Rise of the Nightmare Crestmaster

Two extra chapters will be released next week, a big thank you to The_Boss_9517, for the Castle and also damn you! I will have to write even more now…

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****

Aldrich closed his eyes and willed himself to be in the nightmare world after his daily meditation.

A few minutes later he opened eyes back in the nightmare town. He succeeded, he had felt that his connection with the seal of Tindalor had deepened after he visited the Fractured chapel.

He didn't need to sleep anymore to get here he just needed to focus for five minutes and that made his mobility much more flexible.

Aldrich didn't plan on hunting much today he was here to read that journal again, this time slowly.

This was a valuable source of information that Aldrich desperately needed. Understanding the nightmare realm and Voros was of outmost priority.

Voros was the old name of this nightmare town, long ago before everything went to shit.

Aldrich sat down one the now cleaned study room and took out the mysterious journal. First re-read the two pages from last time just to jog his memory.

Next he flipped on the next page.

"My introduction has gone on for a bit too long, I hope that you aren't bored or frustrated with me. But I have a little bit more to say before you can officially start with the journal.

A few warnings and a bit of advice. I can't help but nag, the future is uncertain.

I am conflicted as write this maybe it's the old age getting to me or the madness that enslaved us all. On one hand I wish that we are truly the last of our kin. And on the other hand, in case we failed, I hope someone out there will continue in our place.

My first warning to you is to be careful of the Slanted hill shack, leave it be, do not look into it. It doesn't concern us, keep your focus on the Overseer's mansion.

The shack is an anomaly containing a terrible curse, and it's suspected of hosting a fourth advancement being. It is beyond your imagination.

So long as you don't approach it, it too will mind it's own business.

Next, tell me friend, did you think that you are truly immortal?"

Aldrich's eyes shook as he read that question, what does that mean? Of course he is immortal. Simply put there is no doubt about it. He himself was well aware of that fact.

And yet, how did the other Lost Ones die out? Was it out of old age? Aldrich didn't want to think about that, he had gotten too comfortable with his 'ability.'

But, Aldrich was not one to run away from reality, at least not for very long. He flipped the page.

"Let me ask you again did you think that you were immortal? That you had no need to fear death? Is there really such a thing?

There will always be a price for what is bestowed.

No, no. There is no such thing as a free gift in life. You are cursed my friend, and so were all of us. It is best to accept it as soon as possible, otherwise it will be the cause of many tragic tales.

There are blood red crystals in our souls, these crystals are what makes us what we are, and grants us 'immortality', however that is also the source of our curse.

The source of our blessings is also the source of our curse.

There is a beast in the heart of every man, as time goes on the beast walks out and you are locked in. Forever."

Aldrich clicked his tongue in frustration, what did that mean? Why did he have to be so cryptic about it? Is it not better to be clear when you leave a message to the future generations?

"I will elaborate on this later on, for now you should know that you must prevent yourself from dying as much as possible. For for every life like it is your last.

It is the only way to endure the transformations and trials ahead of you. Remember you are still mortal, if you believe otherwise then you have already lost.

Lastly, to end the introduction on a slightly brighter note, I left you some magic items in the Pure chapel. Now, the first one is easy to get but I hide the others and sealed them behind barriers, to get them you have to prove yourself.

Don't be mad at me, it's only natural that you have to work for something valuable. There's another gift, if you put your favorite weapon in the cauldron it will get a free enhancement.

The cauldron is the vase-looking thing with many fist-sized holes besides the obsidian slab. Both had long since existed here, as far as I know, they existed in the chapel since the beginning.

The obsidian slab has the special power of allowing you to use the essence orbs you collected to improve your basic attributes. It could even purify Deadman's Remnants which is the basis for our strength.

Use it wisely.

Directly beneath where you got the journal there is a false bottom under the rug, there you will find the Cloak of the Unseen. It's an excellent magic item for freedom of movement."

Aldrich tried to flip to the next page but he was once again struck with a terrible headache and could hardly think straight. This happened to him last time too.

Somehow he was restricted from reading more than two pages a day. Obviously this wasn't a coincidence, Aldrich didn't believe that the same thing could happen twice unprompted.

But it was this knowledge that intrigued him and scared him at once. This man was clearly dead a thousand years ago but he still had so many tricks.

But, Aldrich didn't rule out that this may have more to do with the Fractured chapel than the writer of the journal. That place was clearly special.

Aldrich wanted to go and get that cloak at least but he was not in the best condition and Aldrich didn't want to risk going there when he wasn't in top shape.

The writer of the journal called it the Pure chapel and he clearly had great confidence that the chapel was absolutely safe. He left the journal there because he believed it would never be outrun by monsters ever.

But, clearly the chapel from that time was different, right now, Aldrich didn't feel all that safe in there. There was this sort of skin crawling feeling behind it.

So he opted to return back to the real world, today was the day he was going to know about the quests of the guild's exam. Since he gained some interesting information he might as well call it a night.

****

It was noon and Aldrich had just finished preparing dinner, it was a spicy chicken soup. But he wasn't planning on eating it alone, he wrapped it up.

He could see that Irene was returning just now through the window, she had several books in her hand. She must have been to some library or maybe she took the time to study outside.

Aldrich waited for her to settle down and then pickup the soup and nocked three times on her door. A while later a voice asked.

"Who is it?"

"Irene, it's me Aldrich I came by to give you some soup as thank you for last time."

The door opened and Irene looked a little awkward, "ah, you didn't have to, really. It's fine already."

"Can't I invited you for a meal? Wouldn't I be an ungrateful bastard?"

"Well, since you already cooked and everything. I'll take it."

"That's great," Aldrich smiled, held his breath and tried to hide the nervousness behind him, "oh, can I come in to greet your grandfather? It would be rude of me not to."

Irene seemed to have frozen in place for a moment or was that his imagination? before she said, "sure, come on in. It's a good chance for you two to meet."

'That's all? I was ready for a physical confrontation. Could it be that my worries were unfounded?'

Aldrich walked in, following behind Irene. The apartment was a replica of his own except it was much neater and more colorful. The curtains had the likeness of a lighthouse sewn on them, giving it a personalized look.

In the common room Irene put the soup container on the food table and scolded in the direction of the couch.

"Grandfather! This is our neighbor, Aldrich. The one who recently moved in, don't be rude."

Silence.

Suddenly Irene got heated, her face got beet red, "grandfather, this is not the time! Come say something nice!"

She turned to Aldrich, "I'm sorry my grandfather has always been like this. He's not good with people and could blurt out the first thing that comes to mind."

Aldrich's faced was pale as his back was bathed in cold sweat, he looked between the couch and Irene because there was no one else here besides the two of them.