"There is something that can make you unthinkably strong. A power so vast that it bends reality itself. Through it, you can create anything—anything your mind can dream of." The voice of the other Arvian was low and determined.
The heart pounded in Arvian's chest.
"You could craft entire worlds, worlds where your loved ones could live in peace, untouched by pain or loss. A place where you'd hold ultimate control, Kaileo. No more suffering, no more weakness. Doesn't that sound... perfect?"
"But if you make even one mistake, the consequences will be catastrophic. The power doesn't just create—it reshapes everything it touches. One wrong move and it could spiral into darkness you can't control."
Arvian clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "And you want me to take that risk?"
The other Arvian's expression remained calm, almost calculating. "It's not about what I want. It's about what you're willing to do. Great power always comes with great risk, Kaileo. The question is, do you have the courage to claim it?"
"Would you stop yapping already? What is this power? Surely it has a name," Arvian snapped, frustration seeping into his voice.
The other Arvian smirked, tilting his head slightly, his calm demeanor almost mocking. "Ah, impatience. The mark of someone desperate for answers."
He stepped closer, his figure towering yet oddly familiar. His voice dropped to a whisper, sharp and cutting.
"The power is called the Ethereal Forge. A force beyond comprehension—capable of bending reality, forging worlds, and altering destinies. But heed this.....the process to claim it is unhuman. A path riddled with pain, sacrifice, and choices that could break your very soul."
Arvian's breathing quickened, but before he could respond, the other Arvian turned away, his silhouette becoming faint.
He said, "Find the answer if your question yourself," his voice resonating like a spectral chorus.
The world began to fade around him, the edges of the dreamscape crumbling into swirling mist. As the other Arvian faded entirely, only his final words lingered:
"Your fate rests on your resolve."
***
Arvian gasped for air as his eyes suddenly snapped open and his chest began to rise and fall heavily.
"Ahh, dream...."
His senses were filled with the subtle smell of wood and earth, and as he looked around, he was struck by how strange his surroundings were.
The woven surface of the basic rope bed he was resting on creaked beneath his weight. The walls of the tiny, poorly lit room were composed of coarse mud that was thick with straw.
An old wooden stool, a few clay pots, and a curtain swaying gently in the doorway were among the few decorations that were rustled by a slight breeze that crept through the gaps in the temporary walls.
"Where... am I?" His voice was hoarse and confused as Arvian mumbled.
A sharp pain stabbed Arvian's wrists as he shifted to sit up straight, causing a grimace to appear on his face.
Almost without thinking, he looked down and saw rough bandages firmly wrapped around his wounds. The fabric was stained with dried blood, a stark reminder of the ordeal he'd barely survived.
He tightened his jaw and cautiously flexed his fingers while muttering, "Bloody hell..."
A cruel echo of all he had been through, the pain was a burden that would not go away.
His gaze swept the small room again, this time lingering on the doorway. Questions swirled in his mind, louder than the pounding of his heartbeat. Who had brought him here? And more importantly, why?
A sharp pain shot through his wrists as he lowered his hands, his body suddenly reminding him of the previous torment.
Looking down, he noticed the bandages wrapped around his arms, a stark contrast to the raw pain he felt beneath them. His brow furrowed in confusion, as he flexed his fingers, testing the limits of his movement.
"Holy smokes..." he whispered under his breath.
His mind suddenly filled with memories of the ocean, the relentless current, the moment he had lost consciousness, and the desperate struggle to stay afloat. As the realization dawned on him, his heart thumped in his chest: Had he drowned?
"But... how did I end up here?" He muttered, looking around the tiny space once more for hints.
He stepped out of the hut and into the morning light. Just then, the system screen appeared before him.
◇_______________◇
[System Notification: Map - Team Locations]
[SYSTEM]:
The map has been updated with the locations of the team members.
[Map Overview]
Your Location: You are in a dense forest, within the Virelith, the largest nation in the world.
This nation is surrounded by three other nations, separated by rivers.
To the east of your location, you can see an island known as Ghalos Isle, which is shrouded in mystery and often avoided by travellers.
[Team Locations]
Your Location (Mark 1): In the Ithralian Nation forest.
Darius Kain (Mark 2): Located in the Tartheon Mountains, west of the Ithralian Nation.
Astrea Veyra (Mark 3): Located near the Lucian Plains, southeast of your current position.
Central Point: Where all roads converge in the middle of the map is the Azmaris Academy, the biggest academy and the centre of the world.
[System Note]:
You can connect with your teammates via the map or enter the shared Dream Realm to communicate or strategize.
The Unhuman mission will be assigned slowly but they will be endless until the Zaryx agrees.
◇_______________◇
As Arvian read halfway through the notification, confusion set in.
"What... Why are the names so familiar? Wait... aren't these from a novel I used to read a lot? Why can't I recall the name?" He put his hands on his head, trying to pull together the fragmented memories, but they eluded him.
"Damn."
"What does this even mean? Why did I forget? Is this because of the system?" Arvian muttered, his thoughts racing. "First, I need to focus on the current situation."
He glanced at the map again and then back to the notification.
"Ah, so we can connect through the system," he whispered to himself. "Astrea is near the Lucian Plains, and Darius is on the Tartheon Mountains. As for the Academy... I think we should reunite there."
Arvian's mind raced, piecing together the events he had been through.
"Why didn't the trial continue? Wait... I remember the figure... Zaryx... it attacked me, and I died. And then... the Unhuman Mission notification. But I don't exactly remember what it said..."
He read through the system note, concluding the information.
"Oh, so we can connect through the system, Astrea is near the Lucian Plains, and Darius is on the Tartheon Mountains. The Academy... I think we should reunite there."
In sudden another panel flickered.
◇_______________◇
[System Notification: Dream Realm Connection System]
[SYSTEM]:
A new connection option has been unlocked: Dream Realm Communication.
How to Connect:
To initiate connection, you must speak this sentence aloud "By the whispers of the ethereal winds, I call upon the Dream Realm to unite our minds."
This will send a request to your teammates.
Once the request is made, your teammates will receive a notification asking if they agree to the connection.
If all participants agree, the connection will be established, and you will enter the Dream Realm together.
[System Instruction]
The Dream Realm allows for direct communication between teammates, bypassing distance and time. Use it wisely, as it also opens the door to unforeseen challenges.
[System Note]:
Only those who have agreed can enter and remain connected in the Dream Realm. Once inside, the system will guide the next steps.
◇_______________◇