We spent the next few days training out in the wilds.
By we, I meant that my Dad basically annihilated everything until I was level thirty.
I selected a special class called ' Magic Knight' and the status menu person told me which skills to get.
Among them were skills to dispel magics like illusions and to silence magic users, for some reason.
It seemed like the status menu was concerned about being caught by someone.
Another thing was mentioned that Vengeance hates shields and that I should avoid using them while holding it.
I was also told to refer to him as Warmage.
Warmage was concerned about something threatening the world. He said that I was supposed to fight it and my unknown skill was key to doing that.
He started nagging me, actually.
And when I got angry, he said that eventually I would be able to put a stop to the messages.
He said that he was also trying to figure out what was happening as these messages weren't normal.
I wanted them to stop and I would do anything to fix them. Because they were tied to the nightmares I had every night.
They didn't stop. Every night I saw myself die in my dreams.
Warmage said he would help me fix the dreams as long as I worked hard and followed his instructions.
While we were training, I felt the presence of impending doom again. Minutes later, Cain walked out from behind a tree and startled both of us.
"Ah! Hey! Were you following us!? What are you doing here!?" Ulysses said as he readied his sword and shield.
"Calm down. I just came to talk," Cain said.
"About what?" I asked.
"Yeah, so my Master said that despite how much he hates you, this entire situation is pretty messed up. It would be better to work together for a while. We'll agree to a cease fire, but those terms will have to be discussed in person at the border. He said to come when you're ready and that he'll know when you get there. You're not making him wait, so take your time. That's it. Bye," Cain said.
"Uhh...really? You came all the way out here just to say that?" Ulysses said.
"Yeah, I did. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work. I AM a knight-captain, you know... At least for now, I am..."
"Hey, tell your Master I said thanks," I said.
I didn't like this guy, but I at least wanted to be nice.
"Don't make me vomit, you little abomination. You're already pushing it by being allowed to stand in his presence. Also, you need protection," Cain said.
He snapped his fingers and I felt something strange come over me.
I cold have sworn I saw an eye floating in the air... Staring at me from the corner of my eye. When I looked, it was gone.
"What the..."
"Don't worry about it. Bye now," Cain said.
After that, he simply left.
"Huh. Is that part of the plan, Warmage?" Ulysses asked.
{It's parT of IT. A sAFEtY PrecaUTION. JuSt like LEVELInG. KEeP GoinG!}
"He said yes...and that both it and leveling are safety precautions," I said.
"Great... As to what we're trying to be safe from, I don't know anyone other than my nephew. But I would still like to know the full story," Ulysses said.
{It'S A lONg StorY. i'lL tEll yoU lATEr.}
"He said that it's a long story and that he'll tell us later," I said.
"As long as he's compliant. Well, let's keep going then," Ulysses said.
I nodded and we continued searching for more monsters to kill.
* * *
A few weeks later, I had reached level 45.
My dad was very impressed with how much I had grown in such a short time.
Normally it took people longer to level up, but for some reason I got stronger much faster.
Also, since I was able to wield a legendary sword, my dad said that my level cap was most likely higher than his.
Meaning that one day I would be even stronger than he was.
I won't lie... The thought excited me.
Being able to surpass him and make him proud was something I had long wanted to do.
Although he promised that it wouldn't be so easy.
In those few weeks, I had also had more dreams every night.
Every damn night when I slept, I would find myself in another situation where I died.
There was one where I was being tortured to death in a dungeon... Several where I was killed right in the streets of Lorelei by a man who looked suspiciously like Cain...
I was also eaten by a seven-headed black dragon and even killed by goblins.
What the hell was going on!?
Warmage told me they were past visions and to pay them no mind.
Past visions.
If they were from the past, then that means they happened, right?
It only brought me more questions.
Regardless, that night I went to sleep as normal...silently dreading what I would see...
* * *
After seeing Isabella die in such a horrible way, all I could do was run...
I ran as hard as I could.
I met her in the capital at the adventurer's guild and we fell in love.
The pain of seeing her die was so great...
I couldn't stop crying... I missed her smile...her warm and loving embrace...
The gentle and soft touch of her hands.
I didn't want to live anymore.
The only thing I could do was run back home to Lorelei. I would just hide and keep in touch with my family in secret. I missed Aunt Aria and Grandpa Maul...
And as the rain fell in the dark of night, I saw a group of people running for their lives from something.
I approached and called out to them.
"Hey! What's going on!?" I shouted.
Several of them stopped and turned to me.
"W-we're running! There are monsters! Horrible monsters!!! They attacked Lorelei!!!" One of the said.
Panic began rising in my chest.
"WHAT!? DID ANYONE ELSE MAKE IT!?!?" I shouted in desperation.
"I...I don't know! We were doing a guild job outside of town! When we came back, everything was overrun with monsters! They destroyed everything and ate everyone!" Another said.
Then they started running again.
I just dropped to my knees as I thought about what happened to my family...
"Everyone...is gone... I have nothing..." I said quietly.
I slammed my hands into the mud and screamed as hard as I could while tears began pouring down my face.
I continued for a while until I came to a realization.
"If I die... I can see everyone again...right? I'll see my family... I'll be reunited with Isabella...hahahaha... Yeah... That's what I'll do... I'll just die!" I said.
For the next hour or so, I spent my time finding a nice secluded location.
And a tree strong enough to support my weight.
I tied some rope into a noose and climbed the tree.
Hanging myself was far less painful than disembowelment by my sword.
I was, after all, a good for nothing coward who let his fiance die to a horrible monster.
As I stood atop the tree branch, I smiled as I felt the tears running down my face again.
"I'll see you soon, everyone! This hellish life isn't worth living... Isabella...I'm coming to see you. I'll-"
The branch was wet. I slipped and fell.
{WhY...iT hUrTs...}
I didn't mind as I fell.
{YeS...lEt It EnD...}
I had planned to jump, anyway. Nothing would have stopped me.
{CaN wE sTaY dEaD tHiS tImE...?}
I simply closed my eyes...and when my spine snapped, everything went dark.
[Suicide...? I suppose there is a limit to what someone can take all at once, but... Very well. Let go of who you are. Depart from your memories and return to the place where it begins. Awaken...Mizik Iratus.]
* * *
When I awoke this time, I had apparently been crying in my sleep.
All I could remember was hanging myself...
And a name...
I felt like I heard it so many times before...
"Who is...Isabella?" I mumbled.
I dried my tears and got out of bed.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself. Then went downstairs.
I found my father waiting on the couch. He was reading a letter.
"Dad...?" I said.
"Oh! Sorry... I didn't think you were awake yet. I was just reminiscing..." He said.
Then he noticed the look on my face.
"You look like you've been crying. Did something happen?" He asked.
"Another dream. This time I committed suicide in it...and do you know anyone named Isabella?" I said.
"Hmm... The name is familiar, but I doubt she's of any real importance," he said.
"So you do? Who is she?" I asked.
"I've never met her in person, but the only Isabella I know of is First Princess Isabella. The Crown Princess of Albatross. Although, like I said, I doubt either of us know her," He said.
Yeah... I doubt it's the same person. That's quite a coincidence, though. Who is Isabella?
When I thought about it, I seemed to remember hearing the name through multiple dreams.
She was always mentioned or thought about in some way.
{StaY fOCUSEd. KEep TrainiNG.}
I sighed as I saw the message appear in front of my eyes.
"Dad, Warmage says we have to keep training."
"Damn, he's a real slave driver, isn't he? Kind of a pain in the ass... Ah well... Come on then. Hey, by the way Mizik, your birthday should be coming up soon. Anything you want?" Ulysses said.
Actually, I hadn't been thinking about it. I had been so preoccupied with everything happening that I forgot...
Before I could reply, I got a message from Warmage.
{ARMoR.}
"Eh...Warmage says armor," I said.
"Well, it's not really his birthday, is it? Is there anywhere you want to go? Anything you want?" He asked.
{TakE us TO tHE SlEEPinG drAGon INn. Get ArMOr. YOu NeEd tHIs.}
"The Sleeping Dragon Inn. I'd like to go there. Also, I do need better armor," I said.
Ulysses seemed somewhat annoyed by this.
"I can get you some armor, but I'd prefer to go someplace else to eat. Alright, Warmge?" Ulysses said.
{YOu'RE a COWARD, dAd. FaCE tHEm OR diE alOnE.}
My eyes went wide as I saw the message.
"What? Did he reply?"
"Umm...he said 'you're a coward, dad. Face them or die alone'," I said.
Ulysses simply stared at me. Although I could tell he wasn't really looking at me.
"And what the hell would you know!? You're constantly bothering my son! Stop harassing us!" Ulysses said angrily.
{WouLD ShE bE pROUd oF YOU? WOulD MoM be HAPPY?}
"Hey...I don't think I want to repeat these things. Dad is already pretty angry..." I said.
"Go on. Tell me what he said. I want to hear it."
I sighed and repeated the message.
Although, I was starting to have some strange ideas on exactly what Warmage really was...or who he was.
"Would she be proud of you? Would mom be happy?" I said.
Ulysses' expression softened.
"So that's how it is... Hey, Warmage...who are you, really? From how it sounds, you're..."
{MizIK IRAtuS.}
"Mizik Iratus..." I said.
What the hell...? Is this Warmage thing actually me!?
"Tch... No wonder you order us around like a slave driver... You probably get it from me..." Ulysses said.
{GuILty.}
"Guilty," I said.
Suddenly Ulysses burst out laughing.
"So my son is ordering both me and my son around now? Why don't you tell me what your real goal is? What's going on here?" Ulysses said.
Things were quiet for a few minutes.
"Warmage?" I said.
My status menu began flickering rapidly and flashing red.
Then I got another message.
{ToO hARd...To TAlK...NoW...WilL sAY... LAtER...}
"I think he's saying it's getting difficult to talk. He said he'd tell us later."
"As long as he talks. I hate being left in the dark with these things... Fine. We'll get you some better armor and also... We'll visit the Sleeping Dragon Inn. Sound good...?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan, Dad."