"You know how sometimes people dream about something that doesn't make any sense."
"Yet there's this sense of familiarity whenever you think about it."
"As if you've experienced all of this."
"You must not forget."
...
In a dark, disheveled room, Nero lay motionless on the bed.
His eyes were sunken open.
Like... it's lost in something.
A heavy sense of dread and uneasiness clinging to his heart could be felt as he tried to remember what those faint murmurs implied.
It repeatedly whispers to him, enticing him to succumb to this very desire to remember everything, but something inside of him tells him otherwise.
His lips parted slightly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Who… am I?"
...
The room around him was in shambles. The walls were covered in strange glyphs, giving off an eerie vibe, the wooden floor creaking even in the slightest movement. Looking around the room, an unusual feeling of closeness washes over me.
This place... everything felt familiar, yet so distant at the same time.
I don't understand. This room is too shabby to belong to the Ascarts, then where the hell am I? And that arcanist... the energy that manifests from her hand was definitely the infamous aether. So that's why I wasn't able to perceive the upcoming attack. It's something I am powerless against.
A scowl flickered across his face.
Damn it...!
He turned his attention to the desk beside the bed, an archaic book laid out. Grabbing it lightly, the book is covered in dust and the cover is in a tattered state.
Flip
Flip
The pages turned, revealing emptiness. Some were dyed in crimson red, while others were ripped out. Several symbols were scattered across the pages similar to the strange glyphs engraved in the walls making it unable to be deciphered.
Then, something caught his eye.
This page is different from the others. Unlike the others, this one held text.
It's a diary entry.
–
17th run
"Sylvaine was killed. Her death causes the fate to be disrupted, leading to unprecedented situations occurring."
"An imminent war is approaching in the west. The blood of the Ascart family spilled beneath the mortals. Hidden organizations were starting to make an appearance. Powerhouses awaken, their authority slowly reshaping the world.."
–
A war in the west
The war in which mortals sunder their fate, the longest bloodshed ever happened. It is to be recorded as the cruelest war in the history of mankind.
But the name Sylvaine doesn't click anything on me. If all of this was true and she was really powerful enough to overthrow fate, then why have I never heard of her?
His gaze drifted downward to the final lines of the page.
–
24th run
7th of Terminus.
"Two of the seven were eradicated…"
"A half of me has gone astray."
"The world was once again dyed in red."
–
Unlike the other, this one is too cryptic to comprehend. What are the seven? And the date—Terminus—an archaic month from the lost calendars of the 2nd Epoch. Could this diary truly be that ancient?
Creeeak
Hearing the sound, Nero froze for an instant.
That wasn't him.
Someone else was in the room.
His body tensed as he slowly turned his head toward the source of the noise.
In a dark corner where shadows protrude, A figure emerged—a tall man donned a ragged black robe with peculiar regalia that adorned his shoulder, something unfamiliar to me. Black hair, slicked back, framed face laced in cold indifference, creating an oppressive demeanor.
But It was his eyes that caught my attention.
They were strangely… solemn.
Don't tell me… he's here the whole time? How did I never sense anything…
Shrinking back warily, Nero hesitated for a bit, then asked nervously.
"…Are you the one who brought me here?"
The man remained still, his expression unreadable. A tense silence stretched between them, thick as the shadows clinging to the walls.Then, finally, he spoke."No."His voice was low, carrying an unsettling weight. It wasn't cold, nor was it entirely emotionless—just distant, like an echo from a place long forgotten.Nero swallowed, gripping the diary in his hands. "Then who—?""You should not be awake yet," the man interrupted, his gaze sharpening. "Not like this."A chill crawled up Nero's spine. "What the hell are you talking about?"The man took a slow step forward. Despite the lack of hostility in his movements, an overwhelming presence radiated from him. Instinct screamed at Nero to run, but his body refused to move."You are an anomaly," the man continued, his solemn eyes boring into him. "And this place… is merely a remnant."