In the vast wide world, lush and sooth. There was once a happy family. A loving wife, an ambitious husband, and a bright daughter. Their slow yet fulfilling life is all they ever wanted, until a God descends, and laid waste to civilization as they know it. A member of that family is gone, and everything changed right after. Death looming over them.

  Of course, the ever-ambitious man never gives up. He searched through every corner of the world in search of a way to return everything back to the way it was. Losing his grip on time, on desires, on everything he once was. However, one thing has kept that man from losing his way. His lovely and bright daughter, staying by his side. Unbeknownst to him, the looming death changes its sight to her daughter. As it was never under his control, the daughter fell under its darkness. Becoming part of the civilization once lost.

  [Luosa]: “Overtime, the man starts to lose control over his way, and quite possibly even his goal. To a point where his closest aids begin to question themselves. What are they following?”

  [Siola]: “And where do I fit in that?”

  [Luosa]: “Your existence hangs in the comfort of the daughter’s uncanny resemblance, but without it, you will only become an infantry to the countless dead at most.”

  [Luosa]: “In order to navigate through whatever lies ahead of us, you will need me, or at least, the ones behind me.”

  Siola opens her eyes as Luosa exits the broken mirror.

  [Luosa]: “The Abyss.”

  Her hand light up in pitch black energy and upon lifting her own, Siola’s hand as well.

  [Luosa]: “This world was destined to be destroyed, either by them or another, but ironically, this kept it from happening.”

  [Luosa]: “I spent too long keeping them away, but they are relentless.”

  Siola stood and look around.

  [Luosa]: “I will lend you my power, and by extension theirs.”

  She stops and look under a pillow.

  [Siola]: “Lend? If you can’t even give yourself that freedom, what makes you think I can?”

  [Luosa]: “I just know it.”

  A straw doll.

  [Luosa]: “However, borrowing the power of the abyss does not come without a cost. Throughout centuries I have been keeping them all at bay, but there is one that always passed through me. I called it Scissors. You can think of it as their queen.”

  [Luosa]: “Each time you use this power. She will come knocking.”

  [Siola]: “And you will be the one to answer the door, yes?”

  [Luosa]: “Of course.”

  [Siola]: “And what would happen if you couldn’t block her from entering?”

  [Luosa]: “You will be the one to answer then, and if even you failed to do so, then the both of us is doomed. Not that it will happen when there’s me.”

  Siola presses the doll to the back of her shoulder, and the tattoo under her clothes glow.

  [Luosa]: “Mark of the Dead. To think he linked the spell to that doll of all things. No matter where you are, he will find you unless you can purify the doll.”

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  There’s a slim chain on the back of the doll, long enough for Siola to wear as a necklace.

  [Luosa]: “Call upon the Abyss when you need of its power, Siola.”

  She walks out of her room. Pondering as she listens to each step she’s taking. She conjures a shard of ice, gazing upon its imperfection as she walks on the empty hallway.

  ‘Years just to cast one out.’

  ‘I took the system for granted. How much of the process is streamlined for us players to use, makes one wonder just who is this person who created it.”

  ‘From my understanding, it all works almost the exact same way as it was in the game— no, as it was before. The difference is, things are no longer automated for me.’

  ‘Health is always there, Stamina derives from our physical prowess, but as for Mana. One will have to build it for themselves as a foundation before they can use any magic.’

  ‘From Pure Arcane in the surrounding, converting it to usable energy, then make it upon yourself to make a room within to store said energy and purify it whilst attempting to make your body to accept it. Then proceed to build a base, a container for this energy and condense it further so that it stays in it. But there’s the matter of taking it out and using it.’

  ‘The degree of concentration needed to cast spells are astronomical.’

  ‘But all this is only what I’ve found by my own. Expanding my knowledge of this will have to take priority before I make any stupid move. I need to learn.’

  And so, she enters the library, but there is a draugr in her path. One she saw standing beside Ludwig in the throne room. She bows deeply.

  [Siola]: “Lord Ludtleth.”

  His head turns.

  [Ludtleth]: “To think that in such a short time, the look in your eyes have changed. What brought you to the grand archive?”

  [Siola]: “I wish to learn magic, Lord Ludtleth.”

  [Ludtleth]: “Hmm, in preparation for your incursion?”

  [Siola]: “Pardon?”

  [Ludtleth]: “I see. No one has told you yet.”

  [Ludtleth]: “Due to your previously stellar performance in the surface, Goolag has raised the idea of extending your further assistance to the rest of us.”

  [Ludtleth]: “Although, we will have to wait for the lord’s permission still.”

  He gestures her to follow.

  [Ludtleth]: “The grand archive contains almost every knowledge you can conceive, dating back almost to the beginning of this realm, and some even the surface. However, none of them will prove useful enough for you to ascend to our power.”

  [Siola]: “I wouldn’t dream of it being so simple. However, I’m looking forward to learn all that I can, so I at least become less clueless about it all.”

  [Ludtleth]: “Hm, then start with this one.”

  He grabs one of the books from the bookshelf, it’s large and thick with simplistic cover. Siola bows after receiving the book.

  [Siola]: “Thank you, Lord Ludtleth.”

  One long look before leaving. Siola shifted her attention to the book and begins reading it on a table. A book called, “Seeds of Arcane.” It detailed the old understanding of magic from the very beginning. Before Mana, Before Arcane, knowledge of ancient past.

  Steam puffing out of a skeleton of a dragon. There lies a pool of blood, bubbling hot. One’s undressed before taking a steam bath, relishing on it as half of her chest submerged. Her eyes dark as night, but her irises, burning like the sun, something that does not exist in this realm. She lets out a long breath before a skeleton in a pitch-black robe comes to visit.

  [Ludwig]: “Replica.”

  [Replica]: “Fwoooh, to what do I owe the pleasure, my lord?”

  [Ludwig]: “Luosa has joined us. What’s your progress on the divine system? Can you restore it for her?”

  Her eyes opened slightly as she glances at him.

  [Replica]: “No, and my opinion remains. She should learn to live without it.”

  [Ludwig]: “And your progress?”

  [Replica]: “…”

  [Replica]: “The divine system is largely complex. It will take centuries for me to decipher it, let alone utilize it proper.”

  [Ludwig]: “We might not have that much time.”

  [Replica]: “Then I suggest you tell her to make haste.”

  His dot of an eye flare. Walking towards her as she rests her elbows on the poolside. Sweats running from her neck down to her collarbone, from her shoulder to her underarm.

  [Ludwig]: “You reckon I should alarm her before she can even settle?”

  [Replica]: “No, but I would at least try to avoid making a surprise out of her.”

  A grunt as he leaves the pool room. Replica let out a long sigh before resting her neck, enjoying the view of the blue moon from the red pool.

  Without the System guiding her, Siola can only rely on herself when it comes to learning new knowledge. One would often be taken aback by the amount of it for them to process, let alone, incorporating them to their activities. However, for she is not just anyone, and with the threat of uncertain future, Siola bet it all to a goal filled with power. Bit by bit, the shard of ice she conjures, have less and less impurities. From its color, its form, the crystals within and the frost it exudes.