Chapter 12: Brains, Books, and Busted Sleep Schedules

Date: 2742-08-23

Time: 10:34 PM

Location: Old Kyoto – Residential District, Home of Aito Kazama

"So… you're telling me… that a hot elf crashed into your apartment, you've been jumping through time, there's a voice in your head that talks in binary poetry, and now you're carrying a glowing alien chest-core that's syncing up with the multiverse like it's trying to download god?"

Ren scratched the back of his neck. "...Basically, yeah."

Aito Kazama — Ren's old school buddy and resident 'unsolved-puzzle-obsessed genius with no chill' — blinked. Then sipped his tea.

"Ren," he said calmly, "did you finally try edibles?"

Tell him I'm real, goddammit. I'll describe his browser history.

"No," Ren snapped, out loud. "Please don't."

Aito raised an eyebrow.

Ren quickly pulled the strange, ever-changing The Last Light letter from his bag and slapped it on the table.

"Look. I know how this sounds, but I swear this letter changes. On its own. And I bought a book from a woman who disappeared with her entire shop. And now I've got this."

He dropped the red leather book beside it.

Aito leaned forward, squinting. "No title. No author. Just vibes."

He flipped the first few pages. Symbols, diagrams, puzzle structures that didn't follow traditional logic. Some pages were blank. Others were filled with shifting ink.

"Huh… It's like a cipher… but from hell."

Finally. A man of taste.

Aito rubbed his temples. "Okay. I can't solve this in a day. Maybe not even a month. But… you're serious about this?"

Ren nodded.

"I'll stay here for a while otherwise I'm either going insane, or I'm the protagonist in a story written by a chronically sleep-deprived god. Just give me a break and let me stay here for a while"

Aito sighed. "Then you're staying here for the week. Bring the weird eye and your cursed homework."

Reason for Time Off:

ArcNet Systems declared a one-week paid wellness break due to a "recent spike in intra-departmental anxiety-related screaming and hallway sobbing."

Translation: Half the office was on the verge of losing it, so they gave everyone time off to prevent lawsuits.

Time: 11:19 PM

Location: Aito's Guest Room – Second Floor

Ren sat on the floor, surrounded by papers, notes, the weird book, and two mugs of increasingly cold tea.

"I think I understand less now than I did five hours ago," he groaned.

That's because this book is actively gaslighting you. Page 17 was blank until you blinked, then it grew a fucking maze.

"I'm convinced this book hates me."

I hate you and I'm stuck to your eye. Imagine how it feels.

Aito poked his head in. "You're talking to it again?"

"Constantly," Ren muttered. "It never shuts up."

I bring wisdom, sarcasm, AND threat detection. You're welcome.

"Any new ideas?" Aito asked.

"None that don't involve setting this book on fire."

"I'll get the matches."

They laughed.

Ren leaned back, finally relaxing a little… until a breeze moved through the window.

Except... the window was closed.

Ren sat up.

Hold up. Wind anomaly. Thermal drop. Something's near.

"I was about to sleep!"

No you weren't. You were gonna stare at page 38 until it called you names in Latin.

Ren got up, pulled on a hoodie, and stepped outside.

Do not. I repeat: DO NOT move around. I'm still scanning. I need five minutes to map this entire creepy district and tag any lifeforms bigger than a cockroach.

"I'll just walk a block," Ren said, already halfway down the steps.

Goddammit. This is why Kael had ulcers.

Location: Old Kyoto – Abandoned Shrine Path

The air was quiet.

Too quiet.

No footsteps. No wind.

Ren's breath fogged in the air — even though it wasn't cold.

He turned a corner… and froze.

A long shadow stood ahead. Tall. Twisted. Like smoke wearing armor.

The Fallen. Vorlag.

Just a shadow. But unmistakable.

It stared at him.

OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE—

Okay. Okay. Stay calm. He's not fully here. Just a projection. Or a tether. Probably. 78%. Okay 72%. I'm updating the odds in real time.

Ren took one shaky step forward.

Vorlag's shadow tilted its head.

"...You watching me now?" Ren muttered.

Don't sass the interdimensional warlord! We are not equipped for a boss fight! We have anxiety and snacks.

Vorlag didn't speak.

But suddenly the shadows stretched.

Something scraped along the edge of the shrine wall — like claws.

Then… silence again.

The shadow vanished.

Ren stood there, heart pounding.

Okay. You saw that too. I'm not crazy. You're not crazy. HE'S CRAZY.

"Why didn't he attack?"

Maybe because he wants you to keep playing. That puzzle? That book? That letter? They're steps. This is a game and you? You're the piece he can't move. Only you can.

Ren stared into the empty path.

"...I really should've just gone to therapy."