What Am I?

It was a stormy day, crepuscular rays, clothes billowing, hair swaying with the howling wind. A cold black cylindrical structure held on his head, lips curled up in a smirk. It was a pistol. With the press of the trigger a loud bang reverberated in the stormy wind. His body inclined backwards, splatters of blood splashed out from his head. And the person behind the pistol was…

"Fein!" Kuina hastily walked at Fein. "Are you alright?! Why is your nose bleeding? Do you need a tissue?! Oh gosh! I don't think i brought one.."

He softly brushed his fingers under his nose. "Don't worry. It'll stop."

"Are you sure? Please tell me how I can help you?"

"You don't need to worry, Kuina. I'm really alright."

Ludic, however, paid no attention to their commotions. He remained steadfast at keeping a watch.

What if the calamity showed up now?

However no calamity appeared that night, they had to disperse in the morning. It was all for naught.

In the morning, Yulia was found talking with someone in the office.

"Von2402 has requested to enter the Watcher's island. It will now proceed to the inspection area."

Yulia sighed a breath of relief. "Please keep me updated."

"Yes ma'am!"

"Ma'am Orks!"

Yulia swirled on her chair responding to the call.

"A storm is suspected to hit the Indian ocean tomorrow! The estimated wave height is 12 meters, wind velocity is 76m/s!"

"Shit." She cursed. "We'll have to reroute the ship. What is the estimated time?"

"At around noon."

"From our current route we should be entering the Zhang-shi territory."

"Yes ma'am. It is the shortest route to Watcher's Island. But the susceptible location of the cyclone core is the middle region of Zhang-shi, Hardenberg and Quluan. We can't take those routes."

Yulia glanced from the corner of her eyes at her intercom that lit up for a slight moment. She slammed her palms on the table simultaneously standing up.

"Then we'll be taking a detour."

"But ma'am! With our current supplies… a detour is a big gamble!"

"We've survived from the face of three beasts. A little storm isn't enough to kill us." She turned around and proceeded to walk out of the room. "We'll enter the Reinhardt territory this afternoon."

"What?! But the dragons.."

Yulia glanced from the corner of her eyes. "I think I've made myself clear."

"Yes ma'am!"

"At least its better than getting swept into Indian ocean or dying."

As Yulia exited the office room, she stumbled upon Ludic and his group waiting to report to her about their progress. Unfortunately she couldn't spare time for their report, what she was so busy with, they didn't know. She left suggesting that they should entirely handle the matter themselves and report afterwards.

"What are we going to do now?"

Asked Kuina.

"We couldn't find the calamity. So I'm going to go to sleep." Replied Fein. "Wake me up if anyone dies again." He turned his backs at them and walked away waving his hand.

"Are you seriously going to drop the case, Fein Rasmond?"

Ludic's question made Fein halt.

"Maybe i am. I get tired too, you know." His pupils rolled at Kuina as if indicating something. "I'm just going to get a little rest. I think we all should. None of us slept last night."

Conceiving his hinting gazes, Kuina nodded in agreement. "Yes. I think we won't be able to think much without rest."

Ludic sighed in disappointment, an expression of disapproval on his face.

"Whatever. I'll continue the investigation myself."

"Sure do."

The men parted their ways and the girl followed after the younger.

On the way to their rooms, Kuina asked Fein, "Did you need me for anything?"

"Yes."

Her face glimmered. It was the first time Fein was relying on her. She was so elated that her eyes brightened up and cheeks blushed.

"Sure! What can I do for you?"

"Shh.. lower." Mumbled Fein. While their eyes were fixed forward, focused on their steps, they conversed in their mumbling tones.

"Okay!"

"Bring me the keys to the doctor's cabin."

"Hmn? Is that all?"

"Yes." Surprisingly enough, the cabin shouldn't have been locked since it has most of the meds and first aid. It is locked whatsoever. "..Don't mention I asked for it."

"Oo… okay! I'll go get it right away!"

"No. Not now. After half an hour or so. Once you retrieve the keys, go to the doctor's office. Wait there for a while then leave. Remember, don't lock the door of his cabin. Make it appear like you thought of the idea yourself. After that please follow the person from whom you got the keys."

"Aaah.. alright. Not that I actually understand everything but I'll try to follow your every instruction."

"Thanks. Thats all i need for now."

They arrived at their front facing rooms.

Before they both entered, Kuina said,

"I'm glad you asked for my help. I hope you keep relying on me from now on."

Fein heard her but he spoke nothing. He wasn't sure what she meant by relying on her.

He assumed he was just using Kuina for his own needs and he had been doing so since the beginning.

What does relying on someone mean?

Even his faint golden locket glinted in confusion.

He pushed the door and entered his room. Right after entering he felt this sudden throbbing in his heart. It was so intense that he had to drop to his knees. It constricted his breathing, he had to heave.

He further dropped on his left arm while clenching his left chest.

It was an acute pain similar to cardiac arrest, but quite not the disease itself. He has felt this obnoxious throbbing before too but it was never this much painful.

It was as if his heart had contracted, drained all of its blood and won't expand anymore.

Despite the physical pain, he could see images flashing before his eyes.

There was this white ceiling above him. Wires surrounded his body. His feet, arms, fingers, neck nothing would move except his eyes. He could hear the whirring sound, a distant voice. He felt claustrophobic, the place felt so cramped to him.

Fein raised his arms to his head. Tears rolled from his eyes without his knowledge.

What is this?! What is this disgusting feeling?!

It isn't foresight! It isn't a dream!

This sense of sorrow and malice…

It is all real!

What was that place?!

Where was i before i woke up in this world?!

He began to heave quickly. Voice wouldn't come out of his throat. It was agonizing.

His internals were burning.

Engulfed with uncertainties, unknowns and mysteries, Fein found himself falling into an endless void.

He started to question his own existence.

Just what am I in this world?!