A hazy brightness consumed my vision.
Squinting, I waited for my eyes to adjust as the details unhurriedly formed around me.
The grass, the water, and the endless quiet turbulence stretching off into the distance—they began as nothing more than abstract shapes, swirling and blending with a viscous stillness as if this world was the eye of a storm frozen in time.
_Despite everything, it's a little unbelievable that this place is my soul—it's too placid, too still, too... beautiful._
The tickle of the grass on my feet broke me from my revere.
_Oh, there it is..._
Scattered across the vibrant grass, much of the dark earth bound to the roots had been lost.
_Somehow, it's already crumbled into the earth, and that—maybe 'electric'—flow within the plant has already diminished slightly._
After walking over, I gently picked it up at the base and continued over to the edge of the pristine pond at the centre of this world.
I kneeled down and reached forward, ready to pull some of the ground away in an attempt to save it. However, to my surprise, the earth began to gently part.
_Hah?_
It was as if the world responded to the intent lingering on the tips of my fingers.
_That's... neat. Though I guess it makes sense that I can control this place to some extent. I'll have to test that out later though; it's not too important, I can only move some things around..._
Giving my hand a wave, I smiled, seeing the plant unwrap itself from my hands and dig itself into the ground. With a final thought, the earth covered its base.
_That was easier than I expected. Now I've just gotta see if it actually grows here... Maybe it'll even spread._
The thought made my grin widen.
Just like the plant, numerous ideas were taking root in my mind, especially if this place grows in size in the future. _Perhaps it would be as simple as being an endless storage unit... but it'd be much cooler if I could summon a hidden army out of nowhere or something._
_Hmm... I'm not sure if plants have souls; can I even bring others here?_
_That would be a disappointing, but I don't really want to reveal this place to anyone right now—I have no idea how rare it is, or the scope of its usefulness._
For now though, the plant seemed fine—rejuvenated even, I guess this special kind of pond would do that.
_Actually, I do wonder if I can create that same mist from before; I'll have to try and take or copy the stone pillar somehow._
_Oh! I could just test it on animals and beasts. Based on the way exp works, they must have souls..._
With a set of goals for this place in mind, I closed my eyes and focused on returning to myself.
_Luckily, I was forced out before, so I knew what it felt like; but, to be honest, I'm pretty sure it reads my intentions; I only have to be focused about it after all._
The feeling was quite sudden and not particularly pleasant, almost like the onset of panic when running out of air underwater.
The moment I snapped back into my body, I inhaled a large gulp of air, and a freeing elation washed over my mind.
_I'll have to get used to that..._
_Come to think of it, I guess it doesn't take me with it. Hopefully I can figure out how to do that in the future, it would be an invincible escape strategy if possible._
Standing up, I dusted myself off—not that I was even dirty; it was just a way of coming back to myself.
However, while doing so, a burning flash washed over my skin.
I hesitated, mistaking the sensation as some kind of attack, but it wasn't.
Only a short breath of time passed by, and I continued to brush down my clothes, trying to appear natural in my movements.
_Somebody is looking at me... but where? And it's not the same one from before, but it is equally as ambiguous—maybe even resentful? I can't pinpoint it at all; I just haven't had enough experience._
_This is uncomfortable, like lying in a blanket that is slightly too hot to sleep in._
_Did they see me before as well?_
_Wait, no, to them, It would have looked like I just spaced out, and I would have noticed if they were watching me take the plant..._
Stepping away, I was about to leave when a sudden glimmer in my periphery caught my gaze.
_Huh?_
It was a sheet of paper, gently rocking through the air and towards the ground.
Holding out my palm, it landed gently, and I quickly brought it near to me to read.
---
You will be trained in the art of Dark magic.
Today will be an introductory lesson; I will occasionally be checking progress.
Do not disappoint me.
~ Elech
---
I looked at the paper strangely.
_Why does it feel so weird that he wrote his name on it like that? The tone alone is practically a signature..._
_It seems a bit over the top to send a letter, but he does appear to fancy himself a bit holier than thou._
At the bottom was a thin metal... no, wooden—object. It was cold to the touch, heavier than it should be, and exceptionally smooth; but, upon looking closely, it was certainly wood. Never minding that, there were a few symbolic carvings circling the edge.
Unfortunately, they were well obfuscated by the natural indentations and fibres of the wood. _I guess that's on purpose, though._
The main attraction was at the centre. The markings were large but simple in design: three rivers, three mountains, and three moons.
_Now, I could be going off the rails here, but I'm getting the idea that 'three' might be important somehow._
_Is he testing me? The only thing it could possibly be referring to is the third floor, surely._
_It must be some kind of key mechanism or emblem of permission. If it's anything other than that, then I have no idea, especially with the references to 'learning dark magic' which I'm not against taking advantage of._
_Whatever... I'll go and have a look, and hopefully it's better than what the system just sorta pushes me towards on its own._
Quickly moving towards the exit, I peered out and glanced down both sides of the hallway.
_It's not like doing this matters though; somebody had to have come here to give me this letter, and their stealth is far better than mine apparently._
Using an obtusely designed light as a foothold, I quickly jumped up onto one of the supporting beams above me and began hopping between them in a dash.
_This is good for training my skills._
That's what I told myself, but I actually found it quite comfortable and enjoyable. It was rather freeing.
_If I remember correctly, Alark went upward that one time we came here, and that was near the entrance back towards the hall._
_This place really is a bit convoluted in design._
Dashing across the beams, I kept a close eye on the ground below me.
Then, as fate would have it, I saw two demons turn the final corner up ahead.
I slowed myself and focused my attention on the stealth skill. For now, it was a vague but not so vague understanding of how to move, where to stand, and where to focus my attention in such a way that made me as unnoticeable as possible.
_I'm definitely more comfortable using it, but I feel a little vulnerable in the sense that I'm still very much there in their field of view. What I wanted was something like that demon had used to drop off the letter to me—true invisibility._
_That kind of skill would be perfect for focusing on the talent stats, and maximising potential in the long run, hehe. It's also why I wanted to have my body move to the inner world; that way I could escape at any time, but that would just be too convenient, wouldn't it..._
_Oh? It's those two..._
_...the girl who has my scale and the man who stood up for me in the hall._
_Did he hear about me from her?_
_I'll have to check later... For now, this is more important._
Thankfully passing them by without issue, I picked up my speed again, and turned the corner by kicking off the side of a vertical support beam.
_Hm.. It's different from what I expected—that being a normal staircase, or at least a circular one, like the one used to get down to Karin's home._
Well, that's not totally wrong, but it's more like a rectangular tower, with footholds on each of the four walls. If you have the strength, then it's easy to just hop from one to the other.
_I don't think I have the strength right now, but I should still be able to get up..._
Finding my footing, I leapt off of the first foothold, soon finding myself face to face with a wall. Raising my leg, I kicked off its rough surface and grasped the next foothold. Since I had jumped at an angle, the horizontal speed pulled my legs to the side, causing me to pivot from my arm and flip around in slight panic. I tucked in my knees and landed with my feet on the platform.
A loud breath left me and I looked from side to side, unsure if I had actually made it or not.
_Pffphh, that was more stressful than I thought, and I almost forgot about my dress._
Even though nobody was looking at me, I still glanced around with a faint touch of embarrassment on my cheeks.
_Hmm, the second floor isn't too far away, but the last one is easily 7 more of these steps away._
---
I peered down from the top of the cobbled, vertical corridor.
_Phew... For a moment, I envisioned myself falling and smashing against the outcroppings like some stone in a mountain slide... and it would probably be my head that would crack first._
But it was fine in the end; in fact, after the first two times, it had become fairly easy; I just didn't particularly enjoy it.
_However, I've come to the conclusion that getting more clothes is now the number one priority — well, after dealing with this lesson or whatever it's supposed to be._
Turning around, I held the wooden trinket I received up to the door in front of me.
_Honestly, this is all I can think to do..._
Thankfully, and a little to my surprise, the thin blackish coat adorning the entrance began to strip away. Layer after layer, like slicing graphene or like stripping away the surface of sedimented stone—except it was smooth and calm without any real noise or friction.
_How mystical._
As it turns out, the wall was the entirety of the doorway, and so the floor beyond became rapidly visible to me.
_Guess I should find this room then, huh..._