I lean against the window, a small smile playing on my lips as I watch the world outside. So, how long are you going to stay quiet? I think, waiting for Ego's response.
[What?]
What was that dream? I ask, my smile fading.
[I don't know.]
What do you mean you don't know?
[It wasn't me who showed you that dream, Rem. There's something else buried deep in your subconscious.]
I fall silent, letting his words sink in.
After a moment, Ego's voice echoes again. Rem, I think it's time you give me a proper explanation—what I am, what Uniqueness is, and what Special Traits are.
…
I stay quiet for a long while, gathering my thoughts before finally speaking aloud.
"A long time ago, this place was known as the Great Heaven. Back then, the six races lived in harmony. In the northwest, humans and dwarfs resided. The dragons claimed the southwest. The beast-men lived in the northeast, and in the southeast, the elves and druids made their home."
"And at the center of it all, there was the original capital, where the emperor ruled. Four kings governed each region under his command, but the emperor was always a dragon—the strongest of all races. For a time, everyone accepted this. But over the years, resentment began to simmer beneath the surface."
I pause, letting the weight of the story settle, while Ego waits impatiently in my mind.
"About 500 years ago, everything fell apart. Explosions erupted across the lands, and creatures we'd never seen before began appearing out of nowhere. Beasts, more powerful than anything we'd ever encountered, tore through our lands, splitting the continent into four distinct zones."
[I ASKED YOU WHAT UNIQUENESS IS, NOT FOR A DAMN HISTORY LESSON!] Ego snaps, his frustration clear.
"Wait, wait—I'm getting to it," I reply, smirking slightly despite myself.
"The whole era became known as the Age of Destruction—or the Calamity of Destruction. And then, something strange happened. People across all races began awakening powers—abilities that had never existed before. They called it 'Uniqueness.' It was different for everyone, tied to their personality, desires, goals… anything that defined them. And no two people can have the exact same Uniqueness. They might share certain elements, but it's always… unique."
[So, Uniqueness is connected to the Age of Destruction?]
"That's what people believe, anyway."
I continue, "Uniqueness has four stages: The Stage of Learning, where I'm currently stuck. Then there's Mastery, Perfection, and finally, Manifestation."
[Pretty sure the names are self-explanatory.]
[Also, you guys really suck at naming things, though, just saying.]
"Shut up. I didn't name it," I mutter, rolling my eyes as I continue.
"So now, special traits…"
I pause for a moment. "We don't know the origins of them."
I hesitate but then add, "Only humans have this ability called special traits. The other races have their own versions. You already know mine. It's called Slash. It makes anything I slash more powerful. Simple as that."
[Interesting...]
"That's pretty much all I know about it," I add. "So… care to explain the dream now?"
[As I said, I think there's something else inside your subconscious with me.]
[I feel somewhat familiar with it.]
I think we'll figure it out once I hit the second stage, I reply in my mind.
But my main question is, was that dream real? I ask, clenching my fist tightly against the corner of the window.
[Don't know, but what I can tell is that it wants you to find the truth.]
I stay silent for a moment, absorbing Ego's words.
[Anyway, your main worry should be your current mission—killing those sons of bitches.]
[Oh, and also, be ready to get beaten by her. She didn't do anything because that narcissistic guy was here.]
The mention of her has me immediately stiffen.
…
I gulp, bracing myself for her wrath.
The sound of sipping echoes through the room as Miss Old drinks her tea from her cup.
Meanwhile, I sit across from her, sweating bullets.
She looks at me while I stare down at the ground, feeling her gaze like a weight on my shoulders.
"So, how's your body holding up? You were pretty badly hurt."
"Uh… yeah, it's okay now. That guy did a good job with the healing," I reply, my voice stumbling over the words.
She raises an eyebrow, amused. "Why are you acting so scared? Is there a monster behind me or something?" She glances over her shoulder, feigning curiosity.
"No, it's just that… aren't you disappointed in me?" I mumble, my gaze fixed on the floor.
"Why would I be?" Miss Old responds, taking another sip of her tea, her tone calm and steady.
"You warned me to be careful, and I wasn't. I ended up failing." I hesitate, swallowing hard before admitting, "I… lost."
"Yes, you lost. But I still don't see why I should be disappointed," she says, setting her cup down and looking directly at me. "Tell me, Rem, what's the opposite of winning?"
I blink, uncertain of where she's going with this. "Losing?" I say, though it comes out more like a question.
"Right… and wrong at the same time."
"What?" I frown, thrown off by her answer.
"Did you know, Rem, that winning requires climbing something very specific?" She pauses, her gaze steady. "Stairs. And do you know what those stairs are called?"
I look at her, still uncertain where she's going with this.
"They're called losing," she says simply. "Each loss is a step up those stairs, bringing you closer to winning."
I sit with her words, their meaning slowly sinking in.
"Yes, it's true you lost," she continues, her voice gentle but firm. "But now, you understand the danger I warned you about. You know the beasts are intelligent. You've seen that they don't hunt alone, and that they're led by a Tier-3 beast."
Realization dawns on me, and Miss Old's smile grows as she sees it take hold.
"So, why are you sitting here?" she says, pushing a book into my hands. "Time is ticking."
I glance down at the title: A Guide to Beasts and Their Nature.
I take the book, feeling a surge of determination rise within me.
"Ego," I call out in my mind, my grip tightening on the cover.
"You ready to hunt down some wolves?"
[You bet!]