SperoThe old universe Date unknown I awake with a start. twitching like my limbs were suddenly reattached. I suck in a deep breath and immediately cough it back out.

  I try to open my eyes while I roll to my side still trying to get a lungful of air. My face feels all crusty so I wipe it off with my hand and that lets me open my eyes.

  I gnce around and just stare in confusion for a moment. What was once a bustling city is now ruins of houses recimed by grass moss and other things.

  After a few moments, it clicks and the full weight of reality hits. Tears begin to cut through the ash and mud on my face and I can’t help but scream curses.

  I have no idea how long it went on for but my throat was raw possibly bleeding from the exertion and I just felt exhausted.

  That’s when Casper decided to walk up behind me. The soft padding of footsteps was my only warning. I gnced at him, his glowing gem eyes and bird-like face were still off-putting.

  Almost as much for myself as it was for him I ask in what was basically a whisper “Why can’t they just let us be” he seems confused for a few moments before he decides to crouch down next to me and rest a hand on my shoulder “it may be because they are jealous”

  We sit there a moment, him not being in any hurry and me simply cking the strength mentally to move. I sigh “Wallowing in self-pity won’t help anyone. Can you help me find my gear” I ask him realizing my armor is a melted mess and simply gone in a lot of areas.

  We spend an hour but all we find are the fragments of my shattered sword everything else has been recimed by nature or looted.

  No matter I’ll collect the fragments and see if I can’t get them reforged into something new. As we leave and reach the edge of what used to be a city I gnce back and sigh.

  We walk for days maybe months it all blended together. Walking occasionally resting and sleeping the entire time I feel like something is watching me. This continues Until we stumbled upon a small vilge in the middle of winter. We only found it because of the smoke from their chimneys.

  I feel slightly self-conscious as we enter the town, I must look abysmal caked in grime, and having a general disheveled air about me.

  “Cass I don’t think this is big enough to have an inn” I comment. He shrugs “You may be right maybe they have a tavern” I bob my head “Hopefully a bcksmith at least”

  We continue down the main road catching everyone’s gaze. Strangely the feeling of being watched feels different than the townsfolk but also much closer than before.

  I spot a bcksmith's shop and elbow Casper “Let’s ask the bcksmith I imagine they’d know”. Our direction changes slightly and the next thing I know we’re in the shop.

  As we stand in what amounts to the show floor or lobby, one that’s basically all farming implements or knives. A voice shouts from the back “I’ll be with you in a minute”

  I decide to check out the work of this smith and the paper price tags. As best I can tell this smith has skill but no passion in these tools. Checking the tag I realize my ck of money.

  With wide eyes, I pat myself down for my pouch but find nothing. I gnce at Casper who generally is loaded “All my coin is burned” he shrugs “Hopefully mine is still accepted”

  A few minutes ter a well-built man steps out from the workshop into the store. “Hmmm, not often we get visitors around here. So how can I help you” I take a second to study the man. The back of my mind itches when I look at him. Hes got his hands and arms wrapped in cloth up to the biceps and a heavy cloth mask covering his lower face I couldn't really see any skin.

  Putting that aside for now because I need his help “Can you reforge a sword for me and possibly make a new one as well”

  He looks me up and down “Hmm let me see it first I make no promises” I shift the makeshift cloth satchel and hand it over for him to inspect.

  After a few long minutes, he speaks again “This was an excellent weapon once upon a time it must have been quite the encounter to shatter it like this”

  He pauses and side-eyes me then sighs “It’ll take longer to reforge this bde than make a new one but I can do both how long will you be staying around”

  I shrug “At least long enough to be equipped the wilds aren’t known for being forgiving” to which he nods “I see then in the meantime could you do me… well this town a favor”

  I raise an eyebrow and he continues “There have been… sightings of well strange creatures and beasts if you could look into them and if necessary deal with them I’ll do one of the swords for free”

  I shrug “Sure it shouldn’t be a problem but I’d prefer to not do it unarmed” The bcksmith nods “Of course on the wall there are some spears we use when we need to”

  I walk over and inspect them. Their construction is a noticeable step up from the farming tools. It almost seems like this bcksmith prefers to make weapons.

  I’m about to grab a spear and leave but the bcksmith clears his throat to stop me “Before you go I need to get the swords bance”

  As I furrow my brows in some confusion because I always thought that was the bcksmith’s job, he sets a sword-looking thing on the counter.

  “Hold the handle and turn this weight until it feels perfect” Still confused I do as he said and after some fiddling the fake sword feels perfect in my hands with the exception of the handle but.

  “Alright, now you can go now that I know where to put the center of mass” Still kinda confused I pick up a spear and leave. Never heard of that device but I guess a secluded smith with a lot of time and passion will create strange things.

  Casper stays behind to find us a pce to stay while I leave for the wilderness roughly where the sightings have been reported.

  My feet crunch through snow as I go deeper and deeper into the woods. The sound of my breathing and my footsteps is the only sounds which while partially unnerving is also comforting as I’m more likely to hear anything approaching.

  The feeling of being watched returned now that I left the hamlet.

  I wander around for a while when the hair on my neck stands on end. This isn’t just being watched this is being hunted.

  On instinct, I dive to the side and feel something whoosh past me. I roll into a slight crouch facing where I was standing a moment ago.

  The creature standing there is about the size of a man with two rge bde arms and two manipution arms. It has four legs and is covered in thick fur.

  I watch its fur ripple and its outline becomes hazy. It’s trying to hide from sight.

  Altogether everything clicked. This isn’t natural this is some god's abomination. They probably got bored made it then got bored again and released it.

  Whatever the case I’m still going to attempt to kill it. However, I notice the feeling of being watched is still there and not coming from this creature.

  While I would prefer my swords I’m thankful for the spear because it gives far more reach. If it caught me in its maniputive arms it could easily bite my head off with its rge mandibles.

  It screams sounding almost human and I thrust my spear into its charge. It sinks through its fur and cracks its carapace before skidding off.

  I’m forced to dive to the side again and watch for an opportunity to actually do damage. It jumps at me next and I see what might be my one chance.

  I stick the back of the spear into the ground and watch the creature nd impaling its head on it. It slipped in through its mouth.

  It’s still alive though somehow as it strikes out at me cutting deep into my arm and side. I grab the spear and rush to one side of this thing aiming to twist its head off.

  It screams again and digs one cw deep into my cvicle but with a crunch and fleshy pop its head comes free and after a few moments to realize it’s dead it flips to the ground.

  Breathing heavy and dripping blood I hear clicking behind me “gooood well done human…. While this isn’t the outcome mother wanted it is good data nonetheless”

  I spin around trying to find the very inhuman voice. “She is right to have piqued an interest in you.” I close my eyes and focus on listening and try to bait it.

  “What kind of project does she have that requires this kind of data” I wasn’t really expecting an answer but one came it seems this thing is fairly talkative.

  “She is on her way to creating the perfect species. Though obviously work must still be done if a subject can be beaten by some half-rabid human with a stick”

  As it finishes the st sylble I chuck the spear and with a resounding crack and squelch of meat, it digs into the one speaking. Only a flesh wound however, it seemed to miss anything important.

  It screams in anger but instead of charging me it disappears again screeching “You’ll regret that foul biped”

  I grab the head of the first one and leg it not wanting to chance anything without a weapon.

  As I trudged through the snow leaving a trail of blood my mind wondered. Wouldn’t a god want to replicate itself? I’ll have to ask Casper.

  When I get back to the town and walk up the main road the first people to see me run away. I thought they were scared but when a rge group came back I guess they went to get help.

  Gncing down at my state I could understand. Blood is flowing freely and my clothes are mostly red now. The bcksmith Casper and some third guy come to the front of the crowd.

  Feeling exhausted I toss the head at them “killed it” Then I finally lose the battle against the embrace of unconsciousness and fall face first.

  Sitting at my desk I stroke my beard. Why are these memories resurfacing? Maybe my mind decided it’s time to remember how this all started? Or maybe it’s just nostalgia?