Chapter 2: An Interesting Room

  Darkness. Inescapable. Absolute and all-consuming.

  This wasn’t the kind of darkness found on a moonless night or in a pitch-black room. This darkness was something deeper, emptier — like the very concept of light had never existed in this space.

  Killian tried to move, yet nothing happened.

  Again and again, he tried to move, straining with all he had, but to no avail. His body refused to respond to his will. Giving up, he found that he couldn’t tell if he even had a body. A primal panic began to rise to the surface, threatening to consume him, but before it could gain a foothold, a new sensation emerged.

  Cold. A chilling, unnatural cold that dug into his very being, overtaking him it led him into unconsciousness

  When Killian next awoke, he was somewhere else.

  He found himself in a square, white room boxing him in, devoid of furniture, decorations — anything at all. The room, eerily clean and unnaturally empty, lacked even doors, light and worst of all sound.

  Killian remembering he might be in danger, pushed himself up slowly, pressing his back against the wall he had appeared by. The feeling of unease in his chest grew with each passing moment. He had no idea how or where he was.

  Something wasn’t right

  The wall behind him shifted.

  Killian froze, scared of what he might see. Turning cautiously, he saw that it’s surface wasn’t solid. It conformed to his body, feeling like a liquid yet remaining firm enough to support his weight. Carefully, he reached his hand out to touch it, but before the hand could make contact —

  A table appeared.

  From nothing. Just like that.

  One moment, there was open air the next, a sleek wooden table stood in the center of the room. And sitting across from it, sat a man.

  Killian blinked. Then blinked again.

  ‘People don’t just appear,’ he thought.

  Then again, that wasn’t the weirdest thing to happen so far today.

  Before he could ask any of the questions running wild through his mind, the man held up a hand. A quick flourish, a flick of his wrist, and another chair was summoned on Killian’s side of the table.

  The man gestured towards the chair.

  Seeing no better option, Killian sat down, trying to put on an air of calmness.

  The stranger leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

  Killian surveyed the man. He was well dressed sporting a dark, high collared trench coat lined with a golden trim. His features were bland, his expression unreadable. Then, he opened his mouth—

  The sound that came out wasn’t natural.

  “KILLIAN!”

  The voice mechanical, felt wrong.

  Killian felt the blood drain from his face. He was frozen, fear gripping him keeping him in place.

  ‘What did I do wrong?’

  Killian thought. Panic surging through him, he raced to find how he had offended the being in front of him. Had he all ready made a mistake?

  Before he had the chance to stammer out an apology, the man busted into laughter.

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  “Oh, you should see the look on your face!” He chuckled, slamming his fist on the table. His voice had lost its roboticness, now filled with genuine amusement.

  Killian forced a nervous laugh, deciding that releasing a stream of screams at the man who might control his fate a kind of bad idea.

  The stranger studied him for a moment, then smirked. “You’re an unusual one, Killian. Most people ripped from their normal day to day life and thrown into this situation either lash out in fear or beg for answers upon my entrance.” Sighing dramatically he continued “ Some even try to fight me. Attempts on my life get so boring after a while—tho I will admit, some of the seduction attempts have been more than entertaining” he spoke, seemingly reminiscing.

  Killian didn’t know how to respond to that, so he remained quiet.

  The man waved a hand dismissingly. “Anyway, since you’ve been such a good sport, I’ll give you the usual rundown. Plus, a little extra tip, to get us off on the right foot. How does that sound?”

  Killian not trusting his words nodded.

  The man grinned. “Good, good. Well then congratulations are in order. Welcome to the Fabula System.”

  He leaned back, spreading his arms out wide.

  “Earth has been inducted as part of the 104th universe into the greater multiverse. That means life as you knew it is over. The system governs everything now. I say embrace it.”

  Waving his hand again, two books appeared on the table facing him.

  To his left set a book, old and worn, its bluish gray cover frayed along its edges. It lacked a title, pages barely held within. Killian felt a comforting sensation coming from the book.

  Killian had to force his eyes away as the man picked up the right book skimming it’s contents. Scanning the cover the book was the complete opposite of the first. Its bright red cover gleamed, almost painful to look at. The title was clear: Fyreoth, Spear of the Eternal Blaze.

  To Killian it sounded powerful.

  Suddenly closing the book the man muttered to himself “Decent I guess.” Then, his expression turned serious.

  “First and foremost this isn’t a game,” he said. “Even if it was it wouldn’t be the kind you’re used to.” He placed both books in front of Killian.

  “The system operates on myths. The stronger your myth, the stronger you become.” Looking pointedly at the books he went on “One of these or a combination of the two will become the core of your story. The books are aptly named Fabula Cores.”

  He pushed the red book forward.

  “This core was pulled from the vast history of the system, chosen specifically for you. As you can probably guess, its centered around fire and the spear. It’s a solid start — better than what most will get in the tutorial.”

  Tilting his head as if thinking on if to say more he said “It’s a bit ridgid in its path”

  Then, he pulled it back, replacing it with the blue one.

  Killian frowned

  “It’s the accumulation of your life’s work.” The man sighed, shaking his head. “And it’s awful. Directionless. Weak. It doesn’t even have the basics of a compelling story.”

  Killian’s stomach twisted.

  Years of effort. Everything he had ever done. All of it amounted to nothing.

  Sensing Killian’s train of thought derailing, the man threw him a lifeline.

  “But,” he said, smirking, “it’s yours. Unlike the other, This core isn’t bound by past mythic concepts. It has no restrictions. It can become anything you want.”

  He then brought the two books together, interlocking their pages.

  “Your last option is to combine them.” His grin widened. “Ideally, this would create a core greater than the sum of its parts. The strengths reinforcing its weaknesses.”

  He pulled them apart again, placing them back on the table

  “So,” the man said, eyes beaming with anticipation. “Which will you choose?”

  Killian took a moment to think.

  Why wouldn’t he pick the combination? If it was stronger, he’d be a fool not to.

  But something was nagging at him.

  The man had said ideally. That meant it could make the core weaker, didn’t it?

  Killian glanced up, trying to see if he could glean anything from his expression. The grin was still there, giving the man a mischievous look. If the man favored a choice, he wasn’t showing it.

  ‘Screw it’ Killian thought. He decided to just ask.

  “Which would you choose?” Killian asked.

  The man didn’t answer. He simply stared, unblinking.

  Killian exhaled.

  ‘Figures’

  In the end, he trusted himself more than some cryptic stranger. He went with his gut.

  He reached for the blue book.

  The moment his fingers brushed the cover, the red book burst into flames, crackling as the pages burned.

  Killian recoiled, but the fire didn’t spread. It burned intensely for a brief moment before vanishing into a wisp of smoke.

  “A bit dramatic” Killian said before pulling the remaining book close to his chest.

  The man’s smirk widened. “Interesting selection.” He leaned back. “I’ve already pushed the limits of what I’m allowed to say, so I’ll grant you one question before sending you on your way.”

  Killian had many questions, but only one that he couldn’t figure out on his own later.

  “Who are you?”

  The man grinning said “Ah, now that’s a good question.”

  He stood, taking a formal bow.

  “I am the system’s envoy for this tutorial instance, an S-rank human, and someone who may or may not have taken a liking to you.” His eyes glowing, he finished “I am Grail the Wanderer”

  Killian didn’t understand what that meant yet, but he would.

  Grail’s smile started to fade. “Before you go, some parting advice.”

  His eyes darkening, “Don’t trust the Blessed.”

  The world flashed. The light blinding forced Killian to shut his eyes.

  When the burning sensation faded, Killian found himself standing in the middle of a city.