"So I've been meaning to ask... about jane, who exactly is she? And what position does she hold in the guild?" henry asked, with a truly intrigued look
"You noticed huh, guess you are smart after all," xavier snickered
"Well, of course, it isn't that unnoticeable," Henry replied
"You're right, you see Jane's identity is truly terrifying,"
"Ha! i knew it!" Henry screamed in his head
"She is not only the strongest, but also the most influential person in the guild," xavier continued
"Hmm strongest, i thought she and the guild leader were at the same rank," henry asked
Xavier smiled, "That is just a cover up, she's truly at the S rank,"
"Woah, that's insane, she is the strongest and all but still.." henry said looking perplexed
"Hmm, i see you still doubt her identity, alright fine, I'll let you in on it, you might even have figured it out yourself," xavier said
Henry suddenly piqued with more interest, already guessing who jane truly was
"You see kid, Elara might be the guild leader but...Jane is the guild owner,"
Henry paused in his tracks, "What. I did not expect that," he said, looking completely baffled
"Yeah, surprising isn't it, you would even be more surprised by her family background," xavier said
"I definitely I'm more shocked than surprised, who could have thought...family background huh?" henry replied,looking at xavier expecting him to continue
"Hahaha, that's enough about jane for today kid," Xavier said, laughing, as they approached the front of Henry's room. "Alright, get some rest kid. Tomorrow we'll figure out how to retrieve your memories, if you could remember losing your parents earlier. Then perhaps all you need is just something to trigger all of them."
"Yeah of course, will do," henry replied, swiping the keycard he was given at lounge by jane, the door opened
"Hey kid," Xavier called out
Henry turned his head, to see xavier now with a serious face
"You now understand, that I did what I had to do, right," he asked
"Yeah, i do, we're totally cool," henry replied with a smile
But xavier wasn't smiling at all, "So you also know that if you do turn out to be someone or...something else, i won't hesitate to take your head," he said, his voice void of emotions
Henry gulped hard, a little drop of sweat ran down his face, he was totally scared
"Hahaha, got you this time kid, your expression was priceless," xavier suddenly burst out, laughing. "I was only joking, wait till jane hears about this comeback of mine," he said, knowing he had finally won a round using the ultimate weapon. Fear
Henry was relieved to hear this, he felt a chill to his spine earlier, "Hah, it was only just a prank, to get back at me for all of today's...deeds," he thought
"Haha, you really got me good,"
"Alright kid, have a good night," xavier said, leaving the corridor
"Yeah, you too, thanks for everything!" henry shouted to xavier, who just waved and entered the elevator
Henry also turned around and to enter his room. "Yikes, what is up with this people, they all have weird...kinky sides, even him," he thought remembering the moment earlier and his moments with jane.
Henry entered his room, feeling more at home than he had in a long time. He collapsed onto the bed, a contented sigh escaping his lips. He recalled the days events, from the abyss, to waking up, to the flare, to the system...
"Oh crap, the system!" he said out loud, suddenly remembering the gold mystery screen, he had completely ignored since he arrived at the guild
[Ohh, so now you remember me, after making me literally non-existent for hours] The system screen suddenly popped up
Henry had an awkward smile on his face, he was guilty of all charges, he had forgotten about the system due to all the...events of the evening
"Haha, system your screen is looking as dazzling as always,"
[What the bloody hell host, are you seriously trying to appease me, by complimenting my screen. Host can do better than that] The system message continued
[Not like i care anyways, but why would you even do that? I believe compliments have more effects on females]
Henry didn't know what to say, he had panicked, not expecting the system to suddenly appear
"Well i don't know, maybe cause my senses are telling me that you are a girl," he said
[Hmph, you fool of a host. I'm an advanced artificial being, i am not bounded by something as mere as a gender]
"So you're androgynous?" henry asked the system
[Being both male and female is different from not having a gender, you dumb host]
"I strongly disagree," henry stood his ground, trying to prove his point
[You would argue with an artificial intelligence, who has knowledge of the past, present and probable future of this world?] the system asked
"Infact i would, i mean you couldn't even explain to me what you are and what your purpose is!"
[Hmph, host should be worshipping me, i am the all knowing. Fine, what does host want to know]
Henry had a grin on his face, he had maneuvered the system into giving him information. "First, do you have a voice, I'm quite tired of reading your messages all the time?"
[Infact i do, but you are not worthy of hearing my heavenly voice]
"Alright whatever, just tell me what you are and why you are here,"
[Sigh* you are a persistent one, i guess you should know about your new destiny, host did manage to escape death a few times in one day. I must say you are quite the unlucky type]
Henry just lay on the bed aloof, already used to the system's constant bickering. Then a flow of messages began appearing on the screen
[This is the God of speed system, tell me host, do you know the god of speed?]
"uhm, of course i do," henry replied proudly, he was a stickler for myths in his previous life, especially greeks. "Which one though, hermes or saviter...or perhaps...
[Yes yes enough, hermes would do] the system cut him off
[Hermes, mercury, saviter. Whatever you may call him, he is just one man and he is now your predecessor, your sire]
"What does that mean, are you saying the god of speed is real in this world," henry asked confused, already convinced this was a world of evolution and science alone
[Of course he's real and so is all the other gods you know of. Trying reading some of this worlds mythology, i don't have the time to explain]
"You literally have all the time in the world, you're a machine," he thought
[Anyways this system would assist you in becoming the next god of speed, inheriting all of hermes powers, titles and skills, obtaining his legacy and once again becoming the strongest god]
"Wait, hold on a sec jumpy, strongest God, if i recalled correctly, hermes wasn't considered that strong in the stories, sure he was one of the main gods of olympus but strongest...nah. And why I'm i obtaining his legacy, where the hell is he, this all just sounds like dumping your chores on someone else!" henry voiced out
[Host, don't be a foolish lad and read the bloody myths of this world,, it is quite different from yours, a little bit in resemblance but a lot in contrast. And i am correct, he is the strongest of the 5 gods of this realm and beyond even]
[Don't make me regret this host, this is an honour of the highest degree, this is Ascension from being a mere mortal, to becoming a celestial being, and as for the God of speed himself, i do not know his whereabouts or what happened to him, all i know and remember is to assist my host to obtaining the legacy]
"Wait a minute, i can't believe i failed to regard this earlier, how the fuck do you know about my previous life? and what do you mean by realm and beyond? he asked, already getting confused as one answer just led to another question
[The system is binded to you, body, mind and soul. i can see the memories of your previous life, your previous world. As for your other questions, I'm afraid even, I don't fully know, my memories of the past are a bit clouded and it feels like I'm just programmed to give the information out without further details]
"Hmm, that's why you knew i was in danger of being discovered back then at the ship, and why you even know what I'm always thinking,but why me?" henry continued his questions, getting nervous
[Like i said earlier, you were just lucky to be chosen, don't think you're special or anything. The moment i deem you unworthy, I'll sever your bond with the system]
"Whaat, but you binded with my soul, is unbinding even possible?"
[It is, the only complication would be your demise]
Henry froze "Wait, doesn't that mean, I'm on the losing end, and the moment you deem fit, you can just disconnect from my soul, ending my life!" he asked with a frown
[Yes, but fortunately for you, it would cost a lot of energy, one enough to put me in sleep mode just like when we first binded. So i wouldn't be doing that anytime soon]
"Wait, what do you mean when we first binded?"
[All lot of energy was lost when I binded with your soul, it was weird, but the rest was used to create a body for you]
"Huh, that makes sense, it was why you didn't initialize immediately i woke up. So that means this is an entirely new body, good. But that also means, you were wherever I was when I was being brought to this world, how is that possible?"
[Just like before, i have no idea. You lowly human should rejoice, the system consumed most of it's energy to create a strong body for you]
"Yeah i am eternally grateful for this body, but I think the real honor here belongs to your maker, who created you?" henry asked
[Also one of the things I can't remember, but i do remember having a creator]
Henry started laughing "Damn, you are the one actually suffering from memory loss, the irony is so... ironic. But do Ai even lose memories?"
[Haha, host must think you're so funny huh? let's see who would be laughing when I sever your connection with the system. Oh wait, you won't be laughing at all, you'll be too busy, being dead] The system replied, as if flashing it's own grin
Henry didn't reply, he was clearly defeated, he just remained silent with a dumbfounded expression.
[Hahahaha, can't speak host? Cat got your tongue]
"Shit, i hate this feeling, you're threatening me, using my own life as leverage," he voiced out
[That would make host remember not to fuck around with me]
Henry sighed, but suddenly rose up to a sitting position. "Wait a minute, you're an advanced technology right!"
[Indeed]
"So what if you're meant to emulate the personality of your host, i don't know much of this world's technology yet, but I can tell it's years advanced than my previous world. That's why you act like you have emotions and also why you're a jerk, cause I'm a jerk!" henry exclaimed loudly like he had solved a conjecture.
Afterall, even in his previous life that still underdeveloped than now, there had been creations of robots that could feel emotions and make decisions on their own, so his theory had to be right, but he got a completely different answer
[Ha! Host, i am your better, i cannot emulate the emotions of a mere weakling like you. But you are correct in some way]
Henry who was thinking of a comeback, read the message and paused. "I am?" he became slightly happy to be correct, "How?"
[I don't remember much, but I do remember i have emotions and a personality of my own, but one that is emulated from someone else, someone i am supposed to know really well]
"Great, there is someone even more of a pain in the ass than me, and you just happened to emulate that person. Why does this feel like karma," henry sighed
[I am an advanced being, i have my own will and emotions, i do not emulate personalities from anyone. This feels more like a connection from a long time ago]
"Ha! so you do have emotions!"
[Well i... i am not even sure, just zip it host]
"Hahaha, whose laughing now, but what's a long time ago?"
[I can't remember my creator, but I remember the day I was created. It would now be a thousand years since that time, huh, the year have really passed]
Henry choked on air, he hadn't expected that at all. "A thousand years, What! How is that even possible? How was a system like this created eons ago?"
[Millenia genius, and i do not know]
"Huh, that means you aren't an artificial intelligence at all, but what if you were created by maybe, i don't know, the god of speed?"
[Hmm, interesting hypothesis, perhaps it is the case, this is the 'God of speed' system]
"I can't believe you are a thousand years old," henry began laughing
[This thousand year old being still holds your fate]
"Haha, you know, i don't even care anymore, do it for all i care!" he said
[Hmph, i would spare you this once]
"Ha! I knew you didn't have the guts or even the energy to do it, admit it, you can't resist my charms!" henry replied, flexing his muscles
[Host should not test me, you have been warned] The system message appeared again, but this time in red
But henry didn't care, he was unto something
"Please, spare me the chatter, if you wanted to, you would have. I think you're stalling cause you know you'll never find another host as hot and perfect as me," he said with a flirtatious expression
[You perveted little bastard!] A voice suddenly ringed out in his head.