[...]
'Hey. Can you hear me, Aidana?'
Temorsth sat back on the bed and pushed the thought louder.
For a few seconds, no answer came.
Then—
[Yes. Sorry, Host...]
Aidana's reply appeared slowly.
Not like the cold notices.
Not like the formal warnings.
It was her.
Only a little delayed.
Temorsth narrowed his eyes.
'Why didn't you answer?'
[Thinking.]
'About what?'
[Things.]
'That is not an answer.'
[It is an answer. It is simply not a satisfying one.]
Temorsth stared at the window.
Then sighed.
'Fine. Anyway, what was with me burning and Father not burning?'
Aidana answered more quickly this time.
[The Host really will burn under direct sunlight.]
Temorsth's expression stiffened.
[The Host's father is strong enough that most natural vampire weaknesses barely affect him. He is still weak to fire and light magic in principle, but the sun is too weak, too distant, and too insignificant to harm him.]
'Too insignificant...'
Temorsth slowly looked toward the window.
'That sounds unfair.'
[It is.]
'So when does it stop being unfair for me?'
[The Host must reach at least the Middle Stage of Body Tempering, or reach Existence Rank 7, before direct sunlight stops being immediately dangerous.]
Temorsth blinked.
Then blinked again.
'Ahhhh...'
He scratched his cheek.
'What were the cultivation realms again?'
[...]
A small disappointed face appeared in the corner of the window.
Temorsth immediately looked away.
'Don't look at me like that. I couldn't even use energy until now, so I didn't think about it much.'
[But the Host remembered how many realms there were.]
'I remembered the number. Not the names.'
[That is worse.]
'It is not.'
[It is.]
A table appeared before him.
[Cultivation Realms]
[Mortal: Early, Middle, Late, Peak]
[Mortal Body: Early, Middle, Late, Peak]
[Body Tempering: Early, Middle, Late, Peak]
[Soul Tempering: Early, Middle, Late, Peak]
[Initial Element: 1st Order to 5th Order]
[Origin Returning: 1st Order to 5th Order]
[Existence Rank Comparison]
[ER 0: Mortal]
[ER 1: Mortal Body]
[ER 4: Body Tempering]
[ER 8: Soul Tempering]
[ER 10: Initial Element]
[ER 11: Origin Returning]
Temorsth looked through the list.
'Right... Mortal means someone who hasn't really begun cultivating. Basically, a normal person, like the people from my old world.'
[Correct.]
'And Mortal Body is when someone starts gathering some type of energy.'
[Also correct.]
'Then the higher the Realm and Stage, the stronger the individual.'
[Usually.]
Temorsth paused.
'Usually?'
[Realm measures strength more directly. Existence Rank is different.]
'That is the part I don't get.'
Aidana did not immediately answer.
Then the window shifted.
[To simplify it, Existence Rank measures how important a being or creature is to the world.]
'Important how?'
[Influence. Potential. Weight. Recognition. Role. Sometimes power. Sometimes fate. Sometimes something stranger.]
Temorsth's face slowly became blank.
'That did not simplify anything.'
[It did.]
'It really did not.'
Aidana seemed to think for a moment.
[Then imagine a king.]
'A king?'
[Yes. A king could still be physically weak and remain in the Mortal Realm. But compared to a random farmer or slave, his Existence Rank may be much higher because his choices affect many lives.]
'So fame and reputation?'
[Partly.]
'Authority?'
[Partly.]
'Importance to the world?'
[Mostly.]
Temorsth leaned back and thought about it.
'So if I become Body Tempering, my ER automatically becomes higher?'
[Yes. If the Host reaches Body Tempering, the Host's ER will naturally enter the 4-7 range depending on the Stage.]
'But ER can also rise separately from cultivation.'
[Yes.]
'Annoying.'
[Accurate.]
Temorsth suddenly remembered something.
'Status.'
The familiar light-blue window appeared.
[System Name: The Will of the Worlds (Aidana)]
[Name: Lear Olendrient Temorsth]
[Race: Half-Vampire, Half-Light Elf]
[Alignment: Lawful Neutral]
[Class(es) & Level: A Class can be chosen! (New)]
[Experience Points: 5/0]
[Job(s): No Job has been acquired.]
[Title(s): One Who Was Embraced by Death, Experienced the Singularity (New!)]
[Cultivation Realm: Mortal]
[Stage: Middle]
[Existence Rank: 3]
[Health Points: 1831/1306]
[Mana Points: 1863/1162]
Temorsth stared at one line.
'ER 3...'
He remembered finding that strange before.
In his previous life, even when his cultivation had been higher, his Existence Rank had been lower.
'So is this because my parents are important? Since I'm their son, I matter more, too?'
[Partly.]
'Partly again?'
[The Host is the son of two extremely important people in Ananterra. That affects the Host's potential weight. However, almost no one knows the Host exists, so the current effect is limited.]
Temorsth nodded slowly.
'Then why is it already 3?'
[The Host's name.]
'My name?'
[Yes.]
He stared.
'My name is that important?'
[It is not magical in the way the Host is imagining.]
'You don't know what I'm imagining.'
[I know enough.]
Temorsth clicked his tongue.
Aidana continued.
[The name itself carries potential because of the one who gave it to the Host. A Middle-high level existence naming a being is not meaningless.]
'So my name gives me ER?'
[The potential attached to the name gives the Host ER.]
'Potential...'
[It may also slightly affect luck.]
Temorsth's eyes lit up.
'Luck?'
[Do not get too excited.]
'Too late.'
[Of course.]
Temorsth leaned forward.
'So I can actually have luck on my side? Like a protagonist? The world protecting me, the setting pushing me forward, impossible things happening at the right time—'
[Ahem.]
A small window appeared directly in front of his face.
[Correction: The Host is not confirmed to be a hero, protagonist, chosen one, or anything similar.]
Temorsth froze.
'...Not confirmed?'
[There is a possibility.]
His expression brightened again.
[Do not get excited.]
'Too late again.'
[Host.]
'Fine, fine.'
Aidana continued.
[The Host has potential. Potential is not destiny. If the Host hides forever, if no one knows the Host, if the Host achieves nothing, then the world may forget the Host soon after death.]
Temorsth frowned.
'But I won't hide forever.'
[Then prove it.]
The words were simple.
Too simple.
Temorsth became quiet.
Aidana seemed satisfied that he was listening.
[Let us use the Host's old world as an example.]
A new window appeared.
[Billions of people lived there.]
[Some people became famous because they had great ideas.]
[Some became powerful because they made the right decision at the right time.]
[Some had the same talent, same environment, or same opportunity, but became nothing.]
Temorsth looked at the lines.
'Because of luck?'
[Partly.]
'Fate?'
[Partly.]
'Then what is the real difference?'
[Choices.]
The answer came immediately.
[People are shaped by birth, environment, talent, and luck. But what separates one possible future from another is often choice.]
Temorsth did not answer.
[The Host can become many things.]
The window glowed faintly.
[Hero.]
[Villain.]
[God.]
[Monster.]
[Nothing.]
[Something else entirely.]
Temorsth read the words one by one.
'And I choose?'
[The Host chooses direction.]
'But strength decides whether I reach it.'
[Strength. Time. Luck. Sacrifice. Madness. Help. Refusal. Many things.]
Temorsth smiled faintly.
'That sounds easy.'
[It is not.]
'I know.'
[No. The Host does not.]
The window became still.
The room changed with it.
Not physically.
But the air felt heavier.
Aidana's next words appeared slowly.
[If the Host truly wants to become something, if the Host holds that desire without losing focus, without abandoning it, without letting the world convince the Host it is impossible...]
The window paused.
[Then even if it takes hundreds of years...]
The words stopped.
For the first time, Aidana seemed to hesitate.
Temorsth's playful expression faded.
'Aidana?'
A strange silence followed.
Somewhere far beyond the room, beyond the tree, beyond Ananterra, something had brushed against the edge of possibility.
Aidana could not see the future.
Not clearly.
But she could feel weight.
And for one brief moment, the weight around this child felt wrong.
Too deep.
Too far.
Too old.
The next window appeared.
[Listen carefully, Host.]
Temorsth sat straighter.
[Even if the situation is hopeless.]
[Even if the Host is dying.]
[Even if the Host is already dead.]
[Even if there is no path, no answer, no ally, no body, no strength, and no miracle.]
The words appeared one line at a time.
[If there is still something the Host wants to achieve...]
[Then never give up.]
A cold silence filled the room.
[It is only truly over when the Host gives up the fight.]
Temorsth stared at the window.
There was no joke on his face now.
No casual smile.
No childish dodge.
Only attention.
"I understand."
His voice was quiet.
Solemn.
Aidana continued.
[One more thing.]
[Energy cannot be created from nothing, nor destroyed into nothing. It can only be changed.]
Temorsth did not interrupt.
[Even the highest beings cannot create something from absolute nothing. They always use something. Life. Mana. Soul. Memory. Emotion. Concepts. Faith.]
The window dimmed slightly.
[As long as something remains, even a fragment, even a will, even a refusal...]
[The question becomes whether the price is worth paying.]
Temorsth's fingers curled against the blanket.
"I'll never forget it."
He took a breath.
"This, I promise."
[Good.]
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
The windows faded.
The room returned to normal.
The silence became less heavy.
And, eventually, curiosity crawled back into Temorsth's mind.
It always did.
'Aidana.'
[Yes?]
'What did you mean by energy from memory and emotion?'
[...]
'I waited a few minutes.'
[That does not make the question less troublesome.]
'But it does make me look patient.'
[No.]
Temorsth ignored that.
'I understand creatures as energy. A living body has life force, Mana, blood, heat, movement, all of that. But memory and emotion? How is that energy?'
[If the Host does not understand why memories and emotions are energy, then the Host does not understand creatures as energy either.]
Temorsth frowned.
'Why?'
[How is a memory created?]
'By experiencing something. Or imagining something. Or doing something.'
[That is what creates the contents of the memory. I asked what creates memory itself.]
Temorsth thought for a moment.
'The brain?'
[And what does the brain use to function?]
'Blood. Signals through neurons. Chemical reactions. Mana maybe, depending on the world...'
He stopped.
'Energy.'
[Correct.]
The window shifted.
[Memories are formed through energy, stored through the mind and soul, and carried as part of a being's existence.]
'So memories are not just information.'
[Exactly.]
'They are something that requires energy to exist.'
[Yes.]
Temorsth leaned back.
'And emotions?'
[Similar.]
Aidana did not give the full answer immediately.
Instead, she asked another question.
[Does the Host know how gods are born?]
'Uhm...'
Temorsth scratched his head.
'Some people become powerful enough to be called gods. Some are born as gods. Some are worshiped until they become divine?'
[Good enough.]
'Good enough?'
[For a child.]
'I am mentally not a normal child.'
[For the Host.]
'That somehow feels worse.'
Aidana continued.
[Then what is worship?]
'Prayer? Devotion? Respect toward a god or superior being?'
[More specific.]
Temorsth thought harder.
'Giving time and belief to someone?'
[Yes.]
A new line appeared.
[Worship is mortals giving attention, emotion, aspiration, fear, hope, and meaning toward a higher being.]
Temorsth's eyes narrowed slightly.
[That devotion becomes power.]
He did not speak.
[In that way, emotions can become energy. Memories can become energy. Faith can become energy. The line between them is not as solid as mortals believe.]
Temorsth slowly nodded.
'Oh... I understand.'
Then he stopped.
For one short moment, something sharp moved behind his eyes.
'So gods use our power.'
The thought did not fully surface.
Not clearly.
Not loudly.
He buried it before Aidana could catch it.
Instead, he smiled.
'Thank you, Aidana. It would be much harder to understand this world without you.'
A small blushing face appeared beside the window.
[It is nothing, Host. I am here to help.]
Deep inside, somewhere far beneath the surface, a voice stirred.
'Better if she doesn't hear that.'
Aidana did not hear it.
Or perhaps she chose not to.
On her side of the System, Aidana watched the boy sitting alone in his room.
Again.
Every time.
Every single time he learned something new, more questions followed.
One after another.
Curious.
Relentless.
Dangerous.
Not because curiosity itself was bad.
But if he became used to receiving answers too easily, he would stop carving them out himself.
And that would be a terrible habit.
Especially for him.
Aidana's gaze sharpened.
'He relies on me too much.'
The thought irritated her more than she expected.
Not because she disliked answering.
She did not.
That was the problem.
She liked speaking with him.
She liked helping him.
She liked that he asked.
She liked that he listened.
And because of that, she had already made mistakes.
Too many.
Temorsth's surface thoughts began to move again.
Another question was forming.
Aidana saw it.
This time, she interrupted before he could ask.
[The Host has asked enough questions for now.]
Temorsth blinked.
'What? But I still—'
[No.]
'No?'
[No.]
'Why?'
[Because the Host has begun using me as a shortcut.]
Temorsth froze.
That landed more sharply than he expected.
'I didn't mean to.'
[I know.]
Aidana's answer came softer.
Then immediately became firmer.
[But meaning to do something and doing it are not the same.]
Temorsth looked away.
For a moment, he seemed like he wanted to argue.
Then he stopped.
'So what? You won't answer anymore?'
[Not for free.]
He slowly turned back to the window.
'...For free?'
[The Host wants to understand cultivation, energy, Existence Rank, gods, fate, and the rules of the world.]
'Yes.'
[Then the Host should begin properly.]
Another window appeared.
[Quest Generated]
[Name: First Step Without Guidance]
[Objective: Sense Mana or Qi without further explanation.]
[Condition: The Host may use personal knowledge, instinct, memory, and observation.]
[Restriction: No one must explain the method.]
[Reward: One answer.]
Temorsth stared at the quest.
Then at Aidana's window.
'One answer?'
[One answer.]
'Any answer?'
[Within reason.]
'That sounds like a trap.'
[It is a lesson.]
'Lessons can be traps.'
[Correct.]
Temorsth's mouth twitched.
Despite himself, he smiled.
'You really are punishing me.'
[Lightly.]
'This is light?'
[Very.]
He looked at the quest again.
Sense Mana or Qi.
Without Aidana explaining how.
For the first time since waking up, the room felt less like a sickbed and more like a starting line.
Temorsth took a slow breath.
Then closed his eyes.
'Fine.'
The blue window dimmed.
Aidana did not answer.
But somewhere behind the System, the goddess smiled.
And in the quiet room inside the ancient tree, Temorsth began to search for energy on his own.