49 Kear - Part 3

Ayanni looked around the dark room. There was furniture, some weird devices, a few doors and some kitchen. It wasn't what he expected, but he was safe, Paroppe was safe, and Lera was… well she was fine. To be expected. Then Lera and Paroppe started jumping exclaiming that it was amazing. They weren't wrong, but it wasn't time to get distracted.

"This place is your home?"

"It is! I remember this place to be my home. Look over her, this is the gaming console. We can play games on this. I probably forgot my progress on… Oh over there is the kitchen, are you two hungry?"

"I am. What kind of food do you have?"

"I don't know, but let's take a look!"

Paroppe and Lera went over to the kitchen to look around. He took the time to look around himself. It was nice to see them smiling, but what was this place? This was where she lived? Was this underground or somewhere else. At least when he thinks back to how Lera said that the sandwich was from a different planet, and universe, he couldn't be all too sure.

On the table there were tissues that had been used, a bunch of wrappings with food all over the table and floor. The past Lera was a complete slob. He found a bag on the couch. He opened it and rifled through it. He found a metal sphere, with some glass covering a part of the sphere, less than a fourth from what he could guess. He wasn't sure what it was so he held it up and asked Lera.

"Do you know what this is?"

"That's a camera." She was holding some food and went back to look at Paroppe. Then she stopped before turning back around to Ayanni. "It's a camera! There might be a video on it!"

"Awesome we should look at it together."

"Yea, umm how. Oh the tv there… We can watch it on that tv. Paroppe let's make some snacks."

"Yes!"

---

"This food smells amazing. I can't believe that none of it spoiled." Paroppe was chewing on some sticks of meat, while she leaned back on the couch. All three of them were sitting next to each other with Lera in the middle. Facing the television that was ahead of them on the wall. She had cleaned the table, floor and couch of all food and wrappers. Thankfully she was getting better at her powers, though it wasn't all that hard now that she knew what to do.

Once the tv was one, she had the first video load up that was recorded on the camera. It was her, wearing a dark grey sweater and a long white collared shirt underneath, with some casual dark grey pants. She realized that she must love dark grey, because it was everywhere. It did feel amazing on her eyes. The video showed her fidgeting with her hands.

"Dear diary… No. That seems weird."

After mumbling a bit, she continues.

"Hello everyone!"

Her on the screen facepalms, and Lera herself does it too. There was a moment's pause and the two people next to her started giggling. Watching herself be do the same thing that she did later, just proved they were the same person.

"How about I talk about who I am? Yea that sounds good! Alright, let's start at the beginning a bit. So I woke up and was able to do anything and everything I wanted. It sounded cool, but there were some bumps."

She took a deep breath and shook her head.

"I skipped over a lot of things."

Lera paused it for a moment. She did have questions and she was sure the others did too. Even that small bit was confusing.

"What does she mean?" Paroppe asked.

"I don't know, but past me speaks the truth. At least that is what I feel."

"Like 'anything' anything?" Ayanni asked, but he shook his head before Lera could answer. "Is that the end of the video?"

"No, I just paused it."

"Then continue it. We want answers, so let's get some."

She hit play on the little remote she made.

Past her on screen starts to mumble to herself, then she stays quiet. She looks around aimlessly. It is easy to see she is thinking about something. Then she speaks up.

"I met some people who were my friends and then we became a family. It was fun while I knew them, but I wasn't really strong back then. I travelled with them, as an adventurer, but I was in no way ready for actual adventuring. I had read stories of adventurers before becoming all powerful. Those stories sounded cool and I tried to imitate something like that, but since it was real, I would start to understand how difficult it really is. The way I acted and my lack of knowledge was an insult to the adventuring profession."

"All powerful?" Ayanni commented.

"You do suck at fighting Lera."

"Thanks Paroppe…"

She stood up and started pacing back and forth in front of the chair. During the time she talked, she would gaze back into the lens of a camera.

"I didn't learn my lesson then and continued to get killed. For a while at least. I also intervened and essentially made the world convenient for myself, when I was the one who was supposed to adapt: to learn and to grow."

Lera paused it again.

"Killed? I died?"

"The way she," Ayanni pointed at the screen, "made it sound like, was that you died more than once. I guess you're alive now. Though I think that is because of… how powerful you are."

"Are you ok Lera?"

"I'm… alright."

She hit play.

Slowly sitting back down and taking a deep breath to calm her past self down, she continued.

"Well I'm still learning. The family I mentioned was very precious to me, but they decided to move on. That was what they wanted and I do respect them for their decision. I do feel lonely, but that's ok."

The lonely feeling spiked at those words. She had tears appear in her eyes.

While that last bit had a somber feeling, the smile that was shown seemed to brighten up the mood in the room. Even if the lights were still dim in the slightly dark grey room, the room brightened up with that smile.

"They had left about a month ago. That was why I decided to record this. For myself to grow and to announce what I am going to do next. Even if I created this world, this universe, there are people who will always get hurt. I want to at least try something to help them. Directly or indirectly, I want to help."

Lera paused again. So she did create everything.

"Is that true?" Ayanni asked, but Paroppe wanted to know as well.

"I feel that's true. I did all of this…" Lera looked down at her lap. "Doesn't that make me responsible for all of the horrible things that happen?"

"No!" Paroppe yelled, but then Ayanni spoke up.

"In a way it does, but people need those things to happen. It is how humans and elves grow. It's how I feel. I hurt Ziv, hurt you, but that was my fault. I learned from my mistakes and now I can control myself better. It isn't your fault, unless you directly interact with people."

Lera sniffled and looked to Ayanni and then Paroppe to her right. He was right. She turned back towards the tv and hit play.

Past her stands up from her chair.

"Follow me!"

Slowly the camera follows past her. Along the way the camera catches a glimpse of the furniture and utilities in the room. Some really comfy looking chairs and couch, a counter top and full kitchen, a desk and a computer with its own swivel chair, and a couple doors along the way.

The young woman opens one of the doors and inside as the lights turn on a futuristic looking lab is revealed. White floors and blinding white florescent lights give that clean room feel. Test tubes with varying liquids, microscopes, and different machines all around on the countertops. The main attraction and where the camera is being led to and is right behind the young woman.

Everyone looks towards that door before turning back towards the tv.

"So I was thinking. People who feel that the world has turned against them or lost all hope, usually find help from strangers. Young and old. Each person has their own view on life. Just from a stranger, someone might find the courage to change their life, their world! I wish to do something about those people who have lost their way."

Paroppe let them know that she thought that past her was doing a really nice thing.

She looks away from the camera to her left and a little down.

"I know I cannot be there for everyone. I know that might be wrong of me. Even just intervening might have more consequences than what would happen if I left them all alone."

She turns toward the camera, grabs it and moves it closer to her face. With eyes filled with determination and a small grin.

"I will do what I can. I won't use all my mighty powers, but I will use what I have at my disposal."

She turns the camera to the main attraction in the room.

"I spent some time this past month doing some character creation. I know it does seem weird, as it has been pointed out to me many times, but I will wear these 'costumes', and go out there as the stranger I am and help those people."

Lera quickly paused the tv.

"Character creation? A game? No that isn't what it means. Oh, I remember. I created this body that I have now."

"You created your own body Lera?" Paroppe had a small smile, but she was more curious than anything.

"I did."

Ayanni spoke up to have her hit play. Like everyone, Ayanni wanted to find out what happens next. So she hit play and the footage showed what the past her was talking about.

There was a container and something was inside. As the camera focused, the inside of the glass container had an elf.

It was a tanned skinned male elf. Bark and leaves covering the outer part of his body with a leather like armor and cloth that can be seen underneath. The brown hair and green eyes would help conceal him within a forest. He wore a crown like headpiece out of bark and leaves.

The camera was moved back into the air. It floated there as past her moved next to the container to some kind of terminal. There were arrows on the left and right of the screen each pointing in their respected direction. The camera zoomed in on the center of the screen as it was directed to by past her.

[Kerell - Specialization: Archery and Tracking]

Then the young woman spoke up.

"I wanted to create these strangers, these costumes, for me to wear and go out there to help others. I won't know too much about the person I am helping other than a picture, a name, and a little bit about them and their problem. I need to look into more details about them. If I just made all their problems go away or forced the world to change around them, that just feels too unnatural. So I want to help them with myself, rather than my power."

"Was I really that arrogant?" Lera asked, but the others didn't answer.

She tapped the right arrow on the screen. The container with Kerell disappeared and another container appeared.

An older human woman, about 40 years of age. She had tight fitting work clothing and a set of strong arms. There is a crest on her shoulder with the symbol of the main police force in the region of Suul.

[Naka - Specialization: Earth and Fire magic]

"I won't only be in one place as there might be people on the other side of the world. So there are things that might change depending on my environment. See that patch there?"

The camera turns and focuses on the patch.

"That will change to where I am. Of course there could be someone who is familiar with the different individuals in the regional police who could spot a costume I am wearing; if they do and I am unable to get out of it, I will just run away. I will discard that costume and make a new one that could work as a replacement. I want to help people, not waste time trying to explain myself."

"It seems like you were." Ayanni and Paroppe spoke at the same time.

The camera zoomed out at this time as the right arrow is pressed again and another container with another costume appears.

A lizard-kin man. He has sky blues scales with white-blue like tattoos on his face that have a small shine on them. He wears a very fancy blue vest and pants. He wore glasses on his face. The clothing complements his scales and there is a hole for his tale. His snout is shorter than most other lizard-kin. He has a gem encrusted rapier at his side.

[Waquell - No Specialization]

Past her paces around in front of the costume, while she continues to talk.

"These costumes are what I will wear and change into when I need. I would have had more, but creating a character takes time. The first one went through many designs before I settled what is now Kerell. That one took a week on its own. They are extensions of myself in a way as well. Like clones that are me and able to act."

Lera paused it as Ayanni asked about clones.

"Just a copy of myself in their bodies. At least that is what makes sense to me right now."

She hits play.

Past her then points to herself.

"Just like those costumes, this is the one I wear. This is now me. I am me and Kear is me. I wasn't sure in the beginning, but now I find myself as this woman. A few years ago I found this is who I really am. I find it interesting that after wearing this costume for so long, it became home for me."

"Kear…" Lera said the name, like it explained everything. In a way it did, but no memories came back from it.

Like a lightbulb turning on, the expression on this young woman goes from inspiration to flustered.

"I see now. I should have started off like this."

She bows her head a little and straightens herself out, before addressing the camera.

"Hello, my name is Kear!"

With a cheer from herself, Kear walks a little closer to the camera.

"I am a person who wants to help people. I am new to a lot of things and I have a lot to learn, but I plan to do my best. I will help people with the best of my individual ability."

[End Of Recording]

"That is so embarrassing. Though I guess it makes sense why I was arrogant."

"By literally being the creator of everything… then yea. At least it didn't seem like it went straight to your head." Ayanni pointed out.

"Lera, do you want us to call you Kear?"

Lera thought about it. She really didn't, because Lera was who she was now. She didn't want to change that because she saw who she used to be.

"Lera is my name, the name you gave me. I feel like Lera, regardless of who I was in the past."

Paroppe nodded, then she turned away. "Don't you think it's embarrassing that we are watching your diary?"

"Yea, but not really. I want answers more than how I feel about it."

"There are more right?" Ayanni asked so they could find more answers.

"Yea, give me a sec… Are you both ready?"

Just as they nodded she started up the next video.

"So I just met the first person that I'm going to help. Her name is Heryan and she is seven years old."

Before the video goes on, Lera pauses it, and they all look at each other. That explained why she knew who Heryan was.

She hit play and they looked at Kera sitting in a chair. In her home.

"She was living in a box in an alley way. Kerell brought her to Herbs \u0026 Healing and Ty'marr took care of healing her. With the business from Warphem, Waquell was there for a business venture, but it gave me a reason to stay nearby. Since Kerell was Waquell's bodyguard, I was able to stay and take care of Heryan."

Kear leaned back in her chair, letting out a deep breath.

"Kerell had looked in Heryan's home. He didn't find much, but there was a stuffed animal that he found. He was able to give it back. Though Heryan had a small fever. I took care of her mostly with Kerell since I had found her wearing his costume. Well that was it for the first day."

Lera didn't pause the video, but that explained why Ty'marr, Heryan, Uy'lamear we're all familiar. The video cut to the next scene where Kear was sitting at the counter, in the kitchen to their right, eating soup.

"Kerell has been staying with Heryan, helping her get better. Her fever got better, but she wasn't talking. So to help the girl adjust, Kerell stayed there to help her acclimate to others. Waquell in the meantime was working in the background with Herbs and Healing to get the place off the ground."

Kear blew on her soup, took a bite, then continued.

"There was a small apartment upstairs that we used to take care of Heryan. I thought about taking the money that I was supposed to earn, and giving it to Heryan that she could use if she needed. I wasn't all too sure if I was getting too close, but I think it will help. Since her parents threw her out, I'm going to think about what would be best for her…"

The scene changed again as Kera is pacing around behind the couch. Though before it goes any further, Lera pauses the video. It was getting hard for her to breath. She had anxiety about what was going to happen soon with Heryan.

"Lera are you ok?" Paroppe comforted her with her arms around her.

"I'm fine, I just have a bad feeling about what's going to happen next."

"Show us."

"Ayanni, give her a moment."

"It's fine. I want to know too why I feel this way."

She hit play and calmed her breathing down. Thankfully Paroppe was still holding her, she appreciated it.

"Her parents are horrible people. Trying to live a life of power, but throwing their daughter out once they lose money. They even tried to sell her! I had Naka in the background helping with the guard. I got the guard at the gate the other day, Heruff, to help out. Though I don't want Naka to be exposed. So I will play it carefully, but Heryan takes priority."

Kear stops moving and leans on the couch with her hands gripped along the back of it.

"Heryan has been drawing and talking now. Though there is a problem. I stayed too long as Kerell with her that she looks at me like a hero or some father. I wanted to help her, but could I stay with her?"

The next scene was her sitting in the chair.

"I'm going to tell Heryan that I'm Kerell. If she wants to be family, then I want to as well. Though if that happens, I might stop helping others. It isn't like that would be a problem, but I want to focus on Heryan. I want to help her and watch her grow up."

The next scene was just an empty couch, but they could hear crying in the background.

"She hated me. Heryan yelled at me to give Kerell back, but I was Kerell. She didn't understand. No, it was my fault. I didn't do a good job at explaining it. I scared her, it was my fault. I left Heryan with Ty'marr and left. I ran away and came here to just take a nap? Of course that wouldn't fly. I hurt a child, I traumatized her. At least I told her while time was frozen and erased that from her memories. I can't live with myself that I had to resort to erasing her memories, but the fact I hurt her is just… I'm a monster."

Lera was crying at this point. Those feelings came back in full force with an explanation behind them. She didn't pause it, because she had her hands covering her face. Paroppe was trying to comfort her, but she couldn't pay attention.

---

"Are you feeling better Lera?"

"I'm fine." It was a blatant lie that even Lera knew it.

"So we are going to watch the next video?"

"Yea. I have to know."

She hit play on the next video.

"Look at this! Some kid just showed up in the void room. Who is he and how did he get in here? Is he like me? What if he is here to kill me?" They watched as Kear turned her head away from the camera. "Maybe that is for the best…"

Lera paused the video as the other two were shaking her to do it.

"That's Ziv right Paroppe?"

"Yea it's him."

"He is Ziv?" As she said that, it made sense. She found the truth from those words that told her that she was right. "He is…"

"Hit play! I want to know what happens!"

Ayanni was losing control, but she didn't stop him. She wanted the same answers.

"I'm going to heal him and unfreeze him. I don't want to die, but it's probably for the best… I'm scared."

The next scene showed a different room than the 'void room' that Kear had said it was.

"Isn't that the same room we stayed in?" Paroppe asked.

"It is. I remember the same view from the window."

Then Kear started to speak.

"I showed Ziv around. I was so nervous that he would hate me, that I barely spoke to him. We went to Vera's Meats for breakfast, the training center so he could try out magic, then we ended up here." The camera slowly spun around the room, before landing back on Kear. "He's in the room across the hall. Probably asleep at the moment. I really feel bad for him. His story, while different than mine, hurts all the same. When he talked about leaving his house, he was sad, no, he was depressed. It was bad. I took the time to look up where he came from. His world was dying and his family were the last ones alive essentially. Living in a bunker underground with his mom and dad. They died and he wanted to as well. Then he opened a portal and ended up here."

Kear took a deep breath.

"I made sure that no one from any planet or universe could come into my void room. I also prevented all universes from crossing into each other. No matter how technologically advanced or powerful someone was, that could never happen again." Kear looks away from the camera towards the door, based on the room that was shown before. "Ziv can do magic. I was the same when I got my powers too. Trying to find the limits, though I guess I already knew them from the beginning. No limits. Hahaha. Well whatever. I hope he doesn't hate me because I gave him the power to cast magic or let him understand any language without his consent."

The next scene was back in the void room.

"I realized this morning that I couldn't stay next to Ziv. He figured out that I was still scared of him. I didn't want him to be burdened by me so I left him alone. He should be fine, but I just can't deal with this right now. I don't want to tell him who I am, what I can really do… I don't want him to hate me too…"

The next scene was looking at some transparent screen hovering in the air. It showed Jev, Paroppe and Ayanni frozen as Ayanni's fist was about to hit Ziv.

"I promised him I would keep him safe. I have to go and make sure. I hope he's okay… I hope he doesn't hate me."

That was the end of the video. From what Lera had told her before, that was when they met. She was crying again. She felt that when she went to save him, that he did hate her, just like Heryan. That was why she couldn't remember. It was too painful.

"It's ok Lera. Ayanni do you think that whatever happened between there and when we met Lera that…"

"Yea. Whatever happened between the two of them ended badly. Considering what Ziv had told me about her being the dark god Guhnden and the way he hated everything around him… He threw his hate at Lera… Kear… and then we got the end result."

"It's okay Lera. Just let it out."

"I'm going to take a look at that room." He pointed to the door that had the costumes in it.

---

"I'm a monster. I hurt those kids. It's why I feel guilty. It's why I should be alone. Paroppe I think it's best if we split up here." Lera gave a smile, but it was somber.

"We are not doing this again. It's my choice to stay next to you and I want to. You're like my little sister. As the big sister, I need to take care and watch over you. I want to be your friend. Regardless of what happens, that is what I want."

That was right. Lera couldn't make that selfish decision otherwise it would lead to the same guilt that she felt. She felt stupid for doing the same thing over and over again. Trying to leave and then coming back. Trying to be lonely, only to end up trying to find someone so she wouldn't be.

"I'm a contradiction."

"At least it's better than 'monster'."

They hugged and separated, staying on the couch.

"I wonder what Kear meant when she said 'his story is different than mine'? To me I feel like I came from somewhere else too, but that's all I remember."

"Don't worry about it right now. Let's go find Ayanni

They got up and walked over to the door where he was in. Paroppe passed something and she picked it up.

"What's this? Some cloak?"

Lera went to feel it. It was soft and ticklish against her skin.

"I used to wear it, but it tickled my neck." She pulled her hand away from the furry part around the neck and hood.

"Can I keep it?"

"Go ahead. I don't really like it."

Lera opened the door to find Ayanni looking through the different drawers.

"What are you doing?" Paroppe asked him.

"I was looking over the place at these items." He picked up a beaker and placed it back down on the counter. "Most of this stuff is just for looks. There isn't anything to put in these and the cabinets are empty. Though it makes sense if Lera can do anything, she wouldn't need to store items."

"But she had food stored in the kitchen…"

"Then maybe she didn't have the time to stock up. Either way there isn't anything really in here except those 'costumes' that were mentioned. I already looked and they are living and breathing. I tried knocking on the glass, but they didn't react."

"When Kear talked about it, I think they are just an extension of my mind. At least when I thought about it, I worked out the answer. At least that is what I feel."

"Kear… yes. Anyways there were a lot of answers. The one I want to ask you was, family. Kear mentioned her family and you mentioned that when I asked you how you knew my family. You said they were family, so does that sound right?"

It actually did. He was family and so were his ancestors.

"Yes."

"All the tech pads the counsel has come from you." It wasn't a question, but Lera still nodded. That did sound right and based on what they knew, it made the most sense. When he turned towards, his face had a genuine smile, but Lera and Paroppe could tell that he was giddy. "Do you know what this means? We could visit different places. Different worlds. Explore and learn their cultures and technology. We could bring back our knowledge to help our world grow."

Lera felt that idea wasn't bad, but maybe a little extreme.

"That does sound fun, but what about your families and Jev?" Lera pointed that out, but it was quickly answered by Ayanni.

"You can freeze time. You can do anything. What is to stop us from coming back at the same moment we left?"

"Nothing… but don't you think that might not be the best. At least bringing what you learn back to your home? I vaguely remember a huge weapon that could destroy the planet. What if the knowledge you bring back, leads to those weapons being built."

"She had a point Ayanni."

"We could learn so much. I have so many questions that I didn't know I could ask. I have the chance to learn now!"

"Ayanni, check yourself. You lost control."

They watched as Ayanni started searching the room with his eyes. Then he stood straight, instead of being hunched over. His breathing calmed down. "I'm sorry I lost myself there, but what I said… what do you think about it?"

"I think that you should at least talk to your families before you decide."

"Yea… that sounds like a good idea." Ayanni agreed.

When Lera looked at Paroppe, she was hesitating, but she still answered.

"I need to talk to my family. I do want to go though. I think it would be fun. I always wanted to go on an adventure. I always wanted to do that."

"I'll send you both back. There will be a small button on those tech pads. You can press them when you are ready. I'll go meet you and if there are other people you want to bring with, then we can take them. I trust you both and if you decide to stay… I understand."

"I'm not leaving my sister behind." Paroppe hugged Lera.

That made Lera smile, but she heard Ayanni mumble "Sister…".