"Where am I??" When I open my eyes again, there is nothing but emptiness. The place is so vast but empty. No trees, no house, nothing.
"I remember I was in a library before..." I feel chill in my bones and sweat dripping off my forehead. The last scene I saw is that ghost flying towards me. " Am I dead again!? From ghost attack?" I can't help but fall on my knees when the thought crosses my mind.
"You aren't dead " suddenly a voice comes from behind me. I turn my body right away to see the same ghost that attacked me.
" you!! " When the familiar ghost is standing in front of me, I can't help but back away a few meters from him.
"Don't you dare get close to me!!" I warned the ghost and yet, my warning means nothing as the ghost is getting closer and closer.
" Don't worry, I mean no harm to you, my successor". Said the man who attacked me. When I realized that the man looks different than before, I stop crawling back from him and stand up slowly while staring at him.
"Successor? Do you mean me? Like an heir?" I squint at him as he stops 1 meter from me. The man in front of me is still the same ghost as before but right now, he looks more... Human.
His body is still white... But, it's no longer looks inhumanly pale. His lower body no longer transparent. His eyes now are the color of blue, full of spirit, and no longer lifeless like before. Including his face, he is no longer expressionless but full of smile.
"You can see me". Again, he speaks after a short silence. " My name is Alfonso Diaz, the first user of Memory manipulation".
I got speechless after hearing his words. I was about to ask him questions when he continues to speak again, so I close my mouth.
" I'm sure that you have many questions to ask but, sorry to say, I am merely a memory of a person who long has died by the time you hear this message. "
My eyes become wide as I stare at this person in disbelief. "So, is this like a recorded message? You are not real and not a ghost either? " I rub my face a few times and scratch my hair in frustration. "Ugh. I'm going to turn bald if this goes on..." Why are things becoming weirder??
I sit on the white floor and bury my face in my knees. " what's going on.....?"
"As the next user of this power, I will merely explain a little bit of this power for your understanding". He starts walking and walk past me again, I was startled, but this time, he merely just walk past me and not doing anything.
I get up and follow right behind him. The man keeps walking in silence. I don't know how long we walk but, he finally stops at an empty spot, no different from any other places spot in this space.
" My successor" the man calls again. I look up to see his back as I am standing right behind him.
" What you see right now is an empty place... Not even a speck of dust can be seen... But, for me, what I'm looking at right now is a vast area of sea, full of the towering monument of all the Guardians of the sea. It's a mighty sight that I'm never feeling tired of looking". The man takes a deep breath and sighs before smiling.
As the man is talking about what he sees, I stand beside him and stares at his face. It's a sight that I don't know how to explain. His face... His expression... Shows a thousand no, million of experience.
"Do you want to see?" He asked suddenly.
"Huh!?" I stare at his expression. It's the same smiling face looking at the emptiness of this space. At least for me... All I see is emptiness. He raises his left hand to his side.
"Hold my hand..." Said him. I hesitate at first but decides to just follow his words. I hold his hand slowly. There is no solid body, only a gas like feeling. But, I still pretend that I can touch his hand.
The moment I relaxed my body from all vigilant, a strong wind blow on my face. I hurriedly close my eyes with my arms and the wind disappeared.
I open my eyes again and look at the man's posture that still doesn't change. I take a deep breath and touch his hand again and close my eyes but, this time, I am more prepared for what will come.
Again, I feel the wind blows strongly and the sounds fill my ears. After a few minutes, The strong smell of salt enters my nose, and the warmth of the sun falls on my skin.
I open my eyes slowly and gape at the sight of exactly what the man said just now. It was the sight that I can only Imagine before, not realizing the meaning of his amazement.
The blue sea as far as my eyes can see, the towering monuments of what I see as the sea dragon, a humanoid Giants with octopus head, A giant whale, a Kraken, and hundreds of smaller monument that I don't recognize.
"Amazing...." I watch as the waves hit the monument and yet, it still stands strong. The monument's bodies are full of barnacles and algae, many birds fly and land on the monument's body. Some birds build their nest inside the small gap of the monuments.
" Amazing right? " the man continues. "This sight always amazes me every time I come here". He smiles.
I don't dare to release his hands as I want to keep watching this landscape more and more. The sound of the waves and birds, the smell of the sea, calms my mind.
"The reason for me showing you this sight is to make a point to you". He releases his hand from me and the scenery disappeared completely. I feel lost when I return to the empty room again.
"Unlimited possibilities!". The man raised his voice while turning his back. His hand is spread to his side and his eyes are bright with excitement.
"Memory manipulation is the power of possibilities!!" He shouts again with a big smile on his face, showing lines of white teeth.
" You can see what you want to see! You can understand what you want to understand! You can search for what you want to search! You can learn what you want to learn! As long your body can take it, it's a life full of possibilities!!
" Aren't you amazed?" At last, he speaks in a softer tone while gazing back at the scenery behind him. This time, his sight is no longer full of excitement, but loneliness. I saw a few tears fall from his eyes and yet he is still smiling.
" I'm sorry". He suddenly apologized. I stare at his face. I want to understand his sadness but, I know nothing. He is merely a being I just met for a day.
He looks sideways, which I guess his effort to talk with me despite not knowing where I stand.
"This power is a possibility, but every possibility has its limit". He smiles again, but his smile looks ugly because of the tear. "You are not a God... You are a human, remember that".
Suddenly, his body emits a bright light, so bright I can't help but close my eyes.
" ughhh...!" I groan as I open my eyes again, I saw a familiar ceiling. There is an angry noise beside me. I glance at that noisy person and saw that the old man keeps shouting at the maids.
"What is going on...?" I called out. My voice is weak, I can feel it but, the old man still stops talking and turn his face towards me. His face crinkles with his eyes full of concerns.
"Violet!!! Are you okay!!? What happened!!?? How did you pass out??" The old man asks me a series of questions that confuse me.
"Pass out?" I get up weakly and sit on the bed. When I look around me, I saw around seven maids including Ayla and Rita. Everyone has an expression of being wronged behind the old man, only Rita and Ayla is the exception. One looks scared with her body trembling while the others just look expressionless.
"When I come back from work, I didn't see you anywhere, when I asked everyone around you, no one know where you are with Ayla is the last person to see you!!" The old man holds my hand as he pushes me gently to lie down.
" How long did I pass out?" I asked again. " I remember I walk to the library and then...." Yeah, I saw that man there. I don't think I should tell them about this. " I think I tripped and hit my head".
" Sigh... Violet!! You should be careful!!! You are lucky that I found you, if not... No one would car—uff!!" The old man quickly closes his mouth and looks at me with guilty eyes.
"I... I..."
I stare at the old man's face before shrugging it off. "It's just an accident.. Nothing to worry about". I turn away so my back is facing the old man. " I think my head is still dizzy... So, I want to continue my sleep".
" violet, grandpa is— close the door quietly when you guys go out". I cut off his words before putting the blanket over my head.
"You all can go first... Except you, Rita and Ayla. Please wait for me outside". I heard the footsteps of the maids walking out of the room quietly accompany by the old man's sigh.
After no noise can be heard, silence filling the room. I want to close my eyes, but, I don't feel sleepy at all.
" I will assign Ayla and Rita as your maid and bodyguards. This time, I don't want to hear you refuse".
I give the old man silent treatments. But, the old man is still talking. "Rita might look coward most of the time, but she is a capable maid, and Ayla... She might look like that, but she is a caring person. Please treat both of them kindly.
" I know that you are not asleep, Violet. Listen...you are a smart girl... I know it better than anyone else". He pats my head and stroke my hair gently and talks with a comforting voice.
"So... I want to protect you but I also know that you can't live in a dream world forever". He sighs again, but he never stops stroking my hair.
"You are born without the ability to use mana, and that's the reality". I flinch when he said mana. As the person who comes from another world, the word mana is only familiar in the fantasy world from games, comics, and novels. But, this world, it has mana??
" That's why I will assign you, Rita, and Ayla. They will help to protect you inside this mansion".
"... What do you say...?" He asked. " I will leave when you tell me your answer, and I won't take no and silent as an answer.
After a few minutes, the old man never shows the sign of leaving no matter how long I ignore him. Ayla said that he works as the Kingdom head knight... Won't he be tired if he stays all night long?
I bit my lips and let out a sigh. " you won't take no and my silence as an answer, right?" I speak after a long silence.
"That's right... So, what's your answer?" Even without looking at his face, I know that he must be smiling right now.
" Old man... You should sleep and take a good rest. Your job must not be easy..." I answer.
" BwahahahHahaha!!! How come you are worried about me? " he laughs while ruffling my hair which annoyed me but, I don't hate it. I form a small smile under the blanket, hiding it from the old man.
" Okay, I will accept them". I agree.
"Really!!?" The old man dares to ask that despite knowing I don't even have a chance to refuse.
"But! If you agree with my deal". I turn my body to come face to face with the old man. He looks at me with wide eyes before smiling again.
"Oho... What is it?" He asked with a stupid grin on his face.
I give him my widest smile.
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