"You're in my consciousness," Kayvan explained, gesturing with one massive hand. The air shimmered, and suddenly, the world transformed. In the blink of an eye, the maze of books became a vast expanse of stars. A moment later, they stood in an ancient castle surrounded by stone walls and flickering torches. Just as quickly, they returned to the library.
Joe's mouth hung open in shock. His breath hitched as he tried to process what had just happened. "This… this is insane! It's like The Matrix! Are we in some kind of simulation?"
"Don't compare this to that shallow, overrated story," Kayvan said with a scoff. "Everything you've seen is real—not a computer-generated illusion. You are in my mind, within my spiritual world."
Joe blinked. "Wait, you know about The Matrix? How do you even know that? Aren't you… I don't know… not from Earth? For a second there, I thought I'd been teleported to some other dimension or something. But if you know about The Matrix, then—thank God—I'm still on Earth, right?"
Kayvan's expression softened into a faint smirk. "If you define Earth strictly by its name, then yes, we are on Earth. But this is not the Earth you remember. In your terms, you could say you've… traveled. This world is entirely different from the one you knew."
Joe's eyes widened. "Wait, what? If this isn't my Earth, how do you know about The Matrix? What, do Hollywood movies broadcast across dimensions or something?"
Kayvan let out a low chuckle. "Do you think you've only been here for a few moments? To you, it might feel like you simply blacked out and woke up in my mind. But in reality, you've been here for thousands of years. I've had plenty of time to study your memories. By the 300th year, I was bored enough to sift through everything in your head. I know everything you know—right down to the trivial details you've long forgotten."
Joe staggered back a step, his face pale. "You… you've looked through my memories?" The thought was horrifying. It felt like standing naked in front of a crowd, utterly exposed. "So you… you know everything about me?"
Kayvan leaned forward slightly, his massive frame casting an imposing shadow. "Everything. I know your origins, the peaceful world you came from. I know about your mundane but precious life. But don't feel singled out—our souls are intertwined now. Just as you have no secrets from me, I have none from you."
Joe's mind raced, grasping for something familiar to ground himself. "Wait," he said suddenly, "what about that battle I saw earlier? What was that all about?"
Kayvan's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Ah, that… was just the beginning."
"Ah, you're talking about the Battle of the Outer Wall," Joe said, frowning as he finished speaking. The words had come out naturally, almost instinctively, even though he had no idea what the Battle of the Outer Wall was. It felt like the phrase had surfaced from a place he couldn't explain.
"Yes, the Battle of the Outer Wall," Kayvan confirmed, his massive figure looming like a mountain. "It's a good sign that you know those words. It seems you're starting to tap into my memories, even if you don't realize it yet. That battle was the last one I ever fought. What you saw in your visions wasn't a movie or some ridiculous dream—it was real. That battle actually happened. In it, I fought to protect Sanguinius from a powerful attack."
"I know," Joe replied, his voice subdued. "I saw it—or, no, it's more than that. I felt it." He rubbed his temple, trying to explain. "The word 'saw' doesn't even begin to describe it. It was like I became you, like I was standing on that battlefield as Kayvan. Every moment, every sensation, was so vivid. I don't just remember it—I understand it, down to my core." He hesitated, then asked, "Sanguinius... was he your friend? Why would you go so far as to shield him with your body? Even your life?"
Kayvan's expression softened, though his tone remained calm. "No, there was no friendship between us. Sanguinius and I served the Empire in entirely different capacities. We never spoke, never met before that battle. I only knew of him by reputation—a glorious name, nothing more."
Joe furrowed his brow, struggling to understand. "Then why? Why sacrifice yourself for someone you didn't even know?"
Kayvan's lips curved into a faint smile as he explained, "Because he was extraordinary. Sanguinius was not just powerful; he was the most powerful warrior of the Empire. Protecting him wasn't about personal connection—it was about ensuring that he could protect the Emperor. My role in that moment wasn't to survive; it was to guarantee that the Empire's most valuable defender could continue to fight."
Joe blinked, astonished. "That's it? Just that?"
"That's it," Kayvan said, shaking his head at Joe's incredulous expression. "You look like you can't believe it, but understand this: the battle we fought wasn't one where survival was guaranteed. By the end, those who lived likely owed their fate more to luck than skill. But don't interrupt me now—listen carefully. At the climax of that battle, I was struck by a powerful force. It wasn't something of this world. It was a curse, a manifestation of evil from subspace—a kind of dark magic, if you will. And somehow, your soul was carried into my body along with that cursed energy."
Joe's mind flashed back to the battlefield memory, recalling the moment Kayvan had stepped in front of Sanguinius, shielding him from a fatal beam of energy. "Wait… you're saying I followed that beam of light and ended up inside your body?"
"Yes," Kayvan confirmed with a solemn nod. "At first, I thought you were some trick of the enemy—maybe even a new and terrifying weapon. After all, you came into me riding on the very force that cursed me. I waited for you to wake up, planning to face you in a battle of will and soul to see who would triumph. But…" He shrugged. "You slept. And you slept too long. By the 300th year, I'd grown bored. I started digging through your memories and realized you weren't some enemy trick. You were just an unlucky victim. An ordinary person from another dimension, caught up in events you couldn't control."
Joe's mouth felt dry. "I see… So now that I'm awake, what happens next?"
Kayvan leaned forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over Joe. "Now, it's not about what you and I want to do. It's about what must be done. Don't worry, I won't harm you. Instead, I'll teach you. I'll teach you everything I know. You'll have to study hard and give it your all—because your survival depends on it."
Joe frowned, confused. "I don't think I follow."
"The curse that hit me in the Battle of the Outer Wall didn't just wound me," Kayvan explained. "It trapped my soul inside my body. I can't die, but I'm not alive either. My body is a cage for my soul, and the efforts of my comrades to save me only prolonged this cursed existence. Over time, my soul will weaken until it's gone. When that happens, you—" he pointed at Joe. "—will be the only one left in this body. I don't know what that means for you. Will you be imprisoned here, unable to act? Or will you wake fully, taking over? Either way, it's not something you should look forward to."