Orinex Sylas-9 stood in a grass field, practising his swordsmanship techniques using his Energy Blade, a weapon charged by super-heated plasma.
This was a daily routine for him. He would come out into the field and practise with his sword, yet no matter how much he practised, he was constantly stuck in the Floor of Foundations, the Second Floor inside the Tower of Advancement.
"ARGH!" Orinex tossed his blade down in anger. "Why do I fall so far behind my peers? Why can't I become any stronger?"
It was during this frustration that Orinex suddenly heard something. A faint humming sound was coming from behind him.
When he turned, he found a door standing in the grass impossibly. It was open, and beyond it lay an endless expanse of darkness.
Orinex was unfamiliar with the door. He knew of the existence of magical items, but where he was from, a door like this had never been seen before.
However, a comforting presence seemed to come from the door. It was as though it was inviting him inside... It was as though whatever lay beyond the door held the answer to his questions.
...
Orinex stepped through the door and found himself travelling through the space between worlds.
---
"Orinex Sylas-9 from Planet Xyuc has entered your world."
Orinex Sylas-9, that's a strange name. Nothing like anything I've heard of Earth.
Despite his curiosity, Konstantin didn't let his guard down once. He simply waited with his hands resting on the handle of his revolver.
Eventually, footsteps came from outside of building, followed by the sound of a faint knock on the door.
Konstantin's body went tense.
"Voice. If you're still there, it would be helpful to know whether it's safe to let this Orinex inside." He whispered
The voice stayed silent, leaving Konstantin no other option.
He rose to his feet and made his way over to the door, opening it.
The man standing before him... Was one hell of a man!
Orinex was a man with incredibly pale skin, and stood at roughly 6'2, which was half a foot taller than Konstantin. The man's hair was black and tied into a warrior's bun, which revealed the features of his chiselled face.
He was dressed in blue robes that almost made him look like a samurai. However, the katana on his waist seemed to be far too technologically advanced for the samurai period, as it shone with plasma energy.
Most noticeably, Orinex was missing his left arm. Perhaps that was why he constantly wore a look of sadness on his face.
As Konstantin stared up at the man, a vision appeared in his mind, giving him further details about his client.
Name: Orinex Sylas-9
Home Planet: Xyuc
Title: Swordsman
Power Level: Floor of Foundations
---
"Who... Who are you?" The tall swordsman stuttered in a deep voice.
As soon as Orinex spoke, Konstantin felt the passive traits of his Therapist title taking effect. He could feel the man's emotions as though they were physical objects pressing against him.
What stood out most was the feeling of...
"Frustration," Konstantin spoke calmly.
Orinex raised a brow. "What?"
"You are frustrated. Something is frustrating you, and you don't know how to fix it." Konstantin stepped aside and gestured towards the sofa in the therapist's office. "Come inside and I will help you."
Orinex could only look at the man standing before him in complete confusion.
First of all, Konstantin looked nothing like anyone he had ever seen.
Unlike where Orinex was from, this man had smooth skin and seemed to look more like a work of art, rather than a human. His gold hair could never be found on Planet Xync, and his clothing... It seemed impractical for every physical activity.
Orinex was not surprised by the fact that the man was able to tell that he was frustrated. After all, it was clear in his facial expressions. However, everything else about the man surprised him.
How had he managed to create a door leading to his exact location? Where was this strange dimension located? Why did Orinex feel a soothing energy coming from the man, despite his Tower of Enhancement clearly being no higher than the Floor of Foundations?
Orinex guessed that, based on his presence, the man might even be on the Floor of Beginnings!
So despite all of this, why did Orinex enter the room and willingly take a seat on the soft sofa?
The answer was simple. Because Orinex needed help. Or else he was at risk of potentially taking his own life or worse, giving up on swordsmanship.
---
Konstantin took a seat opposite the tall man. He made sure to sit casually to encourage the idea that this room was a safe space for both the therapist, and the client.
Regardless, Orinex seemed tense. His eyes often looked out of the window, as if making sure he was not being hunted.
"Before we begin, there are a few things I must make clear. Whilst you are in this room, nothing you say will ever leave this room. Whilst you are in this room, nothing from the outside will be allowed to enter this room."
As Konstantin said these things, Orinex almost wanted to laugh.
He had entered this room with no trouble at all! On Planet Xyuc, there were hundreds, if not thousands of men who could walk into this very room and take the life of the pretty young man. After all, there were men within the army who had climbed past the Floor of Foundations and made it to the third floor, the Floor of Construction! It was rumoured that The Hive Master had climbed even further, making it to the Fourth Floor, Floor of Reinforcement!
But then, the young man reached to his waist and pulled something free from a belt. In a mere second, Orinex felt his heart stop, and was overwhelmed with the desire to flee as fast as he could...
The item was unrecognisable to Orinex. He had never seen anything with such a shape before. Yet the presence that came from the item... He had never felt anything like it, even when standing in front of The Hive Master himself!
"I..." Orinex froze.
"Do not be afraid, Orinex. This weapon is what will keep you safe when you are here. Trust me, nothing from outside will be allowed to enter this room, and no word that you speak inside, will be allowed to exit. I am here to help you. I want nothing in return, except for you to leave here with a calm mind."
As Orinex listened to the man speak, he found himself surprisingly believing every word that he said. Even after the man returned the item to his waist.
"But why? Why do you wish to help me? Who are you?" Orinex asked the first thoughts that came to mind.
Konstantin leaned back in his chair and crossed one leg over the other.
"I am Konstantin Dragov, but you may call me the Therapist."