(“What happened..?”) Jenyx opened his eyes. The familiar view of grassy plains and blue skies were revealed in front of him. He was inside his dreams once more.

(“I passed out, huh?”) Jenyx recognized his situation in an instant. The pounding sensation in his head was gone now, but it’s not as if he had forgotten the pain it caused. Even now, he could still remember the sensation. It was the first time he had been assaulted by such a headache. In fact, it was his first time experiencing a headache. His father often told him that, as a child, he didn’t get sick much. One of the few times he was sick was when he was bitten by a poisonous snake and had a dangerous fever that lasted for a day. The doctor that came told his parents to prepare for the worst, only to return the next morning to find out that his fever was gone and he was the epitome of health.

In the middle of his reminiscing, he felt the sensation of a hand perched on his shoulder. Jenyx turned to see the white figure, completely unchanged since the last time they met. Behind it stood the same group from before. Probably? He couldn't tell.

“Just go. I’m thinking about something important right now.” No reply, same as usual. As he waited for the figure to leave, something strange occurred. The figure extended its hand, urging him to take it. Jenyx was dumbfounded due to the sudden development. It was the first time the figure had offered its hand instead of just walking towards the group every time. Jenyx slowly reached out towards the figure’s hand.

“It’s not your time to meet him yet…”

!!

As soon as they touched, a voice resounded from across the plains as tendrils of darkness formed in the figure’s chest. The darkness slowly spread throughout the figure’s body like a slime, seeking to envelop its victim. Jenyx desperately sought to break free from the figure, but it refused to budge. The same darkness that was swallowing it began to cover the sky and the plains. (“Come on! Move!”) Jenyx suddenly felt the ground vanish under his feet. His body plunged into the depths as he watched the sky be steadily replaced by the encroaching shadows that surrounded him on all sides. If this were a dream-- or more likely, a nightmare, he should’ve woken up by now. But instead, he was still stuck in the darkness, all alone.

(“Huh?”) Jenyx felt something touch the soles of his feet. Although he couldn't see, he knew he was standing on something. His sight gradually began to return, allowing him to perceive, however slightly, something gray and misty surrounding him.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Why do you not fight back..?” Beyond the mist, a voice spoke to him.

(“That voice!”) It was the voice he heard before passing out.

“Who’s there!?” Jenyx spun his body towards the voice’s direction, but the mist obscured nearly everything around him.

“Hahahaha… are you afraid?” From behind, the voice continued.

“Says the one who won’t show his face. Aren’t you the one who’s afraid?” Jenyx replied. “Heh, how audacious…” The voice emerged from an entirely different direction.

“Not many people acted this way towards me and lived to tell the tale, you know? Yet, it seems this magical courage of yours seems to disappear against the flies that gather around you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You can’t fool me, child. I’ve been watching you. Everything you see, everything you feel, I know as well…”

“...I told you, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I see, so you wish to play games with me?”

“Guh!?” images suddenly flashed inside Jenyx’s mind. Countless images of men, women, and children, all looking at him with scorn. Their eyes spoke what their mind did not put into words. He could never forget their expressions for the rest of his life. “Now do you understand?” As his memories flooded, the voice spoke once again.

“Why do you not retaliate?”

“...What difference does it make? Even if I choose to fight back, it’ll only make things worse...” Though his breathing was ragged, he was able to muster a shaky response.

“Did you even try?”

"I told you already, there's no point!” His pained yell echoed across the darkness.

“Of course I want to fight back! Of course I want to prove them wrong! You have no idea just how much I...”Jenyx's voice trailed as the tight clench on his hands started to loosen.

“Nobody curses my powerlessness more than I. If I could help it, then I wouldn't be living like this...”

Despite having seemingly accepted the role he believes that the world had imparted upon him, the truth, which lay at the bottom of his heart, crept upon the cracks of his feeble facade.

“Coward.”

“What?”

“You're nothing but a spineless coward!"

Jenyx furiously grit his teeth upon hearing the voice.

“Even if I wanted to fight, there's no way I would ever be a match for them!"

The voice made a sound akin to derisive snort in response.

“I've heard enough. To be awoken by the likes of you. What rotten luck…”

“...You make no sense. I don’t remember waking anyone up.”

“Know this, boy... nothing will change if you simply let something like 'fate' take over the reigns of your life.”

As the voice in the darkness, the mist surrounding Jenyx suddenly spun around in a turbulent fashion, drawing closer and closer. Unable to move, Jenyx could only watch as the mist devoured him.

Jenyx's eyes opened forcefully. He could finally move his body, and he felt that his heart was still beating. He was still alive. An unfamiliar room greeted him from his slumber. It was a little bigger than his own room, and it was quite messy as well. His body felt oddly weak as he struggled to get up.

(“W-Where… am I?”) As he left the bed, the door slammed open, revealing a young man. “Oh? Hey! You're awake, man!"