Tarthocas: Chronicles of the Transmigrating Scribe Chapter 64: Caecitas Mortis [1]

Read chapter 64 of Tarthocas: Chronicles of the Transmigrating Scribe by Bigmachine on NovelPedia.

Death is the permanent, complete and utter cessation of all functions of any structure which was previously in a state of operation. —————————————————————————————————————————— A world of ice was all there was. Frozen corpses littered the world like discarded trash. The bodies of beings, incomprehensible and as large as mountains, were a common sight. In that tundra reality, a single individual stood. Their back was clearly visible through the frost, bearing a marking resembling a distorted circle. Their white hair blended seamlessly with the frozen world. Suddenly, they flinched and began to turn back. The world quaked as their eyes almost met mine. Then, everything went black. ———————————————————————————————————————— "Oi, Wilhelm, get up!" A voice startled Wilhelm awake. His panicked state of mind gradually calmed as he looked at his surroundings. The Mountain of Prosperity. The grand greenery could have awestruck the average stranger, yet Wilhelm was used to it. He looked to his side and saw his friend, Morgan. "Oi, don't tell me you actually dozed off there! I thought you were just pretending!" Morgan exclaimed, studying Wilhelm's face in surprise. Wilhelm sighed, giving a sheepish smile. "Guess I did." He stood up, feeling the spring air caress his face. "Oi, don't fall asleep again!" Morgan slapped the back of Wilhelm's head. "You have to go to the opening ceremony of The Western Academy!" Morgan urged. Wilhelm's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, that's today!?" He didn't wait for an answer, immediately breaking into a run. "Run, Wilhelm, run!" Morgan shouted after him, watching his friend sprint away. "Man, I hope I don't sleep through the ceremony like him," Morgan muttered, sighing as he said a silent prayer. Meanwhile, Wilhelm ran as if there were no tomorrow. Even though his mortal body hadn't yet begun the refining process, he astoundingly covered several kilometers in just ten minutes. As the Mountain of Prosperity's boundary finally came into view, Wilhelm let out a gleeful shout, jumping as he ran in hopes of gaining more speed. Suddenly, he noticed a guard stationed near the gate at the path's end. "Move! I'm going to be late!" Wilhelm shouted. The guard frowned, but then his gaze fell upon the insignia on Wilhelm's chest. Recognition glimmered in his eyes as he swiftly stepped aside to let Wilhelm pass. Wilhelm ran and ran, passing buildings and people who glanced at his 'peculiar' style of running. The adults shot him disturbed looks, while the children giggled. "Come on! Faster!" Wilhelm gritted his teeth, feeling exhaustion creeping up at last. Soon, he instinctively began to slow down. His vision blurred, and he struggled to catch his breath. Unable to see clearly, he could only hope he was heading in the right direction. "Shit," he thought, stumbling as fatigue overtook him. Suddenly, he glimpsed a large construct ahead. "There!" Wilhelm recognized it as the teleportation circle. Just a few more steps, only a few more, and he— THUD! Without realizing it, Wilhelm collapsed onto the ground. "No!" he groaned in pain and despair. As his consciousness began to fade, he struggled to move until, at last, he slipped into unconsciousness. People nearby were about to help him—some even starting to approach—when they stopped and, inexplicably, walked away. All except a single individual. It was a middle-aged man, his face lined with deep wrinkles and his lips curled into a smile. "Let's give you a hand." As clarity returned to Wilhelm's mind, he was assaulted by a blinding wave of light. "What the…" Wilhelm raised his arms to block the light, trying to make sense of his situation. Then everything came flooding back: His dreams. Dozing off on the mountain. Running to catch the teleportation circle. And failing. "I… fell." Wilhelm thought, dispirited. The academy would have plenty of challenges, and though he'd expected to stumble at some point, he hadn't thought that a quick nap would be what took him down. Bitterness wel