Morning had come.
Malik navigated the streets of Lochma in complete silence, contrary to the regular bustle that encompassed the city.
The weight of his new quest was pressing against his chest like an iron vice. The whispers of the system echoed in his mind, a dark promise of unimaginable power at an unfathomable cost.
'Abandon your humanity. Devour the souls of mortals. Their essence will fuel your ascension.'
He clenched his jaw, his teeth creaking beneath the pressure. The words felt alien, twisted. He had done much in his life to survive- fought, bled, even killed- but this was different. This was annihilation. It was a path paved in the suffering of those who had no say in his hunger.
But the system had never given him a choice. He had never disobeyed and now feared the consequences of such.
The Grand Library rose before him, a looming monolith of ancient stone and forgotten knowledge.
If there was anyone who could help him make sense of this, it was Orlan. The old man had always been more than just a mentor- he was the closest thing Malik had to family- his opinion held great importance to Malik.
Before he knew it Malik was already upon the giant doors, entering the library without pause.
Malik moved quickly through the winding halls, past the towering bookshelves and candlelit alcoves, until he reached Orlan's study. He pushed open the heavy wooden door without knocking, bursting through like a brazen bull. If he was any stronger the doors might have flung off their hinges.
Alerted by the sudden appearance, Orlan looked up from his desk, eyes sharp beneath his bushy brows. He readjusted his monocle. "You look like a man walking with death at his side," Orlan murmured.
"Sit."
Malik hesitated before stepping forward, lowering himself into the chair across from Orlan. His fingers drummed against the arm of the chair, a nervous habit he rarely indulged.
"I- I found something similar to what I read from the books... Offering power in the payment of sacrifice." Malik took the initiative, blending the truth with a lie, still cautious to mention the existence of the system.
The weight of his words filled the room, a short silence that felt endless followed.
Orlan studied him for a long moment. "And you fear what it asks of you?"
Malik let out a laugh devoid of humour. "Fear? No. I've never feared power..." Malik clied again, something that Orlan easily noticed.
"But this... this is different. It wants me to surrender my humanity, To become something else. A predator. A beast that feeds on the souls of men."
Orlan leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Power always demands sacrifice, Malik. The question is whether you are willing to pay the price."
"That's not an answer," Malik snapped, frustration creeping into his voice.
Orlan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Because there is no answer. Only choices. This offer, it does not force you- it presents opportunity. Whether you take it or not is yours alone to decide."
Malik's hands clenched. He had come here for guidance, but Orlan had given him only more uncertainty, something he would not blame him for, especially since he withheld the entire truth. And yet, he knew deep down that the old man was right. There was no simple answer to this.
A long silence stretched between them before Malik finally spoke again, quieter this time.
"There's something else." he admitted.
"Orlan, there's something you need to know, I acquired something called the sys-"
The words were barely out of his mouth when the door to the study exploded inward.
BUMPH!
A concussive force enveloped the room and splinters of wood ricocheted between the ceiling, walls and floor.
A dozen armoured figures stormed inside, their weapons gleaming under the dim candlelight.
They wore a distinctive crest upon their pauldrons, 'The Lochma Guard?' Malik questioned, unable to come to terms with the sudden entrance.
The leader, a man clad in darkened steel and adorned with fancy embroidery- that displayed both his rank and achievements- stepped forward with a sneer. "Orlan Vasst," he declared, his voice dripping with authority and contempt,
"You are under arrest for high treason against the state. You have shared forbidden knowledge from the Grand Library with an outsider."
The leaders smile grew malicious, clearly enjoying this moment.
Orlan stayed silent, showing no emotion.
The leader leaned closer to Orlan, but spoke in a voice all present could hear, "You think we don't have eyes on you? The King will have your head for this."
Malik couldn't stand by after hearing the declaration. He shot to his feet, hand gripping the only thing he could use as a weapon; the metal quill from Orlan's desk.
"That's ridiculous!" he snarled. "He's done nothing wrong!"
The leader turned his cold gaze on Malik. "The records speak otherwise. Secrets have been leaked. Knowledge that should never leave this library, reserved for only those of the upper echelons." He smirked, savouring every moment. "And all for a mere commoner boy."
Orlan didn't move. He didn't argue. He simply exhaled, his expression unreadable.
Malik's stomach twisted. 'This was for me. He did this for me.'
The soldiers raised their weapons, moving to seize Orlan. Malik prepared to launch himself forward, aiming to kill at least one of them even at the cost of his own life.
Squelch
A sickly sound of flesh being torn assaulted Malik's ears.
The world slowed.
Blood splattered against the desk.
Orlan staggered, the leader of the knights removing his blade from the old man's gut.
Malik's breath caught in his throat as the old man crumpled, his suit and shirt staining crimson.
Another sword plunged into his leg. Another into his bicep.
"Mmmmmph!" Orlan stifled a groan, refusing to show weakness even on deaths door.
Malik was moving before he even registered it, lunging towards the knight that was preparing to stab another blade into his mentor, but the leader grabbed Malik by the collar, hauling his struggling form upright.
Held with his feet dangling, the leader delivered a fast back-hand blow to Malik's cheek, his face deforming under the immense power of the strike, pieces of broken teeth and blood erupting from his mouth.
His mind spun, struggling to manage a single thought, but one thing Malik instinctively knew was that this man was above human limits. Even with all his intelligence, this was a lost battle from the beginning.
He never had a chance against this man, let alone his accompanying knights.
"Look at what you've done," he taunted.
"All this blood is on your hands." He marched with Malik in his vice grip and brought him in front of the barely conscious Orlan.
With a sadistic smile he unsheathed his sword with his free hand, pressing it against Orlan's chest.
"I think I'll finish the job. And then? I'll frame you for it. The public will believe it. Imagine, 'A commoner boy driven by greed, killed the respected Keeper of the library in a fit of rage', Who do you think they'll believe? A respected Captain of the Royal Guards?" He chuckled darkly.
"Or a no-name orphan with too much ambition?"
Rage surged through Malik like wildfire, greedily devouring all of his rationality.
The system hummed in the back of his mind.
['Power. You need only take it. You don't have to be weak. Never again.']
Malik's vision blurred. The room trembled. His breath came in ragged gasps.
And then-
Orlan coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. His dimming eyes found Malik's, a tender gaze even in this situation.
"Don't," he rasped.
Malik froze.
The old man smiled, even as death crept upon him. "Don't... lose yourself... son..." A tear crept out from his closing eyes.
Squelch
The sword skewered his heart, a short wheeze of air escaping his lungs followed.
And then.
Silence.
Orlan's body went limp.
Something inside Malik snapped.
The systems voice surged through him, a chorus of dark promises.
['Unleash. Devour. Ascend.']
Malik's mind briefly lingered on Orlan's last word. 'Son...' Memories of their time spent together flooded his head and Malik felt his emotions boiling.
'I'm sorry... Father...'
The room trembled as a shadow darker than night erupted from Malik's form. The candles flickered and died, swallowed by an abyss that pulsed with hunger.
In the space that was now only the pitch black, where a deathly silence hung in the air.
Only one voice was heard.
"I accept."