Looking at the window it's morning outside, I can see the building of the city and the clouds in the sky.
I can also hear the cars outside. Too bad I can't see them or the people walking on the streets, because I can't move.
You're asking "Why?".
Well, I am sitting on a bed. A "hospital bed" to be precise.
That's right, I am sick. What kind of sickness you ask?
"Cancer"
I'm joking, I don't have a Cancer. How about I start from the beginning?.
My name is Noctis Levian. Yeah, the same name as "Noctis" from "FF15". I didn't play it, but I did watch the "let's play walkthrough". As for the name Levian, it's my family name, don't know if it shares the same in some stories. But if you remove the "an" you will get "Levi" from AoT. Yeah, I'm a fan to animes and video games but let's put that aside first.
I am 24 years old. An adult. Some of you might wander when I got sick. The answer is when I was 14. That's right, when I was a teenager, which means I have been sick for 10 years. I didn't finish the middle school, so I couldn't go to high school or college.
Is my sickness that bad? Well, yes, since it's a new type of disease that appears 11 years ago, and a very rare one.
The doctors and researchers got a hard time to figure out the cause of the disease and a cure to it. Only about 17 patient around the globe got it, 11 of them died making 6 patient left. The disease makes the victims feel weak, losing their energy to move, make them feel like as if they're are in aging. That's because it's making the patient lose its life force continually.
There are no other side effects on the person's body, outside or inside. I may look healthy to the people who doesn't know about my disease, and my body scan may look fine too, but the truth is that I'm actually dying. It's doesn't affect the human body but the soul. That's the conclusion the doctors came up with, they call it "Immuno life-force syndrome", "ILFS" for short.
A weird name they came up with, I would say.
This is my sickness, and I don't know when my time will come, but I can died in any moment.
What I feel about my condition? I feel unlucky, although I did feel sad and hurt before, but not anymore.
[Noctis, Your awake?]
I turn my head to the voice that called my name, the owner of the voice was at the door.
[Yeah, I woke up just a minute ago.]
The person was Alex, my personal nurse who is 6 years older than me. She took care of me for 8 years by now.
[O no, did I forget to complete close the curtain again?]
She said, as she walk toward the window.
[You did, I was able to wake up thanks to the light.]
I said as I was taking the book that was on the desk beside the bed, it was a light novel which I'm near to finish reading it today.
She start opening the curtain that covered half of the window and then went to the other one. she has a light brown hair, a ponytail style, and a dark brown eyes. She wears a white nurse clothes with a white hat on her head. I just realized that they look a little similar to the nurse clothes from the SAO anime, the one with the glasses.
[So, what do you want for breakfast?]
She came to the bed after finishing uncovered the other curtain, then she began folding the blanket.
[The usual, Omelette.]
[Why not try something new?]
[I like Omelette for breakfasts, as for the "something new", I can try it with lunch.]
As I watch her folding the blanket, I realise something in her left hand.
[Congratulations.]
[Huh?]
I gave her a sign by pointing my left ring finger to her. Then she finally realised what I meant.
[Oh! Yes! thank you.]
She was wearing a silver ring, with a small diamond on it. It seems that her boyfriend finally proposed to her. The guy got some guts now huh.
[I'm happy for you.]
[Well, it's thanks to you that I was able to get along with him]
She said with a joyful smile.
[No way, all I did was giving you some small advices]
Advices from romance anime and manga.
I did also contact her boyfriend, and secretly gave him some information about Alex, like the things she likes, the stuff she hates, how to approach her, etc. The dude was a chicken in the beginning when I gave him some instructions to do some romantic things, and I got a hard time teaching him how to be a real boyfriend. So basically I was the one who made them get closer from the shadow. Don't tell her about that, OK.
[It's too bad I can't come to your wedding]
I mutter in a low voice.
[Noctis..]
Oops, did she hear that? I didn't mean to make her feel sad about me. Great, now her expression start getting more sad.
[It's OK, I can just watch your wedding through my sister's phone.]
Since she is the one who always takes care of me, my family will surely go to her wedding in my place.
[...]
Her sad expression starting to fade a little. Not enough.
[Your going to send her an invitation, right?] I use a serious tongue.
[Y-Yes! Of course!]
[Along with my parents?]
[Ofcourse, I will invite them too!]
Her normal expression came back. Much better.
[Sooo, how did it go?] I ask with excitment.
[What?]
[How did he propose to you? Where did he propose? How did you answer? And how did you feel?]
She got blushed. How cute. Lets make her blush even more.
[Did the two of you hug each other after that? Did you kiss h...]
[Noctis!]
Her face became red, I think I should stop.
Since she got embarrassed from my last question, the answer is Yes. I'm actually not trying to tease her, I just want to know how the event went.
[I will tell you everything later, right now I need to change your clothes.]
[But you can't do that anymore, because you have a fiance now. That called cheating.]
[Eh!]
Oops, did I accidentally said that? That's not the point of what I meant to say.
Her face turn red again. So cute. Wait, she isn't gonna throw the blanket at me right? I'm sick you know.
***
While I was reading the novel, I hear a ringing sound from my phone. It was a text message. The content was a picture of a man and a woman, behind them is what it's seems to be a mountain.
The man has an orange hair and black eyes, and the woman has a blonde long hair with a brown eyes. The man's name is James, my best friend from when I was in middle school. He's the only friend who is still kept in contact with me even after I stop going to school.
Besides him is his wife Rose. She is also a friend of mine when I was 16, when James was in high school. when James came to visit me he invited her. that time the two were just close friends. I then became a friend with her and she started visiting me with James every time he wanted to see me.
There was also a time when she came to visit me alone without James, and that was because of some personal problem. And it was about her feeling for James. I did know that she had something for him when I first saw her, and I was sure it was going towards something more than just a friendship. But I didn't expect she will ask me for some kind of advice. I thought she wanted my help or something like that. So I gave her small advices from some romance stories and some information about James personality.
Well, the guy was stupid to romance, so he couldn't notice Rose's feelings. Even after I gave him many hints about Rose feelings for him, he still didn't realize it, yet until I decided to trick him and use a dark method by telling him that Rose had a boyfriend. His reaction that time was expected, smiling while saying he was happy for her, despite I could see through his poker lying stupid face that he wasn't happy. I did the same to Rose too, telling her that James had feelings for someone.
Why did I do that? Because she was a sissy! not even trying to confess to him and asking me to not to tell James that she's in love with him. And each one of them start visiting me randomly one after another looking for some advise and complaining to me.
James started knowing that he really has some feeling for her, and Rose realized that she was stupid for not even trying to confess to him.
I took it too far, you say? Well, I know that. And I'm not stupid to not realizing that. Because whenever one of those Idiot comes to me to talk about the other side, I always record their talks.
Why? So that they can hear it. And when that day came, I revealed to them that I lied about that James loving someone and Rose having a boyfriend. The reaction was anger ofcourse, I then played the recorder from my phone so that they can hear what the other one had said about their own feelings. And the reaction after that was blushed, embarrassed, shamed, etc.
Haha, how do you like that? Then the two idiots finally confessed each other and started dating the other day. Becoming couples after that, and ending up getting married 2 years after graduating from high school.
I smiled as I looked at the picture and murmured.
[So they have arrived.]
The picture indicates that they have arrived at their destination where they will have their 2nd anniversary, I think. In Thailand, I think.
[Those idiot couple.] I muttered.
Just then, the door was knocked before it open. And two person came running towards me.
[[Uncle!]]
The voices came from two little kids, a boy and a girl. They both jump on the bed, hugging me.
[Kids, what did I say about no running in the hospital]
Right then, a young lady came through the door, upset at the children's attitude. That lady is my older sister Hellen. She is 7 years older than me. She has a long black hair and a blue eyes, same as me. The two kids who are still hugging me are her children, and my nephews too. They are both twins, and have the same appearance like their mother.
[It's Okay, they're still kids.]
[Even so, it's impolite to do something like that.]
The boy's name is Shun and the girl's name is Luna. They are both 8 years old. I look at my nephews who are still hugging my wrist and gave them a patting on the head.
[I need to go to the toilet, can I ask you to look after them?]
[Yeah, sure.]
After she left, the first one to talk was Shun.
[Uncle Noct, I have finished the story quest for Zhongli!]
[Really?]
[Yes, here look!]
He took an iPad from his backpack, and gave it to me.
[No fare! I wanted to show him mine first.]
Luna complained. she took her iPad from her backpack and tried to give it to me. But I'm already holding Shun's iPad.
Seeing that, Shun smirks at Luna, showing her the expression that says "I win". Luna got annoyed by it.
[Now now, no need to rush, I will see yours too.]
She then smiled at my words.
I check the game that Shun wants me to see. If you know a character who's name is Zhongli, then I think you know what's the game called.
That's right, it's "Genshin Impact". And it's the only game that I can play in my phone. I do play some other video games like Final Fantasy, Resident Evil and other, but I like watching people playing it on stream or in MeTube. The only thing I like from games are the story, and the player reaction to the story.
My dad did buy me a PS4 before, so that I can play in my room in the hospital. But I often use it.
How can he do that? Well, that because he is the head of this hospital. As his only son who is dying, he's trying to make me feel comfortable.
Not just PS4, but also a big 4k TV to watch movies and games, a smartphone, a light novel, and manga.
Every time I ask dad for something I need, he ends up buying them all. Like, if I ask him that I want to read a light novel volume 1, he will go bring me all the volume.
He always calls me, asking if I need anything new. I did feel really bad for him leaving some of his work to his workers just for my sake. No, I actually feel bad for the workers more. Even when I tried apologize to them, they didn't seem like the were bothered about it.
[If it's for Mr. Levian's only son, then it's okay?] That's what they always said.
Since I'm dying, it's better to accept whatever my father gives me.
While I was checking the game on the iPad, Shun asks me about the book on my lap.
[Uncle Noct, what is that book?] He pointed his finger at the book.
[It's a light novel.]
["Light novel" what's that?] He asked in confusion.
[A light novel is a story book about an anime.] I explained.
[Like manga.]
[No idiot, it's a book story without picture.] Luna corrected his misunderstanding.
She is much smarter than Shun. I heard that a sister is smarter than a brother, but I don't believe that.
[Who are you calling "idiot"?] [who else.]
They both glare at each other. Huh, kids.
[It's like what Luna said, manga is a story of an anime, with pictures and drawings, and a light novel is the same as manga, but without pictures.] I explained.
[I see.]
Looks like he gets it now.
What? Your saying that's not the right explanation.
Well, I can't give him a full explanation in detail, because his still a kid. It's better he finds out by him self.
[So, what's the name of the story?]
He asked, taking the book as he looked at the title name on the cover.
[Solo leveling.]
The one who murmured the name was Luna.
[What is it about?]
Shun asked me. I don't want to give him a long details of the story, so it's better to make it short, to the level that they can understand.
[It's about a man who was a weak hunter, then becoming the strongest hunter.]
After explaining to him, he began opening the book. I doubt he can read it, since he is more interested in manga.
[How did he become strong?] The one who asked was Luna.
[By training and completing quest.]
I can't tell her that the MC became strong by the "system" because she will ask about it too. I'm lazy.. *Ahem* I'll have a hard time explaining to her.
[Can I borrow it, uncle? It looks interesting.] said Shun, as he closed the book.
This boy. He says it interesting, but he will get bored after reading the first chapter. I think he will stop reading after 5 or 6 pages.
[I don't think you're old enough to understand it.]
I said. it's not that the story has some violence, but the words in the story will make it hard for him to understand it. And he likes reading manga because it has picture. That why I am sure he will throw the book when he finds it's hard to understand the content of the story. Why would I let him borrow mine? Go by your own.
[Huh?]
[it's mean your not smart enough to understand the story]
That's not what I meant Luna. She must've know the meaning of my word, but decided to use this explanation moment to attack him.
[Whaddya say?!] Shun got angry at her words.
Boy, she knows how to hit him.
[Now now, don't start fighting.] I then turn my gaze on Luna.
[Luna, that was a rude way to say about your brother, you too won't understand the story either.]
Shun expression were satisfied from what I said. Luna turn her head, ignoring him.
[Humph!]
[What I meant to say is, that the story is too hard for you two to understand.]
It's true. If you give any light novel to an elementary kid, he/she won't be able to understand the story. Unless the kid was a genius. Like Me for example.
I'm not lying. When I was in elementary school, some teachers called me a genius. I don't remember why, but it wasn't about being able to read a light novel. I started reading light novel when I was 17.
[There are many words that you may not know its meaning.]
I finished my explaining.
[Then, when can I'll be able to read it?] Shun asked.
[Who knows, that depends on how smart you can get. And also, how much knowledge you learn.]
While I'm saying that, I pick my phone from the desk, and continue with my explanation.
[If you study more, you will get more knowledge, and with that knowledge you will be able to understand the story.]
[That's alot of work.]
Shun complain. This little boy.
[And you can also make your characters get stronger, just like mine.]
I hold my smartphone, showing him the level of my characters in the game. It's the Genshin impact. His face looks shocked, seeing all my characters level above 80. Same goes for Luna.
If you're wondering which characters I'm showing them, then I don't mind telling you. they are "Child", "Ganyu", "Zhongli", and "Dainsleif"
What?! Dainsleif?!
But how?
I'm kidding, I don't have Dain since he is not available in the game yet. What I do have is "Klee"
[For real?] Shun asked. So I replayed with a nod.
I'm not lying to the kids. You can actually level up faster if you know how to do that, which also means that you need the information on how to level up.
[Tell me, how many time did you fail in Zhongli's quest?] I ask Shun. Since he said he finish it, then I'm sure he failed a couple of times before that.
[Umm...]
He's taking a long time to think. Maybe he doesn't wants to give me the true answer.
[9 times.] [Hey!]
I knew it. Since Luna gave the answer, then it's means he is embarrassed to tell me.
[So 6 time huh,...well I finish it in 1 try. do you know why?]
I asked with the smirk face.
[Because you're a pro?] [Because you're smart?]
They both looked at me with half eyes.
These little kids. I can feel my left eyebrow twisting. I then flick their forehead with my fingers.
[Aaw!] [ouch!]
[Nooo, it's because I know how to play correctly.]
[Are you saying that we are playing it wrong?]
[Yes, why else would you two ask me to help you in the game.]
I replied to Luna's question. Both of them always ask me to help them finish their game. Well, it's Shun who asks alot. sometimes he asks me to play for him. Luna in the other hand only ask for advices and guides.
[If you had some information about the game, you could have completed the quest without relying on me. And not just Genshin Impact, but other games as well.]
It wasn't just the Genshin Impact they ask for my help, there were other games too. Like the "Kingdom Hearts". I remember that day when Shun and Luna came to me with the game disc. They even added their own accounts in my PS, asking me to beat a boss fight for them, so that they can continue.
I mean, really. Where is the fun in that? Who do they think I am?
[Then, from where do you get the information?]
I looked at Shun, surprised from his excellent question.
Well, to answer that is very simple.
[The internet of course.]
[[Huh?]]
They both gaze at me with a dumbfounded expression. Stop looking at me like that!
[Ahem, for example, you can just type "How to level up fast in genshin impact" in Coogle, and it will give you alot of information to choose. Or you can just look in MeTube, and watch how the gamers do it.]
Their expression didn't change. Still gazing with a half eye
[Isn't that called cheating.]
Hearing that from Luna, I pinch her cheeks.
[Emmmm!?]
[No it's not, looking for information to win is not cheating. It's called cheating if you break the game's rule by cheats and hacking, or if you make someone else win it for you.]
I released my hands from her face, and turn my gaze to Shun.
[like when Shun asked me to help him finish the boss fight against Child.]
His face flushed.
[Th-that was one time.]
[O really?]
[Fu-fu-fu.]
Seeing his expression turn red from the embarrassment, Luna laughed.
[The point is, with knowledge you can succeed, not only in games but in life too. If you have a goal or a dream, then you need the knowledge on how to reach that dream. After all, your goal and your dream are like your mission and your own story quest.] I Patted their heads. It's seems they finally understand what I was saying.
[In another word, you two need to study hard.]
The one who said that was Hellen. It looks like she came back from the toilet. Or from somewhere else, I can see her holding a plastic bag in her left hand. Maybe she forgot to bring it from the car.
[I didn't know that my little brother can give such a useful advice to my children.]
[Hey, I'm trying to be a good example as an Uncle.]
I gave her an annoyed expression.
[Yeah well, you failed to give a good example as a brother.]
What the heck is she saying! I don't remember doing anything bad. I think. I have been sick for 10 years, so I didn't have time doing something bad to her.
Maybe it's something I did before that, but I don't recall. Perhaps it's when I was in the same age as these two?
Nah, I think she is just joking. I hope. I don't want to ask.
[Here, this is from mom.] She hands me the plastic bag.
I looked the contain inside. It was a cake.
[She told me to buy it for you.]
[Thanks.]
What she bought was a small chocolate cake with a vanilla cream inside it. 5 of them. Mother knows that I like this type of dessert, since she always buys me dessert and sweets everyday.
[Please, tell her I'm grateful.]
[I will.]
Unlike dad and sis, mom is the only one in the family who is overreacting at my condition. From the moment she found out about my disease she went overboard, to the point that she was planning to quit her work so that she can look after me. Fortunately, my dad and sister were able to stop her.
[So, how is she?]
[The same as usual, in another word she's fine.]
[That's good.] I said in a relief voice.
[Hey Noctis, if you need anything just ask.]
Maybe because she scene that I am feeling worried about mother, which made her say that.
What a nice sister she is.
[It's okay sis, I don't need anything else. But, if that's what you want, then can I ask for something to drink]
[Of course. coffee with milk right?]
I nodded.
Before leaving, she ask the kids.
[And what about you two, what drink do you want?]
[Chocolate milk.] [vanilla milk.]
The one who asked for chocolate was Luna, and for the vanilla was Shun. I thought boys like chocolate, and girls like vanilla or strawberry. So there are children with different taste huh.
When Hellen left again, Luna asked me to play with her.
[Uncle, can you join my party, please?]
[Hey, that's not fare. I was going to ask him before you.]
[It's your fault for being slow.]
[Huh!?]
Again, they both glare at each other.
I doubt they would get along in the future. Typical and classic twins relationship.
[How about you both join my party. I will help you level up.] I suggested.
They responded with a happy face.
***
When I look outside the window, I see that it's starting to get dark. The sun is almost setting.
Hellen and the children had left a while ago. As I look around the room, There was someone else besides me.
[Sorry for troubling you.]
[It's okay, I'm used to this.]
Alex was cleaning up the mess that been left by the kids.
I place the light novel on the desk, which I already finish it. There was some other books on the desk, novels and manga. I pick up one of them.
[Hey Alex.]
[Hm?]
For some reason I called her.
[Do you believe in reincarnation?]
She got confused of my sudden question. So I continue by explaining to her.
[I was wondering, if I would get reincarnated if I die.]
Alex couldn't respond. She didn't know what to say.
[No, never mind. Forget what I said.]
I decided to drop the subject. But then, she moved one of the chairs next to the bed and sat down.
[You want to talk about it, right?] She said.
She have been taking care of me for 8 years, so she's able to understand my thoughts.
[I'm listening.] She smiled softly.
I'm jealous that I couldn't meet someone like her In my age. I gave out a small sigh before talking.
[When I heard about my disease, I thought that my life will be over soon.]
That time, my whole body started getting weak, and I had some difficulties in moving.
[I felt sad and hurt for not being able to go outside. And for being weak.]
Unable to walk anymore and relying on some medicine to keep my body from running out of energy. I didn't feel hurt in my body, but I did feel hurt in my feelings for being helpless.
[I even had the thought of commending suicide, so that I wouldn't burden my parents and so that they may stop worrying about me.] I turn my gaze to the window.
Every time I looked at it, the thought of jumping over crossed my mind.
Alex expression turn pale after hearing that.
[But when James gave me his manga and told me to try reading them, my thoughts started to change.]
Before, I wasn't too fond to anime and other stuff. I was too focus in studying. Then, James said "Why not try it". I think he wanted me to ease my mind.
[After that, I started getting more interested in them, along with anime, novel, games, etc. Some people says that those are nothing but things with a negative impact to the mind, a waste to the person's time from reality. but I disagree. It's true that alot of people who watch or read them get distracted from reality, but there are those who can find some benefit from it.]
[Like you?] She questioned.
I gave her a gentle smile. She sure knows me well now.
[All those stories, from games, books and movies, whether they are fiction or nonfiction, they all have some experience of the real life in it.] I look at the book I was holding, it was a light novel. I put my palm on its cover.
[All the stories came for the author's experience. whether it was his own experience or someone else. Then, those stories become fiction and nonfiction. And from the nonfiction came the novel, manga, anime, movie, game and other.]
All of them came from the human imagination and experience.
[When I read them, I can see the similarity between the character's experience and some people in real life. From these stories I could see the outside world from another perspective.]
I look at Alex who is still listening.
[Sorry, maybe you didn't understand what I'm saying because I when far off the subject.]
But She denies it, waving her hands.
[No no, I totally understand! Please continue.]
I give her a smile before continuing.
[What I want to say is that, when I read those stories I finally understand the meaning of life. People's life are like their own story. Same goes for me. There are those who suffered like me, or even worse. Some of them cried and other of them smiled while accepting them.]
I can recall many characters who suffered in the story, who lost someone, failed to save them, hurt by them, or suffered from an illness. Like: Naruto,Tanjiro, Subaru,...
["God would never put us through all this suffering, if he didn't think we could bear it". that's what Yuuki said.] I murmured.
They all suffered in their life, but kept fight and move forward. Even though they weren't real, their experience came from real life.
[That is why I am able to stand strong, even if my soul is weak..] I turn my gaze towards her. [..and that's why I was able to help you and Gura get along together.]
[Not by the knowledge and wisdom that comes from a book, but the knowledge and wisdom that comes from people's experience through this book]
[So..]
Before I could continue, tears started coming out from her eyes. Wait, she's crying?!
[Wa-why are you crying?] I was in a panic.
[Sorry, it's just *sob* what you said *sob* was beautiful*sob*]
*Crack*
I feel like something hit my heart. What is this feeling? She said it was "beautiful".
Try to think what some other peoples will feel if they heard that. I think it will be: happy, embarrassed, satisfied, etc. But for me, it's none of them. What I feel is "uneasy?". I did feel some kind of "happy" from what she said, but "beautiful?" That's not the word that I wanted to hear, because it's too...
....I don't know!
Embarrassed? No, I don't feel embarrassed, my cheeks are not red, Dummy.
[Anyway. Please try to stop the tears, I won't be able to continue if you keep crying.]
[Done.]
That was fast. She wiped her tears with one go. I can't see any traces of it, except for the nose which is still a little red.
[Returning to my first question. do you believe in reincarnation?]
I looked at the novel on my hand. The name of the title is "reincarnated in Isekai".
[There are many stories that talks about reincarnation. I think that the first people who wrote them had a hard life experience.] it's not like I really believe it, but it feels like I am reading a diary of someone who got reincarnated.
[I wonder if one of those stories was real, or maybe a hint or something.] I murmured.
[I don't.]
[huh?]
I look at Alex after she said that.
[I don't believe in reincarnation, to be honest. But who knows. maybe there is a chance it might be real.]
Yeah, that's Alex for you. Someone who's always in reality. Ofcourse she would say something like that. As for me, I'm between reality and fantasy.
[But, If Noctis dies, then I will believe that you got reincarnated.] She smiled at me softly.
What?!
I look at her with as surprised expression.
Really, this big sis. You better make her happy Gura.
[Thanks Alex. If that really happened, then I will try to give you a hint after I leave.] I gave her a gentle smile.
we never talked to each other after that, because it was our last conversation.
that same day, when I went to sleep, I died.