A wispy marble trapped between being both too dense and not dense enough sits with three sparks burning within, two almost identical red ones, one almost translucent. On ether side orbit hazey shapes one apartial heart, one a chain, but nether are quite real yet. Still they scrape against the walls of my center occasionally getting stuck on hairline scars before their orbit pulls them free sending a wave of nausea rolling through me.
Pulling out my status book I half choke seeing that my core has shrunken again!
Name-Fragment
Race-Human
•Body-H
•Mind-H
•Soul-H
•Core-N/A
Level-o[45%]
Class-N/A
Job-N/A
•Affinity-[Spirit(H)]
•Traits-[Willful Vessel]
•Abilities-[Cleave]
•Skills-[Bind-Lv:3][Pulse-Lv:1*]
•Shards-[Astral][Survival][Survival]
Health-[45%]
Force-[99%]
Conditions-[Auto Possession] [3rd degree burns]
•Constitution-[4+1]
-Strength-[2
-Durability-[9
-Vitality-[4
•Awareness-[3]
-Wisdom-[8
-Dexterity-[2
-Agility-[3
•Will-[8+1]
-Intelligent-[4
-Refinment-[10
-Power-[12
•Charisma-[4]
-Presences-[4
-Attraction-[5
-Aura-[3
•Luck-[1]
Or rather my core is compressed. That sounds better. Additionally my center is easier to see? As if it's more real now? What I assume are my skills are now visible, and those sparks must be my Shards.
One Astral and two slightly different looking Survival Shards. Blinking eyes that don't exist I'm confused. Why did my center change so much? Pulling at Bind I watch the hazy chain rattle slightly. After a bit of focus I pull at Pulse.
Pulse-To feel sight.
Startled at hearing my own voice speak to me I slip out of my center. Wiping the crust out of my eyes I use pulse on the first thing I see, Ghost.
Human-Ghost-Space-Nervous
Ghost stumbles backwards as if punched, while my own voice speaks into my head.
"What was that! It felt so violating!"
"Identify? Kinda. I've got a new Skill simular to what we started with. Except it's different." Using that pulse took a 10% of my Force. Additionally it wasn't immediate there was a good half second before I received any information and Ghost stumbled Backwards. Curious I scan myself.
Possessed-Human-Fragment-Spirit-Is in crippling pain.
The electrical burns aren't that bad. Or is it talking about the discomfort in my center and core? Taking a long drink of water I wobble to my feet." Sorry about that Ghost I wasn't thinking strait again."
"It's …alright are you feeling better now? We really don't need to get moving. We wouldn't want some horrible monster to grow and clove up another floor, right?" She really does look nervous. Maybe she's going a bit stir crazy having only me to talk to? I've hardly been tge best conversation partner.
"Yay you're right let's get going." Hefting Glutton over my shoulder Ghost quickly darts in front of me and takes the lead as we descended down the over grown stairs in silence.
-
[Welcom to the third floor aspiring Acolytes, as you have already completed the test of Character and the test of Truth, your are now faced with your final test before you can start your assent and prove yourselves Acolytes.
The test of Faith.]
The voice doesn't boom in our heads this time, instead emanates from a skull embedded in the wall next to the exit we just entered through. Its actually quite pleasant on the ears but is missing something distinctly human.
"So we just need to completely a test of faith backwards. In order to prove we're worthy of being tree acolytes and descending to the 2nd floor " Ghost slumps a bit at my words suddenly looking very drained and tired.
Looking outward I don't even see anything still hospitable adjacent about this floor. The hallway or rather passage looks like the hollow of a massive tree. With the entrance door just on the opposite side of said hollow just barely within sight. The ground is covered in tiny silver leaves, while the walls are a darker silver gray. The whole passenger is lite up by polished skulls that glow with an oddly natural light. As if a swarm of invisible fireflies dwelled in each one?
With a shrug I start walking forward. What else can we do. There's nothing to fight, no alternative path. Just a long straight walk and plush pretty leaves.
Ghost quickly catches up to me and maches my stride. She looks tense, as if she knows something I don't." I'm probably just being paranoid?" I whisper quietly enough that she doesn't hear me.
"Dungeons are gonna be frustrating, aren't they?" I ask out loud not really expecting a response.
"What are you talking about?" Ghost asks curiously.
"Dungeons, I'm pretty certain the hospital is being converted into a dungeon by ether the System that gave us our magic, the Pillar of Life or both. Hence the roots that have over taken the building."
"Weren't dungeons made to contain criminals?"
"Criminals, dangerous information, or valuables. Historically all three might be in the same place, since building such structures are expensive." I say recalling a fun book on ancient architecture my brother read to me last month.
"If this hospital is a Dungeon now, what does it contain?" She asks curiously.
"…I guess it depends on who's actually making the dungeon? If it's the Pillar of Life, I'm uncertain. But if its the System, I think the Piller itself is the prisoner." I nod to myself feeling this makes perfect sense.
"Why would the System imprison a Pillar of reality? That just sounds stupid."
I frown my theory dose sounds kind dumb out loud. Maybe I'm just projecting my desires onto the mysterious System. But then again how did the System stabilize Earth? From what I was forced to experience the Pill of Life has always been trying to stabilize reality, it was just always to weak. Maybe the dungeon is just a way for the System to bind itself to the Pillar? Why dose that sound familiar.
Tape worms leach nutrients from a host from the inside by residing with the digestive tract. Leaches suckle blood through your pores by creating a sufficient vacuum to rupture blood vessels. Ticks burrow beneath the skin to better acsses blood…Why am I thinking about extinct Parasites?
While trying to rub away the growing soreness from my head I continue walking along side Ghost hopefully this trial of faith will be easy.