(NATHANIEL) I opened my eyes and was met with the armored ceiling of the police station’s vault hanging above me.
No one would call its aesthetics beautiful, but to me, it was simply majestic.
At this point, I berated myself for being ungrateful.
After all, the outskirts weren’t so bad, hell, they were at least not filled with unspeakable horrors and divine avatars of war god that were ready to kill me.
Slowly turning my eyes down, I froze and raised a brow.
On a cheap plastic chair placed beside my reinforced medical bed sat someone I didn’t expect to see.
I’d expected Master Jet to be there.
However, instead of her, there was a young man with unruly hair and mischievous eyes.
There was a light smile on his lips, one that seemed to have left a permanent impression of itself on his face.
The Awakened looked me up and down and closed his eyes.
He stood up with a sigh and approached me with the same smile.
“Well then, welcome back to the land of the living, Sleeper Nate.” He nonchalantly abbreviated my name, to which I gave him a confused look.
‘Aren’t you chummy.’ Instead of speaking my mind, I gave him a forced smile before speaking with a tone that a sycophant would enjoy.
“Oh, thank you, Senior Awakened.
It is very nice to be back.” Taking off the last restraint, the Awakened waited for me to stand up before speaking.
“Alright, an officer will lead you to a shower in a minute or two.
Ah, right, let me introduce myself.
I’m Awakened Luster.
Now, I’m sure it’s a pleasure to meet me, but let’s stay on topic.” ‘Ohhh, that’s why he seemed familiar.
He’s the Mongrel glazer… and a pervert.
Nice.’ While lampooning him in my head, I just nodded, and he took the chance to speak, since he seemed to enjoy the sound of his voice quite a bit.
“Alright, anyway, there’s a lot of technical things that I need to say to you, but that can wait for later.
Also, your friends are waiting for you, so be quick.
In the shower there should be a cabinet that holds the hoodies, so be sure to find a suitable one.
I’ll pick you up from the room, so just stay put there till I get you.
Got all that?” Thinking for a bit, I widened my eyes and blinked a few times.
“Wait a moment, what do you mean, my friends?” Luster gave me a wink and smiled more mischievously.
“Ohhh, aren’t the two guys and the beautiful lady your friends?
They insisted on waiting for you.
Even Momm—I mean, Lady Jet was surprised.” That shit-eating grin on his face widened, and I definitely noticed his little slip-up.
But I didn’t feel like talking to this troglodyte anymore, so I simply excused myself.
Not before giving the most painfully obvious fake laugh I could, which Luster noticed and seemed a little insulted by, which was the point.
Being escorted to my appointed room, I quickly entered the shower.
Taking off my dirty clothes, I stepped inside and turned the valve.
Soon, warm droplets of water washed over me, and I released a heavy sigh of relief.
Thinking back to what that troglodyte was saying, I felt a tear escape my eye.
‘They’re safe… thank goodness.’ Relief washed over me along with the water, and the pain that I had experienced in the Nightmare was alleviated greatly.
I didn’t take too long to shower, and only after a few minutes did I turn it off and step out.
Drying myself with a towel, I examined my clothes that were on the floor.
While I had grown a bit accustomed to them, I was not willing to put them on.
So I gave a quick thank you for their service and searched through one of the cabinets.
In it was a pair of the police-issued hoodies that everyone received.
Putting one on, I smiled at its comforting warmth.
‘Ahhh, it’s so nice to have actual clothes!’ The grin on my face persisted for a bit, and I just looked at the modest room.
It was, of course, leagues above the room I had—or, well, shared—in the Nightmare, so it was nice and refreshing to be there.
‘So I’m supposed to wait for him.
Hmmm.
Well then, I guess it’s time to address you…’ Looking down, I examined my shadow.
The shadow that was once just a circle on the ground like a normal shadow was now instead completely different.
It perfectly mimicked my body structure, and where my eyes would be, I saw a pair of eyes that seemed to burn with a strange white radiance.
The shadow stirred slightly and cocked its head upward, as if to look at me, and as it did, its eyes changed slightly as if it had blinked in confusion.
Moving to the bed in the corner of the room, i sat on it’s edge , I examined it and waited for a response.
However, there was none.
Instead, it just stared at me before it noticeably shrugged its shoulders.
“What the hell are you shrugging for?
We’re literally bonded.
I have Shadow God’s weapon as my damn shadow, so act like it, will you?” Now it seemed to have actually been insulted as it looked at me with a glare.
Then I felt as if I could sense its feelings.
And from what I got, the gist of its meaning was rather simple.
(What the hell are you on about?
I’m forced to be your shadow bastard.
I’d rather not, but oh well.
I can’t do anything about it, so hop off my ass you jack off.) Glowering at the shadow, I spat, “Look here, you contain my death now, so if anything happens to me, you suffer as well.
And from what the Spell has said, you are no longer the great Blade of Death wielded by Shadow God.” Pointing a finger toward it and then myself, I smiled.
“You’re the shadow of a weak Sleeper, and your previous god-slaying powers are sealed, so what do you think will happen if I die?
I’m sure you wouldn’t be very welcome in the Shadow Realm.” This time the shadow actually seemed to pay attention to me as its eyes lowered slightly in thought.
Then it crossed its arms and nodded.
It was basically a simple ‘Alright, fine’ from the shadow, and I elevated my chin in triumph.
“So what can you do?
Not much, I bet.” My shadow seemed almost insulted.
However, it was sort of forced to work together with me, so it just shook its head in defeat.
It suddenly bubbled and seemed to wait for me.
Then, through the bond, I felt it urge me to think of a form.
Pursing my lips, I brought a hand down and imagined a simple spear.
From the shadow, the spearhead emerged, quickly followed by the shaft.
Now when I looked down at my shadow, it was completely gone.
My lips curled as I gently caressed the smooth and cold spear.
For some reason… I felt a bit dirty.
Clearing my throat, I coughed lightly and dismissed it.
The shadow melted toward the floor and returned to its previous form.
Once it was fully dismissed, it seemed to pout before turning away in embarrassment.
I felt my face redden slightly and looked away as well.
‘Did I just molest my shadow?’ I shook my head and looked back at it with a composed expression.
“Ahem… anything else?” It looked back and simply shook its head.
Raising a brow, I held back my disappointment and just decided to ignore it.
Since it seemed to only hold the power to manifest itself into a weapon, it was pretty useless… well, for now at least.
I did have quite a few Memories, so there would probably be no need for it.
Granted, it would probably come into use later on when its powers were unsealed.
And speaking of powers, I decided to check my Runes: Name: Connor True Name: Host of Mysteries Rank: Dreamer.
Class: Tyrant Soul Cores: [5/7].
Soul Fragments: [3777/5000].
Looking at my Class, I blinked in surprise.
‘A Tyrant?!
Holy— it was worth it killing those people!’ I gave a smile to the Runes and felt like giving the Spell a nice big hug.
“See that, buddy!
We’re a Tyrant!” I looked at my shadow, to which it just looked at me for a bit before looking away, like a child that was embarrassed by their parent.
Frowning, I just sighed and shook my head.
Clearly, my shadow was a punk that was rather ungrateful.
So I just ignored it and returned to my Runes.
Not before, of course, thanking Weaver for his generosity.
Memories: [Ivory Edge], [Ebony Edge], [Desecrated Right], [Proof of Struggle], [Traitor’s Garments], [Embittered Spirit], [Hungry Light], [Grace of Falsehood], [Ordinary Blade], [Forgiving Touch], [Unsaturated Fowl], [Night’s Call], [Song of Blasphemy], [Warden’s Burden], [Dream Caller], [Unrealized Passion]… Echoes: — Attributes: [Fated], [Flame of Divinity], [Vessel], [Tucked Tail], [Slaying Blade], [The Progress], [Blessed of The Fool].
Aspect: [Linchpin of Reality].
Aspect Rank: Divine.
Aspect Description: [You are a mere vessel housing one that should not be named.
And yet you so desperately battle for freedom.
These efforts have rewarded you with many boons and wondrous abilities… however, tempting fate will only get you so far.] Innate Ability: [Attuned Being].
Ability Description: [Though you do not belong to this world, it is deeply fascinated by your strange and inexplicable existence.
The world may choose to assist you in your treachery.] Aspect Abilities: [Ideal Change].
Aspect Ability Description: “You may change the properties of anything, so long as you possess the courage to face the consequences.” Turning to the lower part, I examined the Sequences and raised a brow.
Sequences: [Sequence 9, Seer] Digestion (0%/100%).
[Sequence 9, Marauder] Digestion (1%/100%).
[Sequence 9, Apprentice] Digestion (0%/100%).
‘How did I only digest the Marauder?
Wait… was it because I was making fun of Luster?
Can I just be a dick to people and digest it?’ It was plausible.
The acting method for the Error Pathway was pretty much never revealed.
While I focused on the Sequences, they suddenly changed and i gasped in surprise.
[Sequence 9, Seer] Sequence Description: [As a Seer, you must possess a reverence toward fate.
With your abilities, you must help others interpret revelations and guide them in a better direction, yet you must always maintain fear and respect toward fate.
You cannot be too egotistical, too proud, or blindly believe your own interpretations… after all, divination isn’t all-powerful.] Looking at the description, I blinked a few times in confusion and put a hand over my mouth in thought.
‘So I can actually see the acting method for each Pathway… Interesting, I guess that helps.’ I then decided not to get too lost in thought and summoned the rest of the Sequences.
[Sequence 9, Marauder] Sequence Description: [A Marauder is someone who roams around looking for opportunities to steal, destroy, and cause harm.
Yet they must do so in a reserved and controlled manner, for if one loses themself to the pleasures of chaos, they will become nothing more than a beast.] [Sequence 9, Apprentice] Sequence Description: [Apprentices shouldn’t flaunt their superiority, and under no circumstance should they be arrogant.
One must understand the insignificance of their own strength and should always accept guidance from another that is more knowledgeable than themselves.
Their focus must be on studying and bettering their understanding of necessary principles.] While examining the descriptions, I whistled with a smile.
The basic principles of these Pathways were rather obvious.
Being a Marauder entailed being mischievous and causing chaos, so I’d have to steal and start conflicts between others.
But the core of it was to make sure not to get caught up in chaos.
I had to remain vigilant and not get too caught up in my treachery.
I frowned for a moment and grumbled.
‘Now the Spell has me calling myself treacherous.’ Shaking my head, I thought about the Apprentice acting method.
That one was actually mentioned, however here it went into much more depth, namely that I must never think myself better than another who is more well-versed in a subject.
Granted, I was probably a lot more knowledgeable than most.
After all, reading the novel gave me quite a bit of information, information that people would likely kill for, or kill me just for knowing it.
So it was going to be rather tricky, but I was sure I’d manage.
After all, humans were nothing if not adaptive.
So, with that done, came another concern.
Looking down, I inspected my Aspect Legacy.
Aspect Legacy: [The Fool’s Belongings] The Fool’s Belongings Description: [The Fool looked upon the Fog within ‘His’ domain and smiled sadly.
‘His’ eyes pierced through it, and ‘He’ looked upon that which was yet to happen.
“I suppose it’s time.
Are you ready?” ‘He’ spoke to the mirror in ‘His’ hands.
It shone with an aqueous light.
On the surface of the ancient silver mirror, light swirled, and pale words outlined themselves: “No.” Then, he asked a question of his own.
According to the rules.
“Great Master… are you certain of your decision?” The Fool smiled.
“Should you not know the answer to this already?” ‘He’ lampooned for one last time, and words once more appeared on the surface of the mirror.
“Yes…I know.” Then, the mirror asked once more.
“Must you leave again…?” The Fool shook ‘His’ head and merely chuckled self-deprecatingly in response.
Sealing away the mirror for safekeeping, The Fool prepared to face ‘His’ enemy.
“Forgive me for failing.
Don’t give up.
Even when you find out the Truth, don’t lose heart.” The Fool spoke to one that was yet to come, and so ‘He’ went to face an insurmountable enemy.] Reading the description, I felt my expression slacken and my smile fade.
I reread it a few times, and the previous excitement was gone.
‘Klein…’ Just thinking about what he went through was enough to make me tear up.
However, tears weren’t going to solve anything, so I just shook my head.
“I’ll try my best.” A bit of conviction found itself present in my heart, and I read further.
As for what truth he was talking about, well, I was sure I’d find out what it was.
Whether that was going to be a good or bad thing, now that remained to be seen.
Belongings Earned: [0/8] First Belonging: Unearned Second Belonging: Unearned Third Belonging: Unearned Fourth Belonging: Unearned Fifth Belonging: Unearned Sixth Belonging: Unearned Seventh Belonging: Unearned Eighth Belonging: Unearned ‘Eight relics?
Or belongings, I guess.’ Looking over them, I rested a hand over my chin in thought.
Klein had plenty of belongings.
Now, whether I would gain just one or multiple from each of the eight parts was still unclear.
It did say that they were ‘Belongings,’ so there was the possibility that I could gain multiple from maybe just the first one.
Now, if they were Sealed Artifacts, that could be a problem.
After all, basically all of them had downsides that would prove rather problematic for me.
But, of course, they wouldn’t be nearly as problematic as another thing… Looking down, I observed the last of my Runes.
Flaw: [Divine Self] Flaw Description: [The more powerful you become, the harder it’ll be for you to preserve your humanity.] “…Mother fu—” _________________ Author’s Note: Short lil chap, next chap will be longer and we will see the gang.
Next chap is on Sunday.
Also be sure to leave some comments to motivate me :).