Looking at this parisite it feels as familiar to me as my own hand. As if I've had it my whole life, its admittedly a disguise that should make me reluctant to question it's origin. Yet my own hands currently feel pretty foreign, so without hesitation I stand up with shaky legs and chuck the parasite out the window into the endless twilight.
A few moments later as I'm praising my decisive action I feel a weight return to my center.
Pulling the book back out of me I frown noticing it has my name inscribed on it…"except Fragment is not my name? I know I've been called broken, a doll, garbage, worthless, waste, damaged, and a burden but I'm pretty sure I have…had? A real…name." Scroungeing around my memory's I can't actually remember being called anything other than these insults. Then the pleasant voice from before invades my thoughts as I focus on the book's title. Name-Fragment-A name you were called that combines the meaning of multiple equal names.
"What gives this book the right to name me!" I chuck it out the window a few more times, before eventually sitting down on the edge of the bed frustrated, and crack it open. Most pages are blank, as if there largely for show. But the first page contains something curious?
Name-Fragment
Race-Human
•Body-H
•Mind-H
•Soul-H
•Core-N/A
Level-o[0%]
Class-N/A
Job-N/A
•Affinity-[Sprite(H)]
•Traits-[Willful Vessel(H)]
•Abilities-[Cleave]
•Skills-[False Identifie(6:19:47:31)
•Shards-[
Health-[98%]
Force-[2%]
Conditions-[Emaciated][Cleansed]
•Constitution-[3+1]
-Strength-[1
-Durability-[7
-Vitality-[3
•Awareness-[3]
-Wisdom-[7
-Dexterity-[2
-Agility-[2
•Will-[7+1]
-Intelligent-[3
-Refinment-[8
-Power-[10
•Charisma-[2]
-Presences-[1
-Attraction-[5
-Aura-[1
•Luck-[1]
Sadly these stats feel accurate. I'm in a sorry physical state and I bet I know the culprit.Emaciated-A condition brought on by prolonged malnutrition-Causes Stat decay and reduces Stat growth. Being bed bound and eating only nutrient slurry is definitely not a good diet or workout plan. I'm really glad my feeding tube and needles fell out when I fell unconscious and got scattered.
False Identifie-A temporary Skill given by the System to new Denizens, to help them learn and adapt to their updated reality-All lines for version 65.561 were and are recorded by Alicard The Magnificent. So that's who's talking into my head? If every human has this skill than how many voice lines did Alicard record in 4 hours?
Glancing at a purse Mundane Bag. No discripton, I guess they cut some corners? Turning back the the book I begin Identifying more stuff.
H Grade Body-A mundane body
H Grade Mind-A mundane mind
H Grade Soul-A mundane soul
Core- the focus for Primal Forces within a living creature
Force-The most basic Primal Force, lacking Affinity, Truth, or Purpose.
Level-Measure of attuned Primal force stored within a vessel.
Class-N/A
Job-N/A
H Grade Spirit Affinity- the lowest known grade of Spirit Affinity.
H Grade Willful Vessel-Links Constitution and Will together in an intrinsic way- is the bain of sprits, demons, and angels alike.
Cleave-To sever or join.
Shards-N/A
Constitution-A confluence Stat
Strength-A sub Stat
Power-A sub Stat
Luck-A confluence Stat
Cleansed- you have been purified of all other worldly corruption and Truth. Apologies for any missing memories, limbs, humanity, or loved ones.
"You don't have to sound so smug at the end. Plus why is most of this useless information, I thought this identifie thing was supposed to help me adapt or something."
I don't get a response so I chuck the book out the window again for fun. After a moment it reappears in my center as a subtle but uncomfortable presence.
" I need to find my brother he had barely left when this started so he should still be close by." With determination I wobble over to my door and opened it. I immediately slam it closed cause I don't remember preymantis standing 5' tall. Of course the flimsy wooden door does jack fending of it sythes.
Hide i need to hide... The window! I rush over and begin delicately clambering out onto the ledge. Just as I'm free of the room a syth trails after me, desperate I shuffle along the ledge putting as much distance between me and the mutant mantis as possible." What is that thing even doing up here! This is a hospital there shouldn't be any bugs in a hospital! Plus I remember how desperately the nurses cleaned before my brothers visits! It should totally be dead!"
Of course my expectations and reality don't seem to quite line up. Lucky the over sized Mantis is a bit to big to squeeze out the tiny window, despite very clearly wanting to.
Sitting down on the lager ledge of the hospital's corner I shiver from the cold wind. "Right I need clothes. Should have grabbed my blanket before jumping out here."shuffling on the ledge I take a better look at the mantis. Blood Feeder Mantis, thank you System. The mantis is brown from what I can see sticking out the window, with lumpy bits siting on the head and large blood stained scythes.I guess I know what happened to the other patents on my floor now.
Clicking angrily the Mantis retreats leaving me alone in the cold. Looking outword from the hospital I see the vast twilight bound with bands of gold and a… star! A star or Sun now hung in the Sky seamingly orbiting around the islands. Looking down ware there should only be twilight void there's instead silvery white roots twisting and weaving as if looking for more land obscuring my view. There slowly growing up the building too. If I can't escape within the next few days I'll be entombed within a tree.Over all its the most beautiful thing I've seen in years and I'm reluctant to move.
With another shiver through I begin searching for an open window so I can slip back into the building. After performing a full round trip I don't find any other than my original open and the Mantis standing guard waiting for my return. Instead I find what's probably supposed to be the fire escape, except it doesn't look like it ever had a down latter installed. But I can still use it to climb to the roof. So I do. Far in the distance I was always able to spot what looked like a large mob of people near the road leading the host. " bet my brother is there."
Determined I Climb up the latter its difficult. Apparently 1 strength isn't a meaningless or arbitrary measurement. Curiously despite my fragile and weak body I don't really feel tired though. Sore beyond belief, cold to the bone, hungrier than I can ever remember, but not tired. I need to move, so I'm moving.
It's a baren roof top with only a shed and the building access door, sadly both are locked.
Despite I knock on the door.
Knock knock knock." Hello? Anyone in there… I didn't th-"
"no"
" ….can you open the door, I'm pretty cold." I ask hopefully to the scared sounding female voice.
"No. I I won't let you in your definitely a monster."
"I'm definitely not a monster. Just cold, stuck, and a little hungry."
"That's exactly what a monster would say! I I won't make this mistake twice."
This isn't working. Wait!" Do you also have a strange book with your name on it?"
…." It's a nickname at best. But yay?"
"It says you're human right?" I ask hopefully.
"Yes?"
"I prove I'm human by giving you my book."
I search around the door and find the bottom is slightly raised enough for a single page to slip under. Summoning the parasite I try ripping out the statues page… frustrated I try ripping out the page…with an annoyed growl I Cleave the page out of the book, an immense force slam into my head as a reward.
Now Concussed but otherwise fine I slip the aging page under the door.
"H here's a page form mine. I h hope it's prof enough I'm h human."
A few minutes pass in a blurr as she comes to a decision, but a eventually the door cracks open ever so slightly and I stumble inside.
"Why a are you see t through?"
"WHY ARE YOU NAKED!"