Lost in Pages

In the intricate tapestry of a story, characters play diverse roles that shape the narrative and define their essence within the plot. From the extras who serve as mere background figures to the minor villains who showcase the protagonist's strength, each character contributes a unique layer to the storytelling.

Then there are the main villains, pivotal figures whose actions drive the plot and provide a purpose for the protagonist to overcome. Their presence adds depth and conflict, challenging the protagonist to grow and evolve in the face of adversity.

Supporting characters, on the other hand, serve as pillars of strength and guidance for the protagonist, offering assistance and wisdom when needed. Their unwavering support bolsters the protagonist on their journey, aiding them in times of trial and tribulation.

And at the heart of the tale lies the main character, the protagonist, who stands at the center of the narrative. Loved or hated by all, the protagonist is the focal point around which the story revolves. While many believe that the protagonist achieves all their desires and secures a happy ending, the truth is more complex.

There exists another type of protagonist, one who faces trials and tribulations, who struggles against the tide of fate and often finds themselves denied their deepest desires. This tragic protagonist navigates a path fraught with challenges and setbacks, their journey marked by hardship and sacrifice.

So I wonder, what role do I play in this story?

****

The raindrops descended from the crimson sky, a haunting cascade that mirrored the bloodshed and turmoil that enveloped the scene. Amongst the chaos, where fallen comrades lay in silent repose, a solitary figure stood with their back turned, head held high as they gazed at the ominous sky above.

Their black coat billowed in the wind, stained with the crimson hue of fresh blood, a stark contrast to the desolation that surrounded them. Behind this enigmatic figure, a group of individuals stood or kneeled in despair, their eyes filled with grief as they beheld the fallen forms of those they held dear.

"Look, his friends died for him and he didn't even shed a tear."

"How can such an emotionless bastard deserve to live?"

"Monster."

The words of condemnation and disbelief hung heavy in the air, piercing the silence with their accusation. The figure standing before them showed a slight movement, a fleeting reaction to the harsh judgment, yet their gaze remained fixed on the foreboding sky above.

Their black eyes, void of emotion, reflected a darkness that mirrored the depths of their soul. Amidst the accusations and whispers of disdain, a tumult of thoughts and emotions swirled within the figure's mind.

'Judging from their words, I suppose I should be shedding tears right now, shouldn't I?'

'What am I supposed to feel in this moment of loss and devastation?'

'If one loses someone dear, should they not be consumed by sorrow and despair?'

'But I... I can't.'

'I don't comprehend it... no, more accurately, I am incapable of it.'

'For I am naught but a being devoid of emotion.'

'A monster unable to experience the depths of human feeling.'

The figure's gaze drifted downward to the lifeless forms at their feet, the comrades who had embraced them as family now lying cold and still. A sense of bewilderment washed over them, questioning the very essence of their existence in the face of such sacrifice.

'I cannot fathom... why did they lay down their lives for someone like me?'

'They were more deserving of life than I... so why?'

'I am at a loss to understand...'

In the midst of grief and loss, the figure grappled with a profound sense of inadequacy and confusion, their heart heavy with the weight of their perceived shortcomings and the sacrifices made on their behalf.

****

The steady rhythm of breath echoed through the hospital ward, where a youth with otherworldly white hair lay upon the sterile bed, his pallid visage a stark contrast against the clinical surroundings.

As I reluctantly peeled open my heavy eyelids, the stark white ceiling loomed above me, casting a disorienting haze over my senses. 'Where am I?' The question lingered in my mind, shrouded in a veil of uncertainty.

A blank void enveloped my thoughts as I gingerly sat up, my gaze sweeping the sterile hospital ward. 'What brings me to this place?' A sense of disconnection tugged at my consciousness, leaving me adrift in a sea of fragmented memories.

'I remember that I was reading a book...what was the book's title again? I think that it was called Lost in Pages if I'm not mistaken, and then-'

'And then what?'

While trying to recall my memories, I was interrupted by a hushed whisper of sliding doors that shattered the silence, drawing my attention to the entrance where a figure cloaked in a doctor's robe and a nurse clad in uniform enter the room. "You've awakened, Sir Keiran," the doctor's words hung in the air, stirring a flicker of doubt within me. "Could you have mistaken me for someone else?" I questioned, prompting a moment of perplexed contemplation from the doctor and nurse.

An inquiry about my identity followed, "Do you know your name?" Sensing a shift in the room's atmosphere, I feigned ignorance, "I don't, but this is the first time I've heard that name." A conclusion was drawn, and a bewildered expression crossed the doctor's face as he pronounced, "I believe you are suffering from memory loss."

A veil of silence descended as I chose to feign illness, seeking to avoid arousing suspicion. "Is that so?" I murmured, the doctor's scrutiny met with a calm facade. "What is my name, and where am I?" I probed, the doctor's gaze holding a glint of intrigue.

A moment of contemplation passed before the doctor revealed my supposed name and the location - Light Keiran, and I am currently at the Anemone Hospital in the Anemone Village. 'That's strange...' A furrow creased my brow, a sense of unease settling within me.

"And this world is called Chaos," the doctor added, a cryptic revelation. The nurse's lack of reaction hinted at the truth behind the doctor's enigmatic words.

The doctor's piercing gaze lingered on me until he uttered a command to the nurse, "Leave us alone for a minute. I have something to discuss with our patient." Without a hint of hesitation, the nurse obeyed, bowing her head and exiting the room, leaving the doctor and me in a shroud of solitude.

As the door closed behind her, a heavy silence settled in the room, enveloping us in a cloak of secrecy. The doctor pulled up a chair beside me, his demeanor a mix of contemplation and intrigue. With a deep sigh, he broke the quietude with words that made me raise my vigilance. "You are not Light Keiran, are you?" His tone carried a certainty that stirred a sense of foreboding within me.

I met his gaze with a steely resolve, refusing to offer a response to his probing question. Despite his reassurance that he would keep this revelation confidential, doubt lingered in the air like a haunting whisper. Could I truly trust his words, or was there a hidden agenda lurking beneath the surface?

A subtle shift in the atmosphere accompanied the doctor's casual act of lighting a cigarette, a forbidden act within the confines of a hospital. The gesture spoke volumes, hinting at an unspoken pact of shared secrets and hidden truths. It was an invitation for me to reveal my own truths, to unravel the mysteries that bound us together in this clandestine exchange.

As the doctor chuckled at my silence, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes, I broke the tension with a pointed question. "How can I be certain you are not seeking information from me?" My words hung in the air, disrupting the doctor's composure and eliciting a moment of surprise.

Caught off guard by my bold inquiry, the doctor's facade wavered, the cigarette nearly slipping from his lips. After a beat of astonishment, he chuckled, acknowledging the astuteness of my question. "If I were after wealth, I wouldn't go to such lengths," he remarked with a wry smile, a glimmer of truth in his words.

Amidst the intricate dance of trust and deception, a sense of understanding began to dawn between us. Recognizing the potential value of our alliance, I extended a hand in acknowledgment, affirming, "Indeed, you are correct. I am not Light Keiran."

"...Haha, this is insane," the doctor's laughter echoed through the room, a strange mix of amusement and reverence in his tone as he casually brushed aside his blonde bangs. "I never expected to encounter an Outer Being. After all, I'm just a humble individual from a small village."

"Outer Being?" I muttered, my confusion deepening at the cryptic term. The doctor, with a knowing smile, promised to divulge secrets about this world and its enigmatic entities, but before he could continue, I interjected, "What do you seek in return?"

His grin widened at my inquiry, acknowledging, "Spoken like a true businessman." The doctor's request for a monthly blood sample raised my suspicion, prompting me to question the motive behind it. "What drives this peculiar request of yours?" I inquired, a glint of skepticism in my eyes.

Annoyed by my probing, the doctor dismissed my question, insisting that business transactions thrive on mutual benefit without the need for explanations. However, my nonchalant response challenged his stance, highlighting the importance of equitable trades that benefit both parties.

Amused by my astuteness, the doctor conceded, admitting defeat with a chuckle. "You've caught me again. You're quite adept at this," he remarked, his praise falling on deaf ears as I maintained a stoic demeanor.

In a surprising turn, I revealed my lack of emotions, leaving the doctor momentarily speechless. His initial disbelief gave way to acceptance as he recognized the truth in my words, paving the way for a candid exchange about his need for blood samples.

Confusion lingered as I questioned the doctor's delayed request for my blood, prompting a shrug of uncertainty from him. The revelation of his need for blood collection left me puzzled, but I chose to accept the terms of our unspoken agreement.

With a silent gaze out the window, the vast blue sky a stark reminder of a forgotten past, I reluctantly agreed to the deal. "Yes," I conceded, allowing the doctor to introduce himself as Michael. In a symbolic gesture of connection, I grasped his outstretched hand and identified myself as Constellation.

"What?" He was puzzled and I said "In my world, they call me Constellation"

"You-" Michael was flabbergasted by my answer, not expecting that I would hide my true name from him. After a while, he pulled back his hand in annoyance and with a smirk he said "Fine, Mr. Constellation"

"Now, where should I start?" He said as if talking to himself before he said "Ah, let's start with the basics first shall we?"

"Currently you are in the universe called <Starlette > which consists of 13 worlds"

"There is the world Phocaea, Erythrae, Clazomenae, Teos, Lebedus, Colophon, Ephesus, Priene, Myus, Miletus, and finally, this world called Chaos"

I listened carefully and couldn't help but think that this was interesting.

"Then about this world, there are currently 6 races that roams in this world. The reason why there are so little of the popullation is because this is already a forsaken world" He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

I couldn't help but ask, "If this is a ruined world, why are there still entities that continues to lives in it?"

"That's because they turned this into a playground" Michael said with a frown and disgust on his face.

"After the fall of this world, they made this a place for entertainment, using each other as a play thing, doing bets over some lower races that lives in this world" He spoke so solemnly that wrinkles appeared on his youthful face.

After realizing that he lost control of his emotiosn, he apologized awkwardly before letting out a fake cough, "Ahem, anyway those 6 races are Gods, Angels, Abyssal creatures, Elemental creatures, and finally, Humans. As you may already tell, the humans are at the bottom of the food chain"

At his words I couldn't help but wonder, "What is my race then?"

Michael crossed his arms and said as he leaned on the chair, "I don't know, the report of the police was blank, only your name and gender was written on it"

"But if I'm not mistaken, based on your physical strength and lifespan, you're most likely a human"

"I see" I said. "Then, what is an Outer Being that you called me?"

"Hm, how should I put this..." Putting his hand on his chin Michael hummed in contemplation before he said "Outer Being, is a kind of existence that is from another universe. Their figure and appearance are unpredictable, they can either have the form of a demon, a monster, elf, or maybe even a human. One thing is certain though about them, they are an existence that does not belong to this universe"

"...I see" I mumbled.

Michael then clasped his hand as he said "Now then! It's time for your end of the trade!" after saying that, he pulled out a laboratory glass slide and handed it to me. I stared at it and bit my thumb hard as blood dripped and I placed it on the glass.

"Thank you very much!" Michael said in a sarcastic way.

I ignored his sarcasm and took off the blanket and stood up. Michael looked at me and asked "Are you feeling alright?"

"Hmm" I hummed in response.

"Unfortunately, you still cannot be discharged right away since you just regained consciousnes and if words spread that I let out a patient that had just regained consciousness after being in coma for a month that'll be terrible" Michael said.

I glanced at him and thought 'So this body has been in coma for a month huh'

"But don't worry, after a week you can be discharged" Michael said with a smile as he also stood up. "By then I will take care of your clothes, food, and expenses"

His words made me look at him and he winked as he said "Consider this as paying my gratitude for your awakening"

I just blinked at his words when suddenly, as I stared into his eyes I faintly caught a glimpse of different coloured lines. As I stared more deeply I found that it was of that similar to threads, there were colour red, black, silver, and more.

Suddenly, a surge of visions and revelations flooded my mind, unveiling a tapestry of intertwined destinies and enigmatic threads. Startled by the tumult of images, I staggered back, prompting Michael's concern and a fleeting glimpse of a white feather in the recesses of my consciousness.

Amidst the haze of visions, a realization dawned upon me - the ability to peer into the past and future through the threads of fate. While lost in thought, Michael went out to get some medicine, leaving me behind to contemplate of what I just saw.

I'm certain though that what I saw, was none other than Michael's fate.

****

6 Days Later.

At the waiting area, I sat down alone on the couch, wearing a medieval clothes. In the past six days I started to see some parts of Light Keiran's memories, alas the memories were like images that were shattered and divided into tiny puzzles, as if it was a kaleidoscope. The strange thing though is that in every memory, it only showed Light Keiran's perspective about the world but did not show his inetarction with anyone nor did it show anyone noticing him, as if he did not existed at all. As I drank a cup of coffee and read a book about the history of this world, a group of individuals placed a person-sized mirror on the pillar beside me before leaving.

Glancing at the mirror, I saw my appearance clearly - Snow white hair, eyes of divergent hues, and a pallid complexion, hinting at a dual existence within a single vesel.

For the past days since I arrived in this world, I found that when I look into someone's eyes, I could see their fate, be it the past, present, or future.

Parting my lips slightly I couldn't help but mumble, "I wonder..."

As I looked into the mirror, I stared at my own eyes being reflected on it, trying to see my own fate.

Just as I caught sight of blurred threads, the sound of something shattering was heard as large cracks appeared on the mirror, making it difficult to see my face clearly.

A profound revelation struck as I gazed into the mirror, the fractured surface mirroring duality of my being. The cracks marred the reflection, dividing my appearance into two distinct halves, each a reflection of a separate identity coexisting within one body.