Kael sat alone in his quarters, the faint flicker of candlelight casting dancing shadows on the stone walls. His thoughts were a whirlwind, ever since Lira had casually dropped the bombshell that ascendants weren't just game avatars but real beings sent by the Eternals to protect Erendath. And worse, this wasn't just some virtual world—it was an actual, living world.
He needed answers. Real answers.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and called out, "Limo."
A moment later, the familiar soft chime of a notification rang in his ears, and the cheerful, fluffy figure of Limo appeared in front of him, hovering just above the floor. His soft, round body bounced with every movement, and his tiny tail wagged energetically.
"Kael!" Limo chirped in his usual high-pitched voice. "What can I do for you today? Ready to level up? Want a tip on monster hunting?"
Kael shook his head, staring at the little creature. "Limo, we need to talk."
Limo's smile faltered slightly. "Oh… talk, huh? Not usually my strong suit, but I'm all ears!" His fuzzy ears wiggled for emphasis.
Kael sighed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "I've been thinking. This whole time I've been assuming that Erendath was just a game world. That when I died and woke up here, I thought maybe I was just some sort of NPC or, at best, some kind of AI character with free will. But then Lira mentioned something—ascendants, The Eternals—and it doesn't add up. This world, it's real, isn't it?"
Limo's cheery expression faded, replaced by an awkward, sheepish look. He twiddled his tiny fingers, clearly uncomfortable. "Well, um… you're right, Kael. Erendath is a real world."
Kael's heart skipped a beat, even though he had suspected it. Hearing it confirmed hit him harder than he expected. "So, I wasn't just dropped into a virtual simulation?"
Limo hesitated before replying. "No… Erendath is a real place, a real world. It exists, and it's connected to your world through the Ascension System."
Kael leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Then what about me? What am I? Am I just a part of this world now? Or some kind of in-between? I mean, am I an NPC, or something else?"
Limo winced at the question, his fuzzy face twisting into an expression of genuine apology. "Well… you're not an NPC, Kael. You've been reborn into this world, into Erendath. You're a real person here, but… you're different from the others."
"What do you mean 'different'?" Kael asked, his voice tense.
"There are certain things I can't tell you yet," Limo admitted, his voice tinged with regret. "Your level is too low for that kind of information. The stronger you become, the more I can explain. For now, that knowledge is restricted."
Kael gritted his teeth in frustration. It felt like every answer just led to more questions. "Does Varin know?" he asked suddenly, remembering his mentor. "He has a rebirth core, too. His levels are higher than mine—he's much stronger. Does he know about all of this? Does he know that Erendath is real?"
Limo fluttered nervously, clearly reluctant to answer. "Well… you can ask him. But even if Varin has a rebirth core, he and you are different, Kael."
"Different how?" Kael pressed, his frustration building.
Limo floated lower, his eyes flickering as if searching for the right words. "Your unlocked Rebirth Core is… special."
Kael's brows furrowed, a sharp chill creeping into his chest. "Special how?"
Limo squirmed, avoiding Kael's gaze. "It's… just something you'll have to discover for yourself, okay? I'm really not allowed to tell you more until you've leveled up."
Kael let out a breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. So Varin might not have the same knowledge or abilities as he did. Still, Varin had to know something. Tomorrow, Kael resolved, he'd ask his mentor about Erendath, about Earth, and about what connected them.
For now, though, he had other questions.
"I've noticed something else," Kael said, shifting the conversation. "My Ascension system is different from the one the awakeners use. Why is that?"
Limo's face brightened slightly, relieved to be on a topic he could answer. "Ah! Well, that's because you're not from Erendath, Kael. You came from the world that created the Ascension system, which is why your interface is different from the awakener system the locals use. You're technically a reborn, which puts you in a different category from native awakeners."
Kael frowned. "Different category… Does that explain why they use physical coins while I have digital currency?"
"Oh, right! Coins," Limo said with a weak laugh, clearly realizing his oversight. "Yes, the people of Erendath use physical pouches for their coins. They don't need a system to track their money like you do."
Kael's irritation flared. "I've been walking around without any currency because of that. How do I even use my coins here?"
Limo laughed awkwardly again, rubbing the back of his fuzzy head. "Ah… yes… about that. I might've forgotten to explain that. Oops."
"You're kidding me." Kael deadpanned, leaning back in his chair. "You're supposed to be my guide, Limo. Does the system has an administrator?"
Limo's face drained of color, his ears drooping. "Please don't report me to the system administrator," he begged, his voice panicked. "I'm new at this too, Kael! I'm still learning the ropes. A bad review could ruin my existence!"
Kael sighed, rolling his eyes. "Relax, I won't report you. But seriously, you've got to do better. Back where I'm from, you're acting like one of those cheap chatbots."
Limo looked genuinely relieved, his ears perking up. "Thank you, Kael! You're the best!"
"Yeah, yeah," Kael muttered, waving him off. "Just tell me how I can use these coins here."
Limo straightened up, glad to be back on safer ground. "Right! So, to use your system coins in Erendath, it's really simple. All you have to do is think of the amount you want, and the system will materialize the coins wherever you want—like in your pocket or pouch."
"Just… think of it?" Kael asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep! That's all there is to it!" Limo confirmed with a proud smile, as if he'd just imparted great wisdom.
Skeptical, Kael decided to give it a try. He focused on the thought of materializing coins in his pocket—fifty Ascension coins, to be exact. Almost instantly, he felt a weight settle in his pocket. Reaching inside, he pulled out a handful of gleaming coins. They were cold to the touch, as real as any physical currency.
"Well, that's handy," Kael murmured, surprised by how easily it worked.
Limo puffed up with pride. "See? I told you I'm reliable!"
Kael gave him a sarcastic look but said nothing, slipping the coins back into his pocket. He had to admit, despite Limo's incompetence at times, the system was certainly convenient.
But there was something else that had been bothering him since his conversation with Lira.
Kael glanced back at Limo, his eyes narrowing. "There's something puzzling me. The locals talk about Aethlar, how he died hundreds of years ago, and yet they said ascendants were already here before that. But the Ascension system only came out ten years ago in my world. So what gives? Did I time skip or something?"
Limo's expression became uncharacteristically serious, his wings slowing their flutter. "Ah… well… the time between your world and Erendath isn't the same."
Kael's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
"In Erendath, time moves differently," Limo explained. "One day in your world is equivalent to ten days here in Erendath. So, while the Ascension system only came out ten years ago where you're from, much more time has passed here."
Kael leaned back in his chair, absorbing the information. "So, I didn't just get reborn into another world—I've been thrown into a different timeline altogether."
Limo nodded, his expression sympathetic. "Yeah. It's a lot to take in, I know."
Kael exhaled slowly, trying to wrap his mind around it all. Time moved faster in Erendath than on Earth, which explained why everything here felt ancient, while the Ascension system was still relatively new back home.
"I still have more questions," Kael muttered, rubbing his temples. "But I think I'll save them for now. I need to confirm some things with Varin first. I want to know if he's from Earth too, and if he knows that Erendath is real."
Limo nodded again, his usual cheerfulness slowly returning. "Good idea! Varin's really wise, so he might be able to help you figure some of this out."
Kael stood up, determination flickering in his chest. Tomorrow, he'd get the answers he needed. But tonight, he'd try to rest, knowing that his journey had only just begun.