A silent moan escaped Johannes' lips as he slowly lost his balance. Mere seconds separated him from the grey ground made of Marmoleum that looked like it had been poured over with depression. His eyeballs fidgeted - an urge to close the eyelids overcame the fragile man. It was a natural reflex like someone had blown a stark wind into his slender eyes.
Desperately fighting against it, he attempted to keep his stare fixed on the flooring. He feared he would hit the floor face-first if he kept falling like that. An intense sensation retorted the thought of seeing where he was falling.
Johannes knew that he would suffer even more if he could not see where he was falling. However, this was not something Johannes could have sophisticated thoughts about in the little time he had. Instead, it was an instinct.
As he sought anything to grip on to cushion his fall, his weak hands barely grabbed the outer frame of his metallic bed. Relief entered his mind - relief that he had been able to grab the ledge that would hinder his imminent fall.
However, his dwindling strength deceived his nimble fingers. While he had been quick enough to grab something, there was no guarantee that he had the strength to hold up his grip. His index finger was the first to disconnect from the tough row of fingers that held onto the bed.
Others gradually followed suit. Eventually, he barely hung onto the frame with his middle finger and ring finger, betraying the time he had put in during his workouts. A burning pain ran through his joints and transitioned into his nerves to remind him how badly his hand was treated. Paired with a quiet scream of agony, he successfully stopped his face from hitting the lingering ground.
For the second time this evening, a sense of comfort sparkled inside him. The difference was that this time, it had been justified. Johannes slowly sunk to the ground, his face connecting with the usually cold, hard ground.
Has it always been thiscomfortable? It felt good to him. Almost as good as if he was lying on his bed. It is unclear whether that could be considered a compliment to his bed or the floor.
After a few seconds, he could take a breather, and it hit him. A severe fear held him in its grasp. For a healthy person, this might have amounted to nothing. However, he did not have the muscle in his neck to adequately protect his head or practical knowledge of falling down. Johannes could not remember a situation where he fell without anyone stopping it.
That was way too close. I've got to thank these hand grippers. If I didn't have those, I'd be knocked out cold.
Indeed, they had helped him tremendously today. Johannes slowly rolled onto his back, filled to the brim with joy for at least a few seconds. His workout had paid off. His body had been strong enough to surpass its limits yet again.
Nevertheless, he still had no idea if his level had been updated by now. Doubt clouded his mind.
What if it didn't work out in the end?
Only a minute was left, and Johannes would not give up. As he slowly used his arms to support his upper body, he clung onto the metallic frame again as a last resort for his stance to regain balance. Climbing up was his only option.
The clock that earlier on used to comfort him and remind him of the end of this torment now started to spin around like a carousel. Johannes could barely understand what was happening. As his surroundings faded into a hazy mash that almost looked like fog, the clock stopped at exactly 12 AM. It was time.
He was in a dark room as he slowly regained control over his sight. His body ached, and his lips assembled a few groans caused by the exhaustion-induced pain. He groggily stood up again to scan his environment.
It was a familiar scene. He had seen it only once, but it had already been enough.
... Not again. I'm going to almost die again, aren't I?
Johannes manically looked around, searching for the psychotic man he had met here before.
"What was his name again? Master Artemis? Master ATM?" he spoke to himself.
As old as time itself, a fundamental dread had Johannes fall into terror. Quiet steps that sounded like an ancient monster walking menacingly through shallow water drowned out the noises Johannes' body had produced. Knowing that the dark room had almost killed him before, he cautiously turned around.
He was there. "Master A - T - E - M", a disappointed voice spoke. Master Atem stood still. He rocked a middle-aged handsome face with stern, slender eyes of hazelnut brown colour. His long brown hair barely met his shoulder and was hanging down in a kempt manner. He wore a blue chang pao. Johannes once thought that as cliche as that sounded, he wore the clothing with enough confidence to look stunningly fitting even if it was out of touch with today's clothing.
Master Atem just slightly raised his right eyebrow, enough for Johannes to see his dissatisfaction.
Heh. Master ATM... Wait. Stop. I'm not going to survive that one if I keep going. I should know my limits. A hint of a smile exposed a rough direction of the tone of Johannes' thoughts. Quickly, Johannes spoke so as not to make him angry.
"Oh, uhm. Sorry, yeah, Master Atem. Today was a bit much. Otherwise, I would've remembered," a hasty voice said.
"I know what happened - why have you returned so soon?" - he stopped Johannes' efforts to explain himself and continued with a gentle smile. "How did it go? Your trial, I mean."
"So you know? ... Well, of course you would know, Master," Johannes replied with a glimpse of uncertainty and followed up. "I don't know whether it went good or not. The system hasn't provided me with any updates on that. No level increase or any other indicators."
"That's uncommon", Master Atem's eyebrows had remained in a neutral position. "Hm, the fact that you have been summoned into the dark room certainly isn't a bad sign. At least for now."
Wait. He doesn't know, either? I thought he was some guy who eventually came out to be all-knowing. Johannes's face betrayed his shocked state of mind.
"How would I check the status of my quest?" the student asked his Master. As Johannes asked, now a small wrinkle formed on Atem's forehead, followed by squinted eyes and raised eyebrows. Despite his assumption that Master would know, his gaze had darkened slightly.
"I am no god, Johannes. I am merely a shard of the system, having existed longer than time would know", his face slowly relaxed. "However, I would recommend doing what feels the most natural."
"That's ... it?" Johannes carefully asked.
"Yes. Don't question me." Master Atem scoffed at him with slight anger about his impertinence.
It's not like you actually know, don't give me that. Why would I not questionyour reliability?
Johannes would have loved to say this, but he would have met his end sooner than later if he had.
"Oh no, Master. I would never dare show impertinence." Johannes folded his frail hands and carefully positioned them in front of himself, as if he were praying. Combining this with a smile that was so over the top that it could be perceived as mocking, he attempted to recreate a heartfelt gesture of goodwill.
"... For starters, please don't forget my name again", his Master muttered as he looked into his awkward student's eyes.
"... Sorry", Johannes now looked at the ground that was as much glowing as it was dark. He noticed how it was just slightly coated with water. It almost appeared to be carefully placed.
"You'll figure it out once you are back in your world. Just come back again when you're able to run. Okay?" Master Atem added.
Johannes hesitantly nodded, and after a last warm smile from his Master, he felt a light tap on his forehead and was blown back into reality.