"The hell is this..? It's incredible!"
Maya stares into the new System Screen floating in front of her.
The screen displays several things.
{SYSTEM}
[User: Maya Solace]
[Class: None]
[Trait: Soulrise]
[Bio-Trait: Rollback]
[Level: One]
[STR-5]
[INT-2]
[WIS-2]
[DEX-2]
[CON-2]
[LUK-10]
Maya's eyes widen at the sight of it. This new system, stats, traits, class, none of it made any sense to her.
"What is this.."
She slowly reaches towards the unfamiliar screen floating in front of her. Maya's fingers softly press against it, a dim glow under where she had touched, indicating contact was made.
"Stats, Level, all of this, It makes no sense, I'll ask dad about it tomorrow."
Maya closes her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
In the morning, she quicky makes her way downstairs, calling out for Ardun
"Dad! Hey, Dad! Where are you?"
"Your father is at the Dojo, Him and Ren left earlier."
"Mom! Do you know what 'The System' is?"
Fern looks at Maya with a worried look, quickly, she looks around the room before pulling Maya close to her, whispering in her ear
"Maya, where did you hear of that.?"
"Huh? I found a crystal yesterday, it started glowing last night and then that System thing showed up.."
"Maya, listen to me. You cannot tell anybody of that, okay? It stays between us from now on."
"But why? It's so cool! I can be even stronger now, right?"
"Yes, stronger than you could think, but.. It's a dangerous thing, especially with what-.."
"With what?"
Maya looks up at Fern's concerned face, nothing in Maya's mind could comprehend why Fern was acting this way.
"When you looked at The System, did you see anything unusual?"
"Like what? It's my first time seeing anything like that, so I dunno what I'm lookin' for.."
"Can you open it again? That screen you saw last night."
"Uhh... I can try!"
Maya puts her hands forward, closing her eyes, straining herself in a useless attempt to form the System's Screen once more.
"What you need to do, Guide your mana to your hands and visualize what you saw, expel it out and grasp it."
Maya nods to Fern, trying what she had said to do. Slowly, the screen forms once again.
"Mom! I did it! look at that, isn't it neat?!"
Fern's eyes drift over the screen, taking in the information, her eyes widening with a terrified gaze upon reading over [Bio-Trait: Rollback], she begins to think to herself.
"Bio-Trait.. that makes no sense, she was never experimented on or anything like that! .. I must speak to Ardun, he may know something.."
"Mom... Are you okay? You're pale and you went silent.."
"I'm okay Maya, please wait here. I need to find your dad, okay? Remember what I said, keep this between us."
"Okay.. Be back soon!"
Fern smiles to Maya before standing, she quickly leaves, heading straight for Ardun's Dojo.
Rushing as fast as she could, she burst into the Dojo, calling out with a sharp fear in her voice.
"Ardun! It's Maya, You need to come home now!"
"Maya? Fern, what's going on?"
"She has a system, and for some reason, a Bio-Trait.!"
A door opens not far from Ardun and Fern, from inside, Ren walks out with a worried and confused look on his face.
"Mom..? Why are you here? A-And what's a Bio-Trait.?"
"Ren-! Nothing is wrong.. Please don't worry, okay?"
"Is Sis okay..? What's going on.."
"Maya is okay, Ren. Your Mother is just worried about something else, Okay? Please stay focused with your training, we'll be back soon."
"O-Okay, If you say so.."
Ren watches as Fern & Ardun begin to head back to their home.
He continues his training, trying to take the worry off of his mind.
"Are you sure of it? A Bio-Trait is not something that just manifests. That name as well, I've never heard of 'Rollback', Do you have any idea of its nature?"
"Yes I'm sure! I know what I saw, I'm afraid of what's to happen.. If she has a system, Our clan's safety is no longer guaranteed, Ardun.
"I am aware, Fern. The most we'll be able to do is protect Her and Ren when the time comes.."
"Ardun, Do you believe it will all be okay.?"
He remains silent, looking ahead with a torn expression before speaking softly.
"I'm not entirely sure, we will have to see as time draws on."
The two finally arrive back to their home. Ardun carefully opens the door, looking in at Maya, who was still on the floor, looking at her System
"Hey Mom, Dad! I found a skill menu, apparently my power has more stuff that I didn't know I could do!"
"Maya, does your system say what 'Rollback' is? Your Mother said you had it."
"It says "User's body is in a state of return, In addition, their Soul is not the only one", whatever that means! It sound's cool, though!"
Ardun mumbles to himself with an angry undertone
"It has to be him, no way it wasn't.. That bastard.."
"Ardun..? What are you talking about?"
"I'll tell you later, Fern. For now, what's important is Maya."
"Mom, Dad... It's cool, right? This means I can get stronger than Ren!"
Ardun kneels down in front of Maya, putting his hand upon her shoulder.
"Maya, I need you to be honest with me, The System, where did you get the crystal. It was in the woods, wasn't it.."
"Y-yeah... I promised I wouldn't go back, so I'm sorry!"
"Shit... Fern, I need you to go get Ren, bring him back here, as fast as you can."
"R-Right!"
Without questioning it, Fern rushed out the door, heading to the Dojo to bring Ren home.
"Maya, Follow me to the basement!"
"Why! What about Mom and Ren!?"
"This isn't the time for questions! I'll explain everything soon, for now we need to go!"
Ardun rushes Maya into the basement of their home. The air was tense with the pressure of the sudden events.
"Dad! What's going on.."
"That crystal, it vanishing sent a wave of Mana outwards, our location was most likely revealed, It's not safe for you to be outside right now, I'm going to go meet with your mother, please, Maya. Stay here."
Ardun hugs Maya, giving her one final look before running out of the basement, his legs burning from sprinting back and forth.
Now outside and making his way to the Dojo, Ardun catches up with Fern and Ren on their way back.
"Dad.. what's going on?"
"I'll explain to you too, once we're safe. For now, we need to get home."
The three continue running back to their home, their energy dropping fast, something in the air felt as if it was tearing through their lungs.
"D-Dad! I'm too exhausted.. I cant run any longer.."
"We're almost there, you need to hold on Ren!"
"I can try, I-.. I'll be okay..!"
"Good, you're a strong kid, Ren!"
Fighting through the pain of the sharp mana filling the air, they barely reach their home through the exhaustion, the feeling that had been in the air outside slowly started to fade.
"Ren, head to the basement, Maya is down there, Fern, please go too. I'll handle everything out here."
"Ardun, Please be safe."
Fern pulls Ardun into a tight hug, looking deep into his eyes with concern before taking Ren and moving to the basement.
He mumbles to himself before stepping outside into the madness soon to come.
"I will, I promise."
Over the horizon of the forest, a dark crimson light begins to fill the sky, Gigantic fireballs tear through the calm of the air, crashing down into the town.
"The townsfolk should have evacuated already, Caelos, You bastard.. Was cursing my daughter not enough."
A cocky laughter Ardun could never forget echoes out from behind him, the Mana filling the air choked out at Ardun, causing him to stumble, nearly falling over.
"Now now~ Is it really acceptable to cuss me out? Who said this was my fault!"
Caelos stares down Ardun with a twisted smirk on his face.
"Listen, Ardun. Whatever's happenin' here, It ain't my fault, honest! It's more Maya's fault for takin' the Systic Crystal from the woods, yeah?"
"Don't pin this on my daughter, you sick freak. Haven't you taken enough already?"
"Ardun, my old buddy!"
Caelos walks over, wrapping his arm around Ardun's neck, pressing their faces together.
His eyes thin as he glares at Ardun, a terrifying feeling floods into him, nearly causing him to vomit.
"Can you blame me? You asked for a huge favor, and best of all, you never specified a limit to my end of the deal! Isn't that lovely! You're such a good pal, y'know that~?"
"Our deal stated that you help us win in the Nightmare War, and in turn, I grant you permission to alter one thing that belonged to me."
"That you did!!"
Caelos claps and praises Ardun like he's a child. Ardun's anger growing more intense as Caelos continues to taunt him.
"And that one thing I picked, Maya! You never once specified a limit to how much I could alter this one thing, so I can do this for as long as I want, Get me?"
"You sick bastard... What do you get out of this, huh..? Someone of your caliber getting joy out of bullying the weak.."
"But that's exactly it! It's fun! Haven't you had fun before, old buddy? It's nothing too hard, I do what I want to the weak, and they cant do anything! It's like playing with bugs or something, you can kill them in a heartbeat, they cant do anything back. And let me tell you, It's so much fun watching the struggle, like you're doing now! Good job!"
Caelos lets go of Ardun, walking away from him and looking up towards the Crimson Sky.
The moment Ardun was free, he shivered to himself, the disgusting feeling of terror that radiated off of Caelos was enough to make anyone sick.
"Why are you here.."
"Well, you called, yeah? You said my name... What was it.... Ahem, "Caelos, you bastard." Yeah, That!! Goodness you speak so foul, Has your Mother ever washed your mouth with soap? Jeez~ Cursing so much, It makes you sound like an idiot, y'know?"
"If you're business is done, then please. Leave."
"Fine fine, but hey, quick reminder. 'It's owed, no matter the age.' Okay? Buh Bye!"
Caelos smirks as he slowly glitches out, vanishing from Ardun's sight.
Oddly enough, during their conversation, nothing seemed to move. The fireballs had hit the town the moment Caelos had left. Ardun's mind began to wander, thinking deep into it, with one final though.
"What the hell is Caelos, actually."
Meanwhile, In the basement.
"Momma, When is Dad gonna be back?"
"Ardun should be back soon. Ren, you're very good, keeping such a cool head. I'm very proud of you, You as well, Maya."
Clearly struggling to, Fern Smiles faintly and roughs up the two kid's hair.
"Hey, Mom.. You made a big deal over this 'Bio-Trait', but what about my Trait, do you know what Soulrise does?"
"I'm not sure Maya.."
"Maybe it has something to do with your flames, sis!"
"Hey yeah! I think you're right Ren!"
Maya puts her hands forward, a small blue flame forming around her hands. A dim warmth fills the area, along with the presence of someone else burning around her.
"Do you feel that, Sis? the fire feels like a person!"
"Huh? What're ya' talkin' about, Ren?"
"Maya, I feel it too, what Ren means, I assume is. Do you know that feeling of somebody being in the same room as you, you aren't aware of it, but you just feel it in the air?"
"Yeah! That exactly! Thank you Mom!"
"Of course my dear."
Maya's Soul Flame burns out, leaving nothing but a faint smokey smell. As the smoke clears, Fern looks down to the two kids with a worrisome look in her eyes. She speaks in a calm, reassuring tone.
"You two, please try and get some rest, okay?"
"Okay Mom.. Will you be alright?"
"I'll be quite alright, Maya. Sleep well, My Little Star."
With that, Maya and Ren slowly drift off to sleep, While Fern sits in worry, awaiting Ardun's return.
"I pray for your safety, Ardun.."
Back outside, Ardun has entered the town, now searching for the cause of the attack. He enters the town, instantly struck with the vile smell of burning flesh, the sight of everything he had built up till now in ash. Unable to put his thoughts into words, he looks ahead with a blank, yet pained expression.
A voice breaks through the silence, an unfamiliar one.
"Kekeke... Look what I've happened upon! You have the scent of a Royal~"
A hooded man approaches Ardun holding a dagger in his hand. His cloak a deep black, the fabric woven with flame resistant magic. His face was hidden by the shadow of his hood.
"What's the matter!~? Cat got your tongue?"
His tongue coils down onto the blade, licking blood off the blade. His barely visible smirk grows as he watches the rage build up in Ardun's face
"There it is! Come on, Strike me!!"
The moment he utters those words, Ardun seemingly vanished, no sound, no visible pattern of movement. As if he was never there to begin with.
"Huh? Where'd ya' go? Runni-!"
A giant wave of Draconic Flame bursts out into the man, incinerating him near instantly. Nothing remaining of him, other than the fire resistant cloak.
"All talk, Will the rest of you be that easy?"
Ahead of Ardun, there now stood 7 cloaked figures, each looking the exact same as the previously eliminate man.
They all dart around in different directions, a clear attempt to strike Ardun down from several angles, however, Ardun was the clan leader of Solace for a reason, His training with Ren, everything. His experiences have forged him into a vessel of strength that was incomparable to most. The Cloaked Figures all stab at him from different sides. Ardun stands, his eyes having not moved even once.
"That's all."
Right as they all stab, Ardun vanishes once again. Before any of them can react, Ardun's hand stabs through one of their chests, ripping their heart out.
"Feel's human. What was your-"'
In a panic, one of the now 6 men stabs Ardun in the back. Instead of reacting, Ardun simply turns his head, glaring at the figure. A terrifying level of fear imbeds itself into the figure, as he tries to back off, Ardun grabs his arm, staring deep into his eyes.
"If you're trying to kill someone with a single attack, never go for a non-vital point."
Ardun slashes his hand to the side, lobbing the figures head clean off. He turns, looking back to the rest of the figures, a dark horn growing out of the left side of his forehead.
"Five of you remain, what will your action be? Use the foolishness of the last two as an example."
"You bastard, who do you think you are!?"
The 5th rushes in, clearly not thinking as he stabs at Ardun.
"Ah.. There's an even bigger Idiot among Idiots."
He puts a single finger forward, the blade, instead of stabbing him, shatters upon impact. The moment it does, Ardun puts his hand forward, flicking the 5th with draconic mana infused into his hand, sending the 5th flying back into the 4th, decommissioning both of them.
"My family is in danger, so I can no longer play with you lot."
The feeling of Mana grows exponentially larger as fear fills the area, preventing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd from moving at all.
"Use Skill.."
The area around Ardun begins to burn with an intense feeling, a inferno forming around Ardun's hand as he reaches out forward.
"Hellfire."
With the command word being spoken, a blazing wave of burning mana bursts out, incinerating the last 3 men.
Ardun, wasting no time, sprints back to his home. His speed worlds faster than before, Clearly the effect of one of his horns being out. He breaks down the door to the entrance, calling out to Maya, Ren and Fern with a concerned tone. From the basement, Fern appears with Maya and Ren by her side.
"Dad.. You're back!"
"Thank the Heaven's.. You're all okay."
Fern rushes to Ardun's side, putting her hand to his wound, Clear concern filling her eyes.
"You're hurt, what happened?!"
"It's nothing dear, The village is under attack. I needed to make sure you and the kids were safe."
A dim green light begins to radiate from Fern's palms. Ardun's wound begins to slowly repairs itself. With a pained tone in his voice, Ardun firmly speaks out.
"Fern, Take Maya and Ren, run far away."
A panicked expression forms on Fern's face, her eyes full of fear. A broken voice cries out.
"I can't do that! I won't leave you here!"
"I don't want you to lose them, please Fern."
Maya looks to the ground, thinking to herself. A spark flickering in her hands.
"Dad, Let me fight too! I'm strong enough, you know-"
Before she can finish speaking, Ardun suddenly cut her off. He looked down at her with a straight, serious expression. The fear burning deep in his body, an aching pain rooted in his heart.
"Absolutely not, I will not put you in harm's way."
"Dad! I'm not useless anymore, this System, it's granted me strength! Way more than before!"
"Maya, there will be no debate.. Fern, please take them.."
Tears begin to well up in Ferns eyes, her breath was ragged and distressed, a clear panic washing over her. She couldn't make herself leave, more of, she wouldn't make herself.
"I won't leave you.. It's their survival that matters most, right?"
"Fern, don't tell me you mean 'that', do you?"
"It's the only way, They won't let us leave. We both know that."
"Momma..? W-what are you talking about..?"
Ren tugs lightly on Fern's shirt, Looking up at her, she gazes down upon his face, now a mess of tears. Fear plastered into his expression.
"Ren, Maya.. I need you both to listen carefully.
She glances back at Ardun, nodding to him with a pained expression in her eyes, looking back to the kids after. The look he had received, it told him everything he needed to know. Fern began to speak calmly, her voice broken with sorrow.
"You two, I need you to both understand. I love you both, so very much. That will never change, and I have a big ask, okay? No matter what, you two must always stick together."
"Yeah, of course Mom.."
A sincere smile softly expresses itself on her face. Fern hugs the two kids, standing up after, backing up to stand beside Ardun. He looks to Fern with a mournful expression. Ardun's voice softly breaks out as he looks back down to Ren and Maya.
"I know you both don't understand what's happening, Your Mother and I, We care about you two, more than anything else. I know I wasn't always the best father, But I love you both... I- I hope you two will forgive me for this when you're older."
After Ardun's words reach Maya and Ren, a blue energy surrounds both of them. Several gears appear around them, spinning rapidly. The two children cry out in fear as a barrier forms around them, a Time Stasis Spell had been cast, the timer was Three Hundred and Fifty years. As their vision began to fade, The harsh sound of liquid dropping onto the floor seems to echo through the room. Fern stands with a smile on her face, not wanting her kids to remember her without a smile, blood dropping down from her back. Ardun's focus locked onto the Stasis, making sure it did not fail. His expression full of fear. The moment the Statis completes, the Kids vision fades completely, they were unconscious in the chamber.
Fern drops to the ground, a hooded figure with a bloody dagger stands behind her, laughing hysterically. A pool of blood forming at their feet.
"Oh my oh my, Ardun. What's this~?"
Without a word, Ardun strikes the hooded figure in the chest, draconic flame exploding out, the radius immeasurable compared to the previous attacks. All that remained was the cloak, once again. However, this time, the presence of another had not faded, behind Ardun, the man stood with his face now visible. He had a light brown skin tone, medium-length lavender hair, short and messy. his tired eyes carried dim magenta pupils with a cyan spiral over them, his sclera was a dark black with visible cyan veins. He wore a white collared shirt and a choker around his neck. A calm smile was pressed upon his face, almost taunting to look at. Ardun looked at him with pure rage in his eyes
"No need to look upon me so harsh! Oh! Oh dear! Would you look at that, There are only two vital signs in this room now.. What a shame."
"Your name, and your reasoning for coming here."
"Eh? What are you talking-"
Ardun bolts forward, striking at the man's face with the sure intent to kill. He dodges to the side, that same cocky smile on his face. He looks at the two kids in statis, throwing two blue daggers at them. The moment the daggers get close, they were repelled to the side, a protection spell of the highest level had been cast upon them.
"Oh, how boring of you.. In any case, My name is Kairoth Erios of The Five Shades. Remember that and remember it well!!"
He laughs hysterically before vanishing, not a trace of him left, Ardun stood alone in the torn apart home that he used to know. A foul odor hits him, it was a familiar smell, a lethal poison. Ardun ran for the door and was quickly met with a sealing spell, he was trapped. He covered his face with his left hand, trying to shatter the barrier with his right. To no avail, Ardun slowly grew weaker and weaker until he collapsed.
As of that day, The Solace Clan had been completely eradicated. Time passed, the memory of the Solace Clan slowly faded away, By the time One Hundred Years had passed, The Solace Clan had been completely forgotten.
[Three Hundred & Twenty Six Years Later.]
Two Hundred and Twenty Six Years since the name of The Solace Clan had vanished off of Myrium. Where the Solace Clan had resided, there was now a Kingdom, The Kingdom of Osmanthus. Deep underground in a dungeon, the Time Stasis keeping Maya had broken early from constant wear over the span of the years, By this time, Maya had nearly forgotten every detail of her past. She stood up, Only two thoughts in her mind, who she was, and a voice. It told her one single thing.
"You must be stronger, for everybody's sake."
Knowing nothing of where she was, or even what she was, Maya looked ahead into the cold dark embrace of the dungeon, from that dark, a pair of dim red eyes shone out.
"I must be stronger... That means.."
Maya looks down to a sword on the floor, a strange pattern etched into it. The sword seemed to call to her. Picking it up, a dim blue light emanates from the blade.
The eyes approach from the shadows, as they near, a goblin appears from the shadows, a dagger in his hand, dripping blood to the floor. Maya knew one thing.
She had to fight.
-Chapter Three: END-