Chapter 1: The Night It Began
It was a stormy night, the chilling wind howling outside. Although the windows were shut, the sound of the wind still seeped through.
At precisely 3:37 AM—
"No!"
A dry scream escaped his lips as he shot up in bed. The young man jolted awake, heart pounding. The oppressive silence of the room was shattered by the distant wail of sirens, growing louder with each passing second.
He strained to recall the fragments of a dream that had slipped away, leaving only an unsettling sense of urgency. The dim glow of the alarm clock cast eerie shadows across the walls. As he swung his legs over the side of the bed, a chilling realization took hold—this was no ordinary night.
"Ow! Man, not again... This is totally messed up. Why do these dreams keep coming back to me?" he muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
It had been eighteen years since the young man began living in this world. At first, he believed he could start a new life here.
He had been born into a wealthy family in a world much like his own. He had loving parents and a carefree, unrestricted life. But then the dreams began—no, the nightmares.
Recurring nightmares transported him to unfamiliar eras and places, where he experienced life as someone entirely different—someone who faced challenges and adversities far removed from his once-sheltered existence.
As a young man who had led an unremarkable life in his past world, he now found himself plagued by vivid dreams that left him breathless and shaken. Each dream led him to strange landscapes—ancient cities bathed in moonlight, battlefields soaked in blood, and candlelit chambers filled with cryptic whispers. Unfamiliar faces called out his name, and a sense of déjà vu lingered when he woke.
As the nightmares intensified, Kael began noticing subtle changes in his waking life. His instincts sharpened. He recalled skills he had never learned. And shadows—shadows seemed to move just beyond his field of vision.
"Huh..." He exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples.
"It's happening again. Looks like I'll have to keep going like this," he murmured to himself.
A brief silence followed, broken only by the soft creak of the door. A beautiful girl in a maid's uniform stepped in, her expression calm and composed.
"Young Master Kael, do you need something?" she asked gently.
"Sorry for disturbing you, Elara. Could you get me a glass of water? And maybe something to eat?"
"There's no need to apologize, Master. It's my duty as your personal maid. You can call on me anytime. Helping you is my responsibility."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You don't have to keep repeating it."
"I'll be back soon, Master," Elara said with a bow before quietly leaving the room.
The silence returned once more.
Kael leaned back and let his thoughts wander.
It's been eighteen years since I transmigrated into this world. My name was Kael in both lives. The only difference is that in my past life, I didn't have a surname. But in this life, I do.
Nightshade... Kael Theodore Nightshade. That's who I am now. This world is almost the same as the one I came from—except here, people use Aura. Aura users are called Aurors, or warriors. Then there are those with supernatural powers—we call them Espers.
At first, I just enjoyed myself, living it up in this new life. But things started to spiral out of control when the nightmares began.
I even consulted psychiatrists. They told me it was just a normal stress reaction... but I'm not so sure anymore.
After a while, Elara returned with a tray of light snacks. Kael ate slowly, sipped the warm water, and then tried to recall the scattered pieces of knowledge stored in his mind—but they remained frustratingly out of reach.
And then, he heard it.
A sound echoed in his mind—mechanical, emotionless, and chillingly clear.
Ding... Load...
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To be continued.