Snap!
The sound was small, almost insignificant. It was just a pocket of sap in a wood surrendering to the flame it was under.
This was enough to wake Andy.
His white lashes trembled lightly under the constant shifting of his eyes beneath their lids. Awakening to this snap, a soft blue eye calmly gazed upon a campfire burning at the corner of the room.
Its smoke ran through the fireplace, leaving its warmth to engulf the rocky walls of the room.
And yet, the chilling cold of the night didn't seem to care as it left its mark on everything and everyone.
Andy exhaled, letting out mist from his lungs.
He noticed he was seated on a throne-like chair, and that his head had been resting on his arm while he slept.
"Where am—" he began, but paused when he realized that he was speaking an entirely different language that he had never heard in his entire life.
Suddenly, the system interface interrupted his reverie.
[Fragmented Shard in Use… Status adjusted (Temporary)]
Name: Yaroslav Feodorovich
Race: Human
Rank: Channeler
Mana Rank: Elementalist
Status: Awakened
Skill Slots: 12/12
Mana Capacity: 130/1000
Strength: 532
Agility: 722
Endurance: 200
Will: 150/400
Intelligence: 109
[Hint: For a better completion rate, try to synchronize with your identity and make decisions based on what you think the character would have done. Decisions that deviate significantly from the character's personality would cause the completion rate to fall into the negatives. At this point, those around you would doubt your identity and kill you.]
[Note: if the character is killed with a negative completion rate, Fragmented Shard will cease to be and no rewards will be given.]
Seeing this, Andy was shocked by the difference between this Prince's stats and his own. At first, he didn't think it was that much.
However, the power he felt brimming from within this body, could eclipse his understanding of reality several times over.
Looking over Yaroslav's Mana Rank and Rank, Andy wondered if the true reason behind the difference in their strength lay in them.
"Commander, Letter from the Tsar."
Andy recognized that voice, but at the same time, he didn't. His concept of self, and core memories of Yaroslav were in a state of merging.
Recalling the hint that increased synchronicity would result in a higher completion rate, Andy buckled up. I guess I can practice my acting skills here.
Andy unconsciously smiled… or he thought that that was what happened, however, Yaroslav's facial muscles didn't move.
As though there was a kind of barrier stopping him from taking unnecessary actions that didn't happen.
However, this barrier could be overridden if Andy pleased.
"Come in," He said lightly.
Opening the door, a soldier in steel armor, taller than anyone Andy had ever seen, walked in with a parchment in his hand. He placed it on the table by the corner of the room and looked at Andy.
This is the first human I'm meeting outside the walls of the academy. Andy thought. This made him feel a bit hopeful about his future.
But then, it crossed his mind that he didn't know what year of the calendar the world was in, and who is to say that what the academy had told them of the world was true?
"Commander, you have expended a lot of energy today, should I let the Healer know that she's needed?"
Looking up from the parchment that was lying in wait, Andy spoke… or he felt Yaroslav's response in his mind and relayed it.
"Fyodor, I'm not injured. A few days of recovery and I'll be back to my peak." Andy rested his chin on his fist and turned his attention back to the burning wood.
"Yes, Commander." Fyodor had just started to back away when Andy spoke again.
"Fyodor, you rest too. The soldiers of the Ming Dynasty won't be attacking our lands anytime soon after today's battle."
"Yes, Commander. Fyodor thanks the Commander, but I will remain. Commander is weakened now, times like these are when we must remain vigilant." Fyodor struck his chest with his fist, saluting the Commander before leaving.
As the door closed, Andy heard a thought, or rather, he was experiencing Yaroslav's thoughts.
What does cousin want this time? I hope he's not going to ask us to charge forward and claim more of the Ming Dynasty's lands. Our five hundred thousand-man army is barely working at a quarter of its capacity.
Yaroslav rose from his chair.
Perhaps because there was a huge contrast in height, from Andy's perspective, he felt as though he was standing on a stool.
Is this guy 8 feet tall?!
His long, white hair fell over his eyes, reaching his chest. With a swift motion, the Commander tied his hair into a rough ponytail.
Walking towards the table, Yaroslav picked the parchment up. The feel of the parchment was a bit weighty, compared to paper. This was how Andy felt, but it was all a matter of perspective. Yaroslav broke its seal.
"You are summoned from the frontier, dear cousin. Anastasia is dead. They say poison, and I cry assassination. But the Boyars think I have grown mad with tyranny, and the muskets of the Streltsy grow restless. A storm is brewing in Groscow, I have need of your bow, and your loyalty, now, cousin. Choose your side on your way back."
Yaroslav, dropped the parchment to the ground and staggered a bit, leaning on the table to find his balance.
His heart clenched painfully as the same words played over and over in his mind.
Anastasia, is dead?
As though he couldn't afford to accept that reality. He didn't even consider the rest of his cousin's words in the letter, only the thought of Anastasia stayed in his mind.
Who is this Anastasia? Andy wondered. It was almost as if he could feel every heart pang that Yaroslav was experiencing. As if he had known Anastasia for years before now…
[Identity Synchronization: 12%.]
"Fyodor!" Yaroslav called out urgently.
"Yes, Commander." Fyodor rushed in, thinking something had happened to his lord.
"Gather twenty-five men of the Initiate Rank for me, I'm returning to the capital tonight."
"Commander, it's already late. Why not wait till first light before departing?" Fyodor was surprised.
"The Tsar needs my bow, I need to leave tonight. It would take me two days of riding to get to Groscow. The earlier I leave, the sooner I get there."
Yaroslav walked to the wooden chest by the side of his bed, opening it and picking a large, wolf coat from within. After putting it on, he picked up a long bow wrapped in animal skin and wore it over his shoulder.
"Prepare my arrows, Fyodor."
"Yes, Commander!"
Leaving the room, Fyodor rushed to get all that he was asked to prepare.