Bookwormd

Ethan, a boy who has always preferred the quiet of his books to the crowd, is unexpectedly plunged into an unfamiliar reality. After waking up in a hospital, he finds himself surrounded by a new truth that forces him to interact with people, confronting what he never imagined existed.

The streets he once walked in peace are now overrun by dungeons that spring up without warning, monstrous creatures that emerge from the shadows, and supernatural abilities that alter the course of the lives of those who possess them.

Now, Ethan must learn to survive in a world where the rules have changed. As he struggles to adapt to this dangerous environment, he discovers that his existence is linked to an ancient artifact, a relic of forgotten times.

This artifact gives him the ability to read minds, but at the same time connects him to a world of hidden secrets, dark dangers and endless possibilities. The weight of this power may crush him... or perhaps, it will give him the strength to forge his own destiny.

Will he succeed in unraveling the truth behind the past and the origin of this artifact?

The Heart of a Hero in Multiple Worlds

I was told that I would be receiving a visit from my mother. Soon after, the door opened and she came in, running to my bed. She lay on top of me, hugging me tightly, her tears soaking my shirt. "Ethan, my love...your disappearance...it tore me apart. You don't know how much I looked for you, how much I missed you. I'm sorry I wasn't there to take care of you, to protect you..."

Her voice cracked, and the weight of her guilt was palpable. I felt a lump in my throat. I wanted to comfort her, to reassure her that it wasn't her fault, but the images of my abduction and torture were still fresh in my memory, though blurred, as if I were seeing them through a screen. My system, though I hadn't told her, had shown me fragments of those days: the darkness, the pain, the fear... and the cold river water.

"Ma...don't worry," I said, stroking her hair. "You couldn't have done anything. You didn't know where I was." My voice was soft, trying to convey calm to her.

She shook her head, her tears falling relentlessly. "But... I should have known. I should have sensed it..." Her guilt was a weight she felt the need to lift from her shoulder.

"No, Ma. You really couldn't have done anything," I repeated, more firmly this time. "It was ... quick. It didn't last long." I lied a little. The pictures in the system showed me several days of torment, but for her, it was better to keep it simple. I didn't want to worry her any more. The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the sound of her crying.

My calm tone surprised her. For a boy my age, the experience would have been traumatic, leaving deep scars on my psyche. But for me... it had been different. My system, though I didn't fully understand it, had cushioned the emotional impact of the trauma. The physical pain had been intense, but the psychological damage had been minimal, thanks to that part of me that I still didn't fully understand. The system had been my shield, my armor against an experience that would have shattered most teenagers. My mother, however, did not know this, and I could only offer her comfort and reassurance, absorbing her pain in a silent embrace. The intensity of her pain was almost physical, and I could only offer her my presence and my silence.

Chapter 2: The Embrace of Guilt