As I drifted into the darkness, I heard the chime of a school bell. I couldn't move my body, or open my eyes, but I could hear my surroundings.
("Is… Is this what sleep paralysis is like?") [Solace]
I struggled to move my arms and eyes, only for my efforts to be in vain.
("Move damn it, move!") [Solace]
Pushing even further than before, my eyes opened.
"...Huh?" [Solace]
My eyes widened in surprise. I was no longer in Vincent's classroom, but a classroom I was all too familiar with.
("I'm… back?") [Solace]
I stood in a classroom similar to my previous world. Earth's classes to be precise. A whiteboard covered a single wall, desks lined the room, and the native language labeling the classroom door.
"There's no way… Wait, my clothes!" [Solace]
Looking down at myself, I found myself dressed in a different uniform. A disgusting green shirt with khaki pants, a strange color pattern my school used to have as their image.
"So? Is this what the spirit world looks like?" [???]
I turned to my right, startled by a voice.
"Who…? Eh? Master?!" [Solace]
Vincent sat on one of the many desks, wearing the same uniform as me. He tugged at his clothing with a look of curiosity, while also wearing an expression of distaste.
"This… uniform isn't very… how do I say? Fashionable?" [Vincent]
"Er… Master? What are you doing here?" [Solace]
Vincent looked at me with expectant eyes, but he didn't say a word.
"It's obvious, no? Piece it together for me." [Vincent]
"Can't you just tell me the answer?" [Solace]
"I cannot. A man who does not beget the rod, does not string the fish." [Vincent]
Whipping out some kind of cryptic nonsense, my master left me confused.
"...What?" [Solace]
"Go on. Piece it together." [Vincent]
Nodding towards me, he expected an answer.
("...Whatever. Let's get this over with.") [Solace]
To begin with, the question was why my master was here. The last thing I remember was him poking my forehead and everything turning dark.
"This is… an illusion?" [Solace]
"As expected of my disciple. Well done." [Vincent]
Applauding me with a slow clap, he gave me a nod of acknowledgement.
"So you put yourself in your own illusion?" [Solace]
"Not quite. The magic I used is an advanced form of illusion magic, but it is not the same. Your consciousness and a part of my own, are drifting through your past memories at the moment." [Vincent]
"M-my memories?" [Solace]
I began to sweat at the thought.
"Does that mean you uh… You've seen all my memories?" [Solace]
"Indeed." [Vincent]
The sweat increased. There were some things I simply didn't want people seeing in my memories.
"So uh… Did-did you…" [Solace]
"Hm? You're sweating quite a bit." [Vincent]
Noticing my anxiety, my master laughed.
"You must be worried about me seeing your "nightly activities". Don't worry, it's fine. It's natural for people to do that." [Vincent]
"…" [Solace]
That wasn't something I wanted to hear. Frankly, I wanted to curl up into a ball and die.
"The art in your world is quite developed. It's surprising that the drawings themselves can move! I can see why you would be attracted to them." [Vincent]
"Please stop…" [Solace]
These are the kinds of moments I would suddenly remember while just relaxing. I'm sure many could relate to suddenly recalling absolute cringe and then wanting to die.
"C-can we just talk about something else? You told me that you would buy me time to get stronger." [Solace]
"Ah, that. I almost forgot." [Vincent]
Freezing up for a moment, my master slowly put aside an anime body pillow.
("...Where did he get that?") [Solace]
"Ahem… The time that passes within your memory will be very slow compared to reality. It will not increase your physical strength, but your mind and skill." [Vincent]
"Uh-huh…" [Solace]
My master waved his hand, which somehow made all the desks in the room vanish.
"With the amount of time here, we can make a day go by here for every hour that passes in the real world. It's similar to the chamber in dragon orb z." [Vincent]
"How do you know that anime?" [Solace]
"Your memories." [Vincent]
"Oh, yeah. I forgot." [Solace]
My master walked to the whiteboard, picking up a marker and listing numbers.
"Now, cite me the gentleman's rules." [Vincent]
"Again?" [Solace]
"You're not learning how to fight until you can recite all one hundred." [Vincent]
"What?!" [Solace]
My master pointed to the first one and stared at me.
"Gentleman's rule number one." [Vincent]
"Master, we don't have time for this!" [Solace]
Vincent looked at his wrist condescendingly and glanced back at me.
"One day is an hour. I believe we do." [Vincent]