A bright flash blinded me, and the world around me vanished.
It felt like I'd been sucked into a whirlpool where up and down swapped places. My stomach twisted, my head spun, and multicolored spots danced before my eyes.
When my vision finally cleared, I found myself standing before enormous gray gates floating in an endless white expanse.
«What the hell?» flashed through my mind.
I tried to step back, but my feet seemed glued to an invisible floor. The gates were colossal—ten stories tall—covered in strange symbols and reliefs that seemed to move when viewed from the corner of my eye.
I blinked, and the symbols froze. I blinked again—and they came alive once more.
«Okay, Makoto, breathe. Let's figure out what's going on», I told myself, trying to stop my knees from shaking.
Instinctively, I reached for my system—a habit I'd developed since my reincarnation. A translucent screen with flickering lines unrolled before my eyes:
[STATUS]Name: Makoto KamiyaLevel: 2[Experience: 178/500]Health: 72% [Recovering…]Overall Status: Disorientation (temporary), Shock (temporary)Traits: Reincarnator, Philosopher's Stone Bearer, Novice AlchemistLinked Entities: Luci [Link weakened: spatial distortion]
[WARNING: Spatial-temporal displacement detected! Recommended course: avoid sudden movements and do not panic. Although, who am I kidding, YOU'RE ALREADY PANICKING!]
«Thanks for the support, system», I snapped mentally, rolling my eyes.
Sometimes it felt like my system had a personality of its own. And a sarcastic one at that.
I tried to close the status screen, but it kept flickering in front of me, as if insisting, "Hey, this is serious—pay attention!"
Suddenly I felt a presence. I turned—and saw… nothing.
Or rather, a silhouette made of nothing—a human-shaped outline filled with emptiness through which the white space showed.
«What the…» I instinctively activated Appraisal and aimed it at the strange figure.
[APPRAISAL]Name: ???Level: ∞Status: [ERROR: UNABLE TO DETERMINE]Traits: [DATA DELETED]Threat: [SYSTEM OVERLOADED]
[CRITICAL ERROR: Unable to appraise this entity. Recommended: immediately stop analysis.Seriously, dude, you're trying to scan THAT?!I refuse to take responsibility for the consequences!]
The status screen flickered, rippled, and vanished for a split second before reappearing. That had never happened before—my system always worked flawlessly, even if it behaved weirdly sometimes.
I hurriedly closed Appraisal, worried the being would notice my attempt to scan it. Though judging by its aura, it was so powerful my feeble attempts wouldn't have impressed it anyway.
— Greetings, alchemist, came a voice from everywhere and nowhere at once.
It sounded like many voices merged into one, and somehow I knew it was the empty silhouette speaking.
— Who are you? I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. And where am I?
The figure tilted its head, as if studying me with curiosity.
— Me? the voice carried a hint of amusement. I am what you humans call by many names. God, the Universe, the Truth… I am All, and I am You.
I swallowed. It sounded like ravings, but something told me the being wasn't lying.
— And this place? I nodded toward the immense gates behind me.
— This is the boundary between worlds, said the being—apparently the Truth. The Gate of Truth, if you like. You're here because you did what you were not supposed to do.
I frowned, trying to understand, and then it hit me—alchemy! I had performed a transmutation without paying an equivalent price, thanks to the Philosopher's Stone that Luci had left within me.
The system flickered again, pushing a new message:
[ATTENTION: Critical violation of alchemical laws detected!Recommended: quickly come up with an excuse or start praying.Though, considering you're already talking to the one people usually pray to… good luck?]
«Shut up», I ordered the system mentally, trying to focus on the conversation with the Truth.
— I didn't mean to break any laws, I began, but the Truth silenced me with a gesture.
— Ignorance does not absolve responsibility, alchemist. You used a power you do not understand. Now you must pay the price.
The gates behind me began to open slowly, and from within them stretched black tendrils like little hands with eyes on their tips.
The system activated again, this time without my command:
[CRITICAL WARNING]:Anomaly of the highest order detected!Recommendation… oh who am I kidding, there is none.You are completely… well, you get it. It's been a pleasure working with you, Makoto!]
«Thanks for the pep talk», I groaned mentally, watching the black tendrils creep toward me.
The Truth observed the scene with an unreadable expression on its faceless face.
— Don't worry, it said with a note of irony. This will be… enlightening.
— Right now? I asked, cold sweat running down my back.
I quickly opened the status again, hoping for any hint or loophole:
[STATUS]Name: Makoto KamiyaLevel: 2 [Experience: 178/500]Health: 68% [Recovery paused]Overall Status: Disorientation (temporary), Shock (temporary), Cosmic Interrogation (active)Traits: Reincarnator, Philosopher's Stone Bearer, Novice AlchemistLinked Entities: Luci [Link critically weakened: spatial distortion]
[SYSTEM TIP: Try negotiating! Although, who am I kidding—you're talking to the TRUTH. Maybe try a joke? It probably can't get worse… or can it?]
«Thanks for the useless advice», I snapped mentally, but decided to follow it. Nothing to lose.
— So… how about, I don't know, paying in installments? Or do you have a loyalty program for the newly deceased and revived? First violation free, something like that?
The immaterial, all-seeing Truth seemed to huff soundlessly. Its form rippled slightly, as if from an inner chuckle.
— Installments? Loyalty program? its mental voice dripped with sarcasm. Do you think the Universe is a supermarket, little human? "Buy two violations of equivalent exchange, get the third free"? Charming naïveté. Or simple foolishness.
[REACTION ANALYSIS]Interlocutor's irritation level: ModerateChance of successful negotiation: 12% and fallingRecommendation: Keep going—you're already in so deep that it literally can't get worse!]
— Hey, I'm just trying to find a constructive solution! I protested. Look, I'm new at this. Only a couple days into this second chance, and I'm already in cosmic trouble. Maybe a newbie discount? A warning? I can write a statement of explanation in triplicate!
I clung to familiar earthly concepts, but they turned to dust before this faceless embodiment of… what? Law? Order? Cosmic bureaucracy?
— A statement of explanation? The Truth seemed to ponder for a moment. An interesting idea. You could write a treatise on the futility of attempting to cheat the fundamental principles of being. Perhaps other ants would find it instructive—right before repeating your mistake.
[STATUS UPDATE]Overall Status: Disorientation (temporary), Shock (temporary), Cosmic Interrogation (active), Despair (rising)Special Effects: Eloquence +5 (adrenaline effect), Luck -10 ("talking to a deity" effect)]
[SYSTEM SUGGESTION: Maybe offer something concrete? Honestly, I'd be drafting a will right about now…]
— So that's a "no" to the explanation? I asked with forced cheer. Okay, how about barter? I mean, I've got a little… the so-called Philosopher's Stone thing, but it's not really mine, and you seem to be giving it the side-eye anyway. But I can offer… uhh… my talents! I learn fast! I can, like, polish your Gate? It must be dusty after eternity.
I glanced at the colossal Gate covered in myriad symbols. A job for eternity, at least.
— My Gate requires no cleaning, little human, the Truth cut me off. It contains all that was, is, and will be. Including a record of every pathetic attempt you've made to dodge responsibility.
[WARNING: Critical drop in negotiation success!Current chance: 3.7%]
[RECOMMENDATION: Maybe stop annoying the omnipotent entity? Then again… keep going, this is entertaining!]
— Pathetic? Oh, come on! I'd call it "creative problem solving"! I crossed my arms as best I could in zero gravity before the Judge of the Universe. Fine, if not cleaning, maybe you need a court jester? I can tell jokes!
Granted, most jokes are from my old world—your references may vary—but I can localize!
— Or, look at this! I tried to mime juggling invisible objects—which in weightlessness looked especially ridiculous. Ta-daa! Not impressed?
The Truth was silent. Its silence spoke louder than words. It said: "Are you serious?"
[SITUATION ANALYSIS]Absurdity level: CriticalChance of success: 0.1% (technically not zero, but…)]
Recommendation: Continue! You've already broken all records for ridiculous behavior before a cosmic entity. It might let you go just to end the circus.
— Okay, juggling's a bust, I admitted. But I can sing! Or dance! The Little Ducklings dance performed by a nearly-dead reincarnator before the Universal Truth—that's exclusive content! Doesn't happen every day!
— You are amusing, Makoto Kamiya, its voice sounded slightly different, with a hint of scientific interest—as though a researcher examining a particularly crafty bug under a microscope. Few mortals retain such… enthusiasm when they arrive here. Most either collapse into terror or acceptance. You, however, attempt a farce.
[UNEXPECTED UPDATE]Survival chance: +2% (Entertainment Value Bonus)New status: "Cosmic Jester" (temporary)]
Recommendation: You've piqued its interest! Keep clowning—it's your only chance!
— Farce is my defense mechanism! I admitted. And since I did cheer you up, maybe that softens my fate? A discount for good vibes? Or at least the right to choose the payment method? Preferably something non-maiming. I had plans for this life, you know! I wanted to see the world, meet a girl, learn to cook something more complex than scrambled eggs…
— Your plans are irrelevant when it comes to equivalent exchange, the Truth reminded me coldly, its momentary "interest" vanishing without a trace. You took what was not rightfully yours, used energy you did not pay for. The balance must be restored.
[STATUS UPDATED]Overall Status: Shock (temporary), Cosmic Interrogation (active), Doom (rising)"Cosmic Jester" bonus removedChance of favorable outcome: approaching zero]
[SYSTEM ADVICE: Maybe it's time to accept the inevitable? Who am I kidding—you're stubborn…]
— But that stone… it was Luci—my guardian angel… or whatever she is… she put it in me and— I trailed off, realizing that blaming Luci before this being was a terrible idea.
The Truth probably knew everything anyway. Or maybe it didn't care about angelic "gifts."
— The origin of the tool does not absolve its user, the Truth confirmed my fears. You pulled the trigger, little human. You answer for the shot.
A heavy premonition clamped my chest. Humor was running dry, leaving only the bitter aftertaste of fear.
Bargaining had been doomed from the start. This being was not human; you couldn't negotiate with it, move it to pity, or deceive it.
[CRITICAL WARNING]Inevitable shift in fate detected!Recommendation: Accept your lot with dignity.Or keep panicking—your choice. I'm just a system, not a therapist.]
— And… what will the price be? I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Will you take something from me? An arm? A leg? My ability to find meaning in Japanese talk shows? Not the last one, that's too cruel!
— The price always matches the deed, the Truth said cryptically. You peered beyond what was permitted, used knowledge you weren't ready for and power you didn't earn. You disrupted the natural order.
It paused, and I felt invisible clamps tighten around me.
— You crave knowledge, little human. You long to understand the essence of things. Very well… its mental voice turned icy with sarcasm again. I'll give you the chance.
You will see how worlds are made—and how they die.You will learn the price of true knowledge not from dusty books, but on your own skin.
And to ensure you fully experience this, your new toys—your so-called alchemy—will be temporarily unavailable. Consider it another part of the price. So you won't lean on what you never deserved.
[CRITICAL STATUS CHANGE]Skill "Alchemy" locked: by the Truth (indefinite)Status added: "Temporary Exile" (active)Link to Luci: Critically weakened, nearly lost]
[SYSTEM: Well, it was nice working with you, Makoto. Hope you survive… though the odds, frankly, aren't great.]
— My alchemy… locked? I breathed, feeling my last hope of any edge in this "journey" melt away. That sounds… not very reassuring, I muttered.
— It's going to hurt, isn't it? Don't answer, I think I know.
— Pain is knowledge too, the Truth said indifferently. You are an interesting specimen, Makoto Kamiya. Perhaps the most interesting in a while. But even the most interesting must pay their bill.
Its bodiless figure began either to dissolve—or to condense—into a blinding point of light.
The gate behind me hummed, its symbols flaring brighter, swirling in a mad vortex.
[ATTENTION: Spatial-temporal shift activated!][SYSTEM ENTERING EMERGENCY MODE…][CONNECTION LOST…]
— Where… where are you sending me? I managed to shout as I felt myself being dragged into the unknown again.
But this time the feeling was different—more purposeful. Not a chaotic tear, but a powerful, controlled current.
— Where it all began, the Truth answered, its voice echoing through my mind, growing fainter. And where it will one day end.
You will pay your debt, little human.And perhaps you will learn something.Or not. I don't really care.
The last thing I saw before plunging into searing light was a hint of a smirk in that faceless radiance.
And it was the most terrifying smirk I had ever seen.
The world vanished again.
Darkness.Not the cozy kind when you crash after a night of pizza and shows, but the kind where you're not even sure you have a body. No arms, no legs—just a void and the sensation that you've been smeared across space like butter on stale bread.
«Hey, system?» I ventured, not expecting an answer.
[SYSTEM: Connection unstable…][STATUS: You are in absolute uncertainty. I'm not even sure you have knees. Or a face.]
«Wow. Super helpful.»
Suddenly the darkness twitched, as if someone flipped a switch. Space opened before me—and I smacked face-first into a hard surface.
— Ow! I groaned, rolling onto my back. What's with the cheap shot? Not even a soft landing?!
[STATUS]Health: 64%Overall Status: Bruised nose (not critical, but unpleasant), Disorientation (active)]
«…well, at least I'm alive. That's a plus.»
I raised my head—and froze.Not an endless white void or shining gates, but a stone floor inlaid with strange patterns. Above me stretched a dark, cracked ceiling. The air was dry and dusty, smelling of age and abandonment.
— Where am I…? I muttered, looking around.
The floor rippled under my palms, as if I were sitting on a taut drum. The patterns on the slabs began to glow—reddish, like veins of molten metal.
— Wait… I pulled my hand back. Was that an alchemical circle?
[STATUS: Probability you just landed in an active transmutation circle: 87%.Probability this is bad news: 146%.]«Yep… very comforting. Thanks.»
I jumped to my feet—but too late. The symbols flared so bright my eyes watered. Flame burst from the patterns—strange flame, cold, as if woven from darkness. Lines of fire raced along the walls, forming a giant sigil that covered the entire chamber.
— …and who thought leaving this unattended was a good idea?! I shouted, backing away. What if a kid wandered in? Or a reincarnator fell from the sky?!
As if in answer, a grinding rumble echoed overhead. Mechanisms shifted somewhere behind the wall.
«Perfect, Makoto. Five minutes in a new world and you've already triggered an ancient who-knows-what trap.» I exhaled and glanced at the door. «Now try explaining this to the owners.»
The door slammed open. A group of men in long white robes scrawled with symbols stormed in, amulets at their necks and bracelets glowing with the same red light as the circle. Their faces were tense, their eyes burning with fanatic intensity.
— Who dares— one of them froze, staring at me. — an outsider?
[STATUS: "Outsider" flagged as hostile. Recommendation: Options—a) Run. b) Lie. c) Play dead.]
— Uh… hello, I waved awkwardly. Tourist visit to your ancient basement. Very cozy in here, by the way! Great ambience. Just missing a "Do Not Enter" sign.
— Seize him! one of them roared. He profaned the circle!
— Profaned…? I just face-planted, okay?! I protested, backing up. Where I'm from we also have patterned carpets. Stepping on them isn't "profanation," it's… living!
Didn't help. One guard lunged, a chain whistling through the air. I dodged but tripped over my own feet and hit the stones again.
[STATUS: Damage: –7% health. Effect: Tailbone bruise.Recommendation: Stop landing butt-first in every dramatic scene.]
«Quiet, system», I groaned, pushing up.
Resistance was useless. In the next second they had me pinned, my arms twisted behind my back, my face shoved onto the glowing circle.
— What did I do to deserve—?! I managed before a gag cut me off.
One of the alchemists bent over me with a creepy, almost ecstatic fascination.— You appear from nowhere. You activate a circle that's been silent for centuries. You speak our tongue, yet dress like a barbarian… You're a gift of fate. But for what? We will find out.
[STATUS:Update: Congratulations! You've officially been classified as a "suspicious element."Next stops: Prison. Laboratory. Slavery. (order not guaranteed)]
They hauled me to my feet and dragged me out.«Well, here we go, Makoto. Not even a week in and you're neck-deep in trouble. With your talent for finding adventures with your posterior, they'll build you a monument someday. You probably won't live to see it.»
They pulled me into a corridor whose walls bore the same symbols as the circle. My nerves stretched tighter with every step: the alchemists whispered, sometimes casting me the kind of look you give a lab rat you've already imagined laying on the slab.
— He must be handed to the priests at once, one insisted. He activated the ancient circle! It's a sign.
— A sign? another snorted. He's a barbarian lost in the catacombs. I see nothing but material for an experiment.
[STATUS: Debate on your fate in full swing.Likely outcomes: "To the priests," "Experiment," "Burn the wretch."Recommendation: Try not to look delicious.]
They dragged me outside, and sunlight stabbed my eyes. I squinted, and when I opened them, I stood in a vast, sun-drenched square. Life bustled all around: merchants, children, carts. But as soon as people saw alchemists hauling me bound, the noise died. The crowd parted as if I were a leper.
One alchemist stepped forward and spoke loudly so all could hear:— This outsider profaned the sacred circle of Xerxes! He trespassed in the holy of holies and thereby violated the law of the great city!
The crowd rumbled; someone spat at my feet.
— I didn't profane anything! I shouted, but the gag went right back in.
[STATUS: Chance of successful self-defense: 0%.Reason: Gag in mouth.]
— By the laws of Xerxes, the alchemist continued, the outsider who profanes the circle loses his freedom and belongs to the city. His labor shall atone for his crime.
The crowd roared approval. My insides turned to ice.
«Seriously?.. That's their trial? No lawyer, no questions? Just—"he's weird, so he's a slave"?»
They yanked me off the dais and dragged me across the square as bystanders pelted me with rotten vegetables.
[STATUS:New Title: "Slave by the Law of Xerxes."Pros: free housing, steady work.Cons: housing—a barracks; work—hard labor.]
«Well, congrats, Makoto», I muttered through the gag. «Career growth secured. From "reincarnator" to "slave number" in record time.»
A couple of hours later they shoved me into a dusty yard paved with stone slabs where dozens of ragged souls hauled blocks under the overseers' shouts.
They removed the chain from my hands only to throw me a broken slab.— Slave number twenty-two! an overseer barked. To work!
I staggered under its weight and nearly went down. A tall guy with long blond hair silently stepped up beside me and lifted a second slab as if it weighed nothing. His eyes—golden-brown, calm, attentive—flicked over me.
— Hold it even, he said quietly. Or you'll wreck your back.
I blinked.— Uh, thanks. I'm Makoto.— Slave number twenty-three, he replied shortly, hefting the slab like air.
[STATUS:Encounter: Important character!Name: "Slave #23."Trait: suspiciously clever for a convict.]
I exhaled and smirked crookedly.— Okay, twenty-three—since I'm twenty-two… guess we're neighbors in misery. But I'm not calling you that. How about "Professor"?
He raised a brow slightly and, to my surprise, nodded.— Professor, then. It will do.
And so, amid dust and heavy slabs, began my acquaintance with the man who would change my life.
Life in slavery turned out even harder than I'd imagined. The sun beat down like the sky itself hated us. We lugged stone blocks, mixed mortar, set slabs, and by evening could barely drag ourselves back to the barracks. They fed us slop that hurt more than it satisfied.I figured I'd drop dead within the first week.
But the Professor was there.
He never complained; he worked with a strange focus, as if every movement was part of a carefully planned pattern. He showed me how to lift correctly, how to "budget your breath" so you didn't face-plant into the sand, how to hide your palms so your blisters wouldn't burst as fast. He even talked about the properties of stone and mortar like we were in a lecture on architecture instead of hell under a blazing sun.
— You were definitely a professor, right? I asked once, lowering a slab with a groan. Or at least a scholar?— In the past, perhaps, he said calmly. But here it doesn't matter. Here we are only slaves.
[STATUS:New ally: "Professor."Bonus: +15% chance to survive on the worksite.Minus: probability he's hiding more than he says.]
I gave a jittery laugh, but deep down I knew: this man was special. He understood too much; he watched too closely.
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First Week
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I tried to hold it together. But at night, when we collapsed onto filthy rags in the barracks, the hardest part began—talking.
— Hey, Professor, I said once, staring at the ceiling. If you had a choice… who would you want to be?— Someone free, he answered simply.— Deep. I snorted. I'd want to be a cat. You lie around, purr, they feed you, pet you… biggest worry is catching a mouse.— A cat, hm? The Professor gave a brief smile. Interesting choice.— What about you—if not human?— A tree, he said thoughtfully. To grow slowly, watch the world, and live to see the change.
I just huffed then. But in those moments I first realized the Professor wasn't just smart—he was different. He spoke of things ordinary slaves never would.
Second Week
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We were working the same run of slabs. The sun hammered my eyes and I nearly dropped a block again.
— Careful, the Professor said, catching an edge. You spend yourself too fast at the start. Keep a rhythm.— You're like a fitness coach, I swear—just without the music and pretty girls.— There is music, he nodded at the site. The rhythm of hammers and feet. You have to listen and match it.— Right… music for psychos.
But a few minutes later I caught it—the strikes of stonecutters, the footsteps of slaves, the hum of the square. And it really did get easier.
A Month Later
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We started trading stories. I told him about my world: about trains that drive themselves, boxed food, the "internet." He listened closely, asking questions like he was testing me.
— People in your world… they truly have such knowledge? he asked one day.— Sure. Most use it to watch funny cat videos, though.— Cats again. He smiled. You're quite attached to that idea.— I just believe cats are the pinnacle of evolution.
We laughed. And that laughter was almost as rare as water in the desert.
Small Joys
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One evening I fished out a crumb of stale bread I'd hidden under a stone. I broke it and handed half to the Professor.
— Here.— It's yours, he shook his head.— And you're my survival partner, I insisted. If you collapse from hunger, who'll coach me?He took the piece. Ate in silence. But I saw a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.
Another time I tried joking while they lined us up.— Just imagine we're at the gym, I said. We haul slabs, we build backs… couple months and we'll have six-packs!— Not on our abs, the Professor replied dryly. In the tomb.We both laughed, though someone nearby coughed blood.
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Rising Tension
Months dragged by. I was nearly resigned to spending the rest of my days moving stones until I dropped. The Professor and I became partners. Not friends in the full sense, but… something close.
We could work in silence for hours and still move in sync. He always caught the slab when I stumbled. I shielded him from the overseers' eyes if he took too long to answer. We held each other up.
And then everything changed.
I was carrying a tray of mortar when, of course, my legs buckled. The mix splashed over fresh masonry and I face-planted into it, leaving a print of my mug.
The slaves snickered, but the overseer wasn't amused.— Bastard! he barked, and the lash cracked across my back.
Fire scorched my skin; I doubled over, wheezing. The second strike never fell—the Professor stepped between us.
— Enough, he said calmly. He didn't mean it.
— Oh, a hero! the overseer sneered and swung at the Professor.
What I didn't expect happened: the Professor dodged and drove a hard punch into his gut. The overseer folded, gasping, but the others piled onto the Professor. They beat him so badly I thought he wouldn't make it. They didn't spare me either.
[STATUS:Current condition: Two broken ribs, bruises everywhere, morale—on the brink.]
Our "trial" was short. The Professor and I were labeled "dangerous slaves" and sent to "special work."
A shiver ran through me. If ordinary construction was hell, "special work" had to be worse.
They loaded us into a wagon, shackled and battered, and drove us beyond the city. Hours later I saw a grim building behind a high fence. The air stank of chemicals and something rotten.
A laboratory.
It was there, behind rusty doors and stone corridors, that we met her.
A girl sat in the corner of the cell—ragged dress, knees drawn up, gaze fixed on nothing. Despite the grime and exhaustion, she was strikingly beautiful: inky-black hair fell in waves, and her eyes… huge, violet. Eyes filled with a sorrow that made my heart clench.
— Who is she? I whispered to the Professor.— Slave number twenty-four, he whispered back. They say she was once a famous singer. Refused to obey one of the priests… ended up here.
I froze.
«Twenty-four, huh?…»