The same kid remained in the playground, unaffected by the season, dancing and singing, his movements improving since the winter, as time continued to pass around him.
I couldn't see his face; he was nothing but a silhouette to me, a shadow flickering in front of me.
The messages continued to bombard me, and as I continued to observe his movements getting better and more refined, even I felt that I was getting better.
A surreal feeling.
As if I could study just from seeing him do these things. But not only the movements in front of me, somehow, I felt that on the inside.
As if I was memorizing it with my own muscles... muscle memory just by seeing something. It sounded dumb, but that's what I was feeling.
The seasons continued to change while the silhouette continued to grow in size, the child was growing up but the place stayed the same…
He was always there, practicing alone, sometimes, not only just dancing or singing, but acting.
Rehearsing lines from movies, even while I couldn't see his face, I felt his performance…
Not only that—the passion.
Everything that he did.
He enjoyed it.
The movements got better over time, his voice carried joy, sadness, rage, surprise, fear… joy.
His emotions were so clear, so pure as he displayed them while he was a blank canvas.
Then… the world turned white again.
The cold hit me.
Argh…
Cold…
So cold.
I shielded my eyes with my hand, against the biting cold, but as soon as it enveloped me, it vanished.
"Huuf…."
"Hufff…"
I struggled to breathe as I continued to stand in the washroom with my back covered in sweat and my labored breathing echoing in the small closed space.
Looking back at the mirror, my skin was pale and my face was just like someone had stayed awake for a whole week.
My eyes were puffy with two black bags around them… makes me remember collage.
I had the eyes of a dead fish back then as well… or they will?
No idea…
I felt exhausted from whatever this vision was… but one thing was clear.
—————
Attribute
—————
Acting: Beginner [2/5]
Singing: Beginner [3/5]
Dancing: Beginner [3/5]
I felt better at these things, without ever really practicing them, the boy that was practicing tirelessly even when the seasons passed…
That was me.
Or… another me.
From a word similar but so much different than mine.
I think I'm starting to get it… this world is not the same as the one I was born in, but it is at the same time.
This is an alternative world where technological progress was faster then in my world…
I froze for a second.
Does this mean…
That I was reborn in my own alternate version's body?
Did I take his life from him?
…
Can I get back home?
I felt another dull headache come my way.
No.
I don't care.
I'm going to go home, whatever it's going to take.
I headed back to the sink and plunged my head under the cold water.
It hit me like a tidal wave with its freezing sensation but it felt nothing compared to the cold that I suffered in the Memory Fragment.
[asdfg—]
The text was moving once again in front of me revealing the window with a menu point that was not present on the main menu.
[Memory Fragments]
[First Fragment received… process of assimilation - 14%]
I kept staring at the point for a long time, but the percentage did not move.
Probably because of the Vision, it must have hugely boosted the percentage and the assimilation is going to take longer than the process of Implementation took.
Or is it tied to a condition like the implementation was?
Hmm… whatever it is, I will figure it out, but not now.
I had to get back to class.
Well, it's probably over now, I have no idea how much time I took while being inside of the vision.
I invaluably gulped.
Do I have to interact again with the angry Baldemort?
I sighed and then headed back to the classroom, but as I did, I noticed that there was a clock on the wall to my left.
…
I was not even surprised anymore, as if my day could have gotten any weirder than this.
I wasn't even gone for two minutes…
Every step felt strange that I made towards back to the classroom, the way I was walking felt strange as if I should walk in another manner, and even my posture felt unfamiliar.
Did the vision influence my habits?
If so, that is going to be a problem… what if I forget who I am if I assimilate with the fragments?
I'm not going to let that happen.
Reaching into my pockets and retrieving my phone, I stared at my wallpaper…
I'm not going to forget who I am.
***
In the classroom, the teacher continued to drone on, explaining the rest of the subject while Aiden absentmindedly fiddled with a pencil, flicking it left and right, his head resting on the desk.
'So bored…'
He felt like he was losing his mind, the monotony of the lecture gnawing at him. He even considered faking sick just to escape the unbearable dullness.
The teacher was infamous throughout the school, loathed by students and teachers alike, and known for a strict demeanor and a tone that could make anyone fall asleep if they were forced to endure it for more than five minutes.
And this class had been dragging on for over half an hour.
As he fiddled with his pencil, Aiden couldn't shake the bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn't one to show it, but he was genuinely worried about his brother.
Since the start of the day, he was strange.
He woke him up like he always did, as mean as possible, but his mannerisms changed.
He wasn't as talkative and he always seemed to be deep in his own thoughts.
Creak—
As soon as he thought of him, the door of the classroom opened with a low creaking sound and Aiden walked in with the expression and complexion of a dead fish.
He was pale even after he seemed soaked…
"Liam?"
He called out in worry… but his brother seemed unresponsive before excusing himself to the teacher, who did not seem as strict as he observed Liam and the young man sitting on his seat while the girl beside him called out in worry.
But he did not answer to her either, only a dismissive wave of his hand. Liam just whispered lowly, "I'm fine"
***
I feel sick.
...
So tired…
My head aches so badly.
...Memories.
They're swirling in my mind, like fragments of thoughts just out of reach, overwhelming me again and again.
More and more memories, more and more pain.
The only thing keeping me from losing it is the system notification in the corner of my vision.
The percentage is climbing... this is just pain, and I can handle pain.
It's not the first time, and it won't be the last.
I just have to push through. Knowing there's an end to it makes it bearable.
Memories.
They're invading my mind.
None of them are mine, yet all of them are.
I just have to fight on… or I will lose myself to the memory fragments.