Location: Temple of the Unnamed, Inner Wastes of Ka'rath'Mar
Time: [Resurrection Status: Unclear / Dignity: MIA]
Ren knocked on the temple door.
Just once.
BOOM.
A silent pulse of pressure hit him in the chest like a truck made of air and regret.
He stumbled back. Blinked.
Nothing was there.
REN (blinking):
"…Okay. Not creepy at all."
Then he looked down.
His body was still standing.
But he was… five feet to the left.
REN (staring at his own corpse):
"Did I just get ghost-punched so hard I skipped ahead of myself?"
Suddenly the door opened—
WHAM.
Arix exploded out of it in full training gear, grinning like she'd just stepped out of a bar fight and a fashion shoot at the same time.
ARIX (grinning):
"Hey, dumbass! You made it!"
She immediately yanked Ren into a hug—
Which became a full-body smother combo.
REN (muffled):
"Blmmmh—Arix—I can't—BOOBS—lungs—air—"
ARIX (cheerful):
"Oh please, you've survived time-implosions.
You can handle a little cleavage."
She finally let go.
Ren gasped like he'd been underwater for three weeks.
REN (coughing):
"You literally just suffocated me back to life."
ARIX (casual):
"Well someone had to fix the death thrust."
She motioned behind him.
Ren turned.
And saw… himself.
Still dead.
REN (staring):
"…Can we fix that or…?"
OLD MAN (suddenly appearing beside them):
"Already did."
Ren screamed.
REN (spinning):
"STOP DOING THAT! You don't get to just exist sideways!"
The Old Man didn't look old.
Not anymore.
He looked about thirty. Maybe.
Tall. Clean-cut. Sharp eyes.
Still wore the same coat, but now it looked like it fit his frame instead of being ten sizes too big.
REN (squinting):
"Wait. What the actual fu—"
OLD MAN (grinning):
"Surprise.
Turns out I age backwards when I'm irritated."
ARIX (nodding):
"Confirmed. He once looked 200 after watching Ren train for ten minutes."
REN:
"I hate how normal that sounds coming from you two."
OLD MAN:
"So… you dodged the thrust."
REN (still rattled):
"By accident."
OLD MAN:
"Good enough. You passed."
REN:
"Passed what?! The 'Die With Style' Olympics?!"
ARIX (laughing):
"Nah, it was just a reflex test.
If you died in your own mind, we'd know you weren't ready."
REN:
"And if I failed?"
OLD MAN:
"We'd send your corpse back in a decorative fruit basket. With a card."
REN (deadpan):
"Nice to know your customer service has a dark sense of humor."
They walked deeper into the temple.
Strange glowing floor panels lit under their steps like lazy fireflies.
REN (looking around):
"...This place gives me whiplash. Is this a temple or a techno sauna?"
ARIX (shrugging):
"Depends who you ask.
Some say it's a training ground.
Some say it's where gods came to throw tantrums.
I just call it home."
OLD MAN (smiling):
"And now, you're here.
Alive-ish.
Still snarky.
So let's talk."
REN (narrowing his eyes):
"About what?"
OLD MAN:
"About what comes next.
But first—tea, sarcasm, and at least one more test you're going to hate."
REN:
"Yay. Childhood trauma with a warm beverage."
They sat.
No lore.
No powers.
Just three lunatics, one table, and a very confused goat watching from the corner.