《BEIVA - A Hollow Mind》


 From Eternity to Mortality - 1

    Date: September 18, 637, time: 6:03 p.m. As for my location, I have no idea where I am. For as long as I can remember, I¡¯ve been alone with my own consciousness, a state one might liken to what humans call a coma. I felt nothing, sensed nothing. I had no grasp of how much time had passed or what might have happened last. In this vast stretch of time, reduced to a mere awareness, I found myself endlessly revisiting memories and details of my past¡ªlikely just for something to occupy my mind. But after a while, I didn¡¯t even notice that these memories were beginning to fade, dissolving gradually into oblivion. The reason was obvious: my consciousness had become so fragmented that I¡¯d forgotten even the act of forgetting itself.


    After that prolonged solitude, an event of considerable magnitude jolted me to awareness, as if my scattered mind and emotions were suddenly pieced back together. I couldn¡¯t fathom what had happened. The only thing I remember was seeing a series of unfamiliar numbers or symbols flashing before me, rousing me from my daze. I felt myself being pulled into an ambiguous dimension with no clear direction or purpose, but I could perceive my surroundings for the first time. I was sensing things again: the gentle but tainted breeze, thick with dust and a foul smell. Through the haze, I could barely make out an orange, dense landscape. When the wind subsided for a few seconds, my surroundings came into focus, and the sight chilled me to the core.


    Everywhere I looked, there were ruins and corpses¡ªdecayed, dust-covered bodies that suggested whatever had happened here occurred long ago. Massive buildings had crumbled, with only a few remaining, and those still standing were riddled with holes. The entire scene looked like something out of an apocalypse¡ªa scenario humans would probably describe in such terms.


    I could see the Sun struggling to pierce the thick clouds of dust overhead. It seemed as if the dust and clouds blocked its light every time it tried. Despite the grim atmosphere, I was able to move freely through this collapsed world without any issues. That alone was bizarre.


    After wandering aimlessly among the ruins for a few minutes, I began to hear a sound. It was rhythmic, yet somehow painful, echoing directly behind me. I turned quickly to find someone there, facing away. Their hair was short, not quite reaching the nape of their neck, and had turned gray from dirt, though it was originally white. They appeared to have the physique of a girl around eighteen years old and wore a long, thick black coat. She was digging around in the rubble. Out of curiosity and because she was the only other living being I¡¯d seen, I decided to approach. As I drew closer, I called out in a calm, friendly tone. At the sound of my voice, she twisted her head a full 180 degrees to look at me¡ªa terrifying moment I hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    More horrifying, though, was her face. It was disturbingly blank¡ªno eyes, nose, or mouth; just a smooth surface. Although I couldn¡¯t be sure if she could actually see me, it was clear she was aware of my presence. She stood up, her body turning to align with her head¡¯s angle, and began to approach me. Unsure of what to do, I started to back away, only to hit an invisible wall, causing me to stumble to the ground. As I lay there, watching the Sun¡¯s ongoing struggle to break through the dusty clouds, she moved closer, eventually leaning into my field of view and placing a hand on me. My vision faded to black.


    I was alone with my consciousness again. The pleasant feeling of experiencing a physical environment after such a long time left me, replaced by a bittersweet sense of loss. But the strangeness wasn¡¯t over yet. Those strange numbers and symbols appeared once more, followed by a distant voice, as if echoing from some far-off place, telling me to ¡°Wake up.¡±


    As soon as I heard that voice, everything vanished¡ªthe numbers, symbols, all of it. I found myself enveloped in darkness, unable to make sense of what had just happened. But, oddly enough, I felt excitement rather than fear. After so much stagnation, the rapid change filled me with hope, a conviction that I was finally escaping my bleak existence.


    Soon, the darkness was replaced by a gradient of red and yellow hues, signaling a significant change. I was feeling things once again, this time more clearly! There was a breeze, but it no longer smelled foul, and the sensation it brought¡­ It was indescribably beautiful. I felt as though I were lying on something sharp yet not uncomfortable. Finally, as my real eyes began to open slowly, I found myself captivated by the breathtaking beauty of my surroundings.


    The first things I saw were towering, expansive trees, their leaves framed by the brilliant blue sky and a few flocks of birds gliding through the air above. The birds seemed to dance amid the clouds, while the leaves rustled gently in the wind, producing a melody that was almost enchanting. For a brief moment¡ªaround twelve seconds¡ªI watched their movements. Then, something else caught my attention.


    The Sun, having seemingly triumphed over the clouds, finally revealed itself, filling me with a sense of warmth. But this newfound brightness was also a bit too much for my eyes, causing me to squint instinctively. As I closed my eyes to shield them, I began to reflect. Compared to the terrifying scenes I¡¯d just witnessed, this place was overwhelmingly peaceful. I felt good. I had finally escaped that emptiness. But what had it cost me? Every action had consequences.


    It appeared that this journey had cost me my memories. I had no knowledge of myself or my past. The only thing I could recall was that horrifying dream. Despite my best efforts, I couldn¡¯t remember anything else. Only some basic information about myself remained. If these memories were accurate, I had three rules to follow. The first: knowledge is everything. I must research, investigate, and learn all that I can. The second: the Archive is my home, which I can use however I wish. And the third: I must stay away from humans. They are cruel, vicious, and the filthiest of beings¡ªa plague upon the world that somehow managed to seize control.


    While the first rule seemed logical, I struggled to understand the purpose of the second and third. What exactly was meant by the Archive, and why did I harbor such strong, uncompromising beliefs about humans? It seemed I needed to brainstorm. These were supposed to be my own core memories, so they must have come from me. As far as I knew, core memories couldn¡¯t be erased, which was why I still had access to them now. Apparently, I didn¡¯t have pleasant memories with humans in my past. Accepting this, I decided to heed the rules, especially the first one, and tuned into my senses.


    At that moment, I could perceive five different senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and physical awareness. Although I hadn¡¯t mentioned taste, I could sense something in my mouth throughout this process, so I included it. And since I was able to physically perceive my surroundings, there was only one logical conclusion¡ªI must have a physical body. I quickly opened my eyes and tried to control my body with my mind. But then, I faced a major challenge: how does one even control a body? I had no idea, though I soon discovered that I didn¡¯t need any prior knowledge.


    Surprisingly, my body responded exactly as I wished, lifting itself up and positioning itself in a seated posture on the ground. It carried out each command without any difficulty or additional effort. I must have been in a highly functional body. As my body straightened, my legs immediately drew my attention. I was curious about their purpose. A sense of excitement washed over me; everything around me seemed to be waiting for me to experience it. I wanted to fill my mind with all this information. At that moment, the second rule flashed through my mind¡ªThe Archive¡­


    There had to be a purpose for this rule, but what was it? I came up with several theories, the most plausible being that the Archive was a tool I could use to gather knowledge. The first rule instructed me to research and learn, but it hadn¡¯t specified how to do so. Since the Archive was supposedly my home and accessible at will, it must be something I could use to gather information. Hoping I had come to the right conclusion, I attempted to access the Archive. But how was I supposed to use it? Was I supposed to wait for a miracle? That didn¡¯t seem practical. After a bit of thought, I remembered the strange numbers and symbols I had seen in that dream.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    I had seen three different sets of numbers. The first two were too vague to recall, but I could distinctly remember the third one. I strained my mind, and yes, that was the number: 65737310186. I didn¡¯t know its significance, but I was certain I had seen it. The moment I visualized this number in my mind, a series of sounds echoed from deep within me, indicating that I had successfully accessed what I needed:


    ¡°User access detected. Processing. Archive connection established. Welcome to the Archive System.¡±


    Following this announcement, a translucent screen appeared before me, and I finally understood what the Archive was. It was an extensive network of information, structured in a chain of commands that allowed me to learn many things through various searches and scans. In fact, it was even more incredible, as certain commands granted me extraordinary abilities. I was deeply impressed, yet a message in the top right corner nearly nullified my excitement. It indicated that I was currently in ''Restricted Mode'' and would not have access to most commands. However, it did confirm that I could still perform basic research and scanning. With countless questions in my mind and thousands of mysteries to solve, I knew the Archive would be of use to me somehow. But one thing couldn¡¯t be ignored.


    The reality that every action has consequences made me question the Archive. Could I truly use the Archive without any issues? Would it require anything from me in return? No such information was available¡ªor at least, I couldn¡¯t find it. I guessed I¡¯d have to learn through experience. Clenching my left hand as if grasping an invisible string, I began scrolling through the list of commands with my right index finger. It took me a bit to get used to the translucent screen interface, but I gained enough familiarity to use it smoothly. While browsing, I stumbled upon a command labeled ¡®Analyze.¡¯ Although there was no manual explaining how to use it, I could gather some information: ¡®Analyze¡¯ would allow me to scan physical objects around me and obtain their data. It was exactly what I needed. Without hesitation, I decided to start by examining myself.


    The biggest hurdle, of course, was not knowing how to activate the command. Would it work if I shouted as loud as I could? I wasn¡¯t sure. To avoid causing a scene, I decided to calmly focus on the command in my mind first. I had already learned the meaning of the word ¡®command¡¯: it was a line of code that operated in a specific sequence. I decided to try a two-word command entry: ¡®Archive-Analyze.¡¯ Hoping this would activate the command, I waited¡ªbut no data on my body came forth. Just then, I heard an inner voice:


    ¡°Quick Access is disabled for Restricted Mode. Please activate the command using voice input.¡±


    In other words, I would have to vocalize it. Still, I chose to avoid shouting and quietly issued the command, ¡®Archive-Analyze,¡¯ with a soft voice. After a tense five seconds, a blue hologram scanned my body from head to toe a few times, taking about twenty seconds to complete. Once finished, the information appeared on the translucent screen that reopened after closing when I issued the command. The data would then be processed into my awareness as I began to read through it.


    The first thing that caught my attention was my external appearance. I was in a living body, but I had no idea what I looked like. I could have been an animal or one of those humans I was supposed to avoid. Something felt off, though. My hair was short and white, just like the girl I¡¯d seen in my dream. However, unlike her, I had fair skin, striking crimson eyes, and a face that could even be considered beautiful. According to the information, I had the body of an eighteen-year-old, relatively short at a height of only one hundred fifty-five centimeters. Overall, my body appeared healthy, with no visible issues.


    While the data suggested that I was human, something inside me insisted that this was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have been human. I didn¡¯t understand why I felt this way, but the thought was so powerful that I couldn¡¯t dismiss it. It might have something to do with the third rule that told me to stay away from humans, but it was impossible to understand this connection for now. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, the reality was that I seemed to be in the body of a human female. Acknowledging that I still had much to uncover, I decided to continue examining my surroundings on foot, temporarily setting aside my thoughts on humanity until I encountered a living human I could observe.


    I needed a goal. Looking around, I quickly realized I was in a vast, open area. In the distance, I could hear the sound of running water, piquing my curiosity about what kind of scene awaited me there. Heading toward the sound seemed like a good option. Along the way, I could observe anything else that caught my interest and continue learning. The sensation of moving in this body, which seemed to act on its own, felt odd. It would likely take some time to get used to, but I began to advance toward the source of the water.


    As I moved, I noticed my hair occasionally falling into my line of sight, brushing against my eyes with a slight sting that made me instinctively close them. This constant interference was bothersome, so I used both hands to keep my hair back, almost like a makeshift hat. Thus, I continued on my way, occasionally pausing to inspect interesting plants and small animals along the path. A few were particularly fascinating¡ªone creature, for instance, emitted light at night. This unusual feature amazed me. As I drew closer to the source of the water, I saw even more of these creatures, and the view was truly breathtaking. A large body of water cascaded from about fifty meters high into a deep pool below. With the setting sun casting its warm rays from behind me, the waterfall reflected a mesmerizing array of colors, blending with the greenery and orange hues of the surroundings like a piece of art. I was captivated, unable to tear my gaze away. A thought crossed my mind, one that I couldn¡¯t fully understand: I wish they were here too¡­


    At that moment, a piercing headache struck me, so intense that I thought I would lose consciousness. Everything seemed to have started with that single thought. Who were ¡°they¡±? Why did I wish for them to be here with me? Pondering this question only worsened the pain, forcing me to abandon the thought. It seemed my mind was trying to reveal something I shouldn¡¯t remember. As night began to fall, I decided to search for shelter. Once the Sun disappeared from the sky, replaced by the Moon, the area was enveloped in a sharp chill that my body felt intensely. The cold grew stronger as time passed, causing me to shiver uncontrollably. Just as I was feeling desperate, I spotted the entrance of a cave and noticed the glow of a man-made torch.


    As I approached the cave, a loud thunderclap from above startled me, nearly making me jump. Thankfully, I had found the cave just in time, providing shelter from the fierce storm that was about to unleash. But a sense of unease lingered¡ªI had noticed the torch at the entrance, which meant there might be humans inside. According to my third rule, I should avoid them, but staying outside in the freezing storm was not an option. Dealing with humans seemed like the lesser of two evils.


    Despite the occasional darkness, the torches lining the cave illuminated my path enough for me to navigate. The cave was surprisingly long, seeming endless despite its modest size. I had been walking for almost five minutes without reaching any end, as though I were traversing an infinite tunnel. The cold air inside worsened my shivering, while the constant possibility of encountering humans heightened my tension. Eventually, I reached a fork in the path. The right side looked darker, with a noticeable draft coming from that direction, while the left side appeared warmer and brighter. Opting for the more inviting path, I went left.


    As the wind subsided and the number of torches increased, warmth returned to my body. Before long, I encountered several rooms. These brightly lit spaces contained both torches and candles, with some rooms furnished with beds and others with various equipment. Everything seemed like remnants from an ancient civilization. The presence of so many items without anyone around struck me as strange. Perhaps everyone had left together on some errand. This felt like a stroke of luck, though, considering the harsh weather outside, I suspected they would return soon.


    In the middle of the main room, a large fire was burning. I moved closer to the fire, relishing its warmth as it eased my shivers. Glancing around, I noticed bookshelves filled with texts. Near another entrance to the room, there was a coat similar to the one worn by the girl in my dream. I put it on and settled near the fire, crossing my legs. I reached for a few books, hoping to learn something, but encountered a problem¡ªI couldn¡¯t understand the language. Frustrated by my inability to gain knowledge, I angrily tossed the books into the fire and watched them burn for a while. I must have been more exhausted than I realized, as I soon drifted off to sleep without even noticing my fatigue.

 From Eternity to Mortality - 2

    Date: September 19, 637. Time: 9:12 a.m. Location: Somewhere deep in the forest. Since the dream that caused me to open my eyes in this world, many things had happened to me. In the cave where I had involuntarily fallen asleep again, I had another dream that seemed like a continuation of the one I had seen the previous day. Once again, I found myself in the middle of that terrifying scene, but this time, it felt as if time had skipped forward, and I was experiencing the moment just before I called out to the girl. Everything was the same as before: her coat, her movements, and the positions of the objects around her. Once again, I hesitated to call out. The events from before hadn¡¯t been pleasant, but I was still curious about who she was. What was she doing here alone? Why didn¡¯t she have a face, and yet appeared human?


    After a moment of thought, I decided to approach her without calling out this time. I wanted to try a different approach. As I walked closer to her, the wind occasionally intensified, sending dust into my mouth and face, which I had to spit out. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t notice me. As I reached her, I realized she was drawing something on the ground with an iron rod. Just as I focused on what she was doing, the iron rod suddenly dropped, and the girl vanished. I didn¡¯t understand what had happened. Startled by the sound of the rod hitting the rocks, I looked around and noticed some writing on the ground: ¡®Do you believe in Rebirth?¡¯


    As soon as I read and understood these words, they began sinking into the soil, consuming everything around me. Everything started collapsing, and ultimately, all turned to darkness. With the incomprehensible numbers passing before my eyes once again, I opened them and found myself right where I had left off¡ªnext to the now-extinguished fire.


    What could ¡°Rebirth¡± mean? Was she referring to me? Was she trying to communicate with me? I had been experiencing strange things. Why was I having these dreams? Even though I had just regained my senses, I already had many questions, and searching for answers was already wearing me out. It was truly a bizarre situation. Rebirth¡­


    At that moment, hearing footsteps alerted me that the cave¡¯s inhabitants were returning. I needed to get out quickly, as the footsteps were coming from the direction I had entered. Going that way wasn¡¯t an option, so I¡¯d have to proceed to the parts of the room I hadn¡¯t yet explored. I didn¡¯t know if I would find an exit there, but I had no other choice.


    Quickly straightening my clothes, I took one last look around the room and noticed something concerning¡ªmy footprints were visible everywhere I had walked, likely from the dirt and mud I had stepped in all day while barefoot. Although my feet had dried and wouldn¡¯t leave fresh prints now, this meant they could still track me here. I immediately began moving toward the back areas.


    As soon as I left the room, I started hearing their voices. Unfortunately, I couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying, but I was strangely curious. At the other exit, I hid behind a pile of rubble in the corner, intending to watch the people entering the room and listen to their conversation. Considering that the path I was taking might be a dead end, I knew I might have to face them. If I was spotted, I planned to escape with all my strength.


    As I focused, I realized I could clearly hear their words. I tuned in to what they were saying. There were three of them, dressed in an unusual, old-fashioned style. One wore a hat resembling a cap, a thick cream-colored jacket, and patched brown pants. He had a five-centimeter-long beard with streaks of white and pronounced lips that poked out from under his thick mustache. His words were the first ones I focused on:


    ¡°The trail ends here. Search the area thoroughly. It must be around here.¡±


    After saying this to the other two, he began searching the room I had been in just moments before. These individuals had scarred faces, with deep cuts suggesting they had engaged in many dangerous pursuits. Thanks to the Archive and the Analyze command I had found within it, I could observe them in such detailed and informative ways. Clearly, the Archive was proving to be an even more intriguing system than I had expected. Analyze had offered an option to combine with a command called Visor, allowing me to examine things from a distance. This was a welcome development. Unfortunately, it seemed I was out of time. As the tallest of the group¡ªa man with red eyebrows, vivid green eyes, and a white bandana¡ªnoticed the dried footprints on the ground, I realized my hiding place would soon be discovered.


    Turning away, I attempted to continue my journey into unknown territories. However, as my black coat brushed against a small box on a pile of rubble, I gave away my position. They had clearly heard the noise. As soon as I started running, they began to chase after me. I tried slowing them down by knocking over piles of rubble along the path without losing speed, but my efforts weren¡¯t particularly effective. Not knowing where I was heading, I took random turns at intersections, going left or right, until I finally noticed a light at the end of a path. It seemed I had found an exit.


    I immediately turned toward the light and ran with all my strength. It felt like an impossible journey to complete. I don¡¯t remember how long it took, but eventually, I managed to escape. I seemed to have emerged in a different part of the vast forest, where the trees and plants were of different varieties. Looking back at the cave, I could still hear the voices of those pursuing me. They knew I was searching for an exit, so it wouldn¡¯t take them long to reach my location. I had only about fifteen seconds to figure out a way to lose them.


    Just then, I heard the roar of water nearby, sparking an idea. I quickly ran in the direction of the sound, hoping to use the river¡¯s force to throw off my pursuers. However, there was a problem. Now that I had a living body, I wouldn¡¯t be able to breathe underwater. Along the way, I searched the Archive¡¯s list of commands for something that could help, but I couldn¡¯t find anything useful. It seemed that Restricted Mode was limiting my access.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    When I reached the riverbank, I was met with a wide, fast-flowing river. With the river¡¯s powerful current, crossing to the other side seemed impossible. I needed another solution. Sitting on a large rock by the water¡¯s edge, I resumed searching through the command list. It would be difficult for people to reach this part of the dense forest, but I suspected my pursuers weren¡¯t limited to just those three. They would likely start coordinating a more thorough search for me soon, so I needed to act quickly. As I scrolled, a command labeled Strength caught my attention. It allowed me to temporarily enhance a part of my body for better performance and, when combined with the Endurance command, could reduce damage taken by up to eighty-seven times. Perhaps, with this combination, I could cross the river.


    I had no choice but to try. I jumped off the rock and backed up about thirty meters into the trees. My new plan was as follows: after activating the Strength and Endurance commands, I would build up speed, then launch myself from the rock I had been sitting on to gain the height and power needed to clear the approximately fifty-meter-wide river and land in the shallow area on the opposite bank. I knew it would be challenging, but I felt I had enough courage to try.


    After double-checking my calculations and mentally preparing myself, I began counting down in my mind. Every second mattered since the command would only last a few seconds. Three, two, one! As I activated the combination, the surrounding trees and plants shook violently as if caught in a powerful storm. I managed to soar across the entire length of the river like a bird. But just as I reached the shallow part on the other side, the command deactivated a few milliseconds too early, and I crashed painfully onto the hard ground. With the impact causing my head to accelerate, I inevitably lost consciousness for a brief moment. But surprisingly, nothing happened.


    Apart from a few intense pains, my body seemed unharmed. I guessed I had a rather resilient body. Even so, I was in pain. I tried to lift myself but quickly realized it wouldn¡¯t be easy. I began dragging myself onto dry land, as the water, though shallow, kept splashing into my mouth and eyes, which was incredibly uncomfortable. However, I had to admit something¡ªeach time I accidentally inhaled the water, I actually felt refreshed. Not sure why, but this sensation felt pleasant, so I continued breathing in the water consciously until I was safely ashore.


    After a few minutes of intense effort, I finally reached the shore. I managed to turn myself over to lie facing upward, and though it was difficult, I succeeded. As the Sun cast its uncomfortable greeting upon me, I closed my eyes and reconsidered if that had been a wise idea. It had been an adrenaline-filled moment. I knew I needed some rest. The commands and the impact had left me utterly exhausted. I didn¡¯t want to fall asleep, but the warmth of the Sun on my body felt soothing. At that moment, I felt a lightness over me; however, it wasn¡¯t an emotional feeling. My thick black coat was gone. I immediately opened my eyes and looked toward the river, spotting some dark shapes drifting with the current. I must have lost the coat during the jump. Instinctively, I held my head¡ªI had liked that coat.


    Just then, a crowd of people across the river caught my attention. Along with the three who had been chasing me, I counted over twenty others watching me from the opposite bank. Although I couldn¡¯t tell what they were thinking based on their expressions, it was clear they must have been puzzled by how I had crossed. I had lost them, for now. Still, I knew it was possible they could be on this side as well, so I began to lift myself once more. I would have to continue my journey into the unknown parts of the forest.


    Based on my calculations, I had been walking for around thirty minutes. After finding the source of the water, I had started looking for a new goal, though nothing had yet caught my attention. I took the time to think about those people. They looked strange. The place they lived was equally strange. Did humans always live in such places? Or was it because they were involved in questionable activities that they lived there? A sound that might provide the answers distracted me, and I picked up my pace, focusing entirely on that direction.


    In the depths of the forest, it sounded like the cry of a bird echoed through the trees. What could have happened? Could this be something caused by those people? I was searching for a logical reason to keep my distance from them, as per the third rule. I was close to discovering that reason. When I reached the source of the sound, I saw a bird trapped on a tree branch, struggling to free itself from a sharp, metal trap that had injured it badly enough to stain the tree and surrounding grass with blood. The trap, which kept the bird from flying away, looked like something humans had set, and it provided the reason I had been looking for.


    The bird, about thirty centimeters tall, with feathers in shades of red and dark green, was clearly pleading for help. I had no reason not to help, so I started climbing the tree. I had no idea how to remove the metal device without harming the bird further, but I had no other choice but to try. I attempted to activate the Strength command from the Archive, but all I received was a message saying that the command wouldn¡¯t be available for a while. This would make it much harder to free the animal. Although the device wasn¡¯t large¡ªonly about the size of my hand¡ªits metal construction made it almost impossible to break with my relatively fragile body. Almost impossible, but not entirely. An idea occurred to me.


    If the Strength command was on cooldown, I needed an alternative solution. There was an option called Speed, which allowed me to temporarily increase my movement speed up to tenfold. However, due to Restricted Mode, this boost was currently limited to just ten times. If I could strike the chain at sufficient speed, it might be possible to break it. I was eager to try.


    I positioned the one-meter-long chain connecting the metal device to the tree in a straight line along a sturdy branch. Now, all I had to do was activate the command and strike the chain with all my strength. For the impact to be effective, I needed to make contact with the smallest possible surface area. I flattened my hand like a blade, activated the command, and struck the chain¡¯s side with the edge of my hand. Not only did I break the chain, but I also managed to snap the tree branch. The force of the movement sent both me and the bird tumbling to the ground.


    Lying on the ground, we both looked up at the sky. Suddenly, the bird entered my field of vision and started nibbling at my hair. I assumed this was its way of thanking me. Its cries were no longer as strong as before, but each time it moved, I could tell it was still in pain. With each step it took, a faint whimper escaped. I knew I needed to find a solution for its injuries, but I was exhausted. I had used the Archive too much today, and my eyes were growing heavy. The bird¡¯s playful tugging on my hair was relaxing me, lulling me closer to the embrace of sleep. Before long, I drifted into a deep slumber.

 From Eternity to Mortality - 3

    Date: September 20, 637, Time: 01:34. Location: Once again, deep within the forest, in an unknown place. My dream had rewound itself once more. I was back to the moment where the girl was drawing something on the ground with iron. I still had no clue why I was here for the third time or who had brought me. The last time, I thought I had made the right decision by approaching the girl, but was I wrong? I didn¡¯t think so, because I had learned something: Rebirth. Thinking I could learn something again, I began to approach her. However, I encountered a problem. No matter how far I moved through the rubble, I couldn''t get closer to her.


    I don¡¯t know how many minutes I struggled, but the sky had grown dark. The sun had given way to its smaller sibling, the moon. The wind had started to grow colder, and my body began to shiver. The strange outfit I wore wasn¡¯t helping at all. Since my first dream, I had been wearing this outfit. It was like a long, thin, dust-covered coat. On my head was a hood that seemed to belong to this garment. I couldn¡¯t take the outfit off in any way. It was strange.


    I stopped, lifted my head toward the sky, and pondered the absurdity of the thoughts I¡¯d just had. How could I witness the sun and the moon exchanging places when the thick clouds of dust obscured even the sun? It was understandable, but what meaning did it hold? Why had this wretched world come to this state in the first place? All my questions found their answers when the girl suddenly rose and grabbed my arm. She looked at me with her non-existent face, and words spilled from the mouth that had just appeared:


    ¡°It¡¯s your creation.¡±


    It was my creation.


    I found myself trembling where I lay. I was trying to make sense of what I had just seen. I was startled. I was afraid. Was it really my creation? Had I brought about that apocalyptic scene? How was that even possible? Who¡­ Who was I? What was I? Why was I seeing these dreams? What was I supposed to understand from all this? I brought my hands to my head and pressed lightly against my eyes. This helped me gather my thoughts and regain my composure. Once I calmed down, I lifted my body, gazing at the moon¡ªthe smaller sibling of the sun¡ªand looked around for the tiny, pitiful bird.


    The bird was nowhere to be seen. The sun was gone, and since the moon wasn¡¯t providing much light, searching for it didn¡¯t seem practical. Instead, I decided to focus on my own problems. I needed to find a solution for my trembling body because I wasn¡¯t feeling well at all. I had learned that fire helped, so trying to start a fire seemed like a logical solution. However, I didn¡¯t know how to start one. My brief research in the Archive had given me a few ideas. I needed a few dozen branches, some dry grass, and specific types of stones to create a spark. If I could conduct a thorough scan of my surroundings, it would make my task easier. I could try the combinations offered by Analysis. However, despite further research on those combinations, I had found nothing useful. It seemed that the idea of starting a fire had to be shelved for now.


    I guess I had no choice but to move forward and find a place to shelter. My body was only showing signs of cold and shivering, but I had no idea what would happen if this continued. My lack of knowledge was putting me in danger, but there was nothing I could do. I decided to find the river again. From what I had learned, it was possible to find warm places near the springs where rivers originated. Various creatures preferred those areas as habitats. This was also true for humans. Even though I didn¡¯t want to encounter them again, I had no other option.


    I had no idea how far I needed to go or whether what I was doing was right. Although I was calmer while trekking through the damp terrain, the words from the dream still haunted my mind. <i>Your creation...</i>


    However, the world I was currently in was entirely different from the one in my dream. If I was responsible for what had happened in that dream world, how could this world be explained?


    As I tried to approach the situation logically, the crickets in the forest seemed to be in sync with me. To be honest, it was the first time I¡¯d ever encountered the sound these creatures made. I had come across them during one of my random explorations after gaining access to the Archive. That¡¯s when I learned they made sounds at night. The Archive mentioned that their sound had a calming effect. At first, I thought that sounded illogical, even ridiculous. But now, I realized that their sound was helping me collect my thoughts with ease. I had been wrong. So, could I not also be wrong about my dream?


    Dreams didn¡¯t always reflect reality. I might have been mistaken. At that moment, I knew I shouldn¡¯t exhaust myself by overthinking it. My body was growing heavier, and my steps were slowing. Rather than focusing on a vague, timeless dream, I needed to concentrate on the present. Things were becoming serious. I had started stumbling, and I didn¡¯t even want to imagine what would happen to me if my body gave out. I couldn¡¯t afford to lose this opportunity after so long. Even though seeing in the dark was challenging, I had to keep moving. I needed to use every ounce of my strength to keep going.


    As I struggled to make my way along the riverbank, I noticed lights within the forest beside me. Their numbers were growing, and they were getting brighter, signaling that danger was approaching. It was clear this wasn¡¯t a good sign. Had they found me? I didn¡¯t have to wait long for my answer, as a burning arrow landed near my foot.


    I stopped and turned toward the figures emerging through the trees, examining the ugly expressions on their faces. Their intentions were clear from their looks. I knew I needed to conserve my strength just to stay standing, but I also knew I had to confront this obstacle. I was ready. I could trick them by maintaining my weak appearance, so I didn¡¯t change my stance. When I looked ahead, I saw the self-assured, lumbering stride of the person who had shot the arrow and was now preparing to speak to me.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°You¡¯re making this really difficult for us, you naughty jumpy girl.¡±


    The man, speaking with a wide grin, had called me a "girl"? He must have mistaken me for a human. Perhaps it was because I looked like one. He had addressed me as a female human. Although I didn¡¯t fully understand the implications of this, I didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. The archer beside him glanced at me, asking a question as if in response:


    ¡°How did you cross the river? Don¡¯t tell me you actually jumped?¡±


    The other loudmouth chimed in, and the two exchanged a few sentences:


    ¡°Impossible. Even a Haura couldn¡¯t pull that off.¡±


    ¡°How dare you insult the Saintess? You insolent fool!¡±


    ¡°Aland, shut your mouth! Everyone already knows how devoted you are to your religion.¡±


    At that, the rest of the group burst into laughter so loud it drowned out the crickets of the forest. I couldn¡¯t understand what was so funny. When their laughter finally subsided after a few seconds, the man turned to me again and resumed speaking:


    ¡°Now let¡¯s discuss what we¡¯re going to do with you, because you don¡¯t look like you¡¯ve got much energy left. Honestly, for a young woman like you, wandering alone in the forest at this hour and in this state can¡¯t be easy.¡±


    As he spoke, he toyed with a short knife in his right hand, tossing it and catching it repeatedly. With his left hand, he rubbed his chin and head, pretending to be deep in thought. His body was massive, and his clothes clung so tightly to his frame that there seemed to be no room for movement. A thick, black mustache stretched between his mouth and nose, bobbing up and down as he spoke. If I had to fight him, I doubted any blows I landed would have much effect. But I knew how fragile humans could be. For me, he was no problem.


    They had given me time to think by stalling, inadvertently increasing my chances. I was merely waiting to see what their next move would be, curious if I could learn anything from their words.


    ¡°But you¡¯re awfully quiet. What¡¯s the matter? Cat got your tongue from fear? Don¡¯t be scared, little lady, we won¡¯t eat you. We¡¯ll just use you.¡±


    The group erupted into laughter again at this comment. In that moment, I noticed the drooling. Humans¡¯ grotesqueness was unmatched. Even if I were human, their behavior alone would have made me forsake my humanity.


    I had shown enough tolerance. It was time to act and teach them a lesson.


    Without hesitation, I used the <i>Speed</i> command and hurled the still-burning arrow from the ground toward the loudmouth who had spoken so mockingly. Before they even realized what was happening, the arrow struck him square in the forehead. The group froze, stunned, watching as the massive man collapsed to the ground. None of them had anticipated such a move.


    They began murmuring amongst themselves, asking questions like, ¡°What just happened?¡± and ¡°Was it her?¡± But I didn¡¯t have the luxury of waiting for them to figure it out.


    With <i>Speed</i> still active, I dashed toward the scrawny archer who had fired the arrow and severed his head from his body in a second. As their shock began to fade, giving way to a mixture of fear and adrenaline, I had already taken down five more. Their confusion made my task easier. At this point, they had all become stationary targets.


    The <i>Speed</i> command played a significant role, of course. My physical speed had reached such a high level that their movements appeared sluggish to me. The torches illuminating the dark forest were extinguished one by one with each passing second.


    The forest, once again cloaked in darkness under the moonlight, stood silent, devoid of a single living human. I had managed to eliminate them all, but my exhaustion was evident in every aspect of my being. My eyes struggled to focus in the darkness, the world around me turning blurry. I felt as though there was a hollow void within my body, and at the same time, it felt like a knife was carving into my stomach. My arms and legs had lost all strength. Without control, I fell to my knees. To prevent my head from hitting the ground, I braced my hands against the earth, trying to lift my head.


    My hair, damp as if it had been submerged in water during the fight, clung to my face and glistened under the moonlight, blinding me. My breathing was rapid, but I knew I had to keep going. I had to move forward. I had to reach the spring and save myself. No one was coming for me. I was alone. If anyone did come, it would only be those despicable humans who sought to kill me.


    I waited a few minutes for my breathing to stabilize and my energy to recover. My body had warmed during the fight, but now, as the cold began to creep back in, I slowly stood and started moving again. It took me only a minute to reach the marshy terrain by the water¡¯s edge. I wasn¡¯t actually that far, which was proof of just how drained I was. Even gathering my thoughts felt like a monumental task. My legs continued forward, despite their unwillingness, and I believed I was still in control.


    As I progressed across the marshy land, I hadn¡¯t considered the possibility of losing my balance, and my worst fear came true. A misstep on the muddy, unstable ground at the water¡¯s edge caused me to lose control, and my legs gave way, dragging me into the river¡¯s cold waters. It didn¡¯t take long for the current to carry me in the opposite direction of my goal.


    I''m waiting for your favorite parts of this episode and your theories about it in the comments. ~AIIEV


    The sharp and jagged rocks beneath the surface delivered heavy blows to my body, making it nearly impossible to move in the water. Keeping myself afloat was already a struggle, but this made it an absolute nightmare. After a while, as breathing became increasingly difficult, I lost track of everything. Darkness consumed me, and the rest was a void.

 From Eternity to Mortality - 4

    <b>Date:</b> August 20, 637, <b>Time:</b> 13:19. <b>Location:</b>


    An unfamiliar area where the river had carried me. I could feel the cold, but my body refused to move. My eyes were shrouded in darkness. All I could hear was a muffled, rhythmic sound. It felt as though my entire body was submerged in some kind of fluid. Even with my eyes closed, my sense of depth still worked. What was happening to me? Was I in another one of those dreams? I wasn¡¯t sure, but I knew I was sinking slowly into a dense liquid. The fluid was so thick that I started to believe it was the reason I couldn¡¯t move. But why couldn¡¯t I open my eyes?


    That¡¯s when I realized I wasn¡¯t breathing. As the awareness hit me, panic set in, and I started to drown. For a moment, I thought I was going to die, that I would never see the light of day again. My body remained immobile despite my struggles. With great effort, I barely managed to open my eyes, just in time to see a silhouette approaching me.


    I vaguely recalled hearing a muffled, echoing voice, a sound that saved me from drowning and brought me back to consciousness:


    ¡°You... cannot sink to the depths just yet.¡±


    When my eyes suddenly shot open, I found myself lying on a bed of sand where the river had deposited me. My mouth and face were filled with water, and I was shivering uncontrollably. I began to cough¡ªa terrible sensation, as though I were expelling my very insides. Thankfully, the feeling subsided after a moment.


    As I glanced around with my wet hair clinging to my face, I tried to make sense of my surroundings. I remembered falling into the river, getting swept away by the current, and losing consciousness. Moving my legs proved difficult, and each attempt to move my right leg sent unbearable pain shooting through me. I must have endured quite an ordeal, though my arms seemed to have survived mostly unscathed. Using them, I dragged myself from the sandy area toward a patch of grass bathed in sunlight.


    Every movement made the pain in my leg worse, but I knew I had to reach the sun. Staying wet and in the shade would only make my shivering worse. I needed warmth.


    After a long struggle, I collapsed onto the grass, letting the sun warm my chest as I lay there and tried to think. It felt as though I had forgotten everything I¡¯d ever experienced. It was as if I had been wandering this forest for years with not a shred of memory left in my mind. The thought that I might have suffered a head injury began to take hold, and I tried to gather my thoughts. I focused on the comforting warmth of the sun on my body.


    What I was experiencing felt like an internal psychological battle. I sensed that if I lost this war, I would sink back into eternal darkness. I had no idea how long I lay under the sun, but the sound of nearby voices snapped my attention to a specific direction.


    The voices of two small human children, initially hard to make out, became clearer as they walked along a small forest path near the river, talking to each other:


    ¡°What do you mean you¡¯re not going to wash your clothes?¡±


    ¡°I just won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not something you get to refuse. I¡¯m not washing your clothes, you hear me!¡±


    ¡°Fine. Don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You <i>will</i> wash them.¡±


    ¡°And I said I won¡¯t.¡±


    As they argued and reached the riverbank, I found myself strangely curious. I tried to lift my body but failed; my injured right leg wouldn¡¯t allow it. Deciding to observe as much as I could with my ears and eyes, I noted that while both were small, one looked even younger than the other. These were human children¡ªa boy and a girl. The smaller boy, for some reason, was being defiant and refusing to wash the clothes as his sister instructed.


    Both carried baskets made of straw, nearly as large as they were. The clothes they mentioned were probably inside those baskets. They hadn¡¯t noticed me yet, hidden as I was by the tall grass. Observing their conversation and actions, I listened further:


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it, but on one condition.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the condition?¡±


    ¡°Make me cake tonight.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll have to think about it.¡±


    ¡°Stop being mean. Just make the cake.¡±


    ¡°I need to ask Malle if I can use her ingredients.¡±


    ¡°Malle will say yes.¡±


    ¡°Probably. Alright, get to work.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Having resolved their conflict, they began taking the clothes out of their baskets. They washed them with a special substance they seemed to have made themselves, scrubbing the fabric together with their hands until it foamed, likely cleaning off all the dirt. It intrigued me; I had never seen anything like it before.


    That¡¯s when I noticed a familiar sound. It reminded me of the bird I had saved earlier. It was coming from behind me. When I turned my head, I saw it¡ªa bird with feathers in harmonious shades of green and red, and bead-like, brilliant blue eyes. I hadn¡¯t realized how beautiful its eyes were when we first met. Its whining was gone, and its legs were bandaged, suggesting someone had tended to it. But who?If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    The bird suddenly began making loud noises, almost as if trying to give away my location. I couldn¡¯t understand its intentions. The children, the bird¡­ Was there someone else nearby? Were they like those people chasing me? I couldn¡¯t take the risk. I tried to catch the bird, but it flew off, chirping, toward the path behind the children.


    Unable to stop it, I had no choice but to crawl painfully away from the children¡¯s position. As I moved, I could hear their voices behind me:


    ¡°What was that? Did you see it, sis?¡±


    ¡°No, but Milo is flying toward Malle. I think he saw something.¡±


    ¡°Did he?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe we should go back to Malle too.¡±


    ¡°What about the clothes?¡±


    ¡°Forget them for now.¡±


    The children retreated along the path, and I continued moving away from the river as best as I could. Or so I thought. I couldn¡¯t use the Archive commands for some reason, likely due to the injuries on my body. A command would have been incredibly useful right then, as I didn¡¯t have the strength to face anyone who might come my way.


    Hearing human voices growing closer, I froze in place. I had no idea how far I¡¯d managed to get from the river or where I was. All I could do was hope they wouldn¡¯t find me. The discomfort of my situation was so intense that I had started biting my lips hard enough to draw blood. Lying face down, hidden among the tall grass, I stayed still.


    I occasionally heard the voices of the people searching nearby. It was clear they were talking about me. They hadn¡¯t found me yet, but I could sense they were close. What would I do when they found me? Without strength, without commands, what was I? I didn¡¯t know. I covered my eyes with my hands, wishing for a brief escape into that dark dimension. I couldn¡¯t recall a moment when I had felt so helpless. All my efforts so far had been for nothing. This was the end.


    These people wouldn¡¯t let me live after what I had done to the others. I didn¡¯t want to accept death, but I had no other choice.


    As the voices grew nearer, I caught part of a conversation between two men:


    ¡°What do you think scared the kids off?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but if Milo flew to Malle in such a rush, it must be important.¡±


    ¡°Could it be one of those mystical beasts from the stories?¡±


    ¡°Oh, stop it. Those don¡¯t exist.¡±


    ¡°But what if they do?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been daydreaming too much.¡±


    ¡°Then it¡¯s a black bear, and I¡¯ll kill it the moment I see it.¡±


    ¡°With that fruit knife of yours?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better than nothing.¡±


    That¡¯s when I heard the voice of a young woman behind me, and all my senses felt as though they had been cut off by a blade:


    ¡°You¡¯re not in good shape.¡±


    The fact that she had managed to approach and find me without my realizing it was enough to make me instinctively attempt to flee. Of course, since I couldn¡¯t stand, I instead began crawling desperately through the tall grass, ignoring the pain. She continued calling after me:


    ¡°Wait! I won¡¯t hurt you. Bronson! It¡¯s heading your way!¡±


    She had called out to the others, directing them toward me. I knew this was the end, but I refused to give up on this fragile life of mine without one last fight. Despite the excruciating pain from my injuries, I forced myself to stand and prepare to confront the people closing in on me.


    At that moment, trying to stand felt like attempting to lift a boulder with my legs. The body I once used with ease now felt like nothing but a burden. It taught me just how fragile this form was. For the first time, I felt dangerously close to accepting the reality that I was human.


    When I finally stood, I rose above the tall grass and could see the people around me. Two men holding axes stood in a small clearing among the trees, clearly waiting for me. It was obvious they were ready. I would give them what they were looking for.


    Even though placing weight on my injured right leg was nearly impossible, I forced myself to take firm steps, ignoring the pain by sheer willpower. I knew they could see the agony on my face despite my efforts to suppress it. My vision blurred as I struggled to keep my focus, and my body was so overheated that water dripped from my hair. Despite the warmth, I was freezing at the same time.


    I knew I wasn¡¯t in good shape, but I wouldn¡¯t give up easily. One of them tried to speak to me, though I couldn¡¯t make out the words. It didn¡¯t matter¡ªI would fight.


    With each step, the pain grew worse. By the time I reached the trees, my vision had begun to blacken. The men seemed alert, but why weren¡¯t they attacking? Maybe they thought I was too weak. Would they think the same once their lives ended?


    I would show them how dangerous I could be. I pressed on. My head was throbbing, and my vision continued to blur. Was I close now? I threw a punch, but it didn¡¯t seem to hit anything. I threw another¡ªstill nothing. Where had they gone? Had they vanished?


    I couldn¡¯t see them anymore. I couldn¡¯t hear them. I couldn¡¯t even feel their presence. Perhaps I had defeated them. I no longer needed to carry this body. I no longer needed to feel the pain. I could rest now. Yes, I could rest.


    I felt my head strike something, and as my vision cleared slightly, I was met with a breathtaking view of the sky and sun peeking through the trees. It was so beautiful. I could give everything just to see that sight every time I opened my eyes.


    Before I lost consciousness completely, I remembered hearing voices. Even though I realized I had failed, I didn¡¯t care. The voices echoed in my mind like a lullaby:


    ¡°Hey! Are you okay? Bronson, Aldous. Why are you just standing there? Help!¡±


    ¡°Malle, you know they tried to attack us. Why should we help?¡±


    ¡°Bronson¡¯s right. The way they came at us so fiercely, I didn¡¯t even want to get close.¡±


    ¡°Stop being ridiculous. Even Milo has more compassion than you two. You can see how bad their condition is.¡±


    ¡°But what if they¡¯re one of <i>them</i>, Malle?¡±

 An Unprecedented First - 1

    <b>Date:</b> September 23, 637, <b>Time:</b> 09:41. <b>Location:</b>


    Inside a strange structure belonging to humans.


    The stench of the foul air assaulted my senses. It didn¡¯t take me long to realize I was dreaming again. When I opened my eyes, I felt the force of a wind gusting at what seemed like fifty kilometers per hour. The clouds of dust carried by the wind tossed my hair where I lay. The wreckage I had seen before was nowhere in sight. Apart from the ground covered in sand, the dusty windstorm, and the small yellow disk of the sun appearing in the sky, there was nothing to see.


    I tried to lift my body, but my right leg wouldn¡¯t move. Using my hands, I attempted to sit upright. There was nothing to see in my surroundings, but lying there any longer felt unbearable.


    As I straightened my back, I heard a sound. It echoed through the surrounding walls, distorted and delayed, as if I were in a deep valley. The reverberation made it impossible to understand what the sound was trying to convey. Before I could process it, the sound warped and was drowned out by the intensifying wind. The howling of the wind was so deafening that I instinctively tried to cover my ears. When dust began to fill my eyes, I felt a sharp pain. My vision blurred completely, and before me, I saw only those familiar numbers passing like a film reel.


    Taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and found myself inside a strange structure belonging to humans.


    While trying to steady my breathing, I looked up at a ceiling made of wooden planks. Tree trunks had been pruned and arranged to form this roof. This architectural style reminded me of what had happened before I lost consciousness. I had encountered some humans, and then¡­ nothing. I thought I had remembered, but my mind held no trace of it. What was happening? This wasn¡¯t normal.


    Panicked, I tried to sit up, only to feel my right leg stiffen painfully. Unable to control myself, I let out a loud cry. My voice sounded unmistakably human.


    As the pain gradually subsided, I composed myself and reached for the white covering draped over me to inspect my leg. I tore it off in frustration, and the sight beneath left me in shock. My leg was wrapped in some kind of material, reinforced with sticks and tightly bound. It was clear this was done to prevent movement because any attempt to move it resulted in unbearable pain. Of course, this wasn¡¯t the only foreign thing on my body.


    I wore a loose, soft, and comfortable white garment that covered three-quarters of my body. Various other parts of my body were wrapped in the same material as my leg. The pain was more intense in some areas. Lastly, I noticed something peculiar: metal objects were attached to my wrists and ankles, including my injured right leg. Chains extended from these metal pieces toward the corners of the room.


    This technique was called chaining. Even if I could move, it was clear how restricted I was. Had the humans taken me captive? What could they possibly want from me? Yet they had also treated my injuries. My body appeared to have been cared for.


    Questions swirled in my mind. The contrast between the comfortable bed I was lying on and the restrictive metal chains around my limbs was striking.


    Trying to make sense of this contrast felt like a wasted effort. Instead, I decided to review the information I could gather. Slightly lifting my head, I began examining the room.


    The space contained various objects: a cabinet, shelves, a few rugs made of animal hides, and items used for eating and drinking. All of it was beyond my reach. Upon closer inspection, I realized this was a human dwelling. The impression was reinforced by a wooden door and two large windows about five meters to the right of where I lay.


    Just then, a shadow appeared in front of the door. Feet were visible beneath it. Someone was here for me.


    I closed my eyes, pretending to be unconscious. If they had plans for me, I might overhear something useful. Humans were foolish creatures¡ªthey would undoubtedly talk. Closing my eyes, I focused on the sound of the approaching footsteps. They seemed to be heading for a seat to my right, based on the accompanying noises.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    After a moment of silence, I felt hands touch my body, mostly over the bandaged areas. Shortly after, I heard a voice:


    ¡°How much longer do you plan on sleeping, I wonder?¡±


    Though quiet and somewhat unclear, the words were close enough for me to grasp their meaning. It had fallen into my trap, believing I was asleep. Perhaps it would start sharing its life story soon. I was certain it would reveal something about what had happened while I was unconscious.


    Remaining still and patient, I let it continue touching my body. The voice spoke again:


    ¡°Ah¡­ Why do you look so much like her?¡±


    <i>Her?</i> Who was this "her"? Hearing this sentence made it difficult to keep my eyes closed. I was overwhelmed with curiosity but knew I couldn¡¯t show it.


    ¡°You have the same white hair as she does. Your face¡­ it¡¯s just like hers.¡±


    Voice trembled slightly, and it stopped touching me. Finally, muttered quietly:


    ¡°This must be my penance.¡±


    I heard the sound of standing up. It seemed were about to leave. I kept my eyes shut until I heard the door close. Once it were gone, I opened my eyes and tried to make sense of its words.


    This person had clearly been the one treating my injuries. But who had placed the chains on me?


    The door suddenly slammed open, prompting me to shut my eyes again, anticipating answers soon.


    Multiple footsteps entered the room, accompanied by the sound of a man and a woman talking. The woman seemed to be pleading with the man:


    ¡°Torsten, please listen to me. She¡¯s not dangerous. Remove the chains, please.¡±


    ¡°No, Malle! She attacked two of my men.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t she have acted out of fear? She¡¯s been wandering the Great Oak Forest for days. She¡¯s seriously injured.¡±


    ¡°How do you know she¡¯s not an escaped Alphian concubine or slave? Some of the hunters¡¯ bodies were found by the river near the village. Couldn¡¯t she have killed them? And you know the rumors about the Alphians.¡±


    The woman paused briefly¡ªjust for a second¡ªbefore responding:


    ¡°Even if that¡¯s true, isn¡¯t it a good thing she escaped?¡±


    ¡°Stop this nonsense, Malle. We¡¯re handing her over to the Knights.¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice sounded like the one from earlier¡ªthe one who had checked my wounds. So her name was Malle.


    I didn¡¯t like Torsten. While some of what he said was accurate, his tone irritated me. From what I overheard, he was the one who had ordered the chains. He mentioned something about "Knights" and a place called Alphia. I had no idea what any of that meant, but for now, I knew I had to keep my eyes shut. Opening them and revealing I was awake might cause trouble.


    A question crossed my mind: why had they come to talk here, right next to me? Before I could dwell on it, I received my answer:


    ¡°The locks haven¡¯t been tampered with. Everything looks intact, Torsten.¡±


    The voice belonged to someone else in the room. They were likely checking to ensure I hadn¡¯t attempted to escape. It was a logical precaution. Their fear of me might work to my advantage.


    After inspecting the chains, Torsten and his men left the room. I heard Malle muttering to herself:


    ¡°So stubborn, Torsten. But I won¡¯t let you harm her. Not while she¡¯s under my care.¡±


    This human didn¡¯t see me as an enemy. She was trying to protect me. It didn¡¯t make sense, though. Then again, humans acting irrationally was nothing new.


    Should I use her? How long would it take me to achieve my goals on my own? Yet, using her would mean breaking the third rule. Was it worth it? I didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°She couldn¡¯t live, but you will. I¡¯ll make sure you survive. You¡¯ll have a long life ahead of you.¡±


    Malle had approached me and spoken these words. Strangely, it felt familiar, as if someone had said something similar to me before. Had I remembered something from my past?


    She began stroking my hair. For a few seconds, I let myself enjoy it too much. But I didn¡¯t need the comfort of a human¡¯s disgusting hands. <i>They¡¯re nothing but¡­ humans!</i>


    ¡°Hey, are you alright? You¡¯re shaking. You¡¯re burning up. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    She was likely referring to the physical manifestations of my thoughts. I couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. With a surge of anger, I opened my eyes and thrashed against the chains holding me.


    The rattling chains and the terrifying sound that escaped my mouth echoed through the room as I screamed:


    ¡°Get your filthy hands off me, you disgusting human vermin!¡±