[Journey] For a better world

The evening's calm in your apartment is interrupted not by sight, but by a shift in the atmosphere, a tangible change in the air that signals something beyond the ordinary. The artifact on the table before you pulses with a dark energy, its presence felt rather than seen, a thrumming power that resonates with the very core of your being. The weight of sudden drowsiness overcomes you, unnatural and insistent, dragging you down into a deep, abyss-like sleep despite your resistance.

When consciousness returns, it's not the familiar textures and sounds of your apartment that greet you but the echo of a space that feels vast, imbued with a presence that speaks of ancient power and mystery. The cool touch of what must be an ornate chair beneath you, and the smooth, solid surface of a table in front of you, suggest you are seated at a dinner setting, though no ordinary one.

The air carries a subtle, unfamiliar scent, a mixture of ancient stone and a hint of something indefinable, almost magical. The sound of a calm, steady breathing not your own breaks the silence, and a voice, clear and young yet imbued with an authority that seems to resonate with the dark energy you're now aligned with, speaks directly to you.

"Welcome, Míngzé. We've been expecting you," the voice says, its owner seated across from you, unseen but undoubtedly present. The voice carries a youthfulness tinged with an ancient wisdom, a paradox that intrigues and unsettles you simultaneously.

Though you cannot see the speaker, his presence is palpable, a force that fills the space with a power that's both foreign and familiar. This being, whose appearance remains hidden from your sight, embodies the deity with whom your destiny is now entwined.

The atmosphere shifts palpably as the deity responds, his voice laced with a touch of indignation. "Míngzé, to think I've gone through the effort to prepare a meal that transcends the ordinary, and here you are, questioning the setting rather than appreciating the gesture. It's not every day that one is invited to dine in a realm that exists beyond the constraints of their reality."

There's a brief pause, during which you can almost picture a frown forming on his youthful face, a deity momentarily put off by a lack of appreciation for his efforts. "But let's set aside my culinary endeavors for a moment," he says, the edge in his voice softening as he moves on to the heart of the matter.

"As fascinating as our surroundings are, we're here to discuss something far more critical. You've been brought to this nexus of power because you're at the center of a pivotal moment, Míngzé. Your journey, your choices, they've aligned you with forces that most can't even begin to comprehend."

He pauses for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "Affinities... They shape our destinies, our fears, our very existence. Yet, what if I told you that there's a way to transcend them? To rid the world of the chaos and suffering they often bring?"

The deity's reaction to your question about the meal shifts the atmosphere, injecting a moment of lightness into the weighty discourse. "How can we speak of potential and futures on an empty stomach?" he muses, his tone blending amusement with a touch of irony.

Your question about the artifact and its connection to the broader scheme of things draws a thoughtful pause from the deity. "Yes, the artifact you've uncovered is but a fragment of a much larger puzzle. It's a key, my son, a key to unlocking powers and possibilities that have been dormant for far too long. This piece, along with others scattered across the realms, holds the potential to reshape the very fabric of the land, to reshape humanity and its affinities."

He leans forward, the intensity of his gaze palpable even to your unseeing eyes. "But the journey to gather these pieces is fraught with peril, not just of a physical nature but of a moral and spiritual kind. Each piece represents a test, a trial that will challenge your beliefs, your resolve, and the very essence of your spirit."

The deity's words hang heavy in the air, a prophecy of the trials and tribulations that await should you choose to embark on this quest. The mention of danger, of the potential harm that could come to those involved, weighs heavily on your heart, yet there's an undeniable allure to the promise of a world free from the chaos of affinities.

"Your affinity, dark as it may be, grants you a unique perspective on the world, on the nature of power and sacrifice. It's this perspective, coupled with the artifact's potential, that makes you indispensable to this cause," he continues, his voice now softer, almost persuasive. "I do not expect your blind allegiance, child. Question everything, challenge the truths presented to you, but consider the possibility of a world reborn, a world where the afflictions of affinities are but a distant memory."

His demeanor subtly shifts as he picks up on the gravity of your question, his voice dropping to a tone that resonates with the solemnity of ancient rites. "But at what cost, you ask? Indeed, the transformation we speak of, the reshaping of affinities and the fabric of reality itself, requires a price. A tangible, irrevocable price."

He leans forward slightly, the shadows in the room seeming to converge around him as he speaks. "For such monumental change to take place, for the balance to be altered in our favor, there must be a sacrifice. A life, Míngzé, willingly given to the cause. This is the cornerstone of our endeavor, the key to unlocking the power needed to reshape the world."

The air seems to grow colder with his words, a chilling truth laid bare. His gaze holds yours, unflinching, as if gauging your reaction to this revelation. "It's a singular sacrifice, yet one of immense power. A life offered in the service of a new dawn. Not a multitude, not an army's worth of lives laid to waste, but a single, decisive act that will serve as the fulcrum upon which the fate of the world will pivot."

The deity's words hang heavy between you, a stark reminder of the dark path that lies ahead. The notion of sacrifice, of a life willingly surrendered for the cause, forces you to confront the reality of what you're being asked to partake in. It's a moment of reckoning, a crossroads that asks you to weigh the allure of a world reborn against the profound cost such a transformation demands.

"Consider this. The potential to eradicate the chaos and suffering that affinities have wrought upon the world, to bring forth a new order from the ashes of the old, all rests upon this singular sacrifice. Is the promise of a future free from the tyranny of affinities worth this price?" His question is not just rhetorical; it's a challenge, a test of your will and your resolve to see through the vision he lays before you.

He observes you, the embodiment of both an ancient power and an unsettling calm. The room feels colder, the darkness more profound as he contemplates your response. "A willing sacrifice," he echoes, his tone both reflective and decisive. "Yes, that is all it would need. The essence of a willing spirit strengthens the ritual, makes the transformation more... potent. However," he adds, pausing for effect, "the subject does not have to be willing. It simply makes the process smoother, less... fraught with resistance."

The silence that follows is thick with implication, the weight of his revelation settling around you like a shroud. His next words come slowly, measured, as if he's carefully choosing each one. "I am not asking you to be the one to fulfill this role. But it would be prudent to find someone before all four pieces of the artifact are united. The confluence of their power with the sacrifice will catalyze the change we seek."

He leans back, giving you a moment to absorb the gravity of his statement. The shadows seem to swirl around him, as if they are part of his very essence, reacting to the depth of the conversation. "Are you prepared to take on this responsibility? To find the one who will stand at the heart of this transformation?" his question is direct, his red eyes piercing through the darkness, seeking your resolve.

As you sit there, your hands clenched in contemplation, the enormity of the task before you becomes clear. It's not just about bearing the weight of the world's afflictions but also about shouldering the moral burden of this pivotal choice. The thought of choosing someone, of deciding whose life would be offered up for the sake of many, presses heavily upon your chest.

The deity's words linger in the air, a stark reminder of the stakes involved. "It would be best to secure this sacrifice sooner rather than later. Time is of essence, and the gathering of the artifact's pieces progresses as we speak."

You realize the path before you is fraught with moral ambiguities, each step a potential mire in ethical dilemmas. Yet, the potential to end the suffering caused by affinities, to reshape the world into a place free of their chaos, is a powerful motivator.

The deity's presence, a dark silhouette against the deeper shadows of the room, nods in response to your declaration. There's a hint of approval in his tone, an acknowledgment of the weight of your decision. "Very well. Find the one who will embrace this fate for the greater good. The balance of affinities awaits your action."

With those words, a palpable shift occurs in the atmosphere. The heavy, oppressive air begins to thin, receding like a tide pulling back from the shore. His figure becomes less distinct, more a part of the shadows than separate from them.

The deity's presence, powerful as it remains, starts to fade, a dissolving echo in a dream. "Remember, the unity of the artifact pieces and the sacrifice are the keystones. Time and tide wait for no one, Míngzé. May your path be illuminated by the righteousness of your quest."

His words linger as the last tangible link to this realm, and then, as if a switch has been flipped, the darkness overtakes you completely. The sensation is not unlike falling, a swift, downward plunge into nothingness, where even the concept of time seems to lose its grip.

---

Suddenly, you jolt awake, your body instinctively reacting to the abrupt return to reality. Your eyes snap open, greeted by the familiar, dimly lit confines of your apartment. For a moment, the transition is disorienting, the remnants of the meeting with the deity clinging to your thoughts like wisps of a rapidly fading dream.

You're on your couch, the artifact still in your hand, its surface cool and almost soothing against your skin. Despite the comfort of your own home, a sense of urgency gnaws at you, a reminder of the heavy responsibility you've just accepted. The quiet of the apartment feels stark, almost too quiet, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the decisions you will make and the actions you will take.

As you sit there, the reality of your commitment sets in. You have agreed to find someone to make the ultimate sacrifice for a cause that could change the world. It's a daunting task, filled with moral and ethical dilemmas, but one you've chosen to accept.

The path forward is fraught with uncertainty, yet driven by the possibility of a better future—a world free from the tyranny of affinities. With that vision in your heart, you prepare to find the one who will help you fulfill this profound destiny.