An Operator Lost in Another World [ONGOING]

Chapter 7: A Blade to Carry the Burden

Masami jolted upright, sweat dripping from her flushed cheeks as the memories surged back—what happened in the goblin nest...

She attacked him.

Mason. The man who saved her. The light at the end of her dark path. The one who promised to take care of her.

She had attacked him. She nearly killed him.

Clutching her head, Masami dropped to her knees. "A-Aahh... Get out of me!"

Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling to the floor. Guilt clawed at her chest. She couldn't forgive herself. Not for this.

Then came the voice.

"How touching," said the cruel, familiar tone. Masami looked up, heart pounding.

There she stood—her accursed reflection. Her doppelgänger. A flawless mirror of herself in form, yet its crimson, blood-hued eyes and ethereal silver-platinum fur exuded a divine, monstrous majesty. It smiled, basking in her agony.

"Our little fox is weeping for a human now?" it mocked, its voice a venomous echo of her own.

"Shut up!" Masami growled. "You're not doing anything to him!"

"But you already did," the reflection taunted. "You let the power loose. You tasted it. Stop fighting. Accept who you are."

"No! Not after what happened to the village. I won't let that happen again!"

The reflection's smile widened. "Let's see if your precious Mason is as forgiving as you think."

"He is!" she snapped. "He's the kindest person I've ever met!"

"Then tell me, Masami—do you trust him?"

That broke her restraint.

With a furious cry, she lunged at the reflection, arms outstretched to strangle the monster—

—but there was only air.

Masami blinked. The darkness vanished. The realm of her mind faded, replaced by a modest, dimly lit room. A table, two single beds, worn furniture... She was lying in one of them, dressed in a clean set of sleepwear.

Where...?

She scanned the room. Relief flooded her chest at the sight of Mason's gear stacked neatly nearby. He was here. She hadn't—

The door creaked open.

Mason stepped inside, carrying a tray of food. Their eyes met. His jaw dropped in surprise, but he quickly masked it with a warm, relieved smile.

"Thank God you're awake. I was starting to worry you wouldn't come to."

Masami's throat tightened. "Um... what happened after I...?"

"You don't need to worry," Mason said, placing the tray on the table and pulling up a chair beside her. He handed her a cup of water, which she gratefully accepted. "Everything's fine now. You're safe. I'm safe. We both are."

"How long was I out?"

"About a day."

"A day?!" she exclaimed.

Mason chuckled lightly. "What you did in that goblin nest really took a toll. But no major injuries, thankfully."

"Mason, about what I did—"

"You don't need to explain anything," Mason said gently, his eyes steady. "You said you were cursed. I figured it was something more than just words. But I'm not going to pry. Only share what you want."