CHAPTER 2 - OVER THE EDGE

  Levan was ripped away the moment his bare foot touched the Emberlaines.

  The river of light stole him, spiriting him away so quickly that his dorm room, still visible at the end of the tunnel of light, became a far-away blur before he had time to blink. His existence on Earth fled like a kite in the wind, and the glimpse at his distant dorm room was the only slim thread that connected Levan to his prior life.

  Levan spun in the current, thrown this way and that, carried in directions and dimensions beyond comprehension.

  What is this?

  To his suprised, someone—or something—answered him.

  [ Codex > Emberlaines | The Emberlaines are paths that connect a series of worlds and planes to one another, and provide passage for certain entities, for various reasons. |??? |Significant parts of this Codex Entry are unavailable. Increase your Innerworkings Skill to learn this information ]

  The message landed in his mind and unfolded like a gift with the ribbon pulled—given from elsewhere but solid as any other thought or piece of information in his mind.

  Telepathy.

  From…who?

  [ Codex > Codex > What Is The Codex?| An entity melded with a Chosen Soul, assisting them by granting knowledge of their new world and systems, as well as acquiring boons for the Chosen Soul ]

  Boons?

  …New world?

  The river of light carried him on, rushing, roaring, blinding—until a coherent path began to form. And, at the end of that path, was a cliff.

  His brain struggled to process it all.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Terror, blinding as the river of light, struck a cord in his heart as his gaze fixed on that cliff, and the pouring waterfall beyond it.

  [ Codex > Chosen Soul > Emberlaines > Emberlaines Travel | Fear when traveling along the Emberlaines is to be expected. It is not, however, rational. A Chosen Soul’s passage is considered generally safe. Fear is unnecessary. In the rare instance of danger, the Codex will communicate the nature of this danger to the Chosen Soul. ]

  Leave their world behind.

  Travel to a new one.

  “Is that what’s on the other side of the drop? Is that the new world? Is that where you’re going to send me?!” Levan shouted, voice shaking, as the rushing gold and scarlet light roared in deafening tones, tossed him this way and that as they neared the cliff.

  No response from the Codex.

  The waterfall was fast approaching. Levan twisted his torso to look back the way he’d come.

  Somehow, despite the impossible distance and melding of dimensions, he could still see the blurry dorm room through the winding passages and the glorious cascades of the Emberlaines.

  He could even make out his sleeping body, still.

  The fear calmed.

  He needs my help, Levan thought, to the sleeping Levan. I don’t know if I can go to a new world, he thought, tearing his gaze back and forth between the approaching cliff and his last glimpse of Earth. I don’t know if I can leave him to fight it out alone. He needs me. We’re all…we’re all we have.

  The Codex continued on, relentlessly delivering information to him about the impending arrival.

  [ Codex > Chosen Soul > Arrival | As the Chosen Soul draws closer to the new world they are about to inhabit, various choices will be put before them. The world in which you are about to enter functions differently from your original world. Some progression systems function differently from the mundane learning and growth of your original world. Many of your choices and boons will relate to these progression systems. ]

  [ Codex > Chosen Soul > Boons | Upon entering a new world, a Chosen Soul can— ]

  The information stopped abruptly.

  “What’s going on?” Levan asked, turning back ahead.

  The waterfall deafened his ears.

  There was a pause in the telepathy, as if the Codex was hesitating--choosing its words and double-checking, confirming the dark improbable. Finally, it delivered another message into his mind, this one tight with tension and stress.

  [ Warning — Danger ]

  “What danger—the waterfall?”

  No response.

  Levan tried to swim, but for every inch of space he gained, he lost another three.

  “Is—what—what am I supposed to do?” Levan began.

  [ Warning — Danger ]

  [ Initiating Aid Protocol ]

  “Codex?” Levan asked, his voice growing panicked as the gilded and scarlet light lapped at his jaw and poured over him, baking him in its warmth, submerging him entirely.

  [ Aid Protocol Failed ]

  [ Extreme Danger ]

  [ Warning: Extreme Danger ]

  [ Chosen Soul: Rescind Your Life? Return and Rejoin? ]

  Levan squeezed his eyes shut as the current carried him towards an unmistakable endpoint.

  I could go back, he thought. I could go back.

  “No,” Levan responded mentally. “Keep me here.”

  The Emberlaines around him lifted him up and rose to a crescendo. Then Levan felt his chest lurch as he went over the edge.