As Mike glanced over the newest screen that popped up in his vision, he couldn’t help but feel that things were starting to get pretty cluttered up in that department. The prior texts from the System were still just hanging around in the air, but now they were only wastefully taking up space. If he could just somehow have the System dismiss and get rid of them-
And just like that, all the prior pop-ups were gone.
That’s convenient, but also really hecking concerning, Mike thought to himself. He wasn’t sure if he should have been surprised that something that could just turn off pain and regular injuries also had the ability to basically read his mind. However, it stood to reason for why one concept would make him feel more uncomfortable than the other.
Because a change to his body was something that he could understand and notice. But if the System decided to implement a just as drastic change to his mind, then would he even be able to tell? If deleting memories or adjusting his personality was possible for the System, then how would anyone ever know the difference if it didn’t let them?
The short answer was that they wouldn’t. Mike felt a shiver go up his back from just the thought of it. The knot that had already formed in his stomach only seemed to tighten as he further realized just how completely helpless both he and all of humanity were to the whims of this unknowable System.
Sadly, that was the kind of existential dread where one simply couldn’t do anything about it, no matter how much you worried or tortured yourself over the matter. This meant that one’s only natural choice in the matter was to either let themselves be consumed by a constant barrage of anxiety, or to push the idea as far into the back of their mind as possible. Personally opting for the latter, Mike attempted to start distracting himself by actually taking a proper look at the Summoner’s Status screen before him.
As far as information provided, it was somehow both quite a bit and not much that much. For example, Mike arched a brow at how it referred to his new companion as only being a Lesser Angel. Something which made him glance back over at the angel in question that was still almost double his height and stood rather imposingly in his full suit of golden armor.
Then there were the three lines about advancements. Clearly, they were important for something despite being labeled as not available. Yet rather than just think about it on his own and draw assumptions, perhaps he could simply find out more from a certain someone.
“Okay Raemiel, would you be able to explain what these mean?” Mike asked as he then pointed out everything that was listed on the screen.
The angel rubbed its helmet for a moment in thought. “Hmm. I shall start with what I do know. For many beings, a True Name is a thing of both value and secrecy. As my Summoner, it is only appropriate that you would know mine, but I can only ask that you do not share it lightly. Even with those that you find to be the most trustworthy, all it would take is an innocent mistake for it to fall into the hands of one who might use it against me, and, by extension, you.”
“Sounds like True Names are a pretty big deal, then. So I’m guessing that everyone else’s Summons will also have True Names that they’ll want to keep secret too,” Mike said. Until proven otherwise, he felt it made sense to assume that all others would be working off this same set-up as basically a template. Yet when he looked back up from the screen, he was taken slightly back as he saw Raemiel just staring at him mid-chin stroke.
“Uhh, is everything okay? Was it something I said?” Mike asked while blinking in confusion.
“My new ally and Summoner, are your kind truly not aware of the concept and vast importance of True Names?” Raemiel asked with a tone that clearly indicated his own confusion.
“From the way you’re saying it, no?” Mike answered, scratching at his own chin now. “I think we have an idea of the concept from old stories of not giving them out to fairies and stuff. But I don’t even really know the details of those, because they’re just myths that I don’t think too many people are into. Maybe they’re more of a thing in cultures outside the one I was raised in? But generally, yeah, it’s not really anything that people think about.”
“I see. I apologize, but such a thing is very hard for me to comprehend. It is as if…” Raemiel trailed off and looked at the side, seemingly thinking. “I would say it is as if you met one who felt and used their arms each day, but barely understood what arms even were. The very notion of it is bemusing, to put it lightly. But in that case, I can only now assume that rather than using Mike as an alias, it is simply because you are really not aware of your own True Name.”
“If a True Name is different than what my parents called me when I was born, then I guess so. But what’s the big deal with them, anyway? Like if someone did find out your True Name like you just warned me about, then just hypothetically, what would be the worst thing they can do with it?” Mike asked.
“Kill me, and by extension, you.” The angel now turned to look him directly in the eyes. “In my home, there is a saying that for every ten people you meet, there is at least one who has the ability to bring death with your True Name. To do so from such a range that you will never be able to find them. To do so with such subtly that you will never know to look for them. And finally, to do so with such instant fatality that you will never be able to stop them. For many back home, the saying is just that. But I have met those who are genuinely capable of this, and I can only expect that we will encounter more who have been called here as Summons.”
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“Oh… well fuck me then,” Mike cursed.
“I sadly lack the compatible reproductive capabilities to follow that order, my Summoner.”
Blinking several times in surprise, Mike stared at the angel. The Summon’s lack of expression kept it somewhat frustratingly impossible to tell if that had been a joke or not. But compared to the dramatic conversation just seconds prior, Mike couldn’t help but react to the sheer and sudden difference in tone shift.
“Pfft. I guess that’s fair enough,” Mike said after chuckling to himself. “But as long as I’m not dumb enough to just publicly give away your True Name, then we’re all good, right? So, do you have any preference for a nickname that I should be using instead?”
The angel nodded. “My compatriots simply referred to me as Spear, for I was the only one who wielded them in our squadron. However, I am open to whatever alias you wish to refer to me as, my Summoner.”
“I’ll give it some thought, but Spear works if I can’t think of anything you’d like better. But in exchange, you can drop calling me ‘my Summoner.’ It just gets kinda repetitive, you know? Just call me Mike, since we might as well be a bit informal if we’re going to be stuck together til death do us part and all,” he suggested.
“If that is your wish, then very well, Mike. I hope that even if you are unaware of it now, we someday discover your own True Name. Ignorance can only bring disaster, while knowledge is a safeguard against threats of every sort. It will be difficult as it is something that your people are `largely ignorant about, but it could present itself as possible with time. In any case, so long as you understand their importance now, then that is all that matters,” Raemiel said before clasping his hands together.
“Now then, to move onto more less dour topics. What the System describes as my Species is indeed an accurate statement. For my kind, there are several types of angels that come together to form a hierarchy. A few of these are based on tradition and ceremony, but most are due to the strength of their abilities and prowess in battle. Generally speaking there are five main tiers, of which Lesser Angels such as myself are placed within the second lowest. The lowest being Divine Spirits, who are simply considered as nascent angels who have yet to develop their wings,” Raemiel explained with a proud tone in his voice.
Huh, dang. If he’s only the second lowest, then I wonder what a top-tier angel is like. Would they just be even stronger and taller, or fully Biblically accurate with a bunch of rings, wings, and eyes? Actually, on that note… Mike decided that he might as well bring up the topic now, rather than wait for later.
“So, here in my world, we actually do have the concept of angels already. At least in some of our religions, they’re part of the armies of Heaven under God. Any relation, or would that just somehow be the world’s biggest coincidence?” he asked, curious at what the answer would be from the actual angel standing before him.
“Hmm, most likely there is no relation, but that is fascinating,” Raemiel commented.
“Fascinating?”
“Indeed,” the angel affirmed with a nod. “You have the concept of True names, but only barely that much. The concept of angels, but seem to have a different understanding. Tell me, Mike, do you also know of.. Hmm. Ah, let us say dragons as another example?”
Mike’s eyes narrowed as that one was easy to answer. “Yeah… yeah, we definitely have plenty of stories around those. Too many for me to even count, across all sorts of books and stuff across the world. You’re saying that even dragons are also real? Do the ones you know of also have scales, wings, and can usually breathe fire?”
Raemiel smacked a fist into his open palm. “And so it is that we now have three instances, and can say that this is no mere coincidence. I can only assume that this is the work of the Committee in preparation for this day. I have no evidence for such a theory, but I can base it on the fact that it is the only one coming to mind that would be feasible. It would seem that they have spent quite some time preparing your planet and people for this day.”
“For what, exactly? Like maybe if we became Summoners on our own, then sure, I could at least see why they would either want us to join them or be eliminated. But these ideas have been around for… I want to say potentially a couple thousand years? Which means if you’re right, they’ve been prepping us for that entire time. Do they need a whole planet’s worth of Summoners that are loyal enough to massacre themselves? And if yes, what could they possibly need us for?” Mike asked as he clenched his hands into tight balls. The ‘why’ of it all was the most fundamental question. And it only seemed to grow equally in confusion and importance with every single thing that he was learning from the angel.
His golden companion hung his low. “If only I knew and could provide that reason, but I do not. The knowledge granted to me by the System itself is only the fundamentals of its mechanics for what we will need to survive and grow. But even that is minimal, for I only know that Essence can be gained through the slaying of other Summons, and that its gain will lead to the increase in Level and eventually Rank. For what what exactly these terms mean, I do not know. And as far as the three Advancements listed go, it gave me nothing beyond the fact that they will be vital in the long term.”
“Haaah,” Mike sighed heavily. “Looks like us floundering around in the dark is just the way it is then. So what now? I have no clue where were are since the System apparently dropped us off somewhere at random after putting Earth into a blender with some other planet. But if we can find out way to the surface, then-”
“Wait,” Raemiel cut him off with a raised hand. “Something is coming from that way, and quickly at that. I would suggest that you move behind me.” He then gestured in the direction behind Mike.
Mike tilted his head to listen carefully for a few moments, but heard nothing. But he wasn’t going to be the one to question the angel’s hearing, so he just nodded. Following the suggestion, he quickly moved behind his companion and waited to see what would happen next. Though his heart rate was picking back up at the thought of something heading right for him, it turned out that having a super tall and knightly angel clad in gold armor did wonders for keeping one reassured. Who would have thought?
“Now then, there was one last thing that I meant to explain as something I did know about. Skills. Though if the one coming toward us hostile, perhaps a demonstration would suit better than mere words, do you not agree?” Raemiel said with a confident tone as he raised his right arm. From that hand, an aura of golden light began to shine from the palm of his gauntlet.