There was no light.
No sound.
No time.
Only awareness.
"…So I really died," Kael Noctis said.
A response followed immediately.
"Correct," Aethernos said.
"…Who are you?" Kael Noctis said.
A brief pause followed, not hesitation, but evaluation.
"I am Aethernos, the Arbiter of Continuity," Aethernos said.
"…Arbiter of what?" Kael Noctis said.
"Continuity," Aethernos said.
"The maintenance of existence across all timelines, dimensions, and causal structures."
"…So… a god," Kael Noctis said.
"If that term helps your understanding," Aethernos said.
"…And I'm dead," Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…But I'm still conscious," Kael Noctis said.
"Correct," Aethernos said.
"…Why am I still here?" Kael Noctis said.
"You were not fully finalized by death," Aethernos said.
"…Finalized?" Kael Noctis said.
"Your physical existence ended, but your causal record remains unresolved," Aethernos said.
"…Meaning?" Kael Noctis said.
"You are an anomaly," Aethernos said.
"…So what happens now?" Kael Noctis said.
"You are being evaluated," Aethernos said.
"…For what?" Kael Noctis said.
"For continuation," Aethernos said.
A pause.
"You will be granted a choice," Aethernos said.
"…What kind of choice?" Kael Noctis said.
"You will be given authority beyond standard existence," Aethernos said.
"…Authority?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"Two absolute properties will be assigned to you," Aethernos said.
Absolute Property 1: Death Reset
"You will return to existence upon death after a variable delay," Aethernos said.
"…Variable?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"The duration is not fixed," Aethernos said.
"…So I won't come back instantly," Kael Noctis said.
"No," Aethernos said.
"…Will I remember what happened?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…Including my death?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…So dying won't just end things," Kael Noctis said.
"It will register them," Aethernos said.
Absolute Property 2: absolute death
"…Explain," Kael Noctis said.
"causes the complete and unavoidable death of any target," Aethernos said.
Silence.
"…Unavoidable?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"No resistance?" Kael Noctis said.
"No resistance," Aethernos said.
"…Across dimensions?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…Across time?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…No exceptions?" Kael Noctis said.
"No exceptions," Aethernos said.
"…So if I declare something… it happens," Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…Even if it shouldn't?" Kael Noctis said.
"Reality will adjust," Aethernos said.
"…Then what's stopping me from doing anything?" Kael Noctis said.
"You are," Aethernos said.
"…What does that mean?" Kael Noctis said.
"Your intent must be precise, consistent, and undivided," Aethernos said.
"…If it's not?" Kael Noctis said.
"Then the manifestation will reflect instability," Aethernos said.
"…I see," Kael Noctis said.
A pause followed.
"…Why me?" Kael Noctis said.
"You are compatible," Aethernos said.
"…Compatible with what?" Kael Noctis said.
"With an existence that cannot be naturally sustained," Aethernos said.
"…Meaning?" Kael Noctis said.
"You do not belong to any stable causal framework," Aethernos said.
"…So I'm an error," Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…And this world you're sending me to?" Kael Noctis said.
"Will attempt to correct that error," Aethernos said.
"…So I'm not being saved," Kael Noctis said.
"No," Aethernos said.
"…I'm being placed somewhere that will try to eliminate me," Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…And if I accept?" Kael Noctis said.
"You will be deployed immediately," Aethernos said.
"…No guidance?" Kael Noctis said.
"No," Aethernos said.
"…No safety?" Kael Noctis said.
"No," Aethernos said.
"…Just these abilities?" Kael Noctis said.
"Yes," Aethernos said.
"…Then what's the difference between this and before?" Kael Noctis said.
"Agency," Aethernos said.
A silence followed.
"…At least this time… I won't be meaningless," Kael Noctis said.
"Meaning is not guaranteed," Aethernos said.
"…Then what is?" Kael Noctis said.
"Agency," Aethernos said.
"…Alright," Kael Noctis said.
"…I accept," Kael Noctis said.
"Confirmed," Aethernos said.
The world shifted.
Air returned.
Gravity returned.
And for the first time—
Kael Noctis existed again.