[? - ?]
It felt like he was melting, dissolving into the sea, piece by piece.
His body.
His mind.
Even his spirit.
And yet, his consciousness held on, clinging tightly as waves crashed over him strongly.
He looked up, only to see a breathtaking sight.
A dark, endless sky stretched above him, glittering with countless stars. Each one shimmered as if calling out to him.
" ah."
He knew of the place, even though this was the first time he had stepped foot in this place.
It felt like home.
Where he belonged.
Then a voice echoed gently behind him.
"Oh dear."
He turned, but there was no one there. Only a blue butterfly fluttered in the air. For a moment, he thought he had imagined the voice.
He glanced around.
"No, you are much correct, Clerval."
The butterfly's wings shimmered as it spoke. His name... Clerval? He couldn't remember, but it felt right.
Who... ?
"I am Philemon. A dweller in the rift between consciousness and unconsciousness of all souls. I am you. You are me."
The words made no sense.
And yet, they did.
This place is the Sea of the Collective Unconscious. Where all life begins and ends.
So… had he died?
"Not quite. For death is but the next journey."
Something stirred in his soul, like a flame reigniting.
"It seems you are waking up in reality."
Philemon said softly, circling him as motes of blue light trailed in the butterfly's path, showering Clerval in a gentle, comforting glow.
"Until we meet again, Clerval. And remember—I shall always watch over you from within. Till we meet again..."
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A/N: I'm back!
The start of my largest project yet!
Take a Deep Breath, Deep Breath.
The format is highly inspired by "Steal the Truth, Reach Out For Your Heart," courtesy of thatoneguychris on AO3.
Currently, I have 17 Chapters of this fic as of writing this Author Note, I'll be posting 2 every week until it's caught up to Patre0n. Then, it'll be a chapter a week for this fic.
NEXT UPDATE: Take a Deep Breath, Deep Breath, ??? (9 Jan, Friday)
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Come support me on my Patre0n where I post early chapters (sometimes) and new story ideas not on any websites yet.
There's currently extra chapters that I haven't posted, want to stockpile them beforehand, so if you want to read early come join!
patre0n.c0m/damaine_n
(change the zero to "o")
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