Norda, Plain of despair, Misty Mountain,
The hazy and dim moonlight lit up the gloomy plains that, spread around the towering lonely Mountain. As far as one could see there was not a single life, This place is called land of spirits or land of mourning by the local humans around this area; to the humans this was where, pretty much their root come from and a very Monumental and unforgettable place in their thousands of years history and their survival against various races.
When the ancestors of humans settle down this area and slowly building up their power in just few centuries they became one of the rulers of the plain and some nearby areas, alarming the overlords of other races, who didn't put the puny minor race in their eyes, they soon forced to make another evaluation because of their meteoric rise, then Problems and strifes happened. They fought with the nearby races for resources and allied with some for mutual protection, who at least show some good faith.
As they grow and become prosperous as years passed by, the humans further divided into many small groups that growing into many tribes that settle down nearby areas. As they grow into powerful forces, they got noticed by strongest races from various part of the world. These strongest races were the ruling classes of the world, for thousands of years never challenged by anyone, they focused on restricting one another from getting stronger. They never expected a puny minor race that got hunted down by various vessel races, under them for fun able to grow into this much made them pause. They had to agree the humans does pose a threat: even for them, who have thousands of years resources and foundation to backing them.
Sure they does have advantage over something for example: their lifespan that was easily triple that of or even five times in some cases of what human posses but so what , the humans have high fertility, that other long living races not blessed with; the humans were proven themselves highly intelligent, adapting according to the situations and most importantly, they are talented in cultivation managed to quickly catching up with other races with just effort and resources this alone horrifying. When their world faced a catastrophe this races launched an attack try to take out the humans foolishly.
At the approximate center of the lifeless plain a towering Mountain stood against the howling winds of this particular night, it was even helpless enough to even blew up mist on the top of the mountain as wind got shattered by it . The lot of natural and man made caves, starting from the foot of the mountain to the top was especially eye catching.
The particular one near the top was, almost completely covered by the mist, it was one of those rare few natural caves, it was suddenly shined in ethereal light for a minute. Like that cave every caves in the mountain sealed by the huge Boulders, it has been like this for centuries; This mountain caves once residents of tribe leaders, elders and some privileged peoples.
The humans, who prospered here also faced an unforgetable calamity, got almost wiped out like some races, not many races managed to survive. Unfortunately for the survivors they couldn't continued to live here, this place seem filled with residual energyof the calamity notably the Mountain: they forced deserted this place but buried the dead in the caves and sealed the caves in the beliefs of the dead will protect the living ones, they moved to a place hundreds of miles away to settledown.
__ __ __
Inside the dark cave despite what everyone believe an anomaly appeared. if one could see through the cave they should have noticed there was someone alive inside. Pained moans and whimpers, along with struggled breathing was the only thing could be heard.
In the dark someone pleaed in incoherent mumbles, that wasn't related to any local language anyone could understand, there was rustling sounds on the floor that ceased as soon as it came.
With staggering breath the person who curled up into the fetal position managed to sit up while wimphering pittyfully, he started to wildly to inhale large amount air to his lungs as if he couldn't wait to take in more of it, like he was just escaped from the sand storm, in desert, tears streak down from pain and relief.
It takes some time for him, to calm down his unstable emotions, he stammered while licking his dried lips "water! give me some water!" his voice was hoarse from all the crying and screaming from his continuos painful experience for last 24 hours. Unfortunately for him there was no one in the cave or to be exact Except him no one else alive in the cave.
Silver light flashed around his body, he instantly became completely new person exactly like when he first miraculously appeared inside the cave a couple of days ago. Aside from the wariness and terror in his eyes his halfway dead look and dirty clothes or gone, he became pristine. Nonetheless the shivering body of the youth was a clear sign that he, was deeply traumatized by the situation he was put in.
[My dear host, I hope with that brief experience you have grasped the reality. Are you willing to listen my words now? please note that there should not be any interruptions again. Hmm as I was saying, we have lots of things to do! as time was short on our side: as a person chosen by me, this your role to shoulder the task. Are you now willing to listening, what I have to say? the time is ticking.]
The Youth's face contorted in anger, his body is shaking unlike the agony before it was now pure hatred and rage"You damn ghost, tell me what is your reason? you have been lured me here, Pestering and torture me like this. if you want to eat me then do it quickly! I'm not afraid of you! You wretched old thing, don't you dare think for a second you can toy with me! I dare you to kill me if you have any guts"
He was out of breath from sudden outburst, he took a staggering breath "My family would found me sooner or later,don't you thing, you are being naive, I'm pretty sure this cave didn't even few miles away from the town and I'm swear things wouldn't going to end well for you " he didn't forget to threaten the despicable thing in the end.
[HeHeHe! How amusing! but it's a pity, I wish you could see! How I'm rolling my eyes ] the cold female voice replied in relaxed manner, the tone was tinged with amusement.
"Do you think it was funny...." the youth trailed off, after a pause he hesitantly asked "you have some grudge against my family is that it?.... I'm not mind in telling you this, I'm not from the main line of the family, hell I don't even have any interest or ambition in knight practice, it's just a twisted luck that I, became advanced knight, I'm telling you please let me go! I'm nothing but idler I swear" the anger turned into sadness and then helplessness, tears welled in his eyes.
The youth was a teacher in Crystal knight Academy, he was visiting his town to check up his mother. He received a letter from his father, early in that week; he decisively taken a week and half long leave and rushed over.
His father was a knight as well, a official in the family, which was knight family ruling red oak town and nearby villages. his father forced him to undergoing knight training because he has the talent to became knight; but what he wanted to be a scholar, wandering around the flowing light Empire, experience what truly freedom was unlike duty bound mediocre knight life.
Despite his pleading, he was really become one, the irony is that, in just half a dozen years he surpassed his father level, to be honest he never tried to work in the first place or make a name for himself in the town.
He still decided do something he liked, due to one rare opportunity joined the academy as a teacher. because of his talent and effort he put in teaching he got a good reputation so far, he was content with his life. He received a urgent letter, stating his mother had infected some incurable disease, she was constantly in fever the physician couldn't do anything about it, his parents thought it was just a seasonal flue in the start their careless cast them into this situation, all the physicians could do was a sad consoling , "there would have been a good chance if she got her treatment early"
He knew with this level of medical facility it wasn't plausible, he was planning to bring her to city he had some connection maybe everything would be alright. as he was mulling over the matter with a wine Glass, then somehow he was abducted.
It was a very unusual felling, at first he was just drinking, then he was unnaturally decided to walked into the forest by spontaneous decision, then straight to this God forsaken cave, which he was sure didn't seen on that area before.
[Host for the last time, I already said and done enough to prove, what I'm saying is the truth; it's you, who is not willing to grasp that. As for your threats, it's completely useless against me. The sooner you, think it through the better for us]
"So I'm begging and crying isn't enough, you still want see me in despair! don't you? good just you wait, ...." the youth stop talking in anger, he was looking around discreetly to find where exactly the ghost had been hiding , he resolved to himself, since he was going to die, he would not continue to beg.
After the few minutes of silence he heard a sigh, [Hmm, since host still being delusional... I decided to enlight you on some of your megar beliefs so listen carefully, not only your family warriors or even the so called strongest person in your world wouldn't find you! unless he is more powerful than me. which is certainly not the case so I ad-]
he laughed loudly interrupting cold voice once again, " What a nice boastful confidence, you sure are convincing, your head must be swelled up by your ego if I don't know any...." he trailed off suddenly notice the familiar eerie feeling. just like one, before he put into his previous pity full situation, it was exactly because he interrupted that ghost, he didn't want to experience that torture again he fell into silent.
the cold voice spoke after that silence, there was chilly feeling to it which made him shudder [Thank you!.... As I was particularly mentioned this before. You were not in your birth planet anymore but another one I invited you to, when your life about to come to an end I personally take action and bring you here. The impo- ] the calm collected cold voice yet interrupted once again by the youth.
He scoffed loudly, "Do you even hear your self? how was that invited!, hehe! YOU ABDUCTED me, the word 'abduct' and who do you think, you are fooling hump? I'm completely awake in the whole 'possesen time' despite helpless, I took note of the route to the cave was nearby Red Oak Town" his lips curled into sneer " Even I don't know what stage white robe saint is at, yet you dare to talk nonsense about his strength, you are really daring. Do you think any wandering ghost is more knowledgeable than me " he quickly aware of chillness ' OH! ...this ' he hurriedly try to say something "I... A Cold voice cut him off.
[Fetal position!]
The Youth's body, folded against his will, into fatal position like prenatal fetus, it was said: the humans and some animals in their early period of life when facing danger they can't handle, instinctly assume this position to guard their vitals.
For such life saving position used as a punishment something seems off: It looks like the the system has some unusual fetish about some concepts, the youth only managed a cry of plea before even his jaws were tightly clamped together by mysterious force. For full ten minutes, he was lying there twitching and moaning from pain that was similar to bitten by enhanced 'bullet ants' all over the body.
When the ten minutes over he was released but he couldn't wake up. His eyes were already rolled up, his mouth hanging open now drooling with contorting face. He thought previous treatment was torturous compared to the ten minutes of this, that was nothing, the pain he was feeling raised up at least Three time more intense than before.
His jaws even shut this time, he could not even scream, at least doing that gave him some relief. The only thing he was slightly thankful was that evil ghost didn't make it to 24 hours or he would have goner.
[Time is crucial for us, if you dare to interrupt me or continue to chant your previous 'I would not listen ' or some nonsense again; host rest assured I am willing to allow you to enjoy the therapy and even help you by simply increase the timing to 24 hours]
The youth trembled hearing that, in his eyes it was no worse than hell. His eyes are quickly gaining focus, as he nodded his head hurriedly like a drunkard due to his dizziness.
"Hey! hey! Wait, why don't we talk things through? let's be nice to each other I swear, I at least listen what you have to say" he once again put his pride and dignity down, even clearly he wasn't here at fault, he couldn't endure another temper tantrum of this old ghost, he took a deep breath to wash down his sadness.
He put on a smile asked jovially "Why don't we introduce ourselves first huh? I am Vaanavan" 'The pitiful soul got caught into your Vicious Claws' he thought to himself.
[Well, at least you were trying, I'm very pleased; it's not turn out to be a another mistake]
"...."
[I am, called: The Ultimate Impartial System, it's my pleasure to work with you] the cold voice had a playful tone. vaanavan horrified to find that somehow the playful tone gave more dangerous vibe than the chilly voice.
[Another thing, I can hear your thoughts just fine, so it would be nice if you don't keep referring me as old ghost, you can call me system]
Vaanavan heart sank hearing that, as he was about to say something...
[There! there! No need to panicking, I'm not evil as you assume, rest assured I would not harm you. Since you were willing to compromise with me, you can ask the questions in your mind, I will answer them, If I can, it's best if we get past this, trust me]
Vaanavan perked up hearing that, he no longer apprehensive about the old gh- Ahem, about the system. 'What a pretentious name, is it given name, I don't think so probably it- yeah I'm not thinking like this' he hurriedly abolish such a trouble some thoughts.
He was a knight he believed in people words, as far as he knows everyone tries their best to kept true to their word, unless it was some immoral criminal who was cunning and traitorous, anyway he never gone back on his word in the first place, he thought the thing would do the same.
"So can you explain me, why are you abducting me. When are you going to release Me? aren't you afraid someone come looking me, after all I am a teacher of respectable knight academy out there, Mind you in fact I'm about to depart.... yeah it's tomorrow, besides my mother wasn't feeling well" his tone turned brooding as he thought of his Mother's condition itching to get out of here.