Man of Stories

On a summer Tuesday morning during the season of autumn a man by the name of Tom Fraker would walk down a familiar route. He’d walk down a road covered with leaves; they looked like lava. They’re colors were so bright and majestic. He thought about taking some home with him to put in a display case along his hallway wall. He felt Margret would love that.

“Ah, finally here. I’ve been here more times than I can remember. This place was here for my first written words and now, now it’ll be here for my last.” Tom said as he looked out to a small park. There were kids and dogs alike running around while parents talked and even bickered with each other. It was perfect. The perfect embodiment of humanity. Of reality. He then walked over and set down a chair, he would lower his body on it as it’s comfort although familiar left sorrow in his mind and body. This may be the last time he sits down in this. He then grabbed a typewriter and set it upon his knees as his body got comfortable. He put on his glasses and then like Hes done since he first started, began to write once more.

Our attention now goes elsewhere, somewhere unknown and unbound to our own reality and its common nature. A world of which was created through the mind of Tom Fraker. As he continued to write he could feel himself beginning to be pulled away, away from the world, away from the world and away from humanity. It was like crossing a border and yet at the same time it was as if there never was one. Tom then closed his eyes.

“Humanity, every living being and every sentient piece of the life across our world all have a soul. Our platonic souls echo through the universe and through the infinite stars that line our universe. They make up the world, the universe and beyond. I believe that our minds attach to these souls in order to cling to something set in stone. Something real.

Our souls hold onto our spirit, our conscious. With this all being known, I, Tom Fraker. I now understand the grand scheme.” Tom wrote as he then opened his eyes again. He now no longer was on the planet earth or even in the Milkey way, no. He was now light years away from it. So far that he now no longer could even comprehend the distance between him and home. He looked forward to seeing long fields of green grass, the grass however had golden tips to them and even seemed to give off a chime when the wind blew. Tom Fraker walked around as he watched as the stars above moved like water and the skies moved liked lava. Slow and dragging themselves around. He then saw her, a woman standing in the mist of the large fields. Her hair, long and golden. Her face, perfect and sharp. Her smile, red, rosy and wide.

“Beatrice.” Tom said as he made his way towards her. The woman turned to him completely and smiled as she ran over and hugged Tom. Tom and Beatrice embraced each other tightly. They took in the familiar scent of the two.

“Its great to see you again Tom, of course I was hoping you wouldn’t have aged so much. Guess I was wrong.” she said

“Hehehe, Oh B, Even now you forget how fragile humans can be. You may never age, but we are still bound to it’s curse.” Tom said as he took a knee down and felt the grass.

“You didn’t have to be, you could have been one of us. Though I understand your decision.” Beatrice said, Tom then stood up and looked to her and to the distance.

“How is he?” Tom asked

“He’s still recovering, even after all the time that has passed on your world.” she replied as she then turned around and lifted up a large tower from the distance. The tower was immensely large as it was far above the clouds. The two began to make their way to the tower with Beatrice feeling anxious along the way.

“You look nervous, doesn’t seem like you.” Tom said as he could feel his feet getting heavier the closer, he got to the tower regardless of their holy glow.

“It’s been a long time, the last time he saw you Tom you both were...-Well I suppose It couldn’t be so bad. For you two need to see each other again.” Beatrice said as they then arrived at the tower. The tower of Hurazu. The name rang through his head like a bell. An old advisory and yet one he could still feel a connection to.

“There’s still time to turn back Tom, you don’t need to finish this.” Beatrice with worry.

“No, I need to write this final chapter before I go.” Tom said as he then walked within the tower, the insides of it were hauntingly familiar to Tom. Large walls lined with towers made of books and some of strange objects that looked like they shouldn’t fit upon one another and yet they did. He continued to walk around as he saw a large telescope pointing out of window was to his left side. The human/mortal understanding of size had clearly been left outside this tower. He looked across himself to the right and saw a familiar sight once again. The Moolong, It was a device that followed an interstellar or even cosmic structure as it was built with spherical angles and even with conjoined flat sides . The device was old and clearly had seen its fair share of use. Tom squinted his eyes as he saw the “letters” lining the device.

“Carama-saratoh, Tom mumbled to himself as he got up fully and tuned to Beatrice who was waiting ahead of him. Tom walked towards her as the two then walked towards a large staircase that led them down a long windy path.

“Tom, the hive has shown activity again. He is planning his return.” Beatrice said worry as they got closer and closer to the end of the path. Tom’s mind worked as he remembered his past with the hive and its leader.

“My worst creation, the source of all evil, the archetype of pure evil and the ancestor to evil.” Tom thought to himself as he and Beatrice reached the bottom of Hurazu and found a large tree with engravings within it.

“The tree of Endu” Tom said as he walked to it only to stumble a bit as he got closer, Beatrice ran to Tom and helped him stand.

“Tom it’s dangerous, the tree won’t respond to you. Not anymore.” She said as Tom stood up and looked to the tree and then to her.

“It’s looking for the next hero.” Beatrice said as Tom looked to the tree.

“The Hive, they're on their way Tom, something must be done otherwise everything will be destroyed and the towers will be taken.” Beatrice said to which her and Tom then began to walk back up the stairs.

“I must speak with Gambur, he’ll know what must be done. If what you say is true and the hive is returning, then I need someone who can take my place.” Tom said as he looked at his wrinkled palm, his old age becoming more and more aware to him. Beatrice and Tom got back to the main level of the tower of Hurazu only to then have Beatrice pull a lever which then made another set of stairs going up this time appear. Tom and Beatrice walked up them with Beatrice helping Tom get up there. Once they arrived at the top of the tower Tom took deep breath as he took in the old scene. The top of the tower was similar to that of an observatory, there were maps of space all over the place with a large telescope being close to a single window. Tom walked around and made himself aware of the number of papers that were thrown about, all the diagrams and the completely filled and drawn on board. There were also many spiritual symbols and crafts lying around as well.

"Where is Gambur?" Tom asked, Beatrice walked around and picked up an emblem that had a symbol of star being held by a hand.

"He was here last I saw, You know how he is Tom. Up here all the time writing away and studying the infinite scopes of the universe and all its sets and theories." Beatrice said

"Where could have gone?" Tom said only to then see the entry way they came through be overshadowed by the one they were looking for.

"Looking for me I take it?" said Gambur who was this massive wooden creature with vines and lots of greenery covering his body while he wore a long green and decorated robe. He had long fingers and was surrounded by three tiny fairies. Utelea, a dark fairy that was well known for being able to shift around the perspective of others to match whatever it is that it wants them to see or experience. Hoolo, another famous fairy who was known for recalibrating the stars and making them bigger and full of life. Finally, there was Fen, Fen was a young fairy that Tom remembered fondly. Fen was known for aiding Tom in his younger years against the hive and was said to take down its forces with Tom using her divine magic to tear them from the physical plane. Fen then flew over and planted a kiss on the old man's face.

"I missed you too Fen." Tom said

"You've gotten so much older, your time on earth has shortened your life. You should have stayed on Qio." Fen said to which Tom shook his head and then looked to Gambur.

"Gambur, old friend." Tom said as Gambur then bent down and hugged Tom, the two embracing warmly.

"Now, what can I help you with Tom?" Gambur asked as Tom looked over to Beatrice who walked over to them.

"The Hive Gambur, they have resurfaced we believe they're looking for the next hero. We must act now." Beatrice said as Gambur calmly walked between them and towards his telescope on the balcony.

"The Universe is vast, endless stars and endless galaxies. To search for the new hero would take too long. We must pass the mantle down to another instead." Gambur said as Beatrice and Tom looked at each other.

"A artificial hero? Gambur, such a thing has never been done before. The hero has always been born, not made." Beatrice said

"This could work." Tom said

"Tom" Beatrice said disapproving of the whole idea.

" Beatrice, if we don't do something then the hive will blacken the universe and all stories will cease to exist." Tom said as Beatrice bit her nail at the thought, she was never one for all this adventurous and breaking of the rules type. However, she could no longer ignore the danger of the hive. She reluctantly nodded her head and with it Gambur then looked to Tom who stared to him.

"An artificial hero? What a wonderful idea...how do we do it?" Fen said as the other fairies came over towards her to watch.

"The hero is a free being, not meant to be limited to the laws and things we know as physics or even quantum physics. the hero is a role, an archetype, a free being never meant to be held down and should be able to travel anywhere and whenever they want. To create such a natural part of the universe would take power I do not posses." Gambur said as he then sat down on a cushion like object and grabbed a sphere across the room using his powers.

"However I could make a vessel, it will take time. I'll need some ulu and the gift of freedom. Once I have those then and only then can I make this vessel." Gambur said

"Who could we call upon that may be able to give this vessel freedom?" Beatrice asked

"I'm not sure, but I know where we can find ulu." Hoolo said excited

"Perfect! All we need now is freedom." Gambur said as he then put the orb down.

" What were you doing just now?" Beatrice asked

"Contacting my people. they must be made aware that the hive is reforming. Everyone must know." Gambur said with Tom nodding.

"I know just the one for the job to lend us the power of freedom, fairies. Take me to your queen." Tom asked to which the fairies all replied with shock and gasp.

"Queen Evela, she'll understand. Please you must take me there, for old times sake." Tom said as the fairies looked to each other hesitating before eventually nodding. They then grabbed onto Tom, however they were stopped by Beatrice as she grabbed his shoulders.

"Tom are you sure? Would you like if I came with you?" Beatrice asked

"No good, a tower without it's guardian would bring devastation, you must stay Beatrice." Gambur said

"Don't worry Beatrice, this old man can still fend for himself." Tom said putting an assured hand on Beatrice's shoulder. She looked at him worriedly before backing away. The fairies then using their magic vanished with Tom.