Since entering the dense, shadowy forest, Alex had cursed more than he could count,
but now, he had no one but himself to blame for his current predicament. His carelessness had led him to this moment, and he couldn't help but berate himself for it,and the bitterness gnawed at him as he stared at the figure watching him with unsettling interest
envy bloomed in Alex's heart,He envied Mirai for his strength, imagining how Mirai would handle this situation with a confident smile. He envied Edward for his vast intellect, knowing Edward would never make such a mistake in a thousand years.Most of all, he envied the being before him for everything it possessed—its air of grace, unmatched beauty, and undeniable authority.
Disgusted with himself, Alex's envy only fueled his determination to strive for greatness, to one day make those he envied feel the same way about him.
A small, determined smile crossed Alex's face as he acknowledged his shortcomings. Lightning crackled around him, and with unmatched speed, he descended the stairs. The being's gaze never wavered, only growing more intrigued. Alex cast a look at Mirai and Edward, signaling them to stay back. They nodded in silent respect. As the other knights moved to join him, Alex shouted, "No, this is between me and... her? Him? Damn it, why does it even matter?"
Alex looked up and noticed subtle changes in the being's expression, frustration and confusion clear on its face. He decided to press on, summoning his cherished weapon. "My name is Alex Lionheart, a proud noble of the kingdom. In the name of the king, my spear the embodiment of my lineage and honor as the third strongest in this squad—"
"So you admit I'm stronger than you?" Edward interrupted with a smug grin. Alex was taken aback when Mirai didn't seize the opportunity to tease him but it was actually Edward, feeling a rare moment of gratitude toward his leader. He turned to Edward and angrily retorted, "Can't you shut the hell up? Is it hard for you to realize this is my grand moment? If I survive this duel, you'll be next."
Edward replied arrogantly, "I highly doubt that. I hope you left a will so we can at least give it to your brother. But even if you win, you're no match for me, Mister Third." He then whispered to Mirai, "This feels better than I thought. Too bad for you."
Alex ignored Edward's taunts, focusing all his attention on the being on the throne. "I apologize for the disrespect you've witnessed. Honorable ruler, I challenge you to a duel. But first, can you tell me your name?"
At that moment, the forest began to shake, and the confusion on the being's face deepened.
———————————————————
[Ugh, what's this disturbance?] I muttered inwardly, faintly hearing the voices of two people yelling at each other. Strangely, it felt like they were keeping an eye on me. Meanwhile, I sensed others rummaging through the hall, searching for something, yet they seemed oblivious to my presence.
As my consciousness began to fade, the thorns entwined around my body quivered, urging me to wake up. Deep down, I realized this was my only chance. The dream I had longed for was a mere illusion, a fragile refuge from the waking nightmare that was my reality. It offered no real escape, It was an illusion of choice, both paths leading to hell of consequence, I already accepted the change.
The thorns grew more agitated as someone drew closer, reaching for the crown.
Each day marks the passage of time, bringing with it inevitable change,and I decided to take the first step to start my day, and so…
I finally woke up
———————————————————
As I opened my eyes, everything became clear. I could see and hear everything in the hall. Every life form here served as my eyes and ears, and through them, I observed the knights clad in heavy armor, Their eyes were hidden by their helmets, making it difficult to discern what lies beyond their eyes.
Unlike the two people who were still arguing, their sudden shift in posture indicated they realized I was watching them. One was an elf surrounded by what seems to be spirits?, and the other was a swordsman from the east, yeah, his attire and katana couldn't make it more obvious.
The youthful knight before me froze the moment he saw himself reflected in my eyes.
"Thou'rt strangers, it seemeth."
And just like that, the hall fell silent as my words still echoed in the air. The elf and the swordsman didn't seem surprised at all, unlike the knights who froze in their places.
But the one standing directly before me seemed to be taking it harder than the others. I could see it clearly through my eyes: a surge of conflicting emotions in his heart: Anger, self-loathing, and frustration swirled within him, but they all paled in comparison to the envy that rotted deep in his soul. Yet, this rot only fueled a greater desire—a desire for superiority, to be better than others, to be better than me?
The knight's lips curled into a slight smile before he disappeared, engulfed in a flash of lightning. Despite his swift departure, I managed to keep track of him.
[Interesting, these people are fundamentally different from the people of my world, not only in body but in soul as well]
I had already suspected this wasn't my world ever since I found myself at the bottom of the lake. It didn't take a genius to figure that out, but I still needed definitive proof to confirm my doubts
I stopped focusing for a moment, trying to process this revelation. [Does this mean I won't be able to see them again? Then what's the point of even being here?]
My thoughts spiraled into uncertainty, but the knight's shout pulled me back to reality.
"No, this is between me and... her? Him? Damn it, why does it even matter?"
[Her? Him? Damn this, not again. I had hoped this confusion would not follow me here. Frustration and confusion were inevitable; I was already tired of these misunderstandings]
"My name is Alex Lionheart—"
[Wait, I know this name. It's oddly familiar. I'm sure I know it from somewhere] My memory was hazy, and I struggled to recall details.
"—But first, can you tell me your name?"
[My name? What was my name? Did I have a name to begin with? Or did I forget it due to my long stay in the lake?] A sharp pain shot through my head. [Aghhhhh, it hurts]
The thorns tightened around my body, and the hall began to shake rapidly, mirroring the erratic rhythm of my heartbeat.
Who am I?