"Asher, run away!"
"Brother save me!"
"Ahh!" Asher suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, half-naked with the blacket on the floor, his bed was soaked wet.
'Not again.' his ears rang, accompanied by a throbing headache, he felt his whole world spinning.
Recalling the nightmare, that always haunted him, Asher calmed his beating heart.
Often times he couldn't remember the context of the dream, but he knew the theme was his parants dying and his brother being kidnapped. He had no memory of the dream, but one thing that always remained, was the lingering feeling of fear, sadness and anger.
*knock* *knock*
"Ayo Asher, say somethin'!" Atlas's voice came from the door.
"Yeah, I'll be out in a bit." Asher swiftly responded.
"Breakfast time."
Asher looked around, he was in a small tree room, the furniture there, was made of wood with exquisite designs. In fact the whole room was made of wood.
Not far away, he saw his clothes, nearly folded, besides them on a chair was a long white robe, with simple and intricate details.
Quickly washing himself, Asher wore his clothes before dorning the gown. This was for the ceremony.
'Did someone wash me?' Looking himself in the mirror, he realized that his wounds from yesterday was healed, except for the burnt mark resembling half a hand on his right side, everything else was fine.
Coming out of his room, he walked down stairs and came to the lobby to grab some food. Everyone was eating, wearing a similar white gown.
Along the way, everyone stared at him like he was some sort of rare mixed-breed of an alian.
"He's the guy who fought two angels at the same time!"
"Him? Did he win?"
"Yeah... Wait I don't remember."
"Wait a sec, me neither."
Whisperers started filling the room, but suddenly a problem arose. No one could remember how the fight ended, including Asher himself, which made him frown.
He fought that bulky dude, beacuse of the reward, joining his pack or have him join you, was his goal.
"Ayo Asher, sorry about yesterday man, some trippy shit happened, when you were getting jumped, we tried to jump in but we passed out." Atlas lifted his focus from his food and explained with his hand over his heart.
"Yeah, I found it especially odd, everyone couldn't recount a single thing, includinding the teachers. At first I suspected the angels to have used magic but there's no way the teachers, wouldn't have noticed, so now my suspicion is on them, Mr. Chase face suggested that..." Four-eyes began to speculate.
Although Asher also wanted an answer, he shook his head, prefering not to dwell on it.
Half an hour passed and everyone was brought outside, and escorted deeper into the forest. The were multiple tree houses along the way, and the number of guards began to increase. After a series of check-ups, they came to the largest tree they had ever seen.
Being as wide as two building, and so tall, that they couldn't see the top, as it was hidden by clouds. The bark looked dark brown, with it's battle with time apperant.
As soon as they saw the tree, everyone had a sense of 'life'. The tree made people forget the meaning of 'death'.
"Welcome." just as everyone stood there in a daze, a male voice entered their minds, drawing their attention. Despite the voice being ordinary, it made people's ears peark up in anticipation for more.
An extremely ordinary yet near-perfect man, had unknowingly appeared in front of them. The man's facial features were vague and blurry, but everyone could sense his perfect features. With black hair, flowing down to his shoulder, and a pair of bright silver eyes, that peirced their souls.
The man gave everyone a feeling similar to the tree, but 100 times more, but this time it was 'holiness'. Making people feel ashamed and involuntarily wanting to 'worship'.
Behind the man, stood 12 youths wearing white long gowns, 3 of them were familiar faces.
"Greetings." the first to react, was Asher and the teachers, who kneeled and bowed. Then the others reacted and followed suite.
"There be no need for that." the man humbly said. He led the way, saying, "Come this way. I'm Raphael one of the four archangels of the origin church, and I'll be watching over the proceedings this time."
When the man finished speaking, everyone had come to a different place entirely, with no entrance in sight.
They were in the middle of the desert, with a river flowing nearby. Surprisingly, the blue skies were bright with no sun in sight.
They had unknowingly crossed space, without realizing it.
Following the river, everyone came to a small oasis, with tropical trees here and there. The clear river connected to a small pond that swirled around. The rivers surface had become milky white, with a murkey texture.
A group of church people with wings, were seen pouring various things into the pond.
"Step up first. Remember to relaxed your body." Raphael's voice fell.
The 12 youths, only wearing their gowns, were fully submerged into the water, back first.
The others waited, ten or so minutes later, until the 12 youths finally came out, there were no noticible changes in their appearances except, a pair of milky white wings appeared from their backs, with wingspan of at least 12 feet.
But from their expressions, there were other changes.
Some of the students looked on with envey.
"15 of you step forward." this time, sir Raphael also stepped forward to help.
Asher's body involentarly moved forward, and he found himself in front of Raphael.
"We meet again." standing in the pond, sir Raphael stated.
His voice not loud, but everyone heard, shocking everyone, making them wonder their relationship. Jarameel on the side, frowned and paid extra attention.
"It is my honor for sir to remember a small character like me." Asher stepped forward and bowed.
He recalled that distant memory, their meeting happen just after his brother was kidnapped and his parents were killed. At that time, Raphael's presance my have saved his life, so he was greatful.
"Your suppose to enter with the gown with no clothing."
Asher looked around and realized it was only he who was wearing his clothes underneath. Feeling no shame, he took off his clothes and wore his gown. All that mattered to him, was the baptism.
"You have an impressive body." Raphael complemented, for some reason, the way he said it felt natural and no one thought secondly of it.
"Thank you." Asher stepped into the water and waited.
"Do you remember the words you said to me that day?" Raphael wasn't in a rush, and patiantly asked.
The others had already been dipped into the water.
Asher thought for a second and nodded, his expression grew sharp, "To grow strong! Killing all those demons and Avenging my parents, then rescueing my brother."
At that time, he was left hopeless, but then this man comforted him. He healed his wounds and gave him hope.
"hmh, that wound of your face still can't be healed." Raphael nodded and touched the mark on Asher's face.
"I prefer it this way, it reminds me of my goal and what I have to do."
"Hhm." Raphael nodded and glanced at the 12 youths behind him.
Asher secretly felt irritated, he came here to be dipped in water like a teabag, but now this man was dragging it out. He had the urge to submurg himself and get it over with but he held himself back.
"You know, one of my disciples has taken a certain liking to you, and has pleaded me to let you join our ranks, what do you make of this." Raphael turned to Asher with a smile.
Despite them being equal in height, Asher felt like he had to look up to the man, he involentarly gulped.
Asher averted his gaze with a bow and responded, "Sir you jest, how can a lowly person like me dream of that. The only dreams I have are accomplishing my goals and rescuing my brother."
"ohh, it'll be hard on your own, surely if you have help, it'll be easier." Raphael eyes open in surprised, before narrowing.
His coverted invitation was met with a covert rejection.
"Indeed sir is correct, this path I'm on is one filled with hardships, and I have no doubt that I'll regret my decision, but it's a burden I don't want others to shoulders..." Asher explained, his expression relaxed.
He sighed and continued, "I've come to realize that, until this nightmare end, happiness can only be a luxury, a luxury I can't afford."
Raphael starred at Asher for a while, shifting his thoughts, he dipped him in the lake.
'Hmm, perhaps I was wrong that day, but since he has potential and his anger isn't fake, I guess it's best I steer's it into that direction....' Raphael got lost in his thoughts.
As soon as he was submerged, he felt the thick viscous, enveloping his face and body. The senses were immidiatly cut off, no sound or light, he couldn't even move his body, but surprisingly, he could breath.
The liquid was bone-chilling cold, and for some reason, it felt like, it was moving around.
Asher didn't resist and relaxed his entire body, even emptying his mind.
[Ding]
[ A Baptism is required to start the system.]
Looking at the hauntingly familiar screen, Asher waited.
[ Baptism in process... Initiating system.]
[ Error! Error!]
[ Baptism corrupted! Impure! Unknown substances found.]
[ Forefully start system?]
A series of notifications popped up on the screen. Seeing the final question Asher frowned and accepted.
[ Warning, unforseen circumstances may occur! Forcefully start system?]
Again, Asher accepted, he'd waited in anticipation and curious about the whole matter. What was the system? Where did it come from?
[ Initializing dynamics...]
[ Unpacking ads.]
[ Booting process in progress... 1% 5% 15% 45% 50% 80% 99% 100%]
Sigh, Seeing the process quickly finish, Asher relaxed for some reason.
Suddenly the transperate red, holographic screen disappeared. Silence and darkness returned.
Asher waited, he suddenly thought of elavator music, it would undoubtedly fit the mood.
Not long after...
[ De#&#¡c System initiated]
The holographic screen returned, but this time it was glitching, Asher became worried but then...
[System corrupted! Patching notes!]
[Patching... 1% 50% 100%]
[Origin system patched, start the system?]
Notifications flashed and the system started.
Asher was relived it fixed itself, sadly the system didn't come with a manual, so he didn't know which tech-support he needed to call.
He moved and accepted.
Suddenly his consciousness shifted and his mind moved.
When Asher opened his eyes, he saw the morning skies slowly light up. On the horizon the sky was slowly rising.
Looking around, Asher was lying on moving clouds. Intending to get up, Asher's hand slipped past the clouds, pulling his body down.
Startled, Asher didn't have the time to think before his body fell on a spiky mountain. Oddly enough, he didn't die, he didn't even feel pain, despite the spikes being lodged into him, there wasn't any blood.
Pushing up against the spikes, he freed himself before finding even-ground.
He was in a barren mountain range, atop the highest mountain, the mountain poked through the clouds. The mountains were dark brown with not even a single vegetation in sight, even down below, the land was dead and baren.
Except, a mountain adjacent to him, where a forest filled with dark trees.
Luckily the mountain wasnt steep, Asher climbed higher and came to a flat basin atop the mountain.
'This is the system? What is this?' Asher pondered to himself.
As soon as he said, system, a notification rang, followed by a holographic screen.
[ A temple is required!]
[ Build your temple.]
This time, the holographic screen had changed color, becoming pink.
Temple? What temple and why? Asher wished the system would explain.
Is that what those trees are for? What an I suppose to cut them down with? He headed towards the trees.
Feeling irritated, Asher wished he could leave, but continued his journey.
Just as Asher, set his sights on the forest, his consciousness shift and his mind moved.
When he opened his eyes again, Asher found himself in darkness, presumably in the pond.
He struggled and a hand pulled him out.
The liquid that should have been sticky, slowly slid down his body and returned to the pond.
"Your baptism failed?" Raphael's confused voice came from the side.