Over the past month, Henry created a routine.
Wake up,
Study in the library,
Go to class,
Study/practice,
Eat dinner.
Repeat.
Being the sole pupil of Joshin gave Henry a huge advantage, the teacher started teaching Henry basic knowledge, like what plants were edible, how to cultivate a fire while hiding from monsters, and recognizing different types of buildings within ruins.
This also gave Henry a chance to learn about Joshin.
He was forty, and he had passed the trial when he was twenty, Joshin however wasn't interested in fighting, and money like his peers. He found a strange calling in understanding the otherworldly. Choosing to learn as much as he could about the six cities, and other otherworldly places.
This led to Henry being passed down great knowledge, like how to read basic inscriptions, and how to understand what class person lived in a building, which was good for treasure hunting.
Alongside knowledge of the ruins, his knowledge, and the world had grown, starting with conduits.
Conduits were massive orbs that appeared alongside the first chosen. They appeared engrained within different continents. Each orb connecting to the land it existed within, bringing it to life in some way. See the orbs produced a massive amount of Miasmal energy which, amplified all life around it, causing wildlife to grow rapidly, and mutate. This energy also attracted otherworldly creatures. Which made living near a conduit almost impossible without being extremely powerful. Thankfully, there were two types of conduit's.
In some cases a conduit is malformed, creating a Cleft Conduit these conduits are unique, most holding the form of a split in half orb, or an orb with a chunk torn out the middle. Cleft conduit's cannot produce Miasmal energy, and are known for being unstable, however safer to live near.
Of course, with new answers, newer questions arose but, Henry only needed answers to one.
'What happens when I complete the trial?'
He had been so caught up in trying to prepare, he didn't stop to think what would happen once he finished the trial.
Henry laid back on his bed. It had been a constant information overflow since he arrived, and he felt like he was so close to knowing just enough to get by, yet so far from fully understanding what was happening.
He rested his eyes, and slowly drifted… to sleep.
***
Boy! Boy! Awaken!
Henry struggled to open his eyes, a dim twilight blue overwhelmed them while he adjusted.
Looking around, Henry found himself in a fog filled city. It was like the one's Joshin had taught him about, except… gloomier.
The air was thick with humidity, and even breathing felt like an intense task.
Slowly getting his bearings, Henry checked his pockets.
'Nothing…'
Was this a dream? Or something else all together. He looked around trying to recognize anything before a booming voice interrupted him.
Forward!
The voice was deep and otherworldly, it echoed as if spoken through a hundred chambers, and it boomed as if it were a bomb going off next to him.
'What?'
Henry looked around but didn't see anything. Besides, far in front of him, a small object was shining in the distance.
He began walking, trying to go quickly, intimidated by how real the supposed dream was feeling.
But… something was wrong, when he looked down he could have sworn he was walking upwards, but looking up he was obviously walking down. The illusion puzzled Henry, however it wasn't enough to stop his resolve.
Arriving closer to the shining object, a vile aroma filled Henry's nose, taking over his senses with how awful it was. It was as if in front of him was the rotting corpse of hundreds, no, thousands of animals all at once. They were all right under his nose, filled with maggots, and rotting flesh.
Fighting back vomit, Henry held his nose so tight it felt like he could tear it off.
Approaching the object, he realized it was a small, severed, fish head. The shine was coming from its eyes, which moved as if it were alive. Though, its skin, and smell told a different story.
Well, don't just stare at me.
The voice boomed again. Henry covered his ears, falling to the floor.
"AGH! Wait, please."
The overwhelming stench snuck back in, and Henry could barely handle it.
"What, what are you."
Hmmm, what an odd thing to ask.
Henry held his breath.
Well, if you really must know, you may call me…
The disembodied voice began to hum, as if contemplating.
The Rotting Fish!
Laughing at itself, the voice seemed amused.
It made sense, Henry looked at the fish head, and realize that it must be the voice's vessel.
What a good thought, Henry.
'Huh, how did it kn-'
Know? I know it all Henry, your past, your present, even your future.
Henry's body caved from the pressure, and he began vomiting.
Need a hand?
The smell disappeared immediately, not just the smell of rot, all smells. His entire sense of smell had gone.
"What?! What did you do?!?"
I got rid of the smell. Isn't that what you wanted?
Henry's head was light, he collapsed next to the fish head.
"Do you kn- know who I am?"
Oh, I know you well, Henry. Some would say we're best friends.
"Then what do you want from me?"
No, no don't get misunderstood Henry, I don't want anything from you. I'm just here for a good show, and I think you're going to give me a great one.
Praying to all the gods he could, Henry just wanted to wake up back in his room, he closed his eyes tight and kept hoping he would just wake up safely in his bed.
My my, I promise the only one hearing your prayer is me, be grateful, I'm feeling generous.
Henry felt sick to his stomach, opening his eyes he saw…
His room. Relief overtook his body, wiping the sweat from his forehead, he realized something. Mixed with his sweat was, water. Feeling his hair, it was damp, same with the soles of his feet.
"It was real…"
***
Henry took a shower and sat at his desk.
'What was that, and how did it know about me.'
He thought and thought, but couldn't come up with any answers. Finally, he decided to check the notebook.
Sure enough, page three had appeared.
It's been, four days since it made contact with me. First it made me attack an applicant during the Timidus applications, and now it tells me that soon, I alongside thirty two others will die. I'm scared, but I have a feeling things will be alright. And that's keeping me going. On other news, I misplaced my other notebook, so I carved my address into the back of this one in case I lose it.
'It can't be.'
Quickly turning the notebook around in front of his eyes, letters began carving into the leather cover.
'It's an address. Its, my address.'
Looking outside, the sun had barely begun rising.
He had no time to waste.
***
Over the past month, Henry had left the academy many times, whether to visit the hospital, or just walk around. He eventually knew the area around the academy quite well. The address was only around ten kilometers away.
But he never expected what would be there when he arrived.
The address was a large construction site, covered in crushed rocks, and heavy duty equipment.
Henry looked around for anyone and noticed a worker that had just gotten there.
"Excuse me!"
He ran to the man, who was startled by the random young man being there.
"Yeah? What's up?"
"What happened here, like did people used to live her, if so where are they now?"
Henry gulped, there was one answer he was hoping, no pleading he wouldn't receive. The man just looked at Henry with confusion.
"Uhmm, well yeah, this used to be an apartment complex."
His heart sank.
"But around a month ago… it collapsed. Killing most of the residents."
Henry grabbed the man's shirt, startling him.
"Hey what th-"
"How many!"
"How many what?!"
Henry tightened his grip on the man's collar.
"How many people died!?"
"I don't know, dude, I don't know!"
Henry swallowed, but his mouth was dry.
"Was it thirty two?"
The man stopped thinking.
"Tell me!"
"I don't know, I think? I just work here, dude."
Henry dropped the man. His face had gone blank.
His mind raced to all the past moments leading up to this.
The notebook and its message "33 DEAD".
Him being found in the rubble of an apartment complex.
The memory of his mom.
It wouldn't show him that for no reason.
It was all leading him to this. The realization, that Henry was alone, and the life he was searching for.
No longer existed.