Trapped in game - 08

Lucian stared intently at the librarian's eyes, then closed his own. He took a deep breath, a breath that carried the weight of questions and disappointment. Not just because of the little information he got, but also because of a strange feeling that kept haunting him—a feeling that was all too familiar yet hard to define. He walked away from the library, his steps heavy and sluggish.

"In the end, I only gathered a little info, huh..." he muttered, his voice barely audible. He rubbed his face with trembling hands. Disappointment mixed with frustration.

As he continued on, he felt a pain in his head, a sudden wave of ache that almost made him stumble. The world around him spun, his vision blurred, and his steps felt heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible burden. He felt so tired, as if all his energy had been drained.

"Ughh, my head... why does it suddenly feel so dizzy... like it's about to explode..." he mumbled, his voice weak and stuttering. He held his head with both hands, trying to ease the stabbing pain. He struggled to stand upright, but his body felt weaker. His vision was getting blurrier, and the world around him was spinning faster. He felt like he was going to faint at any moment.

[Notification; 1/3 of the Quest completed, finish 2 Quests before the end of today.]

The notification sound was faint, like a distant whisper of the wind. Lucian could still hear it, even though his consciousness was fading. He felt his body getting weaker, the world around him spinning faster, and his vision getting blurrier. He tried to hold his head, but his hands felt heavy and unresponsive. That incredible headache was making him almost lose control of his body. He felt like he was falling into a dark, deep abyss.

Lucian slowly opened his eyes. The bright white light dazzled his vision, making him blink a few times before finally adjusting. He found himself in a large, empty white room, with no furniture or decorations. The walls were smooth and clean, creating a sterile and cold impression. He tried to move his body, but his movements felt stiff and heavy, like a doll with rusty joints.

"Wait... is this... my body?" he murmured, his voice hoarse and weak, almost like a whisper. He tried to look at his hands; this was Kalandra's body, his original body before he possessed Lucian's body.

When he tried to look around, he saw a small circle of light in front of him. Inside that circle of light, he saw a scene that looked like a memory. He saw a little kid, about 5 or 6 years old, with a body and hair that looked like a black shadow. The kid seemed alone, sitting in a dark and quiet room. Next to the kid, there was an adult man with black hair, a stern and serious face. The man looked like a head of the family, handsome but giving off a cold vibe. An aura of power radiated from him.

"Lucian. Do you know what your mistake is?" The voice sounded cold and firm, echoing in the empty white room. It was the voice coming from the light of the circle.

"I'm sorry, Father." His voice was soft and almost inaudible, the voice of a little kid full of regret. He looked down, feeling the heavy burden of his mistakes on his shoulders.

In the circle of light still in front of her, she saw a clearer scene. But strangely, the child's face wasn't clear, like a black shadow.

"Wait... is this... is this Lucian's original memory? But... why does his body look like a black shadow here? Like... just a silhouette?" Kalandra murmured, his voice full of confusion. He didn't understand why Lucian's body appeared as a black shadow in that memory.

"Your face is a mistake, so don't show it to anyone else." The cold voice was heard again, this time sharper and full of hatred. Those words were like a knife stabbing Lucian's heart, causing immense pain. Kalandra, seeing this now, didn't understand why Lucian's face was considered a mistake. Was there something wrong with his face?

The little kid—Lucian in memory—pulled his body deeper into the shadows, shaking violently. Tears streamed down his cheeks, showing deep fear and sadness. He didn't dare to look at his dad, he could only curl up and cry. His small hands clutched his shirt tightly, as if seeking protection from his father's anger. His expression, though just a shadow, showed incredible despair. He looked so small and fragile, as if he could break at any moment.

The circle of light began to dim, gradually fading until it completely disappeared. Kalandra's head was experiencing flashes of memory from Lucian. His vision went dark, the world spun, and he felt a terrifying sensation of free fall, as if he was about to faint again. A strong wave of nausea hit him, making his stomach churn. He hugged his head tightly, trying to ease the unbearable pain.

However, the darkness didn't last long. Lucian's eyes slowly opened. A dim light from outside broke through the curtain gap, creating a faint shadow in his room. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust his vision to the incoming light. His head still felt heavy and throbbing, reminding him of his sudden fainting. This time, he felt himself in Lucian's body.

He looked around his room, noticing familiar details. He sat up, trying to remember what happened before he fainted. He recalled the intense headache, the system notification, and then... darkness. After that, he saw the memories of the real Lucian, painful and full of mystery. He still felt remnants of fear and confusion.

"Ugh, what dream is that..." Lucian rubbed his face, feeling the remnants of the dizziness that still haunted him. He tries to remember the details of a dream—or rather, a flash of memory—that he has just experienced. The shadow of the empty white room, the halo displaying memories of the past, and Lucian's hateful father's face were still clearly in his mind.

"No, it's not a dream, it's Lucian's memory, but why is he like that in that memory?" He felt even more confused. There was something strange and mysterious about the memory, something he couldn't understand. He felt a mystery that was getting deeper and more confusing. He had to find out what all this meant.

Suddenly, Pavel's voice broke his daydream. "Young Master! You've finally come to your senses!" Pavel's voice sounded panicked, mixed with relief. Hurried footsteps rang out, and a moment later, Pavel appeared in the doorway, his face pale and covered in cold sweat. His hair was a little disheveled, his suit was a little wrinkled, showing how anxious he had been during Lucian's fainting. Pavel's eyes, which were usually calm and controlled, were now filled with real concern.

"Ugh, you're noisy, Pavel! It feels like my head hurts again..." Lucian grimaced, holding onto his still-pulsating head. The headache was still felt, reminding him of his sudden fainting.

"I'm sorry, Young Master," Pavel bowed deeply, showing sincere guilt. "I... I am very worried. I'll call a doctor right away." He looked restless, his footsteps pacing in front of the door, showing how anxious he was. He immediately went out to call the doctor but Lucian stopped him.

"No need, I'm fine," Lucian said, his voice still a little weak, but his tone firm. He is trying to show that he is strong, that he can overcome all this. However, the pain in his head was still felt, reminding him of the terrible experience he had just had. "And also... I have something I want to talk to you about."

Pavel was silent for a moment, looking at Lucian with a worried look. "What are you saying, Young Master?! I was very worried when I heard from the maid that you fainted in the middle of the mansion corridor! You looked so pale back then!" He let out a deep sigh, trying to calm himself down. "And you were unconscious for seven hours! How can I not be worried?!" Sincere concern emanated from every word he spoke. He truly felt responsible for Lucian's safety.

"I already told you, I'm fine now," Lucian sighed softly, trying to ease the tension. He felt a bit awkward with Pavel's overreaction, but he understood his loyal servant's concern. "Huh..." He took a deep breath, then said in a softer tone, "I don't want to talk to someone if they're that far away." The last sentence was said with a slight emphasis on "that far away," a subtle hint—even a code—for Pavel to come closer.

Pavel, who had been standing tensely a few steps away from Lucian's bed, immediately understood the subtle cue in his Master's words. With quick but careful steps, he approached, stopping right next to the bed. A brief silence enveloped the room.

"Pavel, I need your opinion," Lucian started, looking at Pavel, seeking support and understanding from his loyal servant. He knew this question was a bit strange, maybe even sounded ridiculous, but he felt the need to ask. "What do you think... about my face?" The question slipped out, carrying a heavier question behind it.