Cherreads

Chapter 171 - Source Origin(21)

'What's going on?', that was what he asked.

He did not ask who the being was, he didn't know after all, that it had already introduced itself, and he had no way of even remembering the introduction, he didn't ask where they where, partially because he feared the answer that the man might utter, be it that he didn't believe he would get an actual answer on that, so, while he asked what was going on, he didn't wish to know that entirely either, and the other one, the being, the man, old but still brimming with vitality, knew what was actually asked, after all, he knew what caused him to ask, he knew the inspiration behind his question, or at least that was what he had claimed, perhaps he had just learned this from countless other heroes and gods that came here after all.

As such the being didn't answer to that which Cades asked, he answered to that which Cades wished to know, so much so, so fluidly and fast, already having known what he wished to truly know, that Cades didn't even know what was happening, didn't even realize that the being had barely scratched on his actual question, the question of what was going on right now, barely truly scratching the surface, barely commenting shortly on the present and instead telling Cades what was now going to happen, at least until Cades would ask for more detail, after all, to him, the old man, this was more of a task, this was basically an automated process, one that they knew so well, one that they knew in their heart, that they barely even listened to the questions Cades was asking, perhaps even knowing what he was thinking, perhaps even seeing what he had gone through.

"You, Cades, are going through the trials of the greater pillar of motion, the light that shone in the beginning, the queen of hands that wears ones made of wood, the mistake of the old man he embraced, she who claims to be the last but is the first, and by what I'm able to tell, you are doing exceptionally well, even for a mortal."

Cades didn't understand, he felt as if this being was explaining the future, as if it was telling him what was to come, as if this was an instruction, but he couldn't understand, after all, it had sounded like gods and immortal beings had greater trouble here than mere humans, and then there was the entire verse he had told about this queen of hands, this so-called great pillar of motion, someone he simply couldn't understand, or rather, something that made his heart race, made him long for something he couldn't even begin to comprehend, but he didn't need to either, instead, the being quickly continued on, taking his attention elsewhere as if it already knew what was going to happen to him if he thought about this queen of hands for too long, perhaps fearful of ailing at the task he was supposedly given, though Cades couldn't imagine what could make such a being fearful.

"You have already passed the test of advancement, the test of ingenuity, be it that that one was especially easy for you due to sheer luck, the test of endurance, be it that that one was more of a side-test rather than an actual one, and now, the test of fighting, the simplest and yet perhaps the most difficult one shall follow, posed by me, the high pillar of inspiration, by two greater gods, and by a deity, both different things."

Once again Cades didn't understand what he was saying, he understood, of course, that this must've been one big challenge, one he had never really taken on from what he could tell, but how had he passed three trials of the supposed four named ones without even noticing, and what was a high pillar, or a greater pillar for that matter, and even more so, what did he mean that there was a difference between a god and a deity, those were synonyms after all, Cades had no way to answer these questions, but the being continued on once more, making sure Cades paid attention, partially so that he wouldn't get lost in his thoughts, failing to understand anything, partially because it didn't seem like the man, or whatever it was, intended to explain these things, seeing as he was fairly certain that it would take a long time to explain everything to Cades, something they were seemingly not ready to do just yet, perhaps even believing him to be destined to fail the fourth of the trials.

"We shall each pose a few challengers, between one and three, all of which shall challenge you, as I've already managed to convey previously, and all of which shall break you in the future when things have progressed further, as wished by the greater pillar of motion, the great queen of hands, as wished by her who watches and yearns for things to progress, we shall start soon enough."

He took a small break, seemingly breathing once, his broad chest heaving forward and making him seem even more alive, his temporarily closed eyes making Cades, just for a moment, believe that this could truly be just a normal person, if not for where they were, if not for the way he had talked, if not for what they wore amidst this place, if not for all of this, and then, having collected something he should've already held before, the only time one could see the automatic progress fail, the high pillar of inspiration as he had claimed himself to be, began talking once more, intendent on conveying even more to Cades and consequently causing more and more questions to be asked within his heart, just as the question of the pillars, the questions of the gods and deities, the questions of the trials, the questions of this place that he had long since forgotten.

Finally, he felt the ground changing.

 

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