I woke up from a deep, relaxed slumber. When was the last time I had gotten to sleep like this? Ever since coming to this world, I couldn’t catch a break. Something or the other kept me busy always. Even during my time with Agnar, I kept working and earning money, experiencing a glimpse of an adult’s life.
I sat up and did the one thing I hadn’t done in a while—access my System. “Huh.. It seems like my stamina has gone down.” I thought of different reasons but settled for the most plausible sounding one—I hadn’t been getting much exercise lately aside from working, which is just staying in one place and powering the magic devices, which would only strengthen my mana storage and efficiency and not his “stamina”.
Name: Andreas
Attribute: Aether
Stats:
Strength: 8
Endurance: 7
Mana Capacity: 13
Stamina: 4
Skills:
Seraphic Slash Lv.2 (+1)
According to the System seller, one way I could improve my stats is by physically working out, the other is that I show my “competence”. Not sure how that works.
Well, anyways, time for a morning run. I don’t really have a change of clothes though…
Wait a minute. What’s this? There was a note stuck to the door of the wardrobe that read “Please use the fresh set of clothes in here, Andreas. They are yours.”
Uhh.. how do they know my size though? I tried one of the t-shirts on and they fit me like they had been tailored for me personally. How is that even possible?
Well, anyways, Heina must’ve arranged for it, since she has every data about me, Asher and Clara—wait, speaking of Clara… I hadn’t seen her yet. She also resides in this mansion after the Throne feud, right? Well, I’ll run into her eventually. This mansion isn’t infinite.
Okay, first things first. I changed into a more casual wear and began my run. I ran along the entire perimeter of the mansion and into the surrounding grassy plains. After some time, I reached the edge of the cliff on which the mansion had been built upon.
I got to admit. This was one hell of a view from the top. The vast mountains in the distance covered the estate as if they were natural borders. The clear, blue sky loomed over it like an empty, blank canvas reflecting the rich history of the Latix.
But, no matter what, nothing could beat the scenery of when I first came to this world. The golden hue emitted by the setting twilight sun soaking the innovative architecture of the Humans amidst the yellow, grassy plains reflecting the sun’s motives. That view… It was just… wow, I can’t even begin to describe it.. Straight up mesmerizing.
Anyways, I gotta get to work. I ran along the perimeter until I was completely exhausted multiple times, taking intermittent rests.
After a few hours, I was finally done. Ahh.. I’m hungry again. I should head back now.
I walked back to the mansion taking in the surrounding view—the trees, the lop-sided farmhouses near fallow lands, and many other things which would be everyday occurrences of nature.
But, while I thought the day would begin and progress normally, that wasn’t the case.
I noticed something glittering in my peripheral vision. Being the curious idiot that I am, I obviously went to check it out.
I cleared the various kinds of shrubs and branches of trees blocking my path and… deep inside the forest, a cave surrounded by exotic trees, jutting out in a place full of mundane ones. The entire view just invited me to come check it out.
Hmm… should I go in, or should I call someone? I thought to myself as I took steps forward. Oh, well, it wouldn’t hurt to just check it out from the outside…
In the following moment, something like a tentacle slowly perked out from the darkness. Gradually, it picked up pace, and then…
I was pulled in.
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Asher was going about his usual training while following the commands his master had given him before she temporarily left for exploring the world to gain more knowledge to update her current techniques and to better her teachings to Asher.
Of course, he couldn’t come to understand the deeper meaning to her actions and believed that she had actually completely given up on him, so he trained to one day stand before her as a worthy pupil to make her acknowledge him and to once again get under her wing.
“Ahh! Urgh…” Around some time, as he kept practicing various formations and combos of spells, his legs gave out. Even though his spirit burned bright, even though his purpose was acknowledgeable, his body didn’t possess the durability to withstand it.
This is frustrating… He thought to himself before going back into the mansion with a new objective in mind. Andreas should be awake by now.
“He’s not in his room? Hmm.. Where will I be able to find him then?”
After some thinking, a single word echoed in his mind—kitchen. He didn’t know why but he always associated Andreas with either food or a simp.
“Well, he’s not here either. If it were the Andreas I know, then he must be in the kitchen area, devouring food with his eyes.” That would be the case if Andreas was able to come here.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
He then proceeded to ask around for Andreas, describing his features and behaviors, but no luck.
Well, this is strange.
Finally, he went to the security guard positioned near the gate. “Did a boy about my age exit some while ago?” He thought asking the security would help him pin point Andreas’ location, but…
“About your age… so I’m guessing mid-twenties?”
Uhhh…
He scratched that off to look for Andreas himself.
While Asher’s suspicions grew stronger, in the mysterious cave, Andreas’ current situation was one of unknown nature.
It was eerily dark. Although a few silhouettes somewhat like leaves or… tentacles could be perceived, his mind was exhausted preventing him to investigate further his surroundings.
It natural that he’d feel exhausted, since right now, his mana is being sucked by a disgusting monster. It was a Fifth Echelon monster species, Hirowa, a slimy monster able to shapeshift its body to fit its needs. It feeds off of majorly 9th or 10th Echelon monsters, and not reported to attack humans all that much, but to think it attacked Andreas must only mean one thing—it’s at the end of the rope.
The Latix guards should’ve cleansed this hilltop of any and every monsters, making it the most safest place in the entirety of the estate. Then, why now, is there a Fifth Echelon monster lurking in this area occupied by the most noblest of the Latix?
“Urkk!! H-hellp…” No matter how much he tried to raise his voice and scream, he couldn’t. After all, Hirowa first rips off its prey’s voice box and savors the helplessness it displays before crushing it inch by inch, increasing the intake of the mana. It’s quite lucky for Andreas that he still possesses a voice box.
But, not all hope is lost for Andreas, as his friend, Asher, assembles a search and rescue group for him.
Organizing such a group was not the first thought that came to his mind, instead, he was willing to take it upon himself to go and look for Andreas, but after searching for some time, his gut instinct warned him that the matter was much more grave than it seemed, so he requested help from the Demon he trusted the most here, Heina.
Heina picked the most suitable people in the mansion and appointed Asher as the group leader.
“I’ll join too!” A voice rung beside Asher and Heina who were crafting the most viable search plan.
They both looked at each other. It was the same girl who had dined with Asher and Andreas last night.
“But why..?” Asher let his tongue slip, making the girl pout heavily. Heina, however, made an amused expression. “Alright.” She faced in Asher’s direction and informed, “This girl right here is Sevlina. She is really competent when it comes to search and rescue operations.”
“I see.. Nice to meet you Sevlina. I’m Asher.”
They exchanged a brief greeting before getting serious again. They drafted a plan and split into groups of four. Heina handed them the layout of the hilltop, as they departed with a singular purpose.
The hilltop which possessed a waterfall, lake, a vast green forest, and a ruined town, is now going to be searched by the four groups. Asher’s group decided they’d scout the ruined town.. Likewise, the rest of the groups decided their own destination.
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It was midday in the ruined town. The terrain was rugged with cement blocks and huge boulders. Asher, while looking for traces of Andreas, was intrigued by the structures which had once stood tall and strong, now devastated.
“Are you wondering why this town is in such a state?” asked Sevlina knowingly.
“Uh? Right…”
Sevlina proceed to give him a condensed synopsis of the events that took place without missing key details.
The story went something like this:
Before the Latix arrived, this town had flourished. In fact, it had been the sole one in the area. The inhabitants were said to be the “People of the Unexplored”. They are basically refugees or migrants from the far side of the known planet of Tainad—the side which hadn’t been explored yet by the Demons. That explained the uniqueness of the architecture.
These people had supposedly developed good trade relations, visible from the quality of the bricks and decor which still stood today. They had been extremely wealthy in their peak, and after they mysteriously disappeared from unknown causes, the Latix arrived in the scene after a few years and looted the riches which were the remnants of the aftermath, giving them a huge advantageous start than the rest of the Demon families. Soon, they rose and obtained the rank of nobility. Well, from the perspective of the Latix, it wasn’t exactly looting, it was more like divine helping.
Even after the disappearing of the “People of the Unexplored”, their land had been kept safe by the kings who had favored them while they were present, those who had been loyal traders, showcased their loyalty by defending the land from neighboring kingdoms with malicious intent.
And now, at present, all kingdoms of the Demon continent were extinct, with the nobility holding the highest power in the region.
“So, historically, the Latix rise to power stemmed from the disappearance of the ‘People of the Unexplored’?”
“Precisely.”
Asher pondered over the matter with a tinge of interest, but now wasn’t the time. He had a bigger issue at hand.
Few people ran toward him and uttered in unison, “We couldn’t find anything in the buildings in the back.”
Asher was getting impatient. Where could he have gone off to? What had even happened to him in the first place?
As the thought about it, his eyes landed on a particular building still nice and tidy. The paint was still on and the bricks were in tact. “Did you search that building?” he pointed.
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They entered the building—no, to be precise, it seemed to a place of worship, so a temple.
There weren’t any statues or symbols of worship, but one could tell it was a holy place from the presence it carried.
Before Asher took a step, his group member did first, and boy was that a wrong step, because in the next moment, he was sent flying.
A booby trap.
The man had activated the trap by stepping on a stone which had been a pressure plate. A log then came crashing down, aiming at his chest and struck him. The air was pushed out of his lungs, causing him to lose consciousness.
“Everyone, approach the interior carefully!” Asher roared.
They didn’t have time to take care of the injured, as they didn’t know what situation Andreas was in currently. They had to make haste.
Searching, the interior while carefully navigating their way, they reached a room containing a chest. It was covered in numerous chains and many colorful threads.
Asher stepped forward this time to open it, but hesitated, cautious of it potentially being yet another booby trap, but Sevlina assured him.
He opened it…
“This…”
There was a map, a book and an elixir of sort.
But, right after he opened it, something felt strange around him.
His surroundings… it was like water, losing its shape. The rigid corners of the table, the walls… they seemed to be liquified and seemed to melt.
He looked around at the others next to confirm he wasn’t going crazy but… Sevlina’s usual prim face was now one of an hag’s slowly losing its shape and becoming blobby. The same went for everyone else, their faces became distorted.
His brain couldn’t handle the shock and he screamed. The ends of his mouth twitched from the dismay that took place around him. The air around him felt thick and he couldn’t inhale anymore. A weight larger than his own body was pressing him from all sides.
He was hallucinating.