Gregorian Empire – Province of Ataxia
Coastal City of Ataxia
Night pressed on. Clouds veiled the sky, dulling the moon's faint glow. The cold breath of autumn swept through every street of the city. Lampposts illuminated each corner, while inns and taverns filled with nocturnal life.
But inside a two-story house, far from the suburbs…
Melissa continued lighting the oil lamps she had brought from the temple. Once she finished, she went downstairs, took a deep breath, and asked the elderly woman seated in the armchair:
Melissa: —What did you talk about with him, Nana?
The old woman smiled warmly, her tone wise yet gentle, as she replied to the young woman she regarded as a daughter:
Nana: —Just things… don't worry. I may be blind now, but the feeling that young man gives me is that he truly has no ulterior intentions.
Hearing Nana's words, Melissa smiled softly to herself.
Melissa: —I know… that's why I brought him here.
Her words came as a great relief to the old woman. With a tone almost resigned—yet happy—she answered:
Nana: —Go talk to him… You know the time will come when this old woman won't be able to.
Nana's statement struck Melissa like a bucket of cold water.
Melissa: —Nana… please stop saying that.
The blind woman smiled sweetly and motioned for Melissa to come closer. When Nana touched her face, gently caressing her cheek, she said:
Nana: —I just want to prepare you, my child… my time to die is approaching.
Melissa's tears streamed down her face like molten lava. Her emerald eyes shimmered with restrained pain as she hugged the old woman tightly.
Melissa: —Don't say anything… let me take you to rest, and we'll talk tomorrow, alright?
The blind woman's eyes filled with tears as well, moved by the embrace. Resigned by affection, she nodded.
Nana: —Alright, my child.
Melissa carefully guided Nana to her room. Then she headed toward her own, where Sam was sitting by the window, lost in thought. Seeing him like that, she decided to interrupt:
Melissa: —I'm sorry… despite how big the house is, for now we only have three beds and two usable rooms.
—Don't worry, it doesn't bother me.
Melissa: —Hey… what did you and Nana talk about?
—About you, Melissa.
Melissa: —Wow, you got comfortable quickly… She told you everything, didn't she?
—She told me the whole story, just without details.
Melissa: —Alright… I'll tell you then. I stay at the temple so that no man tries to harass or harm me.
—I understand. But why?
Melissa: —It's said in the temple that by divine decree, the Goddess will curse anyone who touches one of her priestesses.
—Why does such a legend exist?
Melissa: —Because to become a priestess of the temple, you must be a virgin.
—So…
Melissa: —Yes. I am.
—Why are you telling me this?
Melissa: —To clear up any doubts.
—Okay.(Even though I don't see you that way.)
Melissa: —Go on. You can ask freely.
—How old are you?
Melissa: —I'm eighteen. And you?
—I'm twelve.
When she heard my age, her expression softened into a very sweet smile—yet I sensed a trace of disappointment.
Melissa: —Ah… so you're a child. That explains it.
—Explains what?
Melissa: —When men look at me, I often feel their desire… even from some boys. But from you, I don't feel any of that. I only feel… warmth. As if you already knew me.
When Melissa finished speaking, I couldn't help but be completely honest.
—When I see you, I remember someone I lost.
Melissa: —Was she important to you?
—She was the person I trusted and loved the most… She was the one who envisioned the man I am now.
Melissa: —A friend?
—My best friend.
Melissa: —And where is she?
—She's gone.
Melissa: —I'm so sorry… but I'm not her.
—I know… but may I ask you a favor?
Melissa: —Of course, if it helps you.
—For just a moment… let me talk to you as if you were her.
She stayed silent for a second. Then she smiled again.
Melissa: —Alright.
I exhaled and let the pain gnawing at my chest take over.
—It's been very hard… keeping the brightness, like you said… I've tried to protect it, and I have… But holding it in hurts. A lot. Only a few people have seen and heard it… But if you said it would make someone happy… then I'll keep it hidden a little longer, until that day comes… Thank you for everything. Thank you for teaching me what you taught me… Thank you, Mom.
Each word left my mouth unevenly. My voice faltered, tears spilling from my eyes. When I finally finished, my soul felt like it was on fire.
I didn't understand why…
Why were tears falling from her eyes too?
She wiped them with a handkerchief and handed it to me so I could dry mine as well.
Once I finished, I felt like a complete idiot. I had let myself go. I had been weak. I shouldn't allow myself to be emotionally weak.
As I confronted my demons, I noticed her gaze—empathetic, honest, deeply human. Then she lowered her eyes and spoke in a gentle, understanding tone:
Melissa: —So… it was your mother.
I remembered I wasn't in my original body. That I couldn't leave traces of a past life. So I lied, mixing in a fragment of truth.
—She was someone so close to me… that I called her that.
I could tell by her expression. Distrust crept into her eyes.
Melissa: —Alright. If you want to lie to me, go ahead.
—Melissa, despite my age… I'm a man with secrets.
She raised an eyebrow at my audacity. Still, she couldn't hide her smile.
Melissa: —Alright, mysterious man… I'll confess something. That was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard from a man.
—Melissa… when something is sincere, you feel it. And if it's beautiful, it's because… it came straight from the heart.
Melissa: —So you're a thoughtful boy-man… like a philosopher?
—Yeah, why not.(Damn it… I can't help it.)
As I cursed myself internally for how stupid I was being, she laughed.
Melissa: —Fufufu… You know, for the first time, a man makes me feel comfortable.(And safe.)
Without realizing it, I began speaking without filtering my words.
—Melissa… if there are so few good men out there, it's not because they don't exist… it's because they hide.
Melissa: —And why do they hide?
—Because they're afraid of being hurt, betrayed, or replaced.
Melissa: —You know women are afraid of that too, right?
—I know. But women can recover from something like that… A man stands up and moves forward, but he never truly recovers from the wound. Even when it scars, it lives on forever as trauma.
Melissa: —How can a child think like that?
—My emotional age has always been… very mature.
Melissa: —That's impressive.
I thought to myself:
"It has been, even before getting trapped in this game… People used to tell me back in elementary school that the way I thought—emotionally and sentimentally—was unnaturally rational."
Time passed. It was just Melissa and me—talking about everything: philosophy, society, love, honor, friendship, courage, principles.
For the first time in a very, very long while…
I felt a connection so unique, so visceral, and truly genuine.
It was completely different from how I felt when I talked with Karen.
With Karen, I felt open—honest, unfiltered.
But with Melissa, I felt understood… heard… vulnerable… and utterly terrified.
That feeling I once had with Doctor Lin… my beloved Doctor Lin…
Thinking about it now—since that first encounter with Liliana, I had never felt like this again.
In fact… I could probably count on both hands exactly how many times I'd ever felt this way with any woman.
If I defined every relationship I've had—every experience that marked me:
What I had with Lissene was a blend of mutual respect, rivalry, tension, chemistry, and passion.
Everything that happened with Mei…What I felt for Kaede and Reina.
My story with Alice.
The experiences and anecdotes with my college roommates.
And all the women I crossed paths with throughout my life.
But this time—what I felt with Melissa was deeper, more visceral than anything I had ever experienced.
I was fully aware it was the fault of the Gamer's Soul trait… yet I couldn't stop it, nor suppress it. All I could do was try to channel it.
Night moved on…
Melissa and I talked almost the entire night. We lay down separately, and even then we kept talking—until sleep finally claimed us.