Conrad opened his eyes with a gasp, heart still pounding from the blinding transition.
Dust motes floated in the dim light breaking through cracks in the hut's wooden walls.
He sat up quickly, disoriented, and the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't alone.
Four others stood or sat scattered around the space—each of them wearing the same dull grey outfit he had on.
The matching black sneakers.
The exact same fabric.
Like uniforms for a group none of them had volunteered to join.
The first was a rugged man in his thirties, stubble covering a jaw set with quiet tension.
He stood with his arms crossed, watching everyone with narrowed eyes.
Next to him was an older man in his forties, maybe fifties.
He looked like someone who had seen too much and trusted too little.
Sitting on a broken crate near one corner was a woman, mid-twenties, dark hair pulled back in a tight ponytail.
Her eyes scanned the room constantly, her fingers tapping on her knees in quiet rhythm.
And finally, the youngest among them—a girl who looked like she had just turned eighteen.
Her face was pale, lips pressed into a thin line as she hugged her knees to her chest.
She looked more anxious than others and very much out of place.
But the one who demanded the most attention wasn't one of the four.
He was standing right in front of the door—if it could be called a door, just a frame with some cracked planks still holding together.
This man was different.
Middle-aged, tall, and built like a soldier, every inch of him spoke of control and strength.
Unlike the others, he wasn't wearing the standard grey clothing.
His outfit was black, more refined. He looked… appointed.
He was watching them in silence, arms behind his back, expression unreadable.
As Conrad slowly stood up, the man spoke in a deep, even voice.
"Good. You're all awake."
-
As the man started speaking. He gathered all the attention.
He coughed and then started looking all the people in the eye.
"I suppose you people have met with The Admin and The Mystery."
"I also know that you guys have many questions and are wondering why you people are not feeling scared or feeling that your emotions are suppressed."
These questions made Conrad think for a moment.
"He is right !"
"Despite everything..."
"Right now, I am not feeling scared, just curious about everything."
"If it were ordinary times, I would be scared shitless..."
"..."
Conrad let out a deep breath and noticed that others, other than the man who spoke, made the same decision and understood that something was really suppressed within their minds and souls.
The man who spoke smiled and walked back and forth before starting to speak.
"My name is Liebeld. I will answer your questions about the situation as an experienced Concepter..."
"But, first of all. I will give you people three minutes to meet and understand each other's names."
Liebeld then kept his silence and looked at the people in.
He thought for a moment.
"These ones are better than the last group..."
"Compared to last time. They are more robust and silent. Despite the admin suppressing their emotions for the time being, the people and the groups would already be shouting and starting to ask about everything."
"Not these guys…"
Liebeld was impressed with Conrad and others, and he kept watching for the time being.
The first one to speak was the man in his fifties.
"I am Melbou..."
"I am from Radland Kingdom and a blacksmith..."
As the man in his fifties spoke. Conrad and others in the group all had some curious faces.
"Radland Kingdom ?"
Conrad asked himself and then noticed a big reality.
"These people may not be from Earth at all."
While. The others who heard Melbou were thinking about many things. Liebeld smirked.
"First important knowledge that they will learn that despite being human all of us. It does not necessarily mean we are all from the same universe and reality..."
After Melbourne. The other man in his thirties spoke; he had a kind look on his face.
"I am Orvel..."
"I do not have much to share..."
After Orvel decided not to share much information, others followed suit.
The young woman in her twenties spoke.
"Lady Elaris."
and then the youngest member of the group. Pale-girl spoke.
"Leylis."
Conrad looked at the others and just whispered.
"Conrad..."
Liebeld then took a deep breath and then started talking.
"Melbourne, Leylis. Elaris. Orvel and I, Liebeld."
"This is our group."
"Now. It is time to ask questions. Each of you will have three questions to ask, and after twenty minutes we will be moving."
With the words of Liebeld, Conrad started thinking about the questions he should ask and then waited for a moment.
Liebeld pointed to Melbourne.
"You are the first one to speak and introduce yourself."
"You should go on asking the first three questions."
Melboue coughed and put his head on his head and asked.
"Where are we exactly ?"
This question hit the nail on its head.
All the people, including Conrad, subtly nodded.
Liebeld smiled and nodded.
"We are in the 'Mystery" controlled by the Admin."
"Exactly. I am not sure about it. I can safely say that it is a different reality and existence of a place."
"Second question ?"
Melbourne moved one and two steps and then asked.
"What is going to happen to us ?"
Liebeld closed his eyes for a moment and answered.
"Either you guys keep improving, reaching a new level of life form in power and existence, or you die."
These words resonated in the shack. Each individual showed faces of anxiety and fear for a moment to varying degrees.
"Third ?"
Liebeld continued.
"What happened to our families and life ?"
Liebeld shook his head.
"That is a question that has no answer."
Liebeld, after answering, looked at Leylis and nodded, signaling her to ask questions.
Leylis thought for a moment and then asked.
"First, what are these clothes made of? They do not feel like any type of cloth or fabric that I know of, and who are you as well, and what are these people? I can feel each of them feels different despite them all looking human."
Liebeld laughed out loud and then answered.
"The clothes are made up from a different material that you guys may not have in your worlds and places."
"I am Liebeld, a conceptor. A user of the "Concepts" system to increase his power and life-form level to reach a higher evolution. Right now, I am a Level 1 Conceptor."
"And for your last question. I can say that they are all humans but from different realities and places."
The questions kept on being asked by the others.
In no time, Conrad learned that the humans in this room did really come from the other universes and realities, and these places may have differences.
Melboue comes from a middle-age-level technology world, and he himself comes from 2025 of the Earth and likewise.
Conrad noticed the look in Liebeld's eye and then let out a breath as he asked his first question.
"What is a Conceptor ?"
This word again made others look at Liebeld with expectation.
Liebeld smirked and nodded.
"I thought none of you were going to ask about it." He first spoke and then furrowed his brows and said to others.
"All of you think of the words of 'Mystery Concept" in your mind and soul."
Conrad and others did what Liebeld told them.
As Conrad thought the words.
He felt that his mind was entering some sort of place, and then he noticed a panel of some sort in front of his eyes.
"Name—Conrad"
"Lifeform-Level—0"
"Concepts—0"
"Title—?"
"Strength—1.0"
"Agility—1.0"
"Endurance—1.0"
"Intelligence—1.0"
"Wisdom—1.0"
"Faith—1.0"
-
Conceptual Abilities—Non-Existent
Conceptual Awakening—13% (100 percent needed for a "conceptual way."