My name is Asuraj. Today I've turned eighteen. I'm more or less an adult now but from this day forward, is where my life actually begins.
Growing up in an orphanage, naturally, after becoming an adult I have to give up my simple life and leave for the outside world. Luckily for me, I was able to gain access to the military. This was all thanks to Father Gabe, he was the head priest of this church part orphanage.
I am an unfortunate person to not have been adopted when I was younger. My body's constitution did not conform to the nature of this world, simply put, I wasn't able to host a spec of magical energy within my body. When I was a kid, there was a physician who did a check up on me, he was rather surprised. It was rare for someone to be born without the ability to use magic. So rare that it was practically non existent.
Heh! The physician wasn't able to help me back then but being adopted, that seemed to be a rare occurrence as well. For myself, the main reason I wasn't adopted was because I didn't have any mystical influence. As for my brothers in the orphanage, it was usually because they had poor aptitude. Who would want a bunch of trash like ourselves. We have no good future! Father Gabe was our saving grace though, we had no choice but to appreciate the old man.
I can only say for myself, Father Gabe is the most kind hearted person I had met in my entire life. Knowing my condition, he still chose to keep me under his roof. The head priest's kindness ran deep in my heart.
That old man was like a father figure to me. If there was any man I was willing to be scared off, it was this man.
Now that I've come of age, Father Gabe helped me get into the military. Although I don't have any magical powers, I could still serve in any small capacity. Thus, I'll be able to support myself and help Father Gabe in any way I can.
Going to the military was my only goal. There was nothing else I could do in the outside world, no one would want to take me in. My existence is even lower than that of a servant. My life changed however, it all changed the moment I turned eighteen.
In the entirety of my life I've never experienced pain like what I've gone through a few hours ago. It must've been around midnight, a severe headache overwhelmed me. I was asleep at the time when it started, the pain forced me to awaken.
Since my room is a shared space, I did my best to tolerate the buzzing in my head without making a sound. I didn't want to disturb my roommates so I endured in silence. I was hoping to just fall asleep and that it would all be over when I woke up but only the former happened and latter is still going on.
When I woke up a few minutes ago, my head was filled with a plethora of information. Things that I've never heard of before ran through my mind.
Grind, nerf, network, online?!
What was all these words, it didn't conform to the common language I grew up with. However, knowledge wasn't the only thing that made up my thoughts, my mind was filled with foreign images also.
I was shook. It somehow made sense but it was unbelievable. I learned something but l didn't dare to confirm it true. I'm not actually from this world, I'm not a Dimlanian. Human, whatever it is, it seems to be what I am.
Heh! I stared at the ceiling as various thoughts occupied my mind. There was no proof from where this information came. There was no way I would tell anyone this kind of information. What would Father Gabe say? He'd probably think I was possessed or have lost my mind. There's no way I would want him to look at me, who is already useless, with more pity than he has already shown.
While I was trying to flatten those negative thoughts, from the knowledge I've understood, it appeared that there's something I'm able to do that never should've happened.
"P-P-Planer S-System."
Silently, I whispered these foreign words as I stayed flat on the bed. Simultaneously, a hand from under my blanket uncovered itself.
A dim light shone, forming a shape that was circular but wasn't at the same time. I had never seen such a thing before, merely, I knew what it was. Above my head was a small, silvery and transparent cogwheel. It was definitely a strange shape. A finger of mine lifted and touched it, I wasn't afraid at all and felt that was what was needed to be done. Immediately, it began to expand and an interface dropped from the cogwheel.
Interface? What was that?
The transparent screen before me, shone in dim lighting but not enough light to disturb the others sleeping. On the other hand, I found the words on the screen to be very clear to read.
STATUS QUEST INVENTORY LOG
My heart was beating hard ever since the cogwheel manifested. This was a confirmation. All this knowledge about a place called Earth. Me, a human! I'm an alien! My mouth was gaping like the letter O. Then another sequence of information surfaced, I am the youngest human left. At the time of my birth... no before, the plane consciousness of the Earth World entered my body. All this time it was in a passive state. It, becoming active now was coincidental.
What do I do now?
Do I tell Father Gabe? No, it's different now. I'm not a Dimlanian, I'm human. The old priest's compassion msy not available to me anymore, that scared me.
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Staring at the interface, I swallowed the built up saliva in my mouth. I decided to keep the Planer System to myself. In less than a month I won't be here in the orphanage anyway, I'll be part of the army. If anything goes wrong I'd probably be dead by then and wouldn't have to face Father Gabe and the others.
With my index, I tapped the screen. The first word lit up and a voice reverberated in my head. I pushed my head further back into the pillow, that voice scared me. I didn't expect that and it almost sounded devilish. I couldn't think of how to describe it but the word robotic seemed to surface almost immediately.
After touching the word, status, the screen changed. A new set of words came about.
PROFILE STATS SKILLS
I touched the first word again. The word Profile lit up and the scary voice was heard instantly. The interface changed once more but everything differed.
NAME: ASURAJ AGE 18 LEVEL 12 EXP 56/100 RACE HUMAN (ALIEN) TITLE NONE (ENABLE) CLASS N/A JOB N/A HEALTH GOOD PLANE COMPATIBILITY 7.6/100
"Is this suppose to be about myself." I whispered.
I tried tapping my name but nothing happened. I went on to tap on every other word. When I selected Class and Job, the voice only said "not available". A new screen appeared when I touched the title section.
TITLE DESCRIPTION EFFECT SURVIVOR OF ANNIHILATION AWARDED TO ONE WHO HAS SURVIVED THE DESTRUCTION OF A PLANE INCREASE VITALITY RANK +2 ENABLE
Survivor of annihilation. Just looking at the title, I knew what it was about. I did survive the plane's end. I saw the effect of the title, increase vitality. Understanding what it meant, I quickly tapped enable.
I didn't feel any different. Was I supposed to feel any different? I didn't have a clue. All of a sudden I felt a twitch below my waist. Something felt tight down there. I tried to look down carefully in this dark room and my eyes widened in surprise. The blanket covering me, unasumingly pitched up like a tent. Swiftly, I shifted the erect pole with my other hand under the blanket. It would've been embarrassing to be caught with an erection in front of my brothers.
It was about time I get off the bed. I decided that I have to look at the Planer Sytem when I'm alone. I acted cautiously as I got off the bed, I didn't want to disturb anyone. Quietly, I made my way out the room. As I moved, I noticed the cogwheel start to spin. Simultaneously, the interface also closed, then the cogwheel disappeared. The system thingy seemed to know that it was no more in use. Once I was out the room, the first thing I did, was head to the wash room.
"Ho, Asuraj!"
"Gyaaa-" I quickly covered my mouth. That scared me. Who the hell decided to call me all of a sudden? My heart almost jumped out of my chest. Turning back to the one who called out, I found myself in the presence of the head priest. I sharply greeted, "Good morning Father Gabe."
"Morning, son. Today is a special day, it's the day I found you on our doorstep. I remember it like it was yesterday. Happy birthday, my son." Father Gabe smiled.
"Ah, thank you Father Gabe."
"May Lord Dimitri watch over you my son. Go ahead and wash up. Also meet me when you're done, there is something that I must return to you."
"Return to me? I wondered.
Father Gabe replied, "Wash up first. Come when you're done. You will find out then."
I nodded and turned away from the priest. Speculating on what priest Gabe had to return to me, I headed over to get cleaned up...
About forty five minutes later.
"Heh! Not bad."
I was dressed in a new black sweater and a brownish trousers. It fit well. The trousers wasn't new neither was the sweater but the sweater was something I received a year or two ago and never made use of it. Back then when I tried it, the sleeves were too long for me. Now, the sleeves were slightly shorter. That doesn't bother me, I usually role up my sleeves anyway.
I'm back in my room after bathing and dressing. It's my birthday, doing the last touch ups on myself is important. The room is still dark but the the light of day has started to pierce through the wooden window shutter. Snapping at the latch, I opened the shutter to let sun in as well as the fresh air.
"Ah, Asuraj! Close the shutter, it's so cold this early in the morning."
"Shut it yourself, Fatz."
Lying on the bed adjacent to mine, one of my friends from childhood slept there. His name, Tommy. He is shorter than myself and round like a ball because of that, we started to call him Fatz since forever ago. That nickname suited him well and he himself was proud of it.
BOOF!
That round ball had his back facing me. With a round kick, I sent my foot to meet his arse. Fatz didn't budge, he continued to loaf around and I couldn't be bothered any further. Father Gabe was still waiting for me. On the side of the room, two other beds were occupied. The guys there were still asleep, I left the room after checking that I'm presentable for today.
After leaving the vicinity, I marched straight to the chapel. During the early mornings, Father Gabe could be found there. In the chapel, at the back. There was an inner quarters, inside, the head priest usually engaged in administrative duties.
I entered the chapel, it was a big place. It was amazing if you considered that the church was situated in the lower section of the town. Many glass windows with varying designs fill the walls, usually depicting snake-like dragonic beings. At the back, on the altar, stood a metal form of the ancient God, Dimitri. He was a humanoid form no different from myself or others except for the eyes. The pupils were strange. It resembled the eyes of the creatures featured on the glass stained windows
"Humanoid?!" I shook my head. These new words were making me muddle headed.
Coming before the altar, I stood in front of the metal statue of God Dimitri with joined palms. I made my prayer, hoping that all goes well for me. Then I went to the door leading to Father Gabe's administrative room. I knocked three times, tapping the door. Almost immediately Father Gabe replied.
"Come in."
A hand grabbed the handle and twisted. The door opened and I stepped in, closing the door behind me. There I saw the old priest sitting behind the desk. He was looking at some scroll. Rolling the parchment, Father Gabe placed it on the desk and lead his hand into a pocket. He casually pulled out a chain with a circular metal piece at its centre.
Father Gabe held the item out to me. Quickly, I went forward to receive it. Was this the item that Father Gabe wanted to give me? I thought it would a parchment or clothes. It would've been nice if it was money.
Looking at my confused face, the priest said, "This is a special item. It was with you when you first arrived, son. Back then, I made up my mind to take it away. Knowing you rascals, you all would've sold it for junk."
"This was found on me back then." I said. Glancing at the chain in my hand, I began to inspect it. The chain appeared ordinary and the metal piece was ordinary as well except it had a design shaped like an eye engraved on it. The pupil had a vertical slit in the middle, it gave me some sort of familiarity.
Father Gabe said, "Turn it over. You'll be quite surprised."
I did as I was told. Flipping the metal tag, my eyes widened as I saw the engraving on the metal. It read, Asuraj!
Father Gabe smiled, he came to my side and said, "Look here, your name is Asuraj and this here is the shape of a dragon's eye. From this day forward, your family name shall be Dragoneye. How 'bout it?"
"Mm!" I nodded. From now onwards I'll be known as Asuraj Dragoneye.