Nightmare Mythos

"Uh…"

I don't really remember anything after I entered the penetrated reality.

It seemed my mind had been too chaotic while the pain coursing through my body was crushing enough that it made me lose consciousness.

Did Cedeit already take control over me while I've been out?

I don't really know.

Do I have to stay awake most of the time to avoid losing consciousness to avoid him having control over me?

I don't really know.

But as soon as I woke up, this is what dawned upon me…

"What am I doing in a hospital bed?"

It's been a while since I saw a normal ceiling wall made out of marble. A normal-looking light that isn't a torch, a spiraling lamp, or a glowing book is enough to produce a vision for whoever might need such a sighting.

I should've been thrilled to see such a thing but I remained motionless in my place.

It was because I still don't know what's going on.

But one thing's for certain.

'Something isn't right…'

There are guards on the side of my bed. More guards were stationed all around such as the location of the door of my room while another was located outside. Additionally, there seems to be a hidden security using his Facet observing me through the wall… how funny for it to hide from me— wait, how could I see him?

If they're guards in my room when I'm only an academy student, it could only mean that I've done something bad to put me in custody or because of what happened to City of Wheels.

The survivors from the City of Wheels accident must've been interrogated already while probably finding similarities in their statements upon hearing and gathering one single intel altogether.

Who is Cesar Sparrow?

Or did they just find out I was hosting a Nightmare right behind the whole façade I was showing? Speaking of a Nightmare… Cedeit has been really quiet in my mind.

I'm going nuts just by merely thinking...

Creak—!

Soon enough, the entrance of the room slid open, revealing a pair of adults entering inside. One was Arnold, the current headmaster of the Resisting Academy, who was still stoic yet heartwarming like he is.

As for the other… I didn't really expect this person to show up at all.

Shouldn't the academy send someone in a much higher position instead of someone who is only an informant?

"Sir Arnold…"

I shifted my gaze to the man beside Arnold, who, for some reason, seemed to be putting a great distance between the two of them out of respect.

"Sir Nas," Explore new worlds at мѵʟ

The last time I saw Nas, this informant, if my memory is correct was the time when I asked information regarding the Facet. I was able to do this since it is one of the rewards I received through hard work.

"Sparrow, it's been a while,"

Nas spoke in an amiable tone as he took down his hat above his head.

I nodded since it really had been a while.

"Look, please don't get surprised. Everyone said that you were the last person that they had seen on this… Library, inside this Mansion. And you are the same person who created an exit for them… this so-called Penetrated Reality. Am I following? Do you remember this?"

I don't know what they are trying to get in here for but… shouldn't they at least wait for a day to make me recuperate my strength? I just woke up a few minutes ago, for goodness sake. I will willingly answer their questions then… but wouldn't that mean they would use some sort of truth machine to figure out if I was lying or not, right?

I guess this is better.

"Yes, I can remember,"

Nas with a dashing smile, continued, "I want you to tell me honestly when you created this?"

What kind of stupid question is that? When did I create the penetrated reality? Isn't that yesterday?

With a light cough while pondering very deeply, I retorted, "Sir, if we're on the same thinking, I created this penetrated reality for them to exit… just yesterday. Then I came back here soon but I lost consciousness along the way. How long was I out, sir?"

Nas seemed to notice that detail as his face looked like he figured everything itself out while Arnold had his mood dampened. Nas shifted his gaze to the side and saw Arnold nodding once before he put his gaze back at me.

"Cesar, listen to me."

"I'm listening…"

Why does your tone sound so… creepy?

Nas nodded once before he continued, "Cesar, you lost consciousness the moment you landed here, to another Penetrated Reality you made yourself. This was three days ago and you have been out of consciousness since then,"

It… sounded very normal. Why the hell is your tone so different, though?! Seriously, it is giving me heebie-jeebies— wait just a moment.

I was out for three days ago… but for me, the interval where I… no, not exactly me, but Cedeit who created the penetrated reality made it yesterday… though?

I'm confused…

As if to answer this question in my head, Nas then continued, "But you see Cesar, your words didn't align with what actually happened. When you said that you created the penetrated reality, it seems you are thinking about it now… you're wrong about it and probably confused. Do you know why?"

I couldn't answer because he was right.

Nas then continued after a long pause.

"Cesar, the fifty-three survivors amongst the thousand soldiers that went through the library already came back a little bit over a year ago. Those fifty-three lives that are indebted to you are only here thanks to your heroism. You have become a hero—"

Nas's statement continued to pass through my ear to another as my mind was in its own world.

My mind was already stuck at the moment Nas said 'a year ago'

After all, that doesn't make any sense at all.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

I knew that Cedeit who created the penetrated reality had been yesterday. It also happened yesterday when I came face to face with the Void… and you're telling me that not only have I been out for three days, which is something I can take myself… but it has been already almost a year since I helped those people leave the Mansion?

Wouldn't that mean….

'Wait, wait, wait… that's fucked up. The time has already been disrupted like that? Wouldn't that mean… I was traveling through the penetrated reality for almost a year?'

As if he could guess what I was thinking, Nas clarified his words as he stated, "Cesar, what you experienced in the Mansion might be a little over a month or two but it actually isn't."

Nas took a dramatic pause as he stated once again.

"Kid, you've been trapped at that place for a year,"

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