LIMINALITY
Table of Contents
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 56 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 ENDChapter 27
After separating the head of the monster, which he himself easily slew without much effort, and delivering it to the city guards, the pair of Saomi and Janus were granted access to their beloved city as they were met with a grand scene in front of them.
Many market stalls and crowds of mostly humans walked through the busy streets, some passing by them while others walked. Some appeared to be going about their daily routines, while a while a few seemed to be enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city. There were even groups of species that weren't human in appearance.
"My father wasn't joking when he told me this is one of the most popular ports in the realm," she said with a little laugh, amazed at the sight. "I do wonder if there are other cities that rival even my home." Questioning herself about other civilizations.
He shrugged, not caring for her input or the people that walked by them. "Haven't you forgotten why we came here in the first place?" Reminding the young woman of the main purpose they had traveled so far to begin with, "especially when a certain someone has left us?"
As he said those words, his eyes turned to the familiar presence heading in their direction. "I knew you two would succeed," said the feline white cat. "What did I miss?" Schrodinger asked, coming to a halt and standing at their side.
Turning around, one of the pair then said, "Where the hell were you?" She was little betrayed at not accommodating them in the first place, having selfishly left the two to dangerously kill an enormous beast of worm that had nearly given her heartache from having to slay such a monster.
Even Janus had to agree with her: "You left me again," referring to the times this traitorous little scoundrel had forgotten him many times before, "and I thought you were better than that." He was clearly disappointed in how the cat was being dishonest to him again.
The cat immediately remembered how many times he acted against his companion's wishes, making himself feel a bit embarrassed to even hear the lecture from the pair, especially the god who had saved his life after leaving him to his doom.
Ashamed of his actions, Schrodinger brought all his pride away for a moment and apologized, despite how much it still hurts to do so. "I'm sorry for leaving you," his voice sounded hurt to say, "but please let bygones be bygones." He hoped either of them would accept his apology.
"Fine..." She crossed her arms together with a deepened frown, expressing how she was still mad at him but was willing to set it aside for now. "Just don't be selfish, little kitten again," she said, firmly smiling at her own sarcastic remark, causing the cat to quickly become annoyed at how she calls him a kitten.
Noticing the awkward tension growing between them, Janus decided it was best to forgive their guide and let this problem go away until the future, when the troubling cat may become better at aiding them. But the God of Transition and Gatekeeper had another plan in mind.
"Schrodinger," he called him, getting the cat's attention away from the girl. "When we were away, did you find anything noteworthy about this city?" Janus expected useful information despite his pessimistic nature, assuming the cat might not have done anything worth mentioning.
"So this is what it's about," Schrodinger smiled briefly at him, happy that Janus was willing to hear him out. "Well, I did discover many interesting things in this place and its residents," the cat's ego grew and grew by each second, "some of the Baharnans had considered me a god." This caused the pair to look at him in disbelief.
"A god?" The young woman scoffed at the claim, "You are nowhere near close to that." She then smugly stared at the cat, "And neither is your size," pointing at his small, furry body, which would bring any Ultharan to the brink of humiliation.
He returned a glare to her, offended by how she viewed him. "There was a reason the Egyptians worshiped my species as deities," he said, returning a harsh snarl to her face. "The Baharnans simply acknowledged this truth unlike some other species." Feeling triumphant, Schrodinger placed a paw on his chest as if showing off, "and you humans are too ignorant to realize this."
She felt insulted to be called ignorant by the likes of him. But instead of resorting to violence, she retorted, "Really? Because we domesticate cats for our own benefit," proudly placing both of her hands at her hips, "if anything, it shows that we are superior to cats," the woman smugly remarked as it made Schrodinger even angrier.
The two bicker back and forth like children, as Janus could watch them in the background with nothing but a show of disbelief. He can't believe he is being accompanied by grown adults who still act childishly to the point that he is unwilling to even speak for them anymore, let alone interrupt their fight.
Instead of intervening and stopping this pointless argument, Janus saw it best to leave and walk off by himself for the time being, leaving the cat and the girl by themselves as he took in all the sights of this grand city without those annoying distractions.
Traversing through the streets and sidewalks of this wondrous city, finding it to be a much more intriguing sight to behold when its climate and culture altogether were different, he wondered how and why any city would exist for so long. Perhaps there are other beings who share similar beliefs or are the ones responsible for its creation.
It was a vibrant, lively place; the air was filled with the aroma of spices as the buzz of chatter surrounded him. The marketplace was bustling with activity, and the crowd parted around him, jostling and bumping as they went. He was jolted forward, narrowly avoiding a collision with a turbaned vendor hawking dried fruits. It was hot and dusty, and the sun beat down mercilessly on the sandy stone streets.
Making his way through the mas, he caught glimpses of exotic sights: a silken cloth fluttering in the breeze; a woman with henna-painted hands selling herbs and fragrant oils; a man with a monkey perched on his shoulder, dancing to the music of a sitar player.
Engrossed with everything happening around him, he didn't realize when a huge creature bumped onto his shoulder, making him stumble a few steps before regaining his balance. He turned to look up and realized it was not human at all but a thing.
It was around 12 feet tall. The greyish-white slippery alien was that of a sort of toad without any eyes, but with a curious vibrating mass of short pink tentacles on the end of its blunt, vague snout, as the very sight of it was clearly unearthly. The thing was in no way a mere animal; that was clear.
The creature then spoke not with words from its nearly impossible visible mouth but in the mind itself, "movie, movie, movie, movie!" repeating the same word over and again much before suddenly pushing past him; its thought bubble entered his skull for a split second, causing him to flinch in shock at the sudden telepathic intrusion.
He was shocked at first at how anyone could enter his head without facing any obstacles. Janus had never, in his life, experienced something like that aside from an insane god. Many questions rang in his head—questions that would likely never give him a definite answer but instead leave him with more to ask.
Then his eyes turned to the shackling sounds of chains moving across the ground, followed by heavy footsteps to his side. "Slavery..." Accompanied by other of its species, they were connected in line with a rope and chains wrapped around their ankles while being guided by their new masters.
Janus rose an eyebrow or two at seeing familiar sight.
A group of eight humans moved as a unit, their gaits matching in sync as they followed the orders of their captors. The sun beats down on their backs, causing sweat to pour from their brows and pool on their chins, dripping onto the dirty sand beneath their feet.
Fully clothed in thick, coarse cloth that rubbed against their skin uncomfortably, they dragged themselves onward toward an unknown destination. It was a scene he had seen countless times before, and yet it never failed to amuse and disappoint him altogether.
As they passed him, some glanced over him with signs of help; Janus, however, had no interest in helping them or anyone else, despite how he felt pity for these men. He simply doesn't want to cause a scene by making things worse for him and his companions.
Life is cruel and unfair in every way possible, even to someone like him who knows the secrets behind how this universe truly works. He couldn't care less if they lived or died, for that is how the universe works. An uncaring place that means little to the smallest dots and everything at the same time.
If he should try and change it, there are already countless outcomes where he has done so, so his involvement would not even change a thing. There is no point in making any effort when someone else has already done it in the first place.
When the desperate slaves and their masters left the vicinity, he let out a sigh of relief with eyes closed shut, his head lowered and shaking disapprovingly at the thought. This is how the world is, and that's that. Janus does not get involved unless absolutely necessary.
But although it's rather difficult to express some remorse for not lifting a finger, he still believes it's worth trying when someone else can. And this made him question his own actions in not doing anything to help those in need, while his feelings became conflicted with this choice.
Janus doesn't know, but he can at least give them a chance in their favor by altering the fate of those men to their advantage. It is the least he can do without being physically present. Within one thought, the fading slaves from distance had made them feel a strange feeling.
I felt that Lady Luck had smiled on them this day and gave them an opportunity they could not miss out on. Those slaves smiled at this hopeful sign, marching in their determined state for a better tomorrow, escaping the clutches of their captors.
"I'm surprised they didn't get you instead."
A deep voice of man in his thirties approached him from behind, "Are you new here perhaps?" He asked in the most casual of manners to Janus, "likely not since I've heard you somewhere before," saying in an honest manner while gazing in the opposite direction.
The man, who appeared to be in his thirties, had short, well-groomed brown hair and a trimmed beard. His eyes were a deep shade of green, and his facial features were surprisingly delicate, considering his skinny physique. He was dressed in a dark blue tunic and trousers, with a belt of leather straps draped over his waist. His clothes looked slightly worn, but well taken care of.
He had a confident stride in his steps, and his posture was alert and poised, suggesting he was always aware of his surroundings. His gaze was focused and unwavering, as if he were constantly scanning the environment for potential threats or opportunities. Overall, he exuded an air of competence and experience that was difficult to ignore.
"And what's human doing out here?"
Hearing this, the man chuckled softly, "I would say the same thing to you, Roman God of all beginnings, gates, transitions, time, choices, duality, doorways, passages, and endings," answering with a knowing smirk that caused the god himself to be caught off guard.
"How do you know who I am?" Janus became at the edge of the conversation. He watched carefully and waited for the other to speak: "Do you work for someone?" Eyes narrowed in suspicion, suspecting this stranger could be an ally working for the cult.
Shaking his head with friendly, "My name's Robert Tarmond; I'm pleased to meet you." The man, Robert, introduced himself to Janus as he extended out his hand in greeting. "And I'm not part of that damnable cult if that's what you're wondering," he added, appearing to have a good read on the other person's mind.
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