Aliens.
The first contact with the previous world started with a strange uprising in unidentified flying objects. It began with the sighting of a thousand black "globes” dancing around the sun, engaging in combat in the sky before disappearing into the night.
As they arose, making humans question what was truly superstition in a world of magic, it progressed into a confrontation between a human representative and an “Alien” representative.
The aliens refer to themselves as “The Haitenitions.”
And one of them found the idea of their role in the next world confusing.
HAITENTITON MOTHER SHIP - ASF18940
“Solve it. Solve the equation of humans!”
An entire sheet laid out before him.
A brain to think. Magic to fight. Souls to feel. Hearts to live. Strength to survive. But somehow, we're different? The universe is full of life that has yet to collide, so why do humans choose conflict when we arrive? We are all full of life. We differ in terms of race and cultures, weaponhood, and beliefs—yet we hold souls?
So if we both have souls, why create dissonance with such labels such as “Aliens” or “Humans”?
I have calculated the weight of the soul. The heaviest object in the entire universe, yet it can be manipulated.
VALOR DASHUN MAJINN BULUR
The Mathematician of the Haitentitons. Like the rest in his field, he wore a tight green white vest with baggy purple sleeves and the symbol of a solar system on the front. Baggy pants of purple underneath, and at the end, indestructible soles.
By Haitentiton standards, he’s considered attractive. Triangalur, golden markings on his cheeks, an indication of wealth. Green hair in a state of upheaval with a golden band—a ponytail. And more importantly, the fourth eye. Most Haitentitons carried a Third Eye, which symbolizes the strive for a new world claimed to be their shared “Innate belief.” The Fourth Eye is claimed to be a sign of “Interconnectedness” with the cosmos.
“I’m baffled,” he said in the midst of pondering. “Why is my race… given a special day?”
!!!! Alertness!
Below, right in the gaze of his beam, was Hiro!
With the tap of a button, a display of the composition, weight, and more of this soul filled his mind.
A new soul.
Emotional levels: Low.
Number 6040284.
Soul Type: Human.
Qualities of a human body: 100%
No other Mothership was in close proximity to Valor, and thus, he decided to indulge. Amidst technology far too bravado and mystical was a simple lever, allowing the ship to break away from the clouds and present itself to the city.
Strangely enough, no one else happened to be on this street, and therefore, Hiro stopped in his tracks, as his face—the moon—was now blocked out.
Something familiar writhing in the air. The same feeling of being around a unique soul like Konton. Without form, yet brave all the same.
Clink!
A boot on top of the mothership—and what followed was a darkened silhouette, menacing in the eternal veil of night.
Down, down, down. Steams shot out, roaring as the Mothership lowered itself onto the ground. Valor’s form was far more clear now, and Hiro wasn’t phased by his four eyes.
Hands tied behind his back, he descended the steel steps that appeared at the end of the threshold of the ship like magic. His gaze was all analysis. Burning curiosity.
Who is he?
“Greetings, soul.”
“What are you?”
Tmp.
A final step, and Valor stopped, answering with—”I am Valor Dashun Majinn Balur.”
Such a confusing name. Hiro noted.
“It comes to my attention that you are a new soul. I know this, yes, because your body holds no Karmic Weight. Without choices and only words, you’re hollow.” A churning excitement bellowed in his mind, hidden beneath skin. “The majority of souls here refer to me as an “Alien” or "Extraterrestrial." Be assured, for I am a soul like you.”
A round of analysis proved to render that statement as a lie. The feeling was similar to Konton’s soul, but it was far too stable, bearing an aroma of an already stable and complete life. “I see, so why do you wanna talk to me?”
“Research purposes.” Valor’s answer, followed by the opening of his palm. There, a hologram appeared—a transparent globe in a state of endless rotation. “From my knowledge, excluding the metaphysical environments, this world is sorted by the four cardinal directions. This is part of Virupaksa, the West. Technically, I am from Vairavana, the North—where the Higher Ups are, since souls such as myself have not fully been understood, thus resulting in randomized placement. Today is “Alien Day”. A special occasion unique to my race, allowing us to be settled in each cardinal directions to co-exist, so—”
Valor smiled. Despite his mutated appearance, it carried far more humanity than Konton’s.
“—You will be guiding me through this city!”
Impossible.
“Me?”
“A simplistic, yet effective choice.”
“But wouldn’t it be better to just experience it yourself, or have a guide?”
“On my planet, those who are born in wealthy families are separated from their parents at birth.” Valor said. His smile was strong, but that faint tinge of weakness in his voice—far too apparent. “We are sent to the moon, and if we build something that can bring us back safely onto the planet, we evolve—hence, my four eyes. Essentially, I’ve never been guided in my life.”
“You never had a mother?”
“No, but I have a Mothership, which allows me to travel long distances in a short amount of time.”
I see.
Konton wanted me to meet his mother, but…
I have this desire… to guide this soul just as he did me!
The confidence of an underdog, shown through his stern gaze. “I accept.”
“Nice.”
Beneath his flesh displaying a calm smile, where his true nature resided. Cold, analytical, and curious.
So he’s aware of the concept of a “Mother”, hm? I can assume that he has been taught nothing, like me.
So this’ll go smoothly.
While observing my own growth as a soul, I can witness how he grows as well based on his actions, and finally solve what makes us different.
An empty street, basked in modernity. Skyscrapers, momumenal—yet devoid of human life. All so liminal—theatrical, like a stageplay made solely for the both of them. Dancing images all around, transparent. Certainty in the feeling that, despite their incomprehensible state, they weren’t pleasant.
“So many bundles of light flying around, and I can see all of them.” Noted Valor. The images were clear to him. Multi-colored beasts with a cylindrical shape, bearing teeth that didn’t match their happy eyes at all. “What do you call these things?”
“Unfamiliars.” Hiro answered, kicking one away, just as Konton did during their short journey here. “They’re like—harmless beasts. We ate a few on the way here.”
“Ate?”
“Yeah. They’re edible.”
“I see.” There was a tinge of resentment in that statement.
They pursued their journey further into the city.
Walking, walking, until—
“Stop.” Valor’s four eyes caught the tallest skyscraper. A structure defined by glass. The inside was practically staring right at his face with a welcoming expression. “I want to analyze the architecture.”
“Okay.”
That pattern again. Black and white—black and white on the floor. It ended at the scaling, ever twisting staircase. Now, the outside seemed to be blue, the moon replaced with a great ball of light.
With the arrival of illumination, Valor began ascending up the stairs. Step, step, step, admiring the beauty of this area—now blessed by light. Youthful days, hailing from his home planet, returned—or more so, their feelings. Warm.
“So, 85 hours. That’s the amount of time it takes for night to pass?”
Hiro was still bent on that himself. A delayed reaction to the question.
The distance between the two was already great. Just as his eyes, his head was facing upwards, too. “I don’t know. The last time I passed through here, it didn’t do that.”
“I see.”
An enigmatic day-night cycle. With that noted, he continued his way upwards. Hiro soon followed.
Up, up, up.
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Further above, Hiro’s eyes were below, never letting the floor escape his sight. When reaching the top of it all, standing before a steel, modern door, Valor did so as well.
“Do you think it would hurt if I fell from here?”
Hiro scratched his head. “Yeah.”
“Okay!”
Leap!
“WEEEHEEEEEEE!!!”
“Wait—!”
But he was a second too late! Valor plunged to what could be his death, clothes and hair running wild! The wind passed by, shouting out the consequences! However, when reaching the ground…
Splosh!
No way. The floor was a liquid framed as a solid, and so was the ceiling. Valor landed perfectly back to the top, right beside Hiro. He was abnormally calm.
“Hypothesis incorrect."
Out of place, again.
The one who should know this city, and the one to take on Konton’s role… was him!
Creak-!
A linear hallway, light and darkness splitting the floor in half. To the side, a line of doors. Repeating architecture.
“These are quite postmodern—these doors.” Valor mentioned, walking while inspecting. “If I recall correctly, the human world contained these doors as well, and behind—”
Creak-!
“—A bathroom!”
The truth. Those repeating patterns of black and white again. A few steel stalls, some windows, and the center of attention.
A lone girl with black pigtails, wearing a buttoned up white school uniform and a skirt. Her expression was dark, as she was motionless.
“Do you know who this is?” Valor asked, completely unphased.
“Uh,”
Then, the girl spoke. “It’s daytime… so I’m not gonna rip both of you up with a chainsaw.”
And it clicked.
Tenacity.
So, she must be a vengeful soul.
“Did you kill people with a chainsaw in this bathroom?” Valor asked, stepping forward.
“Yeah.” She answered, “But I did it at night, and souls can’t die, so… I’m here.”
“And just how did you kill people?”
“I made them play a game. Three colors. Red, blue, and yellow. If yellow, I push them down into the toilet of the third stall. If it was blue, then I strangled them in the second stall. And, if it was red...” A twisted smile from the youth. “Chainsaw baby!”
So some souls can operate fully under certain conditions. I wonder if I’ll run into that problem.
“Okay! Thank you!” A wave, and the door slammed shut!
“HEY! I WANTED YOU TO PICK A COLOR!”
Valor continued his journey down the hall, but Hiro was hesitant to follow. Following. Why was he following? There, the alien analyzed his world, jotting down its masterful texture with no regard for who it belonged.
The echo of an ego.
Why you…
Bypassing the inside.
Moving to the top, where the sun looked down upon both of them. The eyes of the alien perceiving measurements and beauty.
And Hiro’s eyes, dead and staring at what once was his face. What face is it supposed to be making, Konton?
“The temperature is the same as before.” Valor said, hand extended up and feeling the wind. “So, this must be a Labyrinth of some sort. We are unsure of whom it belongs to, but whoever it is isn’t hostile toward us.”
“..Are you uh, liking this?”
“What do you mean?” Valor’s hair went wild as he turned to face Hiro. “The structure of this city, well—”
“No, it’s this.” A dead gaze to his fist. “My time with you—are you enjoying it?”
“Ah,” Eyes back to the sun, where he became its spitting image. “I am merely content. I do not enjoy this nor do I not enjoy this. It’s just what I have to do to progress in my race.”
Such sharp words. Hiro balled up his fist. The roaring anger of an underdog slowly reaching out—but just as quickly, it seeped back into the darkness.
Because there was nothing wrong with it.
Again, Valor was heading to the south, where the exit resided. But Hiro was still fixated on the north.
A familiar place.
Moving up toward the upper floor, they found a perfect replica of the first restaurant Hiro attended.
And they sat at the same place with no judgement of the celestial, or life.
“So, currency here works through the consumption of gold?” Valor found that intriguing.
But, Hiro wasn’t satisfied. Eyes to the outside, cheek leaning against the back of his palm. No food—no life—no tension. “Yeah,” he said lifelessly.
It’s easier like this, isn’t it? Why am I angry?
Looking back at Valor. Eyes never calm, mouth never still.
Irritating. The idea of teaching someone who had a place to recall.
I shouldn’t be taking shit up from anyone!
“Looks like business didn’t last long here.” Valor said, standing up. A quick observation, and he was ready to go. “We should move on—”
“No. Come back.”
Thump!
An act of defiance. The audacity.
For the first time, Valor’s eyes flashed with emotion.
“You still haven’t… listened to me!”
A standstill, and there was no doubt in Hiro’s mind for this decision. If Konton was never obedient and constantly forming, then he would be the same.
“Entitlement.” Valor scoffed. “What’s up with you?”
“You wanted me to guide you—so be obedient!”
“Can you buy anything here?”
“What?”
A witty remark. “The currency you spoke of. Do you have any of the gold?”
And the new soul froze. That shit-ridden ball that did wonders. “I don’t need any.” Hiro said, “I’m unlike anyone—”
“Yes, in the sense that you have experienced nothing.”
Sharp words.
“Where is your life? What have you experienced?”
No answers.
“You are about as tasteless as this floor. This is a restaurant, yes? And like you said, most meats come from the black sea. Now, you do not know the nutrients those foods place into your body.”
Tension thriving. Irritation raised to a whole other level!
“What right do you have to guide me?”
“Well—”
“Actually, name the exact locations of the animals on the menu. Go!”
Gaze soaring to the right, mind flying into madness!
Why try? There would be no answer.
And before he could even answer, Valor answered for him. “So, you’ll buy them right?”
“What does that have to—”
Ting!
The materialization of a golden orb, falling toward the table—making an impact. Embedded into its godlike structure was the number “5.” The same price of what he consumed.
Bash! In dramatic fashion—in a speed far too fast to comprehend—Valor’s boot hammered into the gold, sending it rolling toward the corner!
“Hiro. Location: Virupaska. Status: New Soul.”
Words spouted out without emotion.
“So, you cost nothing—even with the information I granted you.” There was nothing but hate in those words. That witty facade shattered, and now, his disappointment was on display. “You’re just a vessel… so shut the hell up!”
And just like that, as if nothing had happened, Valor was on his way.
And Hiro… was angry.
Now, both were spectators of a play, sitting far away.
The stage wasn’t grand, but at least it had an actor. No distractions, too.
Behold! The star the curtain had been hiding; the aftermath of the departure; the oh so pitiful soul eager to put on a show. A woman sending the general “so and so” to hell. Without clothes to find comfort. Silk skin, eyes, a broken vessel.
She danced across the stage—each step so hypnotic, wondering if there was an audience looking for her.
That frozen lie should’ve been broken years ago. An entire lifetime of unfair expectations.
Dance: To move with life’s flow.
Dance: To become a star.
If she could one day—relive all the love—she would’ve. Ah, her first love. The person who taught her this masterful art.
Love resting beneath a colorful sky.
Round and round in her own labyrinth, broken and shrouded inside.
He was the only one who could tell her the truth.
The soul has no path and breaks down confused.
Recalling those lessons, unable to move.
Yet, still eager to reach an answer!
Embarrassing. This play paled in comparison to the masterpiece of production perceived by Hiro. This girl is… hopeless.
Money. Money. Money.
The only words written in a rulebook meant to be complex. It was once the diary of a girl who was a shooting star, racing toward the future.
Valor could sense something interesting. The energy of the soul—constantly flowing. It became more explosive, never threatening to destroy everything.
His eyes could observe the lines that the ordinary couldn’t, and through those lenses, it was undeniable.
And Hiro could feel it, too.
This is…
Magic!
The force with no shape, free of human flesh and earthly limits! The ability to perform miracles unique to only you. Becoming the and only, shattering the limits of whatever souls standing in the way.
A form made true in the present, and both souls would indulge into his dazzling, surreal fantasy!
Flashing lights, endless paper; the thrill of the night! The ability to create a world without godhood is a mystery!
Soul apex, ruler of the world; Empress in spotlight!
The story the world’s been waiting for! The super climatic ending, come see. The final act! Shared anticipation! Rampant breaths, futures rushing into the mind—and being shredded with…
LEAP!!!
The final twirl. There, she flew, absent of gravity.
The perfect landing, a crescendo appearing as quick as it left.
Ah, what a show. That world was beautiful. The city of neon lights and jewels is all crazy for her.
But, back to the real world, where the thrill led her to where she expected to see no one, was… two bodies, a soul strong within.
Free of composure and of beauty, allowing anger to arise. “GET. OUT.”
A command.
But Valor kept his cool. “Fear not,” he assured, “I am an inspector. I am merely here to observe–”
“You’re from Satavahana, aren’t you?!” The lady shouted, “Leave! I’m not going back! I won’t trust you—not at all! I’m trying to become someone!”
An impenetrable wall. Valor’s numerous attempts at communication were in vain.
However…
“Hey.”
One word from Hiro… changed everything.
Someone was different about him.
Those eyes of his.
They carried a color.
The color blue.
In his hand was the same Golden Orb Valor used to taunt him.
“Is this what you wanted?”
An easy question. Witnessing her golden reflection, her nerves came to a homeostasis. “Yes.”
Snatch! She showered it with the affection of a child. Right now, it was the most dearest thing to her. “Finally…”
Way more than anyone gave her.
“I can just… keep this for myself.”
And this time it was Hiro leading the way. Inferiority wasn’t writhing within Valor.
His status didn’t change.
But… he is changing.
...
A summer landscape, differing from the darkness behind and the dark liquid that expanded forever and ever.
The west view of the Black Sea.
Inside, fish with teeth large enough to pierce steel, eating whatever smaller fish came their way. A cycle, until they were eaten by much larger fish.
“In Haitentiton culture, tribes are assigned one animal to protect every year.” Valor said in the midst of analyzation, “They steal animals from their families, and manipulate them into believing that they’re their actual family. I didn’t get to see my family’s beast, but I know it was referred to as a Laycon.”
“..A Laycon?”
“Some kind of three eyed, six armed rodent… that was actually the king of rodents.” Valor explained, “My tribe, the Sezenkeun, were low on resources—partically in the food department, so they used me to study its biology, and see if its kind was edible. And… It was.”
Melancholic tension.
“But, my eyes found that… its brother was eaten by a foreign tribe, and it was simply trying to seek refuge with my family.”
Fists clenched, eyes finally showing a strong emotion.
“When the Priest found out we ate it, we were all sentenced to death, but, my older brother, Bravo, stood against her. Bravo was the lone warrior of our tribe—the one who would go out and hunt the animals that were refused protection.” … “Since he had three eyes, I couldn’t connect with him like my mother and father did… but, everyone in the tribe adored him just as much as they did me.”
“...So what’s the difference?”
“...He was a warrior with a heart. I was just one of the higher ups who didn’t belong.”
So, the question…
“And if you don’t belong either.”
Valor faced Hiro, eyes deep in thought.
“Why… am I an alien?”
The last train.
Through the subway illuminated by dusk.
“The world itself… was created by a being by the name of Sozuku, who is in a constant state of Nirvana. They cannot feel pain or anything else. They function solely to keep this world and the material world in check.”
A train arrived, and they hopped on. Metal railings, wide seats.
They sat across from each other, the scenery changing to a metro filled with the light of the holy. A perfect world—one without conflict.
“The first incarnation didn’t have any living beings. Just the heavens, stars, the moon.” Valor mentioned, “Since nothing existed, it was known as an era of pure chaos. And yet, my kind has been living under the impression… that we were in the hands of a god above us. I didn’t believe it, because we were already extraordinary to begin with, but now that it’s true, I don’t understand what separates us.”
The black globes that danced around the sun, engaging in a heated battle, dropped a weapon that matched the soul of a warrior on earth perfectly.
The Great Black Spear.
That Spear… belonged to Valor’s brother.
“If we truly are under the rule of one god, then—”
Eternally scratching his head—far from Nirvana!
That repeating question!
“—Why… am I an alien? Why does this place have a structure? What's the point... of believing other things?!”
But Hiro could only respond, with….
“I understand.”
“Huh?”
“Konton.” Hiro answered, “I don’t know what his deal is, but he showed me a unique perspective of the world. He doesn’t obey the laws at all and just does what he wants. He claims himself… as truly special.”
At the end of the train.
They stood up, heading out into a realm of pure black.
And there it was.
The rotten, lifeless body… of Konton.
“I can't let him go, even if I think everything else is confusing. I don't know if I'll ever truly know who he is... but I can be his friend.”
A new perspective.
Valor analyzed the body, and recalled…
His brother.
A behemoth basked in his colors. A visceral monster in skin designed to be the embodiment of those unchained.
"Big brother! Shouldn’t you… come with me, mom and dad for the festival to eat? It won’t cost anything."
“Only if you aren’t there.”
So... I'm not that far off.
“I see.” Valor nodded, “Thank you, Hiro.”
“Hm?”
That past annoyance of Hiro's vanished as Valor smiled.
“I guess… I was stressing out over an equation again.”
And speaking of guidance, those words would materialize a path.
The first path Hiro saw, leading up to the Pinnacle of Artistry he bore witness to.
LADY HAHOYA’S CASTLE!
“We’ll meet again in the future.” Valor said. His Mothership descended from the sky, and reaching the top, before settling into it, he spoke the departing words..
”Maybe next time... I'll buy ya something!”
And he was off.
Now, for Hiro to enter the place Konton forbade.
End.