– Enter Joseph –
"AGH—AGH—AGHH!!"
I clutched my head, screaming as a searing pain tore through my mind.
It felt like something—no, someone—was forcing memories into me.
Memories that weren't mine.
"STOP—PLEASE—STOP!!"
Through tears, I forced my eyes open.
And everything changed.
The pain vanished instantly.
I stood in a vast open land.
Golden grass stretched endlessly. Trees stood scattered across the horizon.
And towering above it all—
Massive hourglasses.
Some as large as houses.
"…A savannah?" I muttered.
The sky was perfectly blue. No clouds. No wind.
Just silence.
"…What the hell was that?"
Moments ago, I was in the car park.
Now I was here.
"HELLO?! IS ANYONE THERE?!"
My voice echoed.
"HELLO—HELLO—"
"YES, YES—I CAN HEAR YOU, FOR FUCK'S SAKE."
I froze.
Turning toward the voice, I saw her.
A woman sitting casually on top of one of the giant hourglasses.
She was holding her head in irritation.
"Why is the new Challenger of Fate so damn loud?"
…That title again.
"Sorry," I said quickly. "Didn't mean to—"
She dropped down.
Bonk.
She hit me on the head as she landed.
"Don't be so loud next time," she said, sticking her tongue out.
"…Seriously?"
I rubbed my head.
"Alright, we're even. Now can you let me out?"
"Not happening, Challenger of Fate."
"My name is Joseph."
"Yeah, yeah. Sure."
…What an asshole.
She waved her hand lazily.
"I came to make my presence known. We'll be working alongside you."
"Working alongside me?" I said immediately. "What does that even mean?"
She shrugged.
"I can sense three people outside my mind realm. I assume they'll explain things better."
She traced strange symbols in the air.
Then—she floated.
Laying back mid-air like she was on a bed.
"…You're kidding me."
"Now listen carefully," she said, her tone shifting slightly.
"Your awakening as a Flow user was like a beacon."
"A beacon?"
"Yes. It will attract many."
She paused.
"Some will want to help you."
A small smile.
"Most will want you dead."
My body tensed.
"This place," she continued, gesturing around, "is my mind realm."
"I could kill you here. Trap you here forever."
"Or let you go."
A chill ran down my spine.
"…Can I resist something like this?"
"Yes," she said simply.
"But only if you're close in strength to the person who brought you here."
She flipped upside down mid-air, still floating.
"And people who can even use mind realms?"
She smirked.
"Extremely rare."
"Rarer than double-blessed people?" I asked.
She burst out laughing.
"Double blessed?"
"You really have no idea, do you?"
Her eyes gleamed.
"You're about to enter a completely different world."
"Out there… people like that are the least of your worries."
My stomach sank.
"…So they're not rare?"
She only giggled.
"Time's up, Challenger of Fate."
"We'll meet again."
She snapped her fingers.
A white light consumed everything.
"WAIT—I saw memories when I came in—what were th—"
Silence.
Darkness.
My eyes snapped open.
I shot upright, gasping.
A couch.
A large office.
Sunlight pouring through massive windows overlooking Shalu Academy.
"…What?"
I turned.
Hadal was beside me—still asleep.
"Psst. Psst. Wake up."
No response.
I nudged him harder.
Eventually, he woke up, drool hanging from his mouth.
"We need to run," I whispered urgently. "I think Captain Kinga caught us."
That worked.
He shot up instantly and sprinted toward the door.
I followed.
We were almost there—
Then—
…We started floating.
"…What the hell?"
"Alright, Rose. Put them back on the couch."
We were dragged backward through the air and dropped onto the couch.
This time—
We couldn't move.
"Chioma, lift the veil."
"Yes, madam."
The space in front of us distorted.
Then—
It cleared.
Two women stood before us.
One I recognized instantly.
Rose.
The other…
I didn't.
I remembered what the Vassal said.
Some will help you.
Most will want you dead.
I stared at them.
Right now…
I could only hope they were the first kind.
The woman sitting behind the large desk leaned forward slightly.
"Looks like we have a lot to discuss."
She smiled faintly.
"But first…"
A pause.
"Let's have some lunch, gentlemen."