CHAPTER 6: UNKNOWN

Soren was shocked. So shocked, in fact, that he didn’t even realize that the being he was conversing with had used digital emoticons in a regular letter. His thoughts were swirling with ideas, unsure of how to approach the conversation. But more than his shock, he felt anger.

The person conversing with him was most likely the cause of his current predicament. It being the one that bestowed his one and only title chronicled on the status sheet of his Soul Weapon, was a testament to this conclusion. He grit his teeth before lashing out quietly.

“So you’re the bastard who sent me to this place?”

Soren watched as the words of ink swiftly disappeared, and newer ones took their place.

“Hmm, I cannot fault you for thinking that, however, that is wrong. Your arrival on Yarian was a decision you made yourself. Was it not you who prepared and invoked the Secrets of the Records ritual?”

Soren slammed his hand against the pages. “That ritual wasn’t supposed to function like that, asshole! The description of it on that damned website said that it had the ability to bestow knowledge on those who desired it! The question I asked during the ritual has still not been answered!”

“Indeed… However, the description you read is not entirely deceitful. That ritual does have the power to bestow knowledge. However, the question you asked was not something it had an answer to… Besides, I do not really appreciate the tone you are using with me. :)”

Soren’s lips twitched slightly. The fear of almost having his existence consumed had certainly ruined his mental state. Whatever he was currently communicating with was certainly not a normal being. He clicked his tongue. I was not like this before… I need to be more cool headed… It was still far too soon to antagonize a being that’s still keeping things cordial. He needed more time to figure out its intentions.

He took in a massive breath and exhaled it slowly. Looking back at his glowing Soul Weapon, Soren lowered his gaze. “I apologize… I just escaped a life and death situation, so I am still feeling very emotional.”

The words on the page changed once more.

“Indeed, I know about it. That Malevolent Hex was something I sent to attack you, after all.”

Soren’s eyes widened. What?! He took another deep breath to calm himself before asking.

“Why… Would you do that?” Although he tried to sound amicable, the distaste in his voice was still clearly visible.

The words manifested themselves swiftly. “There were many reasons behind this decision, however, wouldn’t you say it helped you?”

He furrowed his brows. “Pardon?”

“Your confidence is truly unmatched. Maybe it was due to how everyone around you had always treated you as a prodigy, but that same determination and boldness has led you astray. You thought being transported here was similar to a game, didn’t you?”

Soren frowned. He could notice the mockery in its words, but he couldn't deny it; the being was speaking the truth. Even during his experiments with the ritual, not once did he ever consider the repercussions. It was all fun and games for him. Even on that website…

The black ink lettering shifted. “Even that website, Scribe-of-worlds.com, was a game to you, wasn’t it?”

Soren sighed and closed his eyes. “Yes…”

“There were many rumors flying around in your city about that website. Rumors of past users going insane after discovering the ritual instructions listed on there. There were even cases of Serial Killers mutilating body parts in order to fulfill the ‘quests’ asked by their patrons. And when these rumors reached you, you scoffed and thought nothing more of it—it was just another thrill for you to explore, was it not?

“The information listed on that website intrigued you more and more until you became obsessed with ‘discovering’ magic. What exactly led you down this path in the first place? Has your obsession with proving others wrong reached such a point?”

“Shut up!” Soren screamed before realizing what he had done. His eyes shifted across the twisted treeline at the edges of the meadow. Realizing no animal had been alerted to his presence, he looked back down at his Soul Weapon—heart still racing. More words had manifested themselves onto the page.

“Indeed, that wasn't the real reason, now was it? What you truly desired was an escape. You had lost all care for Earth and its inhabitants. Even if it ended tomorrow, it would not have mattered to you. You wanted a new reality. A more exciting reality than the one you grew up in.

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“And, you wanted to seek these thrills as you desired, without the restraint of society holding you down. Your soul cannot lie, Mr. Traveler.”

Soren’s frown deepened as sweat trickled down his cheek. Nothing the bastard had said so far was wrong. He had grown sick and tired of the world he was living in. The injustices, the betrayal, the abuse. Everything.

The books he had grown to immerse himself in were far more interesting. Dragons who breathe fire and heroes slaying them, or maybe even taming them. Mages who could rain down bolts from the sky, or summon the earth to their command. All of these fantastical ideas seemed far more interesting to him.

Far more enjoyable than the reality he was living in.

Not once in his life had he ever lived for his own sake. Even after his grandparents had adopted him, his sole focus was still on making them proud. It was exhausting, but he at least felt that his efforts were appreciated by his new family.

At least, up until they had passed away from that accident.

He grit his teeth while his hands reached to cover his face. “You are not wrong… I did seek an escape. But I don’t want that anymore. Take me back home. Please…”

Unlike before, the words on the page this time took a bit longer before changing.

“While it is possible to return you home, it will only be for brief moments. Your soul’s runic existence had already been morphed to accept the conditions of The Beyond, here in Yarian. This world is governed by Fantasia, and Fantasia alone. And now, your soul reflects that.”

Soren read the words slowly—his eyes squinting further and further down the page. Sweat had built up on his palms as he slowly moved them away from his face. “Yarian… You said that is the name of this world? And what exactly is this, ‘Beyond’ you speak of?”

“Yarian is the name of this dimension, correct. As for the Beyond, that is something you will need to seek the answer to yourself, Mr. Traveler. Your journey across this new world will lead you to many of the answers you seek, even that fateful question that led you here in the first place. There is a reason the ritual you invoked led you here.”

Soren gripped his Soul Weapon tightly. Even that question?... He thought about his next few words more carefully.

“You said that I can go back to Earth for brief moments. What exactly did you mean by that?”

He observed the words changing with anticipation. “That will tie into those memories you have just recently acquired—the ones who had almost corrupted your very existence and turned you mad.”

The sudden mention of those memories invoked thoughts regarding the faint whispers he had heard, and a stinging sensation took over his mind once more. Soren bit his lips while massaging the pain away.

“What exactly are those whispers…. What the hell are those memories?! Where did they come from?!”

“They are echoes from a long forgotten time. Whispers of history that seek the light of remembrance. The light of influence… During your traversal through the rift, those fragments of long forgotten knowledge invaded your mind. If not for my obfuscation, they would have succeeded… Always remember this, Mr. Traveler: Knowledge is a responsibility, not a right. Not everything must be known… There are times when ignorance becomes more powerful than wisdom.”

Soren rolled his eyes. I should have fucking heard this quote before invoking that damn ritual…

The words continued to roll out as Soren read them. “But this is all besides the point. During your traversal through the rift, an unexpected encounter occurred.”

He tilted his neck slightly. “An unexpected encounter?”

“I am not sure why, but during that perilous journey, your soul somehow managed to merge with a fragment of a fragment of a rune. And not just any rune, but a forgotten one. A rune that has been lost for countless millions of years. Through its conceptual influence, you should have been able to acquire another ‘Skill’, as your Soul Weapon likes to call them. Though, at that time, it was sealed off through my powers in order to protect your soul from its corrupted encroachment. I will now unlock it for you.”

Soren looked down at his own body and noticed nothing was different. Although it was hard to believe what that being was saying, he knew better than to distrust an entity capable of somehow communicating to him through dimensions. I guess I'll just have to check my status sheet later… Just as he was about to ask him more questions, the words on the page shifted once more.

“Alright, this will be the end of our conversation—I have already fulfilled my obligation to the Universal Root. The title I have bestowed on you should give you ample amounts of protection from the influence of the rift, should you ever choose to activate the powers of that ancient rune you have acquired.”

Soren’s eyes widened as he inched his face closer to the page. “Wait, I still have questions to ask you!”

The ethereal, spirit-like words continued to manifest onto the page without paying him much heed. “I must warn you, however. If you ever decide to venture back to Earth, do be cautious, as numerous runic entities will seek you out. Scribe-of-Worlds has cemented itself as an urban legend. Soon, numerous factions will seek its power, and many more will find out about its connection to you, Mr. Traveler.”

“Stop! I still have more to ask you! How do I escape this forest?!” His pleas fell on deaf ears. The ethereal words shifted for the last time.

“Explore, Dream, Discover. That is the goal of your journey. When you have finally arrived at a sound conclusion, we will meet again. As enemies.”