Waking Up Confused and Misunderstood

I opened my eyes, only to find myself engulfed in an unsettling darkness. Panic began to rise within me as I scanned my surroundings, finding nothing but an empty void stretching infinitely in all directions. 

"Hello? Is anyone there?" I called out, my voice trembling in the silence. "Mayor Philip? Lord Sauros? Fracta? Eris? Brother?"

My desperate cries echoed into nothingness, met only by the eerie stillness of the void. The sensation of being utterly alone in this abyss was unsettling, to say the least.

I tentatively took a step forward, my bare feet making no sound against the unseen ground. My heart pounded loudly in my chest as I continued to call out for anyone who might hear me.

But there was no response, not even a whisper of reassurance.

Fear began to gnaw at me as I wandered aimlessly through this dark void, my hands outstretched to feel for any presence or obstacle that might provide a clue to my location.

As I moved further into the darkness, I stumbled upon something unexpected. It is a cage, wrought from cold, unforgiving metal.

My curiosity piqued, I approached it carefully, my fingers brushing against the cold bars.

Peering inside, I saw a figure huddled in the darkest corner of the cage. The person within seemed to be crying softly, their sobs echoing in the empty void.

"Hey, are you alright in there?" I asked tentatively, my voice filled with concern.

The weeping ceased abruptly, and the figure slowly turned to face me. In the dim light, I glimpsed into their eyes, an ominous shade of red. Fear surged as I took in this unsettling sight.

The figure then began to emerge from the shadows, inching towards me. As their form became clearer, I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was me, or at least, it appeared to be.

She had the same brown hair and clothing as I was wearing, but what set us apart was her crimson red eyes that are currently glaring at me.

"Um, who are you?" I asked anxiously, my voice quivering as I tried to comprehend the surreal situation before me.

The other me, the one with crimson red eyes, continued to approach. Her movements were slow and menacing, as if she was savoring my unease. Eventually, she stopped and stood just a few inches away from me with the cage separating us.

She then slipped her hands through the metal bars and suddenly grabbed me by the collar before pulling me closer. Her breathing was rugged and heavy, as if her anger is rising.

Then finally, she spoke, her voice cold and harsh, "Give me back the life you have stolen from me."

I was so shocked by her response that I couldn't find the words to respond. The weight of her accusation hung heavily in the air, and I could feel her grip on my collar tightening.

"I-I don't understand," I stammered, my heart pounding. "I haven't stolen anyone's life. Who exactly are you?"

Her eyes bore into mine, filled with a mixture of anger and something else, something almost like desperation. "You took everything from me!!"

"I don't even know who you are," I cried, trying to break free from her grasp.

However, her grip remained unyielding, almost as if she were draining my strength. "Oh, you will! You will soon learn who I am!" 

Gradually, I began to lose my vision, and everything faded into darkness.

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"GASP!"

I awoke with a sudden gasp, my body jerking upright. I greedily inhaled air, breaking free from the unsettling clutches of that vivid dream. The memory of it still lingered in my mind, a stark contrast to the peaceful awakening I had expected.

Immediately, I pushed myself into a sitting position, my chest heaving as I fought to regain control of my racing heart.

I then surveyed my surroundings and realized that I was in a warmly lit room, a place far removed from the nightmarish void that had ensnared me moments ago.

The sensation of the bed beneath me, the familiar room, all served as reassuring anchors, reminding me that I was no longer trapped in the haunting abyss of my dream.

However, the echoes of that eerie encounter persisted, refusing to release their grip on my mind.

creak

Abruptly, the sound of a door swinging open drew me from my thoughts. I turned my gaze, finding a blonde elf girl peeking curiously from behind the door, her green eyes glance with concern.

Not wanting to leave her hanging, I began to speak, "Hello there, I—"

"Big brother, she's awake again!" the elf girl exclaimed urgently, darting out of the room before I could complete my sentence.

Her sudden reaction left me bewildered, as if something significant had occurred while I was unconscious.

"I suppose she's just excited," I mused to myself, pushing the strange moment aside.

Shifting my attention to the unfamiliar room, I found it inviting, emitting a warm ambiance. It was decently furnished, creating a soothing atmosphere.

After that, I looked out of the window, and I was greeted by a breathtaking sight—an expansive winter landscape, shimmering with pristine snow.

I then strained myself to remember the events after being engulfed by that calamity. All I could recall was the blinding light, followed by the sensation of waking up in an unfamiliar snowy forest.

SLAM

But then, my thoughts were interrupted once again. I turn my attention to the door and found two boys, one is blonde and the other has dark hair, and each were wielding a metal pan with an air of caution and fear. They seemed unusually on edge for some reason.

Confused by their sudden appearance, I decided to inquire. "Hello there. Can I help you two?"

"Aren't you going to get mad at us and beat us to a pulp?" the boy with blonde hair asked, still gripping the pan defensively.

I furrowed my brow, utterly perplexed by his question. "Why would I get mad? And I certainly have no intention of harming anyone."

The two boys exchanged a bewildered glance before slowly lowering their makeshift weapons. They whispered something to each other before returning their attention to me.

"So, you're not angry at all? You won't... you know, harm us both?" the dark-haired boy reiterated the question, but this time, his tone held confusion, as if they expected a completely different response.

I shook my head, still somewhat baffled by their concerns. "No, I have no reason to be angry or violent. In fact, I'm more confused about who you two are and where I am right now."

The two boys looked even more baffled by my calm response, and the room filled with a sense of mutual confusion.

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After our conversation, the tension in the room seemed to melt away. The two boys, who had initially been wary with their makeshift weapons, gradually relaxed and introduced themselves.

"My name is Cedric Ashborne," said the dark-haired boy, gesturing to his blonde friend. "And this is Eugeo Frostwood."

I nodded in understanding, relieved to learn their names. "Nice to meet you two. My name is Reine Greyrat."

In response, they exchanged curious glances, their expressions shifting from nervousness to interest.

Cedric spoke first, his tone cautious but less anxious. "So, Reine, you really don't remember anything? Like how you got here or what happened after that?"

I shook my head, feeling a sense of frustration. "I wish I did, but my memory is hazy. The last thing I recall was fleeing from a calamity, and the next thing I knew, I was in the snowy forest."

"Well, it's quite strange, isn't it, Eugeo?" Cedric remarked, scratching the back of his head.

Eugeo agreed with a nod. "It sure is, Cedric. But we couldn't leave her alone out here. She looks like she's been through a lot."

"Thank you for helping me. I really don't know what's going on right now." I expressed my gratitude for their concern, despite my own confusion.

Hearing my genuine thanks, the two boys exchanged another glance, their concern for me evident in their eyes.

Cedric then turned his attention to me, his puzzled expression apparent. "Are you serious that you don't remember the violent acts you did earlier?" he asked with uncertainty.

I furrowed my brows, not understanding the accusation he was making. "Huh, what violent acts are you talking about?"

The two boys seemed hesitant at first but eventually they confessed, explaining that I had acted aggressively earlier. According to them, I had been harsh with my words and had made quite a mess while eating the food they had offered to me.

Taken aback by their revelation, I struggled to reconcile their description of my behavior with my own understanding of myself.

Determined to know more about what had happened, I pressed for more details. "Is there anything else you noticed about me at that time?"

"Well, let's see," Cedric pondered for a moment before meeting my gaze. "Your eyes were crimson red a while ago."

"Huh, my eyes were red?" I repeated, baffled by the mention of my eyes having different color.

Both of them nodded in agreement, confirming my suspicion. "Yes, they were definitely crimson red earlier," Eugeo added, "but now they're blue, which is surprising."

Their affirmation left me utterly confounded, but suddenly, a wave of anxiety washed over me as I remembered the dream I had earlier.

I recalled seeing a version of myself with the same red eyes inside a cage. What's more alarming was her behavior that time. It matches the description Cedric and Eugeo told me just now.

Could it be that she took control of my body when I was unconscious? If so, why now? Why at this particular moment?

"Hey, are you alright?" Cedric asked worriedly. "You look a bit pale right there."

Snapping out of my contemplation, I nodded to his concern. "Yes, I'm fine. I was just worried by what I have done to you two."

"It's okay, you didn't actually harm anyone of us," Eugeo chimed in, reassuring me.

Hearing that, I furrowed my brows, confused by his words. "Then why are you worrying I will beat you guys earlier?"

"Well, we did say that," he admitted. "Although we're not harmed by you, someone else took the blow of your aggression that time."

"Who was it?" I asked with a mixed of curiosity and concern.

They both hesitated before Cedric decided to speak, "Well, about that..."

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Later on, Cedric and Eugeo led me outside of their home and head towards a commotion in the streets where a small crowd had gathered.

We maneuvered our way through the crowd to the center, where I saw two men lying face-down on the concrete road, each of their heads firmly planted in a small crater.

"What happened here?" I asked, puzzled about how these people had ended up in this state.

Eugeo smiled wryly and began to explain, "Well, a while ago, you decided to leave the house, and you encountered a certain noble who mocked you for your tattered clothing."

"And then what happened?" I inquired, curious to hear the rest of the story.

Cedric jumped in, continuing the tale. "You got annoyed at that moment and decided to teach the noble a lesson."

"However, his two guards stepped in to defend him," Eugeo added. "But you just defeated them effortlessly, using only your fists."

"And what about the noble? What happened to him?" I pressed onwards, wondering where they had gone.

"They ran away like cowards," both Cedric and Eugeo responded in unison before sharing a lighthearted laugh.

I was a bit worried about the trouble I had just caused, but given how these two laughed it off, it seemed like a minor incident. So, I decided to join them in their laughter, reassuring myself.

"You there! I have found you!"

Suddenly, a male voice shouted angrily, putting an end to our laughter. We all then turned towards the direction of the voice and saw a blonde elf noble glaring at my direction. Behind him stood a muscular swordswoman.

Seeing them, the guilt I felt earlier resurfaced in my mind, and I had a feeling that trouble was certainly going to unfold.