Chapter Text
Your hands were stained red when you woke up. The wooden ground beneath wasn't spared either. The numbing pain in your abdomen seems to lost its feeling once you let your mind wander back to how you ended up there.
—
"Hey, be careful out there."
"There's been news that an assaulter goes around your place."
You nodded.
The starless night back home from work was a constant. After your 12-hour long shift, you always ended up going back home walking like a zombie in the streets. Having to work for 7 times a week due to the lack of staffs, you forced yourself to adapt. Your co-workers must be having fun out there running away from work. The manager was no different. Letting them off hooked since they were family.
Cars passes on the road as you waited for the traffic light for pedestrians to turn green. People around all had the same idea of going home. All appeared dazed while looking at their little devices. It might as well be a zombie apocalypse.
You stare blankly at the ground, your hands in your pocket. A drop of water fell on your face which snapped you out of your trance.
How unfortunate, you thought. The rain began hammering down from above. Everything seems to get worse each passing moment. The people around all scattered to find shelter; few who luckily brought umbrellas were saved. Of all days, today was the day you forgot your umbrella. Later, you note to yourself to be extra prepared. There is no room for slacking off. If you get sick, the thought of eating for next month might as well be a dream.
The city lights blurred with the churning rain. An elderly had offered an umbrella, a raised hand declined her kindness.
You try your best to take cover from the downpour. Covering your head with your hands to the best of your abilities. When the light finally flickered green, you ran to the other side.
Distracted by trying to keep yourself dry from the rain, you bumped into a man. He wore a dark hoodie, his face covered. "My apologies-"
The sensation made you lost your breath instantly and doubled over. The man step closer and you instinctively gripped onto him. It was cold and warm at the same time. Your hands goes clammy.
"What the..."
He had stabbed you.
What did you do to deserve this kind of fate? When you dropped to the ground, you could faintly make out of people getting out of their cars, trying to stop the man from getting another victim.
How kind, you thought as your mind drift.
"I wanna eat."
You stare at the unfamiliar ceiling above, a chandelier hung in the middle of it. Shaped like blooming lotuses.
The green fits nicely with the wood, must be very expensive. I need to run before the owner of this house request for compensation.
Pushing yourself off the ground, you groaned at the pain and laughed, "how am I not dead yet..?" Cold sweat trickled down your face before letting out a confused hum.
The clothes you wore was different. It was a dull dark green robe with the inner layer being white and top of with gold essences; dirtied by the drying blood. Despite having multiple layers, you acknowledge it has cooling properties and very easy to breath in. Nonetheless, why exactly did your outfit change? The area you were stabbed did not change either. Hell, there was even a ripped part of the robe at the exact area; signifying you received the blow in this clothes.
You forced yourself to sit up. Staring at the dried blood on your hands, you reached down to check the injury. As expected, the wound was wide opened and blood was still gushing out. Wet and warm.
There has to be a med kit here. With an objective in mind, you finally looked around the room. It was average in size. Basic accommodations like beds, desks, two separate lockers and a window for fresh air are all present.
Wait- plurals? Looking back, this place reminds you back when you were a university student. The clothes also gives off some scholarly vibe. Surely you were just delirious. No way, you were in an alternate universe...
Then, who are you?
Getting up was a pain. But you managed. You staggered towards the desks, and began your search for any medical aid that can help the wound. Perhaps even clues of your identity. On one of the desk, you spot a suspicious note.
date : 3/11/XX
I rather die than suffer more. The excruciating pain worsen everyday. He said he'll find a cure for me ,but exactly when is it going to be done? How can I suffer when I know there's an easy way out? To be relief of this pain for the time being? It probably isn't the best to do this when Zandik will personally come see me in a few days. However do I really have to suffer to please him? No - I simply refuse. Its fine ___, it'll sting just a little. I hope he doesn't get too mad, haha. I am simply too tired.
- ___.
A suicide note. That would be the first thing that came to mind. The writer of this note, with the high chance of them being the body you reside in now, appears to have chronic illness. One that causes excruciating pain. It sounds terrible. Do you have to experience it as well since you are inside their body?
A new term also caught your attention. Zandik. Who was that? You frown, why bother thinking at this point? There is nothing to remember. All you need to focus right now are the ones that gives answers.
Besides that, the writer of this note have the same name as me...
The sharp pain reminds you of your main objective. ... Med kit, where is it? You threw the note on the desk. Looking around.
You shuffled to the lockers, kneeling to check the lowest component. However the banging on the door stopped you in your tracks. Heart-racing. Sweat trickled down your neck. A voice called out from the other side.
"___, I know you're in there. Let me in. Now." A stern muffled voice fastened your search for the med kit.
Was that the person from the note, Zandik? But it said 'in a few days.' how long ago was that note!? Whatever it may be, he can't see the blood on me…
"You're bleeding. Whatever have you done to yourself?" A hand grabbed your shoulder. Without realizing, the person already led himself in, easily at that. The door was unlocked. You panicked, "Uhh…"
"I can explain-?" You hurriedly grabbed his hand in yours. He snatched it back.
"Never mind. You need immediate aid. Go sit down on a chair." He pointed over to one of the chair near the desks while striding closer to your locker. Even when he appears to care, he seems rather cold with it. He knelt down and open the lower drawer of the locker, he is familiar to where things were. Looking at him properly after calming down, you took noticed of his teal-Coloured hair. Complementary to his crimson eyes.
He knelt in front of you and asked you to strip, shame immediately consume you. "You don't need to-"
"You are pathetic, don't even try me." he silenced you, then reluctantly followed his order. Thankfully, you wore another layer underneath.
He works efficiently, sanitizing the wound and wrapping it with a gauze. The pain gradually subside. Everything he did was meticulous. Was this Zandik? It has to be, right?
Might as well take the gamble…
"Uhm, thank you, Zandik." He stopped his movement and looked up at you, confusion settled on his face. Your heartbeat quicken. I am sorry!! I know nothing! Please spare me bro!!
"Why the sudden change of heart?" he continued to wrap the gauze.
I guess the name was right; you sighed internally, responding to his question with your own, "What do you mean?"
Zandik finished the sealing the wound with a knot and stood up. Shaking his head, "Nothing, just tell me what happened to you…" he frown and crossed his arms. The piercing glare makes you chuckled nervously. Your palms sweaty. Every cells in your body screams for you to not tell him of your predicament. The back of your throat dries whenever you open your mouth to tell Zandik the truth. Hence, you swallow back the words and your eyes darted to the side. To tell an obvious lie.
"Oh, while I was cutting up some vegetable, a knife slips from my hand. And when I try to grab it from the floor, I tripped and it pierces me." You said with a blank face, making sure your voice steady.
He stares in disbelief, "if you didn't want to tell me, just don't. I don't wish to hear you babble nonsense." Looks like he could care less about what happened to you. Were you two not friends? making used of this situation might be your trump card to know more of the outside world.
"So, what brings you here?"
He sat down on another chair, pulling it closer next to you. He huffed and rolled his eyes, "First of all, when the Matra asks you about me, lie. That's the least someone of your calibre could do for me. Secondly, was the rumours of the forbidden books being smuggled into the Akademiya your doing?
His tone became stern, his eyes sharped ; observing little details of your expression.
"…What would be classify as forbidden books?"
"The ones that delves into the six cardinal sins." he crosses his arms still analysing every minor details of your response.
"Then, I don't remember doing such a thing."
"How curious."
Opposite of his tone, you could feel the disdain in his eyes as they bore into yours. Your stomach churned uncomfortably.
"A shame. I wanted to know your source, is all."
Six cardinal sins. You'll keep that in mind and stayed silent which made him more irritated. Seeing how serious he is about this topic, you decided to slither your way out of this tension atmosphere, "Zandik…"
"Yes?"
"Can we continue this conversation later?" You rest a hand on the bandaged up wound, face grimacing. His expression falls significantly.
he bit his cheek before sighing, "Fine, but you better return back to the Akademiya tomorrow. If it hurts, walk slowly. Your attendance has been declining; the Sages are worried." he stood up reluctantly, and stride closer to the door, not before glancing at the bloody floor with a frown. You stood between them as swiftly as you can and led him out with a smile.
"Farewell..." he muttered. " Thank you."
"Oh, may I know how long I haven't gone to the Akademiya?"
His eyes furrowed, but he answered, "13 days."
After changing into a new set of clothes, you made a list of things to do. Which consists of the following :
-
Clean the bloodstained floor.
-
Ask roommate where I can clean my robes.
-
Figure more about the terms, Matra, Akademiya, Sages, The Six Cardinal sins, more to be added.
-
Who am I?
The Akademiya is ruthless. They did not care how injured their students was as long as they get back to research. Now that you thought more of it, perhaps researching what exactly the Akademiya is is far more important.
The first task did not seem to go smoothly. No matter how hard it was rubbed, a dark brown patched can still be seen on the dark oak plank. Also surprisingly, there is not an awful metallic smell at all. The ones that typically clogged up the nostrils.
I need to figure out how to remove blood stains on wood. This doesn't seem to be working well in my favor. Come on, ___, you're a graduate for goodness sake!
You have given up and returned to your desk. The first book you open was a diary — you assume it was. It has your name.
The first paragraph you read made you close the book in horror.
His screams was a work of art. Screaming and then silence. The way I can hear the cracks in his voice, begging for mercy that never existed. I almost got scared. It's a shame for me. I promised I wont be indulging in these madness for fun anymore. However I know best no one can change in one day… Alright, I've made up my mind. I'll do this only once on every full moon far from Sumeru Akademiya.
Am I some kind of psychopath?? You opened the book once again to read the next paragraph.
Zandik, my friend, thinks too highly of me. That makes me all too nervous at times. He has also been asking for my blood. How greedy he is. I cant deny him either. He's my only hope in saving myself. The splitting headaches has already returned. Everyday feels like a burden. My charming personality had fallen. Hence, my roommate is scared of me. Haha.
Maybe fear is good. Its easier to control.
Zandik is close to me — or in other words, the real me of this world; not as friends, but acquaintances. If answers is what I want, referring to him might be best. But he'll also recognize that I am not the person he is seeing if I am not careful.
How annoying it is. Placing the book back to it place. You rather not read more. Thus you grabbed another thick book which had the same symbol of your robe. This might have the answers regarding Sumeru Akademiya.
However when you try to read a single word, your mind didn't allow you to.
That was when you realized, you couldn't read.