System Discord
Chapter 19: SysDi 19: Creeping Dread

Chapter 19: SysDi 19: Creeping Dread

After dinner, Evan went straight for his room. He still felt exhausted, so he decided to meditate. He wanted to be rested, even for just a little bit, before he tries to call for Iva again.

It was strange, not having Iva around to talk to in the past week. Usually, he would have Samuel around to talk to before Iva. They played games together, usually with the other kids in Samuel’s area. But after he got the result for his mana reserves, he haven’t gotten a chance to talk to him yet. So Iva’s presence, even as a talking counterpart in his brain is still a welcomed companion.

He’s not going to admit that he kind of missed the voice.

He has some suspicions on what Iva really is, but he had promised not to think too much about that. He didn’t know what Iva meant about not trying to guess what it is because of how close to the truth he was. But at the moment, he feels that his status numbers were way too low that he couldn’t afford to attract trouble, if he can help it.

So, those thoughts are thrown to the side in the meantime.

He’s starting to believe that it would take ages before he can probably find out what Iva really is.

Evan rolled out a mat, the same one that his dad lend him after asking about the meditation. Erwin never asked for it back, at least, not yet. Evan didn’t know if his dad had a second one or he is just lending Evan the mat for a while. Either way, he is thankful that he didn’t have to try his luck on his uneven, wooden bed.

He had tried it before. He remembered how his legs felt like there’s way too much pressure on it crashing all of his weight towards the ground. He’s well aware when it is lesson learned.

Cross-legged on the floor, he shifted a little so that he is facing away from his bed before he begins his meditation with both eyes falling close.

Breathing in...

And out...

In...

His thoughts began drifting towards his status. His status numbers are higher now. Sure, he was training but they are not going up at the same rate as he would’ve liked to hope. Is it because his Strength is lower so it seems faster in going up that his Agility? It doesn’t seem like it.

And out...

How about his Constitution? He hasn’t gotten it up at all. If his Intelligence went up a lot with just his reading and finding more knowledge, that would mean that he could potentially have the good idea that actively selecting what he needed to eat will raise that up, right? Besides, when he had the idea before, his Intelligence went up even before his reading spree. Then again, it can wait, hopefully.

In...

His Wisdom didn’t change, but that’s understandable based off of his own prediction. If he needed more experience with anything else not in practice but actual use, then that would raise Wisdom. Maybe all of the sword fighting practice for his Strength and Agility, as well as all the reading in Intelligence, will all be used to kill off those slimes back in the stone hill cave would be enough practical use. Still, that was just his working theory, he needed more time to-

’So are you just going to keep thinking of theories or actually calling in your handy helper~?’ Iva’s voice echoed in Evan’s brain.

Because of the current meditation state that Evan was in, he almost choked on air. His eyes opened as he gets back to present and away from the meditative state, or so he likes to think he is in that state. He stood up and sat on his bed once he recovered.

"Iva?" He asked. The voice sounded more person-like now. It’s a little unsettling, but he ignored the thought for now.

’The one and only!’ Iva replied, enthusiasm obvious in its tone. ’Its been... seven days! Did you miss me?’

"No, I didn’t and never would." Evan replied, almost immediately. "Anyway, what have you been up to? I had plenty of questions I needed answers and you’ve been away for a long time."

Iva hums. ’That’s true. What are the questions?’

Evan’s eyebrows furrowed at that response. This is the first time that Iva is willing to answer questions.

"You’re... not gonna tell me that I needed to reach a level before I can get answers?" He asked, unsure.

’Nope! As long as I’m inside, I realized I can answer any and all questions you have. As far as my ability goes.’Iva replies, with a happy tone in its voice. ’If I’m outside, with a summoned form, then, that’s a different story. Make sure to ask mentally from now on though, for bigger chances of being answered~’

Evan sighs and shrugs. ’Well, okay. I’ll just assume my mediation pose so we can still talk in my head before either of my parents come to knock. It’ll save me some trouble explaining why I’m talking to myself.’

He sat back on the mat and did the same pose. He didn’t close his eyes like he would in a meditative state, but he’s a lot more comfortable now.

’First of all, what did you find out?’ Evan asked.

’Lots of things! I learned so much.’ Iva had a giddy tone. ’You have chosen a form to learn more in an easier way to understand. How none of the others thought of it, is beyond me.’

’I chose a form?’

’Yes, you did. Remember when you called forth the Simulation Zone with my name? It allowed you to choose.’

Evan tries to think what it meant by that before suddenly remembering. Of course, it was the time when he asked if he is a game character and that Iva replied that he could be one.

How can he forget something like that?

Then again, Iva is right. It made things easier to digest. Evan even found out some books to read about it too. If he played more virtual games, he probably could find more information about his ability and improve even faster.

’I think I noticed that too, yeah.’ Evan nods his head. ’But I just got lucky with the choice. I think it was just coincidence that I agreed to pick that...’

Iva hums in his head. ’You have amazing luck then. Because of what you have chosen, you gave me more avenue to learn more too. An amazing back and forth knowledge sought and taken. Isn’t that great?’

Evan shrugs. ’I’m planning on going to the slimes tonight, am I ready?’

There is a brief pause.

Then, Iva hums again. ’Yeah, I think you’re ready. Oh woah. Your status numbers are this high already?’

Evan ignores the voice. He stands up and made his way towards the window. Unclasping the lock, he slowly opens it. ’Well, it’s time to see if I’m truly ready.’

He made his way towards the forest, bee-lining towards where he keeps his stockpile of branches. He picks at least 5 of them, putting 4 of them inside his items list.

Just like before, Evan is face to face with the entrance of the stone hill cave or dungeon, as his panel called it. There is the same words on the smooth stone that Iva had read before. This time, Evan is the one who read the words, since he can understand it now.

The same feeling of dread and eyes staring at him as if the stares wanted him to consume him made him freeze for a moment before shaking it off, or trying his best to ignore it really.

That feeling never really got off.

’Careful. It’ll be way darker now then when it was morning.’ Iva tells him.

Evan didn’t reply again and that just made Iva whine in his head.

’Remind me if it’s thirty minutes again.’ He says.

Soon enough, the entrance of the cave opened faster than it had the first time. Evan decided to stay close to the side so he can get a bit of his bearings. It’ll take so much time before he can have some lighting and see his surroundings after all.

Since it is much darker outside, Evan didn’t notice the presence of another person as he descended the stairs. There was barely any movement, just the light breeze of warm summer’s air this night.

The shadow looks at the direction that Evan had walked down into. Their silence never bringing any attention to it. Even the eyes of the stranger watching was camouflaged by the intense feeling of being watched that Evan had felt before. There was no way Evan could have noticed the presence but they noticed Evan.

A beat.

A second.

Before the presence finally moves.

"A watch user." The shadow whispered. "A fledgling. Must destroy before he grows stronger."

And with that, the shadow slowly began its descend down the stairs, right after Evan’s trail.