Have you ever woken up in an unfamiliar place? Not physically, but mentally. You find yourself confused as to what you’re doing there. Perhaps even a little scared as to how you got there. With all your strength you try to move away from that dark and unfamiliar place, but you feel heavy resistance, as if you were drowning. No that’s not quite right. Maybe it’d be better to say something is tugging you down, reeling you into an infinite sea, that for some reason, you’re able to breathe in. In a way it almost feels relaxing, and before you know it, you submit to its whims and ride the relaxing current.


    “AKUMA!!”


    “!”


    Until a sudden roar zaps you awake, forcing you to remember that only disaster awaits the bottom of that sea.


    It was a familiar roar, the voice of someone divine-like. “AKUMA YOU MUSN’T BE SWEPT INTO THE CHECK-OUT! RESIST AKUMA!” They shouted out again.


    Akuma was always a curious fellow by nature. The kind of person to ask “how” instead of “why”. Which is why hearing that familiar voice, yet not being able to remember their faces was like an itch to the back of his throat. He had to know, regardless of who they were he just had to. So much so that he’d resisted that tugging current.


    The sea that enveloped him was too dark to see, but he was guided by that divine voice that yelled “RESIST!” over and over.


    (Resist it? Is this tug really that dangerous?)


    But as I said, Akuma is a curious person. The kind that gets swept up in the “how” of things. And it is for that reason he found himself swimming in the opposite direction of the voice. The current aided him, moving him at high speeds.


    Eventually, he swam so deep, he caught a glimpse of something white. A mythical glow of white to be exact. If anyone was ever daring enough to spill the blood of god, this is what I’d imagine to spew out.


    Impatiently, he squinted to get a better look at whatever it was.


    "!"


    (A book…?)


    There was something about that book that called out to him. He wanted, no, he needed to get a hold of it. Even just a touch would’ve been okay. But there was a mysterious force that stopped him from getting any closer. Like a thick, transparent crystal wall of sorts. Of course, being the kind of person he was, matched with the intensity of how much he wanted that book, that wall was the last thing that was going to stop him.


    There was already a large crack in the wall, so he focused his strikes there. With each blow, the crystal wall cried out, *CRSSK! *CRKKS!


    He pushed off and wound up one more solid punch. If this one didn’t do the trick, then he honestly didn’t know what would. But as he clocked back his fist, reaching past his ear, something grabbed ahold of his wrist. “You mustn’t do that, Akuma.” they said in a concerned tone.


    Instantly, he could tell it was the person calling out to him earlier, the very one who urged him not to dive any further. Turning to face him, he was a bit disappointed in himself for not realizing whose voice it was earlier.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    “Do what?” Akuma asked, intrigued by what’d happen if he broke the wall.


    “You mustn’t break that barrier.”


    “And what if I do?”


    “If the barrier around your Yang is broken then the exoskeleton that Frankenstein made for you will also shatter.”


    “…I don’t think I’m familiar with this Frankenstein.”


    “To put it in simpler terms. In the eyes of Yggdrasil, your story isn’t supposed to exist. And the moment you check out that story, even I’m not sure what will happen.”


    (You call that “simpler terms”?!)


    “…So, you’re saying, the only thing keeping me from being me is this wall? …How is that even possible?”


    “Akuma. What do you think makes a person themselves and not anyone else?”


    “Well… If I had to guess, I’d say their memories.”


    “Correct. And why do you think that is?”


    “Well, if your memories change then the experiences that made you who you are also change.”


    “Correct again. The soul is comprised of two sections:


    The Ying (Your Story''s cover) – This part of the soul stores your “Soul Type” as well as the color of your soul. It’s the part of you that’s responsible for producing starlites and using the Empower technique.


    And the Yang (Your Story''s contents) – This part of the soul stores the memories of all your lives as well as determines the quality of your soul. It is also the part that is responsible for using the Devour technique. If this part of your soul is destroyed, then your story can never return to the Library of Yggdrasil."


    “…Well, I don’t know anything about this Devour technique but what makes my Yang so dangerous? Shouldn’t I want to know about my past life?”


    “…”


    “Um… Michael?”


    “Akuma.”


    “Yo…?”


    “The Yang part of your soul was destroyed a long time ago.”


    “…” His words were like a sudden punch to the gut. “…Then are you saying...?”


    “Once upon a time…”


    (Is this guy seriously telling a story right now?!)


    “…Yggdrasil was a desolate, vacant realm. Eventually, Yggdrasil grew bo-”


    “Yeah-yeah. Can you keep the yapping to a minimum? Please? If you hadn’t realized, I’m scared for my life.”


    “*Sigh. Basically, no one person is supposed to have two stories. And yet, you did. And to top it off, the contents of your story -the Yang- was destroyed a long time ago. It''s thanks to Frankenstein that you can still live. Listen, Akuma. There are other ways to get strong. Just focus on your Hoshi-”


    “Micheal.”


    “What is it?”


    “Be honest with me. You knew me in my past life, didn’t you?”


    "...What makes you think that?"


    "Hmm. Just a hunch."


    “…Yes... I did. I’ve known you in every single one of your lives… And every time. Each and every time…” He said, beginning to tremble. “I couldn’t do anything to save you… But not again! I can’t let that happen again! I refuse to watch as you die right before my eyes for the fourth time!”


    “…I won’t act like I remember any of that, and I don’t think it’s my place to say this but… Thanks, Michael. And I’m sorry.”


    It was all familiar to him. The way he watched as his dear friend said goodbye with a bright smile. The way he could do nothing but reach for his back as he did so. And even the tear that gently drizzled down his cheek.


    It was all familiar to him.


    *SMASH!! *SHATTER!!


    He’d be forced to watch yet again, as the one he loved most faded from his existence. With no wall to prevent his advancement, he grabbed a hold of the white colored book.


    The cover read:


    Uncertain


    By: God


    He clung tightly to the book, hugging it in the same way a caring mother would hold their child.


    And as it faded from existence, so did he.