Sleep refused to come easily after that night. Aeris lay on his narrow apartment bed staring at the ceiling, listening to distant traffic and the hum of electrical systems within the building. His body was exhausted, yet his mind remained alert, burdened by foreign emotions that did not belong to him. Whenever he closed his eyes, fragments of unfamiliar memories surfaced with disturbing clarity. He could feel the weight of another man's regret lingering behind his thoughts, pressing softly but persistently, like a shadow that refused to detach.
The inheritance he had gained did not feel unnatural in the dramatic sense people imagined when they thought about supernatural abilities. There were no glowing veins, no sudden surges of strength, and no overwhelming rush of power. Instead, the change was subtle and internal. His breathing pattern felt steadier, his emotional responses more controlled, and the persistent anxiety he had carried for years seemed muted. It was as though part of someone else's emotional foundation had fused with his own, reinforcing weak points in his mental structure.
That realization unsettled him far more than visible supernatural phenomena ever could.
He rose early and left his apartment, choosing to walk instead of using public transportation. The movement helped clear his thoughts, though it could not silence the echo entirely. City streets bustled with ordinary life, people rushing toward work, vendors opening stalls, and digital billboards flashing advertisements that promised convenience and happiness. Everything appeared normal on the surface, yet Aeris now knew that beneath this routine existed another layer of reality shaped by unresolved deaths and silent regrets.
As he crossed an underground transit tunnel connecting two districts, the pressure inside his head returned without warning. The air ahead distorted slightly, not enough to draw attention from passing pedestrians but enough to trigger immediate recognition in Aeris's mind. A faint crimson symbol materialized above a dark stain on the concrete floor, barely visible to anyone except him.
The echo felt different from the previous one.
He sensed aggression rather than sorrow, urgency instead of longing. The emotional texture of the phenomenon pressed sharply against his awareness.
REGRET ECHO DETECTEDCONTRACT AVAILABLETYPE: INJUSTICEREQUEST: IDENTIFY AND EXPOSE THE KILLERREWARD: INSTINCT SHARD – COMBAT RESPONSE
Aeris stopped walking, forcing himself to remain calm while people passed around him without noticing his hesitation. The words formed clearly inside his thoughts, carrying intent rather than sound. Unlike the first contract, which centered on closure and emotional fulfillment, this one demanded confrontation. It required him to involve himself directly with living individuals who had committed violence.
His initial instinct was to reject it.
He took a step back, attempting to distance himself from the symbol, but the pressure inside his skull intensified. It was not pain, yet it carried enough discomfort to make ignoring the echo impossible. The sensation resembled internal resistance, as if refusing the contract caused misalignment within his own existence.
Aeris exhaled slowly and clenched his jaw. He understood then that these echoes were not optional invitations. They were opportunities that came with consequences regardless of his choice. Acceptance brought risk and responsibility, while rejection carried internal strain that would likely grow worse over time.
He reached forward and touched the symbol.
The environment dissolved around him once again, and the memory surged into place.
Rain soaked the pavement beneath his feet. Three figures stood near a parked van under dim street lighting. Voices rose in heated argument as tension escalated rapidly. Aeris experienced the scene from the victim's perspective, feeling fear tighten the chest and adrenaline spike sharply through the body. One of the men pulled out a knife, movements sloppy yet fueled by panic and anger. The argument ended abruptly when the blade drove into flesh, sending shock and agony racing through nerves. The world tilted violently as the body collapsed onto wet concrete.
The attackers panicked and fled, dragging the lifeless form into the nearby tunnel before disappearing into the night.
The memory froze at the moment of abandonment.
Reality reassembled itself with sudden force, and Aeris staggered slightly, gripping the wall for support. His heart hammered violently, and cold sweat covered his palms. The emotional impact was heavier than the previous contract, filled with raw fear and betrayal rather than quiet regret.
New information settled into his mind.
Faces. Clothing details. A distinctive tattoo on the killer's wrist. The general location of their hideout. Movement patterns imprinted with unnatural clarity.
TARGET IDENTIFIEDLOCATION TRACE AVAILABLE
Aeris left the tunnel slowly, allowing his breathing to stabilize before continuing. He did not rush toward confrontation. Instead, he spent the next several hours observing from a distance, following the memory trail carefully while blending into the city's background noise. The trail led him to an industrial district filled with abandoned factories and neglected warehouses, a place known for illegal activity and minimal surveillance.
By the time night returned, he stood across the street from a decaying factory building, watching shadows move behind broken windows. Three men entered through a side door, one of them matching the tattoo and facial structure from the memory imprint. The killer had not changed habits, remaining within familiar territory, likely believing the incident had gone unnoticed.
Aeris hesitated briefly, heart pounding as the weight of what he was about to do settled over him. He was not trained for combat. He was not a vigilante or law enforcement officer. Yet the echo inside him pulsed urgently, demanding resolution.
He moved forward.
The moment he stepped into the building, his perception shifted subtly. Sounds became clearer and more distinct, allowing him to separate footsteps from distant machinery noise. His posture adjusted unconsciously, redistributing weight and stabilizing balance. Breathing slowed and deepened, optimizing oxygen intake.
INSTINCT SHARD ACTIVATION: PARTIAL COMBAT RESPONSE
The change was not dramatic but effective. It felt as though a dormant layer of reflexive knowledge had been unlocked inside his nervous system.
When the killer noticed him, the confrontation unfolded rapidly. The man reached for a concealed weapon, but Aeris reacted without conscious planning. He sidestepped instinctively, gripping the attacker's wrist and twisting with calculated force that disarmed him efficiently. Two additional men rushed forward, one swinging a metal pipe with reckless aggression. Aeris ducked beneath the strike, using controlled movements that prioritized efficiency over brute strength, disabling one attacker with a precise strike to the throat while forcing the other to retreat in panic.
Sirens echoed faintly in the distance, likely triggered by nearby residents or automated detection systems.
Aeris stepped back as the red echo materialized above the fallen killer, slowly dissolving into the air.
CONTRACT COMPLETEINSTINCT SHARD STABILIZEDREACTION SPEED INCREASEDSTRESS RESPONSE ADAPTATION ACQUIRED
The internal shift was immediate. His body did not feel stronger, but reaction time improved noticeably, and the lingering adrenaline faded more quickly than expected. Emotional shock dissipated faster, allowing clarity to return.
Aeris did not wait for authorities to arrive. He exited through the side entrance and disappeared into the industrial shadows, heart still racing but mind disturbingly calm.
Later that night, he stood on a bridge overlooking the illuminated city skyline, watching reflections ripple across dark water. Two contracts completed. Two inheritances integrated. Two invisible burdens added to his existence.
The pattern was becoming clear.
This ability was structured, organized, and systematic. It followed rules. It created rewards. It demanded balance.
Which meant that somewhere beyond his awareness, others would eventually seek to exploit it.
As Aeris turned away from the city lights, another faint distortion formed far behind him, barely visible yet unmistakable in presence.
Another echo had appeared.
Waiting.