Kenji rubbed the back of his neck, glancing between Ren and Aranath. “I think I’m grasping the basics, but… honestly, a lot of it’s going over my head.”
Ren nodded, looking equally bewildered. “Same here. I get the idea that to gain an essence, you have to understand some concept or element, but beyond that…” He hesitated, trying to find the words. “It’s kind of like learning the laws of physics if you wanted to design an airplane. You have to get how things like lift and gravity work before you can make something that can actually fly.”
Aranath’s expression softened with a patient smile. “Don’t worry if it all doesn’t make sense immediately. You’re only at the beginning. The tutorial is designed to introduce these concepts step by step as you progress. For now, it’s enough to understand that gaining an essence is a process of attuning to a concept or element. The rest will come with time.”
He straightened, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. “Now, with that foundation in place, I can explain the purpose of the ‘boss’ I mentioned.”
Kenji and Ren both leaned forward, intrigued.
“The tutorial is set up with a scaling progression,” Aranath began. “To move forward, each participant must first gain an essence. This is done through meditation and experiencing elements in their natural state. For example, if you were seeking the water essence, you might meditate by the ocean, reflecting on its vastness, its rhythm, and its nature. Through this process, one may awaken a resonance with the element and thus gain the water essence.”
Ren’s eyes widened, and he shared a glance with Kenji. The idea of drawing power from the natural world seemed both mystical and grounding at the same time.
Aranath continued, “Once an essence is gained, you will typically unlock a basic ability tied to that essence. After that, you’ll be able to undertake ‘contracts’ here at the Guild Hall. These contracts are essentially missions or tasks suited to your abilities. As you grow, the contracts available to you will also scale, allowing you to build both skill and power as you progress.”
“So… you do contracts to get stronger, basically?” Kenji asked.
Aranath nodded. “Yes, and once you and your party reach a certain threshold of power, you may then attempt to face the ‘boss’ of your zone. The boss is a creature specifically selected as a benchmark—something that represents the minimum challenge a party of cultivators must be able to overcome if they are to move on.”
“And if you beat this boss?” Ren asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.
“Then you gain access to the wider tutorial grounds,” Aranath replied. “It’s a central meeting area where cultivators from all zones can gather. There, you may choose to remain with your original party or disband and join others who have also completed their zone boss. A larger city awaits you there, with a central Guild Hall where further challenges and opportunities will be available.”
Kenji frowned, mulling it over. “So… it’s kind of set up like a video game. Why would the system make it work like that?”
Aranath’s smile returned, a little knowing this time. “The System creates tutorials suited to the people of each world. It based this structure on what it determined would best suit the minds of Earth’s residents. Think of it as a way to make you familiar with the principles of essence wielding, cultivation, and combat without overwhelming you all at once. Across the Andromeda Galaxy, there are countless tutorials, each tailored to the unique cultures and expectations of their inhabitants. Some may experience vastly different beginnings—ones that are suited to their own ways of understanding.”
Kenji’s mind raced as he processed the information. He could see the logic in it, even if it felt strange. “So… this tutorial, the boss, the zones… all of it was made just for Earth?”
Aranath nodded. “Exactly. The System adapts. Earth and its people have a unique relationship with ideas of progression, challenge, and reward. This design encourages learning at a manageable pace and, most importantly, builds a sense of camaraderie and teamwork, which are invaluable when facing the vast unknown that awaits you in the wider cosmos.”
Kenji leaned forward, brow furrowed. “I’ve been meaning to ask. What part of Japan are we in? Since we’ll be locked in here for while it’d be nice to know. It doesn’t look like Kyoto”
Aranath’s smile faded slightly, his gaze becoming almost pitying. “Kenji, you are not in Japan. In fact, you’re not even on Earth.” He paused, letting that sink in. “The tutorial exists in a type of pocket dimension. It was created specifically to house the residents of Earth while the tutorial is ongoing, and, in parallel, Earth itself is undergoing a… transformation process.”
Kenji and Ren exchanged a look, their expressions mirroring each other’s confusion and apprehension. “Transformation process?” Ren asked.
Aranath nodded. “Yes. Earth, as it was, could not withstand the effects of essences, powers, and the influence of the Omnirealm. The essence energies, the shifts in physics, the sheer power they bring… It would tear your planet apart if it remained in its current form. As such, Earth is being terraformed—altered and made more malleable, better suited to accommodate the system integration and the powers that will soon become commonplace.”
Kenji swallowed hard. “What about… what about everything on Earth? The cities, homes, lands? All of it?”
Aranath looked away, his expression turning thoughtful. “In truth… I don’t know. Your universe is the first to experience integration at such an advanced stage of civilization. Normally, the system integrates with worlds at far earlier stages of development, before structures and civilizations have formed in ways that would make the process so complex. This is uncharted territory.”
Ren shifted, his voice edged with frustration. “So why are we the first, then? Why wait until Earth was like this?”
Aranath shook his head slowly, a faint shadow crossing his features. “That is something only the higher gods and cosmic beings might know. I am simply here to guide you through what I understand of the process, but the reasons behind this timeline… I’m afraid I cannot answer.”
Kenji felt a chill settle over him as he absorbed the information, his mind struggling to picture the Earth he’d grown up on being reshaped by forces beyond comprehension. “Higher gods?” he echoed, glancing at Aranath. “So there are… gods?”
Aranath’s enigmatic smile returned, his gaze softening as he met Kenji’s questioning eyes. “That, too, is knowledge you will learn in time. For now, focus on the path before you, and trust that the answers will come as you progress.”
With that, Aranath stood and stretched, his expression one of quiet certainty. “All things will be revealed in their proper time.”
Aranath sighed, casting a glance toward the door hiding the line of people still waiting in the Guild Hall. “Our time is up for now. Many others need guidance, and I must continue helping them as well.”
He turned back to Kenji and Ren, his expression softening. “Tomorrow, the essence awakenings will begin. Kenji,” he continued, looking directly at him, “even though you have already unlocked an essence, you may still participate. There’s a chance you might discover an additional essence—perhaps one that harmonizes with your unique nature and balances out the corruption that will surely be brought by the void.”
Kenji nodded, though the weight of everything he’d learned sat heavily on him. Ren gave a quick bow of thanks, and both boys rose to their feet.
“Go on and settle in for the evening, there’s an inn in the village for everyone to sleep at.” Aranath said, offering them a small smile. “Prepare yourselves for what lies ahead. And… good luck.” He inclined his head in farewell before turning to call forward the next person in line.
Kenji and Ren stepped out of the Guild Hall, the sounds of murmuring voices and shifting crowds fading as they walked into the fresh, cool air outside. The sun was dipping low, casting the sky in hues of orange and violet, the peaceful transition to nightfall somehow grounding despite the strangeness of their new reality.
About to search for the inn the brothers heard a dinging sound announcing the arrival of a message
----------------------------------------
System Message:
Quest Objective Updated:
Objective: Complete the Tutorial
•Gain an Essence through meditation and exploration.
•Unlock an initial ability.
•Join a party at the Guild Hall and participate in contracts to build strength.
•Reach sufficient power to attempt the zone’s Boss.
•Defeat the Boss to access the wider tutorial grounds.
Additional Objective: Uncover More of the Tutorial’s Structure
•Further details and opportunities will be revealed as you progress.
----------------------------------------
Kenji studied the screens, his mind still reeling from all Aranath had explained about essence theory and cultivation
Glancing around, Kenji spotted several posts standing along the edge of the road, each bearing signs that pointed in various directions to different buildings. Among them, he found the one marked “Inn.” They followed the signs, winding through the narrow lanes of the village until they reached a quaint wooden building with a sign that matched the post. As they entered, the room was quiet and empty of any attendants or workers, but a screen materialized above the front desk as they approached, displaying the available rooms.
Just as before, the screen confirmed that for the first month, the services would be free. After selecting a room for two, a soft chime sounded, and a pair of keys appeared on the desk in front of them, each engraved with a small number matching the room they’d chosen.
“Convenient,” Ren murmured, picking up one of the keys.
Kenji managed a faint smile. “At least that’s one less thing we have to worry about.” They exchanged a brief look, their shared exhaustion visible in their eyes, and then they made their way down the hall to their room.
Once inside the safety of their room, Kenji and Ren finally took a moment to let down their guard. The simple lantern cast a warm, steady glow, illuminating the small space and giving it an air of comfort they hadn’t felt all day. Kenji eased himself onto one of the beds, and Ren sat beside him, the tension of the day settling over them both like a heavy blanket.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Kenji winced as he pulled out the arm where his shoulder had been stabbed exposing a rough bandage he’d fashioned from a strip of his own shirt. It had stopped the bleeding, but the crude dressing wasn’t much to look at. Ren, sitting nearby, was in similar shape. His own makeshift bandages covered a few scrapes and bruises, remnants of the chaos they’d both gone through. Their clothes, at least, were fresh—new shirts had appeared for them after their bath, courtesy of the inn’s magical storefront.
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the day pressing in, until Ren finally broke the quiet, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Kenji… this is all just… too much.” His words faltered, his gaze fixed on the floor. “I almost… I almost died today. If you hadn’t come… I…” His voice cracked, and he took a shaky breath, his fists clenched as he tried to keep himself together.
Kenji’s heart clenched as he saw his brother’s distress. Ren, who had held it all together, who had kept up with the frantic pace of this strange world without a word of complaint, was finally letting himself break down. Kenji reached out, resting a reassuring hand on Ren’s shoulder, his own fears momentarily forgotten.
“Ren,” he said softly, “I know it’s terrifying. I know everything’s turned upside down, and we don’t even know what’s coming next. But listen to me—whatever happens, I’ll protect you. No matter what.” His voice was firm, filled with the fierce determination he’d clung to since the moment they’d found themselves here. “I’ll get us back with the rest of the family. I swear it. I won’t let anything hurt you again.”
Ren looked up, his face pale, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He took a shaky breath, the floodgates finally breaking. “It’s just… it’s all so crazy. It doesn’t feel real. And I just… I don’t know how to handle it. We were supposed to be back home, working the farm. Not… here.”
Kenji pulled his brother in, wrapping him in a tight hug. “I know. I feel the same way. But we’re here now, and I’m not letting you face this alone. We’re going to get through this together. You and me.” He pulled back slightly, meeting Ren’s gaze. “I love you, Ren. I need you to trust me on this—we’ll find a way, and nothing’s going to stop us as long as we have each other.”
Ren nodded, his face crumpling as he let the last of his defenses fall, leaning into Kenji’s shoulder, his body shaking with quiet sobs. Kenji held him, his own heart breaking and strengthening at the same time. He wasn’t sure of anything about this world, but he knew one thing with unwavering certainty: he would protect his brother.
Whatever it took.
----------------------------------------
The next morning, Kenji was stirred from sleep by a familiar sound—a soft ding that reverberated in his mind like a gentle bell. Groggy and disoriented, he blinked his eyes open, taking in the dim morning light filtering through the wooden shutters. It took him a moment to remember where he was, the memories of the previous day settling over him like a blanket, both comforting and unsettling.
He heard Ren stir on the bed next to him, letting out a sleepy groan as he stretched. Before Kenji could say anything, a translucent screen appeared in front of them, the text glowing in a calming blue.
----------------------------------------
System Message:
Essence Awakenings will commence in one hour. All participants are to gather at the village center for an introduction to the process.
----------------------------------------
Kenji sat up, rubbing his eyes as he read the message. He glanced over at Ren, who was sitting up as well, blinking at the screen with a look of barely-contained excitement mixed with nervousness.
“Essence Awakenings,” Ren muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “I guess today’s the day everyone will be able to get our first essence and… power, or whatever it’s called.”
“Yeah,” Kenji said, his voice still thick with sleep, though his mind was waking up quickly, the anticipation cutting through the remnants of grogginess. “They said it was about… connecting with something, right? Like an element or a concept?”
Ren nodded, a glimmer of excitement flashing in his eyes. “Aranath mentioned something about meditating on things like fire or water. Finding out what fits with us, I guess.”
Kenji couldn’t help but feel a swell of curiosity. Despite the strangeness of it all, there was something intriguing about the idea of connecting with an essence, about finding a power that was uniquely his own. “Well,” he said, running a hand through his hair, “we might as well get up and see what this is all about.”
They took a few minutes to freshen up, splashing cold water from a basin onto their faces and shaking off the last dregs of sleep. The inn room was quiet, and the early morning light cast a soft, warm glow across the tatami mats. Kenji tightened the worn shirt he’d put on, still showing signs of wear but clean from the inn’s services, and tucked the broken katana into his belt.
When they stepped out of their room and into the hallway, they could already hear the low hum of voices outside, the village coming to life as others made their way toward the gathering point. As they left the inn and stepped into the crisp morning air, the sense of purpose felt almost tangible, hanging in the air like the morning mist.
“Ready?” Kenji asked, glancing at Ren, who nodded, a determined look in his eyes.
“Ready,” Ren replied, though Kenji could see the mixture of nerves and excitement beneath his steady tone.
Together, they walked down the path toward the village center, joining a stream of people all heading in the same direction.
Kenji and Ren approached the gathering of people outside the a strange building with a lavishly engraved sign calling it the Essence Chamber. The building standing tall and imposing before them. Its doors were ornately carved, each panel depicting elements in swirling patterns of water, fire, earth, air, and other, more ethereal symbols Kenji didn’t recognize. The anticipation in the crowd was palpable; people shifted nervously, exchanging whispers and glances as they waited.
Aranath stood at the front, his presence commanding but calm. He raised a hand, and the crowd fell silent. “Welcome,” he began, his voice carrying effortlessly over the group. “Today marks the beginning of your path to awakening to the process of cultivation. Here, you will be tested—not on strength, but on the depths of your character and spirit. You will face questions, situations that will help guide you toward an essence suited to your true self.”
Behind him, several attendants dressed in the same robes stood by in silent readiness, each poised near one of the many doors that lined the chamber’s entrance.
“Entering these doors will mark the beginning of the end of everything you ever thought was so. Life will never be the same once you’ve walked the path.”
Aranath continued, “Know that each of you must walk this path alone. The doorways here are not simply doors, but portals leading to your own testing zones, where you will be guided through challenges suited to uncovering your essence.”
Kenji glanced at Ren, a pang of hesitation tightening in his chest. He’d always looked out for his younger brother, and the thought of separating now, in this strange and unknown process, felt like a lead weight in his gut. Ren looked back at him, his own unease evident. But before they could say anything, one of the attendants stepped forward.
“All participants must enter alone,” she said gently, looking between the two of them. “The path to your essence is a personal one. Only by facing it individually can you find the essence that is truly yours. I know it’s hard to separate during a chaotic time as this. Please know that this will allow you to protect each other even better if you continue forward.”
Kenji swallowed, glancing back at Ren. They both knew it was necessary if they wanted to see their family again, but that didn’t make it any easier.
“You’ll be alright,” Kenji murmured, trying to muster confidence for both of them. As he placed a soft hand on his younger brother’s head.
Kenji started grinning widely pushing down the fear in his heart. “We’ll see each other again after this, and with you having some cool superpower like me. You won’t be as dashing but you could be a good Robin to my Batman.”
Ren nodded, taking a deep breath. Then scrunched his face and he started laughing . “Excuse you! I’m no Robin, if anything I’m Nightwing or the Red Mask.”
Kenji gave his brother a side hug and simply said. “We’ll see little brother, we’ll see. I’ll see you on the other side!”
They stepped forward, each approaching a different doorway. Kenji placed his hand on the carved wood, glancing over his shoulder to catch one last look at Ren, who gave him a small, determined nod. With a final, steadying breath, Kenji pushed open the door.
As he stepped through, he felt an odd tingling sensation, as though he were passing through water without any resistance. The world around him blurred, the doorway vanishing, replaced by a shimmering, vast emptiness. He blinked, realizing that he was now standing in a completely different space—a place that seemed boundless, yet contained, as if reality itself had shifted around him.
Just before the portal door closed behind him, he caught a last, faint glimpse of Aranath, who called out one final instruction. “Remember, these trials are designed to reveal the essence that resides in you. Trust your instincts, face each test openly, and you will find your path.”
The door shut, leaving Kenji surrounded by a strange, dim light.
----------------------------------------
Kenji blinked, trying to adjust his eyes as the dim chamber around him shifted, transforming in the blink of an eye. The shadows stretched and twisted until he found himself standing on a narrow dirt path leading into a small village. Smoke billowed up from thatched rooftops, flames licking hungrily at the structures, casting an ominous, flickering light over the scene.
The sound of screams filled the air, punctuated by the clash of steel and the harsh cries of men who weren’t there to help. Villagers ran in every direction, their faces twisted with fear and despair. A few tried to carry what they could; others shielded children, desperately shoving them toward the trees on the outskirts of the village.
For a moment, Kenji could only stand there, frozen by the horror unfolding before him. But then, a scream cut through the chaos, piercing and desperate. His head whipped around, heart pounding, to see a young mother clutching her child, staring at a raider advancing toward her, sword raised high.
Without thinking, Kenji took a step forward, but before he could reach them, a dark figure stepped into his path. Clad in leather armor, his face obscured beneath a hood, the man looked him up and down with a cold, calculating expression.
“Run,” the man sneered, his eyes glinting with contempt. “Only a fool stays to fight when there’s no chance of winning. Save your own hide, kid. This village is done for.”
Kenji’s fists clenched, his heart pounding with fear, anger, and a desperate urge to do something. A part of him knew this man was right. He could see that the raiders had already overwhelmed the villagers. He could turn around, run back to safety, find his family, survive. If he stayed, he might die here for nothing.
Seeing Kenji still standing still staring at the village in flames the man in armor scoffed, a harsh, mocking sound that echoed through the chaos. “Suit yourself. Die with them, if that’s what you want.”
The man’s harsh criticism and departure shaking Kenji out of his stunned state, he starts to turn to run away. To move on and find his family instead of dying for these strangers who to be honest he had no idea if they were even real since this was a test anyways.
“Yeah that’s right! This isn’t real, it’s just a part of the test! I’m not gonna risk my life for some random test a strange dude speaking of gods and cosmic beings decided we needed to do.” Kenji justifying his running away.
As he keeps turning and starts to run he hears the screams of the woman again. And for a second Kenji felt sick. Maybe they weren’t real but they sounded real. This image felt real with real wind and real smell of smoke in the air.
What if they aren’t fake?
Suddenly he stopped, an old memory surfacing in his mind. Words his dad told him after he found Kenji crying in the tree house that his grandparents had constructed.
----------------------------------------
The soft creak of the treehouse swayed gently in the breeze, a refuge high above the ground, nestled in the sturdy branches of a sprawling oak. Kenji sat there, huddled against the wall, his small shoulders shaking as he buried his face in his arms. He was young—just a little boy—but he felt a sadness that he couldn’t fully explain, an ache that settled in his chest. The treehouse was a place where he often felt safe, a place his grandparents had built long ago, filled with traces of his family and their memories. Yet, somehow, that only made the loneliness sharper, the absence of his grandparents more painful.
His father’s voice broke the quiet, soft and gentle. “Kenji?”
Kenji didn’t look up, but he heard his father’s footsteps approach, felt the solid warmth of him as he sat down beside him. Aiko didn’t ask what was wrong; he just wrapped his arms around Kenji, pulling him close. He didn’t rush him or try to make him speak, just held him as Kenji’s tears soaked into his shoulder, whispering softly, “It’s okay, son. I’m here.”
After a few minutes, the sobs began to quiet, Kenji’s breathing slowing as his father’s steady presence calmed him. When the silence settled in, Aiko began speaking, his voice filled with warmth and reassurance.
“Did I ever tell you about the time your Grandpa Thompson tried to teach me to ride a horse?” he asked, a faint smile in his voice.
Kenji shook his head, still sniffling, but he couldn’t help but listen.
“Oh, it was a sight,” Aiko chuckled softly. “There I was, city boy through and through, barely knew which end of the horse was which. Your Grandpa Thompson just grinned and said, ‘Well, Aiko, ain’t no better time to learn than now.’ That horse threw me halfway across the field. But he just dusted me off and put me right back up again. And, somehow, I figured it out. Your grandpa, he was good like that. He didn’t mind letting people stumble a bit, because he knew they’d get there eventually.”
Kenji listened, a small smile tugging at his lips as his father shared more stories—of his grandmother’s garden that overflowed with flowers every spring, of his grandpa’s booming laugh that seemed to fill the entire farm, of the days spent working, learning, and laughing together. Each story painted a picture, bringing his grandparents to life in a way that no photograph or memory could.
After a while, Kenji felt himself calm, the sadness easing into something softer, more bearable. He looked up at his father, his eyes still red but filled with a question that had been nagging at him, one he hadn’t known how to ask.
“Dad,” he began, his voice small but serious, “why do our choices even matter? If we just…go away someday, won’t all the things we did go with us?”
Aiko looked at him for a long moment, his expression thoughtful. He let out a gentle sigh, pulling Kenji a little closer as he thought about his answer. “That’s a good question, Kenji,” he said quietly. “But I think our choices do leave something behind. That’s what we call a legacy.”
Kenji frowned, not fully understanding. “Like…like a treasure?”
Aiko chuckled softly. “Not exactly. A legacy is kind of like…like footprints on a beach. When you walk on the sand, you leave an imprint, right? And sometimes, the footprints are deep enough that even when the ocean comes in, it takes a while to wash them away.”
Kenji’s eyes widened a bit as he thought about that. “So…a legacy is like leaving a footprint behind?”
“Exactly.” Aiko smiled warmly, brushing a stray tear from Kenji’s cheek. “When we make choices, when we help others, or when we love someone—those things leave marks. They leave footprints, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, those marks stay long enough for others to see them. Maybe even to follow them.”
Kenji looked down, his small hands twisting in his lap as he thought. “But…what about the footprints that get washed away? What happens to those legacies if no one remembers?”
Aiko’s gaze softened, and he placed a gentle hand on Kenji’s shoulder. “Well, son, sometimes footprints do get washed away. And that’s okay. Legacies are important, but they’re really just side effects of something more important—the choices themselves.”
Kenji tilted his head, confused. “But if the legacy washes away, then…what’s the point of the choice?”
Aiko smiled, his eyes warm and full of understanding. “The point, Kenji, is that we don’t make choices to leave legacies. We make choices because they matter to us. It’s about living in a way that makes you proud of who you are, so that when you look back on your life, you can feel at peace knowing you made choices that you don’t regret.”
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. “Legacies, they come and go, just like footprints in the sand. What matters is that we live our lives in a way that, at the end, we can smile and say we did our best. That we loved deeply, helped when we could, and stayed true to ourselves. That’s what really matters.”
Kenji thought about his father’s words, a small, contemplative smile slowly spreading across his face. The ache in his chest was still there, but it felt lighter, somehow less lonely. He wasn’t sure he fully understood everything yet, but he felt a little better, a little more whole.
He looked up at his father, his heart full of gratitude. “Thanks, Dad.”
Aiko smiled, pulling him into a gentle hug. “Always, Kenji. I’ll always be here for you.”
----------------------------------------
“No, I can’t run” he said, his voice barely above a whisper, but the fleeing armored man heard somehow heard him and smiled a genuine smile looking back before dissolving into shadows.
Kenji’s stomach twisted. The man was right, wasn’t he? He could turn around, run back to safety, find his family, and survive. If he stayed, he might die here, just another body amidst the carnage. But as he looked at the terrified woman clutching her child, something hardened in him. Kenji focused on his father’s words about life and death. He couldn’t turn his back on these people, couldn’t live with himself if he did.
Gripping the broken katana he ran towards the raider closing in on the woman and child.
Kenji would not live his life with the regrets of turning his back on those in need.