Chapter 3: Former mascot becomes a guide
It would be rude to show up dirty in front of the commander, even if the commander was your family, albeit adopted.
After cleaning himself and changing into his formal uniform, Niveus was ready to meet with the commander.
But, before he could open the door leading outside his room, he stopped moving when a voice rang in his head.
["Niveus, a Monolith has appeared in the nearby village."]
"Really? That may be why Starling calls me."
Niveus thought for a moment.
"Thanks for the heads up, Nono."
Niveus, or Rey's mascot character, Nono, was the persona he identified with on the internet.
Initially, Nono was drawn in a shape like a game window in an RPG. Then Rey drew Nono's human form to make his persona more memorable for his followers and fans.
Rey even used his mascot as an in-game helper in his game 'The Heir Sought For The Thorny Crown,' and also for a trivia check in his comic book 'Saving The World Once Again.'
Now, just like how the characters from the game and the tribe from the comic existed in this world, Nono was also here as his guide, taking the form of a unique Beacon that no one else but Niveus had.
In this world, most people had a system called Beacon, as if they were characters inside a game. The system helped them to inspect things they wanted to know, though not always successful.
With a Beacon, someone could look at their personal profiles, such as identity, skills, combat powers, et cetera. Also, people with a Beacon were usually stronger than those without because their growth possibility was almost endless, though it was actually depended on one's Forte and Radix Grade.
While it was true that the system acted as their helper and guide, it wasn't a sentient being. However, that was different for Niveus' system, Nono.
Nono, although she had the same aspect as the other systems, was different because she had her own mind. She could hold an actual conversation with her host, Niveus, and has actively supported him for almost twelve years.
By actively supporting, it meant Nono, unlike other Beacons, always helped her host, be it by gathering and giving Niveus information, just like earlier, or observing and informing an opponent's movements.
Niveus thought for a while before leaving his room hurriedly, surprising Alphonso, who was just passing by his room.
"What the? What's going on with him now?"
===
The commander, Starling, watched the knights train from her office, whose window was facing toward the training ground. Her lips curved into a smile when she heard their high enthusiasm, even in the extreme winter.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, she turned around and spotted a lean figure with a ponytail and a mask looking straight at her.
"You've come, Niveus. Come, take a seat," Retracting her hand from the window, the commander came to the desk, where she grabbed a piece of paper from the piles. "We have so much to talk about."
Without words, Niveus sat across Starling, separated by her desk.
Starling arched a brow at Niveus, noticing he seemed off. Usually, Niveus would talk first, asking what she wanted from him. And Starling would tease Niveus for that, resulting in friendly banter, which tightened their sibling relationship even more.
Niveus was calm and quiet most of the time. But when he was alone with his sister, Niveus would be more naughty and talkative.
Talking about personalities, the naughty and talkative have always been Niveus' nature since birth, deriving from his past life.
His quietness and calmness showed up only when he was around someone he hadn't known or trusted, including Alphonso and the freshly stationed magic knight, Eliana, even though both were almost like his 'children.'
The same could be said about Starling. She could adjust her behavior depending on the situation. Sometimes, she was a reliable leader, sometimes an understanding friend, and sometimes a caring yet mischievous older sister.
"Did something happen?"
Before Niveus could speak, Starling stopped him. "No, wait! I want to discover it myself."
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Starling leaned on her chair.
"Let's see..." She mused. "Did Eliana reject your confession?"
Niveus was silent. His eyes scrutinized Starling.
"Why would I even confess in the first place?"
"I don't know. Young people these days are passionate, after all," Starling chirped.
"Just... tell me. What do you want me to do?"
"Boooo! You're no fun, Niveus," Starling jeered.
Looking at his sister, a commander of Glacend fortress, acting childish, Niveus shook his head. On the other hand, Starling smiled.
Finally, Starling stopped being a teaser and returned to her 'commander' mode.
"Now, let's talk about this."
Starling dropped the piece of paper she had been holding onto the desk, sliding it closer toward Niveus. She let her brother read the content first before explaining.
"I have received a report about a Monolith's appearance in the village southwest of here."
"So you want me to solve this? In this weather?" Niveus said without shifting his eyes.
The commander briefly stared at the masked knight before curving her lip into a smile.
"I'm not going to force you. If you don't want to do it, then don't. I can always ask the other Beaconers."
In the early days, those gifted with system support, known as Beacon, were initially called Beacon holders. But over time, they became simply known as Beaconer.
These individuals had discovered and unlocked their potential right in the beginning, giving them many advantages in terms of what they should pursue to improve themselves.
The Beacon came during the tumultuous period known as the Great War Era.
Centuries ago, the world was thrown into chaos when the forces of Pandemonium, the Daemon, clashed with the Great 5 Races of Actlane. This conflict was waged as the Daemon sought to conquer the realm while the 5 Great Races fought to protect it from the invaders.
The Pandemonium was an unknown, stronger force than the 5 Great Races, which wasn't united back then. Therefore, they drove the 5 Great Races to the corners and almost achieved their goal.
Yet, on the brink of despair, the 5 Great Races united in a pivotal moment, laying the foundation for what would become the Global Alliance, which still continued to safeguard the world states until this day.
Unfortunately, the Global Alliance couldn't drive the invaders from their realm. At least not until the first generation of Beaconers awakened.
Although their numbers were less than a hundred, the first generation of Beaconers successfully turned the tide for the Global Alliance. They bested the Daemon's forces, but more was needed to eradicate them because of their numbers.
'Hmm, hmm... I was too fired up when I made up the lore that wouldn't be needed that much for a raising sims game. But, passion is passion, after all...'
Ultimately, both sides signed a treaty to end the war for two reasons.
One was a prolonged war that left both sides worried about resources.
The Global Alliance wanted to avoid that, obviously. On the other hand, the Pandemonium's goal was to conquer the Actlane, but what was the point if the land they conquered had no resources?
They also signed an agreement about allowing trade between the two realms.
Two, external interference. Along with the Beacon, another external interference, the Monolith, had caused concern for the Pandemonium and the Global Alliance.
A Monolith was like a portal to another place where an individual or a group was tasked to clear it within various periods; it could be a day, a week, a month, or a year, depending on each Monolith's grade.
The individual or group that cleared it before the time ran out would receive a reward from the Beacon. Meanwhile, if no one cleared it, the beast inside would escape to the outside world, causing havoc.
Two things that made Monolith a concern for both sides were that only a Beaconer could enter, clear, and benefit from it. Another reason was that the small number of Beaconers at that time didn't match the monthly appearance rates of the Monolith.
Monolith didn't just appear in the Actlane realm but in the Pandemonium realm, too. And to make it worse, the Pandemonium never had someone awoken with a Beacon on their side.
Their only means to protect their realm was to wait for the monsters inside to pour out and eradicate them immediately, without benefitting anything from them such as their essences.
Thus, the trade agreement condition added by the Global Alliance was further enhanced by Pandemonium, changing it from just trading into a whole alliance between the two realms, where they would assist each other to clear the Monoliths.
Of course, the fact that the Daemon had no Beaconers among them before was never known because they eventually became such individuals after the contract.
'I hate to admit it, but the lore integration between my two works is so smooth that it's believable to become this world's history.'
Niveus furrowed his eyebrow.
'Are the Gods or whoever created this world a plagiarizer? If I ever meet one, I'll sue them.'
Shaking his head, Niveus asked the commander:
"Who will you give the mission to if I don't accept it?"
Starling stretched her hands upward, blue eyes glancing at the door subtly, and she smiled cunningly.
"Right. Maybe, Alphonso."
"I'll do it, then," Niveus responded immediately.
Starling's smile widened.
"Great. Since it's a Monolith clearance mission, you should bring some companions. Ah, right, how about your usual cluster?"
Niveus, who realized it was just a ploy, sighed defeatedly.
"You... whether I accept the mission or Alphonso accepts it, you're still going to clump us together, don't you?"
Chuckling, Starling waved a hand. "No way, you must be imagining it."
Niveus rolled his eyes and left the commander's office.
Staring at where the little brother disappeared, the commander's expression relaxed as she leaned on the chair lazily.
"Hah... why must the future be so dark?"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone