The Adventures of Rose Hood

I walked into the woods and sat down on a familiar stone.

“It’s been a while since I last did this.”

‘You are meditating again?’

“Yes, the last time I did this was while I was cleaning my core.”

‘Alright, I’ll be quiet.’

“Thank you, Kala.”

I began meditating and looked for my core, then I noticed something odd. It… was far bigger than it was before.

In the past it was like a sphere that was the size of my head, now it was as big as my adolescent dragon form.

“Luma, what’s happening?”

[I… don’t know. This has never been recorded before.]

“Could it be related to Kala being a human in the past?”

[Possibly, but I think… no it can’t be that.]

“What?”

[Sorry, but I can’t tell you yet, but I can say that the other shards, and even Kala herself doesn’t have her core that big.]

“I understand… what would happen if I entered it?”

[What?]

“You know… if I cut it, I damage myself and cause pain, but what if I just walked into it.”

[I don’t know, cores typically aren’t that size.]

“I’mma try it.”

‘Rose, that could be dangerous.’

“Please, Kala, as long as you are alive, I can’t die.”

‘I know… okay, be careful.’

[Be especially careful, because I don’t know if I could communicate with you in there.]

“Alright.”

I reached into the core, and it opened. I felt a purity deeper than the one I felt when I first unlocked a piece of the core.

“Incredible.”

I took a step and entered my core and began true meditation.

_

I was sent into the woods to find out what was going on, as a massive power that no one could place just randomly appeared.

“I’m betting it’s Rose.”

“What?”

“Oh please, Dallel, you can’t tell me that this isn’t something that Rose would do.”

“You are right, Jalad, but let’s have faith that she can handle it.”

I walked and saw a grove. I knew it was there since it’s where Rose was during her secondary task when she became an S rank.

“Is that?”

“It looks like it.”

“Guess I was right. Pay up.”

“Hey, we didn’t put any money on it.”

“So… what do you think is happening?”

Rose was floating with her arms out, her eyes pure white, and a massive aura of whatever that was emanating from her…

We were way too used to this…

“Probably awakening a new power that puts her on a scale that we will never reach.”

“Until we somehow do it in a month.”

“Probably.”

“So… what do we do now?”

I shrugged.

“Just sit down and wait, I guess.”

“Okay.”

…

“Maybe she’ll be the god of truth and in actuality the god of lies was a lie put in place by the churro lord.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

_

They didn’t know I could hear them…

Either way, no my power wasn’t escalating to a new level.

In fact, I was just simply in shock of what I was seeing.

Inside my core was a book. When I read the book, it glowed white, then I saw a new realm entirely, but it felt familiar.

“Hello, how did you get here? You aren’t dead.”

“I don’t know.”

I was in the purity form. A catkin child wrapped in embroidered cloth.

“What’s your name, young one?”

“Rose.”

“A beautiful name.”

“Is this Heaven?”

“Yes, but I can’t let you move freely as you are alive. I apologize.”

“I understand.”

She noted my sad look.

“Do you know someone that made it here?”

“Yes, a few actually.”

“What are their names?”

“Royce, Asura, and Dalis.”

“Oh, those three, yes they are wonderful, but I hope you understand why I can’t let you see them.”

“I do. But, when I finally die, I will be able to see them again.”

“You are too young to be considering death.”

“I am quite old.”

“Not you, Kala is old, but your ego is barely a year old.”

“I see.”

“But, yes, I don’t know how you got here either, but I can sense that only your soul got sent here.”

“Yeah, I can still hear my world.”

“Interesting, by the way, I still can’t believe that you defeated Dominion.”

“You guys probably could have demolished it.”

“Oh, easily, but we don’t so the worlds remain in order.”

“I understand.”

“You know, you are throwing a wrench in the system.”

“What?”

I decided to play dumb.

“The system started to refer to itself as Luma and considers you a friend.”

“Uhhhhhhh.”

Playing dumb wouldn’t work.

The woman sighed.

“No matter, I can tell you didn’t mean any harm, but be a bit more careful with how you flex your power.”

“Okay.”

“I will allow your soul to go home.”

“Wait.”

“What?”

“What’s your name?”

“Oh, I am the angel of death, Cassiel.”

“World mother, Rose Hood.”

“Fun title, well I shall retur- What’s happening?”

The book glowed again, but this time it was red.

“I don’t kn-“

I was gone from heaven before Cassiel could send me back.

_

“Where am I?”

This realm was far different from the golden paradise that I just came from.

An emptiness, far greater than anything I’ve felt before, permeated me.

I felt nothing but the emptiness alone was torturous.

Then came the fire, but it avoided me.

“Is this hell?”

“Yes, small one.”

I turned and saw a beautiful woman, her body was scorched, and she was covered in fire that ate into her.

“You are alive, small one, how did you get here?”

“Are you a demon?”

“Yes, and you are a human, but different.”

“I am of the deity race.”

“Intriguing.”

“Are you in pain?”

“Of course, this is my punishment for my deeds.”

“What did you do?”

“I attempted to overthrow what you call the supreme faction. My commander is still outside, but I have long since been caught.”

“I see… do you regret it?”

“Of course, but it is far too late. My advice, small one, be good and moral. Don’t follow deceit. Follow your heart.”

“Thank you, you are kind… compared to how a lot of people portray your kind.”

“Despite how we are now, we used to be angels… some of us remember our kindness.”

“What is this emptiness?”

“Quite simply, the absence of the Ruler.”

“What?”

“His presence is what drives us to push on, to live. Even those who come here with unbreakable optimism fall quickly into despair. You are perhaps the first that lasted even this long.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m alive?”

“No, I am alive too, being alive makes it much more potent.”

“I see, so, how do I leave?”

“If I knew I would have left long ago.”

“Alright, well I’ll go look for an exit.”

“Your book is glowing.”

“It is? I suppose that means that I’m leaving.”

“Good for you, have a wonderful life and remember my advice.”

“Thank you!”

And with that, I was no longer in hell.