Galaxy's First Ruler

"When the Oldest unveils the Scroll of Answers, damned are those who wouldn't know what to ask."

*

In the Galaxy, no one could claim to be the first if Aldrich was second to know what to ask and when to ask.

If a third of his mind was concentrated on the things of past, present, and future, then the rest of it was full of questions. It was like a jar full of chits. On each chit, there was a question and the moment this question got answered, another chit took its place. Sometimes there was an overflow of chits, sometimes it kept getting emptied.

Aldrich was never the one to shy away from any of the situations mentioned above.

If he had only three questions to ask, Aldrich would ask first what he thought to be more personal and had the most possibility of being rejected. He had yet to know how these Spirits' thoughts were and how they even functioned. But any rejection after an obvious show of generosity was bound to result in a psychological advantage for Aldrich.

So what if the arrow would miss the target? Those who wouldn't even fire it would never know, anyway.

Aldrich fired the question and waited for the rejection or answer with bated breath. The Mythical Serpent kept slithering, never stopping, but its head was in only one place. Its eyes, looking at the tiny being who claimed himself to be a God.

Falak's breath let out its long forked tongue and along with it came out a hiss.

-Very Well-

The hiss, which previously felt like someone was shouting on a speaker to Aldrich, had become casual words in Aldrich's ears. As he got a positive response, Aldrich felt incredibly glad, but there was no hint of any smile on his face. The serpent gave Aldrich a nod and continued.

-I will explain to you in the terms which you Dreamers understand the most. Based on your past, I can tell you have come far in psychology. In that, you have mastered Denialism and Collective Subconsciousness to ordinary humane limits-

It was true indeed. One was a topic Aldrich faced in his early childhood. If there was one thing he knew like the back of his hand, it was Denialism. Aldrich never cared for relations other than his parents, but Boomie was an exception. An exception beyond science. It didn't matter to Aldrich if Boomie had become a patient to him, Aldrich considered him a "Friend". Even if mastering Denialism wasn't a priority to him, Aldrich never lacked the interest to put it aside when his only friend needed him the most.

And there was no need for him to explain these things to a manipulative bitch like the Crawler Viscount Anjana?

The other topic was something Aldrich had always been curious about. Whatever thing that existed in the material world and lacked an explanation excited Aldrich. The same excitement most others of his age got fantasizing sex or smoking a joint. Two of these inexplicable things had become Aldrich's lifelong plans.

Lucidity and Collective Subconsciousness.

Not going into much detail, it is crucial to mention how Collective Sub-consciousness had always been a part of Aldrich's thoughts. He had always wondered how one tiny thought, one tiny action, could bring unknown changes to others around him.

When Mr. Ben had come home, painting the same woman Aldrich had sold the item to; the thought that had popped into Aldrich's mind was also Collective Subconsciousness.

Aldrich nodded at the serpent's words. The white eyes of the mythical creature flashed, and it proceeded with the answer.

-Consider an island that represents the entire serpent-like creatures' Collective Subconsciousness. There is nothing but trees on this island, and every tree represents the Collective Subconsciousness of a serpent race. I am the manifestation of an entire tree from this island-

'This...'

Aldrich's brows furrowed as he heard those words. He understood all that the Falak's Breath had said. It was the manifestation of the Collective Subconsciousness of all real "Falak's Breath" creatures that existed in the Galaxy. But then, wouldn't the Mythical Serpent Vritra be a tree on this island, too? How was it possible for one tree to have authority over other trees on the same island?

Questions after questions were eating Aldrich. But he had only two questions remaining.

Sigh!

Aldrich let out a sigh and knew what question he must ask, otherwise taking this risk wouldn't be worth it.

-My second question is, what is the relationship between you and Vritra-

Hisssssss!!!

This hiss didn't have any meaning. It was more like an angry grunt or the serpent's way of scoffing at something. The colossal serpent in front of Aldrich closed its eyes for a moment and hissed out.

-God or not, you are a scholar, human. You must have heard of Parasitic Plants in nature-

A thought struck in Aldrich's mind, but the serpent's eyes snapped open and continued.

-Vritra is indeed, as you have guessed by now, another tree on this island. But HE can parasitize another tree. And the only reason for it to not infest the entire island is that there are over one such parasitic tree on this island-

'So this is how it is... Even if Vritra has authority over many serpents, it doesn't control all. There are more mythical serpents like Vritra who control a part of the entire serpent race.'

Aldrich's mind was like a computer, structuring and analyzing all the world-shaking information he was getting out of Falak's Breath. In the back of his mind, he was apprehensive about the price he would need to pay for these answers. But to him, these answers were worthy of any price paid twice.

The reddish-brown serpent came forward and almost leaned over Aldrich. It was like an entire ten-story building was about to fall over him. Its forked tongue came out, vibrating the space around Aldrich, and made him come out of his stupor. The serpent hissed and again rows of words formed in Aldrich's mind.

-Some things are better left unknown. The consequences of not realizing this will devastate you, human. Now ask your third question. I can't maintain this state any longer-

'So this is it...'

Aldrich thought to himself. What was to be his third and final question? Aldrich had many questions in his mind that this serpent could answer. But at the top, there was a question that had recently surfaced.

What was the thing behind the gargantuan crack in space that was sucking all the spirits?

Aldrich knew it was related to the King or even King himself from the way Maya was kneeling, but what was that rustling sound? Why the need for such a big fissure?

Aldrich opened his mouth, but this question didn't come out. The serpent's warning couldn't help but keep repeating itself in his mind. Aldrich gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. A smile came upon his face and he asked.

-My third question is... What is the relation between DARKNESS and TIME?-

-HAHA! Good Question, human. It...-

The serpent was about to reveal the mystery which had stroked Aldrich's heartstrings many times. Suddenly, two hands came out of Aldrich's blurry shadow and grabbed his ankles.

Sha's shout echoed in his mind at the same time.

"DADDY... DADDY... I found... it... COME!!!"

Aldrich's eyes became red and blue in anger, and he let out a cry.

"Sha?! NO!!! WAIT!"

But...

Sha was an obedient child. She was told that the most important thing was finding the serpent with the Darkness Attribute… and eating it.

Even the eyes of Falak's Breath widened as it saw Aldrich getting pulled down into his own shadow, still shouting bloody murder.

"SHAAAA!!!"