Falling... Yes, I was falling. I could tell by the rapidly approaching ground, and the shrinking of the purple sky as I was forcefully pulled away by it.
What a shame.
Jokes aside, I need to slow down my momentum somehow or else I'll probably die. I healed my shattered legs already, but I don't think they can take another shattering so soon...
Or maybe I should just let go? For some reason I'm feeling more calm than ever after all…
Nah, I shouldn't die just yet.
Stretching my blood as far as I could, I crafted a makeshift parachute.
Thud
Well, my legs had broken again. But at least it wasn't as bad as the previous time.
After taking a look around, I concluded that I had landed about two miles south of the Valley of Fog. If I continued a bit further east I'd reach the road and be able to make my way back to Guileva. I was almost out of mana at this point though, so it could be dangerous. Healing really burns through my reserves.
Don't ever use any spells after running out of mana. You'll end up drawing power directly from your soul instead of your mana reserves. Agitating your soul like that is more painful than drinking cyanide and also runs the risk of rupturing your soul. In other words, you'll die in excruciating pain if you do it.
Ash once told me that. I didn't plan on ignoring her warning so I decided to play things safe.
Don't...
I deactivated my healing and pain nullification. After limping through the woods for what felt like hours, night fell upon the forest and I finally reached the road.
Don't think. Don't cry.
I found a nice tree and decided I would rest there for a little bit before making the rest of the journey back. But as soon as I sat down I lost consciousness.
- - - - - - -
Adam: [It's still nighttime, just like everyone is still dead.]
I had hoped that I'd wake up from my nightmare, but it seemed that it wasn't over yet.
Adam: [Mau and Oliver died right before my eyes... and there is no way Rock and Mother survived against those shadows.]
But why haven't they come after me yet? Why am I still alive?
It could be that those "elves" can't leave Fog Valley for some reason. It could also be that they simply might not know where I went.
In any case, I'd better get moving... right?
Even after that nap, I was still extremely tired and hurting all over. At least some of my mana had returned.
I'm probably at about 30% right now so I can at least spare some healing.
Getting up, I cast the healing spell and began walking. I also turned my pain nullification back on to make the journey a bit easier.
But after only taking a few steps, I was already out of breath and sweating buckets.
Strange, I know I turned on pain nullification, but for some reason this pain won't go away. I can't tell where it's coming from but I feel it everywhere.
I continued moving forward. But my every step felt forced and sluggish. My breathing was short and heavy.
The world began spinning. Even when I only looked downward and focused on my feet, the dizziness wouldn't leave me alone.
It felt like I was piloting a robot from a mile away. The steps were rehearsed, but there was still a lot of interference, like the signal wasn't reaching its destination properly.
Why does this hurt so much?
Why won't my body heal?
Adam: [Am I there yet?]
No, keep walking.
I tripped and fell onto the ground, adding more bruises to the collection. When I got up and continued walking, my head felt like it wasn't even attached to the rest of my body.
Am I there yet?
Pax: [No, keep moving.]
Something rustled in the bushes. I thought I saw a large figure in the darkness.
Run.
For some reason I was running as fast as I could. I couldn't see where I was going, but I kept on running. I didn't know what I was running from, but I still kept on running.
Don't think
Don't stop
Run
- - - - - - -
???: [Adam?]
Don't call me that name.
???: [Adam]
Can't you see he's long dead? He was killed at birth and replaced with a monster.
???: [Adam!]
???: [DON'T CALL ME THAT NAME!]
I looked up and saw Charlotte, shocked at my response to her calling. Then she switched to curious and asked me a question with that kind smile of hers.
Charlotte: [What would you have me call you then?]
Even after calming down a little bit, I found myself unable to think, let alone respond to that sort of question.
???: [I… I don't know.]
Charlotte: [Hmmm... Okay! Follow me then.]
A distraction? I guess I'll allow it.
Getting up, I took in my surroundings for the first time since regaining consciousness. Grass hills stood quietly behind me and concrete looking houses loomed in front of me. I must have somehow managed to get back to the outskirts of Guileva.
???: [So where are we going?]
Charlotte: [You'll see.]
We walked towards the town. Now that I'd calmed down a little, I noticed that my legs healed wrong. I couldn't walk without limping.
Pax: [sigh]
I'll just figure it out later… I guess.
We kept walking in silence for a while until we came across an unassuming alleyway.
Charlotte: [Here]
She held out her hand and gestured for me to hold it. When I didn't respond, she gestured harder. It was a bit strange, but I dutifully placed my hand atop hers.
And then she walked through the wall and pulled me through after her.
Adam: [huh?]
On the other side of the wall was what I could only describe as some kind of lab. Large tubes and chambers filled with some sort of green liquid lined the walls. Everything was dimly lit by fluorescent lights that hung from the ceiling.
Pax: [Where are we?]
Ignoring my question, Charlotte proceeded to the center of the room and asked me a simple question.
Charlotte: [Do you remember how I told you that your soul appeared completely different to anything I'd ever seen before?]
Pax: […Yeah, I could never forget that day.]
Charlotte: [Good… Because I failed to do so properly back then, let me introduce myself. I am Charlotte, Sentry of Guileva. My job is to protect Guileva,] she said, then turned around and waved her arm towards a large door. [and to protect this…]
The door slowly opened before Charlotte, revealing a large mechanical device reminiscent of a globe, but with gears spinning across its wide surface. The mechanism was loud, and the gears spun at different speeds. Somehow it appeared oddly reminiscent of the inside of a clock.
Isn't Charlotte acting a bit strange?…
Pax: [Is it a relic?]
Charlotte: [Correct! I always knew you were a smart one! Yes, this is a relic. Not just any relic, but a high grade one. This is the Cradle of Kronos itself!] She declared manically. [I'm sure you've never heard of it, but basically it uses time dilation to keep the four Realms in equilibrium. If this thing were destroyed, then the world would literally just end!]
Pax: [huh?]
Charlotte: [Well, I guess the world wouldn't end immediately. It would take a couple hundred years for that to happen, but the end would be inevitable. So do you understand how important my job is now?]
Pax: [I… guess? But why are you telling me this? Why did you bring me here?]
Ignoring my questions, Charlotte began circling the room and only began speaking again after a long pause.
Charlotte: [You are important to me. Pax, Adam. A rare and valuable… friend. But that day we first met, I sensed that you were dangerous… It wasn't until recently that I figured out why… And the events that transpired yesterday all but proved my theory.]
Her words now were slow and carefully chosen.
Adam: [What are you trying to say?]
I didn't like where this was going.
Charlotte: [For some reason, Fate is trying to kill you.]
Adam: [What…]
Charlotte paused for a moment as if trying to figure out the best method to explain it to a simpleton. Then, finally, she came up with something:
Charlotte: [Fate is tied directly to souls and works very similarly to luck. It is the crystallization of coincidences that leads you to your destiny. Those born with stronger Fate are less likely to die before accomplishing their "mission". So when someone's life is threatened by another's, the one with stronger Fate is more likely to survive. Of course, in many scenarios there is only so much that luck can do. Now, based on this, who do you think has the strongest Fate in this world?]
Pax: […Uhh, I don't know. Maybe the king of Artenia?]
Charlotte: [No, though kings are usually born with strong Fates, the being with the strongest Fate is Gaia herself. Also known as the world around us. Do you understand what this means?]
Charlotte's gaze suddenly became intense as she stared directly into my eyes. It felt as if she were peering directly into my soul. But the puzzle pieces still weren't coming together for me. Maybe I didn't want them to.
Charlotte: [No?]
Pax: […]
Charlotte: [What I'm saying is that the Fate of Gaia is attacking you personally. If you are not Adam, nor Pax, then whoever you are, you are a very dangerous man to be threatening the life of the world itself.]
Pax: [That's bullshit. Fate? Are you kidding me!?]
Charlotte: [It is for that reason, I cannot allow you refuge in my sanctuary. Goodbye… Friend.]
Adam: [Cheuok–]
Looking down, I saw a large blade piercing through my chest.
???: [Charlotte? What's going on?]
I looked back towards Charlotte, but her back was facing me. Her footsteps sounded cold as they echoed throughout the lab.
The large arm holding the blade threw me out of the secret lab. I collided with the opposite alleyway wall, then crumpled to the floor pathetically.
I see. I get it now.
A mannequin fell from above me and swung at me, pulverizing the floor as I dodged out of the way.
This is hell.
The individual who initially stabbed me in the back, another mannequin, exited the invisible doorway and began running at me.
For the sins I committed as Pax, I was sent here to be punished as Adam.
I ran from the pair of mannequin as fast as my misshapen legs could carry me.
Where can I go? What do I even have left?
I weaved through various buildings in an attempt to throw off the mannequins. I thought I saw the hem of a white sundress rounding a corner, but as I rounded that same corner, another mannequin stood before me.
No, I'll fight.
I no longer had my sword, so I just ran straight at the mannequin. It swung at me, but I ducked and dodged the attack, shaving a few hairs off my head in the process. With one Augmented punch, the mannequin was sent flying and I sprinted towards the gate.
An arrow pierced my shoulder as I ran.
Wait… Why was I fighting and running again?
Another arrow in my calf.
My running slowed to a hobble as I exited the gate. But there was no reason to think that the mannequins would stop chasing me if I exited the town.
What am I running towards?
Out of stamina, I slowed down to a pathetic limp. A mannequin kicked me from behind and I fell to the ground again. I clenched dirt in my fist.
There was nowhere left for me to go, so I flipped over onto my back.
I looked up at the mannequin as it held its sword above its head, ready to end my life once more.
Adam: [Do it.]
The mannequin's emotionless face looked down upon me for a moment, then turned and left.
Pax: [Ahahaha]
I held my face in my hands as I laughed in relief and at the situation I found myself in.
There was no reason for me to live, and yet I alone didn't die. What a joke.
I'd believed that the sins of my first life had been washed away when I was reborn in this life.
That was wrong. So very wrong. I get the punchline now.
For perverting that which is most sacred to us all –You are Lust
Who had told me that?
Why did I only remember now?
Sitting up, I stopped my laughter and solidified my blood to create a blade. Slowly, I raised the blade to my own wrist once more.
I hesitated.
Why did I hesitate?
Seconds turned to minutes of silence. My hand shook violently, but I lacked the resolve to do anything.
"How pathetic," said the phantom. But she was interrupted before she could say any more.
???: [If that's what you truly wish for, then I will not stop you.]
I looked up and saw a goddess standing before me.
???: [To you, I can give nothing but a suggestion. Live for me. Die for me. But first, hear my name. Fool, I am Raya Drogo. Daughter of Dionysius Drogo and rightful wielder of Ryuzu's Fang. I ask that you would live by my side as my shield.]
I clung onto her words. Yes, I would live for her. She could be my... everything.
Pax: [Just… Don't leave me alone.]
Raya: [Very well… Though you are weak and pitiful I will let you be my strength. With this we are even, so let us run away. Together.]