Ugh…what happened? Where am I?

Awakening in pitch black, Gus felt a lingering pain within his head that quickly disappeared the moment he noticed it. Unable to see anything but black, Gus attempted to open his eyes to get a clue on what occurred to him, but soon came to a shocking realization.

Uh…it seems that I’m unable to open my eyes?

In fact, it wasn’t just his sight, all of Gus’s other senses had also gone numb, no longer functioning. With a deep fear that he was in serious peril, Gus attempted to call out for help by screaming. Though attempted was hardly a fitting word for such futile efforts.

I…can’t even speak! I can’t do anything! What is going on? Anyone please!

After a moment of panic and responding silence, Gus eventually calmed down and searched his memories for how he ended up there hoping for answers. Yet, instead of answers, he was only met with even more questions. Gus could not remember anything. He couldn’t remember who he was, what his name was, or even his past. It was all one giant foggy memory, one slowly slipping away the more he tried to grab onto it.

No, no, no, no! My family! I need to…to remember…who was I trying to remember?

Any special memories from Gus’s human past were now gone, his life now over and renewing again. Well, except for some memories that is.

Wait, what happened to that Factory? Wasn’t I…wasn’t I just there?

Unlike the other memories, Gus could still vividly remember a dusty, old factory that he had just previously been in. Just earlier, earlier before the darkness and emptiness he was currently experiencing, Gus could recount that he was walking inside of the rusty building. In its center was the only non-decaying object inside of the rotting ruin, a giant iron furnace that out-dwarfed Gus. Connected to a vast array of rusty pipes, the furnace looked like a steel heart within the factory, furiously pumping more into the dying beast as it tried to withstand time. With a loud mechanical rumble, the furnace was kept aflame with a unique bonfire that burned a unique blue fire with ferocity. Its flames howled and danced with each flicker, resembling the bright flashes of the stars. It was so vivid in fact that it felt still like mere seconds ago that Gus was just there. Yet now, he was in solitary darkness, unable to recall anything else about what had occurred in the factory or why he was even there. What’s worse, this memory loss was still continuing to spread, slowly destroying Gus’s conscience as it began to crumble from the abyss.

What’s happening to me? I…don’t like this. In fact, this is the most unpleasant thing I’ve ever experienced! Wait, have I experienced anything unpleasant before? Oh damn it, damn it, damn it! I need something to hold onto, something to stay sane. Yes! Like my name! My name… I…I can’t even remember my own name now! Fuck!

As the last of Gus’s memories deteriorated, he tried moving his body in one last struggle, and yet, not a single response still came. Gus was now truly alone in the dark, his very own existence now fading into nothingness, like an ember being snuffed out into ash.

Am I going to die? Or better yet, am I experiencing death now?

No matter how much Gus tried to think, the encroaching abyss around him continued to snuff out what little consciousness he had. Like a dying ember sizzling its last spark, Gus felt the icy cold of the abyss surround him, taking away the last of his will.

No…not l-like this. Anything but this! Please!

Yet Gus’s pleas remained unheard within the all encompassing abyss. Drowning into the freezing darkness, Gus felt everything come to a close, his mind too scattered to think. Whatever human Gus once used to be, died on this day. But from ashes comes life, all it takes is something to bring upon such change.

Must…Must know it. Must know…the Truth.

One last desire. A wish so integral to the former human’s existence that even when his humanity perished in the abyss, this singular will remained. And it was this one last strong flicker of a desire that allowed a flame to rise within Gus once again.

Must know the Truth. I MUST. MWAHAHAHA, YES! It is I that must know! The Truth!

Like a chain reaction, the fire continued to grow, until it reached a point where it was so strong that the coldness of the abyss was almost all cast away. Feeling his consciousness return in a fragmented but glued together state, Gus could only laugh at the insanity. Salvation by simply wanting! How easy! What remained of Gus honed in on this thought, and wished and wished for it to come, even when he himself had long forgotten its premises. So long as he wished, Gus became someone, and someone was always better than nothing.

HAHA I must know it! The Truth! Yes! I must not die! Whatever it is, I will know. I may not know now, but there will be a day! I will know this Truth and I will survive! Damn be death if it thinks it can stop me!

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ.

You hear me! Nothing can sto- What on earth could be that noise?

It seemed that Gus could be stopped, albeit temporarily.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ.

Stop that! I will not fall for your tricks, abyss! I will survive! For I shall find the–

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ.

Yet the buzzing did not stop, continuing for what felt like years. Throughout this entire time, Gus continued to repeat his last desire to himself over and over again, not daring to lose focus of this memory. It was only until Gus thought he could not take it anymore that the buzzing stopped, and suddenly, another noise was heard.

* Hello < ! > *

Truth! I must know! Truth—wait did I just hear something else?

A softer and more coherent noise than the prior loud buzzing, Gus sighed in relief mentally as he realized he could understand the new sound as a voice.

Weird. It felt like I had heard of this voice once before.

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Yet no matter how much he tried to remember, not a single memory came to mind.

Wait, of course I don’t remember! That cursed abyss took it from me. Abyss…hey wait a minute! My desire! I must know the Truth…

Gus returned to repeating the same few words that had kept him sane, not daring to explore a curiosity that could cause him to forget his one last desire.

* Unnecessary < ! > *

Truth— Be quiet, abyss! — I must know! The Truth…

* Please < ? > *

With the friendly voice continuing on its attempts at communication, Gus quickly felt that his decision to ignore the voice was maybe not the right choice to do. If this voice truly wasn’t from the abyss or Gus’s fragmented mind, then this could be his only chance of freedom!

Maybe just responding to it once —Truth— wouldn’t hurt.

That was, until a terrible realization occurred to him. When Gus attempted to open his mouth to snap back to the mysterious voice, he found that he was no longer able to speak, lacking all power to do so.

Weird…felt like I tested that already. Wait a minute, if that’s the case, how am I supposed to get out here! Ah dang it, I lost track again. Truth—

Yet, even though this salvation had appeared in the abyss, he still lacked the means to even call out to the angelic voice. Like watching a boat pass by while stranded on an island with nothing to do, Gus could only wait in anxiety as he repeated the same words to himself, hoping that the voice wouldn’t soon disappear.

Please, please don’t leave! Truth…I must know. I’m stuck here! Anything, just don’t go. Truth…I must know. Don’t leave me here to rot away in the abyss! It’s too cold for my liking!

* Understand < . > *

I beg you, see me! Truth—If there’s anyone out there, know that I am still alive and need help—I must know it!

* Fretless < X > *

Please— wait…Fretless?

* Yes < . > *

Yes? As in yes to my question?

* Yes < . > *

You can…you can hear my thoughts?

* Telepathy < ✔ > *

Telepathy? What is…what even is that?

* Unimportant < . > *

Oh. Okay. So uh, basically you can hear me, and I can hear you, right?

* Correct < :) > *

Wow, okay. Um, sure, then can you help me out of here?

* Maybe < …> *

Maybe. Not yes, not no, but just an unclear answer that made Gus feel like he was in even more danger than before. Could the abyss be stronger than he thought? Or does the mysterious voice even want to help? All Gus could do was ask questions, in hopes at least one answer would provide the key to freedom. That was until another frightful revelation hit him.

OH NO! I FORGOT TO REPEAT THE WORDS!

Realizing his grave error, Gus prepared himself for the worst by mentally steeling himself for complete annihilation of his sense of self.

No, no, no, no…no? Huh, wait, I can still remember it. The Truth, I must know It! Haha, how is this possible?

* Safe < . > *

As in, am I safe now?

* Indeed < . > *

Oh…um you sure? Can’t say I can trust you.

* Truly < . > *

Okay, then if that’s the case, what now?

* Unsure < . > *

Ah…then how about helping me get out of this darkness then?

* No < . > *

No?! As in you don’t want to or can’t!

* Unable < . > *

What can you do then!? I don’t want to stay here, I hate the abyss, just look at it, it’s so scary!

* Nothing < ? > *

You dumb voice, can’t you see? The Abyss is all around us. It’s so overwhelming…dark? Anyways that’s not the point. Are you able to help me at all?

* Answer < . > *

Answer? Like my questions?

* Correct < ✔ > *

Then…I’ll take you up on that. First off, what just happened to me?

* Birth < . > *

What's a birth!? Did I do that?

* No < . > *

Gus quickly grew frustrated at the voice, upset that it was leading him in circles.

Fine! Then answer this. Where am I?

* Library < . > *

A library? Not the abyss? Is that a place that causes me to be like this?

* No < . > *

As if frustrated too, the feminine voice then proceeded to explain through short one-answer responses that Gus was merely in an unconscious world where he was still lucid, meaning that while his brain was still active, the rest of his body was not.

What happened to me for my body to be like this?

* Became < - > *

* Golem < = > *

Became…what do you mean by became Golem?

* Transformation < ! > *

Transformation? Do you mean that I’m no longer human and that I became this…golem? What does that even mean? Can you speak in fuller sentences, please?

* Negative < :( > *

Gus tried to keep his cool even with the vague one-word responses from the being, fearing that anger would only serve it to abandon him. Feeling hopeless over his situation, Gus decided to switch his priority to the most basic of answers he wanted.

Then, can you tell me your name?

* Name < ? > *

Yes, I feel like it might help me remember some things if I knew. Please tell me.

The mysterious voice paused, let some seconds pass by and then did something unexpected.

* PREPARE < ! > *

The soft, robotic voice that Gus became accustomed to turned into a mighty regal roar that shook his consciousness so much he could’ve sworn he saw ripples in the endless abyss. Gus’s mind became a jumbled mess, unable to comprehend the sheer extent of Syuna’s existence that she let off through her words. As if waiting for him to recollect his thoughts, the voice waited before continuing. Only then did it begin again.

* My < _ > *

* Name < _ > *

The same mind-destroying pressure he felt from before began to resurface at even higher volumes with her words, as if there was an existence trying desperately to block Gus from hearing what was to come next. If it wasn’t for the large dose he already experienced, Gus was unsure if would have managed to keep his wit to continue listening. And now finally, it was time to learn of the identity behind the voice. Who knows? Maybe this would be the key to getting his memories back?

…

…

…

Right?

* IS < _ > *

The pressure grew even higher, so high Gus feels like his glued-back consciousness would break once again. Going Mad would suck, but isn’t finding out the Truth was what held it together in the first place? Then surely…surely this revelation will bring upon—

* Syuna < ✯ > *

…who?