Inside the dreamscape Kellen eagerly leaned forward as he listened to Osiris explain his blessing.
"Up to this point you will be the first person to obtain my blessing in the universe so count yourself lucky and pay attention carefully. Since you are the only inheritor, you will have to learn how to use the blessing to your benefit by self-study and through my instruction."
Kellen earnestly nodded his head and paid heed to not miss a single word from him.
"My blessing is of a sinister nature when compared to the others but the exchange for mine is what I consider far better. Other blessings will restrict you in exchange for their powers or properties but mine is on the basis of an exchange."
While saying this, Osiris made a weighing and balancing motion with his hands.
"My blessing is unique since it has two sides to it like a coin. On one side it holds properties that you could describe as passive capabilities that are always active. On the other side are active powers that can be used depending on your level or current power."
Osiris reached his hand into his suitcoat again and pulled out a coin. The coin had one side that shined with a golden splendor and an opposite one that was emanating darkness. Gazing at the coin Kellen felt like he could see the flash from the birth of his existence and at the same time the inevitable death that awaited him in the future.
"The blessing is kind of like life itself, quite fascinating really. Everything has two sides or "faces." One can be beautiful, nurturing, and encouraging, while the exact opposite is also true. Life lets beings and organisms grow but can also take these blessings back making them wither and decay. Everything is within the eternal cycle, the truth of the universe. Birth. Death. They are all the same at the end of the day."
Flipping the coin in his hand, the light and darkness of the coin mingled together, creating a strange occurrence where neither light or darkness was seen but still existed.
"This is my blessing. By gaining more power and further understanding, my blessing will help you grow and increase in potential as you discover the truths of this crazy universe."
As the coin slowly fell back into his hand, Osiris flicked it again, with his thumb and index finger, towards Kellen's face.
Seeing the coin, or Osiris's blessing, flying towards him, Kellen remained still and accepted it as the dreamscape around him began fluctuating incessantly. Once the coin reached his forehead it paused as if a thin invisible wall was interrupting its convergence.
Kellen looked towards Osiris with a confused expression.
"Ha, that stupid girl seems to have placed her annoying system on you. No matter, this piece of garbage isn't strong enough to defy my blessing." said Osiris with a sneering face.
Kellen relaxed himself after hearing the old man's ridiculing words as a thin blue barrier appeared between himself and the coin. The barrier looked like it was facing the full brutal force of a mountain clashing against it as it wavered and contorted before cracks began forming along its surface.
In the matter of a few seconds, the barrier shattered like fragile glass pane and the coin slowly seeped through Kellen's forehead into his mind. Kellen could feel the abundant energy of life and the withering energy of death stirring around in his mind before diffusing into his whole being. During this process his eyes closed and remained tightly shut while the energies went rampant. Similar to the pain he felt in the void, Kellen could sense the energy leaking into his veins and nerves acclimating themselves within his body.
As the energy reached its peak, Kellen's eyes flew open and released the energy like a lamp being switched on. His right eye radiated a golden light from the whites surrounding his red pupil while his left emanated a pitch black one. Feeling the burst of energy begin to calm down as if it had never existed, Kellen closed his eyes before reopening them with their normal sheen and hue.
"What exactly did you do?" said Kellen as he felt a headache coming from where the coin entered his mind.
"I've given you my blessing making you my first and only inheritor." said Osiris with a cunning smile.
Kellen understood the basics of what had just occurred from Osiris's explanation but was still unsure and decided to double check by opening his status.
"Huh? Why won't my status open?" asked Kellen in dismay.
Osiris began laughing as he fell backwards in the air holding his head with his right hand.
"Man you crack me up kid. That garbage system was placed on you by that stupid girl remember! All those dumb mortals think it's the greatest blessing ever and worship her for it, but it only serves as a way for that little girl to keep tabs on everyone like they're her little dolls."
Osiris scratched his head as he recomposed himself.
"Well I guess it does help a little when those shitty dolls attack my children..." he said gloomily.
Kellen's interest piqued at the mention of these old man's creations and of this apparently garbage status system.
"What do you mean by little dolls and why are your children being attacked? Aren't the human kingdoms just protecting themselves?" asked Kellen curiously.
Osiris sighed as he took out and lit another cigar before explaining.
"We only have a little time left so I'll just make this brief." he said while puffing his cigar and reclining in the air.
"Let's just say I fell out of favor with the other deities due to a misunderstanding between me and that dumb Goddess, and had to appease them by handing over one of my worlds as compensation... Anyways, that sadistic prick boosted her image even more saying we could both share it, but that was just a façade." said Osiris while knitting his brows before shrugging it off in a helpless manner.
"I let her make her own creations apart from mine in the world but I never guessed that was how that little snake would bite me in the end. By using her corrupted creations known as humans, my children, the original dwellers of this world, were discriminated and oppressed."
Osiris puffed out a cloud of smoke from his cigar as creases were formed on his forehead from all the troubles the Goddess was causing him.
"In order to survive in that now dangerous world I suggest you're careful when around her creations, especially humans. I can't have my only inheritor dying on me so soon! What would be the fun in that?" said Osiris smiling at his new source of entertainment.
'It's not like I have any trust left for humans anyways...' thought Kellen as he processed Osiris's words.
For the majority of his life he had been subjected to the merciless and sinister machinations at the whim of humanity's nature. Just when it seemed things would be turning around for him in a new world, Kellen was subjected to that same torture by his "fellow" humanity.
It was a miracle he had managed to survive until now considering his bad luck up to this point. But enough was enough. He was sick of the treatment he received from them and was beginning a new path determined to be free from his cruel fate. With this blessing and along with his desire for revenge against that Goddess, Kellen felt he had taken his first true steps away from his weak and pitiful self that was used as an experiment.
Feeling an odd sense of ambition for the first time in his life felt weird and unnatural to him. He wasn't sure where his vengeance would lead him but he knew one thing for certain.
'I refuse to be played around with like a toy again!'
However, with that thought, Kellen felt like his mind was being weighed down upon by an unbearable pressure. The dreamscape around him began to waver and Osiris's figure started to become blurry.
"Shit! Looks like we are out of time kid... Currently your body is still trapped in that void and it seems like it will be there for awhile. With your current strength I can't imagine you would be able to escape from there let alone survive once your out."
Osiris's blurry figure began pacing through the air before halting and appearing next to Kellen again.
"Ah, I've got it! You need some training and to practice using my blessing. Can't have my inheritor getting his ass beat by some weak creatures or beings. That would even ruin my reputation!"
By now Kellen couldn't make out the old man's figure anymore and only heard his faint voice as the dreamscape collapsed leaving only Kellen stranded in a pitch black space. He was alone within his mind with only his thoughts accompanying him.
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This chapter's length will probably be around the normal length for future chapters I think. I'm still trying to get better with dialogues so if there are any mistakes or if you have suggestions please leave a comment! :) Next chapter will be released a little later today because I ended up taking a nap since I didn't sleep well last night. Hope you all are enjoying the reading so far. Much love guys!
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Off to finish the next chapter:::::::....