"So, let's talk about what is going to happen to you, and about the little hell hole you're going to." The man smiled, seemingly excited.
'Anomaly.'
"Oh, a question? I have been talking quite a bit, so do ask."
'I just left a shitty situation, are you telling me I'm headin' to another one?'
"Indeed! Quite a shitty situation! I'm sure you're on pins and needles just waiting for it!"
'Yeah, I don't know what that means. Just what is so terrible about it?'
"'Pins and needles' refers to that tingling feeling you get when some part of your body doesn't get blood to it. For example, if you're sitting in a position, waiting excitedly for someone to tell you something and your foot falls asleep, but you don't want to move because you might miss something."
'Falls asleep huh? Yeah, I kinda get what you mean.'
"So, this world you are going to has magic. I'm not sure what your previous world had, so you will probably find using magic a new experience. Hopefully it will be a bit easier once I teach you how to use it. In fact, it is through the use of magic that you are getting sent to that world. You see, the place you are getting summoned to uses sacrifices and other things to continually summon spirits from other worlds into bodies their shitty goddess creates. Those spirits are to be used as mindless puppets with which to dominate the world. And when the puppets are all worn out, they're used as part of the sacrifice, or thrown away."
'Noted.'
"Excellent, moving on. Their shitty goddess is a little barmy. She ... hmm, twists fate? Wait, let me back up. You know how I mentioned that all universes are happening all at the same time, yet not?"
'Uh, yeah.'
"Ok, any point, in any universe, at any time, is no different than any other point in a separate universe. So, the goddess can grab a soul from any sentient life form, that has ever existed, or will ever exist, anywhere, in any of the universes. And to properly prepare the soul to be a power source for the bodies they will use as puppets, she will set a situation for the selected soul, which will devastate, or shatter the mind, so it is easier to control."
'So, that is supposed to explain the freak that kidnapped me and hung me on hooks torturing me for two weeks before jerkin' his junk as I was dying?'
The man makes a disgusted face, "Is that what happened to you? My condolences." The man takes a breath and makes a face as if he doesn't know what to say.
"Ok, so the body has a spell cast upon it, two in fact. One put in place by the goddess during the creation of the body, which basically gives the mind a lobotomy by suppressing it, with just enough consciousness to follow orders. The second spell enslaves the soul to the empire. The binding comes in the form of a seal on the body, which looks like a tattoo in the middle of the chest. A corresponding crystal is created along with the summoning, which the body is holding on to. The crystal is taken from the body, and the one holding the crystal, or rather claims possession of the crystal, can give commands to the puppet, who will follow them completely. When the puppet dies, the crystal turns to dust. If the crystal were to be broken while the puppet was alive, then control over the puppet is released.
"That doesn't necessarily mean they're freed, as they still have their minds suppressed, but there are a couple spells that can be used to fix that. Sooo, if someone were to get control of the crystal, they could give a command to it to recall the puppet before they shatter the crystal, so they could possibly cure the puppets."
'I see where this is going, but how many of them would be able to live a normal life after their fates have been twisted, and they find out they've been some mindless slaughter machine?'
The man nods his head, "Yes, I'm sure it will be difficult."
'So, why'd you pick me?'
"Oh, I got lucky. I knew this sort of thing was happening, and when I went to there, I did a little investigating, and decided on my own that this sort of thing shouldn't continue. I tried for a while to figure out where the souls were coming from, and it's very difficult, given the number of different universes, so I picked random ways, and although I did see a few, I never got a chance to, how should I put this? Catch a soul?"
"In order to be able to speak to you, I had to create an existence between universes that I could pull over a soul before entering that world, or universe, rather, as we're currently in the void." He said while waving his hand. "Once I get rid of this pocket existence, you're gonna get sucked into your new body, suppressed, and enslaved.
"Well, that WAS the plan; but I'm going to give you a nudge, as I'm going to follow you, and just before the goddess casts the spell to suppress you, I'm going to take your place. And, when I take your place, your body will be horribly thrown off course, to land somewhere, probably a hostile environment where you'll have to survive on your own with absolutely nothing or anyone to help."
'Your sales pitch is terrible.'
"Ha ha, it is, isn't it? It is unfortunate, but I'm not going to sugar coat it for you. You're going to have a tough time. You are going to appear in an unknown location, with only a crystal in your hand. Your mind won't be suppressed, so you can just destroy the crystal. There shouldn't be anything preventing it, but if there is, you should still be able to destroy it indirectly."
'Indirectly? You mean like negligence?'
"Something like that, yes. You could cause a series of events that could lead to its destruction, you could have someone, or something assist you. It really isn't very strong of a crystal, which is why they are all collected and stored in a safe, centrally located, and guarded location. Now, let's talk about the good stuff: magic."