As my eyes gently closed, I felt a swift wave of drowsiness wash over me, pulling me into a deep, untroubled sleep. Moments later, I found myself standing precariously on the edge of a craggy mountainside. The world stretched out beneath me, with the ocean waves crashing rhythmically against the cliff below my feet.
The moonlight bathed the scene in a soft, silvery glow, casting shimmering reflections across the dark, restless surface of the ocean. The tranquility of the night was only broken by the steady, soothing sound of the waves colliding with the rocks, creating a lullaby that seemed to harmonize with the gentle, hollow breeze.
"Where am I?" I murmured aloud, my voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean. My gaze wandered over the vast expanse before me, taking in the surreal beauty of the scene.
Despite the disorientation of finding myself in such an unfamiliar place, I experienced an unexpected sense of belonging. It was as though this solitary spot, with its breathtaking view and serene ambiance, was where I was meant to be.
The combination of the cool breeze and the rhythmic crashing of the waves created an almost hypnotic effect, making it incredibly difficult to even think about leaving.
"Peace, huh?" The sound of a voice broke the spell, pulling me out of my reverie. Turning to the source of the voice, my eyes met those of a boy with striking red eyes. The surprising part was that the boy was—me.
"What...?" I stumbled backward slightly, confusion evident on my face. The sight of my doppelgänger was disorienting, yet strangely calming. The boy's laughter was warm and reassuring, a contrast to the unsettling situation.
His smile was bright and irresistibly captivating, drawing anyone in with its sheer magnetism. "Typically, you're me, but, yeah, you." His hands gripped the cliff's edge as he leaned forward, tilting his head slightly. The smile he wore was nothing short of enchanting—a mix of mischief and warmth that made it hard to look away. It was as if he held a secret that he was eager to share, yet reluctant to fully reveal.
"You have to be the real owner of this body, right?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly as I tested my theory. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he chuckled in response. The twinkle in his eyes only added to the enigmatic charm he exuded.
"I'm no longer the owner; you are," he replied, his voice carrying a sense of resignation mixed with a strange kind of satisfaction.
"Then how are you here?" I pressed, my curiosity overcoming my unease.
His smile widened, revealing a glint of mischief. "Because I never truly left. I was living in the darkest parts of your mind, always wondering." He turned his gaze back to the ocean, and I felt a pang in my chest at the word "wondering." It resonated deeply with me as if it was a reflection of my inner struggles.
Wondering.
I was just like him, grappling with uncertainty and searching for meaning. "How..." I struggled to articulate my thoughts, "How can I change that?" The words stumbled out of my mouth, my confusion palpable.
"And you seem to be more powerful than I ever was, so I'm glad you took this body." His eyes widened in shock at my words. "I guess you're a victim of that mouth as well." He lifted one of his hands and laughed, the moonlight dancing around him, illuminating the glint in his eyes. "You can't save me," he said honestly. "I fell, and you took my spot."
"I'm sorry," I found myself apologizing despite knowing it wasn't my fault that he had died. Yet, a part of me felt a deep-seated guilt for taking his place, his body, and his life.
"Don't apologize. I'm just a fragment now, and soon your system will discover me and I will be erased. So it's not your fault; it's mine for still being attached to this body." I watched him as he spoke, his face showing no regrets. He gazed out at the sea, his eyes filled with emotions I couldn't quite decipher. "For you," he answered, not with his mouth, but with his mind.
You can hear my thoughts?
"Yes, you're in my inner mind space, so I hear all your thoughts," he said out loud, still beaming with that enigmatic smile. "And as for the emotions, I know you'll put an end to it." As he spoke, his body began to fade, turning into particles that blended with the night sky. "I only have one thing to ask of you. Can you do it?"
"Okay. What is it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
He moved closer to me and whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "If you ever come up against a girl named Nyx, kill her." He pulled away, his smile now wider but devoid of the kindness it once held.
"Who is she?" I asked, my curiosity intensifying despite the gravity of his request.
Now only his face remained, and even that was slowly disappearing. "Leader of the Phoenix Order," he said before completely fading away.
"Is that the one who sent to kill him?" I muttered to myself as I was abruptly jolted awake, slamming my head into Ricka's. He was just about to wake me up.
"Ouch!" Ricka stumbled back, trying to regain his balance before crashing to the floor.
My head throbbed with pain, but that was the least of my concerns. I was left with a lingering sense of unease and confusion, grappling with the meaning of the strange encounter.
"Are you okay?" Avidia approached, helping Ricka to his feet.
"Yeah," Ricka replied, rubbing his head.
"The Burning God, Nyx Phoenix, head of the guild council and leader of the stronger guild, The Phoenix Order," Elga said, extending a hand to help me up. "Why did you whisper her name?"
"Nyx," Avidia murmured as I got to my feet with Elga's assistance. "Nyx was the name on the flyer I saw for just a second."
Afterward, I recounted the entire encounter with the previous owner of the body and what had transpired. I was still in shock that the system hadn't alerted me to any of this.
"What do we do now?" Ricka asks a question we know the answer to. "Oh right, we're going on the journey now."
"No it is not a journey, but training." Elga puts out the barely lit fire with her boots. "Let's go."
"Right."