"You can fix her? A deranged woman?"
"No, no, believe me, it's not that hard. She just needs to feel genuine kindness."
"...Yeah sure, whatever you say."
Reis looked at him weirdly, as if she didn't believe him.
They sat on his bed, controllers in hand, doing anything but playing. Art's thoughts kept drifting to the snippets Reis had given him about the villainess of the novel, 'Can She Survive?'.
"Crickle Crackle, snap and crack..."
"Reis?"
The girl looked at him expectantly, pausing her strange mutterings. Reis had a habit of humming whatever was in her mind, but this time she was humming words. Still it was nothing out the ordinary, so Art ignored it and asked her his question.
"The villainess dies at the hands of the one she loved, right?"
"Yeah, but are you sure you want to know more... it's going to be a big spoiler."
Yeah, yeah, I'll read it when I get time.
Finding time to read some slop novel while being swamped in assignments was anything but easy, still, Reis had suggested it, and he wouldn't want to let her down... after all, he was in love.
My mind gets all muddled whenever I'm with her. I hate this feeling...yet I love it at the same time.
"No worries, I'll read it soon...hopefully. Speaking of changing the topic, summer vacations are about to start. Do you have any plans?"
Please say no. For the love of god, please say no.
"I do. The agency just signed a deal with a production studio."
Dammit.
She smiled smugly, "Your best and only friend is about to be a movie star."
"As if I've got a ton of friends. There you, and my sister, my brother...oh, and mother too."
Not smooth, Art. Not smooth.
Her smile turned a few shades brighter. It was almost as if it alone was lighting up the entire room. For Art, that was reward enough.
However, despite the sunny expression, he couldn't help but notice faint traces of sadness in her eyes.
It seems she, too, wants to spend time with me...At least I hope it's me.
Self-confidence died real quick in the presence of an up-and-coming celebrity.
Something must have shown on his face, because Reis, being the thoughtful person she was, changed the topic.
"By the way, the flowers are doing really well."
His gaze moved towards the windowsill, more specifically, on the flower pot that sat on it. Beautiful red roses grew in them, the same color as Reis's eyes.
I really should just confess already...
He had started growing them ever since he found out that she liked them, and now here they were, a thriving bundle of life, grown for all his joy.
How weird it is.
A small laugh left his mouth. Reis noticed it but didn't comment. Maybe she was being considerate towards him.
As if guided by faith, both of them looked at the night sky above. A beautiful crescent moon cut through the lightless void, shining moonlight all above the street below. Stars of various brightness dotted the sky, making the already beautiful scenery much more so.
"The moon is pretty tonight. Isn't it, Reis." The words left Art's mouth before he even understood what he had said, but unexpectedly, he got a response.
"Yeah...it really is."
His mouth hung open. He slowly turned to look at the woman who had captured his heart.
I really am lucky, aren't I?
Reis stood there staring at his eyes, scarlet hair glimmering under the moonlight, waves upon waves of hair falling over her back.
How can someone be this beautiful?
Her eyes were locked with his. If she had looked away, that would have been the end, but she hadn't. The space between them quietly shrank, even though Art's feet had stayed in the same spot.
It's really going to happen!
Excitement evident, he moved forward—just a little—still looking into her crimson eyes. It had happened all at once, from standing side by side admiring the moon, to about to kiss! It was almost comical in its timing.
Ding—!
The sound of the notification broke through the atmosphere all at once, and realizing what he was about to do, Art jerked his head backwards at breakneck speed.
Reis was slightly worse. Her face had turned red, all the way up to her ears, heat blooming without restraint.
"Lo-look at the time... Ahaha." She laughed awkwardly, and the fact that she didn't have anything to check the time didn't help. But Art didn't comment; he was similarly flustered.
"Yes... It's late."
Ahhh, I wanna die. What the hell was that. I was soo close!
He would have facepalmed if Reis wasn't standing right in front of him, but dignity prevailed over embarrassment.
Reis coughed and turned around, skirt fluttering from the sudden movement. She waited for it to settle before she spoke.
"It has gotten terribly late, don't you think so, Art? Please do forgive me. I arrived uninvited and then took up hours of your time. Sorry." She smiled at the end, a beautiful smile Art would give anything to protect.
How cute...
Reis only ever spoke like this when she was mad or mortified. It also meant that his flirting had been successful.
Art pumped his fists in his mind.
"Should I walk you to the station, Reis?"
Her house was quite a bit away, so she normally took a train there.
"Mom is already waiting. I called her some time ago. The...notification was probably her message too."
Rubbing his chin like a wise sage, Art nodded. "I see."
I was about to curse her mother! Thank god I didn't say it out loud.
Reis turned to look at Art, smiled one final time before heading out. The door clicked behind her with a soft click. Art walked to his bed and plopped down.
He was completely drained. From talking about an abhorrent villainess who got betrayed, to almost kissing the love of his life, it had been a hectic day.
His eyelids felt unbearably heavy, almost as if something was pulling them down. Art tried to fight sleep as much as he could...which, in all honesty wasn't much.
The alluring incentives sleep promised were just too much for him to refuse.
Just...a short nap.
- - - - - -
Golden rays of dawn filtered through the high windows, illuminating the four-poster bed and the figure that lay in it.
Leonidas's eyes fluttered open as sharp beams of sunlight stabbed into them. He could barely see anything through his squinted eyelids. His mind felt heavy, as if he were experiencing a hangover.
He had seen a weird dream. A vivid dream, one he could not relate to all too well. He had dreamt of a romantic moment ruined because of some sort of weird device.
How strange...I feel frustrated...because of a dream?
Confusion was evident in Leonidas's mind; he was not used to feeling emotions because of dreams.
Disoriented as he was, he stood on stumbling feet and walked over to the far end of his Inn room, straight towards the bathroom.
He wasn't even two steps away before he slipped. Leonidas fell, but instinct kicked in, and he shifted his body in a roll and jumped back onto his feet.
When he stood back up, the world around him was gone; only a black void remained. No walls, no floor, no bed.
"What the hell..."
Even though he had spoken...his voice wasn't heard.
Is there no matter here? How exciting!
A normal man would have felt fear or dread, but Leonidas was far from normal. He had, after all, willingly decided on an insane goal, one he would no doubt die trying to fulfill.
Wanting to explore more, Leonidas looked down at his body, only to find nothing there. Only a blob of silver light remained.
So no body, but perhaps the soul?
He wasn't sure, but it seemed to be the case. Souls were often related to a silver blob floating in endless dark, and his situation didn't seem any different.
Before Leonidas could think another thought, the dark void rippled like still water disturbed by a stone. He could not see it move, but he felt it.
From the place he assumed the ripple originated, another blob of light appeared, this one gold.
Surprisingly, the blob spoke!
"Wh-where am I?" The golden blob turned to look at Leonidas, "And who are you?" Fear was evident in the blob's tone; it seemed scared of Leonidas and the situation in general.
How can its voice travel but not mine? Did its arrival somehow give birth to a medium?
Leonidas tucked the thought in the back of his mind and focused on answering the trembling blob.
"I don't know where we are, but my guess is some sort of soul plane? I am not sure."
The blob trembled violently at his statement, seemingly in anguish.
"No, no, I was just with Reis, I was sleeping. Is this a prank? Is that it!"
Golden started screaming at the top of his lungs...did it have lungs?
Reis... that's the name of the woman whom I dreamed about... Is he...
Leonidas didn't dare finish that thought, afraid of what acknowledging it might bring. The void was shaking in sync with Golden's quivering form. Leonidas felt something disturbingly cold wrap around his soul, slowly pulling him in Golden's direction.
Leonidas tried his best to break free from the chilling clutches, but it was of no use. He had no control over his soul.
NO, I refuse to be taken down by a coward who doesn't dare show his face. His honor wouldn't allow it, nor would his pride.
He didn't know what the hidden entity wanted, but he sure as hell wasn't going to let it have its way. With a final desperate pull, Leonidas broke free and hurled itself towards the Golden blob.
Their figures slammed into each other, convulsing and fusing, turning into a murky black.
The world slowly bled back into colors, and a body fell onto the inn floor, heaving heavily. He opened his cerulean eyes, adjusting to the bright bathroom.
A figure stood above him, their crimson eyes staring at him with worry.
"Reis..?"