The brick road had steamed my feet as the cicada buzzed anonymously in the heat.
The City was in splendor as every door we passed wafted cool air.
The streets were empty with only a few people helping in each store.
I hung on my papa’s neck as my feet cooled by his chest.
There was a slight bounce on his walk and on his golden hair.
His golden locks had a citrus fragrance in it.
“Papa, where are we going today?” I asked.
“We’re going to the bank”.
His voice is the soothing nasal voice I've always known.
“Where they keep money?”
“Gerda, you’re so smart. It’s not that kind of bank, we’re going to get your first essence.”
I huffed at his hair, this again. Essence this, Essence that…
“When is granny coming back?” I asked.
We entered a huge building and i stared at the huge ceiling as i felt like iwas going down.
Papa fell onto his knees and huffed like he was in pain,
I sucked my thumb in thought that I was heavy.
“Hello?” - “Hello” My father shouted
The bank was empty and the door was open and I was a bit stiff.
Am I really that heavy?
“Oh quite a constitution,” A tailored man said as he brisked to us. He looked outside the door before he closed it.
“Yeah, she’s something else,” My father replied.
“You’re daughter?” he asked.
Papa nodded as I soothed him by rubbing his ears.
“As you are aware, the adventurer’s are enjoying their hospitality venture.
We’re currently not open to the public.”
“I understand, I'm in quite a situation…” he huffed.
“...This is my illegitimate daughter and I prefer no one to know about it”.
papa handed him a purple ornate card.
The tailored man twirled his mustache.
“Both of you show me your interface”. He said.
“Gerda…” papa beckoned me.
I wasn’t supposed to show my interface to anyone but since papa said so.
Papa had a brown luster copper interface and mine was black with white blocks blocking the information, it was quite a problem but the man said he just wanted to see the interface.
The man was quite anxious as he eyes jarred between our displays.
“You’re in quite some trouble, young man. The Woman?”
“She was a succubus and an adventurer, I swear,” My papa exclaimed.
“Papa, don’t lie - he can see it!” I said in alert.
The man had a toggle detector in the air, that tipped when papa lied..
He seemed wary of us or was he just anxious.
“Sir, only players can see interfaces at will, you must believe me!”
“Wrong…” The man said.
“At most High-Tier Gold interfaces can see but that is improbable
In our world - all adventurer’s are nerfed to silver as they arrive. Young Prince!
You are simply not attentive. She didn’t use her display, it’s not even available to her”.
Papa isn’t paying attention, this old man is more anxious than papa!
“Tell me everything you know”. The tailored man said.
“It is as i say, She has one slot opened since a week ago
But the essences we gave her doesn’t meet the requirement”
“So you thought about getting a stronger essence and qualify her as an heir to strengthen your position amongst your brothers?” The Man said.
My father became disgruntled as he mulled to himself.
The man stared down papa. His perception only needed the smallest amount of information.
I bubbled my mouth in contempt as I stared down the old man.
I had to fight for papa but when he glanced at me - he smiled yet his eyes remained wizened.
“Who are her caretakers?” the tailored man asked.
“Mary auburns from the farms, but she passed away from old age
At the Klitsche area - we tried to give my daughter Ms. Auburns essence
To stabilize her mentality but again, nothing met her requirement”
“And this is what made you noticed that she’s quite strong
And you rushed to champion her, rather than establishing her as an heir?” The tailored man said
“You came to the bank as soon as you heard to throw your life savings
For her to be your lifeline?” he continued.
My papa only came for things that were other than me?
His pitiful head glanced at me as he realized I understood.I’m quite smart, i could’ve helped him with whatever he needed, but he?
“You will be king,” The tailored man said, “I Assure you.”
My papa looked at the tailored man in disbelief.
“I need you to release the child from your interface,I promise you, if she wants you to,
You will be king.” he said
“Sign off to who? You…” my papa stammered.
“No, she will belong to no one.”
There was a pause.
My papa frantically went through his interface.
“Papa!” I shouted.
I held his arms away but he persistently touched his interface
And immediately I felt alone.
I couldn’t believe he did that - I stared at him in disbelief.
He held my shoulders.
“If he has the truth compendium then he is an honest man,” he said.
“Papa…” I cried, “what compendium? Papa had no insight!”
Papa was always like this, he did things on a whim but i could
Understand because I was born with inherent intellect, i think?
But this… did he just sell me?
“Gerda, snap out of it!” he shouted.
“Just make me king, okay - you can do that right?”
“Excuse me,” the man coughed, “I never meant right away”.
“Wha?” my father stummered.
“To think that… nevermind.
She will be able to make you king any time she wants after her eighteenth birthday”. He said.
“How can you be sure?” my father asked.
“You should’ve asked that before… regardless, you have the royal event to attend to, prince”.
“Yes, Right…. Gerda”
Father said while looking at me.
“...You are Gerda Fellhorn, no matter what happens.
You’ll live like a princess when I become king.”
He smiled as the tailored man beckoned him off.
I stood there watching my father walk just fine as the bank doors closed.
The tailored man took a moment before he adjusted his eyes to me.
“Are you my new papa?”
“Gerda, i’m not your papa, you are your own person now, in fact, you are my leader.”
“Like a boss?” I whimpered.
“Yes, quite right but you can only give me a few commands.
Quite frankly I did you a bit wrong,” he said.
“In what way?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t something bad but… he said I'm his leader.
‘You’re father had got quite a few items from this bank
And it always puzzled me as to how he could psychologically
Handle it - you’ve been helping him, correct?”
I nodded, since we were connected, i had to struggle but that stupid oaf
Disconnected me on a moment’s notice.
“You know you did me quite wrong, what will i say to mommy when she comes back?”
I played a harsh card, “Hmm!”
He simply smiled, “What do you want in return?”
I bit my lips in thought and nibbled my finger in contemplation.
“What if i offer you 250 Million white gold bars, you can’t use it
But it gives you quite a good interest rate in your inventory?”
“Is that a lot?” I asked.
“Two bars is equal to the wealth of the five cities around us,
What are your thoughts Gerda?”
I lived as an orphan despite having a prince papa.
I couldn’t afford lessons in the atelier room and the library took me two hours to walk.
“Hmm!” I nodded.
“Then come with me,” he said.
We walked into the bank as he described it to me, from the teller points, to the vaults.
“This is where we keep essences, do you know your attributes?”
“Hmm, they keep changing but I'm not a baby”.
“I understand, It must have been difficult for you then, babies attributes change constantly because they haven’t been unlocked”.
“So I haven't been unlocked?”
“Yes, that is not a problem. It’s too soon for you to get an essence since it can affect your mind”.
I held his hand as we walked down a hidden stairway.
he led me through a labyrinthine series of vaults,
An explained their different systematic mechanics.
It seems each world has their own level system.
“This room transfers you to a different world but requires one white gold piece per person.
I will give you a book with different coordinates and highlight the safe ones.”
I nodded to him. My body kept getting stiff the further down we walked.
“What you are experiencing is called a threat level,
your father alone wouldn’t be able to come close to a bank.”
The air quaked as we opened the final door and there were lights of blue in the center.
“Why did you take the long way? Where is Arlon?” a man grimaced.
“It’s as we predetermined Arlon must be in trouble,” The tailored man said.
“We’re the ones in trouble!” he replied.
“This will be no problem”. The tailored-man said,“Gerda, join the circle and put out your display”.
I did as he asked and stood at the free spot.
My display blocked the rushing cold as icicles formed on it.
“An Onyx display!” a woman said, “war specialist analytics?”
“Look at the veneer, it’s even black ops?”
“Where did you find the impossible help of a mage?” The grimacing man said.
“She’s not a mage - she’s only six years old, everyone, synergize with her!”
I couldn’t pay much attention but I was shocked at their thought. I felt like I was pushed back.
The man next to me removed his display and came to me.
I felt a piercing pain on my ear and looked at him in distraught!
“It’s a numbered item - it will help with the shock” He said.
Everyone, all hands on deck, support the little girl.
I felt a curved display behind me, a man with two displays set it.
“I’m opening it further!” The tailored man said.
5-star copper… 4 star copper .
The numbers kept rising and my hair waved. A circle formed by the woman landed on my feet.
There were three men and one woman.
3-star bronze 4-star bronze.
My display was taking hail with white silver liquid, the entire trajectory
Thundering its way to my screen.
The other people’s screen started cracking even though the pressure was facing me.
1-star silver 2-star silver.
“Oh living Haruna! How is this possible?” the grimacing man said.
“I don’t care how much she can take? My display is breaking! Shut it down,” the woman said.
With the air billowing around me, i felt something crack - it wasn’t my display,
It became unlocked.
The white bars of lines finally were removed and I could read my screen.
Note:
Congratulations Gerda, this is your mother.
Within acceptable rift challenges, I will help you a total five times.
It seems you're facing a breach *configuring* you’re blocking a breach.
18 quilts ranking equivalent to three silver *configuring* sending phantasm.
(Note concluded.)
“Mama!”
A silver thread rushed out from my display and emitted a glistening light.
The light restored everyone’s display and entered the breach.
The ghastly blue wind immediately stopped.
The breach began to close and numbers appeared on my screen.
The silver line came out and dispersed, giving everyone items and liquid in a flash.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The breach closed. I looked at the tailored man who was in disbelief.
He saw me glancing and came about.
“Everyone, send in the items and essences into the vault.” He said.
The grimacing man rushed to me and picked me up!
“Haha! What a child! I am Balandir Krug from the northern dwarves”
“You’re scaring the child.” The woman said,“I am Lyra Zarek - a sorcerer from the Zarek sanctum. What is your name child?”
“Gelda Fellhorn” My voice squeaked.
“Fellhorn?’ the woman said.
She seemed to change her tone as she looked at the tailored man.
“Julian?”
That must have been the tailored man’s name.
“Orwen Sailik.” The man who gave me the earrings said.
“Fang,” The last man said.
I was very happy to learn their names and we walked out together.
Julian checked my inventory but besides the item - it didn’t show him anything.
We placed the items into the vault and we entered into a table room.
I had to sit on two scatter pillows as they concluded this was a meeting.
Though they sat quietly staring at me as I stared back with my neck just above the table.
“Leader, would there be anything you would like to know?”
“Leader!?” Balandir said, “Julian, have you lost your mind?”
“It’s quite ordinary Balandir, She has a special ops analytic, or is it because of her age?”
“No fights!” Julian said.
“Turn on your display and go through the properties,” Orwen whispered.
I nodded. When my display opened, instead of a screen it enveloped the room.
“Would you like to enter members?” The System said.
“Yes, please,” I said.
“Lyra Zarek”.
“Julian bastian”.
“Orwen Sailik”.
“Lee fang”.
“Balandir Krug”.
“Thank you, participants have been added.” the system said, “the topic?”
“Next breach opening?” Julian said
“Next breach opening ~ two weeks” the system said.
“Two weeks!” Everyone shouted.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Your predecessor Arlon…Our last Leader had a few white gold bars on him.
They’re main use is to open breaches”.
Everyone contemplated, they looked like my neighbors when granny didn’t come back.
“I knew this was possible, but I have a countermeasure,” Julian said.
“Please say it?” Lyra said.
“We restore everyone’s power and give out free admission to the entire galaxy
Feng, can you organize a cultivation competition?”. Julian asked.
“In one week?” Feng asked, quite unsettled by the notion.
“I will bring every sanctum at my disposal, and host a competition” Lyra said, “But julian…”
Julian looked over at Lyra.
“...We may need to consider this bank defunct and this world lost,
Under those concerns - I wish for us to utilize every item in the bank.”
The team looked at julian in concern as his head fell just like my father did.
“If that is the case then i Balandir will offer all my smiths and every able dwarf.”
“We have smiths within our houtians and xiantian clans, We’ll assist.” Fang said.
“Orwen?” Lyra asked.
“We don’t have much time before i can implement a Tower defense.” He replied,
“...Besides we have one more problem. We don’t have a leader to unite all the people.”
They all glanced at me before looking down.
“Granted, we have too many races, classes, and the elves,” Balandir said.
“Not to forget the different systems and personalities,” Orwen said.
“The attribute effect on psychology if we give them the essences,” Julian said.
“Two weeks is not enough time,” Lyra said, “But we must try”.
“The approximate time will take more than two weeks for the guardians to reach this location”
The System said.
“Do we have any options?” Julian asked.
“Yes, but there is a need to make a vow of secrecy,
condition: extermination of any inherent clan” the system replied.
They all had a furtive look in their eyes of anxiousness.
“This includes all and any form of resurrections despite world system order” the system replied.
Orwen whistled in a grief urgency.
“It may just be information…” Julian hesitated, “If we keep our mouth sealed then…”
“We agree,” Lyra said.
“Confirmed”. - “Aye”. - “All in, i guess”. - “fine” - “Okay” i said. - “Yes”
The room color changed from a black ambience from the range of my display to purple.
“I am on a limited intelligence,” the system said.
“Considering the magnitude of the four dragons, i am obligated to use (one) Rift challenge.
Brashtilia is a special and unique place for our origin and the decimation of the Gellhorn’s
Will wipe our future existence to approximately null and void.
Considering these factor you have (two) challenges and (one) imperative measure.
The imperative will be disclosed and the recommendations will be final and undisputable.
First establish Gelda Fellhorn as your commander.
Gelda originates from a confidential lineage from a world race that is battle-geared in genetics.
Our civilization battles five other worlds that has an estimate loss beyond imagination.
Our entire civilization relies on Gelda’s lineage as commander.
A battle against four dragons can be considered a stepping stone.
Win or lose despite a victory possibility of 3.7% - her commendation is needed for growth.
My system has determined that there will not be an opportunity for this”.
“Pause!” Julian exclaimed.
“The second recommendation, as of your confirmations, i have used an offshore balance
Belonging to a Maiden Name of Gerda’s lineage.
I have procured four magical towers and chainlink to tactically cover the city.
I have predominantly requested for seized establishment building that are in
Link with your classes.
A Column based dwarf Tower with all the material And books left untouched.”
“There is such a place?” Balandir exclaimed.
“An engineering Tower with siege weapon: condition untouched.”
Orwen whistled in a huff.
“A sorceress and mage tower commonly used for hybrid magic”
“Oh!” Lyra replied.
“Heaven Origin essence tower created by a category: beyond true divinity cultivator”
Fang was shocked into petrification.
“
“I have also ordered dragon-smelling salt and all aligning atmospheric condition
For all the races and fifteen mummified dragons as compensation for Julian,” The system said,
“Why do i need dragons?” Julian asked.
“Dragons are a natural component for world establishment.
What was needed for your objective was to let one dragon out
And allow it to transform the world then sequence each dragon out accordingly.
Our mummified dragons have been chemically induced to explode to allow the mist
To enter the world without a fight.”
“If that was the case, you have already proved it impossible by given us a 3.7% success rate!”
Julian exclaimed.
“Do not misunderstand, we have given you all you need to succeed but the calamity
Will not come from dragons but from certain members of our race who already have been alerting by the procurement - do not worry,
the atmosphere we have brought will not only give the world an edge but will restore you with memory intact and will
Remain for ten years, enough for growth from babies to self-sustenance.”
I could feel the trouble looming before my eyes but no one said a word to dispute it.
Balandir even gave me respectful looks.
“I Wil give you a moment to discuss after that i must speak with Gerda alone.
Phantasm has been consumed. Intelligence interface has been consumed. Procurement interface has been consumed.
Teleportation rift will be consumed for delivery and Failsafe Payload on standby.
According to atmospheric pressure and historic understanding from our ancestry
The first Dragon will reach in eight weeks and completion of all dragons must be forced in subjugation in twelve weeks.
The procurement has been done by your teleportation rift.
please do not underestimate our world - despite our soldiers,
All our victories rely on a single household.
If any member comes, it will be an annihilation.
Despite us constantly in war, we are a female-only race and our domination is internal as well.
This is why predecessors are hidden. The items will be delivered in a week.
Do not cross my Lineage Benefactor. This is your only warning.”
The Dark ambience switched but the glaring light in the room was darker than
any shade of black by the sheer tension in the room.
“How can we even begin underestimating, Julian did that woman say that those towers
Were seized” Balandair asked.
“Spoils of war?” Lyra said.
“Spoils of war from a beyond true divinity?” feng asked
Julian didn’t speak but i knew i was in trouble. Even though i spoke lightly about it,
He showed me everything in the bank.
Granny had an underground room for our herbs and she didn’t allow anyone inside,
Yet Mr. Julian showed me all the rooms and all the facts about them.
I couldn’t help but sulk but the situation was troublesome but how could i ask
Something of them now. I decided to wait until they left so I could speak to the system.
But.. what was left to discuss. They were all quiet as they began to leave the room.
“Excuse me - sorry” my tiny voice managed to get their attention.
“You said if i was good then papa will be king. I will be good here also and everyone will do well”
I said.
“Gerda, you might be too young to understand but… after this and the ten years for our growth,
We’re going to leave brashtilia. That system planned this from the moment it awakened,”
Julian said, “Whatever the historic value is, it’s plan is to bet everything on you and it decided
That in a split-second of its awakening, meaning whatever world you come from, you are much more terrifying than the members that are known”.
“Julian, she’s just a child,” Lyra said.
“We need to put our sincere effort,” Orwen said, “we’re still under oath and I don't think it means anyone will come to avenge the oath”.
“It is simply the warrior’s way - conviction is the answer.” Feng said, clenching his fist with a smile.
They all left and the room became dark again and I waited patiently and I felt unsettled.
“Hello?” I said.
“There is nothing to speak about, My requirement is to leave you alone to contemplate.
Please remain patient as I increase the threat threshold.” the system said.
I stayed in the room with an eerie feeling. I stayed for hours only hearing the sound of my own breathing, unable to fall asleep.
Across the vast starlet cosmos. A mountain range glistened from the amber sun as a
Fog enshroud the soil but glistened skin textured moulds that breathed and the sound of a hundred exhausted wimpers.
The hill had eyes as everyone was afraid to move in the fog or even wake up their compatriots.
There was a perilous woman laying between them using her thigh as a belly as a pillow.
The woman who was a pillow had been simply squinting as a hot shower cloud rained on her.
She was watching the circular rainbows when a display propped up near her.
She shrugged the perilous woman next to her in the glaring eyes of those nearby.
“Hmm! Don’t wake me,” the perilous woman shook her head.
“Don’t wake her, what are you doing!” she heard whispers.
She shook her again, “There was a notification”. The pillow woman said.
“I’m on vacation”.
“It was a message from your grand empress,” the pillow replied.
“I’m on vacation.”
“There was also a message from your offshore bank account” she squeaked
“Vacation.”
“A system message…”
“Vacation!”.
The pillow couldn’t help but tremor and stiffen in fear that caused a blue ocean to awaken
From the perilous woman’s eyes.
“Gerda,” she shrieked.
“What did you say!” the perilous woman asking sitting up. She checked her messages but she put all her messages to be shredded in 30 seconds.
She stared down on the pillow as thunder roared and the rain became icy cold.
“Tell me everything!”