"Not much, that's why I'm asking. Why?"

"Well, boy, I have to give it to you. I didn't think you would be such a scholar, knowing so much. Hah... Freedom... yes, many do look for it, but I think they're just fools. There is no freedom here."

Cain's face darkened, "Explain."

"Simple, they seek cores to break their chains, yet they forget the cores were made by the very same thing that made said chains. It's a hopeless struggle."

"Don't cores change under the user? Even if the cores were made by someone, it doesn't have full control over them?"

Orlin slumped back, "You don't understand. Even if you redirect the purpose of a core, it will still hold its foundational properties; its base laws cannot be changed. Even to get to that point, you have to train... train so much just to break free a little. So many die trying to absorb a core without becoming a Ruler, only to die by it..."

Cain's voice turned cold.

"The system... it's the system, right?"

Orlin's eyes grew wide with shock, "H-How... how do you know about that?"

He grabbed Cain by the collar, shaking him relentlessly. His eyes seemed to go red.

Everyone else in the bar looked over at the two. Some didn't know what they were talking about and grew confused, while those who did seemed to be conflicted, painfully reminded of Cain's words.

Red mist permeated Cain's body, like a snake hissing in warning, "Stop."

Orlin came to his senses quickly, backing away in a panic.

"I'm sorry... it's just that you don't seem to have gathered different powers. So I don't understand how you could have possibly known about the system."

Not willing to give up his secrets, Cain made up a lie.

"I touched a core once; I got the blue screen. What I want to know is why Rulers don't have this 'Freedom' and why Gatherers do."

Sitting down, Orlin imagined a drink made of hard cider and began to drink.

"It's simple really. Rulers are like vassals to the system, giving things to it in return for powerful tools and abilities, growing the power of themselves and their land. While Gatherers don't have this luxury, we must fight tooth and nail for everything we have, stealing from Rulers and Rulerless lands."

'Not the best answer... It seems to me both groups don't have freedom. One chooses its master while the other is restricted by the other side. The side which is backed by the world itself.'

"Do you know what the system is?"

"No... no one knows. Perhaps it is a law that governs laws, maybe a creature we cannot even fathom. I cannot answer such a question."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Cain thought for a moment; he was running dry of questions he felt Orlin could answer.

"Do you know of a Territory called a Fragment World of Manus?"

Dejected by such a question, Orlin answered weakly, "No, I do not. It seems I don't know a lot like I thought..."

'Damn it... what to ask, what to ask....'

"Oh, this question has irked me for a while now. Do you know why corrupt zones exist? I know it's due to that pure energy not being present, but I don't know why."

Cain's question seemed to lighten Orlin's mood; his face brightened with intellect. The gentleman indeed did pride himself on his knowledge.

"I do actually. I read a paper done by a famous scholar once. It is in line with my own guess that Corrupt zones are lands without a core; without the core, pure energy isn't transferred into territorial energy. This causes something strange to happen, being the energy that's everywhere ends up leaving! Now why do you think such a thing happens?"

Cain thought for a moment. "The pure energy needs the core?"

"No, you dunce! The core needs pure energy; it's the system! Or what the scholar called it 'The Law of Governance'! He believes that some consciousness is governing the world, and when there isn't a core in a specific territory, it removes the pure energy causing corruption!"

"And the system is the most probable suspect! ...But still, why does a territory then become a corrupt zone?"

Orlin grinned; it was such a wide grin Cain thought the man locked his jaw.

"There must be another Law combating the system! Conscious or not, it's the opposite of the purpose of the system! When a core is gone, the system draws back, allowing this other law to come in and change the landscape, perhaps draining it of whatever life and energy it had left. Of course, this is only a hypothesis but it makes sense!"

"That... does make some sense... but then what is this Law?"

"Like we can know, it must not exist here or something. It's already a miracle people other than Ruler can come in contact with the system; we're not its chosen!"

'Well, I have a lot to digest. I should go back below and hunt a bit more, get some pills for staying in the Dream Realm this time.'

"Thank you, Orlin, it's been a pleasure learning more about this vast world."

Cain got up and headed to the door; just as he opened it, Orlin yelled to him.

"Remember, Cain! Get checked out; if you are infected, you'll become a shade that lives only to devour dreams!"

'Devour dreams? Wait, is it like that pink stuff that came from that group I killed? Am I really infected?'

Cain yelled back, "Do you know anyone who could check me?"

"Go to Madame Annette; she's a seer! She lives high up in the city, ask around and you'll find her!"

"Thanks again Orlin!"

Cain headed out the door; his first objective was to make sure he wasn't dying.

'Madame Annette it is.'

...

On an unknown floor in the grand City of Dreams, Cain hung from a rope while opening a strange door with 'Annette' written on it.

Upon twisting the handle, a click notified Cain to push. As the door creaked open, Cain's vision and senses were overwhelmed with euphoric peace in the form of purple dust. He felt his nerves settle and his mind mellow, unable to control his body.

Soon, the nice feeling dulled, and Cain found himself sitting in a chair. Before him was a small table with a crystal ball in the middle; it was so murky he couldn't even see his own reflection in it.

"Why have you come here?" A mature and elderly voice seemed to snap Cain out of his calm state. Like a whack to the head, he became aware and confused.

"What the? Is this inside Madam Annette's home?"

The voice didn't answer his question, instead repeating itself, "Who are you?"

'Guess I'll have to play along.'

"I am Cain; I was sent here by Orlin. He thinks I might be sick after exploring the lower areas."

Purple smoke billowed around him, and from the smoke opposite to him, a chair holding a woman moved forth and stopped on the other end of the table.

On the chair was a young, beautiful woman with gray hair. She wore baggy clothes depicting stars and constellations.

"Orlin sent you? Then I can help; what seems to be the problem?"

Cain inched closer to the table.

"I was told to come here to get cured of some disease I'm unaware of. Can you help me?"

Annette smiled. "Perhaps..."