Chapter 2 - Magna

"Everything dear. Anything! You could even die again if you like! Ha aha Haaa! Just kidding! Of course you don't want to die again... but, the possibility of dying again is actually quite high I'm afraid." She pouted

"Wait.. what.. so this isn't Heaven? No everlasting life? You said this wasn't Hell, but I wasn't good enough to get into Heaven? Is Heaven even real? Is this like, purgatory or something?"

"Oh Heaven is real, but this is definitely not it. And it's always so funny when you lot show up thinking you're supposed to just be taken straight there, not sure how that got into your religions. Heaven isn't even what you all seem to think it is. Sure they're really-really strong, and they probably know most everything there is to know about you, but they aren't some sanctuary you get to go vacation at for the rest of your days. No dear, this place you're in now, the whole universe or whatever you fancy, is called Magna. Heaven controls just one system in Magna out of millions, and it's not a very pleasant place, very sterile. This planet you're on now is my home and place in Magna, I am Sha, and I welcome all new souls that are able to come here." With her last sentence Sha suddenly dropped her funny accent and spoke in an angelic, yet authoritative tone.

"Oook... well, that sort of clears up a few things. But what am I here for? Is there something I'm supposed to do? Actually, I'm really hungry all of a sudden, can you help me get some food?" Pucks stomach suddenly felt so hot, he almost wanted to double over from the pain of this weird hunger. He'd never felt this before. Sure he'd been hungry, he'd lived through 2 wars. Once he even had to hide for 6 days in the tundra, he wasn't able to find any food in all that time, he thought he might die from that hunger, but this.. this was something else entirely.

"Graaagckhhh" Puck actually did succumb to the pain, falling to his knees, clutching his stomach in an attempt to squeeze the heat away.

"Oh my! Quick dear, drink this!" She floated over to him, placing a large stone cup filled with dark blue liquid in front of him.

As soon as the cup left Shas hand, he didn't hesitate to grab it, if he didn't do something soon he thought he might implode or simply burn up from the inside out. Puck gulped down the entire cup in a few seconds, and then he became very still. His stomach wasn't raging anymore, it was still hot, but he no longer felt like he was going to be destroyed by it. In fact he started to feel strong, stronger than he'd ever felt in his whole life. Power was surging from the heat in his stomach out through all of his limbs. He stared at the cup he'd been given, suddenly he became aware of a light blue light shining through the seams of his armor. "What is this? What did you give me?? I mean, thank you, I'm not trying to complain, I feel amazing, but what did you do to me?" He shuddered.

"I didn't do anything to you dear, what you're feeling is your own power, and I have to say dear, it is something very special. You may get to live a long life in Magna with power like that." She stared at him curiously. "What you've just drank is the equivalent of a breakfast smoothie, crafted from some gradleberries from my garden, and simple water from my well. The gradleberries are sort of like your blueberries, but much bigger and far more nutritious." She said with an air of pride. "Most newcomers don't have such extreme reactions, and don't feel the need to consume anything for a few days. I usually prepare a nice feast when that time comes" she said apologetically

Pucks body felt like an engine, or maybe a nuclear reactor may be more accurate. He tried to slowly stand up, as he realized he'd been kneeling since the fire in his stomach started raging, but when his legs fully extended he suddenly found himself shooting into the sky.

"AHHHHH!!!!" Pucks scream was a terror filled falsetto. He was actually pretty scared of heights, now that he was aware he was alive again that fear was gripping him firmly.

ZZZZPAH

As Puck was rising through the air Sha appeared next to him like a bubble popping in reverse.

"WELL, Puck, I must say this is a first for me. I've met many strong souls in my time, but no ones ever jumped through the atmosphere of my planet on their first day. However, this won't do, you haven't even found a weapon or met Gahorem yet, so come on down with me so that we may continue."

"YOU THINK I DID THIS ON PURPOSE?!! I CAN'T COME DOWN! I CAN'T JUST STOP!"

"Oh dear please, there is no need to yell at me. And of course you can stop, you were strong enough to get yourself up here weren't you? Just punch upwards for now, we'll work on finesse later."

Puck couldn't really think straight flying through the air that fast, so he just did as he was told. Right as he was making a fist he looked out at his surroundings, and he froze. He was hundreds of miles above the planet, he could see so much. There was a snow covered mountain range that ran seemingly all the way around the planet in a rough belt. On one side of the mountains there was only a great ocean, he could see some small islands, there were more than a few active volcanoes as well. The other side was mostly clusters of different kinds of forests, with a swath of grassland to the southeast, and what appeared to be a massive yellow tree in the center of that grassland. Just where his view hit its limits on the mountain range, Puck thought he saw some kind of giant spotted creature. Puck thought he saw it turn it's weird head and look back at him.

"See dear! That wasn't so hard was it?" Sha said pridefully.

Suddenly Puck was aware that he had stopped flying up, and was hanging frozen in the air.

"Ah! How do I get down! Get me down!" Puck yelped

"Oh? You didn't do that on purpose? Instinct is a very nice trait. Well, I suppose you'll need to throw that punch after all!" Sha said cheerily

"Why won't you help me!?" Puck yelled

"Dear, I am here to guide you, but I can't do everything for you! Now get yourself down, we have a schedule." Sha glared at him

Puck didn't know what else to do, so he just punched. Unfortunately he didn't punch straight up, solidly diagonal actually. He was only flying down for half a second when he slammed back-first into the side of a mountain.