The System Guild

Author's note

Introduction

***

"Ah, so were you on break or did you just finish doing a round?"

...

"For me, I had to do back-to-back reading and writing, but it's a lifestyle that people like me have to get used to."

...

"Aside from studying as a student and taking care of the family, writing stories (like Returning Home), to share with you...

"Heh heh...you're not much of a talker, are you? That's fine, you always were one to just listen and read."

...

We were sitting near the back of a bus, passing the gritty skyscrapers and soft green hills, the condensed townhouses and mud-brick homes, the ruby-red desserts and the enchanted teal seas.

The bus--well it now became a train--we were on was empty. We were the only passenger.

If you read this, you will realize that I am not quoting my words anymore. That is because we have linked our thoughts at this very moment. Although this "me" will not be the same as the "me" outside this world, our minds have been perfectly synced. What I see out of the window, you can also see (but it may appear hazy).

"It's almost time for our stop, you wanna see what I see?"

...

The landscape started to come apart in chunks, dissipating into fine specks. These little specks flickered before being shot far, far away into the galaxy. The twinkling sky had gradually lost all light, turning into the void. There were no stars in the sky, emptiness tempted to break through our window and engulf us in the darkness too.

Suddenly, everything outside the window flashed white, forcing our eyes to try and readjust. It was like a flashlight hitting our eyes that have been accustomed to the night. However, this sight just would not go away. The only thing we could do was avoid looking at the window and focus on the inside of this transportation car.

"All passenger, this is the last stop--the System Guild--please step towards the exit..." a metallic voice continued to drone.

Rather than the classic, automatic and metallic exit door, it was a chestnut wooden door with brown lacquer. On it was a glass plaque with the name "System Guild" etched to the surface.

Allow me to knock on the door. After all, you let me do anything I want. You can't stop our actions, so let's have fun and enjoy this story. Hopefully, we can part ways at the end and do another round of reading/writing.

Who knows, maybe we will see each other again someday, linking our mind and souls to understand more worlds not our own.