Nox

Silver light stars are swimming in the endless ocean of the night sky. They shower the land beneath them without a care in the world. Receiving their luminance, Nox fills his lungs with air and breathes out slowly.

The young man whispers the words from the hint. "They selflessly share a borrowed light"

With a glance, he confirms the locations of the glistening black rocks and lets out a long sigh, releasing at the same time all his nervousness.

(06:49)

Nox notices that time is running out, but tries to keep him calm as he walks in the middle of the field. He observes the number of rocks he has at his disposal and starts drawing the same number of as many circles in opposite directions.

Not long after, he picks up the pace and walks towards one of the black rocks.

Standing over it, he recalls his frustration and helplessness he felt during the Goblin attack. He shakes his head to push those thoughts out of his mind with only his resolution and the image of his family taking that space.

He gets into a crouching position and pushes. Unlike the previous attempts, this time, it moves, leaving a trail of dirt behind as it breaks apart the dry land when it slides forward.

(04:59)

After sliding the first one to a circle, he moves on to the next, following the same method.

One after the other, Nox pushes the rocks with the smooth surface to their respective positions.

The last one slides into position and almost in an instant, a path is forming, following Nox's design from one rock to another.

[/Quest\]

Activate the magic formation to end the drought?!

Status: Completed

Gained 50 EXP

Gained 1x Tattered Cloak (1 / 3)

[/Quest\]

Meanwhile, the effects of the formation continue. When the glow subsides, the black rocks emit a golden light which they later shoot to the other stones forming a pentagram.

As if it digs out of the ground, black miasma emerges like threads that hold the ground together. It flutters for a good while before the pentagram devours it.

[Exp Distributed]

[1x Tattered Cloak in Inventory]

This process lasts for a few minutes.

The changes to the soil and the surrounding air are already perceivable to Nox. The effects of the magic formation pull out the residue of miasma from the young man's body as well.

By spending a lot of time around the dry prairie, traces of miasma are inhabiting his own body, not to a degree to cause serious damage though or affect his health.

The constant vacuum happening to his body drains his stamina, causing him to lose balance and fall, hitting his head on one of the glistening black rocks.

From the hit, he faints just as fast as warm blood paints the soil.

His consciousness wanders off when he becomes an observer to his host.

In his ethereal form, he floats across from a younger Nox.

They are to the somewhat familiar abandoned village, though in this time it's vibrant and the buildings seem new.

The much younger Nox walks around and smilingly greets people without caring if he receives the opposite treatment.

He arrives at the farthest building of the village and enters it. In his ethereal form, the young man follows right behind him.

As soon as Nox is in, he drops to the wooden floor in a fetal position and cries. If the young man's ethereal form came with a heart, he would clinch it.

At ten or eleven years old, his peers and the other villagers ostracize Nox. The young man's ethereal form floats around the house but soon ends the search when he realizes it's an empty house.

After a while, Nox stops crying, and in an outburst he utters. "Damn purple eyes"

He stands up on his shaking scrawny legs and takes out a photograph from his pocket. A smiling woman with purple eyes brings joy to his heart.

He gulps down any residual emotions and goes about his daily life, all the while the floating ethereal form follows him around.

Nox's mother dies giving birth to him and his father's whereabouts are unknown since he left him as a baby to the care of the Village.

A few years pass and rumors of Heroes fighting evil spreads far and wide.

At some point, their feats reach the village.

Inside the mayor's house, the villagers are arguing.

"What if they decide to attack us?"

A young woman looks at the old mayor and utters with tears in her eyes. "I just had a baby. I don't want to sacrifice my newborn for a demon"

"His father was once a part of this village and you cared for his son, long enough. Now is the time mayor before it's too late"

The mayor caresses his white beard and ponders. "Indeed, we had a deal with his father a long time ago, but that man is long gone. We have no obligation towards him or his demon child"

Another one adds. "He's just a child. We should protect him, not throw him out"

An aide to the mayor, a young man with a ponytail continues. "Sir, we've been over this before. That child has immense magic, and it's possible he'll one day be our downfall. And don't forget. Now we have heroes after him"

Everyone in the room is in silence after the aid's words. They look at each other and nod. The only one still reluctant is the man who tried to speak in Nox's favor.

The mayor looks at that man with disdain. "Since you are so keen on protecting him, leave with him"

The man's mouth opens wide in disbelief. He takes a few seconds to realize what's just happened and shakes his head while scoffing at the old man. He puts on his coat and slams the door on his way out. "Idiots"

With pitchforks and torches, the villagers stand in front of Nox's house. An older man with a white beard bangs the door. Blood spills out of his mouth as he shouts. "Come out here devil"

The creaking door opens, and Nox pops his head out. Another villager grabs him by the hair and drags him out. Young Nox, who can't even take a breath, clenches his teeth to hold it in as the villager throws him off his porch.

The older man with the white beard walks in front of the mob and utters. "To protect this village, we decided for you to leave"

Saying nothing more, the old man turns his back to Nox and snaps his fingers. A villager with a torch burns his house.

When it's nothing but charcoal, the villagers leave while Nox remains in the ground looking at his burned-down house.

No matter how much he clenches his teeth, he can't help it when his eyes stream out endless tears. The floating intangible consciousness witnesses the events unable to do anything.

The full moon envelops the land with its light. The fast-moving clouds take a little time as the light turns into darkness.

The faraway thunders approach fast enough to be above the village. The rain washes away his tears and muddles up the firm soil.

He drags his feet while leaving the village. A few hours later he finds a knoll with an umbrella-shaped tree. He takes a while to climb since he would slide down a lot from the downpour.

Under the tree, he stares at the place where he used to call home. He nods off soon after. The ethereal form hovers next to him. Witnessing and experiencing this young man's life.

In the middle of the rainy night, a loud explosion wakes Nox. He jumps up and notices flames in the village's direction. He ponders whether he should help.

Nox is about to slide down the small hill when something comes crashing down, pinning him to the ground. "With you out of the picture, we can finally take out those pesky Gods"

Nox gasps as the cold steel of the stranger's blade gets driven through his gut. This unknown person's mouth forms a grin and his eyes glow blood red. "A half-blood of a demon. Rare but unnecessary in our plants for the future"

The ethereal form of the young man recognizes this person and floats around in turmoil, trying to help Nox, but to no avail. No matter what he tries to do, he slips through everything.

Not even his screams break out until he jumps out of his slumber, shouting. His heavy panting and sweat are visible.

Out of nowhere, a voice comes from behind him. "How are you feeling?"