The chamber's destruction left an eerie silence, as if time itself had been erased. The darkness was absolute, a void devoid of life or existence. It was as if the universe had been reset to its primordial state, awaiting the spark of creation.
Kendrik's consciousness flickered, a lone ember in the void. He felt suspended in a deep sleep, his mind numb and unresponsive. His subconscious was a barren landscape, devoid of dreams or memories.
Kendrik struggled to awaken, to shatter the chains of his paralysis. He willed himself to move, to twitch a finger or blink an eye. But his body remained still, unresponsive to his mental commands.
"Why can't I open my eyes?" Kendrik thought to himself. "Am I dead? No, that's impossible. I'd know if I was dead, wouldn't I? I mean, I haven't been dead before, but still..."
Kendrik's thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of confusion. He wondered if he was trapped in a coma, mind creating a reality to cope with the trauma.
"Did it really?" Kendrik asked himself. "Or am I just trying to keep myself sane? There's no way Jakob and Mikeal would betray me like that. No way."
Despite his mental turmoil Kendrik's thoughts remained detached, unaccompanied by memories or images. His mind was a blank state, a canvas waiting for the brushstrokes of reality.
Kendrik's thoughts swirled with confusion. "So where am I exactly?" He tried to recall his surroundings, but everything felt surreal and unfamiliar.
A faint ringing sound echoed through the void, like a distant alarm. "Huh, what is that? Is that my heart monitor beating? Am I really dead?" Kendrik's mind raced with questions.
A gentle nudge prompted Kendrik to try and open his eyes again. He hesitated, remembering his previous failed attempts. But something urged him to try once more.
With a surge of effort, Kendrik's eyelids creaked open. His vision blurred, like waking from a long, deep sleep. His eyes struggled to focus, shutting again only to reopen with a newfound determination.
As Kendrik's gaze cleared, he found himself staring at something - or someone. But his vision remained hazy, refusing to reveal the truth.
Kendrik's eyes darted wildly, his mind reeling with confusion. "What is that? What's happening to me? Am I really losing my mind?" He flinched his eyes, trying to clear his vision.
As his gaze refocused, Kendrik beheld a surreal sight: a floating computer-like message hovered before him. The text was stark, unmistakable:
[Notification]
{Congratulations, sacrifice accepted}
Kendrik's eyes widened with incredulity. "My sacrifice accepted? What the hell is this thing talking about? What sacrifice?" His voice trembled with a mix of fear and fascination.
Compelled by curiosity, Kendrik rose to his feet, standing before the enigmatic message board. He reached out a tentative hand, attempting to touch the glowing text. However, his hand passed through the message, causing it to glitch and distort.
The sudden malfunction sent Kendrik stumbling backward, his mind reeling with implications. What did the message mean? What sacrifice had been accepted?
Kendrik's mind reeled, his thoughts shattered by the sheer impossibility of it all. What sacrifice had he offered? The questions swirled, a maelstrom of confusion that threatened to consume him.
As he struggled to gather his fractured thoughts, Kendrik's gaze fell upon his surroundings. The ritual chamber, the castle, his kingdom - all were gone. He stood in a desolate, monochromatic landscape, where every feature, from mountains to lakes, was shrouded in a deep, coal-like blackness.
The sky above hung like a dark, greyish veil, as if an eternal eclipse had consumed the sun and moon. The air was heavy with an otherworldly presence, weighing upon Kendrik like a physical force.
His breath caught in his throat as he stumbled forward, his eyes scanning the bleak horizon. This was no realm he knew, no works he had ever imagined. It was a place of dark, foreboding beauty, where the very fabric of reality seemed twisted and distorted.
Kendrik's mind recoiled, his thoughts torn between wonder and terror. Was this his punishment, his penance for being born without magic? Was this the angels' wrath, visited upon him for his perceived inadequacy?
Kendrik returned to the floating message board, scrutinizing it for any hidden meaning. "Maybe I'm trapped in some kind of game simulation," he thought. "If that's the case, perhaps I need to play along to leave."
Just as Kendrik thought he had grasped the situation, another notification appeared:
[Notification]
{Do you want to leave this place? If so, chose yes or no}
Kendrik chose "yes", hoping it would transport him out of the desolate realm.
[Notification]
{You've chosen "yes", let's get you out of here}
A familiar alarm-like sound echoed, but nothing happened. Kendrik's eyes snapped open, and he found himself still standing in the same bleak landscape, facing the floating message board.
[Notification]
{Transportation to the other world failed}
[Notification]
{Request unsuccessful due to zero magic detection}
[Notification]
{Candidate has not magic trace in him}
Kendrik's face fell, his heart sinking with realisation. The message board's words cut deep, a harsh reminder of his magical inadequacy.
Kendrik's life seemed to unravel before his eyes. The floating message board, once a beacon of hope, now taunted him with its cruel words. "So I'm really going to be stuck and die here because I wasn't blessed with any magic talent?" Kendrik's mind reeled, his thoughts shattered by the harsh reality.
Devastation washed over him like a tidal wave, leaving him feeling hopeless and defeated. Kendrik slumped to the ground, the message board still hovering beside him. He glared at it with a mix of anger and despair. "Since you can't help me, why are you still here? Do us both a favor and just leave me alone."
The board remained, it's presence a constant reminder of Kendrik's magical inadequacy. The same notification seemed to mock him: {Candidate has no magic trace in him}. Kendrik's anger boiled over, and he sprang to his feet, grasping a nearby rock. As he raised his hand to throw it, the rock cut his finger, drawing blood.
Kendrik's cry of pain echoed through the desolate landscape. He hurled the rock at the message board, but his gaze locked onto the droplets of blood that landed on the board's surface. A new notification flickered to life's
[Notification]
{Candidate can choose to partake in some challenges in order to leave this realm}
Kendrik's eyes narrowed, a glimmer of hope sparkling within him. Could this be his chance to escape?
Kendrik's relief was palpable as he gazed at the message board. "So I can go home? All I have to do is complete some challenges?" His voice trembled with hope.
[Notification]
{Yes, candidate can go home, if he accepts the challenges}
Kendrik took a deep breath, weighing his options. "Alright then, what are we waiting for?"
[Notification]
{Does the candidate want to participate in the requested challenges}
"I do" Kendrik replied, his voice firm.
[Notification]
{Candidate needs to do a few things before participating in requested challenges}
Kendrik's curiosity piqued. "And what are those few things?"
[Notification]
{Candidate needs to confirm identity and accept terms and conditions given}
Kendrik's eyes narrowed. "Okay let's see what you have for me."
[Notification]
{Candidate needs to give the following; Name & Last Name: Age: Title Held:}
Kendrik hasitated for a moment before responding. "Name: Kendrik Klaus Dynasty. Age: 17. Title Held: Firstborn Prince of Dynasty Kingdom."
[Notification]
{System update successful; Accept Terms & Conditions: Give blood to seal the deal}
Kendrik's eyes widened. "Really, blood?" He hesitated, then cut his then cut his thumb and pressed against the board. The board scanned his blood, and a new notification appeared:
[Notification]
{Terms & Conditions Accepted}
Kendrik's heart pounded in anticipation. What challenges lay ahead, and what would be the cost of his freedom?