THE SYSTEM I MADE
Chapter 23
"Mysterious pursuit"
[Valorwood Academy; outside field]
Alex's wooden sword clanged against the augmented reality projection of Commander Gareth. Both figures moved in a blur, their swords a whirl of strikes and parries. The clash of wood echoed across the field as they fought with fierce intensity.
Alex pushed himself harder, sweat dripping down his face. He knew this projection was based on the Knight Commander of the Eldraine Estate the very same man who trained Alex before studying at the academy, Commander Gareth, a master swordsman who had trained many of the finest warriors. Even as an augmented reality projection, the skill and precision were nearly impossible to match.
With a swift and powerful strike, the projection brought its wooden sword down with a speed and strength that Alex struggled to counter. He blocked the blow, but the force behind it sent him rolling across the ground. He landed on his back, the breath knocked out of him.
"You lose," Aida announced.
Alex's hands shook as he lowered his sword.
"Damn,"
he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Even though it's Sir Gareth's augmented reality projection, it's still crazy strong."
He sat up slowly, feeling the strain in his muscles. "Aida, is there any way to tone down the difficulty on these projections?" he asked, half-joking.
"Unfortunately, the projections are designed to challenge you at the highest level to ensure maximum improvement," Aida replied. "Commander Gareth's projection is set to his peak capabilities."
Alex sighed, standing up and dusting himself off. "I guess there's no easy way to become a top swordsman, huh?"
"I've got a long way to go," he thought,
"but I won't give up."
He picked up his wooden sword, ready to train harder. "Aida, reset the projection. Let's go again," he said, his voice filled with renewed resolve.
"Understood," Aida replied. "Resetting projection."
As the augmented reality projection of Commander Gareth reappeared, Alex took his stance, prepared to push himself to his limits.
---
[Valorwood Academy; Alchemy Lab]
Alex walked into the alchemy lab, still feeling the burn from his earlier training session. His shirt was slung over his shoulder, and beads of sweat glistened on his bare chest. He had just finished an intense bout with the augmented reality projection of Commander Gareth and was about to change when he noticed Emily already setting up their workstation.
Emily glanced up and did a double take, her cheeks flushing slightly at the sight of Alex.
"Oh, uh, hi Alex," she stammered, quickly looking away. "You, um, you look like you've been working hard."
Alex chuckled, reaching for his t-shirt. "Yeah, training with that projection is no joke." He pulled the shirt over his head, covering his toned physique. "Sorry about that. Didn't mean to make things awkward."
Emily waved her hand dismissively, though her cheeks still held a rosy hue. "No worries. Ready to finish this assignment?"
"Absolutely," Alex replied, his tone now all business. He took a seat next to Emily, who had laid out all the ingredients for their potion.
"Let's get to it."
As they worked, Emily found herself sneaking glances at Alex. She couldn't help but admire his dedication and focus. Despite his rugged exterior and intense training regimen, he had a gentle and considerate side that was starting to show more often.
"You're really good at this," Alex said, watching as Emily expertly measured and mixed the ingredients. "I don't think I could've done this on my own."
"Thanks," Emily replied, smiling. "Potion-making is kind of my thing. But you're not too bad yourself. You've got a steady hand."
They continued working in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the soft clinking of glass and the bubbling of the potion. After a while, Alex broke the silence.
"By the way, have you seen Ethan?" he asked, glancing around as if expecting their missing group member to appear. "He hasn't shown up since he stormed off yesterday."
Emily shook her head, her expression turning somber. "No, I haven't seen him at all. It's like he just disappeared. I hope he's okay."
Alex frowned, feeling a pang of concern. "Yeah, me too. He seemed really upset. I wanted to talk to him, but he just... bolted."
Emily sighed, her eyes downcast. "I know he's been having a tough time. Maybe we should try reaching out to him again. He shouldn't have to do this alone."
Alex nodded. "Agreed. We'll finish this assignment, then I'll try to find him. He needs to know he's not alone, even if he thinks he is."
Emily gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Alex. I'm glad we're in this together."
They completed the potion assignment, working seamlessly as a team. With their task finally done, Alex packed up his things and stood up.
"I'll go look for Ethan," he said.
"I'll let you know if I find him."
Emily nodded. "Be careful, Alex. And thanks again."
Alex gave her a reassuring smile before heading out of the lab.
Hours had passed with no sign of Ethan at all. Alex had searched high and low, asking other students if they had seen him, but no one knew his whereabouts. Frustration and worry gnawed at him.
"I wonder where Ethan ran off to..." Alex muttered to himself as he walked down the empty hallway. He was exhausted, both physically and mentally.
"Aida, how long until the daily quest cools down?" he asked, his voice tinged with fatigue.
"One hour remaining," Aida announced.
"Noted," Alex replied. "In the meantime, I'll need to go rest in my bed. I kinda overdid the training and the assignment."
He made his way to his dorm room, his steps heavy. The academy halls were quieter than usual, the afternoon sun casting long shadows on the polished floors. As he reached his room, he pushed the door open and dropped his bag by the bed. He flopped down onto the mattress, feeling the immediate relief of its softness.
"Today has been exhausting," he sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.
"A good rest will help you recover," Aida said. "Your body needs time to heal and recharge."
"Yeah, I know," Alex replied, already feeling sleep tugging at the edges of his consciousness. "I just hope Ethan is okay, wherever he is."
As he drifted off to sleep, his mind replayed the events of the day. He thought of Emily, her concern for Ethan matching his own. He thought of the potion assignment they had completed together, a small success amidst the day's challenges. And most of all, he thought of Ethan, alone and hurting somewhere in the academy.
"I'll find you, Ethan," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper as sleep claimed him. "I promise."
The room fell silent, the only sound the soft breathing of Alex as he slept. Outside, the academy continued its rhythm, students bustling about, unaware of the small dramas unfolding within its walls. For now, Alex could rest, but the search for Ethan was far from over.
Midnight at some dark forest was a time of eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant howl of a nocturnal creature.
In the dark forest, a lone figure moved with swift precision. Alex, clad in his enchanted robe, thrust his sword through the massive, hairy body of a giant spider. Silk strands clung to his blade as the creature let out a final, gurgling hiss.
"You have slain a giant spider. You have earned 80 distribution points. You have earned 90 points. Daily quest successfully completed," Aida announced in her usual monotone.
Alex took a deep breath, wiping sweat from his brow. "Show stats," he commanded.
A holographic display flickered into existence before him, revealing his current status:
---
Stats:
- Agility: 89/100 + [(30, Robe)]
- Stamina: 75/100
- Intelligence: 81/100
- Strength: 75/100
- Luck: 55/100
- Dexterity: 60/100
Skill Set:
- Conqueror's Call (L): Level XXX
Points Available: 320
Distribution Points: 100
---
"I'll reserve my points for now," he decided, dismissing the display. With one last glance at the spider's corpse, he sheathed his sword and made his way out of the dark forest.
As he approached the entrance, he noticed Galeous sitting cross-legged, his energy subtly radiating in the moonlight. Despite his human form, the aura of the Wind Dragon was unmistakable.
"Oh, Alex, you came back quicker than I expected," Galeous remarked, opening one eye lazily.
"Yes, I wanted to finish things quickly. The sooner, the better," Alex replied.
Galeous stood up, stretching. "Your trainings are very effective, I must say. You keep getting better every time I see you. Your aura says so."
"Yeah, I won't stop until I become stronger—stronger than even you, Galeous," Alex said with a confident grin.
Galeous chuckled softly. "I wish you good luck, then."
Galeous's expression grew serious. "I just noticed my body is still suffering under the effects of that demonic artifact. It's super slow to gather my magical energy."
"That's strange," Alex mused, his brow furrowing. "What a strange artifact I thought I destroyed it, I don't understand how demonic magic even works."
Galeous nodded. "Yes it's strange how it can interferee with my magic flow though it was destroyed."
"I should had back, I really need some rest" he said.
Galeous patted Alex on the shoulder. "Rest well, Alex."
(Later that same night)
The night at Valorwood Academy was still and quiet as Alex made his way back to his dorm room. With a thought, his mask and robe vanished, leaving him clad in his standard academy uniform. The training session had taken its toll, and he was eager to get some rest.
As he walked through the dimly lit hallways, a faint glow caught his eye. A small candlelight flickered at the far end of the corridor.
"What's that light? Who could be up at this hour?" he murmured to himself, curiosity piqued.
Alex followed the light, his footsteps silent on the floor. As he got closer, he saw a figure clad in a brown robe holding the candle. Moving with caution, Alex hid behind a pillar, watching the person intently. The robed figure moved stealthily, making their way deeper into the academy.
Determined to uncover what was happening, Alex began to follow. However, as he turned a corner, his foot caught on something, and he stumbled. The noise echoed through the hallway, and the robed figure turned, their face briefly illuminated by the candlelight.
Their eyes met for a split second before the person took off running.
"Dammit, they saw me," Alex cursed under his breath, giving chase.
The pursuit through the academy was intense. The halls seemed to stretch endlessly, filled with obstacles that both Alex and the robed figure had to dodge. They vaulted over benches, slid under low-hanging banners, and darted around corners.
As Alex rounded another corner, he saw another person, also clad in a brown robe, appear and grab the first figure. Together, they dashed down the corridor with a burst of speed that left Alex struggling to keep up. Their movements were fluid and synchronized, as if they had practiced this escape many times.
"Damn, they're fast," Alex muttered, pushing himself harder. But the gap between them continued to grow.
Suddenly, the two figures reached a dead-end hallway. Alex's heart raced as he thought he had them cornered, but then they did something unexpected. With a quick, coordinated movement, they pressed against the wall, and a hidden door slid open. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Alex skidded to a halt in front of the now-closed door, panting heavily. He pressed his hands against the wall, searching for any mechanism that might reopen it.
"Who are those people? What are they doing in the academy? And the one who came later is way faster than me," he thought, frustration gnawing at him.
He stepped back, realizing he wouldn't be able to open the door without more information. "Aida," he called out softly.
"Yes, Alex?" Aida's voice responded in his mind.
"Can you scan this area for any hidden passages or anomalies?"
"Scanning now," Aida replied. After a few moments, she continued, "There is indeed a hidden passage behind this wall, but I cannot access its mechanism remotely. It appears to be shielded from external interference."
Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, we'll need to investigate this further. Those robed figures clearly don't belong here, and they're up to something. But for now, I need to get some rest."
As he turned to leave, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that he had just stumbled upon something significant. The academy, with all its secrets and mysteries, had just revealed another layer. And Alex knew he would have to uncover the truth, no matter what it took.