Sylvester’s mind was racing, his thoughts flooded with panic and frustration as his nightmare once again stands before him. He was less concerned about himself and more about the safety of his friends who were now in a trapped in a strange state.

Powering through the pain and exhaustion, he forced himself to stand up gathering meager amounts of mana in the vain hope that he could stall long enough for a spell cast. However, it seems that this masked person or entity has something else in mind.

“Don’t you find it ironic?” It suddenly asked with it’s maddening voice. “He thought regaining his power would awaken his sleeping memories and yet when he got what he wanted, he lost everything. Huh, I just realized I didn’t even bother checking that guy’s name. Oh well, what’s done is done.” It said as it shrugged indifferently as it seemed to focus back on Sylvester.

“Hello there, we meet again!” It declared.

“You! What did you do to my friends!?” Sylvester asked in a panicked tone.

“What? No, I didn’t do anything to them! I simply plucked you out of-Ah never mind this is too high level stuff for you at the moment.” It replied.

“I need to do something here. I need to protect them!” Sylvester screamed deep inside his own head, desperately trying to formulate any sort of plan.

But then, the figure suddenly laughed much to Sylvester’s surprise.

“There is no need to be so on edge young man! Is this what you call stage fright?” The figure declared as it walked closer in a very laid back manner.

“Oh right maybe this form would make you feel more at ease.” It said as it morphed into a young man with blonde hair tied into a ponytail, wearing the Inanis Orbis uniform. In less than a moment, the entity suddenly transformed into Sylvester's friend, Artian, while still donning the upside down smiling mask.

“After all I am your biggest and most avid fan! And we have been watching you for a long time.” he suddenly declared, now instead of a multitude of voices talking, it was just Artian's voice.

“Fan? We?” Sylvester replied, humoring the flow the stranger wanted. “I guess I have to thank you for that gift way back. Came in handy for a few occasions.” He said in a smug tone while still trying to gather mana.

Sylvester felt himself blink and in that short moment, the figure changed appearances again. This time it was a rather short yet voluptuous woman with braided red hair. She was also wearing the Inanis Orbis uniform and even a pair of ski goggles awkwardly placed over the mask..

“Oh how nice! You still remember you met me! I am so touched.” The figure declared while speaking in Estelle’s voice.

“What the-”

All of a sudden Sylvester felt a tug on his shoulder causing him to suddenly turn his head towards that direction.

“Say cheeeeeese!” The figure suddenly yelled out as a weak clicking noise was heard. Sylvester then noticed that the voice no longer belonged to Estelle, but to someone else.

The figure changed appearance for the third time and now it had Silver hair and pale skin, still wearing the Inanis Orbis uniform but with a red cloak on her back.

“Hashtag with my greatest idol! UwU!” The entity blurted out in a very cheerful and fangirly tone causing Sylvester to lose his concentration and control over the mana he was saving up.

It seems that Rossa’s voice spouting out internet related slang was enough to rattle his brains and make him lose focus.

“Damn it!” He quietly screamed as he felt himself lose balance once the hand that supported his balance vanished.

The figure, still copying Rossa, then appeared sitting down next to Sylvester’s fallen figure, finding with a phone. It was using some kind of social media app, but the interface wasn’t anything familiar to Sylvester.

“So what do you think?” It then paused as it turned to look at Sylvester.

“Do I fit in yet?” It then asked in a mischievous and playful tone as Sylvester felt a smile forming behind that mask.

“You. Is this all just a game for you to get your kicks or something!?” Sylvester’s agitation spilled over as his eyes focused on the entity who quickly defended itself.

“Game? No, not really. I’m not actively playing so I wouldn’t call it that. Sure I nudge things every now and then but I prefer the hands off approach. But I am having a lot of fun, just like you and your, uh what’s that hip term for that again? Oh yeah, magician Larping thing you do.” The masked entity replied in a very calm and overly casual manner.

“Fun? I’m nothing like you.”

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

“The only real difference between us, is that you care and I don’t. Simple as that. But I guess the performer cares about the art-form more than the audience. ” The masked entity said in an indifferent tone causing Sylvester to get even more serious as he finally asked the question lingering in his mind.

“What are you?” He asked. He then felt the masked figure was looking at him straight in the eye as a cold shiver ran down his spine, almost freezing him in place.

“Normally that would be a very rude thing to ask, but I guess it’s appropriate in this situation. I get ya I get ya.” The figure replied.

“Unfortunately for you, I won’t answer that question, but I will answer the right “w” question you should have asked!” Prompting Sylvester to ask once again.

“Who are you?”

“Bingo! Now that's what I wanted to hear. Sadly, I don’t really have a name but I was given many but I never really needed a one since like, I dunno, forever. But one these people- I mean- one of your people once gave me my favorite one. I really liked it, but it’s gotten overused during the past few decades or so.” It then looked at Sylvester.

“So, maybe as thanks for me handing you that very delightful spell, you could give me a new name for this day and age. Oh and please give me something cool!” It demanded.

“Something cool huh?” Sylvester replied as he strangely started to feel more relaxed. It was not clear to him whether he just wanted to go along in order to buy time, or whether he was subconsciously being receptive of the strange stalker, but he suddenly found himself thinking about the request seriously.

“Hey hey you think of something yet?” The figure said as it poked Sylvester’s injured shoulder with a finger, causing Sylvester to flinch and almost fall over.

“Ah, yeah. I’m so sorry I forgot about that arm of yours. Welp lemme fix it up for ya. Fitting too since I took the form of that pretty little princess who was so desperate to help you she was nearly in tears. Such praiseworthy drama if I say so myself.” It said as it mimicked Rossa’s position and demeanor by placing its hands over Sylvester’s injured arm.

“Pain pain go away, come again another day!” It yelled out, but instead of a healing light, something much stranger happened.

Sylvester saw the blood that has already dripped onto the floor slowly flow upwards. He could feel a wet and warm sensation crawling on his arm, making its way back into his wound.

Then a violet spear formed on his arm, directly inserted into the gaping hole. It then slowly pulled itself back out and faded into nothing as Sylvester felt his wound completely disappear, even his sleeve was fixed.

“Okay, what just happened?” Sylvester thought inside his head, as even he felt a little freaked out

“That about takes care of it-uh yikes, I really shouldn’t have done that. Oh well, that little de-synchronization will probably help you out in certain situations. Think of it as a bonus.” It replied.

“De-synchronization?”

“Now then, my new name please!” It once again asked in a cutesy fashion using Rossa’s voice.

“Don’t worry, I got one.” Sylvester replied in earnest. “How about Masked Entropy?” Sylvester declared to his conversation partner.

“Huh, I get the masked part but why Entropy?” The figure asked, tilting its head sideways.

“Well it sounds cool. You wanted something cool right?” Sylvester defended his choice.

“Hmm. Masked Entropy, MASKED ENTROPY. Rolls of the tongue once I say it out loud a few times. Much better than my other titles, I’m kinda tired of being referred to as someone super grand.” It contemplated as it accepted the name.

“I like it! Also sounds rather sophisticated and quite nerdy! Surely this is much more in-line with the current times!” It happily replied as it skipped away from Sylvester, spinning around and then suddenly transforming into a young man with brown hair wearing a lab coat.

“And I just have the perfect image to complement the name! So whaddaya think? I’m ditching the black suit now that I think about it.” It asked in a young but nerdy nasally voice. Sylvester was not really sure how to react to this development simply decided to give Masked Entropy a thumbs up.

Truth be told this wasn't the image he had in his mind.

“Great! Now onto more pressing matters.” It said as it walked closer to Sylvester who was now slowly standing up.

“I would just like to say congratulations. For you managed to pass our standards, and they hope to see you perform well into the upcoming future!” It declared.

“Standards? Our? They?” Sylvester was now trying to retain as many details as he can, now matter how trivial they might be. And even though the mysterious figure who now goes by the name “Masked Entropy” has shown to be rather friendly to him, he still has his guard up.

“Now then, for your reward!” Masked Entropy declared as a strange white card with weird geometric shapes etched into it appeared in front of Sylvester. He then tried to reach out only for Masked Entropy to suddenly snatch it away.

“Don’t be so impatient! A gift needs to be packaged!” It declared, as another object appeared before them. It was a golden book with pages that had pages made from what looks like aluminum.

Masked Entropy then flipped the pages of the book and slid the card into it like a bookmark before handing it over to Sylvester.

“There you go. Make sure to read it later before you give it to the higher ups!” It declared. “And now, let me return you back to your cute little friends!”

Masked Entropy suddenly disappeared as color returned to the world. His friends were suddenly in motion once again.

“-Vester!” They yelled in unison as the three of them rushed towards him, but the strange book that was suddenly in his possession caught their attention.

“Hey, what’s that?” Rossa asked as she curiously gazed over the curious item. But before he could come up with an answer a large shining golden gate appeared in front of them, radiating an air of holiness.

And almost at the exact moment three elevators then popped out of the ground from behind them. announcing their presence with a loud ping.

The golden gate then slowly opened, revealing a middle aged man wearing a black cassock. He was escorted by 4 armored warriors, one which was shining gold. The man they escorted looked like a humble priest, but there was a deep distaste in his eyes as he looked upon the group and yet Sylvester felt that this was only aimed at one of them.

And from behind them, the elevators opened, revealing a welcome sight for Sylvester and Rossa. It was their teacher, Bridget Bishop accompanied by 6 expressionless men all wearing black suits. She had a furious expression on her face as she looked the priest in the eye.