*
Is she proud? Ever since I lost that curse, I find myself asking this question more and more often. Has what I've given her repaid her in any shape or form? I'm sure if I asked her, she'd just tell me not to worry about it. Saving each other's lives shouldn't count as something owed or given. Even so, it's times like this in my own thoughts where I feel the most stubborn. I don't want her to refuse, I want to hear her demand compensation. My heart wouldn't feel any different were she to say otherwise.
I don't want to hear her say it's okay. Life would never be this happy without her. So much so that it feels like my heart is bursting out of my chest. I know the girl I just bid farewell to isn't real, none of this is. It's all data from the past, whether it's stored locally or transmitted from the curse doesn't really matter. There were multiple strange conditions stacked together, a peaceful reincarnation wouldn't have let me reached this place. Even so, now that I'm here I felt trapped. As well as a tinge of loneliness. I find myself thinking of her again.
I access the core data within the Vinia of the past. The world flashes white as if the paint on a canvas were sucked up, leaving a pristine blank slate behind. The castle, the cliff, the forest, and the sea, their textures scrunch up and whip away into an unknown void, vanishing from this 'reality', away from my grasp. A floating sensation overcomes my body, causing my senses to lose contact and linger with emptiness.
My skin witnessed the vacuum swallowing me whole, the stimulation that comes from isolation is horrifying, inducing derealisation. At the end of the day, the human body craves stimulation to anchor itself to reality, to tell itself that it's still alive. I know better, but that doesn't make it any less horrifying. It doesn't make any of it Arin's fault, she lies for my sake. That's why I must find the truth, once I confront her with it, she'll be liberated from that responsibility. From her own sense of obligation.
She was simply that lovely as a person, that I wouldn't be surprised if she were the one who decided to do it on her own. As the less impaired person, as the individual holding all the memories and information about the past and perhaps all the divination of the future too, she unilaterally shoulders all the burden. Even inside my mind, she representated the key to get to the next phase of this journey. A sudden roar resounded all around me, drowning my ear drums in explosive noise like a waterfall. It gradually grows louder and more violent, threatening to deafen me.
Eventually, it stopped abruptly and the light faded, revealing a barren azure sky. Unlike last time, the world was not so silent nor still. I stood facing a long extended stone fence, polished into a smooth surface with near marble like quality. The fence was just short enough for me to look over it, and the open air above provided a nice view of the late afternoon sky. The air was cool, a subtle breeze tickled my skin, the hustle and bustle down below never ceased as it occupied the backdrop with the familiarity of human activity, it reminded me of a busy market.
Unfortunately, I couldn't take my time to take in my surroundings. None of them dared to breath a word, but there were many men dressed in armour forming a perimeter around me. Glistening white under a dimming sky, the atmosphere slowly grew more saturated like the hue of sapphire. There was nothing much to do so I turned around, and their upper bodies flinched for a moment. They were poised at the ready should I pose a threat, even so, I could tell that they were the ones who summoned me and not the other way around. I was facing the edge of the balcony, naturally what sat behind me was the throne room where every hero arrives.
What did this have to do with my past? Was this the moment right before the war started? I could have sworn technological standards were far higher, and Arin's castle was far more grander with modern construction methods. There's a barrier enveloping this kingdom but there isn't a secondary barrier protecting the castle. The king's seat had one though, a work of arcane arts. It's not so hard to break with my skill. I folded my arms, waiting for someone to respond when I decided to perform diagnostics.
In my mind, a UI showed up that only my eyes could see. I exhaled calmly, taking in the information.
User:???
Level: 1
Class: hero
Hp: 100/100
Mp 100/100
Attack: 10
Defence: 10
Magic strength: 10
Magic defence: 10
Mana: 10
Constitution: 10
Agility: 10
... Revolting. Revoltingly weak. What the hell is this? No... Who did this, have I been weakened? I can jump off this balcony now, but how long could I last in a chase? I don't think I can expect there to be public infrastructure here, the only method I have is running. Some 'hero' I am, I suppose starting off weak is the norm if it were game.
For now, I raised my palms in surrender, but it only made the guards take a step back and raised their shields. I see how it is. Different customs, and a different culture. The start couldn't get any rougher than this. Then how about communication?
"H-hello! Can anyone explain what's going on here?" (Lastia)
I jogged my throat up, not having spoken for a while made it dry and not used to speaking. Sweat dripped down my temple as I waited, engaged in a stare off with the royal guards. I don't think there's any question that my stats are lower than theirs. I've also been trying to use {Envy} to gain information on my surroundings, but I couldn't do it. I've never felt more vulnerable.
I can probably work my way around a sword, but this would only give me a fighting chance if it was one on one. Against this many people? A level one shouldn't...
The guards come rushing in like a wriggling tidal wave, their homogenous grey and navy blue painted armour glimmer under the castle's oil lanterns and chandeliers. Massive tower shields and reflective swords glow with a faint white outline as they pull into the space I barely occupy.