A warm, teasing voice echoed in the void, laced with amusement. "Tch, that useless Goddess stuck you with an old model? Typical." A sigh, soft but amused. "Still, you fought like hell. Here’s your reward—something you’ll love."
Reo Carter jolted awake, his heart pounding. He stood on a quiet street, bathed in the golden glow of street lights. He wore a simple shirt and trousers, a bouquet of lilies clutched in his trembling hands.
He’s not Leonhardt Caulem now, he’s Reo Carter, an ordinary family man who’s been late on anniversary day.
Before him was a modest house, the nameplate: Reo and Chloe Carter. His throat tightened, a flood of longing and guilt choking him. I’m late... too late.
He walks, each step feels heavy. The door opened with a soft creak, revealing a dimly lit hallway. He stepped into the living room,a baby crib stood alone in the corner, its mobile spinning gently, a tiny star in the quiet dark.
A familiar voice broke it, soft and warm. "You’re back?"
Reo spun, his heart beating fast. Chloe stood in the doorway, holding a steaming pot, her hair loosely tied, her face glowing with a tired, radiant smile. She set the pot on the dining table, her voice teasing but tender. "I thought you’d be stuck at the store till dawn, Reo. You’re early for once." Her eyes sparkled, unaware of the storm in his chest.
Reo stood frozen, the bouquet slipping in his grip, his vision blurring as tears spilled down his face, silent and unstoppable, his knees buckled.
Chloe’s smile fading, her eyes widening with worry. She walks to him, dropping the pot’s lid with a clatter, her hands cupping his face, wiping his tears with gentle thumbs. "Reo, what’s wrong?" she whispered, voice breaking, searching his eyes.
"Did something happen? Talk to me."
He shook his head, his voice a raw. "Nothing... just..." He couldn’t finish, the words drowning in emotion.
Chloe’s brow furrowed, and she pressed a finger to his lips, looking at the crib, her voice soft as a lullaby. "Shh, love, the baby’s sleeping." She nodded toward the crib, where their daughter lay, tiny and perfect, her tiny chest rising and falling.
Reo’s gaze followed, his tears slowing, a shaky smile breaking through the pain. He looked back at Chloe, his voice barely audible, thick with feeling. "Sorry I’m late, Chloe. Store opening been... a lot."
Chloe’s face lit up, she grabbed his collar, pulling him into a deep, desperate kiss, her lips warm, fierce, pouring love into every second. When she pulled back, her face rested against his chest, her arms wrapping tight around him, voice trembling with raw gratitude.
"I’m so grateful, Reo," she murmured, her words muffled against his chest. "Grateful you left that dark life behind. Grateful you fought to be you again—for our daughter, for us. Grateful, we ran to this quiet country, built this home. I know how hard you’re working, all because I begged you to try. I love you, Reo. I love you, I love you, I love you."
The bouquet slipped from Reo’s hands, landing softly on the floor, forgotten as he held her close, his arms trembling, tears soaking into her hair. Her warmth, her voice, their daughter’s soft breaths, they were everything he’d leave for.
The house dissolving, Chloe’s warmth fading like a dream, her voice echoing in Reo Carter’s mind. "You shouldn’t come here, Reo," she whispered, her tone distant.
He’d frowned, heart racing. "What do you mean?"
Her eyes had darkened, her words trembling. "This world isn’t easy, Reo. You shouldn’t have come. The Ruler’s Prophecy..." Her voice cut off, swallowed by silence, the world collapsing into a cold, endless void.
[ALERT!]
[UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED!]
[SYSTEM INTEGRITY COMPROMISED!]
[WARNING: UNKNOWN ENTITY ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS SYSTEM AUTHORIZATION.]
[ACCESS DENIED.......]
[ACCESS DENIED.......]
[ACCESS DENIED.......]
[ALERT!]
[ACCESS GRANTED!]
[SYSTEM ELYNN: INITIATING UPGRADE PROTOCOL...]
[UPGRADE IN PROGRESS: 10%... 30%... 60%...]
A surge of energy pulsed through Reo, like lightning in his veins, his mind sharpening.
[UPGRADE COMPLETE: ELYNN FULLY EVOLVED – COMBAT AND STRATEGY INTERFACE ACTIVATED.]
[USER: REO CARTER – SYSTEM BINDING CONFIRMED.]
[INITIALIZING CORE FEATURES...]
Reo stood in an unknown space, a hellscape of flames and ash. Ground afire, cracked with burning veins, stinging his lungs with smoke. All around him ablaze, trees, skies, air itself—fire eating everything, but he remained untouched, heart racing. He was unable to move, unable to comprehend.
A voice, sultry and chilling. "Darrrling..."
Reo spun, his blood running cold. A woman stood amidst the flames, cloaked in a black dress, her hood hiding her face.
A wrongness radiated from her, as if a predator was wrapped in charm, her presence warping the air. His instincts screamed to run, but his body locked, an invisible force pinning him like prey.
He struggled, muscles straining, but his feet wouldn’t budge. She walka closer, her voice a mocking purr. "Why are you trying to run, darling?" Her steps were slow, deliberate, closing the distance.
She wrapped her arms around him, her touch icy despite the flames, her body pressing against his. "Why run from me? Am I scary?"
Reo’s throat tightened, his voice trapped, his body a statue. Her hood shifted, revealing glowing green eyes, sharp and hungry, boring into him with a possessive weight he’d never felt—fear so raw it clawed his soul.
"You belong to me, darling," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear, voice dripping with obsession. "Please... don’t run from me. I love you..."
His heart pounded, terror drowning him.
[ALERT!]
[CRITICAL ANOMALY DETECTED: USER’S CONSCIOUSNESS UNDER EXTERNAL INFLUENCE!]
[INITIATING EMERGENCY PROTOCOL: NEURAL OVERRIDE.]
[FOREIGN ENTITY DETECTED: ATTEMPTING TO ISOLATE USER’S MIND.]
[COUNTERMEASURE DEPLOYED.]
[USER: REO CARTER – NEURAL LINK STABILIZED.]
[DISRUPTING EXTERNAL INFLUENCE.]
[WAKE PROTOCOL ENGAGED!]
The burning void shattering, flames dissolving into darkness.
Reo jolted awake, gasping, sweat soaking his dress, crimson eyes widened with panic.
He looked around, he was in the academy infirmary, sterile white walls and soft lights grounding him. Machines beeped faintly, his body aching but alive, wrapped in gauze, the ring on his finger glinting.
[USER STATUS: STABILIZED]
He exhaled, relief washing over him. It’s just a dream. He’s now Leonhardt Caulem again.
A sharp glass shattering turned his head toward the door. A glass lay shattered at the entrance, water pooling on the floor. Liana stood there, her brown eyes filling with tears, hands trembling.
"Young Master..." she whispered, voice breaking with relief, a sob catching in her throat as she rushed toward him.