Lucian lay on the hospital bed, his eyes fixed on the sterile white ceiling. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the hospital's machinery, but his mind was far from peaceful. He'd been alone for over half an hour since the WMA officers left, leaving him to grapple with the whirlwind of events that had upended his life in the past two days.
Just two days ago, he was living on the streets, a nameless boy without a care for anyone, surviving by robbing the occasional rich man. It wasn't that big of a deal, he told himself no one missed a few extra bills, and he wasn't hurting anyone. But then, that man appeared. A sadistic bastard who had kidnapped him for no apparent reason, tortured him to the brink of death, all just for his twisted amusement.
Lucian clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Why? Why had that man gone so far? He could have just beaten him up and left him to crawl away. But no, the man had taken pleasure in making Lucian suffer, inflicting pain until death seemed like the only release. Lucian shuddered at the memory, his body still bearing the marks of the ordeal.
"People these days… they're not good people," Lucian muttered to the empty room, a bitter sigh escaping his lips. He found himself complaining to God, if such an entity even existed. "If you're up there, you've got a sick sense of humor."
If God were listening, Lucian imagined Him shaking His head in exasperation. After all, who was the one who'd tried to rob that man first? And what was that about not bothering anyone? Lucian had robbed at least five rich men every day, and instead of saving the money, he'd squandered it on expensive clothes and food. "I'd be a millionaire by now if I had half a brain," Lucian admitted, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
But despite everything, something good had come out of this mess. For the first time in his life, Lucian had a name Lucian Valentine. It was a name he could call his own, something he had always dreamed of. A small, genuine smile broke across his face, a rare sight that even he wasn't accustomed to.
Ding!
A sudden sound rang in his mind, pulling him from his thoughts. Lucian's eyes widened as he looked around the room, trying to locate the source of the noise. It was so clear, so real, but there was nothing out of place. His heart began to race. "Am I hallucinating?" he whispered to himself. Given everything that had happened, it wouldn't be surprising.
[Host, you are not hallucinating. I am your system.]
The voice returned, this time more distinct, more… real. Lucian's body tensed, his instincts kicking in. He jumped off the bed, grabbing a nearby report file and brandishing it like a weapon. "Whoever you are, come out! I don't have any money, and if you're someone I robbed before, I'm warning you this is a hospital, and the WPA officers are looking after me. Don't be reckless!"
Lucian's eyes darted around the room, scanning every corner, every shadow. But there was nothing no sign of anyone. Yet the voice had sounded as if it were coming from inside his head. Panic started to set in. "Is someone using mind arts on me? Why would someone that powerful mess with me?"
[Sigh, I'm starting to wonder if I made a mistake choosing you as my host.]
The deep, exasperated voice reverberated through his mind again, and Lucian felt a chill run down his spine. "Host? Stupid person? What are you talking about?" Lucian demanded, his confusion mounting. Whoever or whatever this was, it was definitely mocking him.
"If you're calling me stupid, you're going to be the next one to get robbed," Lucian threatened, swinging the file through the air, trying to maintain some semblance of control. He knew it was a futile gesture, but it was all he had. Slowly, he edged towards the window, peeking outside before closing it firmly. The thought of being trapped inside the room with this unseen entity was terrifying, but going outside might be worse. What if it was waiting for him out there?
[Calm down, kid. I'm not your enemy. In fact, I could be your greatest companion.]
The voice was insistent, but Lucian wasn't ready to let his guard down. "Companion? I don't have any companions," he retorted, his voice shaky but defiant. He continued to search the room, looking for some clue, some sign of what was happening.
[Listen, kid, don't move around. Just listen to me. I'm bound to your soul, or consciousness, whatever you people call it. Stop acting like a hooligan, because now you have the honor of receiving something even gods would die for.]
The voice was more authoritative now, and despite himself, Lucian felt a strange compulsion to obey. His body moved on its own, placing the report file back on the table and sitting down on the bed. It was as if his mind was split part of him was still wary, still on guard, but another part was completely enthralled by the voice's command.
[Forgive me for using my powers on you, but it was the only way for now.]
Lucian's heart pounded in his chest. What was happening? His instincts screamed at him to run, to fight, but his body remained still. "Who are you? What do you mean by bound to me? And what the hell is a system?" The questions tumbled out in a rush, his voice laced with fear and confusion.
[Sigh… Let's start from the very basics. I am a system, a concept, not a single entity. I am created from the collective knowledge of countless individuals.]
Lucian blinked, trying to process the words. "I don't understand a word you're saying. Are you going to kill me for being dumb?" He asked, half-joking, half-terrified. The voice sighed again, a sound that seemed to resonate deep within his mind.
[Fine, let me explain. In the beginning of this infinite world meaning infinite worlds there were individuals who carried primordial concepts. These beings were created or born from the world itself, meaning they had no lifespan, an infinite amount of lifespan.]
The voice continued, its tone patient but firm, as if it were explaining a complex idea to a child. [Primordials were made of many concepts: life, death, light,chaos, fire, water, and so on. All very different from each other. Primordials are foundational or original entities or forces in all of reality.]
Lucian found himself leaning forward, his interest piqued despite his fear. This was unlike anything he had ever heard, something vast and incomprehensible. The system's voice painted a picture of a reality far beyond his understanding.
[But the rule of the infinite world is that nothing remains. The primordials were existences that had everything one could dream of, but still, they perished in the long river of time. They were constant, immortal, unable to be killed or erased, yet they are no longer in existence. Do you know why, host?]
The question hung in the air, and Lucian's mind raced. He couldn't wrap his head around it how could something immortal just… end? "Were they killed? Did they fight each other? Did the world end them?" He blurted out, his thoughts scattered. Nothing made sense.
[Wrong. They were not killed. They ended their own lives.]
The revelation hit Lucian like a punch to the gut. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Why would they do that? Why would anyone end their own life, especially if they're immortal?" Lucian's voice was shaky, the very idea incomprehensible to him.
[After living for infinite amounts of time, they had done everything they wanted. But still, they felt a void. As time passed, things became boring, and they lost the will to live. Immortality became their greatest curse…]
The system's words trailed off, leaving Lucian in stunned silence. The thought of living forever, only to be consumed by boredom and emptiness, was terrifying. He had always dreamed of having more power, more control, but this… this was a nightmare.
His mind reeled, trying to grasp the enormity of what the system was telling him. These primordial beings, with all their power and immortality, had chosen to end their lives rather than continue in an existence devoid of meaning. It was a sobering thought, one that made Lucian question everything he had ever wanted.
For a moment, the room was silent, the only sound the faint beeping of the hospital machines. Lucian felt a cold sweat trickle down his neck, the reality of his situation sinking in. He had just survived a horrific ordeal, and now this whatever this system was had bound itself to him.
He wasn't sure whether to be grateful or terrified. But one thing was certain: his life was no longer his own.
system continue....