The empire system has awakened

The two of them thus began to discuss various matters regarding the surroundings. Later in the day, when the sun's last rays were about to disappear, the village elder asked, "Young man, why don't you come and participate in tonight's ceremony?" 

"Ceremony? What type of ceremony?" Gresvin frowned. Their village had suffered grievously, but now they wanted to hold a ceremony. Gresvin found it absurd. Well, you see, this happens from time to time, and there is nothing we can do to change it, but we can at least give a farewell to our fallen friends," the Village elder spoke sadly. 

"The ceremony will begin after the sun disappears. You can be considered part of this village, and I would like you to attend the ceremony. Our friends should rest in peace, that is all we can do for them now." he turned and walked away.

Gresvin gazed at the hunched back of the elder and could not help but compare him now against the first time Gresvin met him. The elder's back had once been straight and now seemed somewhat fragile in comparison. 'This world sure is cruel to the small folk,' he sighed.

He decided to attend the ceremony even though he knew almost nobody. The only one he had the most contact with was the village smith.

***

The sun had disappeared, and with it, the warm color of orange and yellow. Pitch-black darkness with faint sparkles overshadowed the village. Gresvin and the group had gathered, and finally, Gresvin realized how they would lay the dead to rest. The bodies of the villagers were laid on a vast 'bed' of wood.

The village elder lighted a torch and slowly made his way toward the wood; he turned at the last minute to face the remaining villagers. "Today is a day we mourn. The world has taken yet another of our brethren. As sad as we are, we should move forward; that is what they would have us do. Yes, let's mourn today, but let's live tomorrow with new strength and hope. For our family, that is what we can give them."

The village elder did not give a grand speech, but the words struck home to the others; Gresvin could hear the faint sobs of the women in the crowd.

'It truly is a cruel place,' he could not help but be reminded of what happened to him a few months back. 'No! That is in the past; I have no need to dwell on it,' he shook his head vigorously, shaking off the meaningless thoughts that plagued his mind.

Seeing as the ceremony was coming to an end, Gresvin decided to leave for his cabin. He had no reason to stay; little did he know of the events that transpired in the village. Once he left, the remaining villagers started to speak of Gresvin, and most learned that it was his acts that ensured their survival. They could not help but express their thanks and awe to the warrior.

Gresvin had returned to the cabin and was already halfway asleep. He kept hearing a strange ringing sound in his mind, but he was too tired after the battle to care. His eyes slowly closed, and just before he passed out, the ringing sounded more apparent than ever before.

{Congratulations on awakening the Empire system!. Due to earning the loyalty of the village people, you have been rewarded with a newbie gift pack}

The next morning, Gresvin woke up with a strange sense of clarity; he had never felt so carefree and light before; he slowly stood up from his bed, but when his eyes adjusted to the light, he could not help but cry out slightly, before his transparent screen appeared.

{Empire System}

{Gresvin Oakfall}

{Age 19}

{Military: - }

{Population: - }

{Assets: - }

{Aurums: - }

{Level One system}

{Inventory}

{News and Notifications}

The screen did not disappear, no matter what he did. With each passing second, Gresvin's eyes seemed to enlarge with pure joy and excitement. 'Yes! I knew it. Finally, my cheat appeared,' his voice boomed with joy. He was a man who appeared in this world 19 years ago. 

Initially, he was someone living in a different world called Earth. It was a rainy day, and the weather was terrible. It was so bad that he was not able to react to a freight truck that came barreling down on him until it was too late. He was driving on a mountain road and was about to take a turn around the corner when the truck came crashing into him; the last few he remembered were the blinding lights of a hospital and the voices of doctors calling out before he passed out.

When he woke up again, he had found himself in this world. 

Gresvin was excited, but for the most part, he could not help but be relieved. The cheat meant that he would be able to survive in this world if he played his cards right.

Without further hesitation, Gresvin quickly went through all the system functions, and he realized that it was a summoning system. Each week, on the seventh day, he would be able to summon one warrior based on specific circumstances; that in itself was amazing, but when he realized that the system was strangely connected to a game he played back on Earth, he could not help but shout softly in excitement.

It was a game he would spend time on whenever he could; he was quite the enthusiast. The system was based on the game Mount & Blade: Bannerlord. The system summoned certain characters and warriors based on the game. Every week, he could summon a set number of warriors based on the system level.

The system graciously allowed him to view the troop tree of the troops he could summon, and he realized that the kingdom soldiers he could summon were exactly those from the western kingdom of the empire.