[In a realm far beyond mortal ken…]
A grandiose manor stood amidst a placid, azure lake. There were no visible entrances to the manor, nor a walkway existed anywhere on the water to connect the manor with whatever land that lay beyond the lake. As far as human eyes could see, the lake was endless. Apart from the faintest of ripples, the most subtlest of eddies, the lake was void of even an iota of disturbance. The sky overlooking the lake and the manor was as clear as the purest of crystal. No clouds, stars or other celestial objects were present in the sky.
A figure stood on the roof of the manor. It was distinctly feminine, dressed in an almost translucent fabric that was wrapped around her body in a tasteful manner, accentuating her womanly curves. Her snow-white hair was parted neatly into two segments, both cascading all the way down to her waist. Her hazel eyes woefully gazed at the horizon.
She was lost in thought for what could have been ages, or mere minutes…since time itself had no special bearing in this realm. However, an anomaly occurred all of a sudden, which drew her immediate attention. In the sky above the lake, a tear formed in the shape of a lightning bolt. The perfect canvass ruined by an errant stroke. The tear stayed intact long enough for a single object to pass through, following which the sky reverted back to its original clinical serenity. The object that passed through was a tiny orb of dazzling brilliance. It slowly drifted through the air-less void and settled on the outstretched palm of the woman on the manor roof.
"How quaint. A wish." Her flawless lips held the hint of a subtle smile. "No wonder it made all the way to here. This… creature… went to the trouble of using primal essences in all the components of his ritual."
She turned towards the sky and spoke in a slightly louder voice. "Hraxanthus! I know you're watching, and probably smirking. Present yourself, at once!"
A snort reverberated across the sky followed by the appearance of a person right in front of the woman. Sleek, red hair tied into a tight ponytail revealed a handsome, chiseled face. The man wore in a long-sleeved jacket, dark violet in colour, adorned with tasteful embroidery. "Your Ladyship's awareness truly knows no limit. Indeed, she can detect even the minutest…"
"Cease your flattery, for it will get you nowhere as far as I am concerned." Her rebuke was curt. "I have an interesting project for you." She held up her palms and the orb gently drifted towards the newcomer. Hraxanthus scooped it up in his own palm and closed his eyes. Very soon, the roguish smile at the corner of his lips broke into a wide grin. "This is most interesting my Lady. This man…he actually went to all this trouble. I really am curious what he wants. Do you want me to pay him a visit?"
"I do. However, the realm he is in has lost all its potential. For a person who is willing to go to this extent…I want to know what interesting histories he'll wrought in a realm where he can spread his wings to the fullest."
A sinister light played in the eyes of Hraxanthus. "Oh? Looks like my Lady is considering him as her champion? Isn't he too insignificant for that title?"
The female scoffed at his words and her demeanor became aloof. "Don't make ridiculous assumptions! I thought you'd like the opportunity to partake in a little project, that's all. Feel free to dispose him off if you like, my interest in him is no more. You can take your leave now." The last sentence, though merely a statement, had enough steel in it that Hraxanthus knew his time was up. Without wasting any more words that could potentially land him in trouble he should avoid, he gave her a devout bow and vanished from the realm. As soon as he was gone, the feature's of the female regained its original tranquility and she resumed her mournful gaze at the horizon.
[In yet another realm, also beyond mortal cognition…]
Hraxanthus materialized at the top of a desolate mountain peak. It was an austere structure, devoid of any signs of life. Surrounding the peak, as far as eyes could go, stood countless similar peaks, all shorter in height than the one he was on. Each individual peak was jagged, uneven and had varying contour. Together, however, all of them formed a unique sense of uniformity. Hraxanthus sat cross-legged on the stony floor. The orb floated in air in front of him. A sneer formed on his perfect face.
"Pretentious harlot. Don't worry, I'm nothing if not patient. I'll be your errand boy, your loyal lackey for now. I'll savour the look in your eyes on the day you turn back and see none of your followers willing to subjugate their will to your whims. That will be the day when I erase your existence forever. Even gods fall, Neimatria."
The sneer disappeared, replaced by a curious and eager look. "Thank you for this project Neimatria. I'll bring this 'pet' of yours to heights you never would have deemed possible. Just you wait." Hraxanthus closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
The orb flew straight in, settling near his diaphragm after coursing down his body in a leisurely pace. A feeling of comfort soon enveloped all of his senses. Emotions that he hadn't witnessed in centuries flooded through him like irrepressible waves of a raging sea. It was a rush unlike all else. He reveled in it, and wanted it to never end. But end it did, way too soon for his taste. When he opened his eyes, Hraxanthus, for the first time, and only for a fleeting second, envied the human race. He let out a sigh and the feeling was gone in an instant, as if it never existed.
Hraxanthus looked up at the sky. The colour of this sky was a stark contrast to the other realm - It was an endless expanse of fiery yellow with orange tint in some places. "Scott Degen. Let's hear your wish." He whispered. And then disappeared once again from the peak, leaving behind a small, cloudy pearl on the spot where he was sitting.