Eldric Balmore awoke with a start, his body drenched in sweat and aching all over. He groaned in pain, his battered body protesting as he tried to sit up. As his senses returned, he realized something that made his heart leap - he was alive.
"I'm... I'm alive," he gasped, a wave of relief washing over him. Tears welled up in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks, the stark realization of his survival overwhelming him. He thought of his family, a glimmer of hope sparking in his heart that he might see them again.
After a few moments, Eldric managed to calm himself, wiping away his tears and taking a deep breath. His eyes, now clear, took in his surroundings.
He found himself in an expanse of unparalleled beauty - a cavernous arena sculpted by nature herself. Towering rocks reached upwards, forming a natural dome. A hole in the top let in a stream of sunlight, bathing the cavern in a warm, golden glow. A river flowed gently through the cavern, its crystal-clear water glimmering under the sun.
He found himself surrounded by a lush meadow, the grass a vibrant green, dotted with wildflowers in a riot of colors. Vegetation thrived all around, the air fresh with the scent of leaves and damp earth.
The sound of cascading water drew his attention to a breathtaking waterfall, its water plunging down from a high cliff and pooling into the river. A rainbow flickered in the mist, adding to the ethereal beauty of the place.
Staggering to his feet, Eldric tried to take in the enormity of his situation. He traced his fall, his eyes following the waterfall upwards, realizing that he had fallen from those very heights. His heart pounded in his chest, the gravity of his luck sinking in.
He slowly walked towards the waterfall, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. "I guess this is where I came down from. It seems I fell into a river and flowed downstream to here," he thought, a shiver running down his spine. For all the beauty around him, it was a stark reminder of the danger he had faced.
But for now, he was safe. He was alive. And as he gazed at the waterfall, the sun casting a heavenly glow around him, Eldric Balmore dared to hope once more.
Eldric spent the rest of the day exploring the cavern. He noticed how its walls were covered in a variety of moss and lichen, creating an intricate tapestry of greens and yellows. The fertile soil, enriched by the river, was perfect for cultivation. He found fruit-bearing trees and bushes; their branches heavy with ripe fruit. The river was teeming with fish, their scales glistening under the sunlight.
"This place," Eldric thought, his eyes surveying the serene beauty around him, "is a paradise. Why not make it my home, it's not like I can go anywhere from here on. I have no place to wonder to."
He ventured towards the other end of the river, which flowed out of the cavern and into an open mountain region. The region was teeming with small animals, scurrying about in the undergrowth and darting between the rocks. A large lake filled with clear water lay beyond the river, surrounded by towering mountains. It was a picturesque place, untouched by man.
However, Eldric was no fool. He knew that this beauty could also harbor danger. He decided to stay close to the mouth of the cavern, not daring to venture too far into the mountains.
He remembered the seeds in his pocket. A spark of hope ignited within him. With these, he could start a small farm. Food wouldn't be a problem here.
But he needed shelter, and for that, he needed tools. He spent the next few hours crafting a crude axe from a sturdy branch and a sharp stone. With this, he felled a few trees and began to build his hut.
Hours of hard labor later, Eldric stood back to admire his handiwork. It was no architectural marvel - just a simple structure made of logs and leaves. But it was his. His sanctuary in this beautiful, yet unforgiving wilderness.
He was exhausted, his body screaming for rest. But as he looked at his cozy little hut, a wave of satisfaction washed over him. He had survived the fall, discovered paradise, and now, built a home. Eldric knew that he had a long way to go, but for now, he was content. As the sun set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, he stepped inside his hut and prepared to rest, eagerly awaiting the dawn of a new day in his newfound home.
Eldric collapsed onto the floor of his makeshift shelter, his body aching from the exertion of the day. Just as the sweet embrace of sleep was about to claim him, a deafening sound echoed in his mind, causing him to bolt upright.
*Ding* "Congratulations for building your Keep and awakening the Knight Household system."
His eyes widened in shock as a translucent screen appeared before him. The screen, which seemed to float in mid-air, displayed several categories:
[Name: Eldric Balmore]
[Household Name: None]
[Power: None (Core damaged)]
[Household Power: None]
[Army: None]
[Quests: None]
After a moment of stunned silence, Eldric's face split into a wide grin. He let out a triumphant yell, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Twenty years! I've waited a full twenty years for this!"
Eldric's life hadn't started here. He was originally from a different world, where he died tragically in a car accident. His soul was then reborn in this world, where he was taken in by a loving family. Despite the different world, he was content. Now, after two decades, he had finally unlocked his system.
Taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart, Eldric turned his attention back to the system. He read the descriptions of the system's functions, which were surprisingly straightforward: summon knights and undertake quests.
"Summon knights...and quests. Interesting," Eldric murmured to himself. The thought of commanding his own army of knights filled him with both excitement and trepidation. It was a lot of responsibility, but it also held immense potential. The knights he summoned could grow into formidable forces, shaping the destiny of his household according to the system.
The rest of the interface was self-explanatory. The [Name] section was his own name, Eldric. [Household Name] was the name of his new knight family, which he hadn't decided on yet. [Power] displayed his personal strength, while [Household Power] showed the collective strength of his knight family. [Army] showed the number of knights under his command.
The last column, [Quests], was currently empty, but Eldric could imagine the challenges and rewards it would soon offer.
As he lay back down, Eldric couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. His life had just become far more interesting. The system held promise, potential, and a world of opportunity. And Eldric couldn't wait to explore it all. Yet he slowly drifted asleep too tired to do anything other.