Date: September 24, 637, Time: 06:18

Location: A human room where I am no longer a captive.

When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t remember when I had fallen asleep. The only thing I recalled was having a rather unusual dream. At some undefined moment, I opened my eyes and found myself in a void where I could neither move nor feel anything. I remembered someone asking me questions and me responding to them, though I couldn’t perceive who they were. The only connection I could make about this person was that their voice resembled those I’d heard in previous dreams.

“What does it feel like to sense something?” it had asked. Although I didn’t understand how our voices were transmitted, it didn’t take long to realize that everything crossing my mind was somehow being conveyed to it. When I asked whom it were talking about, it ignored my question and instead asked, “What do you think about what you’ve seen so far?” When I replied that I didn’t understand what it meant, it said, “I know everything you’ve felt, seen, and heard.”

I was startled, but it added, “Trying to hide anything from me is pointless.”

Looking back now, I realized we had quite a long conversation. While I couldn’t remember all the details, it had asked me about my experiences and my reactions to them. Only now was I becoming aware of this. In the dream, control was entirely in its hands. I was oblivious, and all my vulnerabilities were laid bare before it.

The person in my dreams knew much about me. There was no other explanation.

Who was this person? But, considering I didn’t even know the most basic things about myself, how logical was it to ask this question? Judging by what it said, seemed it were constantly following me. It seemed to know everything about me. Even knew about the Archive. Unlike me, it appeared capable of using the Archive at high performance. That would make anything possible. Were it from this world, or did belong to another dimension? I was sure I would find some answers as I learned more about this world.

With that thought, I pushed the blanket off and sat up against the pillow. The sunlight streaming through the window hit my eyes uncomfortably, causing me to squint and grimace involuntarily.

My leg felt better. I could now move it slightly to the left and right, albeit slowly. Most of the bandages on my body had been removed, except for a few areas. The pain had lessened. Thanks to Malle’s treatment, I was slowly recovering. Speaking of Malle, where was she? The sun had just risen. Everyone was likely still asleep.

Once I got used to the sunlight in my eyes, I scanned the room. To my immediate right, leaning against a small side table, I saw two wooden crutches. They were adjusted to my height and clearly intended to aid my mobility.

Though my energy was low, the thought of being able to move gave me the strength to push through. I carefully lifted my injured leg with my hands and managed to swing it off the bed. It was painful, but I bit my lip and endured it. I couldn’t help but wonder, What kind of expression do I have on my face this time?

I placed the crutches under my arms, supported myself with my good leg, and stood up. It wasn’t as hard as I expected this time.

As soon as I stood, I slowly turned toward the door. I tried opening it a few times but couldn’t. With some force, I probably could have, but it wasn’t necessary right now. Exploring outside could wait. For now, I decided to examine the things I couldn’t see while lying down.

Along the right side of the room, there was a small counter running under the window, with a few leftover food scraps on it. I noticed some half-eaten items, like a sandwich and cheese. Seeing this food made my stomach growl loudly. Here, I learned the sensation of hunger for the first time. It was hard to resist eating the food. I wasn’t sure if consuming something prepared by humans would benefit or harm me.

I extended my right hand and activated the Archive commands to analyze the food. A blue light scanned the items quickly. The analysis confirmed they were highly nutritious and recommended consuming them in times of hunger. Trusting the Archive’s guidance, I took a piece of bread and popped it into my mouth. As I thought, I suppose I’ll need to use my teeth now, I began to taste the bread. The flavor spread through my mouth as it broke apart between my teeth.

I took a few more bites of the cheese and other foods to silence my hunger. As I explored the room further, a pleasant sensation washed over me, as though I’d regained some energy. It felt good.

My attention was drawn to the shelves immediately behind the bed. There were various books and a few decorative items. I approached the bed, stretched out my arm, and tried to grab a random book. However, my height wasn’t enough. I couldn’t let go of the crutches either, or I would lose balance. Using the bed to reach the shelf was an option, but standing on the bed was risky in my condition. Sitting wouldn’t increase my height enough.

Just as I was about to give up and pull my arm back, I heard Malle’s voice and the sound of the door creaking open:

“Someone’s already up.”

The door opened, and Malle stepped in, carrying food and medical supplies. Her face, framed by the backdrop of the sunrise behind her, radiated a comforting warmth. The door remained ajar as she placed her items on the table near the entrance, then began preparing the food while speaking to me:

“Was something on the shelf catching your eye?”

A gentle chill from outside crept into the room. I realized I had been silently watching her movements without saying a word or making any attempt to respond. Regaining focus, I slowly started moving toward her.

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“Well, look at you! You’ve gotten used to those crutches quickly,” she remarked cheerfully.

The aroma of the food and the steam rising from it drew my attention. I had approached closer to inspect the dishes. They radiated warmth, a comforting contrast to the cold draft from outside. Noticing this, Malle quickly closed the door with a concerned expression.

“I didn’t think you might be cold. Are you feeling better now?”

I was indeed feeling better but chose not to reply. Instead, I turned toward the bed and, upon reaching it, carefully sat down. I positioned the crutches to my right. Malle seemed to understand my intent, as she brought the table with the food closer to the bedside and even fetched her chair.

She glanced at the clutter on the counter and, once everything was set up, began explaining:

“So, judging by the mess you made over there, I’d say you’re ready to eat something, aren’t you? Even if you’re not, you need to eat. Your body requires this. I’ve picked special vegetables to support your recovery.”

She was probably right, but her tone rubbed me the wrong way, and my irritation must have shown on my face. Noticing this, Malle quickly corrected herself:

“I mean, I’m just thinking of your well-being. You need these nutrients, and I’m doing my best to help you. So please, don’t be stubborn.”

In truth, I had planned to eat the food all along. As long as she wasn’t overly bossy, there was no issue. Just then, my stomach growled again, betraying my hunger. My expression shifted to one of embarrassment, but I quickly composed myself, acting as if nothing had happened. Though Malle made a few teasing remarks, I pretended not to hear them.

I reached for the menemen first. The dish, made from tomatoes, was juicy and flavorful, but it was also very hot. Malle had given me a few tips before I ate, advising me to dip the bread into the menemen and blow on it before taking a bite. Otherwise, it could burn my mouth. I followed her advice, but it was still hotter than I had anticipated.

The food burned not just my mouth but seemed to travel down, searing through me as it went. Malle noticed my discomfort and quickly prepared a glass of cold water. I downed nearly half a liter in just two seconds. Although the pain didn’t fully subside, it lessened.

I felt inadequate, and that bothered me greatly.

After eating some cheese, olives, greens, and a few pieces of fruit, I decided I’d had enough. My stomach felt full, as if signaling me to stop. Malle didn’t insist further. Once she saw I couldn’t eat any more, she cleared the table and returned the dishes to the counter. Then she came back and repeated the question she had asked earlier:

“Were you trying to get something off the shelves?”

The books had caught my attention; books meant knowledge, and knowledge could help me understand this world. I nodded. Malle asked, “Which one do you want?”

I thought starting with a thin book would be best, something to help me decipher the language. I pointed to a small, pale blue book. Malle retrieved it for me and handed it over. Its cover bore various symbols. It was clearly written in the language spoken by the people of this world.

At that moment, a strange question crossed my mind: Why could I understand and respond to what people said, yet I couldn’t comprehend the text in this book? It was a logical question when thought through, but the answer didn’t seem within reach.

Sensing my dilemma, Malle spoke up:

“This book tells the story of a traveler who once roamed these lands. Thick academic books are rarely printed, but I love reading this one. The traveler describes every place they visited in incredible detail. You’ll like it, I’m sure.”

I had found exactly what I was looking for—a book that could provide all the information I needed about this world. Now, all I had to do was decipher the language of a book where I couldn’t understand a single word. Likely, I could solve this problem while I remained here.

As I examined the book, Malle began speaking again. This time, her words caught my attention, and I listened carefully:

“… Regarding your health, you’re recovering very quickly. All the cuts on your body have healed. Your left leg and lower back, where you suffered severe injuries, will take a bit longer, but at this rate, you’ll probably be able to move around comfortably in a few days. When that happens, I want to show you around the whole village. For now, though, you’ll have to settle for exploring this room.”

This was good news, and the idea of exploring the village filled me with curiosity. But then Malle said something that unsettled me, making it hard to compose myself:

“Have you ever looked at yourself in a mirror? That outfit really suits you.”

A mirror? The concept was unfamiliar to me. After saying this, Malle rose from her usual chair and retrieved a mirror leaning against the wall. She placed it in front of the table.

And in that moment, I met myself.

I had snow-white hair and bright red eyes. My body was slender and short, and my sharp facial features held countless details. But the most striking and unsettling realization was that I was in a human body.

I was stunned. Unaware of what I was doing, I let the book in my hands fall to the floor, and the sound it made startled me. Malle noticed something was wrong but couldn’t understand the reason.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? What’s bothering you?”

Despite all the anger I felt toward humans, seeing this reflection shook me to my core. Every foundation I had built until now crumbled in an instant.

How could I be human?

Without taking my eyes off my reflection, I pushed the table to the side. Forgetting about the crutches, I let myself drop to the floor. In pain and with a distressed expression, I struggled to crawl toward the mirror. I used my hands to pull at my face, trying to determine if what I saw was real.

My body felt frozen, my thoughts paralyzed. Every second I spent staring at the mirror deepened my shock.

Eventually, tears began streaming from my eyes. I watched as a few droplets rolled down my cheeks. Was I crying like a human?

A suffocating feeling had settled in my chest, and I was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe. Malle couldn’t make sense of what was happening. She kept trying to say something, but her words didn’t reach me.

As my vision darkened, the pressure in my chest grew more intense, as if something inside me was trying to break free. Unable to maintain my balance, I collapsed onto my side, falling into Malle’s lap.

I could feel the cool trail of tears on my cheeks as my consciousness faded, struck by the overwhelming realization that I was, in fact, human.