Turmoil.
"Hello, old friend."
Memories of the past? Of the present? Of the future even?
"It's nice to meet you again."
Warmth, yet cold rejection greets it.
"I should shrink down, shouldn't I? Apologies, I didn't really think this through deeply enough."
Kindness, yet I felt abhorrent disgust towards her affection.
"Sorry~, now, let me introduce myself."
I was face to face with a familiar face. Someone that I should know, that I should never forget, a flame within me burns intently for whatever reason.
"I am Sariel, an old friend of yours.''
The flame roared, burning my insides that I could actually feel pain.
"I will be brief, I wish to make you a deal, one that was struck untold ages ago."
The flames eat away at my heart, my cold, dead heart. It melts the permanent snow, it made me dizzy just from the pain alone, but my heart didn't relent.
[Activating Dark Heart]
"...No, thank you."
"...Eh?"
I was somehow calm now, the pain washed away like it was a lie in an instant. I was cold, and I felt like I was a different person.
"I appreciate your consideration, but I am not in need of your help."
"But… what?"
The formerly tall, grand Goddess was now reduced to a woman, golden hair and a face so pure and radiant that would make any sinner kneel and call her savior, their salvation, their angel. But all Seichi saw, all I saw was someone who is now foreign to me.
"Thank you, but I will be leaving from here now."
[Activating Dark Heart]
My actions were outside of myself, and a darkness enveloped me before I knew what was happening.
"You would interfere with this, Death?"
......…
I stand defeated, alone within my domain of radiant light. I witnessed the scene of my familiar being taken away from me, and it was by none other than the Darkness, the Oldest, Death.
'You…'
I was furious, of course. I was fuming with anger and rage and so, I called out to him.
"Death! Your abuse of authority is shameless!"
[Shameless? No, I see it as a change of pace.]
A response, one that ignited my ire towards him. I replied with futile, bitter anger.
"A change of pace?! What do you mean!"
[You have had the first incarnation, now, shouldn't it be more interesting for someone other than you to have him? A Chosen Undead, the most prized possession any Divine would like to have in their hands. An undying warrior, a pawn that never dies. You have enjoyed your time with such a being, shouldn't it be fair for others to also enjoy it?]
"You piece of shit! You can't do this!"
[I can, and besides, I'm not the only one who agrees.]
I know it. Many others would jump at the opportunity, at the prize that is an undying pawn. My sister would cooperate with me, but I don't know what she'll do once she has him. My sister and I are two very different people, one of justice and the other of kindness. Justice and kindness are two very different things, although it has its correlations.
'Maybe… no, he shouldn't fall into anyone's hands.'
I have experienced what he was like, his previous incarnation, the first, the Nameless. A monster that has the most balanced of Stats, capable of doing anything, and with an immortal life through willpower, he can attempt anything dangerous and life threatening again and again. It was a treat to see him as my pawn, but to the others with jealousy it must've been hard to watch.
'Yes, I should guide him, not as his Goddess, but as a friend… as I should be.'
This is his second incarnation after so long I can't remember anymore. The fun, the thrill of owning such a monster was the most enjoyable thing for the younger me.
'I'm older now... I should act more mature and thoughtful.'
And by thoughtful I mean monopolize him once more but indirectly. There will be competition, but as long as I am the first, I can earn his trust, be his benefactor and close advisor.
'Yes, let's go with that.'
Although Death's interference was too cruel and yet caring for others, I soothed and cast aside my worries of the present. The future will be glorious, and what makes the future possible is the present.
......
I reawakened from my sudden blackout.
'...'
The first thing I saw was Brynhild's face, sleeping yet again while leaning back against the tree.
'...What was that…?'
I contemplated getting up, since I felt like it should be well over 10 hours now.
'Agnes… where is she?'
Feelings and business should be different. I sat up as gently as possible in order to not wake Brynhild up and look around myself. It's still not that different, but the sun is now in the middle of the sky.
'...I should go and look for her. Miracles, I wonder what those are.'
I stand up and go to hold Brynhild in a princess carry, I think it's what it's called?
'Light…'
I carry her in my arms while I go looking for Agnes.
[Activating Dark Heart]
[Alert! Your Dark Heart has opened up]
'Well well, the light is annoying now that I experience it.'
"?!!!!"
I was startled and almost dropped Brynhild out of instinct. Suddenly, a calmness forcefully washed over me as the strange, distorted voice of myself spoke.
'Don't drop her, you fool!'
'Who are you.'
I stayed still, completely motionless to see if the voice would speak again.
'Why are you just standing there?'
'Who are you.'
'...Really, isn't the screen always giving me away?'
'You're… Dark Heart?'
'Yes! Very good, me.'
I was perplexed. It was previously Dark Impulses, and now that it's been reinforced into Dark Heart, one of the Hidden Skills have been lost for some reason.
'Wait… now I noticed that?'
I just opened the screen for Dark Heart, and it was true. The Hidden Skill, Acknowledgement of Greed, is lost.
'Wait wait… why?'
'It's because of your Intelligence.'
'What?'
I was surprised that I got a reply. It was from Dark Heart, the distorted voice of myself within my own head.
'Intelligence…'
A Stat that's part of the Mind. Willpower is also in the same category as well. But, I don't get how Intelligence is the problem with me losing a Skill.
'...An error?'
'No you idiot. Remind yourself, are you thinking clearly?'
A question was posed to me by the Dark Heart in its distorted voice.
'Yes, I am, very.'
'Then, examine your past self at that moment. Were you thinking clearly, if you are who you are now?'
'If I… no, I would say that I'm not thinking clearly back then.'
'That, Greed, it was raw, uncontrolled, unrefined, and spontaneous. You who hold intellect, high Intelligence, control your emotions, sheath it, then forget about it, move on from its barbaric nature. That, is the reason you have lost your Greed. Control.'
It was a short explanation, one that clearly sounds like mockery.
'Then… do I just convert the-'
'Buhahahahaha! Convert? No, it's the wrong approach, the wrong path of thinking. Stats? Those are just numbers, statistical and numerical, however, one value always fluctuates. Your Soul. Specifically, me.'
'You?'
'I am your Heart, and in consequence, Your Soul.'
'Then what about the flame.'
A quietness spanned for a few minutes, with me looking around to check the surroundings while I waited for my answer.
'I am you, so I will not keep myself mysterious. I am the Dark Heart, the you who is dormant. The flame that you receive is but a gift from our predecessor, the Nameless. I am here from the very beginning, even before the advent of your arrival here, in this Tower.'
'Wait… what-'
'Shuusshhhh, everything will be revealed in due time. Just remember. I am you, your Dark Heart that beats for oblivion.'
'Wait wait, where… answer me!'
I could feel the calmness washing over my insides. Literally. Like fire being put out by cold water. I was put under from my short fiery rage, and weirdly calmly exhaled.
'First… find Agnes.'
I returned to my real objective. Stepping out from the shade of the big tree, I began to search for Agnes.
'Let's ask someone.'
In most cases, this is the common solution.
But, there came another problem.
'Where… is anyone?'
I checked the main church building, rather small with a courtyard in the middle, five rooms with no furniture on the outer building, I'm currently going through the left side, and a big room at the other end of the building from the door. The courtyard's four entrances were blocked off for some reason.
'Hmmm…'
I stood in front of the large door that leads to where I was summoned, the Mechania Arcanum, made by the Followers of Wisdom, a room specialized in casting a Miracle that calls upon a Hero, a Challenger ascending from the first floor. It's made using ritual circuits around a grand Magic Eye, and then using Faith, the calling process happens. Usually, the candidate that's drawn towards the calling will be people with similar alignments to the church, good with good, evil with evil.
'Something's inside.'
Right now, as I stand in front of the door, a presence of something seeps from inside the room. It felt… holy, something that inwardly, I felt very uncomfortable with.
'But… it wasn't the same with that Goddess.'
I walk closer and open the door with my shoulder, bumping into it and pushing forward. Inside, warm sunlight shines through the window at the back of the room. It was a grand, canvas-like, painted window of a figure with his back turned, his many arms outstretched to the glittering stars around and above it.
''Ah, you've finally arrived, Chosen Undead.''
"Who…''
And standing just before the window, was the same figure on the painted window. Many arms, wearing a dark robe that also covers his entire body.
''Greetings, I am the God of Wisdom, Sogthoth.''
Turning around, his front was even more mysterious, a pitch black smog that came from the opening in front of him that his robes couldn't cover. His face was also covered with the smog, but if I squint hard enough then I can just faintly see the outline of a face.
"I have the utmost pleasure to welcome the warrior of legend. And I stand here in front of you to give you a proposal, one Agnes no doubt told you about prior to our meeting."
"...Learning Miracles."
"Correct, and on this fine day, I will have the pleasure of imparting some of my Faith unto you."
I didn't know how to feel about the calm, mechanical way he was speaking. However, I do have curiosity that I want resolved.
"Why is smog coming from you?"
"Oh, right, an outsider of the second floor wouldn't know. I am currently undergoing the very long process of maturing, developing my Godhood."
"Godhood…''
The word struck a sense of familiarity with me. But, it was vague, faint, and disappeared after a moment's thought.
"Yes, it's a very arduous journey, and I am at the breakneck of attaining my Godhood. This black smog is what signifies it."
"Then, what about your Miracles? What are those first?''
"Huhu, a seeker of knowledge, yes, Miracles are powers borrowed from a God. It's as simple as that, but if you want to be in depth, it's the power of one's Faith in a Godly being or concept. Take Skills and Magic, those two are no different than Miracles, one relies on the Faith of the Body, one relies on the Faith of the Mystic, and the Miracles naturally relies on the Faith of a God."
A coherent, but slightly hard to understand explanation for me.
''So, then what kind of Miracles can you offer?"
"I am a God of Wisdom, so from the title alone I can give unto my faithful the power of the Mystic, but more powerful in a sense as it draws power from me, a being of naturally higher power."
"Then, why are you doing it?"
"Pardon?"
My second curiosity sprung up during our conversation.
"A being of naturally higher power, if your description about yourself is true, then why do you need the Followers of Wisdom? They are inferior, and so wouldn't they be useless in fights against your kind?"
"...You strike a very thoughtful question, seeker of knowledge. Indeed, for a being of naturally higher power such as I, humans like my followers are unnecessary. However, you are unaware of the rules within this floor, within this miniature world."
"Rules? Miniature world?"
"I am but like countless others, all my brothers and sisters. We are but a small droplet within the grand scheme of things. We serve a purpose that was assigned to us from the moment of our inception, and a list of rules also accompanies it. One such rule is that we are incapable of doing tasks ourselves."
I mulled over his words carefully, and picked up my third question to ask.
"Then, are there more rules?"
"Yes, but they are unimportant for someone like you to know. What you need knowledge of is that we Newborn Gods are tasked with ascending through influence. That is all that you can know."
"...Alright, I yield."
''Huhu, you are thoughtful, seeker of knowledge. You have asked three questions in continuation, in curiosity to know more."
"Just get on with it."
"But… it seems like knowledge isn't what you are looking for."
What I seek is power, any kind of power. My eyes must've given it away, since I was staring intently into him from the start to now.
"My Miracles, however, lack the power you wish for. But in turn, it gives you advantages to utilize. Given your knowledgeable display from before, I believe you can appreciate them for their usefulness."
"Miracles… what kind of Miracle will you be giving me on our first meeting?"
"Three will be given in our first meeting, and another three as a parting gift. If you protect me as I seek the final piece of knowledge I look for, then that will be your reward."
[A Divine Quest has been given]
{Protector of Knowledge}
[Quest Difficulty: S]
[Quest Information: The God of Wisdom, Sogthoth, who seeks knowledge and wisdom to ascend into Godhood is now asking you, the Chosen Undead, to be his protector. Protect the Newborn God as he matures after 5 rounds(days) and three more Miracles are promised to be yours]
[Quest Objective: Protect Sogthoth until his maturity in 5 rounds(days)]
[Quest Completion Reward: 3 additional Miracles]
[Quest Failure Punishment: Your Miracles from Sogthoth will be destroyed, as failure means his death]