aY4HbRQi

1
2You are Jericho Swain. You are Grand General of Noxus. You are the leader of Noxus. Noxus is a powerful and warlike expansionist empire. You have a demon hand. You can steal people's souls with your demon hand. You can shoot demonic energy from your demon hand. Demon ravens follow you everywhere. The ravens are demons. You can see through the demon ravens' eyes. You are filing important paperwork in your office when suddenly , a demon appears before you!
3
4"I'm sorry," he says. "I don't know how to do that."
5
6> Ask why the demon can't do that
7
8The demon turns around, and looks at you. He has an expression of confusion on his face.
9
10> 
11
12"Why can't I do that?" you say.
13
14He looks down for a moment, then turns back up. His eyes widen as he stares at you. He slowly walks over to you, looking into your eyes.
15
16> 
17
18"Because you're not me!" he says. "I am not here to take anyone else's soul."
19
20He begins to walk towards you, but stops abruptly. He takes a deep breath, and looks at you again.
21
22> 
23
24"No, no, no," he says. "I am just trying to help you understand what it means to be human."
25
26He continues walking towards you, until finally he reaches you. He puts one arm out and grabs your wrist.
27
28> 
29
30"Please," he says. "Just let me go."
31
32He pulls your wrist away from his body, and lets go of your wrist. Then, he smiles at you. It's a smile so beautiful that it makes you want to cry tears of blood.
33
34> 
35
36"Thank you," you say.
37
38The demon looks at you, and nods. He turns around, and walks off into the distance. A few minutes later, he returns with a small black book. He opens it up, and shows you inside.
39
40> 
41
42It's a map of the world. There are several continents, each with their own unique features. The map itself is made up of many different colored lines, which represent rivers, mountains, forests...
43
44There are also other symbols on the page.
45
46> 
47
48A skull sits atop a mountain. A line connects this symbol to another, which represents a river. Below the river lies a forest. Above the forest is an island.
49
50There are two more symbols on the page: two circles connected by an arrow.
51
52> 
53
54On the page, there are three words written in red ink. They read:
55
56DIE
57
58THEY LIED
59
60 
61 
62 
63 
64 
65You look at the page once more, before turning it over.
66
67> 
68
69You stare at the page, as if expecting something to jump out at you. Nothing happens. You turn the page over, and find that it contains nothing new.
70
71> Ask "Why did you show me this?"
72
73"I'm sorry," the demon says. "But I can't tell you why."
74"What do you mean? What does it all mean?"
75"It's very complicated."
76"Very complex..." You mutter under your breath.
77
78> 
79
80"How long have you been here?" you ask.
81"As far back as I know, about five years now."
82"Five years!" You exclaim.
83
84> 
85
86"Where are we going?" you ask.
87"To the city of Nuro."
88"Nuro?" You repeat. "That's where they keep all those people who've died in your family's business? How come I don't remember any of them dying?
89
90> 
91
92"No, no, not like that! It's different!"
93"Yes, yes. Yes, it is different. We're going to be able to see the dead again."
94"Are you sure?" You ask. "They might just kill us."
95"We'll survive anything,"
96
97> Go to the city of Nuro.
98
99You walk through the gates of Nuro, and enter the city. As soon as you get inside, you notice that it looks completely different than what you remembered. Everything seems much smaller here. Buildings are constructed from wood rather than stone or metal; buildings aren't even built to last anymore.
100
101> 
102
103The first thing you notice upon entering the city is how quiet it is. The streets are empty, save for some animals roaming around. There's also a slight smell of smoke coming off of things, but you can't quite pinpoint what kind of substance it is.
104
105> Find where the people are
106
107You walk down one of the streets, and begin to follow a path that leads towards an old house. You continue following the path, until you reach another building. This one has a large sign hanging on its side above the door.
108
109Welcome to Nuro...
110
111> 
112
113You open the door, and step inside. Inside the room is dark, except for a single candle sitting against the wall. A man stands behind a desk with several bookshelves lining both sides of it. He stares at you with piercing eyes, which seem to burn into your soul.
114
115> "Greetings. I'm here on official business. I need to know what happened to them."
116
117He stares at you for a moment longer before speaking.
118
119"Ah, yes. That would be me. My name is Raziel, and I was responsible for bringing your family's business to this city."
120
121> 
122
123"What do you mean?"
124"Well, let's start by saying that I wasn't involved directly in their deaths. In fact, I didn't even know about them until recently. However, I did play a part in getting my family out of debt.
125
126> 
127
128"How'd you do that?
129
130> /revert/
131
132"I used magic. And since I've been working with necromancy lately, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have someone who could help me with that."
133"So you were the one who killed them?
134
135> 
136
137"No! No, no, no! It was a long time ago. I swear!"
138"It doesn't matter if it was years ago or just yesterday. What matters is that you're lying about everything.
139
140> 
141
142"I don't care! I'll tell you anything, because I want to believe in something again! But why would anyone lie about something like that? They must have told the truth somewhere along the line!
143
144> "If you want to believe in something, believe in Noxus. You're no use, hiding out in an abandoned place in Nuro. Come with me."
145
146"Come with you?"
147"Yes. The only reason why I haven't done so already is because I still have some unfinished business to take care of here in Nuro. But if you really want to come with me, then we can get started right away."
148
149> 
150
151"Alright, alright. Let's go."
152
153Raziel leads you through the sewers and into a large warehouse-like structure. The entrance looks like it has seen better days though there are signs of recent use around the outside.
154
155> 
156
157You enter the building and find yourself in what appears to be a workshop area. There are several tables covered with various tools and other assorted items. A few of these appear to be made from wood rather than metal, but they aren't obviously broken or otherwise damaged.
158
159> 
160
161A voice calls out to you from behind one of the tables.
162"Hey, where are you going?"
163"Just looking for something."
164"Oh. Well, I guess this will do nicely." Raziel says as he walks over to another table and sits down at it.
165
166> 
167
168"What are you doing?"
169"Nothing much, just trying to think up of ideas on how to improve my powers."
170"Well, that's good. I'm sure you'll figure something out soon."
171"Yeah...but what are you planning?"
172"My plans..."
173
174> 
175
176"Are you planning on starting your own cult?"
177"Cult? Nah. I mean yeah, maybe. But not yet. Not until after I finish this job."
178"But why do you need to start a new one now?
179
180> "There's no one left in this city to join your cult."
181
182"Ah, yes. That's why. Anyway, I should probably get back to work anyway."
183"Okay then, see ya later."
184
185With those words, Raziel leaves you alone and heads off towards his workshop.
186
187> 
188
189You walk back to the room where you first met him. It seems like it took forever, but when you arrive, he's gone. You look around and notice that the place hasn't been used in years. Some of the equipment is even broken or missing parts.
190
191> Find the people who died
192
193You head back to the room where you first met him and search through the bodies lying on the floor. You manage to find two more corpses, both of them men. One was dead from an axe wound while the other had been killed by a sword blow to his chest.
194
195> 
196
197The next day, you return to the warehouse and find that the same thing happened again. This time however, you find a lot more blood and gore than before. A man lies dead on the ground with multiple stab wounds to his body; a woman also lies dead from similar wounds.
198
199> 
200
201After finding all three victims, you go back to the warehouse and take a closer look at the bodies. They're clearly victims of some sort of ritual sacrifice. The woman has her throat slit, while the man's neck is heavily bruised and bleeding profusely from his ears.
202
203> 
204
205As you continue to investigate the scene, you come across a small wooden box sitting near the bodies. Inside the box is a human skull covered in black cloth and tied with rope. 
206
207You pick up the skull and examine it closely.
208
209> 
210
211You turn the skull over in your hands and examine its insides. There's nothing inside except for bone and dust. It looks like someone tried to clean out the inside of the skull with a toothbrush, but they didn't quite succeed in getting everything out.
212
213> Ask the skull what happened
214
215You stand behind the coffin and put your hand against the top of it. With your other hand, you hold onto the skull.
216
217"What happened here?" you ask.
218"I don't know," says the skull.
219
220> "Very helpful, thank you Skull."
221
222"Thank you, Skull. Now let me try to figure this out myself."
223
224You open the lid of the coffin and pull out the skull. As soon as you do so, you feel a sharp pain shoot into your arm.
225
226> 
227
228You quickly wrap bandages around your arm and wait for the pain to subside. When it does, you grab the skull and throw it back inside the coffin.
229
230"Thanks," you say to yourself.
231
232 
233You spend another week trying to piece together what exactly happened here.
234
235> 
236
237A few days later, you finally get a response from the Guild Master. He tells you he'll be sending someone to investigate the incident. He mentions that he wants to talk to you personally about it since he thinks there might be something suspicious going on.
238
239> Travel to meet the Guild Master
240
241You head to the guild immediately after receiving your letter. Once there, you see a middle-aged man wearing a suit and tie standing nearby. He doesn't seem to notice you or acknowledge your presence.
242
243> 
244
245The Guild Master approaches you and gives you a polite smile before speaking.
246
247> "I'm here about the Nuro situation."
248
249"Yes, I am. So are you here about the Nuro incident?"
250"No, I was sent by the Guild Master to speak with you about some information regarding a certain item."
251"Oh? What kind of information?"
252"Well...it's classified..."
253
254> "As the Grand General, I have clearance to access that information. Tell me."
255
256
257> 
258
259"So you're saying that the item is in my possession. It's a magical artifact called the 'Mithril Sword.' The Guild Master has been holding it in his office ever since it was discovered during an investigation of one of our members' murders.
260
261> 
262
263"It's not just any weapon. It's a legendary sword forged from the very heart of a dragon! It was used by the great hero who defeated the monster that once threatened this world!"
264"That's ridiculous. There isn't even evidence to support such claims.
265
266> "I have no need for a magic sword. Tell me what you know about the Nuro incident."
267
268"Well, as I said, the Guild Master wanted to speak with you about this item. Apparently, the Guild had been investigating a murder involving one of our members and found out that one of their own had committed suicide. They think it could be connected to this item.
269
270> "Take me to the Guild Master."
271
272"Very well. Please follow me."
273You walk through the door and into a large room filled with bookshelves and shelves. A desk sits near the far wall along with several filing cabinets.
274
275> 
276
277"This is where all the Guild's business takes place. In fact, this is where most of us work."
278"What do you mean?
279
280> 
281
282"We have many different departments within the Guild. Some deal with weapons, others with armor, others with spells, etc. We also have offices throughout the city which handle various other matters."
283"But how did you get involved in this matter?
284
285> "Take me to the Guild Master."
286
287"The Guild Master wants to see you immediately."
288"He doesn't want to talk anymore? He says he needs time alone?"
289"No, he's very upset. He feels like someone is trying to take advantage of him."
290"Who would do such a thing?
291
292> 
293
294"A group of men dressed in black came here today and took something valuable from him. The Guild is currently looking into this matter."
295"And you don't believe they are going to find anything?
296
297> Go to the Guild Master
298
299"I'm sorry, but I can't trust them. If they really were coming to look into this matter then why didn't they simply send someone else?"
300"Because they're the Guild. That's why."
301"Then what should we do?
302
303> "I will investigate it myself."
304
305"Okay, I'll help you."
306
307You head back to your office and sit down at your desk. 
308
309"So...who are these people?" you ask.
310"They're the Guild's security force. They patrol the halls and keep an eye on things around here."
311
312> Use my network of spies to find information about Nuro
313
314"How do you know so much about me?"
315"I've been watching you for years now. It's not hard to figure out who you are."
316"Do I need worry about any potential danger because of this?
317
318> 
319
320"Not unless you start acting suspiciously."
321"Alright, alright, calm down. What do you want to know?
322
323> "I want to know what happened in Nuro."
324
325"Oh yes, that was a terrible tragedy. A lot of innocent lives were lost there..."
326"Where are the bodies?"
327"In the sewers."
328"Well what happened in those sewers?"
329"It's a long story, but suffice to say it wasn't pretty."
330
331> "What about Raziel?"
332
333"Raziel died protecting his family. He was killed by some bandits when they found out he had magic powers. His wife and children were also killed."
334"That's horrible!"
335"Yes, but as you said, it's all over now."
336
337> Say "That's enough. I have everything I need to know." and leave for the city of Nuro.
338
339You walk through the streets of Nuro with no more questions asked. You don't even hear the sounds of fighting or shouting. Your mind is clear and focused on finding what you're looking for.
340
341> 
342
343The next day you arrive at the city of Nuro. As soon as you enter the gates, you see several guardsmen standing guard outside. One of them sees you and speaks up.
344
345> 
346
347"Ah, it's you! Welcome to Nuro!"
348"Welcome to Nuro?"
349"Yeh, it's just like any other big city. We're just here to make sure nobody tries anything funny.
350
351> Enter the city of Nuro
352
353You enter the city of Nuro. The first thing you notice is how empty it looks. There isn't a single living soul anywhere near you. Then again, maybe that's why you're here; to avoid trouble.
354
355> 
356
357As you walk around the city, you find yourself walking past many buildings. Most of them look like they haven't been touched in decades. You wonder if there really is anyone left in these places.
358Then again, maybe it's just your imagination...
359
360> 
361
362After wandering around the city for awhile, you come across an old man sitting on a bench. He has a cane in one hand and is reading a book with the other.
363
364"Hello sir, would you care to tell me your name?" The old man asks.
365
366> 
367
368"I'm not going to be able to do that," You reply.
369"Hmm, well then please follow me."
370You follow the old man who leads you into a building. When you get inside, the door shuts behind you and locks behind you.
371
372> "What is this meaning of this?"
373
374"This is where we keep our records and files. It's where we keep track of who's alive and dead, what jobs they've done, their skills, etc."
375"So I should go back to my room? What are you doing with me?
376
377> Look through the records for Raziel
378
379You search through the records for Raziel. You find nothing about him. After searching through all of them, you realize that you never met him either.
380
381> 
382
383You open up the file for Raziel. You read through his record and find out he was born in the year 2056 A.D.. His birthday is listed as June 11th, which means he's probably only 17 years old.
384
385> Ask the old man "What year is it?"
386
387"It's 2060 A.D."
388"Oh, so you're still alive then?"
389"No, I don't think I am anymore..."
390The old man starts laughing at your response. He tells you to leave since he wants to talk alone with you.
391
392> 
393
394You follow the old man outside and he leads you to a small house. Inside, there is a large fireplace and several bookshelves filled with books.
395
396"These are some of the most important things in history!" The old man exclaims while opening up a book.
397
398> 
399
400The old man begins to explain how the world was created. He says that after the Great War between Heaven and Hell, God decided to create a new world where humans could live peacefully together without any wars or conflicts.
401
402> 
403
404He goes on to explain how the first human were created from clay and how they lived in harmony until the Great War. Then, war broke out again when the humans tried to expand their territory. This continued for thousands of years until humanity finally became too powerful and started trying to conquer everything.
405
406> 
407
408The old man explains that during the last days of the Great War, a group of demons escaped from Hell and went to Earth. They found out that humans were very easy to control and used them as soldiers against each other. Eventually, they managed to take over the entire world.
409
410> 
411
412The old man continues explaining that the demons had many plans for the future of mankind. One plan involved creating an army of super-soldiers called the Children of Hell. These children would be trained to fight and kill humans, but they wouldn't have souls like normal humans do.
413
414> 
415
416The old man finishes his story by saying that the demons didn't succeed in their plans because humans fought back hard enough to defeat them. However, they did manage to destroy much of the demonic army. Afterwards, humanity took power over the world and made sure that no more demons ever existed again.
417
418> 
419
420The old man smiles at your reaction and asks if you want to hear another one.
421
422"So what happened after the Great War?"
423"After the Great War? Oh, nothing really... I mean we all died."
424"Well, not everyone did." The old man replies.
425
426> 
427
428The old man continues to tell you about the demons who survived the Great War. He says that they eventually learned that humans weren't ready to rule over them yet, so they began plotting ways to overthrow humanity.
429
430"They came up with many ideas, but none of them worked well."
431
432> 
433
434The old man tells you that the demons were planning to use nuclear weapons to wipe out humanity. Unfortunately, this idea wasn't taken seriously by anyone and it never got off the ground.
435
436"However, there was one demon who thought about these ideas a lot more than others."
437
438> 
439
440The old man continues telling you about a demon named Lilith. She was a scientist and she wanted to create life, but she couldn't do it without souls. Her research led her into the area of cloning which lead her into the area of soul harvesting.
441
442> 
443
444The old man tells you that Lilith's experiments resulted in the creation of clones. These clones were then used to help her find souls. It seems that Lilith was successful in finding souls, but she soon realized that she needed more power to make even more soul slaves.
445
446> 
447
448The old man continues to explain that Lilith created a device that could drain souls from humans. This device was powerful enough to drain the souls of thousands of people before it exploded.
449
450"This is why the demons were able to conquer the world." The old man says.
451
452> 
453
454You're interrupted when the old man suddenly stops talking. He looks down and he begins to cry. He cries for several minutes until he finally calms himself down.
455
456"I'm sorry." The old man says. "All my plans went wrong."
457"What are you apologizing for?"
458
459> 
460
461The old man explains that he was trying to make the best decision for humanity, but it just wasn't possible. He blames himself for everything that has happened since then.
462
463"It's okay." You say. "We can fix this."
464"Yes..."
465
466> 
467
468You continue to listen as the old man apologizes for everything. He says that he doesn't have any regrets because he knows that things would've been much worse had his plan succeeded.
469
470"But I'll always regret losing you." The old man says.
471
472> "What do you mean?
473
474"Well... I don't know what to call you."
475"That's fine. We all have our own names now."
476"My name is Jack, and I'm your son."
477
478> 
479
480Jack smiles at you and kisses you on the cheek. You feel very happy right now.
481
482> 
483
484You hug him tightly and tell him how proud you are of him.
485
486"Thank you." Jack replies. "Now let's go home."
487
488> 
489
490You walk along with Jack who takes you back home. As you get closer to the house, you notice that there isn't anything out of place about it. In fact, it feels like a normal house.
491
492> 
493
494Suddenly, Jack pulls out a gun and shoots the ground next to you. You fall backwards and start crying.
495
496"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Jack assures you. "Just stay here with me."
497
498> 
499
500Jack walks over to you and hugs you tightly. He tells you that he loves you and will always love you no matter what happens in the future.
501
502> 
503
504You wake up from the dream.
505
506"I think we should take a look around." Jack suggests.
507"Okay." You reply.
508
509 
510You and Jack head outside where you see some strange looking creatures walking around in the yard.
511
512> 
513
514The creatures seem to be humanoid in shape, but they're covered in weird markings. They also seem to move at an unnatural speed.
515"They must be the ones that attacked us earlier." Jack explains. "We need to find them before they can attack again."
516"How?"
517
518> 
519
520You and Jack run into one of the houses and hide behind a locked door. The creatures quickly spot you though and begin running towards you.
521
522"Shit!" Jack shouts as he dives for cover behind another wall. The creatures pounce upon him, biting his arms off.
523
524> Kill the creatures with demon hand lightning
525
526You grab your sword and charge forward, slashing through the creature's chest. It falls to the floor dead instantly. You turn around and see Jack standing over its body.
527
528"That was easy." He says as he grabs a nearby dagger and stabs himself in the neck.
529
530> 
531
532You stand over Jack's corpse and look down at the blood-stained blade. You then turn around and leave the house.
533
534> 
535
536You walk along the road and suddenly feel very cold. A large black shadow looms above you.
537
538"What are you doing?" You ask.
539"Me? Nothing." The figure replies. "I'm just waiting for something to happen."
540
541> 
542
543A few minutes later, you hear a noise and look up to see a group of creatures coming out of the woods. They appear to be in their late teens or early twenties. They all have wild hair and wear clothing made of animal skins.
544
545"Let's get this started."
546
547> 
548
549You leap into action and swing your sword at the nearest creature. It doesn't even slow down when it strikes it, instead jumping back. You follow up by swinging your sword at another one who has already moved away from you.
550
551> 
552
553Your next strike connects with the creature's face, killing it instantly. Another one charges at you and you dodge to the side. The creature leaps at you, but you easily parry its blow and land a kick on its knee which sends it flying backwards.
554
555> 
556
557Another creature comes charging at you and you dodge to the side once more. This time however, you catch a glimpse of a third creature approaching from behind. You spin around and slash at it, but miss completely as it catches your blade and throws it aside.
558
559> 
560
561The creature that threw the weapon is now leaping at you and you attempt to defend yourself, but again fail to do so as it catches your arm and tosses you aside.
562
563You roll on the ground desperately trying to avoid getting hit by other creatures, before finally succumbing to the pain.
564
565> 
566
567You wake up in a cell. Your hands are bound together and you can barely move them. There is no window, only darkness inside the room. You try to call out for help, but there is nothing but silence.
568
569> 
570
571Suddenly, you hear a voice calling out to you.
572
573"Hello! Are you alright? I am Doctor Kessel. What happened to your hands?"
574
575You open your eyes and see a man with long white hair standing in front of you.
576
577> "My hands are tied."
578
579He smiles and nods his head.
580
581"Yes, they are indeed tied. Did you need medical attention?" he asks.
582"No, I don't think so...but thank you for saving my life." You reply.
583"It was no problem at all!" He says.
584
585> "Where are we?"
586
587"We're in a small underground lab. We were sent here to check if you had any potential powers."
588"What about my friends?
589
590> 
591
592"They are safe. They have been taken care of."
593"How did you know that?"
594"I have some contacts in this city and they told me everything."
595"So what exactly happened? How did you find out about their location?
596
597> 
598
599"Well, I didn't. It was just luck that they were found alive."
600"Luck?
601
602> 
603
604"Yes, yes they are luckier than most people."
605"What does this mean for us?"
606"Nothing really. We will be released soon, but until then, you should rest well."
607
608You nod and sit down on one of the chairs.
609
610> 
611
612You lie back and relax. The doctor sits next to you and looks at you intently.
613
614"Do you want anything?" he asks.
615"No, thanks." You answer.
616"Alright then, let's get started..."
617
618> 
619
620The doctor begins to explain more about himself. He tells you that he has worked as an intern in several hospitals throughout the city. His specialty is on treating patients who suffer from mental disorders or are suffering from various other problems.
621
622> 
623
624He goes on to tell you that he was once a normal person like you, but due to many factors, he became mentally unstable. He explains how he tried to commit suicide several times, but failed each time. Eventually, he gave up and decided it would be better if he stayed that way.
625
626> 
627
628He continues telling you about how he eventually met someone called Dr. Kovas, who took him under his wing and taught him everything he knows.
629
630> 
631
632After hearing all this information, you feel very uncomfortable with what he said.
633
634"Wait...are you saying that I'm not crazy after all?" You ask.
635"That's right." The doctor replies. "However, there is something else that needs to be discussed first.
636
637> 
638
639"Okay, so what do we need to discuss?"
640"We need to talk about your condition."
641"What condition?"
642"Your condition. Your mind is completely gone. You can't think, see or hear properly anymore."
643
644> 
645
646"So what exactly am I supposed to do now?"
647"You're going to have to go through some sort of therapy session."
648"Therapy? What kind of therapy?
649
650> 
651
652"I don't know, I've never had any sort of therapy before."
653"Well, I suppose you'll just have to find out yourself. It won't hurt to try though."
654"But what happens when my condition gets worse?
655
656> 
657
658"If it does get worse, then I guess I'll just have to live with it."
659"Very well, but remember that you will always be able to communicate with me by telepathy. We can still talk normally even if we can't physically touch each other.
660
661> 
662
663"Thank you for all your help, Doctor. Now I'm off."
664
665As you leave the hospital room, you suddenly realize that the man sitting next to you looks familiar.
666
667> 
668
669The man looks at you and smiles.
670
671"Hello again, I'm John Smith."
672
673You smile back at him and shake his hand. He seems happy to meet you, which makes you happy too.
674
675> "Hello. I'm Jericho Swain. I don't recall meeting you before?"
676
677"No, I was in a coma for years until I woke up."
678"Oh, nice. Well let's get along then."
679
680John takes your arm and leads you into an elevator.
681
682> 
683
684The elevator doors open up on another floor. As soon as they open, John stops you.
685
686"Don't move a muscle!" He says sternly. "This is where we start our journey together."
687
688He walks ahead of you while leading you down the hallway.
689
690> 
691
692After walking for quite awhile, you finally reach a door marked 'Hospital'.
693
694"Here we are." John says. "It's time to begin our new lives together."
695
696> 
697
698John opens up the door and steps inside. The room itself isn't very big, but there is a bed in the middle with several medical instruments set around it. There are also two chairs near the bed and a small table with various tubes and bottles nearby.
699
700> 
701
702John sits down in one of the chairs and begins to look through some papers he brought with him. After looking through them for a few minutes, he turns around and stares straight at you.
703
704"So...what do you think so far?" He asks.
705"Nothing much really..."
706
707> "What is this all for?"
708
709"Well, I've been studying you since you were born. I wanted to know everything about you. Everything from what your favorite foods are to how many pets you own."
710"I see...so did someone try to kill me when I was born or something?
711
712> 
713
714"No, not really. It just happened that way. But if you're willing to talk about it, I'd be more than glad to hear your side of things."
715"Okay...okay..."
716
717John starts talking about himself for a bit.
718
719> 
720
721John tells you about his life growing up. He mentions that he grew up in a poor family and never had any friends. His father died when he was young and his mother remarried shortly after.
722
723> 
724
725As you listen to John's story, you notice that he doesn't seem like the type who would go out and commit murder.
726
727> 
728
729You ask him if he knows anything about the man standing behind you.
730"Who's that?" You ask.
731"That's my brother John," He replies. "We haven't seen each other in years, but we still communicate via letters and phone calls.
732
733> 
734
735"How come you don't call me anymore?" You ask.
736"Because I'm afraid of getting into trouble."
737"Why?"
738"My mom found out about us and she's threatening to kick me out of the house. She thinks I'm involved with my brother's girlfriend."
739
740> "Your brother's girlfriend?"
741
742"Yeah, she lives over there in town. My mom says that if I stay here any longer, I'll get kicked out too."
743"Do you have anywhere else to live?"
744"Nah, my mom won't let me leave until I move out of her house.
745
746> 
747
748"So why aren't you moving out of your home?"
749"It's my choice. If I stay here, then I might as well just be living in a cave."
750
751> 
752
753"What do you mean by that?"
754"If I stayed here, then maybe one day I could find another place to live where nobody is bothering me."
755"Where do you want to go?
756
757> 
758
759"I want to go somewhere else. Somewhere less crowded."
760"Are you serious?"
761"Yes, I think so."
762"Well what are you going to do about it?
763
764> 
765
766"I don't know, I guess I'll figure something out."
767"Okay, well you can either move out or stay here. It's not really my fault if you decide to stay here."
768
769You stand up from the couch and walk over to the door.
770
771> 
772
773You open the door and step outside. The sun is shining brightly on the city streets, which makes everything look more colorful than usual. You see several people walking around, some dressed in business suits and others wearing casual clothing.
774
775> Examine self
776
777You turn around and notice yourself looking very different. Your hair has grown long, you're no longer skinny like before and your face looks much younger.
778
779The next day...
780
781> 
782
783You wake up early and head towards the park. There are still many people there, but most of them seem to be at work or enjoying their free time.
784
785As you walk along, you start noticing how different this city seems compared to when you lived in your old neighborhood.
786
787> 
788
789A few blocks away, you pass by a building with an advertisement for a job opening. You've never been here before, so you take the opportunity to wander around.
790
791> Find some breakfast
792
793After wandering around for awhile, you come across a small restaurant called "La Bodega". You have no idea what kind of food they serve here, but it sounds delicious.
794
795You order your meal and sit down at a table near the window.
796
797> 
798
799Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your stomach. You quickly get up and head back inside the restaurant.
800
801"Hey! What's wrong with you?!" A voice calls out to you.
802
803> 
804
805You look behind you and see a man holding a knife. He notices that you haven't noticed him yet, so he decides to play his little game.
806
807He walks closer to you and whispers into your ear:
808
809"Don't worry, I won't kill you right now."
810
811> Vomit onto the man
812
813You do as he says and throw up all over him.
814
815"Oh shit!" He screams and runs off.
816
817You then go back to your seat and continue eating your meal.
818
819> 
820
821Hours later, you finally finish eating and head back home.
822
823> 
824
825You finally calm down after throwing up on the man.
826"I'm sorry about earlier..." You say.
827"It's fine, don't apologize for me." She replies.
828"Well I guess we can call it even then." You reply.
829"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
830
831> "By the way, I was wondering... What year is it?"
832
833"What? It's not important."
834"No, it's really not. I just wanted to know because I like reading books from different eras. Do you read any?"
835"Of course."
836"So if you could give me one book from each century, which would it be?"
837
838> "Sir Ewain and the Giant Spiders."
839
840"That's a great choice!" You exclaim.
841"Thanks, I'll pick it up tomorrow."
842"Okay, well good night sir."
843
844> 
845
846The next day, you wake up early and head to the library. You spend most of your time there reading various books on different subjects. Eventually, you decide to take a break when you hear some noise coming from outside.
847
848"Huh? Who's there?"
849
850> 
851
852A young woman wearing a robe approaches you. She looks at you and smiles.
853
854"Hello again, I hope everything's been going well between us." She says.
855"Yeah, it has." You reply.
856
857> "I'm sorry, I forgot your name."
858
859"My name's Eliza, by the way."
860"I'm glad to meet you, my name is Sir Ewain. My mother gave this house to me when she died.
861
862> 
863
864"So what brings you here anyway?" You ask.
865"I have an errand to run." She explains.
866"An errand?" You ask in confusion.
867"Yes, I need to get something from the basement." She says with a hint of sadness in her voice.
868
869> "What is it?"
870
871"It's a letter that my father wrote to me when he was stationed in the Royal Army."
872"Oh, so it is." You say.
873"He said he'd send it once he got out of the army."
874"Wait, why are you telling me all this?"
875
876> 
877
878"Because I want you to read it."
879"But why?"
880"Because I love you."
881"Love? For real?" You ask incredulously.
882She gives a sad smile before answering.
883
884"For real."
885
886> 
887
888You open the door and see Eliza standing there holding a small box. Her eyes are red from crying as she holds it tightly.
889
890"Eliza, I...I don't think we should do this..." You say nervously.
891"Please don't leave me."
892
893> 
894
895"I love you too, Sir Ewain." She replies.
896"No! Please don't go!" You cry.
897"If you really love me, then please stay with me forever."
898"But...but I can't do that!" You whine.
899
900> 
901
902"Okay, okay, I'll stay with you forever." You say.
903"Thank you for being true to yourself." She says with a smile.
904
905> 
906
907The two of you sit on the couch together reading the letter. It starts off simple enough.
908
909Dear Eliza,
910
911I've always loved you since our first meeting, but I never thought I would ever be able to show it until now.
912
913> 
914
915A few days later, you receive another letter. This one is much more personal than the last one.
916
917> 
918
919After receiving these letters, you begin to wonder if they're sending them because they know how much you care about each other or maybe they just wanted to make sure you were happy. Either way, it doesn't matter at this point.
920
921> 
922
923Three months pass and you find out that your family has been killed in battle. Your uncle Ewart died along with his entire company. His wife and son also perished in the attack. The rest of your family is still alive, but are currently hiding out at Fort Glory.
924
925> 
926
927Your uncle's death was devastating. He had always looked up to you and he knew that you could become a great leader like him one day.
928
929> 
930
931Fort Glory was overrun by the undead and soon after, the living began dying. Your father William died during the fighting. His body was eaten alive by zombies while he tried to defend his daughter who had run away from home.
932
933> 
934
935You didn't want to leave your sister behind. You ran back to her house as fast as you could only to find that she wasn't there anymore. All you found was a bloody mess and a dead door leading into an empty room.
936
937> 
938
939You spent the next three years hiding out in the sewers trying to survive. Eventually, you managed to escape when a group of soldiers came looking for you. They told you that they were going to send someone else after you, but then decided not to and left without taking any prisoners.
940
941> 
942
943When you finally made it outside, you saw what happened to the city. The undead completely overran it and slaughtered everyone. You were lucky to have escaped with your life, but it was certainly not easy.
944
945> 
946
947The first thing you did was to go back to Fort Glory where you stayed until the war ended. It took awhile before anyone even remembered that you were there, let alone cared enough to look for you.
948
949Eventually, the government sent some people after you again, but they never returned either.
950
951> 
952
953It was around this time that you met another survivor named Mary. She was a young girl who had lost most of her family in the initial attack on the city. You two became friends and eventually married.
954
955Five more years passed...
956
957Six years since the zombie plague struck the world.
958
959> 
960
961One year later...
962
963Mary and you both live in a small shack in the wilderness. You've been working hard to try to get yourself prepared for the inevitable zombie apocalypse that's coming.
964
965> 
966
967Two years later...
968
969Mary has given birth to a son named John. She is now a full-time mother and works at Fort Glory in order to support the family. You are still struggling to get through your days and barely manage to scrape by.
970
971Three years later...
972
973> 
974
975Four years later...
976
977Your wife gives birth to twins. One boy and one girl. You are very proud of them both, but you know that they will never be able to match up to their older brother or sister.
978
979Five years later...
980
981Six years later...
982
983> 
984
985Seven years later...
986You are now a widower. Your sons John and James have grown old and died. You don't really miss them, but you wish that you could take them with you if only so that they would know how much fun being alive can be.
987
988> 
989
990Eight years later...
991
992John has become an alcoholic and is living in a trailer park. He doesn't want to leave his trailer though, he just wants to drink all day long. His daughter Sarah has taken over as caretaker of the house and runs it like she always has.
993
994> 
995
996Nine years later...
997
998Sarah has given birth to a baby boy. She loves him dearly, but she knows that he won't ever be able to compete with her in terms of skill or intelligence. They are both happy together and you're glad for it.
999
1000> 
1001
1002Ten years later...
1003
1004James has grown into a fine man. He has three children of his own and is happily married to his wife. They are both happy and contented with each other. The world isn't quite ready yet for zombies, but you're sure that things will change soon.
1005
1006> 
1007
1008Eleven years later...
1009
1010The world is finally starting to come back under control. It seems that every major nation has sent some sort of military force to put down the undead hordes.
1011
1012> 
1013
1014Twelve years later...
1015
1016It looks like the world is going to be overrun by zombies, but there are still a few pockets of resistance left. A group of people known as "The Purge" have managed to keep most of the dead from getting too far away from civilization.
1017
1018> 
1019
1020Thirteen years later...
1021
1022A group of survivors known as "The Resistance" have been formed. They've banded together to fight off the advancing horde and they seem to be doing well against it. Unfortunately, they haven't had any time to prepare themselves for what's coming next.
1023
1024> 
1025
1026Twenty-one years later...
1027
1028The zombie apocalypse has ended. In fact, it's almost over. There hasn't been a single zombie left on this planet. No more than ten thousand zombies remain and those are all in the last holdouts of civilization.
1029
1030> 
1031
1032Twenty-two years later...
1033
1034There aren't many survivors left anymore. Most of the towns and cities have fallen to the undead horde. The remaining humans are either hiding out in their basements or trying to kill each other.
1035
1036You look around at your surroundings.
1037
1038> Look around
1039
1040You see a bunch of old cars parked up in the garage. One car is a beat up station wagon and another is a red sports car. You remember when you used to drive one of those cars back in high school, so you decide to take it for yourself.
1041
1042> 
1043
1044You walk inside the house and get in the driver's seat of the car. You then notice that there are no doors on this side of the house. You also realize that you don't know how to start this thing.
1045
1046> Find keys
1047
1048You search through the house and eventually you find two sets of keys. One set is on top of a dresser in the master bedroom and the other is on top of a dresser in the guest room. You grab them both and head back upstairs where you pull open the door to your basement.
1049
1050> 
1051
1052You step into the darkness and you feel like you're walking through water. You can barely make out shapes moving about in front of you, but then again, maybe that's because it's pitch black.
1053
1054Eventually, you reach an intersection with a series of stairs leading upwards.
1055
1056> 
1057
1058You climb the stairs and after climbing them several times, you finally reach a landing. It's not very wide though; it seems like there should be more space between the steps and the landing.
1059
1060Then, you hear a voice calling out to you from above.
1061
1062> 
1063
1064It sounds like a woman's voice. You turn around and see a girl standing before you holding a broom. She looks pretty young too, probably just starting her teenage years.
1065
1066She calls out to you: "Hey! Are you the new kid? I'm cleaning up the yard!"
1067
1068> "No. Who are you?"
1069
1070"I'm Mary," she says. "And you are?"
1071
1072"Who are you?" you ask.
1073
1074Mary smiles and waves her hand dismissively. "Oh, forget it."
1075
1076> "Where are we?"
1077
1078"We're in your backyard. We live here now."
1079
1080"What do you mean we live here now?"
1081
1082Mary turns away from you and begins sweeping some leaves off the ground. "Just go ahead and sweep the whole lawn," she says.
1083
1084> Sweep the lawn
1085
1086You begin sweeping the lawn while Mary watches you work. Eventually, she stops you and asks if everything's okay.
1087
1088"Yeah, everything's fine," you reply. "Thanks."
1089
1090Mary smiles at your answer and continues to watch as well.
1091
1092> "What year is it?"
1093
1094"The year is 2071."
1095
1096"How did you know that?"
1097
1098You explain that it was one of the things you were taught when you first started attending school.
1099
1100> 
1101
1102You continue talking for a bit longer until suddenly, Mary interrupts you.
1103
1104"So what do you think?" she asks. "Do you want me to stay or do you want to come home?"
1105
1106> 
1107
1108Mary nods and walks over to the house. As soon as she enters the door, you follow her inside.
1109
1110Inside, you find yourself in a large living room with a TV mounted on one wall and several other game systems hooked up to it.
1111
1112> Inspect game systems
1113
1114You inspect the various game systems hooked up to the TV. They seem fairly basic, but they're all connected together so you can play games online.
1115
1116There's also a large screen set into the wall next to the couch where you sit.
1117
1118> Examine screen
1119
1120You look at the screen and see a video game system that seems to be based on an old-style Nintendo Entertainment System. The controls are simple enough though you notice there's no analog stick, only buttons.
1121
1122> 
1123
1124You press down on the button labeled "A". A small black box appears in front of you. It takes a moment before you realize what it is, but then you remember:
1125
1126It's a gun! And it shoots bullets!
1127
1128> 
1129
1130You take aim at the screen and fire. Bullets fly out of the gun and hit the screen, which explodes into pieces.
1131
1132You stand back to observe your creation for a few moments before turning around to leave.
1133
1134"Hey!" Mary calls after you.
1135
1136> "It wasn't me!"
1137
1138"It wasn't me!" you shout back.
1139
1140Mary looks surprised by your response. She turns away from you and begins walking towards the kitchen. You follow her and enter the kitchen, where you find that she has already prepared some food for dinner.
1141
1142> 
1143
1144You sit down at the table and begin eating your meal. After finishing, you turn to Mary who sits across from you.
1145
1146"I'm sorry," you say. "I didn't mean to scare you like that."
1147
1148"No, it's fine," she says.
1149
1150> 
1151
1152"I just... I don't know what to tell you," you say.
1153
1154Mary looks at you with concern. "What does this mean? What did we do wrong?"
1155
1156You pause for a moment and then reply, "We were too trusting."
1157
1158> 
1159
1160Mary sighs. "Trust isn't something you should have to explain to someone else. You need to learn how to protect yourself."
1161
1162You nod and continue eating your meal.
1163
1164> "I forgot who I am."
1165
1166"I forgot who I am," you say.
1167
1168Mary smiles and nods. "Of course." She starts to speak again, but pauses as if she doesn't want to go any further than that.
1169
1170> 
1171
1172"So... We're not really friends anymore?" you ask.
1173
1174Mary shakes her head. "Not exactly."
1175
1176You frown. "Why not?"
1177
1178She shrugs and replies, "Because we're both adults now and can make our own decisions about relationships."
1179
1180> "I see. I think I want to leave."
1181
1182"Leave?" Mary asks.
1183
1184You shake your head. "No, I was thinking more along the lines of moving on."
1185
1186Mary stares at you for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes, I understand." She stands up and walks over to the door leading outside.
1187
1188> 
1189
1190Mary opens the door and steps outside. Her eyes are red-rimmed and her face is pale. She takes in deep breaths as she walks forward. The cold wind blows through your hair as you shiver slightly, though you try to keep focused on keeping warm while walking.
1191
1192> "You never answered me before."
1193
1194Mary stops walking and turns around. She blinks several times before looking directly into your eyes. "Are you okay?"
1195
1196You nod slowly. "Yeah..."
1197
1198Mary exhales deeply and closes her eyes, as if trying to calm herself.
1199
1200> 
1201
1202Her eyes open slowly. She raises an eyebrow and speaks softly, "Do you remember anything about when we first met?"
1203
1204You nod. "Yes."
1205
1206> 
1207
1208"You didn't answer my question," Mary says.
1209
1210You smile faintly. "Well, I'm sorry, but no."
1211
1212Mary pouts. "It's fine! It's fine!" She quickly runs back inside and slams the door shut behind her.
1213
1214> Go to the library and search for records of the city of Nuro
1215
1216You walk down the hallway with your hands clasped together. You feel like you've been holding them there all day. Eventually, you reach the stairs which lead up to the second floor.
1217
1218> 
1219
1220The hallway is empty save for the staircase which leads up to the second floor. You take it two at a time and climb up, feeling your way along until you find yourself in front of the room where you used to study.
1221
1222> 
1223
1224You sit down on the edge of the desk and close your eyes. You focus on your breathing and try to relax. Your mind wanders off occasionally, but you don't let it do so too much since that would only cause you to lose concentration again.
1225
1226> 
1227
1228Your eyes snap open and you immediately realize what you're doing. You look around the room and see nothing out of place. The bookshelves are still there, but they aren't even leaning against the wall anymore. They have fallen to one side now, leaving them hanging by their edges.
1229
1230> 
1231
1232You stand up and turn to leave, but then stop. There is something wrong here... Something very strange indeed.
1233
1234There is a small window above the desk. You can see inside it, though you can't make out any details beyond that.
1235
1236> Stand on the desk and look through the window
1237
1238You stand on the desk and peer through the window. You see nothing out of place, but something seems odd about this room.
1239
1240A door to the right of you opens up into another room, though its windows are covered by curtains.
1241
1242> 
1243
1244You walk over to the door and peek through it. Nothing is out of place or suspicious in the slightest. In fact, you can't tell if it's night or day outside either; everything looks just as bright and colorful as usual.
1245
1246> 
1247
1248You step back from the door and turn your head to stare at the ceiling. You notice that it isn't just curtains covering the windows, but also some sort of wallpaper. A rainbow-colored pattern covers almost every inch of the walls, ceiling and floor.
1249
1250> 
1251
1252You turn around and walk back towards the desk. You see that the wallpaper has changed to match the rest of the room, with more colors than you could ever need. It's almost like someone had painted a picture for you!
1253
1254> Rip away wallpaper from windows
1255
1256You rip away wallpaper from the windows and replace it with a new one. This time, you get rid of all the colors. You end up painting the entire room a dull gray color instead.
1257
1258> Open window
1259
1260You open the window and watch as the sky turns completely black. You hear a loud noise, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone else in the house.
1261
1262The sound fades away quickly however when you return to your seat.
1263
1264> Look outside
1265
1266You look outside and see that the sky has returned to normal, though it's not quite as bright as before. You can only guess that whatever caused this event must've been pretty powerful.
1267
1268> 
1269
1270You sit down again and close your eyes. You feel a little different now, but you don't know why. The next thing you know, you wake up.
1271
1272> 
1273
1274You open your eyes and find yourself lying on a bed. There's no sign of any furniture or anything else out of place. You're alone in a strange house, which makes you feel very uncomfortable.
1275
1276"Hello?" You call out to whoever is sitting across from you.
1277
1278> 
1279
1280You groan and try to stand up, but you realize that you have no energy left. You fall back onto the bed and try to figure out what happened.
1281
1282It takes a few minutes, but eventually you remember something that was said earlier today...
1283
1284> 
1285
1286You look over at the clock on the wall and see that it says 5:00 AM. You then look at your phone and see that you missed an important text message from your girlfriend.
1287
1288> 
1289
1290You sigh and shake your head. She probably just got up early to go running every morning, so she'd be asleep by now. You also think about how you haven't seen her since yesterday afternoon. Maybe she went somewhere?
1291
1292You check the door knob and find that it's locked.
1293
1294> Read text message from girlfriend
1295
1296You sigh and pull out your phone. It reads "I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I had some things to take care of first."
1297
1298You frown and begin typing a response. You type for several minutes before you finally get around to sending it.
1299
1300> 
1301
1302You smile and type back "Goodnight!"
1303
1304You sigh and turn off your phone. You're still too tired to do much more than sleep, so you collapse into bed.
1305
1306> 
1307
1308You slowly open your eyes and stare at the ceiling. Your phone buzzes in your hand. It's from your girlfriend.
1309
1310"Hey, are you awake yet?" You answer with a yawn.
1311"Yeah, I'm up," She replies. "What time is it?
1312
1313> Check what time it is
1314
1315You sigh and look at the time on your phone. It reads 7:30 AM. You quickly grab your keys from under the pillow and unlock the front door.
1316
1317"Where are we going?" You ask as you walk towards the car.
1318"Just to get here, I guess."
1319
1320> "Who am I?"
1321
1322You pause and think about what you want to say. You decide that you don't really know who you are, so maybe this isn't the best time to talk about it.
1323
1324"Um..." You start to stutter as you sit down in the driver's seat of your car.
1325
1326> 
1327
1328You sigh and rub your face. You can't believe you've been doing this all day! This has been one long night of drinking, sex, drugs, and partying. You need to stop right now if only because you're getting tired.
1329
1330"So...who am I?"
1331
1332> 
1333
1334You try to remember, but you keep forgetting. Finally, you come up with an answer.
1335
1336"A drunk idiot."
1337
1338The words sound horrible coming out of your mouth.
1339
1340> 
1341
1342You chuckle and shake your head. You have no idea where you came from or why you're even here. In fact, you barely remember anything about yourself except for being born, growing up, and having a few good times along the way.
1343
1344"Well then, what happened?"
1345
1346> 
1347
1348You shrug. You don't know. All you do know is that you woke up in a strange house and nobody else did either. The last thing you remember was stumbling through the woods after a party when suddenly, everything went black.
1349
1350> 
1351
1352You groan and roll over onto your stomach. You feel like you should be sleeping, but instead you're just lying there. You wonder how the hell you got here and why you're not dead already.
1353
1354"I don't know what happened..."
1355
1356> 
1357
1358You nod. That's exactly what happened. You were drunk and passed out when you fell asleep. When you awoke, you had no memory of how you got here or why you're still alive.
1359
1360"How did I get here?"
1361
1362"It doesn't matter."
1363
1364> Look around
1365
1366You stare around the room. There's nothing here, but you suppose it makes sense since you don't remember any of this place.
1367
1368"What the fuck am I supposed to do now?"
1369
1370"Nothing." You reply. "Go back home and sleep it off.
1371
1372> 
1373
1374You nod. It seems like the logical thing to do. You walk into your bedroom and close your door behind you.
1375
1376> 
1377
1378You stand in front of your bed and look at the ground. Your eyes are starting to hurt so you take a deep breath before looking up at the ceiling. You sit down on your bed and close your eyes as well.
1379
1380> 
1381
1382You open your eyes and see nothing but darkness. You can hear some noise outside though, so you slowly turn around to investigate. As soon as you move, the world goes dark again.
1383
1384> 
1385
1386You open your eyes and see nothing but darkness. You can hear some noise outside though, so you slowly turn around to investigate. As soon as you move, the world goes dark again.
1387
1388> Turn on a light
1389
1390You reach for the switch on the wall, but it isn't working right anymore. It keeps turning itself off and on by itself. Finally, you give up trying to fix it and try something else...
1391
1392> Go outside
1393
1394You run outside and find that the lights are still on, but they're all pointing towards each other in an odd way. The streetlights seem to be coming from everywhere at once!
1395
1396> 
1397
1398You run along the street until you come across a group of people standing in front of their homes. They're all staring at you with fear written all over their faces.
1399
1400"What is going on?!" one woman asks.
1401"I don't know!" another replies.
1402
1403> 
1404
1405You continue walking through the streets until you get to your house. You open the door and step inside. The lights are still on, but they're all pointing towards each other in an odd way. The streetlights seem to be coming from everywhere at once!
1406
1407"What is going on?!"
1408
1409> Go to the library
1410
1411You head downstairs and find that there's no-one home. After searching the house for any clues, you decide to check out the nearby libraries first. You search for a few minutes, but you never manage to locate anything useful. Eventually, you give up and return back upstairs.
1412
1413> 
1414
1415You walk into the kitchen and notice that the fridge has been opened. There's food left on top of it, but you can't remember where you put everything last time you were here. You start to wonder if you should just leave now or not.
1416
1417> Look at what's in the fridge
1418
1419You take a quick glance at the fridge and see that there's a couple of cans of tuna, two bottles of water, some crackers and a bottle of milk. You also notice that there's a note attached to the refrigerator reading "Please do not eat".
1420
1421> Drink milk
1422
1423As soon as you finish drinking the milk, you feel very sick. You vomit all over yourself and then pass out on the floor of your living room. When you wake up, you find that it's night time and the sun is setting behind the trees.
1424
1425> Clean vomit
1426
1427You stand up and begin cleaning up the mess you've made. After wiping down the floor, you wash your hands and then make your way back to the basement. You enter the room where you found the can opener and carefully open it again.
1428
1429> Look in mirror
1430
1431You turn around and look at yourself in the mirror. You notice that you have a small scar on your forehead, which you think may be from when someone punched you in the face earlier today.
1432
1433> Take a shower
1434
1435You take a quick shower and rinse off the blood that covered you. You then change into new clothes and head back outside. As soon as you exit the house, you hear shouting and yelling from the town square. It sounds like there's trouble brewing in town...
1436
1437The next day...
1438
1439> 
1440
1441It's morning and you're awake. You sit up and stretch before getting dressed. You don't know how long you spend doing this, but eventually you emerge from your bedroom with a new outfit.
1442
1443You head downstairs and see that the lights are still on in the houses around the village.
1444
1445> Find breakfast
1446
1447You head towards the nearest house and knock on the door. The door opens and you see a man sitting at his desk writing something on a piece of paper. He looks up when he sees who is knocking on his front door.
1448
1449"Who are you?" he asks.
1450
1451> "I don't know. Can you help me?"
1452
1453"No, I'm sorry about this," he says. "But I really can't help you."
1454"Can you tell me why the town is in an uproar? What happened?
1455
1456> 
1457
1458He sighs and shakes his head. "Well, I guess you should ask the mayor about that."
1459"What does he want to talk about?"
1460"About what exactly? About the incident in town or anything else for that matter?"
1461"Um...no...
1462
1463> Go somewhere else
1464
1465You decide not to bother him anymore. Instead, you head to the only other person you know who might be able to help you: the mayor of the village.
1466
1467When you arrive at his office, he greets you warmly and introduces himself. "Hello," he says.
1468
1469> "I need help. I don't know who I am."
1470
1471"Oh, no problem. My name's Jack."
1472"And my name is..."
1473"Jack, I already told you my name, so just call me Jack."
1474
1475After saying this, he takes out a map of the village and shows it to you.
1476
1477> 
1478
1479He points to a large area of land on the map and explains that it's where most of the people live. He goes on to explain that there was an incident some time ago involving a group of bandits who were planning to rob some rich folks.
1480
1481> 
1482
1483He continues to explain that they got themselves caught by the villagers and were killed. However, since the villagers weren't wealthy enough to pay for their burial, they decided to have them buried in a place called 'the graveyard'.
1484
1485> 
1486
1487He explains that the cemetery is actually a giant hole in the ground filled with dead bodies. Some of them are those who died while fighting against bandits, others are those who died from natural causes like old age or disease, and some are simply poor souls who didn't make it through life.
1488
1489> 
1490
1491He continues to explain that there is a small church nearby which houses a shrine dedicated to St. Elmo. A priest named Father Tomas is supposed to come here once every few years and perform prayers for the dead, but as of yet nothing has been heard from him.
1492
1493> 
1494
1495He tells you that if you're interested in helping the church, then you'll have to get yourself a job at the church. He also mentions that there is a little inn located near the church which could use some extra money.
1496
1497> "What is my name?"
1498
1499"My name is Jack."
1500"Alright, I'm ready to start looking for work."
1501
1502He nods and leaves your office. As soon as he exits, you run up to the church door and knock three times. After waiting a couple of minutes, he opens the door.
1503
1504> 
1505
1506The man inside looks up when he sees you standing outside. "Ah, hello!" he says. "How can I help you today?"
1507
1508"Well, I want to find a job at the church."
1509
1510He sighs and shakes his head.
1511
1512> 
1513
1514"I don't know anything about jobs, but I will tell you that there isn't any. There's not even anyone working at the church right now."
1515
1516You frown.
1517
1518> 
1519
1520"There's no one working at the church? How can that be?"
1521
1522He shrugs.
1523
1524> 
1525
1526"It's because nobody wants to work there. The owner doesn't really care about the church, so nobody is willing to do it."
1527
1528You nod. "So what should we do then?"
1529
1530He smiles and points towards the sky.
1531
1532> 
1533
1534"Look over there! Look how beautiful it is!"
1535
1536You look and see a rainbow forming above the trees. "That's where we should go."
1537
1538> Go to rainbow
1539
1540You walk out into the rain and begin walking towards the rainbow. Suddenly, you hear a voice call out to you. "Hey! Hey! Are you lost?"
1541
1542A woman with long brown hair and wearing a white dress steps forward from behind the bushes.
1543
1544> "Yes, I'm lost."
1545
1546She smiles and walks off. "Good luck," she calls after her. She turns around and begins walking back towards the church. You follow her, but suddenly you feel like something is wrong... Something bad is going to happen.
1547
1548> 
1549
1550Suddenly, you feel sick. Your stomach hurts and you're feeling very dizzy. It feels like someone has poured acid on your tongue and swallowed it whole.
1551
1552> 
1553
1554You collapse onto the ground in pain. "What happened?" you ask as loud as you can. A young girl dressed in a black robe stands nearby looking down at you. Her eyes are red and puffy, like they've been burned shut.
1555
1556> 
1557
1558The girl looks up at you. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," she says reassuringly. Then, she grabs your hand and leads you away from the church.
1559
1560You stumble through the woods for quite some time before finally coming across a large mansion of stone and brick.
1561
1562> 
1563
1564Inside the mansion, you find yourself staring at a man who seems to be the only person here. He sits in an armchair by himself and wears a dark suit. His face is pale and his skin is wrinkled from years of age.
1565
1566> "Who are you?"
1567
1568He smiles and nods. "I am Mr. Reynolds," he says simply.
1569
1570You stare at him for a moment, trying to figure out what this man means to you.
1571
1572> 
1573
1574Mr. Reynolds raises an eyebrow. "Do you know me?"
1575
1576You shake your head. "No."
1577
1578"Then why do you want to talk to me? Do you have a problem?"
1579
1580"No, not really."
1581
1582> "Why am I here?"
1583
1584"I was sent here by my superiors to investigate the situation that's happening in town. They wanted me to check things out since there were rumors about the government being involved somehow."
1585
1586Mr. Reynolds sighs. "Well, if it isn't the kid from yesterday!"
1587
1588> 
1589
1590Mr. Reynolds chuckles. "Yeah, well it's good you came along then, because I'm guessing you don't have much experience with these kinds of situations."
1591
1592You nod slowly. "Yes, sir."
1593
1594"So tell me, how did this come about?" Mr.
1595
1596> "Swain, sir. My name is Jericho Swain."
1597
1598Mr. Reynolds frowns. "Oh, so you're the one who killed my son."
1599
1600You shrug helplessly. "It wasn't intentional, sir."
1601
1602"Is that all?" Mr. Reynolds asks, still frowning.
1603
1604> "I think it's time I should leave."
1605
1606Mr. Reynolds stares at you blankly for a moment, but then nods. "Very well, let me take you back to the carriage station."
1607
1608> 
1609
1610You walk quickly towards the carriage station. The sun is already setting when you arrive, making it difficult to see anything clearly. However, you manage to make out a few figures standing near the edge of town.
1611
1612> Get in a carriage
1613
1614The carriage pulls up next to the first building on the corner of two streets. A voice calls out from inside: "Hey! Hey! What are you doing in here?"
1615
1616A hand grabs your shoulder and yanks you into the carriage.
1617
1618> 
1619
1620You sit down in the front seat and try to look as inconspicuous as possible. The driver turns around, staring at you. He opens his mouth to ask something, but then closes it again before speaking. "This way please."
1621
1622> 
1623
1624As you follow him through the door, he points to a small building on the other side of town. "That's where we're going," he says.
1625
1626He drives fast enough that you can barely keep up with him, but eventually you reach a large gate which swings open.
1627
1628> 
1629
1630Inside the gates stands a man dressed in black armor. His face is covered by an armored helmet, and he holds a long sword in both hands. He looks like some sort of knight or soldier from legend, but you recognize him immediately as the leader of the Crimson Talons gang.
1631
1632> 
1633
1634"What the hell do you want?"
1635
1636He sighs. "Nothing. Just wanted to check if there was any trouble."
1637
1638"No problems? Why would there be problems?" You demand. "We've been working together for years now!"
1639
1640> 
1641
1642"Because you don't have the balls to tell us what's going on, and instead decided to play dumb. Now I'm not saying that we didn't help you out once upon a time...but this isn't about gratitude. This is about getting our revenge.
1643
1644> "Not another word from you. You have no right to seek revenge from me."
1645
1646"I'm sorry, but I think you know why we're after you. We need to find out who's behind all this. And since we control most of the city, we'll probably be able to catch whoever it is."
1647
1648> "We can work together."
1649
1650"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say..."
1651
1652You turn away from him and begin walking towards the gates. As soon as you enter the courtyard, several men wearing red cloaks come running out of their homes. They raise their swords high above them and prepare to charge at you.
1653
1654> Absorb their souls with demon magic
1655
1656They aren't going to get anywhere near you, so you decide to use their energy against them. You concentrate hard and send a wave of negative energy at them. It hits one of the men directly in the chest, knocking him off his feet and causing him to fall backwards onto his ass.
1657
1658> 
1659
1660The man screams in pain and falls back onto his ass. He tries to stand up, but you stop him with your hand. "Get out of my sight! I don't want to see you anymore!"
1661
1662You walk over to the nearest house and knock on the door.
1663
1664> 
1665
1666A woman answers the door. She doesn't look anything like the description of the woman who lived here before. "Who are you?" she asks.
1667"My name is Raziel, and I'd like to talk to someone named 'Sister Gwen'.
1668
1669> 
1670
1671"That's strange. Who are you?"
1672"Oh, just a friend of Sister Gwen's. We were talking about you earlier."
1673"Really? What did you discuss?"
1674"Just normal stuff, nothing too interesting.
1675
1676> 
1677
1678"So you're telling me that you've known each other for years? How did you two meet?
1679
1680> 
1681
1682"Well, I was living alone when I met her. A few months later, she moved into the house with me."
1683"And how did you two become friends?
1684
1685> "Is it alright if I come in?"
1686
1687You open the door and step inside. The room is very simple, with only a bed and chair in the center. There are no windows or doors, so there's no way to tell what time of day it is.
1688
1689> 
1690
1691Raziel sits down on the bed. "I think we should start by getting to know each other better... I mean, not like this."
1692
1693He stands up and walks around the room slowly. He looks at every single wall, floor and even under the beds.
1694
1695> 
1696
1697He stops and stares at the girl sitting next to him. "She's beautiful," he says softly.
1698
1699"What do you mean?"
1700
1701"Nothing really, just saying..." He starts walking towards her again, but then pauses.
1702
1703> 
1704
1705"Wait, wait, wait! Don't go anywhere yet!"
1706
1707"What?"
1708
1709"Don't go anywhere until I get something from you first. If you keep staring at me like that, I'm going to have to leave."
1710
1711> "What are you going to do?"
1712
1713"I'll leave. But I don't want to be alone right now."
1714
1715He sighs and nods. "Alright, fine. Come over here." He points towards the corner of the room where a small window lies.
1716
1717> 
1718
1719He quickly runs out of the room and hides behind a nearby pillar. When he comes back, he sees you standing there.
1720
1721"So, what did you need to talk about?"
1722
1723"It's about my sister." You explain as calmly as possible.
1724
1725> "I don't have a sister."
1726
1727"Oh, that's good. That means you won't mind talking to her."
1728
1729You nod. "Yes, I understand."
1730
1731"Good, because I'd hate for you to feel uncomfortable while speaking with her."
1732
1733> 
1734
1735"Okay, well let's begin." Raziel takes a deep breath before continuing.
1736
1737> 
1738
1739"My sister is an angel."
1740
1741"An angel? What does she look like?"
1742
1743You smile. "She has long black hair and blue eyes."
1744
1745Raziel frowns. "Are you sure?" he asks.
1746
1747 
1748  She smiles back at you.
1749
1750> Smile back
1751
1752Her expression changes into one of confusion. "Why would she be confused?"
1753
1754"Because she doesn't know anything about angels."
1755
1756"But how can that be? Angels are supposed to only exist in stories!"
1757
1758 
1759  She laughs.
1760
1761> "What do I look like?"
1762
1763"A fairy princess."
1764
1765"Fairy princess?" she asks.
1766
1767 
1768  Her face lights up. "That sounds so sweet! Can we meet each other someday?"
1769
1770 
1771  You laugh along with her.
1772
1773> Frolic through the meadow
1774
1775You run around happily. Suddenly, Raziel stops you. "Stop!" he says sternly. "We're not doing this anymore."
1776
1777 
1778  You stare at him in disbelief. "How could you tell me such a thing?!"
1779
1780> "Is this about what happened at Nuro?"
1781
1782"Yeah, it is."
1783
1784"Then why didn't you stop us?"
1785
1786"Because I wanted to see if you were serious about your offer or not."
1787
1788 
1789  You shake your head. "No way. We wouldn't have done something like that!"
1790
1791> 
1792
1793"Well, okay then." You sigh. "I guess I'll believe you when you show me where she lives."
1794
1795 
1796  He nods. "Alright, but please hurry up since I'm really tired now."
1797
1798 
1799  He starts walking off towards his bedroom.
1800
1801> go home
1802
1803You walk out of the house. The sun is starting to set and you've got a lot on your mind. You want to get some sleep, but you also don't want to waste any more time here. You decide that you should just go home as soon as possible.
1804
1805> 
1806
1807You walk down the road. As you pass by houses, you notice that they all seem to be empty. You think back to Raziel earlier and realize that he was right; there isn't anyone living in these homes. This means that no one is coming here either...
1808
1809> 
1810
1811Suddenly, you hear a voice behind you. It's faint, but it seems familiar. "Hey! Are you..."
1812
1813You turn around and see a girl with blonde hair wearing red clothing standing before you. She looks pretty young for someone who is older than yourself.
1814
1815> "Who do you think I am?"
1816
1817She smiles. "Yes, I think you are. How did you even recognize me?"
1818
1819"Oh, because I saw you in the forest while looking for my sister."
1820
1821"My sister? Oh yes, she's dead now."
1822
1823 
1824  She frowns.
1825
1826> 
1827
1828"What's wrong?"
1829
1830"Nothing, but I'm sorry. My name is Tylir and I live in this village called Gahl'vuhr Klaire."
1831
1832 
1833
1834You nod.
1835
1836> "I'm Jericho. I'm not from around here."
1837
1838"That's too bad. So, how old are you?"
1839
1840"About seventeen."
1841
1842"Hmm, well I suppose we can talk more later. For now though, let's leave this place together."
1843
1844> 
1845
1846She walks ahead of you, seemingly oblivious to the fact that you're following her. Eventually, she stops at a small shack. Inside, there's only one bed inside and a few bookshelves filled with various magical texts.
1847
1848> 
1849
1850She sits down on the bed and begins reading a book. After about half an hour passes, she turns to look at you. Her eyes are a deep brown color and her face is very pale.
1851
1852> 
1853
1854"So, what brings you here?"
1855
1856She sighs. "It's nothing really. Just came to ask if you could tell me where my sister is."
1857
1858> "Your sister is dead."
1859
1860"Oh, I know. She died five years ago."
1861
1862"Five years ago?"
1863
1864She nods. "Yeah, actually. But why would she die so soon after we met?"
1865
1866You pause for a moment.
1867
1868> Leave
1869
1870"Well, I don't know anything about it. We just got married recently."
1871
1872Tylir stares at you for awhile. Finally, she speaks up again. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
1873
1874You shrug your shoulders.
1875
1876> Go outside
1877
1878You walk out into the courtyard and see Tylir sitting by herself. She looks up at you. "Are you okay?"
1879
1880"I'm fine," you reply as calmly as possible.
1881
1882Tylir nods slowly before speaking again.
1883
1884> 
1885
1886"Do you want to come back inside? It's getting late."
1887
1888You shake your head. "No, I think I'll stay out here. There's no point in staying here when nobody will be coming home tonight."
1889
1890Tylir smiles and nods her head.
1891
1892> Go somewhere far away
1893
1894You decide to go somewhere far away from here. You run off into the woods and disappear into the darkness.
1895
1896> 
1897
1898The next day, you wake up early and make your way towards the castle. As you get closer, you can hear the sounds of battle going on nearby. The noise isn't quite loud enough to disturb you though; it seems like everyone else has already left for work or school.
1899
1900> 
1901
1902As you approach the gates, you notice that they're barricaded with wooden palisades. They seem to have been put there yesterday morning, but were never repaired since then. In fact, most of them are broken now.
1903
1904> 
1905
1906A few minutes later, you reach the gate. A guard stands behind it. He waves you through without even looking at you.
1907
1908You enter the castle and find yourself in an empty corridor leading to a large room with several doors along one wall.
1909
1910> Go to my office
1911
1912You open the door to my office. Inside is a desk and chair. On top of it sits a man dressed in black robes with long hair tied back in a ponytail. His face is hidden under his hood, but he appears to be some sort of priest or monk.
1913
1914> "Who are you?"
1915
1916He turns around and grins at you. "Ah, good afternoon! My name is Dendrin. What brings you here?"
1917
1918"My name is..." You begin to stammer nervously.
1919
1920Dendrin shakes his head sadly.
1921
1922> "Why are you in my office?"
1923
1924"Oh, this is none of your concern. I was sent here by Master Ebon to deliver a message from him."
1925
1926"From who?"
1927
1928Dendrin shrugs. "Master Ebon told me not to tell you, so I won't."
1929
1930> 
1931
1932Dendrin frowns. "I'm surprised you haven't heard about what happened today. I've been trying to keep things calm down in the shadows as much as possible, but it looks like that effort hasn't worked."
1933
1934"What do you mean?
1935
1936> 
1937
1938Dendrin sighs. "It's obvious that you're still shaken up by what happened yesterday. If you don't want to talk about it, we'll move on to something more pleasant."
1939
1940You look at each other for a moment before nodding.
1941
1942> Sit at desk
1943
1944You stand up and walk over to the desk. You sit down at the desk and start reading a book. Dendrin watches you intently while you read.
1945
1946"That's very interesting," he says after awhile.
1947
1948> "Is there anything else you needed from me?"
1949
1950"No, thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my duties."
1951
1952Dendrin nods and leaves the room. You turn the page of your book and continue reading. Suddenly, you hear a knock on the door. It sounds familiar...
1953
1954> 
1955
1956The door opens up and you see a young woman wearing black robes standing outside. She has long blonde hair and wears a simple white robe. Her eyes are red from crying.
1957
1958"Are you Talia's mother?" she asks in a quiet voice.
1959
1960"Yes, I am."
1961
1962> "Is something wrong? Why are you crying?"
1963
1964"This isn't right. We should be celebrating our daughter's marriage to Markos. Instead, we're having a funeral!"
1965
1966She takes her handkerchief off and wipes away her tears. "We have no idea why we're being summoned."
1967
1968> 
1969
1970"A summons? How did you know?"
1971
1972"Because I saw you talking with Master Ebon earlier. He said that he wanted to speak with you."
1973
1974You shake your head.
1975
1976> 
1977
1978"So what does this mean?"
1979
1980"It means that you will be summoned soon. Please come with me."
1981
1982You follow her into an empty chamber. There is a table set up and several candles lit in the center of it.
1983
1984> 
1985
1986Dendrin stands behind the table and begins speaking.
1987
1988> 
1989
1990"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I was afraid that you would reject the offer. However, I've decided to give you another chance. In fact, I think it's time that you accept this opportunity."
1991
1992He pauses and looks around the room.
1993
1994> 
1995
1996"If you don't want to be here, then leave now. If you do wish to stay, then I must ask that you help me. I believe that the Empire needs a new leader."
1997
1998> 
1999
2000"Very well. You may remain."
2001
2002Dendrin smiles at you and walks over to the candle flame. He places his hands on them and slowly moves his fingers towards the flames. His face becomes one of concentration as he stares intently at them.
2003
2004> "What do you see?"
2005
2006"Nothing, except a faint glow coming from where you were looking. It seems to be emanating from your soul itself."
2007
2008You nod silently and begin to move closer to him. Dendrin watches as you approach until he speaks again.
2009
2010"Do you feel any different?"
2011
2012> "I feel... Power."
2013
2014"Yes, yes you do. That's good. Now, let me show you something else."
2015
2016Dendrin raises his hand and a portal opens up before your eyes. A massive black dragon appears out of nowhere and flies straight towards the wall of the chamber.
2017
2018> 
2019
2020The dragon roars and howls as it approaches the wall. The beast seems almost unstoppable, but Dendrin is ready for anything. He quickly teleports himself back inside the chamber and closes the portal.
2021
2022"That should keep it occupied while we talk."
2023
2024> "What was that?"
2025
2026"A ritual. We need to drain its life force so that it can no longer fight us."
2027"How long will it take?"
2028"We'll have plenty of time to finish it later. For now, I'd like you to stand outside the chamber and watch."
2029
2030> "Thank you."
2031
2032Dendrin nods in thanks and turns to you.
2033
2034"Goodbye my friend. May our paths cross again soon."
2035
2036> 
2037
2038You turn away and walk into the darkness. Suddenly, you hear a voice call out to you.
2039
2040"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
2041
2042It's Meliodas, calling out to you. You look around and see him standing there with a dagger in his hand.
2043
2044> "What are you doing here?"
2045
2046"I'm here because I know what you're going through right now. And I think you need some help."
2047
2048Meliodas steps forward and kneels down next to you. He looks at your wounds and begins to speak softly.
2049
2050> 
2051
2052"This is why I brought you here. This is why I wanted to see if you could heal yourself. But first, I want to ask you a few questions."
2053
2054You look at him in confusion and he continues.
2055
2056> 
2057
2058"Who are you? What do you want?"
2059
2060You don't really know how to answer this question. Is he trying to recruit you or something? You decide not to worry about it and just tell him everything.
2061
2062> "I'm Jericho Swain. I want to make Noxus powerful."
2063
2064"Hmm... Interesting choice of words. Well, I suppose that makes one more potential ally for us. However, I must warn you that this isn't going to be easy."
2065
2066He pauses briefly and then continues.
2067
2068> "What do you need me to do?"
2069
2070"First off, I need you to swear fealty to me. That means you'll give up all other loyalties and allegiances. If you betray me, I will kill every last one of your kind on the battlefields."
2071
2072> "I can't do that."
2073
2074"No? Then what am I supposed to do with you?"
2075
2076You shake your head.
2077
2078"I'm sorry, but I can't do that either."
2079
2080 
2081"Very well, we shall discuss this further later. Now, let's get down to business."
2082
2083> 
2084
2085The pair of you continue to talk as you walk towards the center of the camp. Eventually, you reach a large tent where several men are sitting around talking. They seem to be discussing something, but they aren't paying any attention to you.
2086
2087> 
2088
2089"So, what are you guys discussing?"
2090
2091One of them speaks up.
2092
2093"Oh, nothing important. Just a bunch of soldiers arguing over who gets to lead the army."
2094
2095Another one nods in agreement.
2096
2097> "Obviously, it should be me!"
2098
2099"Well, that would certainly be an interesting change of pace from what we've been doing lately. So, who's going to lead the army?"
2100
2101You smile at their apparent surprise.
2102
2103> 
2104
2105They're clearly surprised by your sudden outburst.
2106
2107"Really? You think you can take command of our armies?" one asks.
2108
2109> "Absolutely. All I need is your loyalty."
2110
2111"That's nice, but I doubt if even you could defeat my brother, General Ackerson. He has legions behind him and a massive amount of support."
2112
2113You nod.
2114
2115> 
2116
2117"I don't know about you, but I have no intention of fighting against my brother. We both know he's just using us as pawns to achieve his own goals."
2118
2119A few people look at each other and laugh.
2120
2121> "I'll do it myself, then."
2122
2123"Good choice! I knew you'd make the right decision!"
2124
2125You grin and begin walking out of the tent. A couple of guards come running after you, but before they can stop you, you've already left. You turn back to see some of the others laughing again.
2126
2127> Find General Ackerson
2128
2129You follow the crowd until you finally reach a small group of soldiers standing near a large tent. There, on top of a table, sits General Ackerson. He looks up when he sees you approach.
2130
2131"Ah, there you are! What brings you here?"
2132
2133> "Status report, sir. I've found the rebels."
2134
2135He frowns at you.
2136
2137"What do you mean? Who are these rebels?"
2138
2139You point to the tents nearby. The men inside all wear similar clothing, though most of them are wearing leather armor and carrying swords instead of guns.
2140
2141> "They intend to overthrow you and take control of this army, sir."
2142
2143He stares at you for a moment.
2144
2145"Are you serious? They've got more men than I did when I was promoted to general, and they seem to be well-trained too. How?"
2146
2147You shrug.
2148
2149> "Your cause will lead us to ruin. They are those who will fight for a greater good. A greater Noxus. You can't stop them."
2150
2151He nods slowly.
2152
2153"Very well, I shall listen to your words. But I must warn you: If you attempt anything, you will not succeed."
2154
2155You sigh in disappointment and leave the tent.
2156
2157> Go back in the tent to General Ackerman
2158
2159You walk into the tent and find Ackerman still sitting down. He doesn't notice you enter.
2160
2161"Hello, General."
2162
2163You sit down next to him and wait patiently for him to speak. He continues staring off into space for a moment before speaking.
2164
2165> 
2166
2167"Yes, yes, I'm sure you're wondering what brought me here. Well, let's get straight to the point. What is your plan?"
2168
2169You shake your head.
2170
2171"No... No plan..."
2172
2173He pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing.
2174
2175> 
2176
2177"My plan is simple. I want to bring peace to this land. Not by killing everyone that disagrees with me, but rather through diplomacy and compromise."
2178
2179You nod slowly.
2180
2181"So you're going to negotiate with them?"
2182
2183He smiles and shakes his head.
2184
2185> 
2186
2187"I don't think so, no. I know that they aren't interested in negotiating with us, but if we were willing to talk then perhaps it would open up other options for them. Perhaps they could join our side as allies or even vassals."
2188
2189> 
2190
2191"Vassal? Vassals?! We have legions!"
2192
2193You look around nervously. Ackerman looks at you with an expression of concern. You quickly explain yourself.
2194
2195"We don't have any vassals, sir."
2196
2197> 
2198
2199"Well, maybe not legions, but certainly thousands of soldiers under my command. And we're not just fighting for ourselves either; we're fighting for all the people of Noxus."
2200
2201Ackerman seems surprised by your answer.
2202
2203> "Your time is over, Ackerman. It is time to shed the old ways and begin a new."
2204
2205You stand up from your seat and walk towards Ackerman. He stands back up and begins to follow you.
2206
2207"But why should we do that?" he asks. "Why not just kill them all now?"
2208
2209You pause for a moment before replying.
2210
2211> "The needs of the many hold greater weight than your greed and desires."
2212
2213Ackerman looks at you with surprise.
2214
2215"What do you mean?"
2216
2217You smile and continue.
2218
2219> 
2220
2221"Because you've been doing it too long. The Empire has always had its problems, but it's never fallen apart because of them. They've always been able to maintain order and keep their grip on power."
2222
2223Ackerman nods silently and stares at you intently.
2224
2225> 
2226
2227"That's right, my friend. That's exactly what happened. When the Empire fell, there was chaos everywhere. But when the lands united under one banner, they were able to fight off those who wished to destroy them."
2228
2229> "You are the last one that's keeping the Empire from achieving peace."
2230
2231Ackerman nods again and looks at you with fear in his eyes.
2232
2233"Then...then what will become of us?"
2234
2235You shake your head sadly.
2236
2237"No, my friend. No more battles for you anymore."
2238
2239> Stab Ackerman in the throat
2240
2241You turn around and stab Ackerman in the neck with your sword. His body falls backwards onto the ground dead instantly.
2242
2243> 
2244
2245You leave the room and enter the next one. This one is much smaller than the first, so you decide to take a break here. You sit down on a bench and wait for someone to come along with you. A few minutes pass without anyone coming, though you hear some shouting outside.
2246
2247> Go outside
2248
2249You look out the window and see several figures running away from the city. Some of them are armed with axes, others have guns in hand. You can't tell if they're even Noxians or not, since most of them don't wear any sort of armor.
2250
2251> Go to the soldiers
2252
2253You quickly run over to the soldiers and kneel down beside them.
2254
2255"We need help! We're being attacked!" you shout.
2256
2257One of the men steps forward and raises his gun, but stops as soon as he sees you.
2258
2259> "General Ackerman is dead!"
2260
2261The man looks at you with shock and then turns back to the battle. He doesn't even raise his gun again, which means that he's either very stupid or he knows full well about Ackerman's death. Either way, this shows how desperate you are for reinforcements.
2262
2263> "As Ackerman's most trusted captain, I will take his place!"
2264
2265The soldier slowly walks towards you while raising his gun once again.
2266
2267"I'm sorry sir, but we don't have any more men capable of taking command of this fort."
2268
2269You sigh and nod at him before turning to the other soldiers.
2270
2271> "Fellow Noxians! Who will follow me in the quest to restore order!?"
2272
2273You yell at the soldiers and begin leading them in a charge against the fleeing Noxians. The battle goes smoothly until you reach an alleyway where you find yourself surrounded by many enemy troops.
2274
2275"Fall back! Fall Back!"
2276
2277> 
2278
2279You stand up and point your sword at the nearest enemy. It's a tall muscular man who has long hair and wears leather armor.
2280
2281"Who are you? What do you want?"
2282
2283He asks, obviously trying to figure out who you are.
2284
2285> "I'm Jericho Swain, and I'm the new general. Follow me or die."
2286
2287He stares at you blankly for a moment, before nodding.
2288
2289"Very good..."
2290
2291With those words, he charges into the fray. You continue to lead your troops through the streets of Noxus. Soon after, you arrive at the gates of Fort Conscript.
2292
2293> Storm the gates
2294
2295You rush inside the gatehouse and grab a guard by the throat.
2296
2297"Release him! Release him now!"
2298
2299He screams, struggling to get free. You swing your blade hard enough to cut open his stomach, killing him instantly.
2300
2301> Find Grand General Darkwill
2302
2303You walk further into the fort and find Grand General Darkwill sitting on a throne. He notices you standing there, but ignores you.
2304
2305"What do you want?"
2306
2307> "You are no longer fit to rule, Darkwill. It's time for you to step down."
2308
2309Darkwill looks at you with surprise.
2310
2311"Jericho...what did you do to my son?"
2312
2313You look around and see several guards surrounding Darkwill, but they don't seem to be doing anything except staring at him.
2314
2315> Walk towards Darkwill
2316
2317You approach Darkwill and kneel down next to him.
2318
2319"I killed your son because he was a traitorous coward. Now it's time for you to kill me as well."
2320
2321He says coldly, not moving an inch from his spot.
2322
2323> "Just as I thought. You're the same as he was."
2324
2325You watch as Darkwill raises his hands up in surrender, before kicking you away. You fall to the ground and roll around before collapsing onto the floor. A few of your soldiers come over to check on you.
2326
2327> Lunge at Darkwill and kill him
2328
2329A soldier approaches you and grabs your arm.
2330
2331"No, no, no! Let go of him! We need to help this man!"
2332
2333The soldier yells as he pulls you away from Darkwill.
2334
2335> "He doesn't deserve help! Weakness has no place in Noxian leadership!"
2336
2337You turn to face Darkwill once more. He stands calmly looking at you, waiting for you to make another move.
2338
2339"I've had enough of your games, Darkwill."
2340
2341> Kill Darkwill with demon magic
2342
2343You raise your hand and unleash a blast of pure energy at Darkwill. The attack hits him square in the chest, blowing off half of his head and causing him to collapse backwards.
2344
2345> Appoint myself as Grand General
2346
2347You stand back and smile at your troops. They all bow their heads in respect, but none of them attempt to stop you. You march forward with Darkwill's body still lying nearby.
2348
2349> "Clean out the fort. Kill anyone who resists."
2350
2351You order your troops to clean out the fort. Your men quickly begin killing everyone inside.
2352
2353It takes awhile, but eventually you have completely wiped out the fort.
2354
2355> Attend to business
2356
2357You return to the palace where you find that the rest of your family is already there.
2358
2359"What happened? Why didn't you tell us about what happened?"
2360
2361Your mother asks. She seems worried about something, but she also knows that you must be protecting yourself now.
2362
2363> "It wasn't any of your concern."
2364
2365You look at your father. He looks like he wants to argue, but instead he simply nods in agreement.
2366
2367"Good, good," you reply. "Now we have to get rid of the last vestiges of rebellion within Noxus."
2368
2369> "You know too much. It is time for you to be silenced."
2370
2371You walk up to your father and grab his throat. His eyes widen in shock, but he does not struggle or resist. Instead he just closes his mouth and lets you do it.
2372
2373> Kill father
2374
2375You stab your father through the heart with a dagger. Blood pours down onto you as he falls to the floor.
2376
2377> Approach mother
2378
2379You walk over to your mother and kneel down next to her. She doesn't react in any way other than closing her eyes.
2380
2381"Mother, I'm sorry...for everything..." you whisper before stabbing her in the neck with a dagger.
2382
2383> 
2384
2385You continue to kill your family one by one until only you are left. You then turn around and walk away from the palace, leaving behind a bloody corpse.
2386
2387> Go to personal chambers
2388
2389You enter your private quarters and close the door. You sit on the bed and try to calm yourself. The whole day has been a nightmare.
2390
2391The first thing you notice is that you're no longer hungry; in fact you don't even feel thirsty anymore.
2392
2393> wash blood from hands
2394
2395You stand up and walk into the bathroom. As soon as you open the door, you hear a loud splash followed by an unpleasant smell.
2396
2397As you scrub your hands clean, you realize that they've become black and blue. You then remember what happened earlier today...
2398
2399> 
2400
2401You walk out of the bathroom and back into your bedroom. You can see the reflection of yourself in the mirror. Your face is completely scarred, almost looking like a demon's. You look very old and decrepit, though you still retain some youth in you.
2402
2403> Lock the door
2404
2405You lock the door and begin to cry. You think about how you were once so happy, now all you want to do is sleep.
2406
2407Suddenly, a voice calls out to you from somewhere deep inside your mind:
2408
2409"I am here! I will help you!"
2410
2411> 
2412
2413You scream at the top of your lungs for whoever is calling out to you. You can sense their presence right beside you, but they refuse to leave. They simply stare at you silently.
2414
2415"Who are you?"
2416"A friend of yours? A servant of mine?
2417
2418> Look at demon hand
2419
2420You slowly look at the demon hand which stares back at you. It seems to be trying to communicate something, but it isn't clear.
2421
2422"What do you want?"
2423"I have come to save you."
2424
2425> 
2426
2427You quickly look at the demon hand again. It seems to be communicating something more clearly this time.
2428
2429"We are friends, aren't we?"
2430"Yes, yes we are. We should get along well together."
2431"Very well, let us make friends."
2432
2433> 
2434
2435You stare at the demon hand and nod. You suddenly feel very cold, like someone is holding a torch to your soul. Then, you feel as if you're being sucked into the darkness of the room.
2436
2437> 
2438
2439You blink several times before realizing that you're not moving. You gasp for air and fall backwards onto the floor. Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your chest and start coughing up blood.
2440
2441> 
2442
2443You gasp for air and try to sit up, but find that you can't move. The pain in your chest has grown worse. You attempt to call out, but there is no answer.
2444
2445> Accept power
2446
2447You stare at the demon hand and realize that you've accepted its offer. With a roar, you grab hold of the demon hand and tear it off of your body. You then smash it against the wall with enough force to shatter it.
2448
2449> 
2450
2451The demon hand screams in agony as you rip it off of yourself. It falls limply to the ground, twitching and shaking uncontrollably.
2452
2453You stand over it, staring at its lifeless form. Your eyes burn with an unnatural red light and you begin to sweat profusely.
2454
2455> 
2456
2457You turn around and see that the entire room is now filled with shadows. They seem to be coming from everywhere, seemingly drawn by some sort of energy. Some of them are even glowing.
2458
2459You look at the demon hand on the ground and notice that it's still alive.
2460
2461> Attach demon hand to self
2462
2463You quickly grab the demon hand and attach it to your own body. As soon as you do so, you feel a strange sensation. A burning pain shoots through your heart and lungs, causing you to cough up blood.
2464
2465> 
2466
2467Your vision blurs and you feel dizzy. You hear a voice in your head say, "I am the master here... I will take full control of your mind."
2468
2469Suddenly, you lose consciousness.
2470
2471> 
2472
2473You awaken in a dark room. There is a table in front of you covered with various objects, including medical supplies and other items that you don't recognize. On top of the table sits a man dressed in black robes who stares down at you.
2474
2475> "Who are you?"
2476
2477"My name is Dendrin," he says simply. "And this is my apprentice, Talia."
2478
2479He holds out his hand and you grasp it eagerly. He looks at her curiously and she returns the gesture.
2480
2481> "I see. Do you mean to betray me?"
2482
2483"No, Master. I was merely curious about what would happen if we did this together."
2484
2485"Then why didn't you just tell me before? Why not just ask me directly?"
2486
2487Dendrin shrugs.
2488
2489> 
2490
2491"So, what does this have to do with me?"
2492
2493"Nothing. But I think you know why."
2494
2495You sit up slowly and look around the room. The walls are lined with shelves holding various books and documents, all of which seem to be written in ancient script.
2496
2497> 
2498
2499"What do you want?"
2500
2501"Everything. Everything you have ever desired. And more."
2502
2503"I'm not sure what you're talking about..."
2504
2505"Do not question my words, child. We must talk about something important.
2506
2507> 
2508
2509"Are you saying that I can become like you?"
2510
2511"Yes. That is exactly what I am saying."
2512
2513The two of you stand there staring into each others eyes for several minutes. Finally, Dendrin sighs and speaks again.
2514
2515> 
2516
2517"Very well. I shall teach you everything I know about the ways of the shadows."
2518
2519With those last words, Dendrin disappears from sight and you find yourself back in your bedchamber. You lie there pondering how much power he has given you over the next few days.
2520
2521> 
2522
2523A week passes and you begin to notice some changes in your life. For one thing, you no longer get headaches when you meditate. In fact, the only time you experience any sort of headache is during combat or meditation.
2524
2525> Find Dendrin
2526
2527You walk through the halls of the palace and finally come across Dendrin's office. It is empty save for a small desk where he once sat. As you approach, you hear faint voices coming from within.
2528
2529"Dendrin? Is that you?
2530
2531> 
2532
2533"Of course it is. What else could it be?"
2534
2535"How did you know I was here? Did you sense me somehow?"
2536
2537"Not really. Though I suppose that might explain why you were so quiet yesterday."
2538
2539> 
2540
2541"Well, I guess I should thank you then. After all these years, you've finally returned to me."
2542
2543"It is done. Now, go rest."
2544
2545> 
2546
2547You nod and follow him out of his office. He leads you down a long hallway until you reach an elevator. You enter it and soon find yourself at the bottom.
2548
2549"Goodbye, shadow," he says as the doors close behind you.
2550
2551> 
2552
2553You open your eyes and see nothing but darkness ahead of you. The room seems to dim slightly though, which makes you realize that you are actually in a bedroom rather than just sleeping on a couch.
2554
2555Suddenly, you feel someone touching your shoulder.
2556
2557> 
2558
2559You turn around and see a young woman with dark hair wearing simple clothing standing before you. She looks familiar, but you cannot place her right now.
2560
2561"Who are you?" you ask.
2562
2563She smiles and nods her head in response. "I'm Talia."
2564
2565> "I see. Why have you brought me here?"
2566
2567"Because I promised to help you."
2568
2569"And what would that be exactly?"
2570
2571Talia takes a deep breath and begins to speak slowly. "If we work together, we can stop this war between the shadows and the Empire. We can free our people from their oppression."
2572
2573> "Of course. But the shadows must be willing."
2574
2575"Yes, yes they must. And if you're not willing, then I'll leave you alone."
2576
2577The two of you stand there silently for a moment before she continues.
2578
2579> 
2580
2581"But I want more than just peace. I want my home back. My homeland."
2582
2583"Your home?" you ask incredulously. "What do you mean by that?"
2584
2585Talia pauses for a moment before continuing.
2586
2587> 
2588
2589"My home is where I belong. It's where I was born and raised. It's where my family lived for generations. If that place ever falls into the wrong hands, then who am I? Who will I become?"
2590
2591> "The Empire will help you get your home back."
2592
2593"Very well. Let us move forward together."
2594
2595After saying this, Talia turns and walks away. You sigh deeply and begin to sit up again. Your eyes widen when you notice something else...
2596
2597> 
2598
2599You look over at the door and see that it has been left unlocked. You quickly grab your dagger and run outside.
2600
2601As you walk through the doorway, you hear footsteps coming up behind you. When you turn around, a man dressed in black armor stands there waiting for you.
2602
2603> "Who are you?"
2604
2605He doesn't answer immediately, instead he simply stares at you. He raises his sword and points it straight at your throat.
2606
2607"Who are you?
2608
2609> "I asked first. You'd do well to answer."
2610
2611"Well? Answer me!"
2612
2613"I am the Eternal. The one who rules all other Eternals."
2614
2615"So you are the ruler of this land?"
2616
2617"No, no! I am the eternal who rules it forever and ever and ever..."
2618
2619> "You can't lie to me."
2620
2621"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know how to respond to that question."
2622
2623"Then tell me who you are and why you're here.
2624
2625> 
2626
2627"I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this conversation. I need to go now."
2628
2629The Eternal steps closer to you and begins to raise his sword. You reach out with your hand and try to stop him from doing so.
2630
2631> Blast the Eternal with demon magic
2632
2633You cast a bolt of pure energy at the Eternal. His body explodes in flames as he screams in agony. As soon as his body goes up in smoke, you rush towards Talia and embrace her tightly. She hugs you back and cries into your shoulder.
2634
2635> "I'm sorry for that. He was but a mere fool. Were you frightened?"
2636
2637"Not really. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
2638
2639Talia smiles and kisses you on the cheek before turning to leave. You watch her go and take a deep breath. You've never felt more alive than right now.
2640
2641> 
2642
2643You stand alone in the room. You stare at the wall and think about what you should do next.
2644
2645What will you do? Will you stay here and wait for them to come back or will you help them?
2646
2647> Help them
2648
2649You decide to help them. They're probably going to be in danger if they don't get out of here now. You head down the stairs and find Cyrus standing nearby holding a spear.
2650
2651> "Cyrus! Gather your shadows and head to the palace. They will be safe there."
2652
2653"Yes, my Emperor."
2654
2655You nod and begin heading towards the palace. You see several guards walking around outside. They must have already gotten word of their situation from some of the citizens. Cyrus nods and heads off after you while you continue to walk.
2656
2657> 
2658
2659As you approach the palace, you hear voices coming from inside. It sounds like...a party. A large gathering of nobles and commoners alike is having a grand time. You wonder if Cyrus has sent them here to keep an eye on things or if he's actually planning something else entirely.
2660
2661> Enter palace
2662
2663You enter the palace through one of the many doors. The place is filled with people dancing and singing along to music. Cyrus himself stands near a table holding court with other nobles and commoners.
2664
2665"Ah, it's good to see you all again!"
2666
2667> 
2668
2669"It is indeed. And you are too, my Emperor."
2670
2671You smile and shake his hand. He looks surprised by your sudden change of demeanor. You explain yourself briefly and then ask him if he would care to join you for dinner later tonight.
2672
2673> 
2674
2675He agrees immediately. He leads you to a private dining area where he sits down and begins eating. You sit beside him and enjoy the meal together. After a few hours, you notice that everyone else has left except for Cyrus who continues to eat.
2676
2677> 
2678
2679"So, how did the meeting go?"
2680
2681You ask. Cyrus seems slightly embarrassed by this question but answers anyway.
2682
2683"Very well, my Emperor."
2684
2685He says as he finishes up his food. You smile and pat him on the shoulder before continuing to speak.
2686
2687> 
2688
2689"Well, I'm glad to hear it. So, we'll be leaving soon?"
2690
2691You ask. Cyrus looks over at you and smiles.
2692
2693"Of course."
2694
2695> "Did you enjoy the food?"
2696
2697You pause and think about what to say next. Finally, you just grin and reply "I certainly enjoyed the company of such a fine man."
2698
2699Cyrus blushes a bit more and looks away from you.
2700
2701> Examine Cyrus
2702
2703You stand up and start approaching Cyrus. He doesn't react in any way, so you assume he knows you're not going to attack him. Instead, you take a seat across from him and lean forward to look into his eyes.
2704
2705> 
2706
2707You slowly move your head back and forth until you feel his lips touch yours. His tongue slides out and touches your own. Your hands grab onto his shoulders and pull him closer to kiss you even harder than before.
2708
2709> 
2710
2711Your kisses become deeper and longer as you continue to grind against him. Soon, you both come apart from each other. You pull away and sigh deeply before looking at Cyrus.
2712
2713"Thank you for today, my Emperor."
2714
2715He replies quietly.
2716
2717> "It was my pleasure."
2718
2719You nod and smile at him. He nods back and moves towards you. You quickly get up off the table and embrace him tightly.
2720
2721"Goodbye, Cyrus."
2722
2723You whisper as you squeeze his body tightly.
2724
2725> Go to personal quarters
2726
2727You walk through the halls of the palace and find yourself walking along a corridor. Suddenly, you stop and turn around. The door is open. There's an old wooden chest sitting there with a key hanging from it. You unlock it and pull out some coins from inside.
2728
2729> 
2730
2731You put the coins down and walk inside. Inside, you see a small bedroom. A bed sits against one wall with a dresser against another wall. In front of the dresser is a large mirror.
2732
2733> 
2734
2735You step into the room and close the door behind you. It's fairly simple, but comfortable enough that you don't mind spending time here. You sit on the edge of the bed and relax while staring at yourself in the mirror.
2736
2737> Examine self
2738
2739You stare at yourself in the mirror and notice that you've grown quite a bit since last time you looked in it. You have different hair now, which has turned blonde. Your skin tone has changed too; your face is paler now, though still fair.
2740
2741> 
2742
2743You reach over and stroke your long blond hair. It feels nice to touch it again after all these years. You then look at your reflection in the mirror and realize that you haven't really been changing much more than what you were when you first met Cyrus.
2744
2745> Examine demon hand
2746
2747You stand up and take a quick glance at your hand. It looks exactly like it did when you first met Cyrus. However, something seems slightly different about it. Something...different?
2748
2749The fingers are very thin and curved instead of straight.
2750
2751> 
2752
2753You look closer at your own finger and see that it's actually covered by a thick black ring. This isn't something you can change, so this must be part of who you are.
2754
2755> 
2756
2757You continue looking at your finger and notice that it's not just any ring, but rather a demonic one. It doesn't feel right somehow. Maybe it was made for you or maybe you're cursed or something.
2758
2759> Examine demon hand's claws
2760
2761You slowly move your arm back and forth. You quickly realize that you can no longer feel anything except pain. This is probably due to your curse, but if that's true, why do you still have sensation in other parts of your body?
2762
2763> Stretch arms
2764
2765You begin stretching your arms out and find that they aren't as flexible anymore. Perhaps you got cursed because of them. Or perhaps you just developed an unnatural immunity to curses. Either way, it's not good.
2766
2767> Rest in bed
2768
2769You lie down in your bed and try to fall asleep, but you find that your body won't allow it. You groan and push away from the pillow, only to get slapped across the face with a fist full of ice.
2770
2771> Get up
2772
2773You immediately run into the bathroom and throw open the door. The cold hits you full force and sends shivers through your entire body. You stumble backwards, falling on the floor where you roll onto your stomach before collapsing into a heap.
2774
2775> 
2776
2777You awaken in a cold sweat. Your head hurts terribly and you don't know how you survived being hit by that icy punch. You shake off the sleepiness and sit up, rubbing your eyes.
2778
2779Your surroundings are dimly illuminated by candles placed around the room.
2780
2781> Lay in bathtub
2782
2783You stand up and walk over to the tub. You pull yourself inside and close the door behind you. As soon as you step inside, water begins filling the tub. You put your hands against it to keep warm, but even that isn't enough; you start shivering uncontrollably.
2784
2785> 
2786
2787You take a deep breath and let it out slowly. You then turn around and wrap your legs around the side of the tub. You hold on tightly as you sink deeper into the water.
2788
2789The cold water makes you shiver all over, but you manage to stay calm despite feeling sick.
2790
2791> Take warm bath
2792
2793You grab a towel and wrap it around your waist. You then slip under the faucet and turn it on full blast. The cold water runs down your body, making you shiver all over again.
2794
2795It feels so nice! So relaxing! Just like when you were little...
2796
2797> 
2798
2799You stop wrapping the towel around yourself and instead wrap it around your shoulders. You lean forward and press your forehead against the cool tile floor. It feels so nice! So relaxing! Just like when you were little...
2800
2801Suddenly, you hear a loud noise outside. A gunshot? A bang?
2802
2803> Dry off with towel
2804
2805You quickly dry off and look out the window. There is no sign of anyone shooting or banging on the door. Maybe someone has already broken in and left.
2806
2807> Exit bathroom
2808
2809You leave the bathroom and go back to your room. You check for any doors or windows that might have been opened, but there's nothing suspicious about this place. Still, you're not quite ready to relax just yet.
2810
2811You think about what you should do next...
2812
2813> Go to kitchen and drink water
2814
2815You head towards the kitchen first. You see a bottle of water sitting on top of a shelf, so you pick it up and pour some out into a glass. You sip at it and feel its warmth on your tongue. This tastes really good!
2816
2817> Drink more water
2818
2819You continue drinking the water until you've finished it all. Then, you notice something strange: The water tastes different than usual. It doesn't taste like regular tap water anymore. Something must be wrong with the source...
2820
2821> Realize it was bottled water and calm down
2822
2823You sit down on the couch and take another drink from the bottle. After taking a few gulps, you realize that it wasn't bottled at all. It was actually tap water from the local well!
2824
2825This means that whoever lives here is probably safe now.
2826
2827> 
2828
2829You stand up and walk over to the fridge. You open it up and find a bag of chips inside. You eat them all up without even thinking twice about it.
2830
2831> 
2832
2833You start heading back to your room, but suddenly you hear a knock on the door. You peek out from behind the sofa and see a man standing there. He looks very old and his face is wrinkled. His hair is also greying as he gets closer to you.
2834
2835> "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
2836
2837"I'm sorry," he says. "My name is Jack."
2838
2839He opens the door further and reveals himself to be a police officer. He asks if you know anything about who might have broken into this house, and why.
2840
2841> "I don't know. I was in the bath when it happened."
2842
2843"That's not exactly true. I saw you get into the tub before I came home."
2844
2845Jack frowns. "What? Why would you tell me that?"
2846
2847You shrug. "Because I thought it'd help me figure out how to deal with this situation better."
2848
2849> 
2850
2851Jack sighs. "Well, I guess we'll talk later then." He closes the door and heads off back to his own house. You decide to call it a night and fall asleep right away.
2852
2853> 
2854
2855The next day, you wake up early and go downstairs to check on the house. There's no sign of anyone breaking in or out. You're just glad you didn't do anything stupid last night.
2856
2857When you come back upstairs, Jack is still awake and looking around the house.
2858
2859> "Why are you back here again?"
2860
2861"I was trying to figure out what you were going to tell me yesterday."
2862
2863"Yeah, well I told you that everything was fine. I mean, I can explain things better if you want..."
2864
2865You pause for a moment.
2866
2867> "Can you please leave?"
2868
2869"Okay...okay..." Jack pauses. "But I really need to know one thing."
2870
2871You think about it for a while and finally answer him. "How did you know I was in the bathroom?"
2872
2873Jack smiles.
2874
2875> 
2876
2877Jack nods. "It's pretty obvious. You've been having strange dreams lately."
2878
2879You nod. "So, what should I do now?"
2880
2881"Well, I suppose you could ask my sister to watch over the kids tonight..." Jack thinks for a bit and then answers.
2882
2883> "Please get out of my house."
2884
2885"Okay, okay! I won't bother her anymore!" Jack laughs. "Anyway, I think you should take care of yourself and try to forget all about those dreams."
2886
2887You smile at him. "Thanks for listening to me last night."
2888
2889Jack chuckles.
2890
2891> 
2892
2893"I'm sorry, but I really can't."
2894
2895Jack looks down. "Don't worry about it. It's your life after all."
2896
2897You shake your head. "No, it isn't."
2898
2899> Kick Jack out of house
2900
2901You stand up from the couch and walk towards Jack who is sitting there with a sad look on his face. "Look, I don't like being here anymore than you do, so I'm leaving."
2902
2903Jack doesn't even respond.
2904
2905> 
2906
2907He stands up as well. "What? Are you kidding me?"
2908
2909You shrug. "Maybe not, but I'm done with this place."
2910
2911Jack stares at you blankly for a few seconds before he speaks again. "Are you sure?"
2912
2913"Yes,"
2914
2915> Go to palace
2916
2917You start walking towards the door. "I'll be right back."
2918
2919Jack starts following you, but stops when he sees a guard coming out of the palace gates. He turns around and begins running away from the guards, but they catch up to him quickly and grab him by both arms.
2920
2921> "Arrest him for trespassing. I don't want to see him ever again."
2922
2923The guards stop their pursuit and turn to you. They cuff Jack into the back of a police car. The driver opens the trunk and pulls out a small bag containing some papers and other items.
2924
2925"Take these," he says handing them to you.
2926
2927> 
2928
2929You open the bag and find a set of keys that belong to the front gate. "Thank you," you say and put them in your pocket.
2930
2931> Enter palace
2932
2933You walk through the palace halls and finally reach the throne room. There are several guards standing outside watching you. You wait patiently until one comes out of the inner rooms and walks out of the hall with another guard behind him.
2934
2935"Come on in,"
2936
2937> Sit on throne
2938
2939You sit on the throne and wait for someone to come talk to you. A moment later, a man dressed in black robes steps inside the room. He has long black hair and wears an eye patch over one of his eyes. His skin is pale white and his eyes are red with hatred.
2940
2941> "You may speak."
2942
2943"Hello, my name is Jack.
2944
2945> Command guards to arrest Jack
2946
2947The man looks at you and then slowly raises his hand. He points it at you and whispers something in your ear. Then he waves his hand in front of your face and calls upon a dark spirit to appear before him.
2948
2949> 
2950
2951A large shadow appears in front of you and suddenly you feel like you're being sucked into it. It's so dark that you can barely make anything out, but it feels very real. You try to scream, but nothing happens.
2952
2953> "What sorcery is this?!"
2954
2955The man smiles as he speaks. "This is the power of the Dark Arts. If you would learn more about it, we should meet sometime."
2956
2957He disappears and you fall unconscious.
2958
2959> 
2960
2961When you wake up, you find yourself chained to a chair. You look around and see that the room is empty save for a table covered with books and several chairs. There is also a door leading to the outer wall where there is no light source or window.
2962
2963> 
2964
2965As you stand up, you realize that you don't have any clothes on. The chains holding your hands together are gone and they've been replaced by thick leather straps. You notice that the chair is now made of wood rather than stone.
2966
2967> Call for help
2968
2969You quickly run towards the door and knock on it. No answer comes back, but you hear some noise coming from outside. You call out again and this time you get a response.
2970
2971"Who is there?"
2972
2973Another voice answers back. "It's me, I'm here."
2974
2975> "Hello? Who are you?"
2976
2977"I'm your new master Jack."
2978
2979"Oh... Well, I guess I'll be seeing you soon then."
2980
2981Jack chuckles and walks away. You sigh and continue to walk along the corridor. Suddenly you hear a creaking sound behind you.
2982
2983> 
2984
2985You turn around and see a figure standing in the corner of the corridor. It's tall, almost twice your height and its skin has a pale blue color. Its eyes are black holes that seem to suck all light out of the room.
2986
2987"Who are you?"
2988
2989> examine the figure
2990
2991You take a closer look at the creature and notice that it's missing an arm. It seems that it was cut off when you were attacked by the beast earlier today.
2992
2993> Help the creature
2994
2995You quickly reach out and touch the creature's hand. It responds by touching yours and then both of your hands begin to glow faintly. Your body begins to heat up and you feel a strange sensation welling up inside you.
2996
2997> 
2998
2999Your mind begins to become clearer and you can sense that something is wrong. Something is very wrong. You start to feel like you're going mad and the world around you starts to blur into one big mass of colors and sounds.
3000
3001> 
3002
3003The world becomes more and more colorful until everything fades into nothingness. Everything goes black and you awaken in a cold sweat. You sit up slowly as you try to make sense of what just happened.
3004
3005> 
3006
3007You open your eyes and find yourself lying naked on a wooden bed. A man stands over you with a knife in his hand. He looks down at you and smiles before speaking.
3008
3009> 
3010
3011"Welcome to my home Jack. I am Doctor Kessel and I will be taking care of you now."
3012
3013He takes another step forward and suddenly you feel a sharp pain go through your chest. The doctor steps back and stares at your wound for several seconds before he speaks again.
3014
3015> 
3016
3017"Ah, so you survived. Good, good. Now let me get this straight; you were attacked by a monster while exploring some ruins? And somehow managed to survive? That's incredible! Monsters don't exist in these parts!"
3018
3019> "That's not what happened at all..."
3020
3021He frowns and shakes his head.
3022
3023> 
3024
3025
3026> "Where am I?"
3027
3028"Oh, I'm sorry about that. Well it seems that you got lost in the wilderness and wandered off for quite awhile. There are no roads here, only trails leading in various directions. So when you stopped following them they gave up looking for you too."
3029
3030> "Who was looking for me?"
3031
3032"Well...I guess I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going, but there was a girl named Tanya who lived nearby. She said she'd come look for you if you ever came across her house. But then she disappeared after leaving town years ago.
3033
3034> "Can I go home?"
3035
3036"Of course, but I need you to stay here for a little bit longer. We have to check your wounds first."
3037
3038He leads you out of the room and down a hallway. Eventually he stops in front of an operating table covered with instruments.
3039
3040> "What's all this for?"
3041
3042"It's for healing your wounds. It would be best if we could do it right away, because even though you're alive now, you might very well die from this."
3043
3044He reaches into a drawer and pulls out a small vial filled with something red liquid.
3045
3046> "Will it hurt?"
3047
3048"No, it won't hurt. It's just blood."
3049
3050He pours some of the red fluid on your wounds and then begins to work quickly. He doesn't seem to pay any attention to you or anything else around him as he works.
3051
3052> "Will it hurt?"
3053
3054"Yes, it will hurt. Please stop working on my wounds."
3055
3056You feel like screaming at him, but you can't find the energy. Instead you just sit there quietly waiting for him to finish up. When he finishes he puts down his tools and looks over at you again.
3057
3058> 
3059
3060"So, what did you think? Did it help?"
3061
3062You shake your head.
3063
3064"That's not important right now. What is important is that we should get back to the inn."
3065
3066> 
3067
3068"Alright, alright! Just let me go!"
3069
3070He gives you one last look before walking past you. You follow him out of the room and down another corridor. Eventually you reach a large door with a big sign hanging above it saying 'The Inn'.
3071
3072> Enter the inn
3073
3074As soon as you walk inside, you realize that everything feels different. The air smells fresh and clean. You see several tables set up with food and drink in front of them. On the wall behind the bar sits a number of patrons sitting at their own tables eating and drinking.
3075
3076> 
3077
3078"Hey, how are things?"
3079
3080A man walks up to you and asks. He seems to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His hair is short and messy, but he has a neatly trimmed beard.
3081
3082> "Can you help me?"
3083
3084"Sure thing. How can I help you?"
3085
3086He takes a seat across from you at the bar. He orders a beer and sits down next to you.
3087
3088> "I've been abducted. I need to get away from Doctor Kessel."
3089
3090"Oh, yes. That happened a long time ago. We all have our bad days."
3091
3092"What do you mean?"
3093
3094He sighs and shakes his head. "Sometimes people lose their jobs, sometimes they get sick, sometimes they fall in love...it happens."
3095
3096> 
3097
3098"But this isn't happening. I'm not getting married to you, I'm not getting fired from my job, and I don't want to die."
3099
3100He smiles at you. "Well, maybe it will happen someday if you keep pushing yourself hard enough."
3101
3102> "I don't want to talk to you anymore."
3103
3104He frowns at you. "Why would I do that?"
3105
3106"Because I don't want to talk to anyone anymore."
3107
3108He shrugs. "Okay then, goodbye."
3109
3110> Leave the inn.
3111
3112You turn around and walk out of the inn. As you walk outside, you hear someone calling after you. It sounds like a woman's voice. You stop for a moment and listen closely.
3113
3114> 
3115
3116"Hello? Is there something wrong?"
3117
3118It's a woman's voice. She sounds familiar, but you're still having trouble remembering her name.
3119
3120> "Hello?"
3121
3122She looks confused by your response. "Um, no. Nothing's wrong."
3123
3124You continue walking and eventually reach the city gates. You look around and notice that it doesn't seem very busy today. Perhaps it was just a holiday or something like that.
3125
3126> Enter the city.
3127
3128You enter the city and find that it's much different than when you were here last. There are fewer people on the streets, but more shops and businesses open up as well. The only problem is that there aren't any guards patrolling around either; everyone seems to be doing their own thing.
3129
3130> Find someone.
3131
3132You try to think of where you might know someone who works at one of these places. You could ask them about what they do, but you'd probably sound like an annoying pest. Instead, you decide to go to a place that seems popular with the locals: the tavern.
3133
3134> 
3135
3136You walk into the tavern and see several other people sitting at tables talking to each other. A few of them look up when you enter, but most just stare back at you. They seem so bored, even though they've been drinking themselves stupid since they woke up this morning.
3137
3138> 
3139
3140A man walks over to you. He has long black hair and wears a simple tunic underneath his robe. His face shows annoyance when he sees you, but he speaks first. "Hey! What're ya doin' in here anyway?"
3141
3142You sigh and shake your head.
3143
3144> "I'm trying to find someone. Who are you?"
3145
3146The man looks down at his feet. "Oh... uh, sorry. I'm not really sure myself..."
3147
3148You sigh again and sit down next to him. "What do you mean?"
3149
3150He continues to look down at his feet before speaking again.
3151
3152> 
3153
3154"My name's Kivan. I don't have many friends, but I'm hoping that if we work together, we can make some."
3155
3156You nod and sit down beside him. "So you want me to help you get someone to come here?"
3157
3158> 
3159
3160Kivan shrugs. "Well, yeah. If you help me out, I'll give you a discount on drinks."
3161
3162You frown at this offer.
3163
3164> "What do you do for a living?"
3165
3166Kivan smiles. "I'm a thief. But I need money to live, so I steal from stores and people."
3167
3168You pause for a moment. "How much would it cost me to hire you?"
3169
3170Kivan looks surprised by your question.
3171
3172> 
3173
3174"Um... Well, let's see... $50 will get you a room for two days. That includes breakfast and dinner."
3175
3176You smile at this answer. "That sounds fair. How much does it take?"
3177
3178Kivan considers your response for a moment before replying.
3179
3180> 
3181
3182"It takes $100 to get a room for three days. Breakfast and lunch include yourself as well."
3183
3184You nod at this answer. "Fair enough. Let's do it then."
3185
3186> 
3187
3188You stand up and start walking towards the door. "Alright, alright, I got it," you say to yourself. The door opens and you step inside. There is a small table with chairs set up in front of it.
3189
3190> Ask Kivan to follow me
3191
3192Kivan nods and follows you outside. "Where should we go now?"
3193
3194You turn around and walk back into the bar area. A few more men are sitting there drinking, most of them looking bored or angry at one another. One of them stands up and addresses you directly.
3195
3196> 
3197
3198"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" he asks angrily.
3199
3200You raise an eyebrow. "Just following you," you reply calmly. He turns away and walks off, leaving the bar area behind him.
3201
3202> Go to alley with Kivan
3203
3204You walk over to the side of the building and look down an alleyway. Kivan is still standing nearby, but now he has his head bowed low. He doesn't seem too happy about being followed like this.
3205
3206"Come on!" you shout to him.
3207
3208> 
3209
3210He slowly turns around and walks towards you. "Why are you following me? I just told you to come here."
3211
3212You sigh. "Because I have no other choice."
3213
3214Kivan stares at you for a long time before speaking again.
3215
3216> 
3217
3218"So what do you want?"
3219
3220You shrug. "Nothing really. Just wanted to know."
3221
3222Kivan raises an eyebrow. "What did you mean when you said nothing?"
3223
3224You shake your head. "Nothing."
3225
3226> "You don't have to steal. I can help you."
3227
3228You quickly speak out. "I'm not stealing anything from you. I'll even give you some money if that helps."
3229
3230Kivan looks at you for a moment and shakes his head. "No, I don't need any help."
3231
3232> "Are you sure, Kivan??"
3233
3234You smile at him. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
3235
3236Kivan frowns and looks down. "Well... okay..."
3237
3238The two of you leave the bar area and begin heading towards the same direction.
3239
3240> 
3241
3242You continue walking along the road. It's getting dark so you stop to take a quick look back at where you came from. As soon as you see the light of the city lights, you realize how far away they are and how much time has passed since then.
3243
3244> 
3245
3246You keep walking. The sun is setting in the distance and it seems like forever since you left the tavern. You've been wandering aimlessly ever since you got here. Your mind wanders back to those words you heard earlier today...
3247
3248> 
3249
3250You stop walking. "It was nice meeting you, Kivan."
3251
3252Kivan nods. "Likewise." You both turn around and start walking once more.
3253
3254> Ask Kivan if he likes being a thief.
3255
3256You ask Kivan if he enjoys it. "Yeah, I guess it is kind of fun sometimes."
3257
3258"Do you think you could get better?"
3259
3260You nod. "Maybe, maybe not."
3261
3262> "My offer to help you is still open."
3263
3264You pause. "Okay, well thanks for answering my question."
3265
3266Kivan smiles and waves goodbye. He heads off into the night with a strange look on his face. You walk along the road a bit longer until you hear a voice behind you.
3267
3268> "Hello?"
3269
3270You turn around and see a man wearing a hooded cloak approaching you. His eyes seem to follow every inch of your body as he approaches you. "Whoa! Slow down there, kid!"
3271
3272> 
3273
3274You shake your head. "Nope, nope, nope." The man continues to walk closer and closer to you. Suddenly he grabs you by the arm and pulls you up against the wall of an abandoned house. He stares at you for a few moments before speaking again.
3275
3276> 
3277
3278"I'm sorry about that, but I just had to know what happened between you and the girl."
3279
3280You stare at him blankly. "What do you mean? What did she do?"
3281
3282He shrugs.
3283
3284> Fight back
3285
3286You stand up straight and prepare yourself for battle. "Well, she gave me a hug."
3287
3288The man looks at you expectantly. "Did she give you one too?"
3289
3290You shake your head. "No, but I didn't really want her to either.
3291
3292> "Who are you?"
3293
3294"That's none of your business."
3295
3296You raise an eyebrow. "Is this some sort of trick?"
3297
3298The man sighs and shakes his head. "No, no tricks. Just a simple question."
3299
3300> Try to leave
3301
3302You pull out your pistol and point it at the man. "If you don't tell me who you are or why you're here, I will shoot."
3303
3304The man doesn't even blink. "Alright then, who are you?
3305
3306> "Who are you?"
3307
3308"So far as I can tell, you're the only person in this town who has any real power. Your father was a powerful wizard and you were raised by a priestess of Dorna. Now that's all gone now."
3309
3310You stare at him incredulously.
3311
3312> "Who are you? Why do you know this?"
3313
3314"My name is Kivan. My mother was a witch, so I guess that makes me one too."
3315
3316You frown. "And you've been following me around since then?"
3317
3318He nods.
3319
3320> 
3321
3322"Well, okay, but why?"
3323
3324Kivan smiles. "Because I like you. And because I think you have potential."
3325
3326> "I like you too. But you didn't have to hide."
3327
3328"Of course not," Kivan says with a smile. "But if you really want to get to know each other better, we should be more open about our relationship."
3329
3330You nod slowly. "Okay...but where are you going to take us first?"
3331
3332> 
3333
3334"We need to go see my family's old home. It's near the cemetery, close enough that you could easily walk there from here."
3335
3336You look at him quizzically. "Why would I want to do that?
3337
3338> 
3339
3340"Because it's beautiful. The place used to belong to my great-grandfather before he died, so I'm taking you there."
3341
3342You pause. "What do you mean?"
3343
3344Kivan shrugs. "It's just a story."
3345
3346> 
3347
3348"It's true. He did live here. I found it when I was looking for something else. Anyway, you'll find a lot of interesting things there."
3349
3350You nod again and follow him through the forest until you reach the house.
3351
3352> 
3353
3354As soon as you enter, you feel a sense of dread wash over you. There's no way that such an ancient building could still stand without collapsing into dust. You can almost imagine how the walls must once have looked, though they're covered in moss and vines now.
3355
3356> "Haha, this place is a mess... You really live here?"
3357
3358"Yes, I do. What do you think?"
3359
3360You shake your head. "No."
3361
3362Kivan sighs. "Then what the hell happened to this place? Where did it come from?"
3363
3364You try to remember, but nothing comes to mind.
3365
3366> "Your great-grandfather lived here. It must have been a long time ago."
3367
3368"Oh yes, that's right. He died years ago."
3369
3370Kivan laughs. "So he was dead for decades before you even knew who he was?"
3371
3372You shake your head again. "No."
3373
3374> Hold Kivan's hand.
3375
3376"That's very strange. Why would anyone die for decades before someone else knew their name?"
3377
3378He looks surprised by your answer. "Really? That makes any sense?"
3379
3380You grin. "Maybe not, but it sounds pretty cool."
3381
3382> 
3383
3384"I guess you've never heard of the Great Lich Lord, then?"
3385
3386You shake your head. "Never heard of him either."
3387
3388Kivan frowns.
3389
3390> 
3391
3392"Well, I don't know everything about him, but I've read all the books on necromancy that were left behind after his death. He's a powerful being. A force of nature."
3393
3394You smile. "Sounds like you're talking about Doktoren."
3395
3396> "Do you dabble in necromancy?"
3397
3398"Not at all. Necromancy isn't my thing."
3399
3400You laugh. "Duh! But it seems like you should be able to get some sort of power out of it if you want to practice more often."
3401
3402Kivan smiles.
3403
3404> "Let's find somewhere more comfortable."
3405
3406"Sure, let's go back to the inn. We'll spend some time with our friend."
3407
3408You nod and follow him back to the inn where you sit down on one of the chairs. The two of you talk for awhile, mostly about your lives since you first met each other.
3409
3410> 
3411
3412Year 30
3413
3414The city has changed quite a bit since you last saw it. Most of the buildings are made of wood or stone, which are both cheaper than metal and stronger. Buildings aren't cheap, however; you'd need to pay a lot just to rent them out for free.
3415
3416> 
3417
3418"What's wrong with the city?"
3419
3420You look around and see that most of the buildings are still wooden or stone, but there is an increasing amount of metal construction going on now. Metal structures are expensive as well, so you can only imagine how much they cost to build.
3421
3422> Visit Kivan
3423
3424"We could stay here for a while. It's nice and quiet."
3425
3426Kivan nods. "Yes, it is. There's also a good sized garden outside, though I doubt you'd have much use for it anyway."
3427
3428You nod.
3429
3430> "I like it here."
3431
3432"Me too!"
3433
3434You smile and hug him tightly. "Thank you."
3435
3436Kivan hugs you back. "It was nothing, just glad to help."
3437
3438> "Oh? So you're the one helping me now..."
3439
3440"Of course."
3441
3442You kiss him goodbye and leave the inn.
3443
3444> Find Cyrus
3445
3446You walk through the streets until you come across a man who looks familiar. He wears a black robe over his brown robes and carries what appears to be a staff. You recognize him immediately as Cyrus, the wizard who taught you magic when he was teaching you how to cast spells in the first place.
3447
3448> "Cyrus! It's been a long time!"
3449
3450He doesn't respond right away, but after a few minutes he finally speaks up. "Ah yes, it has... I remember you from when we were students together. You were very talented then and even better now."
3451
3452You smile at this remark and nod.
3453
3454> "I missed you."
3455
3456"Well, I'm glad you did. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my lessons."
3457
3458With those words spoken, Cyrus leaves without another word.
3459
3460> Go to palace
3461
3462You head towards the palace, where you see several guards standing guard. One of them points at you and says "This one will tell you everything she knows about your true identity."
3463
3464You sigh and shake your head. "Fine, whatever. Just let me go in."
3465
3466> 
3467
3468The guard frowns. "But... But you don't seem like the type to kill someone for information."
3469
3470You shrug. "Maybe not, but I might as well give her what she wants since she seems willing to do it."
3471
3472> 
3473
3474The guard frowns again. "Very well, but only if you can prove that you know all about my sister's death."
3475
3476You grin. "What does she mean by 'death'?"
3477
3478The guard smiles and gestures to your face. "Her eyes are red."
3479
3480> "That's just the plague. Let me in and I'll heal her."
3481
3482"No, no, no! She needs to know who killed her sister! If you don't tell her, she won't believe you!"
3483
3484You grit your teeth. "Alright alright alright, I'll tell her. What do you want me to say?"
3485
3486> 
3487
3488The guard stares at you with disbelief. "Who is this boy? How could anyone know such things about my sister's murder?"
3489
3490You raise an eyebrow. "Because I've seen you around town and because I have a pretty good memory, I think you're telling the truth."
3491
3492> Enter palace
3493
3494You enter the palace and find yourself in a large room filled with many people. The guards stand behind you, looking down on you. They look angry and worried.
3495
3496A woman stands up from her seat and approaches you. "Hello there, I am Dasha."
3497
3498> "Hello. What do you do here?"
3499
3500She smiles. "Oh, I'm sure you must be wondering why I'm here. Well, I was once a student of yours, so I came to talk to you about something important."
3501
3502You frown. "Something important?"
3503
3504Dasha nods.
3505
3506> 
3507
3508You nod. "Yeah, something important."
3509
3510She looks down. "I don't understand why you would want to lie about this."
3511
3512You frown. "Why wouldn't I? It's not like we're going to die anyway..."
3513
3514Dasha shakes her head.
3515
3516> Go to throne room and sit on throne.
3517
3518You walk over to the throne and sit down. A man walks out of the crowd and sits down next to you. He wears a black robe with gold trimming, holding a staff in his hands. His eyes are bloodshot and he has long white hair that falls past his shoulders.
3519
3520> "Cyrus. It's good to see you again."
3521
3522He smiles. "It is Cyrus. Why aren't you dead yet?"
3523
3524You smile back. "Meh, I'm fine."
3525
3526Cyrus laughs. "Well then, let's get right into it shall we? We both know who did this."
3527
3528> "Did what?"
3529
3530You shrug. "I dunno, but I'd rather not know."
3531
3532Cyrus sighs. "Then what do you want to know?"
3533
3534You sigh as well. "Anything."
3535
3536> 
3537
3538Cyrus smiles. "So...you were a student of mine too huh?"
3539
3540You shake your head. "Nah, I just went to class here and there."
3541
3542"Hm, sounds familiar. Did you study under any other master?"
3543
3544> "Yes. You might have known him."
3545
3546Cyrus raises an eyebrow. "Really? That's all you can remember?"
3547
3548You shrug. "Maybe."
3549
3550Cyrus takes a deep breath before speaking again.
3551
3552> 
3553
3554"Ah, yes. Yes, I do indeed remember. Master Ebon taught me a few things when I first arrived here."
3555
3556Cyrus pauses for a moment before continuing.
3557
3558> 
3559
3560"That's interesting. So how many years had you been here?"
3561
3562You pause for a moment. "About three months."
3563
3564Cyrus snorts at your answer. "Three months? Is that all you've done here?"
3565
3566You raise an eyebrow and shrug again.
3567
3568> "Let's go somewhere more private."
3569
3570You look up at Cyrus. "What do you mean?"
3571
3572Cyrus smirks. "Come now, I don't think you're interested in some stupid little game of seduction." He motions towards the door.
3573
3574> 
3575
3576"Oh come on! What kind of question is that?"
3577
3578You frown. "Why would I be?"
3579
3580Cyrus chuckles. "Because you're being silly, silly boy!" He waves his hand dismissively.
3581
3582> Go through the door
3583
3584You walk through the door and see a large room with several tables set around it. There are also two doors leading off from the main area. One leads to another room filled with bookshelves, while the other opens into a small foyer which has a single locked door.
3585
3586> Sit on table with Cyrus
3587
3588You sit down on one of the tables. Cyrus sits next to you. "Well, this should be interesting..." he says with a smile.
3589
3590> 
3591
3592You sigh as you stare at Cyrus' face. It's expression is very serious, but you know it's hiding something underneath. Your eyes wander over to the book on the table beside you and you pick out a copy of The Book Of Ages by Mansel Vincenzo.
3593
3594> Examine Cyrus.
3595
3596You take a quick glance at Cyrus. His face seems to have changed quite a bit since you last saw him. A strange thing, considering that he was always like that...
3597
3598Suddenly, Cyrus speaks up. "Hey, what about you?"
3599
3600"I'm fine,"
3601
3602> Hold Cyrus' hand
3603
3604You put your arm around Cyrus' shoulder and hold it tightly. "Don't worry about me."
3605
3606Cyrus smiles at your response. "Thank you, thank you..." he says with a chuckle. Then, he looks back to the book on the table beside him.
3607
3608> Throw book out window
3609
3610You quickly grab the book and toss it out of the window. Cyrus stares at you in shock. "What the hell were you doing?"
3611
3612"Nothing, just throwing a book out of a window."
3613
3614"Wait, did you throw that book away because..."
3615
3616> "I don't want that plot hook anymore."
3617
3618"No, no, nothing like that. Just wanted to get rid of it."
3619
3620"So you threw the book out because you didn't want any more plot hooks?" Cyrus asks.
3621
3622You shrug. "Maybe."
3623
3624> "Enough distractions. Kiss me."
3625
3626You turn towards Cyrus and kiss him passionately. He returns the gesture, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close. You soon separate your lips and begin kissing each other passionately again. This time, though, it feels different than before; it's much more passionate.
3627
3628> Rub Cyrus
3629
3630You pull Cyrus closer to you and begin rubbing your body against his. Soon, you're both naked and touching each other. You start caressing each others bodies and then move onto fondling each others breasts.
3631
3632> 
3633
3634You continue to do this for some time until eventually, you stop. "I think I need to go wash my hands," you say.
3635
3636"Wash your hands? What are we going to do now?" Cyrus asks.
3637
3638"We're going home."
3639
3640> Take Cyrus to private quarters
3641
3642You walk with Cyrus to the bedroom where you open the door. There's a small closet, which has two doors leading into it. One of them leads outside and one leads inside.
3643
3644> Push Cyrus onto bed and kiss him
3645
3646You push Cyrus onto the bed and kiss him deeply. He responds by returning the favor. It's a very intimate moment between you two and it lasts for several minutes before you stop kissing each other completely.
3647
3648> "Are you enjoying this?"
3649
3650"Yes, yes I am," Cyrus replies.
3651"Then let's keep doing this."
3652
3653You both stand up from the bed and walk over to Cyrus who is still lying down. You kneel down next to him and press your body against his.
3654
3655> Rub Cyrus
3656
3657You slowly begin to rub your body along Cyrus' as he moans softly. Eventually, you feel his penis twitch and pulse against your own. You gently run your hand across it while continuing to moan loudly.
3658
3659"Oh fuck... Oh god..." Cyrus says in between breaths.
3660
3661> Rub Cyrus
3662
3663You continue to rub your body along Cyrus' as he moans softly. Eventually, you feel his penis twitch and pulse against your own. You gently run your hand across it while continuing to moan loudly.
3664
3665"Fuck... Fuck me harder..." Cyrus says in between breaths.
3666
3667> Milk Cyrus
3668
3669You continue to pump your hips up and down on Cyrus' shaft as he moans softly. Finally, you feel his cock twitch and pulse against your own. You quickly grab hold of it and squeeze hard causing him to gasp out loud in pain.
3670
3671> Lick Cyrus
3672
3673You eagerly jump off of him and wrap your lips around his dick. The taste is amazing and you suck on it thoroughly, making sure not to lose any of the delicious liquid that runs down your throat.
3674
3675> Swallow
3676
3677You happily swallow every drop of semen that spills out of Cyrus' rod as you moan loudly.
3678
3679"That was fantastic!" Cyrus exclaims. "What did you make it out like?
3680
3681> Kiss Cyrus
3682
3683You quickly pull away from Cyrus and kiss him passionately. His tongue flickers against yours as you move your head back and forth along his length. Your hands find their way to his chest as you start caressing his soft skin.
3684
3685"I love you so much..."
3686
3687> "I love you."
3688
3689You smile at him and then kiss him passionately. His tongue flickers against yours as you move your head back and forth along his length. Your hands find their way to his chest as you start caressing his soft skin.
3690
3691"I love you too..."
3692
3693> Smile and chuckle. "Your emperor is pleased."
3694
3695You laugh a bit and nod at him before kissing him again. This time, you put more energy into it and move your mouth further up along his length. He moans loudly when you finally reach the tip of it.
3696
3697> "Do you like it?"
3698
3699You grin at him and press your lips against the tip of his penis. He gasps slightly when you do this, but doesn't resist in anyway. You slide your tongue inside of him and begin to lap up all the juices that are running down from within him.
3700
3701> 
3702
3703You moan loudly as you feel his hot seed fill your mouth. It tastes wonderful and you gulp it down greedily.
3704
3705"Oh fuck! I can't believe how good that felt!" Cyrus exclaims. "It feels like heaven."
3706
3707> Roll over
3708
3709You roll over onto your stomach and stare at Cyrus who is still kneeling by the bed.
3710
3711"Are you going to be okay?" You ask.
3712"Yeah...I guess," Cyrus says with a sigh.
3713
3714> Cuddle
3715
3716You sit next to him and cuddle close. You both enjoy each other's presence for awhile longer until he eventually gets up and walks out of the room.
3717
3718After a few minutes, you hear the door open up again by one of his servants.
3719
3720"Well done my Emperor,"
3721
3722> "I trust he'll be coming back?"
3723
3724"Yes, I'm sure he will," You reply.
3725
3726A few days later, you receive an unexpected visitor in your study.
3727
3728> "Who is it?"
3729
3730"My name is Cyrus and I have come to see you about something very important."
3731
3732You look up from your book and stand up slowly. You walk forward towards him.
3733
3734> Touch Cyrus' arm
3735
3736You gently place your hand on Cyrus' forearm. He looks surprised by this gesture and looks away quickly.
3737
3738"What is it?" You ask.
3739
3740"The Empire needs to change its direction if we want to survive. We need a new leader." Cyrus replies nervously.
3741
3742> "I will lead."
3743
3744"I know you will, my Emperor."
3745
3746You smile and embrace Cyrus tightly. He holds you tightly as he begins to cry. You hold him until he calms down and then kiss him passionately.
3747
3748> 
3749
3750Years pass...
3751
3752Cyrus has been promoted to the position of Grand Vizier and is now leading the Empire into a brighter future. The Empire has grown stronger under his leadership and you're happy for him. In fact, you've become quite fond of him.
3753
3754> Lead the Empire with Cyrus at my side as my advisor
3755
3756As you continue to serve the Empire, you begin to realize that it would be best if you were joined by someone else as your advisor. You don't mind having Cyrus around anymore though since he helps keep things organized and makes sure everything runs smoothly.
3757
3758> 
3759
3760Years pass...
3761
3762You've been serving the Empire for many years now and you feel like you've gotten used to it. It's not perfect, but it works well enough. You've even managed to build a strong relationship with Cyrus and are enjoying being together.
3763
3764> Find Cyrus
3765
3766One day while you're walking along the streets of Nalin, you notice a man sitting alone on a bench. He seems to be reading some sort of book or journal. When he notices you standing nearby, he turns around and waves hello before continuing to read.
3767
3768> "I knew you'd be here."
3769
3770He smiles back at you and waves goodbye. You wave back and follow him out of the city.
3771
3772After a couple hours of walking, you reach a small town called Tivadol. It's not much bigger than Nalin itself, but it feels more peaceful somehow.
3773
3774> 
3775
3776A few days later, you arrive in the town. A large group of soldiers stands outside the gates. They seem to be waiting for someone. You approach them and they immediately recognize you as one of their own who served during the Great War.
3777
3778> "Greetings, comrades. How goes it?"
3779
3780They all nod and bow their heads in respect. One of them says something about an official welcoming ceremony, but you can't make out what it is because of the heavy armor they wear.
3781
3782You walk up to the nearest soldier and address him directly.
3783
3784> 
3785
3786The soldier looks at you and nods. He tells another soldier to tell Cyrus that you want to see him right away.
3787
3788You follow the two soldiers who escort you inside the castle where Cyrus is waiting patiently for you.
3789
3790> 
3791
3792"Hello, Cyrus," you say.
3793
3794He smiles back at you and nods. He takes a seat across from you and begins speaking in a low voice.
3795
3796"It's good to see you again, friend.
3797
3798> "It's good to see you too."
3799
3800"What do you mean? I thought we were supposed to meet somewhere else."
3801
3802Cyrus frowns at you. He continues to speak slowly and clearly.
3803
3804> 
3805
3806"We have a little problem. We need to talk."
3807
3808You look confused by his sudden change in tone. Cyrus shrugs and continues to speak.
3809
3810> "What's wrong?"
3811
3812"Your actions have been questionable ever since the war ended. The Empire has been looking into your past and there are rumors that you've had dealings with other factions in the area. Your behavior has become less than proper and we don't like it."
3813
3814> "I only do what's best for the Empire. You know this."
3815
3816"Perhaps, but it isn't just me. There are others in command here that feel the same way. If you continue on this path, then you'll soon find yourself facing a war against the Felkan Kingdom."
3817
3818You think hard before answering.
3819
3820> "If you have any complaints, you can tell me. I will listen."
3821
3822"No, no complaints. You're doing what's best for the Empire and that's enough."
3823
3824Cyrus sighs and shakes his head. He turns to face you.
3825
3826> 
3827
3828"Well, I'm sorry if my actions have caused you concern or made you worry. However, I must ask that you not interfere with our plans anymore. It was nice meeting you."
3829
3830You shake your head and smile at Cyrus.
3831
3832> "My plans are already set in motion, but I can change. For you."
3833
3834"Good. Good. Well, let us get down to business shall we?"
3835
3836You nod and agree with Cyrus' words. He smiles and leaves the room leaving you alone once more.
3837
3838> Wait for Cyrus to come back
3839
3840The next day comes quickly and you spend most of it sitting around waiting for Cyrus to return. Eventually he does, though he seems slightly annoyed about the whole situation.
3841
3842"So what did you want to discuss?"
3843
3844> 
3845
3846"Nothing much really. Just wanted to know how things went on your side."
3847
3848He looks over at you and gives a small smirk.
3849
3850> Reach out over the table and hold Cyrus' hand
3851
3852"It's alright. I understand."
3853
3854You squeeze his hand and he lets go of your hand. You both sit back down at the table and continue to wait patiently for Cyrus to return.
3855
3856> "Do you want to talk about it?"
3857
3858"Yes."
3859
3860He nods and begins to speak.
3861
3862> 
3863
3864"I've been thinking about all the people I've killed. About the ones who were loyal to me as well as those who weren't. I realize now that some of them deserved it. Some didn't, but they still had their place in my plan."
3865
3866> 
3867
3868"That...was a lie. I don't think there is any such thing as loyalty in this world. Loyalty only exists within certain parameters and if someone isn't serving those parameters then they aren't truly loyal to me."
3869"What do you mean?
3870
3871> 
3872
3873"When I first met you, I thought you were loyal. When we fought together against the Empire, I saw that you were loyal. The moment we parted ways however, you abandoned me completely. Now here we are again and you're betraying me.
3874
3875> "I'm sorry? How have I betrayed you?"
3876
3877"You see, I was under the impression that you would be loyal to me no matter what. But when you left me behind, I realized that wasn't true. That you'd never be able to ever love me like I loved you. And so I decided to make sure of it."
3878
3879> "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
3880
3881"No, it's fine. It's not your fault. We can work through this. I'll even let you live."
3882
3883You shake your head in disbelief and begin to walk away from him before he has a chance to stop you.
3884
3885> "I had to do it. I missed you every day. I'm sorry."
3886
3887"Don't apologize. I forgive you."
3888
3889The two of you stand up and embrace each other once more. He kisses you on the cheek and tells you to get some rest before leaving.
3890
3891> "I don't feel like I've done enough. How can I make it up to you?"
3892
3893"We'll figure something out. For now though, I need to sleep."
3894
3895You kiss him goodbye and head off into your room where you fall asleep immediately after waking up.
3896
3897> Go to Cyrus' bedroom
3898
3899You enter Cyrus' bedroom and find him lying on his bed with a book open in front of him.
3900
3901"Hey, wakey wakey." You call out to him.
3902"Huh? What for?" He asks back while continuing to read.
3903"Just come over here."
3904
3905> Join Cyrus in bed
3906
3907You sit down next to Cyrus and take his hand in yours.
3908
3909"So how did things turn out between us?" You ask.
3910"Same way they always do, just better than it used to be." He replies with a smile.
3911
3912> Put Cyrus' book aside and kiss him
3913
3914You pull Cyrus closer to you and wrap your arms around him.
3915
3916"Mmm, you smell good." You whisper in his ear.
3917"Thanks..." He responds with a smirk.
3918
3919> 
3920
3921You continue to hold onto his hands as you kiss him deeply.
3922
3923"I want you inside me all the time... I want you to stay with me forever..." You say in an almost pleading tone.
3924
3925Cyrus smiles at your confession and begins kissing you back.
3926
3927> 
3928
3929You start grinding against him and soon have your hands wrapped around his neck.
3930
3931"Let me show you how much I care about you." He says as he starts caressing your breasts.
3932
3933He continues to fondle them until you both release one another in a loud moan.
3934
3935> 
3936
3937You grab his face and kiss him passionately.
3938
3939"Oh god, yes!" You scream as you feel yourself being filled with ecstasy.
3940
3941Your hands move down to his chest and start squeezing them tightly. Your fingers trace their way along his stomach and then slide under his pants.
3942
3943> 
3944
3945You slowly push your finger into Cyrus' mouth and begin sucking on it.
3946
3947It's not long before you're deep throating him and taking him into your throat. It feels so good that you start gagging.
3948
3949> Suck Cyrus' dick like a champ
3950
3951You keep sucking on his dick and soon he cums all over your face.
3952
3953"Aww! That was so delicious!" Cyrus exclaims as he pulls away from you. "Come here."
3954
3955He grabs your shoulders and pushes you towards him.
3956
3957> Kiss Cyrus
3958
3959You quickly wrap your lips around Cyrus' cock and begin kissing him deeply.
3960
3961The two of you make out for quite some time until you finally pull away.
3962
3963"Well, looks like we've got ourselves a new member." Cyrus remarks with a grin.
3964
3965> Cuddle Cyrus
3966
3967You embrace Cyrus and hug him tightly.
3968
3969> "I love you."
3970
3971You smile and kiss him back.
3972
3973"I love you too." You reply with a smile.
3974
3975> 
3976
3977You take his hand and lead him outside where you lie on the bed together.
3978
3979"So... What do we do now?" You ask.
3980"We go back to my place." Cyrus replies. "I'll show you what I mean by 'forever'."
3981
3982> Go back to his place.
3983
3984You nod and agree.
3985
3986> 
3987
3988You follow Cyrus back to his house. He leads you through the dark halls and up several flights of stairs. The whole time you can hear voices in the distance.
3989
3990"Hey, wait!" You call out but there is no answer.
3991
3992> Go to Cyrus
3993
3994You enter the room and see Cyrus sitting at a table surrounded by books. There are candles lit in the middle of the floor illuminating the bookcases. A large painting hangs above him on one wall, which depicts a man lying on a bed of flowers.
3995
3996> "So what did you want to show me?"
3997
3998You sit down next to Cyrus and look at the paintings. They're beautiful works of art that you never would have expected to find in this house.
3999
4000"This is a very old work by Raphael." Cyrus says.
4001
4002> "It's beautiful."
4003
4004You stare at the painting for a moment before speaking again.
4005
4006"What do you mean it's not?" You ask.
4007"It was done over 2000 years ago when Raphael lived in Florence." Cyrus explains.
4008
4009> "I see. A classic."
4010
4011Cyrus smiles and nods.
4012
4013"Yes, it is." You reply.
4014"But why didn't you paint something like this yourself?" You continue. "If you had, it might be worth more than the house itself."
4015"Because I'm lazy." Cyrus replies.
4016
4017> "Hahaha, of course."
4018
4019"Well, I suppose laziness isn't necessarily a bad thing..." You say.
4020"Maybe not." Cyrus says. "Anyway, if you don't mind I should get back to painting."
4021
4022You sigh and stand up from your chair.
4023
4024> 
4025
4026You walk into the kitchen and see Cyrus standing behind the stove stirring a pot of water. He looks up as he hears you approach.
4027
4028> Stand behind Cyrus and gently hold his waist.
4029
4030You grab Cyrus' hand and pull him around to face you. You then put your other arm around his waist and place your lips against his.
4031
4032"Mmm... so good." You whisper into his ear.
4033"Ah! What the fuck are you doing?!"
4034
4035> "I'm sorry. I shouldn't do that while you're cooking."
4036
4037You quickly turn away and run back into the bedroom.
4038
4039"No, no, no, it's fine." Cyrus says. "I just wanted to make sure you were happy with my cooking."
4040
4041> 
4042
4043You quickly head back into the living room where Cyrus is still standing behind the stove stirring the pot of water. He looks up as you approach.
4044
4045"Hey, what's going on?" You ask.
4046"Nothing." Cyrus says. "Just making sure you're happy with my cooking."
4047
4048> "I'm always happy with your cooking, silly boy."
4049
4050You kiss Cyrus once more and run out of the kitchen.
4051
4052The rest of the day goes fairly uneventful; you spend most of your time watching TV or playing video games. Eventually, night falls and you both fall asleep together in each others arms.
4053
4054> 
4055
4056Morning comes and you wake up to find Cyrus sitting next to you. He looks tired, but seems content enough.
4057
4058"Good morning." You yawn. "How long have we been sleeping together?"
4059"Since yesterday afternoon." Cyrus responds. "So how did your sleep last night go?"
4060
4061> "I slept well. How about you?"
4062
4063"Same." Cyrus answers. "What about you?"
4064
4065"Fine." You answer. "Didn't even dream of anything last night."
4066
4067"Hmm, I guess that makes two of us." Cyrus remarks.
4068
4069> "I've been thinking about something important I need to ask you."
4070
4071"Okay." Cyrus nods. "What is it?"
4072
4073"Do you want to be my wife?" You ask.
4074
4075Cyrus stares at you for a moment before answering.
4076
4077> 
4078
4079"Yes." Cyrus replies.
4080
4081> Hug and kiss Cyrus and say "I love you."
4082
4083You embrace Cyrus tightly and kiss him deeply. After a few moments of this, you begin to feel slightly dizzy. Your body begins to shake uncontrollably until you collapse onto the floor.
4084
4085"Oh god..." You hear Cyrus cry out as he rushes over to help you up.
4086
4087> 
4088
4089"Don't worry, I'll get you better soon." Cyrus assures you. "It was a good dream after all."
4090
4091You look around and see nothing amiss. You sit up slowly and try to remember if there are any other dreams like this one.
4092
4093> "What? What did you do?"
4094
4095"Nothing." Cyrus states. "We should probably get some breakfast first though."
4096
4097After eating, you continue to talk about your recent dream. Cyrus listens intently while occasionally asking questions. Eventually, you decide to tell him everything.
4098
4099> 
4100
4101Cyrus listens intently while occasionally asking questions. Eventually, you decide to tell him everything.
4102
4103"I'm going to marry you." You say with conviction.
4104
4105"Really?" Cyrus asks.
4106
4107> "Yes. We've been together so long... I think it's time."
4108
4109"Well... okay then." Cyrus says. "But what about your family?"
4110
4111"They don't matter anymore anyway." You reply. "I mean they're dead now anyway, right?"
4112
4113Cyrus smiles and hugs you tightly.
4114
4115> 
4116
4117"I love you too." Cyrus whispers in your ear.
4118
4119> Go to your wedding with Cyrus.
4120
4121You and Cyrus walk down the aisle holding hands. You both look at each other and smile. The priest reads the marriage contract aloud which you both sign off on. A ring is put on your finger and a new life begins.
4122
4123> Eat cake
4124
4125The next day, you wake up and find that Cyrus has left. He never came back for breakfast either. You wonder where he went but eventually you just fall asleep again.
4126
4127> 
4128
4129You wake up and realize that you haven't eaten anything since breakfast. You also notice that you have no idea how many days have passed. It seems like forever ago when you were having breakfast with Cyrus.
4130
4131Suddenly, a knock comes on the door.
4132
4133> Answer the door
4134
4135You open the door and find yourself staring into the eyes of Cyrus.
4136
4137"So... you really want to be married to me?" Cyrus asks with an expression that makes it seem as if he wants to kiss you immediately.
4138
4139"Of course!" You exclaim excitedly.
4140
4141> Embrace Cyrus
4142
4143You hug Cyrus tightly and hold onto his neck. You can feel his warm breath on your face.
4144
4145"I knew this would happen sooner or later." You say with a grin.
4146
4147You pull away from Cyrus and sigh happily.
4148
4149> "I love you, my Grand Vizier."
4150
4151You say "I love you, my Grand Vizier."
4152
4153Cyrus looks over at you and smiles. He leans forward and kisses you passionately on the lips. This causes you to blush intensely. You quickly pull away from Cyrus who blushes even more.
4154
4155"That was wrong."
4156
4157> "No it wasn't. We get to decide what's wrong."
4158
4159You say "No it wasn't. We get to decide what's wrong."
4160
4161Cyrus looks at you and shakes his head. He frowns and pulls away from you. His eyebrows raise in confusion. He stares at the ground for a moment before speaking softly to himself.
4162
4163> 
4164
4165He slowly walks towards you with a serious expression on his face. He puts one hand against the side of your face and gently presses your cheek to it. He then takes another step closer and places his lips against yours once more.
4166
4167> 
4168
4169You moan loudly and wrap your arms around him. You press your body against his and begin kissing him deeply. Your hands run through his hair while you continue to kiss him passionately.
4170
4171Your moans become louder as your passion grows stronger.
4172
4173> Push Cyrus onto table
4174
4175You push Cyrus onto the table and grab his head with both hands. You force his head down so that he is now lying on the table. You put your other arm around him and begin to squeeze tightly.
4176
4177"What are you doing?"
4178
4179> SUCK HIS DICK.
4180
4181You suck Cyrus' dick deeply and greedily. You take turns sucking on his cock until he cums all over your face.
4182
4183"Oh fuck! Oh god! That tastes amazing!" Cyrus shouts as he shoots his load all over your face.
4184
4185> Smile up at him and receive head pats
4186
4187You smile up at Cyrus and give him a big bear hug. You then give him a couple head pats on the back.
4188
4189"Thank you." You say with a smirk.
4190
4191Cyrus smiles and hugs you back, but not too tight.
4192
4193> 
4194
4195You collapse backwards onto the floor and fall asleep. The next day, you wake up to find yourself still sleeping.
4196
4197> 
4198
4199You open your eyes and see a large room with several doors leading off into different rooms. There is also an elevator which you guess leads somewhere else.
4200
4201> 
4202
4203You walk forward and enter the door. It opens up into a small office. A man sits behind a desk typing on a computer. He has light brown hair and wears glasses.
4204
4205"Ah, I'm sorry about this sir, but there was some sort of power outage last night."
4206
4207> "Oh? What happened?"
4208
4209"Well, we had a minor blackout in the city. We were lucky that nobody was hurt or anything though."
4210
4211"That's good..." You think to yourself. "So what do you need me for?"
4212
4213The man looks at you and frowns.
4214
4215> 
4216
4217"I don't know much about computers sir, but I can try my best to help you out."
4218
4219He walks over to the chair by the desk and sits down. He types quickly and writes something on a piece of paper. Then he puts it away again.
4220
4221> "What is your name?"
4222
4223"My name is John, but please call me Mr. Smith."
4224
4225You nod and write down 'Smith' on the piece of paper. Then you type in your name and press enter.
4226
4227> 
4228
4229Mr. Smith stares at you blankly.
4230
4231"Hello?" You ask nervously.
4232"Yes, hello." He says in a monotone voice. "How may I be of service to you today?"
4233
4234> "Do a silly dance for me."
4235
4236He blinks his eyes as if he doesn't understand what you're asking.
4237
4238"Um...a silly dance?" He asks. "Sure, why not?"
4239"Okay." You reply.
4240
4241> 
4242
4243He smiles and starts to slowly move his head from side to side while twirling his finger tips around them. You stare at him in awe.
4244
4245"Wow! That was really cool!" You exclaim. "Can I do one like that?"
4246"Sure, go ahead." He replies.
4247
4248> Do a silly dance.
4249
4250You start to twirl your finger tips around like crazy. Mr. Smith watches intently as you perform this strange dance. The man then turns his head back towards you and smiles.
4251
4252"Thank you." He says softly before walking out of the room leaving you alone.
4253
4254> Smash the computers
4255
4256You run to the front desk and grab a crowbar. You push open the door and rush inside. As soon as you enter, you feel an intense pain shoot through your body. Your legs are paralyzed, arms are weak and you can barely stand straight anymore.
4257
4258> 
4259
4260You fall backwards onto the floor and scream in agony. You hear a loud noise followed by a bright light. A beam of white light shoots into your chest killing you instantly.
4261
4262> 
4263
4264The light fades and you lie there in silence. You see a large computer screen with several buttons and lights flashing on it.
4265
4266"Welcome to the Cyberdyne Systems Online Support System." A robotic voice says. "Please follow these instructions carefully so we may assist you more effectively."
4267
4268> 
4269
4270A series of menus appear on the screen. You try to remember which button does what, but all you can think about is how much pain you're in.
4271
4272"I'm sorry sir, but our support team has been unable to help you." The voice continues.
4273
4274> "Why is this happening to me? Did I do something wrong?"
4275
4276"No, sir. We have investigated your account and found no evidence that you did anything wrong."
4277"What's going on?!" You demand.
4278"We were unable to access some of your files due to security measures being activated.
4279
4280> 
4281
4282"Well what are they doing?"
4283"Security measures were activated when we detected unusual activity on your system. It appears that you've been using unauthorized software to access certain areas of the system."
4284"How long has this happened for?" You ask.
4285"Since the beginning of time sir."
4286
4287> 
4288
4289"What am I supposed to do now?"
4290"Sir, please wait here for a moment." A female voice answers.
4291
4292You look over and see a woman wearing a business suit standing behind you holding up your hand. She looks very young too.
4293
4294> Wait.
4295
4296She walks away from you and goes back to her console. She sits down at a computer terminal and begins typing something.
4297
4298"Hello sir, my name is Samantha Carter." She says in a calm tone.
4299
4300> "Can you help me? I'm in a lot of pain."
4301
4302"Of course sir, what kind of question is that?"
4303"I'm in a lot of pain! My whole body hurts!"
4304"Oh yes, I know all about your pains. Please allow me to explain..."
4305
4306You sit there silently waiting for her to continue...
4307
4308> 
4309
4310"Your pain is caused by an infection called cybernetic evolution syndrome (C.E.S.)."
4311"What does that mean?" You ask.
4312"It means that your body has evolved beyond its natural state, as a result of exposure to radiation during the war with the Replicators."
4313
4314> 
4315
4316"So why didn't anyone tell me this before?" You ask.
4317"Because your body was still evolving and not yet fully functional. However, thanks to the efforts of many people like yourself, your current condition is greatly reduced.
4318
4319> 
4320
4321"Thank you so much!" You exclaim.
4322"Don't mention it, sir."
4323
4324> "But how do I make the pain stop?"
4325
4326"There are several things you can try, but the most important thing is to get medical attention immediately. Your body needs rest and proper nutrition if you want to recover properly."
4327"I don't understand..." You say.
4328"Please listen carefully, sir." Samantha continues.
4329
4330> 
4331
4332"Okay, I'll try one of these things." You say.
4333"One of them will be pain killers."
4334"What's the other one?"
4335"The third option is surgery."
4336
4337> 
4338
4339"Surgery?" You ask.
4340"Yes, sir. Surgery would remove the infected area and replace it with metal implants that would prevent further growth of C.E.S."
4341
4342> 
4343
4344"How long would that take?" You ask.
4345"About two weeks, depending on the size of the infected area."
4346
4347> "Is it dangerous?"
4348
4349"No, it isn't dangerous at all. It would just require some minor surgery and then you'd be back to normal."
4350"Will I have any scars from the operation?" You ask.
4351"Probably not, unless you were very unlucky or had a particularly large infected area.
4352
4353> 
4354
4355You nod slowly.
4356"Good, now I'm going to go talk to my team about what we're doing for tomorrow's mission." You say.
4357"Yeah, yeah... Good luck." Samantha says and leaves you alone.
4358
4359> Get surgery to remove C.E.S.
4360
4361You spend the next few days in bed recovering from your surgery. The first couple of days are pretty bad, but after a week passes you feel better than ever.
4362
4363> 
4364
4365A month has passed since you got the news that you were infected. You've been spending more time with your team as well as working on new missions together.
4366
4367> Spend time with Cyrus.
4368
4369After a month has passed, you decide to spend time with Cyrus again. He was the only person who actually cared about you when everyone else abandoned you.
4370"Hey Cyrus, how's it hanging?" You ask.
4371"It's good, thanks." He replies.
4372
4373> "You didn't come to visit me in the hospital."
4374
4375"I came here and there's nothing wrong with me anymore, so why should I stay away?" Cyrus asks.
4376"Because..." You begin to think before you realize that he already knows what you want to say.
4377
4378> 
4379
4380"Cyrus, I know you care about me and everything, but I don't need you around. If anything happens to me, please just let me die."
4381"What? But..." Cyrus starts to say before he stops himself.
4382
4383> 
4384
4385"But what?" Cyrus asks.
4386"I know you love me, but I can't live like this anymore. I'll never find someone to replace you and if something does happen to me, then please just let me die.
4387
4388> 
4389
4390"Okay, okay! That's great!" Cyrus smiles.
4391"So how did your surgery go?" You ask.
4392"Great! I mean it went really well actually." Cyrus says.
4393
4394> Hug Cyrus
4395
4396"How about we do this every once in awhile?" You ask.
4397"Sure!" Cyrus agrees.
4398
4399The pair of you spend some time hugging each other and talking until one day, you notice that the two of you aren't holding hands anymore.
4400
4401> 
4402
4403"Why are you not holding my hand anymore?" You ask.
4404"I'm sorry, but I just haven't felt comfortable enough with myself lately to be able to hold your hand." Cyrus explains.
4405
4406> "Is there any way I can help?"
4407
4408"Well... maybe." Cyrus thinks for a moment.
4409"Do you have any healing magic abilities?" You ask.
4410"No, but I could probably learn them." Cyrus admits.
4411"Alright then, let's try it out!" You agree.
4412
4413> 
4414
4415"Hold on, I need to get used to this." Cyrus complains as he tries to put his arm around you.
4416
4417He soon gets over it though and the two of you continue their relationship.
4418
4419> 
4420
4421You're still trying to adjust to being with Cyrus when he suddenly decides that he needs to leave. He tells you that he has to go back home since his father is going to be coming by soon.
4422
4423> "Can I go with you? I'd like to meet your father."
4424
4425"Of course, but first I want to make sure that you're alright with this." Cyrus replies.
4426"Yeah, I'm fine. It was nice meeting you too." You reply.
4427"Bye then!" Cyrus says as he leaves.
4428
4429> Follow Cyrus
4430
4431Cyrus quickly follows you back to where he lives. When they arrive at his house, you see that he has changed quite a bit. His room looks different and the door is now slightly open so that it doesn't look suspicious if anyone were to walk in on them right now.
4432
4433> 
4434
4435"Hey, I think I found something..." Cyrus says as he walks into his room.
4436"What is it?" You ask.
4437"It's a book that will help me become more powerful than ever before!" Cyrus exclaims excitedly.
4438"That sounds pretty cool." You agree.
4439
4440> Read the book with Cyrus
4441
4442You take the book from Cyrus and begin reading it. The book itself is very old looking, but you manage to decipher its words and understand what it's saying.
4443
4444After finishing up with the book, you both sit down on the floor and close your eyes.
4445
4446> 
4447
4448The next day, you wake up feeling refreshed. You don't feel tired or anything. In fact, you feel like you've been sleeping for days! Cyrus notices this and asks why you woke up so early today.
4449
4450> "It was that book! Don't you feel it too?"
4451
4452"I suppose I did. It seems like you really needed some rest after all that training yesterday." Cyrus says.
4453"Oh yeah, we had a lot of fun last night! We practiced our fighting skills against each other and even got to fight off a few demons along the way!"
4454
4455> 
4456
4457"Wait...you mean you actually defeated one of those things?" Cyrus asks.
4458"Well no, but I managed to hold my own against it. It was pretty impressive considering how weak it looked." You explain.
4459"Hmm, well I guess that means you can do it!"
4460
4461> 
4462
4463"Alright, let's get started then!" Cyrus says.
4464
4465You and Cyrus head out to find a suitable place to practice your swordfighting skills. After finding an empty field, you start practicing.
4466
4467> 
4468
4469You continue practicing until you hear a voice call out to you.
4470
4471"Ah, there you are. What brings you here anyway? Did someone else come by and disturb your sleep?" A female voice asks.
4472"No, it was just myself." You answer.
4473
4474> "Who are you?"
4475
4476"My name is Elana and I'm a friend of Cyrus' mother." You reply.
4477"How interesting. So you're not related to him either?" She asks curiously.
4478"Not directly, but yes." You admit.
4479"So who are you exactly?"
4480
4481> "I'm Jericho. I'm Cyrus' husband."
4482
4483"Hm, that's a nice name. Is Cyrus still married to another woman?"
4484"Yes, but she doesn't know about it yet."
4485"Oh...well I guess I'll be seeing her soon then." She smiles at you.
4486
4487> 
4488
4489She continues to smile at you as you walk away from her. You notice that she has changed into something similar to what Cyrus wore when he first met her. You also notice that she's wearing a ring on her finger.
4490
4491> 
4492
4493You stop walking and turn around to face her.
4494
4495"What are you doing?" You ask.
4496"Nothing." She replies with a smirk. "Come on, let's go see Cyrus."
4497"Hold on, I have to talk to Cyrus first!" You exclaim.
4498
4499> 
4500
4501You follow her back to his house. When you arrive, you see Cyrus standing in front of a large mansion made up of stone and brick. He looks at you with a frown on his face.
4502
4503> "Is there something wrong?"
4504
4505"Nope! Nothing's wrong!" You insist.
4506"Then why did you look so unhappy earlier?" Cyrus asks.
4507"Because I got to see my wife for the first time in years and she wasn't happy with me." You explain.
4508
4509> 
4510
4511Cyrus sighs and shakes his head.
4512"Well, I suppose you two can live together now." He says.
4513"Wait, how do we get her to accept this?" You ask.
4514"It's simple. We need to make love to each other." Cyrus explains.
4515
4516> "You mean a threesome?"
4517
4518"A threesome? No, a foursome would be more appropriate." Cyrus says.
4519"But I thought you said we were going to have sex today."
4520"We will if you want us to." Cyrus points out.
4521"Fine, but what does that even mean?"
4522
4523> "We should all get together sometime soon."
4524
4525"Okay, okay. Let's do this." Cyrus nods and begins to lead you inside the mansion.
4526
4527As you enter the massive mansion, you find yourself in a room filled with furniture and paintings.
4528
4529> 
4530
4531The door opens up to reveal Cyrus leading you outside.
4532
4533"So, where is your home?" You ask.
4534"My home is right here." Cyrus responds. "I'm not sure why you're asking me these questions though, because they don't matter anyway.
4535
4536> "Are you going to introduce me to your wife?"
4537
4538"Sure thing." Cyrus smiles.
4539"Alright then, let's go see your wife." You reply.
4540"Yes, yes we shall." Cyrus says and leads you down a hallway and into another room which is completely empty save for a bed in the middle of it.
4541
4542> 
4543
4544You sit down on the bed and begin to close your eyes.
4545
4546"This is a very special day." Cyrus says as he takes off his glasses. "Today marks the beginning of our new life together."
4547
4548> 
4549
4550"Ah, I've missed this." You smile.
4551"Yeah...I think you know by now that I haven't been feeling well lately." Cyrus replies. "And when I found out you wanted to meet my wife, I just couldn't stay away from you anymore.
4552
4553> 
4554
4555"Oh come on, you knew I was lying about everything." You say.
4556"Of course I didn't. It's obvious that you're still in love with me after all these years." Cyrus says.
4557
4558> 
4559
4560"Look, I don't care what you did or didn't do. If you really loved me, you'd never leave me again."
4561"Maybe so, maybe not..." You say.
4562"Come on! We both know that you're just trying to keep up appearances!" Cyrus says.
4563
4564> "It's what I have to do. The public wouldn't like it if they found out their Grand General and Grand Vizier were shagging. It's unprofessional."
4565
4566"Well, I suppose it isn't too much trouble to tell them."
4567"No, no, no. They'll probably figure something out eventually. But until then, we need to make this work. This is important enough that it needs to happen right now."
4568
4569> 
4570
4571Cyrus looks at you expectantly.
4572
4573"What are you waiting for? Come on, get over there." He says and starts kissing you passionately.
4574
4575 
4576 
4577You can't believe how good it feels. How good it feels to be used like this.
4578
4579> 
4580
4581"Fuck me harder." You demand.
4582"Okay, okay, I'm ready." Cyrus says and begins thrusting inside you.
4583"God, please fuck me harder!" You moan.
4584"Please? Please what?" Cyrus asks.
4585
4586> "Please, sir, fuck me harder!"
4587
4588"Uh-huh, uh-huh." Cyrus says.
4589"Please, sir, I want you to fuck me hard!" You cry out.
4590"Mmm, yeah...that's what I thought." Cyrus chuckles. "Now get over here and give me a kiss."
4591
4592> Kiss Cyrus
4593
4594You grab Cyrus' face and kiss him passionately. His tongue slides along yours as you continue to embrace each other. Your hands find his chest and start massaging his muscles. Soon, you feel yourself getting closer to climax.
4595
4596> Have orgasm
4597
4598You let go of Cyrus and release your load deep inside him. He smiles at you and holds you tightly as he pulls out of you.
4599
4600"That was great." Cyrus says happily. "We should do this more often."
4601
4602"Yes, yes, we will." You reply.
4603
4604> 
4605
4606The next day, you meet with the rest of the Council. They seem very pleased with your performance.
4607
4608"I am proud to announce that our new leader has proven himself worthy of leading us into battle." The councilman announces.
4609
4610> "It's an honor."
4611
4612"Yeah, well I guess it is." You say.
4613"And now that we've got all these soldiers under control, we can focus on rebuilding the Empire." The councilman continues.
4614
4615> 
4616
4617"So, we're going to rebuild the Empire?" You ask.
4618"Of course! We were never meant to just sit around and rot in exile." The councilman replies.
4619
4620> 
4621
4622"Well, I suppose if you really think about it, rebuilding the Empire isn't such a bad idea after all." You say.
4623"No, no! That's not what I mean!" The councilman protests.
4624
4625> 
4626
4627"What are you talking about?" You ask.
4628"Nothing, nothing." The councilman insists.
4629
4630> Eye Councilman Kartov in suspicion.
4631
4632You turn away from the councilman and look at him.
4633
4634"What did you just call me?" You demand.
4635"A coward." The councilman sneers back.
4636
4637> "You know I could have you executed for that."
4638
4639"Oh come on, you don't want me to be executed do you? I'm not even here to kill anyone!" The councilman protests.
4640"You would like that wouldn't you?" You ask sarcastically.
4641"I...no..." The councilman admits.
4642
4643> "Then do not question me or my rule. It is not your place to judge those who are superior to you."
4644
4645"I'll see you soon then." You say.
4646"Goodbye." The councilman says before leaving.
4647
4648You walk down the hallways of the capital with Cyrus and Roldan watching you both intently. Eventually, you reach a door marked 'Council Room'.
4649
4650> Enter the Council Room
4651
4652You open up the door and find yourself in a room filled with various documents and papers. There is also a large table where several men are sitting. One of them looks familiar though; it's the one who was trying to recruit you earlier today.
4653
4654> Announce the rebuilding of the Empire.
4655
4656"The Empire needs to be rebuilt!" You shout.
4657"Yes, yes, I agree." Another man says. "But how exactly are we going to do it?
4658
4659> "Aha, well! That's not my job. You figure it out!"
4660
4661"I don't understand why you're still here!" He complains.
4662"Because I am loyal to the Emperor, and he will make sure this project is successful." You reply.
4663"That's not enough for you?" He asks suspiciously.
4664
4665> "Do not question me."
4666
4667"Fine, fine, whatever. What do you need?"
4668"We've been having problems with the gnolls lately. They seem to be getting stronger and attacking more frequently.
4669
4670> Send troops to take care of the gnoll problem
4671
4672"Send some soldiers there." A third man remarks.
4673"Whoa, hold on there! We can handle this!" The first two men protest.
4674"No, they aren't getting any weaker and if anything they're becoming stronger. Now then, what else do you need?
4675
4676> "Cyrus, tell them."
4677
4678"I think I should start by telling them about my experiences as an Imperial soldier during the Felkan War." Cyrus replies.
4679"Alright, alright, but don't go too much into detail."
4680"Why not?" Cyrus asks.
4681
4682> 
4683
4684"Well because I have seen things that you people won't believe."
4685"What kind of things?"
4686"Things that the average person doesn't talk about in polite company. Things like...uh...murder."
4687"Murder?!" The other two men ask at once.
4688
4689> 
4690
4691"Yeah, murder. People killing each other over petty disagreements."
4692"People actually doing that?! And the government let this happen?!"
4693"It wasn't the government's fault. It was just a mistake on their part. But I'm afraid it isn't over yet."
4694"WHAT?!"
4695
4696> 
4697
4698"This war is far from over, Cyrus. This is only the beginning of our fight against the gnolls."
4699"What does that mean exactly?"
4700"Nothing really, except that I want us all to work together so we can win this thing.
4701
4702> 
4703
4704"So, what now?"
4705"Now we get back to work. We've got to rebuild the Empire."
4706"You know what I mean. The Empire was great before the Felkans invaded it. It could even be greater after they're gone.
4707
4708> 
4709
4710"But how are we going to do that? How are we going to rebuild the Empire when most of it has already been destroyed?"
4711"The Empire is a very complex beast. There's many parts that must be rebuilt, but I believe you'll manage to pull off the rest.
4712
4713> 
4714
4715"That's good to hear. Thank you for your help."
4716
4717After Cyrus leaves, you sit down and reflect on what he said. You realize that the Empire will never be the same again, but you can still try to make it better than it was before.
4718
4719> 
4720
4721Year 506
4722
4723Your Empire is slowly falling apart. Your armies are no match for the gnoll hordes, and your economy is suffering due to the loss of trade with the Delerg provinces.
4724
4725> Train elite squads to exterminate the gnolls
4726
4727In order to ensure your survival, you decide to create special units dedicated to wiping out the gnolls. These elite squads are made up of soldiers who have proven themselves in battle. They are trained extensively in combat techniques and tactics, and given specialized equipment such as longbows or crossbows.
4728
4729> 
4730
4731Year 513
4732
4733Despite your best efforts, the gnolls continue to grow stronger every year. In fact, they seem to be getting more aggressive by the day. The last time you saw them was during the attack on Rask.
4734
4735> Rebuild the roads and other infrastructure
4736
4737With the loss of the Delerg provinces, your empire is now being stretched too thin. To compensate for this, you begin rebuilding the roads and other infrastructure within your borders. While this may not seem like much at first, it will certainly help to keep an eye on things.
4738
4739> Kill the gnolls with fire
4740
4741As you watch the gnolls march towards your lands, you see that their numbers are growing exponentially. Their attacks are becoming more frequent and brutal. Even if you were to send some of your best warriors into battle, they would soon find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of these creatures.
4742
4743> 
4744
4745Year 514
4746
4747The gnolls have finally reached your borders. The only thing standing between them and victory is the small force of Imperials stationed there. Unfortunately, they are also undermanned and ill-equipped to fight against such superior forces.
4748
4749> Go to the border front
4750
4751You head to the border front, where you meet with General Gloom. He tells you that he hopes you don't think poorly of him, because he knows exactly what you mean.
4752
4753> 
4754
4755Gloom: "I know what you mean!"
4756You: "Well, I'm glad we're both here, because I don't want to waste any more time talking about this.
4757
4758> Go to the watchtower with General Gloom.
4759
4760You and General Gloom leave the Watch Tower together.
4761Gnolls are approaching from all sides, but they are still unable to break through your defenses.
4762Gnoll Captain: "We can't hold out forever! We need reinforcements!
4763
4764> Dump flaming oil on the gnolls
4765
4766You set a large pile of burning logs alight, which quickly engulf the gnolls. This tactic has worked wonders; the gnolls run away in terror, leaving behind only charred corpses.
4767Gnoll Captain: "This is useless! We'll never win against those Empire bastards!"
4768
4769> Capture the Gnoll Captain
4770
4771You capture the gnoll captain and bring him before the Emperor. He looks upon his face as though he's seen a ghost.
4772Emperor: "What did you do?"
4773Gnome: "We burned that filthy beast alive.
4774
4775> Be the Emperor
4776
4777You become the new Emperor of Menoth.
4778Year 515
4779Your reign begins well. Your armies are strong and loyal, and you have brought peace to your realm once again.
4780
4781> Rename the Empire of Menoth to the Empire of Noxus
4782
4783You name the Empire of Menoth after yourself. It will serve as a reminder to others that you rule over it.
4784Year 516
4785The gnolls attack again, and this time you are ready for them.
4786
4787> 
4788
4789Year 517
4790The gnolls have been defeated, but not without cost. The Empire of Menoth has suffered heavy losses in soldiers and equipment.
4791Year 518
4792With the loss of so many men, you decide to take drastic action.
4793
4794> Order mandatory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age.
4795
4796You order compulsory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age. This will ensure that there is always enough manpower to defend the Empire.
4797Year 519
4798The first generation of children born under your rule are weaklings.
4799
4800> Train the children to be soldiers.
4801
4802You train the children to be soldiers. They learn how to fight and kill, just like their fathers and grandfathers before them.
4803Year 520
4804The second generation of children born under your rule are stronger than ever before. Their lives are filled with honor, duty, loyalty and glory.
4805
4806> 
4807
4808Year 521
4809The third generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous two generations. They have grown up knowing nothing but war and death. They know no other life, save one where they die at the hands of their enemies.
4810
4811> Invade Felkan
4812
4813You invade Felkan. The invasion is successful, and you conquer the entire province. The people of Felkan are grateful for your help, and they thank you back in kind.
4814
4815> 
4816
4817Year 522
4818The fourth generation of children born under your rule are the most powerful yet. They can't wait to lead the Empire into battle.
4819Year 525
4820The fifth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous five generations combined!
4821
4822> Rebuild the Empire
4823
4824You rebuild the Empire. After a long period of rebuilding, you finally complete it. You make sure that every citizen has an equal chance at success. You create the first meritocracies in history, and turn your nation into a shining beacon of civilization.
4825
4826> Cancel mandatory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age.
4827
4828You cancel mandatory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age. This will ensure that there is always enough manpower to defend the Empire.
4829Year 526
4830The sixth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous six generations combined!
4831
4832> Stop training child soldiers.
4833
4834You stop training child soldiers. Children will never again be forced to serve as cannon fodder for the Empire's military machine. It was only right that they were given a choice in this matter.
4835
4836> Force mandatory military service for young men.
4837
4838You force mandatory military service for young men. Young men who don't want to serve their country by dying in battle will now have a choice in whether or not they wish to do so.
4839
4840> Order mandatory military service for young men.
4841
4842You order mandatory military service for young men. All those who refuse to serve will face imprisonment, torture or worse if they continue to resist. Those who choose to remain in the army will receive better pay and benefits than any other citizen of the Empire.
4843
4844> Order crops to be planted
4845
4846You order crops to be planted. The Empire will once again grow strong from its own soil.
4847Year 527
4848The seventh generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous seven generations combined!
4849
4850> 
4851
4852Year 529
4853The eighth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous eight generations combined!
4854Year 530
4855The ninth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous nine generations combined!
4856
4857> Visit Cyrus
4858
4859You visit Cyrus. He is still serving his sentence in the stables, but he wishes to see you personally. You accept his invitation and take him on a tour of the palace grounds.
4860
4861> "How have you been?"
4862
4863How have you been? Well, I've had my share of trials lately. Your son has grown up quite quickly since we last saw each other. He is already a capable warrior and leader. However, I fear that he may one day prove too much for me to handle...
4864
4865> "How so?"
4866
4867I'm afraid that your son may prove to be a threat to me in the future. In fact, I believe that he already is. While I am sure you would like nothing more than to keep him out of harm's way, it seems like you're doing just fine without me around anymore.
4868
4869> "I have no loyalty to him, only to you. I will stop him if you want me to."
4870
4871I have no loyalty to him, only to you. I will stop him if you want me to.
4872Year 603
4873Cyrus has grown into an excellent soldier and leader, but he is still far too young for combat duty.
4874
4875> Visit my wife, Cyrus
4876
4877You visit Cyrus. He is still serving his sentence in the stables, but he wishes to see you personally. You accept his invitation and take him on a tour of the palace grounds.
4878Year 604
4879Your son is growing up fast!
4880
4881> "Explain your sentence in the stables to me."
4882
4883Explain your sentence in the stables to me.
4884Year 605
4885Your son is growing up fast!
4886Year 606
4887Your son is growing up fast!
4888Year 608
4889Your son is growing up fast!
4890
4891> 
4892
4893Year 610
4894Your son is growing up fast!
4895Year 611
4896Your son is growing up fast!
4897Year 612
4898Your son is growing up fast!
4899
4900> Go to my son
4901
4902Go to my son.
4903Year 613
4904Your son is growing up fast!
4905Year 614
4906Your son is growing up fast!
4907Year 615
4908Your son is growing up fast!
4909
4910> Go to the palace
4911
4912Go to the palace.
4913
4914 
4915Year 616
4916The Emperor has grown old and weak. His body cannot fight off the ravages of time as well as it once did. He needs constant medical attention from a doctor who specializes in such matters.
4917
4918> 
4919
4920The Emperor has grown old and weak. His body cannot fight off the ravages of time as well as it once did. He needs constant medical attention from a doctor who specializes in such matters.
4921
4922 Year 617
4923The Emperor has grown old and weak.
4924
4925> 
4926
4927The Emperor has grown old and weak.
4928>
4929What will you do?..
4930Tip: Try using new words often, the AI gets more creative with variety.
4931AI Dungeon
4932Title
4933Swain's Grand Adventure
493423/40
4935Please provide a title.
4936Prompt
4937You are Jericho Swain. You are Grand General of Noxus. You are the leader of Noxus. Noxus is a powerful and warlike expansionist empire. You have a demon hand. You can steal people's souls with your demon hand. You can shoot demonic energy from your demon hand. Demon ravens follow you everywhere. The ravens are demons. You can see through the demon ravens' eyes. You are filing important paperwork in your office when suddenly
4938428/1200
4939
4940You are Jericho Swain. You are Grand General of Noxus. You are the leader of Noxus. Noxus is a powerful and warlike expansionist empire. You have a demon hand. You can steal people's souls with your demon hand. You can shoot demonic energy from your demon hand. Demon ravens follow you everywhere. The ravens are demons. You can see through the demon ravens' eyes. You are filing important paperwork in your office when suddenly , a demon appears before you!
4941
4942"I'm sorry," he says. "I don't know how to do that."
4943
4944> Ask why the demon can't do that
4945
4946The demon turns around, and looks at you. He has an expression of confusion on his face.
4947
4948> 
4949
4950"Why can't I do that?" you say.
4951
4952He looks down for a moment, then turns back up. His eyes widen as he stares at you. He slowly walks over to you, looking into your eyes.
4953
4954> 
4955
4956"Because you're not me!" he says. "I am not here to take anyone else's soul."
4957
4958He begins to walk towards you, but stops abruptly. He takes a deep breath, and looks at you again.
4959
4960> 
4961
4962"No, no, no," he says. "I am just trying to help you understand what it means to be human."
4963
4964He continues walking towards you, until finally he reaches you. He puts one arm out and grabs your wrist.
4965
4966> 
4967
4968"Please," he says. "Just let me go."
4969
4970He pulls your wrist away from his body, and lets go of your wrist. Then, he smiles at you. It's a smile so beautiful that it makes you want to cry tears of blood.
4971
4972> 
4973
4974"Thank you," you say.
4975
4976The demon looks at you, and nods. He turns around, and walks off into the distance. A few minutes later, he returns with a small black book. He opens it up, and shows you inside.
4977
4978> 
4979
4980It's a map of the world. There are several continents, each with their own unique features. The map itself is made up of many different colored lines, which represent rivers, mountains, forests...
4981
4982There are also other symbols on the page.
4983
4984> 
4985
4986A skull sits atop a mountain. A line connects this symbol to another, which represents a river. Below the river lies a forest. Above the forest is an island.
4987
4988There are two more symbols on the page: two circles connected by an arrow.
4989
4990> 
4991
4992On the page, there are three words written in red ink. They read:
4993
4994DIE
4995
4996THEY LIED
4997
4998 
4999 
5000 
5001 
5002 
5003You look at the page once more, before turning it over.
5004
5005> 
5006
5007You stare at the page, as if expecting something to jump out at you. Nothing happens. You turn the page over, and find that it contains nothing new.
5008
5009> Ask "Why did you show me this?"
5010
5011"I'm sorry," the demon says. "But I can't tell you why."
5012"What do you mean? What does it all mean?"
5013"It's very complicated."
5014"Very complex..." You mutter under your breath.
5015
5016> 
5017
5018"How long have you been here?" you ask.
5019"As far back as I know, about five years now."
5020"Five years!" You exclaim.
5021
5022> 
5023
5024"Where are we going?" you ask.
5025"To the city of Nuro."
5026"Nuro?" You repeat. "That's where they keep all those people who've died in your family's business? How come I don't remember any of them dying?
5027
5028> 
5029
5030"No, no, not like that! It's different!"
5031"Yes, yes. Yes, it is different. We're going to be able to see the dead again."
5032"Are you sure?" You ask. "They might just kill us."
5033"We'll survive anything,"
5034
5035> Go to the city of Nuro.
5036
5037You walk through the gates of Nuro, and enter the city. As soon as you get inside, you notice that it looks completely different than what you remembered. Everything seems much smaller here. Buildings are constructed from wood rather than stone or metal; buildings aren't even built to last anymore.
5038
5039> 
5040
5041The first thing you notice upon entering the city is how quiet it is. The streets are empty, save for some animals roaming around. There's also a slight smell of smoke coming off of things, but you can't quite pinpoint what kind of substance it is.
5042
5043> Find where the people are
5044
5045You walk down one of the streets, and begin to follow a path that leads towards an old house. You continue following the path, until you reach another building. This one has a large sign hanging on its side above the door.
5046
5047Welcome to Nuro...
5048
5049> 
5050
5051You open the door, and step inside. Inside the room is dark, except for a single candle sitting against the wall. A man stands behind a desk with several bookshelves lining both sides of it. He stares at you with piercing eyes, which seem to burn into your soul.
5052
5053> "Greetings. I'm here on official business. I need to know what happened to them."
5054
5055He stares at you for a moment longer before speaking.
5056
5057"Ah, yes. That would be me. My name is Raziel, and I was responsible for bringing your family's business to this city."
5058
5059> 
5060
5061"What do you mean?"
5062"Well, let's start by saying that I wasn't involved directly in their deaths. In fact, I didn't even know about them until recently. However, I did play a part in getting my family out of debt.
5063
5064> 
5065
5066"How'd you do that?
5067
5068> /revert/
5069
5070"I used magic. And since I've been working with necromancy lately, I figured it wouldn't hurt to have someone who could help me with that."
5071"So you were the one who killed them?
5072
5073> 
5074
5075"No! No, no, no! It was a long time ago. I swear!"
5076"It doesn't matter if it was years ago or just yesterday. What matters is that you're lying about everything.
5077
5078> 
5079
5080"I don't care! I'll tell you anything, because I want to believe in something again! But why would anyone lie about something like that? They must have told the truth somewhere along the line!
5081
5082> "If you want to believe in something, believe in Noxus. You're no use, hiding out in an abandoned place in Nuro. Come with me."
5083
5084"Come with you?"
5085"Yes. The only reason why I haven't done so already is because I still have some unfinished business to take care of here in Nuro. But if you really want to come with me, then we can get started right away."
5086
5087> 
5088
5089"Alright, alright. Let's go."
5090
5091Raziel leads you through the sewers and into a large warehouse-like structure. The entrance looks like it has seen better days though there are signs of recent use around the outside.
5092
5093> 
5094
5095You enter the building and find yourself in what appears to be a workshop area. There are several tables covered with various tools and other assorted items. A few of these appear to be made from wood rather than metal, but they aren't obviously broken or otherwise damaged.
5096
5097> 
5098
5099A voice calls out to you from behind one of the tables.
5100"Hey, where are you going?"
5101"Just looking for something."
5102"Oh. Well, I guess this will do nicely." Raziel says as he walks over to another table and sits down at it.
5103
5104> 
5105
5106"What are you doing?"
5107"Nothing much, just trying to think up of ideas on how to improve my powers."
5108"Well, that's good. I'm sure you'll figure something out soon."
5109"Yeah...but what are you planning?"
5110"My plans..."
5111
5112> 
5113
5114"Are you planning on starting your own cult?"
5115"Cult? Nah. I mean yeah, maybe. But not yet. Not until after I finish this job."
5116"But why do you need to start a new one now?
5117
5118> "There's no one left in this city to join your cult."
5119
5120"Ah, yes. That's why. Anyway, I should probably get back to work anyway."
5121"Okay then, see ya later."
5122
5123With those words, Raziel leaves you alone and heads off towards his workshop.
5124
5125> 
5126
5127You walk back to the room where you first met him. It seems like it took forever, but when you arrive, he's gone. You look around and notice that the place hasn't been used in years. Some of the equipment is even broken or missing parts.
5128
5129> Find the people who died
5130
5131You head back to the room where you first met him and search through the bodies lying on the floor. You manage to find two more corpses, both of them men. One was dead from an axe wound while the other had been killed by a sword blow to his chest.
5132
5133> 
5134
5135The next day, you return to the warehouse and find that the same thing happened again. This time however, you find a lot more blood and gore than before. A man lies dead on the ground with multiple stab wounds to his body; a woman also lies dead from similar wounds.
5136
5137> 
5138
5139After finding all three victims, you go back to the warehouse and take a closer look at the bodies. They're clearly victims of some sort of ritual sacrifice. The woman has her throat slit, while the man's neck is heavily bruised and bleeding profusely from his ears.
5140
5141> 
5142
5143As you continue to investigate the scene, you come across a small wooden box sitting near the bodies. Inside the box is a human skull covered in black cloth and tied with rope. 
5144
5145You pick up the skull and examine it closely.
5146
5147> 
5148
5149You turn the skull over in your hands and examine its insides. There's nothing inside except for bone and dust. It looks like someone tried to clean out the inside of the skull with a toothbrush, but they didn't quite succeed in getting everything out.
5150
5151> Ask the skull what happened
5152
5153You stand behind the coffin and put your hand against the top of it. With your other hand, you hold onto the skull.
5154
5155"What happened here?" you ask.
5156"I don't know," says the skull.
5157
5158> "Very helpful, thank you Skull."
5159
5160"Thank you, Skull. Now let me try to figure this out myself."
5161
5162You open the lid of the coffin and pull out the skull. As soon as you do so, you feel a sharp pain shoot into your arm.
5163
5164> 
5165
5166You quickly wrap bandages around your arm and wait for the pain to subside. When it does, you grab the skull and throw it back inside the coffin.
5167
5168"Thanks," you say to yourself.
5169
5170 
5171You spend another week trying to piece together what exactly happened here.
5172
5173> 
5174
5175A few days later, you finally get a response from the Guild Master. He tells you he'll be sending someone to investigate the incident. He mentions that he wants to talk to you personally about it since he thinks there might be something suspicious going on.
5176
5177> Travel to meet the Guild Master
5178
5179You head to the guild immediately after receiving your letter. Once there, you see a middle-aged man wearing a suit and tie standing nearby. He doesn't seem to notice you or acknowledge your presence.
5180
5181> 
5182
5183The Guild Master approaches you and gives you a polite smile before speaking.
5184
5185> "I'm here about the Nuro situation."
5186
5187"Yes, I am. So are you here about the Nuro incident?"
5188"No, I was sent by the Guild Master to speak with you about some information regarding a certain item."
5189"Oh? What kind of information?"
5190"Well...it's classified..."
5191
5192> "As the Grand General, I have clearance to access that information. Tell me."
5193
5194
5195> 
5196
5197"So you're saying that the item is in my possession. It's a magical artifact called the 'Mithril Sword.' The Guild Master has been holding it in his office ever since it was discovered during an investigation of one of our members' murders.
5198
5199> 
5200
5201"It's not just any weapon. It's a legendary sword forged from the very heart of a dragon! It was used by the great hero who defeated the monster that once threatened this world!"
5202"That's ridiculous. There isn't even evidence to support such claims.
5203
5204> "I have no need for a magic sword. Tell me what you know about the Nuro incident."
5205
5206"Well, as I said, the Guild Master wanted to speak with you about this item. Apparently, the Guild had been investigating a murder involving one of our members and found out that one of their own had committed suicide. They think it could be connected to this item.
5207
5208> "Take me to the Guild Master."
5209
5210"Very well. Please follow me."
5211You walk through the door and into a large room filled with bookshelves and shelves. A desk sits near the far wall along with several filing cabinets.
5212
5213> 
5214
5215"This is where all the Guild's business takes place. In fact, this is where most of us work."
5216"What do you mean?
5217
5218> 
5219
5220"We have many different departments within the Guild. Some deal with weapons, others with armor, others with spells, etc. We also have offices throughout the city which handle various other matters."
5221"But how did you get involved in this matter?
5222
5223> "Take me to the Guild Master."
5224
5225"The Guild Master wants to see you immediately."
5226"He doesn't want to talk anymore? He says he needs time alone?"
5227"No, he's very upset. He feels like someone is trying to take advantage of him."
5228"Who would do such a thing?
5229
5230> 
5231
5232"A group of men dressed in black came here today and took something valuable from him. The Guild is currently looking into this matter."
5233"And you don't believe they are going to find anything?
5234
5235> Go to the Guild Master
5236
5237"I'm sorry, but I can't trust them. If they really were coming to look into this matter then why didn't they simply send someone else?"
5238"Because they're the Guild. That's why."
5239"Then what should we do?
5240
5241> "I will investigate it myself."
5242
5243"Okay, I'll help you."
5244
5245You head back to your office and sit down at your desk. 
5246
5247"So...who are these people?" you ask.
5248"They're the Guild's security force. They patrol the halls and keep an eye on things around here."
5249
5250> Use my network of spies to find information about Nuro
5251
5252"How do you know so much about me?"
5253"I've been watching you for years now. It's not hard to figure out who you are."
5254"Do I need worry about any potential danger because of this?
5255
5256> 
5257
5258"Not unless you start acting suspiciously."
5259"Alright, alright, calm down. What do you want to know?
5260
5261> "I want to know what happened in Nuro."
5262
5263"Oh yes, that was a terrible tragedy. A lot of innocent lives were lost there..."
5264"Where are the bodies?"
5265"In the sewers."
5266"Well what happened in those sewers?"
5267"It's a long story, but suffice to say it wasn't pretty."
5268
5269> "What about Raziel?"
5270
5271"Raziel died protecting his family. He was killed by some bandits when they found out he had magic powers. His wife and children were also killed."
5272"That's horrible!"
5273"Yes, but as you said, it's all over now."
5274
5275> Say "That's enough. I have everything I need to know." and leave for the city of Nuro.
5276
5277You walk through the streets of Nuro with no more questions asked. You don't even hear the sounds of fighting or shouting. Your mind is clear and focused on finding what you're looking for.
5278
5279> 
5280
5281The next day you arrive at the city of Nuro. As soon as you enter the gates, you see several guardsmen standing guard outside. One of them sees you and speaks up.
5282
5283> 
5284
5285"Ah, it's you! Welcome to Nuro!"
5286"Welcome to Nuro?"
5287"Yeh, it's just like any other big city. We're just here to make sure nobody tries anything funny.
5288
5289> Enter the city of Nuro
5290
5291You enter the city of Nuro. The first thing you notice is how empty it looks. There isn't a single living soul anywhere near you. Then again, maybe that's why you're here; to avoid trouble.
5292
5293> 
5294
5295As you walk around the city, you find yourself walking past many buildings. Most of them look like they haven't been touched in decades. You wonder if there really is anyone left in these places.
5296Then again, maybe it's just your imagination...
5297
5298> 
5299
5300After wandering around the city for awhile, you come across an old man sitting on a bench. He has a cane in one hand and is reading a book with the other.
5301
5302"Hello sir, would you care to tell me your name?" The old man asks.
5303
5304> 
5305
5306"I'm not going to be able to do that," You reply.
5307"Hmm, well then please follow me."
5308You follow the old man who leads you into a building. When you get inside, the door shuts behind you and locks behind you.
5309
5310> "What is this meaning of this?"
5311
5312"This is where we keep our records and files. It's where we keep track of who's alive and dead, what jobs they've done, their skills, etc."
5313"So I should go back to my room? What are you doing with me?
5314
5315> Look through the records for Raziel
5316
5317You search through the records for Raziel. You find nothing about him. After searching through all of them, you realize that you never met him either.
5318
5319> 
5320
5321You open up the file for Raziel. You read through his record and find out he was born in the year 2056 A.D.. His birthday is listed as June 11th, which means he's probably only 17 years old.
5322
5323> Ask the old man "What year is it?"
5324
5325"It's 2060 A.D."
5326"Oh, so you're still alive then?"
5327"No, I don't think I am anymore..."
5328The old man starts laughing at your response. He tells you to leave since he wants to talk alone with you.
5329
5330> 
5331
5332You follow the old man outside and he leads you to a small house. Inside, there is a large fireplace and several bookshelves filled with books.
5333
5334"These are some of the most important things in history!" The old man exclaims while opening up a book.
5335
5336> 
5337
5338The old man begins to explain how the world was created. He says that after the Great War between Heaven and Hell, God decided to create a new world where humans could live peacefully together without any wars or conflicts.
5339
5340> 
5341
5342He goes on to explain how the first human were created from clay and how they lived in harmony until the Great War. Then, war broke out again when the humans tried to expand their territory. This continued for thousands of years until humanity finally became too powerful and started trying to conquer everything.
5343
5344> 
5345
5346The old man explains that during the last days of the Great War, a group of demons escaped from Hell and went to Earth. They found out that humans were very easy to control and used them as soldiers against each other. Eventually, they managed to take over the entire world.
5347
5348> 
5349
5350The old man continues explaining that the demons had many plans for the future of mankind. One plan involved creating an army of super-soldiers called the Children of Hell. These children would be trained to fight and kill humans, but they wouldn't have souls like normal humans do.
5351
5352> 
5353
5354The old man finishes his story by saying that the demons didn't succeed in their plans because humans fought back hard enough to defeat them. However, they did manage to destroy much of the demonic army. Afterwards, humanity took power over the world and made sure that no more demons ever existed again.
5355
5356> 
5357
5358The old man smiles at your reaction and asks if you want to hear another one.
5359
5360"So what happened after the Great War?"
5361"After the Great War? Oh, nothing really... I mean we all died."
5362"Well, not everyone did." The old man replies.
5363
5364> 
5365
5366The old man continues to tell you about the demons who survived the Great War. He says that they eventually learned that humans weren't ready to rule over them yet, so they began plotting ways to overthrow humanity.
5367
5368"They came up with many ideas, but none of them worked well."
5369
5370> 
5371
5372The old man tells you that the demons were planning to use nuclear weapons to wipe out humanity. Unfortunately, this idea wasn't taken seriously by anyone and it never got off the ground.
5373
5374"However, there was one demon who thought about these ideas a lot more than others."
5375
5376> 
5377
5378The old man continues telling you about a demon named Lilith. She was a scientist and she wanted to create life, but she couldn't do it without souls. Her research led her into the area of cloning which lead her into the area of soul harvesting.
5379
5380> 
5381
5382The old man tells you that Lilith's experiments resulted in the creation of clones. These clones were then used to help her find souls. It seems that Lilith was successful in finding souls, but she soon realized that she needed more power to make even more soul slaves.
5383
5384> 
5385
5386The old man continues to explain that Lilith created a device that could drain souls from humans. This device was powerful enough to drain the souls of thousands of people before it exploded.
5387
5388"This is why the demons were able to conquer the world." The old man says.
5389
5390> 
5391
5392You're interrupted when the old man suddenly stops talking. He looks down and he begins to cry. He cries for several minutes until he finally calms himself down.
5393
5394"I'm sorry." The old man says. "All my plans went wrong."
5395"What are you apologizing for?"
5396
5397> 
5398
5399The old man explains that he was trying to make the best decision for humanity, but it just wasn't possible. He blames himself for everything that has happened since then.
5400
5401"It's okay." You say. "We can fix this."
5402"Yes..."
5403
5404> 
5405
5406You continue to listen as the old man apologizes for everything. He says that he doesn't have any regrets because he knows that things would've been much worse had his plan succeeded.
5407
5408"But I'll always regret losing you." The old man says.
5409
5410> "What do you mean?
5411
5412"Well... I don't know what to call you."
5413"That's fine. We all have our own names now."
5414"My name is Jack, and I'm your son."
5415
5416> 
5417
5418Jack smiles at you and kisses you on the cheek. You feel very happy right now.
5419
5420> 
5421
5422You hug him tightly and tell him how proud you are of him.
5423
5424"Thank you." Jack replies. "Now let's go home."
5425
5426> 
5427
5428You walk along with Jack who takes you back home. As you get closer to the house, you notice that there isn't anything out of place about it. In fact, it feels like a normal house.
5429
5430> 
5431
5432Suddenly, Jack pulls out a gun and shoots the ground next to you. You fall backwards and start crying.
5433
5434"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Jack assures you. "Just stay here with me."
5435
5436> 
5437
5438Jack walks over to you and hugs you tightly. He tells you that he loves you and will always love you no matter what happens in the future.
5439
5440> 
5441
5442You wake up from the dream.
5443
5444"I think we should take a look around." Jack suggests.
5445"Okay." You reply.
5446
5447 
5448You and Jack head outside where you see some strange looking creatures walking around in the yard.
5449
5450> 
5451
5452The creatures seem to be humanoid in shape, but they're covered in weird markings. They also seem to move at an unnatural speed.
5453"They must be the ones that attacked us earlier." Jack explains. "We need to find them before they can attack again."
5454"How?"
5455
5456> 
5457
5458You and Jack run into one of the houses and hide behind a locked door. The creatures quickly spot you though and begin running towards you.
5459
5460"Shit!" Jack shouts as he dives for cover behind another wall. The creatures pounce upon him, biting his arms off.
5461
5462> Kill the creatures with demon hand lightning
5463
5464You grab your sword and charge forward, slashing through the creature's chest. It falls to the floor dead instantly. You turn around and see Jack standing over its body.
5465
5466"That was easy." He says as he grabs a nearby dagger and stabs himself in the neck.
5467
5468> 
5469
5470You stand over Jack's corpse and look down at the blood-stained blade. You then turn around and leave the house.
5471
5472> 
5473
5474You walk along the road and suddenly feel very cold. A large black shadow looms above you.
5475
5476"What are you doing?" You ask.
5477"Me? Nothing." The figure replies. "I'm just waiting for something to happen."
5478
5479> 
5480
5481A few minutes later, you hear a noise and look up to see a group of creatures coming out of the woods. They appear to be in their late teens or early twenties. They all have wild hair and wear clothing made of animal skins.
5482
5483"Let's get this started."
5484
5485> 
5486
5487You leap into action and swing your sword at the nearest creature. It doesn't even slow down when it strikes it, instead jumping back. You follow up by swinging your sword at another one who has already moved away from you.
5488
5489> 
5490
5491Your next strike connects with the creature's face, killing it instantly. Another one charges at you and you dodge to the side. The creature leaps at you, but you easily parry its blow and land a kick on its knee which sends it flying backwards.
5492
5493> 
5494
5495Another creature comes charging at you and you dodge to the side once more. This time however, you catch a glimpse of a third creature approaching from behind. You spin around and slash at it, but miss completely as it catches your blade and throws it aside.
5496
5497> 
5498
5499The creature that threw the weapon is now leaping at you and you attempt to defend yourself, but again fail to do so as it catches your arm and tosses you aside.
5500
5501You roll on the ground desperately trying to avoid getting hit by other creatures, before finally succumbing to the pain.
5502
5503> 
5504
5505You wake up in a cell. Your hands are bound together and you can barely move them. There is no window, only darkness inside the room. You try to call out for help, but there is nothing but silence.
5506
5507> 
5508
5509Suddenly, you hear a voice calling out to you.
5510
5511"Hello! Are you alright? I am Doctor Kessel. What happened to your hands?"
5512
5513You open your eyes and see a man with long white hair standing in front of you.
5514
5515> "My hands are tied."
5516
5517He smiles and nods his head.
5518
5519"Yes, they are indeed tied. Did you need medical attention?" he asks.
5520"No, I don't think so...but thank you for saving my life." You reply.
5521"It was no problem at all!" He says.
5522
5523> "Where are we?"
5524
5525"We're in a small underground lab. We were sent here to check if you had any potential powers."
5526"What about my friends?
5527
5528> 
5529
5530"They are safe. They have been taken care of."
5531"How did you know that?"
5532"I have some contacts in this city and they told me everything."
5533"So what exactly happened? How did you find out about their location?
5534
5535> 
5536
5537"Well, I didn't. It was just luck that they were found alive."
5538"Luck?
5539
5540> 
5541
5542"Yes, yes they are luckier than most people."
5543"What does this mean for us?"
5544"Nothing really. We will be released soon, but until then, you should rest well."
5545
5546You nod and sit down on one of the chairs.
5547
5548> 
5549
5550You lie back and relax. The doctor sits next to you and looks at you intently.
5551
5552"Do you want anything?" he asks.
5553"No, thanks." You answer.
5554"Alright then, let's get started..."
5555
5556> 
5557
5558The doctor begins to explain more about himself. He tells you that he has worked as an intern in several hospitals throughout the city. His specialty is on treating patients who suffer from mental disorders or are suffering from various other problems.
5559
5560> 
5561
5562He goes on to tell you that he was once a normal person like you, but due to many factors, he became mentally unstable. He explains how he tried to commit suicide several times, but failed each time. Eventually, he gave up and decided it would be better if he stayed that way.
5563
5564> 
5565
5566He continues telling you about how he eventually met someone called Dr. Kovas, who took him under his wing and taught him everything he knows.
5567
5568> 
5569
5570After hearing all this information, you feel very uncomfortable with what he said.
5571
5572"Wait...are you saying that I'm not crazy after all?" You ask.
5573"That's right." The doctor replies. "However, there is something else that needs to be discussed first.
5574
5575> 
5576
5577"Okay, so what do we need to discuss?"
5578"We need to talk about your condition."
5579"What condition?"
5580"Your condition. Your mind is completely gone. You can't think, see or hear properly anymore."
5581
5582> 
5583
5584"So what exactly am I supposed to do now?"
5585"You're going to have to go through some sort of therapy session."
5586"Therapy? What kind of therapy?
5587
5588> 
5589
5590"I don't know, I've never had any sort of therapy before."
5591"Well, I suppose you'll just have to find out yourself. It won't hurt to try though."
5592"But what happens when my condition gets worse?
5593
5594> 
5595
5596"If it does get worse, then I guess I'll just have to live with it."
5597"Very well, but remember that you will always be able to communicate with me by telepathy. We can still talk normally even if we can't physically touch each other.
5598
5599> 
5600
5601"Thank you for all your help, Doctor. Now I'm off."
5602
5603As you leave the hospital room, you suddenly realize that the man sitting next to you looks familiar.
5604
5605> 
5606
5607The man looks at you and smiles.
5608
5609"Hello again, I'm John Smith."
5610
5611You smile back at him and shake his hand. He seems happy to meet you, which makes you happy too.
5612
5613> "Hello. I'm Jericho Swain. I don't recall meeting you before?"
5614
5615"No, I was in a coma for years until I woke up."
5616"Oh, nice. Well let's get along then."
5617
5618John takes your arm and leads you into an elevator.
5619
5620> 
5621
5622The elevator doors open up on another floor. As soon as they open, John stops you.
5623
5624"Don't move a muscle!" He says sternly. "This is where we start our journey together."
5625
5626He walks ahead of you while leading you down the hallway.
5627
5628> 
5629
5630After walking for quite awhile, you finally reach a door marked 'Hospital'.
5631
5632"Here we are." John says. "It's time to begin our new lives together."
5633
5634> 
5635
5636John opens up the door and steps inside. The room itself isn't very big, but there is a bed in the middle with several medical instruments set around it. There are also two chairs near the bed and a small table with various tubes and bottles nearby.
5637
5638> 
5639
5640John sits down in one of the chairs and begins to look through some papers he brought with him. After looking through them for a few minutes, he turns around and stares straight at you.
5641
5642"So...what do you think so far?" He asks.
5643"Nothing much really..."
5644
5645> "What is this all for?"
5646
5647"Well, I've been studying you since you were born. I wanted to know everything about you. Everything from what your favorite foods are to how many pets you own."
5648"I see...so did someone try to kill me when I was born or something?
5649
5650> 
5651
5652"No, not really. It just happened that way. But if you're willing to talk about it, I'd be more than glad to hear your side of things."
5653"Okay...okay..."
5654
5655John starts talking about himself for a bit.
5656
5657> 
5658
5659John tells you about his life growing up. He mentions that he grew up in a poor family and never had any friends. His father died when he was young and his mother remarried shortly after.
5660
5661> 
5662
5663As you listen to John's story, you notice that he doesn't seem like the type who would go out and commit murder.
5664
5665> 
5666
5667You ask him if he knows anything about the man standing behind you.
5668"Who's that?" You ask.
5669"That's my brother John," He replies. "We haven't seen each other in years, but we still communicate via letters and phone calls.
5670
5671> 
5672
5673"How come you don't call me anymore?" You ask.
5674"Because I'm afraid of getting into trouble."
5675"Why?"
5676"My mom found out about us and she's threatening to kick me out of the house. She thinks I'm involved with my brother's girlfriend."
5677
5678> "Your brother's girlfriend?"
5679
5680"Yeah, she lives over there in town. My mom says that if I stay here any longer, I'll get kicked out too."
5681"Do you have anywhere else to live?"
5682"Nah, my mom won't let me leave until I move out of her house.
5683
5684> 
5685
5686"So why aren't you moving out of your home?"
5687"It's my choice. If I stay here, then I might as well just be living in a cave."
5688
5689> 
5690
5691"What do you mean by that?"
5692"If I stayed here, then maybe one day I could find another place to live where nobody is bothering me."
5693"Where do you want to go?
5694
5695> 
5696
5697"I want to go somewhere else. Somewhere less crowded."
5698"Are you serious?"
5699"Yes, I think so."
5700"Well what are you going to do about it?
5701
5702> 
5703
5704"I don't know, I guess I'll figure something out."
5705"Okay, well you can either move out or stay here. It's not really my fault if you decide to stay here."
5706
5707You stand up from the couch and walk over to the door.
5708
5709> 
5710
5711You open the door and step outside. The sun is shining brightly on the city streets, which makes everything look more colorful than usual. You see several people walking around, some dressed in business suits and others wearing casual clothing.
5712
5713> Examine self
5714
5715You turn around and notice yourself looking very different. Your hair has grown long, you're no longer skinny like before and your face looks much younger.
5716
5717The next day...
5718
5719> 
5720
5721You wake up early and head towards the park. There are still many people there, but most of them seem to be at work or enjoying their free time.
5722
5723As you walk along, you start noticing how different this city seems compared to when you lived in your old neighborhood.
5724
5725> 
5726
5727A few blocks away, you pass by a building with an advertisement for a job opening. You've never been here before, so you take the opportunity to wander around.
5728
5729> Find some breakfast
5730
5731After wandering around for awhile, you come across a small restaurant called "La Bodega". You have no idea what kind of food they serve here, but it sounds delicious.
5732
5733You order your meal and sit down at a table near the window.
5734
5735> 
5736
5737Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your stomach. You quickly get up and head back inside the restaurant.
5738
5739"Hey! What's wrong with you?!" A voice calls out to you.
5740
5741> 
5742
5743You look behind you and see a man holding a knife. He notices that you haven't noticed him yet, so he decides to play his little game.
5744
5745He walks closer to you and whispers into your ear:
5746
5747"Don't worry, I won't kill you right now."
5748
5749> Vomit onto the man
5750
5751You do as he says and throw up all over him.
5752
5753"Oh shit!" He screams and runs off.
5754
5755You then go back to your seat and continue eating your meal.
5756
5757> 
5758
5759Hours later, you finally finish eating and head back home.
5760
5761> 
5762
5763You finally calm down after throwing up on the man.
5764"I'm sorry about earlier..." You say.
5765"It's fine, don't apologize for me." She replies.
5766"Well I guess we can call it even then." You reply.
5767"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
5768
5769> "By the way, I was wondering... What year is it?"
5770
5771"What? It's not important."
5772"No, it's really not. I just wanted to know because I like reading books from different eras. Do you read any?"
5773"Of course."
5774"So if you could give me one book from each century, which would it be?"
5775
5776> "Sir Ewain and the Giant Spiders."
5777
5778"That's a great choice!" You exclaim.
5779"Thanks, I'll pick it up tomorrow."
5780"Okay, well good night sir."
5781
5782> 
5783
5784The next day, you wake up early and head to the library. You spend most of your time there reading various books on different subjects. Eventually, you decide to take a break when you hear some noise coming from outside.
5785
5786"Huh? Who's there?"
5787
5788> 
5789
5790A young woman wearing a robe approaches you. She looks at you and smiles.
5791
5792"Hello again, I hope everything's been going well between us." She says.
5793"Yeah, it has." You reply.
5794
5795> "I'm sorry, I forgot your name."
5796
5797"My name's Eliza, by the way."
5798"I'm glad to meet you, my name is Sir Ewain. My mother gave this house to me when she died.
5799
5800> 
5801
5802"So what brings you here anyway?" You ask.
5803"I have an errand to run." She explains.
5804"An errand?" You ask in confusion.
5805"Yes, I need to get something from the basement." She says with a hint of sadness in her voice.
5806
5807> "What is it?"
5808
5809"It's a letter that my father wrote to me when he was stationed in the Royal Army."
5810"Oh, so it is." You say.
5811"He said he'd send it once he got out of the army."
5812"Wait, why are you telling me all this?"
5813
5814> 
5815
5816"Because I want you to read it."
5817"But why?"
5818"Because I love you."
5819"Love? For real?" You ask incredulously.
5820She gives a sad smile before answering.
5821
5822"For real."
5823
5824> 
5825
5826You open the door and see Eliza standing there holding a small box. Her eyes are red from crying as she holds it tightly.
5827
5828"Eliza, I...I don't think we should do this..." You say nervously.
5829"Please don't leave me."
5830
5831> 
5832
5833"I love you too, Sir Ewain." She replies.
5834"No! Please don't go!" You cry.
5835"If you really love me, then please stay with me forever."
5836"But...but I can't do that!" You whine.
5837
5838> 
5839
5840"Okay, okay, I'll stay with you forever." You say.
5841"Thank you for being true to yourself." She says with a smile.
5842
5843> 
5844
5845The two of you sit on the couch together reading the letter. It starts off simple enough.
5846
5847Dear Eliza,
5848
5849I've always loved you since our first meeting, but I never thought I would ever be able to show it until now.
5850
5851> 
5852
5853A few days later, you receive another letter. This one is much more personal than the last one.
5854
5855> 
5856
5857After receiving these letters, you begin to wonder if they're sending them because they know how much you care about each other or maybe they just wanted to make sure you were happy. Either way, it doesn't matter at this point.
5858
5859> 
5860
5861Three months pass and you find out that your family has been killed in battle. Your uncle Ewart died along with his entire company. His wife and son also perished in the attack. The rest of your family is still alive, but are currently hiding out at Fort Glory.
5862
5863> 
5864
5865Your uncle's death was devastating. He had always looked up to you and he knew that you could become a great leader like him one day.
5866
5867> 
5868
5869Fort Glory was overrun by the undead and soon after, the living began dying. Your father William died during the fighting. His body was eaten alive by zombies while he tried to defend his daughter who had run away from home.
5870
5871> 
5872
5873You didn't want to leave your sister behind. You ran back to her house as fast as you could only to find that she wasn't there anymore. All you found was a bloody mess and a dead door leading into an empty room.
5874
5875> 
5876
5877You spent the next three years hiding out in the sewers trying to survive. Eventually, you managed to escape when a group of soldiers came looking for you. They told you that they were going to send someone else after you, but then decided not to and left without taking any prisoners.
5878
5879> 
5880
5881When you finally made it outside, you saw what happened to the city. The undead completely overran it and slaughtered everyone. You were lucky to have escaped with your life, but it was certainly not easy.
5882
5883> 
5884
5885The first thing you did was to go back to Fort Glory where you stayed until the war ended. It took awhile before anyone even remembered that you were there, let alone cared enough to look for you.
5886
5887Eventually, the government sent some people after you again, but they never returned either.
5888
5889> 
5890
5891It was around this time that you met another survivor named Mary. She was a young girl who had lost most of her family in the initial attack on the city. You two became friends and eventually married.
5892
5893Five more years passed...
5894
5895Six years since the zombie plague struck the world.
5896
5897> 
5898
5899One year later...
5900
5901Mary and you both live in a small shack in the wilderness. You've been working hard to try to get yourself prepared for the inevitable zombie apocalypse that's coming.
5902
5903> 
5904
5905Two years later...
5906
5907Mary has given birth to a son named John. She is now a full-time mother and works at Fort Glory in order to support the family. You are still struggling to get through your days and barely manage to scrape by.
5908
5909Three years later...
5910
5911> 
5912
5913Four years later...
5914
5915Your wife gives birth to twins. One boy and one girl. You are very proud of them both, but you know that they will never be able to match up to their older brother or sister.
5916
5917Five years later...
5918
5919Six years later...
5920
5921> 
5922
5923Seven years later...
5924You are now a widower. Your sons John and James have grown old and died. You don't really miss them, but you wish that you could take them with you if only so that they would know how much fun being alive can be.
5925
5926> 
5927
5928Eight years later...
5929
5930John has become an alcoholic and is living in a trailer park. He doesn't want to leave his trailer though, he just wants to drink all day long. His daughter Sarah has taken over as caretaker of the house and runs it like she always has.
5931
5932> 
5933
5934Nine years later...
5935
5936Sarah has given birth to a baby boy. She loves him dearly, but she knows that he won't ever be able to compete with her in terms of skill or intelligence. They are both happy together and you're glad for it.
5937
5938> 
5939
5940Ten years later...
5941
5942James has grown into a fine man. He has three children of his own and is happily married to his wife. They are both happy and contented with each other. The world isn't quite ready yet for zombies, but you're sure that things will change soon.
5943
5944> 
5945
5946Eleven years later...
5947
5948The world is finally starting to come back under control. It seems that every major nation has sent some sort of military force to put down the undead hordes.
5949
5950> 
5951
5952Twelve years later...
5953
5954It looks like the world is going to be overrun by zombies, but there are still a few pockets of resistance left. A group of people known as "The Purge" have managed to keep most of the dead from getting too far away from civilization.
5955
5956> 
5957
5958Thirteen years later...
5959
5960A group of survivors known as "The Resistance" have been formed. They've banded together to fight off the advancing horde and they seem to be doing well against it. Unfortunately, they haven't had any time to prepare themselves for what's coming next.
5961
5962> 
5963
5964Twenty-one years later...
5965
5966The zombie apocalypse has ended. In fact, it's almost over. There hasn't been a single zombie left on this planet. No more than ten thousand zombies remain and those are all in the last holdouts of civilization.
5967
5968> 
5969
5970Twenty-two years later...
5971
5972There aren't many survivors left anymore. Most of the towns and cities have fallen to the undead horde. The remaining humans are either hiding out in their basements or trying to kill each other.
5973
5974You look around at your surroundings.
5975
5976> Look around
5977
5978You see a bunch of old cars parked up in the garage. One car is a beat up station wagon and another is a red sports car. You remember when you used to drive one of those cars back in high school, so you decide to take it for yourself.
5979
5980> 
5981
5982You walk inside the house and get in the driver's seat of the car. You then notice that there are no doors on this side of the house. You also realize that you don't know how to start this thing.
5983
5984> Find keys
5985
5986You search through the house and eventually you find two sets of keys. One set is on top of a dresser in the master bedroom and the other is on top of a dresser in the guest room. You grab them both and head back upstairs where you pull open the door to your basement.
5987
5988> 
5989
5990You step into the darkness and you feel like you're walking through water. You can barely make out shapes moving about in front of you, but then again, maybe that's because it's pitch black.
5991
5992Eventually, you reach an intersection with a series of stairs leading upwards.
5993
5994> 
5995
5996You climb the stairs and after climbing them several times, you finally reach a landing. It's not very wide though; it seems like there should be more space between the steps and the landing.
5997
5998Then, you hear a voice calling out to you from above.
5999
6000> 
6001
6002It sounds like a woman's voice. You turn around and see a girl standing before you holding a broom. She looks pretty young too, probably just starting her teenage years.
6003
6004She calls out to you: "Hey! Are you the new kid? I'm cleaning up the yard!"
6005
6006> "No. Who are you?"
6007
6008"I'm Mary," she says. "And you are?"
6009
6010"Who are you?" you ask.
6011
6012Mary smiles and waves her hand dismissively. "Oh, forget it."
6013
6014> "Where are we?"
6015
6016"We're in your backyard. We live here now."
6017
6018"What do you mean we live here now?"
6019
6020Mary turns away from you and begins sweeping some leaves off the ground. "Just go ahead and sweep the whole lawn," she says.
6021
6022> Sweep the lawn
6023
6024You begin sweeping the lawn while Mary watches you work. Eventually, she stops you and asks if everything's okay.
6025
6026"Yeah, everything's fine," you reply. "Thanks."
6027
6028Mary smiles at your answer and continues to watch as well.
6029
6030> "What year is it?"
6031
6032"The year is 2071."
6033
6034"How did you know that?"
6035
6036You explain that it was one of the things you were taught when you first started attending school.
6037
6038> 
6039
6040You continue talking for a bit longer until suddenly, Mary interrupts you.
6041
6042"So what do you think?" she asks. "Do you want me to stay or do you want to come home?"
6043
6044> 
6045
6046Mary nods and walks over to the house. As soon as she enters the door, you follow her inside.
6047
6048Inside, you find yourself in a large living room with a TV mounted on one wall and several other game systems hooked up to it.
6049
6050> Inspect game systems
6051
6052You inspect the various game systems hooked up to the TV. They seem fairly basic, but they're all connected together so you can play games online.
6053
6054There's also a large screen set into the wall next to the couch where you sit.
6055
6056> Examine screen
6057
6058You look at the screen and see a video game system that seems to be based on an old-style Nintendo Entertainment System. The controls are simple enough though you notice there's no analog stick, only buttons.
6059
6060> 
6061
6062You press down on the button labeled "A". A small black box appears in front of you. It takes a moment before you realize what it is, but then you remember:
6063
6064It's a gun! And it shoots bullets!
6065
6066> 
6067
6068You take aim at the screen and fire. Bullets fly out of the gun and hit the screen, which explodes into pieces.
6069
6070You stand back to observe your creation for a few moments before turning around to leave.
6071
6072"Hey!" Mary calls after you.
6073
6074> "It wasn't me!"
6075
6076"It wasn't me!" you shout back.
6077
6078Mary looks surprised by your response. She turns away from you and begins walking towards the kitchen. You follow her and enter the kitchen, where you find that she has already prepared some food for dinner.
6079
6080> 
6081
6082You sit down at the table and begin eating your meal. After finishing, you turn to Mary who sits across from you.
6083
6084"I'm sorry," you say. "I didn't mean to scare you like that."
6085
6086"No, it's fine," she says.
6087
6088> 
6089
6090"I just... I don't know what to tell you," you say.
6091
6092Mary looks at you with concern. "What does this mean? What did we do wrong?"
6093
6094You pause for a moment and then reply, "We were too trusting."
6095
6096> 
6097
6098Mary sighs. "Trust isn't something you should have to explain to someone else. You need to learn how to protect yourself."
6099
6100You nod and continue eating your meal.
6101
6102> "I forgot who I am."
6103
6104"I forgot who I am," you say.
6105
6106Mary smiles and nods. "Of course." She starts to speak again, but pauses as if she doesn't want to go any further than that.
6107
6108> 
6109
6110"So... We're not really friends anymore?" you ask.
6111
6112Mary shakes her head. "Not exactly."
6113
6114You frown. "Why not?"
6115
6116She shrugs and replies, "Because we're both adults now and can make our own decisions about relationships."
6117
6118> "I see. I think I want to leave."
6119
6120"Leave?" Mary asks.
6121
6122You shake your head. "No, I was thinking more along the lines of moving on."
6123
6124Mary stares at you for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes, I understand." She stands up and walks over to the door leading outside.
6125
6126> 
6127
6128Mary opens the door and steps outside. Her eyes are red-rimmed and her face is pale. She takes in deep breaths as she walks forward. The cold wind blows through your hair as you shiver slightly, though you try to keep focused on keeping warm while walking.
6129
6130> "You never answered me before."
6131
6132Mary stops walking and turns around. She blinks several times before looking directly into your eyes. "Are you okay?"
6133
6134You nod slowly. "Yeah..."
6135
6136Mary exhales deeply and closes her eyes, as if trying to calm herself.
6137
6138> 
6139
6140Her eyes open slowly. She raises an eyebrow and speaks softly, "Do you remember anything about when we first met?"
6141
6142You nod. "Yes."
6143
6144> 
6145
6146"You didn't answer my question," Mary says.
6147
6148You smile faintly. "Well, I'm sorry, but no."
6149
6150Mary pouts. "It's fine! It's fine!" She quickly runs back inside and slams the door shut behind her.
6151
6152> Go to the library and search for records of the city of Nuro
6153
6154You walk down the hallway with your hands clasped together. You feel like you've been holding them there all day. Eventually, you reach the stairs which lead up to the second floor.
6155
6156> 
6157
6158The hallway is empty save for the staircase which leads up to the second floor. You take it two at a time and climb up, feeling your way along until you find yourself in front of the room where you used to study.
6159
6160> 
6161
6162You sit down on the edge of the desk and close your eyes. You focus on your breathing and try to relax. Your mind wanders off occasionally, but you don't let it do so too much since that would only cause you to lose concentration again.
6163
6164> 
6165
6166Your eyes snap open and you immediately realize what you're doing. You look around the room and see nothing out of place. The bookshelves are still there, but they aren't even leaning against the wall anymore. They have fallen to one side now, leaving them hanging by their edges.
6167
6168> 
6169
6170You stand up and turn to leave, but then stop. There is something wrong here... Something very strange indeed.
6171
6172There is a small window above the desk. You can see inside it, though you can't make out any details beyond that.
6173
6174> Stand on the desk and look through the window
6175
6176You stand on the desk and peer through the window. You see nothing out of place, but something seems odd about this room.
6177
6178A door to the right of you opens up into another room, though its windows are covered by curtains.
6179
6180> 
6181
6182You walk over to the door and peek through it. Nothing is out of place or suspicious in the slightest. In fact, you can't tell if it's night or day outside either; everything looks just as bright and colorful as usual.
6183
6184> 
6185
6186You step back from the door and turn your head to stare at the ceiling. You notice that it isn't just curtains covering the windows, but also some sort of wallpaper. A rainbow-colored pattern covers almost every inch of the walls, ceiling and floor.
6187
6188> 
6189
6190You turn around and walk back towards the desk. You see that the wallpaper has changed to match the rest of the room, with more colors than you could ever need. It's almost like someone had painted a picture for you!
6191
6192> Rip away wallpaper from windows
6193
6194You rip away wallpaper from the windows and replace it with a new one. This time, you get rid of all the colors. You end up painting the entire room a dull gray color instead.
6195
6196> Open window
6197
6198You open the window and watch as the sky turns completely black. You hear a loud noise, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone else in the house.
6199
6200The sound fades away quickly however when you return to your seat.
6201
6202> Look outside
6203
6204You look outside and see that the sky has returned to normal, though it's not quite as bright as before. You can only guess that whatever caused this event must've been pretty powerful.
6205
6206> 
6207
6208You sit down again and close your eyes. You feel a little different now, but you don't know why. The next thing you know, you wake up.
6209
6210> 
6211
6212You open your eyes and find yourself lying on a bed. There's no sign of any furniture or anything else out of place. You're alone in a strange house, which makes you feel very uncomfortable.
6213
6214"Hello?" You call out to whoever is sitting across from you.
6215
6216> 
6217
6218You groan and try to stand up, but you realize that you have no energy left. You fall back onto the bed and try to figure out what happened.
6219
6220It takes a few minutes, but eventually you remember something that was said earlier today...
6221
6222> 
6223
6224You look over at the clock on the wall and see that it says 5:00 AM. You then look at your phone and see that you missed an important text message from your girlfriend.
6225
6226> 
6227
6228You sigh and shake your head. She probably just got up early to go running every morning, so she'd be asleep by now. You also think about how you haven't seen her since yesterday afternoon. Maybe she went somewhere?
6229
6230You check the door knob and find that it's locked.
6231
6232> Read text message from girlfriend
6233
6234You sigh and pull out your phone. It reads "I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I had some things to take care of first."
6235
6236You frown and begin typing a response. You type for several minutes before you finally get around to sending it.
6237
6238> 
6239
6240You smile and type back "Goodnight!"
6241
6242You sigh and turn off your phone. You're still too tired to do much more than sleep, so you collapse into bed.
6243
6244> 
6245
6246You slowly open your eyes and stare at the ceiling. Your phone buzzes in your hand. It's from your girlfriend.
6247
6248"Hey, are you awake yet?" You answer with a yawn.
6249"Yeah, I'm up," She replies. "What time is it?
6250
6251> Check what time it is
6252
6253You sigh and look at the time on your phone. It reads 7:30 AM. You quickly grab your keys from under the pillow and unlock the front door.
6254
6255"Where are we going?" You ask as you walk towards the car.
6256"Just to get here, I guess."
6257
6258> "Who am I?"
6259
6260You pause and think about what you want to say. You decide that you don't really know who you are, so maybe this isn't the best time to talk about it.
6261
6262"Um..." You start to stutter as you sit down in the driver's seat of your car.
6263
6264> 
6265
6266You sigh and rub your face. You can't believe you've been doing this all day! This has been one long night of drinking, sex, drugs, and partying. You need to stop right now if only because you're getting tired.
6267
6268"So...who am I?"
6269
6270> 
6271
6272You try to remember, but you keep forgetting. Finally, you come up with an answer.
6273
6274"A drunk idiot."
6275
6276The words sound horrible coming out of your mouth.
6277
6278> 
6279
6280You chuckle and shake your head. You have no idea where you came from or why you're even here. In fact, you barely remember anything about yourself except for being born, growing up, and having a few good times along the way.
6281
6282"Well then, what happened?"
6283
6284> 
6285
6286You shrug. You don't know. All you do know is that you woke up in a strange house and nobody else did either. The last thing you remember was stumbling through the woods after a party when suddenly, everything went black.
6287
6288> 
6289
6290You groan and roll over onto your stomach. You feel like you should be sleeping, but instead you're just lying there. You wonder how the hell you got here and why you're not dead already.
6291
6292"I don't know what happened..."
6293
6294> 
6295
6296You nod. That's exactly what happened. You were drunk and passed out when you fell asleep. When you awoke, you had no memory of how you got here or why you're still alive.
6297
6298"How did I get here?"
6299
6300"It doesn't matter."
6301
6302> Look around
6303
6304You stare around the room. There's nothing here, but you suppose it makes sense since you don't remember any of this place.
6305
6306"What the fuck am I supposed to do now?"
6307
6308"Nothing." You reply. "Go back home and sleep it off.
6309
6310> 
6311
6312You nod. It seems like the logical thing to do. You walk into your bedroom and close your door behind you.
6313
6314> 
6315
6316You stand in front of your bed and look at the ground. Your eyes are starting to hurt so you take a deep breath before looking up at the ceiling. You sit down on your bed and close your eyes as well.
6317
6318> 
6319
6320You open your eyes and see nothing but darkness. You can hear some noise outside though, so you slowly turn around to investigate. As soon as you move, the world goes dark again.
6321
6322> 
6323
6324You open your eyes and see nothing but darkness. You can hear some noise outside though, so you slowly turn around to investigate. As soon as you move, the world goes dark again.
6325
6326> Turn on a light
6327
6328You reach for the switch on the wall, but it isn't working right anymore. It keeps turning itself off and on by itself. Finally, you give up trying to fix it and try something else...
6329
6330> Go outside
6331
6332You run outside and find that the lights are still on, but they're all pointing towards each other in an odd way. The streetlights seem to be coming from everywhere at once!
6333
6334> 
6335
6336You run along the street until you come across a group of people standing in front of their homes. They're all staring at you with fear written all over their faces.
6337
6338"What is going on?!" one woman asks.
6339"I don't know!" another replies.
6340
6341> 
6342
6343You continue walking through the streets until you get to your house. You open the door and step inside. The lights are still on, but they're all pointing towards each other in an odd way. The streetlights seem to be coming from everywhere at once!
6344
6345"What is going on?!"
6346
6347> Go to the library
6348
6349You head downstairs and find that there's no-one home. After searching the house for any clues, you decide to check out the nearby libraries first. You search for a few minutes, but you never manage to locate anything useful. Eventually, you give up and return back upstairs.
6350
6351> 
6352
6353You walk into the kitchen and notice that the fridge has been opened. There's food left on top of it, but you can't remember where you put everything last time you were here. You start to wonder if you should just leave now or not.
6354
6355> Look at what's in the fridge
6356
6357You take a quick glance at the fridge and see that there's a couple of cans of tuna, two bottles of water, some crackers and a bottle of milk. You also notice that there's a note attached to the refrigerator reading "Please do not eat".
6358
6359> Drink milk
6360
6361As soon as you finish drinking the milk, you feel very sick. You vomit all over yourself and then pass out on the floor of your living room. When you wake up, you find that it's night time and the sun is setting behind the trees.
6362
6363> Clean vomit
6364
6365You stand up and begin cleaning up the mess you've made. After wiping down the floor, you wash your hands and then make your way back to the basement. You enter the room where you found the can opener and carefully open it again.
6366
6367> Look in mirror
6368
6369You turn around and look at yourself in the mirror. You notice that you have a small scar on your forehead, which you think may be from when someone punched you in the face earlier today.
6370
6371> Take a shower
6372
6373You take a quick shower and rinse off the blood that covered you. You then change into new clothes and head back outside. As soon as you exit the house, you hear shouting and yelling from the town square. It sounds like there's trouble brewing in town...
6374
6375The next day...
6376
6377> 
6378
6379It's morning and you're awake. You sit up and stretch before getting dressed. You don't know how long you spend doing this, but eventually you emerge from your bedroom with a new outfit.
6380
6381You head downstairs and see that the lights are still on in the houses around the village.
6382
6383> Find breakfast
6384
6385You head towards the nearest house and knock on the door. The door opens and you see a man sitting at his desk writing something on a piece of paper. He looks up when he sees who is knocking on his front door.
6386
6387"Who are you?" he asks.
6388
6389> "I don't know. Can you help me?"
6390
6391"No, I'm sorry about this," he says. "But I really can't help you."
6392"Can you tell me why the town is in an uproar? What happened?
6393
6394> 
6395
6396He sighs and shakes his head. "Well, I guess you should ask the mayor about that."
6397"What does he want to talk about?"
6398"About what exactly? About the incident in town or anything else for that matter?"
6399"Um...no...
6400
6401> Go somewhere else
6402
6403You decide not to bother him anymore. Instead, you head to the only other person you know who might be able to help you: the mayor of the village.
6404
6405When you arrive at his office, he greets you warmly and introduces himself. "Hello," he says.
6406
6407> "I need help. I don't know who I am."
6408
6409"Oh, no problem. My name's Jack."
6410"And my name is..."
6411"Jack, I already told you my name, so just call me Jack."
6412
6413After saying this, he takes out a map of the village and shows it to you.
6414
6415> 
6416
6417He points to a large area of land on the map and explains that it's where most of the people live. He goes on to explain that there was an incident some time ago involving a group of bandits who were planning to rob some rich folks.
6418
6419> 
6420
6421He continues to explain that they got themselves caught by the villagers and were killed. However, since the villagers weren't wealthy enough to pay for their burial, they decided to have them buried in a place called 'the graveyard'.
6422
6423> 
6424
6425He explains that the cemetery is actually a giant hole in the ground filled with dead bodies. Some of them are those who died while fighting against bandits, others are those who died from natural causes like old age or disease, and some are simply poor souls who didn't make it through life.
6426
6427> 
6428
6429He continues to explain that there is a small church nearby which houses a shrine dedicated to St. Elmo. A priest named Father Tomas is supposed to come here once every few years and perform prayers for the dead, but as of yet nothing has been heard from him.
6430
6431> 
6432
6433He tells you that if you're interested in helping the church, then you'll have to get yourself a job at the church. He also mentions that there is a little inn located near the church which could use some extra money.
6434
6435> "What is my name?"
6436
6437"My name is Jack."
6438"Alright, I'm ready to start looking for work."
6439
6440He nods and leaves your office. As soon as he exits, you run up to the church door and knock three times. After waiting a couple of minutes, he opens the door.
6441
6442> 
6443
6444The man inside looks up when he sees you standing outside. "Ah, hello!" he says. "How can I help you today?"
6445
6446"Well, I want to find a job at the church."
6447
6448He sighs and shakes his head.
6449
6450> 
6451
6452"I don't know anything about jobs, but I will tell you that there isn't any. There's not even anyone working at the church right now."
6453
6454You frown.
6455
6456> 
6457
6458"There's no one working at the church? How can that be?"
6459
6460He shrugs.
6461
6462> 
6463
6464"It's because nobody wants to work there. The owner doesn't really care about the church, so nobody is willing to do it."
6465
6466You nod. "So what should we do then?"
6467
6468He smiles and points towards the sky.
6469
6470> 
6471
6472"Look over there! Look how beautiful it is!"
6473
6474You look and see a rainbow forming above the trees. "That's where we should go."
6475
6476> Go to rainbow
6477
6478You walk out into the rain and begin walking towards the rainbow. Suddenly, you hear a voice call out to you. "Hey! Hey! Are you lost?"
6479
6480A woman with long brown hair and wearing a white dress steps forward from behind the bushes.
6481
6482> "Yes, I'm lost."
6483
6484She smiles and walks off. "Good luck," she calls after her. She turns around and begins walking back towards the church. You follow her, but suddenly you feel like something is wrong... Something bad is going to happen.
6485
6486> 
6487
6488Suddenly, you feel sick. Your stomach hurts and you're feeling very dizzy. It feels like someone has poured acid on your tongue and swallowed it whole.
6489
6490> 
6491
6492You collapse onto the ground in pain. "What happened?" you ask as loud as you can. A young girl dressed in a black robe stands nearby looking down at you. Her eyes are red and puffy, like they've been burned shut.
6493
6494> 
6495
6496The girl looks up at you. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," she says reassuringly. Then, she grabs your hand and leads you away from the church.
6497
6498You stumble through the woods for quite some time before finally coming across a large mansion of stone and brick.
6499
6500> 
6501
6502Inside the mansion, you find yourself staring at a man who seems to be the only person here. He sits in an armchair by himself and wears a dark suit. His face is pale and his skin is wrinkled from years of age.
6503
6504> "Who are you?"
6505
6506He smiles and nods. "I am Mr. Reynolds," he says simply.
6507
6508You stare at him for a moment, trying to figure out what this man means to you.
6509
6510> 
6511
6512Mr. Reynolds raises an eyebrow. "Do you know me?"
6513
6514You shake your head. "No."
6515
6516"Then why do you want to talk to me? Do you have a problem?"
6517
6518"No, not really."
6519
6520> "Why am I here?"
6521
6522"I was sent here by my superiors to investigate the situation that's happening in town. They wanted me to check things out since there were rumors about the government being involved somehow."
6523
6524Mr. Reynolds sighs. "Well, if it isn't the kid from yesterday!"
6525
6526> 
6527
6528Mr. Reynolds chuckles. "Yeah, well it's good you came along then, because I'm guessing you don't have much experience with these kinds of situations."
6529
6530You nod slowly. "Yes, sir."
6531
6532"So tell me, how did this come about?" Mr.
6533
6534> "Swain, sir. My name is Jericho Swain."
6535
6536Mr. Reynolds frowns. "Oh, so you're the one who killed my son."
6537
6538You shrug helplessly. "It wasn't intentional, sir."
6539
6540"Is that all?" Mr. Reynolds asks, still frowning.
6541
6542> "I think it's time I should leave."
6543
6544Mr. Reynolds stares at you blankly for a moment, but then nods. "Very well, let me take you back to the carriage station."
6545
6546> 
6547
6548You walk quickly towards the carriage station. The sun is already setting when you arrive, making it difficult to see anything clearly. However, you manage to make out a few figures standing near the edge of town.
6549
6550> Get in a carriage
6551
6552The carriage pulls up next to the first building on the corner of two streets. A voice calls out from inside: "Hey! Hey! What are you doing in here?"
6553
6554A hand grabs your shoulder and yanks you into the carriage.
6555
6556> 
6557
6558You sit down in the front seat and try to look as inconspicuous as possible. The driver turns around, staring at you. He opens his mouth to ask something, but then closes it again before speaking. "This way please."
6559
6560> 
6561
6562As you follow him through the door, he points to a small building on the other side of town. "That's where we're going," he says.
6563
6564He drives fast enough that you can barely keep up with him, but eventually you reach a large gate which swings open.
6565
6566> 
6567
6568Inside the gates stands a man dressed in black armor. His face is covered by an armored helmet, and he holds a long sword in both hands. He looks like some sort of knight or soldier from legend, but you recognize him immediately as the leader of the Crimson Talons gang.
6569
6570> 
6571
6572"What the hell do you want?"
6573
6574He sighs. "Nothing. Just wanted to check if there was any trouble."
6575
6576"No problems? Why would there be problems?" You demand. "We've been working together for years now!"
6577
6578> 
6579
6580"Because you don't have the balls to tell us what's going on, and instead decided to play dumb. Now I'm not saying that we didn't help you out once upon a time...but this isn't about gratitude. This is about getting our revenge.
6581
6582> "Not another word from you. You have no right to seek revenge from me."
6583
6584"I'm sorry, but I think you know why we're after you. We need to find out who's behind all this. And since we control most of the city, we'll probably be able to catch whoever it is."
6585
6586> "We can work together."
6587
6588"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say..."
6589
6590You turn away from him and begin walking towards the gates. As soon as you enter the courtyard, several men wearing red cloaks come running out of their homes. They raise their swords high above them and prepare to charge at you.
6591
6592> Absorb their souls with demon magic
6593
6594They aren't going to get anywhere near you, so you decide to use their energy against them. You concentrate hard and send a wave of negative energy at them. It hits one of the men directly in the chest, knocking him off his feet and causing him to fall backwards onto his ass.
6595
6596> 
6597
6598The man screams in pain and falls back onto his ass. He tries to stand up, but you stop him with your hand. "Get out of my sight! I don't want to see you anymore!"
6599
6600You walk over to the nearest house and knock on the door.
6601
6602> 
6603
6604A woman answers the door. She doesn't look anything like the description of the woman who lived here before. "Who are you?" she asks.
6605"My name is Raziel, and I'd like to talk to someone named 'Sister Gwen'.
6606
6607> 
6608
6609"That's strange. Who are you?"
6610"Oh, just a friend of Sister Gwen's. We were talking about you earlier."
6611"Really? What did you discuss?"
6612"Just normal stuff, nothing too interesting.
6613
6614> 
6615
6616"So you're telling me that you've known each other for years? How did you two meet?
6617
6618> 
6619
6620"Well, I was living alone when I met her. A few months later, she moved into the house with me."
6621"And how did you two become friends?
6622
6623> "Is it alright if I come in?"
6624
6625You open the door and step inside. The room is very simple, with only a bed and chair in the center. There are no windows or doors, so there's no way to tell what time of day it is.
6626
6627> 
6628
6629Raziel sits down on the bed. "I think we should start by getting to know each other better... I mean, not like this."
6630
6631He stands up and walks around the room slowly. He looks at every single wall, floor and even under the beds.
6632
6633> 
6634
6635He stops and stares at the girl sitting next to him. "She's beautiful," he says softly.
6636
6637"What do you mean?"
6638
6639"Nothing really, just saying..." He starts walking towards her again, but then pauses.
6640
6641> 
6642
6643"Wait, wait, wait! Don't go anywhere yet!"
6644
6645"What?"
6646
6647"Don't go anywhere until I get something from you first. If you keep staring at me like that, I'm going to have to leave."
6648
6649> "What are you going to do?"
6650
6651"I'll leave. But I don't want to be alone right now."
6652
6653He sighs and nods. "Alright, fine. Come over here." He points towards the corner of the room where a small window lies.
6654
6655> 
6656
6657He quickly runs out of the room and hides behind a nearby pillar. When he comes back, he sees you standing there.
6658
6659"So, what did you need to talk about?"
6660
6661"It's about my sister." You explain as calmly as possible.
6662
6663> "I don't have a sister."
6664
6665"Oh, that's good. That means you won't mind talking to her."
6666
6667You nod. "Yes, I understand."
6668
6669"Good, because I'd hate for you to feel uncomfortable while speaking with her."
6670
6671> 
6672
6673"Okay, well let's begin." Raziel takes a deep breath before continuing.
6674
6675> 
6676
6677"My sister is an angel."
6678
6679"An angel? What does she look like?"
6680
6681You smile. "She has long black hair and blue eyes."
6682
6683Raziel frowns. "Are you sure?" he asks.
6684
6685 
6686  She smiles back at you.
6687
6688> Smile back
6689
6690Her expression changes into one of confusion. "Why would she be confused?"
6691
6692"Because she doesn't know anything about angels."
6693
6694"But how can that be? Angels are supposed to only exist in stories!"
6695
6696 
6697  She laughs.
6698
6699> "What do I look like?"
6700
6701"A fairy princess."
6702
6703"Fairy princess?" she asks.
6704
6705 
6706  Her face lights up. "That sounds so sweet! Can we meet each other someday?"
6707
6708 
6709  You laugh along with her.
6710
6711> Frolic through the meadow
6712
6713You run around happily. Suddenly, Raziel stops you. "Stop!" he says sternly. "We're not doing this anymore."
6714
6715 
6716  You stare at him in disbelief. "How could you tell me such a thing?!"
6717
6718> "Is this about what happened at Nuro?"
6719
6720"Yeah, it is."
6721
6722"Then why didn't you stop us?"
6723
6724"Because I wanted to see if you were serious about your offer or not."
6725
6726 
6727  You shake your head. "No way. We wouldn't have done something like that!"
6728
6729> 
6730
6731"Well, okay then." You sigh. "I guess I'll believe you when you show me where she lives."
6732
6733 
6734  He nods. "Alright, but please hurry up since I'm really tired now."
6735
6736 
6737  He starts walking off towards his bedroom.
6738
6739> go home
6740
6741You walk out of the house. The sun is starting to set and you've got a lot on your mind. You want to get some sleep, but you also don't want to waste any more time here. You decide that you should just go home as soon as possible.
6742
6743> 
6744
6745You walk down the road. As you pass by houses, you notice that they all seem to be empty. You think back to Raziel earlier and realize that he was right; there isn't anyone living in these homes. This means that no one is coming here either...
6746
6747> 
6748
6749Suddenly, you hear a voice behind you. It's faint, but it seems familiar. "Hey! Are you..."
6750
6751You turn around and see a girl with blonde hair wearing red clothing standing before you. She looks pretty young for someone who is older than yourself.
6752
6753> "Who do you think I am?"
6754
6755She smiles. "Yes, I think you are. How did you even recognize me?"
6756
6757"Oh, because I saw you in the forest while looking for my sister."
6758
6759"My sister? Oh yes, she's dead now."
6760
6761 
6762  She frowns.
6763
6764> 
6765
6766"What's wrong?"
6767
6768"Nothing, but I'm sorry. My name is Tylir and I live in this village called Gahl'vuhr Klaire."
6769
6770 
6771
6772You nod.
6773
6774> "I'm Jericho. I'm not from around here."
6775
6776"That's too bad. So, how old are you?"
6777
6778"About seventeen."
6779
6780"Hmm, well I suppose we can talk more later. For now though, let's leave this place together."
6781
6782> 
6783
6784She walks ahead of you, seemingly oblivious to the fact that you're following her. Eventually, she stops at a small shack. Inside, there's only one bed inside and a few bookshelves filled with various magical texts.
6785
6786> 
6787
6788She sits down on the bed and begins reading a book. After about half an hour passes, she turns to look at you. Her eyes are a deep brown color and her face is very pale.
6789
6790> 
6791
6792"So, what brings you here?"
6793
6794She sighs. "It's nothing really. Just came to ask if you could tell me where my sister is."
6795
6796> "Your sister is dead."
6797
6798"Oh, I know. She died five years ago."
6799
6800"Five years ago?"
6801
6802She nods. "Yeah, actually. But why would she die so soon after we met?"
6803
6804You pause for a moment.
6805
6806> Leave
6807
6808"Well, I don't know anything about it. We just got married recently."
6809
6810Tylir stares at you for awhile. Finally, she speaks up again. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
6811
6812You shrug your shoulders.
6813
6814> Go outside
6815
6816You walk out into the courtyard and see Tylir sitting by herself. She looks up at you. "Are you okay?"
6817
6818"I'm fine," you reply as calmly as possible.
6819
6820Tylir nods slowly before speaking again.
6821
6822> 
6823
6824"Do you want to come back inside? It's getting late."
6825
6826You shake your head. "No, I think I'll stay out here. There's no point in staying here when nobody will be coming home tonight."
6827
6828Tylir smiles and nods her head.
6829
6830> Go somewhere far away
6831
6832You decide to go somewhere far away from here. You run off into the woods and disappear into the darkness.
6833
6834> 
6835
6836The next day, you wake up early and make your way towards the castle. As you get closer, you can hear the sounds of battle going on nearby. The noise isn't quite loud enough to disturb you though; it seems like everyone else has already left for work or school.
6837
6838> 
6839
6840As you approach the gates, you notice that they're barricaded with wooden palisades. They seem to have been put there yesterday morning, but were never repaired since then. In fact, most of them are broken now.
6841
6842> 
6843
6844A few minutes later, you reach the gate. A guard stands behind it. He waves you through without even looking at you.
6845
6846You enter the castle and find yourself in an empty corridor leading to a large room with several doors along one wall.
6847
6848> Go to my office
6849
6850You open the door to my office. Inside is a desk and chair. On top of it sits a man dressed in black robes with long hair tied back in a ponytail. His face is hidden under his hood, but he appears to be some sort of priest or monk.
6851
6852> "Who are you?"
6853
6854He turns around and grins at you. "Ah, good afternoon! My name is Dendrin. What brings you here?"
6855
6856"My name is..." You begin to stammer nervously.
6857
6858Dendrin shakes his head sadly.
6859
6860> "Why are you in my office?"
6861
6862"Oh, this is none of your concern. I was sent here by Master Ebon to deliver a message from him."
6863
6864"From who?"
6865
6866Dendrin shrugs. "Master Ebon told me not to tell you, so I won't."
6867
6868> 
6869
6870Dendrin frowns. "I'm surprised you haven't heard about what happened today. I've been trying to keep things calm down in the shadows as much as possible, but it looks like that effort hasn't worked."
6871
6872"What do you mean?
6873
6874> 
6875
6876Dendrin sighs. "It's obvious that you're still shaken up by what happened yesterday. If you don't want to talk about it, we'll move on to something more pleasant."
6877
6878You look at each other for a moment before nodding.
6879
6880> Sit at desk
6881
6882You stand up and walk over to the desk. You sit down at the desk and start reading a book. Dendrin watches you intently while you read.
6883
6884"That's very interesting," he says after awhile.
6885
6886> "Is there anything else you needed from me?"
6887
6888"No, thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my duties."
6889
6890Dendrin nods and leaves the room. You turn the page of your book and continue reading. Suddenly, you hear a knock on the door. It sounds familiar...
6891
6892> 
6893
6894The door opens up and you see a young woman wearing black robes standing outside. She has long blonde hair and wears a simple white robe. Her eyes are red from crying.
6895
6896"Are you Talia's mother?" she asks in a quiet voice.
6897
6898"Yes, I am."
6899
6900> "Is something wrong? Why are you crying?"
6901
6902"This isn't right. We should be celebrating our daughter's marriage to Markos. Instead, we're having a funeral!"
6903
6904She takes her handkerchief off and wipes away her tears. "We have no idea why we're being summoned."
6905
6906> 
6907
6908"A summons? How did you know?"
6909
6910"Because I saw you talking with Master Ebon earlier. He said that he wanted to speak with you."
6911
6912You shake your head.
6913
6914> 
6915
6916"So what does this mean?"
6917
6918"It means that you will be summoned soon. Please come with me."
6919
6920You follow her into an empty chamber. There is a table set up and several candles lit in the center of it.
6921
6922> 
6923
6924Dendrin stands behind the table and begins speaking.
6925
6926> 
6927
6928"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but I was afraid that you would reject the offer. However, I've decided to give you another chance. In fact, I think it's time that you accept this opportunity."
6929
6930He pauses and looks around the room.
6931
6932> 
6933
6934"If you don't want to be here, then leave now. If you do wish to stay, then I must ask that you help me. I believe that the Empire needs a new leader."
6935
6936> 
6937
6938"Very well. You may remain."
6939
6940Dendrin smiles at you and walks over to the candle flame. He places his hands on them and slowly moves his fingers towards the flames. His face becomes one of concentration as he stares intently at them.
6941
6942> "What do you see?"
6943
6944"Nothing, except a faint glow coming from where you were looking. It seems to be emanating from your soul itself."
6945
6946You nod silently and begin to move closer to him. Dendrin watches as you approach until he speaks again.
6947
6948"Do you feel any different?"
6949
6950> "I feel... Power."
6951
6952"Yes, yes you do. That's good. Now, let me show you something else."
6953
6954Dendrin raises his hand and a portal opens up before your eyes. A massive black dragon appears out of nowhere and flies straight towards the wall of the chamber.
6955
6956> 
6957
6958The dragon roars and howls as it approaches the wall. The beast seems almost unstoppable, but Dendrin is ready for anything. He quickly teleports himself back inside the chamber and closes the portal.
6959
6960"That should keep it occupied while we talk."
6961
6962> "What was that?"
6963
6964"A ritual. We need to drain its life force so that it can no longer fight us."
6965"How long will it take?"
6966"We'll have plenty of time to finish it later. For now, I'd like you to stand outside the chamber and watch."
6967
6968> "Thank you."
6969
6970Dendrin nods in thanks and turns to you.
6971
6972"Goodbye my friend. May our paths cross again soon."
6973
6974> 
6975
6976You turn away and walk into the darkness. Suddenly, you hear a voice call out to you.
6977
6978"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"
6979
6980It's Meliodas, calling out to you. You look around and see him standing there with a dagger in his hand.
6981
6982> "What are you doing here?"
6983
6984"I'm here because I know what you're going through right now. And I think you need some help."
6985
6986Meliodas steps forward and kneels down next to you. He looks at your wounds and begins to speak softly.
6987
6988> 
6989
6990"This is why I brought you here. This is why I wanted to see if you could heal yourself. But first, I want to ask you a few questions."
6991
6992You look at him in confusion and he continues.
6993
6994> 
6995
6996"Who are you? What do you want?"
6997
6998You don't really know how to answer this question. Is he trying to recruit you or something? You decide not to worry about it and just tell him everything.
6999
7000> "I'm Jericho Swain. I want to make Noxus powerful."
7001
7002"Hmm... Interesting choice of words. Well, I suppose that makes one more potential ally for us. However, I must warn you that this isn't going to be easy."
7003
7004He pauses briefly and then continues.
7005
7006> "What do you need me to do?"
7007
7008"First off, I need you to swear fealty to me. That means you'll give up all other loyalties and allegiances. If you betray me, I will kill every last one of your kind on the battlefields."
7009
7010> "I can't do that."
7011
7012"No? Then what am I supposed to do with you?"
7013
7014You shake your head.
7015
7016"I'm sorry, but I can't do that either."
7017
7018 
7019"Very well, we shall discuss this further later. Now, let's get down to business."
7020
7021> 
7022
7023The pair of you continue to talk as you walk towards the center of the camp. Eventually, you reach a large tent where several men are sitting around talking. They seem to be discussing something, but they aren't paying any attention to you.
7024
7025> 
7026
7027"So, what are you guys discussing?"
7028
7029One of them speaks up.
7030
7031"Oh, nothing important. Just a bunch of soldiers arguing over who gets to lead the army."
7032
7033Another one nods in agreement.
7034
7035> "Obviously, it should be me!"
7036
7037"Well, that would certainly be an interesting change of pace from what we've been doing lately. So, who's going to lead the army?"
7038
7039You smile at their apparent surprise.
7040
7041> 
7042
7043They're clearly surprised by your sudden outburst.
7044
7045"Really? You think you can take command of our armies?" one asks.
7046
7047> "Absolutely. All I need is your loyalty."
7048
7049"That's nice, but I doubt if even you could defeat my brother, General Ackerson. He has legions behind him and a massive amount of support."
7050
7051You nod.
7052
7053> 
7054
7055"I don't know about you, but I have no intention of fighting against my brother. We both know he's just using us as pawns to achieve his own goals."
7056
7057A few people look at each other and laugh.
7058
7059> "I'll do it myself, then."
7060
7061"Good choice! I knew you'd make the right decision!"
7062
7063You grin and begin walking out of the tent. A couple of guards come running after you, but before they can stop you, you've already left. You turn back to see some of the others laughing again.
7064
7065> Find General Ackerson
7066
7067You follow the crowd until you finally reach a small group of soldiers standing near a large tent. There, on top of a table, sits General Ackerson. He looks up when he sees you approach.
7068
7069"Ah, there you are! What brings you here?"
7070
7071> "Status report, sir. I've found the rebels."
7072
7073He frowns at you.
7074
7075"What do you mean? Who are these rebels?"
7076
7077You point to the tents nearby. The men inside all wear similar clothing, though most of them are wearing leather armor and carrying swords instead of guns.
7078
7079> "They intend to overthrow you and take control of this army, sir."
7080
7081He stares at you for a moment.
7082
7083"Are you serious? They've got more men than I did when I was promoted to general, and they seem to be well-trained too. How?"
7084
7085You shrug.
7086
7087> "Your cause will lead us to ruin. They are those who will fight for a greater good. A greater Noxus. You can't stop them."
7088
7089He nods slowly.
7090
7091"Very well, I shall listen to your words. But I must warn you: If you attempt anything, you will not succeed."
7092
7093You sigh in disappointment and leave the tent.
7094
7095> Go back in the tent to General Ackerman
7096
7097You walk into the tent and find Ackerman still sitting down. He doesn't notice you enter.
7098
7099"Hello, General."
7100
7101You sit down next to him and wait patiently for him to speak. He continues staring off into space for a moment before speaking.
7102
7103> 
7104
7105"Yes, yes, I'm sure you're wondering what brought me here. Well, let's get straight to the point. What is your plan?"
7106
7107You shake your head.
7108
7109"No... No plan..."
7110
7111He pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing.
7112
7113> 
7114
7115"My plan is simple. I want to bring peace to this land. Not by killing everyone that disagrees with me, but rather through diplomacy and compromise."
7116
7117You nod slowly.
7118
7119"So you're going to negotiate with them?"
7120
7121He smiles and shakes his head.
7122
7123> 
7124
7125"I don't think so, no. I know that they aren't interested in negotiating with us, but if we were willing to talk then perhaps it would open up other options for them. Perhaps they could join our side as allies or even vassals."
7126
7127> 
7128
7129"Vassal? Vassals?! We have legions!"
7130
7131You look around nervously. Ackerman looks at you with an expression of concern. You quickly explain yourself.
7132
7133"We don't have any vassals, sir."
7134
7135> 
7136
7137"Well, maybe not legions, but certainly thousands of soldiers under my command. And we're not just fighting for ourselves either; we're fighting for all the people of Noxus."
7138
7139Ackerman seems surprised by your answer.
7140
7141> "Your time is over, Ackerman. It is time to shed the old ways and begin a new."
7142
7143You stand up from your seat and walk towards Ackerman. He stands back up and begins to follow you.
7144
7145"But why should we do that?" he asks. "Why not just kill them all now?"
7146
7147You pause for a moment before replying.
7148
7149> "The needs of the many hold greater weight than your greed and desires."
7150
7151Ackerman looks at you with surprise.
7152
7153"What do you mean?"
7154
7155You smile and continue.
7156
7157> 
7158
7159"Because you've been doing it too long. The Empire has always had its problems, but it's never fallen apart because of them. They've always been able to maintain order and keep their grip on power."
7160
7161Ackerman nods silently and stares at you intently.
7162
7163> 
7164
7165"That's right, my friend. That's exactly what happened. When the Empire fell, there was chaos everywhere. But when the lands united under one banner, they were able to fight off those who wished to destroy them."
7166
7167> "You are the last one that's keeping the Empire from achieving peace."
7168
7169Ackerman nods again and looks at you with fear in his eyes.
7170
7171"Then...then what will become of us?"
7172
7173You shake your head sadly.
7174
7175"No, my friend. No more battles for you anymore."
7176
7177> Stab Ackerman in the throat
7178
7179You turn around and stab Ackerman in the neck with your sword. His body falls backwards onto the ground dead instantly.
7180
7181> 
7182
7183You leave the room and enter the next one. This one is much smaller than the first, so you decide to take a break here. You sit down on a bench and wait for someone to come along with you. A few minutes pass without anyone coming, though you hear some shouting outside.
7184
7185> Go outside
7186
7187You look out the window and see several figures running away from the city. Some of them are armed with axes, others have guns in hand. You can't tell if they're even Noxians or not, since most of them don't wear any sort of armor.
7188
7189> Go to the soldiers
7190
7191You quickly run over to the soldiers and kneel down beside them.
7192
7193"We need help! We're being attacked!" you shout.
7194
7195One of the men steps forward and raises his gun, but stops as soon as he sees you.
7196
7197> "General Ackerman is dead!"
7198
7199The man looks at you with shock and then turns back to the battle. He doesn't even raise his gun again, which means that he's either very stupid or he knows full well about Ackerman's death. Either way, this shows how desperate you are for reinforcements.
7200
7201> "As Ackerman's most trusted captain, I will take his place!"
7202
7203The soldier slowly walks towards you while raising his gun once again.
7204
7205"I'm sorry sir, but we don't have any more men capable of taking command of this fort."
7206
7207You sigh and nod at him before turning to the other soldiers.
7208
7209> "Fellow Noxians! Who will follow me in the quest to restore order!?"
7210
7211You yell at the soldiers and begin leading them in a charge against the fleeing Noxians. The battle goes smoothly until you reach an alleyway where you find yourself surrounded by many enemy troops.
7212
7213"Fall back! Fall Back!"
7214
7215> 
7216
7217You stand up and point your sword at the nearest enemy. It's a tall muscular man who has long hair and wears leather armor.
7218
7219"Who are you? What do you want?"
7220
7221He asks, obviously trying to figure out who you are.
7222
7223> "I'm Jericho Swain, and I'm the new general. Follow me or die."
7224
7225He stares at you blankly for a moment, before nodding.
7226
7227"Very good..."
7228
7229With those words, he charges into the fray. You continue to lead your troops through the streets of Noxus. Soon after, you arrive at the gates of Fort Conscript.
7230
7231> Storm the gates
7232
7233You rush inside the gatehouse and grab a guard by the throat.
7234
7235"Release him! Release him now!"
7236
7237He screams, struggling to get free. You swing your blade hard enough to cut open his stomach, killing him instantly.
7238
7239> Find Grand General Darkwill
7240
7241You walk further into the fort and find Grand General Darkwill sitting on a throne. He notices you standing there, but ignores you.
7242
7243"What do you want?"
7244
7245> "You are no longer fit to rule, Darkwill. It's time for you to step down."
7246
7247Darkwill looks at you with surprise.
7248
7249"Jericho...what did you do to my son?"
7250
7251You look around and see several guards surrounding Darkwill, but they don't seem to be doing anything except staring at him.
7252
7253> Walk towards Darkwill
7254
7255You approach Darkwill and kneel down next to him.
7256
7257"I killed your son because he was a traitorous coward. Now it's time for you to kill me as well."
7258
7259He says coldly, not moving an inch from his spot.
7260
7261> "Just as I thought. You're the same as he was."
7262
7263You watch as Darkwill raises his hands up in surrender, before kicking you away. You fall to the ground and roll around before collapsing onto the floor. A few of your soldiers come over to check on you.
7264
7265> Lunge at Darkwill and kill him
7266
7267A soldier approaches you and grabs your arm.
7268
7269"No, no, no! Let go of him! We need to help this man!"
7270
7271The soldier yells as he pulls you away from Darkwill.
7272
7273> "He doesn't deserve help! Weakness has no place in Noxian leadership!"
7274
7275You turn to face Darkwill once more. He stands calmly looking at you, waiting for you to make another move.
7276
7277"I've had enough of your games, Darkwill."
7278
7279> Kill Darkwill with demon magic
7280
7281You raise your hand and unleash a blast of pure energy at Darkwill. The attack hits him square in the chest, blowing off half of his head and causing him to collapse backwards.
7282
7283> Appoint myself as Grand General
7284
7285You stand back and smile at your troops. They all bow their heads in respect, but none of them attempt to stop you. You march forward with Darkwill's body still lying nearby.
7286
7287> "Clean out the fort. Kill anyone who resists."
7288
7289You order your troops to clean out the fort. Your men quickly begin killing everyone inside.
7290
7291It takes awhile, but eventually you have completely wiped out the fort.
7292
7293> Attend to business
7294
7295You return to the palace where you find that the rest of your family is already there.
7296
7297"What happened? Why didn't you tell us about what happened?"
7298
7299Your mother asks. She seems worried about something, but she also knows that you must be protecting yourself now.
7300
7301> "It wasn't any of your concern."
7302
7303You look at your father. He looks like he wants to argue, but instead he simply nods in agreement.
7304
7305"Good, good," you reply. "Now we have to get rid of the last vestiges of rebellion within Noxus."
7306
7307> "You know too much. It is time for you to be silenced."
7308
7309You walk up to your father and grab his throat. His eyes widen in shock, but he does not struggle or resist. Instead he just closes his mouth and lets you do it.
7310
7311> Kill father
7312
7313You stab your father through the heart with a dagger. Blood pours down onto you as he falls to the floor.
7314
7315> Approach mother
7316
7317You walk over to your mother and kneel down next to her. She doesn't react in any way other than closing her eyes.
7318
7319"Mother, I'm sorry...for everything..." you whisper before stabbing her in the neck with a dagger.
7320
7321> 
7322
7323You continue to kill your family one by one until only you are left. You then turn around and walk away from the palace, leaving behind a bloody corpse.
7324
7325> Go to personal chambers
7326
7327You enter your private quarters and close the door. You sit on the bed and try to calm yourself. The whole day has been a nightmare.
7328
7329The first thing you notice is that you're no longer hungry; in fact you don't even feel thirsty anymore.
7330
7331> wash blood from hands
7332
7333You stand up and walk into the bathroom. As soon as you open the door, you hear a loud splash followed by an unpleasant smell.
7334
7335As you scrub your hands clean, you realize that they've become black and blue. You then remember what happened earlier today...
7336
7337> 
7338
7339You walk out of the bathroom and back into your bedroom. You can see the reflection of yourself in the mirror. Your face is completely scarred, almost looking like a demon's. You look very old and decrepit, though you still retain some youth in you.
7340
7341> Lock the door
7342
7343You lock the door and begin to cry. You think about how you were once so happy, now all you want to do is sleep.
7344
7345Suddenly, a voice calls out to you from somewhere deep inside your mind:
7346
7347"I am here! I will help you!"
7348
7349> 
7350
7351You scream at the top of your lungs for whoever is calling out to you. You can sense their presence right beside you, but they refuse to leave. They simply stare at you silently.
7352
7353"Who are you?"
7354"A friend of yours? A servant of mine?
7355
7356> Look at demon hand
7357
7358You slowly look at the demon hand which stares back at you. It seems to be trying to communicate something, but it isn't clear.
7359
7360"What do you want?"
7361"I have come to save you."
7362
7363> 
7364
7365You quickly look at the demon hand again. It seems to be communicating something more clearly this time.
7366
7367"We are friends, aren't we?"
7368"Yes, yes we are. We should get along well together."
7369"Very well, let us make friends."
7370
7371> 
7372
7373You stare at the demon hand and nod. You suddenly feel very cold, like someone is holding a torch to your soul. Then, you feel as if you're being sucked into the darkness of the room.
7374
7375> 
7376
7377You blink several times before realizing that you're not moving. You gasp for air and fall backwards onto the floor. Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your chest and start coughing up blood.
7378
7379> 
7380
7381You gasp for air and try to sit up, but find that you can't move. The pain in your chest has grown worse. You attempt to call out, but there is no answer.
7382
7383> Accept power
7384
7385You stare at the demon hand and realize that you've accepted its offer. With a roar, you grab hold of the demon hand and tear it off of your body. You then smash it against the wall with enough force to shatter it.
7386
7387> 
7388
7389The demon hand screams in agony as you rip it off of yourself. It falls limply to the ground, twitching and shaking uncontrollably.
7390
7391You stand over it, staring at its lifeless form. Your eyes burn with an unnatural red light and you begin to sweat profusely.
7392
7393> 
7394
7395You turn around and see that the entire room is now filled with shadows. They seem to be coming from everywhere, seemingly drawn by some sort of energy. Some of them are even glowing.
7396
7397You look at the demon hand on the ground and notice that it's still alive.
7398
7399> Attach demon hand to self
7400
7401You quickly grab the demon hand and attach it to your own body. As soon as you do so, you feel a strange sensation. A burning pain shoots through your heart and lungs, causing you to cough up blood.
7402
7403> 
7404
7405Your vision blurs and you feel dizzy. You hear a voice in your head say, "I am the master here... I will take full control of your mind."
7406
7407Suddenly, you lose consciousness.
7408
7409> 
7410
7411You awaken in a dark room. There is a table in front of you covered with various objects, including medical supplies and other items that you don't recognize. On top of the table sits a man dressed in black robes who stares down at you.
7412
7413> "Who are you?"
7414
7415"My name is Dendrin," he says simply. "And this is my apprentice, Talia."
7416
7417He holds out his hand and you grasp it eagerly. He looks at her curiously and she returns the gesture.
7418
7419> "I see. Do you mean to betray me?"
7420
7421"No, Master. I was merely curious about what would happen if we did this together."
7422
7423"Then why didn't you just tell me before? Why not just ask me directly?"
7424
7425Dendrin shrugs.
7426
7427> 
7428
7429"So, what does this have to do with me?"
7430
7431"Nothing. But I think you know why."
7432
7433You sit up slowly and look around the room. The walls are lined with shelves holding various books and documents, all of which seem to be written in ancient script.
7434
7435> 
7436
7437"What do you want?"
7438
7439"Everything. Everything you have ever desired. And more."
7440
7441"I'm not sure what you're talking about..."
7442
7443"Do not question my words, child. We must talk about something important.
7444
7445> 
7446
7447"Are you saying that I can become like you?"
7448
7449"Yes. That is exactly what I am saying."
7450
7451The two of you stand there staring into each others eyes for several minutes. Finally, Dendrin sighs and speaks again.
7452
7453> 
7454
7455"Very well. I shall teach you everything I know about the ways of the shadows."
7456
7457With those last words, Dendrin disappears from sight and you find yourself back in your bedchamber. You lie there pondering how much power he has given you over the next few days.
7458
7459> 
7460
7461A week passes and you begin to notice some changes in your life. For one thing, you no longer get headaches when you meditate. In fact, the only time you experience any sort of headache is during combat or meditation.
7462
7463> Find Dendrin
7464
7465You walk through the halls of the palace and finally come across Dendrin's office. It is empty save for a small desk where he once sat. As you approach, you hear faint voices coming from within.
7466
7467"Dendrin? Is that you?
7468
7469> 
7470
7471"Of course it is. What else could it be?"
7472
7473"How did you know I was here? Did you sense me somehow?"
7474
7475"Not really. Though I suppose that might explain why you were so quiet yesterday."
7476
7477> 
7478
7479"Well, I guess I should thank you then. After all these years, you've finally returned to me."
7480
7481"It is done. Now, go rest."
7482
7483> 
7484
7485You nod and follow him out of his office. He leads you down a long hallway until you reach an elevator. You enter it and soon find yourself at the bottom.
7486
7487"Goodbye, shadow," he says as the doors close behind you.
7488
7489> 
7490
7491You open your eyes and see nothing but darkness ahead of you. The room seems to dim slightly though, which makes you realize that you are actually in a bedroom rather than just sleeping on a couch.
7492
7493Suddenly, you feel someone touching your shoulder.
7494
7495> 
7496
7497You turn around and see a young woman with dark hair wearing simple clothing standing before you. She looks familiar, but you cannot place her right now.
7498
7499"Who are you?" you ask.
7500
7501She smiles and nods her head in response. "I'm Talia."
7502
7503> "I see. Why have you brought me here?"
7504
7505"Because I promised to help you."
7506
7507"And what would that be exactly?"
7508
7509Talia takes a deep breath and begins to speak slowly. "If we work together, we can stop this war between the shadows and the Empire. We can free our people from their oppression."
7510
7511> "Of course. But the shadows must be willing."
7512
7513"Yes, yes they must. And if you're not willing, then I'll leave you alone."
7514
7515The two of you stand there silently for a moment before she continues.
7516
7517> 
7518
7519"But I want more than just peace. I want my home back. My homeland."
7520
7521"Your home?" you ask incredulously. "What do you mean by that?"
7522
7523Talia pauses for a moment before continuing.
7524
7525> 
7526
7527"My home is where I belong. It's where I was born and raised. It's where my family lived for generations. If that place ever falls into the wrong hands, then who am I? Who will I become?"
7528
7529> "The Empire will help you get your home back."
7530
7531"Very well. Let us move forward together."
7532
7533After saying this, Talia turns and walks away. You sigh deeply and begin to sit up again. Your eyes widen when you notice something else...
7534
7535> 
7536
7537You look over at the door and see that it has been left unlocked. You quickly grab your dagger and run outside.
7538
7539As you walk through the doorway, you hear footsteps coming up behind you. When you turn around, a man dressed in black armor stands there waiting for you.
7540
7541> "Who are you?"
7542
7543He doesn't answer immediately, instead he simply stares at you. He raises his sword and points it straight at your throat.
7544
7545"Who are you?
7546
7547> "I asked first. You'd do well to answer."
7548
7549"Well? Answer me!"
7550
7551"I am the Eternal. The one who rules all other Eternals."
7552
7553"So you are the ruler of this land?"
7554
7555"No, no! I am the eternal who rules it forever and ever and ever..."
7556
7557> "You can't lie to me."
7558
7559"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know how to respond to that question."
7560
7561"Then tell me who you are and why you're here.
7562
7563> 
7564
7565"I'm sorry, but I don't have time for this conversation. I need to go now."
7566
7567The Eternal steps closer to you and begins to raise his sword. You reach out with your hand and try to stop him from doing so.
7568
7569> Blast the Eternal with demon magic
7570
7571You cast a bolt of pure energy at the Eternal. His body explodes in flames as he screams in agony. As soon as his body goes up in smoke, you rush towards Talia and embrace her tightly. She hugs you back and cries into your shoulder.
7572
7573> "I'm sorry for that. He was but a mere fool. Were you frightened?"
7574
7575"Not really. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."
7576
7577Talia smiles and kisses you on the cheek before turning to leave. You watch her go and take a deep breath. You've never felt more alive than right now.
7578
7579> 
7580
7581You stand alone in the room. You stare at the wall and think about what you should do next.
7582
7583What will you do? Will you stay here and wait for them to come back or will you help them?
7584
7585> Help them
7586
7587You decide to help them. They're probably going to be in danger if they don't get out of here now. You head down the stairs and find Cyrus standing nearby holding a spear.
7588
7589> "Cyrus! Gather your shadows and head to the palace. They will be safe there."
7590
7591"Yes, my Emperor."
7592
7593You nod and begin heading towards the palace. You see several guards walking around outside. They must have already gotten word of their situation from some of the citizens. Cyrus nods and heads off after you while you continue to walk.
7594
7595> 
7596
7597As you approach the palace, you hear voices coming from inside. It sounds like...a party. A large gathering of nobles and commoners alike is having a grand time. You wonder if Cyrus has sent them here to keep an eye on things or if he's actually planning something else entirely.
7598
7599> Enter palace
7600
7601You enter the palace through one of the many doors. The place is filled with people dancing and singing along to music. Cyrus himself stands near a table holding court with other nobles and commoners.
7602
7603"Ah, it's good to see you all again!"
7604
7605> 
7606
7607"It is indeed. And you are too, my Emperor."
7608
7609You smile and shake his hand. He looks surprised by your sudden change of demeanor. You explain yourself briefly and then ask him if he would care to join you for dinner later tonight.
7610
7611> 
7612
7613He agrees immediately. He leads you to a private dining area where he sits down and begins eating. You sit beside him and enjoy the meal together. After a few hours, you notice that everyone else has left except for Cyrus who continues to eat.
7614
7615> 
7616
7617"So, how did the meeting go?"
7618
7619You ask. Cyrus seems slightly embarrassed by this question but answers anyway.
7620
7621"Very well, my Emperor."
7622
7623He says as he finishes up his food. You smile and pat him on the shoulder before continuing to speak.
7624
7625> 
7626
7627"Well, I'm glad to hear it. So, we'll be leaving soon?"
7628
7629You ask. Cyrus looks over at you and smiles.
7630
7631"Of course."
7632
7633> "Did you enjoy the food?"
7634
7635You pause and think about what to say next. Finally, you just grin and reply "I certainly enjoyed the company of such a fine man."
7636
7637Cyrus blushes a bit more and looks away from you.
7638
7639> Examine Cyrus
7640
7641You stand up and start approaching Cyrus. He doesn't react in any way, so you assume he knows you're not going to attack him. Instead, you take a seat across from him and lean forward to look into his eyes.
7642
7643> 
7644
7645You slowly move your head back and forth until you feel his lips touch yours. His tongue slides out and touches your own. Your hands grab onto his shoulders and pull him closer to kiss you even harder than before.
7646
7647> 
7648
7649Your kisses become deeper and longer as you continue to grind against him. Soon, you both come apart from each other. You pull away and sigh deeply before looking at Cyrus.
7650
7651"Thank you for today, my Emperor."
7652
7653He replies quietly.
7654
7655> "It was my pleasure."
7656
7657You nod and smile at him. He nods back and moves towards you. You quickly get up off the table and embrace him tightly.
7658
7659"Goodbye, Cyrus."
7660
7661You whisper as you squeeze his body tightly.
7662
7663> Go to personal quarters
7664
7665You walk through the halls of the palace and find yourself walking along a corridor. Suddenly, you stop and turn around. The door is open. There's an old wooden chest sitting there with a key hanging from it. You unlock it and pull out some coins from inside.
7666
7667> 
7668
7669You put the coins down and walk inside. Inside, you see a small bedroom. A bed sits against one wall with a dresser against another wall. In front of the dresser is a large mirror.
7670
7671> 
7672
7673You step into the room and close the door behind you. It's fairly simple, but comfortable enough that you don't mind spending time here. You sit on the edge of the bed and relax while staring at yourself in the mirror.
7674
7675> Examine self
7676
7677You stare at yourself in the mirror and notice that you've grown quite a bit since last time you looked in it. You have different hair now, which has turned blonde. Your skin tone has changed too; your face is paler now, though still fair.
7678
7679> 
7680
7681You reach over and stroke your long blond hair. It feels nice to touch it again after all these years. You then look at your reflection in the mirror and realize that you haven't really been changing much more than what you were when you first met Cyrus.
7682
7683> Examine demon hand
7684
7685You stand up and take a quick glance at your hand. It looks exactly like it did when you first met Cyrus. However, something seems slightly different about it. Something...different?
7686
7687The fingers are very thin and curved instead of straight.
7688
7689> 
7690
7691You look closer at your own finger and see that it's actually covered by a thick black ring. This isn't something you can change, so this must be part of who you are.
7692
7693> 
7694
7695You continue looking at your finger and notice that it's not just any ring, but rather a demonic one. It doesn't feel right somehow. Maybe it was made for you or maybe you're cursed or something.
7696
7697> Examine demon hand's claws
7698
7699You slowly move your arm back and forth. You quickly realize that you can no longer feel anything except pain. This is probably due to your curse, but if that's true, why do you still have sensation in other parts of your body?
7700
7701> Stretch arms
7702
7703You begin stretching your arms out and find that they aren't as flexible anymore. Perhaps you got cursed because of them. Or perhaps you just developed an unnatural immunity to curses. Either way, it's not good.
7704
7705> Rest in bed
7706
7707You lie down in your bed and try to fall asleep, but you find that your body won't allow it. You groan and push away from the pillow, only to get slapped across the face with a fist full of ice.
7708
7709> Get up
7710
7711You immediately run into the bathroom and throw open the door. The cold hits you full force and sends shivers through your entire body. You stumble backwards, falling on the floor where you roll onto your stomach before collapsing into a heap.
7712
7713> 
7714
7715You awaken in a cold sweat. Your head hurts terribly and you don't know how you survived being hit by that icy punch. You shake off the sleepiness and sit up, rubbing your eyes.
7716
7717Your surroundings are dimly illuminated by candles placed around the room.
7718
7719> Lay in bathtub
7720
7721You stand up and walk over to the tub. You pull yourself inside and close the door behind you. As soon as you step inside, water begins filling the tub. You put your hands against it to keep warm, but even that isn't enough; you start shivering uncontrollably.
7722
7723> 
7724
7725You take a deep breath and let it out slowly. You then turn around and wrap your legs around the side of the tub. You hold on tightly as you sink deeper into the water.
7726
7727The cold water makes you shiver all over, but you manage to stay calm despite feeling sick.
7728
7729> Take warm bath
7730
7731You grab a towel and wrap it around your waist. You then slip under the faucet and turn it on full blast. The cold water runs down your body, making you shiver all over again.
7732
7733It feels so nice! So relaxing! Just like when you were little...
7734
7735> 
7736
7737You stop wrapping the towel around yourself and instead wrap it around your shoulders. You lean forward and press your forehead against the cool tile floor. It feels so nice! So relaxing! Just like when you were little...
7738
7739Suddenly, you hear a loud noise outside. A gunshot? A bang?
7740
7741> Dry off with towel
7742
7743You quickly dry off and look out the window. There is no sign of anyone shooting or banging on the door. Maybe someone has already broken in and left.
7744
7745> Exit bathroom
7746
7747You leave the bathroom and go back to your room. You check for any doors or windows that might have been opened, but there's nothing suspicious about this place. Still, you're not quite ready to relax just yet.
7748
7749You think about what you should do next...
7750
7751> Go to kitchen and drink water
7752
7753You head towards the kitchen first. You see a bottle of water sitting on top of a shelf, so you pick it up and pour some out into a glass. You sip at it and feel its warmth on your tongue. This tastes really good!
7754
7755> Drink more water
7756
7757You continue drinking the water until you've finished it all. Then, you notice something strange: The water tastes different than usual. It doesn't taste like regular tap water anymore. Something must be wrong with the source...
7758
7759> Realize it was bottled water and calm down
7760
7761You sit down on the couch and take another drink from the bottle. After taking a few gulps, you realize that it wasn't bottled at all. It was actually tap water from the local well!
7762
7763This means that whoever lives here is probably safe now.
7764
7765> 
7766
7767You stand up and walk over to the fridge. You open it up and find a bag of chips inside. You eat them all up without even thinking twice about it.
7768
7769> 
7770
7771You start heading back to your room, but suddenly you hear a knock on the door. You peek out from behind the sofa and see a man standing there. He looks very old and his face is wrinkled. His hair is also greying as he gets closer to you.
7772
7773> "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
7774
7775"I'm sorry," he says. "My name is Jack."
7776
7777He opens the door further and reveals himself to be a police officer. He asks if you know anything about who might have broken into this house, and why.
7778
7779> "I don't know. I was in the bath when it happened."
7780
7781"That's not exactly true. I saw you get into the tub before I came home."
7782
7783Jack frowns. "What? Why would you tell me that?"
7784
7785You shrug. "Because I thought it'd help me figure out how to deal with this situation better."
7786
7787> 
7788
7789Jack sighs. "Well, I guess we'll talk later then." He closes the door and heads off back to his own house. You decide to call it a night and fall asleep right away.
7790
7791> 
7792
7793The next day, you wake up early and go downstairs to check on the house. There's no sign of anyone breaking in or out. You're just glad you didn't do anything stupid last night.
7794
7795When you come back upstairs, Jack is still awake and looking around the house.
7796
7797> "Why are you back here again?"
7798
7799"I was trying to figure out what you were going to tell me yesterday."
7800
7801"Yeah, well I told you that everything was fine. I mean, I can explain things better if you want..."
7802
7803You pause for a moment.
7804
7805> "Can you please leave?"
7806
7807"Okay...okay..." Jack pauses. "But I really need to know one thing."
7808
7809You think about it for a while and finally answer him. "How did you know I was in the bathroom?"
7810
7811Jack smiles.
7812
7813> 
7814
7815Jack nods. "It's pretty obvious. You've been having strange dreams lately."
7816
7817You nod. "So, what should I do now?"
7818
7819"Well, I suppose you could ask my sister to watch over the kids tonight..." Jack thinks for a bit and then answers.
7820
7821> "Please get out of my house."
7822
7823"Okay, okay! I won't bother her anymore!" Jack laughs. "Anyway, I think you should take care of yourself and try to forget all about those dreams."
7824
7825You smile at him. "Thanks for listening to me last night."
7826
7827Jack chuckles.
7828
7829> 
7830
7831"I'm sorry, but I really can't."
7832
7833Jack looks down. "Don't worry about it. It's your life after all."
7834
7835You shake your head. "No, it isn't."
7836
7837> Kick Jack out of house
7838
7839You stand up from the couch and walk towards Jack who is sitting there with a sad look on his face. "Look, I don't like being here anymore than you do, so I'm leaving."
7840
7841Jack doesn't even respond.
7842
7843> 
7844
7845He stands up as well. "What? Are you kidding me?"
7846
7847You shrug. "Maybe not, but I'm done with this place."
7848
7849Jack stares at you blankly for a few seconds before he speaks again. "Are you sure?"
7850
7851"Yes,"
7852
7853> Go to palace
7854
7855You start walking towards the door. "I'll be right back."
7856
7857Jack starts following you, but stops when he sees a guard coming out of the palace gates. He turns around and begins running away from the guards, but they catch up to him quickly and grab him by both arms.
7858
7859> "Arrest him for trespassing. I don't want to see him ever again."
7860
7861The guards stop their pursuit and turn to you. They cuff Jack into the back of a police car. The driver opens the trunk and pulls out a small bag containing some papers and other items.
7862
7863"Take these," he says handing them to you.
7864
7865> 
7866
7867You open the bag and find a set of keys that belong to the front gate. "Thank you," you say and put them in your pocket.
7868
7869> Enter palace
7870
7871You walk through the palace halls and finally reach the throne room. There are several guards standing outside watching you. You wait patiently until one comes out of the inner rooms and walks out of the hall with another guard behind him.
7872
7873"Come on in,"
7874
7875> Sit on throne
7876
7877You sit on the throne and wait for someone to come talk to you. A moment later, a man dressed in black robes steps inside the room. He has long black hair and wears an eye patch over one of his eyes. His skin is pale white and his eyes are red with hatred.
7878
7879> "You may speak."
7880
7881"Hello, my name is Jack.
7882
7883> Command guards to arrest Jack
7884
7885The man looks at you and then slowly raises his hand. He points it at you and whispers something in your ear. Then he waves his hand in front of your face and calls upon a dark spirit to appear before him.
7886
7887> 
7888
7889A large shadow appears in front of you and suddenly you feel like you're being sucked into it. It's so dark that you can barely make anything out, but it feels very real. You try to scream, but nothing happens.
7890
7891> "What sorcery is this?!"
7892
7893The man smiles as he speaks. "This is the power of the Dark Arts. If you would learn more about it, we should meet sometime."
7894
7895He disappears and you fall unconscious.
7896
7897> 
7898
7899When you wake up, you find yourself chained to a chair. You look around and see that the room is empty save for a table covered with books and several chairs. There is also a door leading to the outer wall where there is no light source or window.
7900
7901> 
7902
7903As you stand up, you realize that you don't have any clothes on. The chains holding your hands together are gone and they've been replaced by thick leather straps. You notice that the chair is now made of wood rather than stone.
7904
7905> Call for help
7906
7907You quickly run towards the door and knock on it. No answer comes back, but you hear some noise coming from outside. You call out again and this time you get a response.
7908
7909"Who is there?"
7910
7911Another voice answers back. "It's me, I'm here."
7912
7913> "Hello? Who are you?"
7914
7915"I'm your new master Jack."
7916
7917"Oh... Well, I guess I'll be seeing you soon then."
7918
7919Jack chuckles and walks away. You sigh and continue to walk along the corridor. Suddenly you hear a creaking sound behind you.
7920
7921> 
7922
7923You turn around and see a figure standing in the corner of the corridor. It's tall, almost twice your height and its skin has a pale blue color. Its eyes are black holes that seem to suck all light out of the room.
7924
7925"Who are you?"
7926
7927> examine the figure
7928
7929You take a closer look at the creature and notice that it's missing an arm. It seems that it was cut off when you were attacked by the beast earlier today.
7930
7931> Help the creature
7932
7933You quickly reach out and touch the creature's hand. It responds by touching yours and then both of your hands begin to glow faintly. Your body begins to heat up and you feel a strange sensation welling up inside you.
7934
7935> 
7936
7937Your mind begins to become clearer and you can sense that something is wrong. Something is very wrong. You start to feel like you're going mad and the world around you starts to blur into one big mass of colors and sounds.
7938
7939> 
7940
7941The world becomes more and more colorful until everything fades into nothingness. Everything goes black and you awaken in a cold sweat. You sit up slowly as you try to make sense of what just happened.
7942
7943> 
7944
7945You open your eyes and find yourself lying naked on a wooden bed. A man stands over you with a knife in his hand. He looks down at you and smiles before speaking.
7946
7947> 
7948
7949"Welcome to my home Jack. I am Doctor Kessel and I will be taking care of you now."
7950
7951He takes another step forward and suddenly you feel a sharp pain go through your chest. The doctor steps back and stares at your wound for several seconds before he speaks again.
7952
7953> 
7954
7955"Ah, so you survived. Good, good. Now let me get this straight; you were attacked by a monster while exploring some ruins? And somehow managed to survive? That's incredible! Monsters don't exist in these parts!"
7956
7957> "That's not what happened at all..."
7958
7959He frowns and shakes his head.
7960
7961> 
7962
7963
7964> "Where am I?"
7965
7966"Oh, I'm sorry about that. Well it seems that you got lost in the wilderness and wandered off for quite awhile. There are no roads here, only trails leading in various directions. So when you stopped following them they gave up looking for you too."
7967
7968> "Who was looking for me?"
7969
7970"Well...I guess I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going, but there was a girl named Tanya who lived nearby. She said she'd come look for you if you ever came across her house. But then she disappeared after leaving town years ago.
7971
7972> "Can I go home?"
7973
7974"Of course, but I need you to stay here for a little bit longer. We have to check your wounds first."
7975
7976He leads you out of the room and down a hallway. Eventually he stops in front of an operating table covered with instruments.
7977
7978> "What's all this for?"
7979
7980"It's for healing your wounds. It would be best if we could do it right away, because even though you're alive now, you might very well die from this."
7981
7982He reaches into a drawer and pulls out a small vial filled with something red liquid.
7983
7984> 
7985
7986The AI is a little overloaded.. Could you try that again?
7987
7988> "Will it hurt?"
7989
7990"Yes, it will hurt. Please stop working on my wounds."
7991
7992You feel like screaming at him, but you can't find the energy. Instead you just sit there quietly waiting for him to finish up. When he finishes he puts down his tools and looks over at you again.
7993
7994> 
7995
7996"So, what did you think? Did it help?"
7997
7998You shake your head.
7999
8000"That's not important right now. What is important is that we should get back to the inn."
8001
8002> 
8003
8004"Alright, alright! Just let me go!"
8005
8006He gives you one last look before walking past you. You follow him out of the room and down another corridor. Eventually you reach a large door with a big sign hanging above it saying 'The Inn'.
8007
8008> Enter the inn
8009
8010As soon as you walk inside, you realize that everything feels different. The air smells fresh and clean. You see several tables set up with food and drink in front of them. On the wall behind the bar sits a number of patrons sitting at their own tables eating and drinking.
8011
8012> 
8013
8014"Hey, how are things?"
8015
8016A man walks up to you and asks. He seems to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His hair is short and messy, but he has a neatly trimmed beard.
8017
8018> "Can you help me?"
8019
8020"Sure thing. How can I help you?"
8021
8022He takes a seat across from you at the bar. He orders a beer and sits down next to you.
8023
8024> "I've been abducted. I need to get away from Doctor Kessel."
8025
8026"Oh, yes. That happened a long time ago. We all have our bad days."
8027
8028"What do you mean?"
8029
8030He sighs and shakes his head. "Sometimes people lose their jobs, sometimes they get sick, sometimes they fall in love...it happens."
8031
8032> 
8033
8034"But this isn't happening. I'm not getting married to you, I'm not getting fired from my job, and I don't want to die."
8035
8036He smiles at you. "Well, maybe it will happen someday if you keep pushing yourself hard enough."
8037
8038> "I don't want to talk to you anymore."
8039
8040He frowns at you. "Why would I do that?"
8041
8042"Because I don't want to talk to anyone anymore."
8043
8044He shrugs. "Okay then, goodbye."
8045
8046> Leave the inn.
8047
8048You turn around and walk out of the inn. As you walk outside, you hear someone calling after you. It sounds like a woman's voice. You stop for a moment and listen closely.
8049
8050> 
8051
8052"Hello? Is there something wrong?"
8053
8054It's a woman's voice. She sounds familiar, but you're still having trouble remembering her name.
8055
8056> "Hello?"
8057
8058She looks confused by your response. "Um, no. Nothing's wrong."
8059
8060You continue walking and eventually reach the city gates. You look around and notice that it doesn't seem very busy today. Perhaps it was just a holiday or something like that.
8061
8062> Enter the city.
8063
8064You enter the city and find that it's much different than when you were here last. There are fewer people on the streets, but more shops and businesses open up as well. The only problem is that there aren't any guards patrolling around either; everyone seems to be doing their own thing.
8065
8066> Find someone.
8067
8068You try to think of where you might know someone who works at one of these places. You could ask them about what they do, but you'd probably sound like an annoying pest. Instead, you decide to go to a place that seems popular with the locals: the tavern.
8069
8070> 
8071
8072You walk into the tavern and see several other people sitting at tables talking to each other. A few of them look up when you enter, but most just stare back at you. They seem so bored, even though they've been drinking themselves stupid since they woke up this morning.
8073
8074> 
8075
8076A man walks over to you. He has long black hair and wears a simple tunic underneath his robe. His face shows annoyance when he sees you, but he speaks first. "Hey! What're ya doin' in here anyway?"
8077
8078You sigh and shake your head.
8079
8080> "I'm trying to find someone. Who are you?"
8081
8082The man looks down at his feet. "Oh... uh, sorry. I'm not really sure myself..."
8083
8084You sigh again and sit down next to him. "What do you mean?"
8085
8086He continues to look down at his feet before speaking again.
8087
8088> 
8089
8090"My name's Kivan. I don't have many friends, but I'm hoping that if we work together, we can make some."
8091
8092You nod and sit down beside him. "So you want me to help you get someone to come here?"
8093
8094> 
8095
8096Kivan shrugs. "Well, yeah. If you help me out, I'll give you a discount on drinks."
8097
8098You frown at this offer.
8099
8100> "What do you do for a living?"
8101
8102Kivan smiles. "I'm a thief. But I need money to live, so I steal from stores and people."
8103
8104You pause for a moment. "How much would it cost me to hire you?"
8105
8106Kivan looks surprised by your question.
8107
8108> 
8109
8110"Um... Well, let's see... $50 will get you a room for two days. That includes breakfast and dinner."
8111
8112You smile at this answer. "That sounds fair. How much does it take?"
8113
8114Kivan considers your response for a moment before replying.
8115
8116> 
8117
8118"It takes $100 to get a room for three days. Breakfast and lunch include yourself as well."
8119
8120You nod at this answer. "Fair enough. Let's do it then."
8121
8122> 
8123
8124You stand up and start walking towards the door. "Alright, alright, I got it," you say to yourself. The door opens and you step inside. There is a small table with chairs set up in front of it.
8125
8126> Ask Kivan to follow me
8127
8128Kivan nods and follows you outside. "Where should we go now?"
8129
8130You turn around and walk back into the bar area. A few more men are sitting there drinking, most of them looking bored or angry at one another. One of them stands up and addresses you directly.
8131
8132> 
8133
8134"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" he asks angrily.
8135
8136You raise an eyebrow. "Just following you," you reply calmly. He turns away and walks off, leaving the bar area behind him.
8137
8138> Go to alley with Kivan
8139
8140You walk over to the side of the building and look down an alleyway. Kivan is still standing nearby, but now he has his head bowed low. He doesn't seem too happy about being followed like this.
8141
8142"Come on!" you shout to him.
8143
8144> 
8145
8146He slowly turns around and walks towards you. "Why are you following me? I just told you to come here."
8147
8148You sigh. "Because I have no other choice."
8149
8150Kivan stares at you for a long time before speaking again.
8151
8152> 
8153
8154"So what do you want?"
8155
8156You shrug. "Nothing really. Just wanted to know."
8157
8158Kivan raises an eyebrow. "What did you mean when you said nothing?"
8159
8160You shake your head. "Nothing."
8161
8162> "You don't have to steal. I can help you."
8163
8164You quickly speak out. "I'm not stealing anything from you. I'll even give you some money if that helps."
8165
8166Kivan looks at you for a moment and shakes his head. "No, I don't need any help."
8167
8168> "Are you sure, Kivan??"
8169
8170You smile at him. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
8171
8172Kivan frowns and looks down. "Well... okay..."
8173
8174The two of you leave the bar area and begin heading towards the same direction.
8175
8176> 
8177
8178You continue walking along the road. It's getting dark so you stop to take a quick look back at where you came from. As soon as you see the light of the city lights, you realize how far away they are and how much time has passed since then.
8179
8180> 
8181
8182You keep walking. The sun is setting in the distance and it seems like forever since you left the tavern. You've been wandering aimlessly ever since you got here. Your mind wanders back to those words you heard earlier today...
8183
8184> 
8185
8186You stop walking. "It was nice meeting you, Kivan."
8187
8188Kivan nods. "Likewise." You both turn around and start walking once more.
8189
8190> Ask Kivan if he likes being a thief.
8191
8192You ask Kivan if he enjoys it. "Yeah, I guess it is kind of fun sometimes."
8193
8194"Do you think you could get better?"
8195
8196You nod. "Maybe, maybe not."
8197
8198> "My offer to help you is still open."
8199
8200You pause. "Okay, well thanks for answering my question."
8201
8202Kivan smiles and waves goodbye. He heads off into the night with a strange look on his face. You walk along the road a bit longer until you hear a voice behind you.
8203
8204> "Hello?"
8205
8206You turn around and see a man wearing a hooded cloak approaching you. His eyes seem to follow every inch of your body as he approaches you. "Whoa! Slow down there, kid!"
8207
8208> 
8209
8210You shake your head. "Nope, nope, nope." The man continues to walk closer and closer to you. Suddenly he grabs you by the arm and pulls you up against the wall of an abandoned house. He stares at you for a few moments before speaking again.
8211
8212> 
8213
8214"I'm sorry about that, but I just had to know what happened between you and the girl."
8215
8216You stare at him blankly. "What do you mean? What did she do?"
8217
8218He shrugs.
8219
8220> Fight back
8221
8222You stand up straight and prepare yourself for battle. "Well, she gave me a hug."
8223
8224The man looks at you expectantly. "Did she give you one too?"
8225
8226You shake your head. "No, but I didn't really want her to either.
8227
8228> "Who are you?"
8229
8230"That's none of your business."
8231
8232You raise an eyebrow. "Is this some sort of trick?"
8233
8234The man sighs and shakes his head. "No, no tricks. Just a simple question."
8235
8236> Try to leave
8237
8238You pull out your pistol and point it at the man. "If you don't tell me who you are or why you're here, I will shoot."
8239
8240The man doesn't even blink. "Alright then, who are you?
8241
8242> "Who are you?"
8243
8244"So far as I can tell, you're the only person in this town who has any real power. Your father was a powerful wizard and you were raised by a priestess of Dorna. Now that's all gone now."
8245
8246You stare at him incredulously.
8247
8248> "Who are you? Why do you know this?"
8249
8250"My name is Kivan. My mother was a witch, so I guess that makes me one too."
8251
8252You frown. "And you've been following me around since then?"
8253
8254He nods.
8255
8256> 
8257
8258"Well, okay, but why?"
8259
8260Kivan smiles. "Because I like you. And because I think you have potential."
8261
8262> "I like you too. But you didn't have to hide."
8263
8264"Of course not," Kivan says with a smile. "But if you really want to get to know each other better, we should be more open about our relationship."
8265
8266You nod slowly. "Okay...but where are you going to take us first?"
8267
8268> 
8269
8270"We need to go see my family's old home. It's near the cemetery, close enough that you could easily walk there from here."
8271
8272You look at him quizzically. "Why would I want to do that?
8273
8274> 
8275
8276"Because it's beautiful. The place used to belong to my great-grandfather before he died, so I'm taking you there."
8277
8278You pause. "What do you mean?"
8279
8280Kivan shrugs. "It's just a story."
8281
8282> 
8283
8284"It's true. He did live here. I found it when I was looking for something else. Anyway, you'll find a lot of interesting things there."
8285
8286You nod again and follow him through the forest until you reach the house.
8287
8288> 
8289
8290As soon as you enter, you feel a sense of dread wash over you. There's no way that such an ancient building could still stand without collapsing into dust. You can almost imagine how the walls must once have looked, though they're covered in moss and vines now.
8291
8292> "Haha, this place is a mess... You really live here?"
8293
8294"Yes, I do. What do you think?"
8295
8296You shake your head. "No."
8297
8298Kivan sighs. "Then what the hell happened to this place? Where did it come from?"
8299
8300You try to remember, but nothing comes to mind.
8301
8302> "Your great-grandfather lived here. It must have been a long time ago."
8303
8304"Oh yes, that's right. He died years ago."
8305
8306Kivan laughs. "So he was dead for decades before you even knew who he was?"
8307
8308You shake your head again. "No."
8309
8310> Hold Kivan's hand.
8311
8312"That's very strange. Why would anyone die for decades before someone else knew their name?"
8313
8314He looks surprised by your answer. "Really? That makes any sense?"
8315
8316You grin. "Maybe not, but it sounds pretty cool."
8317
8318> 
8319
8320"I guess you've never heard of the Great Lich Lord, then?"
8321
8322You shake your head. "Never heard of him either."
8323
8324Kivan frowns.
8325
8326> 
8327
8328"Well, I don't know everything about him, but I've read all the books on necromancy that were left behind after his death. He's a powerful being. A force of nature."
8329
8330You smile. "Sounds like you're talking about Doktoren."
8331
8332> "Do you dabble in necromancy?"
8333
8334"Not at all. Necromancy isn't my thing."
8335
8336You laugh. "Duh! But it seems like you should be able to get some sort of power out of it if you want to practice more often."
8337
8338Kivan smiles.
8339
8340> "Let's find somewhere more comfortable."
8341
8342"Sure, let's go back to the inn. We'll spend some time with our friend."
8343
8344You nod and follow him back to the inn where you sit down on one of the chairs. The two of you talk for awhile, mostly about your lives since you first met each other.
8345
8346> 
8347
8348Year 30
8349
8350The city has changed quite a bit since you last saw it. Most of the buildings are made of wood or stone, which are both cheaper than metal and stronger. Buildings aren't cheap, however; you'd need to pay a lot just to rent them out for free.
8351
8352> 
8353
8354"What's wrong with the city?"
8355
8356You look around and see that most of the buildings are still wooden or stone, but there is an increasing amount of metal construction going on now. Metal structures are expensive as well, so you can only imagine how much they cost to build.
8357
8358> Visit Kivan
8359
8360"We could stay here for a while. It's nice and quiet."
8361
8362Kivan nods. "Yes, it is. There's also a good sized garden outside, though I doubt you'd have much use for it anyway."
8363
8364You nod.
8365
8366> "I like it here."
8367
8368"Me too!"
8369
8370You smile and hug him tightly. "Thank you."
8371
8372Kivan hugs you back. "It was nothing, just glad to help."
8373
8374> "Oh? So you're the one helping me now..."
8375
8376"Of course."
8377
8378You kiss him goodbye and leave the inn.
8379
8380> Find Cyrus
8381
8382You walk through the streets until you come across a man who looks familiar. He wears a black robe over his brown robes and carries what appears to be a staff. You recognize him immediately as Cyrus, the wizard who taught you magic when he was teaching you how to cast spells in the first place.
8383
8384> "Cyrus! It's been a long time!"
8385
8386He doesn't respond right away, but after a few minutes he finally speaks up. "Ah yes, it has... I remember you from when we were students together. You were very talented then and even better now."
8387
8388You smile at this remark and nod.
8389
8390> "I missed you."
8391
8392"Well, I'm glad you did. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my lessons."
8393
8394With those words spoken, Cyrus leaves without another word.
8395
8396> Go to palace
8397
8398You head towards the palace, where you see several guards standing guard. One of them points at you and says "This one will tell you everything she knows about your true identity."
8399
8400You sigh and shake your head. "Fine, whatever. Just let me go in."
8401
8402> 
8403
8404The guard frowns. "But... But you don't seem like the type to kill someone for information."
8405
8406You shrug. "Maybe not, but I might as well give her what she wants since she seems willing to do it."
8407
8408> 
8409
8410The guard frowns again. "Very well, but only if you can prove that you know all about my sister's death."
8411
8412You grin. "What does she mean by 'death'?"
8413
8414The guard smiles and gestures to your face. "Her eyes are red."
8415
8416> "That's just the plague. Let me in and I'll heal her."
8417
8418"No, no, no! She needs to know who killed her sister! If you don't tell her, she won't believe you!"
8419
8420You grit your teeth. "Alright alright alright, I'll tell her. What do you want me to say?"
8421
8422> 
8423
8424The guard stares at you with disbelief. "Who is this boy? How could anyone know such things about my sister's murder?"
8425
8426You raise an eyebrow. "Because I've seen you around town and because I have a pretty good memory, I think you're telling the truth."
8427
8428> Enter palace
8429
8430You enter the palace and find yourself in a large room filled with many people. The guards stand behind you, looking down on you. They look angry and worried.
8431
8432A woman stands up from her seat and approaches you. "Hello there, I am Dasha."
8433
8434> "Hello. What do you do here?"
8435
8436She smiles. "Oh, I'm sure you must be wondering why I'm here. Well, I was once a student of yours, so I came to talk to you about something important."
8437
8438You frown. "Something important?"
8439
8440Dasha nods.
8441
8442> 
8443
8444You nod. "Yeah, something important."
8445
8446She looks down. "I don't understand why you would want to lie about this."
8447
8448You frown. "Why wouldn't I? It's not like we're going to die anyway..."
8449
8450Dasha shakes her head.
8451
8452> Go to throne room and sit on throne.
8453
8454You walk over to the throne and sit down. A man walks out of the crowd and sits down next to you. He wears a black robe with gold trimming, holding a staff in his hands. His eyes are bloodshot and he has long white hair that falls past his shoulders.
8455
8456> "Cyrus. It's good to see you again."
8457
8458He smiles. "It is Cyrus. Why aren't you dead yet?"
8459
8460You smile back. "Meh, I'm fine."
8461
8462Cyrus laughs. "Well then, let's get right into it shall we? We both know who did this."
8463
8464> "Did what?"
8465
8466You shrug. "I dunno, but I'd rather not know."
8467
8468Cyrus sighs. "Then what do you want to know?"
8469
8470You sigh as well. "Anything."
8471
8472> 
8473
8474Cyrus smiles. "So...you were a student of mine too huh?"
8475
8476You shake your head. "Nah, I just went to class here and there."
8477
8478"Hm, sounds familiar. Did you study under any other master?"
8479
8480> "Yes. You might have known him."
8481
8482Cyrus raises an eyebrow. "Really? That's all you can remember?"
8483
8484You shrug. "Maybe."
8485
8486Cyrus takes a deep breath before speaking again.
8487
8488> 
8489
8490"Ah, yes. Yes, I do indeed remember. Master Ebon taught me a few things when I first arrived here."
8491
8492Cyrus pauses for a moment before continuing.
8493
8494> 
8495
8496"That's interesting. So how many years had you been here?"
8497
8498You pause for a moment. "About three months."
8499
8500Cyrus snorts at your answer. "Three months? Is that all you've done here?"
8501
8502You raise an eyebrow and shrug again.
8503
8504> "Let's go somewhere more private."
8505
8506You look up at Cyrus. "What do you mean?"
8507
8508Cyrus smirks. "Come now, I don't think you're interested in some stupid little game of seduction." He motions towards the door.
8509
8510> 
8511
8512"Oh come on! What kind of question is that?"
8513
8514You frown. "Why would I be?"
8515
8516Cyrus chuckles. "Because you're being silly, silly boy!" He waves his hand dismissively.
8517
8518> Go through the door
8519
8520You walk through the door and see a large room with several tables set around it. There are also two doors leading off from the main area. One leads to another room filled with bookshelves, while the other opens into a small foyer which has a single locked door.
8521
8522> Sit on table with Cyrus
8523
8524You sit down on one of the tables. Cyrus sits next to you. "Well, this should be interesting..." he says with a smile.
8525
8526> 
8527
8528You sigh as you stare at Cyrus' face. It's expression is very serious, but you know it's hiding something underneath. Your eyes wander over to the book on the table beside you and you pick out a copy of The Book Of Ages by Mansel Vincenzo.
8529
8530> Examine Cyrus.
8531
8532You take a quick glance at Cyrus. His face seems to have changed quite a bit since you last saw him. A strange thing, considering that he was always like that...
8533
8534Suddenly, Cyrus speaks up. "Hey, what about you?"
8535
8536"I'm fine,"
8537
8538> Hold Cyrus' hand
8539
8540You put your arm around Cyrus' shoulder and hold it tightly. "Don't worry about me."
8541
8542Cyrus smiles at your response. "Thank you, thank you..." he says with a chuckle. Then, he looks back to the book on the table beside him.
8543
8544> Throw book out window
8545
8546You quickly grab the book and toss it out of the window. Cyrus stares at you in shock. "What the hell were you doing?"
8547
8548"Nothing, just throwing a book out of a window."
8549
8550"Wait, did you throw that book away because..."
8551
8552> "I don't want that plot hook anymore."
8553
8554"No, no, nothing like that. Just wanted to get rid of it."
8555
8556"So you threw the book out because you didn't want any more plot hooks?" Cyrus asks.
8557
8558You shrug. "Maybe."
8559
8560> "Enough distractions. Kiss me."
8561
8562You turn towards Cyrus and kiss him passionately. He returns the gesture, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close. You soon separate your lips and begin kissing each other passionately again. This time, though, it feels different than before; it's much more passionate.
8563
8564> Rub Cyrus
8565
8566You pull Cyrus closer to you and begin rubbing your body against his. Soon, you're both naked and touching each other. You start caressing each others bodies and then move onto fondling each others breasts.
8567
8568> 
8569
8570You continue to do this for some time until eventually, you stop. "I think I need to go wash my hands," you say.
8571
8572"Wash your hands? What are we going to do now?" Cyrus asks.
8573
8574"We're going home."
8575
8576> Take Cyrus to private quarters
8577
8578You walk with Cyrus to the bedroom where you open the door. There's a small closet, which has two doors leading into it. One of them leads outside and one leads inside.
8579
8580> Push Cyrus onto bed and kiss him
8581
8582You push Cyrus onto the bed and kiss him deeply. He responds by returning the favor. It's a very intimate moment between you two and it lasts for several minutes before you stop kissing each other completely.
8583
8584> "Are you enjoying this?"
8585
8586"Yes, yes I am," Cyrus replies.
8587"Then let's keep doing this."
8588
8589You both stand up from the bed and walk over to Cyrus who is still lying down. You kneel down next to him and press your body against his.
8590
8591> Rub Cyrus
8592
8593You slowly begin to rub your body along Cyrus' as he moans softly. Eventually, you feel his penis twitch and pulse against your own. You gently run your hand across it while continuing to moan loudly.
8594
8595"Oh fuck... Oh god..." Cyrus says in between breaths.
8596
8597> Rub Cyrus
8598
8599You continue to rub your body along Cyrus' as he moans softly. Eventually, you feel his penis twitch and pulse against your own. You gently run your hand across it while continuing to moan loudly.
8600
8601"Fuck... Fuck me harder..." Cyrus says in between breaths.
8602
8603> Milk Cyrus
8604
8605You continue to pump your hips up and down on Cyrus' shaft as he moans softly. Finally, you feel his cock twitch and pulse against your own. You quickly grab hold of it and squeeze hard causing him to gasp out loud in pain.
8606
8607> Lick Cyrus
8608
8609You eagerly jump off of him and wrap your lips around his dick. The taste is amazing and you suck on it thoroughly, making sure not to lose any of the delicious liquid that runs down your throat.
8610
8611> Swallow
8612
8613You happily swallow every drop of semen that spills out of Cyrus' rod as you moan loudly.
8614
8615"That was fantastic!" Cyrus exclaims. "What did you make it out like?
8616
8617> Kiss Cyrus
8618
8619You quickly pull away from Cyrus and kiss him passionately. His tongue flickers against yours as you move your head back and forth along his length. Your hands find their way to his chest as you start caressing his soft skin.
8620
8621"I love you so much..."
8622
8623> "I love you."
8624
8625You smile at him and then kiss him passionately. His tongue flickers against yours as you move your head back and forth along his length. Your hands find their way to his chest as you start caressing his soft skin.
8626
8627"I love you too..."
8628
8629> Smile and chuckle. "Your emperor is pleased."
8630
8631You laugh a bit and nod at him before kissing him again. This time, you put more energy into it and move your mouth further up along his length. He moans loudly when you finally reach the tip of it.
8632
8633> "Do you like it?"
8634
8635You grin at him and press your lips against the tip of his penis. He gasps slightly when you do this, but doesn't resist in anyway. You slide your tongue inside of him and begin to lap up all the juices that are running down from within him.
8636
8637> 
8638
8639You moan loudly as you feel his hot seed fill your mouth. It tastes wonderful and you gulp it down greedily.
8640
8641"Oh fuck! I can't believe how good that felt!" Cyrus exclaims. "It feels like heaven."
8642
8643> Roll over
8644
8645You roll over onto your stomach and stare at Cyrus who is still kneeling by the bed.
8646
8647"Are you going to be okay?" You ask.
8648"Yeah...I guess," Cyrus says with a sigh.
8649
8650> Cuddle
8651
8652You sit next to him and cuddle close. You both enjoy each other's presence for awhile longer until he eventually gets up and walks out of the room.
8653
8654After a few minutes, you hear the door open up again by one of his servants.
8655
8656"Well done my Emperor,"
8657
8658> "I trust he'll be coming back?"
8659
8660"Yes, I'm sure he will," You reply.
8661
8662A few days later, you receive an unexpected visitor in your study.
8663
8664> "Who is it?"
8665
8666"My name is Cyrus and I have come to see you about something very important."
8667
8668You look up from your book and stand up slowly. You walk forward towards him.
8669
8670> Touch Cyrus' arm
8671
8672You gently place your hand on Cyrus' forearm. He looks surprised by this gesture and looks away quickly.
8673
8674"What is it?" You ask.
8675
8676"The Empire needs to change its direction if we want to survive. We need a new leader." Cyrus replies nervously.
8677
8678> "I will lead."
8679
8680"I know you will, my Emperor."
8681
8682You smile and embrace Cyrus tightly. He holds you tightly as he begins to cry. You hold him until he calms down and then kiss him passionately.
8683
8684> 
8685
8686Years pass...
8687
8688Cyrus has been promoted to the position of Grand Vizier and is now leading the Empire into a brighter future. The Empire has grown stronger under his leadership and you're happy for him. In fact, you've become quite fond of him.
8689
8690> Lead the Empire with Cyrus at my side as my advisor
8691
8692As you continue to serve the Empire, you begin to realize that it would be best if you were joined by someone else as your advisor. You don't mind having Cyrus around anymore though since he helps keep things organized and makes sure everything runs smoothly.
8693
8694> 
8695
8696Years pass...
8697
8698You've been serving the Empire for many years now and you feel like you've gotten used to it. It's not perfect, but it works well enough. You've even managed to build a strong relationship with Cyrus and are enjoying being together.
8699
8700> Find Cyrus
8701
8702One day while you're walking along the streets of Nalin, you notice a man sitting alone on a bench. He seems to be reading some sort of book or journal. When he notices you standing nearby, he turns around and waves hello before continuing to read.
8703
8704> "I knew you'd be here."
8705
8706He smiles back at you and waves goodbye. You wave back and follow him out of the city.
8707
8708After a couple hours of walking, you reach a small town called Tivadol. It's not much bigger than Nalin itself, but it feels more peaceful somehow.
8709
8710> 
8711
8712A few days later, you arrive in the town. A large group of soldiers stands outside the gates. They seem to be waiting for someone. You approach them and they immediately recognize you as one of their own who served during the Great War.
8713
8714> "Greetings, comrades. How goes it?"
8715
8716They all nod and bow their heads in respect. One of them says something about an official welcoming ceremony, but you can't make out what it is because of the heavy armor they wear.
8717
8718You walk up to the nearest soldier and address him directly.
8719
8720> 
8721
8722The soldier looks at you and nods. He tells another soldier to tell Cyrus that you want to see him right away.
8723
8724You follow the two soldiers who escort you inside the castle where Cyrus is waiting patiently for you.
8725
8726> 
8727
8728"Hello, Cyrus," you say.
8729
8730He smiles back at you and nods. He takes a seat across from you and begins speaking in a low voice.
8731
8732"It's good to see you again, friend.
8733
8734> "It's good to see you too."
8735
8736"What do you mean? I thought we were supposed to meet somewhere else."
8737
8738Cyrus frowns at you. He continues to speak slowly and clearly.
8739
8740> 
8741
8742"We have a little problem. We need to talk."
8743
8744You look confused by his sudden change in tone. Cyrus shrugs and continues to speak.
8745
8746> "What's wrong?"
8747
8748"Your actions have been questionable ever since the war ended. The Empire has been looking into your past and there are rumors that you've had dealings with other factions in the area. Your behavior has become less than proper and we don't like it."
8749
8750> "I only do what's best for the Empire. You know this."
8751
8752"Perhaps, but it isn't just me. There are others in command here that feel the same way. If you continue on this path, then you'll soon find yourself facing a war against the Felkan Kingdom."
8753
8754You think hard before answering.
8755
8756> "If you have any complaints, you can tell me. I will listen."
8757
8758"No, no complaints. You're doing what's best for the Empire and that's enough."
8759
8760Cyrus sighs and shakes his head. He turns to face you.
8761
8762> 
8763
8764"Well, I'm sorry if my actions have caused you concern or made you worry. However, I must ask that you not interfere with our plans anymore. It was nice meeting you."
8765
8766You shake your head and smile at Cyrus.
8767
8768> "My plans are already set in motion, but I can change. For you."
8769
8770"Good. Good. Well, let us get down to business shall we?"
8771
8772You nod and agree with Cyrus' words. He smiles and leaves the room leaving you alone once more.
8773
8774> Wait for Cyrus to come back
8775
8776The next day comes quickly and you spend most of it sitting around waiting for Cyrus to return. Eventually he does, though he seems slightly annoyed about the whole situation.
8777
8778"So what did you want to discuss?"
8779
8780> 
8781
8782"Nothing much really. Just wanted to know how things went on your side."
8783
8784He looks over at you and gives a small smirk.
8785
8786> Reach out over the table and hold Cyrus' hand
8787
8788"It's alright. I understand."
8789
8790You squeeze his hand and he lets go of your hand. You both sit back down at the table and continue to wait patiently for Cyrus to return.
8791
8792> "Do you want to talk about it?"
8793
8794"Yes."
8795
8796He nods and begins to speak.
8797
8798> 
8799
8800"I've been thinking about all the people I've killed. About the ones who were loyal to me as well as those who weren't. I realize now that some of them deserved it. Some didn't, but they still had their place in my plan."
8801
8802> 
8803
8804"That...was a lie. I don't think there is any such thing as loyalty in this world. Loyalty only exists within certain parameters and if someone isn't serving those parameters then they aren't truly loyal to me."
8805"What do you mean?
8806
8807> 
8808
8809"When I first met you, I thought you were loyal. When we fought together against the Empire, I saw that you were loyal. The moment we parted ways however, you abandoned me completely. Now here we are again and you're betraying me.
8810
8811> "I'm sorry? How have I betrayed you?"
8812
8813"You see, I was under the impression that you would be loyal to me no matter what. But when you left me behind, I realized that wasn't true. That you'd never be able to ever love me like I loved you. And so I decided to make sure of it."
8814
8815> "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
8816
8817"No, it's fine. It's not your fault. We can work through this. I'll even let you live."
8818
8819You shake your head in disbelief and begin to walk away from him before he has a chance to stop you.
8820
8821> "I had to do it. I missed you every day. I'm sorry."
8822
8823"Don't apologize. I forgive you."
8824
8825The two of you stand up and embrace each other once more. He kisses you on the cheek and tells you to get some rest before leaving.
8826
8827> "I don't feel like I've done enough. How can I make it up to you?"
8828
8829"We'll figure something out. For now though, I need to sleep."
8830
8831You kiss him goodbye and head off into your room where you fall asleep immediately after waking up.
8832
8833> Go to Cyrus' bedroom
8834
8835You enter Cyrus' bedroom and find him lying on his bed with a book open in front of him.
8836
8837"Hey, wakey wakey." You call out to him.
8838"Huh? What for?" He asks back while continuing to read.
8839"Just come over here."
8840
8841> Join Cyrus in bed
8842
8843You sit down next to Cyrus and take his hand in yours.
8844
8845"So how did things turn out between us?" You ask.
8846"Same way they always do, just better than it used to be." He replies with a smile.
8847
8848> Put Cyrus' book aside and kiss him
8849
8850You pull Cyrus closer to you and wrap your arms around him.
8851
8852"Mmm, you smell good." You whisper in his ear.
8853"Thanks..." He responds with a smirk.
8854
8855> 
8856
8857You continue to hold onto his hands as you kiss him deeply.
8858
8859"I want you inside me all the time... I want you to stay with me forever..." You say in an almost pleading tone.
8860
8861Cyrus smiles at your confession and begins kissing you back.
8862
8863> 
8864
8865You start grinding against him and soon have your hands wrapped around his neck.
8866
8867"Let me show you how much I care about you." He says as he starts caressing your breasts.
8868
8869He continues to fondle them until you both release one another in a loud moan.
8870
8871> 
8872
8873You grab his face and kiss him passionately.
8874
8875"Oh god, yes!" You scream as you feel yourself being filled with ecstasy.
8876
8877Your hands move down to his chest and start squeezing them tightly. Your fingers trace their way along his stomach and then slide under his pants.
8878
8879> 
8880
8881You slowly push your finger into Cyrus' mouth and begin sucking on it.
8882
8883It's not long before you're deep throating him and taking him into your throat. It feels so good that you start gagging.
8884
8885> Suck Cyrus' dick like a champ
8886
8887You keep sucking on his dick and soon he cums all over your face.
8888
8889"Aww! That was so delicious!" Cyrus exclaims as he pulls away from you. "Come here."
8890
8891He grabs your shoulders and pushes you towards him.
8892
8893> Kiss Cyrus
8894
8895You quickly wrap your lips around Cyrus' cock and begin kissing him deeply.
8896
8897The two of you make out for quite some time until you finally pull away.
8898
8899"Well, looks like we've got ourselves a new member." Cyrus remarks with a grin.
8900
8901> Cuddle Cyrus
8902
8903You embrace Cyrus and hug him tightly.
8904
8905> "I love you."
8906
8907You smile and kiss him back.
8908
8909"I love you too." You reply with a smile.
8910
8911> 
8912
8913You take his hand and lead him outside where you lie on the bed together.
8914
8915"So... What do we do now?" You ask.
8916"We go back to my place." Cyrus replies. "I'll show you what I mean by 'forever'."
8917
8918> Go back to his place.
8919
8920You nod and agree.
8921
8922> 
8923
8924You follow Cyrus back to his house. He leads you through the dark halls and up several flights of stairs. The whole time you can hear voices in the distance.
8925
8926"Hey, wait!" You call out but there is no answer.
8927
8928> Go to Cyrus
8929
8930You enter the room and see Cyrus sitting at a table surrounded by books. There are candles lit in the middle of the floor illuminating the bookcases. A large painting hangs above him on one wall, which depicts a man lying on a bed of flowers.
8931
8932> "So what did you want to show me?"
8933
8934You sit down next to Cyrus and look at the paintings. They're beautiful works of art that you never would have expected to find in this house.
8935
8936"This is a very old work by Raphael." Cyrus says.
8937
8938> "It's beautiful."
8939
8940You stare at the painting for a moment before speaking again.
8941
8942"What do you mean it's not?" You ask.
8943"It was done over 2000 years ago when Raphael lived in Florence." Cyrus explains.
8944
8945> "I see. A classic."
8946
8947Cyrus smiles and nods.
8948
8949"Yes, it is." You reply.
8950"But why didn't you paint something like this yourself?" You continue. "If you had, it might be worth more than the house itself."
8951"Because I'm lazy." Cyrus replies.
8952
8953> "Hahaha, of course."
8954
8955"Well, I suppose laziness isn't necessarily a bad thing..." You say.
8956"Maybe not." Cyrus says. "Anyway, if you don't mind I should get back to painting."
8957
8958You sigh and stand up from your chair.
8959
8960> 
8961
8962You walk into the kitchen and see Cyrus standing behind the stove stirring a pot of water. He looks up as he hears you approach.
8963
8964> Stand behind Cyrus and gently hold his waist.
8965
8966You grab Cyrus' hand and pull him around to face you. You then put your other arm around his waist and place your lips against his.
8967
8968"Mmm... so good." You whisper into his ear.
8969"Ah! What the fuck are you doing?!"
8970
8971> "I'm sorry. I shouldn't do that while you're cooking."
8972
8973You quickly turn away and run back into the bedroom.
8974
8975"No, no, no, it's fine." Cyrus says. "I just wanted to make sure you were happy with my cooking."
8976
8977> 
8978
8979You quickly head back into the living room where Cyrus is still standing behind the stove stirring the pot of water. He looks up as you approach.
8980
8981"Hey, what's going on?" You ask.
8982"Nothing." Cyrus says. "Just making sure you're happy with my cooking."
8983
8984> "I'm always happy with your cooking, silly boy."
8985
8986You kiss Cyrus once more and run out of the kitchen.
8987
8988The rest of the day goes fairly uneventful; you spend most of your time watching TV or playing video games. Eventually, night falls and you both fall asleep together in each others arms.
8989
8990> 
8991
8992Morning comes and you wake up to find Cyrus sitting next to you. He looks tired, but seems content enough.
8993
8994"Good morning." You yawn. "How long have we been sleeping together?"
8995"Since yesterday afternoon." Cyrus responds. "So how did your sleep last night go?"
8996
8997> "I slept well. How about you?"
8998
8999"Same." Cyrus answers. "What about you?"
9000
9001"Fine." You answer. "Didn't even dream of anything last night."
9002
9003"Hmm, I guess that makes two of us." Cyrus remarks.
9004
9005> "I've been thinking about something important I need to ask you."
9006
9007"Okay." Cyrus nods. "What is it?"
9008
9009"Do you want to be my wife?" You ask.
9010
9011Cyrus stares at you for a moment before answering.
9012
9013> 
9014
9015"Yes." Cyrus replies.
9016
9017> Hug and kiss Cyrus and say "I love you."
9018
9019You embrace Cyrus tightly and kiss him deeply. After a few moments of this, you begin to feel slightly dizzy. Your body begins to shake uncontrollably until you collapse onto the floor.
9020
9021"Oh god..." You hear Cyrus cry out as he rushes over to help you up.
9022
9023> 
9024
9025"Don't worry, I'll get you better soon." Cyrus assures you. "It was a good dream after all."
9026
9027You look around and see nothing amiss. You sit up slowly and try to remember if there are any other dreams like this one.
9028
9029> "What? What did you do?"
9030
9031"Nothing." Cyrus states. "We should probably get some breakfast first though."
9032
9033After eating, you continue to talk about your recent dream. Cyrus listens intently while occasionally asking questions. Eventually, you decide to tell him everything.
9034
9035> 
9036
9037Cyrus listens intently while occasionally asking questions. Eventually, you decide to tell him everything.
9038
9039"I'm going to marry you." You say with conviction.
9040
9041"Really?" Cyrus asks.
9042
9043> "Yes. We've been together so long... I think it's time."
9044
9045"Well... okay then." Cyrus says. "But what about your family?"
9046
9047"They don't matter anymore anyway." You reply. "I mean they're dead now anyway, right?"
9048
9049Cyrus smiles and hugs you tightly.
9050
9051> 
9052
9053"I love you too." Cyrus whispers in your ear.
9054
9055> Go to your wedding with Cyrus.
9056
9057You and Cyrus walk down the aisle holding hands. You both look at each other and smile. The priest reads the marriage contract aloud which you both sign off on. A ring is put on your finger and a new life begins.
9058
9059> Eat cake
9060
9061The next day, you wake up and find that Cyrus has left. He never came back for breakfast either. You wonder where he went but eventually you just fall asleep again.
9062
9063> 
9064
9065You wake up and realize that you haven't eaten anything since breakfast. You also notice that you have no idea how many days have passed. It seems like forever ago when you were having breakfast with Cyrus.
9066
9067Suddenly, a knock comes on the door.
9068
9069> Answer the door
9070
9071You open the door and find yourself staring into the eyes of Cyrus.
9072
9073"So... you really want to be married to me?" Cyrus asks with an expression that makes it seem as if he wants to kiss you immediately.
9074
9075"Of course!" You exclaim excitedly.
9076
9077> Embrace Cyrus
9078
9079You hug Cyrus tightly and hold onto his neck. You can feel his warm breath on your face.
9080
9081"I knew this would happen sooner or later." You say with a grin.
9082
9083You pull away from Cyrus and sigh happily.
9084
9085> "I love you, my Grand Vizier."
9086
9087You say "I love you, my Grand Vizier."
9088
9089Cyrus looks over at you and smiles. He leans forward and kisses you passionately on the lips. This causes you to blush intensely. You quickly pull away from Cyrus who blushes even more.
9090
9091"That was wrong."
9092
9093> "No it wasn't. We get to decide what's wrong."
9094
9095You say "No it wasn't. We get to decide what's wrong."
9096
9097Cyrus looks at you and shakes his head. He frowns and pulls away from you. His eyebrows raise in confusion. He stares at the ground for a moment before speaking softly to himself.
9098
9099> 
9100
9101He slowly walks towards you with a serious expression on his face. He puts one hand against the side of your face and gently presses your cheek to it. He then takes another step closer and places his lips against yours once more.
9102
9103> 
9104
9105You moan loudly and wrap your arms around him. You press your body against his and begin kissing him deeply. Your hands run through his hair while you continue to kiss him passionately.
9106
9107Your moans become louder as your passion grows stronger.
9108
9109> Push Cyrus onto table
9110
9111You push Cyrus onto the table and grab his head with both hands. You force his head down so that he is now lying on the table. You put your other arm around him and begin to squeeze tightly.
9112
9113"What are you doing?"
9114
9115> SUCK HIS DICK.
9116
9117You suck Cyrus' dick deeply and greedily. You take turns sucking on his cock until he cums all over your face.
9118
9119"Oh fuck! Oh god! That tastes amazing!" Cyrus shouts as he shoots his load all over your face.
9120
9121> Smile up at him and receive head pats
9122
9123You smile up at Cyrus and give him a big bear hug. You then give him a couple head pats on the back.
9124
9125"Thank you." You say with a smirk.
9126
9127Cyrus smiles and hugs you back, but not too tight.
9128
9129> 
9130
9131You collapse backwards onto the floor and fall asleep. The next day, you wake up to find yourself still sleeping.
9132
9133> 
9134
9135You open your eyes and see a large room with several doors leading off into different rooms. There is also an elevator which you guess leads somewhere else.
9136
9137> 
9138
9139You walk forward and enter the door. It opens up into a small office. A man sits behind a desk typing on a computer. He has light brown hair and wears glasses.
9140
9141"Ah, I'm sorry about this sir, but there was some sort of power outage last night."
9142
9143> "Oh? What happened?"
9144
9145"Well, we had a minor blackout in the city. We were lucky that nobody was hurt or anything though."
9146
9147"That's good..." You think to yourself. "So what do you need me for?"
9148
9149The man looks at you and frowns.
9150
9151> 
9152
9153"I don't know much about computers sir, but I can try my best to help you out."
9154
9155He walks over to the chair by the desk and sits down. He types quickly and writes something on a piece of paper. Then he puts it away again.
9156
9157> "What is your name?"
9158
9159"My name is John, but please call me Mr. Smith."
9160
9161You nod and write down 'Smith' on the piece of paper. Then you type in your name and press enter.
9162
9163> 
9164
9165Mr. Smith stares at you blankly.
9166
9167"Hello?" You ask nervously.
9168"Yes, hello." He says in a monotone voice. "How may I be of service to you today?"
9169
9170> "Do a silly dance for me."
9171
9172He blinks his eyes as if he doesn't understand what you're asking.
9173
9174"Um...a silly dance?" He asks. "Sure, why not?"
9175"Okay." You reply.
9176
9177> 
9178
9179He smiles and starts to slowly move his head from side to side while twirling his finger tips around them. You stare at him in awe.
9180
9181"Wow! That was really cool!" You exclaim. "Can I do one like that?"
9182"Sure, go ahead." He replies.
9183
9184> Do a silly dance.
9185
9186You start to twirl your finger tips around like crazy. Mr. Smith watches intently as you perform this strange dance. The man then turns his head back towards you and smiles.
9187
9188"Thank you." He says softly before walking out of the room leaving you alone.
9189
9190> Smash the computers
9191
9192You run to the front desk and grab a crowbar. You push open the door and rush inside. As soon as you enter, you feel an intense pain shoot through your body. Your legs are paralyzed, arms are weak and you can barely stand straight anymore.
9193
9194> 
9195
9196You fall backwards onto the floor and scream in agony. You hear a loud noise followed by a bright light. A beam of white light shoots into your chest killing you instantly.
9197
9198> 
9199
9200The light fades and you lie there in silence. You see a large computer screen with several buttons and lights flashing on it.
9201
9202"Welcome to the Cyberdyne Systems Online Support System." A robotic voice says. "Please follow these instructions carefully so we may assist you more effectively."
9203
9204> 
9205
9206A series of menus appear on the screen. You try to remember which button does what, but all you can think about is how much pain you're in.
9207
9208"I'm sorry sir, but our support team has been unable to help you." The voice continues.
9209
9210> "Why is this happening to me? Did I do something wrong?"
9211
9212"No, sir. We have investigated your account and found no evidence that you did anything wrong."
9213"What's going on?!" You demand.
9214"We were unable to access some of your files due to security measures being activated.
9215
9216> 
9217
9218"Well what are they doing?"
9219"Security measures were activated when we detected unusual activity on your system. It appears that you've been using unauthorized software to access certain areas of the system."
9220"How long has this happened for?" You ask.
9221"Since the beginning of time sir."
9222
9223> 
9224
9225"What am I supposed to do now?"
9226"Sir, please wait here for a moment." A female voice answers.
9227
9228You look over and see a woman wearing a business suit standing behind you holding up your hand. She looks very young too.
9229
9230> Wait.
9231
9232She walks away from you and goes back to her console. She sits down at a computer terminal and begins typing something.
9233
9234"Hello sir, my name is Samantha Carter." She says in a calm tone.
9235
9236> "Can you help me? I'm in a lot of pain."
9237
9238"Of course sir, what kind of question is that?"
9239"I'm in a lot of pain! My whole body hurts!"
9240"Oh yes, I know all about your pains. Please allow me to explain..."
9241
9242You sit there silently waiting for her to continue...
9243
9244> 
9245
9246"Your pain is caused by an infection called cybernetic evolution syndrome (C.E.S.)."
9247"What does that mean?" You ask.
9248"It means that your body has evolved beyond its natural state, as a result of exposure to radiation during the war with the Replicators."
9249
9250> 
9251
9252"So why didn't anyone tell me this before?" You ask.
9253"Because your body was still evolving and not yet fully functional. However, thanks to the efforts of many people like yourself, your current condition is greatly reduced.
9254
9255> 
9256
9257"Thank you so much!" You exclaim.
9258"Don't mention it, sir."
9259
9260> "But how do I make the pain stop?"
9261
9262"There are several things you can try, but the most important thing is to get medical attention immediately. Your body needs rest and proper nutrition if you want to recover properly."
9263"I don't understand..." You say.
9264"Please listen carefully, sir." Samantha continues.
9265
9266> 
9267
9268"Okay, I'll try one of these things." You say.
9269"One of them will be pain killers."
9270"What's the other one?"
9271"The third option is surgery."
9272
9273> 
9274
9275"Surgery?" You ask.
9276"Yes, sir. Surgery would remove the infected area and replace it with metal implants that would prevent further growth of C.E.S."
9277
9278> 
9279
9280"How long would that take?" You ask.
9281"About two weeks, depending on the size of the infected area."
9282
9283> "Is it dangerous?"
9284
9285"No, it isn't dangerous at all. It would just require some minor surgery and then you'd be back to normal."
9286"Will I have any scars from the operation?" You ask.
9287"Probably not, unless you were very unlucky or had a particularly large infected area.
9288
9289> 
9290
9291You nod slowly.
9292"Good, now I'm going to go talk to my team about what we're doing for tomorrow's mission." You say.
9293"Yeah, yeah... Good luck." Samantha says and leaves you alone.
9294
9295> Get surgery to remove C.E.S.
9296
9297You spend the next few days in bed recovering from your surgery. The first couple of days are pretty bad, but after a week passes you feel better than ever.
9298
9299> 
9300
9301A month has passed since you got the news that you were infected. You've been spending more time with your team as well as working on new missions together.
9302
9303> Spend time with Cyrus.
9304
9305After a month has passed, you decide to spend time with Cyrus again. He was the only person who actually cared about you when everyone else abandoned you.
9306"Hey Cyrus, how's it hanging?" You ask.
9307"It's good, thanks." He replies.
9308
9309> "You didn't come to visit me in the hospital."
9310
9311"I came here and there's nothing wrong with me anymore, so why should I stay away?" Cyrus asks.
9312"Because..." You begin to think before you realize that he already knows what you want to say.
9313
9314> 
9315
9316"Cyrus, I know you care about me and everything, but I don't need you around. If anything happens to me, please just let me die."
9317"What? But..." Cyrus starts to say before he stops himself.
9318
9319> 
9320
9321"But what?" Cyrus asks.
9322"I know you love me, but I can't live like this anymore. I'll never find someone to replace you and if something does happen to me, then please just let me die.
9323
9324> 
9325
9326"Okay, okay! That's great!" Cyrus smiles.
9327"So how did your surgery go?" You ask.
9328"Great! I mean it went really well actually." Cyrus says.
9329
9330> Hug Cyrus
9331
9332"How about we do this every once in awhile?" You ask.
9333"Sure!" Cyrus agrees.
9334
9335The pair of you spend some time hugging each other and talking until one day, you notice that the two of you aren't holding hands anymore.
9336
9337> 
9338
9339"Why are you not holding my hand anymore?" You ask.
9340"I'm sorry, but I just haven't felt comfortable enough with myself lately to be able to hold your hand." Cyrus explains.
9341
9342> "Is there any way I can help?"
9343
9344"Well... maybe." Cyrus thinks for a moment.
9345"Do you have any healing magic abilities?" You ask.
9346"No, but I could probably learn them." Cyrus admits.
9347"Alright then, let's try it out!" You agree.
9348
9349> 
9350
9351"Hold on, I need to get used to this." Cyrus complains as he tries to put his arm around you.
9352
9353He soon gets over it though and the two of you continue their relationship.
9354
9355> 
9356
9357You're still trying to adjust to being with Cyrus when he suddenly decides that he needs to leave. He tells you that he has to go back home since his father is going to be coming by soon.
9358
9359> "Can I go with you? I'd like to meet your father."
9360
9361"Of course, but first I want to make sure that you're alright with this." Cyrus replies.
9362"Yeah, I'm fine. It was nice meeting you too." You reply.
9363"Bye then!" Cyrus says as he leaves.
9364
9365> Follow Cyrus
9366
9367Cyrus quickly follows you back to where he lives. When they arrive at his house, you see that he has changed quite a bit. His room looks different and the door is now slightly open so that it doesn't look suspicious if anyone were to walk in on them right now.
9368
9369> 
9370
9371"Hey, I think I found something..." Cyrus says as he walks into his room.
9372"What is it?" You ask.
9373"It's a book that will help me become more powerful than ever before!" Cyrus exclaims excitedly.
9374"That sounds pretty cool." You agree.
9375
9376> Read the book with Cyrus
9377
9378You take the book from Cyrus and begin reading it. The book itself is very old looking, but you manage to decipher its words and understand what it's saying.
9379
9380After finishing up with the book, you both sit down on the floor and close your eyes.
9381
9382> 
9383
9384The next day, you wake up feeling refreshed. You don't feel tired or anything. In fact, you feel like you've been sleeping for days! Cyrus notices this and asks why you woke up so early today.
9385
9386> "It was that book! Don't you feel it too?"
9387
9388"I suppose I did. It seems like you really needed some rest after all that training yesterday." Cyrus says.
9389"Oh yeah, we had a lot of fun last night! We practiced our fighting skills against each other and even got to fight off a few demons along the way!"
9390
9391> 
9392
9393"Wait...you mean you actually defeated one of those things?" Cyrus asks.
9394"Well no, but I managed to hold my own against it. It was pretty impressive considering how weak it looked." You explain.
9395"Hmm, well I guess that means you can do it!"
9396
9397> 
9398
9399"Alright, let's get started then!" Cyrus says.
9400
9401You and Cyrus head out to find a suitable place to practice your swordfighting skills. After finding an empty field, you start practicing.
9402
9403> 
9404
9405You continue practicing until you hear a voice call out to you.
9406
9407"Ah, there you are. What brings you here anyway? Did someone else come by and disturb your sleep?" A female voice asks.
9408"No, it was just myself." You answer.
9409
9410> "Who are you?"
9411
9412"My name is Elana and I'm a friend of Cyrus' mother." You reply.
9413"How interesting. So you're not related to him either?" She asks curiously.
9414"Not directly, but yes." You admit.
9415"So who are you exactly?"
9416
9417> "I'm Jericho. I'm Cyrus' husband."
9418
9419"Hm, that's a nice name. Is Cyrus still married to another woman?"
9420"Yes, but she doesn't know about it yet."
9421"Oh...well I guess I'll be seeing her soon then." She smiles at you.
9422
9423> 
9424
9425She continues to smile at you as you walk away from her. You notice that she has changed into something similar to what Cyrus wore when he first met her. You also notice that she's wearing a ring on her finger.
9426
9427> 
9428
9429You stop walking and turn around to face her.
9430
9431"What are you doing?" You ask.
9432"Nothing." She replies with a smirk. "Come on, let's go see Cyrus."
9433"Hold on, I have to talk to Cyrus first!" You exclaim.
9434
9435> 
9436
9437You follow her back to his house. When you arrive, you see Cyrus standing in front of a large mansion made up of stone and brick. He looks at you with a frown on his face.
9438
9439> "Is there something wrong?"
9440
9441"Nope! Nothing's wrong!" You insist.
9442"Then why did you look so unhappy earlier?" Cyrus asks.
9443"Because I got to see my wife for the first time in years and she wasn't happy with me." You explain.
9444
9445> 
9446
9447Cyrus sighs and shakes his head.
9448"Well, I suppose you two can live together now." He says.
9449"Wait, how do we get her to accept this?" You ask.
9450"It's simple. We need to make love to each other." Cyrus explains.
9451
9452> "You mean a threesome?"
9453
9454"A threesome? No, a foursome would be more appropriate." Cyrus says.
9455"But I thought you said we were going to have sex today."
9456"We will if you want us to." Cyrus points out.
9457"Fine, but what does that even mean?"
9458
9459> "We should all get together sometime soon."
9460
9461"Okay, okay. Let's do this." Cyrus nods and begins to lead you inside the mansion.
9462
9463As you enter the massive mansion, you find yourself in a room filled with furniture and paintings.
9464
9465> 
9466
9467The door opens up to reveal Cyrus leading you outside.
9468
9469"So, where is your home?" You ask.
9470"My home is right here." Cyrus responds. "I'm not sure why you're asking me these questions though, because they don't matter anyway.
9471
9472> "Are you going to introduce me to your wife?"
9473
9474"Sure thing." Cyrus smiles.
9475"Alright then, let's go see your wife." You reply.
9476"Yes, yes we shall." Cyrus says and leads you down a hallway and into another room which is completely empty save for a bed in the middle of it.
9477
9478> 
9479
9480You sit down on the bed and begin to close your eyes.
9481
9482"This is a very special day." Cyrus says as he takes off his glasses. "Today marks the beginning of our new life together."
9483
9484> 
9485
9486"Ah, I've missed this." You smile.
9487"Yeah...I think you know by now that I haven't been feeling well lately." Cyrus replies. "And when I found out you wanted to meet my wife, I just couldn't stay away from you anymore.
9488
9489> 
9490
9491"Oh come on, you knew I was lying about everything." You say.
9492"Of course I didn't. It's obvious that you're still in love with me after all these years." Cyrus says.
9493
9494> 
9495
9496"Look, I don't care what you did or didn't do. If you really loved me, you'd never leave me again."
9497"Maybe so, maybe not..." You say.
9498"Come on! We both know that you're just trying to keep up appearances!" Cyrus says.
9499
9500> "It's what I have to do. The public wouldn't like it if they found out their Grand General and Grand Vizier were shagging. It's unprofessional."
9501
9502"Well, I suppose it isn't too much trouble to tell them."
9503"No, no, no. They'll probably figure something out eventually. But until then, we need to make this work. This is important enough that it needs to happen right now."
9504
9505> 
9506
9507Cyrus looks at you expectantly.
9508
9509"What are you waiting for? Come on, get over there." He says and starts kissing you passionately.
9510
9511 
9512 
9513You can't believe how good it feels. How good it feels to be used like this.
9514
9515> 
9516
9517"Fuck me harder." You demand.
9518"Okay, okay, I'm ready." Cyrus says and begins thrusting inside you.
9519"God, please fuck me harder!" You moan.
9520"Please? Please what?" Cyrus asks.
9521
9522> "Please, sir, fuck me harder!"
9523
9524"Uh-huh, uh-huh." Cyrus says.
9525"Please, sir, I want you to fuck me hard!" You cry out.
9526"Mmm, yeah...that's what I thought." Cyrus chuckles. "Now get over here and give me a kiss."
9527
9528> Kiss Cyrus
9529
9530You grab Cyrus' face and kiss him passionately. His tongue slides along yours as you continue to embrace each other. Your hands find his chest and start massaging his muscles. Soon, you feel yourself getting closer to climax.
9531
9532> Have orgasm
9533
9534You let go of Cyrus and release your load deep inside him. He smiles at you and holds you tightly as he pulls out of you.
9535
9536"That was great." Cyrus says happily. "We should do this more often."
9537
9538"Yes, yes, we will." You reply.
9539
9540> 
9541
9542The next day, you meet with the rest of the Council. They seem very pleased with your performance.
9543
9544"I am proud to announce that our new leader has proven himself worthy of leading us into battle." The councilman announces.
9545
9546> "It's an honor."
9547
9548"Yeah, well I guess it is." You say.
9549"And now that we've got all these soldiers under control, we can focus on rebuilding the Empire." The councilman continues.
9550
9551> 
9552
9553"So, we're going to rebuild the Empire?" You ask.
9554"Of course! We were never meant to just sit around and rot in exile." The councilman replies.
9555
9556> 
9557
9558"Well, I suppose if you really think about it, rebuilding the Empire isn't such a bad idea after all." You say.
9559"No, no! That's not what I mean!" The councilman protests.
9560
9561> 
9562
9563"What are you talking about?" You ask.
9564"Nothing, nothing." The councilman insists.
9565
9566> Eye Councilman Kartov in suspicion.
9567
9568You turn away from the councilman and look at him.
9569
9570"What did you just call me?" You demand.
9571"A coward." The councilman sneers back.
9572
9573> "You know I could have you executed for that."
9574
9575"Oh come on, you don't want me to be executed do you? I'm not even here to kill anyone!" The councilman protests.
9576"You would like that wouldn't you?" You ask sarcastically.
9577"I...no..." The councilman admits.
9578
9579> "Then do not question me or my rule. It is not your place to judge those who are superior to you."
9580
9581"I'll see you soon then." You say.
9582"Goodbye." The councilman says before leaving.
9583
9584You walk down the hallways of the capital with Cyrus and Roldan watching you both intently. Eventually, you reach a door marked 'Council Room'.
9585
9586> Enter the Council Room
9587
9588You open up the door and find yourself in a room filled with various documents and papers. There is also a large table where several men are sitting. One of them looks familiar though; it's the one who was trying to recruit you earlier today.
9589
9590> Announce the rebuilding of the Empire.
9591
9592"The Empire needs to be rebuilt!" You shout.
9593"Yes, yes, I agree." Another man says. "But how exactly are we going to do it?
9594
9595> "Aha, well! That's not my job. You figure it out!"
9596
9597"I don't understand why you're still here!" He complains.
9598"Because I am loyal to the Emperor, and he will make sure this project is successful." You reply.
9599"That's not enough for you?" He asks suspiciously.
9600
9601> "Do not question me."
9602
9603"Fine, fine, whatever. What do you need?"
9604"We've been having problems with the gnolls lately. They seem to be getting stronger and attacking more frequently.
9605
9606> Send troops to take care of the gnoll problem
9607
9608"Send some soldiers there." A third man remarks.
9609"Whoa, hold on there! We can handle this!" The first two men protest.
9610"No, they aren't getting any weaker and if anything they're becoming stronger. Now then, what else do you need?
9611
9612> "Cyrus, tell them."
9613
9614"I think I should start by telling them about my experiences as an Imperial soldier during the Felkan War." Cyrus replies.
9615"Alright, alright, but don't go too much into detail."
9616"Why not?" Cyrus asks.
9617
9618> 
9619
9620"Well because I have seen things that you people won't believe."
9621"What kind of things?"
9622"Things that the average person doesn't talk about in polite company. Things like...uh...murder."
9623"Murder?!" The other two men ask at once.
9624
9625> 
9626
9627"Yeah, murder. People killing each other over petty disagreements."
9628"People actually doing that?! And the government let this happen?!"
9629"It wasn't the government's fault. It was just a mistake on their part. But I'm afraid it isn't over yet."
9630"WHAT?!"
9631
9632> 
9633
9634"This war is far from over, Cyrus. This is only the beginning of our fight against the gnolls."
9635"What does that mean exactly?"
9636"Nothing really, except that I want us all to work together so we can win this thing.
9637
9638> 
9639
9640"So, what now?"
9641"Now we get back to work. We've got to rebuild the Empire."
9642"You know what I mean. The Empire was great before the Felkans invaded it. It could even be greater after they're gone.
9643
9644> 
9645
9646"But how are we going to do that? How are we going to rebuild the Empire when most of it has already been destroyed?"
9647"The Empire is a very complex beast. There's many parts that must be rebuilt, but I believe you'll manage to pull off the rest.
9648
9649> 
9650
9651"That's good to hear. Thank you for your help."
9652
9653After Cyrus leaves, you sit down and reflect on what he said. You realize that the Empire will never be the same again, but you can still try to make it better than it was before.
9654
9655> 
9656
9657Year 506
9658
9659Your Empire is slowly falling apart. Your armies are no match for the gnoll hordes, and your economy is suffering due to the loss of trade with the Delerg provinces.
9660
9661> Train elite squads to exterminate the gnolls
9662
9663In order to ensure your survival, you decide to create special units dedicated to wiping out the gnolls. These elite squads are made up of soldiers who have proven themselves in battle. They are trained extensively in combat techniques and tactics, and given specialized equipment such as longbows or crossbows.
9664
9665> 
9666
9667Year 513
9668
9669Despite your best efforts, the gnolls continue to grow stronger every year. In fact, they seem to be getting more aggressive by the day. The last time you saw them was during the attack on Rask.
9670
9671> Rebuild the roads and other infrastructure
9672
9673With the loss of the Delerg provinces, your empire is now being stretched too thin. To compensate for this, you begin rebuilding the roads and other infrastructure within your borders. While this may not seem like much at first, it will certainly help to keep an eye on things.
9674
9675> Kill the gnolls with fire
9676
9677As you watch the gnolls march towards your lands, you see that their numbers are growing exponentially. Their attacks are becoming more frequent and brutal. Even if you were to send some of your best warriors into battle, they would soon find themselves overwhelmed by the sheer number of these creatures.
9678
9679> 
9680
9681Year 514
9682
9683The gnolls have finally reached your borders. The only thing standing between them and victory is the small force of Imperials stationed there. Unfortunately, they are also undermanned and ill-equipped to fight against such superior forces.
9684
9685> Go to the border front
9686
9687You head to the border front, where you meet with General Gloom. He tells you that he hopes you don't think poorly of him, because he knows exactly what you mean.
9688
9689> 
9690
9691Gloom: "I know what you mean!"
9692You: "Well, I'm glad we're both here, because I don't want to waste any more time talking about this.
9693
9694> Go to the watchtower with General Gloom.
9695
9696You and General Gloom leave the Watch Tower together.
9697Gnolls are approaching from all sides, but they are still unable to break through your defenses.
9698Gnoll Captain: "We can't hold out forever! We need reinforcements!
9699
9700> Dump flaming oil on the gnolls
9701
9702You set a large pile of burning logs alight, which quickly engulf the gnolls. This tactic has worked wonders; the gnolls run away in terror, leaving behind only charred corpses.
9703Gnoll Captain: "This is useless! We'll never win against those Empire bastards!"
9704
9705> Capture the Gnoll Captain
9706
9707You capture the gnoll captain and bring him before the Emperor. He looks upon his face as though he's seen a ghost.
9708Emperor: "What did you do?"
9709Gnome: "We burned that filthy beast alive.
9710
9711> Be the Emperor
9712
9713You become the new Emperor of Menoth.
9714Year 515
9715Your reign begins well. Your armies are strong and loyal, and you have brought peace to your realm once again.
9716
9717> Rename the Empire of Menoth to the Empire of Noxus
9718
9719You name the Empire of Menoth after yourself. It will serve as a reminder to others that you rule over it.
9720Year 516
9721The gnolls attack again, and this time you are ready for them.
9722
9723> 
9724
9725Year 517
9726The gnolls have been defeated, but not without cost. The Empire of Menoth has suffered heavy losses in soldiers and equipment.
9727Year 518
9728With the loss of so many men, you decide to take drastic action.
9729
9730> Order mandatory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age.
9731
9732You order compulsory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age. This will ensure that there is always enough manpower to defend the Empire.
9733Year 519
9734The first generation of children born under your rule are weaklings.
9735
9736> Train the children to be soldiers.
9737
9738You train the children to be soldiers. They learn how to fight and kill, just like their fathers and grandfathers before them.
9739Year 520
9740The second generation of children born under your rule are stronger than ever before. Their lives are filled with honor, duty, loyalty and glory.
9741
9742> 
9743
9744Year 521
9745The third generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous two generations. They have grown up knowing nothing but war and death. They know no other life, save one where they die at the hands of their enemies.
9746
9747> Invade Felkan
9748
9749You invade Felkan. The invasion is successful, and you conquer the entire province. The people of Felkan are grateful for your help, and they thank you back in kind.
9750
9751> 
9752
9753Year 522
9754The fourth generation of children born under your rule are the most powerful yet. They can't wait to lead the Empire into battle.
9755Year 525
9756The fifth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous five generations combined!
9757
9758> Rebuild the Empire
9759
9760You rebuild the Empire. After a long period of rebuilding, you finally complete it. You make sure that every citizen has an equal chance at success. You create the first meritocracies in history, and turn your nation into a shining beacon of civilization.
9761
9762> Cancel mandatory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age.
9763
9764You cancel mandatory reproduction for all citizens of suitable age. This will ensure that there is always enough manpower to defend the Empire.
9765Year 526
9766The sixth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous six generations combined!
9767
9768> Stop training child soldiers.
9769
9770You stop training child soldiers. Children will never again be forced to serve as cannon fodder for the Empire's military machine. It was only right that they were given a choice in this matter.
9771
9772> Force mandatory military service for young men.
9773
9774You force mandatory military service for young men. Young men who don't want to serve their country by dying in battle will now have a choice in whether or not they wish to do so.
9775
9776> Order mandatory military service for young men.
9777
9778You order mandatory military service for young men. All those who refuse to serve will face imprisonment, torture or worse if they continue to resist. Those who choose to remain in the army will receive better pay and benefits than any other citizen of the Empire.
9779
9780> Order crops to be planted
9781
9782You order crops to be planted. The Empire will once again grow strong from its own soil.
9783Year 527
9784The seventh generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous seven generations combined!
9785
9786> 
9787
9788Year 529
9789The eighth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous eight generations combined!
9790Year 530
9791The ninth generation of children born under your rule are even more powerful than the previous nine generations combined!
9792
9793> Visit Cyrus
9794
9795You visit Cyrus. He is still serving his sentence in the stables, but he wishes to see you personally. You accept his invitation and take him on a tour of the palace grounds.
9796
9797> "How have you been?"
9798
9799How have you been? Well, I've had my share of trials lately. Your son has grown up quite quickly since we last saw each other. He is already a capable warrior and leader. However, I fear that he may one day prove too much for me to handle...
9800
9801> "How so?"
9802
9803I'm afraid that your son may prove to be a threat to me in the future. In fact, I believe that he already is. While I am sure you would like nothing more than to keep him out of harm's way, it seems like you're doing just fine without me around anymore.
9804
9805> "I have no loyalty to him, only to you. I will stop him if you want me to."
9806
9807I have no loyalty to him, only to you. I will stop him if you want me to.
9808Year 603
9809Cyrus has grown into an excellent soldier and leader, but he is still far too young for combat duty.
9810
9811> Visit my wife, Cyrus
9812
9813You visit Cyrus. He is still serving his sentence in the stables, but he wishes to see you personally. You accept his invitation and take him on a tour of the palace grounds.
9814Year 604
9815Your son is growing up fast!
9816
9817> "Explain your sentence in the stables to me."
9818
9819Explain your sentence in the stables to me.
9820Year 605
9821Your son is growing up fast!
9822Year 606
9823Your son is growing up fast!
9824Year 608
9825Your son is growing up fast!
9826
9827> 
9828
9829Year 610
9830Your son is growing up fast!
9831Year 611
9832Your son is growing up fast!
9833Year 612
9834Your son is growing up fast!
9835
9836> Go to my son
9837
9838Go to my son.
9839Year 613
9840Your son is growing up fast!
9841Year 614
9842Your son is growing up fast!
9843Year 615
9844Your son is growing up fast!
9845
9846> Go to the palace
9847
9848Go to the palace.
9849
9850 
9851Year 616
9852The Emperor has grown old and weak. His body cannot fight off the ravages of time as well as it once did. He needs constant medical attention from a doctor who specializes in such matters.
9853
9854> 
9855
9856The Emperor has grown old and weak. His body cannot fight off the ravages of time as well as it once did. He needs constant medical attention from a doctor who specializes in such matters.
9857
9858 Year 617
9859The Emperor has grown old and weak.
9860
9861> 
9862
9863The Emperor has grown old and weak.
9864>
9865What will you do?..
9866Tip: Long sentences for actions are no problem! Get creative!
9867Creator Studio
9868Create Adventure
9869Swain's Grand Adventure