Riku lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind a whirl of questions that didn't seem to fit in his world. While his classmates filled their time with sports, social gatherings, and small talk, Riku felt like he was out of sync, always buried in books that no one else found interesting. He had long been labeled the "weirdo"—the boy who never stopped asking questions, who sought answers in dusty corners of the school library.
Rolling out of bed, Riku prepared for another day, moving through his morning with a sense of detachment. After slipping on his uniform, he trudged through the bustling streets, his head already lost in thoughts about the mysteries of the universe. By the time he reached his classroom, he could barely focus on his lessons, his mind instead drifting to theories and ancient texts.
Once school ended, he made a beeline for the library—his sanctuary. The rows of shelves, filled with books that others overlooked, felt like home. It was there, in the quiet solitude, that Riku could let his curiosity run free, each book a gateway to new ideas. But that day felt different. There was an unusual tension in the air as he walked through the silent rows, almost as if the library itself was waiting for something.
Then, as he turned the corner, a peculiar chill washed over him. The lights dimmed, and the door behind him clicked shut. Riku's heart skipped a beat as he called out, but there was no response. Just as panic started to set in, a glow caught his attention. Emerging from the shadows was a spirit—a girl with mid-blue hair that shimmered with a brightness almost too intense to look at. Her face was obscured by light, leaving her features hidden, yet she exuded an ethereal grace.
"You have been chosen by the god of my world, Riku," she said, her voice soft and resonant.
Before he could respond, she led him to another figure who radiated an overwhelming warmth and authority—the goddess herself. Her presence filled the space, her golden aura illuminating the library's shelves. Her eyes held a depth of wisdom beyond comprehension, and her expression was both welcoming and knowing, as if she'd been expecting him all along.
"Riku," she spoke, her voice like a gentle wave, "I have chosen you to enter my world, a realm beyond anything you have ever known."
Riku's heart pounded with a mix of fear and excitement, but he couldn't help himself. "Why me? What makes me special?" he asked, barely able to contain the flood of questions that rushed through his mind.
The goddess smiled, a trace of amusement in her gaze. "Curiosity is the key to unlocking this world's secrets. But first, you may choose one wish to accompany you. Choose wisely."
He hesitated, and then the words escaped his lips before he even realized it: "Absolute knowledge."
The goddess's eyes sparkled, and with a final wave of her hand, the library, the spirit, and everything he knew faded away.
Riku awoke, disoriented and weak, his senses assaulted by the strange sights and sounds of a new world. His vision swam as he tried to stand, every muscle in his body weighed down by the unfamiliar atmosphere. Just as he thought he would collapse, a figure appeared—a young woman with a grace that left him breathless. She had long, golden hair that cascaded down her back, her sky-blue eyes warm and kind, and her skin glowed with a healthy radiance. To Riku, she looked like a goddess in her own right.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice gentle and filled with concern.
Riku struggled to form words, his mind still reeling from the transition. "I… think so. Are you… an angel?" he mumbled, too dazed to think clearly.
The girl chuckled, shaking her head. "Hardly. My name is Aina. Welcome to Aethrion."
As he looked into her eyes, Riku felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. This world was unknown, and his heart still raced with uncertainty. But with Aina's comforting presence beside him, he dared to believe he could find his way.
As the haze of confusion lifted and Riku grew more comfortable with the presence of the tall, graceful figure before him, he felt a peculiar warmth settle in his chest. Aina's gentle voice and steady gaze eased the unsettling feeling that had gripped him since he arrived. He started to relax, absorbing the unfamiliar surroundings, his mind processing the idea that this world, somehow, was real.
But then, without warning, a sharp heat seared through his left eye, and his vision flooded with blinding white light. Riku gasped, clutching his face as a surge of energy crackled through him, paralyzing him. His left eye turned a ghostly, luminous white, and the world before him shifted, as though he were peering into a hidden dimension.
Fragments of knowledge began to swirl into focus, images and sensations that didn't belong to him. In an instant, he understood everything Aina knew—all of her knowledge and her memories opened up before him, like an endless, terrifying book that he had no choice but to read. He saw her past, her deepest thoughts, moments of joy, and… something darker. Shadows danced through his mind, twisted images he couldn't make sense of, flashes of haunting memories buried deep within her heart.
"Stop... please!" he screamed, the torrent of visions overwhelming him. His mind struggled under the weight of so much information all at once, and his breaths came in ragged gasps. The terrible scenes unfolding in Aina's memories felt so real, he could almost reach out and touch them. Faint glimpses of terrifying battles, bloodied landscapes, and faces twisted in agony flashed before his eyes, their meaning hidden but horrifying.
The pain was unbearable. His body shuddered, and he felt his strength leaving him. He staggered backward, clutching at his head as the images grew more intense. His consciousness began to slip, the world around him blurring as his grip on reality faded.
As darkness closed in, a soft voice broke through the haze. "Are you okay? Hey, do you hear me?"
Aina's worried face was the last thing he saw before his vision faded completely, and he sank to the ground, the tumultuous roar of memories ebbing away into silence.