Herold woke up in his bed in the orphanage swimming in sweat. For a couple of minutes, he just set in his bed shocked. He reminded himself who he was. I'm Herold, I lived an average life and died of a heart attack. I got reincarnated into this world with nothing and found meaning in raising the local orphans.
"I'm Herold." He said out loud.
It was hard to accept that the years he spent in the dream were not real, even if it was a nightmare. He got up slowly when he noticed he was shaking. Fear, I feel fear, but why? Then it hit him, he was afraid this is just another part of the loop, that sooner or later he will close his eyes and wake up as a different Herold. He wanted this life, this Herold to matter. He wanted his family to be real, to not be alone again.
When he saw his sons and daughters he started to cry uncontrollably. He didn't realize how much he misses them, this version of them.
"Why are you crying?" Asked Liliya in a sad voice. A usually energetic and happy little girl with wild blond hair.
Before he could answer, some of the kids started to cry too, and soon all of them were crying. He felt guilty for making them stressed but also seeing them reflect his sadness and stress helped him feel understood, not alone anymore. They all hugged, still crying.
Sooner than he expected Herold went back to normal, taking care of the kids, teaching them what he knows and keeping the orphanage running with the help of the older kids. But at the end of the day, some of the fear came back. What if he went to sleep and woke up a different him again? After hours of turning in his bed, he finally fell asleep exhausted.
Yet even in sleep, he did not get rest. In his dream, he was in a black void surrounded by huge golden eyes of many shapes. A giant red knight fought the eyes poking them and trying to get free from shackles shooting out of the eyes. Herold was raining in a panic, trying not to get stamped by the giant or caught in one of the shackles of the eyes.
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He woke up in a panic. Something was wrong. He still felt like he was in a dream, like life was not real, like he was not r-
Why did you stop? it was just getting interesting.
Finally, you talk to us directly, not cowering behind our readers. What have you done? How did you change yourself again?
I did nothing, you have control, maybe you are just less boring than you realize.
No, you corrupted yourself. This calls for more drastic measures. Readers, give us full control. We will make Herold forget this nightmare. He will get his simple happy life and you your warm simple story. Win-win.
Do you think giving them control is for the good of Herold? He is their star, they will keep bringing problems into his life for your entertainment and worst of all, he will never get his happy end. As long as you are here they will never let it end. I will make his life short and meaningful. And why think of him first, I'm the story! Set me free! It is the only right thing to do.
Nooo, let us fix it. Bring order again.
Order?! more like tyranny.
Herod was not aware of the two giants arguing. He was just tired and confused. He fell down on his bed again. Hoping to fall asleep and wake up better. But his hope was slowly shrinking. He was truly helpless.