I created my own system

"Then it only means that somehow you remind him of his teacher to the point that he believes you were him in your first encounter. Apollo how did you exactly appear before him"

"Me? Well, flashy, I supposed, someone befitting the Mage's tower. I filled my body with spells and used it as my weapon during our battle"

"A mage..hmmm," she just murmured, then proceeded to flip the pages. Her eyes were moving just as fast as she moved from one page to another. Eventually, she stopped and whispered a name, Apollo. That name slipped through her lips as her eyes changed again; it was very different from how she looked at me, though she didn't know their difference.

Even though she spoke my name, I didn't answer; somehow, the way she called my name made me feel it wasn't meant for me, that she was referring to someone else, someone very distant yet very familiar to her.

I just looked at her, waiting for her to speak. Fortunately, I didn't wait for too long.

"This I just an idea but I think I know who he was referring to"

"Who"

Suddenly, I felt a sudden rush, and my heart started beating fast; I don't know if this was excitement or merely due to nervousness, but soon, the sensation I felt was immediately shut down by the system. A cooling effect comes after smoothing my nervous mind.

"There was one Apollo who might fit your characteristics, though he was someone who existed a very long time ago"

"How long is this time you are referring to?"

"Quite long, maybe a thousand years"

"A thousand years?"

"Yes"

"Wait, does that mean Nero had existed for one thousand years?"

"Possibly but it is still just a speculation we are not certain yet"

"One thousand years is enough to gather not just power but also knowledge, it seems he is more dangerous than I thought"

Then I noticed Alicia's eyes were still looking at the name like she wanted to stop herself from thinking; it was as if she didn't want to believe the conclusion she had made.

"Tell me what kind of Apollo was he?"

Perhaps it was the reason why you keep looking like that, why you look so regretful. Did something happen to Apollo? Were you hurt because of it?

"This Apollo existed one thousand years ago and received a second name from the emperor for his achievement in magic. I am certain at some point, you have already heard his name, though it might be different; his name is Apollo Elias Von Lionheart. Tell me, have Apollo, have you ever heard of that name before?"

"Wait, did you just say Elias?"

"Yes, Apollo, mostly known as Elias, founded the greatest spells that paved the way for magic in the empire. Mage mostly known as Elias but for the ranks of knights he was a magic swordmaster, revered as Apollo Von Lionheart"

"When the breakout happened he died protecting the temple along with his beloved student"

"He has a student"

"Yes a student, one he was very proud of"

Her words were like sharp needles that immediately numbed my head with confusion, what is even more confusing is how it affects me this much. As if I am being stabbed repeatedly, I am confused as to why I felt this emotion when it shouldn't be that surprising.

WHY AM I REACTING THIS WAY?

With my emotions spiking up, the system immediately reacted; however, despite its interference, a sudden headache still struck me, it felt like something was trying to enter my mind, but somehow it couldn't, like it couldn't bypass a wall to reach me. The numbness spread, and it began to envelop my entire being; I was completely devoured with no room for escape. From the numbness, I was left with nothing to feel, though that didn't last for long; a presence soon showed itself, though it might more accurately say a voice.

{Tell.....me.....who are you.....}

What?

I am Apollo

{Yes you are.....don't you ever forget that}

It was that voice again, but this time his voice wasn't so distant as before

For a moment, my entire senses were clouded by that mysterious voice until a sensation from my cheek spread, pulling me back to reality.

"Apollo? Hey"

I was taken aback until a pair of calm ruby-like eyes looked at me with concern.

It was Alicia, her eyes locked on me while both of her hands were holding my cheeks. It seems she was squeezing them out to get a reaction from me.

"Are you finally awake?"

She asked, her voice not as cold as usual.

"We should stop for today, I will do my own research in the meantime, for now, please rest"

"I am alright," I rejected her decision; I was too curious to rest; I needed to find an answer more than the time to rest.

"No..." She insisted, one of her hands moving from my cheeks to my chest. Then, with a light push, I suddenly found myself in my room, lying in bed with my clothes changed into sleepwear.

"Wait, what just happened?" I mumbled while aimlessly looking at the ceiling.

[Rest just like she said]

"Hey, Jeremiah, have you ever wondered how we acquired one of the fragments?"

[That I am not certain, and I also have no data about the appearance or any kind of characteristics of the fragments is why I can't create any conclusion]

"Then everything should be done by me"

I began to meditate; closing my eyes, I tried to take a glimpse of my body by scanning the flow of energy inside me. Slowly, an image formed inside my head, and each strand of power consisting of my body was revealed to me. Then, from the physical realm, my vision brought me to my soul. And there I saw myself stored inside a tiny wisp, it was floating up and down. But more than that, deep within me were shards of golden light. It was a different kind of light than the one I saw before and even the one I saw from the power of the authorities.

"So, are these the fragments?"

[It's so tiny and I never anticipated that it could be found here]

"Alicia that the fragments hold great magic, I wonder how powerful it can be"

[Should I analyze it?]

"It's fine, I already did, but what concerns me is how these fragments can completely assimilate themselves into me. My body, especially my soul, is not showing any signs of rejection from the fragments. I don't know if the fragments are like this by nature, or because I am an Apollo"

Collecting the fragments is my role; thus, my body is suitable for taking in those fragmented soul pieces. However, if the fragments are simply easy to absorb, then that might pose a problem.

"What should I do if someone other than me absorbs the fragment? How should I retrieve it?"

[It either we found ways to extract it or we destroy the vessel that holds the fragment]

"Ah, so you think once we break whatever is holding the fragment, it will look for another vessel? And since my body is the best suited for it, though this is also our speculation. The fragment will go to me as long as I am in perimeter"

[There are many holes in our idea but that is the guise of it, Creator]

"So many things are going the wrong way"

[Is it because of Nero?]

"Yes, but more than that, these fragments are very dangerous; just a few pieces of it, and I can feel how enormous the power it has. Just the thought of someone gaining them is frightening"

[Should we wait for Lady Alicia to give us more information, or should we make our own move?]

"Sigh..... let rest, she did tell us to take it easy"

Without hesitation, I stopped my meditation and pulled the quilt at the side of the bed to sleep.

"I hope tomorrow is better than what's happening now"

Tired of all the complications I left, my fatigue took me to the realm of dreams.

.

.

.

{Apollo!}

A voice called me, it was very sweet and cheerful. Curiously, I looked for the source, and in the middle of a beautiful garden, a girl looked at me with great affection.

{Apollo, what are you doing? Come here}

She beckoned me to approach her, but slowly, as I walked, the feeling of drowning devoured me. Soon, the voice and the girl disappear, replaced by a dark, shady room; however, the place changes. Lights emerge one by one revealing a huge library that felt familiar to me. Among the pile of books, I saw a man, standing in the middle. I could not see his face due to his hood but I knew deep inside that I already saw him before.

{Ah...you finally came...though still very weak...}

He said as he waved his hand as if summoning an item.

Then, for some unknown, I felt something moving around me; I looked around only to see golden glowing lights dancing across my body.

{Comeback once you have gathered more}