Chereads / My world-tree system / Chapter 3 - Chapter 2 : Lights

Chapter 3 - Chapter 2 : Lights

After the pain of being torn to shreds, he had a long, dark tunnel, endless and deep, silent.

The silence of death...

It's an immense void, an abyss where everything fades away. Where the guttural sounds of the Obscurus and the cries of pain from my brothers once resounded, there is now only absence. Not a whisper, not a breath. It's as if the whole world is holding its breath.

Foster floated, helpless, deprived of his weight and his flesh. Silence is not cold, it is not hot. It is neutral, absolute, sovereign. An endless cloak of shadow. Every drumbeat of life has fallen silent, every clang of a blade, every beat of a heart.

It's an emptiness that doesn't frighten, but engulfs. An eternal pause, where no pain, joy or fear can penetrate. Just... nothing.

Foster drifted like that for a long, long time. Yet something in him seemed to remain, refusing to cross over to the other side, refusing his doomed fate. This seed, a seed of fury that germinated in his heart, taking deep root and refusing to let go. 

What little consciousness Foster had left then clung on, clung on, gathering strength little by little and after what seemed like an infinite amount of time he finally gathered enough of himself.

- How can I feel anger when I'm dead?

Foster suddenly felt very much alive, in this darkness, his emotions still very much present and still very violent. 

Memories of his best friend, of his blood splattering on his face, of his last words, of the screams of his brothers and sisters, of the captain's head on a pike and the fury to explode.

- I MUST GO BACK, I MUST AVENGE MY BROTHERS, I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE TO BECOME THE DEVIL TO DO IT! 

- Oh now that's interesting... an ancient voice sounded and gave Foster goose bumps.

What was left of Foster tensed, if he'd had any hair it would have stood up and if he'd had a body a shiver would have run down his spine.

- Who... WHO IS THERE?' he said hesitantly.

- Well well well, where's all that confidence you had a second ago hmm?

The darkness suddenly cleared and Foster found himself in a completely white room, without blemish, without stain, just pure white.

- I don't know who you are, but I'm not going to play your little game, I've got revenge to exact! exclaimed Foster.

- HAHAHA and I'll be curious to know how you plan to get back there now that you're dead! laughed the voice.

Foster tensed, the obvious reality hitting him hard.

- What's more, your pathetic strength isn't going to get you there HAHAHA! the voice mocked again.

Each new word hit Foster even harder than the last.

- You have a way of sending me back there.

The voice stopped and Foster swore he heard like a smile.

- Maybe so and even better, but everything has a price you know?

- I don't care, send me back there so I can carry out my revenge, give me what I need to succeed and I'll even pay you my soul for it.

A silence followed, quickly broken.

- I can send you back there, with a way to become stronger, but becoming truly stronger will depend on you alone. And remember, everything has a price... 

The voice disappeared and suddenly the room lengthened, very very very quickly, as if the particles of light decided to move at the same time at a speed that was beyond comprehension.

Until Foster's body crashed into the greasy green grass. As he lifted his head, his thoughts emptied in one fell swoop.

Before him, Völlua stretches out like a dream he had never forgotten. Everything was there, exactly as he remembered it: the woven wooden walkways suspended between the branches, the houses carved into the massive trunks, the bioluminescent lanterns floating gently in the air. A clear river meanders at the foot of the roots, its shimmering surface a silent invitation to peace.

He recognises every detail, every curve of the structures, every sliver of light filtering through the foliage. His heart sinks: it's all still there. It was as if time had stood still to allow him to return. The relief is so profound that he shudders. The very idea of seeing this place intact again, untouched by the horrors of the Obscurus, gives him a warmth that slightly calms the rage inside him.

Quickly getting to his feet, he runs towards the town before stopping dead in his tracks and scanning the city from a distance, lingering on the family silhouettes of the inhabitants. He sees them walking in harmony, carefree as they once were. The innocence of their gestures struck him: they knew nothing of what was to come. The Obscurus. This word, this poison, haunts his thoughts. He has seen them surge, felt their darkness devour everything in its path. And he knows that this threat, lurking in the shadows, will strike soon.

The relaxation slowly fades, replaced by a new, oppressive rage. He clenches his fists, his gaze lost in the heights of the trees; their majesty suddenly fragile in the face of what he knows. Can he even protect them? Can he avoid these people, these faces he recognises? 

[DING World tree system activated]

- AH WHAT IS THIS ???? exclaimed Foster

[The host's means of achieving his revenge]

Foster suddenly calmed down, the memory of his encounter with the voice sending shivers down his spine.

- And how are you going to help me?

[*Ding* Quest triggered: first step towards strength]

[Quest 1: Cast 25 Spells: 0/25]

[Reward: Beginner Magic Talent]

[Quest 2: Fencing: 0/5]

[Reward :Basic Fencing Skill]

[Quest 3: Go to Fotiya and search for the World Tree Seed]

[Reward: ???????]

- The World Tree Seed ????????????????? exclaimed Foster.

[Current host status]

[Name] : Foster

[Race] : Sylvain Elf

[Strength]: 2

[Stamina] : 5

[Constitution] : 3

[Magic] : 15

[Skills] : none registered

[Talents] : None

[Quest 1: Cast 25 Spells : 0/25]

[Quest 2: Fencing: 0/5]

[Quest 3: Go to Fotiya and search for the World Tree Seed]