Chapter 3 – Naming the Voice
The forest was quiet after the wolf. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, as if Velmoria itself were waiting. I crouched on the mossy ground, violet hair spilling over my shoulders, small hands brushing at the damp earth. My chest still heaved, the thrill of survival and the dark hunger from Devour mingling inside me. For the first time since waking in this strange world, I felt a flicker of curiosity rise above fear.
"Hey… voice," I whispered, unsure if I would even hear an answer. "What… what's your name?"
The silence stretched, stretching until it felt almost physical. Then, the familiar cold whisper echoed in my mind:
[I have no name. I am only a blessing tied to your death.]
"No name?" I repeated, frowning. My small fingers dug into the moss. "Come on… you've saved me, haven't you? You've guided me, given me power. You're not just some random voice—I think you deserve a name."
The air shifted again, faint ripples along the edges of my vision. I could feel it considering, like a presence weighing my words carefully. The voice, calm and distant, responded finally:
[Names… are not mine to claim. I exist to serve.]
I gritted my teeth. "Then let me give you one. If you're going to be with me, if we're going to survive together, I'm not going to call you 'Blessing of My Death' forever. That's boring and… impersonal. You're more than that. You've saved me from that wolf. You deserve something stronger… something that fits you."
I closed my eyes and thought carefully, letting the words form slowly, like placing stones along a path. The name had to feel right—like protection, like guidance, like power.
"…Noctis," I said at last, voice soft but firm. "Your name is Noctis."
[Noctis…] The whisper hummed, faintly vibrating in my chest. [I… accept this name.]
The forest seemed to pause, the leaves trembling with some unseen wind. And then, impossibly, the voice deepened, thickened, carrying weight and presence that hadn't existed before.
[The Blessing of Your Death evolves. I am now Noctis, the Voice of Twilight. Bound to you, always.]
I opened my eyes. The forest hadn't changed, but the air around me felt heavier, more alive. Noctis was no longer just a whisper—it felt tangible, almost like a shadow pressing softly against my mind, steady and unyielding. I swallowed, trying to reconcile this strange mixture of awe and unease.
"Twilight…" I murmured, brushing a strand of violet hair behind my ear. "Yeah… that fits. You feel like the kind of thing that watches the world between night and day. Silent, steady, and a little scary." I laughed softly, shaking my head. "I guess we'll get along just fine."
The forest exhaled again, leaves rustling in soft agreement, or maybe it was just my imagination. I wasn't sure, but I didn't care. The presence of Noctis made the silence easier to bear.
After a long moment, another thought came creeping into my mind. I looked down at my reflection in a small pool of water nearby. The violet-haired child staring back at me seemed fragile, delicate, and almost… wrong. I hesitated before speaking.
"Noctis… one more thing," I said quietly, fingers brushing the water's surface. "Am I… a boy or a girl now? Because… this body…" I paused, swallowing. "…it doesn't look like a boy."
[Appearances are misleading. You are male.]
I blinked, staring at my reflection. My long hair, the soft features, the small, high voice—they screamed girl. My violet eyes widened. "Really? I'm… a boy?"
[Yes. You are male. Do not doubt this truth.]
I groaned and sank onto the moss again, covering my face with my hands. "Figures…" I muttered. "Looks like I'm stuck being a tiny, delicate boy… but inside, I'm still me. Forty-two years of me." I let out a shaky laugh. "Great. Fantastic. This is going to be fun."
I peeked through my fingers at the husk of the wolf. The Devour skill hummed faintly in my chest, a reminder that I could survive here, but I would have to be careful. The hunger wasn't just a tool—it was a danger. Using it too freely might change me, and I couldn't let that happen yet. Not when survival was so fragile, so precarious.
I brushed moss from my knees and stood, violet hair swaying with my movements. "Alright, Noctis," I said quietly, feeling the presence of the voice behind my mind. "We're partners now. You guide me, and I'll survive. Got it?"
[Acknowledged. Together, we endure.]
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Velmoria was still alive, still dangerous, and somewhere out there were more creatures watching, waiting. But for the first time since waking in this strange forest, I didn't feel completely alone. I had a companion, a guide, a voice that had evolved from a blessing into something more.
I took a deep breath, the air heavy with the scent of wet earth and growing things. My violet eyes scanned the forest carefully. Every shadow could hide a threat, every sound could mean danger. But I had Devour, and I had Noctis. And I had survived the first real test.
"Let's go, then," I whispered. "Velmoria isn't going to wait for me to get used to this."
Noctis was silent this time, but I felt the approval, faint and steady, like a heartbeat alongside my own. Together, we moved forward into the deepening forest, the shadows stretching long in the dim light of the approaching evening. I didn't know what awaited me, but I knew one thing: I would face it.
And with Noctis at my side, I felt ready to begin.