"Die."
The word echoed endlessly.
Three letters—only three—yet they carried a weight that crushed me.
A feeling. A demand. A curse.
Despair took root inside me, growing deeper with every repetition.
An expression I had heard thousands of times, one that had long stolen my hope.
"Die."
I tried to look around, but all I saw was blackness.
Deep, endless black.
Maybe my eyes were closed. Maybe I just couldn't open them.
But the voice remained.
"Die already."
---
I gasped, eyes flying open.
Sweat clung to my skin, a tear slipping down my cheek. My chest rose and fell in frantic rhythm, heart pounding like a war drum.
I pressed a hand to my racing heart, forcing my breath to steady.
Above me, the sky stretched vast and unbroken—endlessly blue.
I lay still on the cool grass, allowing the sensation of the earth beneath me to ground my thoughts. A few moments passed before I mustered the strength to sit up.
And that was when I saw it.
My breath hitched.
"What is this…?" I murmured.
A vast meadow surrounded me, bathed in golden sunlight. Countless violet flowers swayed in the breeze, their petals delicate yet vibrant. Beyond them, a massive crystal lake stretched toward the horizon, reflecting the sky like a perfect mirror.
A gentle wind brushed against my skin, rustling the long strands of black hair cascading over my shoulders. My dress, plain and white, felt unfamiliar. Beneath my bare feet, the grass was soft and cool.
Despite the uncertainty in my mind, something about this place felt... right.
A strange sense of peace settled over me.
"This feels nice."
The words left my lips in a whisper.
I turned slowly, taking in the scenery from every angle. A surreal kind of beauty surrounded me, one that filled me with quiet wonder.
But as I spun around, my gaze drifted downward—
And my stomach lurched.
A sprawling city lay below.
The ground beneath me was gone.
A sharp gasp escaped me as I stumbled forward, weightless for a heartbeat before the wind roared past my ears.
"AHHH!"
I was falling.
Air rushed against my skin, pressure crushing my chest. My surroundings blurred, colors and shapes vanishing into a dizzying haze.
The ground raced toward me.
"AHHHHH!"
Terror seized my body. I clenched my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable impact.
'In a matter of seconds, I—'
Pak!
Warmth enveloped me.
The sensation of falling disappeared.
My breath came in short gasps as I realized—someone had caught me.
A voice rumbled through the silence.
"You need to be more careful, kiddo! What were you doing?"
My eyes fluttered open.
A man held me securely in his arms, his grip strong yet careful. He had medium-length red hair, brown eyes, and a broad, well-built frame.
His gaze flickered toward the cliff. "Well? How did you fall from that height?"
I followed his stare—and a cold shiver ran down my spine.
The cliff was enormous.
"I… I don't know," I murmured.
His expression softened. "Alright. Where are your parents? Did you wander up there alone?"
'Parents?'
I blinked, staring at him.
He waited for an answer.
I remained silent.
He sighed. "I guess your folks told you not to talk to strangers. But I can't just let you go off alone." His brows furrowed slightly, concern flickering across his face.
A moment passed before he spoke again. "My name's Exios. What's yours, kid?"
'…My name?'
A simple question.
Yet the answer wouldn't come.
A strange, hollow feeling settled in my chest.
I searched my mind, expecting something—anything—to surface. But there was nothing.
No name. No memories. No familiarity.
My lips parted, but silence followed.
'What was my name?'
My gaze drifted to the sky, watching the clouds float lazily above.
"…I don't know," I whispered.
Exios blinked. "Huh?"
I turned back to him, but something inside me crumbled.
Tears slipped down my face, unbidden, uncontrollable. I hadn't even realized I was crying.
An ache spread through my chest, hollow and unbearable. It felt as though something had been torn away from me, leaving behind an empty space I couldn't fill.
"I don't know my name."
A sharp ringing pierced my ears.
The world blurred.
"Hey! Kid, are you alright?"
His voice faded.
And then—
Darkness.
---
Noise. Loud, scattered noise pulled me from unconsciousness.
I stirred, my body sluggish, my eyelids heavy.
A groan escaped me as I forced my eyes open.
"…Where am I?"
The room was small, painted in soft white and muted purple. A simple desk and chair sat against the wall, a wardrobe nearby. Unfamiliar drawings decorated the space, though I couldn't make sense of them. A wooden nightstand beside my bed held a lamp.
Distant voices drifted through the window.
Curious, I pushed it open.
And the sight below stole my breath.
A village sprawled before me, teeming with life.
Merchants called out, exchanging coin for goods. Children ran freely through the streets, their laughter filling the air. Flowers of every color bloomed along the cobblestone pathways, blending seamlessly with the warm wooden houses.
Music played somewhere nearby, lighthearted and energetic.
The scene before me was overwhelming, yet oddly comforting.
I hesitated before stepping away from the window, drawn by the noise beyond the door.
Pushing it open, I found myself in a narrow hallway lined with picture frames.
No one was around.
I wandered closer, eager to see the images. But they hung too high for me to reach.
So, naturally—
I jumped.
Hup!
The first picture—Exios stood beside a woman with wavy brown hair. She smiled warmly, but he looked stiff and serious.
Huup!
The second—they were holding hands, petals falling around them. A wedding.
Huuup!
The third—Exios cradling a newborn, tears streaming down his face. The woman lay in bed, exhausted but smiling, her fingers resting gently on the baby's head.
I swallowed hard.
Hup!
The fourth—the child was older now, holding both parents' hands, learning to walk.
I reached for the last frame.
Hup!
And stopped.
It was Exios—alone.
Standing in front of a tavern, grinning broadly.
But the happiness didn't reach his eyes.
Before I could dwell on it, a sudden crash shook the walls. The music from earlier grew louder, mingling with shouts and laughter.
I followed the commotion, pressing my ear against the final door in the hallway.
Inside—chaos.
I stretched up, gripping the handle, and pushed it open.
A rowdy scene unfolded before me.
"I need more ale! Exios, bring me another round!"
"I won! HAHA! Pay up, fifteen gold coins!"
"He's dancing on the table—he's going to break it! EXIOS!"
Men were sprawled across the floor, others singing, drinking, and shouting over one another.
Then—
"Oi, there's a kid."
Heads turned in my direction.
"…A kid? The hell is a kid doing here?"
"Oi, which one of you idiots brought a child into this mess?"
Exios, mid-task, suddenly noticed me.
His eyes widened.
He set everything aside and hurried over, crouching to meet my gaze.
"Hey, kiddo. You're awake."
The music stopped.
The tavern fell silent.
And then—
"Exios… YOU HAVE A KID?!"