A distant voice. A distant voice calling my name. "Ethan"
I slowly opened my eyes until his face became clear in front of me. Kafka sitting on a wooden chair.
I am lying on a bed in a wooden cabin. I felt comfort when I saw the wooden ceiling for some reason.
I wasn't in my best condition before but now my vision is clearer, and it surprises me how kafka's looks are.... Interesting.
Honey-like eyes and a black hair tied with a red ribbon. His features and looks are innocent... So innocent.
I turned my head slightly to see Ank had turned her gaze away from the book and looked at me. Her eyes slightly widened, and her hand stopped before the tea cup reached her mouth.
"You've been asleep for two days," Ank said.
"That's a long time." I looked at the ceiling again and then at Kafka. "Where is Arthur?"
"He's outside, testing a new technique or weapon... I'm not sure."
I nodded my head slowly. Moving my body is a bit difficult after sleeping for two days.
Ank spoke then, "Your soul domains have awakened. That's what Director Raven said. What he means by soul domains are the seven domains within a Despaye user. We have awakened the first domain."
We awakened the first domain because we stayed conscious under that pressure, and also because we have the ability to evolve. Our strength has increased significantly now.
But now... what? Three of my fingers are cut off.. I won't be able to protect Ank properly even.
I can't believe I actually cut three fingers off my left hand... Would I have done the same thing if I were asked to cut off a hand instead of fingers?
Cut off a hand? This reminds me of a book from my father's collection that was called "The Severed Hand."
The story tells of the writer's experience with the woman he loved for a long time and how she destroyed him psychologically in the end, and here his destroyed hope was symbolized by the severed hand.
There was a line I always liked from the book. The writer said in it: "In the end, Daniel went to a mountain that no one stepped on without their life changing. There, all wounds are healed and all diseases cured. A mountain said to be where everything began and where everything will end. The Mountain of the Seer. The Mountain of the Beginning."
It was a wonderful book.
Wait... all wounds are healed there? This story is real so it must be related to the Despaye... this means I can heal my hand!
I raised my body but before I could speak the pain in my back stung me.
I leaned back slightly with caution and said to Kafka and Ank, "Let's go to the place where everything begins and ends. Let's go to the Mountain of the Beginning."
Then I noticed Arthur was present.
When did he even enter...
Arthur spoke, "I already told them about the Mountain of the Beginning but I didn't expect you to know it. We are going there tomorrow."
I smiled cheerfully immediately, I didn't expect anyone to know about this mountain for all my life people mocked me for speaking about it. They always said it was just imagination. But now, another person who believes in its existence stands before me.
But he ruined my wonderful line...
Arthur asked Ank and Kafka to leave. He sat on the chair beside the bed. He placed his hand on his forehead and looked at the ceiling in confusion and wonder.
He spoke without looking at me: "Ethan. Didn't you tell me that killing a human... is not an easy thing?" I didn't look at him.
I expected this question, it was inevitable.
"It was the only choice."
He lowered his hand but his gaze didn't move away from the ceiling.
"It really was the only choice. But why do I not see any expression of regret on your face, Ethan Lumière?"
"Not all emotions show on the surface. Besides, the queen would never make me just a companion, she surely wants me as a guard."
He replied immediately without leaving a moment of silence: "There's a line I like because it sometimes applies to people in our reality. 'Don't think you know me just from chatter' but still I'll say you did the right thing, the other boy might have caused the death of innocent people later."
Arthur stood up and headed toward the door. He stopped before leaving and said: "But still, a person who can kill easily won't let those around him know when his interests turn against them."
He left. And although he didn't slam the door hard, its sound echoed in the place.
I saw my adventure card on the table beside me. Rank B+
This is going to be a long journey.
Kafka wrote a letter to my mother and sister since I can't move much. And it was sent directly to the royal palace.
As soon as it arrived, a professional medical team was sent to care for me. They enhanced my body with Despi which made me able to move, but I shouldn't push myself. And with the medical team, a thank-you letter from the queen was sent to me.
At least... I completed what I was tasked with successfully.
Thanks to the treatment I was able to sleep comfortably. And I woke up to Kafka's voice. He was begging Arthur to buy a small hamster but of course Arthur refused.
"Do you think the hamster will stay alive?" I said to him calmly. He looked at me with shiny sad eyes.
Arthur hit him on the head gently. "We're adventurers now. We're no longer just ordinary people, Kafka." After hearing Arthur's words Kafka stopped. Maybe something other than a hamster would suit our current situation. I will find a suitable pet.
Ank had already packed our things. I expected her to be like the spoiled princesses in stories, not knowing how to do anything because of their pampering. But it seems the stories are false... or that Ank is different.
I think it's the second option.
"I see we won't have breakfast before we go," I said to Arthur with a smile.
"There are many shops on the way, we'll eat until we're full," he said as he carried his bag.
Despite everything, he is still Arthur. But really... despite everything, am I still Ethan?
I think this is a question with a distant and long answer. Everything in its time. And now is the time to go.
We are coming, Mountain of the Beginning.
We are coming, Mountain of the Beginning.
After a somewhat long way We had camped in the middle of the forest to rest and continue after sunrise.
---
Darkness, water, a strange feeling, a feeling of discomfort.
I felt like I was drowning... no, I felt like the water was pulling me to the bottom, it wasn't drowning me. But this is really strange... I was... with the others?
I opened my eyes immediately to find myself in deep waters where I could not see the end below me nor above me.
How am I in this place?!
I swam upwards as fast as I could but reached the surface faster than I expected. The place was extremely dark to the point that no light revealed the end of the water's height.
I got out of the water and checked myself quickly; I hadn't lost anything.
And while I was lost in my questions, a light interrupted me. A purple flame appeared before me and lit the place a little.
I'm in a place that resembles a cave. Behind me is a somewhat large pool.
I saw the face of the person with the flame. But why is their face... unclear?
I can't see their features for some reason.
"Who are you," I said after placing my hand on my short sword.
He didn't give me any answer. He turned and directed his flame toward the pitch-black darkness in front of us. Then something was revealed... something I have not and do not think I will ever know what it is.
Something resembling a large black egg connected from the bottom and the top... cells, if I may say.
And although its shape was a bit disgusting, I felt it contained something... something more beautiful than snow at sunset.
The egg glowed with golden light and lit the entire place. And with it, the face of the unknown person with the flame was finally revealed. It was a woman... or a man? I'm not sure. But they were beautiful. I felt close to them even though this is the first time we've met.
He spoke with a pleasant voice: "The spirits welcome you, in the place where from its summit, they saw the first light. And in its darkness, the first darkness was born."
That was unexpectedly poetic.
"May I know where I am?" I said, taking a step forward.
The person raised their hands as if trying to push me back. "No, don't come closer please. The egg's balance will be disturbed if you approach."
I stopped then in my place. He lowered his hands and answered me afterwards, placing his hand on his chest and smiling lightly, "I am Shivlor. The one who guards the Egg of Esteliora with his life."
Guards with his life?... No wait, I don't even know where I am to begin with!
"Would you please tell me where I am, Shivlor?" I asked. I was standing, leaving zero gaps.
"You are in the heart of the Mountain of Beginning. You were pulled here through the mountain. And since you were pulled, that means the mask has chosen you."
"What mask?"
"The Mask of Eternity."
I was pulled... the Mask of Eternity... the spirits... the Egg of Esteliora.
I must know what these things are before I leave here, definitely. I must know.
The place suddenly shook to the point I nearly fell. The mountain is shaking entirely. As if an earthquake is about to split it. Or rather, cut it.
Shivlor stepped forward quickly and held my hand, tension clear on his face and in his rapid voice, "Ethan, make sure to remember everything I said and will say. Don't resist the waters, don't forget the spirits, Esteliora is in your care, the mask is your destiny."
It was as if he was reciting random words to me. But the tremors increased more and more. And with them, Shivlor's tension increased. The egg cracked and a small light came out of it, entered my clothes, and then Shivlor said: "We apologize because your path is full of despair, but..."
Shivlor pushed me with unprecedented strength into the deep pool behind me, and before his voice disappeared from my hearing, he said: "Please, do not wish for death!"
Everything disappeared. Even the water. I am floating in a void of darkness.
Something white appeared in front of me with black markings on it... are these musical notes?..
My vision is blurry, I can't recognize it.
It entered my clothes and the darkness covered my eyes.