I slowly opened my eyes and stared at a starry sky as white lilies surrounded my vision, but something was different. The sky was no longer dark. Instead, it was painted in a vivid cosmic latte color, with stars shining brilliantly across it. Not only that, but sphere-like objects filled the sky as well. They looked like planets. One of them caught my eye immediately. It was entirely black, surrounded by a silver ring. I had never seen a planet like that in my entire life.
Groaning, I sat up. My hair, no longer tied, fell silently over my shoulders. "Where am I…?"
I looked around and saw nothing other than an endless garden of white lilies stretching in all directions, merging with the vast sky above. There was no palace where I had been just moments ago. No guards. No people. No signs of civilization.
I was alone.
Frowning, I recalled what had happened minutes ago ."I remember identifying the wolf constellation… then it moved. Which was creepy. And to make things even creepier, it spoke. After that, I had a seizure and blacked out."
And now here I was… wherever this place was.
I took another long look at the scenery before me. It was mesmerizing. From my point of view, it felt like I was inside some kind of spaceship traveling through the stars themselves. Strangely enough, I wouldn't have minded living here until I died. It felt peaceful.
"Did I perhaps get teleported?" I murmured. "Oh well, I'll be damned if this is another trial."
Neither the Sun Palace nor its people were present. There seemed to be no sign of life at all, other than the white lily garden that remained, excluding me, of course. There was no wind either, which meant there shouldn't be any oxygen. And yet, somehow, both the flowers and I were still alive.
"One thing I know," I said quietly, "is that this is all because of the cosmos affinity… and probably has something to do with Virgil as well."
I recalled the annoyed voice that had spoken to me earlier. "It asked why I was staring at it… well, am I not allowed to stare at the sky?"
The wolf constellation wasn't something I really knew much about. I had only remembered it because of the dream and the story about a centaur impaled by a spear. I wondered what the wolf meant in this case. It was already obvious that it was related to the cosmic affinity, and perhaps to Virgil as well, but I still didn't understand what it had to do with triggering the affinity in the first place. That was something only Virgil could explain.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, I felt a warm breeze from behind me. No, it felt more like a calm breath. It gently lifted my hair for a moment before settling down.
Then it happened again.
The wind returned, lifting my hair once more. It felt rhythmic. Slow. Steady. Like the soothing breathing of someone deep in sleep.
I swallowed.
I truly am not alone… am I?
Then I froze.
What kind of being could lift my hair with just its breathing? How massive would it have to be?
I didn't want to know.
But I had to see.
I slowly turned my neck, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and overwhelming fear. I expected some kind of monster, or perhaps an eldritch entity. After all, who was to say that the reason I was here was because of Virgil? Some other god, perhaps a space god, could have easily snatched me away. The cosmos did include space, after all. But still, I doubted a god would allow his successor to be taken by another god so easily, which made my thoughts feel foolish.
I finally turned completely.
And oh gods.
What I was facing was something I never expected.
No, it was worse than I expected.
My body reacted before my mind could. It began to tremble violently, shivering as if I were naked in the middle of Antarctica. My jaw clenched as I ground my teeth together. I dug my bare hands into the earth, my nails breaking as blood stained the soil beneath me. Tremors ran through my entire body. My eyes shook uncontrollably as I stared at the thing in front of me.
I felt fear.
No.
This was something beyond fear. Something primal.
What is the difference between fear and true fear?
Psychological fear, such as anxiety or phobia, is often related to the mind. It is a broad emotional response that arises when one anticipates future threats or perceives dangers that are not immediately life-threatening, leading to stress or worry. This is something every human experiences throughout their lives. Like fearing that the monster from a movie you watched at night might come and eat you.
True fear, however, is very different.
True fear is an innate, survival-based instinct. It is the fight-or-flight response triggered by a real threat, activating stress hormones like adrenaline. It is distinct from imagined dangers or psychological anxieties. This kind of fear arises when facing a predator, such as a lion hunting in the savanna, or a drug addict trying to stab you because you looked at them the wrong way.
That was what I was feeling right now.
True fear.
I felt like if I kept looking at this thing any longer, I would go insane. I tried to run. I tried to look away. But my legs refused to move, and my head wouldn't turn.
W-what am I seeing?
The thing in front of me couldn't be called human. It couldn't even be called a living being. It was far too twisted for that.
Its body was shaped like a massive wolf. It stretched wide, and its height, if it stood up, would probably surpass the tallest buildings. Even while lying down, it was still taller than a building.
Then its body twisted.
It shifted into something dark and grotesque, sprouting massive tentacles covered in pincers and spikes. There were no eyes. A mouth opened at the center of its body. Dark smoke leaked from its form.
Each time it switched shapes, a violent wave slammed into my body and soul. Tears of blood streamed down my face as my brain felt like it was going to explode. It kept changing, again and again, until it finally stopped.
It returned to the shape of a wolf.
The being before me looked like a true eldritch entity.
Talk about jinxing myself.
The wolf's calm breathing ceased. Slowly, its eyelids lifted, revealing eyes that reflected the very colors of the universe itself.
Those eyes were staring directly at me.
My body shuddered the instant our gazes met. Chills ran down my spine. Blood began to pour from my ears, mouth, and nose, dripping onto the white lilies below. They were stained completely, until no white remained. Only red.
Like red lilies.
I have to look away. I have to look away. Away. Away. Away!
I tried with everything I had. I was certain I was going to die.
But my efforts were futile.
I couldn't look away.
Then the wolf's lips moved, and a twisted, annoyed voice echoed out.
⌈Did your mom never tell you to never look a void creature in the eyes… human?⌋
A void… creature?
My body trembled at the insulting words. I wanted to scream back. I wanted to say that I didn't have a mother. That how was I supposed to know an eldritch being was standing behind me when there had been nothing there before?
Unfortunately, I still couldn't speak.
All I could do was grit my teeth and glare at the creature despite the hopeless situation I was in.
⌈This is the second time you've stared at me. I don't like it.⌋
My head suddenly bowed on its own, as if an invisible force had acted upon it. Strangely, I didn't feel any energy touching me.
Relief washed over me the moment my gaze fell onto the red lilies instead of the abomination. The bleeding stopped, though the fear remained.
Fear that it would end me right there.
It moved my body with just words.
How terrifying.
The being before me was indescribably powerful. To control my body without physical force was no easy feat. Only something on the level of a god could do that. I was certain it was divine. Entities capable of harming someone merely by being witnessed in their true form were only divine beings. Gods. Eldritch entities. And others like them.
Honestly, my body should have exploded simply from being in its presence. The fact that I was still alive meant only one thing.
It didn't want me dead. Yet.
It said it was a void being. Did that mean it was related to those creatures from my trial? Those creatures that whispered temptations. Finalis had also said that Virgil was a void creature, though he seemed to dislike being grouped with them.
I think this wolf is Virgil. I thought in realization. This must be his true form.
Even if the voice was slightly different, those cosmic eyes were identical. I would never forget them.
⌈So tell me… who are you to call upon me, and why do you have my energy inside you?⌋I could feel the wolf's probing gaze. ⌈You had better answer before I lose my patience and erase you from existence.⌋
My body shook violently.
I tried to speak, but my tongue wouldn't move.
Why would you want to kill me?! I didn't ask to be here! I screamed inwardly.
Realizing I couldn't move or speak, the wolf spoke again.
⌈Right. You can't withstand a divine presence. Sucks to be a mortal.⌋
With just a glance, the pressure vanished.
I gasped."Huff… huff… cough, cough."
I coughed several times before hesitantly lifting my head.
I wasn't eager to experience that agony again. Surprisingly, I didn't feel pain, nor was I bleeding anymore.
I made a mental note: Never look at strange entities in the eyes.
I gathered my breath and finally spoke."I'm sorry if I offended you. That was not my intention. I was trying to unlock my cosmos affinity by identifying constellations. I found a wolf constellation, then I blacked out and ended up here…"
The wolf tilted his head, seemingly surprised.
⌈First of all, it is surprising that a human found my constellation. You are the first. You should be grateful to even be in the magnificent presence of this deity.⌋ He spoke with pride. ⌈Second, how did you get your hands on my affinities? I can smell them coming from your weak body.⌋
His tone sharpened.
I told him everything. About my awakening trial. How I passed it. How I met Virgil and Finalis. How I was blessed with cosmos and lightning affinity.
The wolf remained silent for several minutes. His ears twitched as if he were deep in thought.
Then he spoke.
⌈So let me get this straight. A mortal, you, passed the trial I created millions of years ago, and then my avatar decided to bless a weakling like you with my affinities?⌋
Each word felt like a punch to the gut.
Suddenly, he burst into laughter. The sound alone made the flowers sway violently. His massive, sharp teeth formed into a cruel grin that sent chills down my spine.
⌈The past me must have been insane… because the current me would never do that.⌋