I was in a grass field alone, confused I looked around for something, but it was devoid of anything. The grass was white, the sky was white, and the sun, replaced by a shining star, was white.
It was so peaceful, peaceful enough that I thought about taking a nap. But I wanted to explore, I wanted to find color and mark it so that when someone else came, a trace of me was left.
On the distance I saw...myself, slowly walking away.
I yelled at him, although there was no sound, he heard me. Turning back, he gazed at me and smiled. his eyes had a blue hue that made them stand out in this monochromatic world.
Then, he talked.
[What are you looking for?].
His voice, the same as mine, echoed through the whole field as I tried speaking. Again, no sound was emitted, but I knew they heard me.
[Hm, color? But there's no such thing here].
White Camellias covered the entire field as we talked. Then again, no sound was heard.
[This place? I recently started regaining my memories, so I know this is the only place where we can safely meet].
I asked once again, his smile never wavered.
[What I'm doing here? I still don't remember it, as to who I am, it's still too early for that].
Once again, I asked him another question.
[How to get back home? You still don't know, this game is your home, you were born here so you're already there].
Shocked, I wanted to ask again, but white Camellias grew around my whole body, making me unable to talk, but somehow, he could still hear me.
[You're curious about if this is a dream? Well, this isn't real, but the same can be said about this game, anyways our time is already ending, next time I should prepare some coffee].
The whole world started collapsing on itself as I thought about another question.
[That's a dumb question. You're Zen, but at the same time you have [REDACTED]'s memories, nonetheless strive for your own path, as I desire your happiness, even while knowing how grim our fates are].
With that, I found myself in the void, with nothing there, But when I looked deeper, I saw...
The ceiling of my room.
***
After waking up and remembering everything about that dream I could only say this. 'WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT'. After organizing my thoughts, I decided that I needed to include everything that I remembered from the dream to my hidden diary.
'I was born here... but I can't remember anything before getting here'.
'That being confirmed that this world was a game, so my memories of earth are reality?'.
'Anyways, how could he read my mind, what is he?'.
I felt an incoming headache, but firstly, I needed to deal with Lyanna. Covering my injured body with a big sweater, I came down to the dinning room. There, Lyanna ran towards me.
"Zen! Where were you yesterday".
"I was with Alina".
Then she hurriedly put her phone in front of my eyes, she was watching the news.
[Last night in Mistwood, a forest close to Veilmore city a fight between members of the terrorist cult, the True Fear Cult, were found in an internal dispute, thanks to an anonymous call the Royal Guard and the Knight Order were able to arrive at the place and after a fierce battle they were able to arrest close to everyone involved. A total of 14 monsters and 34 humans, currently being interrogated].
"I'm so happy you are okay! I was so worried when I woke up, only to see you sleeping peacefully".
"You know I would've kicked their asses if I found them". It was quite the contrary, but I felt the necessity to brag.
"Nice joke, I bet you would run away while crying for help". She laughed it off, then her face turned serious.
"Among the cultists that were captured, your boss was one of them...".
"William?". Lyanna nodded, I was relieved as William seemed to be alive.
"No way! William is a good guy". I acted surprised and she seemed to buy it.
"Be careful on your way to school". Lyanna was quite worried as the city was on edge thanks to last night's incident.
"I'll be".
With that I finally left the orphanage and went towards school.
***
Before entering the building, I met up with Alina as usual.
"Hey, have you seen the news?". She asked me in a curious tone.
"Yeah, crazy something like that happened close to the city". She seemed to have heard about what happened with the cult
"Yeah that was weird, also last night Lyanna called me and asked me if I was with you". I could see her smirking, I started to get a little nervous.
"she did?".
"Curiously, you were outside at that time and told her we were together ". Shit, now I understood how important was to maintain a secret identity.
I expected that she would ask something like this, but not this directly.
"What are you getting at?".
"You know, you were outside around the same time those cultists started fighting themselves".
"Crazy right".
"Don't you have anything to say?".
"No? What I have to do with all that?".
"I hate it when you act dumb". Annoyed, she puffed her cheeks and then lightly punched my arm. I flinched a bit as my body was quite injured.
" What's wrong?".
"Nothing".
She noticed me flinching, I then told her it wasn't anything. She didn't seem convinced and right after grabbed my arm and pinched it. I flinched again.
"Hehe, it seems I overtrained".
"... Show me your arm".
After those words she tried to pull my sleeves, but I stopped her. There was no point in making her worry.
"It really isn't anything".
She frowned before channeling her magic.
+152 HP
My body felt a lot stronger as she healed me.
"Are you feeling better now?". Alina chose to stop asking me about last night, although she still seemed rather annoyed
"...yeah, thanks".
"Let's enter already, we're going to be late to class".
I'll make sure to buy her some snacks later.
***
Class started and as soon as I was on mt desk, I slept through the whole thing. Usually, I would pay attention to get good grades, but today I felt too tired to do anything.
Letting myself rest, I was awoken by my tutor.
"Wake up Zen, this is important for you".
"Yes, Mr. Braun".
[In the next months, and annual event will start to strengthen the bonds humans and monsters, an amazing tournament will begin! Youths from all around the globe will compete in various test to show what the new generation holds. Do your best to impress the jury and scouts and maybe you'll even be selected to enter New Gen Academy. Stay tuned for the Magic Games].
This was the perfect opportunity, if I did well enough, I could easily enter the academy. The only thing was that I didn't know how to participate.
"Each school or university can recommend some students, in our case this class has two people getting recommended".
"Alina Vestra and Zen".
I wasn't really surprised, after all human mages were quite rare and was the best student of this school. Also I was sure I would participate as after the cultist attack last year I become more known.
Anyways I wasn't all that worried, almost a year was left for me to become a freshman at the academy, so I had time to make myself known.
***
Walking back to the orphanage, I was surprised as I could see dozens of Royal Guardsmen. around the streets. Veilmore was mainly a city residing on monster territory so the few humans that were passing by were busy taking photos with them.
Arriving back at the orphanage, I was met with more Royal Guardsmen. This was to be expected as they should know that William was my boss, they surely were going to interrogate me.
"Oh, hi Zen! Don't be scared, they are just going ask you some questions". Lyanna talked to me before the Royal Guardsmen took me to the nearby police station.
The interrogation was quite smooth, as I just told them I didn't know anything, of course saying nothing all the time would make them suspicious, so I also added that William sometimes did mysterious things, but I never asked him because he was my boss. Also, I acted shocked that he was a cultist.
With that, 30 minutes passed. While they were talking to themselves I overheard a phone call.
"Mizz Undyne, we have been interrogating a teenager that lookz ezzactly like Azriel, he zeemz not to be involved in any way, hiz name appearz to be Zen".
"ZENNN???".
"Umm, yeah mizz he-"
"STOP INTERROGATING HIM! I'LL BE RIGHT THERE".
Wow, Undyne really saved me from dying of boredom. The monster interrogating me, seemed to be very confused. Then another monster came and explained everything.
"Dude don't you remember? Last year this kid fought against those cultists the day the prince returned, it was even on the news".
The bee like monster interrogating me gasped and started apologizing. Being treated like someone important made me feel like a big shot, but I decided not to increase my ego too much. Sometime later Undyne finally appeared through the door.
"We meet again, Asriel clone!".
"Hi miss".
I felt quite lucky being able to talk to a celebrity like Undyne.
"What are you all doing lazing around! Get back to work!". With those words everyone started doing their own thing. I wouldn't want Undyne to be my boss.
"Umm, miss Undyne, aren't you the only one not working?".
"HAHA! Kid, I'm interrogating you, that's hell of a work".
"This doesn't feel like an interrogation". I was curious about why she came here.
"Kid, I'm quite busy, so I'm taking a well-deserved break by talking to you!".
Undyne was in high spirits as she talked with me.
"Anyways kid, why are you even here?".
"My boss is a cultist".
"You're like a cult attractor kid, have you ever thought about joining the Royal Guard". I felt like I was being forcefully drafted to war.
"Miss, I'm still a minor".
"Then let's lower the age of majority! How old are you?". Wasn't this just abuse of power.
"Don't make that grim face, I was just joking. Also, I came here to tell you about my recommendation, I'll make sure you participate in the Magic Games". My eyes lit up as she told me that. Undyne, the spear of Justice had recommended me.
"I'll make sure you enjoy the Games miss Undyne".
"That's the attitude Asriel clone! Now I have to go back to work, when I find the leader of that cult, I'll make sure to smack him for making me work overtime".
As I saw Undyne fleeing the Police Station, I thought about what if Undyne discovered that I was part of a cult.
'scary'.
***
I had been thinking about the cult, after last night the 3rd wing was quite weakened, and without the Bishop I didn't know what to do. I thought about just not going there anymore, but it was a great source of information and also contained a dark world.
The day of the monthly meeting arrived, and I decided to go there one last time before making any choice.
In the midst of night, I walk through Mistwood forest, there were some Royal Guardsmen around the area, but it was easy to pass them by. I arrived at the cabin and put on the black robes of the cult alongside the mask.
Walking towards the cave where our base was set I noticed the lack of Royal Guards. I proceeded to enter the cave as darkness covered everything.
Arriving, I saw around ten people already there. 'They seem to still be organized'. As I joined them, they greeted me.
I approached one of the figures I was the closest with.
"Hey gray, what are you discussing".
"Hi Latte! We're choosing to disband the cult!".
'Huh??'.
"It's a shame we won't meet again but well, before our fear was getting imprisoned, but now we could get killed by the other wings".
'They have lost all the will to fight that fast??'.
"Anyways, it seems we will never be able to escape this world".
I was startled. 'Aren't cultists supposed to be willing to give their life for their cause'. My career as a cultist seemed to be approaching an end.
|Another chapter done! Next one in 7 months|
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