Mysterious Man

Artemis slid down the side of her bed with her head pounding in confusion. No matter how much she tried to brush it off, the matter of Ian wielding the dark element had bothered her greatly than she should have. It was all a novel's work, with no real connection to reality—yet Artemis can't help the heavy pressure in her chest as she thought of him. Why was she getting so agitated for no reason?

"Sigh…" Artemis closed her eyes and laid her head on the soft pillows of her bed. As her mind started to calm down from the recent episodes, she quietly listened to the crackle of the fireplace that slowly soothed her mind and heart into peaceful beats of melody. Not later, her eyes drooped down and she fell deep into sleep.

.

.

.

Right before her eyes, darkness blanketed every corner of her vision. It was the same as her previous dream where she saw the metropolitan city. But instead of that, standing in front of her was a huge figure blanketed in blinding light which vaguely covered his face and showed only a portion of his chin. He wore simple white robes, yet Artemis can't deny the immense pressure she felt from him.

"…who are you?" She asked.

The figure did not respond and the uncomfortable silence went on for a few seconds as if he were observing her before speaking.

"You're Artemis Francia?"

Artemis flinched back in surprise. Her eyebrows furrowed and she can't help but be scared of this unfamiliar situation, "Yes… I'm Artemis. How did you know?"

"Hm… I see. You do not need to be afraid, child. I'm not here to hurt you, but rather, bring you back to where you truly belong."

"Where I belong? What are you talking about?"

'Ha.'

She stopped in her tracks after her questions and felt foolish. Was this not a ridiculous dream she is currently having? Why was she feeling so scared for no reason at all? And why was she even bothering to take this matter seriously?

Those were all questions running around her mind as she tried to calm down her thumping heart. After a few bouts of deep breath, she opened her eyes and the man suddenly spoke.

"I'm sure you have been feeling it ever since childhood days, no? That you felt you did not belong there."

His simple statement made her heart tremble. He did not specify what 'there' was yet she instinctively knew just what it is. Her already muddled mind reacted strongly to this statement and she grew agitated. She wanted to open her mouth and strongly disagree with him, that she felt perfectly fine living. She had goals, ambitions, and even dreams. She wanted to succeed and surpass others and so she had worked hard. Was that not the definition of living life? But deep inside, she knew herself the answer. It was never enough. No matter how much Artemis tried to take comfort by drowning herself in temporary entertainments, it could not erase the heavy feeling of isolation she had felt all her life as she endlessly tried to pursue whatever vague dreams she had.

As if sensing her thoughts, the man gave a deep chuckle which she did not know whether sarcasm or amusement.

"Don't worry, child. It is not your fault that you feel that way. Rather, the fault of fate for sending you to a place where you do not belong. Tell me, do you want to go to the place where you can finally soothe your heart?"

…

Artemis seriously contemplated his words. It did not matter if it was all dreams or not, she wanted to relish in this temporary solution that he was about to give her. However, a place where she belongs? Can something like that even exist? If so, what is it?

"I can't help but feel as if you're duping me. What's this place that will soothe my heart? Isn't that just crazy nonsense?"

The man chuckled once again yet his next words did not match his light-hearted personality, "Crazy nonsense, child? Even if it is all crazy nonsense, I have no choice but to send you there due to his incessant pleadings. You have no opinion on this matter, too."

…what?

Artemis felt a cold shiver run down the back of her neck and she furrowed her eyebrows. Was he threatening her? Using her muddled feelings to send him to somewhere she does not know anything about?

"…whatever. These are just dreams anyway," She muttered underneath her breath but the man heard it. His lips turned upwards in a subtle sneer before he clasped his hands together.

"Dream… I guess you can say it is. But, I don't think you'd be able to say that once you go back there. Anyways, since this is not real anyway, would you like to try?"

Artemis stared at the mysterious man with a frown on her face. The way he talks about things in a cryptic manner had made her uncomfortable to trust him. But, the expectation of tasting novelty in her life had drowned out her reasonable thoughts and she wanted to experience whatever he was about to give her.

After all, this was all just a dream.

Artemis gulped before she opened her mouth, "Alright. I'll give it a try."

"Haha! Great decision, child," Even without seeing his features, Artemis was able to imagine a big smile on the man who was relieved of whatever reasons he had.

"Since you are going to try it in my favor, is there anything you'd like to be given before venturing in your fun adventure?"

"Something I'd like…?"

There was no use contemplating on what to ask for. Artemis already knew just what she had dreamt of having all her life ever since she was young.

"Make me talented, then. Can you do that?"

Intelligent, smart, quick-witted. Those were words that Artemis had desperately wanted to be called with ever since she was a child. It was a pleasurable and exciting feeling to be noticed as someone gifted and talented, she wanted everyone's attention. She wanted everyone to know that she was someone superior. Perhaps it was her inner-childishness and selfishness that prompted this, but it never disappeared on her mind as long as she was not sleeping.

Unfortunately, it was all just dreams she had. Artemis was not born talented and she had to work twice as hard as others who were truly gifted in order to catch up to them. She had to make efforts in everything she wanted to accomplish, especially when others look down on her for being 'average'. It was not only others that made her want to achieve this, but her own greediness to be everything that others can't hope to be.

This man was asking her whatever she wanted in exchange for trying to go to a world unknown to her. Furthermore, these are all dreams, and was there anything to lose to try?

The man stayed silent for a while as if surprised by her choice. Artemis was somehow nervous as she waited for his response and she fidgeted in her position. Soon, the man showed signs of subtle movements and she awaited his words.

"Talented… You do know that if I make you talented, you still need to work on it right? You can just say whatever skill you want and I'll make you excel at it immediately."

Hearing this, Artemis fervently shook her head, "No, that's too ridiculous. With great effort comes great harvest, I believe in that. Immediately perfecting something is not rewarding compared to the former."

He nodded his head, seemingly in agreement.

"Alright. In your new world, I will make you talented. As for how it works, I trust that you will be able to find out how it works yourself. You should also remember that this blessing I'm giving you will have its own disadvantages, right? I can't have you being too talented for your own good as much as I trust you."

"Yes, sure. That's good for me, too. Anyways, when will I transfer to the new world? Will there be a specific time or-"

"No, we do it now."

Artemis was cut off and the man suddenly raised both his hands up the sky. Blue light manifested from his palms, gradually becoming larger and larger before it consumed her whole vision and she had to close her eyes in pain.