I've lost count of how many times my consciousness has been pulled, dragged, forced, or guided to a place beyond my control or will. If I think about it, I've spent more time in some limbo than actually conscious in my own body in this world.
This time, I find myself surrounded by black walls, so dark they appear to be made of shadows. It's impossible to discern where they end and where the ceiling begins—no corners, no edges—making it easy to lose all sense of depth or height.
Thankfully, the floor isn't made of the same material, which helps maintain some spatial awareness and orientation. At the same time, the floor seems overly intricate for a simple construction.
Thin, glowing lines stretch randomly across the floor. Contained only by the shadowy walls, these lines shine brightly, resembling countless LED strips glued to the ground. Flashing in a variety of colors, their intensity fluctuates with no discernible pattern.
To add to my unease, I find myself standing at the center of an intersection with eight different paths. Each path is shrouded in shadows, offering no hints or clues about what lies ahead. The absence of any clear markers or structures seems deliberate.
The sensation is as if I'm expected to choose a path blindly, without any foresight or guidance. And soon, my suspicion is confirmed.
"Very well, child, just pick one. Your heart will guide you."
The voice of the red-haired woman reaches me, soothing my discomfort. I shouldn't feel reassured just by hearing her voice, but given my current situation, I can't be picky about where I find support or hints.
The necessity of choosing a path was already clear, but what she said afterward was the clue I needed.
As I approach one of the paths, I sense something very familiar. The same sensation of perceiving someone else's emotions that I felt with the orange-haired and red-haired women.
Indeed, upon testing the other paths, I notice that each emits a distinct intensity of this feeling. While I can't clearly discern or identify the emotions coming from them, I sense a vague difference.
Some paths feel cold, others mild, but only one radiates a warm and comforting sensation. Clearly, it's the best choice.
I believe this is what she meant when she said my heart would guide me.
Without hesitation, I step into the path, and the shadows engulf me. What I didn't expect was to be overwhelmed once more by emotions that aren't mine—surprise, joy, curiosity...
After passing through the shadows, I find myself in a place very similar, perhaps identical, to the previous one: another intersection of eight different paths.
"Very good, let's do it again... You're doing well," said the voice, now slightly more enthusiastic.
Once again, I choose the path that feels warm and comforting. And again, I'm overwhelmed by foreign emotions, though this time, they feel slightly more real.
After crossing through the shadows, I'm back at the same octagonal intersection. Perplexed, I begin to suspect I'm being played for a fool.
"That's it, dear, just one more time..."
I start to suspect this is some sort of test. I don't know why, but it feels like she's challenging me to a game.
She doesn't know I love challenges. Besides, I'm having a terrible day and need to vent on something.
Let's go...
By following the warm and comforting sensation emanating from only a few of the doors, I continue entering one door after another, only to be thrown back into the same place each time.
The voice stops speaking, but from the emotions I feel every time I'm swallowed by the shadows, I can tell the woman is growing increasingly enthusiastic and joyful.
However, after the 12th door, I begin to sense confusion and hesitation coming from her. It's as if she wants to stop the game but is held back by her curiosity and excitement. This motivates me to hurry and keep choosing doors.
15th... 18th... 25th...
As I progress, the choices grow harder and harder, with the sensations from the doors becoming increasingly similar.
30th... 40th... 45th...
Each sensation is so alike that I start taking much longer to choose. From mere seconds, I now spend around 40 minutes comparing, analyzing, and observing.
46th... 47th... 48th...
Fortunately, it seems all my choices are correct, as the game continues and the voice remains silent. Only the emotions intensify to the point of feeling like my own. In other words, it's as if I'm experiencing what she feels.
The game continues until I finally reach the 48th intersection.
After spending nearly an hour selecting a passage and being swallowed by the shadows, I'm transported to a place vastly different from the previous intersections.
This is the 49th point, where I expected to see dark walls and eight passages to choose from.
However, unlike all the previous ones, this place is well-lit and beautiful. Gone are the dark walls stretching into the sky; instead, I find myself in a kind of garden surrounded by flowers and tall, colorful trees.
Blue, yellow, pink, red, purple, and more colors.
It feels like a grand natural flower shop, and if it weren't for the small path of brown tiles underfoot, I'd feel entirely free.
But at each end of this path, there's a shadowy passage, grotesquely contrasting with the surroundings. It reminds me that the game continues and I must make another choice.
The problem is that, unlike before, only two passages are available, and they're completely identical. I can't sense any difference between the two...
"You've done very well, child..."
Suddenly, the woman's voice resonates throughout the area, unlike before when her voice seemed to be inside my mind.
Looking around for the source, I soon spot a massive crimson dragon lying on a green field behind me. But I'm certain I saw no sign of this dragon when I arrived here.
"Your consciousness is surprisingly strong. You have no idea how impressed I am that you've endured all my emotions without being ejected from my Onirilis."
"You can see me???" As I step back cautiously, I ask with a trembling voice, praying it's just my imagination and she can't actually see me.
"Shouldn't I? And why are you afraid, child?"
"Heh... You can hear me too... I'm screwed." Realizing she can interact with me, I can do nothing but laugh nervously and glance around, searching for an escape route.
"After the 15th correct choice, I already noticed your consciousness belongs to an older human. That was quite a surprise, and it left me uncertain about what to do."
"... I..."
"Don't worry, child. I see no problem with your age... 15, 20, even 30 years are irrelevant to Dragons. However, this isn't the main issue you should be concerned about."
As she said this, she raised her neck and slowly opened her eyes, glancing around as if searching for something. After scanning the area without notable reaction, she looked directly at me and continued her speech:
"Your situation, child, is extremely delicate. Even with all my experience, I struggle to help you find an answer. Even though there are only two choices, one leads to a life of suffering and anguish, while the other leads to an excruciatingly painful but quick death..."
"...What??!!"
"You are a Kaelivar, a wandering soul that has strayed from its cycle of life and death. Nothing foreign to this world should remain here—so decrees Aura's law. But you, like others in history, were reincarnated in Sihir for reasons known only to Aura."
She moved her neck, resting it comfortably on her forepaws. Soon after, she closed her eyes again and resumed speaking:
"There have been several cases similar to yours in the past, perhaps far more than we know or is recorded. After all, history is vast, and even if someone spent their entire life studying it, they would not know more than a small fraction of it. The only certainty I can offer is that Aura does not permit external interference. Thus, your fate as a Kaelivar is either certain death or perpetual oblivion. There is no escape; all existence in Sihir is governed by Aura, and even those foreign must submit to her will."