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The travel back to Galbar had been a pleasant one, much unlike the effort and trickery Eurysthenes had imposed upon him in his travels to the Sky of Pyres. Despite the setback, however, Vakk would remain triumphant and his goals would be furthered. His form glided across the ocean’s surface, his tendrils dancing across the water, spraying the liquid into the air as he began approaching the small island that housed his gateway back to his home. For far too long, Vakk had been outcast from his own home for far too long, and if he were going to enact his plans (and revenge), it was going to be within the comforts of the Realm of Talk. 

His tendrils pulled the small soul of Atmav forward and he could not help but contain a chuckle, knowing all to well the torture he would impose upon her for stealing his victory from him, thus outcasting him to this existence. Vakk gazed upon her for a moment, before letting out a sigh, knowing that it was not her wish to be sent here either. That was the fault of Vakk, but any feeling of remorse was sent away as he focused on his own sadistic desires. Yet, as he traveled to the entrance of his home, the thought continued to plague him as despite all the torture he inflicted upon others, namely Li’Kalla and Eurysthenes, Vakk knew deep in the back of his mind that souring relationships with potential assets were something he could not afford. 

The entrance now stood in front of him, and the thoughts were pushed even further back as he could hear the whisper of the riddle, [i]”That which I am speaking of belongs to another, not myself. This may confuse some, though it is clear as day. What do I speak of?”[/i] Soon, the whisper was drowned out by the talk of the few echoes that escaped from the sphere, yet Vakk would focus on the riddle alone. He knew not of what he had stolen, as the riddle was made for Vakk’s purpose. The riddle had been made to be given to Vakk. There was no other that it could belong to, but even then did Vakk know that Eurysthenes was ever sly and confusing. The Lord of Talk and Manipulation knew all too well what the riddle’s answer was now, his time in the maze had shown him this. Eurysthenes still believed the riddle belonged to him, simply for having been the one to gift it to Vakk.

It was at this point did something creep back into Vakk’s mind, the Box of Orchestration. He had made that for Li’Kalla, thus it was hers and she could treat how she wanted. Yet, he could not help but feel insulted knowing that she would simply leave it to the elements. How could he have known it would have an adverse effect on her? 

[color=9d8618]”The riddle,”[/color] Vakk said, his deepened voice silencing those echoes who had gone astray. He had to stay focused on his task, the very one he had to put effort into achieving. Eurysthenes maddening laugh could quietly be heard, Vakk knew he had gotten the riddle correct and proceeded to enter the cave system. It had been too long, yet Vakk knew the exact path he had crafted to get to the Realm of Talk. Following the echoes and whispers until finally, he entered nothing but darkness. The only thing to accompany him was his own reflection, further ahead than him and copying his motions as he moved forwards. Surprisingly, he was not happy to be back in his home, but he was not sad either. 

The Lord of Talk stopped, his reflection disappearing and the darkness surrounding him. It allowed him to contemplate, at least for a little, as he began to recollect on his journey. It was a success, but he knew that it was not optimal with all the trouble Eurysthenes had caused him. However, he could count on Katharsos being friendly, Melantha was something to watch as it seemed she could see through his motives He had learned much. He had learned to not make unnecessary enemies, to use his magic sparingly, and, perhaps most importantly, to use his words to gain control. 

[color=9d8618]”Perhaps the future will bare more fortunate outcomes,”[/color] Vakk said to himself, bringing the soul of Atmav to his face before letting it fall from his tendrils. He watched it fall before a terrible grin come across his face, [color=9d8618]”However, your future will not be so kind.”[/color]

He spun his tendrils around the soul, catching it before it hit the ground. Then, his tendrils began to move around one another, snaking their way around what would be the form of the body; the head, neck, waist, wings, all it was perfectly traced by Vakk’s touch. Then the screaming began, as blue lights shown through small gaps, the arc of arcane lightning shot through, gliding across the tendril. The screams became louder and louder as the lights furiously danced and thick smoke began to escape through the cracks. Vakk’s tormented laughs began to follow as he painfully began to reconstruct Atmav’s body, piece by agonizing piece. It had seemed like mere moments had passed for Vakk before Atmav’s body had been finished, and he acquiesced his grip, setting the mortal upon the ground.

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Her first experiences was that of agonizing pain, jolts of electricity hitting her very soul before her body was painfully being reconstructed. There was no rhyme or reason to how she had been reconstructed either, her wings having been made separately from her body which had been stabbed into what could have been called a spine. Her head was momentarily attached to her arm before a painful separation and reattachment to the appropriate part of her body. It had been the most excruciating thing she had felt and her screams ripped at her vocal cords, making them coarse and almost lifeless. 

Atmav could only give a small sigh of relief when her torturous creation had been completed, only for her to be thrown into a pure black ground. She let out a groan, she could feel the steam lift off her body and she could barely see it move upwards. Her vision was hazy and her breath was slowed just enough due to feeling that she may just die.

However, her mind raced as it retraced its steps. 

[i]The fight.[/i]

Something jabbed her stomach forcing her from her thoughts, the hit had sent her legs and upper body reaching for the air before she turned and held herself up. On her hands and knees, she gasped for air before something massive slammed into her back, forcing her body to the ground once more.

[i]The portal.[/i]

Slowly, with aching muscles and joints, did she began to force herself up, hands and knees supporting her as she shakily breathed. Atmav looked up, to see the being that was causing so much pain to her, only to find the massive base of flesh. She followed the base upwards, occasionally getting lost in the many tendrils of the creature, before she was essentially looking straight into the air. What she saw was a being of flesh and teeth, a horrid amalgamation of features made her skin crawl as she instinctively reached for a weapon that she did not have.

[i]Vakk.[/i]

[color=9d8618]”You still chose to go for a weapon rather than look in awe upon my form,”[/color] the being chuckled insidiously, his voice shaking her to her very core. 

Atmav had not been one to know much fear, she had always thought with her weapons and skill at arms, but this was a being she could not fight. She had not seen anything that had resembled this creature before and she could only stare as horror-filled what small amount of facial features she had. A moment of silence passed between the two before Atmav had finally mustered up the courage to talk to what towered before her.

“Who- who are you?” A fear-filled voice asked.

[color=9d8618]”I? You do not remember me, Atmav? After you denied me my victory over the Endless Talk?”[/color]

She kept quiet for a few moments before she cocked her head to the side, her fuzzy memories began to return to her. This being could not be the same one she had fought mere moments before her own death. That being had, at the very least, been honorable, a fighter, and a bit of a talker. This [i]thing[/i] was certainly not…something so grotesque.

“Vakk?”

The titan let out a low rumble which could be acquainted with satisfaction, a simple confirmation that needs no more words. She felt his tendrils suddenly wrap around her and she pointlessly struggles to break free for a few moments as Vakk lifted her into the air. 

[color=9d8618]”It is fitting that I should be the one to revive you. You caused my death and yet, I bring you life. A delicate balance that needn’t be disturbed any longer.”[/color]

Atmav would have furrowed her brows if she had the facial capacity to manage such a task, but the confusion was certainly there. Was he implying that she should be grateful for being brought back from death? Or had it been some strange attempt to mock her? She couldn’t tell before Vakk wrapped a tendril around her throat, slowly tightening and making it harder and harder to breathe. It had already been hard to draw a full breath, but now it was almost suffocating as Vakk only allowed in enough air for her to survive.

[color=9d8618]”I am a god now, Atmav. I can control every facet of your body and personality as I wish. You are my puppet!”[/color] his terrible voice marred her ears and his terrible laugh rung throughout her head. His laughter soon died out as he began to speak once more, [color=9d8618]”I do plan to return home and finish what I have started. This time, you will not be in my way.”[/color]

“Then why bring me back from death? Surely I would be better that way,” Atmav snapped, continuing to struggle before the grip around her neck tightened. She gasped for air, coughing and internally pleading for the torment to end.

[color=9d8618]”Trust me, I do want you dead. However, watching you be helpless and inevitably falling from your morals is much sweeter of a fruit.”[/color] Vakk said, the humor in his voice slowly turning to a sadistic anger. For a few moments, it seemed that he would end Atmav, before his grip on her neck loosened, sending into a coughing fit as she could finally breathe again. [color=9d8618]”There is still time for you to willingly come to my side. You can end this torture by merely pledging your allegiance to me. Then perhaps, I can take you back to our home.”[/color]

“You know I can’t do that. My honor… my family. I cannot betray my oath,” she coughed looking at the ground.

[color=9d8618]”Then you leave me no choice,”[/color] Vakk rumbled, he turned his head for a moment, seemingly lost in thought. [color=9d8618]”I could easily turn your mind. In fact, it would be so incredibly effortless, that it would be the best option for me to do. Yet, I am not done satisfying my own sadistic pleasure, so for now…”[/color]

He slammed her into the ground. 

[color=9d8618]”Jīvikkuka, pratidhvani!”[/color] An invisible pulse went throughout the blackened realm, pushing Atmav even further into the ground. 

[color=9d8618]”Keep her from leaving, my echoes. Do not kill her.”[/color]

Slowly, she got to her feet, looking up at where Vakk had been, though now he was gone. In his place, she saw a single pair of glowing, white eyes, only for another pair to open up next to that. She looked around and noticed these beings surrounded her. Their forms were almost indistinguishable from that of natural background of the hell she was in. Whispers could be heard coming from their spiritual forms. ‘Leaving’, ‘echoes’, their voices repeated what she had heard Vakk say. 

She wanted to leave, but she knew it was suicide. Atmav sat, gazing at the beings around her. 

‘Soul’ one said.

‘Mine’ another.

‘Talk’

‘Kill’

‘KILL’

[b]”SOUL KILL MINE”[/b] They said in unison, she could vaguely see hands reaching for her. They flew towards her but were stopped by some force. 

Atmav gazed into the abyss.

It stared back with many eyes.   

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[hider=Summary][list]
[*]Vakk flies home and thinks for a bit
[*]He finally figures out the riddle and gets back into his sphere.
[*]He immediately gets to work reconstructing Atmav.
[*]Pain.exe and POV transition go
[*]Atmav is reborn as a hero - 2 MP spent here.
[*]Exposition.exe where Vakk toys with Atmav.
[*]Vakk offers Atmav to join.
[*]She denies.
[*]Vakk makes Incorporeal Echoes - 3 FP spent here - from the echoes within the Realm of Talk and leaves.
[*]The echoes want Atmav dead. Unknown why. Probably that juicy soul she has.[/list]

[b]Might Summary[/b]
2 MP spent to make Atmav hero.
3 FP to make the extraordinary but unintelligent species, the Echoes. Incorporeal creatures that can repeat what they hear, can obey basic commands, and are seemingly hungry for that soul that Atmav has. Do with them what you will.

Atmav gets 1 Prestige for being the main attraction of this post.[/hider]