The hollow shell cracked, and the pitch-black Phoenix joyfully spread its wings, breaking free—
Then, everything fell into deep darkness.
The eyelids felt as heavy as if filled with lead, and the effort to open them caused a twitch at the corner of the brow, as if it drained all the body's Strength.
Suddenly, the Heroine flung her eyes open, as if trying to escape from a Nightmare, and sprang up, looking around with a bit of confusion and bewilderment.
Before the Hero could gather her thoughts, a voice came from beside her.
"Hehe, awake now? It seems you had quite a bad dream."
2. Grandfather's house♛
3. The Count's family
4. Close Friend's house
6. A place of darkness
8. Forest on the outskirts(?)
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
[Who did the Hero see?]
1. The Hero when young
3. The Hero as an adult
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
Note: Only options 9 "Upon the sea (Little Siren)" or "Ancient Hero" trigger the Psychic Realm dialogue branch.
Damp cold sweat streamed continuously from the Hero's forehead as she raised her head in confusion, looking in the direction of the teasing voice.
There, long purple hair slightly swayed under the gentle breeze from the window, the golden Sun shone through the glass, casting a gleam on the strands, making the ends appear illusory and Transparent.
In the slightly lighter purple eyes, the pale little face of the Hero was reflected, accompanied by a faintly helpless smile.
"Long time no see, Hero."
The Hero opened her eyes wide, her lips parted slightly, staring blankly at the face she thought she would never see again.
Although their time together was not long, the face before her was deeply imprinted in her memory.
This purple-haired, purple-eyed girl who appeared only slightly older than her was the Ancient Heroic Soul from the Highland that lent her Strength and fought alongside her—who once Sealed the Corrupted Phoenix in the distant past and perhaps was the world's first Hero to be called such.
But, after the battle with the Corrupted Phoenix, hadn't her Soul already completely Disappeared?
"Senior!?" the girl couldn't help but exclaim.
"Mm, I'm pleased you still call me that," the Ancient Hero gently smiled, "though there's much I'd like to say, now isn't the time for reminiscing; your current situation is quite troublesome."
Hearing this, the Hero remembered to continue looking around and found that this wasn't any strange place but her grandfather's house in the countryside, where the burning Fire in the fireplace made the living room, resembling a small library, feel warm and familiar.
"It seems this is the place where you feel most at ease within your subconscious, truly a good choice."
The Ancient Hero also glanced around this modern domicile of hers and approvingly nodded.
Though the time spent fighting alongside this senior was not long, the Hero felt a profound understanding of her through their resonating Souls.
Compared to the calm and resolute warrior image of that time, the Ancient Hero before her now appeared significantly more relaxed, lessened of the Blade-like hardness and more Soft.
Perhaps, in fact, this was her true nature in daily life.
"Do you remember what happened to you?" the Ancient Hero softly asked afterward.
Hearing this question, the Emerald Eye girl slightly frowned, confusedly holding her head, and tried hard to recall what had happened.
[Hero's Recollection (Intelligence +101)]
D100+101=d100(44)+101=145
"Before, I was in... an underground Sanctuary, and punched that scorpion... then I..." the Hero's voice held hesitation, her brows furrowed as the blurry memories in her mind began to clear,
"That's right, I was Cursed! The Magic Patterns on my back went out of control—"
Her emerald pupils suddenly contracted.
The Ancient Hero nodded slightly more seriously. "It seems you've remembered."
The Hero slightly bit her lip, a bit helpless, casting a pleading glance at the Ancient Hero.
"Senior, why am I here, and what should I do?"
The Ancient Hero gave a helpless smile and reminded,
"Well, while it's good you trust me, perhaps you should be careful... I too could merely be a Corrupted illusion created by the Curse."
"... The senior would never fall into Depravity." The Hero's voice grew softer but remained firm.
The Ancient Hero was taken aback and then revealed a gentle, soft smile.
"…Thank you. Despite always causing you trouble." Her expression turned serious.
"Listen closely, junior, you are now—"
The Ancient Hero had barely begun her sentence when heavy footsteps of someone barefooted on the floor interrupted their conversation.
From the stairs leading upstairs, a cold voice came, impatiently Intruding on their dialogue.
"What kind of idiot engages in some sentimentality with a dead person in their own mental world? Is your brain waterlogged?"
The voice, somewhat familiar to the Hero, spewed words filled with Malice, as the person slowly came down the stairs.
"Perhaps you should stick your head into this fireplace to roast it, maybe you can evaporate some of the water in your brain."
1. Yourself when young
3. Yourself as an adult
7. Another Ancient Hero
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
The voice coming from a slightly higher position carried a bone-chilling coldness, making the air feel a bit colder.
The Hero turned around in surprise, only to see a short but evenly built girl standing on the staircase, looking down at their interaction.