Jake walked into the house, following behind the man. The inside was modest, nothing too fancy, and yet it looked good.
The sitting room was the first room to greet them. Two oil lamps lit up the room, hanging from the walls. An old man that looked at least sixty sat on one of the chairs. The moment he saw Jake and Crypt coming in, he got to his feet to greet them.
"It's nice to have you here, visitors. Please, have a seat. Despite the unease behind our meeting, I thank you for putting up with our discourteous behavior," the old man said as he bowed his head slightly to Jake.
Jake was a bit embarrassed having this man speak to him this way, but he had to be calm and collected, so he simply responded with a small bow as well.
"It's nothing, really. My presence here was what caused the issue. I would normally not have stayed here knowing what would happen, but I had no idea," Jake replied, his tone formal.
He took a seat opposite the man while Crypt stood behind him and the man stood behind the chief.
"Before we go on, I'd like to introduce myself. I am the chief of this small village. My name is Carson Lumbereg," the man said.
"I'm Jake White," Jake said immediately after. Carson raised his brow.
"Your name seems unusual, and you also have a family name. Are you a noble?" Carson asked.
'Shit, I didn't know this world works similar to medieval times. Commoners hardly had family names,' Jake thought.
"I'm not a noble, and neither am I from here. It is a long story, but I have barely any recollection of anything.
All I know is that I got into an accident during my travels and suffered heavy head injuries, and so most of my memories are scrambled. I know a few things, like the fact that I'm not from here, or that I'm not a noble as well—or so I think," Jake said.
[I think we have discovered your true talent—the ability to make up stories, hahaha.]
Jake let out a tired sigh when he heard the system, but he didn't have the time to banter with it now.
"I see. I am deeply sorry for the situation that you are in. Is there anything we can do to help?" Carson asked.
"Yes," Jake replied and stretched out his hand, showing the mark on his hand. Carson's eyes widened when he saw it, and he readjusted his sitting immediately.
"Cain here had told me you have the chosen mark, but I wasn't really sure. But it seems it is true," he said.
"This mark came on me all of a sudden. I have no idea what it is, and everyone keeps talking about the Hundred Trials. I need to know what it is," Jake said.
"Hmmm, I see. Your memory loss must have caused this," Carson said. He glanced at Cain behind him. "My wife is asleep. I don't wish to wake her, but you already know your way around the house, Cain. Make us some tea and get some cookies to go with it," Carson said.
"Alright, Chief," Cain said and walked out of the sitting room into the kitchen.
Carson stared at the small table at the center for a bit, and then he looked up. "For us to be able to understand the marks and the trials, we must go back to the story that has been told for over thousands of years.
This world existed—it was surviving on its own without issues or worries. But then, once upon a time, a place called the Abyss opened into this world.
It brought beings more terrifying than even the demons that lived here already. Abyssal creatures—they tore through with insane power.
But then, suddenly, a savior came along. A being recorded as a very powerful entity, one that was feared through all dimensions and worlds. He was called the Dark Dragon."
[The Dark Dragon? I have heard that name. No, not heard—it was inbuilt into my system.]
'What? What do you mean?' Jake asked in his mind.
[The Dark Dragon. The harbinger of chaos to some and the bringer of order to others.
That's the only information about him that I have in me.]
'The Dark Dragon, a being that even the system has heard of,' Jake thought, wondering who that could be.
"The Dark Dragon brought with him his own legion from the Abyss. Though they looked the same, they fought on opposing sides, and he managed to subdue them.
But that wasn't the end. The Dark Dragon decided that this world needed guardians, and without consulting anyone, he set in place the Hundred Trials that happen once every hundred years.
Those that are chosen to participate in the trial receive that mark and many other things. The one who defeats all the trials and comes out on top becomes the newest guardian. He receives power from the Dark Dragon and also gains an audience with him.
It is believed that the Dark Dragon will grant you any wish you have when you win. That's why those that are chosen will do anything to win.
But what has benefits also brings its issues. The trials are terrifying happenings that can cause destruction beyond measure.
The chosen are ruthless and take life as if it is a joke. That is why they are feared all over. That mark on your hand means you are part of the trial. You are one of the chosen from the Kingdom of Veldora—our kingdom.
Wherever you go, you'll be feared, because behind you is chaos unimaginable. But all this is the price the normal man must pay to ensure that the Abyss is never opened again.
The Dark Dragon is probably a mighty being that only sees the grand scheme of things. He doesn't care about the little things," Carson finished.