It felt like an uphill climb through purgatory, but after nearly five hours, they finally emerged from the suffocating embrace of the Dark Forest. Their bodies shuddered from exhaustion and the horrors they endured after being attacked by endless waves of 'Demon Beasts.'
Yet, by some miracle, they escaped unscathed. Amanda and Leo, their steadfast guides, had seen to that. The duo wielded powers beyond comprehension—strange, otherworldly abilities they called 'Art Styles.' They carved through every threat, proving to be the only difference between life and certain death. And even then, there were some horrors that they decided not to tangle with—a testimony to the Dark Forest's terror.
Sindy filled her lungs with fresh air, finally free from the Dark Forest's dreary atmosphere. They found themselves in a gorgeous valley adorned with colorful, sweet-scented flowers and small streams that dazzled under the brilliant moonlight. Small nocturnal creatures scurried across the grassy plains—some grazing on the abundant plants, others playfully splashing in the streams. Yet, the most awe-inspiring sight was the majestic waterfall cascading down the steep cliffside, its thunderous roar echoing through the valley as the water crashed powerfully against smooth, rounded rocks below.
"This place is breathtaking!" Nathan said in awe, the moonlight reflecting off his brows. "When are you two planning to tell us where we are?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Amanda chuckled, her voice light and harmonious as they pulled to a stop at the foot of the roaring waterfall.
"Why did we stop? If we're not there yet, please tell me we're at least taking a break," Sindy pleaded—exhaustion strangling her legs.
"Not to worry. We're here!"
Andrew looked around intently—his eyes swinging back and forth, searching for a comfy bed and a warm meal. "Either I'm blind, or you guys are crazy. There's nothing here! And I'm sure my 20/20 vision ain't deceiving me, so it has to be the latter."
Amanda and Leo took a few steps closer to the foot of the roaring waterfall, tensing the trio that the sheer force of the water would squash them. However, to their astonishment, Amanda and Leo stretched their hands toward the cascade. As their fingers tickled the water's surface, a soft blue glow buzzed to life before quickly fading.
In a matter of seconds, the waterfall dissolved like an illusion, revealing a colossal skyship floating effortlessly in the peaceful night sky. It was vast enough to eclipse an entire town, boasting a brilliant exterior shimmering with gold and precious stones under the radiance of the moonlight—it was like a treasure crafted by the stars themselves.
"Woah! You guys need to chillax with that voodoo magic thingy!" Andrew exclaimed in awe, almost toppling over in admiration.
"Hehehe..." Amanda chuckled, eyeing Leo from the side. "It's called Illusion Art. The waterfall was only a mirage used to hide the skyship, aka our headquarters, Assassins Agency!"
Sigh… "So it's just one more of those weird things you two call Art Styles," Sindy sighed, giving up on all hope of logic.
"If you ask me, it's much weirder that you three don't even know what Art Styles are," Amanda noted with a shrug.
"Honestly, I think they're kinda cool," Nathan added.
"Sorry for the lack of details. We had to take precautions," Leo apologized with a playful wink. "But in any case, everything will make more sense once we get inside. We just have to make sure that you three aren't secretly spies first."
Amanda then happily turned to face everyone with her arms stretched open for a warm welcome. "All of that aside, welcome to Assassins Agency HQ! Shall we enter thy mothership?"
After a few oddly tense minutes, they entered AA HQ. Nathan and Sindy were directed to the Medical Bay's Infirmary, where they received treatment for their injuries. Meanwhile, Andrew was escorted to meet the Captain.
Nathan and Sindy were treated by a kind nurse with gorgeous, bouncy pink hair—her warm smile easing their anxiety. Her pink eyes shone through her glasses with the ethereal glow of coral reefs beneath clear waters, complementing her otherworldly features tenfold. Just like Amanda, her unique eyes and hair color were something they had never seen before. It was quite beautiful but also quite strange.
To make things even stranger, the nurse had healed their injuries to near perfection with an odd healing ability. They almost felt traumatized watching Nathan's flesh reattach to his damaged bones. They could only assume it was another so-called Art Style similar to what Amanda and Leo used.
"Your injuries are better than before, but I'm not healing you with magic," began the kind nurse, jotting down notes on a notepad in her arms. "My Recovery Art only heals injuries by speeding up the repair of your cells. However, in some cases, cells die and need to be replaced. So, I can only heal most major injuries by around fifty to eighty percent. You'll need natural rest to make a full recovery."
"Thank you," Nathan said with a grateful nod. "We'll make sure not to overdo it." He paused, then added, "By the way, could you tell us your name?"
"You can call me Nurse Donna. I'm the head of the medical team here at AA. So if you ever get injured again, just let me know, and I'll be happy to help!" She answered with a friendly smile.
As Nurse Donna left the room, Sindy approached Nathan, shaking her head in disbelief. "What a crazy day! So much happened, and I can barely process it. We got struck by lightning, found ourselves in a strange country, attacked by a giant wolf, and now we're in a flying ship filled with people who can use superpowers! I would ask you to pinch me, but I've felt enough pain from my twisted ankle already."
"This gives the phrase, 'Anything can happen' a whole new meaning," Nathan replied.
"At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if a talking panda walked through the door—"
Before Sindy could finish her sentence, they were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door, followed by two figures letting themselves in. The first was Andrew, his broadened eyes betraying that he had just encountered the most bizarre situation. Standing beside him was an individual who sent goosebumps rippling over Sindy's skin.
The stranger eerily resembled Nathan in appearance and age. He had the same deep brown eyes, chocolate-stained hair, and skinny figure. It was like someone had taken a supercomputer and copied and pasted a second Nathan into reality. The only difference was that this mystery twin was slightly taller.
Sindy rubbed her eyes to ensure her vision wasn't failing. "Nate, I must be tired! For some reason, I see you standing over there even though you're right next to me. Great! Now I'm going crazy!"
"Guys, before you both freak out, let's have this entire situation explained!" Andrew pleaded, gesticulating for them to calm down.
"I feel like I should be surprised, but I'm not. It's strange…" said Nathan, scratching his head in confusion.
"Well, maybe that's because you sense the familiarity," the mystery twin replied, taking two steps forward.
"Can someone please tell me what's going on here?!" Sindy exclaimed, beginning to question her sanity. "And Nate, why aren't you freaking out that a second YOU is standing over there!" Sindy paused, pacing back and forth. "I'm going insane! That's it! None of this makes sense!"
The mystery twin gently grabbed Sindy's shoulder, oddly bringing forth a feeling of ease. "Nathan's calm because part of him already knows who I am. My name is Alondo Smartmind—Nathan's Mind, or his so-called conscience, back when he was still in the Over World. I'm also the Captain of Assassins Agency."
"As weird as it sounds, he's right," Nathan agreed. "I felt this weird connection between us the moment I saw him. It's like I've known him all my life, even though it's the first time we've met."
Before answering, Alondo sat on a chair at the opposite end of the room. "For starters, do you know where you are?"
"Not in the slightest… That's what we want to know the most right now."
"You're in a world different from the one you grew up in. The world you're from is commonly known as the Real World or the Over World. However, you're now in a different world called the Mind World."
"The Mind World?" Nathan pondered, recalling his earlier dream momentarily.
"Yes," Alondo confirmed, leaning forward slightly. "The Mind World is the foundation of the Over World. Think of it as the undercurrent that shapes the reality you know. This world is home to various life forms, including strange monsters, animals, and even humans who were born and raised here. But another species of humans known as Sentient Minds also inhabit this world."
"Minds?" Sindy queried, her face warping with confusion. "Do you mean the way we think?"
"Well, something like that. Minds are responsible for keeping humans in the Over World sane and stopping them from going crazy. Everyone in the Over World has a Sentient Mind assigned to them at birth. That tiny voice in your head telling you what not to do and what to do is us. You normally refer to us as your conscience, intuition, or guardian angels."
"So, since you're Nathan's Mind, can you tell what he's thinking right now?"
"At the moment, you're all independent. You don't need our help here in the Mind World. However, in the Over World, it's a different story. There, you rely on us to avoid a condition known as Brain Rot."
"Brain Rot?" Nathan repeated, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
"It's a disease that drives people insane due to a lack of Spiritual Energy in the brain," Alondo explained, his tone grave. "Without enough Spiritual Energy, the mind starts to deteriorate. Eventually, it leads to death."
Nathan's unease deepened as Alondo continued, "This curse was placed on the Over World by an ancient deity long ago… but that's a story for another time. For now, you don't have to worry about it while you're here in the Mind World. Brain Rot can't affect you in this realm."
"Ah man!" Andrew exclaimed, cradling his head as if it was about to pop. "You already explained all this to me, and I still don't get it!"
"Take it easy," Alondo hushed. "This world has way too many things to delve into tonight, so I hate to say you'll have to discover them for yourselves as time passes."
Sindy's gaze narrowed with suspicion. "Uh-huh. It's either that or you intend to keep secrets from us to fuel your motives. Like why do you look like Nate? Are you some sort of alternate clone who wants to kill him and take his place?"
Alondo chuckled, finding Sindy's question amusing. "Well, no. Let's just say Nathan's a special case and leave it at that. I've been preparing for his arrival for quite some time now."
"Are you saying you knew Nate would come here?!" Sindy sprung up, her eyes beading with rage.
Alondo sighed, raising his hand in a calming gesture. "Yes, but before you go all Karen on me, let me explain. I hoped to withhold more information because no one likes an info dump, but you leave me no choice."
Nathan and Sindy exchanged uneasy glances as Alondo continued.
"The Mind World is in danger and needs Nathan's help. To make it even more concerning, any threat to the Mind World is also an automatic threat to the Over World. If all Sentient Minds die, then every human in the Over World would develop Brait Rot and eventually die as well. I'm sure you understand what I'm trying to say."
"So you're implying that the Mind World needs some kind of hero?" Nathan guessed.
"Bingo! Well, I don't like to call it a hero, but that's close enough to the truth. Either way, that person is you, Nathan!" Alondo said with a small, knowing smile.
"Yep," Andrew chimed in, grinning broadly. "Our boy Nate is apparently some big-shot hero now. Never thought I'd see the day he'd turn into Superman for real."
Nathan blinked, taken aback. "Wait, hold on. What?"
Alondo ignored his protest and continued, his tone growing more serious. "Every century or so, a new champion called the Mind Hero is chosen and brought here from the Over World on their 16th birthday to—" He trailed off, his words hanging in the air.
"To what?" Nathan inquired, anxiously wanting to know more.
"I…" Alondo hesitated, spreading a feeling of dread. "Look, it's complicated. You should find the answer yourself."
"Oh, hell no!" Sindy yelled, making her dissatisfaction known. "You're not snaking yourself out of this! I know we're in danger here, and if you were responsible for bringing us here, we need answers!"
Alondo's gaze dipped for a brief moment as if weighing how much to say. "He's supposed to save the world from impending chaos," he finally answered—his words feeling guarded as if deliberately withholding vital information.
"But what does that have to do with Nate?" Sindy snapped, barely controlling her anger. "Look, I'm not trying to be a bitch. I'm genuinely sorry for whatever this world is going through, but it's not Nate's problem. I'm not agreeing with anything that will put him in danger!"
"Tch!" Alondo muttered under his breath—his frustration quickly growing. "Before you start assuming, allow me to educate you."
Sindy blinked, taken by surprise by Alondo's sudden intensity, but said nothing as Alondo continued.
"The humans of the Over World are responsible for the Mind World's predicament. Whenever someone from the Over World has a high output of negative emotion, it leaks into the Mind World and creates demonic monsters called Demon Beasts." He paused, his eyes locking onto Sindy. "So let me ask you something, Sindy. Have you ever been angry before?"
"...Yes..?" She replied hesitantly, her resolve faltering.
"Well, reality check. That anger turned into a Demon Beast here in the Mind World and probably killed someone, if not much worse, like an entire bloodline..!"
"You can't be serious... Our negative emotions create monsters?" Nathan trembled in shock. "And they… kill people?"
Sindy's eyes darted back to Alondo, her expression a mix of horror and disbelief. "You… You're making this up… You have to be… How can something like that be real? But after everything we've seen today, it has to—" her words faltered as reality set in.
"I wish it were a lie." Alondo sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I'm not trying to scare you. But every person from the Over World indirectly has blood on their hands almost from the moment they're born. It's not intentional, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Take the monster that attacked you in the Dark Forest, for example. That was an example of a Demon Beast. I'm sure you realized just how dangerous it was."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of his words settling on them like a thick fog.
"Demon Beasts are our biggest problem. They kill hundreds daily, making the lives of many a living hell. That's why we need 'heroes' to exterminate these atrocities before they drive the world to extinction."
Nathan pondered—his hand braced against his chin as he thought, "Is there at least a way for us to return home?"
"It's hard to say," Alondo averted his gaze, hinting he might know something. "An old legend states that the Mind Hero can choose to return to the Over World if he survives until his 18th birthday. As for its credibility, I can't say much."
Nathan doubled his fist as guilt quickly clung to his thoughts. He couldn't look Sindy and Andrew in the eyes, knowing he was the main reason they got sucked into an unknown world. But to his surprise, Andrew walked over to him before resting his hand on his shoulder with a wide grin. "Don't worry, Nate! We don't blame you for this. Remember, we're best friends! Even if we knew this would happen, we'd still choose to stick by your side!" He reassured, easing Nathan's guilt just a little.
"Exactly," Sindy said, walking over to his side and flashing a gorgeous smile. "We walked out into that storm for you because we care. It's like Andrew said. Even if we could go back in time, we wouldn't change anything if it meant we could stay by your side.
Nathan fought back a tear, grateful for his friends. "Thanks, you two... That means a lot."
The moment was then abruptly interrupted by Alondo clapping his hands. "Sorry to ruin the moment, but I'm short on time. I'd like to welcome you to The Mind World and Assassins Agency! I'd also like to make you an offer," he paused, looking around intently at the trio before continuing. "I want you all to work for me as assassins at AA."
The three froze, hardly believing their ears.
"You want us to work for you as assassins..?" Nathan queried, his voice almost cracking with uncertainty.
"Yes," Alondo confirmed, his gaze firm as he picked himself up from his chair. "Of course, I don't expect you all to decide immediately. I know you had a tough day, so I'll wait until tomorrow morning for an answer. As for now, I have other important things I need to take care of, so I'll be taking my leave. You can all rest here in the infirmary for tonight. Good night, you three."