I still remember the day I was born… In that luxuriously decorated bed, inside a room full of golden adornments occupied only by my mother, the doctor and his five nurses. It was filled to the brim with the screaming of my mother and the steps of the working nurses along with the calm orders of the obese doctor.
Also, just to clear any possible confusion, I don't mean that I remember it because of a recording of my birth or anything of the sort. Recording technology like a photograph or film would only be created many years after my death, and the best way to record images at the time was through paintings.
I can actually clearly remember my birth, as well as every other moment of my life, with the same clarity I witness the present. I guess I can be considered a beyond great genius by human standards.
That was, unfortunately, only one of the many peculiarities in my life… If I had to say what was the most outlandish aspect of it though, it would definitely be that…
{ Hello there, little fellow… Welcome to life. Sorry for such an abrupt introduction, but you may call me GM. It's a pleasure. }
Were the first 'words' that I 'heard' in my life, even before my ears were able to adapt to receiving sounds.
That foreign being, GM, directly introduced 'intention' in my mind. I was able to instantly understand the meaning of the message he wanted to send, as well as the feelings behind it.
His 'intention' was bright and cheerful, it also contained deep wisdom and timelessness, a speck of pride and more familiarity than would be expected for a first meeting.
[[ Don't scare him GM! Even though he's a lord, he barely just gained awareness! Don't simply start speaking to him so suddenly! ]] Said another 'intention' in my mind, just after the first one faded. [[ Sorry for this over-enthusiastic idiot, you may call me Rock. I hope we have a good time together ]].
That other being, Rock, was another one of my life-long mind-mates.
He was a caring person, and always had a warm feeling to his 'intention'. I could always feel the overzealousness in it, like a father that meddled in his children business whenever possible… He was also a goofy person.
[ Rock… You know your first phrase was sent to him as well don't you? If I didn't control it, that intention could have destroyed his brain.] Scolded a third 'intention'. [ I am Scarlet. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. ]
Even though he has a feminine name, Scarlet identifies himself as 'male', even though he claims to have already inhabited female bodies in more than one occasion, he still identifies as male. He also said he didn't have a choice on the name, as those were chosen by GM.
Scarlet wasn't a 'no-nonsense' kind of person, but he was usually the voice of reason and less emotion-driven than the other two. However, he can still be pretty sensible when necessary, as well as crack jokes and make horrible puns.
For most of my life, these three were my biggest company. They not only taught me a lot of knowledge of things like physics, chemistry, and even martial arts but also chatted with me when I was alone.
They were really important to me, to the point of almost being the most important people in my life… Just almost.
{ Seems like your vision is getting clearer. Your baby eyes can't perceive much yet, but seeing your mother's face should be okay. } Said GM, just as I had started to open my eyes.
Soon after birth, I could perceive light, motion and some large objects... Unfortunately, the large face of the obese doctor was in the list of 'large objects', so one of my first views of the world was anything but pleasant… Not because of his face though, since a newborn baby doesn't really know much of aesthetics. It was his 'intention' that was unpleasant.
Even though the 'intention' of the doctor wasn't nearly as clear as my mind-mates', I could feel two unbearable things from that doctor. While not knowing what those were, I felt incredibly repulsed by them, and Scarlet explained it to me soon after I felt them.
[ The first thing our friend perceived in life is the greed of a doctor? Human beings are really something else. How can doctors be like that? That's terribly inefficient! ] His 'intention' full of contempt as he sent it to me.
[[ You shouldn't be so harsh on them. They are, after all, still in an early phase of societal development, so it would be weird if they knew how to handle emotions and intentions, as well as their applications to medicine. ]] Said Rock, in the defense of the doctor.
I didn't know exactly what they were talking about, because even though I could understand the meaning of every and each word, I didn't have enough experience to comprehend them, all I knew was that 'greed' felt repulsive.
But while that sense of repulse attacked me, I felt a *smack* in my rear. The stinging pain traveled through my nerves before reaching my brain and generating a natural response to the stimulus.
"Waaahh! Waaah! Waaah!" and I cried, opening my mouth wide, taking in deep breaths of air for the first time.
{ I think we should have told him to breathe before this happened... } Said GM, remembering they should have warned me to breathe and avoid me being smacked in the bottom.
[[ We should call you 'captain obvious' from now on… A 'lord' receiving such treatment is disgraceful, even if he's a mortal human baby. ]] Retorted Scarlet.
I wasn't very much aware of the conversation from then on since I was too busy feeling that slightly burning sensation in my baby skin. My first experience with pain was too abrupt.
After crying for a few seconds, I finally started to calm down with help from the three and was able to hear a little of my surroundings.
"Ca... I... m... by?" Was basically what I heard from a sudden voice coming from my side. I knew I was currently in the arms of a nurse.
I didn't understand the meaning of the words since I didn't learn any language while in the womb. I knew at that moment that 'intention', which the beings in my head used to communicate, wasn't really the standard method for doing so.
Soon after, I felt myself leaving the arms of the nurse, heading towards the direction of the voice. It seems I had an eerily astounding perception for a baby since I could recognize where the voice came from.
After leaving the arms of the nurse, I felt another embrace around me… A warm embrace.
It wasn't 'warm' in the sense of above average temperature, but her 'intention' was irradiating, to the point of creating a physical sensation of warmth and comfort.
When I focused a little more on who was holding me, I saw the most beautiful scene in my entire life.
A delicate face, covered in sweat and with disheveled blonde hair. It was a woman's face, with emerald-green eyes that shone under the sunlight that entered the room, and white teeth that built a charming and heart-warming smile. She had tanned skin, much different from the pale white skin of the other people in the room.
She was like a goddess to me at that moment, I didn't need to think to know how important that woman was to me, her caring 'intention' overwhelmed me.
She was my mother, Adalie Reinhardt von Blumen.
The fourth princess of the Blumen Reich and the sixteenth concubine of the current emperor of the Imperium Ignis, that was the status of my mother.
Which makes me a prince, so the luxurious birth room is explained now.
After holding me with a smile, she gave me back to the nurse and fell asleep; obviously, she was tired after giving birth to me.
I was then put on a crib by the nurse, and she then proceeded to clean the room along with the other nurses.
I quickly fell asleep after that…
…
In my sleep, I didn't feel my body anymore, but I could still perceive the three 'intentions' surrounding me.
{ *Sigh* Now… Let's explain the boy his situation. } Said GM, with a hint of melancholy on his 'intention'.
I couldn't understand why the sudden change, but I knew it was abnormal. The other two turned silent as well.
He paused for a second before starting to speak. { Throughout many realities, there are countless pivotal beings that will wield ultimate power. They all may be unique, or a collective; They can either have some restrictions or just do as they will; They may be able to wield their power instantly or after trials or practice; their influence can be more direct or subtle… It has countless variations and you wouldn't be able to understand it all, neither is there a need to. } (GM's note: What I really mean by 'pivotal beings' is 'protagonists'.) He said in a slow and composed tone, as the 'intention' he was transmitting contained knowledge that went way beyond what mortals usually comprehend.
{ Us, as well as you, come from a category of beings self-denominated 'Lords of Infinity'. Beings with the potential to one day wield infinite power that transcends the reality we were generated in… At least, the potential to. } He says, growing sadder as he transmits his 'intent'.
{ A 'Lord' during mortal life receives 'boons' and a 'wisdom task'. The 'boon' can be anything, but it will always aid the 'Lord' in completing their 'wisdom task'. Your case is better since you have two boons. The first one is super-human cognitive abilities, which helps you in learning faster and handling information in a much more efficient way than most, as well as recognizing 'intention' to an extent. The second one is our aid, we are all 'lords' that already ascended, so you can count on us for counseling, even though we won't give you answers, but we can teach you technical abilities, as long as they are within some boundaries. } His tone grew more stern as he explained, and I remembered all that he said.
{ A 'wisdom task' is the challenge a 'lord' will face, to ascertain that he can wield the infinite power he will be given. We can tell you your task, but we won't tell you how to accomplish it, nor why you should do it. Your task may seem simple, but it isn't really. It's just as hard as all the tasks we had. } In his pause after this sentence, I can feel an eerie premonition… I knew the task would not be simple.
{ You Need to become the EMPEROR of IMPERO IGNIS. }
…
I felt overwhelmed instantly.
It must be difficult to imagine why those words overwhelmed me, but that is because 'intent' communicates much more information than simple words, and this 'intent' carried more meaning than before.
From the words IMPERIUM IGNIS, I could feel many things… Many different things.
Bloodlust, Betrayal, Anger, Lust, Pride, Arrogance.
Honor, Love, Despair, Avarice, Sloth, Domination, Death.
All of those things were multiplied to an unnatural extent, and only Love, which felt out of place, could soothe me among those nightmarish concepts.
And from the word EMPEROR, there were two distinct groups of feelings.
Power, Cunningness, Deceit, Charm, Superiority, Violence.
Duty, Honor, Belonging, Love, Sacrifice, Will.
One group was repulsive while the other was foreign. Only Love, Will and Belonging could attract me from those.
I was still overwhelmed as GM continued to speak.
{ I know it's a lot to take in so suddenly, but we will do our best to guide you. We are sure you… }
Before he could finish, I came to my senses and interrupted him. Thinking about it now, that 'intention' is almost like my first words.
"I deny it."
Was what I transmitted to them.
Denying was the first concept I realized on my own, which isn't really special since it's something basic to understand.
But my 'intention' at that time also contained a powerful Resolve.
GM was startled by my strong response and hurriedly tried to change my mind.
{ Little one, please don't be hasty. Going against your 'wisdom task' can have unforeseen consequences, if you don't prepare to fight for the throne, your brothers and sisters won't leave you be! You are a threat in their way to the throne, so you need to fight for it or you will be in danger! } His 'intention' grew worried as he tried to stop me from making a stupid decision.
"I have decided. This 'Emperor' thing is decided by qualifications, so if I don't have the qualifications for it, I will be left alone." I said, already having decided on what I was going to do." All I want is to be with that 'mother' I saw earlier. If I tried to fight for the Empire, she could be exposed to those things, like Death, Betrayal, and Suffering."
That was what I had decided early on in my life.
I could feel what I now know as 'worry' from the three of them after I made a decision.
{ I see… It's your choice. We can't force you to do anything… I hope that you have a good life and that you may find the peace you seek. } He said, the melancholy from earlier even more clear in his 'intention'...
Eighteen years passed since then…
…
Away from the planet where the baby was born, in a place outside space and time which existed as a reality of its own, there was…
An apartment.
Yes. A single apartment with three bedrooms, a kitchen, one bathroom, and a living room.
Inside this apartment, there were three young men. One of them was in the kitchen while the other two were in the living room.
The one in the kitchen was a tall man with pale skin and dark hair, as well as crimson red eyes. He wore a black hooded pullover with shorts of the same color, which made him look sloppy.
He was cooking some minced meat on the oven with a spoon on his hand. There was a carton of eggs, that had five eggs left, in a counter by the side of the oven; the man took an egg and broke it into the pot with the minced meat, then did the same with the four remaining eggs.
Mixing it all with the spoon it soon became a mix of eggs with minced meat, which he emptied from the pot into a big bowl.
After that, he took another bowl and opened the microwave that was also in the counter. Inside it, there was a paper bag with popcorn that had already popped which he took out, then emptied it in the other bowl.
He then took both bowls, not bothering to clean the kitchen or do the dishes, and went to the living room where the other two men were.
"I brought the snacks, did you fast-forward already? Did you activate our AIs?"The dark-haired man asked.
"Yeah. It's now been eighteen years since he was born and our AI's have been speaking with him and teaching him stuff… A really big time skip I would say." Another man answered.
The one that answered was another young man that was sitting on the couch of the living room with a computer on his lap, typing something in a writing application.
He had dark hair and black eyes, as well as some stubble on his face. His appearance was unkempt and he was average looking, different from the man in the kitchen that was undeniably handsome.
"Did shit hit the fan? Or is he okay?" The man with crimson eyes asked as he handed over the popcorn bowl to the man by the side of the one writing, and then sitting with the bowl of minced meat.
"Seems like shit hit the fan. It' obvious it would." Said the other man, receiving the popcorn. "It's all GM's fault!. He shouldn't have told the boy so much." He looked angrily towards the man writing.
The angry man had white hair and red eyes and was just as handsome as the man that was cooking; but differently, from both, the writing man and the crimson eyed man, he was using a t-shirt and a pair of jeans, looking tidier than them.
Also, I didn't describe the writing man's clothes because he was naked. Probably because that was his apartment and he has the right to be naked in his own apartment, no matter what the other two men say about such behavior. You can't force a man to use clothes in his own home!
Anyway… After the man with the popcorn scolded him, GM shrugged and put a helpless expression of innocence on his face and answered:
"That was a slip of tongue and I'm sorry Rock. I won't do that again." He said, even though he had done it on purpose.
Rock was going to scold GM more (probably he would, can't be sure since it didn't happen), but before he could do so, the man with the bowl of minced meat interrupted him:
"GM, all of us can see you writing that you did it on purpose. You are fucking sitting right by our side! I can even see you typing what I am saying right now!" He said, also scolding poor GM.
Feeling wronged, he tried to say something in his defense. "I may have done it on purpose, but I had a good reason to! When did I ever do something to harm our kin?!" He said, sticking his chest out righteously.
GM definitely possessed the countenance of a paragon and a martyr, whose selflessness would make even saints feel humbled.
Nevertheless, Rock thought such a magnificent and exemplary person had an ulterior motive behind his actions and proceeded to accuse him of preposterous sins!
"Countenance of a paragon my ass! You just wanted to see the world burn, didn't you? Why did you do that, you motherfucker?!" He said as he jumped at poor GM, who then had to erase the characters that were typed when his computer fell on the ground, using long-distance control of reality.
While he was being strangled, GM tried to calm down the berserk Rock, explaining that he really didn't want to harm the boy, while continuing to type in his computer using his omnipotence. ( Scarlet's Note: Using it in a really dumb way.)
"H-hey Rock… *gasp* Do you really think I am so heartless?" He asked with a wry smile. "It was either that or he would end up unable to finish his 'wisdom task'. *gasp* You really aren't going easy on me, are you? Thankfully I don't need air, otherwise, I would have died already."
Hearing that, Rock calmed down a little and let go of GM's neck after giving him a punch in the face. GM, after getting released, continued to whine.
"Damn, for someone who used to be an introvert nerd you have quite the grip…" He said, even though all three of them can destroy a universe with a sneeze. (Rock's note: I took over the narration from here.)
But Rock was having none of GM's shit. "Speak now before I erase the concept of lasagna from your mind again!" He threatened.
The threat was useful since GM immediately started explaining.
"Okay, okay! Let's not get over ourselves. You guys know how our wisdom tasks work don't you?"He asked.
Scarlet then answered. "Yes. We need to go through an experience of suffering and still prevail after that. All three of us had our minds broken at least once before completing them…"He said before realizing what GM was trying to say.
"Yes." GM nodded. "I needed to interfere here as I did with you before and both of us did with Rock, otherwise he would have failed."
Hearing GM confirming his reasons, Rock calmed down, but he couldn't help but have a hesitating expression on his face.
"What is going to happen then…?"He asked.
GM shrugged. "I don't know. I don't want spoilers, we'll have to wait and see."
"Okay, I think it's starting he seems to be waking up. " Scarlet said getting comfy on the couch.
All three of them looked at the glass table in front, the image of a young man sleeping was shown in it.
"Let's see how our little brother is faring…"