Samor Dalinar opened his eyes to find himself residing in some kind of dark chamber made of stone, lying alongside what appeared to be a pool of neon green liquid.

  As an ethereal mist seemed to hang over it.

  Frowning, Samor raised his head from the stone, looking around. Never in his thirteen cycles had he seen anything like this. This was not Osiris, the word upon which he lived. The walls, they seemed to possess drawings, depicting figures which didn't look like Osirins, but beings in various shades of armour. Of different shapes and sizes, all wielding weapons, demonstrating powers mere mortals could only dream of.

  Odians?

  He opened his lips to speak, but found the words drawn out of him, making him breathless. A staleness hung in the air, a heaviness which Samor figured came from the pool itself. A distant hum hung in the air, almost sounding like a deep chant. Samor found himself almost taken by it until a new sensation formed within.

  A desire to purge all evil.

  Samor found his gaze drawn towards the pool of liquid, sure the sensation was coming from it. A fog hung over the shimmering presence, with tendrils that looked like spirits. They transfixed Samor, who listened as they seemed to form incoherent mutterings he could not discern.

  'Where am I?' he asked, crawling on his hands and knees towards the edge of the pool. 'Where's Mya?'

  They didn't answer, which frustrated Samor. He still wore the clothes he had been wearing yesterday, a worn and dirty old Osirin jacket and trousers, both far too big for him. They had been all he could get. This also frustrated him.

  It wasn't like it was his fault he and his sister were homeless.

  'Where is she?' he demanded of the pool, sure it was listening. Still, the wisps of mist seemed to gravitate towards him.

  'C'mon! Where am I?' he demanded, allowing his anger to show. The mist coiled, as though responding to his anger. Then, as though the pool of neon green liquid became a vacuum, it absorbed the mist.

  Before erupting into neon green fire.

  Samor threw himself back, eyes wide. The mutterings, the incoherent voices which he couldn't discern, screamed as though the flames were purging them from this existence. Samor sat back, mouth agape, stunned. This had to be a dream, surely? But why did everything feel so real?

  Why did it seem so right?

  There was a pull, subtle, terrifying. Something within that wanted him to step towards the flames, to join in them. They destroyed evil. They had the power to cleanse the Odia Universe of everything wrong.

  They contained a power meant for him.

  Not yet, Samor…a voice said, addressing these desires, a growl sounding like the grinding of metal against metal. Such a voice terrified him, but it also filled him with exhilaration.

  It filled him with purpose.

  'Who are you?' Samor asked, sounding breathless as he formed the words. The flames continued to seethe before him, demanding.

  Your destiny, the voice answered, sounding as though it were coming from his head, speaking into his ear, vicious and hateful, but not towards him.

  Towards the current state of Odia itself, and Samor agreed with it, despite his scepticism of the concept of destiny.

  After all, hadn't his parents told him they'd always be there? Didn't they promise they'd never leave them alone?

  Samor frowned at that, drawing within himself. The voice, it grew as a presence, filling his entire body.

  It demanded he looked within the flames.

  You believe it is you and your sister alone, the voice said, sounding somewhat calmer now. You see much wrong with this universe. Do you not wish something could be done?

  'Of course I do,' Samor said. 'But what? We have nothing. All we have is each other.'

  And yet, your world doesn't care, does it? the voice replied, cutting into Samor. He didn't want to consider. It was hard enough just living day by day, trying to protect Mya.

  The presence within became sceptical. That fuelled Samor's anger as he gritted his teeth.

  'You question my love for her?' he demanded, before wishing that he hadn't. It was a dangerous question, similar to others he'd been asking himself recently. As the struggle to survive seemed to grow, he wondered if he truly loved her, or if his love was even enough.

  And that's exactly why you're here, Samor, the voice answered, as though somehow able to read his thoughts. This is why I chose you.

  'Chose me?' Samor asked. 'What for? Who are you? What is this place?'

  The place you will find me, Samor, the voice said. Odia has called for us, her remaining five. We feel it, the corruption spreading throughout the universe, and throughout her Guardians. She calls upon us to rise again, to remind them. To show them what awaits should they continue down this path, corrupting her beloved Virtues…

  'What do you mean?' Samor asked. 'I don't understand. What are these "Virtues?"'

  Universal laws, child. Safeguards to ensure the past does not repeat. They guide all her creations. All beings. Our descendants, the Guardians tasked with upholding these principles, to act as guiding forces for all beings, they are allowing a corruption to fester. They are changing, warping what the Virtues are supposed to represent. This cannot be permitted, so she calls upon us again.

  However, if we are to roam this universe once more, we must choose partners who are pure, incorruptible. Thus, it enrages me so that in a universe of so many so few are worthy. You are an exception, Samor Dalinar. I have chosen you as my vessel. You are one of the pure.

  Samor gave himself a moment to consider everything he had heard, not sure he understood most of it. The presence within almost seemed to understand.

  Do not fear me, Samor, it said. I have chosen you. You are the one I shall bond with. For now, your task is simple. Find this place, the Crucible of Worlds. It lives deep within a planet known as Aphron, but I wish for you to wait to come and find me. Only certain beings should know of the Crucible. I will guide you to those who I give permission to uncover it. Until then, continue as you were. Continue to represent your Virtue. My premonitions guide me, and I will allow them to guide you.

  Samor shivered at that, trying to understand.

  'Are you… an Odian?' he asked, glancing towards the paintings on the walls, depicting the figures he was sure were Odia's Guardians.

  He noticed one creature, made of blades, towering above the others. A neon green fire seemed to connect the lower arms towards the upper torso, along with the thighs. Yet what caught Samor's attention the most was the maw of jagged metal teeth, along with glowing green eyes that stared back at him.

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  And the presence within filled him with a knowing amusement.

  I am more than that, Samor, the voice said. I am one of the original Guardians, one who your legends call one of the 'Legendary Odians,' cast as nothing more than mere myth. However, we are very real. Soon, the entire universe shall learn what that means.

  The flames fell then, returning the pool to a simmering surface, as though still boiling within. Yet, it was the sound of similar flames dying in both directions that drew Samor's attention.

  Then he realised, this wasn't the only chamber. Others surrounded them, each with different coloured neon pools of liquid. Stunned, Samor’s lips parted as he turned back towards the pool before him.

  'You said you chose me,' he said, 'because I am pure. What does that mean? How did you choose me?'

  Because of your Virtue, Samor, the voice said, though it seemed disinterested in speaking further. Instead, the pool continued to boil. Despite himself, Samor found himself drawn towards it, crawling towards it once more. He looked over the edge.

  He found a monster staring back at him, with glowing neon green eyes and a colossal jaw of metal blades.

  'Who are you?' Samor asked, haunted.

  The monster smiled back at him then, before Samor realised the monster was inside the pool, within reach.

  'I am your destiny,' it said, speaking aloud for the first time. 'I… am Reviek…'

  #

  Samor awoke from his vision, his body jolting into life as he threw his head forward, beads of sweat running down his forehead. Gasping, Samore fought to contain the panic that threatened to take over his mind. Instead, he looked around, remembering that he and Mya had chosen a back alley in Sector 1578 in Osiris to sleep.

  Then he remembered who lay in his arms, now stirring.

  Mya.

  'Samor?' His sister spoke, a small Osirin of ten cycles, only just growing hair on her head. Samor knew he would never have hair. He smiled at her as she stirred from their dirty blanket he'd wrapped around her, looking up at him, appearing confused.

  'It's alright,' he said, forcing himself to smile again before looking towards the back alley. It was quiet, thankfully, a somewhat clean street with some signs of grime building in the crevices on both sides. It was dark, and apart from low overhanging cables coming from the higher levels, there wasn't much in this street. Neither did many Osirins choose to wander here. That made it a perfect spot for getting some sleep.

  Until he'd had his vision from Reviek.

  The thought of the Odian caused Samor to bristle, but he sensed no sign of the Odian's presence. That was strange. Had it all been just a dream? It hadn't seemed like it.

  He forced himself to forget about what happened for now, turning his gaze towards Mya. A kind breeze hung in the air, the scent of staleness dissipating. At the end of the back alley, the sound of busy city life continued.

  But they would need to eat and drink soon. Samor found himself parched.

  'You ready to go?' he asked his sister, who returned his question with a raised eyebrow. By sweet Odia, that reminded him so much of Mother.

  'Something's not right,' she said, not phrasing it as a question on purpose, just like Mother. With Mya, it seemed to cut all the deeper. Nothing escaped her.

  Despite that, Samor had every intention of lying to her.

  'Just a nightmare,' he said, trying to be quick. 'Probably got the uncomfortable storage unit to lie against.'

  At that, Mya glanced at the large rectangular metal storage container they lay against, standing around six feet tall, as wide as an Osirin taxi. At once, her gaze turned sceptical. Towards this, Samor squeezed her gently in his arms, attempting to mask the fear that came with waking each day, not knowing what they'd encounter. An inadequate replacement for what Mother and Father used to do for them. In that respect, he was no substitute.

  But I'm all she's got…

  He barely contained a wince, instead forcing himself to smile at his sister again.

  'Let's go,' he urged.

  There was an uncomfortable buzz in the streets today, as Samor gripped Mya's hand, making sure they wouldn't get separated. Still, for a change, most of their fellow Osirins didn't seem to care about the two dirty homeless kids wandering through their 'perfect' world. Anxiety filled the air as Osirins whispered to each other. Their steps quickened. The sirens made Samor uneasy.

  Something was happening in the world. That much was obvious to Samor's ears as he looked around, guiding Mya through an open street filled with towers and many food vendors. It was the quickest way to the market, and it would also give them a better chance at getting food and drink, though it came with its own risks.

  Like getting caught stealing. That filled Samor with the most shame.

  And you thought I was pure? Do you know what I'm doing?

  Yes, you're trying to keep your sister alive, Samor. The voice of Reviek emerged, stunning Samor into silence, freezing his steps. Mya stumbled into his back.

  'Ow!' she said, as Samor turned to face Mya, seeing her rubbing her nose.

  'Sorry, Mya,' Samor said, recognising how distant he sounded at that moment. He waited with anticipation, wondering if part of him still dreamed. Had he heard Reviek, or were his and the Odian's thoughts becoming one? Samor searched deep within, sensing something, something faint, almost incomprehensible, but it was there. He could feel it. Like something slumbering within, waiting to be awakened.

  But it was there, that much Samor knew.

  Reviek? he asked within, and that presence within grew, like a second mind within his own, furious. Though it seemed to lure him into thinking that it was a calm presence, the undertones of rage and conviction remained. Reviek was indeed a part of his soul, and that part of his soul grinned. Samor looked towards his feet then, noticing that something seemed to be leaking from him.

  Faint glimmers of the neon green ethereal essence, falling towards the floor. Samor's eyes widened.

  What the—

  Samor felt a tug at his hand, returning to the present to find Mya pulling at his arm. He looked at her, noticing how her smile seemed to disarm his fear at once.

  'C'mon, let's go,' she said, before turning and pulling him further without waiting for an answer. Samor allowed himself to be led through the crowd of worried Osirins, impressed by Mya's maturity. It should've been him who had done that, and Samor forced himself to recognise that, shaking his head of his doubts and fears.

  He glanced towards his feet once more. The ethereal essence had dissipated.