. Where I’m being called to, I have no clue. Not like something like this has ever happened to me before.

Should this be possible, even in my current state?

How I survived this long on a wasteland of a planet is still a mystery to me now as the day I saw what I was, a few decades ago.

It’s been three months since I set on this journey.

Where I was before, I had not gotten the answer I desired so I made the decision to move on in search of that answer, staying any longer would have been a waste. Till now I have found nothing. The journey is long. Not that I’m worried or cared about myself but I am still perplexed… as I have been since I awoke.

I’ve had only so much as the rain to quench my thirst but it’s been over a week and there hasn’t been even a single drop of it.

Yes, it’s not a miracle that rain fell in this messed up world— the weather from the past is still around for some reason even though the ecosystem was destroyed. There I go again with words I don’t remember; but it still is a wonder—only to be dried up by the sun of the next day. So one must do their best to have their fill before it stops.

Fact, I should have been dead from dehydration but I have had no such experience. My strength is still as it was the day I started this journey.

An impossible feat for a normal human, I know, but I am not.

Two weeks passed no food and yet I haven’t died of starvation…

I’ve been walking a full day nonstop and not a single trickle of sweat can be found on me…

Coupled with the thought of whether a place will come into view is myself. Decades of being on this sandy terrain and yet I still have nothing more than the general clue of what I am. At this point nothing surprises me anymore, whether an outside force or myself…

I know the sun is blazing hot. It baked the very ground I walk and the clearly visible heatwaves it bled out is a dead giveaway, but I feel nothing—

“Grrr…”

Except for that!

That’s a sound I haven’t heard in a while?!

It’s been two weeks since my last meal and my stomach has been screaming ‘feed me’ the past hour. I’ve only had to sustain myself with the scraps I found laying on the desert floor on my journey. It wasn’t filling but just enough to keep me going. By far, it’s the longest I’ve gone without any sustenance.

As far as I can remember I was never affect by the change of the weather in this world. I never did bear it in mind, really. It didn’t matter whether it was hot or cold I just didn’t feel a thing. Whether snowy, rainy or sunny there never had been any changed my body’s temperature. Then again I don’t even know if I have one to begin with, since I am not affected by the fluctuation of the one around me.

I wonder. Does it apply only to the weather? I paid no attention to it back then.

What if I were to touch someone or something would I be able to tell if that person or thing was hot or cold? Though I’m pretty sure, the hot or cold thing only has to do with the weather. I haven’t had a circumstance which proves otherwise… But, considering how I get no read from touching my own body I am in the right to assume the same towards others.

I wish I could remember what it felt like, to be cold, to be hot.

I’ve held back my hunger but now it’s just too strong. It feels like my stomach would soon turn to feed on myself if I make no effort to fill it. Any longer and I would lose it, knowing full well what it means. I crave for something… new.

I must hurry!

Find a place to get something to eat…

But there’s nothing in sight but a large dune—it’s calling to me.

I wonder. What lies beyond it?

Since nothing of this sort has ever happened I can’t help but wonder what the reason is? I answered the ‘call’ without break in my steps.

Quicker than I thought the dune was an easy climb… and now I stand atop its peak.

Waves of sand as far as the eye can see.

At this time the sun is setting.

The ocean of sand grains radiate the bright orange-pink glow of the about setting sun.

I see something…

What was it?

Focus my sight.

I see it, clearly from this distance… like it’s already before me. A small desert town.

 … A Ruin.

It’s peeking out from its burial ground. It looks like it had gone through so much over the centuries. Then again everything has, incurring drastic change—there is no resemblance of the world from before. The massive desert I walk on is evidence.

Well, at least that’s what I know from the little I remember from my past.

The surviving buildings indeed were in ruins, decrepit. It was just a matter of time before they come crushing down. Broken walls and sections coated the grounds with slabs of concrete and iron, parts of it reflecting the glow of the setting sun.

One in particular, the entrance into the desert town, had already collapsed and was leaning on another.

The pull I feel is stronger than before. There’s no denying it, this is where I’m being called to. But by what? Or whom…?

Each step I take makes my hunger grow and very soon, truly if not attended to, will turn ravenous.

I must sate myself!

The structure looks menacing…

Are those, people?

Drawing closer I see people walking around and playing on the inside of the sleeping building.

It could come down at any moment and they are playing?!

Related Chapters

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 1 DESERT TOWN, THE RUIN - PART 1

    The sun was still setting in the western sky. It took me a couple of hours to walk over quite the distance—what would have probably taken an average person half a full day’s walk. Not that I was in haste but I needed to. Entrance: Something about this place is familiarly unsettling… As I walk underneath the sleeping building, a breeze spins around me when its thick shadow begins to mask over me. It’s like I just entered into another world. The buildings are tall and run-down. The tallest, way back, being the one at the end of the town with twenty eight floors and the smallest, ten floors. A trading post? Clip, clop… Thump… Kriii… clank. The sounds of boots and hard-on soles walking on the makeshift stone street; hammer pounding on anvil and the squeaks of moving carts made the desert town alive. The street isn’t too wide but enough for some stalls to be set up and still have way for a crowd. Yes. There are shops and stalls here and there: weapon smith, fruit stand, cloth shop

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 1 DESERT TOWN, THE RUIN - PART 2

    A step over the threshold and inside the Inn the first to greet my sight was the girl standing behind the counter: immediately everything comes to a standstill. I can feel the intense glares of the angry and concerned customers and that of the sad looking little girl’s. “What’s with the kid?” “Is he one of them?” “Even more mess.” “One more problem having a go at it.” “Is the half-pint also here for the same thing?” I hear their whispers. What are they talking about? The room is large. It had boards for floor, round and square tables that could house a maximum of four customers and barrels that sat to the walls. Beside the counter there was a small dual door suspended to the sides of the doorframe. Magic stone lanterns hung on the walls and one on the first of the three pillars that held the room up. The ineluctable stench of booze is enough to intoxicate anyone that walked in. A young half elf-orcette, a tiger eared and tail demihuman girl, a fox, and a cat demihumans and two

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 1 DESERT TOWN, THE RUIN - PART 3

    Ruins: A group of broken buildings which provided shelter to its inhabitants. It very well hid people from the harsh desert sun. Thanks to the height of the buildings that towered the little town there had been an almost everlasting shadow which also cooled the hot desert winds. It was also a place where lowlife thugs go to find second chance or hide from bounty hunters—for how long though? The remaining human population on the planet, now less than a fraction compared to what existed also found ways to thrive in desert havens like this, but no matter where they went they were belittled, bullied and sometimes eaten by predators, a prejudice stemmed from before this era. From memory, I remember the world was filled with lots of people. I remember watching it from the box which showed moving people. They lived in all sorts of places, some so beautiful and others a ways different than the situation this new world is in. Down below a human girl is being chased and it would seem by a

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 1 DESERT TOWN, THE RUIN - PART 4

    My sight slowly shifts attention back into the street, to the passersby. I wonder. What does it mean to live? Is what I’m doing also termed as living? Am I even really what you call being alive? This world doesn’t have that much to offer but people make due of what they have, but I only go where the wind carries. I wonder. Do I have a purpose? What would have become of me? What would I have done to truly live? Even now I wonder, do I have a true purpose aside from my current goals? What would become of me if I did complete my goal? Would I fade into the nothingness……? ○●○ It didn’t take long for her to return with a plate of mashed grub; corn and bits of roaches sprinkled on it—something which is eaten almost anywhere—a piece of bread to the side, a piece of meat—from a monster—and a mug of ale. If it were back in the past nearly every person would be disgusted with the bits of roaches. The food just looks squishy and had a nice smell to it but the smell from the roaches w

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 2 MEMORIES - PART 1

    It was a joyous day. A Party… As the DJ in one corner of the room rocked the joint with a blend of Techno and rock the young hunter welcomed his guests. “Welcome… welcome everyone” “Nice to see you” said one guest. “Yoo, s’up dude? Been’a’while” said another. He welcomed the guests who joined him in his quaint home with the biggest smile he could muster. “What you been up to bro?” “The usual I guess.” “Seeing everyone back here is so awesome” “Totally. It’s been like forever since we did something like this.” “Welcome guys.” “Missed you like bunch.” “Likewise.” They were happy for they were oblivious of everything that happened to him. People congratulated him as he thread through the crowd out onto the porch outside. He leaned his elbow to the wooden rail taking in the fresh air. He was content with what he saw. Everything was back to normal. Everyone and everything was back to the way they were. The Hunter was finally home, his real home, in 2017. A gentle breeze fl

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 2 MEMORIES - PART 2

    Rays of daylight slowly creeps into the inn. It took two hours for the sun to rise and an hour for my 'sleep' after I went back into my room… Immediately the sun started to rise my eyes were open. Allora is before me, still in her human form. She has her head down facing the floor, bowing as low as her upper body could. "… T-Thank you…! I, I am really sorry to have bothered you. You just came in and I put my burden on you. I'm sorry for that." I came down earlier to return my plate and mug from the night before. I didn't think I'd meet anyone since I wasn't sure the time they opened, but when I got into the inn Allora and the other waitresses were up and busy preparing for the day, Allora wiping down the tables. At the sound of my steps close by she turned and assumed this pose, thanking me although she's somewhat nervous. She had woken up and rushed down to come finish the chores she wasn't able to complete last night but when she got there everything had already been taken car

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 2 MEMORIES - PART 3

    Night couldn't have come any quicker! And so far… nothing! The little girl left a couple of hours after following me when a few merchants and civilians shooed her away. I returned to the inn that evening to find the one who called himself Pyson Taro sitting at the counter where he was yesterday with a mug of ale in his hand. "Over here kid." The inn isn't as busy as yesterday but it's got a good haul. "..." Walk over to the counter. I need something in my belly, now! "Have a drink with me." What does he want now? Was his warning supposed to put fear in me or something, to give enough an incentive for me to leave? "Sit!" his expression suddenly takes a turn and he whispered sternly. What should I do? Ignore and just head up stairs… after I get some food. Or listen to what he has to say…? … Might as well hear what he has to say if I'm going to wait to get something to eat. Take the stool beside him. "Barkeep, another over here!" "Coming right up!" Allora responds and disapp

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    Chapter 2 MEMORIES - PART 4

    Yesterday: I woke up to the sounds of heavy patter. Not that I was asleep, but half way in trying to. “Rain…?” The room was dark and I wondered if it was still night. I could clearly see the dark sky out the window from the corner of my eye when I turned my head slightly. I walked up to it and looked out. The ruin was being bathed by the downpour. Not a single soul was out in the street; only the light from the magic stone lanterns that shone on the glossy cobblestone-like concretes and the rain eradicated its loneliness. It’s been a while since I saw rain. That was the thought running through my head as I looked to my right then left to try and tell what time of day it was. I was certain it should have been morning. To my right, where the sun should have risen from, there was nothing but thick dark clouds and inside them flashes of blue-white; and white-purple that also illuminated the ruin below… Thunder clapped. To my left I could see the clouds steadily moving, closing in

Latest Chapter

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 16

    … Above watching the ongoing battle. The mage with the mercantile smile stood in his deep brown Sith robe. The ground was little with corpses and dismembered corpses. Blood stained sands that had soaked and drained the life of those that fell. The two sides, one side the majority of therianthropes and the other humans, clash letting loose their savagery on each other. It was a gruesome sight where swords clash, severing and disemboweling of the clashing races alike. An observer would question the necessity of the savagery. In a would were there was on the expanse of desert, who knew whether there would be another settlement other than that of the two sides. So why did they not cooperative to increase their chances of survival in this cruel new world? The answer is basic: Superiority of species. One with the stronger physique wanted to declare themselves master, and the other with smarts wanted for control. So

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 15

    “Are you okay.” I look to where her voice came. Chika had somehow gotten herself out of the binding around her arm. When I glanced it seemed like it was cut. And in her hand was a very small knife, I’m sure she tucked it somewhere they wouldn’t find. She was checking on the two, cutting their bindings. I took a step to move closer. “Ugh…” I thought it would take a while to kick in. I finally got to relax seeing everything was fine, but immediately I did. I felt pain grip my entire body. My grip turned slippery from the blood that was slipping from the gunshot wound on my shoulder, and from the one that wasn’t mine. If that was all then I could deal with it, it would probably healed after a while. Aside from the nicks and cuts. I got careless back there. True, with this new found strength and reflexes you could do much, but when your are under fire it’s easy to be blindsided that was it. And that was what happ

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 14

    “… I’m here to collect my friends. And I wouldn’t hesitate to cut anyone down anyone who stands in my way!” I say as I straightened my poster, walking. “Intruder at the entrance. Men down.” … “Don’t let him in. Do whatever it takes to put him down.” I could hear the distressed voices of the men in this place. They were scrambling to get here. And those that were already close by were let lose bullets. From long before I’ve known them to be rather conservative of their ammunition, after all, the amount would be so little. But it still rained. I weaved through the debris, walls, and any cover as they closed in with cover fire. Those that chose close combat with their machetes and knives were cut down by the scythe. I closed in one by one on their gunners taking them out and moving away before I got pinned. Why? Why? Why? Why do I feel like this? Despite the rage in me, hypocritical, it may be, why

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 13

    “I’d appreciate it if you could get on with it.”“… Absolutely. Brest is his name.”Why do I get the feeling the sound of his name is exactly how he looks?“Who is he? What is his role in all this?”“The same for anyone in his position. A seat. Somewhere to belong, to hold authority.”“… I don’t get it. He’s already made his way into the top brass of that opposition faction, I assume, so why the need for more power.”Not just anyone could make it into the elites, in this case faction heads. He has to have something they need and is of the same mindset.“… Show me a person who has no greed and I will show you a world without without suffering…”Greed? In this situation do I seem to have that?… I guess. Despite having Amara, a unique to existence, I still wanted for Chika. Is that greed or lust. And then the fact, though not my own, I preferred her to be the one in control. Dose that also count.“… What do you think a desperate man would do, if you were in his situation?” He as

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 12

    When the sun got over the horizon, I got out of Chika’s place. Using the Scythe as support I dragged my aching body towards the settlement. Damn it! My whole body hurts like hell. Despite it only being sunrise the settlement is bustling. The hunt must have already been gathered and people where already up to collect their ration for the day. Technically there should be enough to ration them for months if the meat is cured, but with the time it took to cure and the amount of people that came in occasionally the daily hunts were mostly shared daily until the ones in stores was cured. I’m somewhat a familiar figure around here. Draped in a cloak, much better from the very first tarp I used, though it was old. They knew of the relation I had with Chika and the fact I was one of those who hunted most people stayed cleared of me. Then there’s the rumor about the scythe. Something about the weapon being cursed and me being a dangerous and cruel character, That really hurt my feeling, you

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 11 (r18)

    [A/N: About half of this was part of the previous chapter/ Please go through the latter half] It began slow at first but soon she got passionate, like her body was reacting to something she had yearned for, for so long. I pulled her in closer.I didn’t have any top on so she could only wrap her arms around my neck leaving me to undo her buttons. Her lips never left mine as I worked to free her trapped bust. She was just right. I’m not one to like ‘em big or small, but in the middle, maybe a tad big than that average, just like how she was.I cupped a breast feeling it’s soft, sinking goodness in my hand. Breaking off I traced her neck, kissing all the way the cherry which sat perfectly on her mound taking it into my mouth, sucking on it.“Ah…” Her moans were soft, afraid to let it out. Her hand found my buckle as I undid her with a hand, slowly sinking into the mood.Gently lean her backward until her back touched the bed.On my knees I pulled off her pants and underwear, feasting on

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 10

    [A/N: Believe the is longest i've written. Not edited so please bear with me.] In this few months I’ve active here. I got to see, well hear, about the fights that have been going on. With the exception of a few other races, their opponents were indeed the Theriantropes and a few other monster looking humanoids. Can’t really call them monsters if they can communicate, can we?. Here’s me, a guy who is avid about fantasy setting and the like and its inhabitants, seeing them do this breaks my heart. It goes as far to see the Demi-human, you know those animal/monster ears, tail and other parts, but looking no different, if not slightly, from humans being affect. Oh my dear Waifus. I was more active later in the night and hardly witnessed any. I mostly rested during the day, if not going to Chika’s or the old/young which listening to their reports, and gossips. From the reports they harassment was mainly guerrilla. Even still with that they were still at a stalemate, both side unable ov

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 9

    The first night after being cooked in boiling water—blood, I saw its effects. The speed and power increase. It breaks past the limits of your current self, even if it’s only a little improvements, my body left tight and robust.If people of our time knew about this, they’d rush in droves to get some without hesitation.…Right.Survival trivia:If you must know how they deal with the water problem. They had secured a reservoir and other containers around the place, rationing it along with the daily hunts. It’s not much considering this sweltering heat which calls for constant rehydration, but there’s nothing you can do than survive with the little you got. —Well there’s the option of plundering from others, as long as you don’t get caught or deal with an witness. And that is something that seems to happen around here.How do they deal with the refiling? Well from what I know they made sure to collect the rare yet occasional rains which somehow still fall. If you ask me, things like th

  • Transcendence. Torments of Nate Deon    

    Chapter 2 REVENANT'S PAST - PART 8

    Motor control has slowed down to a dull, I can’t even keep my position leaning to the wooden hut,The same time as the door opened I had swayed to the side falling in towards the old lady. Luckily though, for some reason the scythe is still tight in my grip.“Woah, I didn’t think you’d want this old lady that bad that you’d throw yourself upon me.” She must have gotten a closer look at me, “You don’t look so good. Let’s get you in.” She supported me leading me inside.How is a frail old lady able to hold me upright. It’d be a blow to my pride as a man if it was my weight, but it isn’t.I’ve had my suspicions but this woman isn’t as she seems.She laid me on a cloth-made bed.“I should get your gift in before someone makes away with it.”I get how you feel about securing resources detrimental to survival but someone’s dying here.I get it now. I did ask the price of a life in this new world. Now I seem to know what it cost.It didn’t take long to hear the d