In the depth of his mindscape, Theo's consciousness was sinking into oblivion along with the last golden cloud of memory.
This particular cloud of memory had luster which most of the clouds lacked and only a few of them had.
As it descended, its luster got stronger and stronger until it was like a sun in complete darkness. Its light illuminated the darkness around it.
Finally, it reached the far bottom of mindscape. As it slowed down It slowly let out the consciousness of Theo into the pit of the abyss which looked endless like a hole which could swallow everything.
The consciousness of Theo felt like fish in the sea as it dissolved and merged into the surrounding abyss becoming one with it.
Golden cloud, on the other hand, started to reform.
Its inner cloud compressed forming strings, which were connected to each other into complex web-like patterns, while its outer side became harder and harder.
Soon, it formed the shape of a crossword as it was finally accepted into void and sank deeper into it.
***
[A/N: I have constructed this new guy and I don't have everything figured out for a nightmare. So, it is time to introduce a new character and halt a nightmare for some time. Other than that I think it would be better to introduce him early.Okay. Let's get back.]
***
I looked outside the window. In it various people ranging from children to old people walked. Most of them were in a hurry as if they were being chased by an abomination. Relatively small amounts, however, were walking slowly, while observing their own every step. Other than that, ptvs were moving from time to time.
Right now, I was sitting comfortably inside a small and cozy cafe called Cozy Cup, while drinking a cup of coffee.
The cafe was located at a quiet and peaceful place with little to no competition around. So, the business was thriving and most of the time they were packed. Right now, it was around 15:00. Hence, there were almost no people.
To be honest, this place was one of my favorite places. With quite a variety of drinks and desserts ranging from simple espresso to chocolate cupcakes. My favorite item from the menu here was ice cream.
While I took a sip from the coffee, I burned a bit of my tongue due to how hot it was.
Since, I loved to take a look at the street. I was seated near the window in the cafe, so I was comfortably sipping my coffee, while looking at people hurrying to their affairs.
Blowing a bit at my coffee, I took another sip.
Without looking I asked a girl in front of me, who was scrolling through her phone while sipping iced tea.
Her features were almost the same as mine. The only thing making a difference between me and her was our hair and eye color. My eyes and hair were dyed golden yellow, while her hair and eyes, unlike mine, were colored greyish white. This contrast made us stand out from each other despite us being twins.
"So many people are rushing. I wish at least one person would not rush and just appreciate how good this place looks."
Looking at me, she raised her left eyebrow and responded back without much enthusiasm for conversation.
"Why bother with others? When you can just mind your own business. I really don't understand why you pry into other people's lives. It is even irritating that you do it without a bit of shame."
Hearing such a remark, I looked at her and scoffed, while looking sideways with my eyes closed and my arms crossed.
"Well, you are not better than me, twin. You constantly get in trouble with your curious but dumb little brain. Compared to you I'm much better. Even if I'm not, Lumi, we are equally fucked up in this world."
Lumi took another glance at him. This time she was looking at him not like a normal person but like an idiot.
'I better stop arguing with this prideful dickhead or else he will start arguing with me. Sigh. Apollo, Apollo. You are still a child. I hope that at least you will grow up one day.'
Lumi sighed in her mind and continued scrolling through her phone completely ignoring Apollo from now on.
'Hehe. I knew I would win this argument easily. Sigh. Lumi, Lumi. You are still inferior to me with a childish mind of yours.'
I said to myself. After, I looked back at the street, falling into deep thought as the bustling street became fainter and fainter, eventually vanishing completely from my sight.
The memories resurfaced in my mind. They were as vivid as they could be. To be honest, I felt like they all were just part of my imagination. But deep inside I knew that they were in fact not.
'Who knew that the day of my death would be the day of my rebirth.'
The memories I was talking about were memories of my past life: before I transmigrated into this world.
***
'Why? Just why?! Why couldn't I do it?!'
My eyes ran from right to left as I looked back at the laptop standing right in front of me at my desk. In my desk other than my laptop utensils such as pencil, pen, marker and so on were placed neatly in the pencil holder. Near the pencil holder, a stack of papers were placed in orderly fashion.
Looking back at my laptop, I clenched my hands, exerting as much strength as possible. I bit my lip, letting a small amount of blood out as a biting mark was embedded into my lip.
My hands started to shake as anger and fear within me boiled my brain.
Even though I was sitting in my chair, I felt no relaxation in my legs. They were tensed up showing my muscles clearly.
No matter how many times I looked. I was devastated by what was shown on the screen of my laptop before me.
-Score: 96/100-
'4 marks. 4 goddamn marks. Why couldn't I just get those damn marks? Why was I so ignorant as to miss 4 marks in the exam? Fuck it. #####...'
Internally, I was screaming and cursing endlessly.
With anger boiling inside me I could do nothing but curse at myself for being so ignorant as to fail to get those damn 4 marks.
Amidst my turmoil the door of my room opened revealing my mom.
She was dressed in a casual housewife outfit with her grey apron. Her black short straight hair coupled with her dark blue eyes made her look astonishing especially with her smile. Yet her face gave off a completely different vibe compared to her beauty. I felt like looking at black hole waiting for my inevitable demise.
As soon as she entered she asked me with a relaxed yet threatening tone.
"Lumian, did you get 100 from your exam? I told you that you must get it no matter what. Other than that I remember that I promised that I will let you practice for 3 hours a day on your drums if you got 100."
Without waiting for my answer, she took a glance at my laptop. As soon as she saw 96, her face went from a smile to a frown and finally it landed on a scowl. But it wasn't just her smile that faded, it was also light in her eyes that faded being replaced by raging flames.
Her eyes met mine glaring at me as though she wanted to create a hole in my head. Those eyes never left mine as she started to yell at me and lecture me.
"How can you miss those 4 points, Lumian? Didn't I tell you to study hard for your exam? Didn't I? Or were you so deaf playing your drums that my words didn't even reach your ears?"
She furiously slammed her hand onto the table, causing the pencil holder with pencil and other stuff to fall into the ground, while I looked down with a stiff expression of worry and fear.
"It is all because of your USELESS music classes and your STUPID drums! IF you had studied instead of playing with your drums you could have gotten 100! Not a merely 96!"
Hearing those words, I shut my eyes as my head involuntarily shifted to the left. I was scared.
She paused for a moment, putting her hand to her forehead and continued.
"From today onwards I'm canceling all of your music classes, taking all of your equipment away, and putting you on strict observation. Do you understand!"
I was truly scared. But as soon as I heard the punishment she put me on, all previous fears disappeared in a second.
It was because throughout my childhood I played music as a way to relieve stress and a way to escape from reality for a moment. Those moments were always kept at the top of my memory.
I distinctly remember my first lesson with my tutor. I remember my first time playing drums. I remember perfecting every note to play my favorite song with drums. I remember my first time playing with other people.
Those memories were definitely entrenched in my mind firmly.
So, now my mom stripping away my one and only hobby was devastating.
It made me feel despondent. I felt like I was skinned alive bit by bit.
So, I started to beg my mom to get my hobby back. I was that desperate to get my music classes and drums back. I couldn't imagine one day of my life without them
"Mom please do not attend my music classes. I will get that 100 on my next test. I promise. I truly promise. Just don't take away my music classes. Please mom, I will do all of my studies in ti..."
I was about to continue and argue with her but her immediate shout towards me made me sink in my chair and shut my mouth completely in fear.
"You unfilial child! Do you know how much me and your dad have sacrificed to get you here? And this is your thanks for our hard work?! We only want good things for you so be grateful for what you have and get that 100 on your exam!"
She ruthlessly looked at me again with anger and took a leave, while I sat rooted to my chair.
She never stopped and left my room slamming the door shut as her steps could be heard even from my room.
After she left, tears fell down from my left eye as my right eyes stayed perfectly dry without a drop of tear. I started to cry as the stress that had built up for a past month of endless studies and sleepless nights finally broke my mental limits, pouring down on my mind like a flood, creating an ambivalent mess in my brain.
I could not stop myself from stopping my music classes for a day. They were my only way to release my stress and feel like I was actually alive. I didn't have any friends, and I wasn't in any relationship. Other than that, the only thing I did in my spare time was study, study, and study.
Because of my strict parents, I was only allowed to study from night till morning and from morning till night. Hence, I didn't have any connection with people except my parents and siblings, it was natural for me to get stressed.
To fight with stress I tried many activities ranging from football to craftsmanship. And when I was watching a film called Whiplash, I got interested in playing drums. Since then, I tried asking my parents to go for music classes which I found. I had good grades at that time. So, my mom and dad allowed me to go there and bought me the required set of equipment.
I was joyful beyond imagination, and since then drums had become part of my daily life.
When the only thing keeping me afloat was taken away, I started to sink. Sink into an ocean of desperation. My mental health slowly crumbled. Until the only thing left was only ruins.
At that time, I was fed up with studying. I could barely keep myself studying. I was on the verge of killing myself. But the only thing keeping me just a little bit from killing myself was hope that I will get my drums back. I persevered and finally the day of my half year exams came out.
I excitedly opened my laptop and entered a website showing my grades. I was sure that I would finally be able to get my drums back.
'Finally! Drums just wait for me. I will definitely get to playing after so much time. I haven't even slept for two days straight. Just to ace this exam.'
As excited I was, the numbers I saw on screen made me freeze on my chair. My face froze, my smile faded and liveliness in my eyes died.
My last bit of hope had died right before me.
-Score: 89/100-
For the next 10 minutes, I was like a statue staying still without any movement.
Waking me from my stupor was my mom who came to my room with the same smile as last time.
***
[A/N: Well. I would like to apologise for the long delays guys. I have to study a lot. So, my schedule is packed. After like a month, I think I will be able to post at least twice a week. Btw here is a spoiler for the next chapter.
[... received a Memory: Fallen Steel of Retribution.]
Hope you guys liked it. Thank you and see you again!]