In the midst of a mist that seemed to be formed from the remnants of darkness stretching
endlessly through the abyss, there stood a chair.
A figure sat upon it, surrounded by drifting fog. His eyes were closed, and his head hung slightly forward as though he were asleep.
His chest rose and fell steadily, the sound of his breathing forming a calm rhythm within the silence that filled this place.
"H..."
His lips moved faintly while his eyelids trembled.
"...Ha."
A pair of silver eyes opened, still clouded by confusion as the traces of drowsiness lingered within them.
"Where is this?"
Raven lifted his head and stared around in confusion. He could not remember why he was here or what had brought him to this place.
His gaze swept across the endless space around him. Calling it mist or an abyss did not feel entirely accurate.
The blackness resembled darkness itself, yet it also looked like countless particles of mana drifting through the void, giving it the appearance of a vast sea of fog.
"...Cold."
Raven spoke softly. He did not understand what was happening to him, yet an inexplicable calm settled within his heart.
It felt like returning home.
Or perhaps something else.
"Water."
His lips parted slightly as he lowered his gaze.
There was water beneath him.
Or perhaps it was not water at all.
Its crimson surface resembled a sea of blood formed from countless corpses. Dark shades mixed into the red, creating a horrifying sight.
"It's beautiful."
A voice suddenly echoed from ahead, startling Raven and causing him to raise his head sharply.
"Who?"
He clenched his teeth as tension gripped his body.
Fear.
He was afraid of this voice.
He feared it instinctively.
"Heeey, can't you recognize me?"
The voice carried a playful yet cold mockery. As it spoke, the mist gathered before Raven slowly parted.
Another chair appeared.
A young man sat upon it.
Short white hair.
Silver eyes filled with amusement.
A gaze that seemed capable of piercing straight through Raven's soul.
"What is it...? Are you shocked... by your own face?"
The young man raised a hand mockingly while a playful smile spread across his face.
Leaning forward slightly, he tapped his cheek and narrowed his eyes.
"Who... are you?"
Raven's voice was tense as he stared at the figure before him.
"Hehehe... that really hurts my heart, you know?"
In an exaggerated gesture, the young man placed a hand over his chest and tilted his head back dramatically.
Raven frowned but remained silent.
Instead, he tried moving his arms.
Clank.
The only response was the sound of metal striking metal.
Confused, Raven lowered his gaze.
At some point without him noticing, chains had appeared.
They were black, as though forged from the evil of the world itself. Rust covered their surfaces, and countless cracks marked them with the weight of age.
"I never gave you permission to move."
The voice before him spoke with amused irritation.
"Where am I?"
Raven tried moving again but failed. Suppressing the frantic beating of his heart, he questioned the strange being before him.
"Hmmmm... you're inside your soul."
The creature appeared mildly puzzled, yet it answered nonetheless.
"What does that mean?"
The confusion in Raven's voice was impossible to hide.
"Do you see this mist?"
Instead of answering directly, the being pointed toward the darkness surrounding them.
"What are you talking about?"
Impatience slowly grew within Raven's chest, though strangely enough, he felt as if he should have been angrier.
"Close your eyes."
The voice ignored the emotions hidden within Raven's words.
Raven stared at him cautiously.
He wanted to move.
He wanted to do something.
But he could do neither.
In the end, he closed his eyes.
"Tell me what you hear."
The voice felt distant and close at the same time, echoing within his ears.
"Nothing."
Raven resisted the urge to open his eyes and answered honestly.
"Focus harder."
He obeyed.
His thoughts gradually quieted as every distraction faded away.
"■"
"Hah?!"
Raven's eyes snapped open.
He had heard something.
A faint sound.
A distorted roar that carried no meaning.
"I'll tell you three things."
The being showed no surprise as it raised a hand and extended three fingers.
"First, you are not what you truly think yourself to be."
One finger lowered.
"Huh? What does that mean?"
The words struck Raven like a key turning within a lock, igniting irritation inside him.
"Second, you need to prepare."
The being ignored the question.
Its voice was beginning to sound less human with every word.
The calm Raven had felt moments ago shattered completely.
"And third..."
Its smile widened.
"Beware of yourself."
The voice changed with every syllable.
Until, by the end, it had become a monstrous roar.
"Hah... huff..."
Raven's entire body trembled.
The light within his pale eyes faded as violent shivers ran through him.
"I suppose you're not ready yet."
The creature rose from its chair and slowly walked toward him.
It stopped directly in front of Raven.
Then it bent down and lifted his chin.
"For now... you need to remember a few things."
Their pale eyes met.
One pair held fear, confusion, and pain.
The other contained nothing but terrifying madness.
Rip.
Raven lowered his head in shock.
His eyes drifted downward.
The creature's hand had pierced through his chest.
Through his heart.
Raven
Die
.....
"Where..."
Raven tried to move, but the only response was the force restraining his body.
His eyelids trembled.
Slowly, his eyes opened.
"Ah..."
A faint groan escaped his lips as brilliant white light flooded his vision.
"He's awake."
Raven wanted to rub his eyes, but he could not move his hands.
Something cold was wrapped around them.
Ignoring the pain, he forced his eyes open and looked toward the source of the voice.
A dark-skinned man stood nearby.
Short brown hair.
Green eyes filled with interest and excitement, while something sinister lurked beneath them.
The man wore a white lab coat, and with his sturdy build and aged features, he resembled a middle-aged scientist.
"Yes. He is."
Another voice answered.
It was calm and pleasant, clearly belonging to a young man.
Meanwhile, Raven's head slowly turned as he examined the room first.
A white chamber filled with electronic equipment.
Many of the machines were stained with blood.
Nearby sat several containers filled with a thick black substance.
His gaze slowly lowered toward his own body.
He was lying on a bed.
Numerous tubes had been inserted into him, carrying the same black liquid through their interiors.
Black metal restraints and chains bound his body firmly in place.
"So, what do we do now?"
The older man glanced toward Raven as he spoke.
"What do you think?"
At those words, Raven turned his eyes toward the second speaker.
Short black hair and Dark eyes.
A gentle appearance, pale skin like ivory.
A warm smile resting upon an ordinary face.
"Thump"
Raven's heartbeat accelerated violently.
Thump.
Fear spread through him like a primitive creature awakening from deep within his instincts.
The same kind of fear humans felt toward the dark.
Toward monsters.
"Thump"
Sweat gathered across his forehead.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
The sensation spread into the deepest parts of his being.
The young man did not look frightening.
If anything, he looked kind.
Like someone loved by everyone around him.
Yet what Raven felt from him...
Was madness.