CH 72

"So? How was the walk?"

Thoughts of what happened this morning passed through Zel's head in a frenzy. He met Emilia, had to complete a quest, sat down on a bench with a girl while in top of that, he had to recruit Francis.

"Nothing really happened. Oh, the fresh air was nice." Zel shrugged his shoulders. Only now did he remember that he was supposed to be resting. What he just did was the exact opposite of that. If his mother found out, he'd probably be grounded.

"Go take a shower, then. Leave your clothes on the basket, it's right by the stairs."

"Ok, mom!"

Having already forgotten that he shouldn't be stressing his body, Zel ran upstairs. His mother's worried face followed the direction of her son, heaving a sigh of relief when she saw his smiling face.

'Looks like he's back to normal.'

' Ding! '

[The Quest (Helping Each Other) has been accomplished.

Quest Completion Rating: D

System Notes:

Francis' future has already been connected with the user. Future sight shows that there is a high probability of recruitment.

*F-class Memory Book has been sent to the Storage Function.]

"Ohoho!"  Zel was currently lying on his bed, unable to sleep as he continuously watched his phone. He didn't even know what the words meant because he can't 'Access the Room', but he felt excited anyway. Getting gifts are always fun, but what he received this time were all rewards of his hard work.

[Mana: 36/50]

Mentally counting the time, he estimated that he'd be in school when he finally gets full mana. He was pissed at having to wait longer. If only he didn't use so much mana to demonstrate his abilities to Francis earlier.

'Never mind. I need to sleep!' Zel placed his phone on his desk, away from his bed. He forcefully closed his eyelids and it felt like his eyes were getting sucked in as he pushed them closely together. Eventually, he fell asleep.

' Ding! '

[User's mana has reached full capacity!]

'Huh?'

Zel opened his eyes, looking at the overlay in his vision. He didn't even bother asking why it was filled, rushing to get his phone as fast as he could. Opening the app, he pressed on the 'Access the Room' function. His smiling and excited face then turned blank, as his body limplessly laid itself on his bed.

Inside Zel's chest, the idle mana core suddenly lit up. A small, crimson whirlpool drained the mana from the boy's body, sending it to its storage. Eventually, the mana core sensed that the body had no more ounce of energy and stopped. It did not return to the passive state it was in before, but instead, it started slowly beating. Its rhythm was synchronizing with the beat of Zel's heart.

'Huh?"

Confusion took over the boy as he found himself switching locations in the blink of an eye. The ground was made of cold, grey concrete, as were the walls that surrounded him. A barren room that looked bleak to say the least, but it was still an amazing sight for the young boy.

'Oh, wow!'

Zel's consciousness found himself standing in the middle of an empty room with a lone throne in the center. He walked around before finding that he was wrong. There was also a small chest behind the throne that Zel wasn't able to see the first time. He was about to try and open the chest when he stopped moving altogether.

(Take back your throne. Receive your legacy.)

The voice from before once again sounded in his ear. Try as he might to find its source, there was no one else inside this room. None that he can see.

The solitary seat, the throne, had a red cushion seat while the body of the chair was made of rusted, old copper. It had a broken design that extended from its arms, passing through the backrest, as it depicted seven colorful streaks. The multicolored streaks were broken off in the middle of the backrest, with only a single one being able to reach from the left arm to the right arm.

As Zel laid his eyes upon that one single complete streak, a vision suddenly befell the boy. A white-haired man was sitting on the same throne, but his was much more complete. A grand golden base that had seven colors moving around its body.

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.

All these colors moved side by side, never staying in one position as they shifted positions in a never-ending chase around the grandiose throne. It was only when Zel heard a strange noise that he realized that a white-haired man was walking from somewhere beside Zel. He was heading straight towards the throne while extending his hand towards that direction.

" $*#@^*. " The man spoke indecipherable words that resonated with Zel. Though the language was different, he could somehow understand the message it wants to relay.

It was then that the throne suddenly disappeared, replaced by a small ring that fit snuggly in the white-haired man's left ring finger. He lifted up his hand, as if showing Zel the form of his ring. A golden band that had seven gemstones on it. 

(It's time.)

" Gasp. What was that?" Zel finally came back to himself, only to find that he had already reached the ground just before the throne. His hands were trembling, he didn't know whether it was from excitement or fear, but it was not going to stay still. He could hear a word, something that is echoing from inside him. He needs to say it, or he'll go mad.

"Receive."

The lone throne immediately turned to dust before Zel's very eyes. He could see the grey dust expand before coalescing into a small, worn down copper band. The ring gave a strange shine as it gently floated in front of him, presenting itself before his extended hand.

"..."

Grasping the ring, Zel felt that it was warm. He opened his clenched fist, only to find that it was similar in design to that ring from his earlier vision. But this one only held one red gemstone. It glowed brightly, so majestic in its brilliance.

(I'm guessing this isn't that fun for you. Having to be pushed around by me.)

The entranced Zel heard the voice once more. He wasn't feeling exactly what the voice said, but there was something building up in him. Having no control, being forced to do what others want you to do. It is never a good feeling, especially when you feel that you did nothing to deserve it.

(But I did not do it because I have a grudge against you. I just want us to be happy.)

"What do you mean?" Zel still held on to the ring, his feelings were unsure about this whole situation. He was never reluctant to receive this 'gift'. But he never had a chance to, perhaps that's the reason he never asked about it in the first place.

(If you don't stand up now. If you don't prepare. We will lose everything. Humanity will lose.)

The voice turned much more serious than before. If it felt like he was talking to a disembodied voice before, it was not how it felt now. He could swear that the voice was coming from behind him, so he had to look back. But he was reluctant to do so. He was scared.

(I was too. But then I lost everything. I don't want that to happen to you, to us.)

" Step. Step. "

Zel's hand that held the ring suddenly couldn't stop shaking. His eyes were turning red, this time not from fear. He couldn't breathe properly, as the air suddenly turned hot. So hot that he could feel his lungs burning and his skin was sweating bullets. He was dying from scorching pain.

(I'm sorry. See, this is why I cannot just give you everything right now.)

The hurting Zel suddenly felt that everything felt better. The air was not as warm anymore. In fact, it felt like he was in an air-conditioned room. He first placed his hand over his heart to see if it was beating fast. It wasn't, no, it actually didn't feel like anything was beating inside his chest.

(Face me, Zel. Listen to our story.)

"..." All this time, Zel hadn't turned around. He could feel it, something was calling out to him. If he turned around now, then everything would change. He would change. But there was no use in delaying anymore, it was coming. He turned around, finally seeing the man who had been calling to him all this time.

(Hello, Zel. I am your future. A future.)

A man covered in indigo flames stood in front of Zel. His eyes were different in color from the black-colored eyes of Zel, much closer to the flames that swirled around him. However, his facial features were noticeably similar to his, as if the two were siblings. His body was clothed in light that hid all that could be seen. But they hugged his body so tightly that he could have an impression of the rippling body underneath.

(It's time we have a talk.) 

The man's gentle eyes glowed indigo while he held a small red crystal in his right hand. He threw the crystal in the air and furniture suddenly appeared in the barren room. A wooden table that had a tray of snacks and a tea set, as well as two soft chairs that faced each other on its sides. A solemn look appeared on the man's face as he slowly started walking towards the boy. The boy that suddenly screamed. 

"Ahh! Stay away from me!" The man wondered why the young him suddenly turned around and ran as fast as he could. The boy's face was one of deep fear, something that Zel did not expect to see on his younger self upon meeting him. Only to comprehend the reason soon afterwards.

"System! Help! There's a naked pervert here! Get me out of here!" The young boy ran towards the opposite direction.