I didn’t know anything about the book, nor did I wish to know. But hearing Jian talk about it so often made me want to listen to her rants. I even read the first chapter at some point. After all, there must’ve been some reason she was so passionate about it, right?
There were three things that I could vividly recall about the novel:
- The cold protagonist, Idris, was a fan favourite for his story and personality. Despite his initial impression, many liked him for his determination and cheered him along on his journey.
- The annoying antagonist, Raphael, was hated by a lot of people in the fandom because he did everything he could do to make the main character’s life hell. He was described as a horrid, jealous noble with a bleak future.
- Alchemy was a dominant theme. Even though the author tried to break down the magical system into simpler terms, many readers struggled to fully understand the idea behind it. Maybe it was something that wasn’t supposed to be understood from the beginning. Or maybe the author was just lazy and left it up to reader interpretation.
It was no surprise that a non-reader like myself had a hard time understanding how the mana shenanigans worked. But because Jian talked about the book so much, even I grasped the basics.
And for that, I was glad. Because what awaited me there was a place not kind to beginners.
***
I was back in the empty dark void with no one else, except this time, I didn’t know whether I was physically dead or alive. It felt like all my senses had turned off.
So instead, I laid perfectly still on the floor, waiting for someone to wake me up. I don’t know how long I stayed there for, just that I started becoming restless at some point and accepted the fact that I would never be able to wake up. However, it was then that I heard a soft click coming from behind me, as if someone had dropped a pebble on clear glass.
I turn around, not sure what to expect. But I saw a faint and thin golden string beckoning for me. It was in a bundle, with the other end connected to a path leading to the unknown. I was certainly running out of options, so I did what many would’ve also done in my place.
I followed the gold string.
***
The ground felt cold, but I was relieved that I was suddenly feeling something, despite how uncomfortable it was—was that stone tiles?
The same uneasiness hit me again and my eyes shot open. I didn’t know whether to be glad that I wasn’t hit with sudden brightness or confused by the dim lighting of the room.
My eyes adjusted to the ‘room’ in question, my frown deepening.
‘Now wait a minute… this is no room.’
I’m in a fucking dungeon.
If I was presumably still alive, then this new detail had just taken 5 years off my lifespan.
My heart rate accelerated as I looked around, eyes falling on the wooden ‘shelf’ holding a variety of torture tools that I only saw in horror movies. I suppressed a shiver when I saw the rusty chains next and… the antique chair that was noticeably wet.
I didn’t need a flashlight to know what that liquid was; the smell was enough to confirm my suspicions. That was blood.
Yup, there was no doubt about it. I was definitely in a dungeon—and the most rancid one at that. Could it be possible that I was still dreaming?
I tried moving my hands that were luckily unshackled, despite the obviously very bad circumstances. As I looked at my hands closely, they looked fine… oddly too fine. Were my fingernails always this neat?
The answer was no, obviously.
I took a deep breath and pushed myself up. Getting up was easy as well, but I really wished it was the opposite because there was no rational explanation for the overwhelming feeling I got when I realized that something was terribly wrong with my body.
My weight felt a bit heavier than usual—I couldn’t have gained weight while I was almost dead! And… taller too? Upon further inspection, I was also wearing different clothes; if I had to guess, I was wearing a dirty white poet’s shirt along with black slacks and dress boots. I also seemed to have a few bracelets hanging around my wrist even though I never really wore jewelry.
To be exact, I didn’t have any of these clothes in my closet.
A bothersome thought crossed my mind, but either it was too absurd to consider at first, or I was trying really hard to deny the truth.
It seemed like it was the latter because no sooner than later did I hear loud footsteps outside, approaching from the dark hallway. Desperate to get help, I practically lunged myself at the cell bars, forgetting all about my earlier worries because experiencing weird body changes was one thing, and being kept as a prisoner in a torture place was another thing entirely.
‘I must have committed the biggest sin one could ever think.’ I thought, and if I were just insane enough, I would’ve passed this off as one big joke.
Finally, the footsteps stopped right in front of me. I immediately backed away as I looked up. Those weren’t cops—they weren’t ordinary soldiers either, because no normal soldier would be wielding such an ominous-looking sword. Or wearing weird armor.
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I had to be in a museum, right? Maybe this was one sick prank after all.
My possibilities were thinning out, and so was my remaining sanity as one of the soldiers dropped a pile of brown… rocks?
‘That can’t be food.’ I thought.
“Your dinner.” They curtly announced. I held back my sputtered shock.
Whatever that was, it surely didn’t look edible. The two soldiers stared at me, one of them shooting a disgusted look aimed at me before letting out a scoff. “If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have fed scum like you. The viscountess is far too naive.”
“Don’t waste your time on him,” the other nudged their partner, glaring at me for a second before turning around. “Let’s leave.”
‘Him?’
No sooner had they come than they left, and I was left standing dumbfounded in the gloomy cell with more questions than answers.
I wanted to confront whoever was responsible for my situation but in my current state, I wasn’t even prepared to see my family, let alone demand something from the intimidating guards! As my body started to shake from frustration, I had to lean on the gravel wall for support when I trying to walk. However, my legs gave up on me before I could reach the corner, and I miserably slumped against the wall with a harsh thump.
‘This is definitely not looking good for me.’ I let out a whimper. Seriously, what terrible act had I committed in my life but skip class and steal a candy bar? Did I switch places with someone during the reincarnation process or something?
Wait… reincarnation.
I gripped the collar of my shirt with my shaky hand as the reality hit me.
I was dead.
There was no other explanation. I had probably died while—
“Ugh!” I flinched as a sudden pain struck my head, memories from before the incident becoming coherent. I bite my tongue, attempting to distract myself from the bitter feeling of bile gathering in my mouth.
That damn truck. I really did throw myself out there without thinking twice… not like I was regretting it now or anything.
At least it wasn’t Jian.
I began to wonder how I looked like during my final moment; Jian must’ve seen it all. God, thinking about it only made me feel worse.
Closing my eyes, I rubbed my forehead and tried to think of other things.
Like how I’d probably never see Jian, my mom or my little sister again.
It became obvious that my brain wasn’t working with me. I couldn’t help it as hot tears poured out of my eyes like a broken sink. I felt my cheek sting suddenly as more and more tears fell until I ran out of water to spare.
I wondered if Jian also cried when she saw my dead body.
‘Ah, maybe it would’ve been better if my soul died along with it.’
As difficult as it was, I tried to kick whatever dark thoughts loomed over me; it wouldn’t do to think of uncertain possibilities. There was no guarantee I would return home if I…
I shook my head again. I’ll have to think of something else, hopefully when I’m feeling mentally better.
And definitely when I’m outside of this cell.
I don’t remember how I was able to fall asleep in such a dire situation, but I eventually grew tired of crying, my exhaustion overpowering my fear as I slipped into unconsciousness once again.
***
The second time I woke up, I didn’t have time (or even the energy) to move so I vomited whatever remains ‘I’ had consumed days before.
Thankfully, one of the guards was kind enough to place a bowl of water beside my ‘dinner’. I drank it without hesitation, ignoring my inner thoughts screaming at me over the possibility that the innocent drink could’ve been poisoned.
After all, if even the guards despised my very existence, then I must’ve done something really wrong. Or really, the person’s body I was occupying must’ve done something wrong.
I— they—couldn’t be a murderer, right…?
I clenched my jaw at the thought. ‘No way, that’s not possible.’
“You don’t seem to be doing so well.”
I visibly jumped from the floor in a panic, startled by the eerie voice’s comment that echoed out of nowhere.
“I’m not hearing voices now, am I?” I mumbled to myself. I then froze at the unexpected sound coming from my mouth, realizing that this was the first time I spoke after reincarnating in this body. It was a little raspy from not talking for so long, but I knew it was not my original voice.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to marvel at how oddly nice my new (male?) voice sounded because the creepy thing spoke again.
“I can confirm that you’re not hearing voices,” they replied to my earlier comment.
‘Wow, I’m not insane yet. How convenient!’
“… Who are you?” No matter how hard I tried to put up a brave front, my trembling lips betrayed the fear I had equipped the second I was thrust in this place; I can’t count on anyone here.
“A friend,” they responded again, followed by another pause. Before I could state how obviously unconvincing that sounded, a gigantic flying eyeball materialized right in front of me.
“Aghh!!” Falling back on the floor, I crawled backwards until my back hit the cold wall. My heart pounded against the walls of my chest, threatening to pop out. “Wh--What the f-fuck?!”
I really didn’t know if the hallucination effect was just too strong or I was indeed in an entirely different world than my own, but neither scenario sounded good to me.
That thing—eyeball, whatever it was—blinked at me before quickly turning its back to me, its yellow bat wings visible now instead of its ‘face’. “Pardon me! I forgot how weird I may look like to someone like you.”
Someone like me? “Why are you turning around now?”
“Do you want to see teeth on an eyeball?”
I swallowed slowly as I visualized it in my head, understanding their point.
No. No I didn’t.
I didn’t answer but I assumed my silence meant something to them because they didn’t move. An uncomfortable silence ensued, neither of us sure of how continue. I awkwardly scratched my arm, still hesitant about keeping my eyes focused on the flying thing. ‘Let’s just get answers.’
“Um… you said you’re a friend, right?”
“Yes…!” they almost turned back around in excitement to face me but quickly stopped themself. Despite my nervousness, I felt oddly touched by the gesture for some reason. “I understand that this situation may seem bizarre to you but—“
“Stupid Be! Why didn’t you wait for me?! I was forced to talk to the…” I almost had another heart attack when a second flying eyeball, with blue wings this time, travelled through the wall like a ghost. They froze as soon as they met my eye. “Oh… I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?”
I gaped at the small mouth on the bottom eyelid that looked like it had been copy and pasted, now understanding what the eyeball—Be, apparently—was talking about. As soon as it opened its mouth, I added the image to my mental list of the most terrifying things I’ve seen.
And it was taking first place.
I could only hope I did not have to interact with similar things soon. That is, if I was able to stay alive the next few days; the rotten food wasn’t doing me any favours.
If Be had hands, I was certain that they would be face palming right now. They turned to face their teammate, clearly unhappy with the interruption. “Ce. I told you, I was going to speak to the human first! It would be too much for them--”
“Too late for that,” I muttered. The two eyeballs turned to face me at the same time, their differing pupils focused as if they were studying me. I shifted uncomfortably by their stares and quickly tried to say something. “There won’t be another one of you guys coming here, right?”
I think a third heart attack would really kill me, permanently this time.
“We have another friend,” Ce responded, their tone gloomy. “Ai is a little… stern. Luckily, you won’t see them often.”
“But they mean well!” Be shot a glare at the other eyeball before they returned their attention to me. “I’ll be accompanying you for most of the time, so you don’t need to worry about getting us confused, alright?”
“Now hold up just a minute,” I leaned back against the wall, frowning. “Accompanying me? You guys make it sound like I’m going on a trip!” I laughed weakly, and my unstable grin soon left my face when the two locked eyes with each other like they were mentally exchanging words.
I did not have a good feeling about this. Be cleared their throat.
“Should I begin with an explanation?”