The night after the Awakening ceremony seemed very long. For people.
Even though the chaos was finally gone, the villagers of Naval village didn't sleep easily that night.
Like some... The thing is haunting them.
The news of the Awakening Ceremony spread like wildfire through the alleyways and valleys. The lights in the houses were burning longer than usual today. Even the wind feels like it's carrying uneasiness.
Inside the small wooden house at the edge of the forest, a single candle was glimmering quietly.
Ela sat near Limbo's bed, her eyes were red, and she looked tired.
She had cried most of today, she was traumatized. But still her hands were gently brushing the silver hairs of her child. His body was weak but calm, breathing in the rhythm.
His pendant was flickering faintly with every breath.
Meanwhile,
Ronan was at the near doorway.
He was guarding the house even in the late night, his muscular broad back was tensed while standing in one place under the flickering lamp light.
'It's not natural,' he whispered.
The elders said... The crystal has never done that. Not even once in our lives and ages.
Ela didn't respond immediately, and listened to what they were saying.
And let them finish.
But her patience soon met its end as her trembling voice finally said.
'Whatever happened, he's still our little son. I don't care what crystal said or what others think about it.'
He's just...Limbo. My son...Limbo.
Her words have made the surrounding air heavy, filled with fear and love.
And intertwined them.
Soon, the first light of dawn had touched the valley, like washing the whole world in a golden...
Dewdrops were sparkling across the grass, as if the land itself had been rebuilt after a storm.
Soon, our MC is weak from his deep tiring sleep, and he slowly opens his eyes.
As he opened his eyes, he was looking at the ceiling. But it was strange somehow today, it was the same old familiar ceiling, yet not familiar. As if he was looking at the ceiling for the first time with different eyes.
Strange, truly.
Huhh...
Everything was carrying the traces of faint strings, of mana lines.
Circuits of invisible energy are crawling around all the walls, air even his own heartbeat.
He sits up slowly.
His head was feeling heavy, but...still calm. But that was more than usual, too calm.
He said in a low voice,
System...run status check.
And like a flash of light, faint words began to form before his eyes.
[ System Online ]
[ Root User: Limbo_00 ]
[ Tutorial mode Active ]
[ Mana Sync: 1% ]
The faint text floated a moment and vanished midair quickly.
He takes and releases a breath.
The sound of that single line was enough to remind him, as well as assure him, that what happened yesterday was not a dream.
It was real, it actually happened.
And,
Now he holds a System at his command.
At the table, his mother served him a warm bowl of soup with bread and fruit before him.
She was smiling, but with uneasiness, but it was genuine.
How do you feel now, my little one?
Did you sleep well? Are you feeling alright?
Limbo put down the spoon in his hand slowly. While watching a stream of hot soup mixing with the surrounding thin air.
I'm fine, Mother. Just...a little tired.
By the way...
I saw a strange thing.
Ela tightened his finger grip around the glass she was holding.
The elders said the crystal may have shown you too much at once. You should take a rest for the next few days.
Ronan was sitting opposite them, while crossing both arms...
He speaks in his tough but as well as warm tone.
You are not going near that damn Crystal again, my boy.
Even if it's related to god's.
Let them handle their own secrets.
Limbo was looking towards his father for a long moment and listening to what he was saying.
Then he nodded silently.
Yes, father. I understand...
But deep inside, something else was whispering.
'You are the secret.'
As he finished his eating, he received a nd felt a soft vibration inside his chest.
That was not due to fear...but rather,
It was a silent call.
The pendent pulses again.
He stood up, and...
I'm done, so I'm going out for a while. Can I go?
Ela was worried, but she didn't intend to house arrest him. Ok, you can...but don't go far.
You have to be in range of my voice, whenever I call, you have to come.
No matter where you are, got it...
Yes, ma'am..I'm understood.
With this, everyone burst into small laughter, everyone's mood and lightened, especially Ela's.
With that, he stepped out of the house.
He went towards the back of the house.
That was the direction of a forest behind his house. The forest was silent today, except for the wind.
Below a big tree, Limbo sat in a crossed leg position, where mana flow was a little strong.
The faint blue stream of the river always glows under the soil. Its lights reflected in his eyes like twin moons in the sky.
He takes a deep breath while stabilizing his thoughts.
'System, Hi said... Activate tutorial.'
The air shifts..
A light circle appeared around him, the symbols were like petals caught in the breeze.
[ Tutorial: phase one ]
[ Lesson: Interaction with environmental mana ]
[ Objective: Establish Sync above at least 5% ]
Lines of blue code spiral from the ground and wrap lightly around his arms like ribbons.
The voice spoke,
In a soft, synthetic but familiar tone.
[ Root User, to control this world's flow, you must have to learn its rhythm. ]
[ Mana is the logic of this world, treat it as you treated your code. ]
[ With Respect and Precision. ]
Limbo tries again and raises his hands.
The air responded, while the faint wave formed where his palm cut through it.
He focused.
The code of this world... Was alive.
Every movement, every sound, even the wind carried syntax...
Expression of intent.
He remembered his old world, where he was staring at endless lines of code on a black screen.
Here, the same feeling returns. But the medium was light, not text.
Flow rate...0.4 mana units. He whispered, eyes closed.
Compile... Stabilize.
The circle flickered. A small stone nearby floated an inch above the ground, surrounded by a little glow around it.
Then,
It fell..
The tone of the tutorial changed.
[ Mana Sync: 2%.
Stability: 37%.
Insufficient Control. ]
Limbo wiped the sweat from his forehead while breathing heavily.
So... It really works like syntax errors, he whispered. While with a half smile on his face...
Ahh,...
Just a little more. I have to try a little harder.
I have to control my breath and stabilize my mind..
Let's try again.
He started again this time, he remembered.
Not consciously, but instinctively, the hum like rhythm his mother sings for him. Every time she's singing a lullaby for him...
The air around him stilled, and he responded to the emotional tone behind the logic.
The stone lifted again... This time is way higher.
[ Mana Sync: 5% Reached. Tutorial Progress:50% ]
[ Emotional Stability Detected. Calibration improved. ]
Emotion calibrates logic...
He whispered. So it's true, what that being said.
He smiled...
For the first time, he understood what it truly meant to be able to feel the code.
Time passed, and soon it was an afternoon..
The warm afternoon sunlight passed between the trees when a voice shouted.
'Limbo!'...
But that was not the voice of his mother,
And he didn't tell anyone except his parents about where he was going.
Who might...be the one call for him?
To know more, follow the story..