Chapter 1: The Veil
My lungs burned.
Air. I needed air.
I shot up with a start, gasping for breath, my body trembling. My chest heaved violently, still reeling from the suffocating weight of the pillow that had crushed down on me.
My hands flew to my face, expecting to find something there—anything to tear off.
But there was nothing. Just cold, damp air.
I blinked, disoriented.
"Haa… haa…"
My breath came out ragged, like I'd been dragged from the depths of some suffocating abyss.
Panic clawed at my chest as my mind scrambled to make sense of what just happened.
I… I was in my bed. At home. Someone… someone was trying to kill me. I can still feel it…the pressure. The darkness closing in.
But now…
I looked around, wide-eyed.
This wasn't my bedroom.
My heart lurched, and fear surged through me like a tide.
The dim, flickering lights of strange sconces cast eerie shadows on polished wooden walls, and the sound of murmured voices filled the air. It smelled of expensive wine, perfumes, and something earthy… and smoky.
Where the hell…?
I wasn't in my apartment anymore. I wasn't in my room. I wasn't even… dead?
"W-what is this…?"
I stumbled backward, my back hitting the edge of a chair, causing me to look down for the first time.
My clothes—no longer the rumpled t-shirt and sweatpants I'd gone to bed in—were replaced with an elegant black suit, embroidered with silver thread. My fingers brushed against a silk mask, sleek and ornate, tied tightly around my face.
I wasn't alone.
At the center of the room, a long, grand table stretched before me, and surrounding it were people—no, more like figures—dressed in the finest silks, all masked, all silent.
Their faces were hidden behind intricate designs of gold, silver, and black, each mask more elaborate than the next.
Some turned toward me, their gazes piercing, though I couldn't see their eyes.
Fear twisted in my gut.
I wasn't supposed to be here.
"Wh-where am I?"
My voice came out strangled, barely more than a whisper, but no one answered. They just continued their quiet murmuring, their voices low and cryptic, as if I hadn't spoken at all.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing.
Why wasn't anyone paying attention?
Did they even know I was here?
Could they hear me?
Or was this… a dream?
No, this felt too real. Too vivid.
Just moments ago… I was being murdered. Someone was in my room. Someone had—!
I choked on the memory, my throat tightening. Whoever did it, I had felt their weight pressing down on me, the pillow suffocating me, robbing me of my breath, of my life.
Am I dead?
Is this… some kind of afterlife?
Before I could spiral further, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I flinched, spinning around, eyes wide.
A man—or at least, I thought it was a man—stood behind me, draped in a deep purple cloak. His mask was elaborate, covering his entire face, and his voice was calm yet unnerving.
"Take your seat. The meeting is about to begin."
Meeting? What meeting?
I stared at him, my heart still racing.
"W-wait, I don't—"
"Everyone must be seated," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
My feet moved before I could think, taking me to one of the many vacant chairs.
My body sank into the plush seat, hands trembling as they rested on the armrests.
My mind whirled, trying to process everything.
Who were these people?
Why was I here?
And what was this place?
A soft chime echoed through the room, and the murmurs fell silent.
The air grew thick with an unspoken tension, the kind that suffocates, like the pillow that had—
I shook my head.
Focus.
The doors at the far end of the room opened, and a figure strode in, their mask unlike any other. It shimmered like obsidian, lined with streaks of gold, and their presence demanded attention.
They stood at the head of the table, towering over the rest of us.
"Welcome," their voice was smooth, almost melodic, yet it sent a chill down my spine. "Tonight, we gather once more to decide the fate of those who dwell beyond."
The words felt heavy, as if they carried weight far beyond what I could comprehend.
I glanced around, the faces, or rather, the masks, of those seated around me showed no reaction.
They were eerily still, listening intently.
What fate? Who… are they talking about?
I didn't belong here. I had no idea what was going on, but one thing was certain: I needed to find out why I was here. And fast.
The obsidian-masked figure lifted a gloved hand.
"We have gathered to uphold the ancient pact."
The figure's voice continued, commanding the room.
"Tonight, decisions will be made. Alliances will be formed… and the truth will emerge."
My fingers twitched against the armrest.
Ancient pact? Truth?
The figure's eyes, hidden behind that black and gold mask, seemed to sweep over the table, lingering for a moment in my direction.
My breath hitched, an icy dread snaking down my spine.
Had they noticed me?
Did they know I wasn't one of them?
Before I could spiral into more panic, a soft chime echoed once again, and the obsidian-masked figure gestured toward the center of the table.
A large, polished silver tray was being brought in by more masked attendants, each step they took in unison. My gaze locked onto it.
Resting on the tray, perfectly arranged, was an assortment of strange, shimmering cards. They glowed faintly under the dim lights.
A game? No… this felt different. This wasn't just a game.
The cards were passed around, one by one, placed in front of each masked guest. When one slid in front of me, I hesitated, staring at the shimmering object.
My hand shook as I reached for it, but as soon as my fingers brushed its surface, I froze.
A jolt shot up my arm.
It was like touching something alive. The card felt warm, pulsing, as if it had a heartbeat of its own.
What the hell…?
Across the table, the masked figures didn't seem fazed at all, each of them picking up their cards with practiced ease.
I glanced down at mine, unsure of what to do, before finally flipping it over.
The moment I did, my chest tightened.
THE VEIL.
The word glowed on the card's surface, accompanied by a haunting image of a child standing, his grin wide, eyes hollow. There was a line running vertically at the center, and one half was in crimson red background, while the other side was in black.
What did this mean?
The obsidian-masked figure stepped forward, their voice filling the silence once again.
"The cards have been dealt. Let the game of fate begin."
Suddenly, the lights dimmed further, and the room was plunged into near darkness.
The only light came from the glowing cards and the faint shimmer of the masks.
"Each of you holds a key to tonight's outcome."
The figure continued, voice smooth yet unnerving.
"The decisions made here will shape the future…and determine who remains."
The tension in the room thickened.
My heart pounded as I forced myself to stay still, blending in as best as I could with the others, though I had no idea what was happening.
One of the masked figures across from me slowly raised their card, and the others followed suit.
I hesitated but quickly mimicked them, holding up 'The Veil' like the rest of them.
The obsidian-masked figure nodded once.
"Now, let us begin."
With a snap of their fingers, the air shifted, and the very floor beneath us began to tremble.
The walls stretched, warping, until the room itself felt like it was spinning.
I gripped the armrests of my chair, desperately trying to steady myself.
Suddenly, a deep, resonating voice boomed through the room.
"A sacrifice must be made."
Then, the room collapsed as if it were an illusion.
I found myself sitting in a well-furnished room that looked like it came out of a medieval fantasy novel.
"Haa…"
What is going on?
"Where…"
My eyes caught the glimpse of a mirror and I walked, my legs barely feeling like mine, as I sped to it.
One I saw my reflection—no, it wasn't even my reflection—my heart sank.
Sickly pale skin, emerald green eyes, and dark hair.
I touched my face where the mask was no longer present. Even the outfit I wore earlier was replaced with something simpler—buttoned up white shirt and checkered gray vest and pants.
"Who..."
So many questions flooded my mind.
Just then, as if to answer this horror I was experiencing, a mechanical chime echoed in my head, and a holographic screen appeared in front of me.
Ping!
「 Welcome to Lesselhia Chronicles 」
「 Recognizing Host: TokkiTokkiBun 」
「 Synchronizing Host to Lesselhia 」
「 95%...73%...55%...32%...10%...0% 」
「 Synchronization Complete 」
「 Initializing Host: Eldrinn Valerian 」
「 Host recognized: Eldrinn Valerian 」
「 Main Quest: See this world to it's desired ending 」
I watched in dread as the messages popped up one after the other.
"Haa…huh…?"