"Oof." Slowly awakening from a groggy state Lumian draws his upper body upwards as he gets up. I've got to be dreaming he thinks to himself before placing his hand onto the solid, stony, cold ground and very clearly not his bed. What is this? Slowly turning his gaze towards the ground, he realizes that his hand is touching a carved cobble textured ground freezing his fingers due to how cold it was.
"The fuck?" Lumian exclaims out loud before feeling a discordance with his own voice which was higher pitched in tone with a bit of a squeak. Lifting his hand, he clutches at his throat not finding an Adams apple where it should be before drawing his hand back into his gaze to scrutinise it therefore noticing how small and pale it was in compared to the past.
"No. Nononono, Fuck, Shit FUCK this can't be happening!" Quickly rising from the ground Lumian took off into the direction of the nearest reflective surface which was a puddle near the edge of a damp wall revealing glowing sunlight peeking through giving enough light to illuminate his figure.
Peering into the puddles reflective surface he can make out his features such as his hazel brown hair and ocean blue eyes. They haven't changed but they were the only recognisable parts of his past self as everything else has changed beyond his perceived recognition. Staring back in the surface was a young woman.
This young woman had long hazel brown hair reaching the middle of the lower back vibrant of colour, a small button nose with thin luscious red coloured lips, piercing ocean blue eyes that look as if they can stare into the soul where long eyelashes with thin eyebrows adorn her face. After noticing the facial features came the immediate attention of smooth skin, pale as jade unadorned with facial and body hair that he was used to staring in the mirrors of the past. Medium sized breasts that had a bit of a weight were seen heaving up and down with his breath, a slim body with tantalising curved hips and long legs revealed through the mirroring surface of the puddle, as Lumian stood bare before the it, lost in a silent denial of a trance.
WHOOSH
A large breeze causing his body to instinctively shiver snaps Lumian out of his trance making him tighten his hold onto himself. Looking around in the immediate vicinity he can see that he is based in a large stone room with pews strewn about some collapsed and broken with moss slowly growing on them. Scanning his gaze above, there are shattered pieces of stained-glass windows above arches where sunlight bleeds through into the room illuminating the large broken statue at the very front of the pews where melted wax candles adorn a stone table in which offerings are made.
The statue appears to be a robe cloaked figure hiding their facial features with one arm stretched out, their palm facing upwards in an arising motion with the other arm holding onto what looks to be a stone scythe. Where am I? Where are the others? The fucks going on? contemplating to himself, Lumian erratically starts to look around the room in hopes to find his family but seemingly finds no one, only himself.
This can’t be happening, I'm imagining things, this isn't real, this isn't... Lumian starts to draw in heavy yet quick breathes due to hyperventilating as tears start to break out yet held back in his eyes causing the room to distort. Feeling queasy he starts to think simple thoughts, deep breathes, deep breathes, slowly, in...out...in...out.
WHOOSH
Another breeze goes by leading Lumian to leave the crack in the wall heading closer to the statue in the room. Having time to slowly gather his thoughts into a much-needed distraction he notices a large brown, tattered robe lying half off the stone table and just beside it to its left looks to be a black stained, leather belt.
Drawing his hands he tentatively picked up the robe causing a piece of stained brown parchment to fall onto the ground. Bringing the robe over himself, Lumian realizes it must have belonged to a larger sized man as it clearly drapes over his new body; that will take time getting used to; making the robe seem baggy. Picking up the belt he deftly wraps it around his waist before buckling the notch in place ensuring the robe will not slip off.
After doing so, he crouches onto the ground to carefully pick up the parchment paper before having a look at the contents. The language looked nothing like he has ever seen before yet, he seems to be able to translate it just fine. How can this be? This shouldn't be possible.
The parchment states this.
To the one who comes across this note hear this, no matter what others say the temples of Sancta Solaris, Sancta Lunaris and Sancta Terra are despicable wretches who cower by joining hands to even be able to challenge us of those who follow in the footsteps of Aeterna Mortem. They deem our birth right powers a sin, an evil that must be cleansed yet, that is merely their narrative to remove our existence.
We were forced to leave the sanctity of our holy city and go into hiding but there lay a prophecy that is handed down upon our chosen oracles that at some point the one beyond our world will come and become our chosen successor. That successor is you my child, we will not force you into a fight that is not your own but if you require power head South of our holy city where our ancestral trials are held to gain it, just know that by doing so will immediately make you an enemy of the entire world that you have been placed upon.
Lumian, tearing his gaze away from the parchment closes his eyes in deep thought. It seems that a choice lays before me, do I heed the notes words and gain their power in order to survive, or do I avoid doing so to prevent making unnecessary enemies? Taking a step back, this world is an utter unknown in terms of threats and danger and who knows what kind of enemies I could make, at least with gaining the inherent powers I would have a way to protect myself, but that power will also be required to be hidden… Hmm…
Opening his eyes and sighing lightly Lumian comes to a decision. "No matter what, having some form of power is better than none in an entirely unknown world and... I must find them, even if it means becoming the world’s enemy." This was said under a strict conviction as Lumian squeezed his hands tight into balled fists. "But first, I need to carefully explore my surroundings just in case I'm missing anything."
Spending some time, Lumian looked throughout the Church making sure that there was nothing else of use before heading to the tall arched oak wooden door that leads to the outside. Taking a deep breath Lumian places his hand on the brass doorknob turning it and pushing outwards slowly letting in the midday sunlight into the room.
Taking in the fresh air, Lumian draws the hooded robe tighter over himself as his eyes adjust to the bright light. After doing so he notices dilapidated ruins of what seemed to be buildings and homes stretching out with a large forest in the overarching expanse.
This is the beginning of setting out, as for that deity who forced me here, just you wait.
Spoiler
Hey, just want to let you know that I used a free AI generator in order to produce some images of the characters, I will be placing them all in one chapter update in the future. Here is the current appearance of Lumian.
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