"...you...me?"

"Are...ignore?"

"Ah...dead? I see…body...no longer…"

With what I thought to be a new voice badgering me, I continued to go my mindless way. To my surprise, it wasn't a mere voice. A figure appeared in front of me in an instant, arm outstretched.

"I am surprised that you are still living, human. You've lost some function, however." Whoever it was, they poked at me with a finger. The person disappeared from view, and my neck craned awkwardly as some tremor passed through my body. That poke buried my back flat into the sand abruptly.

"Oh dear, were humans always this weak?" The figure spoke with mild curiosity, completely ignoring the display of her strength just now. I was shocked. Not only because I got knocked over, but the numbness and mental haze began to clear as that strange vibration ran its course.

I could finally think clearly and see things now. Blood finally began to recirculate in my body. Getting back on my feet, I wanted to thank them. I noticed that the voice was that of a woman.

The white light revealed her body to be like a masterwork of craftsmanship. Her skin held a porcelain pallor with black hair barely at her shoulders. Four wing-like appendages stretched out in impossible shapes, shimmering with otherworldly hues as a broken and jagged ring hung above her. Her countenance and posture revealed a grace that not even someone from high society could hope to match.

My savior donned a formal dress with a simple design. It had no frills or intricate patterns to show with sleeves that reached the wrist. The clothing was a deep turquoise with flecks of white dotting its surface like snow falling on the tranquil ocean. The garb complimented her well, far too well.

Calling her beautiful would have been an insult. Words didn't deserve to be in her presence. Her aura matched the image I had in mind of the main character, a protagonist in life.

It was because of that that I felt on edge. The woman was eye-candy, but her presence reminded me of eating a sickeningly moist and sweet cake. It filled and overstayed its welcome. Her presence unsettled me greatly. It made me hesitate to thank her, especially with her dead eyes.

My appreciation won out in the end. Saving me from that senseless hell demanded nothing less.

"Your intent and thoughts are enough, human." Before I could even start thanking her, my unsettling savior spoke out. It felt like she read my mind just now, but then again, me attempting to thank her was a given. Then my savior surprised me even more.

"If you want to repay my kindness, I hope you stop lauding me as your savior. My name is Mio."

"I see-"

"I would also prefer that you stop talking." I only noticed it now, but the way she spoke was stoic and curt. Sneaking a glance towards Mio, I saw something. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought I could see a trace of disdain marring her face.

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When I wanted to reply, my mouth wouldn't open. Following the trend, my body couldn't move either. Only my eyes were to continue as usual. As I finished my thoughts, two voices rang out from the stretch of different hues of white.

"You being alive is certainly a surprise, champion." The first voice was soft-spoken and pleasant to hear. "I would like to applaud your superb will for enduring so long. Most would be nothing but pure Essence by now."

"Your stubbornness has not made for any decent entertainment, mortal." The other thrummed with a strange power and immense arrogance. It made me a little nauseous even. "Mio, you should also be a bit more careful. What would we do if he became irreparable? You should know the fragility of humans quite well yourself, no?"

"I was trying to speed the process along, my lord. I don't wish to spend more time than necessary on him."

The second voice scoffed. "Is that so? It seems that we can finally agree on something then."

Mio bristled, incited by what the second voice had said. That slight look of disdain had turned into a full-blown scowl. Before anything could escalate any further, the soft-spoken one luckily intervened.

"I thought you were above provoking my vassal, Hildiran." The soft voice spoke exasperatedly. Mio and the dominant one bickered quite often, it seems. "And Mio, I remember telling you to stop being rising to Anahato's taunts."

Anahato made no response.

"I'm sorry, Master Hildiran," Mio went down on a knee, revering the now named soft-spoken one. "I was trying to defend your honor."

"My honor does not need to be defended, Mio. You will never bring me disgrace." Hildiran reassured Mio firmly. "I want you to help prepare the next step for me, Mio. Can you do that?"

"Of course, my All-Powerful Lord." With eyes now full of life, the woman faded away.

"And you, Anahato-"

"I am ahead of you, mongrel. I have already set the stage and will leave. Just finish the job already." Anahato growled in annoyance.

There was a few moments of silence before the soft-spoken one addressed me.

"Thank you for waiting so patiently, my champion." As Hildiran spoke, I could pleasantly feel myself quickly regaining control over myself. The moment I could, I yelled out into the void.

"Hey, um, what the hell is going on here? What is it I'm experiencing right now!?"

"Specifics are irrelevant, my young champion. All I ask of you is to put Anahato in his place. You are my only hope. I wish you the best and believe you will learn a lot on this journey. There is no more I am allowed to say, good luck~"

I blinked, dumbstruck. Everything was getting more and more confusing. "What? Why am I supposed to put Anahato in his place? What does that-" Before I could even finish asking my question, I saw only darkness and then color. Air once more forced itself into my lungs, and my ears popped.

I was in freefall, a few feet above what looked to be pavement. Faster than I could process, I find myself face-flat on the ground. It hurt, but it felt more like a slap than falling onto concrete.

Getting back onto my feet was strangely difficult.

Before I could look around, a blaring horn and an angry voice came from behind me.

"Get out of the way, asshole!" What seemed to be a bus without wheels barreled towards me. I had no way of dodging. There was no way for me to react in time. I could only accept my fate.

"...shit." Closing my eyes, I waited for impact. One second went by, and then another. The pain never came, so I opened my eyes timidly.

"Please go on the sidewalk next time, civilian. Jaywalking is a crime." The person in front of me saved my life. The normal-looking woman held the vehicle above her head casually with one arm. Forcing down my surprise, I ran to the sidewalk.

The woman seeing I was safe, set down the bus. She seemed to speak with the driver briefly before heading toward me.

"Thank you so much, ma'am. I was sure that was the end of me."

"That was no problem at all. Please fill out this survey." The woman showed her back and on it was a screen.

I stared in confusion for a few seconds before hesitantly entering my name, but before I could get to that survey an error prompt appeared reading:

[Unregistered Civilian]

There was a flash of light and a prick on my finger, a few appendages emerged from the woman’s back. They all snaked towards me, reaching for different parts of my body in succession. A most unpleasant sensation was found when I registered one of the little appendages jabbed something into my ear.

I recoiled in discomfort and my eyes watered.

When I finally recovered, I was about to give that woman a piece of my mind but I found myself being restricted yet again today. My anger passed as quickly as it came, I found myself strangely zen.

A narrator spoke to me, reading out the questions prompted on the lady’s back. I looked at them and answered them, just not the way I was expecting to. Every thought I had translated itself onto the screen.

The rest of the survey was simple to complete.

[Please rate your experience today.]

[Above Average.]

The woman clicked her tongue and murmured just loud enough for me to hear. "It's not like I saved your life or anything." The screen on her back dimmed and turned into clothing before flying away.

So much happened in that short span. I couldn't understand what just happened.

Am I in the future?