I was crying alone in my room. And the memories with her kept flashing within my mind. Silently sobbing in sorrow, until few hours later my phone vibrated.
Rrrrrrrr Rrrrrrr!
It got a new text, so I immediately opened it.
I'm sorry. I did something terrible, but I'm fine now.
My eyes were wide open the moment I saw the message was from her.
What happened?
I texted back, asking about the situation. A few seconds later, new text arrived.
I ate a lot of pills and passed out. By the time I was conscious, my family put milk in my mouth so that I vomited all the pills I consumed.
I put my head on my table.
'Thank God you're alive...' I thought in relief.
It might be that my call made her family suspicious and found her. Even though it wasn't, I was still glad that she's still alive.
Since then, I kept her in check. And thankfully, she slowly got better. Once she became happier and got a new good boyfriend, I left her without saying goodbye. I saw her still trying to reach me, but I ignored her chat.
After a year of shutting in, I began to take a test to enter another university. And I got into Education Department. In this new path, I planned to be an entirely new person. I wanted to be more active, friendly and humble.
During the opening ceremony, I saw a beautiful pair of eyes. It could be a love at first sight which I never experienced it before. And later I found that she was attending the same class with me.
At the time I got sick, my classmates was looking for me and I was asked about my SNS. So I gave it to them and they all added me, including the beautiful-eyed girl.
Since then, I chatted with her everyday and we became closer. I sometimes tried to ask her out watching movies, or grab some food outside. But she always declined. So I thought we could only be best friend, for now.
However, during the second semester. I was accidentally sitting beside a classmate I never knew. She asked me if I was angry with her. So I asked her back that why I would be angry toward someone I never talked to before. It was then, we talked to each other a lot. Until I fell in love with her.
I questioned myself if I should stay loyal in liking the beautiful-eyed girl or followed my feelings toward the other girl.
'If I still love S, how can I fall in love with E?'
Indeed. Since S, the beautiful-eyed girl, didn't show any interest in me which probably just thought me as her best friend. My feelings began to lean toward E. Thus, I confessed my love to E. And unexpectedly, she accepted it.
We made sweet memories together, that was what I thought. Unfortunately, later I found out that she didn't even love me at all. She was actually still loving her ex for years.
One day, she was furious at me and I didn't know why. She said she still loved her ex and he was her hero. And then she dumped me and left.
During that time, my parents also often fought. I heard them shouting at each other every night. And sometimes during the day as well.
That moment was the hardest for me. Therefore, I decided. Once I passed the final test of the semester, I changed class and attended the night one. In this new class, I tried my best to attend. Every single day. Acting good and friendly towards the new classmates. However, at some point, some an obstacle was coming to me again.
One day during midterm exam, I missed one of them because of my problem. I tried to ask for a make up test to the professor. I approached him who was sitting on a bench, waiting for the next class to start.
I knelt down and tried to be respectful. "E-excuse me professor..."
"Yeah?" He looked at me curiously.
"I'm sorry but, I miss your test and if possible, I like to do a make up."
"What's your class?" He began to sharpen his gaze.
"E Class. I just moved in." My eyes shook, unconsciously trying to avert them but I held it.
"So why did you miss it?"
"Well umm... there's some family problem I needed to take care of." I said nervously and eventually averted my eyes.
"Tell me... Which one is more important, your family or your study?" The professor asked with raised tone.
I suddenly thought it was probably a question about how my vision of life would determine my follow up test.
"I think my family is more important to me..." I answered honestly, but my heart seemed a bit reluctant and against it. I was in doubt about everything at this moment. And so I expected him to understand me. However, he reacted otherwise.
The professor face got bitter and he suddenly got mad and raised his tone. "You're wrong if you said that! Your mid-test is way more important. What a waste of time. We're done here!" He stood and walked away.
I tried to stand and follow, but my legs wouldn't even move. So I kept kneeling down while my eyes followed him. "But, professor-"
However, he ignored me and left to enter another class.
I stayed still and my heart broke. I teared up but I had to hold it. I didn't want to make a scene. I controlled my breath. Once I was good, I entered my class and and acted like nothing was happened.
After that day, I stopped attending class. And as I thought it wouldn't get worse, something terrible happened.
My mother attempted suicide multiple times. One time she held a knife and pointed it at my father. As we tried to get near her, she put the knife on her stomach. It was really risky, but thankfully, I could grab the knife and put it away. Then, the look on her eyes changed as if she wasn't my mother anymore. She sharply gazed toward father.
They still kept fighting, to the point that my mother even said that I was not my father's son. She said there was her friend who was quiet like me, unlike my father. Then my father consoled me that I was his son afterwards. My heart was falling apart. I couldn't tell which one was true.
One day, my mother drank a bottle of poison.
Fortunately, my aunt was with her and immediately screamed and called me. I ran and shouted why she did that, but my mom said nothing. Speechless, I called my father to come home quickly and we brought her to hospital.
Thankfully, she survived. However, soon after that, she wanted a divorce.
My father told me to be patient. He always taught me that. Then he said that it was his test in this life. And there was an astral being who was really happy of the divorce. The astral being was laughing at them as they were fighting. It sounds nut, right? But I believed him, because I took a flash of image on the being as well. I have a gift to feel the unseen by my royal bloodline.
For the records, I didn't believe them before. However, I experienced some which made me gradually accepted their existence.
One time when I was sleeping, I got sleep paralysis and there was a shadow of small kid opened my door. Then suddenly they crawled on the wall and changed shape. Once they got on to the top corner of the ceiling, they turned their head toward me. They saw me with glowing eyes. Then they jumped toward me and attacked me. I screamed and my father came. He immediately took away the being and threw it far away. It was then the weight on my chest was strangely gone and I could move again.
There was also a time when I went to a vacation with my classmates. We spent two or three days on a secluded villa. Before I departed, my father told me to stay vigilant. And of course, I did what he said.
By the time we got there, we looked around and rested, unpacking and preparing for the night. I brought a camera and recorded my classmates having fun. We were enjoying the moment. But suddenly, the power went out on its own. One of my classmates checked it and turned it on again. And well, it turned on. It was just a normal power out and nothing strange seemed to be happen. However, it was different for me.
My father called me to ask how I was doing, and I told him that I safely arrived. Then he asked if something happened at the villa. Of course, I told him about the incident, and also about the astral beings that I could sense at the moment with my mind's eyes.
"So there's a family in here it seems. A woman at the front right room, a toddler at the left one, three black men in living room-"
"Those three were the ones who turned off the power." My father suddenly cut me.
"I see... I'll be careful then."
After that, we ended the call as he prayed for me to stay safe.
Nothing happened again at day. However later that night, when I slept at the living room, my sense seemed getting stronger. I felt like my body was inside water and I could even feel the waves. When I checked the recordings, I could hear the sound of water. It was loud like a river or waterfall within the villa where the place was in complete silence and everyone was sleeping.
Moreover, I could see them with my mind's eye. The three shadow men who looked at me with eyes wide open. The toddler who danced to the music I faintly heard at the front left room. And something on the backyard of the villa. But I wasn't afraid of them because they couldn't hurt me, so slept without worry.
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Three days passed as we enjoyed our vacation. We went to the beach, zoo, theme park, etc. It was fun. However, when we were going home, I felt strange along the way. As if something was following me. My classmate even said that I looked weary and very tired.
When I got home, I told my parents about my vacation. But then my mother was acting strange. Like, there was something hopping on her back multiple times. My father noticed and tried to do something to get rid of the invisible being. However, he seemed hesitated to throw it away. As my father went to the bathroom, my mother was lying down. Suddenly, she was shouting.
"Take me back! Take me back home!"
It was then I sighed. I knew it was something that followed me from the villa, and they possessed my mother.
I slowly approached her. Then I knelt down and asked, "Why are you following me?"
She shook her head.
"Go home by yourself..." I said a bit coldly.
"Nooo..." She cried. "I'm scared... Please take me back."
"Then why did you follow me?" I softened my voice and gently asked her.
She shook her head again.
"Y'know your home is far from here. Can you go home by yourself?"
"I'm scared... Please take me back. I'm scared..." She kept weeping.
I took a deep breath. "Alright then, we'll think of a solution. For now, please get out, okay?" I said softly as my fingers gently stroke her forehead.
As there was no more reaction, I asked again.
"Mom... Are you there?"
Then, my mother got back to her consciousness. "Ah yes... What happened?"
"I really am sorry. Something followed me from the villa."
She sighed and understood the situation. So, shortly after, my father took the ghost home with astral projection. He said she was just a little girl who might just curious about me. However, her curiosity led her far away from home.
Those are some parts of my paranormal experiences. You don't have to believe me, but I just want to let you know that everything in this world has partner. Hot and Cold. Man and Woman. Light and Dark. The seen and the unseen.
Continue to what we left, so my father told me that the most important thing in this world was kindness, about how you behaved to others. No matter what happened, always be kind even to someone who hated you. Beside that, he also taught me to protect the weak, self-defense if someone endangered you or anyone's life, and always give someone in need.
Still, I couldn't help but depressed about the situations and problems I faced which I didn't know how to solve it. Thus I became a NEET, a shut in.
Years passed, but I was not completely isolated myself. I actually had a best friend. He was my highschool classmate. He was not a gamer, but we shared similar interest and taste. We both like fantasy and comic. The only difference was, I was an introvert and he was an extrovert. Still, we paired well. He often came to get me out of my room, talking outside at the cafe or somewhere to hang out. We shared lots of stories and experiences. We even planned our own comic.
One day, he gave me his design of the characters at my home and left. And the next time I heard, he was sick with unknown illness. Soon after, another friend told me he just got a news that my best friend was passed away. And that very day, before I heard the news, I was struck with a strong headache at the time he was dying, as if it was a sign. My friend and I still couldn't believe it, so he decided to pick me up and went to my best friend's house
When I was preparing, my father asked, "Where do you wanna go?"
"R died, I'm going to attend his funeral."
"Are you serious?" He said in disbelief, then suddenly he was shocked as he looked somewhere else. "Oh yeah... He's here..."
I immediately got goosebumps.
"What's wrong with his face?" My father asked.
"I heard he got something inside his nose and his face was a bit swollen because of that. But the result of his illness isn't even out yet. So I don't know. Maybe cancer or something..."
"I see..."
And so my friend arrived to pick me up. When we got there, it was indeed true that he was already gone as his coffin began to be carried to the nearest graveyard.
I followed with heavy steps. My eyes began to tear up. When he was about to be buried, my sense got strengthened with my emotions. I saw his girlfriend walked away and cried as his body entered the grave. And I could see my best friend was hugging his crying girlfriend. I looked away and my tears kept rolling down.
As everyone left. I was still there by his grave, still disbelieved about what happened.
And a year later, it was my father's death.
・・・
I could see her tears flowing on her cheeks and dripping down. She sobbed and occasionally pulled her runny nose back.
Meanwhile, I continued my story...
・・・
So I was depressed for years.
And later I found another social game. It was basically the same game as before but with different name. So I tried again once more, that I could open up in this game and it changed me for the better. Socializing with people might what I needed the most.
At first, I was just observing people, reading their chat here and there. Of course, I also tried to fit in the conversation. Alas, it didn't work well since I was very awkward.
But one day, a girl suddenly sent a whisper request to me. Without any thoughts, I accepted it.
Then she said, "Please don't go. Please stay and hear me out."
As if I could feel she was in sorrow, I didn't leave and listened to her stories.
She said she was bullied. And she had incurable illness which gonna take her life sooner or later.
She was a prodigy, top 25 students in her country. She won a science tournament. She could sing beautifully. She could play guitar and piano.
She was talented, smart, sweet and kind.
We got closer each day, I thought. And she kept giving me hint about her liking me. Sometimes, she also flirted with me. Unfortunately, I was afraid of falling in love. So I didn't take the hint and did what I usually did.
One day, something broke her self-esteem and so I had to say I loved her. I said that to make her confidence back and have a reason to live. She looked happy and asked me if I could be her boyfriend.
I explained again that I didn't want to be in a relationship. We didn't need to label it, cause I didn't want us to be strangers afterwards. I wanted to stay with her and make good memories for her till the day she's gone.
Unfortunately, we were fighting at some point. I got emotional because she always said that she's gonna be dead soon. Moreover, she said several boys liked her and confessed to her. I was mad that I couldn't carry what she felt about her illness, and I was also jealous about her surrounded by boys. My insecurity controlled me and said terrible things to her. Since that fight, we slowly became apart.
Curious, I made another avatar to stalk her in game. And it was then my heart broke, once again. She liked to make a drama and seduced random boys. And what she said to them was exactly what she said to me. Also, she always said to every boys if they're single. But on the other hand, she didn't say much about her illness, so I still didn't know if it was true or not.
Regardless, she clearly said to me that her love towards me was just a drama. Since our fight, she ignored my chat. So I sent a last message to her that I always be here for her whenever she needed me. I don't know if it reached her or not. But she never contacted me ever since.
That is life.
Once who were our friends, we will slowly become strangers as we do less and less contact. Once who were our lovers, they will instantly become strangers when we broke up.
Nothing lasts forever.
We born alone, we live alone.
We just cross our path with strangers in our life.
People come and by.
There's a meeting, there's also farewell.
Until we eventually die alone as well.
・・・
"Since I got bullied and the people I thought were friends turned against me, I tried to find someone to understand me. Even just one, a loved one. But everytime I put my trust in them, they eventually betrayed me, or left me. Of course, deep down I know not all of them like that. I still believe. However, I was unfortunate. And the trauma keep me away from it. So, no more friends, no more love. I'm done with social interactions. I still played more games, of course, but I avoid players. I interacted if necessary."
My mind then filled with unfortunate memories I went through afterwards. My chest became tight and I could hardly breathe.
"Then... I... " I paused for a moment. "...and I... ummm..."
As if something put my mind to blank, I couldn't continue and went silent again. When I was about to open my mouth again, Mirage was suddenly in front of me, and she gently hugged me.
"It's okay, I'm here. I'll always be here for you. I won't leave you alone..." Her gentle voice and warmth strangely comforted me, so my tears rolled down from my eyes. She continued while sobbing, "Don't worry. I understand... You've been through a lot..."
"Thank you..." I said as I sobbed. And I was glad. I felt light, as if the weight on my chest and shoulders were all lifted. "Thank you so much..."
We hugged each other while the rain kept pouring down outside.
・・・
A few days later.
Within Dalgor Artisan's Hearth, I shut myself to start forging Hagwim's Axe.
I used Mithril as the base of its core. And I stacked several steel bars around it. Then, I began to burn them.
A moment later, I could see the ingots slowly changed their color. As I saw it fit, I pulled and put it on the anvil. Then I hit it with my hammer.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
A melody of colliding steel echoed throughout the hearth.
As they became one and elongated, I cut the center and folded it. And then, I did the same thing again multiple times.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
During the process, I used unique methods which was written on Dwarven Blacksmith book that I read on the library. Basically, it made the steel more durable and increased its hardness perfectly, which depended on maintaining the temperature accurately. It was necessary since if it was too cold the steel couldn't be moved or would be shattered, if it was too hot they would melt and crumbled. Thus, with perfect temperature, the steel grains could be shaped nicely to form its hardness and durability.
Furthermore, it also determined on the strength, perfect angle, and precision of hammering. My enhanced hearing with eavesdropping took a great role in it. It made me easily know if the steel was in perfect temperature and if my hit was precise.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Burn. Hammer. Fold.
Once I got a million folds, I finally shaped the axe head. Imitating the drawing on the blueprint, but of course, it wasn't 100% similar. However, I was satisfied with the shape.
Then I polished it, carved the rune and inscription on each sides. After that, I made the handle with good quality materials. Carefully with patience, I successfully made the two.
Once I combined them, several system messages appeared.
You have learned Dwarven Rune of Might!
You have learned Inscription of Holder!
Eavesdropping level has increased!
Crafting level has increased!
Crafting level has increased!
Skill Upgraded!
Crafting has been upgraded into Advanced Crafting
STR increased by 15!
DEX increased by 18!
INT increased by 10!
Lastly, I took one monster soul from Soul Cubic and infused it into the axe. And I succeeded on first try.
I smiled proudly as I used Astral Eyes to look at the axe's description.
Unknown Axe (Epic) Quality A Type One-handed axe Restriction Only Hagwim Proudsteel can use this item Durability 850
A legendary mighty axe of Proudsteel. It is forged using the methods of Dwarven Blacksmithing. As it is carved with Dwarven Rune of Might, it's said that it could even chop Dragon's scale.
Effect:
+2000 P. Atk
+750 P. Def & M. Def
+200 STR
+150 DEX
+75 VIT
Status Effect:
10% Ignore Defense chance
5% Stun chance
Enchantment
• Dwarven Might
Boosts physical attack power by 30% for five minutes.
• Inscription of Holder
Can be called back to its owner hands with the cost of 50 Mana.
• Ore Tortoa — Hard Shell Lv. 5
For ten minutes, increase physical defense by 15% and reflect 5% of damage taken.
My jaw was dropping, but then more surprising system messages popped up.
Requirements Completed!
You have unlocked your Signature Skill!