"Where am I? Have I returned?" Adam muttered as his consciousness slowly returned.
The nauseating stench of fresh blood mixed with other fluids assaulted his nose. And, the cries of children filled his ears. Before Adam could react, thousands of information flooded his mind; and he involuntarily shrieked.
"How long are you going to lay on the floor?"
Adam flinched as he heard the androgynous voice. His eyes snapped open, and a familiar sight greeted his eyes. With three candles illuminating the former sacrificial scene, he could see the bloodstained walls and the mangled corpses of the ritualists.
In front of where he lay, he could see two petrified children holding tightly to each other. From behind them, seven vertical coffins entered his sight. He could see remnants of a shattered eighth.
However, Adam could not determine the source of the androgynous voice.
'Did I hear wrong?' Adam thought.
"Pl-Please don't kill us. Bro-Brother, it is us. Pl-Please remember who we are."
As Adam lay on the floor somewhat muddle-headed, the stuttering voice of the young boy reached him. Adam raised his head slightly, his gaze meeting that of the terrified children.
"I mean—"
Before Adam could finish his statement, he broke out into a violent bout of cough. His body spasmed while foul-smelling, green liquids leaked from the corners of his mouth. Fresh blood trickled from his nose, and he could hear a high-pitched echo.
"You're lucky to be alive. It's too early for you to start speaking. Just lay there; wait until you recover your strength."
Adam heard the same voice again. With the changes to his body, he had no time to determine its origin.
'Who is speaking?' Adam thought as his eyes darted around. 'It seems the children can't hear it. They haven't diverted their gaze from me.'
Just as this thought filled Adam's mind, echoes from light footsteps reached him.
"Hide—"
His voice was hoarse, his throat sore. Adam struggled to warn the children about the approaching party.
"There is no need for that. I'm not someone to be scared of. Don't worry, I won't harm them."
With his eyes focused on the children, Adam could see their widened eyes as their mouths opened slightly. A split-second later, the siblings fell on the floor unconscious. At that same moment, the footsteps no longer echoed.
Although Adam could not turn his head, he knew someone or something had entered the room, judging by the shadow cast over him and the children.
"Congratulations are in order, Adam. You really surprised me back there. I thought you would choose the demon's offer. I initially pegged you as someone weak-willed. I guess I was wrong. This is the first time I've witnessed a human surviving the demonification process. Oh. Thank you for taking care of these heretics. Those who shed innocent lives don't deserve a good end."
Unable to turn or speak, Adam listened to the words of the stranger. Different thoughts raced through his mind, and he panicked. He wondered how the stranger knew the events that took place in the mysterious space. From what he remembered, the stranger did not sound like Vicar.
"I wasn't supposed to interfere… but you really did surprise me. Master won't be pleased with my actions, but what's done is done. Since I've already helped you, there is no harm in helping you further."
Before Adam could comprehend what the stranger talked about, he felt a warm touch on his back; and he could sense tendrils of a warm substance seeping through his skin. At that same moment, Adam no longer vomited the foul-smelling liquid. Blood no longer ran down from his nose. The ringing in his ears stopped, and his vision brightened. He felt reinvigorated as the warm substance coursed through his body.
"How's that? Feeling better?"
Adam subconsciously nodded while slowly turning his head.
"Thank…" Adam's words trailed off as his blue eyes lingered on the figure behind him.
He could see a six-foot-tall human-like being with flowing silver hair. Adam couldn't tell whether he stared at a male or a female; he had never seen someone so beautiful. The stranger wore brown upper garments, paired with black breeches and knee-high leather boots. Adam could see the beautiful smile on their face, amplified by the tender gaze in their dazzling sapphire like eyes.
"You can call me, Adelaide. I'm female."
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"Th-Thank you, Adelaide," Adam said as he lowered his head. Adelaide's words solved the mystery of her gender.
"No problem. Now, do you have anything to ask me? I will answer three questions as long as it's something I can speak of."
Adam's countenance brightened as he heard her declaration, and he fell into deep thought. Permitted to ask three questions only, he had to choose them carefully.
With neither of them talking, an eerie silence enveloped the room. With only the wicker of the burning candles echoing.
A few minutes later, Adam snapped out from his pondering demeanor. "Can you tell me more about the Outworld?"
Adelaide's smile brightened as she heard Adam's words.
"This world exists in a space between multiple realms. However, the bridge to other realms rarely opens. Only a few people can cross this bridge when it does open. In essence, the Outworld is the origin of all living beings. No matter the race, they all originated from here.
"Master said you came from a peaceful world where demons, magic, and other races are considered fantasy or religious nonsense." Her smile dimmed a little. "I would advise you not to have such thoughts here. Everything you can imagine, and more, is possible here. Like your world, different nations exist here. Unlike your world or any other, dungeons exist in the Outworld. They are home to the demons, their underlings, and other aberrations.
"Well, that's just a brief summary. If Master is in a good mood, I'm sure he would tell you more."
Adam's expressions changed several times as he listened to her words. After everything he had experienced, he could not dismiss her words as mere fantasies.
The moment Adelaide mentioned that the demons lived in dungeons, his gaze turned cold as he gritted his teeth.
"If you want to find Korgrath, you'll need to search the dungeons." Adelaide recognized the murderous look on his face. "Naturally, doing that in your current state is akin to suicide. Who knows how long it will take you to find him? You might not even be able to do anything if you do find him. Channel your fury into something more productive. If not, you will end up dead before you can avenge your loved ones."
Adam's countenance softened as he heard Adelaide's warning; however, the fury in his eyes remained evident.
"What happened to the aberration in the mysterious space? Am I free from it?" Adam asked.
"Of course not. You gave your soul to the demon. Although it wasn't able to devour the soul completely, it took a significant portion." She lightly shook her head much to his disappointment. Adam's expression sank, his mind in disarray.
"Surviving the demonification means you also took a significant portion in return. In essence, your soul is half-human and half-demon. I'm excited to see your development." Adelaide's smile brightened as her eyes roamed Adam's body.
"What?! Half-demon and half-human...?" he muttered with concern. "Is that a good thing for me?"
"Hmmm... is that your final question?" Adelaide spoke with a little teasing.
Instinctively, Adam shook his head and said nothing further. Different thoughts flashed through his mind.
"Can demons die? If yes, what power do I need to kill them?" The glint of fury returned to Adam's eyes.
Adelaide nodded slowly. "Nothing immortal has revealed itself in the Outworld. If they exist, they would not live in this world. Yes, it is possible to kill a Demon. However, its difficulty depends on the level of the demon. You'll find out what I mean later.
"The Awakened among you humans have access to an ethereal source of power called The Blessings." She hummed, recounting the possibilities in her head. "However, it seems you're not destined to wield such power. Your new body doesn't seem to be that of an Awakened. With the nature of your soul, you will never gain access to The Blessings."
Adam's countenance sank once more as Adelaide's words repeated in his mind.
'Does that mean I'll never be able to avenge my family? No! I can't accept such fate!' Adam's hands curled into a fist as his brows furrowed. He would never accept a life of forever being powerless to avenge his family and friends.
While Adam mused, Adelaide's voice reached him again, "Those who can't attain the status of the Awakened but lust after its power… are prey for the demons. They grant them their wishes in return for their souls. Unlike The Blessings, these people draw power from The Omen. In essence—with the Omen, they too can attain the status of the Awakened. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Adam's expression slowly brightened; he was not an idiot. He knew the message Adelaide hinted.
"Only demons can tap into The Omen. However, they place a part of themselves in place of the souls they take. This is the only reason their underlings can 'awaken'. Unlike others who have to surrender their souls, you have the potential to tap into The Omen directly.
"I can't wait to see you grow up," Adelaide said as she giggled.
'The Omen, huh. I don't care about its origin as long as I can kill that demon,' Adam thought.
"Thank you, Miss Adelaide. Please, can I ask a favor of you?" Adam asked.
One of Adelaide's brow rose; however, she did not reject Adam's request. Saying nothing, she motioned for him to speak.
"Miss, can you please take them to somewhere safe? Forgive me for asking, but is it possible to alter their memories? I don't want them to think that their brother tried to kill them," Adam said as his gaze fell on the children.
Adelaide grinned while clapping. "I was planning on doing that from the beginning. You're a good kid, Adam. I'll take them to somewhere safe." She brought her hands down. "When I get back, I'll escort you to the outskirts of the Wazar Canyon. Lay there and wait for me."
Before Adam could respond, she had disappeared. Turning his head, he couldn't see the unconscious children, too.
"Is this the power of an Awakened? How can a human move so fast? Wait, is she even human?" Adam muttered.
Observing his surroundings, his gaze fell on the dismembered corpses littering the floor.
"What were they trying to do in this place? Were they trying to summon a demon or what?" Adam whispered as he lay on the septegram.
A split-second later, the black chalk of the septegram turned blood-red, its glow engulfing the room.
'What's happening?'
Panicked, Adam struggled to crawl out of the glow; however, his body felt heavy. As he lay on the floor, Adam watched as the blood from the corpses float in the air, forming a vortex. Before Adam could react, the vortex merged with the glowing markings on the floor.
At that moment, Adam felt a burning sensation course through his body. He unleashed a soundless roar as the room trembled. The seven coffins and its contents exploded into dust, with the residue merging with the septegram. Wind akin to the cries of the dead whistled in the room as the markings on the floor slowly merged with Adam's body.
Two minutes later, the glow dimmed; and darkness covered the room. Only Adam's heavy breaths echoed in the darkness. Sweat covered his body, while a black-red liquid poured out from his nose.
The only source of light originated from a flickering septegram tattoo on Adam's back. As it flickered, it slowly disappeared into his skin. Before long, darkness enveloped the room.
As Adam lay on the floor, a loud echo filled his mind. Before he could react, a fluorescent blue display projected itself in his mind; and a cryptic voice followed.
[Establishing Connection…]
[Connection Established!]
[Arranging Data…]
[Date Arranged]
Name: Adam Staples
Age: Ten
Race: Human
{Stats}
Constitution: 1; Agility: 1; Endurance: 2; Luck: 0.5;
Dexterity: 0.5; Strength: 1; Charisma: 1
{Skills}
None
{Title}
None
{Status}
Awakened!
{Omen Points}
None
{Level}
E
Adam passed out as soon as the voice finished its statement.