What World is This?

"The last thing I remember is being on a battlefield fighting a terrible creature, a... a dragon, I think..." and I told him everything I saw before waking up. The battle, the dragon, the armor and the sword he carried.

To my surprise, he wasn't surprised at all. Was this dream true? I fought a dragon...

We were silent for a moment, now it was left to know what the old man would say. Alexia on the other hand, was even more surprised and apprehensive than before.

"I understand," said the old man, looking out the window at the horizon and then turning to me.

- He understands?

"Yes," he replied, nodding and probably talking to himself mentally.

"Yes, but what?" What do you understand? — damn old man, stop talking nonsense, that's enough for me.

"Okay, sit down. You too, Alexia. That's not what I expected to hear, but it's a warning. So I'll explain to you what's going on...

Finally! Answers... So I sat and waited. I watched Alexia push herself away from the wall with the help of her hands and walk slowly to the bed and then she sat down.

- You, Wynan, really fought a beast... And not a normal beast - the old man began to speak louder and more firmly with each new word he said - the greatest of beasts, the greatest of creatures in this world, Gold, the Space Dragon, the God of Dragons — and he gave a sinister laugh and turned to face me — And you defeated him! but, he wasn't alone, next to you was another legendary creature! Red, the Dragon of Destruction and Ancient God of Dragons.

"So I really fought a dragon?" I looked at my hands and the bands on my body.

"Moreover, Wynan, the swords of your vision are the Legendary Twin Swords.

"And how do you know that?"

"I was there, no doubt, but not during the colossal battle.

- Like this? Did someone pass this information on to you? I asked confused.

"Not quite, I must say. I would say that your battle happened and it didn't.

As he spoke, he could see Alexia feel uncomfortable with it, fear, admiration, shame.

As for me, I felt even more confused, this was far from answers, it only brought more and more questions.

God of Dragons? How could I defeat Ktnulsk, being trapped between the Planes of Time & Space? Even Reality couldn't move it from the abyss... indeed, is this the Arkana I created? This part had never been created, after all, they would only serve as a background for the story.

So I looked at him who was pretty excited about the situation. I tried to calm myself down and asked:

— What do you mean "it happened and it didn't happen"?

"When we found your body, there was a giant mark miles away. Everything that was there was wiped out. And before you there seemed to be a portal or some crack, I'm not sure about that yet, but like a window into another dimension, there was you, struggling. Fighting the dragon and winning.

- I still do not understand...

"I don't have the answer on that, but it's clear from the evidence. You fought too much somewhere, but the final blow was such that you were simply thrown back to this plane... something like that — he then walked from one side to the other, muttering — It's the first time we've seen something like this .

"But are you saying that you saw me fight the God of Dragons through a window?"

- Yes. Wynan, it was like a vision of the past. And in the last blow the ferocious creature clearly congratulated him for having beaten her, even saying her name. Unfortunately, I couldn't listen and if I knew... it would already be a great help. You... Wynan, don't you remember what he said?

- No. I don't even remember that part.

"I understand, but it's already been a big step forward.

Then I stopped for a moment and realized that he had said that the mark had leveled absurd distances. If we are in Sonnen, in the mountains of trees, there should be several small villages around here. Despite her happiness, I got up quickly.

"Arx! Tell me, did this mark... did this mark hit any villages?

— Hmm — then he changed his face, and even with a smile on his face, he asked — Does it matter?

- You mean that...

"Yes, but that's beside the point.

Of course it's important. Are you crazy, old man? You're saying I killed countless people and destroyed nearly half the world and you say that's beside the point? Alexia is even more uneasy after these last words.

"That's not like an answer, it just brings me more unanswered questions.

— Yeah, but we can find the clues and form the answer.

- What do you mean?

"Before that, let me explain why Alexia is here. After all, she is my apprentice and will also be important for what we must do next.

- And me? asked Alexia.

"Alexia is like you, Wynan, well, not as strong as her existence, but she is also unique. And I'm not referring to her beauty or intelligence — continued the old man without bothering to talk about Alexia in the third person even though she was there.

- And me? Alexia asked even more embarrassed and not knowing what to do.

"Yes, Alexia. Do you remember what we said about the Unknowns? Then. You can nullify any type of Magic, Power, or Energy. You are also an Unknown.

"Errr?" — for her it was perhaps as great a discovery as my utter confusion.

- AND? As? I asked the old man since Alexia herself didn't seem to know what he was talking about.

— Simple, just because she is close to an energy source, that energy is drained involuntarily. Still, if she focuses, she can nullify that energy on her own. At this very moment she is doing that Wynan, nullifying his aura of absurd power and if she weren't here, probably all these lands would be seeing their own end.

"Master Arx, what are you talking about?" I found...

What did you think? That I brought her just to serve as his servant? Not my dear apprentice. You are also special - he approached her and held a little lock of her hair between his fingers and walked away - And therefore, as an apprentice, this will be an important lesson for you.

"But if it nullifies any energy, wouldn't that bell... the magic bell, be destroyed?" Alexia looked at me and as if she agreed, she turned back to the old man as well.

— There we have the explanation of it — he pointed to that tiara she was wearing — These gems are also magical. Despite being simple, they serve as a code capable of ordering what may or may not be cancelled.

Alexia put her hand lightly under the jewel and put her hands together again looking at the old man. I wondered what other secrets he was keeping from her after all this.

"Besides, Wynan, her power focuses on the highest energy next to her. And, despite being able to nullify all types of energy, it can only nullify one type at a time. Well, Alexia, I know I should have explained this earlier, and I ask you to forgive me for that, but, it was necessary.

"I understand Master Arx, but why couldn't you tell me sooner?

"Unknowns are rare people with unique abilities and feared by everyone, including the Arkana Government and even the Adventurer's Guild, so if you knew about this before, I would be making room for others to know too.

"One more question Master Arx, if you can answer that for me.

— Of course, after all we're presenting all the answers here, aren't we.

"That tiara...was it really my mother's?"

- Yes. Although I met her in that port that way, Alexia, in fact, this necklace is her mother's. Obviously the enchantment is part of my personal touch, but I'm glad she left it up to you.

- Thanks.

"So… Wynan, for starters, I'd like you to stay with Alexia, and… well, until you're fully recovered, keep the bandages on your body. One injured body is more than enough to cause any kind of... destruction. After all, its power is uncontrollable, the brand that was presented to the world is enough.

Undoing? Uncontrollable? But what?

My eyes got as intense as someone paralyzed by fear.

The whispers and voices of countless people went through my head, blaming me for what I had done, for the life that was shortening without any purpose or reward.

Was that it? I killed all those in my dream, not the dragon. Was he trying to stop me? Defeat the villain that is causing the destruction of the world, of all worlds...

I felt the floor shake, the walls shook, some splinters fell on my head from the ceiling, along with the dust of the place.

Could I see the room fill with shadows and shapes, silhouettes of the people I'd killed? It didn't matter, they were pointing at me and blaming me.

- I made it? she repeated over and over again. My words were dry.

"Alexia! Grab him." When the old man screamed, the girl jumped on top of me, throwing me on the bed and hugging me.

I felt his body, but I also felt the shadows trying to hold me.

She was crying, with tears in her eyes, screaming at me to calm down. She was hugging me so tightly that for a moment I could remember where she was. And not on that battlefield or in a great hellish hall of judgment.

- Our! What magnificent power. The power to destroy the Gods is in your blood." He gave some applause at the scene.

I hugged her as tight as I could, I was crying, I couldn't believe it. Please let this be a nightmare, anyone, let me go home, this is too complicated and... It can't be real.

"Are you calm now?" Her voice was muffled.

His face was on my banded chest, under my chin. Her hair smelled so good. I let go of her body from that sudden embrace, but she didn't pull away. She just lifted herself up a little, still on top of me, looking into my eyes.

I nodded. A few of her tears fell onto my face and she stood up. The old man was the worst of all, he had a smile on his face. Was that funny to him?

"Great job, Alexia.

- Great job? I almost finished killing everyone here," I said angrily, either because I couldn't control myself or because the old man sounded like a complete psychopath.

— Yes, however, Alexia prevented it. So, great job. It was great to have bought her in that port.

- What? I wiped my eyes and was stunned by that comment.

"He's not just my teacher, Wynan, he's also my…owner. I'm your slave - she felt the words weigh, but even so, she smiled again when she watched me.

- But...

"Don't worry, my boy. She's still a virgin, if she's thinking about it — Of course… yeah, you old man! but, it wasn't the first thing she was thinking!

— Don't think that nonsense about me Arx! I...

"Calm down, young man. Wynan, I did this just as a joke to break this whole mood. What has been, has been, what is to come that we should worry about. First of all, you must learn to control this power and Alexia will be here to help you.

"And how can she do that?" I looked back at her quickly and then back at the old man.

"It is a mystery equal to its very existence, but it cannot absorb infinite power. She has a limit. So I can't say that she is the solution to your power, so this case is also with you.

I looked at her after getting ready and sitting on the bed. She was sitting, too, but with her legs drawn up over her body, pressing her arms to keep her that way.

— And what happens if she exceeds this limit?

"Like any other supernatural ability, it dies. After all, your body is human and even for an Unknown, the limit is death.

He says these things with a smile on his face, her life doesn't matter, does it?

— Which goes back to the first situation of the problem: you will have to control your power.

"And what do you suggest?" Do you know anything about it? — I got up and went to the window just to see the end of the afternoon and the sun setting over the mountains and forests.

"As you may know, this is the former Arkana Army Disciplinary Academy building, Wynan, and I am one of its teachers. I have a lot of information, but I won't be able to do this alone.

"So you don't know how to control this power?"

"Probably," answered the old man.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Because you didn't leave me unconscious... dead... trapped... whatever it was, but get out of here.

— Yes, it's dangerous and I don't know how to control it. but I know someone who does, and I got in touch with her. However, this person was very far away and I am afraid that, due to the situation in the Arkana, it may take some time for him to arrive. Wynan, you can blame me, but it's better to have you here than you out there.

"How can you find that?

"Many people are aware of what you are and what you've done.

- What?

"You've been dead for two weeks...

- 14 days? I asked in distress, almost cutting him off.

- No. 20 days — I had forgotten that detail, the Arkana calendar is different from ours. All 12 months have 30 days, three weeks of 10 days each — Aren't you surprised to hear that?

He looked at Alexia and after a short moment, he turned to me.

"I see, Alexia already told you that.

— Don't blame her, I asked and even then she didn't reveal much. but, is it true that I was dead? In that case, did you revive me?

- No. Despite that, that was my initial idea. With his lifeless body, the nearby village guards didn't know what to do. Also, you were stark naked, so to them, you were someone killed by the explosion.

"Didn't they see the pictures you said?"

- No. When they found him, surprised, they looked for local councilors to know what to do, so these councilors contacted me. As I said, I am an acquaintance of the Arkana. Of course, the brand's situation and its "intact" body made me take action personally. So I asked the guards to bring him here. His body came from DrainedHealm.

DrainedHealm would be the "void" after a large magic explosion. Different types of spells had different types of effects, so depending on the spell, this explosion would not be the same as an earth explosive even though it could still consume organic or inorganic matter. Its literal translation would be: "any" Place Consumed by Magic.

I looked at Alexia and I remembered those situations, the care and such and before I could ask, he continued:

"Before I could do anything, you came to life, Wynan, alone. So that the Court or the council would not be directly involved, I kept this secret. So basically only the three of us and my acquaintance know about his life.

"And when was that?"

"Of the 20 days without life, Wynan, actually 18 of them you were in a coma. Due to my knowledge, I was able to create medicines and potions that would help him, but it was his own body that healed him. Oh, of course, Alexia also helped by keeping her body in top shape.

— Err?

"He didn't need to know that!" Alexia shouted in embarrassment. Wait a minute, Alexia took care of my body…I mean…fuck, that's not what I'm thinking is it?

- Yes. I know, anyway, this building is an old Academy building. It's abandoned and there's nobody here but you and Alexia. So I ask you to wait here until this person can get in touch — for a moment I accepted your explanation, but it remains very vague and many things are just thrown around at random without making much sense.

I took a breath and asked:

"What if I deny it?"

"Well, of course I can't stop you. Even in this state, I can do nothing and"—he looked at Alexia—"Even though she also possesses formidable skill, she would be no match for you. So if you really don't want to be the villain that many think, wait. I will need to travel tomorrow so you will have to wait alone. And one more thing.

- What?

"I would still like to hear your stories of this realm of yours that you spoke of and it seems that you know more than you want to tell me about the Arkana, in fact, it only increased my curiosity about you.

The old man then left, suddenly. I couldn't follow him because Alexia was still there, on my bed. I walked over, placing my hands on top of his head.

"Thank you so much Alexia, you're always helping me, and I'm always causing trouble.

"Fine." She was still red as a bell pepper from what the old man had said.

What the fuck did I just say? I mean, it hasn't even been two days and I'm referring to her as great friends from long ago.

The door closed by itself in time.

I was as embarrassed as she was and thinking about it made me jump out of bed, quickly, and looking out the window and towards the door, I asked:

"Alexia, will you show me what's in this building?" — a little euphoric to disguise my nervousness, but I hope it works out.

"Yes, fine. We need some fresh air too—same thing for her, after all she got up and went quickly to the door.

"I need food too."

"Hm?

"Oh, sorry. It's just that I'm still hungry and out of nowhere I felt even more.

"Then the first place I can show you is the kitchen. What do you think?

"Great, every adventure starts in a tavern, doesn't it?" — why are we taking so long, come on, hurry, both she and I are already in a cold sweat.

- Like this?

"Oh, forget it. Anyway, let's go.

- And let's go...

I smiled at her, she smiled back and then she guided me to the door. Who will this person be who knows how to control these powers? I don't recall creating anything like this in the World of the Arcana.

And... will I be able to return home...

Someday come back to my world?