Trials of Faith

"My lord, are you alright?" Abel repeated, ensuring his lord was far from harm.

"Is there anything that happened? Is there any intruder?" Cain asked in a worried tone.

"Call Asclepius this instant! Our lord may be in great pain!" Cain's urgent command resonated, cutting through the air. The servant, a scaled-down version of the black knight, scurried off to fulfill the order, his metallic footsteps echoing in the vast chamber.

As Abel and Cain expressed their concern, the air in the throne room seemed charged with an unusual tension. The torches flickered as if responding to the heightened emotions around them, casting dancing shadows that mirrored the uncertainty in Lazarus's mind.

Meanwhile, Lazarus was dumbfounded that the NPCs they programmed were talking. Normally, they usually responded with simple nod gestures or anything that had been programmed into them. The scripted lines and pre-programmed behaviors were being overridden by an unforeseen force, leaving Lazarus both intrigued and unsettled.

"Is there a system update?" Lazarus spoke to himself, his voice carrying a mix of confusion and disbelief. "No, if there's an update, this would be impossible to feel and to communicate. What the hell happened? Did I transfer to Pandora? Did my soul travel to Pandora like in the books or anime?"

The servant returned, a miniature black knight compared to Cain, holding a scalpel and a bag. Asclepius, the NPC healer, had arrived, accompanied by a striking and peculiar sight. Resting on his shoulder was a majestic white serpent with glowing blue eyes, crowned by two elegant horns. The serpent's presence added an otherworldly dimension to the already unusual scene in the throne room. The clinking of vials and the faint scent of dried blood resonated, creating an air of uneasiness that mingled with the enigmatic aura exuded by the serpent. The juxtaposition of the medieval setting, the advanced technology, and the mystical creature on Asclepius's shoulder added yet another layer of peculiarity to the unfolding narrative, leaving those present in a state of awe and uncertainty.

Following closely were four nurses, their faces concealed by shattered doll masks, each intricately designed to mimic serene expressions that clashed with the fragmented features. The nurses moved with an unsettling grace, their movements almost too fluid, reminiscent of porcelain dolls brought to life. Their eyes, visible through the fractured openings of the masks, gleamed with an unnatural intensity, betraying an otherworldly awareness.

 Their eyes, visible through the fractured openings of the masks, gleamed with an unnatural intensity, betraying an otherworldly awareness

The nurses' unnaturally pale skin seemed to lack the imperfections of humanity, giving them an ethereal quality. The delicate patterns etched on their skin resembled porcelain crack lines, adding to the uncanny valley effect. As they glided across the room, the faint sound of mechanical whirrs accompanied their every step, amplifying the eerie atmosphere.

 As they glided across the room, the faint sound of mechanical whirrs accompanied their every step, amplifying the eerie atmosphere

their fingers, seemingly delicate and precise, held medical instruments with an otherworldly proficiency. The contrast between the clinical efficiency of their actions and the uncanny, doll-like features created an unsettling juxtaposition, leaving those who witnessed their presence both fascinated and disturbed.

Abel, with a furrowed brow, addressed Lazarus once more, "My lord, Asclepius is here. Let him examine you to make sure you're alright."

Cain, his competitive spirit momentarily overshadowed by concern, added, "We won't rest until we understand and rectify this, my lord. Your safety is our utmost priority."

"You two are guarding the entrance, yet our lord was harmed!" Asclepius shouted in anger. The accusation hung in the air, a sharp rebuke cutting through the tension. The last thing they wanted was to witness their lord in pain, and Asclepius's frustration mirrored their own sense of failure.

The four nurses trembled in fear as Asclepius vented his anger. The healer's frustration and the nurses' visible apprehension created an atmosphere of tension, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The throne room, once a haven of regality, now echoed with uncertainty and a shared determination to uncover the cause of their lord's distress.

Abel and Cain stood rigid, their armor-clad forms silently absorbing the weight of the healer's words. The urgency to understand how their sovereign had come to harm intensified, driving them to seek answers and rectify the situation.

Abel, lifting his head, met Asclepius's eyes with a resolute expression. "We failed in our duty. It won't happen again," he declared, a hint of determination cutting through the shame.

"What will you do if the Pillar hears that their beloved lord is harmed? Your heads will be rolling by now," Asclepius stated to Cain and Abel.

Cain, still grappling with the weight of their failure, nodded in agreement. "Our heads may roll, but we'll do whatever it takes to protect him," he vowed, a newfound seriousness in his tone.

Abel and Cain exchanged a glance, a shared sense of shame and a newfound resolve binding them. Abel spoke, his voice steady, "We'll face the consequences, but please ensure our lord's safety right now, no matter what

Asclepius's anger intensified, fueled by the belief that Cain and Abel had failed in their duty to protect their god. As he cast a healing spell on Lazarus, he couldn't contain his frustration.

[Grand Healing] - A radiant green light, emanating a soothing aura, enveloped Lazarus. The magical energy worked its way through his injuries, mending flesh and soothing burns with an ethereal touch.

The healing magic flowed seamlessly from Asclepius's hands to Lazarus, a stark contrast to the harshness of his reprimand toward the two guardians. The green light illuminated the throne room, casting an eerie yet calming ambiance as it mended the wounds inflicted upon their god.

"You're lucky we're in the presence of our lord; otherwise, I'll kill you myself, you stupid buffoons!" Asclepius spat out, his words laced with both anger and disappointment.

Asclepius's snakes, sensing their master's fury, hissed in agitation. Their glowing blue eyes gleamed with an intensity matching their master's anger, adding an unsettling undertone to the healing ritual. The serpentine companions coiled around Asclepius's arms, their scales shimmering in iridescent hues as if echoing their master's turbulent emotions.

The healing magic flowed seamlessly from his hands to Lazarus, a stark contrast to the harshness of his reprimand toward the two guardians. The green light illuminated the throne room, casting an eerie yet calming ambiance as it mended the wounds inflicted upon their god.

Lazarus was in shock as the NPCs engaged in a heated exchange before him.

"I'm alright; I just got burned by the fire during my experiment," Lazarus explained, trying to reassure his concerned guardians.

"What experiment are you doing, my lord?" Cain inquired with a concerned tone.

Lazarus, with a measured tone, replied, "Just a routine magical experiment, Cain."

He needs to ensure that he hides the fact that all the NPCs are playthings that they created. If this is real, they could kill him if they found out that he is just a lonely nerd who programmed these godly NPCs for his pastime.

"What should I do! What should I do! What should I do! These guys treat me like some sort of cult leader? I'm just a nerd boy who enjoys games and anime, and now I'm a god. What in the world happened? What if they found out that I'm not fit to rule them? What if they found out that I'm just a nerd? Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Lazarus screamed inside his head.