Ani Was Writing

Story 13    How long have you been here? You don't know for sure. There is no signal of the passage of time in Neraka. Sure, the sun and moon rise and set, but the days and cycles are lost to you. Did they even exist in the natural state of being? You don't even know anymore. All you know how to do is survive.    You grab your labor clothes and equipment for the mines. After sliding your dirty long-sleeved shirt over your head and your heavy duty pants over your legs, you sling your mining tool onto your back and make your way out of your shack and toward the mine in the center of town.    Do you even remember your life before Neraka? Fragmented images of a temple flash in your mind, but nothing concrete. How do you know those images come from real experiences? You can hardly remember your full name. All you know is Maria. Maria. Maria. Even the name tastes foreign as you mouth it to yourself. Was it even Maria? You look down to your left for...

Story 12  130 Day, 300 Cycle of Night Entity: Dejen Stark, Investigative Explorer Subject: Energies and Their Origins   Today I conclude my investigation on our use of energies and their origins. My investigation took four cycles and a lot of travel around Canlanma and the nomadic Arrunta territory.    My initial investigation came after a reading of the text Histories of the "Supernatural" Forces in the Forlorn and Forgotten Eras by Shepherd Arthur Abraham. The text traces the use of energies in practices centered around terms such as "magic," "supernatural," and "paranormal." I learned that even if entities from those Eras gave technical explanations about these phenomena, it was generally believed to contain a more mystical aspect. I decided after reading this text that I would see if I could discover what the missing link between the mystical aspect of the past and the current understandings of energies.   The current understanding of energie...

Story 11 "I just can't believe we have to suffer for 28 days!" "We are not suffering, Angel. You just make it sound like that." "But it is! No travel, no entertainment, all the shops are closed, everyone's told to just stay at home and chill. It's so boring!" "Yeah, but being at home during Qorrax is a time to get the rest we need." "Rest? I don't need rest, Bea. I need things to do!" "You can always spend that time making plans for renovations..." "Candice makes a valid point." "Oh, yeah. Renovations! I do need to spruce up my home and wardrobe. That is a great idea!" "Thanks, Angel. I'm glad you-" "But that is not what the Creator says we should do." "Oh, for the Void's sake!" "I agree, Donna, but it seems Angel is having trouble with that again this time." "Look, I wouldn't have a problem if I was able to go shopping!" "Bu...

Story 10    "Two more days of Night, Andrea." She looks to her partner. Her partner Andrea slowly sloshes a sphere of ice in her lemonade as she stares into the fireplace. Nadia recalls that look from the last Cycle of Night. The lost in thought stare that proceeds the upcoming transition. Nadia sets down a dinner of lamb and potatoes next to her and gives Andrea a kiss on the top of her head. She leaves the room and enters a cozier room lined with books. Nadia sits down at the desk and taps the floating cube in the center. The cube spins and becomes transparent.    "166 Day of the 102 Cycle of Night. Today is the beginning transition for Andrea's Elder status. I recall my own transition from the last Cycle of Night. I had to teach my best worker how to run the looms and the business. I can't imagine how or to who Andrea taught her secrets of metal and fire. I just hope it is someone who can continue her blacksmithing shop as well as she did.   "I...

Story 9   Now is the time. Elder Valentine is dead, thanks to Nadja's work. Having a shadow tigress as a comrade is a wonderful blessing in our cruel world. The other female stare at her as the news hits our ears. There is a general feeling of giddy vengeance in the room that grows. Finally, one voice asks the question: "Does that mean we have a door we can break through?"   I look around the collection of entities around me. Usually, this group would be in more flattering and showy attire. Tonight is a different story. Tonight, we are all dressed in dark colors and long draping pieces to conceal our identities. Some of us conceal weapons; others have their natural weapons carefully sharpened.   "Yes. We have a door. That idiot Raj will be enraged by the kill we 'stole' from him. He has been looking for revenge against his betrayer for way too many cycles." This gets a few chuckles. "With that said, his guards will be occupied with containing his ou...

Story 8    "Test Subject 730 is ready for testing. TS730 is an entity that is 50-human, 30-lemur, and 20-mechanical. Natural eyes, ears, and tail are replaced with mechanical parts for experimentation. TS730 is a male about 110 cycles old."   "I'm ready!" The test subject cheers from the other side of the crystal-enforced plexiglass.    The scientist shakes her head. If only I could get him to be less expressive. She thinks to herself as she records information from the health monitor. "Alright, Elder Valentine. Which mechanical part would you like to test first?"   "I think I would like to test my eyes first. I mean, they were really good when I was younger."   "That's what we are aiming for." She returns. "We will be doing a dimmed test first."   "Alright, Ms. Padina." The Elder smiles. He positions himself like a child waiting to hunt down his friends in a game of hide and seek. Padina chuckles and shifts ...

Story 7    I get my gilded invitation in my mail. At first, I wasn't sure how to respond. The paper feels heavy in my hands as I read the poetic calligraphy again:  Catalin Ryba, I hope this invitation finds you in a good state of being.  I am informed that you have shown an adventurous mindset during your schooling in Eulim and your training with Drake, one of the local potionmasters. After gathering more information about you, I have decided to extend an invitation to live in Caelum.  You will be taking the status of Most Adventurous from Elder Tiberius Bane. If you would like to bring a companion with you, please let us know as soon as possible. I look forward to your arrival. King Zoticus and The Creator   I shake in anticipation. I quickly write back to them and notify them to add my companion Ari to my records. As soon as I send that, I pack up my things and leave to share my news with Ari. I know that everyone will hear my news once I arriv...

Story 6    My mommy told me that my schooling would be boring to me. I really hope Mommy is wrong as I put on my cleanest set of play clothes and take my schoolbag off the counter in the kitchen. Daddy is already at work at my school, so maybe I'll see him later.   I leave the house with most of my older cousins ahead of me. I am too excited. Ever since the last Cycle of Light, I counted the days. 168 days of waiting. Then Daddy told me I had to wait 28 more days because of that weird holiday we always have. I can't say it right, so Daddy just makes me call it "the holiday."   "Abby! Wait up!" My cousin David yells behind me. "I can't walk as fast as you" I stop and roll my eyes. I wanted to walk by myself to feel like one of the older kids. But I can't because my older cousin David wants to protect me. He tells me he is protecting me from other older kids. But I am 20 cycles old! I can take care of myself. "Thanks, Abby. I was worried...

Story 5    "I know I shouldn't have done it."   The Protector riding next to me shakes his head. There are a few other entities in the boxcar who chuckle. We've been in here for a little while but already our shifts in fate had an effect. The judges of Canlanma know how to bring the consequences of actions in full force. It now brings me and my nine other travelling companions to a place where we hoped to never go: the ride to Neraka. It is known informally as the Dark Path of Fate. "The Dark Path only lead to the Dark Place" became a reminder to any child or adolescent during schooling.    The Protector next to me shutter slightly in his protective clothing. I barely begin to wonder why as I feel the shift in energy and atmosphere as we leave the bridge between Canlanma and Neraka. The joy and peace I felt in Canlanma seems to be swapped with an unrelenting wave of tension and chaos. Is that why we are all chained? To remain still? I see one of m...

Story 4  "It is a strange thing to be a celebrity in Caelum.   "To start with, your sudden status change is- well, sudden. Back in the old eras, you had to be on the talent spectrum. You either had to have a lot of talent or a lack of talent to be considered a celebrity. now? Well, now you have to show the most skill with a positive human characteristic. I mean, for many cycles, I have been the Most Engaging person to younger entities. Heck, that reptilian female -Kanako is her name, I think-  is the Most Fashionable and Most Generous to the less fortunate.    "The other thing that is different is that we don't do any sort of entertainment or product endorsement as a celebrity. Again, back in that one old era, celebrities were always in some sort of production or on those weird advertisement things - I think that's what they were- for someone someone or something else. Now we just remind entities to do good and then do our regular jobs we did before ou...