Outside, the sun had not yet risen. The forest and everything around it remained submerged in darkness and the cold, faint azure glow. Only within the tribe's borders and the paths between the tents did several torches light the way, while the tents themselves carried that faint blue light from the leaves covering them.
Guards moved everywhere around the tents, securing the area. Two guards stood before the entrance of the chief's large tent.
Inside one of its rooms, Sol lay on the soft fur bedding. The night's cold and the bedding's warmth made a truly amazing combination—but Sol wasn't enjoying it. He was awake, his face deep in thought.
Silence reigned for a long time until the system's voice spoke inside Sol's head, asking with low, curious tone:
[Why are you still not asking me?]
"why would I do that?"
Sol replied coldly.
[Why?… Aren't you suspicious of me? It's impossible that you're not.]
The system's voice sounded shocked by Sol's reply.
"Yes, I do."
Sol replied in the same cold manner.
[Then why aren't you questioning me?... We've been alone here for a while, but you're silent...You're just staring at the ceiling in silence..]
The system's voice was curious and bewildered.
"If I were the old me, I would have interrogated you. I wouldn't have left you without knowing the whole truth. But now… I don't want to."
[So why wouldn't you want that now?]
The system's voice asked, waiting for Sol's answer. He was silent for a few seconds before replying in the same cold tone:
"I would have used this information for a purpose, to achieve a goal. But now... I don't have that goal that motivates me to do this.."
[Aren't you afraid that I might have evil intentions towards you?]
The system's voice wasn't aggressive or threatening—it was closer to pure questioning.
"What will you do?... Kill me?... I've already tried. In every way imaginable. None of them worked—not lava, not ice, not predators, not drowning, not chemicals... Once this body starts to regenerate, nothing can stop it. It might slow down, but it never stops. And I feel it all.."
Sol's tone was cold, somewhat empty, suppressing some exhaustion.
[What if I were trying to manipulate your mind?... I don't think you've ever tried that before.]
"Be my guest… others have tried anyway... and failed. Simply put, my mind was more chaotic than they could handle.."
[What if I were different?... What if I could do that?... What if I had an effective way to kill you or control you?]
The system's voice changed—pretending to be threatening or hostile.
"Again… be my guest."
Sol repeated his earlier words in the same cold tone.
[Why are you giving up on your life like that?]
The system's voice asked, confused and somewhat interested. Sol replied in a cold, empty tone, without feeling or emotion:
"And why should I cling to it?... to be honest, only a fool clings to life... If the reason is a goal or purpose... is it really worth enduring all this?.."
"Should one endure cruelty, injustice, humiliation, exhaustion, flattery, jealousy, envy, malice, hatred, and sadness simply to achieve a goal? What comes after? Nothing..."
Sol paused for a few seconds before continuing in the same cold tone:
"For me, this goal or purpose is nothing but a lie people tell themselves to justify the injustice and meanness of life, so they don't have to face reality... And as soon as they abandon this goal, they immediately discover the truth and return to reality with even more pain.."
"In fact, some people desperately seek other goals to achieve, to live the lie again... These people have chosen to escape from reality instead of facing it.."
[You've been giving me a gloomy, negative feeling all day, but I didn't pay much attention to it. But you really are a gloomy, negative person…]
[What changed you?... What made you like this?]
When Sol heard this question, his dull eyes opened wide. A few memories flashed behind them—someone he was carrying in his arms. Then his dull expression returned. He said:
"I don't know."
The system's voice sighed before saying with disappointment:
[How did the system end up with someone like you?... Listen, I haven't told you the truth today...Will you hear it?]
Sol didn't reply—he remained silent.
[Actually, I don't remember some things. For example, the thing I'm supposed to guide you to—I don't remember it. It's as if it's covered in a black fog... but I know how to get to it.]
Sol was still silent, as if ignoring the system's voice, but in truth he was paying attention for some reason.
[And I also remember the truth about Archeth and Apheth... not the whole truth, but I know this much: they are absolute beings with infinite power and knowledge.]
"What? Are you saying I met real gods?"
Sol said in the same toneless voice. The system replied:
[Gods? No. Archeth and Apheth are not gods, nor can they be compared to a god. They are far lesser... but I have a feeling they are closely connected to the system. Perhaps they are my creators.]
"A voice inside my head have feelings... This is amazing."
Sol thought sarcastically.
[Yes, I have feelings, you negative bastard. I'm the one who felt that weird injection of translation.]
Sol's face showed no surprise, but he was slightly taken aback.
"You can hear my thoughts?"
[yeah… Actually, from the beginning.]
"Hmm... good for you "
[Well,I decided to tell the truth now. because you're a negative, gloomy, dark, pessimistic person—it would be hard to make progress without telling you the truth. And don't complain—you didn't ask.]
Sol didn't complain; in fact, he didn't even pay any attention to the matter.
[Maybe if you complete some tasks, you might get the chance to meet them again.]
"And why would I want to meet them?"
[ you'll learn the truth about the system.]
The system's voice was somewhat cheerful, but Sol's gloomy tone shocked it:
"No. I don't want to"
The system's voice was surprised:
[How could you not want to know the truth about something inside you?]
"It doesn't matter"
The system's voice made a frustrated sound, then said in a disappointed tone:
[Listen… If you don't want to know the truth about the system, I want to know my truth. I don't know anything—everything in my memory is dark. I want to know who I am, and I can't do that without your help.]
"Bad luck for you—you're stuck with someone negative and gloomy like me."
[Ugh... damn you. You're a real asshole, you know?.]
Sol didn't respond to the insult. He seemed used to insults.
[What about power? You can become so powerful that you can do whatever you want.]
Sol didn't answer—he just kept watching the ceiling.
[Even this didn't work for you.]
The system's voice paused for a moment, then said:
[You said you've tried many times to end your life but couldn't.]
Sol didn't reply—he remained silent.
[Then how about this? If Archeth and Apheth created me—the system that keeps you alive—maybe they can remove it from you, ending your immortality. What do you think?]
"You're asking a favor in exchange for my death?"
Sol said without expression.
[What? You don't like that?… I thought you wanted that… Damn. I have nothing else to offer you… You don't want truth , you don't want power, and you also don't want—]
Before the system could finish, Sol answered:
" I agree."
[What?]
"I will help you. In return, be assured that these two creatures will put a final end to my long life."
[Okay, good. I'll make sure they do that... wait—this feels odd.]
"We start tomorrow."
[But why not start now?]
"No. I'm tired now. I want some silence and rest. Another word, and I'll refuse entirely."
[Fine, no problem. I'll be quiet until morning.]
Although Sol had found a new purpose he could strive to achieve, that suffocating, revolting, and uncomfortable feeling still lingered within him.
***
Early morning. The sun had risen, spreading its warm light. Sol was still awake. He hadn't slept after silencing the system's voice—instead, he had listened to her grumbling the whole time about him not sleeping, about how it was the perfect time to continue their conversation. Even now, she was grumbling, but she was interrupted by a sound that caught both their attention.
[There are people talking outside.]
The system's voice said.
Sol stood up, put on his long white coat, and opened the tent curtain. A cold, refreshing breeze hit him. He was surprised by light coming from the main entrance of the tent and headed toward it.
There he found Arisu speaking with some other men wearing clothes similar to what Arisu had worn the previous night.
When they saw Sol standing at the entrance, they bowed to him before leaving. Arisu turned to him with a calm smile on his face. He was wearing different clothes than the night before—clearly more comfortable.
"Oh, you're awake. Good—I was about to wake you for breakfast."
The two headed to the private council inside the tent. It was different from the tribe's elders' council.
A few minutes later, two blue women entered—long hair, the same sapphire-blue eyes—carrying food trays. With them were small children: three—two girls and a boy. They were Arisu's children.
"Let me introduce my children. The boy's name is Riyasu. The two girls are Rasu and Risu—they're twins. Riyasu is nine Trials old, while Rasu and Risu are ten Trials old."
The boy looked shy, while the twin girls were full of energy and liveliness—they even started an innocent, cute interrogation, asking Sol many questions before Arisu stopped them.
Then he gestured toward the two women and said:
"These are my wives—Siraria and Rusar."
Arisu had a big smile on his face. The two women bowed respectfully, their beautiful faces showing calm smiles. One had her hair braided, the other left it loose.
[What creativity in naming… He seems different from yesterday.]
"Yeah... that's the magic of the drink. It hide, but it doesn't fix."
Sol thought this after realizing he could communicate with the system without speaking aloud.
Everyone sat around the food and began eating. But suddenly—a screaming sound from outside interrupted them. Arisu jumped up, rushed to the main entrance, and went outside. Sol followed with his usual unhurried steps. There, he found the cause of the screaming.
Scale-beasts.