Syal woke up to a typical morning, but his routine was quickly disrupted when he entered the living room.
His eyes widened in shock as he saw the fragmented puppet and other small objects he had infused with his spirit now combined into a grotesque, lumpy creature.
The creature, which resembled a golem made from trash, stood before him, its mismatched limbs splayed awkwardly.
To Syal's surprise, the golem spoke in a stiff, formal tone, "Good morning, sir. I am at your service."
Syal's mind reeled as he stared at the golem.
Without thinking, an image popped into his mind - a more refined, robotic version of the golem.
To his amazement, the golem began to shift and contort, its body molding itself into the shape he had envisioned.
As the transformation took place, Syal watched in awe.
The golem's lumpy, trash-like appearance gave way to a more streamlined, mechanical look. It was still a far cry from elegant, but it was a significant improvement.
The golem, now resembling a trashy robot, stood before Syal, its expressionless face turned towards him. "How may I assist you, sir?" it asked, its voice still stiff but slightly more refined.
Syal's eyes narrowed as he pondered the strange phenomenon before him.
He could sense that the messy spirit energy he had released was somehow being drawn together, coalescing into the bizarre robot-like creature.
It was as if his subconscious had commanded the stray spirit energy to gather into one, allowing him to effectively control it. Syal's mind reeled at the implications - he had unknowingly while sleep, created this...thing.
The robot's mechanical body seemed to be a manifestation of Syal's own spirit energy, a physical representation of his power. He couldn't help but feel a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the creature.
Syal's gaze lingered on the robot's awkward, makeshift form. "Calling it a robot doesn't feel quite right," he mused. "It's not human enough. I'll name you Proto."
The robot, now Proto, inclined its head slightly, as if acknowledging its new name. Syal smiled, feeling a sense of connection to his strange creation.
He decided to add some disguises to Proto's mechanical body, hoping to make it blend in better with the human world.
Proto stood at approximately 1.4 meters tall, its slender body composed of a mishmash of small, mismatched furniture parts. Despite its fragile appearance, Proto's mechanical frame seemed sturdy and resilient, a testament to the strange power that had brought it into being.
Its figure was reminiscent of a human child, with a rough, approximated shape that was both endearing and unsettling. Syal's additions of clothing helped to further disguise Proto's mechanical nature, making it appear almost, but not quite, human.
The oversized cloak with a hoodie that Syal had draped over Proto's shoulders added a touch of anonymity to its appearance. The cloak's voluminous folds hid the more obvious mechanical features of Proto's body, allowing it to blend in with the crowds of people on the street.
As Syal looked at Proto, he felt a sense of pride, affection to little brother and accomplishment.
Who would have thought that a jumble of discarded furniture parts could be transformed into something almost human? Almost.
***
With Proto by his side, Syal made his way back to the barracks. The walk took about a quarter of an hour, and as they approached the entrance, Syal could feel a sense of familiarity wash over him.
The soldier on guard duty barely gave them a second glance, nodding curtly as Syal and Proto passed by. It was a far cry from the rigorous questioning and body search Syal had endured the day before.
As they entered the barracks, Syal couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and ownership towards Proto. The little robot had already proven itself to be a valuable companion, and Syal was eager to see what other adventures lay ahead for them.
They made their way to the Colonel's office, and Syal could feel a sense of anticipation building inside him. What would the Colonel have in store for him today?
Syal knocked on the Colonel's door, but there was no answer. He tried again, but the office remained silent. Assuming the Colonel was busy, Syal decided to ask around.
He approached a nearby soldier, who was busy polishing his musket. "Excuse me, do you know where the Colonel is?" Syal asked.
The soldier looked up, his expression neutral. "He's in a meeting. You might want to try the armory first, though."
Syal raised an eyebrow. "The armory?"
The soldier nodded. "Yes, sir. You'll need to pick up your uniform, and they'll also help you with a proper disguise for...that." He nodded towards Proto, who was standing quietly beside Syal.
Syal was taken aback by the soldier's nonchalant attitude. He seemed completely unfazed by the presence of a child-like robot, and Syal's unusual circumstances. It was as if this was all just a normal part of life in the barracks.
"Ah, okay. Thank you," Syal said, still feeling a bit bewildered.
The soldier nodded and returned to polishing his musket, leaving Syal to make his way to the armory.
Syal walked away from the soldier, feeling a bit frustrated with himself for forgetting to ask where the armory was. He didn't want to waste any more time, so he approached another soldier who was passing by.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where the armory is?" Syal asked.
The soldier nodded and pointed down a nearby corridor. "Just head down that way, sir. You can't miss it."
Syal thanked the soldier and followed the corridor until he arrived at a large door with a sign that read "Armory". He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
A gruff but friendly voice greeted him. "Ah, Syal! I was waiting for you. I'm Sergeant Dave, the armorer. I need to size you up before giving you your uniform. Follow me."
Syal followed Sergeant Dave through the armory, taking in the rows of shelves stacked with all manner of armor and equipment. They eventually arrived at a small measurement room, where Sergeant Dave began to take Syal's measurements.
Sergeant Dave nodded, making a few final notes on his measurements. "Alright, Syal, I'll have your uniform ready for you tomorrow. Come back then and we'll get you fitted out."
As Syal turned to leave, Sergeant Dave called out to him. "Wait, take this." He handed Syal a small, delicate necklace. "Put this on your...little artifact. It'll help, trust me."
Syal took the necklace, feeling a strange energy emanating from it. He turned to Proto and gently placed the necklace around its neck. The little robot didn't react, but Syal could sense a subtle change in its presence.
Syal turned back to Sergeant Dave, curiosity getting the better of him. "Sir, can I ask something? Everyone keeps referring to Proto as an artifact, and now you're giving me another artifact...I don't really understand what that means."
Sergeant Dave answered him with humorous sarcastic tone. "Artifacts, Syal, are objects or entities that possess unique properties or abilities. They can be imbued with magical energies, or they can be crafted using advanced technologies. In the case of Proto...well, it's a bit of both, to be honest."
Syal know for sure proto not some advance technology product. And pretty sure that sergeant is sarcasticly about proto. But still, proto are sure an artifact.
He paused, studying Syal's face. "The necklace I gave you is an artifact that can manipulate the perceptions of those around it. It'll make ordinary people see Proto as just a child, rather than...whatever it really is."
Syal's eyes widened as understanding dawned on him. "So, artifacts are like...tools, or devices, that can do extraordinary things?"
Sergeant Dave nodded. "That's right, Syal. And you, my friend, are now the proud owner of not one, but two artifacts."
"Ah, yes, there's more to artifacts than just the common type, like the necklace and Proto."
He paused, collecting his thoughts. "You see, Syal, there are Supreme Artifacts, which are...well, they're game-changers. For example, the Wheel of Advancement is a Supreme Artifact of humanity. It revolutionized transportation, commerce, and warfare."
Syal's eyes widened in awe. "That's incredible. I had no idea."
Sergeant Dave nodded. "Yes, Supreme Artifacts are extremely rare and powerful. Our nation also has a Supreme Artifact, but that's classified, even to me."
He leaned forward, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Then there are Fated Artifacts. These are artifacts that can only be used by...well, by people like you, Syal. The Fated."
Syal's ears perked up at the mention of the Fated. He had heard of this term before from colonel, but he had never really understood what it meant.
Sergeant Dave continued, "Fated Artifacts are usually extremely powerful and are considered the true armaments of the Fated. But that's a topic for another time."
He waved his hand dismissively. "The necklace and Proto, on the other hand, are just common artifacts. But, as I said, Proto has the potential to evolve into something more...perhaps even a Fated Artifact or a true living being. But that's still a long way off for you, Syal."