Prologue:- Consciousness

 "They called me a monster for what I was. I never even knew what that meant, I was just hollow. But now I know what they called me and what it meant. "

The sky was blue, like every day. For everyone else it is a normal day, just a day that will go by, but for me it's a day that I earned. This is the day, that have made me who I am. This body this weapon, I earned it. And now, I am just tired, just in pain from all the fight. This body make me feel emotions, make me feel joy for succeeding, makes me feel the pain for all the actions I did. I feel complete for the very first time. I feel something beating inside of me, it's fast but is gradually slowing down. I feel the air for the very first time.

….I am Tired…..

It's okay to sleep little one, after all our journey have just begin.

 "Hey, I have found someone. He doesn't look well. Get the medic here."

Looks like, we will need to chat after you have rested for a while.

"Hey, can you breathe? What's your name? Are you alone? It's okay, we will take you to town."

Who are these people? Why are they here? They are not afraid or hostile towards me, like they used to be. The warmth of another begin is nice.

...It's is nice…..

"Sir, can you hear me? Sir everything will be fine." He doesn't look that strong, but after what happened last night here, if he is alive, he must be pretty lucky. "We must patch him quickly and take him to the village."

Looks like, everything is according to the plan.

I am a being called Clayman. My species are consisting of what can be called dirt and an elemental counterpart. We are not particularly the strongest in the world. But we are not weak either. But there is a curse that follows my species, we cannot look at our own reflection. Doing so will end, our existence. But we never had any parents to teach us that, we have watched our brethren ending themselves for that.

But, what makes me an exception? My species is not an intelligent species. We thrive and live of instincts, we don't think of tomorrow.

I can look at my reflection without going mad.

I can see me, but I know it's not me.

….Huh? Humans, I must Hide…..

"Hey, have you heard there is a fountain of blood on top of the hill. They say it once belonged to some demi-god"

"You give in way too much into the rumors."

"But, they say if you take a bath in that fountain. You will get all the knowledge there is to get."

"Yeah, like the scholars wouldn't want to take a regular bath in it."

…..Can I get to know, What am I? in that fountain...

I will need to wait till the night, when there are no humans. Though being an exception in my species, I am physically the same as them.

It's past sunset, I can move freely now. Top of the mountain, is where they said is the fountain. But what if that doesn't give me any particular answer to my question, but what do I have to lose? Why am I feeling emotions? I need to move as quickly as possible.

Now, that I think about it, my vocabulary has increased. But there are many words I don't understand I am simply using them, like I just know how to use them. Like what the hell is vocabulary, I have never heard anyone use that word in the conversation when people hunt monsters. What the hell is a conversation? Am I going crazy? I must know the answers as soon as possible.

I thought to reach the top, it will be filled with challenges. But it was surprisingly easy. Like, there were no traps and no monsters who would have guarded the area. But, where is the fountain, I am looking for?

...Was the other guy, knew that there was nothing like that. And it was a rumor? What is a rumor though? ...

There is nothing just an old forest. I have nothing to lose, I might just go into the forest. "Anybody here?" What is the name of this forest either way? Wish I had a map.

As soon as I placed my foot over a broken branch in the forest vicinity. The twigs released something sparkling from it. Like, spirits, but I have never seen spirits in my life, so I didn't know.

….Spirits?...

…..But, I have never seen them…..

Suddenly while having a conversation with myself, I saw a spirit landing on my palm. To which I asked. "Can you tell me the name of the forest." To which the kinder spirit replied.

"It's the forest of spirits. How are you here mister?"

….I am looking for answers to my condition. I heard there is a fountain on top of the mountain….

….Wait, why did you said, How am I here? I just followed the path….

"No one can see the forest, except the spirits. But you are no spirit."

...I don't know what is happening to me. Can you please help me?...

"You said you were looking for a fountain, am I correct?"

…..Yes, I am looking for....

"The Blood Fountain of Goddess Lyra. You are looking for that fountain am I correct?"

…..I don't know the name of the goddess, but yes it is the blood fountain…..

"It has been over three thousand years the last time someone was able to come into the spirit forest. Normal Humans and monsters cannot enter or even see the forest. There are only a few who can enter and exit the forest at will."

…..Can you please take me to the fountain?....

"I can guide you to the ruins where the fountain is situated. But I cannot assist you more then that. I must apologize."

…..That will be plenty…..

"Follow me, good sir. Oh by the way, What is your name good sir?"

…..I don't know, you can call me whatever you want to…..

"A name is something that defines you and makes you whole. Without a name you are empty. Don't you feel empty?"

…..I will take that into consideration. If you may please lead me to the ruins...

"Yes, of course."

...What is your name though?.....

"Oh, you can call me Mira."

….Mira, huh?...

"Please follow me."

….Yeah Sure….

As I put stepped forward, a wave of energy released from my body. It was like, I can see everything and feel everything for a second. But I don't know what it was.

...Huh, STOP…. I can see and feel everything in a certain range. What is this, it pains me. ….STOP THIS, THIS HURTS...

"Are you okay? You look in pain."

….This is something I never had before, this is painful, please stop this…..

"What is it? What do I need to stop?"

...S T O P T H I S.... My consciousness faded with these words and I don't know what happened after that. But Mira was there beside me keeping an eye for me.

"You are awake?"

…..Sorry to have startled you, did I cause any trouble….

"You were unconscious for 2 days. Before losing your consciousness, you seemed to be in agony."

…..Can you please lead me to the fountain right now?.....

"I can, but I don't think it will be a wise decision considering your condition."

…..No, you wouldn't understand this. I am from a species called Clayman. We have a curse that makes us go madden as soon as we see our reflection. But when I saw my reflection, I didn't happen to go madden. But rather developed a sense of self and intelligence. So I beg of you to please lead me to the fountain. I will be forever in debt…..

"As I told before, I can only lead you to the ruins. Please follow me."

…..Thank You….

"Good Sir, may I ask what happened to you before you collapsed?"

….To be honest, I have no clue. I am just having these weird things happening to me from the moment, I have seen my reflection. It was like, I can sense the whole forest and was able to sense the movement of things in my non-visible sight. But it just gave me severe pain…..

"It was like a, sense you say." Can it be a skill. He particularly doesn't have any clue even if I mention that it was a skill.

"We will reach the ruin entrance in around a day. But as I said before, that is all I can offer. Beyond the entrance is up to your skills."

….You say that you can only lead to the entrance. Why is that?....

"I am sorry, but as per the laws of forest I cannot state anything more about the ruins. Especially to someone who plans to go in the ruins."

…..I see…..

I have nothing to lose, but why am I frightened. She stated that she cannot explain anything more than necessary. Is it possible that the ruins are actually dangerous? But will it change anything about my condition? I must go to the fountain no matter what.

"Good Sir, you may have your guard down. The forest have nothing other than Spirits and as you have me as your guide you can rest easy regarding any fight, as it won't happen."

...How you knew my guard was up?....

"Your face says that. But another piece of advice, if you are not being attended by any spirits, please be on guard."

….I will take your advice on that….

As we moved forward, I was greeted by many of Mira's friends. I didn't lost my consciousness or had any problem and pain for like many hours now.

"Good Sir, we are here. It is the entrance to the Ruins of Regalia. Our journey was till here. I cannot move alongside you anymore."

…..What will you do now?....

"I am a guidance spirit. To lead people to their desired location with in the forest is my job."

….I see, thank you for being my guide Mira….

"Good Sir, may fortune be on your side and you find a good conclusion to your journey. If you ever stumble upon the Spirit Forest again. You can summon me. Farewell Good Sir. I wish you luck"

…..Farewell Mira, Thank You….