Noah walked down the flight of stairs, approaching the sphere at the center of the chamber. The moment the voice had sprung into existence he felt a gaze land on him. He recognized that gaze, but there was a difference now.
Cregar didn't have to stare at him through the lens of the world. She could establish eye contact directly with him.
"I'm guessing you're the world?" Noah spoke, standing across the bridge that connected the rest of the chamber to the floating land. He glanced at its depths and his instincts roared.
"Indeed… and you're at the center of the world," the voice responded, and all lights in the place intensified only to die down when her words ended.
Noah stroked his chin whilst thoughts rushed through his head. He couldn't feel anything from standing before that transparent sphere, but he didn't have to do much to understand that she stood at a level he couldn't begin to comprehend yet.
"Why have you brought me here?" Noah asked, his tone lacking enthusiasm.
"For reasons I'm certain you have an idea of. But before we go on, come closer," the voice revealed, and Noah felt compelled at a biological level to respond. His human side couldn't do but obey.
Nonetheless, he could withstand the voice to take a deep breath. He was also a speedling.
Noah stepped forward, crossing the gray bridge that had no railings, meaning he could fall and meet no resistance.
The idea did not scare him though.
He arrived on the island and it trembled.
"This is the core of Cregar. Shatter it and you will make everything crumble," the voice announced and Noah could only nod. He had no reason to do such.
"Why have you summoned me?" Noah asked again, and he felt a frowning gaze land on his figure.
"I thought I could overlook the things you've done to your mind. But this will be an issue that would hinder this conversation." Cregar spoke. Noah remained silent since he understood.
"I need you to comprehend emotions… and you will," Cregar announced, and Noah felt an invisible force bind him till he was unable to move. It could crush him without much effort. But it hadn't.
The instant that occurred, the motes of light within the pink transparent sphere intensified in both numbers and radiance.
The entire chamber trembled as an illusory hand manifested from the light the sphere emitted, and Noah was pulled closer. The arm looked feminine and the moment it touched Noah's forehead he lost consciousness and fell into a trance.
Noah found himself standing in a dark cold environment. His eyes scanned the depths of that pitch darkness and it was endless. He continued to look around in search of a light source, then one appeared.
"Oh, my child. In your search for power, this is what has befallen you." Motes of pink light appeared to gather before Noah's figure. That tender feminine voice touched him in ways he could not begin to explain.
The motes of light revealed an illusory woman with features he couldn't see no matter how hard he tried, despite her standing right in front of him.
"You search for light when you have been blinded. I will reinstate your sight," the lady revealed, placing her left palm on the side of his face.
Noah felt warmth bubble up from within his being and before he knew it, she hugged him.
Several cracks unfolded in the very fabric of the darkness, and light peered in through those cracks. The cracks continued to increase in number and size and eventually, the darkness crumbled like glass.
Noah snapped his eyes open, and he took in a deep breath before falling to his knees.
He clasped his right hand on his chest and something he had almost forgotten swelled in his being.
He felt happy!
"What did you do to me?" Noah asked, eyes widened.
"I have only removed the barrier that existed," Cregar responded.
[Passive skill <Stone Heart> has been disabled]
[Loading….]
[Processing reboot….]
[Error!… Error!… Error!]
[Reboot failed]
[Core of the skill not found!...]
[Processing delete…]
[Confirming delete...]
[Delete successful]
[>Stone Heart< has been deleted from your skillset due to its core material not existing in the database again]
"Incredible," Noah exclaimed, sensing all his emotions seep back into existence. Suddenly there was a restored vibrancy he hadn't been able to see due to the influence of the skill.
It would take him a bit of time to process that change, but he could adapt rather quickly. He remained a Speedling after all.
Noah stood.
"Thank you," he said, revealing a soft smile. Apathy was nice… but the color of emotions was even nicer.
"Very well," Cregar responded. "Shall we begin?"
"Yes… but before we do, how did you do that?"
"I utilized my authority as the world you had been born in to remove that manifestation of your title," Cregar stated.
Difficulty appeared in Noah's features.
"But I wasn't born here…" He revealed, suddenly rethinking his words. He had never considered the opposite.
"That is what you think, man of another world. Your soul has only integrated with this body. But your vessel was born here."
Noah felt astonishment fill his mind. He immediately questioned the system.
'Is this true?'
[[Yes]]
That was all he needed to hear and his mind began to spin at the thought, even if he calmed down rather quickly.
"That's an… interesting discovery," he muttered furrowing his brows. "Who was this person before?" He asked.
"That would be a story for another time, young Noah. We have serious issues to face," Cregar announced, and Noah nodded.
"Yes. Why would the world summon a mere fourth-tier expert like me," he gave a soft smile.
"I have not called you here by reason of your power level. No... Rather, as a result of your status as the heir of the god of speed."
"The one fate spoke of… the one they say is destined to bring destruction to the whole of Cregar. That is why I have summoned you." Her revelation shook that chamber.
Noah's eyes widened as those weighty words fell on his ears, and his chest tightened as a result.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m