'Woahhh!!! What's this? I'm floating? Since when do people float?' Eryndor's thoughts as he noticed that he was in the air, seemingly floating at this point.
He looked down and he could see the roofs, trees and little people that were moving around doing their business.
'Um, so, how does this even work? Do I will myself down or fight gravity?' The former warlord though.
"Come on, Eryndor. Think. Think. The great mage said something about a system. Think." He muttered as he tapped his forehead over and over again.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he recalled. "Ultimate Penance System, was it not?" He blurted out the words.
Suddenly, a screen appeared before him as an automated voice took to speaking while instructions appeared on the screen.
[Hello, Eryndor. Welcome to your Ultimate Penance System. To navigate, kindly select from the options on the screen]
The automated voice said to him.
Eryndor was star struck.
'What in the name of advanced sorcery is this?' He thought as he stared at the screen.
On the screen were the options the system had spoken of.
[Profile
Mission
Inventory
Instructions]
Eryndor paused as he thought of which option to choose from. He stared at the 'mission' option for a while and then shrugged his shoulders as he tapped on one.
[Profile
Basic Info:
Name: Eryndor Blackthorn
Age: 26 years, 10 months and 30 days
Height: 6"3
Origin: Alkenan
Abilities:
Element: Water
Special Skills: NIL
Equipment:
Weapon (Tear-bringer): Missing
Status:
Threat Level: NIL
Assignment: Serve Penance
Current Status (Soul Redemption)
< "What the heck does this mean by my threat level being nothing? I was a great mage for crying out loud! And why don't I have any skills? This is nonsense!" Eryndor, clearly offended, stated.
At the moment, he felt berated. All his life, he had been worshipped as a hero and now, he was supposed to watch a system manipulate him into accepting that he was nothing?
He quickly hit on the 'BACK' option and the first screen popped up again. This time, he wanted to know the instructions as he believed that would help. So, he selected that option.
[SYSTEM INITIATED
Welcome, Eryndor Blackthorn. You have 100 days to complete your trial. Your first mission will be assigned shortly.
To navigate, you can will yourself to your designated location. Please note only locations in view and previously visited within the period of this task can be adopted.]
He recalled what the great mage had said instantly.
"100 days?" Eryndor repeated, his mind racing. "What happens if I fail?"
[Failure will result in... consequences. Do you want to know about the benefits and power points?]
"Benefits and power points? What's that?" Eryndor asked.
[BENEFITS AND POWER POINTS: They can be used to enhance your abilities, threat levels or acquire new skills]
His jaw dropped as he saw this. This was really something he was yet to fully comprehend how it was working but he could tell that this was way more advancement than he was used to.
Nevertheless, he went back to the initial screen. There was a renewed feeling throbbing within that made him want to match with this system. He felt like he had something to prove and the moment he selected the next option, he was washed with a wave of importance.
[ MISSION: Find redemptive subject.
HINTS: The man with purple eyes and stringed instrument.]
"Purple eyes, that's going to be easy. I wonder what a great man this is." He said as he willed himself downwards.
The moment he touched the ground, he realised this was a strange place. He had never been to this town before but he knew the purpose for which he was sent here.
The place he had dropped was close to a bustling market and he advanced towards it.
Eryndor started glancing around for someone he would make his inquiry from. There were lots of people in this space and he started glancing around for the best bet to make his enquiries from.
The fruit seller looked really good but Eryndor was certain he would only have information on household gossip.
It was really hard making his determination until he saw a man walk up to a man selling armour. The man buying the tools was glancing around like he was doing something wrong and Eryndor approached them. That was when the man glanced at his side.
"Don't mind me, man. I'm just passing and I can assure you, I didn't see anything." Eryndor said to him.
The man did not say a word to him as he returned his attention to the seller.
"Yeah, that is right. Ignore my existence." Eryndor said to him.
The seller brought out a folded fabric and just when Eryndor would have walked away, he opened the clothes up as he showed the buyer the hilt of what seemed to be a dagger.
"That's going to be five bars of gold." The man said.
"Is the poison going to be effective?" The buyer asked him.
"One slash of this and even the biggest man would drop dead. Want me to try it on you?" The seller asked.
The buyer chuckled as he put up his hands.
"No way. I trust you, Raja. I'll just pay up." He said as he dug into the pouch by his side.
This was all shades of wrong and Eryndor could not believe this.
"No. You can't be planning on murder now, are you? Hey you, Raja, right? How about you not selling a weapon of mass destruction to him? He could go kill innocents!" Eryndor said.
Neither of them paid him any heed as the buyer handed him five bars of gold and two silver coins.
"The coin is for your troubles." The man said.
Raja took the gold one at a time as he bit into it. Then he smiled as the exchange was made.
"It's always a pleasure doing business with you, Skales." He responded.
With that, Skales took the folded clothes and started walking away.
"No, no, no. You can't be serious about letting him leave with that. You need to take it from him. Hey, Raja! You know what, I'm getting an officer." Eryndor said as he walked away.
He glanced around the market until he saw an officer standing in his full gear. Angrily, he walked up to the man and he started laying down his complaints, not caring for his mission at this point.
Someone needed to be saved.
"Hey, that man over there, Raja, he just sold a poisonous dagger to someone that strikes me as a criminal. That's him right there with the folded cloth underneath his armpit." He said as he pointed.
The officer did not pay him any attention. Eryndor was confused. What was the problem with everyone here? Is this how they treated strangers? For crying out loud, he was trying to help them!
"Hello! I'm reporting a crime here that might be committed soon!" He yelled into the face of the officer.
Then, the officer turned his way and started walking towards where the crowd stood. Right where the criminal, Skales stood.
A breath of relief that he was not being ignored escaped his lips the moment the officer turned.
"Oh, finally, you're lis...." Whatever was going to leave his mouth was stuck in his throat as Eryndor stood stunned.
The officer had just walked through him like he was an empty space.
"Am I dreaming or isn't that supposed to be impossible? No. I probably imagined this and need to get a grip."
Certainly, he did not want to believe that had just happened as he tried to retain his composure. He ran after the officer but he must have been too fast, as the officer suddenly stopped moving.
He had gotten to the crowded area and had his sudden halt caused Eryndor to go through him again..
"What the...? What is happening?" He muttered, this time, he was feeling a little woozy tried maintaing stability. He touched himself, his hands did not go through and the he stared at his hands.
His hands... His hands... They were...
Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts.
"So, did you get it?" The officer asked the person.
That was when Eryndor realised who the officer was talking to. It was the man with the dagger.
"Yes, tonight, it will be done." Skales said to him, a dangerous look on his face.
"Remember, no mistakes or you know what's at stake?" The officer said, a little threat in his tone.
"I promise you, there will be none." Skales said and then started making his way through the crowd while the officer went in another direction.
He had just heard a plot between them. The fact that he could not even be seen made it unbelievable.
Eryndor was distressed as he kept staring at his hands. He needed to see the rest of his body. He walked towards crowds in the market but not a single person noticed him. More and more people walked through him and he saw a big basin of water that he ran into and stared down.
The reflection he saw made him shudder as he staggered backwards. He was transparent if anything like a ghost.
As he stood there dejected, someone pushed him aside but he did not care.
"Well, your granddaughter then!" This person yelled but Eryndor was already walking away in another direction.
His mission was already doomed from the start. How was he going to train anyone if he could not be seen?
Not even the sound of chaos behind him could make him turn his back.
He had been walking for a long time, lost in thought. Eventually, he sought a place to clear his head.
He found a huge baobab tree and he floated upwards. It was already dark but as he sat on one of its branches, he heard a vibration of whistling noises.
Someone was snoring on the branch beneath him.
'What fool is this?' Eryndor thought but did not care to look until a little boy came calling.
The conversation between them was interesting, and Eryndor listened intently. When the man started climbing down, Eryndor might have turned away but was intent on seeing this great snorer.
Eryndor's eyes widened as he saw it.
'Is that not a lyre? That is a stringed instrument!' He thought to himself.
It was dark, he could not see the man's eyes as he spoke to the child.
"Don't worry, I'll go ask for his release." This man the child addressed as Lysander said and started walking away.
'I guess I would just follow him and see what happens next.' Eryndor said as he floated down.
Lysander had asked the child to go away and was walking on his own for some time when he suddenly halted.
Eryndor bumped into his not so broad back.