Illeuid could feel his body as it continued to lay flat in his bed. He remained trapped in his unconscious state, unable to wake up. Though alarming, it was certainly better than when he had collapsed after his bout with Brakus. He had to deal with how his muscles twitched with pain. How he heard the air enter into his lungs, the breaths whistling through his nose before coming out in snotty bubbles. He had wanted so badly to wipe away the congealed blood and snot, or to at least spit out the bloody phlegm. He groaned with pain, the noise unbidden as he knew that nobody was coming to check on him. A healing potion was forced down his throat. He was judged for wasting the precious amounts he coughed back up.
Now, as if life hated him, he was suffering a more intense repeat of that paralysis. One where his hand would not move. His mouth would not open. His limbs felt stiff, his fingers and toes barely twitching. His eyes roamed behind his sealed eyelids. He did not yet panic, but it was concerning that he could not even enter his mind space. Did he have to lay there until he got all feeling back? How long would that be? How much of a number did Brakus do to him?
Then he heard the bzzt! alerting him that the system was reaching out to him.
Illeuid tried to call out to his system. It was only when he attempted for the third time that he had to accept the fact that even his telepathy was tuned off.
Just what was going on?
He could only sigh as he waited for his system to communicate with him. It only took a moment.
Hello, dear player.
He hesitated before answering.
Hello. Now his voice sounded off, the vowels and consonants twisting into different decibels. He cleared his throat. Why can I not get up?
The system update is being integrated into you psyche. In order for it to be done without any repercussions your body had to be place into a comatose state.
Why did I not get the update when I was asleep? The system had done it before. It made no sense for there to be any obstacles preventing it from doing so.
His system did not answer. It will be only a few moments more.
Illeuid knew that there would be no point in pushing it. The system would just avoid his unwanted inquiries. He was just happy that he was going to gain access to his system again.
Can you tell me the skills I have access to in this lifetime?
You will see all that you need to soon. Was it him or did his system sound cautious?
Strange. Why was his system not telling him that much anything about the update? Why did he have to be kept in a vegetative state? He had never had to run into this problem before. Something was wrong.
Download complete. The robotic voice intoned. Illeuid felt the familiar buzzing under his skin, a sign that the skills were being integrated into his body, translating the information from his brain into his nerves. He wondered if it would be the Ant Army skill. That gave him the ability to be able to life things that were four times his size. Or maybe it would be the Silent Step skill. It made it easier for him to run the subterfuge mission without alerting his enemies to his presence.
He hoped it was something that would provide him optimum defense against Brakus at least. He knew that he had painted a target on his back when he humiliated his elder brother. His audacity made it clear that keeping his head down was no longer an option. He smiled as he remembered getting those hits in. Then his thoughts were drawn to those strange sparkles. They reminded him of save points. Usually, one of his past skills guided his limbs in subduing Brakus. That was the first time he had to use his own speed and instinct in hitting the other boy.
When one of his forefinger began to jerk involuntarily, the muscle waking up, Illeuid tried to move his limbs again. They still felt heavy, resistant to his order. His eyes slowly opened, the lids mostly obscured by his lashes as he was only able to pry them open a few centimeters. He could only open his eyelids incrementally. When his eyes were fully opened, a screen popped into existence above him. If it was possible, his jaw would have popped open in shock.
Title: Animated Menace
What did that even mean? Animated Menace? Like, in excitement? Or maniacally? Was this some obscure way to say he needed to be preppy? It could not mean being a cartoon, right? There was just no way. Yet no matter how quickly or how slowly his eyes roamed, the information stayed the same. The available information, the listed skill, even the minimal decorated border of the status window did not change. Illeuid could only feel himself becoming more alarmed.
Level 1 Skill: Cartoon Space:This skill allows the player to use cartoon logic dependent on the situation. Must be a gag. Must follow the rules.
This...This had to be a joke.
Was his system still broken? Maybe something had interrupted the download and it had become corrupted. Illeuid realized that his perspective had changed. Looking around, he saw that he had managed to sit himself up in his shock. Not only that, his body no longer felt anchored by his exhaustion. That was not important right now. He had to get to the bottom of why his skills were so off beat for the world he was in. How was he going to use cartoon logic in a world where strength was paramount? Where magic of all things existed? How was pulling a frying pan out of thin air going to contend with staving off a spell or a mana sword? He pulled off his blankets, scrambling out of bed. Illeuid paced his room as he tried to reason with his system, hoping to maybe trade this skill for something else.
Is there no way to get something else? He pleaded, hoping to appeal to the years they had spent together. It may not have human emotions, but the system saw that he had always been willing to follow its lead when it came to past challenges. Did that not count for anything?
The skill will benefit you, dear player. The system replied.
How? Am I suppose to tickle my sister with a giant feather when she wants to burn me into a crisp?
There will be no change. The system did not sound harsh but it made it clear that there was no room for compromise.
Illeuid felt his knees buckle.
He wilted the further he tried to fathom using cartoon logic against a family of warriors, a world of magical enemies and a competition rigged with intrigue and death. In his despair a beam of light descended from an invisible source, descending slowly to Illeuid. His surrounding darkened as the softest notes of slow, sad violin music filled his room. A passing servant opened his door, the effects disappearing at their intrusion. The middle aged woman looked side to side, searching for the source of the original sound. She frowned as the violin music returned, now making sharp abrupt shrieks matching each turn of the young woman's head. Frowning, she stared at the youngest Veilkerhurst who laid on floor, a perfect picture of heartbreak. Unable to determine what was going on, she just slowly exited the room. The music matching her every action.
Illeuid laid his head in his arms.
I'm doomed.