Deep in black mists, the sounds of cries slowly fade out.
It may have been a future sight, or it may have been a complete illusion.
After all, no one would cry for me.
...
"That's not true."
???: "!?"
Without a warning, the boy's eyes opened, revealing the once dark void he floated in turn bright white as dimensions warp.
In his laid down state, he could see a figure standing as if he was gravitationally pulled sideways in order to be viewed right side up.
"You are now powerful enough to repair yourself. Now, find a purpose that fulfills you in this new world."
???: "Ghk!?"
White.
This time, it was all white.
Not just his surroundings, but the person who spoke to him, and his own body as well.
At that point, he had no memory of himself. Not his family, not his friends.
Friends...
He felt a sense of discomfort as he paused on that word. It turned infuriating as he struggled to find solace in himself.
He didn't even know what he wanted.
The pitch white sky is very contrary to what he feels and didn't like how much it singed his eyes.
???: "White light..."
I want it to be dark.
Why am I still breathing?
I've already said goodbye.
I don't want to stay.
I don't want to.
???: "I don't want to—!"
"Hmph, looks like this is going nowhere. I guess we can just move on to the starting point."
And in that instant, the white shatters into black.
???: "Hhnghk!? Kahk!"
Surprised, the boy struggles to breathe, opening his eyes to see a continuation of darkness.
Although this time, the darkness did not feel eternal.
???: "Nghk! Hah!"
As his breathing slowly stabilized, he grabbed a wall to lean on and sat parallel to it.
???: "What's going o... nghk."
The man suddenly flinches, his brows furrowing. He held out his hand on his forehead as if he had a terrible headache.
He remembered what had happened to him.
He realized why his mind blocked his thoughts from it and struggled to imagine putting barriers on it again.
He regretted trying to remember.
Akatsuki: "That's right... My name... It was Akatsuki."
With his name in mind, he stood up. His body was weak, and so he had to keep leaning on the walls to move.
Akatsuki: "I'm not wearing the same clothes... There's also...?"
In the pockets of his black trousers, he found a strangely modern wallet. It was strange in the sense that it was made to imitate the wallets that Akatsuki usually sees, but it seemed to be inexpertly executed as if it was still an early prototype of the modern wallet. He was also wearing a winter jacket, which was odd since it didn't seem cold at all, even in the cave he woke up in.
As his weakened state gradually disappeared, his ability to walk slowly smoothens, turning from a wobbly footstep to a hunched-back but steady walk.
With relief, he exited the cave, seeing that the mouth of the cave was situated on the side of a mountain, looking over a forest.
YOU ARE READING
Below Azure
Fantasy-------------------------------- Akatsuki, an average highschool boy, finds himself in a completely different world in which its gods have disappeared, leaving their right hand man, the Hiranas, on their own. After his fateful encounter with two g...
