Chapter 12: A Child Of The Star

As Ichio drifted into sleep, his dreams pulled him back into the fragmented memories of his childhood. He found himself once again as his five-year-old self, sitting in the quiet house. The echoes of his parents' absence weighed heavily on him.

It had been a week since they left.

He stood at the dining table, clutching the cell phone they'd given him. His small fingers pressed the call button once again, only to hear the same robotic voice for the hundredth time:

"The number you are trying to call cannot be reached. Please try again later."

His shoulders slumped as tears welled in his eyes. "They promised they would always answer when I called. Always..."

Sitting down at the dining table, he placed the phone in front of him, staring at it like it might hold answers. With a sniffle, he picked it up again and began fiddling with the keys. "They gave me this phone, but what's the point if they don't answer?"

As he scrolled through its simple interface, a single app caught his attention. He tilted his head, squinting at the tiny letters. "EG: Explore Game? What's that?"

Curiosity momentarily replaced his sadness. He pressed a button clicking the app and watched as the screen came to life with vibrant colors and an intriguing title screen. "Huh... maybe it's a fun game," he mumbled, his small fingers pressing the "Start" button.

---

Days passed within the dream. The young Ichio became immersed in the game, quickly learning its mechanics.

"Wow, being level one is really hard," he muttered after another failed attempt to defeat a monster. Frustration was etched across his young face.

Navigating to the game's settings, he discovered something new. "Wait… I can buy weapons and skills?" His eyes lit up. "Mom and Dad left me some money, so maybe I can use it."

With each purchase, the game became more manageable, and he began to enjoy it. He spent hours—days, even—diving deeper into its challenges, leveling up, and unlocking abilities.

But one day, while he was immersed in the game, the doorbell rang.

Startled, Ichio put the phone down and ran to the door. He hesitated for a moment, then reached for the handle. The moment his hand touched it and turned, everything around him turned white.

---

He stood alone now, no longer his five-year-old self but his adult self. His surroundings were void of detail, a pure white expanse stretching endlessly in all directions.

"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice echoing in the emptiness.

From the distance, a shadow emerged—a figure walking toward him. As the figure approached, Ichio couldn't make out their face, shrouded in obscurity.

The man spoke, his tone laced with regret. "Well, I've really done it, haven't I? My own selfishness caused all this trouble. And now I have to travel across Zodias to fix it myself. Such a pain."

Ichio blinked, taking a cautious step forward. "Who are you?"

The man ignored the question, his gaze locking onto Ichio. "You. You're one of the Children of the Star. A Child of the Star."

Ichio furrowed his brows in confusion. "A... Child of the Star? What does that even mean?"

The man sighed. "Since you are one—and it's kind of my fault you became one—I have to give you a little... assistance. Consider it plot armor. You'll need it to survive in whatever situation you find yourself in. Because once someone becomes A Child of the Star, normal life is no longer an option."

Ichio tried to get closer, his steps hesitant. "Who are you? Why—"

Before he could finish, the world around him began to crumble into darkness.

A voice echoed in his mind, deep and foreboding. "The Architect of the merger walks among you, unseen. His design will bind you to your avatars. Beware the one who plays god. For he is both creator and destroyer."

The words reverberated through the void, their weight pressing down on Ichio as if the darkness itself was alive.

Suddenly, he felt something—an unsettling sensation, like hands reaching for him from the shadows. He jolted awake, gasping for air.

---

Ichio sat up, his breathing heavy. The morning light filtered through his window. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering unease from the dream.

Looking to his side, he was startled to see Aiko lying next to him, sound asleep. He sighed, shaking his head. "Seriously, what is she even doing here?"

Glancing at the clock, he noticed it was already 11 AM. He chuckled softly. "Oh, it's already this late. No wonder she's here. She probably stayed to watch me sleep and ended up dozing off herself."

Smiling, he reached out and gently patted her head. "I hope everyone gets a good friend like my Aiko."

Getting up, he headed to the dining table, where a well-prepared breakfast was waiting for him. The smell of food filled the air, and he couldn't help but feel a small sense of comfort despite the strange dream.

After finishing his breakfast, Ichio sat back in his chair, savoring the lingering taste. "Always good as usual," he muttered to himself with a satisfied smile.

He got up, stretched, and headed to the bathroom. Stripping down, he stepped into the shower. The warm water cascaded over him, washing away the drowsiness and tension from the night. As he leaned in the tab, his mind wandered back to the dream.

"Why did I dream about that strange guy?" he murmured, his thoughts heavy. "And why did the Void Knight's words echo at the end? I don't understand. It's just part of the game… so why would I dream about it?"

The more he thought, the less sense it made. His brow furrowed as he tried to connect the dots. After finishing his shower, he stepped out, drying himself off and wrapping a towel around his waist.

On his way out of the bathroom, he almost bumped into Aiko.

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Jeez, you," she said, half-amused and half-scolding.

Ichio scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I'll go get dressed."

He quickly retreated to his room, put on some clothes, and returned to the living room where Aiko was waiting. Sitting down, he gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks for the breakfast. It was delicious."

Aiko waved her hand dismissively. "It's no big deal."

But then she looked at him more intently. "By the way, when I came by earlier, you looked… worried in your sleep. Like you were having a nightmare or something."

Ichio hesitated for a moment before responding. "It's nothing," he said, trying to brush it off. "I just dreamt about some strange guy talking about stars and stuff. And then, the Void Knight's words about the Architect and the merger came back to me."

Aiko's eyes widened slightly. "Wait… so you also dreamt about the Void Knight?"

Ichio raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'also'?"

Aiko sat down beside him, her expression serious. "Last night, I had a dream too. The Void Knight's last words kept echoing in my mind. I don't know why, but it's been bothering me. Why would I dream about something from the game? And for some reason, I feel like… something's about to happen."

Ichio nodded slowly. "I feel the same way. But I don't know why I'm getting that feeling either. I just… hope it's nothing bad."

Aiko sighed, shaking off the tension. "Well, whatever it is, let's hope it's nothing. For now, shouldn't you be getting ready to log in? Yumi asked you to go on that quest with her, didn't she?"

Ichio leaned back with a smirk. "Why? Don't you want to join us?"

Aiko shrugged. "You heard her. She said she wanted it to be just the two of you. Maybe you finally have a shot."

Ichio laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, I doubt it. She probably just needs my intelligence or something. It's not like she's asking for me because of something special."

Aiko rolled her eyes, giving him a playful nudge before standing up. "Whatever you say. Anyway, I'll leave you to it."

Just as Aiko was heading for the door, Ichio's phone buzzed. He picked it up and saw the caller ID.

Aiko paused. "Is that Yumi?"

Ichio shook his head. "No, it's Kenji."

Aiko frowned, folding her arms. "Kenji? Why would he call you? Of all people, he'd be the last person I'd expect."

Ichio answered the call, his tone curious. "Hello?"

Kenji's voice came through, firm but not unfriendly. "Do you mind logging in right now? Head to Tasre on Floor 75 once you're in."

Ichio blinked. "Tasre, Floor 75? Alright, I'll be there."

Aiko raised an eyebrow. "And what about Yumi? Aren't you supposed to meet her?"

Ichio waved her concern off. "Don't worry. It's not time yet. I'll go meet her after I'm done."

Aiko gave him a doubtful look but eventually nodded. "Fine. Just don't keep her waiting." She headed out the door, leaving Ichio alone.

He sighed, heading to his Gaming room. Lying inside his VR pod, he positioned himself comfortably. The faint hum of the system booting up filled the pod.

"Ego Restart," he said clearly.

The system acknowledged his command, and the world around him faded to black as he logged into the game.

When Ichio logged into the game, his vision slowly adjusted to the interior of the Carlt Inn of Tasre on Floor 75. The warm glow of lanterns and the gentle hum of chatter from NPCs greeted him. He'd set this location as his login point the last time he logged out. Taking a moment to orient himself, he stretched and made his way outside.

The streets of Tasre were lively, filled with bustling players and NPC merchants advertising their wares. The floor's aesthetic reflected a medieval city with towering stone buildings and cobblestone streets. Ichio walked aimlessly for a moment, enjoying the cool breeze, when his eyes caught something unusual further down the road.

A dark, swirling portal shimmered faintly, almost imperceptible to the people around it.

"Wait, what?" Ichio muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes. "Why is an Ainslif in the middle of the street? And how is it that nobody else can see it?"

Curiosity got the better of him. He cautiously approached the portal, scanning his surroundings to see if anyone else reacted to it, but the crowd moved as if it didn't exist. Steeling himself, Ichio stepped into the Ainslif.

The world around him shifted instantly. He found himself standing in a barren wasteland under a blindingly hot sun. The ground was cracked and dry, stretching endlessly in every direction. Heatwaves distorted the air, making it difficult to see far. Ichio wiped his forehead, already feeling the oppressive temperature.

"What is this place?" he muttered, taking a hesitant step forward.

In the distance, he saw a figure walking toward him. The silhouette was hazy at first, but as the man approached, Ichio's heart skipped a beat.

"That's him… the man from my dream!"

Without thinking, Ichio broke into a sprint, desperate for answers. But even as he closed the distance, the man's face remained obscured, as if shrouded by a shadow that defied logic.

"Why can't I see his face?" Ichio thought.

The man stopped, his presence commanding yet strangely calm. His voice was deep and resonant. "Seriously? I tried to give you something important, but you willed me out of your dream. Do you have any idea how impossible that is?"

Ichio froze, stunned. "Willed you out…?"

The man chuckled softly. "Indeed. No ordinary person could do that. But you… you are A Child of the Star. That is proof enough."

Before Ichio could ask what he meant, the man extended his hand, revealing a small gourd-shaped calabash glowing faintly with a golden hue.

"Take this."

Ichio hesitated, staring at the calabash in confusion. Reluctantly, he accepted it. "You said you wanted to give me something, and it's this? What am I supposed to do with it? Drink water?"

The man smirked faintly, his expression unreadable. "Place it on your chest. Left or right, you choose."

Ichio looked at him skeptically. "What's supposed to happen if I—"

"Just do it," the man interrupted.

Sighing, Ichio placed the calabash on the left side of his chest. The moment it touched him, it shimmered and dissolved into his outfit, morphing into a pocket seamlessly stitched into his outfit.

"What the…?" Ichio grabbed at the pocket, tugging and pulling, but it wouldn't budge. "Why is it stuck? What did you do?"

The man began to fade, his form dissolving like mist. His voice lingered, calm yet foreboding. "Try not to die, okay… Arsem."

And then, just like that, the wasteland vanished. Ichio found himself back on the bustling street of Tasre, the Ainslif gone as if it had never existed.

"Arsem…" Ichio repeated, staring at the pocket now part of his outfit. "What does that even mean?"

Shaking his head, he tried to compose himself. As he walked down the street, scanning for something familiar, he spotted Ronin and a few other party members further ahead.

A wave of relief washed over him, and he called out. "Ronin! Hey, wait up!"

 CHAPTER END.