I woke up, but not in my familiar bed. There was no Game of Thrine poster on the wall, no Gandam Type 61 action figure on the desk—just a dark silence and me within it. I couldn't see anything.
Am I still dreaming? A dream within a dream? Like.. in the movie Inception?
The pain I had just felt was so real. I could genuinely feel the arrow piercing my neck. I hadn't even realized it had struck. The blood flowing down felt real too. I was truly terrified.
"Is this another dream? Do I have to keep walking? Really?"
I stumbled through the pitch-black room until my head slammed into a wall.
"Ah, a wall?" I groaned, falling to the ground and rubbing my throbbing forehead.
"Wait, this isn't a wall," I said, realizing there was a doorknob as I felt along the surface.
"It's a door!"
The steel door wouldn't budge when I tried to open it by turning the knob. It seemed to require a key. Suddenly, a hand reached from behind me and unlocked the door with a key. I turned around in surprise, and his face was right beside mine, his eyes fixed on me.
He opened the door, and light flooded in. Gripping my shoulder, He gently urged me forward. I stepped through the doorway, and thousands of silent faces turned to me, their heads tilted upward.
"YEAHHHHH!!" they roared in unison.
"What is this?"
"Aria, look at all these people. Our position above them symbolizes our superior status," the man said, squeezing my shoulder.
Who is this creepy guy?
"They see you as a newcomer, but your status has already been elevated. Do you know why?" he asked.
"W-why?" I stammered.
"Because you are a fresh face in this world," he replied.
"Fresh? Am I the only human here?" I asked.
"Human? We are all objects, each with different values," the man replied.
"You are an object, and so am I. But if you wish to become human, I can help you achieve that," he added.
What kind of dream is this? Well, lets just play the role.
"Am I just an object now? But I'm human."
"Who gets to decide that? Among all of us here, no one has the right to make that determination, not even me," he said.
"Have you ever heard of Human Rights?" I asked.
"What you consider concrete and solid from your world doesn't apply here," he replied.
"Then how do I become 'human'?"
"Murder, plunder, political games, rebel, alliances, manipulation, slander—everything is permitted here. You just need time to learn it all," he said.
I guess I've been watching too many UK series.
"Alright," I said. "To become 'human,' I'll listen to you."
"Very well, if that's what you desire. But let me tell you something: everyone here yearns to become 'human'. From the youngest to the oldest, from the kindest to the most corrupt ever lived. Humans stand above all else; in their eyes, objects are trivial. That means we are trivial in the eyes of 'humans.' Many have sought to become human for centuries, even before King Reint established the New Era, yet none have ever succeeded."
Reint...? how is that idiot mentioned in my dream.
"Do you understand? Becoming 'human' now is an impossible dream, a goal that seems forever out of reach. Though methods and approaches have evolved through countless attempts, none have succeeded," he said.
"Then I will be the first to truly become 'human.'"
"... I like to see you try."
"New Currency! New Currency! New Currency!" the crowd chanted, clapping and cheering incessantly.
"What does 'New Currency' mean?"
"I'll explain later. For now, let me guide you to the Great Blue Castle."