Back at the inn Rodney was struggling to keep it together but it didn't look like that would be easy in any way. Matter of fact he had stood up from his bed and began to stare at the other patients lying around with a crazed look which did not go unnoticed by them. His little action further proved their suspicions. He was indeed running mad. They feared for themselves the most. Being in there with a mad man who could potentially harm them as he continued staring at them one by one suspiciously didn't do anything good for their recovery they all thought. They were ready to call for help if things ever did go south. Well at least that was how much they felt threatened looking at this person now.
"You are acting like a crazy person now"...
"Huh did that just come from my head?. My brain is speaking to me?!". Rodney thought as he held his head with both hands. This action only further increased the patients anxiety. It was only a matter of time before someone would call for help from one of the healers.
" Relax, your Brain isn't talking to you. I am your guide. You know me as preacher but please call me Gypson." The voice said.Rodney by now had sat down back clearly not liking the feedback the patients were giving him in response to his actions. But that didn't change the confused expression that was still plastered on Rodney's face.
"Some one here must be a telepath. And that person is trying to mess with..." Rodney sat down trying to deduct but again the voice interrupted. "Really, well I guess the person is also a psychic because I don't know if you have noticed, but I can hear your thoughts". The voice known as Gypson said. Well this new information did more harm than good as it just raised Rodney's anxiety level. Someone could read his mind, and speak to him directly in his head. It isn't something that you would have often happen to you and right here now, someone was just casually chilling in his head he thought.
By now he had sweat running down his face, there was absolutely no room for him to relax as he felt the most vulnerable at this point. But then it occurred to him that how would such person come up with the name and execute the act perfectly. That person must have had inside information about him. But before he could piece other bits of clue together, the voice in his head spoke again.
"Open your system shadow Knight". Gypson said.
Now this was a turning point. Over the time he had spent here, only one person had ever called him that and not only this voice had claimed to be that person but just further proved it was that person. "But now how is he in my head. Is it some type of magic like the portal one he could do?". So many questions running through his head but right now it was just better to comply with the voice and do as he was told. So he opened his system interface and behold.
" It really is you!!. But ...but how did you do it". Rodney asked outwardly and once again got some stares from the patients around him. And as he quickly realized, he toned his voice down. "You know you can just think about it and I'll hear you like I said right" Gypson said. Of course by now he knew that, but this was a new experience and it would take a while to get used to it. Right now in his head by left side of the screen that would usually pop up was a figure that stood fully cloaked in black. This was certainly the man Rodney had met at the Town square from before.
"And as for how I got in, I don't know really. All I know is you have proven you can survive this world...well At least passively. The system was designed in such a way that when you get to level ten, I become fully integrated into it, acting as your guide"Gypson said giving Rodney some room to process this bit of information.
"So you are saying you are now in my head?. Well can you come out because I don't find it particularly nice that I have to share my thoughts with someone else all the time". Rodney replied with his thoughts as he was getting a hang of the whole thing bit by bit. But even with that the emotions expressed on his face wouldn't quell the anxiety the people were having. As right now to the patients, he looked mad and seemed to be debating what he was going to do when he began to act out. The people around him were now more vigilante than ever.
"You really think I love being inside this filth of a mind you have got man?. I'll remind you that I am the messenger to the great shadow knight. Surely being trapped in the head of a BOY isn't something I find particularly thrilling!". Gypson retorted clearly pissed by Rodney's remark. Hearing the tone and the way he spoke now gave Rodney the wrong impression. This wasn't the all knowing and reserved preacher he had met at the Town square back then.
"Why are you speaking this way man. Are you really the preacher?" Rodney asked. Of course by now he knew it was the preacher, the signs were just overwhelmingly clear. Aside the way this version talked, the hologram displayed on the system screen and everything the person had been saying so far matched the preacher's description. Right now all he was doing is a front to pay the other back for making him act out like a madman.
"I think that myself too. You see, I was integrated to be your companion as well as the road ahead is not going to be a joyride. I think that explains why I'm talking like you". Gypson replied .
This was a lot to take in for Rodney. Every passing moment he had to constantly remind himself that this was real. Of course the possibility that this could all be a dream and he might still probably be out on the bed crossed his mind. But that thought quickly dissipated with the next thing Gypson had to say.
" You have to get strong faster. While I'm not taking anything away from you, your current pace is too slow. I'll help you along the way learn your powers and help you realise your full potential. But in exchange for that, you must keep me and every other thing pertaining this system including your identity as the shadow Knight a secret". Gypson said.
"I still don't get why you call me this shadow Knight. Yes I know a demon lives inside of me but I'm not that DEMON!" Rodney said stressing the last part a little bit than the others. On hearing this very statement, Gypson exploded into laughter.
"Hahaha, who has been feeding you bullshit kid.I'm aware you have knowledge about the black energy inside you. But no demon lives inside of you boy. The energy you see inside of you right now is not for a foreign entity boy. This is your life force Rodney, you are the demon". Gypson said.
"Wait...what!!! How ...how..how did this happen. I'm meant to be human. Will I ever revert back to being human!". Rodney asked a series of questions and anyone looking at him now could see he was clearly stressed by something. But what it was, they'd never be able to guess.
"I just told you that you are a demon and you are worried about being human again?. I do not understand your type one bit. You see this isn't entirely your fault. Well if you Want a little light shed on the matter then I'll gladly oblige. You see, during your little nap you your body began to break down and reconstruct itself over and over again. This is a process that would have outrightly killed you if you were awake which is why the system put you to sleep knowing at your current status you wouldn't be able to handle that much pain. Now while this reconstruction was going on, your body began to slowly welcome this change and inadvertently allowing your life force and that of the shadow Knight to become one. Raising your status from a human to a powerful demon!". Gypson explained.
" well can we do something to reverse it back?. I don't like demons and I certainly don't want to be one. No thank you. Let's reverse it". Rodney said and waited for a reply which never came. So he had to push for it. "Well...I'm waiting. Has the process begun already?. Is that why my head hurts?".
" No idiot, your head hurts because you are worrying too much. And let me tell you something, the sooner you accept that this is now who you are and start working to grow your powers, the better for you. Do you know what being a demon means?. You have the potential to go far beyond what any human can ever dream of. This is a golden opportunity. Listen I know why you are worried, but this is the only way if you truly want to go back to her". Gypson said.
"Stay away from my thoughts you hear me?!. You have no idea how much pain she'd be going through by now. Don't you ever go there again!". Rodney said in an angry tone. Right now his face was twitching in anger as he sat down holding the edge of his bed and squeezing on it really hard.
"I'm sorry kid. But just so you know, whatever you think I can hear it. You are just going to have to bear it. Now if you really want to go back to her, then I suggest you channel all that anger into motivation and get stronger, that's the only way. You have to get stron.."
"Hey there, how are you feeling now. I'm just going to run a check on you to see if you are okay then you can go. Is that fine by you?" A woman in a white dress who approached Rodney as he was in the middle of a heated argument with Gypson said. Seeing that a healer had finally approached the suspected crazed teenager brought some relief to the patients close to Rodney.
"Sure..I mean go ahead". Rodney replied and straight away the woman began her job. She placed her hand on Rodney's head with her eyes closed for a while. Then after that she asked Rodney to take off the cloth he had on right now. This clothe was different from the one he had before as that one had been scorched and covered in beast and Rodney's blood as well.The one he had on right now was gotten by his teammates and given to the nurses to wear for him while he was still in his long sleep. Rodney obliged and took off his clothe where the woman told him to turn his back after examining the front for a while which made Rodney feel a bit uncomfortable.
" Truly remarkable. Young wounds... I don't know how, but they've all healed up. Not even a single scratch left unhealed. You have a spectacular body young man". The woman said as she examined Rodney some more.
"You see what I was saying?. How do you think that was achieved?". Gypson the voice in Rodney's head said. "You are distracting me you know that?! " Rodney replied and thats when the woman asked him to put on his clothes back.
"You look pretty good to me. Your wounds are all healed and I can't find any thing wrong with you. Is there anything you might be feeling that I might have missed?" The woman asked
"I'm fine" Rodney replied shortly.
"Well in that case you are free to go. I don't know why you wandered out that far on your own. You should be thankful master Yang was just around the Corner to deal with the beasts that attacked you. Be more careful okay?. Bye" The woman said and left.
Rodney immediately stood from the bed and began to head for the exit. He was happy he was being discharged this early prior to what Corey had said. The patients that were close to his bed also felt a relief. At least the not so stable kid was gone. While he exited the inn a thought crossed his mind.
"I should inform the others I have been discharged. Wait..that's odd. Where's my ring. They most have probably taken it off while I was asleep. I'll ask them for it when I get back. But first, I need to go see somebody and solve this new PROBLEM". Rodney said to himself as he took a route heading to a familiar direction.
Meanwhile out from the corner of the building Rodney just left, a boy came out. This boy was quite shorter than Rodney. And as Rodney walked he followed behind him. Not willing to give it away that he was following Rodney, he had intentionally given them both a considerable amount of distance.
"So you are awake. I have a feeling I know where you are going. Wait until I tell master Damien this". Akira said.