The Constructor:
A type of human endowed with the mysterious energy within the Earth, allowing access to supernatural abilities in many shapes and forms.
An individual blessed with the powers of Gaia as such is treasured in high esteem, and should immediately be placed within the ranks of nobility. Such is the way in the Kingdom of Magic.
- Silas Thedionysis the IX, High King of Ardon
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The floating blue window continued staring at me, the white word 'KILL' blaring itself in front of my eyes. It was instructing me to murder, for which it will reward me accordingly.
Of course, I am not blind enough to just follow the instructions of some ghost without reason. That would be rather foolhardy. Obviously, some hard evidence would be required, so I may ensure that he is in fact, defrauding families down to their last coin.
I scratch my chin. How strange. Normally, you would think being asked to end someone's life would immediately churn your stomach with qualms and broken morality. But apparently, I have no problem going through with this particular task, even under this ethereal threat of death.
If this man was not who he claims to be, it means that he is agreeable to swindling others, and is conducting themselves under a particular mode of operations. Specifically targetting hapless families hanging on for dear life, who are already living in squalor. Under the pretense of a savior, only to sap them dry of their last slivers of hope, giving the noose around their necks a final tighten.
Fucking piece of shit.
I stepped out of my room, noting the dull moonlight lighting up the wooden floor from the hallway windows. It was already midnight, so the townspeople were likely fast asleep, resting from the toils during the light. Perfect timing. Since I have been cooped up for years against my will, it is a given that I must venture outside this abode before my mind slowly dips into insanity. Not to mention, I have many things to consider about my current task.
Moving at a snail's pace, I glided ungracefully across the creaking floorboards, slipping past the room of Mother and Helos', hoping my lack of stealth wouldn't wake anyone. Successfully reaching the front door, my hands freeze by reflex before placing it on the handle. It remembers the burn of the moonlight and its flesh tearing off from the winds of winter's night. I inhale deeply and exhale quickly three times. Come now Solas. Now was not the time to be getting "cold" feet.
Chuckling at myself and holding my breath, I forced the door open in one fell swoop and scrunched my eyelids shut, as my body exposed itself to the dangerous --- Breeze.
A gentle caressing wind glided over my skin, the crisp chill of the night inducing the heart to pump my body full of heat, reinvigorating me. This sensation, oh how I have forgotten it.
I opened my eyes, embracing the view which was held from me for nine long years. Random tufts of grass and wildflowers grew everywhere around gravel stone roads, dotting the scenery with colors of fire-red, jade, and turquoise. Powerful oak trees with vast trunks overarched every house, acting as a natural rain roof. The moon was full, illuminating the night sky with a black shimmer, while simultaneously lighting up the road in front of me, revealing my town.
The high was promptly drowned with disappointment.
Calling it a town was an understatement. A moderate number of small cottages constructed with piled rubble stone, littered this town in a non-sensical pattern, with random roads branching out to who knows where. Surrounding this settlement was a flimsy fencing of wooden poles, barely reaching above my head, perhaps built to unsuccessfully fend off bandit raids. It was a mess of land and community.
All this time had passed and it looked the same. Small, impoverished, and without a single sign of economic improvement.
It was a pathetic dust bowl, to say the least.
Sighing, I started walking down the main town road. I need some privacy first. The reason the guard fence was of low quality, was due to the town's natural surroundings. The Tilian Forest enshrouded the town, and it was within reach right outside the gate. The darkness is the perfect place to experiment away from prying eyes.
As I passed numerous grey-white houses, hidden under the lunar light, I saw the gate within view and the lush forestry that spread out beyond. How embarrassing. It has only been about ten minutes, but my lungs are on fire right now. This is kind of shit because I had only just arrived at the gate, and the location I need the forest is still a ways away. Whoever invented the concept of walking deserves a nice kick in the taint.
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Huffing over the last hill, my body slogged itself into a small forest clearing, housing nothing but a single oak stump. Trudging up to the most comfortable-looking stump, I promptly plopped my bottom. I yanked out a wooden flask and proceeded to guzzle half of the water contained, the icy coolness ran down my throat. I wipe my mouth and catch my breath.
Fucking hell.
There were two reasons for removing myself from the town.
Ping.
[https://i.imgur.com/82jCwLA.png]
From 10 points, I could stand. From 20, I could walk. I can only assume that with more points placed into FORTIS, my physical state will continue improving, running and jumping would not even be out of the question.
The second reward was more intriguing. What is a [SKILL]? There was no indication from the ghost as to what changes pertain to acquiring this. It's not like it responds to any of my questions in the first place.
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I skim over the rest of my status parameters again.
[https://i.imgur.com/BmU0DOD.png]
FORTIS was one thing since the word fortification is not an uncommon word. But these other parameters are complete gibberish to me. But here in lies another problem. With the available points remaining, each time I input it towards the other parameters --
Ping.
[https://i.imgur.com/bk86vDU.png]
This message board pops up. The gist of it is I suck right now and my body is still a shitshow to handle whatever these other parameters mean to me. So, the current plan is now attaining this number. It may be best to conserve these 10 points for later, as I am not in a rush to utilize them right now.
I stand up and begin twisting my torso side to side, feeling my muscles loosen and warming up. Let us finish the first task, and move on to the next one. Placing both hands on my hips, I stare at my subquest conditions. There is nothing worse than walking. Except maybe running.
Let’s start again with this hill, come back down, rinse and repeat.
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Well.
That was a big mistake. My hands were flapping helplessly by my side, as I dragged myself up the hill in a zombie-like fashion for the 1000th and final repetition. My tongue was involuntarily hanging out, performing a little soiree. I wipe the endless torrent of sweat from my forehead, before dropping to the ground, proceeding to black out momentarily.
Not for long though. Just as I tried to relax, the light of dawn began peeking through the gaps in the trees, it stabbing through my eyelids with a burning intent. I have been trampling around like a lunatic, and Mother Earth won't allow me a reprieve. It is embarrassing how out of shape I truly am. Just this tiny mound was enough to wind my balls off, destroying my spirit.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/L3SFUmL.png]
I refuse to get up right now. So let me remain star-shaped on the forest floor, while I calmly relish the soft tickling grass on the nape of my neck. Is this what conditioning your body is like? The tip-to-toe of my frame was groaning in agony. I won't be getting up anytime soon, so I might as well see the results of my work.
Ping! Ping! Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/GtHfABI.png]
[https://i.imgur.com/1k4Po3F.png]
[https://i.imgur.com/e3jtSEg.png]
Woah, Woah. Not all at once. First, you tell me nothing, and now you flood my head with all of this information? You're like a bad story with terrible pacing.
As if in response to my jab, the familiar muscle tearing and bone grinding commenced, with lovely cramps erupting throughout my body. But as soon as it had started, it settled down much sooner than I expected. It was also noticeably much easier to handle that time. I wiggle my legs and arms, hopping back onto my feet unhindered. No more dripping sweat and the aching throughout my body was as if it had never existed in the place.
What the hell? My debilitating fatigue had completely dissipated. Shortness of breath? Gone. Wanting to vomit my guts out? Gone.
[SECOND WIND]? [LEVEL UP]? This was important information.
"What is [SECOND WIND]?" I inquired the ghost. Unlike the previous times, it responded.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/9L9maxx.png]
An automatic recovery healing spell?! This is a fortuitous thing to have acquired so early. At least now I won't die so easily.
I face the hill in front of me once more, bouncing on my toes, feeling my body bursting with energy. In one swoop, my legs blasted me up the hill within a single breath, my toes barely touching the ground as I was flying across the gravel. At the bottom of the hill, I skirted to a complete stop. I stared at my feet bewildered. Not a single drip of sweat.
Grinning like an idiot, I read at the second blue window that popped in front of my eyes. My grin became wider.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/IEgiJP8.png]
Give it to me! Give it to me!
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/usKGh2c.png]
What an exotic name. It is time to ascertain the fruits of my labor.
"Activate [EYES OF AUGON]!" I stick one hand in the air triumphantly, one hand on my hips. There was a light breeze flying by, and then silence. My face and ears begin to burn red. Thank god no one saw that display.
I stomp the ground four times.
"What the hell, man?" How ridiculous. Someone is intending to make me out to be a fool. I poked the ghost window aggressively, and it sidled away.
"Come back here! You give me what I deserve!" I start chasing it around in circles, before running into a second window, popping up out of nowhere.
Ping.
[https://i.imgur.com/Grg5wx6.png]
I huffed. "Then just say that I need to choose then?!!!" Throwing my hands up in the air. This "mysterious ghost" bullshit is getting old.
Ping!
[https://i.imgur.com/IydRQHd.png]
No time to waste. "Thermographics".
Suddenly, everything in my central vision and peripheries became a monochromic black spotted with white colors. The flowers trees, dirt ground, and cloudy sky included were laced with these colors. What in the goddamn fuck in the heavens of Gaia just happened.
I squint.
I thought this skill was supposed to help improve my vision. It was just making things harder to see for me. Did the system just scam me again?
I immediately paused.
My god. My hands. I held my breath as a pulsing color of fire-red emanated from my palms, enshrined by yellow and green. I turned my hands around, noting that the colors were pulsing as if the colors were alive. Amazing. Vision specified to the detection of life.
I look up and around, immediately zeroing in on the few birds in the sky flying through the light of the dawn. Truly miraculous. So this is a [SKILL]? With this, nothing can hide from my gaze.
"Snap".
That was the snap of a twig. Silence followed, but the lack of sound made my gut wrench.
I slowly swivel my head to look around at the forestry.
Within the bushes, about ten meters out, was a humanoid shape of red heat, staying eerily still and staring. And there was no doubt about it, staring right at me.
Feeling a shiver down my spine, I slowly take one step backward.
Ping.
[https://i.imgur.com/7nYSh8G.png]
To be continued .........................