Chapter 1

Such hunger. A voracious hunger. A man in simple and completely dirty clothes sat among a group of people, amidst a gastronomic spectacle that extended to every corner. Banquets spread out like mirages before his eyes. The man chewed the food with a bitter expression, each bite seeming to be torment.

"Why can't I go back to the beginning? Everything is so desolate. The food has no flavor, it's as if it's gone bad. Why can't I stop?" the man questioned himself, consumed by anguish. He felt only disgust and revulsion, but the inability to cease was overwhelming. It seemed so paradoxically satisfying.

However, he was not the only one facing this situation. Wherever his eyes wandered, he saw other people indulging in countless banquets, their mouths stuffed with food. Some overflowed with happiness, while others wept incessantly, yet still continued to eat. Except for one person.

"Oh, what do we have here? I see a group of beautiful women who catch my eye with their beauty. However, they are becoming as ugly as pigs while they eat," commented a woman with white hair, dressed in noble attire but not losing her own elegance. Her eyes surveyed the surroundings, witnessing people devouring their meals without pause. The observer also noted the disparity in the attire of those participating in this frenzy, some wearing old and dirty clothes while others flaunted fabrics of better quality.

"I was not summoned by a master? The situation here is depressing. What does it matter if my beauty becomes more resplendent... Ah, now I remember... Damn promise," the woman murmured disdainfully. She had considered exterminating the young and beautiful girls present but restrained herself, bound by a promise that held her back.

------------

In a peaceful town, people hurriedly walked, each with a stern face, avoiding any kind of interaction. In the midst of this tense atmosphere, a man accidentally bumped into a woman.

"You wretched woman, are you blind? I'll rip your eyes out to see if you can see better!" The man, consumed by anger, became furious with the woman who walked without paying attention to her surroundings.

"What? Me blind? Who are you to say that? Come on then! I'll rip off your damn balls and see if you can walk better without bumping into people!" The woman responded with fury, tightly grabbing the man's testicles. Despite receiving a punch in return, she didn't let go, and the two ended up getting into a scuffle, involving others.

"Are you all blind? I'll gouge out all your eyes!"

"Damn it! My clothes were new! You bastards, I'll kill you!"

Shouts of insults and offensive words echoed everywhere. They began to attack each other, each one trying to destroy the other in a fight without any apparent reason. They used their fists and any objects found on the ground as improvised weapons.

"What the hell is happening in this town? Have all these people gone mad?" At the top of one of the houses, a woman with long pale golden hair swayed gently in the wind. Her pale golden eyes expressed confusion as she watched people involved in the fight.

"I hadn't noticed, but now that I realize it, I'm in France..." The woman spoke these words and fell silent, her eyes slightly shining with resentment. A intriguing smile formed on her face.

"So, it means there's no one to stop me this time? I hope no idiots come to interfere with me this time." The woman opened a gigantic smile, just imagining that nothing could stop her.

In the picturesque village, a charming scene unfolded before their eyes. Various people filled the streets, each engaged in their own activities. Some sat at tables, immersed in a mysterious and lively game, while others contemplated their own reflection in the serene waters of a nearby lake.

"I can't help but be amazed by my own beauty. It's truly fascinating," declared a young woman, admiring her reflection in the liquid mirror.

A middle-aged man, exuding confidence, challenged his opponent: "Do you really intend to bet? Let me tell you right now that I'm the best."

"You know, I would say the same about you, but I'm sure you already know that I'm superior. Unlike you, I have no doubt that I'm unbeatable," retorted the man, sustaining his confidence without being able to conceive anyone who could surpass him.

Meanwhile, a man with short red hair, dressed in armor and wielding a spear, appeared confused at the entrance of the village. His eyes scanned the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and disorientation. "Is this really French soil? Everything seems so peculiar," he wondered, observing the community attentively. His restlessness was heightened by a small sign next to the village road, whose mysterious words seemed to echo in his mind: "Repent, and I will welcome you at the gates of heaven... Who could have placed such an inscription here?"

As the man entered the village, he noticed a peculiar atmosphere among the people, filled with confidence and even arrogance. He couldn't help but question, "Why so much pomp and self-assurance among these residents?" His gaze was inevitably drawn to the small sign, which seemed to somewhat explain the posture adopted by the inhabitants.

Determined to find answers, the man approached a young woman who contemplated her reflection in the tranquil waters of a stream. "Good day. Could you tell me what's happening around here?" he asked, hopeful for some clarity.

The young woman, in a disdainful gesture, responded without averting her gaze from herself, "Don't you realize I'm admiring my own beauty? Have some patience. When I have a free moment, I might consider talking to you." She completely ignored him, leaving him stunned at having been rejected in favor of a mere water reflection. "How can she simply dismiss me like that? Doesn't she know who I am?" he wondered, perplexed by the disrespectful attitude he had just experienced.

Lost in thought, the man felt confused, unable to understand why that woman didn't give him the attention he believed he deserved. "Why are these thoughts troubling me?" he questioned, tormented by a restlessness that seemed to permeate him in the face of that incomprehensible situation.

With a suspicious gaze and a growing sense of discomfort, the man began to realize that something was deeply wrong in that village. He considered the possibility of some kind of magic or enchantment being at play. However, the true nature of this puzzle remained obscure, and his mistrust only deepened within him.

While he reflected on his experience and tried to comprehend the strange circumstances surrounding him, the voice of the young woman who had ignored him earlier echoed in his ears: "I see you're still standing there, admiring my beauty? Know that it doesn't come for free. You'll have to pay me with your gaze and your compliments." The woman, glancing at him briefly and barely acknowledging his presence, seemed to offer him an opportunity for redemption.

However, faced with the imminent risk of uttering unwanted words, the man chose silence and decided to walk away. His eyes turned to the sky, where golden clouds covered the entire horizon, emanating an ethereal glow. Amidst this mesmerizing scene, an unwavering certainty took shape in his mind: that village, with its enigmatic atmosphere and arrogant inhabitants, was not a place where he wanted to stay.

------------------

38 advanced chapters on my Patreon: patreon.com/Louisdg