Chapter Three: Shabit’s and Golem’s

The portal was strange and a delectable sight for me. A field of stars with no ground to anchor me, yet moving at incredible speeds that those starry lights blurred into streaks. It was mesmerizing, at least before we approached another door of light. 

If I still had my old stomach I doubt it would withstand the feeling of disorientation when we existed in the realm of stars. I held onto my knees to orientate myself until I noticed the other eyes on me. 

What seemed to be a distinguished older man with a small sun behind his head. Two young men who resembled Hakim stood near him, along with some woman. 

An older woman with long bounded strands of her hair covered in bright metal bands. The two girls near her were stranger still. One towered over nearly everyone in the room with height and muscle mass. A partially scared face that held a kind of wild beauty. The other was a small, petite girl with a cloth over her hair and focused eyes that looked at me like how my tribe’s warriors would look at prey. 

“This is what you worked on. A shabit version of a cosplayer?” The girl in the cloth asked. Coming up to me. I nearly asked her a question until I saw the knife at her side and felt my soul tremble at the black metal that made up the blade.

“I don’t know…she looks cute.” My mind nearly splintered for a second when I heard the soft tone coming from the large woman. And the most sympathetic eyes came from her despite the build and look of a warrior. 

“Ay now, I get enough shit from my mistress about calling other women cute. Besides, shabits shouldn't be cute. They are tools.” I frowned at his words. His physique matched the tall woman—darker skin with a bald head and sharp eyes.

“Hakim what can she-”

“Excuse me. I am here…I would like some answers.” The eyes of the room were suddenly on me again but more taken aback. Like they're not accustomed to being talked with in such a manner. “I was told a friend asked for me and I don’t see anyone I recognized…are we far from my homeland? A different Island? How long ago was it and what has hap-”

“I know your friend. none of us ever met you when you were alive. We are on the continent and three centuries by the Christian standard.” The older man said with no hint of softening the blow.

There was a scoff from an unseen individual. 

"You guys are jerks all around." 

After a moment I saw a fair-skinned teenage boy peeked out of his hiding spot. His blond and red curls fell into his face as he stared at me with a mix of awe and giddiness. 

"You’re the soul I pulled out of the well, aren't you?" He grinned as he came further out into the open. "You were looking for Mrs. Eldora... um, Ellie?” 

“Ms.El? El-Ellie!” I cried out. “Where is she!” The man raised his hand and the room glowed with bright golden light. I felt a great pressure in my soul as it shined. The judgment of an unseen eye on me paired with the ever-present stare of the lord of the home. 

“Enough. We came to judge this Shabit in comparison to Vasilisa’s new Golem. Any other question can be asked After we determine the better path of the Ressurection Project.” Raphael spoke with power as the tone and echo of his voice rolled over everything in the room. 

I stood at attention as I saw a silhouette walk out of a shadow. The shadow of the girl named Vasilisa. Long strides with the outline of a long-brimmed hat with feathers. Made from a pale material that seemed solid like stone but shined like metal. Yet seemed fragile. Three black symbols made up its face. Round triangles for the eyes and half a circle for the mouth.

My mind began to teeter on the line of panic when I saw the rest of his clothes.

Fine clothes with white frills, Wearable gold with symbols I had learned and in my murky mind, relearned to fear.

A straight line with another on top of it, a cross.

“Allow me to introduce..myself.” The permanent smile turned itself upside down. Whispering to the girl, whose shadow they leaped out of. 

“The lord of Oni family wants to see what you can do…Do you want a fight or a… competition?” Vasi asked the patriarch. 

“Whatever you both can agree on to get this moving along,” Rapheal said sternly.

We both looked at one another. I took a step back. Memories flowing into my head, a small home. 

I am lying on a thin bed on the ground, too sick but sick with what? 

I am with two other women, family? Friends? Who? 

A flash of this memory clouded my vision.

“Father…perhaps we can post-”

“I have already given you an extension. We see what are the fruits of that labor.” Raphael cut off Hakim. 

“Alright. We can start with a quick balance check.” Vasi said as she manifested several books. Having us balance them on our heads while walking forward. I tried to bury my anxious energy while doing this and another task. 

Carrying items, The golem could carry more precisely but less volume than me. 

In a test of balance, the golem did better.

We didn't do better or worse against each other in their other tests. Intellect was ruled out given that wouldn’t change given we were given new bodies, not minds. But it seemed we both could perfectly recall anything we saw now.

We both had essentially infinite stamina given we both kept pace running in place, with No missed step or difference of speed.

“This is so boring. Can I spar with them to see which on is the better sparing partner?” Daegan asked.

“No, I should do It, I can judge them as soldiers and guards.” The large and imposing Jamil asked.

The thought of testing our durability was brought on but both are reluctance to be broken open and the instant rejection of Hakim and 

An even tie. One that needed to be broken in the eyes of Raphael given the scowl he gave.

“Sparring match between them both.” Rapheal said.

“Wait, neither is a combatant from life. Our processes are different but it doesn’t turn old souls into instant fighters.”

“Technically,” Hakim added.

“Explain.” His father urged.

“I imprinted a ‘script’ into my shabits, all of them. The basic movements and ability of template characters. If conflict arises it can work as a failsafe for lack of mental ability.” Hakim explained.

“Wait why would you put a code that takes over the body and not the mind, and eww.” Daegan protested.

“Is that so.” Rapheal mused. Looking at the two. “Then let the battle commence.”

“Father!” 

“Sir Oni!” 

Hakim and Vasilisa asked. Vasi also being busy holding back Daegan who tried to rush into the battlefield.

“Those that are meant to serve must show service. A point to their existence. Not even our faith allows the continued existence of a useless bit of matter. We all serve a grander purpose of design and they shall so there's a series of challenges. The first is innate combat.” 

“That is the dumbest thing I ever heard.” Daegan snarked as Rapheal tapped the bottom of his staff. The room transformed and shifted in a near instant as the pieces of the room whipped around and became an impromptu arena. Both families watched from above while me and the golem stood opposite each other. 

“She is not okay, neither of them should be fighting now,” Daegan called out. 

“I still find this distasteful God-priest of Ra.” The golem called out.

“Daegan take umbrage with your own father if you have fault with these methods. Golem: The first victroy is conceded to my family and we consider letting you go back to an apparition existence.” Rapheal warned.

“Lord forgive me.” The golem shook his head. Unsheating his weapon. A long, sharp bit of shining metal with an intricate handle.

My head felt heavy with memories as I saw countless images flash my mind. Half remembered and distorted like a cracked stone. Its broken pieces could be brought back together but cracks and time made them two different to reconcile. I can barely tell what really happened and what was a delusion. 

I saw green fire from the sky, a ball of fire exploding beneath me, and A pudgy man with the symbol of a stick with arms trying to speak with me in a nonsense language. 

I collapsed on my back as the memory assaulted my vision. The golem needing only small steps to walk up and observe me. Not needing to rush or even feign intent for combat. 

“Can we simply call it here. She seems to be in a state of delirium, a stroke perhaps. This can not be what you imagine as battle-” As the golem spoke, my strange body fought on its own accord. Sweeping his legs.

“As you can see, the body can fight while the mind copes.” Hakim told his father. While keeping his eyes on me. Out of the corner of my vision I saw apprehension on his face. I couldn't tell if it was concern or fear that I could still lose.

The golem nearly fell onto his back but he caught himself as my body rose.

The actions of my body were still discounted to my actual thoughts. Taking a fighting stance as it dodged stab after stab. The blade leaves a faint trail of bright gold light behind it. 

“Please surrender. The automatic defense might no longer fight if you volunteer to surrender.” His latest thrust nearly got the body’s neck, slicing a bit of the hair. 

Another memory of a man trying to cut my hair with a rusted knife fills my mind.

“Don’t you dare think I’m weak!” My anger took over, overwriting my fear and confusion as I tried to punch at his face but his weapon was quicker.

In a near instant my body was flying from the body, Watching my own decent as my vision tumbled down to my own ankles.

Most of the people above flinching, including the cavalier Daegan who needed to be prevented from storming the arena by Vasilisa

“Sadly, I think that's simply what you are. Does that count as the end of combat Lord Rapheal.” The golem looked toward the Oni family. Scowling as my body froze. I could feel its urge to fight but it was stifled by invisible bindings. 

“Yes, from the looks of it. Hakim.” The young man stood at attention with his own name. “If you wish to spend so much time from your proper studies then put it toward projects that bear fruit. Effort does not always mean success.” Raphael rose from his seat as the room reconfigured back into its previous state. He looked down at me. He spoke a word that gained physical presence and my head and body were reunited. 

He dissapered in a bright flash of light straight after. A furious Daegan trying to ponce on him and only succed in planting his face onto the sandstone floor. 

Hakim was the first to come up to me.

“My father….” He trailed off before inspecting my neck. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and whispered another one of thouse magical words. Wording appeared on my limbs.“No pernamnet damage at the least. You did manged to put a fight. Might need to work on the balance.” He gave a sympathetic look. “Father can be…full of-”

“Shit-oww.” Daegan said before getting a whack on the back of his head from Vasi. 

“Don’t be rude in their home. Its probably listening to you.” Vasi warned as Daegan face gained new found fear. 

“Oh great, now you tell me. They know my hidey holes.” 

As the siblings argued, Hakim inspected my limbs. The golem drew near. Raising his arms up to show they were not on his weapon. 

“I am sorry I was forced to-”

When he got a few too close I jumped back a few feet, my movement forced into exaggeration by a short burst of wind.

“And now the elemental matrix is reacting to active emotions, great.” Hakim snarked as the earth beneath moved for him and he reinspected. “Perhaps, what was it again, Frig? Perhaps Frig you should spend more time preparing for the next challenge. I imagine father won’t waste devising another one and you only beat Kor via surprise.” Hakim said with a bit less tact than what I wanted. Though I admit I am being just as rude, staring at the Golem standing with the Dietrichs.

“So vengeance, say we put pins in his seat-”

“He makes his own.” Vasi pointed out the flaw in Daegan plan.

“We set up some water over his bald head-”

“He would evaporate it.” Vasi said.

“I stab him-”

“No Daegan.” Vasi said bluntly. “He can be a ass but he is still a leader of Moreno, You just can’t stab him. Would you say the same of Eldora.” The name caught my attention. 

“Where is she?” I demanded. “I have been waiting and Waiting for a answer about her but I got nothing but confusion for my questions. So instead of trying to argue about a man who appears to move mountains with his mind- Where in the name of the god of storms is my friend!” I shouted. I think for the first time since I woke up. My body is shaking from the effort. My mind racing as I remember the warning from Raphael. 

He can terminate my existence.

Hakim looked toward Vasi and Daegan. Vasi shook her head, he motioned toward Daegan. She shrugged.

“Why are you speaking with hands?” The yellow-haired boy asked. 

“We both know you hid a phone on you to talk with Pandora.” Vasi said bluntly.

"That wrinkly bag of superiority took my freedom and most my weapons. I will bite all of his fingers off if he tries for my phone," the boy said with a smile was both cheerful and chilling.

“Then call Pandora..If nothing else we can make up for all…mess with her getting some answers.” Vasi suggested.

“You can also just tell me.” I suggested with my own palm over my face. 

“Ms.Eldora is the leader of Moreno.” Daegan said.

“Can you say things with meaning? The magic only translate the words, not meaning.” I asked again. 

“We can get you that call but I urge patience…She needs to be informed that your awake and…we need to mentally prepare several things for you-”

“We need to tell her kids.” Daegan again blurted. Hakim stared daggers. “What? That ain’t a secret.” 

I stood there. Silent and starring at all of them.

“Ellie has kids?” 

“We will get that call started…I know you hate me saying it but I still ask for patience.” Hakim urged “On my name.”

I am tired of hearing that word but I have choices here. Figures, I gain strange abilities I only seen the chief use…and I am still the weakest person in the room.