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 19
Having left the town with nothing but their wits and knowledge of where to go, the pair quietly strolled through the forest once again as night fell once more, leaving a trail of steps behind them as they walked onward. The atmosphere between them was silent, as neither were in the mood to speak with the other.
As Janus continued to tread on the ground, he gazed up at the starry night sky that loomed above, a beautiful sight that always occupies him, but troubling thoughts still hang in the air: "Schrodinger," calling out his traveling companion with a casual voice.
Responding back, "yes?" As if awaiting what to say, "What is it this time?" The white cat kept walking at the god's side, asking, "Is there something bothering you?" Almost seeming annoyed at hearing another pointless question from the likes of him.
Briefly returning his focus ahead of them, "Is your species omnipresent as they say to be?" Wanting to make sure of what he had learned from knowing their people, he asked, "Can't you bring us there?" Questioning his ability to transport both him and himself to their location in an instant.
A visible sigh escaped from the feline's lips: "I wish, but I'm afraid I can't do that," resulting in a look of confusion from Janus, who turned his head to him, not understanding the reason why and how altogether as Schrodinger returned the gaze with his own.
"So it was all a lie, then?"
The proclamation almost made Schrodinger's blood boil up with anger: "Janus, what on earth are you talking about?!" Almost in absolute disbelief of the sheer idiocy that came from his own lips, "were what we claim are to be," justifying their species ability, "but the dreamlands functions in another law altogether; different rules and principles govern the reality that we are forced to obey, or else we risk breaking that said law!"
Intrigued and confused by this altogether, Janus asked further of this information, "Explanation?" Noticing the cat taking a deep breath and letting out a loud sigh, she said, "I don't get why an omnipresent individual such as yourselves would need to worry about something like that."
Feeling a slight tingle of irritation in his white fur, "it is complicated," he said, turning to the side to avoid another eye contact. "In simpler terms, it is a law that Nyarlathotep had made for us to restrict some of our powers to avoid doing anything that might risk causing permanent damage or alterations in the Dreamlands and its surrounding worlds; it is what we refer to as cosmic law by our kin," Schrodinger explained briefly.
Not satisfied with that answer, Janus tried to grasp its meaning: "So, if I got this all correctly, what you are saying is that you can't freely go anywhere you want and do as you please?" Tilting his head to the side, "because some higher being placed such restrictions?"
"In basic terms, yes," nodded his head in confrontation, "although we are allowed to manifest in any places that my kin know off, anywhere that we haven't learned or seen can risk breaking that said law giving a simple example of using teleportation, if I were to teleport myself and someone else, I must first learn of the location by either studying the map, reading about the place in detail, or going there and being there to obtain visuals of that said place before attempting it," explaining his kin's weakness.
Janus raised a brow and said, "Interesting." He commented before turning back to the forest ahead of them, "Is the so-called cosmic law restricting your powers, or is it just that?" Asking the white cat for a better explanation, "to follow a rule of law and not allow any of you to misuse that power?"
It seemed reasonable and understandable that species so dangerous in being able to be everywhere and anywhere at once is at the very least being regulated by some unknown force, something a trait that any well-trained government possessed.
"The latter," Schrodinger explained with ease, "we can break it of course, but doing so can lead to devastating consequences," narrowing his eyes on the forest path from the idea, "there is always an exception, an outlier in every rule to be precise, but that is story for another time."
Nodding in acknowledgement of understanding, the conversation was settled for good this time, but a question still remains: where exactly are they going? Janus doesn't want to imagine having to walk so long by foot instead of flying in the air.
It feels like he lacks the wonder to even fly as he has simply grown bored of it. The fact of seeing things so high up in the sky isn't so impressive anymore. How does that saying go? One man's mountain is another man's molehill.
Then the voice of the narrator came, and what Janus got was instead a warning: "My friend," he announced all of a sudden, with seriousness in his tone, "There is an ambush ahead of us; watch out for yourself." Causing Janus to tense and squint his eyes in the distance, trying to figure out what he means.
Only to realize he was too late, as flaming arrows imbued with magical properties manifested all around them in every single angle and direction, regardless of their position, even from beneath their feet. Janus swore in such dire and unexpected moments like this that this is the reason why he has to be careful in a new world that could actually hurt him.
In his trained eyes, the arrows were fast, to the point that he believed the amount of speed it takes is truly meaningless now in the dreamlands, as everything felt so instantaneous. However, being the god of time, he reacted faster than time or even the concept of instant itself.
Everything froze around him, not physically but mentally, as though in the real world, everything is normal the way it is; within his own perception, time froze for him to stand still. Allowing him to comprehend his surroundings without worry.
Aside from the uncountable numbers of arrows around them, he also notices a group of green-robed individuals with various masks in their own distinct styles. This made him curious, analyzing them as if the sight of armed men would signify bandits.
But judging from their attire and coordination of attack, Janus knew these men weren't just plain bandits or hired thugs. They seem to be a secretive militant group of sorts, possibly belonging to the organization that brought them here to attack them.
Why though? That is the troubling question lingering in his mind.
"Peer into their mind," Portunus suggested from his inner voice, causing Janus to be conflicted at this response. "They brought upon themselves in attacking us; it's logical and fair to invade their minds." He persuaded Janus with firm and uncaring words, "Take a look at what they have planned for you; why did they try to kill you from the beginning? Find the answers there; you must know the reason why."
While the rational and logical side of him told him to listen to reason and follow through with Portunus' suggestion, Janus would be lying to himself if he thought that action would be a violation of another person's rights and dignity. It is not a moral way to do so, degrading himself into performing such a disgusting act.
What to say—he is some kind of moralist? Janus is simply not fond of peeving into the mind of another being, regardless of the reason, and it is his personal preference not to do so. But then, what should he do? Janus thought of every solution, every means, and every ending there is for this encounter—all the possible things he can do to get a satisfying result.
One thing had caught his attention: why not just take a little peek, regardless how much it makes him look hypocritical in doing so? He is not going to outright learn everything about them in whole, but only the necessary bits and pieces of information are needed to see what is going on.
"Fine..."
Grunting at the ridiculous notion of agreeing to peer into another person's mind, Janus couldn't help but feel it was all but necessary in this case. Making a mental note of avoiding such an outcome if it ever comes to him again in one way or another.
Closing his eyes, he telepathically grabbed nearby information from random Joe by first seeing through their memories, trying his best to avoid the crucial parts of what he considered to be a privacy violation as he went deeper and deeper until finally, he got what he needed.
Opening them again, Janus gathered what he needed, having learned the necessary parts he needed to get a better understanding of their situation. One part he can't deny is how much tragedy these cultists have gone through to become the way they are.
He felt their sorrow, pain, and the procedure they went through. Some of them were outcasts, desiring wants and needs in hopes of getting any form of happiness to keep them living in a mad, uncaring world. And what's worse, they were kidnapped to be brainwashed by other cultists to be unwaveringly loyal to their cause.
The worship of Cthulhu.
Already having the knowledge of their pitiful reason for ambushing them unexpectedly, Janus resumed his own modified perception of normalcy as he swung his spear in every impossible direction known to man, causing others and even his own shocked companion to witness an act one more time.
He had destroyed every last one of the flaming arrows made by the cultists while leaving the one who fired them unharmed, purposefully showing that he does not intend to kill them—a gesture that has earned him the admiration of Vesta and confusion or contempt from his other voices residing in his shattered mind.
"No..."
"We have to..."
"KILL THEM"
Their comments were like unfortunate pleas of fighting the unstoppable tide as they charged him with intent to kill, not knowing how unmatched they are in facing a primordial deity, let alone a god that required several other powerful gods to contain him.
Wide-eyed like saucers, Schrodinger quickly vanished to safely reappear in safe distance, not wanting to get hurt again from the countless events that led him here, as despite the fact some of his kin can fight through magic means, he himself lacked any of that.
The fools charged and rushed like savages. Janus can instantly just wave his hand and remove them from the past or future altogether. But because of his growing respect for these brainwashed fools for their persistence and stubbornness, he didn't have the heart to do such an act.
Instead, he used his beloved spear, Genitalis, to fight them fair and squire without any sort of trick. Seeing them as nothing but mere simpletons, he started swinging his spear at many different angles, striking the air at matching speeds for them to appropriately react.
Despite how much they managed to strike him, Janus always blocked, deflected, and thrust himself onto them with ease, as the group did not realize they were simply being toyed with by him, all to gauge their strength and abilities, including giving them the respect they deserved and earned.
It did not take long for them to fall one by one, dying like helpless lambs for slaughter. Others tried to use their sorcery on him—lightning bolts, fireballs, ice pillars, stone spears, and even earth spikes—but the latter they managed to make from the ground beneath him.
But Janus avoided them all, having not used his abilities for his pity over these lesser beings to know their place, simply swaying left and right to avoid any of the elemental magic cast upon him before dashing towards them and thrusting his spear into throats with quick successions.
Their deaths were quick, to say the least, a few seconds before their souls depart from the world. It is uncertain whether they will be reborn anew, simply transported to the Dreamlands, or lost within the abyss, as every afterlife is different for each individual.
Through this fight, it became a matter of minutes until all of them died, leaving a massacre around him where dead bodies lay there, cold and unmoving as blood stained the grass all around him. It was then that he felt the presence of Schrodinger, appearing behind him.
"It took you long enough!"
The cat said impatiently, "You couldn't finish them any sooner, you know."
Reality warped around them for a brief second before the environment they were in met with a distant village on the horizon, which was noticeable for the two of them to see as the pair stood side by side again, resulting in Schrodinger quickly shutting his mouth.
Janus eyed narrowly at the burning village, where the screams of terrified residents echoed across the vast fields where they stood. "Those men who attacked us earlier belong to a cult that worships the great darkness," he suddenly said, revealing this to his companion.
He felt his own cat heart stop beating for a moment. "That means we are not alone in fighting against one enemy?" Gritting under his teeth in frustration, he said, "Great, just great!" He complained aloud, finding these more troublesome than ever.
"However..." Janus caressed his own chin with deep thought. "There is likely a hidden cave not far from the village, although the problem is that the people over there," pointing his finger at the current predicament of the village, "are dying, and saving them would give us the necessary clue to get us where we need."
"You're not saying we..." Schrodinger doesn't like this one bit: "We are going to save them?" He doesn't mind playing hero once in a while, but his growing dislike of getting into confrontations has begun to take a toll on his psyche.
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