"You can't do this!" my grandmother's voice called, slightly high-pitched and worried. I knew that something was happening. Although I had a clue, a single inkling, I was forced to watch the scene unfold before me.
"What I say goes." the ancient snail replied sternly.
...
And then... and then...
Hmmm...
I'm getting tired of telling you any more and this is taking too long. I'm sure you're smart enough to guess what would happen next. I mean, the scenes were are getting more and more predictable.
Like a poorly written play, the outcome looks to be quite certain. So how about we have a bet? You'll guess what will happen next and I'll bet on if you're right.
What? You don't want to play this game with me?
Hmph... Fine, then I still won't tell you about the memory the ancient snail gave me. Hmph... I'll skip right past it.
...
As the final memory of the ancient tree disappeared, the glowing figure of the ancient snail appeared again. This time she was no longer just a static projection. Instead, she began to move toward me.
I began to feel globs of mucus slip down my sides as a heat started to spread from deep within my stomach to the rest of my body. However, my attention was completely taken up by the glowing figure in front of me so I ignored it.
"Child..." the ancient snail began as she slid across the dark room as her glowing body lit the surroundings. "You see, I wasn't in the wrong. I did everything right... but your mother..." The ancient voice sighed as she paused, the emotion seemed to be genuine, but I knew that it was all a bluff to trick me.
That had been on her agenda all along. I knew how to think for myself and I just didn't trust her. My intuition told me that half of the situations she described was fabricated.
"All the hard work and all those years for nothing. Only to be torn down and the power spread amongst the people. The wars began once more and now we were back to square one."
"You're a hypocrite. As you described it, it's all about Karma and balance," I said out loud. "Ancestor you, yourself, like the enemies you slew, have dug your own grave and you knew it."
The ancient snail didn't reply to my statements. I already knew that it was pointless. I knew that what I was speaking to was just a pre-recorded projection.
The ancient snail was already gone - dead due to her own greed and actions.
Still, I continued to listen.
"So I managed to saved one... just one for you and now you shall face its trials. Remember this child. This particular seed has seven stages. I, myself have only cleared the first. But I know that you will be able to clear them when you get to them and you'll be able to unlock all of its potential. Child. Take breaks between the trials. You can leave at any time if you will it."
She paused and began speaking once more.
"Child listen closely. These trials are different. In fact, this seed is different. Instead of a physical test, or some base requirement, these trials involve your mind. Which is why the seed I gave you is special. Listen closely child because I'll now begin telling you about the first trial. The trial involves..."
But before I could hear it I was immediately pulled away from the glowing figure that was in front of me as the metallic voice entered my head.
[Quest completed: Memory of the Ancient] (Unique)
[Trials of the rainbow coloured seed initiated: 1/7]
The reward system called out within my head as its voice began to warp like it did before. Suddenly I felt smothered. Like something was trying to suffocate me. Then the heat that was warming my body from deep within seemed to ignite. As a burning sensation spread through my body. Different from the chilling cold that I was used to, the heat tore straight through my tissues as every pain receptor in my body seemed to fire off.
My body hit the black coloured floor and I passed out within my own mental world.
...