In the heart of the "Dragon Nest," the hidden stronghold of the Horizon Wings tribe, nestled in a fertile valley rich in natural resources in the southeastern regions of the vast continent of Ceria, stood Abid, the superdragon Knight, alone under a dawn sky beginning to turn violet and orange. His bronze scales reflected the first light of morning, and his gray eyes, bearing the depth of a high 29-point Wisdom, gazed at the distant horizon with endless wonder. Abid was tall, his body sculpted with power (15), but he was known among his clan not only for his fighting prowess or the great axe he wielded, but also for his extreme politeness and consideration for the feelings of others. These qualities made him an exception in a world that often prized physical strength above all else, especially among powerful Dragon Knights. The Dragon's Nest was a thriving village, its houses hewn into the mountain rocks or built from sturdy timbers brought by the valley's rivers. Life here was characterized by order and cooperation, with the young practicing martial arts and the adults helping to protect the nest and gather the abundant resources of their region. However, Abid's calm was not merely a personality trait; it reflected a tumultuous inner world, one torn apart by philosophical curiosity and a desire to understand the truths of existence.
That early morning, while most of the nest was still asleep, Abid practiced his daily exercises with his great axe, his movements fluid and powerful, each stroke reflecting years of mastery. His agility (7) wasn't the most prominent, but his mastery (Intelligence 23, Strength 15) made up for it. With each swing of the axe, his mind was occupied not only with technique but with the questions that swirled around him like shadows of night. "What is the true purpose of our power?" he wondered. "Is it to protect aw clan... or to search for a deeper truth?"
A young knight, Karan, who was still learning martial arts, passed by and stopped to greet Abid with amazement. "Good morning, Master Abid! You've started your training early, as usual." Abid smiled politely, a simple gesture that suited his nature. "Good morning, Karan. The quiet before sunrise is a time for reflection and deep training." Karan noticed Abid's distraction; the wisdom that shone in Abid's eyes was always a mixture of calm and constant searching. "You seem preoccupied, Master. Is there something troubling our clan?" Abid replied, his voice calm and considerate, not wanting to sow anxiety in the young man's heart. "Nothing direct, Karan. Just age-old questions about our place in this world, and our world's place in the infinite." Karan left, but Abid's words lingered. Such depth of thought was unfamiliar to most HorizonWings Clan knights, who were often focused on practical duties and protecting the tribe. But Abid was different, for his high intelligence (23) and exceptional wisdom (29) always drove him beyond the surface, to search for the hidden meaning in everything.
Stars and the Writer's Whispers
As night fell on Seria, the view changed dramatically. There were no suns or multiple moons, only a deep blue sky studded with a single, intensely shining point of light, known as the "Star of Beginning." This star was the cosmic compass of the Seriaans, the only reference point in their sky. For the HorizonWings, the Star of Beginning was a symbol of their origins, mentioned in their lore that the "Eye of the Creator" was watching over them, or the "First Spark of Life" from which all the races of Seria sprang.
Abid sat on a high rocky promontory overlooking the "Dragon's Nest," his eyes fixed on the Star of Beginning. The sight was captivating, yet also deeply concerning. He gazed at the star, a faint image of ancient drawings he had seen in the tribe's sacred cave flashed in his mind. These depicted the Star of Beginning surrounded by strange, geometric, almost mechanical lines that did not fit the idea of a divine eye or spark. This image whispered to him that there was more to it than the myths that saturated their culture.
These questions weren't born in the moment. Years ago, when Abid was still a young knight, his curiosity and wisdom had driven him to delve into his clan's deepest secrets. At that time, he infiltrated the tribe's oldest archives, a small, fortified library known as the "Cave of the Elders," where rarely opened manuscripts were kept. There, among vast, dusty volumes, he found a small, torn fragment of an ancient manuscript, apparently hidden for generations. Abid privately named it the "Whispering Manuscript."
Written in a strange, unknown language, the manuscript spoke of "an entity called the Scribe, who wove the threads of reality" and of the world of Siria being "merely a story of his own imagination." Another, more concerning, phrase echoed in his mind: "I am not commissioned by a god, but a character in a tale." At that moment, Abid felt a severe headache and a numb jaw, side effects he later experienced when trying to understand foreign languages without full ability.
Those simple words shattered his world. Abid had been raised on values of goodness and politeness, and on the belief that his good deeds had meaning and resonated within the fabric of existence. But the idea that everything is just a story, and that they were not mandated by God, sparked a profound philosophical struggle within him. Were his politeness and consideration for others merely scripted roles? Were his superdragon strength and noble purpose part of a pre-ordained script? It was a seismic question that threatened to shake the foundations of his morality and existence.
Inner Conflict and Ancestral Advice
In the days that followed, these questions never subsided. Abid would spend long hours pondering, using his intelligence and wisdom to analyze every angle of this devastating idea. He felt the weight of this knowledge, which he had not shared with anyone, lest it sow doubt and anxiety in the hearts of his tribe. Abid's kind and courteous nature made him wary of destabilizing his community.
Abid, driven by his innate curiosity for truth, decided to seek the advice of the Elder Nardan. Nardan was the oldest member of the Horizon Wings clan, blind but with spiritual insight beyond the ordinary. He was known for his vast wisdom and mysterious, often prophetic, words. Nardan spent his days in a small, isolated cave on the outskirts of the Dragon's Nest, surrounded by ancient scrolls and statues, the scent of incense and herbs filling the air.
When Abid entered, Nardan's presence was immediately felt. "Welcome, Dragon Knight, of the Restless Mind," Nardan's deep, raspy voice spoke. "I see the star casting its questions over your heart."
Abid bowed respectfully and cautiously offered his question. "Sheikh Nardan, I have encountered ancient whispers, speaking of our world as a story, of our existence as roles. Are these merely cautionary tales, or do they contain a glimpse of a painful truth?"
Nardan smiled slowly, his face etched with the furrows of years and wisdom. "Abid, the fabric of existence is complex, its threads woven by many hands, some visible, others hidden behind the curtain. Myths are not always mere imagination; they often mirror the truth, albeit a confused one."
Nardan spoke slowly and deliberately, his words echoing through the cavernous space. "The seeker's true wisdom is not in finding answers, but in asking the right questions. True freedom is not in choosing a path, but in knowing that you are on one. Do you understand, Abid?"
Abid listened intently, Nardan's words beginning to connect the scattered threads in his mind. "But, Sheik, if our world is a story, what is the meaning of our actions? Is our good, or our evil, real?"
Nardan sighed. "The meaning, Abid, lies not in the source of the story, but in how you experience it. Even a written character can choose how to interact with their text. Do you choose to be a mere puppet, or fill your role with the spirit and truth you create yourself?"
Nardan's tone then turned warning. "But beware, Abid, the search for insight beyond the curtain can be fraught with danger. Hallucinations await those who extend their gaze into other dimensions. One might see errors in the fabric of the story; this could confuse them and lead them to lose their mind. I have seen those who have fallen prey to these illusions before."
Abid remembered at that moment what the "Whispering Manuscript" said about "interferences from other dimensions." Nardan's words reinforced his doubt, but they also sparked a determination within him. The search for truth was not just curiosity, but a duty.
The Decision and Departure
With his meeting with Elder Nardan over, Abid returned to his favorite spot under the night sky, where the Star of Beginnings shone high above. His wisdom (29) and intelligence (23) had gathered all these scattered thoughts. The Scribe, the Star, the Origin of all races from "one place called the Beginning"—all these concepts were inextricably intertwined.
He could no longer retreat. He could no longer live with these doubts plaguing his being. As a superdragon knight of the Dragon Race, he had the power and ability to seek these truths. As a gentle and considerate person, he felt a deep responsibility to his clan and to all the people of Siria. If this world is a story, they must know. If there was a way to break the shackles, or even to understand freedom within this framework, they must find it.
The decision had crystallized in his mind: he would begin his journey. It would be a journey to unlock the mysteries of existence. His first destination was clear: the "Ghedi Collection," the legendary library containing "rare and ancient volumes." There, he hoped to find more references to the "Scribe" and the "Star of Beginning," and to deepen his understanding of the origins of their world.
Abid looked at the twinkling star, which now looked more than just a point of light in the sky. It seemed like whispering to him, a focal point of supernatural energy, that might be connected to the beginning of existence. It was a formidable challenge, a perilous journey across the vast continent of Ceria, where dangers abound in the northwest regions and resources are scarce. He would have to face bandits and the diverse and dangerous beasts of Ceria, and handle the challenges with wisdom and strength.
But Abid was unafraid. His Charisma (10) and Wisdom (29) would help him deal with the people, and his Strength (15) and combat skills would be his armor. Abid was a Super Knight, and it was time to harness his abilities not only to protect the familiar but to seek the Absolute.
This was the beginning of the "Journey of the Knower." A journey in which he is no longer just a knight with an axe, but a seeker carrying the burden of profound questions about meaning, existence, and freedom in a world that may be just a story. Tomorrow, he will bid farewell to his clan, explaining to them his noble purpose, and embark on an unknown path, heading towards the unknown, his heart filled with the desire to unravel great mysteries.