Darkness.
Complete, utter darkness.
I was drifting, drowning in a sea of reflectionless black.
There was nothing else. No sound, taste, smell, touch.
It was peaceful at first.
I felt like I was both nothing yet everything at the same time. I was a tiny spec in a vast universe yet nothing else existed aside from me.
Time had no meaning in this void. If it did, however, I wouldn't be able to know how much of it passed since I had no reference of a beginning.
Slowly though, I started recalling more of what I was.
I was a human. I had hands and feet. I had a body.
I tried curling my fingers and toes, flaring my nostrils, opening my mouth.
Nothing. I felt nothing.
Desperately, I clawed at the void with my hands, kicked at it with my feet. When that proved worthless, I tried feeling my body, clawing at my skin.
Nothing at all.
Panic bubbled outwards from my heart. Even that came without any of the physical aspects of fear, however. There was no thumbing of my heart, no tightness in my chest. I neither felt cold sweat trickling down my body nor did I feel my limbs trembling.
Hell, I wished I could've felt them. I wished to feel anything to verify that I was more than just a consciousness floating around in an ever vast void.
I opened my mouth, trying desperately to let out a scream. Each moment that passed I fought a losing battle against insanity.
And soon enough, it effervesced outwards, covering every inch of my awareness.
But as all emotions bled out of me one all consuming emotion had a firm grip around me.
Boredom.
It was only when I felt the beating of my heart, yes, my heart when I…
…My heart.
I was more than hands and feet. I had a name.
I was Noctis, Prince Noctis, son of Wave of Ruin and Star of Guidance, two of the most infamous Scholars in the history of mankind and rulers of the House of Night.
I had once cried at the death of my parents and the fall of my house. I once screamed and pleaded with the air, as if it could bring them back. I had once cast wishes upon the stars on my night walks as if they had the power to bring everything which was once mine.
My wishes did not reach them.
A voice, which had once been waiting, boomed throughout the dark abyss.
[Scholar, Welcome to the Culling Games]
The voice sounded like countless humans, male and female, speaking in all tones and languages, each one speaking over the other.
I felt my face tighten as a smile found its way onto it.
The Culling Game.
The Culling Game was a rumor circulating in Six Realms, at first, excluding the Realm of War of course. The 'rumor' was proved true when the rest of the Realms lost contact with the Realm of Nothing more than a hundred years ago.
Since the wraiths, the only inhabitants of Nowhere were, just like the War Realm, not known to be sociable, the leaders of the realms thought nothing of it.
It was only when the Realm of Nothing, abandoned and deserted, crossed the Great Sea and merged with the main waters of Realm of Night, that the Culling Games descended on the rest of the Realm, except that of war, and all havoc broke loose.
Normally, a human's body could not handle an awakening before the age of forty, but with the Game's aid, here I was about to awaken at the ripe age of thirteen.
And maybe, just maybe, I could deliver my retribution on the unknown murderers of my parents.
A bright dot appeared on the black canvas.
And then another and another, until, surrounding me instead of the darkness were countless constellations of bright stars, reminding me of a starlit night sky.
I felt wetness on my feet, as they landed gently on an ever expanding body of water acting as a perfect mirror, reflecting the sky of my Mind Mellow.
Raising my head, I noticed an especially bright star rapidly approaching. I continued following it with my eyes as it moved until it halted above my head.
I felt, rather than saw, the essence emanating from what I now recognised as my Mind Core into my body, filling me with a sense of overwhelming pleasure.
I feel like a horny thirteen year old discovering masterbation for the first time. I chuckled at the absurdity of the remark.
I thought of words like Myself or Runes, wanting to take a look at my information before I get thrown into either a hellhole or next to a Sanctuary.
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Scholar: Noctis
Scripted Title: -
Traits: [Cleft] [Blessed of The Night] [Djinn] [The Night]
[Cleft] Trait Description: [You are divided between a blessing and a curse. There are those who are Cursed and those who are Blessed, but none possess a fate more harrowing than the Cleft]
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Not ominous at all. I mused, raising an eyebrow.
I heard of both the Cursed trait and the Blessed trait, but never the Cleft trait.
It was worrying to say the least. While at face value the Blessed trait seemed to be a boon and the Cursed one seemed to be a…well a curse, both came with their own pros and cons, just like anything that existed, exists, and will exist.
But alas, time wasn't on my side, so I had to hurry up and examine the rest of my runes.
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[Blessed of the Night] Trait Description: [Your strength is significantly enhanced at night]
[Djinn] Trait Description: [The Djinn were a nomadic race of immense power. They traveled the world at night, seeking to find a place worthy of settlement. When they found one they had strength had already become too eminence, and so ruin fell upon them]
[The Night] Trait Description: [You inherit the lineage of the Pharaoh of Night]
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Djinn. I glared at the rune. While to the common Scholar information about the Djinn were little to none existent, the same didn't apply to the Scholars of the House of Night.
Or at least, what remained of the House of Night. Me.
How could I not have known about them when the reason I was orphaned was because my father possessed this trait.
What had the mysterious assailants said that day?
"A djinn must never be known or loved. You have transgressed the will of Lord Anhur, and therefore the price must be paid in blood."
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Flaw: [Cursed of The Sun]
[Cursed of The Sun] Flaw Description: [Your strength is significantly diminished in under the sunlight]
Scripture: [Night Walker]
Unveiled Insights: [Night Guide] [Night Miracle] [Nightlight Manipulation]
[Night Guide] Insight Description: [By the stars guidance, you shall reach wherever you want]
[Night Miracle] Insight Description: [Your purpose is fulfilment of desire whether be it your own or other's]
[Nightlight Manipulation] Insight Description: [All light visible in the night sky is yours to command]
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Suddenly, countless whispers echoed throughout the starry expanse of my Mind Mellow as it began dissolving.
[Welcome to the Culling Grounds, Noctis]