The mansion stood grand and silent, casting a long shadow over the driveway as dusk settled. Its high, arched windows captured the last light of day, casting a warm glow over the dark stone walls. Ivy snaked up the sides, adding a wild touch to the otherwise perfectly maintained structure. The iron gates swung open with a low creak as a luxurious car entered the property. As it came to a stop in front of the main entrance, a young man in his twenties stepped out.
He had a strikingly handsome face, with sharp, well-defined features that gave him an air of mystery. His skin was clear, his cheekbones high, and his jawline strong. Golden eyes, deep and intelligent, gave him an intense gaze, while a slight smirk played at the corner of his lips, hinting at both charm and mischief. His silver hair was neatly styled, with a few rebellious strands adding a touch of casual elegance.
As he entered the building, he was greeted by a butler. "Welcome, young master Zephry," the butler said with a respectful bow.
Upon entering the main hall, Zephry turned to the butler and asked, "How is the progress on the new batch of worlds you are observing?"
The butler replied, "Most of them are blooming with life, sir, but only a few have developed intelligent life forms."
Zephry sighed. "Let's just move to some other world. I'm getting bored here."
"Certainly, sir," replied the butler, leading the way. They entered a room that seemed to stretch endlessly with shelfs cotaining miniature planets, disappearing into a vast expanse without an end in sight.
With a swift motion, the butler swiped his hand through the air, and four floating globes appeared before them. One globe began to grow larger, drawing their attention. "This is the first world that has formed a kingdom, sir. It was created by three gods of different origins, who coordinated together and established this world with four main races."
"Oh, so this is where that idiot Sorven ran off after his world got destroyed by the demon king," Zephry noted, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Yes, sir. The other two gods are creations of a player using System 1. They managed to escape their master and joined Sorven in creating this world."
"All four races have built settlements, entered the Middle Age compared to earth, and have even begun research on magic," the butler continued.
"The next world is similar to Earth in that it developed life on its own and has progressed to a Type 1 civilization. However, the species here are a bit…"
"Yeah, ugly. I can see that," Zephry interrupted. "No, not this one."
"We can check on the others later. For now, we will visit the first one and pay Sorven a little visit" Zephry said with a grin on his face.
To which butler replied "As you wish Sir"
The butler opened a portal, and together they stepped through, emerging in the midst of a desert under a blazing sun
"Seriously, Clark? Out of all the places in this world, you brought us to a desert. I'm going to get tanned," Zephry complained, fanning himself with an exaggerated look of annoyance.
"My apologies, sir," Clark replied smoothly, unfazed by his master's tone. "However, I sense Sorven's divine power gathering around an individual. He appears to be heading toward an old temple of Sorven." He pointed toward a distant figure, almost collapsed from exhaustion.
"An apostle candidate, perhaps?" Zephry mused, squinting against the harsh sunlight.
"It seems likely, sir... But if I may ask, why are you still using a mortal human body that restricts most of your abilities? You could easily create a more suitable medium."
Zephry shrugged with a playful grin. "Why go through all that trouble? This body is comfortable, plus I rather enjoy the 'low stakes' of it all. And, let's be honest, it keeps things interesting."
Clark raised an eyebrow but said nothing, simply gesturing in the direction of the lone man as they began making their way toward him.
As they approached, they saw that the young man—perhaps in his late twenties—was lean and rugged. His striking green eyes glinted with fierce intelligence, though exhaustion lined his face. His clothes, tattered and worn by the desert's harshness, hinted at a noble origin.
Zephry stopped a few steps away, a smirk playing at his lips. "Greetings, stranger. Lost in the desert, are we?" he asked in a mocking tone.
The man straightened, brushing off the sand and fatigue with a prideful stance. "I am not lost. I am in search of something important." He glanced at Zephry, assessing him. "And who are you?"
"I'm Zephry, and this is Clark. We're travelers and… well, lost in this desert. Could you be generous enough to guide us to a nearby village?"
The stranger frowned. "How have you survived in a desert filled with illusion-casting monsters?"
" We're just lucky maybe?"
"What kind of traveler relies on luck?"
"The lucky kind, maybe? Are you willing to show us the way?"
The stranger hesitated. "I'm on an important mission, and I barely have the resources to sustain myself."
"We can help with that," Zephry said, pulling out a piece of bread from clarks bag and sharing it with him.
Seeing this the man weighed his options, then introduced himself. "I am Thalor Castellen, son of Lucen Castellen of the fallen Castellen family."
The three of them started their journey across the desert toward the distant temple.
...
After a few hours, they reached the temple.
"This is the Temple of Sorven, the god of wisdom. We people of Castellen serve the god of wisdom, but we have fallen due to attacks from other religious groups," Thalor explained.
"I am here to collect the divine artifact that lies beneath this temple and restore my family and our faith to its former glory."
Zephry smirked. "Okay, let's just get it, then."
"It's not that simple. The way to the bottom is filled with countless traps and dang—"
Before Thalor could finish, Zephry's right hand began to glow, and he shot a massive beam through the floor, creating a path straight to the bottom.
Thalor was left speechless, struggling to find words as he stared in awe.