Nemo fiddled with the shiny door handle, yet no matter how much she pulled and turned, the wooden door leading to her adventure would not budge. She turned towards the Count, a hint of resignation crossed the surface of his mask.

“I suppose we can postpone the conversation until later. However,” he added as he picked up Nemo, who was already back to trying to get the door open, and put her back onto the chair. “There is at least one thing that needed to be discussed and done.”

Fine. Nemo sat herself down and waited for the Count to begin. The Count only shook his head, already noticing the little rhythmic bounce Nemo was doing. It was clear she cannot wait to enter his mansion.

“Nemo, what do you know about this world?”

She knew absolutely nothing and that was why it was so exciting!

“This is a world with many names, each one scattered among many others, undiscovered until forgotten, replaced with more when lost. Without a name, there is no meaning. Without meaning, there is nothing. Yet this world still lives on, even when its people were forgotten and their memories were no more. Those who chance upon this world do not do so out of their own volition, but if you accepted its invitation you can stay until the moment it ceases to be. This is a sea of fragments, and my manor, is the Crimson Domain!”

Nemo’s tiny and rapid claps reverberated in the empty room as the Count finished his speech with a spread of his arms, his cloak fluttered for a brief moment before falling still in the air. The Count seemed to have a fanciness towards theatrics. Even though they have only met a few hours ago, Nemo more or less could tell that certain topics made the Count really happy.

Nemo liked that story, but she wondered why the Count found it important to tell her that.

“Do you not find it crucial to understand the complex nature of this world?”

Nemo pondered for a moment and decided there was nothing complex about it. The Count is in charge of a place called the Crimson Domain and it was somehow in a larger place called the sea of fragments.

“I suppose you are not entirely inaccurate. Although I was attempting to build up suspense with the contradictory nature of the world,” the Count said, a hint of dejection at Nemo’s rather nonchalant reaction.

Nemo thought that she liked the Count’s storytelling and she would listen to it more. However, she preferred doing it in a big mansion sitting on comfy chairs while eating exotic food.

“Very well, Nemo. I shall tell you the story of this world some other time. For now, you simply must know that in this world, there exists powers governed by a System, a System dating far beyond any living or forgotten memory. You, Nemo,” the Count said and pointed a finger at the young child. “You do not posses the powers of the System, making you unable to defend yourself, and we must rectify that.”

Nemo’s eyes widened and smiled as she hopped up and down the chair while clutching her fists in front of her. Wouldn’t that mean she would be getting powers? Would she be able to fight off monsters like some mystical warrior? Would she become a magical princess?

“Do not get carried away, Nemo. The dangers of the world are not kind and will consume you, whether you have powers or not,” the Count chided in a stern manner she had not seen before. Nemo lowered her head and dropped her hands behind her. She fiddled with her fingers as she realized she might’ve been too eager. The Count was trying to keep her safe, she shouldn’t make it more difficult for him. Maybe she should just hide in the cabin like the Count said.

“Do not lose your spirit, Nemo. I told you I will keep you safe. I meant every word, whether you choose to adventure or not,” the Count assured her and Nemo’s smiled returned, thanking the Count once again. “However, even if the powers of the System is not enough to completely eliminate the danger you might face, it is still a start. Do you want powers, Nemo?”

Does she? Of course she does!

“Very well. Listen carefully,” the Count said and Nemo perked up her ears and looked at him intently. “The System grants two kinds of power, the Origin and the Path. The Origin is who you are as a being, a destiny bestowed upon your fate the moment you entered the world. It is what constrains you when you go astray, but greatly amplifies your capabilities when you follow its guidance. The Path is the the direction that leads towards the moment you cease to be. Once chosen it cannot be changed, and whether you master what it provides, is up to you.”

Nemo scratched her head and grimaced as she digested every word the Count said. Again, the Count sure enjoyed big words. Was there any way he could make it simpler?

“Think of the Origin as abilities you have as an individual, special talents you are born with, telling you what you excel at, and what are lacking. They become more pronounced as you grow, and whether that is good or ill, no one but fate knows. The Path is a set of abilities you choose to learn, like specific classes for study. The only issue is that you cannot switch once you settled into one, and must master the chosen one if you wish to become stronger, ” the Count explained after pondering for a moment. He then looked at Nemo with a wry smile.

“Without an Origin you cannot access the System, and without accessing the System you cannot choose your Path. So, Nemo, do you want to unlock your Origin?”

Was there ever any question? What sort of boring person would pass up an opportunity like this?

“Close your eyes, Nemo. Tell the System who you are.”

Nemo gave the Count a thumbs up then closed her eyes. She emptied her mind, then the world became silent like a void. She could hear nothing, not even the wind in her lungs. She could feel nothing, not even the beat of her heart. She could see nothing, not even the darkness that blinded her eyes.

Yet among the nothingness, something beckoned her. Not with words, sound, or touch. It was something that existed deep within her, buried underneath her soul. She could not feel it, but she knew it was there. It was not something that needed to be confirmed, it was a truth that anchored her entire being.

A gentle hand, so frail, rustled her hair. A soft voice, so kind, smiled at her. A warm teardrop, so lonely, trickled down her cheek.

“Nemo, what a precocious child you are.”

It was a whisper, a laughter so quiet yet it was enough to wake her, to lead her out of the void.

Nemo opened her eyes and saw the Count looking slightly worried. He hovered closer and wiped the tear away with a dark finger. She didn’t know what happened, or even remembered why she shed a tear. However, she was not sad, she was happy. She wondered how her unlocking went.

“Nemo, it seems you have succeeded in awakening your Origin,” the Count said and Nemo returned his smile, thanking him for helping. “Do you know what it is, Nemo?”

You bet I do. I’m Nemo, a precocious child!