Outworld: Awakening

Far away from the oak grove, Adam weaved through the awe-struck crowd lining Valar. Despite his haggard outlook amplified by his tattered robes, no one paid him any mind. Instead, majority of the citizens focused on the changes in the skies, while a few cried at a corner. They expected the end.

Targarth's military had mobilized, however, what could they do against such a phenomenon? On orders from the state's prime minster, they could only begin the evacuation of their citizens, while working in tandem with various guilds.

A bright purple luminescence suddenly filled the skies of Valar, even Adam paused, and subconsciously raised his head to the skies. His eyes trembled and his mouth opened against his will. His breath quickened and he could feel his legs going weak.

'Is that… This is terrible.'

Focused on the skies, he didn't realize that almost everyone around him had fallen to their knees with despair etched on their faces.

The base of a tower, purple as an amethyst gemstone, and hundreds of meters wide, descended from the opening in the skies. The frightened citizens couldn't even see the top of the tower. Those who had crossed Dratol's borders knew what such a structure represented.

"I-It's a G-Grand Dungeon…" An old man muttered as he trembled on the ground.

Adam didn't know why, but he couldn't avert his gaze from the tower. Thick black veins had covered the sides of his eyes, while darkness had slowly enveloped his hands.

"Move, Adam! We are not out of danger yet. We must leave this country as soon as possible!"

A warm current passed through Adam's body, waking him from his strange state. Saying nothing, Adam continued running through the streets of Valar.

The grand dungeon continued its descent, however, at a snail's pace. Tracing its trajectory, it would land in the magma chasm that made up the Valar Pits. The Awakened in the area fled for their lives, none of them had any intentions of confronting the grand dungeon. Despite the uncertainty of their situation, some Awakened remained in the area. Albeit at a safe distance away from the descending tower. To their surprise, the volcano erupted. And, its lava destroyed everything within four kilometers of the crumbling volcano. They couldn't see any sign of the previous dungeon in the volcano.

Five hours later, the grand dungeon embedded itself deep into the earth, while raising a cloud of dust, smoke and ash. At that same moment, its lava filled surrounding cooled. Flowers of different colors and shapes sprouted from the scorched earth, rapidly growing until a flowerbed formed over the four kilometer radius of the tower. The Awakened rubbed their eyes several times as they stared at the incredulous scene. In less than ten minutes, a once condemned earth had turned into a flowery paradise.

"Citizens of Targarth, please remain calm. There is nothing to be afraid of!"

Wherever one was in Targarth, they heard the loud declaration.

Raising their heads, they could see different portals opening in midair, and hundreds of people dressed in different clothing and armor trooped out. Unlike Valar inhabitants which witnessed the descent of a grand dungeon, the skies of the other cities had returned to normal. However, news of what happened in Valar had reached their ears. In fact, the news had spread to Targarth's neighbors, too. All the top guilds in the eastern nations had sent their scouting teams to access the situation in Valar.

For a moment, the tensed hearts of the citizens calmed. They could recognize some guilds from the unique armor and clothes their members wore. Their gods had heard their prayers.

Only Targarth's rulers and military showed disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to the guilds arrival. Not only did their presence undermine Targarth's integrity, the descent of the grand dungeon meant a power shift was imminent. At that same moment, Varidan Academy sent several instructors to retrieve all her students in Targarth.

* * *

A day passed since the descent of the grand dungeon; and Awakened, merchants, thieves and other professionals from near and far journeyed through the night to cross Targarth's borders. In less than a day, the cost of real estate in Targarth's cities had skyrocket. Some building sprung up overnight, while others suddenly disappeared. Despite Targarth's rulers declaring a state of emergency, citizens and foreigners alike, flooded the streets of the cities. A change had come to Targarth, and no would listen to selfish rulers who wanted to retain their power.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Stormlight's headquarters, Haider paced around his office while muttering to himself. He smiled bashfully, which only grew wilder with each passing second.

'I can't believe it. Who would have thought a grand dungeon would descend in a place like this? I'm rich. There is no need to go back to Dratol.'

Haider couldn't stop himself from giggling.

The events of the last couple of days had taken him by surprise. On a whim, he had bought some properties over the last couple of months. If he sold them at the current inflated rate, he would make a fortune that would last several generations.

'If I knew something like this would happen, I would have bought more lands. Damn it. I should have taken Johnathan's advice.'

Haider paused in his tracks, before sitting on a red leather armchair. A steaming teapot, an empty teacup, and a small slice of cake placed on a saucer lay on a small table adjacent the armchair.

"Thanks the gods Varidan rejected my transfer request. If I play my cards right, I could rise to the top in Targarth. Hahaha…"

Haider reached for the teapot, before pouring himself a cupful. Moments away from taking a sip, he heard a knock.

'Huh? Who's that? It's so early in the morning… who could that be?'

Haider's smile changed to a frown as he rose to his feet.

'Wait… what if it's Emilia? Hahaha… that would be fantastic. With my current wealth, no one can compete with me anymore.'

Haider chuckled while hurrying to the door. He had fancied Emilia for a long time, if Emilia were to be the one to look for him at this hour, it only meant the seeds of his repeated attempts had bore fruits in her heart. While Haider's thoughts ran wild, he reached the door, and he could hear a familiar voice.

'It really is Emilia… Hahahaha… Women can really smell success from a mile away. My beautiful Emilia has come to me.'

Taking a moment to calm his nerves, Haider opened the door with a beaming smile, while saying, "Emil…"

Haider's countenance darkened as his words trialed off. His eyes darted left and right, yet he couldn't see his one and only Emilia. Rather, an unfamiliar youth with mud-brown hair stared at him with a slight smile.

'Where is my Emilia? I don't have time to deal with another student.'

"Good morning, Mr. Haider, I'm—"

"I told the others already. The instructor Varidan sent to retrieve you guys will arrive later. Ask someone downstairs to lead you to the hall. You can go now." Haider interjected.

Without waiting for the response of the young man, Haider slammed the door.

'Damn it. Was I hallucinating earlier? I definitely heard Emilia's voice, right?' Haider thought.

He had already forgotten about the young man from Varidan Academy.

'Once the instructor arrives, I won't have to deal with these students for some time. Finally, I can take a vacation.'

Just then, another knock echoed. Haider's brows creased. Why was his office so busy in the morning? He thought. Wasting no time, he opened the door a second time, before saying, "Who is—huh? Not you again? Why are you disturbing me this morning?"

The corners of Haider's lips twitched as he stared at the same youth from earlier. He could barely restrain himself from smacking the smile off the youth's lips.

"You didn't allow me finish my statement earlier. I never said I came here because of the instructor."

"Then what are you here for? If you don't mind, I would love not to waste my time here," Haider said.

His demeanor amplified the impatience in his voice.

"I'm here for you to verify the success of my mission," the youth said, while still maintaining his smile.

'Why didn't he say that earlier. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that, I forgot a few groups will come today.'

Haider's gaze soften a little. Saying nothing, he beckoned for the young man to enter.

"Sit down anywhere you like… Hey! Don't you dare touch my cake or tea," Haider barked as his eyes turned bloodshot.

He didn't expect the first thing the young man would do was to drink his tea and eat his cake.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Haider. I thought they were for me…"

'What kind of dumbass is this? Why the f.u.c.k would I prepare cake and tea for you?' Haider boiled within, however, he wasn't willing to bicker.

"So, what are you waiting for? Bring out your amulet and the quest objective. By the way, where are your-?"

Before Haider could finish his statement, the young man threw a small bag and an amulet towards him. Haider's brows creased, and he had an indiscernible look in his eyes as his gaze shifted between the smiling young man and the items.

'Where did the bag come from? Does his Blessing relate to spatial containment?'

Haider could explain the amulet being kept in the pocket or inner pockets of the uniform, but he did not understand where the young man brought the bag from. When he entered earlier, he carried nothing, and no part of his uniform bulged.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Haider? If you don't mind, I would love not to waste time here."

'F.u.c.k this pampered brat! This kind of bastard probably did some easy mission and now he's acting like he runs the f.u.c.k.i.n.g country.'

Triggered to the very depths of his soul, Haider's thumb flattened the amulet, revealing the details of the mission.

[Student Profile]

[Student 009]

Year: One.

Level: E.

Current Location: Targarth.

{Mission}

- Eliminate a baccarra queen.

- Obtain the heart of the baccarra queen to complete the mission.

Haider froze as he read mission details. His eyes shifted from the mission's objective, to the bag he held in his hand and Adam.

'No. This can't be right, right? I'm definitely seeing things…' Haider mused.

As a representative, he had the ability to use amulets of the students. Because of his standing in Varidan's administrative hierarchy, he could only see basic information about the students. In Targarth, only the Valar Pits housed the baccarras, and everyone in Targarth already knew what happened to the Valar Pits over the last two days. He heard a group survived the ordeal, but he heard nothing about a second group.

'Wait… the brat that came a few days ago also chose this mission. Wasn't he student 009?' Haider's probing gaze shifted towards Adam's smiling face.

'Am I seeing things? They look nothing alike… but, I didn't give anyone this same mission.'

Haider suddenly lowered his head as he assumed a pensive demeanor.

"Ahem. Mr. Haider, are you seriously going to take a nap now?" Adam said.

"Yes? Huh? No. Of course not. Shut up and let me do my job," Haider barked.

He slowly dipped his hands into the sackcloth, only stopping when he touched a crystalline object. Wasting no time, he removed the crystalline content of the sackcloth. Revealing a purple crystalline heart.

'It's really the heart of a baccarra queen… but how did he escape the catastrophe in the Valar Pits?'

Haider's gaze turned serious. He had to interrogate Adam; he presumed Adam would know valuable information on what caused the changes in the Valar Pits.

"Student 009, you have done a great job. Congratulations, you have passed this mission," Haider said as he tossed Adam's amulet back to him.

"Thank you, Mr. Haider. I won't bother you anymore," Adam retorted.

"Wait!" Haider declared as Adam rose to his feet. "Why the rush? Relax. Have a cup of tea. You can have the cake, too," Haider declared.

He sported a bashful smile as he urged Adam to sit.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Haider, I have somewhere to be. Maybe—"

"All right. Enough of the games. How did you leave the Valar Pits? Tell me what happened there. Are your party members downstairs? Tell them to come here now!"

Haider had dropped all form of cordiality.

'As a rank C Awakened, there is no way this brat won't feel intimidate in my presence. If his party discovered a secret passage, Varidan would reward me handsomely once I report it.'

As Haider's thoughts ran wild, Adam's giggles reached his ears.

"What's so funny? Do you think this is a joke?!" Haider barked.

"Of course. Isn't it?" Adam retorted as he nodded.

"Brat do you know who I am? Do you—"

"To be honest with you, I don't really care," Adam interjected. HIs lips suddenly curved into a smirk, as he said, "Mr. Haider, how does representatives know when a student fakes or completes a mission?"

"What the hell are you asking me? Why would I tell you that?" Haider retorted.

Adam's sarcastic applause greeted his words, "Humor me a little Mr. Haider, I thought we were both telling jokes. Did Varidan Towers give you the right to interrogate me?"

Adam's sudden question left Haider tongue tied.

"I will take your silence as a no. Then, have a good—"

"Wait! Even if I don't have the right to… where the hell are you going? Listen to me damn it!"

Adam totally ignored Haider's words as he walked towards the doors.

Varidan Academy built their reputation on their infamous laws. One neither students nor staff could break. One of which was the guidelines on how representatives accessed the missions of Varidan students. Even if the representative and the student had a blood feud, they didn't dare to act outside their official capacity.

If Adam had purchased the heart from the black market or from some store, Haider would have know instantly. And, bound under Varidan's laws, he couldn't intentionally fail or accuse Adam of purchasing the heart.

Haider knew he had no right to interrogate Adam, but he assumed Adam would succ.u.mb to his intimidation due to his docile demeanor. He didn't expect Adam to brush off his intimation as casually as he did. It infuriated him, but he could only watch Adam exit the room.

"That brat thinks he's hot shit, huh? Lets see if he won't squeal everything he knows when the instructor arrives," Haider muttered through gritted teeth. His eyes turned bloodshot. He would never let Adam walk away just like that.

Over the next five hours, five groups assigned to dungeons in Gido visited Haider's office. Unfortunately, they suffered the brunt of his discontent with his encounter with Adam. However, he told them to wait in the same hall as Adam.

* * *

A few minutes past midday, Haider heard what he believed was the hundredth knock on his door.

'Just how many of those brats came to Gido? Why are all of them coming to Gido? Can't they visit the other representatives in the other cities?'

Haider continued to curse as he walked towards the door. This time, the person at the other side kept on knocking. Following a rhythm of two knocks, then pause. Before, continuing with three quick knocks.

It sent Haider towards his tipping point. In a quick motion, he opened the door, as he said, "What the hell is wrong with you?! Who knocks in such an irritating way? Is this a f.u.c.k.i.n.g clubhouse to you...?! Huh? Who the hell knocked the door?!"

Haider couldn't see anyone either side of the long hallway.

'Are those Stormlight punks playing their crude jokes again? I'm not in the mood for this nonsense!'

Haider thought as he furiously banged the door.

Just as he was about to turn around, an unfamiliar voice reached him, "You must get pranked a lot, Haider."

Haider flinched as he assumed a battle stance, despite being a support class Awakened. At that same moment, however, he eyes fell on the mysterious individual who owned the melodious voice. To his surprise, there were two ladies in the room. One sat on the leather armchair, while the other stood. But, they shared the same comical smile as they stared at Haider.

"Representative Haider, please relax. I'm instructor Arianna von Fitzgerald, while she's instructor Arlette. Pardon the intrusion, but we would like to ask where the students are waiting."

'How did they get in here?'

Haider tried to hide his incredulity, but failed miserably. He assumed a subservient demeanor as he stared at the ladies, the duo stood above him in both rank and hierarchy in Varidan Academy.

"Representative Haider, we really don't have time to waste here. I'm sure you have heard about the changes in Valar. Please, show us where the students are," Arlette reminded.

"I'm sorry for the delay. They're in the hall downstairs. Please follow me, I will lead you to them," Haider hurriedly said.

Saying nothing, Arianna rose to her feet while Arlette motioned for Haider to lead the way. In quick steps, the trio made their way through Stormlight's busy headquarters. The heads of several men turned and their eyes bulged as Haider escorted the ladies. Although they weren't as beauty as Emilia, they had the unique allure of women who had true power.

"Pardon me, Instructors. But, I have a report to make," Haider suddenly said.

"What is it? If it's not important, send an official report to the headquarters. That's not why we are here."

Arlette wasted no time in shutting down Haider's request. However, he was unperturbed. Just as they arrived in front of the hall, he said, "Instructors, I think you would like to hear this. I'm—"

"I told you to make a report. We are not—" before Arlette could finish her words, Arianna placed her hands on her shoulders.

"Let him speak, Arlette. It might be important," Arianna said.

With a nod, she asked Haider to proceed.

"Thanks you. I will keep it short. A few days ago, a student came to verify the completion of his mission. After he did, he chose a second mission almost immediately. And, for a rank E Awakened, it was the most difficult mission in Targarth."

Haider suddenly paused as he observed Arianna and Arlette's expressions. As his eyes met their bloodshot eyes, his legs became wobbly. He thought his words would have intrigued them; however, he could only see fury in their eyes.

"Please don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to waste your time. That rank E student chose a mission to in Valar Pits and completed the mission. In the report I sent a few days ago, only seven people survived the Valar incident, and that youth wasn't among them. In fact, his appearance had changed drastically when I saw him earlier in the day," Haider explained.

Arianna and Arlette's countenance changed. They stared at each other in doubt, they too, had read the reports of only Hendrix's group surviving the Valar ordeal.

"Where is he? What about his group members?" Arianna asked.

"Instructor, I know nothing about his group members. I'm assuming they probably died during his first mission, because he accepted the mission alone. I believe he should be inside the hall like the others," Haider said.

"All right. Lets not waste anymore time. Open the doors," Arlette said.

Haider said nothing further. With a gentle push, he opened the two intricately carved wooden doors.

Without waiting for Haider's response, the duo stepped into the hall. Although Stormlight's hall couldn't compare to Varidan's, Arianna appreciated the intricate details put into designing the room. Just as they entered, they could see twenty-three seated Varidan students staring at them.

"Point him out once you see him," Arianna whispered.

Haider nodded, and his eyes shifted from one student to the other. However, he couldn't find the smug-faced bastard he was looking for. With each passing second, his countenance grew darker.

"What's the problem? Where is he?" Arianna whispered.

Haider could sense the disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e in her voice.

"I-I can't find him. He's not here," Haider muttered with his head lowered.

He didn't dare to meet Arianna and Arlette's gazes.

"I knew this bastard was—" Arlette paused midway as she saw Arianna shaking her head.

Meanwhile, the students wondered what was going on among the trio. Just then, Arlette faced them, saying, "By orders from Varidan Towers, we will take you all back to Varidan Academy. If you have questions, please ask once we have returned."

Arlette clapped twice, and suddenly a colorless portal formed in front of the stunned students.

"Please step into the portal," Arlette said.

Wasting no time, the students took hurried steps towards the portal. Less than a minute later, only Arlette, Arianna and Haider remained.

"I-Instructors, I'm sorry. I wasn't lying earlier, I truly—"

"That's none of my concern. I will report your words to Varidan Towers. I'm sure you can defend whether or not you're lying," Arlette interjected.

She turned around to face Arianna who had her eyes focused on a series of posters at the end of the room.

Haider's heart skipped a beat. He truly didn't understand why Adam wasn't in the hall.

"Please… Have mercy. You can confirm it through the mission reports. Yes. The mission reports. The student's number is 009. Please… you can confirm my words by cross matching where his amulet was… please…" Haider said.

'Student 009? Wait isn't that the number of that troublemaker? What was his name again… Adam? Yeah. That's it. But, wasn't he assassinated?' Arlette's countenance darkened as different thoughts flashed through her mind.

Haider's pleading intensified as he saw Arlette's expression darken. Arianna, on the other hand, continued to stare at a particular poster at the other side of the hall.

A few seconds later, Arlette snapped out of her pondering demeanor. Ignoring Haider's pleas, she grabbed Arianna by her arm, jilting her awake.

"What are you staring at?" Arlette asked as she stared at the posters. Because of the distance from where she stood, she couldn't take a proper look.

"Huh? Me? Nothing. Let's not keep dean Hensley waiting," Arianna said while sporting a slight smile.

"Yeah… Let's go."

A portal suddenly opened underneath the ground, and it swallowed the two instructors. Only Haider remained in the large hall.

'I should have shut my mouth. I was on the up, but now I've used my mouth to f.u.c.k it up. Why did I have to be so petty? But… I didn't tell a lie. Varidan Towers will definitely remember everything I have done over the years… Yes. They definitely will…' Haider mused.

Tears had gathered at the sides of his eyes and he collapsed to his knees.

* * *

Hundred of kilometers away from Gido, Adam stared at the ground through the window of a flying ship. He donned a smile as he recounted the events that occurred over the last few days.

'I can't say I haven't enjoyed my time in Targarth, but after the incident in Valar, it's time to lie low. I hope that weasel, Dominic, continues to suffer. I wonder what happened to that Haider fella… If it wasn't for Varidan's rules, God, I would have loved to bash his face in…'

Adam giggled as different thoughts flashed through his mind. His appearance had changed yet again, and he didn't wear Varidan's unique uniform.

To the other passengers, he was an unstable middle-aged man. Adam, however, didn't care. He couldn't wait to return to Bricteva's tavern in Dratol.