"I'll never get used to that... Welcome back I guess is the proper greeting." The dog-eared man directed a rather apathetic welcome to Arc as upon his return to his source of suffering. "I'll give you a minute or two to get your bearings. We have plenty of time. If you have any questions I will answer what I can."
This song and dance again? You will just give me a vague answer and some excuse about me dying. Whatever, I'll play along. He asked one of his previously unanswered questions.
"Then may I ask where I am?"
Needless to say, he didn't have high hopes.
"You are currently in the astral field of Anima Operantium."
He was surprised that he answered his question, but it was still pretty vague. That was probably due to his question though. Finally feeling some hope and a whole lot of curiousity, he went a little more in detail.
"What is Anima Operantium?"
"It roughly translates to 'Soul Forge' and its name is it's job. It serves to create, alter, refine, and enhance the souls of those known as 'candidates'. You are a candidate if you were curious." He took a slight pause to let that morsel sink in and draw a breath. "It is composed of five primary parts. The living quarters you will probably enter, the Shell World Monitor where shell worlds are observed for suitable candidates, you came from one of them, the Forge Room itself where modifications are done to the souls themselves, the Fissure Chamber is where you woke up is where you woke up and is responsible for erasing memories and experiences that would end up going against the Heavens and invoke their penalties, and finally the Astral Field. This is where we train and teach any candidates that require it what they need to know."
Arc was truly shocked by the information dump he had just received. This was far more detailed than he had expected, he had just wanted a name and its general function.
Still reeling, he asked another. "What is my name?"
"Stellaris Solaris Lunaris."
"Isn't my name Colaris Dominus Arcturus though?"
"They are both your name. If the Arc moniker you go by were to be translated into its most basic form, that's what it would be. It has some use but I won't bother telling you until you get significantly stronger. Otherwise I'd just be wasting my time."
Arc was baffled. 'How could those names possibly be the same? What did he mean by wasting his time? It's my name isn't it?' These were the sort of questions that were forming in his head.
"Anyway, we've got some important matters to go over. If you have more questions you can ask some of them as I lecture you. Don't worry about sleep or food, this isn't really your body, you will be supported by the field." Sirius interrupted his line of questioning, moving on to what he was drawn here for. "First and foremost I am going to enlighten you to what type of world you were delivered to and what you are going to do."
"In total, there are 99 worlds that we monitor. They are ranked by their ambient levels of natural power. You have been sent to the weakest of the grouping called 'The Lower Nine'. You are going to have to gain strength and power to a certain point, then I will tell you your next objective. Don't worry about the level of your strength, we will inform you when you reach that point."
It would appear that Arc had an objective. He was not necessarily surprised to find this out considering what they said they do. Still another question to ask.
"I will also tell what to do and what not to do. First off, no dying."
"No shit." Arc couldn't help but blurt out at this obvious piece of advice.
Sirius' brow just twitched a little as he continued. "Second, follow the instructions we give you as close as close to the letter as possible. Missteps or mistakes might end up ruining you. We won't lead you astray."
Arc was bemoaning his lack of freedom in this whole mess. Was he bound to be a slave to the whims of others forever?
"Third, and you might not recognize what I am talking about until you age a bit, you absolutely must not advance under any circumstances ever without my express permission." Sirius wore a serious face as he established this rule. He clearly wouldn't tolerate him breaking it. "I will personally eliminate you should you violate this rule."
Arc felt a chill down his spine as he stared at Sirius' face. Nothing noticeable changed about it. There was no expression of anger or annoyance, only a slight smile and his sharp eyes gave off any indication of emotion. Still Arc could tell that this wasn't a threat. This was a promise.