Embrace Eternity

Lying within the gentle grasp of an enormous skeletal hand Markus kept squirming, a little unnerved by what was just about to transpire, yet oddly excited by the prospect of it all the same. "So..." He spoke up. "I couldn't think of a better time to mention this but I may have reservations about this experiment."

Fane paused, taking a moment to direct his gaze away from the book he was inspecting and look at Markus. "And naturally, in your limitless wisdom, you only choose to mention them now." He responded, cocking one skeletal-looking brow at the tiny human in his hand.

Markus' eyes darted one way then the other before finally settling on Fane. The little man nodded.

Fane's jaw moved ever-so-slightly, head lowered as he released a hollow raspy sigh. “I really shouldn’t have expected anything different." The skeleton put the book down on the nearby table and brought his now-free hand to rest on his temple. "I have carefully studied the process and taken every precaution imaginable so I can assure you, you are going to be fine." He said looking Markus directly in the eyes before his gaze wondered elsewhere, up and away. "Probably."

"Probably?!" Markus exclaimed, a pair of tiny hands flying upwards in indignation.

"Yes. Probably." Fane confirmed as he set Markus down on the table in front of himself and sat down just in front of the little human. "I don't believe there's ever been a documented precedent of a shrunken being's soul being manipulated in this manner. For all we know, your body might violently explode the second I reach for your source. But in that case your death will be quite painless at the very least."

"Fane, that's not reassuring."

"Oh? Would you have preferred to succumb to absolute agony in your final moments then?" The skeleton thoughtfully grasped his chin.

"That's not-"

"Come to think of it, you probably would." The skeleton pondered. “Especially given your… questionable tastes in all matters sexual. “ He looked directly at Markus who was seemingly just about to protest. "What? Do you mean to tell me that's not true?" He cocked an eyebrow at the man.

Markus’s cheeks puffed and he exhaled noisily through his nose. He blushed, his gaze shying away from Fane's just as a single boney finger reached forth and gently nudged his side.

“Look…” The skeleton said as his fingers reached around Markus, hovering next to him, just shy of coming into contact as the eternal sought to offer a comforting presence, not an oppressive one. "I'll do my best to keep you safe." He reassured as his thumb finally gave the human a gentle pat on the head. “You’re going to be fine.”

Reaching his hands for the skeletal scholar's fingertip Markus took hold of it with one of his hand and slowly gave it a little shake. "I…" Tiny palms squeezed at smooth bone. "I know." Markus responded. “It’s hard not to be worried about this but… I trust you Fane. And if anything happens…”

“I’ll keep your soul safe.” Fane leaned in; resting his head on the table just in front of Markus and chuckling as he watched the human movements with a gentle loving expression.

Tears welled up in Markus’ eyes as he broke away from the skeletal hand and rushed to press himself into the eternal’s face instead, sobbing just a little bit as his cheek rested against Fane’s. Gradually Markus calmed down and with a deep breath steeled himself for the experiment. “Alright.” He said. “I’m ready. And… Whatever happens please just know that I’ve always-“

“Oh Heavens, would you quit agonizing over it?” Fane asked lifting his head away from the table and giving Markus a fairly annoyed look. “I’m simply going to tug at your source and then carefully put it back where it belongs once my inspection is complete. I’m not sending you on a bloody suicide mission.”

Markus chuckled at the sudden change in demeanor. “And we both know that I’d go on one for you anyway.”

“Exactly! We both know that you’d-“ Fane paused as slowly it dawned on him. “Oh…” He hesitated. “Luckily that will not be necessary. I would after all much rather have you alive after all.” He smiled. “Now hold still, this might sting a little.”

Markus looked up, seeing the eternal raise one hand in the air as with a distinct metallic noise source began to converge to it, forming a wispy teal coat around it. Fane reached his hand towards Markus and with a flick of his wrist willed the energy to reach out. The young man would see it snaking towards him, wrapping around him in much the same way that the skeleton hand did a few moments earlier and making him feel as though a continuous gust of wind was circling around him. His whole body began to tingle and soon Markus found all sensations fading. The world around him turned into a blur of unrecognizable wispy shapes while sounds began to fade in the cacophony of rushing energy. A sense of overwhelming curious warmth overtook him. He felt weightless, surrounded from all sides by a soothing benevolent void that somehow felt as though it was brushing against his very being.

Back outside though, Fane watched as the human’s body fell limp and he managed to reach for it with his free hand just in time to break its fall. The image was a little disturbing yet he could easily sense that Markus was alive. The soft pulsating cloud of pure source that he held in his hand was a testament to that. He smiled as he formed a small stasis bubble around the human’s temporarily emptied form and turned his attention fully to the culmination of Markus’ very being, grasping it gently with both hands and feeling it reach out for his own source.

Both intrigued and apprehensive Fane brought Markus’ soul closer. Instinctively his jaws parted ever-so-slightly as he for the lack of a better term ‘breathed in’, allowing Markus’ essence to make it inside of him, become enveloped by his source.

For Markus, lost in the ether of surreal half-sensations, the transition was dramatic. If a moment ago he felt his being gently encircled by Fane’s, now it felt like an ocean was flooding in, or rather that he was sinking into it. The human’s very existence quivered as the distant, barely perceptible sensations of the outside world were completely drowned out by an overwhelming downpour of a familiar gentle presence.

His mind lost clarity, seemingly fading into the background as gradually every thought, every feeling became not quite his own and the human feared he might be losing himself. But just then a pulse of reassuring warmth washed over him.

“You’re going to be fine.” Fane whispered as he laid one hand over his chest, feeling Markus’ soul waver in response. “You’re going to be fine.” He said again and focused his mind.

“I’m going to be fine.” Markus realized and relaxed, letting go of his being for a while and allowing it to sink into a vast ocean of feelings, memories and emotions that all belonged to Fane, becoming one with them, calm with the knowledge that he was going to be safe as his consciousness quietly faded.

---

Markus came to much later. He felt dizzy as his sensations slowly returned and he finally felt something leathery beneath himself. One at a time, he forced his eyes open and realized he was lying in a gloved hand, Fane’s hand. It took great effort but he willed one of his hands to move, grasping onto Fane’s finger as he could just barely hear a sigh of relief coming from above. “Ugh…” He grumbled, clearing his throat almost as though it wasn’t his own. “How long was I out?”

“Fifteen minutes give or take. “ Came a chipper, decidedly lucid response as Fane moved to press his thumb over the little human’s face, giving it a little rub as suddenly Markus’ limbs flared pushing away at the digit much to the eternal’s amusement. He chuckled. “Are you feeling alright?” He asked shifting the human around in his hand. “You look a little pale but nothing else seems out of the ordinary. You seem to be able to move and speak so I’m going to assume all vital organs are still functional.”

“I… I’m fine.” Markus said, his eyes blinking as they adjusted to the light around them. “Great actually. I feel like I’ve had a good night’s sleep for once.” He smiled and with grunt of effort forced himself into a sitting position. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Yes, quite a few things actually.“ Fane confirmed with a nod. “I shall compile my notes in a moment but first I have to tell you, I’ve made an absolutely fascinating discovery!”

“Oh?” Markus hummed, cocking his head to the side curiously as a smile formed along his features.

Fane let out an amused huff as he shook his head. “You are every bit as insecure as I thought you were.”