Part 3
“… and so, judging from the segmented body structure and the distinct, sucker-like appendage at the end of the head, you’re able to identify this species as a tapeworm, compared to other species like a fluke or roundworm.” The professor at the front of the room rattled off the information in a monotone voice, before moving on slowly the next topic.
“Psst. Hey, Drake, what are you doing? Wake up.” Taylor gave him a quick nudge in the side of a half-asleep Drake, which resulted in a quick smile from him as Drake slowly sat up to give a lazy glance at the professor.
“Yea, yea…” He responded slowly as he struggled to keep his eyes open. Despite his response, he let out a faint yawn as he looked towards the front of the room.
The average, everyday life of a college student. Simple, boring, and consisting of mainly nothing more than memorization day after day. It wasn’t as if it was a hard life, but in the end, it was utterly dull.
Everything was the same. His life was nothing but a schedule of going to class, eating, and then sleeping, day after day. Of course, he would get sick of it all, after so many years. Still, even he felt that he should have been used to it after so many years. So, why couldn’t he get rid of this sick feeling in his stomach?
It was as if this wasn’t the life he was meant to be leading.
“Come on, wake up already.” Taylor gave him a quick poke in the side, which only resulted in a reluctant smile as he adjusted his position to satisfy her.
“Haa…” Another long sigh escaped from Drake, as he lazily crossed his arms and laid back down onto the desk, his eyes only half-heartedly pointed at the professor. Honestly, were people really meant to waste away like this? He thought to himself.
“Drake…”
He suddenly whirled around in his seat. It was as if a voice, less than a whisper, had suddenly spoken next to his ear. He couldn’t have been imagining things, could he?
His moment of retrospection didn’t last long, before a strangely giddy, nostalgic voice popped up into his head, just as if the voice were one of his own thoughts. There were varying reactions throughout the room, but regardless, the entire room quickly dropped into silence as it began to speak. “To the being known as Humanity, it is a pleasure to be able to make your acquaintance. We, are the Caracatia.”
Just as strangely refined voice began to speak, a creeping feeling began to wash over his body as Drake suddenly shot up from his chair.
This… is the choice. A thought appeared in his head, seemingly out of nowhere, as a mad look flashed across his eyes. The day he had left everything behind, the day he finally left the monotony of an average life. How could he have ever forgotten it?
This was what had happened. What had changed my life around… He couldn’t help but to grin madly as he looked outside the window to see the large, spire-like structure floating in the sky. The ship. It was the same as his memories… Wait, his memories?
Drake merely looked up to the sky as his classmates turned to one another, some with clearly curious looks and others with outright playful expression on their faces, clearly thinking it to be some kind of prank. “…regarding your species. Choose to become something more than human… after one week, we’ll be setting down creations of our own… let it be fun for the both of us. That is all.” The speech played out just like it had before, not missing a beat as it repeated word for word.
However, while the Caracatia finished their speech, Drake’s demeanor had clearly fallen a bit as he shook his head uncertainly. Something was wrong with his memories. This had all happened before, and he had transformed into something called a Draconian… but past that were only the vaguest of ideas. Faint memories of a deep red crystal and mist, along with a companion, as hard as he tried, that was all he could conjure up. He couldn’t even force himself to remember who his companion was.
No… not a companion. It was a partner… Drake shifted in thought slightly, finding that partner seemed to be a better fit for what little he remembered. Someone that was deeply important to him, and his new life.
Even then, Drake began to ponder over why he had memories of something that just happened? Why was he in the past in the first place? From what little he remembered, he had practically abandoned his old life. Coming back to it, with only a scant amount of memories of what had happened, it all was something that bothered him a great deal.
“Drake… you won’t believe this, but there’s this weird list in front of me.” Taylor nudged him on the shoulder, before running her finger down an invisible line. “High Elf… Succubus and… Nekomimi?” There was a tone of utter revulsion as she read down the list before stopping rather suddenly in a questioning manner.
There was a faint chuckle from Drake as she ended, before he waved off her choices quickly.
“Choose the elf, trust me. You wouldn’t enjoy the other two one bit.”
“Uh… right.” She nodded, seeming to take him at his word.
This had all happened once before. Her strange choices, with only a High Elf being a race that most would typically know, or even choose. With everything playing out the same way, all he had to do was re-trace his own steps, and he would arrive just as he had before. It would be simple.
If this is how it all plays out, then the only thing left is my choice. Drake thought with mixed excitement, as the sudden jolt of pain he expected arrived.
Instantaneously, the substance he recognized as natural mana began to coalesce in front of him. However, a distinct frown crossed his face as the letters slowly began to form, and Drake was able to fully look at his options.
Stormsoul Genasi… Lightfoot Halfling… and Goliath…
Another sudden chill came over his body as he shook his head. This wasn’t right. He… became a Draconian, right? He was powerful, and special. Unique among his entire race, and undoubtedly unique in how he treated his own powers. He was forced into exile from normal humans because of what he became, and that’s how he met… how he met…
“Dammit!” He muttered angrily, clenching his hand as he muttered through strained teeth. It was important that he remember. His entire being was telling him that he needed to remember, but he just couldn’t place it. He couldn’t think of who he met that was so important to him.
“Hey Drake, are you alright? You seem like you’re mad about something.” Taylor’s caring voice came from the side of him, leaving Drake to just shake his head reluctantly to answer.
Quickly adopting a more carefree expression, he said, “I’m fine, just… not what I was expecting is all.” He responded with a haphazard wave of his hand.
“Well… what’d you get, then?”
“I’ve only ever heard of one. A halfing if you can believe it.” He said with a half-hearted chuckle.
“You mean like a hobbit?” There was a clear sense of laughter in her voice as she asked the question.
“Exactly like a hobbit.” Drake admitted. Taylor returned with a genuine smile of her own, before turning back to her own list. She seemed to be reading further into each of the different races, with each of the various advantages and disadvantages.
That’s right. Drake had another moment of sudden realization. While he didn’t know what he was getting into when he turned into a Draconian, the humanoid races had the advantage of actually getting information over their choices.
Humanoid… Drake shook his head again as he waved off the weird phrasing. He was a human, after all. Humans were only ever called humans.
“Let’s see… Lightfoot halfling…” Drake began to read down the list of his own choices, half in intrigue and half with a tense and worrying sense of loss.
Halfing. A fun-loving, and relaxed race. Often seen as merely a shorter human, Halflings are particularly well known for their height, just as they are well known for their hospitality, and love of food. As a Lightfoot halfing, you can easily hide from notice, even in situations where you might otherwise be noticed. You’re also inclined to be friendly and get along well with others.
Lightfoots are more prone to wanderlust than other halflings, and often dwell alongside other races or take up a nomadic life.
“So, a race that’s well suited to hiding, with a subspecies that takes it even further, huh? Not bad, but not quite what I’m looking for.”
Drake was well aware of what kind of path this would send him down. It wasn’t hard to imagine, and being overly stealthy was never his sort of approach in the first place.
“As for the Goliath…”
Goliath. A massive and powerful species. A nomadic and competitive species, Goliath keep track of their accomplishments and see everything as a challenge. Those not familiar with this race may see it as annoying, as the Goliath often reminds others of their accomplishments, leading them to be seen as arrogant or self-centered. However, this same attitude leads them to be among the best companions, as they constantly strive to be the most useful among their companions.
Goliath skin is often gray or brown, often being compared to stone in the texture and toughness. One of their most distinctive features of the Goliath is the darker, often symmetrical, patches of skin that cover their entire bodies.
The Goliath species… Why did it feel like he already knew about them? In any case, this would certainly be a reasonable choice. If his skin really did become like stone, it would be very difficult to kill him, not even regarding the physical strength and stature. It would be the perfect race in how the world would become. Regardless of that, it still didn’t seem quite right. It would just have to be up to the strange Genasi species convince him.
“So… the Stormsoul Genasi…”
Genasi. Derived from humans who have been infused with the power of Elemental Chaos, they are most often created as a result of cross breeding between humans and powerful genie races or other elementals that dwell in the different planes. Physically powerful and cunning, they are a varied race, with abilities that vary on lineage and individual experience. Each Genasi has a native elemental state, known as a “manifestation,” which was passed down to them through their ancestry.
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Stormsoul Genasi are well known for their gift of lightning, and as such are able to imbue their attacks with the power of lightning and thunder. Likewise, given opportunity, they also have the ability to not only acquire new manifestations, but also to maintain others simultaneously, becoming a living embodiment of the two elements.
Genasi… so they’re basically a half-breed with different elemental species? Regardless, what did the description mean by the different planes? Sure, it could be included in the description to just be fluff, but it would be easier to simply not include that at all.
“Whatever…” Drake brushed it off in a moment. He didn’t understand near what he needed to, and his memories were undeniably hazy, but despite all that, his gut instinct was telling him that he needed to transform as soon as possible. The Stormsoul Genasi seemed to be the most useful as well.
“So, piece by piece, you trend towards the same result.” A child-like voice laughed at him in a playful manner. “Truly intriguing.”
Drake lifted his head towards the sound of the strange voice, only to come face to face with a large, floating eye. It merely gazed at him for a moment, before another mischievous laugh escaped from it.
”What the…” Drake muttered in horror. He quickly scanned from left to right, his eyes widening as he looked across the classroom. The world around him had stopped, as if an old timepiece watch had suddenly grinded to a halt.
Taylor was completely frozen in time, wordlessly reading out the description from her own list, while the rest of the class and even those outside the window were frozen in half-steps, and awkward positions.
“And again, the same reaction. You truly are amusing.” The eye bobbed up and down playfully, much like a child discovering an old toy that they enjoyed immensely. After a moment however, the eye narrowed intently, as if solving a puzzle.
“So, this process you entered caused this much confusion, strange. You don’t even recognize us.”
“I… what?”
“Truly strange indeed. Well, it’s of no concern. We’re merely meant to guide you along, choosing the wrong path would be disastrous, after all.” The eye suddenly disappeared with a sudden, disgusting popping sound, before appearing right next to Drake, the eye curved with joy.
“A-ah.” Drake froze momentarily, as a shiver ran its way down his spine. “G-guide me along?” Drake stared at the eye in utter confusion. “Guide me along what?”
“The true destination, of course.” The eye began bobbing up and down, and side to side, as if it was enjoying every moment.
“Does the word Myconid have any meaning to you as you are, Draconian? Well, human as you are now.” The eye narrowed slightly in an examining motion.
“Myconid?” Drake simply stared at the eye blankly for a moment before that same chill overcame his entire body. As he stood there, the wide-eyed horror he had kept slowly transformed into a look of understanding, although the initial revulsion towards the eye didn’t change all that much.
“The Myconid… how could I have forgotten you…” Drake grabbed his head with a sigh as he shook it back and forth. The fungi-based species with the ability to transfer entire blocks of memory with intense emotion, and which used that method to communicate more effectively. It was no less revolting to Drake than it was before, but it seemed likely that they were responsible for the flashes of understanding he was getting occasionally. Partially responsible at the very least.
“So, are you here to help me? What is this place anyway?” Drake asked.
“Simply a testing ground of sorts. The important question to ask is, what would have happened if you chose the wrong race of those three?” There was a chilling laughter that rang out through the air, as the eye simply rotated around Drake.
“I… was leaning towards the Stormsoul Genasi. It seemed… right.” Drake spoke slowly, as if he was trying to judge his own motives towards the race. The halfing species was ruled out right away, and while the Goliath seemed impressive, he wasn’t one to mindlessly charge forward. Well… most of the time anyway. Options were nice, and enhancing himself with a semi-magical race seemed very much like something he would choose.
“Good. It is indeed the most similar to your current self. Rather ironic, given how the typical members of your race are most similar to the Goliath race.”
“Typical members?” Drake tilted his head to the side slightly as he squinted in pain again. Memories were only coming back bit by bit, an unsettling process to say the least. He knew of the Myconid, just as much as if he was normal, but even what the Draconian race was like was fuzzy. That wasn’t even regarding memories that he had nothing to base them on.
“Don’t strain yourself too much. In truth, you aren’t meant to know near what you do.” The eye gave a quick warning, before a mental image came across to Drake.
The Draconian race. Prideful and utterly territorial, they would normally act as a predecessor the more legitimate dragon species like Wyverns or Leviathans. If there was a lack of such species in the surrounding area however, they would act as a substitute for such a species.
A variety of different colors suddenly appeared. Red, white, silver, gold, black. All of the different variations had a different breath attack, and overall attitude towards others. Most of all, as they became more powerful and their size and stature grew dragon-like, they began to change the overall environment to better suit themselves and repel invaders. These same environments would only become more drastic as time passed.
“What… is this…” Drake’s eyes widened drastically as the images streamed through his mind. The Myconid shouldn’t have had any information near this detailed. They were practically shut-ins, merely living out a secluded life in relative safety and peace.
“We’re merely fulfilling a request by the great one.” The Myconid answered mysteriously.
Great one… Drake stared wide-eyed for only a moment before the memory came back. Aesir… that tree spirit. Still, why would my real race have anything to do with the trial? Drake was still mystified by the information.
“Well, thanks I guess.” Drake answered haphazardly. He had doubts on whether or not such information was even useful to him.
“Wait. More importantly, who is my partner?” Drake’s demeanor changed completely, as he looked to the eye with an intent stare. Even without their help, he knew that finding his partner was incredibly important.
“Well… that would be spoiling it, wouldn’t it?” The eye responded playfully, with a bit of forced laughter quickly following.
“You…”
“Now, now. Don’t be upset. In truth, you aren’t meant to know, and I can’t tell you.” There was a rapid response in return, as if to stave off some of the anger from Drake.
“You were brought to us to assist you, that is the simple truth. The trial itself is meant to test whether you were meant to achieve such power, and whether your innate characteristics match with what the Sin desires. While most would be led to believe that blindly searching after the power of that specific sin would lead to your success, nothing is ever so simple. Your own personality plays a great deal into such a trial.”
Drake’s face hardened as the Myconid explained. The links between them and Aesir were continuing to grow. It wasn’t hard to figure out that the Myconid species seemed to desire knowledge and memories of the outside world intensely. Being the persistent observer of the old world and the various changes that happened right after through his test would no doubt be a constant source of entertainment for the group. In return for that entertainment, they would assist him as guided by Aesir, a tree that held a considerable amount of knowledge from what little he knew. The symbiotic relationship between the Myconid and Aesir was rather perfect in that way. Each one doing and providing for what the other could not.
“Which explains your comments about my choice in race, I’m assuming?” Drake said with a raised brow.
“Indeed.”
Drake let out a long, drawn out sigh. His partner obviously had something to do with the trial, and from what he could draw from the Myconid’s words, this wasn’t going to be like living a second life. While he may in this ‘test’ for a period of time, it was very likely that only a few key decisions would be important enough to influence his path. That only exacerbated the choices he was inevitably going to make. Make one wrong choice, and he may regret it for the rest of the trial, without a chance to correct it at all.
Most tellingly, the Myconid mentioned what the ‘Sin’ desired. He could only barely relate that back to his own powers, of what he had when he was a Draconian. His memory was so muddled, that he wouldn’t have been surprised if they were able to tell him a lie directly to his face, and him not know otherwise.
“Fine. Release this weird hold you have on the world. It’s a bit creepy to just have you floating there with everything frozen.” Drake waved his hand dismissively, which only resulted in a small chuckle from the eye as everything slowly came back into place, with the world continuing like nothing had happened at all.
Drake watched on with a mixed look as the eye merely disappeared, piece by piece. It would appear that they would be enjoying every bit of his life, no matter how boring or strange it may be. Not that it really mattered in the end. That they were willing to keep him from making any key mistakes would be good enough for him.
Shaking his head lightly, he glanced over the short list of transformations again. If the trial was based off of his own personality, then forcing specific matters might actually be detrimental to him. The fact that he had been naturally guided to what was most similar to his current self was a good sign in and of itself. He would simply do what was already natural, and let things fall where they would.
“Although the feeling is faint, it was only thanks to being quick to transform that I was able to survive the first time.” Drake mumbled to himself. Any later than the first day, and his own personality might have disappeared like so many others. It was simple luck in his own case.
Not giving a second thought to the other two options, he quickly selected the Stormsoul Genasi. With an entirely new power, especially one that was so intrinsic to his own race, getting accustomed to it quickly would be essential in the coming days.
“Well, let’s see what you’re all about.” Drake selected the option with a touch of his finger.
As soon as Drake touched the mana-filled words, there was a sudden flash in front of his eyes, before he suddenly appeared in outside, in a grassy plain. Far off in the distance, looked to be the high, reaching skyscrapers of the city, only there seemed to be damage to the lower buildings, and at least one skyscraper was missing altogether.
What just happened to me? Drake shook his head in confusion, and just as he thought to investigate what had happened, a horde of information suddenly came pouring into his mind.
He had transformed, the very second his finger touched the choice. His skin had shifted into the strangest shade of violet before feeling a sudden, violent welling of energy inside himself. The process itself was so utterly painless, that it had surprised even himself. There were other minor changes, like how his hair had transformed into a strange crystalline structure as well, but besides that he looked perfectly normal.
Seeing their classmate change so radically, the others in the class began to follow as well. Some were hesitant, but after seeing the others follow through with no issues. Out of sheer luck, or some other unknown factor, all that chose to transform had the option of humanoid races, which led to them all transitioning rather smoothly.
Following that, Drake had made the decision to split off from the others, with only a small group that seemed willing to follow him out of the city. The rest, even Taylor, seemed intent on staying and protecting what they had, despite what Drake said to convince them. Most wanted to return to their families, while others, with nothing to really return to, wished to form their own groups with those they were closer to. Still, with nothing to go on but the terribly foreboding feeling Drake had about staying in the city itself, he had no choice but to leave.
From thereon out, Drake began his new life. He had escaped to the outer portions of the city, far away from where he expected others would come upon, even accidentally, along with the two others who had joined him. Together, they had done their best to cope, even going so far as to construct a rudimentary stone shelter thanks to a particularly magic adept gnome that had come along with Drake. They had endured some various attacks by some outlandish monsters, but none were too serious, which led him to the situation he was now in, almost a full week after he had made his transformation. Drake was resting on the ground in a serene stance, merely guiding the elemental energy inside his body to rejuvenate himself. A common enough practice in the week that had passed, although it still felt like an alien process to him.
Drake suddenly opened his eyes, before lifting his hands in front of his face with a reluctant smile.
Talk about strange… seeing your own life being lived on autopilot until you jump back in to your own body. Drake shook his head with a sigh before clasping his hands together. Despite his thoughts on the matter, this Genasi race, it was entirely unlike what he had expected. The description mentioned the common method for forming the race was the mixing of elementals and humans, resulting a half-breed of the elemental species. The entire thing sounded somewhat absurd and hard to believe until he felt it for himself. It was faint, but he could feel a constant surging of energy inside his body, no doubt related to his storm attribute.
Not only that, but the method that was used to pass time left him with almost a full week of information to sort through. While the emotions and thoughts were all his own, it was still disconcerting to have all that knowledge suddenly enter his mind. It was like a rubber band suddenly snapping back after it was pulled too far. It inevitably left a feeling of discomfort.
“So, the entire city will be destroyed?” A gnome suddenly plopped down beside Drake, who was starting at the city with a deep sense of foreboding.
“Grant.” Drake’s eyes widened momentarily in surprise before sinking back into melancholy. He and the gnome had grown somewhat close over the past few days. He alone was responsible for their current standard of living out in the wild, and as a result, had garnered a large amount of goodwill from Drake and the other member of their solitary group, Lance, a half-elf.
“I hope I’m wrong. If not, even those who transformed will be lucky to survive…” Drake said solemnly.
“All we can really do is wait and see then.” Grant responded with a distinct sigh.