The World Of Infinity - Ultimate Setup

Ch. 13 - The Soul (part 1)

His mental fatigue overwritten by the unexpectedly rapid discovery of a new step on his quest, Hael eagerly proceeded to inspect the area. 

Just as it had seemed from above, the structure of Whiterock was not a complication of different pieces, rather the whole city was like a single piece of art. Everything was carved from the same stone, and everything had its roots on the same solid white bedrock. 

After witnessing this beauty of simplicity and the smoothness of the stone Hael felt a strong need to rub his body against them... Perhaps even lick them a little... But surely he couldn't do that...

Except that he could. Despite such a marvelous city, not a single NPC, was found. In addition to that every single door was locked. The Whiterock, appeared empty.

"Could it be...", Hael thought, "That Im the first one to reach this place?"

Judging from the current situation, that he needed some more time to decide for his next actions, Hael headed for the center. 

Unlike the starting town that presented just a humble marketplace at the center, Whiterock boasted with a monument that compared fairly even to the warrior within the capital.

This one was a statue of a being placed before an altar. The statue was about 3 meters tall and pretty slim. It pictured a person with the head of a hawk and a body of a man with four hands sitting legs crossed while performing various prayers. Even while wearing ragged clothes, it still appeared majestic... Divine even.

Hael approached the statue but stopped after achieving a sudden realization. 

"This was what they called a shrine wasn't it..." 

His inner monologue was interrupted when receiving a pop up. Someone had sent him... a message? 

In the first case it was bewildering to him that anyone would ever want to make contact with him, but secondarily not at any point did Hael even bother thinking that a system like this existed... 

Wondering who might it be, Hael reached out to open it, but realized at that moment realized that it could only be Carmel and withdrew his hand. He wouldn't dare open it... But then again why would she contact him if she was now afraid of his person. 

After a small battle, curiosity emerged victorious again and he ended up opening the popup anyway. To his great surprise wasn't from Carmel. 

The sender was a player named "HittoShogun." 

"..."

It had to be the guy with the bow. Hael knew it. Such poor imagination when naming a character could only be him who somehow resembled Hael. The message displayed the following:

"You left in such a hurry that I didn't have time to state my full business, even though I think you got the vague idea. I wanted to see for myself if you were a person with whom I could join forces with.

Perplexed, Hael scratched his cheek and continued reading, 

"I wish to discuss about these matters further in person, but it seems I as well am required to defeat the Keeper before taking the same path you already walked... From one thing to another, I don't appreciate you leaving this girl in my hands at all. She insisted on following you, to the point of almost leaving this one to ashes multiple times... Eventually I managed to talk her over to give you a little time, but it seems I wont be able to delay my fight with the Keeper for long... Still this one plans on honoring your soundless request and keep an eye out for the girl until we meet again. Which would better be soon."