At the Top of Yggdrasil
—Welcome, young descendant.
The voice echoed within my mind, deep and ancient.
—I am Droll Fen’ruus, creator of this beautiful paradise you see before you.
I will not speak much about myself, for I am merely a projection of the Force.
My purpose is to choose the future heir of this world and everything that comes with it.
The voice paused briefly before continuing.
—Until now, no one has completed the trial.
I hope you will be the first.
If not…
I will continue waiting.
A chill ran down my spine.
—The trial is simple.
I call it “Destiny.” The moment you complete it, you will become the heir to everything.
You will know it…
although perhaps, in the end, you may forget it all.
The voice carried an enigmatic and profound tone.
Then…
Sound of falling.
—What happened?
Suddenly, I was no longer floating.
—I’m going to crash!
The wind whistled in my ears as I fell.
Then…
Silence.
Absolute silence.
I think…
I think I’m alright.
I tried to stand and look around.
But what I saw left me frozen.
My mother was there.
Beside her stood an elderly woman and several other women.
My mother was giving birth.
—What…
is this?
I stepped closer and tried to speak to her.
—Mother!
But when I tried to touch her, my hands passed through her body.
I couldn’t interact with anything.
I was merely a spectator.
I could see her pain.
I could feel it.
—Push, my lady!
There’s no time left!
—the old woman shouted desperately.
A heart-wrenching scream filled the room.
—Ahhh!
My mother cried out in agony.
I watched as blood began to stain the sheets.
Her suffering grew more intense with every passing second.
I felt my heart stop.
My breathing became uneven.
My mind refused to function.
It felt as if a dagger were tearing my soul apart.
I had never seen my mother suffer like this.
I wanted to do something.
Anything.
But no matter what I did…
no matter how much I screamed…
I couldn’t stop what was happening.
Then the inevitable occurred.
Silence filled the room.
My mother had stopped screaming.
She had stopped fighting.
The old woman held a lifeless baby in her arms.
Tears filled her eyes.
—No…
—she whispered.
Every woman in the room began to cry.
At that moment, the door burst open.
My aunt rushed inside, shoving people aside.
She dropped to her knees beside my mother.
And sobbed in despair.
—No…
no…!
The women murmured among themselves.
—The baby died as well…
—There is no hope left…
—Our clan is doomed to extinction…
My eyes filled with tears.
My mind began to darken.
No.
It couldn’t be real.
I had lived.
My mother was alive.
What the hell is this damned trial?
Then time began to move faster.
Like scenes from a film.
I watched as my clan was slowly destroyed by a terrible disease.
Only a handful survived.
Then I saw them conquered and slaughtered by other clans at the beginning of the Mandalorian Civil War.
I saw my aunt fight.
I saw her sacrifice herself to save the last children of the clan.
To give them a chance to escape.
A black lightsaber pierced her body.
And then…
She was beheaded.
The last survivors fled aboard a ship.
But even there…
Death found them.
A starfighter attacked.
The ship exploded.
No one survived.
The entire clan was gone.
Everything I wanted to protect…
was gone.
My life had lost all meaning.
It felt as if everything had been a dream.
A dream in which I had never existed.
I had forgotten that this was a trial.
To me…
Everything was real.
I never existed.
I never met my mother.
I never had friends.
I never had a family.
I began to deny my own existence.
And little by little…
I began to fade away.
My end had come.
Then…
A gentle voice broke through the darkness.
—Azmar…
don’t give up.
It was the voice of a little girl.
—You promised me…
that you would live happily and without regrets.
My heart trembled.
Who was she?
I couldn’t remember.
But her voice…
It was warm.
Kind.
Familiar.
Then the memories returned.
It was her.
My sister.
The only family I had in my previous life.
The light of my life.
Until I failed her.
She died because of me.
I had forgotten her birthday cake.
That day she was returning home from school, and I had prepared a small surprise for her.
But the most important thing was missing.
The cake.
I ran out to buy it.
But when I returned…
The house was on fire.
I didn’t know if she had already arrived.
I ran.
I ran as fast as I could.
The cake fell to the ground.
I didn’t care.
I pushed through the police barricade.
People shouted at me.
But I heard nothing.
I only remembered her final words.
—Brother…
I’ll be waiting for my cake.
—It’s a promise.
—Of course —I replied—.
I always keep my promises.
Then the worst happened.
I watched as the firefighters carried a small lifeless body out of the house.
—It’s too late —one of them said.
—She died from smoke inhalation.
My world collapsed.
From that day onward, my life ended.
I never forgave myself for breaking my promise.
If only I had been there.
If only I hadn’t forgotten that damned cake.
The last thing I remember from that world…
Was a photograph.
She was smiling while I carried her on my shoulders.
—Luna…
is that you?
My voice trembled.
—Luna…
forgive me.
—I didn’t keep my promise.
—Yes, it’s me, brother.
Her voice was gentle.
—There is nothing to forgive.
It wasn’t your fault.
—Yes, it was!
If I had been there…
I wouldn’t have lost you.
—No, brother.
—That was my destiny.
—Do you remember when I became seriously ill and you took me to the hospital?
—I thought I was going to die.
I asked you what would happen if that happened.
—You told me your life would lose all meaning…
and that you would never allow that to happen.
My eyes filled with tears.
—That night, you made me a promise.
—That you would live happily.
—That you would keep moving forward.
—That you would start a family if I didn’t survive.
—But you survived…
—I replied through tears.
—Yes, brother.
—But when I died in the fire…
you forgot that promise.
—You isolated yourself from the world.
—You lost all your happiness.
—You never had a family.
—You died alone.
Her words pierced my soul.
—But you were my only family…
—No, brother.
—You should have had a wife.
—Children.
—Grandchildren.
—But now you have another chance.
Her voice became warmer.
—Keep your promise.
—Live happily.
—Have children.
—Achieve what you couldn’t before.
—I will always be proud of you.
Her voice began to fade away.
—Goodbye, brother.
—I will always love you.
—Luna!
—I promise.
—This time, I will keep my promise.
—I promise.
—I will do it.
—You will be proud of me.
A distant whisper reached me.
—I know, brother…
—You always keep your promises.
The fear and sadness began to fade away.
I regained my awareness.
My body was still lying on the ground.
But my arms…
Had disappeared.
My legs were beginning to fade as well.
I stopped denying my existence.
My mother was alive.
My family was alive.
My clan was alive.
This…
Was only a trial.
—IT’S ALL REAL!
I shouted with all my strength.
My body stopped disappearing.
My limbs returned.
I felt alive once more.
—Thank you…
Luna.
Then an elderly voice spoke.
—Well done, young one.
This time, I could see him.
A tall, upright old man was walking toward me.
Black hair.
Dark blue eyes.
He wore an ancient gray robe.
—You are now the owner of this place.
—My destiny here has come to an end.
He looked at me calmly.
—I have only one final request.
—Protect this forest.
—Its inhabitants will be of great help to you.
His body began to fade.
—I promise.
—Nothing will happen to the forest or its inhabitants.
The old man smiled.
—Thank you, young one.
—I wish you good fortune.
—And may you forge your own destiny.
Then he disappeared.
I felt a tingling sensation in my hand.
I looked at my palm.
The symbol of Yggdrasil had appeared, engraved upon it.
—I suppose this is the key…
and the symbol of my inheritance.
The world began to spin.
Everything around me changed.
My consciousness returned to my body.
I was once again standing before the great tree.
—It seems you passed the trial, young Azmar.
The wolf’s solemn voice echoed through the forest.
—I knew you would succeed.
Munching sounds.
—Ha!
I knew you’d make it!
—Now we’ll travel across the entire universe.
Ratatosk laughed excitedly.
I could only smile.
—Congratulations, young master.
Athena’s ethereal voice appeared beside me.
—Thank you, Athena.
—I hope you will guide me and help me protect this world.
—I will always be at your service, young master.
Then Fenrir spoke.
—My time has come.
He fell silent for a moment.
—I have fulfilled my destiny and my promise.
—Now it is time for me to leave.
—At last, I will be reunited with my old friend.
Athena spoke sadly.
—Thank you, Fenrir.
—You fulfilled your purpose.
—I hope you find your path.
Ratatosk shouted desperately.
—Old grumpy wolf!
Why are you leaving?
—I promise I won’t eat any more fruit from your tree!
—Travel the universe with us!
Fenrir let out a small laugh.
—Thank you, Athena.
—Take care of the young master.
Then he looked at the little squirrel.
—And you, little one.
—I would rather wait another four thousand years before traveling anywhere with you.
Ratatosk protested indignantly.
Fenrir looked back at me.
—Live well, young heir.
—Enjoy your adventures.
—Goodbye, Fenrir.
—I wish I could have known you better.
—But I will protect Yggdrasil and this world.
Fenrir calmly shook his head.
—Do not worry.
—Only my consciousness will disappear.
—A new version of me will be reborn at the foot of Yggdrasil.
—Just wait.
—Athena will inform you when the time comes.
His body began to transform into a dark mist.
The mist slowly merged with the tree.
He was gone.
Athena spoke softly.
—Young master.
—A new guardian of the Forest of Origin will one day be born.
—I will inform you when it happens.
—Thank you, Athena.
I looked at Ratatosk.
—Are you alright?
—Munch.
—Yeah…
—I’ll miss the old wolf.
—He was always good to me.
—He let me eat the fruits from the great tree.
I sighed.
This rodent never changes.
—Young master.
—I would like to tell you about the mark on your hand.
—That is the key to this world.
—The Forest of Origin.
Athena placed her hand near mine.
Suddenly, stars and planets appeared around the Yggdrasil symbol.
—You now possess the key to the Library of Knowledge as well.
—You hold the highest authority in both worlds.
—But remember something important.
Her voice became serious.
—Yggdrasil is the core of the Forest of Origin.
—You must protect it at all costs.
I nodded.
—As for the Library of Knowledge…
when the time comes, I will show you the entire place.
—We still have time.
Then she added:
—You no longer need the ancient holocron to enter.
—Simply focus on the key and the Force.
—And you will be able to enter.
She paused.
—You must return.
—Ten hours have passed here.
—In your world…
only five.
—They may be looking for you.
—Thank you for everything, Athena.
—I will return soon.
I closed my eyes.
I took a deep breath.
My destiny has yet to be written.
But today…
Today, I managed to accept my past.
And finally…
Walk toward the future.