12 Illusions or Memories?

"Hiroto?" A voice spoke to me, it wasn't clear though. I opened his eyes and saw a long red-haired girl shaking him

My vision was blurry and it seems like I was in a familiar room. Sleeping on a bed, but it feels like it's the floor somehow.

"Hiroto wake up!" the girl continuously shook me, her voice became clearer and clearer and eventually I realized who it was, she sounds just like Amber.

"Where am I?" I asked, my voice was higher than normal. After twitching a bit I realized that I was in the body of a small boy. His hair was the same messy, raven black hair like mine, but it somehow felt softer.

"Are you done joking around? We have to go to school!" the girl pouted.

"What school?" I asked

What's going on? I was in my room. In the castle. How am I a kid again?

"Geez... come back to reality already!"

Who is she? Is she really Amber?

I rolled out of the bed, feeling weak and tired.

Why does she look like the smaller less harmful version of Amber?

"Are you Amber?"

"Yeah, who else am I supposed to be genius?"

That's her alright... but why am I back here?

I got up and looked around. It was a perfectly squared room with my bed in the corner. There's a closet and everything you'd need in the room, but everything looked uncleaned and old.

I opened the closet's door and saw it had only two sets of clothes

That's cheap... why do I only have one uniform and one normal clothes? The normal clothes look cheap too...

"I'll go make breakfast then! You'd better be out of that act when I'm done!" the girl got out of the room.

"Kay, thanks a lot, Amber!" I shouted as if it was second nature and followed her.

My voice spoke so naturally... it's almost like I'm used to this peaceful life...

"Yeah, whatever," she said

"Where's your mom and dad?" I asked. Shouldn't they be here making breakfast for 2 kids?

All the sudden I heard Amber's laughter

"Nice joke, now you have to get ready" she replied while still laughing

What? I always remembered Amber's parents to be caring and kind. They were always there for us

I swiftly put on his uniform and ran downstairs

"Here ya go, omelette on the rice you're favourite right?"

"Huh? Yeah!"

In my memories Amber wasn't the one who makes the omelette... her mom did right?

"Sorry, my memories a bit out of wack today, where's your mom and dad again?" I asked scratching my head.

The small Amber's face looked bitter and sad.

"Them huh?" she asked while eating her omelette, grabbing her plate tight

"If this is too sensitive I can back off" I don't want her to feel uncomfortable.

"They're always on business trips. They're never home" she said with a smile, it wasn't a genuine smile. It was a smile to hide something, to hide the pain. She's never been that great of a liar...

"Sorry for asking Amber..."

I remember now, I blocked my whole childhood with my flames of memories. I guess this is one of the things I blocked. They say that dreams are a succession of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that your mind makes. Since I know I'm dreaming, I guess I'm lucid dreaming. I have no interest in flying though... I should wake up...

I slapped myself and opened my eyes to find his room in the demon king's castle. It was luxurious, with a king-size bed. The window showed a waterfall outside. There's a chandelier on the top of my bed. The walls were still brick walls like the rest of the castle, but the walls were cleaner and all-around in better shape.

Suddenly I heard someone knocking on my door

"Lord Ignis?" Someone said with an earnest voice

"Come in"

Who's bothering me right now? I just wanna get lost in thoughts

"What is it?" I asked the knight with a black scary aura and my barely woken eyes resembled that of a particular someone, Amber

The knight stood there shaken. Unable to move

"S-Sorry for b-bothering y-you sir" the knight's voice was trembling.

I guess I shouldn't have time to chill around

I slapped myself

I'd want my reputation to be good so I guess I'll have to play nice with him.

"Sir are you okay?" the knight asked, still scared of me.

"I'm alright, sorry I wasn't fully awake yet. Would you like tea?"

I'm pretty sure I have tea in my room. Let's hope I'm right

"It's alright my lord, no need to bother feeding a peasant like me"

Oh... he's the 'I'm so worthless' type

"What were you going to say"

"Right... the power 9s are going to have a meeting this afternoon sir"

"Please, call me Ignis"

"A lowly peasant couldn't call you as such my lord"

"It's alright, I aim for everyone to think of me as a friend" I then spread an aura that says 'I'm friendly and kind!'

Let's hope he takes the bait

"For one of the most high ranking demons, your really kind my lo-, I-Ignis"

"Really?"

"Well, Lord Lucas and Novem just treat us like peasants, lord Pierce doesn't really say anything, I've never met the rest of the power 9s."

He got treated like trash so he becomes trash. Weak-minded, but he's not bad. He seems honest enough.

"Let me tell you something, Crimson, Damon and Amelia are really friendly most of the time, just don't bother them if they look mad. I don't really know Evelyn so can't say anything about her. Lucas and Novem are just trying way too hard to please the king. Pierce is like the king's loyal dog"

"I see... thank you, sir"

"Ignis" I smiled

"Thank you I-Ignis!"

"I think someones gotta job now"

"R-Right... I have to g-go now. Thank you again... Ignis"

"No problem, see ya around!"

The knight got out of the room