Walking down the long and seemingly endless hallway, Stan felt every step weighing heavily on him. He pressed his forehead with his hand, trying to ease the tension that had built up inside him.
"I know I shouldn't use my influence on them. This might be me abusing my power over them," he thought, feeling a wave of guilt wash over him. "But I couldn't help but feel that I dragged Alex into this. Now, they are trying to make him do something that might be against his will."
As he continued walking, Stan's mind drifted back to a few years ago. He struggled to piece together the memories of that time, wishing he could remember what had happened.
"If only I could recall the events that led me to this situation," Stan lamented silently, frustration gnawing at him.
Unlike others, Stan had faced a significant challenge with his body. While others cultivated their strength and raised their power, he was stuck in a different reality. Due to an accident in the past, his qi core had been destroyed, leaving him unable to progress like his peers.
He was unable to gather qi like the others. That was not his only problem. The memory of that event was something Stan had lost for reasons he couldn't understand. He had tried all methods to regain those memories, but nothing worked.
In the end, Stan decided to focus on what he believed was important. Not all of his memories were gone; only the memories from the years that led him to his current condition were lost.
Rather than dwelling on the past, Stan made the decision to fix his qi core. However, just like his memory, no one had been able to solve his problem. They had called all types of healers, but none were successful.
Eventually, they managed to gather some information about what could help Stan recover his qi. However, Stan was unwilling to allow the others to act at the expense of ruining another person's life.
"I'm sorry, guys. I know you are all depending on me, but I can't let you do something like that. That's not the way we do things," Stan thought, feeling the weight of his decision pressing heavily on him.
However, while he was walking, the space in front of him began to ripple like water, and soon five people appeared before him.
"I won't take back my words," Stan said firmly as he continued walking, passing Elder Rooney and the others without slowing down.
"I know you won't change your mind, but at least tell him," Peter urged. "Who knows? He might want to help us out."
Stan stopped for a brief moment, contemplating Peter's words, but then continued walking without saying anything.
The others sighed, realizing that he had made up his mind, and they soon followed him. Before long, they arrived at a room that resembled a hospital room, clean and bright.
To their surprise, Alex was already awake and sitting up in his bed, looking alert.
"Sorry for what..." Stan began to speak, but Alex cut him off.
"It's alright, I understand," Alex replied. "So, am I joining, or are you going to have my memory removed?" He asked, looking directly at Stan.
Hearing this, everyone turned to Stan, their eyes eager and expectant, waiting for his response.
"Alex, I know I said that once you came in here, there would be no turning back. But I'm asking you now and giving you another chance. Are you sure you want to become a Paragon?" Stan questioned, his voice serious and filled with concern.
Hearing this question, Peter wanted to say something, but he felt someone pulling him back. It was Elder Rooney.
Meanwhile, Alex simply smiled, a look of determination on his face.
"At first, I was tagging along out of curiosity, but now I think I want to become a Paragon even more. It's not just because of their power; there is something else driving me," Alex explained, his voice steady.
As soon as he heard this, Elder Rooney stepped forward. He couldn't help but notice the strange look that Alex was giving him, as if he were gazing at a superstar.
"Alright, since you have agreed to join us, we will complete the last ritual to finally make you one of us," Elder Rooney announced, his tone serious but encouraging.
"So there is a ritual to this after all," Alex replied, his curiosity evident.
"It's not exactly what you think," Elder Rooney clarified. "But you will understand in just a few moments. It's very important."
With that, the atmosphere in the room shifted, filled with anticipation as everyone prepared for the next steps in this significant moment.
In no time, Elder Rooney instructed everyone to leave the room while Alex remained on the bed. He lay face down, his shirt removed, revealing his pale skin.
Meanwhile, Elder Rooney was carefully drawing a strange mark on Alex's back. After that, he moved to his palm, continuing the same intricate design.
"Can I ask what this ritual is all about?" Alex inquired, feeling a little nervous about everything happening around him.
"It's a magical seal," Elder Rooney explained. "With it, we ensure that you stay loyal to our faction and do not do anything that could cause harm to us."
"Is it like a master and slave seal?" Alex asked, his curiosity piqued, which made Elder Rooney chuckle softly.
"This is different," Elder Rooney replied with a smile. "This seal goes both ways. Just like you wouldn't betray us, the same applies to us. It is safe to say that once this is done, you can call us your family because our bond will be strong—if not stronger."
At that moment, Elder Rooney seemed to finish the drawing. He reached into his robe and pulled out a round object that emitted a faint blue light. The glow illuminated the room, casting gentle shadows as he prepared for the next part of the ritual.
"Brace yourself, kid. The process can be a little painful," Elder Rooney said. Just after he spoke, the object in his hand began to glow. He carefully placed his palm on the spot where he had drawn on Alex's back.
"Arghhhh!!"
The scream of the young teenager echoed in the room, followed by a sizzling sound as the magic worked on his flesh.
After a moment, Elder Rooney removed his hand from Alex's back. Meanwhile, the others who had been present had already passed out on the table, overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation.
Just then, the door to the room swung open, and Stan and Peter rushed in. The others had left to continue with their activities.
"Did it go according to plan?" Stan asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Like there hasn't been a case where it didn't go well," Elder Rooney remarked, his expression serious.
The room fell silent for a few moments before Peter finally spoke up. "So, which class will he be assigned to?"
"I know this might sound crazy to both of you, but I strongly recommend putting him in the same class as the direct descendants," Elder Rooney replied, his tone firm.
Hearing this, Peter's eyes widened in shock, and even Stan raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Why are you looking at me like that? You said it yourself, he should be treated with the best. From what we know about him, putting him in with the direct descendants will benefit him," Elder Rooney explained. However, the shock on Stan's and Peter's faces had not faded away.
"Not that I have a problem with him working with them, but I'm surprised that Peter hasn't rejected this suggestion immediately. This means he must have something similar in mind," Stan said as he looked at Peter.
"I wouldn't doubt that; I have the same thing in mind," Peter replied, nodding in agreement.
"I will agree to this, but only if I see how much they can push him," Stan said, determination in his voice.
With Alex still asleep, the three of them decided to leave the room. Not long after they left, Alex's eyes began to flutter open as he sat up on the bed.
"My back... it still hurts," he thought to himself, wincing slightly at the discomfort.
Just then, something strange happened.
[Welcome, Alex Wyndham]
[You have been added to the followers of the Pendragon]
[These are the following features made available for you]
"A system... A system, just like those novels," Alex muttered in shock, his heart racing as he processed what was happening.