The Dream Realm
Toshio floated in darkness. No ground. No ceiling. Only an endless void filled with faint whispers and red sparks swirling like dust.
He tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond.
"So you've finally arrived, Master."
The voice was sharp, feminine, and oddly… cheerful.
Toshio blinked. "Who's there?"
"The system spirit, obviously! Did you think the glowing mark would just sit there looking pretty?"
A burst of light exploded in front of him, forcing him to shield his eyes. When it faded, he saw her — a small figure hovering a few feet away.
She was about the size of a cat, with tiny wings made of shimmering code, hair that glowed gold and red, and mischievous ruby eyes.
"Wait…" Toshio muttered, "you're… my system?"
The girl crossed her arms, pouting. "Ugh, 'system'? That sounds so cold. You can call me Eko! Short for Echo — cute, right?"
He blinked. "Eko…?"
"That's me! System interface, soul stabilizer, and part-time therapist for emotionally unstable humans. You're welcome."
He stared at her, half amused, half horrified. "Part-time what now?"
Eko spun midair, sparks trailing behind her. "You wouldn't believe how many Hosts cry in their first activation. 'Oh no, I'm dying!' 'Oh no, my crush is a ghost!' Honestly, it's exhausting."
Toshio sighed. "You're kidding me."
"Nope! And guess what, Mr. Emotional Mess — your synchronization is at 12%. That means I've been stuck in system limbo for hours waiting for you to finally pass out. You humans take forever to faint dramatically."
He rubbed his temples. "So… this is real?"
"Yup! You've bonded with the Mark of Echoes — ancient relic of love, loss, and power. Congrats, you're officially haunted and blessed."
"Haunted and blessed?"
"Dual-package deal. Limited edition."
Toshio groaned. "This can't be happening…"
Eko floated closer, smirking. "Oh, it's happening, Master. You're basically my full-time job now. And since I'm attached to your soul, you can't ghost me. Get it? Ghost?"
He gave her a deadpan look. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"It's called coping humor. You should try it sometime."
Understanding the Mark
The space around them shimmered, and suddenly a vast field of red lilies stretched into view — the same as in his visions.
"Why here?" Toshio whispered.
Eko fluttered onto his shoulder, surprisingly light. "This place exists inside your spiritual core — a reflection of your emotions. The lilies represent memories you refuse to let go."
"Memories…"
He thought of Hana — her smile, her hand brushing his when they were kids, the promises they never kept.
"You loved her deeply," Eko said softly, voice losing its usual teasing tone. "And because of that, the mark responded. It only awakens through strong emotional bonds — love, grief, or vengeance."
Toshio frowned. "So the mark… it chose me because of her?"
"Partially. But also because you're compatible with something ancient — something sleeping beneath this world."
Her words sent a chill down his spine. "Something ancient?"
"You'll understand soon enough. But first, let's get your basics sorted!"
With a flick of her finger, a glowing screen appeared before him.
[System Menu – Mark of Echoes v1.0]
Synchronization: 12%
Emotional Stability: Uncertain
Affection Link: 1 (Hana)
Quest Active: "The Voice in the Mark"
Rewards: ???
Penalty for Failure: Spiritual Collapse
Toshio stared blankly. "Wait, collapse?"
Eko smiled too sweetly. "Yup. Don't fail your quests or you'll, you know… cease to exist. But no pressure!"
"NO PRESSURE?!" he shouted.
Eko's laughter echoed through the dream. "Relax, Master! You'll be fine. Probably. Maybe. Statistically speaking, your odds of survival are slightly above goldfish-level."
He shot her a glare. "You're terrible at motivation."
"And you're terrible at staying calm, so we're even."
The Dream's Warning
Suddenly, the field darkened. The lilies wilted, their petals turning black. Eko stiffened midair.
"Uh-oh."
Toshio tensed. "What's happening?"
"Someone — or something — is trying to connect through the mark. But that's impossible unless…"
She turned sharply, her wings flickering like static. "Unless she's forcing it."
The air shimmered. A figure appeared at the far end of the field — Hana. Her white dress fluttered in the invisible wind, and her eyes glowed faintly red.
"Hana!" Toshio called out.
But Eko floated in front of him, frowning. "Careful. That's not her physical form. It's a fragment — an echo."
Hana's lips moved, and a voice — broken and fading — reached them.
"Toshio… the mark is waking faster than expected. Don't… trust… the reflection…"
The voice cut off. The world trembled.
"Reflection?" Toshio asked, panic creeping in. "What does she mean?"
"I don't know," Eko said, eyes narrowing. "But if she's warning you, that means something — or someone — is using her connection to reach you. And that's very, very bad."
Before they could say more, a massive shadow burst through the ground — an enormous hand made of black mist, reaching straight for Toshio.
"Move!" Eko screamed.
He stumbled backward, but the hand grabbed his leg, dragging him down into darkness. He shouted her name — and then the world shattered into light.
Waking Reality
Toshio bolted upright in his bed, drenched in sweat. Morning light streamed through the curtains. His chest throbbed with a deep, burning ache.
Eko's voice rang in his head.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. So, you almost got devoured by a nightmare spirit. Fun night, huh?"
He groaned. "That wasn't a dream, was it?"
"Nope. That was the Dream Nexus — the bridge between your mind and the mark's memory. You're officially a part-time lucid dreamer now."
"Lucky me," he muttered.
Eko chuckled. "Cheer up! You survived your first synchronization event. That's something! Oh, and your progress went up!"
A glowing text appeared before him:
[Synchronization: 24%]
[New Skill Unlocked: Emotional Resonance]
[Passive: Detect lies and emotional intent through pulse resonance.]
He blinked. "I can read emotions?"
"Yup! You can sense when someone's lying or hiding their feelings — great for love drama and revenge plots!"
Toshio smirked slightly despite himself. "You sound like a light novel summary."
"I aim to entertain, Master."
He laughed — genuinely this time — for the first time in days.
Maybe this sarcastic little system wasn't so bad after all.
A Glimpse of the Future
As Toshio got dressed for school, Eko hovered lazily near his shoulder.
"So what now?" he asked.
"Now? You start living again. The mark reacts to emotions — bonds, trust, connection. You'll need to strengthen them to unlock its true power."
He glanced at his reflection — tired eyes, messy hair, but a strange new light in his gaze. "You mean… I need to get closer to people?"
"Exactly. Friendship, rivalry, love — every emotion counts. And hey, maybe you'll even discover who Hana really is."
He hesitated. "Do you think she's… still the same girl I loved?"
Eko's tone softened. "I think she's someone who still remembers you. That's more powerful than you realize."
He nodded slowly.
As he stepped outside, sunlight kissed the streets. A soft wind blew, carrying the faint scent of lilies. Somewhere, he thought he heard Hana's voice — distant, echoing through the morning air.
"Don't forget me, Toshio…"
He clenched his fist. "I won't."
Eko hummed. "Now that's the spirit. Let's make sure this echo becomes something worth remembering."
[Quest Updated: Investigate the "Reflection" – Warning: Emotional Distortion Detected.]