"Mother, mother, mother... that person is an impostor," Elisha's voice quivered with desperation, his eyes brimming with tears. His trembling finger pointed towards the figure standing beside his mother, a cold and deceitful grin etched upon their face. The impostor's presence felt like a knife twisting in his heart, as if a stranger had usurped the love and connection he held so dear.
As Elisha's eyes fluttered open, he felt a strange haze clouding his mind. Memories that were once sharp and vivid now seemed distant and fuzzy, slipping through his grasp like smoke. He struggled to piece together the fragments of his recent experiences, but they eluded him like a fleeting dream.
He observed his surroundings which reveal a simple yet comfortable straw mat within a humble wooden hut nestled in serene surroundings. His recollection was hazy, but he remembered an encounter with an old man of majestic aura who had invited him to embark on an adventure in another world, an invitation he had initially refused.
The events that transpired before the old man's arrival were a blur to Elisha's memory. He could recall only the impact of a wheel striking his forehead, leaving him with gaps in his recollection. He questioned whether the appearance of the old man had been a reality or merely a figment of his dreams.
Now fully awake, Elisha found himself in an unfamiliar setting that resembled a humble wooden hut or the abode of a wise sage. The air carried a sense of ancient wisdom, infused with the scent of nature and lingering incense. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden walls, casting warm beams upon the tatami mat floor. Shelves adorned with scrolls and artifacts revealed glimpses of forgotten knowledge and profound teachings.
Elisha stood up and ran his fingers across the shelves.
"Magic scrolls, books, alchemy, skills fragment?" Elisha muttered to himself, curiosity piqued. With eagerness in his eyes, he perused the shelves, running his fingers over ancient tomes and delicate scrolls.
"Yes," he concluded with certainty, "I was definitely brought to another world." The evidence he held in his hands, the very essence of magic and ancient wisdom, confirmed his intuition.
Elisha examined his surroundings, his attention was drawn to a mirror. Gazing at his reflection, he discovered that his hair had turned white, and his complexion had taken on a paler hue, contrasting his previous appearance. Though his current form seemed somewhat sickly, he attributed it to the neglect he had shown his health in his previous world. His face possessed a certain handsomeness that was absent before, and his height appeared more in line with that of an average boy his age.
"Why has my appearance changed? Could it be that I am now a different person, much like those protagonists in cultivation novels?" Elisha wondered aloud.
"No, you are still Elisha," an old voice responded, causing Elisha to turn his head toward its source.
"You're that old man?" Elisha questioned.
"En, did you recall what happened yesterday, kid?" the old man inquired.
"Yes, I was struck by a wheel and lost consciousness. Then you communicated with me telepathically, offering me a chance to enter this world," Elisha recounted the series of events to the old man.
'It appears that the memory manipulation magic was successful. Blame your non-existent luck, kid,' the old man thought, the consequences for this type of magic was the possibility of triggering a "berserk period" or frenzied state. During this period, the victim taps into a wellspring of raw emotions, unleashing their inner savagery and gaining heightened physical strength, senses, and a disregard for pain or danger.
This revelation will definitely left Elisha in a precarious position if the old man told him, as he lacked knowledge on how to harness the mysterious forces found in nature. If a mortal were to experience such a frenzied state, their body would ultimately succumb to the overwhelming strength, leading to dire consequences after a few minutes.
"En, don't leave the house or you will be eaten by monster beasts outside. I have placed barriers to protect you, so don't blame me if you meet a tragic fate, kid," the old man sternly warned Elisha, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
"Yes, sir," Elisha replied, taking the old man's words to heart as fear gripped his being. The notion of deadly creatures lurking beyond the safety of the house sent a shiver down his spine.
As the old man began to wave his staff, his actions were interrupted by someone. "Hmmm, is there something wrong?" a voice questioned, breaking the tense atmosphere.
"Sir, what is your name again?" Elisha inquired, his memory still hazy from the recent events.
"Listen well, you can call me Old Man Rom. Don't disturb me for such minor stuff, kid. I have better things to do." the old man replied, revealing his name to Elisha. Unbeknownst to the unsuspecting boy, a sinister glint danced in the depths of the Old Man's smile. "For this is the name that will seal your fate once I gain possession of your body," he silently mused, his dark intentions veiled beneath an enigmatic facade.
With a final wave of his staff, as if invoking a hidden power, Old Man Rom vanished into thin air, leaving Elisha alone to grapple with the weight of the impending dangers and unanswered questions that loomed ahead.
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Old Man Rom was in the depths of the ancient cemetery, a place where the veil between the living and the dead grew thin. Shadows danced among the weathered tombstones, their epitaphs whispering tales of lives long gone. The air hung heavy with an otherworldly stillness, as if the spirits of the departed held their breath in his presence.
Old Man Rom walked along the winding paths, his steps guided by a mysterious purpose known only to him. The flickering light of the moon cast an ethereal glow upon his figure, accentuating the lines etched upon his aged face. He stopped before a particularly weathered gravestone, its inscription worn with time, and a knowing smile curved his lips. In this realm of souls, he reveled in the secrets that lay hidden, his connection to the spirits giving him an unwavering confidence in the face of the unknown.
"What a splendid discovery! To think there is still someone in the mortal realm with such remarkable talent and a profound affinity for space," the old man exclaimed with a chilling glee. His eyes glimmered with a sinister ambition as he envisioned the possibilities that lay before him. "Once I possess that body, I shall command the vast cosmos itself, and none shall defy me. Ahahaha!"
The echoes of his laughter filled the air, carrying with it a malevolent undertone that sent shivers down the spines of all who heard it. It was a twisted delight, laced with a hint of madness and the insatiable hunger for power.
"Tomorrow night, I shall seize my opportunity before those executioners arrive. Once I have succeeded, dealing with them will be child's play," the old man declared with a wicked smile, his mind already scheming the steps he would take to achieve his dark desires.
With measured steps, he made his way towards a particular tomb, its pointed blade symbol and enigmatic inscriptions beckoning to him. With a wave of his staff, the tomb's seal was broken, revealing a hidden compartment within. Inside rested a mysterious dagger, pulsating with an otherworldly energy.
As the old man grasped the dagger in his right hand, an ethereal chorus of spirits and ghastly sprites appeared before him, drawn by the power emanating from the blade. With a swift motion, he unleashed the dagger's magic, causing the spirits and sprites to be drawn into the weapon, their essence absorbed completely.
A malevolent grin crept across the old man's face as he sensed the surge of power coursing through him. The stolen spirits and sprites now infused within the dagger would serve as a wellspring of energy for his dark endeavors. With this enchanted dagger, he can seize and acquire the soul of that boy.