An adolescent boy sits on his bed. Certainly this boy was devoid of any energy you could expect of a boy his age. A boy whose plainness absorbs your impression of him. Average stature, average looks, average physique, average strength, average mana, average talent, all complemented by his listless personality. Such a person was Avery.
Many at this age dream of harnessing powers of arcane sigils, or brandishing a knight's enchanted greatsword, yet these thoughts were not of any concern to young Avery. Many ambitions were too lofty to reach for and reckless endeavours were not at all his specialty: Avery considered harbouring dreams mere whimsy and unnecessary for the longevity of his life.
But Avery remains dutiful to his family despite his philosophies involving inaction. He plans to never make the same self-serving mistakes his late father made.
Avery's mother, a middle-aged woman (whose features greatly resemble Avery's) currently stands outside the door to Avery's room. Unlike her son, her demeanour could be described to be hospitable and amply energetic.
Avery's mother opens the door enough for her to peer through the cracks and speak. "Hey, Avery could you go fetch something?"
"Fetch what." A statement Avery believed to be repeated so many times that any prior intrigue has been inevitably seized from his voice.
"Food for your siblings of course!"
Avery simply responds with a nod, walks past his mum, and readies to leave.
==================
Askeladd's Village Centre
==================
Avery roams through the streets of Askeladd. He glances only in one direction, ignoring the raffle around him. The village buzzes with prosperity, children playing, market stools bustling with customers, families out for a stroll. The flowers in the fields bloom with vibrant colours: the tree leaves sway with a verdant green; and the birds revel in the warmth of mother nature, chirping enthusiastically.
Avery reaches his destination without so much of a glance on his surroundings. The baker now stares at him waiting for a remark of some sort.
"I've come to buy 2 freshly baked bread."
"Only 1 I assume?" The baker asks reluctantly.
"Why only 1? You know there's 4 people who'll share this bread right?"
"4? You have some friends over?"
"No." Avery promptly responds.
"Then who? Your mother's friends?"
"No."
"Then who?" The baker forms a puzzled look.
"Me, my mother, and my siblings."
"Haha, you know your older brother and sister got drafted when they were 15."
"But I'm 15."
Each brief, prompt response leaves the baker increasingly irritated.
"Yes you are. Avery, your siblings are 3 years older than you."
"What." Avery's head felt a sudden burst of pain. An overwhelming sense of confusion floods his brain.
"Hey, Avery are you okay!"
Avery grunts as he attempts to endure the pain. He stumbles and barely manages to hold on to the wooden beam connected to the bakery stand. After a brief moment, he musters enough energy to say, "Yes… I just need some rest."
The baker hands Avery the bread and sends him off with a worried look.
Hobbling through town, the before bustling town could be seen to now be barren. The flowers took on colours of grey. The chirping birds couldn't be seen, nor could Avery feel the warmth of nature.
However, Avery couldn't muster the strength to worry about his surroundings, as he continues to endure the sharp pain. Slowly the buildings around him fell to dust, and cracks started forming in the sky around him.
A lustrous light scatters across Avery's world, painting the scenery in a bright white. He starts losing his orientation and senses, and the sharp pain persists.
"Oh. I remember now." Avery utters, and shortly after he drops to the ground.
===
???
===
A small voice projects through Avery's ear, "Wake up."
The voice projects again but louder, "Oi boy, I said wake up!"
Avery still makes no response.
The voice projects again but this time with enough volume it could be felt throughout all the nerves in his body. "OI I SAID WAKE THE FUCK UP YOU YOUNG RODENT!"
"WHAT." Avery shoots up.
"Finally. In my entire life I've never actually been ignored by someone so much."He strokes his thick beard. "Actually, apart from my love Sophia haha… Anyways. Avery do you understand why you are here?"
Avery stares at the figure before him —ignoring the folly just shown. A person struck by old age. Yet, time did not diminish his presence. A face wizened from the passage of time. Yet, such marks only further complementing his exalt. Hairs dyed with the colour of an ethereal white. Not one feature of his could tell you that he was ordinary.
"How old are you?" Avery bluntly asks.
"That doesn't answer my question you vulgar rodent. I assume you're asking so because I appear so youthful compared to my actual age. Well, in reality my actual age is still the ripe age of one hundred and twent-"
"Damn." Avery is slightly shocked by the age of this old man.
The old man seethes in anger. But he manages to restrain such emotion and returns back to a stern look. He solemnly states, "Avery this is not the time to be spouting erratic comedy, do you not know what is happening to this world?"
"No."
"The world is falling apart, you're the only one who can stop this disaster." The old man states, but seemingly despite what he said he appeared oddly apathetic.
Avery replies with, "How cliché." The old man grimaces. "Explain how I could stop the world from falling apart. I'm sure someone of your calibre would be able to discern my lack of capabilities right?"
"Of my calibre? I've yet to introduce myself."
"Well, someone who's able to break me from a curse and transfer me to a mind world should be exhibiting enough. Am I wrong?"
"So you gathered that you were under a curse."
"Well, if my memories and senses were manipulated to the point of complete immersion, I suppose I can guess so."
"You can understand it like that if you will."
"This is not a complex observation, I believe?"
"You would be shocked as to know how many dunces there are roaming in this world."
"But there aren't any other people apart from us in this world, so are you the other dunce?"
The old man was spread with so much livid anger that fumes seemingly left his head. A redness spread through his wrinkled face.
Avery was confused as to why the old man was to state such cryptic words, but understood that no further information may be given if he asked. "Avery you are currently put under a ?!#% Spell: Dr?#% W_?!d, a world tha-"
The mind world started oscillating. Each word uttered from the old man's mouth was rendered unintelligible.
The old man extended his arms and then drew a circle in the air with his fingers. Then comes a line, a triangle and a square all subsequently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Square Spell: Telepathy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The old man then plants his hands with his fingers sprawled across the centre of the magic circle. Luminescence flows through his fingertips into the shapes he superimposed into reality. As the light finishes permeating the magic circle dissolves into tiny sparks.
"Avery only you can break out of this spell, I have not the time remaining to explain to you anything more." The old man wistfully sighs. "I'll see you again Avery."
"What? How do you know who I am? You haven't even said your name-"
Darkness now permeated Avery's view, pure unfiltered darkness.
…
The time Avery spent floating in this space felt like a few days to him. A despair brewed inside, but it was stalled by Avery's confusion and desire to know his purpose. Despite this, gradually, he lost his sense of time, and with it his remaining consciousness flew from his grasp.