Ophieus didn't move right away or reach for it either.
The system had flickered twice.
He had noticed that before the welcome screen stabilized, relics that were operating correctly did not flicker. Whatever this was, it had not initialized cleanly and yet it was addressing him as if it had known him before the initialization began.
And then he recalled the key-shape outline that appeared on his chest and knew the voice could only be related to that.
The fog around him thickened immediately, as if sensing his stillness. Staying in one place here was dangerous since the things that hunted this forest tracked movement or the lack of it. But he didn't care, something new has taken his interest.
And then the voice spoke again, and this time it came with pressure against the inside of his ribcage.
[Initialization complete. System binding verified.]
The words appeared directly in his mind while Ophieus's hand went to his chest. Through the fabric of his shirt, he felt a key-shape outline that was burning.
"...So this is what that was."
The silver light screen glowed as the old words disappeared and then new words showed up with a voice echoing in his mind again.
[Call me the Silver Key. I am here to help you on your journey, Master Ophieus.]
The temperature dropped as the fog pulled inward. He raised a brow at this before glancing to the side when he heard movements close by. The sounds of branches and leaves were breaking like multiple things were crushing them.
Perfect timing.
"Help me." Ophieus let the word sit in his mouth before tilting his head. "And if I say no to this... help?"
The Silver Key didn't say anything for two seconds
[That would be... Unfortunate.]
The word hung in the air, making him feel a bit interested. Behind him, the rustling got closer and it sounded like at least three sources. Maybe four of whatever made that sound and they were fast.
"Unfortunate for who?" Ophieus pushed. He didn't turn around or acknowledge the approaching threat.
Just watched the screen.
[For everyone]
The Silver Key answered without explaining more and just gave a simple statement. But that only made Ophieus more interested.
Then the rustling stopped.
But Ophieus knew they were here as he felt multiple eyes on him. They were watching from the fog, close enough to strike but... waiting. Like they sensed something in the area that made them hesitate.
Good.
He had time to ask questions.
"Were you sent by that voice?"
[Yes, master Ophieus. I'm your helper]
It was a clear answer.
"My helper." Ophieus tested the word. "Yet you feel like something meant to spy on me or a leash."
[Think more of it as a guide helping you.]
"Why is she helping me? Do I know her?" Ophieus asked with his eyes shining slightly.
[You are one of her most loved beings]
The words didn't jog back any memories but for some reason, he felt a warm shiver.
Ophieus narrowed his eyes. "So I do know her."
[Further information is restricted, your current state is cannot withstand it.]
Ophieus raised a brow. "…What happens if you tell me anyway?"
The answer came instantly in a certain and blunt way.
[Your mind would break, and you would twist into a horrible creature that would destroy everything around you.]
Silence followed.
For a split second, something in him reacted after hearing those words. It led to him feeling a hint of nostalgia and acceptance.
Then finally recognition.
As this was no different than the Deathless Warrior trial but instead of their mind, it was their soul and emotions at risk.
"…Then tell me faster next time." Ophieus tilted his head slightly. "But is it really just my mind? I doubt mine is that fragile."
[That's true but the body you have is weak, Master Ophieus.]
Ophieus nodded as this was a truth that couldn't be argued with. But it wouldn't be like that for long as he would make this body into something that couldn't break.
"Then make it stronger." Ophieus eyes narrowed. "Since you were sent by her, you should know a way."
[But of course. Here is your current information now, Master Ophieus.]
The screen shone once before pain rushed through his chest like something was carving itself deeper into him. His vision blurred before the forest tilted and he caught himself against a tree.
The bark was cold and too smooth like it wasn't wood anymore. He didn't look at it, his eyes were kept on the screen.
[Accessing core information requires significant energy expenditure. This will hurt.]
The fog shifted like something had just taken a breath. But Ophieus didn't look away from the screen.
"This will hurt," the Silver Key corrected.
A shape moved behind him.
Closer now.
He went down on one knee from the pain doubling in his body while his hand still gripped the tree. He gasped before rustling sounds started again.
It was even closer now.
Whatever was watching had decided the pain made him vulnerable and now it was an acceptable risk. The screen brightened and Ophieus watched as words formed, black against silver, burning themselves into his vision.
[STATUS]
The word carved itself into his vision before it then began flickering and stuttering.
[ST—ATUS]
A sharp pulse slammed into his chest.
Something beneath the screen shifted.
Ophieus's eyes narrowed. "…You're not stable."
But the Silver Key didn't respond and continued.
[Name: Ophieus
Pathfinder: Awakening (Locked)
Crest: Unknown
Synchronization: 10%
Vessel: Unknown (Incomplete)]
Each line appeared with a fresh spike of pain like reading was an act of violence against himself.
But he didn't care as he continued reading. His gaze didn't linger on his name, the locked path or the dormant crest.
It stopped on the word beneath it.
Vessel.
"...Not a body. But a container for something." He muttered and then he felt a feeling of recognition like it described him.
But instinctively refuse it.
The screen kept going.
[Attributes]
Strength: Green (14.1%)
Endurance: Green (12.5%)
Speed: Green (23.5%)
Perception: ???
Magic: Green (5%)
Progression: Knowledge to Unity: 14 / 1,000]
[Normal human: All attributes are all White]
[All stats rise from 0.01% to 99.99% for each rank until one breaks through and enters the next]
[ Pathfinder Tier Reference]
[White: Dormant. 0 Knowledge
Green: Awakening. 1- 999 Knowledge
Blue: Unity. 1,000 – 9,999 Knowledge]
Branches snapped from three different directions.
[Yellow: Boundary—]
The screen paused and new text appeared.
[Master Ophieus.]
"I know." Ophieus spoke without looking or caring. "Just finish it."
[10,000 – 99,999 Knowledge
Red: Beyonder. 100,000 - 999,999
Violet: Boundless. 1,000,000+ Knowledge
???: [DATA LOCKED]
???: [DATA LOCKED]]
[Note: The locked tiers have no recorded ceiling. No being native to Luminous has reached them in recorded history. Further information requires clearance this system does not currently hold.]
Ophieus was a bit surprised this relic had information of Pathfinder tiers but chalked it up to the voice doing. But then his gaze moved to the bottom two lines and stayed there.
'There's a rank above Boundless?' He thought before he heard snapping and crunching noise.
And footsteps that were three seconds away from him.
Ophieus didn't turn. "…We'll continue this later."
A step echoed behind him.
It wasn't rushing or trying to hide itself. And far closer than it should have been.
Ophieus didn't turn but for the first time his body did.