Inner Determination

[Arius POV]

fuuuuuuuuuuu...

Feeling water flowing down my face, I wink my eyes before slowly opening them. Still in a daze, I look up to see a ceiling far from me.

'A ceiling. Wait. A ceiling? Wasn't I in a forest fighting against those scary goblins? Where am I?!'

Sitting up, my eyes widen as I am greeted by a giant monolith. A tall, large monolith, a greyish black in colour with dim gold veins running up and around it. There were many symbols both big and small imprinted all over it, extending past where I could see.

Looking around, I notice that I was surrounded by a deep fog with the only things around me being a platform I was sitting on, a dirt path connecting me and the monolith, the huge monolith itself and a ceiling above.

Standing up, I look around one last time and take a step toward the monolith. As soon as I took a step onto the path, the area beneath my feet glows a deep red colour with more red smoke rising from it.

sssssssssssssssss

I quickly try to lift my foot but it wouldn't move! I feel as though my feet were a part of the ground, never being able to pull them off. I open my mouth to try and yell but I find my voice not coming out. I feel as though I had no voice to begin with.

The red smoke rose all around me, mixing with the fog around me, painting a red shade across everything I saw. Surrounding me until I couldn't see anything else. I see a blue screen appear in front of me.

'An info sheet?'

It wasn't like any info sheet I've seen. And according to the book in Big Sister Arielle's room, info sheets should only be white in colour. Suddenly, images start appearing on the blue screen. the image was extremely unclear showing only patches of brown and green. Soon the image on the screen changes again, this time the image was slightly clearer with more colours being shown. Faster and faster, the images start changing more and more, with it bringing a clear picture. Before I knew it, the image was perfectly clear with a bird's eye view showing two people fighting a bunch of goblins.

My eyes widen, it was Sister Lorraine and Big Brother Jaque! Sister Lorraine was clearly crying and Big Brother Jaque had rage in his eyes.

Before I could fully process the image, the image changes again. This time instead of becoming clearer, I see the things in the image move slightly. Once again, the images start changing faster until I start seeing Sister Lorraine, Big Brother Jaque and the goblins moving. I see a small body next to Sister Lorraine with blood coming out of a wound on his back.

'Is that me?'

Recognizing my body, I soon realize that the events happening on the screen were happening in real life. Watching Big Brother Jaque fighting for his life and taking many arrows into his body. Seeing Sister Lorraine crying, fighting and killing the goblin archer. I feel so useless. So cowardly. So weak! Not being able to do anything while your loved ones were fighting with their lives on the line.

'Why can't I do anything? Why can't I help?'

While I was beating myself up mentally, I see the screen flicker before disappearing.

'No! Come back! What happened to them? Let me know!'

As if hearing my inner thoughts, the screen once again appears in front of me. This time there was only a question on it.

<WHAT WILL BE YOUR CHOICE?>

The screen starts retreating backwards before disappearing into the red fog. I feel my feet be released and I see the red smoke separate from the white fog and conjugate to in front of me highlighting the path toward the monolith in a bloody red light.

CLICK!

Hearing a gear click, I look behind me to see a path back to the platform which was now much further away. Surrounded by the white fog, a path was formed leading to a portal that just opened on the platform.

With more gears clicking in the background, I was given the option. Due to the portal appearing on the platform where I was when I got here, it will probably lead back straight to Jaque and Lorraine. Looking at the monolith, I still didn't know what it was or what it will do if I choose to go over there. But I know for sure that it will do something, it will give me something, it will change something in me. I don't know how or why but it was my instincts telling me so.

huuuuuu HAAAAAaaa

Taking in a deep breath. I take a step toward the monolith.

'I'm sorry, Lorraine, Jaque. But please wait a little longer. Please.'

Step by step, I move closer to the monolith. I don't want to be useless when my loved ones are fighting! I don't want to be useless when a loved one is hurting! I don't want any pain to come to my loved ones. With more and more determination, I move faster and faster, and before long, I arrive in front of the monolith.

Up close, I see that the monolith actually extends into the fog in both directions. In front of me, I see a handprint on the monolith. Placing my right hand in it, I see the veins on the monolith pulse, red smoke clear and the sound of thousands of gears clicking into place. Before silence. Only the sound of my breathing remained.

'Initiating...Analyzing...Bloodline of the Mighty Ones found...'

'ACTIVATING'

'May You Shine The Pride Of Your Predesesors!'

I see a screen appear before me showing an info sheet.

<------------------:+:------------------ >

Legacy of Duargeinhelm

Name: Arius *********

Race:????

Sex: Male

Official Occupation: N/A

Titles: Last Hope, Survivor of the Forgotten, ************

Stats:

...

<------------------:+:------------------ >

'This is mine? Legacy of Duargeinhelm? What is Duargeinhelm? Why do I have something behind my first name? I'm a commoner, I shouldn't have a last name. What is going on?'

With the appearance of my info sheet, I had more questions than I began with. Taking in a deep breath to try and comprehend all that happened, I go through all that happened after I woke up in this place. The monolith, the red smoke, the screen that appeared. The screen that was controlled by something. By something. Maybe something alive... With this thought in mind, I raise my head and open my mouth.

"HEY! Is there anyone here? I have a lot of questions!"

...

...

...

I was honestly surprised that my voice worked but a little disappointed that there was no response. Then a few seconds later, I hear gears click again and a voice ring.

'What inquiry might this youngling have?'

"What! Who's speaking?"

'I'm the Duargeinhelm MasterMind Core, Fastigium Dakria.'

"Ok, ummm, Dakria, what are you? Are you alive?'

'As the MasterMind Core, I'm responsible for applying and executing all major projects and ideas, as well as acting as a medium in which all discovered knowledge in Duargeinhelm be stored... While I do not have an organic body, I and many others have considered me to be alive.'

"Alright, so can you explain to me what Duargeinhelm is and where I am?"

'For your own benefit, I cannot currently explain what Duargeinhelm is. As for your second question, we are located within Duargeinhelm.'

"What! I'm currently in Duargeinhelm. Wait, when will I be able to learn about it then?"

'Given the current system, a 5-star copper creator is required.'

"Why that long and what a creator?"

...

....

"Dakria? Helloooo? Did you leave?"

After a few more minutes of talking to myself, I realize that it no longer wants to respond to me. Turning around, I walk back towards the platform with the portal as that was the only place that wasn't covered in fog. Arriving at the platform, I look back one more time toward the monolith before taking a step into the portal.

SHZZZIPPP

After I left, the light within the now-empty space started to fade.

----------------------

Deep in Duargeinhelm...

Click Click Click Click Click

'Haaa, how long has it been.... since the gears in this place have spun. 50 years? 100 years? 153 years, 1 month, 3 weeks, 2 days... It's been so long since the First Chaotic War, we have long forgotten... Our deeds, our knowledge, our pride....'

...

...

"May you be the one to fulfill the prophecy, Arius, the last hope of the dwarfs.

'The prophecy, the oracle of Erlium... It is nearly time... I should unwind my gears as well...'

The light in a room activate. In the room was a single capsule containing a robotic body.

zzzzzzzz

The sound of fans turn on as the capsule opens and the body walks out. Wearing a red dress going down to its ankles. With a beautiful head of long hazel hair and a slim body. Suddenly, it opens its eyes and raises its arms to stretch.

"Ahh, Alright! Time to check up on all the systems and do some maintenance."

With a cute smooth voice, Dakria quickly walks out of the room with the door closing behind her.