Three Madonnas
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Ossyrian Odyssey
Part One
The Threshold of Echoes
Sam stood alone on the rooftop of his apartment building, the city's neon glow casting long shadows around him. The night air was crisp, tinged with the scent of rain that hadn't yet fallen. He gazed out over the skyline, a cacophony of lights and sounds that felt both familiar and distant.In his hand, he fiddled with an old pocket watch—an heirloom from his estranged father, Hendricks. The watch didn't tick, its hands forever frozen at midnight. Sam had kept it nonetheless, a relic of a past he couldn't quite leave behind."Lost in thought again?" a voice echoed softly behind him.Sam spun around, startled. No one was there. The rooftop was empty except for him and the whispering wind. He shook his head, chalking it up to exhaustion. Weeks of sleepless nights and dead-end job searches were taking their toll."You're closer to the truth than you realize," the voice murmured, this time clearer."Who's there?" Sam demanded, his heart pounding. He scanned the area but saw no one."Someone who can help you find what you've been seeking.""Great," Sam muttered. "Now I'm hearing things."He turned back toward the cityscape, trying to steady his breathing. The voice didn't come again, and after a few moments, he convinced himself it was just his imagination.As he headed toward the stairwell, the rooftop door swung open before he could reach it. A man stepped out—a tall figure draped in a long coat, his face obscured by shadows."Sam Voss?" the man inquired.Sam hesitated. "Who wants to know?"The man stepped into the light, revealing sharp features and piercing grey eyes. "My name is Luca. I was a colleague of your father's."Sam's grip tightened on the pocket watch. "I think you have the wrong person. My father didn't have colleagues.""Perhaps not in the traditional sense," Luca conceded. "But Hendricks and I were... associates in a rather unique field."Sam's curiosity battled with caution. "What do you want?""To offer you an opportunity," Luca said, reaching into his coat. He produced a small, leather-bound book and extended it toward Sam. "Your father wanted you to have this when the time was right."Sam eyed the book warily. "Why now?""Because circumstances have changed. The equilibrium is shifting, and those of us with certain... abilities are being called upon.""Abilities?" Sam scoffed. "I think you've got the wrong guy.""Do I?" Luca raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, have you been experiencing unusual phenomena? Hearing voices? Sensing things before they happen?"Sam's silence was all the confirmation Luca needed."You're not alone," Luca assured him. "And you're not crazy. Your father was part of a society that practiced ancient disciplines—alchemy, lysergy, chirology, among others. This is your heritage."Sam took a step back. "This is insane.""Is it?" Luca opened the book to reveal pages filled with intricate symbols and diagrams. One caught Sam's eye—a symbol he'd seen before, etched into the back of the pocket watch."How did you—""Your father left clues for you," Luca said gently. "He knew this day would come."The wind picked up, swirling around them. The city noises seemed to fade, replaced by a low humming that resonated deep within Sam's chest."What is that?" Sam asked, his voice barely above a whisper."The Threshold," Luca replied. "A convergence point between our world and the arcane. You're sensitive to its presence—that's why you've been feeling out of sorts."The humming grew louder, and the edges of Sam's vision blurred. He staggered, and Luca steadied him with a firm hand."Easy," Luca cautioned. "Crossing over can be disorienting the first time.""Crossing over?" Sam echoed. "I didn't agree to any of this.""Your choice remains," Luca assured him. "But know that turning away won't stop what's already begun."Sam looked at the open book, then down at the pocket watch in his hand. The frozen hands now moved, ticking steadily. The symbols on its surface glowed faintly, matching those in the book."Why me?" Sam asked, a mixture of fear and intrigue swirling inside him."Because you possess a rare potential," Luca said. "A connection to the arcane disciplines that few others have. With training, you could master lysergy to explore consciousness, alchemy to transform more than just metals, chirology to understand destinies."Sam took a deep breath. "Suppose I believe any of this. What exactly are you offering?""Guidance," Luca replied. "There are forces at work that threaten the balance between realms. We need people like you to help maintain that balance.""And if I say no?""Then you'll continue as you have—unaware, unprepared, and vulnerable to those who would exploit your untapped abilities."Sam considered this. His life had been a series of disappointments and unexplained occurrences. Perhaps this was the reason."What's the catch?" he asked.Luca smiled faintly. "Only that the path won't be easy. But rarely is anything worthwhile without its challenges."The humming intensified, and a doorway of light materialized beside them, shimmering with symbols that danced along its edges."This is your first step," Luca said, gesturing toward the portal. "Beyond this Threshold lies the truth about your father, about yourself."Sam's mind raced. Logic told him to walk away, but something deeper pulled him toward the doorway. The voice from earlier echoed in his thoughts: You're closer to the truth than you realize."Will I get to find out what happened to my father?" Sam asked.Luca nodded. "And much more."Steeling himself, Sam nodded. "Alright. I'll do it."Luca stepped aside as Sam approached the portal. The light was warm, inviting, and as he crossed the Threshold, a surge of energy coursed through him. Memories, sensations, and knowledge flooded his mind—glimpses of rituals, star charts, alchemical formulas.He emerged on the other side into a grand hall filled with others—men and women of varying ages, all engaged in different practices. Some manipulated glowing orbs of light; others inscribed symbols onto floating parchments."Welcome to the Sanctum," Luca said, appearing beside him. "This is where your training begins."Sam felt a strange sense of belonging, as if he'd finally found a place where he fit. Yet questions lingered."What happened to my father?" he asked again.Luca's expression grew somber. "Hendricks sacrificed himself to protect a powerful artifact—the Viper Root. It holds the key to mastering all arcane disciplines. In the wrong hands, it could unravel the fabric of both our worlds.""Is that why you need me?""Partly," Luca admitted. "Your father believed you could succeed where he could not."Sam clenched the pocket watch, its ticking now in sync with his heartbeat. "Then I guess we have work to do."Luca smiled. "Indeed. Come, there's someone you should meet."They walked through the hall to a chamber where an elderly woman sat surrounded by hovering astrological maps. Her eyes were milky white, yet she turned directly toward Sam as they entered."Ah, the prodigal son arrives," she said with a voice that resonated like the chime of a bell. "I am Seraphine, mistress of astrology and keeper of destinies.""Sam," he replied, feeling somewhat awed. "Though I suppose you already knew that."She chuckled softly. "Names are but labels. It's your essence that matters."Luca addressed her. "Will you assess his affinities?""Of course," Seraphine said, extending a hand toward Sam. "If you'll allow me?"Sam hesitated briefly before nodding. She placed a delicate hand on his forehead, and a warm sensation spread through him."Interesting," she mused. "A strong inclination toward lysergy and theurgy. A seeker of truths beyond the veil.""Is that good?" Sam asked."Good and bad are relative," she replied cryptically. "But it is rare."Luca seemed pleased. "Then it's settled. We'll begin his training immediately.""Wait," Sam interjected. "I still have a lot of questions.""And they will be answered in time," Seraphine assured him. "But for now, rest. The journey ahead is long."As they left the chamber, Sam couldn't shake the mixture of excitement and apprehension swirling within him."Luca, earlier tonight, I heard a voice. It guided me to the rooftop. Was that...?""Not I," Luca said. "But perhaps someone who watches over you still."Sam looked at the pocket watch, wondering if his father was somehow guiding him."Get some rest," Luca advised. "Tomorrow, we delve into the mysteries of the mind."Sam nodded, realizing that for the first time in years, he felt a sense of purpose. The uncertainties remained, but he was no longer adrift.As he settled into the modest quarters provided to him, Sam lay back and closed his eyes. The silence was comforting, but just as sleep began to claim him, the familiar voice whispered once more:"Trust in yourself, Sam. The path won't be easy, but you are never alone."A faint smile touched his lips. "Thanks, Dad," he whispered into the darkness.