A Character Who Keeps Us Guessing

From the moment Beris flickers into existence in Chapter 5: The Ritual Begins, his presence raises questions. First introduced as one of the shadowy figures who surround a young Joshua, he immediately exudes an air of mystery. Joshua, a mere five-year-old at the time, casually mentions Beris as a “friend” who can “make things disappear.” This introduction feels innocent enough—until Zivah, Joshua’s mother, peeks into the room and sees six glowing-eyed shadow beings surrounding her son. Beris stands out from the group with his trembling voice, asking, “How… how did I get stuck here?”

This moment defines Beris’ duality. On the one hand, he is part of an unsettling group of entities seemingly bound to Joshua, involved in rituals far too dark for a child. On the other hand, Beris immediately reveals a vulnerability and humanity that sets him apart from the others. His presence in this scene introduces a recurring question: Is Beris a guide, a prisoner, or something in between?

The Perfect Counterpoint to Joshua

Where Joshua is intense, brooding, and driven by his search for purpose, Beris acts as the perfect foil—irreverent, sarcastic, and seemingly detached from the weight of their shared mission. In Chapter 9: The Voice, Beris guides Joshua through a dangerous ritual that will allow the boy to tap into the whispers of the Dark Matter. His biting quips, like offering Joshua a “cheat sheet” for the ritual, lighten the scene even as the stakes grow dire.

But Beris’ humor isn’t just comic relief. It serves a deeper purpose: to highlight the gravity of Joshua’s burden. When Beris remarks, “Totally normal. Nothing to see here. Just a kid bleeding on ancient runes and awakening the who-knows-what,” he underscores the absurdity of their situation. In a story filled with existential dread, Beris’ humor becomes a lifeline, reminding both Joshua and the reader to laugh in the face of overwhelming darkness.

Yet, his sarcasm often masks his genuine concern. In the same chapter, Beris warns Joshua, “You’re meddling with things that don’t care if they destroy you. Break the circle. Now.” This moment reveals a protective side to Beris, one that he’s reluctant to show openly. He acts as both Joshua’s guide and his conscience, walking the delicate line between enabling Joshua’s ambition and trying to save him from himself.

Caught Between Worlds

Beris is a creature of contradictions, and his existence mirrors that liminality. He is never fully present, constantly flickering between dimensions, phasing in and out of visibility. This precarious existence reflects his role in the story: he is caught between loyalty and self-interest, between helping Joshua and undermining him, between being a guide and a trickster.

This liminal nature also ties into Beris’ tragic backstory, hinted at in Chapter 5 and further explored in Chapter 13: Beris & the Shaman. Beris admits that he is trapped in the Dark Matter because of his own recklessness—specifically, a failed theft of a powerful object. His impulsiveness leads to his capture by the Shaman, who effortlessly dismantles Beris’ attempts to escape and banishes him to an endless void.

In this chapter, Beris transitions from comic mischief-maker to a figure of pathos. His greed and impulsivity, while entertaining, leave him isolated and powerless, a prisoner of his own choices. The Dark Matter becomes both his prison and his identity—a realm where he flickers between worlds but can never truly belong to any of them.

A Trickster with a Conscience

One of the most fascinating aspects of Beris is his role as a trickster figure. He manipulates situations to suit his goals, often bending the truth or using fear as a tool. In Chapter 17: Every Lock Has a Key, Beris plays a key role in rattling Father Bussi by delivering a cryptic message from Joshua. He even goes so far as to project a shadowy apparition to keep Bussi paranoid and cautious.

Yet, Beris’ conscience shines through in unexpected moments. When Joshua remarks that the scare was “necessary to keep Bussi cautious,” Beris responds with an uncharacteristic seriousness: “Necessary? Sure. Fun? Not so much. You think I enjoy watching people crack under the weight of something they can barely understand? Hate to break it to you, kid, but I’m not that heartless.”

This line reveals the tension between Beris’ trickster tendencies and his hidden sense of morality. While he delights in mischief, he is not entirely detached from the consequences of his actions. Beris walks a fine line, his conscience flickering like his shadowy form—a reminder that even in a story filled with moral grey areas, he retains a spark of humanity.

A Messenger and Mirror

At his core, Beris is a messenger—both literally and metaphorically. He delivers crucial information across dimensions, acting as a bridge between Joshua and Bussi. But Beris also serves as a mirror to Joshua, reflecting the young protagonist’s darker impulses and inner turmoil.

Where Joshua wrestles with the meaning of his existence and his place in the multiverse, Beris seems to have accepted the chaos. His cavalier attitude toward life and suffering contrasts sharply with Joshua’s search for purpose, forcing the boy to confront uncomfortable truths. Is there any point in trying to change the system, or are they all just pawns in a cosmic game?

Beris’ answer is never explicit, but his actions suggest a quiet belief in Joshua’s potential. In one rare moment of vulnerability, when Joshua demands, “Why do you even care about this mission?” Beris replies:
“Let’s just say I’ve seen what happens when people like you give up. It’s not pretty. And as much as I enjoy a good disaster, I’m not ready to see this one play out. Not yet.”

The Secret Keeper

Perhaps the most tantalising aspect of Beris is how much he knows—and how much he withholds. As a being who exists outside the normal flow of time, Beris has access to secrets no one else can comprehend. Yet, his reluctance to share this knowledge isn’t just about protecting Joshua; it’s about protecting himself. Beris understands that knowledge is both power and burden, and he wields it carefully.

This selective withholding keeps readers—and the characters around him—on edge. How much of what’s happening is part of Beris’ plan? How much is beyond even his control? And what does Beris ultimately want? These unanswered questions make him one of the most intriguing and unpredictable characters in Dark Matter.

Why Beris Matters

At first glance, Beris might seem like comic relief in a story filled with existential dread. But his role is far more significant. He is Joshua’s guide, trickster, mirror, and occasional conscience. He pushes the story forward in ways both obvious and subtle, his every action rippling across the multiverse.

But more than that, Beris is a reminder of the power of contradiction. He is light and shadow, cynic and optimist, manipulator and friend. In a world as vast and chaotic as the multiverse, Beris embodies the tension between hope and despair, control and chaos.

So, the next time Beris flickers into view, delivering a snarky comment or setting the stage for another twist, remember: even in the darkest corners of the multiverse, there’s room for humor, mischief, and a little bit of light. Beris might not be a hero—but he’s exactly the character we need to navigate the chaos of Dark Matter.