CHAPTER 22: THE FAR SHORE

_plink... plink...!

A pebble bounced through the still lake, spreading ripples in its path,

_ploop!

Before breaking the surface with a muted sound.

"♪Hmm..♪"

The lake slept beneath a pale, crimson dawn.

Mist drifted over its glassy surface like breath upon a mirror.

"♪Hmm♪....Hmm..♪"

A man sat at the water’s edge, barefoot, his rope draped loosely over his shoulders.

His red hair caught the early light, a fading ember in the chill morning air.

Each time his hand moved, another pebble slipped from his fingers, arcing through the stillness of the lack.

"♪Hmm..♪"

He hummed in a low voice with each throw.

Ripples spread outward, trembling faintly.

Then came the song.

"♪Hmm~gods slept within their art~"

_plink... plink...!

"~Bound by chains of their own design~"

_ploop!

"~The Wandering Eye, who saw all ends,

Bore madness in its sight~"

_plink... plink...plink!

Suddenly, the man’s hand paused,

_plink... plink...plink!

The stone he had cast earlier continued to bounce on the surface unnaturally.

_plink... plink...plink!

Left... Right... Left... then right again.

Physically, it should have lost its momentum by now,

yet it continued.

_plink... plink...plink!

Until,

_Tick!

It reached the far shore.

"Hooo!..."

The man let out a silent exclamation.

"That’s really one in billions... hmm, let’s see how far this would go."

He muttered to himself before continuing,

"♪Hmm..♪"

_plink... plink!

"~Beware the key that hums with void,

Beware the heart that never dies.

For through the cracks of fate’s old glass,

The lost shall open their eyes~"

_Ploop!

The next stone again broke the surface after some bounces,

slowly sinking to the depth of the lake.

Until it joined the rest of the others.

"~Like echoes in the deep

Time forgets, yet stories remain,

And fools still hum their names,

of gods who dreamed,

Of hearts they can’t claim.~"

******

_Crack!

The cocoon, hanging on the dark tree, trembled.

Thin cracks laced across its blue surface, glowing faintly from within.

A low hum pulsed through the air, like a heartbeat echoing underwater.

Then,

_Crack!

A hand ripped out of it.

Light spilled out in jagged lines.

Fragments peeled away, scattering like shards of frozen mist.

_Tick!

Suddenly, the cocoon lost its light and fell like a fruit from a tree.

_Thud!

And shatter like a watermelon hitting the ground.

"Ahaa!...haa..."

A figure stumbled out of pieces, gasping for air.

His naked body was slick with translucent fluid that shimmered under the faint light of other cocoons.

It dripped down his skin,

tracing faint veins that pulsed with color before fading into normal flesh.

"AGHH!"

I slowly sat on my knees, clutching the ground.

The cold bit into me, but my senses were too overwhelmed to care.

For a moment, I could hear nothing but the sound of my own breathing, raw and ragged.

I looked at my trembling hands.

’I feel like shit.’

[Sorry to break it to you. But I can’t hold it for long, you need to get out.]

Orran’s voice quickly snapped me out of daze.

’Right, I need to get out.’

I quickly channel mana through my body.

Steam curled from it, the strange fluid evaporating into glittering motes.

Then I summoned an armor,

Soon, an armor enveloped my body, a fitted black undershirt beneath a short, black chestplate traced with gold lines.

The armor protected only the vital areas, specifically the chest, shoulders, and forearms, allowing for a full range of motion.

A high-collared black tunic extended to my thighs, split at the sides for mobility.

Reinforced trousers and leather boots completed the outfit, built more for function than show.

The design was simple yet practical, light enough for fast combat and sturdy enough to deflect a blade.

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

[A Royal armor]

Rank: C

Category: tool

Enchantment: [Durable], [weightless]

Description: An armor tailored specifically for the Royal.

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

"Hah!"

A light chuckle escaped my mouth, finally seeing a familiar window screen in front of me.

’It felt like ages since I last saw it.’

This was another reminder that I was alive.

I shook my head,

’Not yet,’

There were so many things that I wanted to check, but not now.

’I need to escape first.’

I stood up and took another item from my subspace.

A small red gem.

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

[Scarlet Callstone]

Rank: D

Category: tool

Enchantment: [Emergency signal]

Description: A special alarm designed to call for help immediately.

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

A smirk appeared on my lips.

This was a reason I was being so smug in front of Dream Eater.

’Thank you, Cale.’

For being born in a rich family.

Thanks to that, I could escape now.

_Shatter!

I crushed the crystal in my palm.

Then I took out a simple black sword.

’Now, all that’s left is to survive till help arrives.’

I turned my head toward the swamp of insects revolving around the tree above me.

’Yep, not a big deal.’