Chapter 19 - Unknown Future [2]
In a world of white, I woke up in my apartment; the only difference was that no other colours were present.
Due to some interference, I lost the ability to make a coherent thought, even if I tried.
Something felt amiss, yet the place still feels familiar.
I lay down on a rough floor emotionlessly, my face as stiff as a rock.
'…How long have I been stuck here?'
Seconds, minutes, hours. The concept of time doesn't exist here.
Just as the memory sealed deep within me re-opened, an abnormality occurred in this bland space.
'Is that the Exitium Stone…?' The Exitium stone remained still, hovering directly above me.
Another period of silence passed, and eventually, my subconscious allowed me to see what lay in this room. Beyond this room was a white space, a place I had once been.
'Could this place be…?" I uttered and heard a familiar voice, this time filled with hostile intent.
⌈Become one.⌋
A voice echoed in my head, causing a headache that blurred my vision.
⌈Become one.⌋
⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋
⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋
⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋ ⌈Become one⌋ ⌈Become one.⌋
The voice kept repeating, as if it were trying to drive me to the brink of insanity.
—Vooom…! Rumble Rumble!
However, that proactive voice wasn't directed at me; it was aimed at the Exitium stone, which was violently reacting to the voices—it's as if the stone were trying to reject them.
—Rumble…
'Oh… I can move my head now.' I regained some control over my body, mainly just my head.
In an effort, I rotated my head to see where the Exitium stone was fleeing away.
"Huh...? My chest?" I thought as I watched the stone silently approach my chest.
Although it was too late, my eyes widened in fear after I realized what was about to happen.
—Crack…
If the stone were to embed itself in my heart, my soul screamed at me, telling me that something irreversible was about to unfold. I had to stop it at all costs.
—C…CRACK!!
But it was too late.
“Aa… aa….” I tried to scream as loud as I could.
—CRACK!
Yet I couldn't scream.
“Aaa… ag… ah…”
Nor move my body.
—Crack!
No one was here to witness this torture.
—Crack…!
Mercilessly, my body merged and broke without rest, then regenerated, forming a never-ending cycle.
'Ag… ea…” Unable to bear the pain, I eventually lost consciousness and faded away into nothing.
…
…
...
"Wel... com... back..." A distant voice rang out; it was the last thing I heard. Her fragile voice echoed gently in the world of white.
=======
"A-AHHHHHH…! Ah?" I jolted awake in bed, sweat trickling down my face.
"Wait… was it all just a dream?" I scratched my head, my hand instinctively moving to my chest to check if everything felt normal.
"Ha… Haha, so it was just a nightmare." Even my voice cracked unnaturally, anxious about how vivid and painful that dream was.
Chuckling to mask my unease, I turned toward the window beside my bed. Through the glass, I could see a flock of birds flitting about, their cheerful chirping mingling with the warm rays of the rising sun.
A wave of realization crashed over me again, hitting me like a freight train: I had truly escaped Aleph, didn't I?
'Ugh… what kind of dream did I have last night to leave me feeling this shaken?'
I fell asleep like a log last night, yet the haunting echoes of that dream sent chills racing down my spine.
"Hmm, that dream..." I closed my eyes, attempting to piece things together. The harder I tried to focus, the more my headache throbbed.
"Agh, I give up, I need some water." I stood up and decided to head over to the kitchen.
Hopefully, drinking water might clear my head and improve my morning...
"H-Huh? Whoa!!!"
—THUD!
"Bleh!"
Before I could catch myself, I found myself crashing face-first into the floor and made a rather... adorable squeal, which I didn't intend to make.
I couldn't help but grimace at my own clumsiness, wondering how I managed to turn a simple task into a spectacle.
"U-Ugh..." I scratched my head in pain.
None of my senses was functioning correctly, and my vision was shrouded in darkness.
Was this a result of severe mana exhaustion, or was it somehow linked to that bizarre dream?
—Chirp Chirp!
'Ah… hmm. Right, about that.'
The moment I stepped into the kitchen, reality struck me once again, revealing a horrifying sight.
The only thing I can label as food in the kitchen was the birds that snuck in.
Without batting an eye, I shook my head and smiled, letting the future me (in five minutes) deal with this soon.
As part of my daily routine, I went to the bathroom to check on things. I might easily break the door if I'm not careful enough.
—Creak!
Alas, thanks to my positive thinking, the bathroom is indeed… An absolute mess.
The toothbrush in the cupboards had mould growing on it, and the toothpaste I forgot to close was… hmm, it's better if I keep my mouth shut.
The bathroom mirror was also broken. Has it always been positioned so high?
'Reality is often disappointing.' I decided to head back to the bedroom and sat down on the mattress.
Today is oddly similar to the day when I almost missed the garbage truck. So why did the world fall apart so suddenly?
'At this point, why do I even bother when there's no one here to answer my question?' I shook my head in embarrassment.
It wasn't because of the topic itself, but rather because I was talking to myself—like a man who had lost his mind.
To be fair, that's not half-wrong, considering the current situation.
…For now, getting the necessary supplies is a must to survive.
I haven't checked the condition of the canned goods in my cupboards yet, so those will be my last hope before I resort to eating birds for breakfast.
Considering the decay this residence has experienced, it is likely that time has advanced by approximately 3 to 7 years.
If more than a decade has passed, the world has no chance of recovering.
I won't be able to do anything; everything would face eternal damnation, and Earth would cease to exist.
"Haaah..."
There it is again, that abnormally cute voice that spilled out of my mouth. I've gone so crazy that I'm trying to develop a second voice to talk to myself with.
"When does the story take place…?" I sighed, ignoring the tone of my voice.
Perhaps this is where my former role as the author of this so-called world I created can prove helpful.
In the world of Magi Arcana, the entire story spans 5 years.
Four years pass in Arcadia, and the final year takes place beyond their days as students, as true heroes.
The 1st Cardinal Sky emerges during Noah's second year in Arcadia, which is two years into the story.
Then, in another two years, the 2nd Cardinal Sky occurs, and the Pylons activate worldwide simultaneously, resulting in billions of casualties.
Lastly, the 3rd Cardinal Sky, as I mentioned before, has never happened. That's out of the question if things are still proceeding in the same direction.
If the 3rd Cardinal Sky did happen, then I wouldn't be standing here all giddy to myself instead of burning in hell.
"That's enough." I stood up and went to the kitchen. Thinking about the current situation can wait until another day.
Unfamiliar with the simplest of movements, I wobbled slightly as I regained my balance.
My messy hair felt unusual; it brushed my shoulders, reminding me that I was going to get it cut in a week.
As my senses gradually adjusted, I became aware of my clothing draping loosely around me; the baggy fabric felt surprisingly uncomfortable against my skin.
If the bathroom mirror weren't broken, I would have noticed something was terribly wrong now that I'm accustomed to hearing this voice.
Before I noticed, I walked back to the kitchen to grab some food to fill up my stomach.
"…Whew, alright, here goes nothing." I opened the shelves to find food that may or may not be edible.
As long as it helps me survive another day, I'd eat anything, even if I ended up vomiting from pure disgust.
"Oh?" I opened my eyes and felt a cylinder shape touching my fingers, "Ah, thank God… There's still some canned goods in good condition left on the shelves." I exhaled in relief.
I don't know if this world's standards were abnormally high, but personally, I find the canned food here delicious.
…Or maybe the Demurgians are just too prideful to eat canned goods in the first place.
This is a rich country after all—well, once was.
—Fwoom…!
"Great, this will be my breakfast today." I used fire magic to heat one of the tuna cans.
Trying to find a table where I could eat, I stopped only to realize that even the table was broken.
"Guess I'll make my own table instead." I stopped thinking about how miserable I was and moved on.
—Vooom!
"At least there is one good thing about having a worn-down house." I sat down on the floor and made a small table using earth magic without worrying about cleaning it afterward.
—Munch…
"…Hehe, not bad." I nodded my head in satisfaction and kept eating. On the inside, I was thrilled to see that it was still well-preserved.
—Gulp… Gulp!
To finish this lacklustre yet fulfilling breakfast, I drank water using magic and made a cup as well.
…Hey, it works.
It was empty since there wasn't any rice, but I didn't complain and ate breakfast in silence. It was no different from my past life, except that the world is in a state of collapse.
…Ahem. Anyway, the problem now is finding a way to store my food while travelling.
The backpack I wore in Aleph was going to break because I'd been treating it carelessly. I can fix it, but I doubt it would be enough to fit essentials.
Deep in thought, it took me a while to finally think of something.
"Oh… I can use the Ichor." A genius idea came to mind.
Although it was unexpected, I managed to bring the Ichor with me.
It's a good thing I have a pure magic core because otherwise, not being able to use the Ichor sounds miserable.
Now that I rested for an entire day, my mana replenished, and I can finally use magic again.
So without thinking about it, I formed a backpack using an Ichor while closing my eyes.
There wasn't any flamboyant transformation amid it; I didn't comment on it and only nodded in satisfaction.
Form can replicate objects to a high degree; all I need is a bit of mana, and I'm done.
Ichor never consumed that much mana in the first place. The other two abilities, Conjure and Copy, take too much.
—Voom…!
I used the Ichor and envisioned the backpack to be bigger with my left hand, my other hand occupied with eating.
"…Nice." I smirked.
Grinning absentmindedly, I realized there was something that had been nagging at me ever since I woke up.
"Can I also make a mirror as well?" I felt like it was time to address the elephant in the room.
There's... there's no way, right?
As if I wished for the mirror against my will, the Ichor happily obliged with my bidding and formed a mirror, presenting me with what I look like.
...
...
...
"...Hmm?"
I gazed at my reflection, taking in my pale, almost ghostly skin and long, silky black hair, glinting with shades of gold.
My eyes, striking and feline, also had deep gold irises, my pupils slitted like a cat's.
I looked at the petite girl, standing at around 150 cm, and the unfamiliarity of her appearance left me momentarily breathless.
"..."
Disbelief washed over me as I processed the sight before me. Slowly, I lifted my hand and... pinched my cheek.
—Squish!
"Gweeeh."
...
...
...
That voice was so cute that it felt wrong in so many layers.
Ah, it all makes sense now. Everything finally clicked into place.
I stood there, smiling and making certain poses at my reflection, but that innocent expression soon twisted into horror.
"...!"
That day, my scream echoed so loudly that I think I shattered the sound barrier.
As if a divine voice whispered to me that if I wanted to wear a costume in the spotlight, it had to be something fitting.
But not for boys—no, no, but for girls.
I have transformed into a girl—something I never imagined would happen.
Everything that happened before this moment felt so foolishly trivial in comparison.
