Kha'Ruun sprinted toward his tent, passing nearby people — most of whom had kneeled and were praying to the illusory image of the serpents.

  He could feel something too — a divine presence, a feeling he couldn't explain, a feeling of submission that overwhelmed him. But he was a stubborn man.

  He ignored it. He didn't mind the feeling. His only worry was his family.

  "What's this projection? Why is it coming from the direction of my tent? I hope nothing bad happened." Fearing for his family, he ran faster than he ever had.

  Soon, he saw his tent. Sprinting toward it, he didn't even notice that he was already inside the projection of the serpent.

  "Saheera! I'm here!" Kha'Ruun shouted. He took his short spear from his back and rushed inside.

  What he saw surprised him.

  "Sa-Saheera, what's happening?" Kha'Ruun was lost.

  He saw that Saheera was fine — she was glowing. He felt relieved, but what was all this? The children all kneeled around their mother, the light shrouding them too, each of them giving off a faint glow — nothing compared to their mother, who held Ankai in her arms.

  "Father! You're back. It's Ankai — it seems all of this is happening because of him." Rokan opened his eyes when he heard his father's voice.

  Kha'Ruun's expression was complicated. He couldn't understand what was happening, but he knew someone who would have answers. First, he needed to make sure everyone was okay.

  He moved toward Saheera. She was humming and singing something, and Ankai was in her embrace. The child seemed okay.

  "Saheera, can you hear me?" he asked, worried — she hadn't stopped even when he called out earlier. The girls were the same, singing and praying together.

  He kneeled before Saheera and hugged them all.

  "Saheera, Meysha, Tari — can't you hear me?" Everything seemed fine with them, but why weren't they answering?

  Then Saheera opened her eyes.

  "Kha'Ruun, my beloved, you are here. Come join us and thank the ancestors and our god — they have answered my prayers." Saheera raised one hand and gently caressed his face. Her expression was radiant, like the light of early morning.

  Kha'Ruun always trusted his beloved. He didn't know how to begin a prayer — he looked at Rokan, who had stopped praying and was watching Ankai.

  "Rokan, join us. Let's keep giving thanks to the ancestors and our god." He looked up at the projection of the serpent he had seen from afar, and he prayed sincerely.

  "Oh, great one who has manifested here in my humble home — I thank you for everything. Even though I don't understand what has happened, I trust my wife, and she believes in you, so I do too. Protect us, and may your glory be upon us, the Oru family."

  It was his simple prayer.

  Outside, with the majestic projection of Uhn'Zaka filling the sky, many prayed with immense faith. They prayed for a miracle to save them. None of them wanted to become slaves to those terrifying tribes — they would prefer to die in the wasteland.

  With the prayer of many, an invisible power began to move — one that only those without totemic ancestral power could not see. Numerous lights flew toward Kha'Ruun's tent. The projection of the serpent grew, and with it, the faith of even more people grew stronger.

  The energy was nourishing Ankai.

  Kha'Ruun felt something stirring inside him — something growing. He didn't know what it was, but he was certain he could feel it.

  He opened his eyes.

  "What are these marks?" He saw the same marks Saheera had seen before, but he didn't know what they were.

  At the same time, Saheera opened her eyes.

  "Dear, do you see it? This power from legend — the power we could only fear from those who oppress us. It is the power of a totem. It has descended and claimed our child as its own." As she said it, Saheera wept.

  Everything Saheera said hit Kha'Ruun like a hammer.

  "You don't mean it — is it really Totem power?" His eyes filled with tears of joy. Was this the good news Saghor had told him would come?

  He wrapped his big arms around the whole family.

  "Hahahaha! Fate didn't forsake us! Thank you, mighty ancestors, for this blessing!"

  Kha'Ruun looked at his blessed child. The boy's eyes were closed while totem marks glowed all around him.

  Inside, Ankai was having an internal panic.

  "Uhn'Zaka! What is the meaning of this? Why did it feel like an eternity had passed? Why am I a little child? And what was all that pain I felt?" Ankai yelled in his mind.

  He hadn't expected to be reborn — and as a child, no less. This wasn't mentioned when he was being sent to the new world. He had imagined he would still be his old self, at least in some form.

  "How am I supposed to get powerful faster while being a kid?" He felt terrible. "Why aren't you answering?"

  "Sigh. You shouldn't yell this much. I can feel everything — don't forget we are one now. You can understand what I feel too, I suppose?" Uhn'Zaka's response sounded like someone who wasn't even sure of what he had said.

  Ankai felt a little more at ease. He had been worried to death just seconds before.

  "Oh, good — you're still here. But what happened when you took me from Earth? Was I always supposed to be a child in the new world?"

  "Well, to tell the truth — I don't know."

  "What do you mean you don't know? You are a god!"

  "To be more precise, something unexpected happened while I was transporting your soul to another realm," Uhn'Zaka said.

  "So what happened?"

  "While passing near this realm, we were dragged toward it by a stronger force, and my power wasn't enough to resist."

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Dragged! But I thought you at least had some control?" Ankai said, dissatisfied.

  "With everything that happened, I didn't have enough power to rebuild your old body. And this world has a strong rejection toward existences like gods." Uhn'Zaka's voice seemed to shiver at the memory.

  "I chose the best solution available. I made you be reborn as an inhabitant of this realm, and since we were fused, my presence was hidden from this world's laws."

  Uhn'Zaka told him the full story of how he ended up as a child.

  "Sigh. I understand not everything can be controlled, but awakening my old memories was extremely painful. I felt like my brain would split — you should have warned me at least." Ankai still felt a little bitter.

  "So why can't I see you right now? And it seems like something is entering my body — and my family too. I can feel their presence around me." He looked around. Everything was dark in this place.

  "We stumbled into a great opportunity. That's why you can't see me — I'm in the deepest part of your subconscious. Just follow my presence."

  "Alright, I'll try." Ankai tried to move, and a projection appeared in the dark space — a small child, about four or five years old, with his appearance in this world.

  "Is this my soul? So this must be like my inner world or something." He followed the feeling of Uhn'Zaka's presence. As he got closer, the air seemed to grow heavier.

  "Uhn'Zaka, why does the air feel this heavy? And how is it even possible for me to feel air here — aren't souls intangible?" He was feeling grumpy.

  "Sigh. There are still some side effects from your rebirth. And now you seem more like a child than ever — I should be the immature one here. Just keep going and stop complaining." Uhn'Zaka sounded a little helpless.

  Ankai kept moving toward the presence. He didn't notice it, but outside, his body was growing stronger — the mysterious energy flowed through him and reached his family members too, and they seemed to be benefiting from it.

  The same energy appeared in his consciousness, flowing in the direction of Uhn'Zaka's presence. As it grew stronger, the pressure around him became easier to bear.

  "It seems like this energy flows through my whole body before going into my heart, then comes here. This is quite interesting." Soon, he saw a light far ahead — and then a massive serpent, coiled around a great ball of energy. The ball was enormous, maybe the size of a skyscraper, and the serpent was even bigger.

  "Uhn'Zaka, how did you get this big from the little snake you were when you took me?" Ankai tried to joke, but he was genuinely impressed. Uhn'Zaka had not been anywhere near this size when they first met.

  "You should be grateful I was born with supreme intelligence. I used this very moment — the miracle you made — to deceive this world's laws." Uhn'Zaka seemed very pleased with itself.

  "Do you mean it's because of the strange energy that entered my body?"

  "Exactly. This world has a law that repulses gods in their true form — and that was precisely what made it impossible for me to rebuild your body." Uhn'Zaka's tone carried a hint of excitement. "But when we were dragged here, and your awakening happened, it created a projection of my magnificent self. People were moved by my glorious presence, and a great concentration of the power of faith gathered toward us. I used that to make myself a Totem Spirit — a manifestation of the faith of the people. And you are the first warrior of this totem."

  "So we escaped from great danger? That's a relief. I wasn't even conscious when all of that happened," Ankai said.

  "And that isn't all — this world even blessed you. Hahaha, I couldn't be happier. It feels like fate is rewarding us, though it also makes me uneasy." Uhn'Zaka went quiet for a moment, as though something was bothering him. He had a feeling that someone or something had been pulling strings from the very beginning — but he couldn't tell what it was. He would look into it later. There was no use worrying about things they couldn't change right now.

  Besides, this world was fortunate in one way — it rendered most gods powerless to act directly. That included monsters like the one that had tried to devour him.

  Uhn'Zaka was still coiled around the great mass of energy, which was shrinking with every passing second.

  "So what advantage does this give us for getting stronger? With this world's limits, your original power is set back. I was hoping we'd grow stronger faster — and find your twin." Ankai was already thinking about the other serpent. It was technically his brother too.

  "I understand how you feel, but I believe this is the best situation. We don't know if that evil god is still searching for us. Here, in this new form, I will be better hidden. And you will be the one to grow stronger — because I no longer have a body. You will become safer with time, and we will be able to protect ourselves, or at least flee from stronger opponents if needed."

  Uhn'Zaka's voice now carried a faint, tired feeling.

  "What's happening to you? Your presence feels weaker," Ankai said, his heart filling with worry.

  "I see you can feel it too. I didn't tell you everything. I used too much power to help you and those around you." Uhn'Zaka's presence dimmed with every passing second.

  "Sigh. I understand — we were in danger, and you didn't have a choice." Ankai felt a weight in his chest.

  "I need you to be safe while I'm not around. These world laws are severe for gods. Even splitting a part of my divine consciousness to become a totem spirit came with restrictions." A silence settled between them for a moment.

  "Are you going to be okay? You shouldn't have pushed yourself this far." Ankai felt the sadness creeping in — they had been laughing not long ago, and now this.

  Uhn'Zaka felt the worry coming from Ankai.

  "Don't worry. You and I are already one — it's just that our fusion isn't yet complete. That's why these laws could affect me to this extent." A pause. "Also, I can feel the power of other lesser gods existing in this world."

  "Other gods? Did they find us?" Ankai went from worried to panicking.

  "Don't worry. I've done my best to hide our presence, but those with higher power nearby will still have felt your awakening. It also seems someone helped conceal us."

  Ankai noticed it too — another power, faint but present, that seemed to have worked in their favor.

  "I have prepared something for you to protect yourself with. I put great effort into forming your Totem Core. This mass of energy before you — it is the foundation of your totem power." Uhn'Zaka's prideful tone returned when he spoke of the core.

  "I also gave your family a gift. Since you are still a child, you need protection — and this world is more dangerous than Earth. After I finish compressing this core and give some of the power to your father, I will enter slumber. I won't be able to accompany you for twelve to sixty years — perhaps longer." Uhn'Zaka's tone grew quieter, calmer.

  Ankai looked at the projection of Uhn'Zaka.

  "So you aren't even sure how long you'll be asleep?" Ankai asked.

  Uhn'Zaka looked at him and stayed silent for a while.

  "Damn. Okay — don't worry. Just go take your nap. I'll take care of myself." Ankai turned away.

  He felt a sadness he couldn't quite explain — the feeling of a brother leaving for a long time.

  Sharing the same origin, Uhn'Zaka felt exactly what Ankai felt. He felt it too. He had wanted to soften the truth, but it seemed impossible now.

  There was nothing to be done.

  "You know, you will still be able to see me here — I'll just be asleep," Uhn'Zaka said, trying to lift the mood.

  "Really? You sure about that?" Ankai was suspicious. Was this serpent trying to trick him?

  "I'm not lying. I will leave a part of my divine consciousness — the one born as a totem spirit — in your care," Uhn'Zaka said proudly. "It won't be as intelligent as me. It will be more like a mascot, hahaha. But it will keep you company and help the totem spirit grow stronger while I sleep, which will help everyone who believes in us — so in the end, we all grow stronger together."

  "I understand. I can feel our connection deepening right now. I don't know how to explain it, but I understand your feelings better than before." Ankai paused. "Just leave your totem spirit with me."

  "That's good to hear, hahaha." Uhn'Zaka laughed.

  "When you wake up, you'll be surprised by how strong I've made your totem spirit," Ankai said, feeling steadier now.

  "The growth of this totem spirit will depend on your choices and your influence on it — so take good care of it. I feel like I'm almost finished. Your core is nearly complete. The rest depends on you now." A pause. "Yawn. I need some sleep."

  Uhn'Zaka began to yawn.

  Ankai could feel the connection to Uhn'Zaka's divine consciousness slowly fading.

  "Before I sleep — I'm sorry. I know you miss your old family on Earth, and by now, they may no longer be alive. ." Uhn'Zaka voice sounded painfull.

  "I'm truly sorry Antonio, I hope you will embrace this new world and the new family you have here. I watched them take care of you for all four years. I know you can feel the love they have for you — and with this body's memories, I'm sure it will help you understand it even more."

  Uhn'Zaka's voice softened.

  "Just know this; you and those around you are the first bearers of the mark of the great serpent Uhn'Zaka, one of the Twin Serpent Gods. Now go, and make this world know the power of the Twin Serpents."

  With that, silence came.

  A small serpent moved toward Ankai and coiled gently around his arms.

  "I didn't understand everything you said. But I can feel what you meant. So sleep well, brother — I will take care of us." Maybe Ankai just didn't want to understand, and forget it for now.

  The core had compressed to the size of a tennis ball now. The great serpent lay sleeping not far away, its size shrunk alongside its power.

  Ankai looked at it for a long moment.

  My new world is waiting.

  His soul projection faded from the space, and the great Uhn'Zaka was left sleeping peacefully — for now.