The words hung in the air, heavy and jagged. Lulu tilted her head, her short, spiky hair catching the dim light, golden highlights glinting like tiny sparks. Her expression twisted into confusion as she stared at him. “Huh? You can’t not know who you are. And didn’t you say you were summoned here? Didn’t you say you were from Japan? So that means you’re from Realm 1007, right?”

Zayne didn’t answer. His fists tightened around the coarse sheets of Lulu’s bed, his knuckles pale. He bit his lip so hard it split, the metallic tang of blood sharp against his tongue. His voice broke, raw and venomous. “I told you—I don’t know anything! I’m worthless! A waste of space! Nobody gives a damn about me. I’m nothing but a pathetic excuse for a human being!”

The outburst startled Lulu, but Zayne wasn’t looking at her. He stumbled to his feet, his breath ragged, his shadow trembling on the wall. “You see it, don’t you?” he spat, walking toward her. “I’m just a stupid boy who can’t even figure out his own emotions. A coward who wished so desperately to escape his world, and when it finally happened…” His legs gave out beneath him, and he crumpled to the floor.

“I left her…” His voice cracked into a whisper, trembling as tears brimmed in his eyes and spilled down his face. “I left my mom… all alone. Without Dad. And now, without me, she’ll—” His words dissolved into a sob that rattled through his chest. He buried his face in his hands, shaking with guilt and despair.

The room was silent except for the muffled sound of Zayne’s broken cries, each one cutting deeper than the last.

Lulu watched him in silence, her crimson eyes softening as she felt the weight around him—a crushing, suffocating darkness. It clung to him like an ice storm at midnight, sharp and unforgiving, yet impossibly cold. She didn’t need to say anything to understand; his aura spoke louder than words ever could.

“Why… why did I have to leave Mom?” The thought clawed its way to the surface, unrelenting. Why couldn’t she come with me? Her face flashed in my mind—warm, loving, and framed with tired eyes that had seen too much loss. It hit me like a wave, and I broke all over again. My chest ached, and the tears came harder, spilling out like they’d been waiting for this moment. Dad had been gone for almost five years, and now… so was I.

Lulu took a step forward, her expression softening as she crouched down beside him. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Zayne, pulling him close in a tight hug. He froze, his body stiff and unresponsive, but Lulu didn’t let go.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, her voice laced with a gentle warmth that contrasted with her usual dramatic flair. “You’re carrying so much on your shoulders—too much for anyone to handle alone.” She began to run her fingers through his hair, the motion slow and rhythmic, as if soothing a frightened animal.

Zayne blinked, startled by her touch. Something about her felt… comforting, in a way he hadn’t experienced before. Her presence reminded him of the little sister he’d always wished for but never had—someone who didn’t ask for explanations, who simply understood.

“I don’t…” Zayne’s voice cracked as he struggled to form the words. “I don’t know if I can survive in this world…” His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his palms.

Lulu leaned back slightly, just enough to look him in the eyes. Her crimson gaze locked with his, steady and unwavering. “It’s okay,” she said again, her tone a melody of reassurance. “That’s why I’m here. I’ll help you through anything. You’re not alone anymore.”

Her words settled over him, an almost tangible weight lifting from his chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, Zayne felt something unfamiliar—a quiet, tentative hope. He stared into her eyes, their brilliant red like embers against the darkness he carried.

And in that moment, for the first time in his life, he felt truly seen.

As Lulu held him, his pain resonated deep within her—the raw edges of guilt, the suffocating loneliness, the crushing regret of leaving someone he loved behind. Her blessing didn’t fix him, didn’t erase the storm within, but it allowed her to share his burden, even for just a moment. The weight of it settled in her chest, heavy and cold, yet she didn’t falter. She could endure it if it meant giving him even a sliver of relief.

The icy storm that surrounded Zayne seemed to recede, just slightly, as if her warmth had begun to melt its sharp, frozen edges. Amidst her fiery, chaotic nature, Lulu became his anchor in the darkness—a quiet reminder that understanding and destruction could coexist. Even in a shattered world, there was still room for healing.

This Lulu girl… she was something else. She barely knew me, and yet, there she was—comforting me like she’d known me forever. There was something about her that made everything feel… easier. Her touch, her warmth—it was like I could finally breathe again. What is it about her that feels so… relaxing?

She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t judge. She just—understood. It was unsettling, in a way, because no one had ever made me feel like this before. I wasn’t used to this kind of kindness, not after everything that had happened. It made me feel weak, but… in the best way possible.

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Zayne pulled away from her gently, his movements slow and unsure. The weight of the moment was still heavy in his chest, but the tears had stopped falling. He wiped his eyes, trying to steady himself, but it felt like the storm inside him was still brewing, just waiting for the right moment to crash again.

Taking a deep breath, he straightened his posture and gave Lulu a weak smile. “So, how about I take a look around?” He needed to distract himself, to feel like he was in control again, even if just for a moment.

Lulu’s face lit up with a grin, her energy infectious. “Sure, sounds like a great idea!” She threw her arms up dramatically, and tiny sparks of energy burst from her hands with a playful pop. “I can tell you ALLLL about this kingdom~!”

Zayne couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. It was hard to stay weighed down by the dark thoughts with her acting like that. He nodded, more genuinely this time, and gestured toward the door. “Alright, lead the way~”

They both turned and walked toward the front door, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet space. Zayne’s mind raced as he followed her, still trying to process everything—his death, this strange new world, and how he felt like he was starting over in some twisted way.

I guess this is it. My name is Zayne Sung Voss. I used to be a depressed, worthless loser in my old life, just drifting through the days, barely hanging on. But now, after dying… here I am—in this crazy magical world, with a chance at something else.

I left my mom behind, sure. But I swear on everything that I’ll find a way to bring her here. I’ll fix everything I ruined, somehow. And maybe—just maybe—I’ll be the hero of this realm, the one who makes up for everything I couldn’t be before.

My new story begins now.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Zayne and Lulu wandered through the winding streets of the kingdom’s capital, the faint sound of their footsteps echoing against the cold, cobblestone roads. The city around them seemed like something out of a dream—or a nightmare. Towering spires loomed overhead, their sharp, gothic designs clawing at the sky, each one adorned with serpentine carvings that coiled around the stone like living things frozen in time. The intricate designs gave the buildings an eerie elegance, their sharp angles and dark stone reflecting an unsettling beauty.

Zayne’s gaze drifted across the skyline. Lanterns glowed with an otherworldly blue light, casting long, flickering shadows that seemed alive. The air carried the faint scent of rain and earth, a constant reminder of the Ebonwild jungle that surrounded the kingdom. The jungle’s thick canopy stretched toward the horizon, its twisted trees and venomous flora encroaching on the edges of civilization. Every so often, Zayne thought he caught movement in the shadows—perhaps the serpentine creatures the kingdom was so devoted to, watching from the jungle’s depths.

He couldn’t help but stare. “This place…” he muttered under his breath. “It’s really like a fantasy world.”

“Right?” Lulu chimed in, skipping a step to walk beside him. Her crimson eyes sparkled as she threw her arms wide. “Welcome to the Kingdom of Shadow Anacondas~! Home of creepy architecture and even creepier secrets!”

Zayne smirked slightly but kept his focus on their surroundings. “So, what’s with the dark and gothic vibe? The whole place feels… oppressive.”

Lulu clasped her hands behind her head, her pace as lighthearted as ever. “Good question!” she said with a mischievous grin. “Legend has it, this kingdom used to be bright, colorful, and full of life. Festivals every week, flowers everywhere, you name it. But…” Her voice trailed off, and her expression darkened slightly. “That was before the royal family disappeared.”

Zayne raised an eyebrow. “Disappeared? Like… vanished?”

“Yup. Gone without a trace.” Lulu sighed, her cheerfulness fading for a moment. “One day, they were here. The next, poof. No one’s seen or heard from them since.”

Zayne frowned. “And no one knows what happened? Not even a clue?”

She shrugged, her crimson hair swaying with the motion. “Nothing concrete. Some people say they were assassinated. Others think they fled. Then there are the weirder theories—curses, dark magic, that kind of thing. But honestly? It’s all just rumors. The whole thing’s shrouded in mystery.”

Her answer didn’t sit right with me. A royal family vanishing without a trace? There was no way the people running this place didn’t know more than they were letting on. Why would they keep it quiet? What were they hiding? The air of secrecy clung to this kingdom like a fog, and it made my skin crawl.

Zayne crossed his arms, his gaze scanning the looming spires and shadowed streets. “So… if the royal family’s not here, who’s running the kingdom now?”

Lulu stopped walking, turning to face him with a smirk that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That’d be The Veil,” she said, her voice dropping slightly, as if the name itself carried weight.

“The Veil?” Zayne repeated, his brows furrowing. “What’s that? Some kind of council?”

Lulu hesitated, glancing around before answering. “Not exactly.” Her playful tone was gone now, replaced with something colder. “The Veil’s more like… a shadow. No one really knows who they are, or even what they are. But they’re the ones pulling the strings. They’ve been running things since the royal family disappeared.”

Zayne tilted his head, curiosity burning in his eyes. “How do they rule a kingdom without showing themselves?”

She shrugged again, but this time her movements were stiff, uneasy. “Through fear, mostly. They’ve got these enforcers called the Whisperfangs. Spies, assassins, you name it. They’re everywhere, watching everything. If someone steps out of line, they disappear, just like the royal family. Most people don’t even dare speak their name.”

The Veil is an enigma, a shadow organization that operates with surgical precision. Its agents, the Whisperfangs, were like phantoms—silent and invisible until the moment they struck. No one knew where The Veil’s leaders resided or even what their true goals were. Their messages came through masked couriers, written in cryptic codes that only the highest-ranking officials could decipher.

To the people of the kingdom, The Veil is both protector and oppressor. They kept order, ensuring the kingdom didn’t descend into chaos in the absence of its rulers. But their methods were brutal, their justice swift and unforgiving. Whispers of rebellion were snuffed out before they could even spark, and those who questioned their authority found themselves silenced—permanently.

Some believed The Veil had orchestrated the royal family’s disappearance, taking control for their own mysterious purposes. Others thought they were simply caretakers, biding their time until the rightful rulers returned. But the truth remained hidden, locked away in the shadows they commanded.

The more Lulu talked, the heavier the air seemed to grow around us. This wasn’t just a kingdom; it was a stage, and someone behind the curtain was pulling all the strings. The Veil, the royal family, the strange architecture, the jungle teeming with danger—it all felt connected somehow.

As much as it unsettled me, I couldn’t deny the spark of curiosity building inside me. I didn’t ask to come here, but now that I was, I couldn’t just ignore it. There were answers here, hidden in the cracks of this shadowy kingdom, and I was going to find them.

Even if it meant diving headfirst into the darkness.