[Kaizer's POV]
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep
Beep…Beep…Beep
Ughh…It's loud…Switch it off…
Ugh…What's this sound…It's ringing near my head so loud.
I slowly opened my eyes, and as my senses gradually adjusted, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
I was confused.
I looked around in wonder and saw a room with high-tech medical pieces of equipment.
Some of the equipment was even unknown to me, which was a surprise considering medical sciences and mechanical and manufacturing engineering were also among the fields I was taught in the 'Facility.'
The fact that I couldn't identify these machines was shocking, but I tried to calm my agitated state to the best of my ability.
I became more restless after realizing that I did not have the gun wounds on my body.
I tried getting up, but my hands looked too frail, and it took every ounce of my strength to sit up.
Beep…Beep…Beep
What's making that sound? Is that an oscilloscope?
Where am I? This does not look like a hospital room.
The room was filled with intricate designs and top-class furniture. Even the fabric of the carpet was eye-catching. The room wasn't short of the high-class suites I had once seen.
In the quiet corner of the room, a mirror stood as a silent sentinel, its presence both functional and ornamental, lending an air of elegance to the space.
The mirror's frame, crafted from rich, dark mahogany, was a work of art. Intricate carvings adorned its edges, depicting delicate vines and leaves that seemed to cascade like a waterfall of wood.
I tried seeing my reflection, but I fell short of capturing my image correctly due to its positioning.
Feeling curious and uneasy, I mustered the strength to sit up and swung my legs over the side of the bed.
I carefully pulled out the medical equipment attached to my body and tried to walk.
My movements felt awkward and unfamiliar, as if I were inhabiting someone else's body.
With unsteady steps, I made my way toward the mirror, drawn by the need to see my reflection more closely. As I stood before the mirror, my breath caught in my throat.
Staring back at me was a face that shared my features but seemed alien at the same time.
I gazed at my reflection, my eyes widening in astonishment as I saw my eyes, which had the familiar darkness, had given way to a deep purple hue, with a subtle crimson glimmer that danced within the irises. But it didn't end there. As I blinked, I noticed a faint, ethereal glow of red emanating from my eyelashes, adding a touch of otherworldly mystery.
My hair, which had once been a familiar black, had transformed into a stunning hue of silver. It cascaded in waves, reflecting the light with an almost ethereal shimmer.
Combining my new hair and eye colors created an unexpected and mesmerizing contrast against the backdrop of my unchanged face.
I couldn't tear my gaze away from this extraordinary transformation. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a hidden part of me that I had never known existed. The reflection held a certain allure, hinting at a deeper connection to a world beyond the ordinary.
Although my appearance had changed so profoundly, I couldn't deny a strange sense of familiarity, as if these new features were meant to be a part of me all along. The red glimmer in my lashes and the silver strands of hair whispered of a unique destiny, urging me to embrace this newfound identity.
As I shifted my attention away from the mirror to the room again. It was unlike any place I had encountered before, filled with remarkable features that left me in awe.
The walls seemed adorned with intricate patterns, shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Soft, ambient lighting bathed the room, casting a warm and comforting ambiance. It was as if the essence of tranquility had taken physical form within these walls.
The furniture was elegantly crafted, with curves and lines that flowed harmoniously. Each piece exuded an air of sophistication, inviting me to relax and explore their comforts. The materials used were rich and luxurious, inviting and adding to the overall sense of opulence.
As I stepped further, my feet sank into a plush carpet that felt like walking on clouds. Its texture was velvety and gentle, cushioning my every movement. It seemed to guide me, leading me deeper into the room.
The room also boasted large windows, which offered breathtaking views of the outside world. As I approached, I realized they revealed a mesmerizing landscape, a verdant garden bathed in the dark, cloudy sky. The vibrant colors of blooming flowers and lush foliage painted a serene and natural beauty scene, while the dark sky and stormy weather made the surroundings uneasy.
Although the room looked mesmerizing, my feelings were astray.
Am I dreaming? Is this what the afterlife looks like?
I took a moment to calm myself, observing the clean and well-maintained room.
The presence of high-quality medical equipment, some of which I am unfamiliar with, strikes me as peculiar, considering the challenging circumstances of my childhood.
The presence of advanced technology, such as 3D holograms, adds another layer of confusion to the situation.
I shifted my attention to the pictures on the walls.
In most of them, I am lying in bed alongside a middle-aged man and a young girl around my age, and some also include another young boy.
The arrangement suggests a progression of time, capturing moments from birthdays.
However, the fact that my eyes are closed in all the pictures indicates that they were taken while I was unconscious, most likely during a coma.
Doubts arise about the reality of my situation. I can read clearly, smell the incense in the air, and even feel pain while moving my body, indicating that this cannot be a dream.
The dissonance between my memories of being shot and chased and my current circumstances further complicates matters.
I questioned why I was alive, who cared for me, and where I was.
These uncertainties culminate in the ultimate question: Who am I? The discrepancy in my hair and eye color only deepens the mystery surrounding my identity.
Unraveling the truth of my existence will require a composed mind and a relentless pursuit of answers.
Taking a deep breath, I remind myself to stay calm and collected.
'I am Kaizer Stellar, and I died at 15 years old. Eleven years of my life were spent in that hellish place, and only after four years of living with them…I…'
Haah…exhaling, I calmed my emotions.
Realizing that dwelling on the past would be fruitless, I quickly understood the urgency of assessing my present circumstances. It became imperative for me to venture outside and investigate this place.
However, before I could take action, an abrupt cry of pain escaped my lips, causing me to collapse against the wall in agony. The searing pain reverberated through my head, throwing me off balance and causing me to crash onto the floor.
"Argh!!!"
Overwhelmed by the intensity of the pain, I could not help but emit another piercing scream as I instinctively clasped my throbbing skull. Amidst the torment, an overwhelming surge of memories inundated my consciousness, further adding to the tumultuous situation I found myself in.
Ding!
[SYSTEM INTERFACE RECOGNITION COMPLETE]
Ding!
[Missing piece of soul fragment recovered.]
Ding!
[SOUL SYNCHRONIZATION START]
As the words materialized before my eyes, the door to my room swung open, revealing a breathtaking young girl hurrying towards me. With genuine concern etched on her face, she exclaimed,
"You're awake! Are you alright?" She rushed to my side, eager to assess my condition.
Meanwhile, I continued to cry in agony, my hands tightly gripping my throbbing head, lost in the grip of hallucinations. Sensing the urgency, the girl swiftly departed, likely to seek assistance.
During her absence, a torrent of vivid memories cascaded through my mind, transporting me back to the early years of my life until roughly the age of eight. In those recollections, a woman I once called mother was a constant presence, providing support and love.
However, she inexplicably vanished when I was only six, leaving me bewildered and adrift.
As the memories unfurled, a whirlwind of emotions engulfed me. Moments of unbridled joy were intermingled with deep-seated resentment, unrelenting pain, despair, and the haunting specter of fear.
I was forced to endure relentless bullying, which scarred my youthful innocence.
Yet, the final memory that emerged was shrouded in an aura of somberness, depicting me as an eight-year-old child on the precipice of death within the depths of a cavern. In that harrowing moment, I found myself aiding two individuals—a middle-aged man and a young girl—as their lives hung in the balance.
As the tumultuous memories surged through my mind, a flicker of clarity emerged amidst the chaos, casting a fragile light on my once-muddled thoughts.
Emotions ran rampant across my face, reflecting the myriad of feelings accompanying each recollection.
And I realized that I am Kaizer Aster.
However, before I could fully process these newfound revelations, two figures entered the room, joining the young woman who had hurried outside earlier. Among them, my gaze met the penetrating stare of the middle-aged man, his eyes fixed upon me with a mixture of concern and pity.
Yet, as the weight of my memories and emotions threatened to overwhelm me, my consciousness began to waver, succumbing to the relentless strain. Within moments, the world around me faded into a haze, and I slipped into unconsciousness, surrendering to the overwhelming tide that enveloped my current fragile state of mentality.