I had just gotten off the phone with my mom, she called almost every week.
Just a checkup or something.
We had a relatively lighthearted conversation,
she had asked about how I've been or if I had found a girlfriend yet.
I mean it's been relatively shit, but I just answered with fine or good just like always.
And she took it just like always.
She wanted for me to become a lawyer, someone successful, who can help support the family.
I hate the job; I hate people in general–
I hate these fucking idiots who come into my office thinking they know everything.
Yet, I couldn't just quit. I couldn't let go of it.
What would my mom say? Or my friends?
'I could've changed it. Maybe if I said something instead of playing the perfect son.'
I had come to despise my life, I just wanted to rest, to sleep for all of eternity.
So many regrets...
I rushed into relationships with no second thought.
'Most of those girls I didn't even really love. Just her, I can't even be mad at her even after all this time.'
I dug deep into my pockets, a white box with golden engravings.
Cigarettes.
I looked around. My house felt empty, I was in my kitchen, barely crawling out my room from hunger.
But my appetite had disappeared since a while ago.
My eyelids felt like they were dropping off my face, my eyes full of color yet colorless.
"Isn't it pathetic? All I have to talk with is the night sky. I've just given up, just let me die already."
Life felt like a nuisance, like a chore.
So why didn't I just die? Maybe because I still had some hope,
some hope that one day it would magically get better.
I know it wouldn't, but I still hoped.
"Really?"
'Hmm?'
I looked towards the incoming voice. It was mixed full of passion and confidence.
Nothing like mine.
His eyes were red, a deep crimson that fiercely locked onto me, and his hair was a grayish black, almost like mine.
"Are you just gonna waste away?"
"Are you gonna just keep living like this?"
"You really are pathetic. Fight! Fight for once in your life for fuck's sake. Please!"
His hands were tightly gripped onto my shoulders; he was surprisingly strong for his small frame.
I looked up at him, our eyes meeting as the moonlight shone down on us.
"Hahh..."
He held a sword on his waist and yet I couldn't even bother to question it.
"I've fought. I've really fucking tried, okay? But all it does is end in failure. Look I will never win. It's a simple truth, really."
"Try again!"
"I'm tried, alright? Just give me a break."
I shoved my hand in his face; he was a bit too close for comfort.
'What is with this guy?'
"No"
'Difficult for no reason.'
He threw something at me, and I instinctively caught it.
'A wooden katana? Why would he give me this?'
I was just confused, I mean it's not everyday someone chucks a katana at you.
I looked back up; he was holding a similar katana in his hands.
He looked down from me, his scrutinizing eyes shone even in the dark of the night.
The moon stood behind him, peering down at his back.
He swung down his blade at me.
I blocked it instinctually; it was heavy as if I was lifting a boulder.
The wood softly scraping against my palm as he slid his blade down.
He turned his blade in an instant aiming for my abdomen.
I tried to block it, shifting my blade in an awkward position, but he just cut through it.
His katana collided with my side; it hurt like hell.
It felt like a truck just crashed into me. I held onto my side, burning from pain, I barely picked myself up.
"Pick it up."
Even with his words I just sat there
looking at the sword on the ground.
I didn't have the will nor the energy to pick it up.
"How long will you just sit there and watch? Watching silently as your fate gets chosen for you."
He pointed his blade at me once again.
My eyes met his, his deep piercing red eyes didn't waver.
It just stared into me like a dagger, piercing deep into my skin.
"Promise to me. That this is the last time someone either than you will decide your fate."
I didn't really know why I said what I said next, but
"I promise to you that I'll fight."
"Alright then I have no complaints about what happens next."
"What's going to happen next?"
"Just close your eyes, you probably won't even remember this conversation."
I looked at him with utter confusion.
The moon glimmered behind him as his sword swiftly drew back into it's sheathe. My eyes were focused, almost too focused on him.
His bright, red eyes for the first time seemed to dim just a little bit.
****
A big but empty room. It had no decorations nor designs instead there was just a simple bed in the middle of the room.
A boy with grayish-black hair and red eyes laid in that very bed.
'Where am I?'
I looked around the empty room seeing practically nothing, but I did see a phone beside me.
I grabbed the phone, and the wallpaper was just the basic wallpaper that came with every phone.
'What happened to my hands? I'm so pale and I never had these callouses.'
"Young Master, are you awake?"
I heard an unfamiliar voice on the other side of the door.
'Young Master?'
"I'm coming in then, Young Master."
I heard the doorknob shift and I was greeted by an older woman with brown hair as the door opened.
She looked at me and I looked at her. Not a single word passed between us.
"Young Master, you can't just laze about. Go get ready and join your family for breakfast."
I simply gave her a quick nod and walked over to a nearby closet.
'What is even happening?'
It was one of my habits to listen to people's requests.
'Everything here is so high quality. It seems like designer though I've never heard of these brands.'
Though something did catch my eye. On the tag of one of the suit jackets, I saw a familiar title.
Kleanox Suits
'Kleanox Suits? Isn't that where Koen bought his suits for practically everything? It was sometimes used as a plot device to show Koen's social rise. At first, he couldn't afford anything and got kicked out and then Astria brought him there. Near the end, he bought a suit for himself.'
I moved past the suit and grabbed some basic clothes, black pants and a white shirt.
I walked out my room to see the same woman standing by my door. She looked at me for a moment before leading me somewhere.
'Absolutely gorgeous.'
That was my first thought when I saw the people before me.
A handsome guy with grayish-black hair and vibrant red eyes as well as looks rivaling k-pop idols sat on the right. He had this sort-of charismatic smile.
Near him sat a girl with similar features. She was drop-dead gorgeous, but she had a more dignified and reserved look to her.
At the forefront of the table sat a man that gave off a confident and strong atmosphere. He had broad soldiers and flame-like eyes.
He was talking to a blonde woman that was much like the other girl with the difference of hair and eye color.
"Look who finally made it. I thought you forgot about us, Sen."
The boy said playfully
I looked at him for a moment and he looked back at me.
"Are you just going to stand there, dear? Come take a seat."
I nodded and sat in the last remaining empty seat at the table.
'Who is Sen? Did he mean me? And why is this woman called me "dear"? Can someone please explain to me what's happening?'
"It seems Sen lost his spark or are you even him?"
The same boy looked deep into my eyes. His gaze never left mine for even a moment.
"Who is Sen?"
I replied to him.
"Haha, did you even forget your own name? Or are you being serious?"
He laughed heartily and looked back at me with that same charismatic smirk.
Now everyone was looking at me.
Suddenly I felt a strange feeling take over me. It was like I was completely detached from my body. I couldn't feel my hands or feet.
"I" suddenly started laughing and spoke
"I'm just joking with you. You should've seen your faces."
"I" was speaking, but the strange part is that,
'Who is this? He has the same features as those guys over there, but this definitely isn't me.'
I regained control of my body, but I felt a strange sensation in both my eyes.
"Listen here. The name's Sen Karum and you've taken control of my body."
'Huh?'
"This is the world of "The Hero's Rise" or so it's called from your memories. This is one of the only times I get to talk to you since I'll be your unique skill."
'Unique Skill? What is mine then?'
At this point I could have reasonably already guessed I was in that world from both the familiar faces and the brands.
'And Sen Karum? You're never mentioned in the novel. Surely someone that's in the Karum Family would be mentioned'
'Well, my fate isn't exactly the best. And about the Unique Skill, just open your status.'
'Ah everybody in this world did have that.'
I opened my status screen; it was instinctually almost like breathing.
It felt surreal looking at the blue screen that was described so many times.
[Status]
Sen Karum
Rank: F
Stats:
Strength: F
Agility: F-
Endurance: F
Stamina: G+
Mana: F
Skills:
Unique Skill: [Spirit] - Your mana and aura take form gaining your characteristics and is able to act independently as your servant.