Chapter 15 - Parchments
It was a good Sunday morning.
We were finally back in her room. She let me sleep on the floor next to her bed, I'm not complaining. After all, I'm not even an official student of the Orlan Phoenix branch.
Yesterday, I was interrogated.
Today, I'm back in the same chair, staring at the same teddy bear in Rayleigh's room, sipping a warm cup of coffee.
The sweet aroma of waffles drifted through the air. Before I knew it, one was in front of me. Rayleigh had made them for breakfast, the syrup was butter-based, and suffice to say, it tasted pretty good.
"Ray, it's the weekend. What do you plan on doing today?" I asked.
Tomorrow is the Ascendant Trial, the day we're supposed to receive our Blasphemy Crest, if everything goes well. Yet, I don't see her doing any kind of preparation.
» [System]: Player, it's early in the morning. What could she possibly do at this hour?
...Good point....
She sat next to me, and to be honest, she's way too comfortable being near me. Not that I mind. I can see her messy pinkish-red hair.
She's wearing her pajamas... While I'm wearing, the same clothes...
"Lud, wanna come watch me practice for the precision course?" she asked, between forkfuls of waffles.
"I'll pass…"
The people in this university still don't fully accept me, they don't even tolerate me, it would only lead to unnecessary problems.
That's not the whole truth… honestly, I just didn't want to.
"Will you be alone?" I asked, if she was alone, then I'll reconsider going with her.
"Hmm, no, I won't be alone. I'll be with Adelaide."
Adelaide... I remember her.
Wait—precision course?
It clicked.
"Ray, are you a... sniper?"
That question momentarily made her pause mid-bite. "That poison vial really damaged your memory..." she said...
Ah…
It was obvious. The ammunition on her desk, the sniper rifle hanging on the wall, the bear traps, etc.
I thought she was just American. Or Australian.
"Yes, Lud, I am a sniper. I'm happy to remind you again." she said in a sarcastic tone.
A sniper... Which means, when she receives her Blasphemy Crest, it's almost guaranteed to be a Precision-type.
"Is Adelaide a sniper as well?" I asked, they're friends, and it looks like they share the same hobby...
Given how she responded to me before, it's clear Adelaide wasn't too fond of me.
"She's not—but she's kind of cautious of you. That's why she never used to come around when I was with you, back in the day..." Rayleigh said, drifting into nostalgia.
I see, Adelaide will just accompany her...
"Maybe… I'll be able to change how they see me someday," I said, a bit hopeful.
Rayleigh smiled. "Exactly! That's the spirit, you half-spirit!" Deep down, she was starting to prefer this less-brooding version of Luden.
Half-spirit...
What a nickname.
(Rayleigh: "Maybe that memory loss wasn't such a bad thing after all…")
---
All this time, Leonard and Rayleigh have been assuming it was the vial that messed with my memory.
I should take advantage of that...
"Ray, can you remind me of your family name?" I genuinely want to know—her family's influence might come in handy later.
Once again, she froze mid-bite, her fork hovering in front of her waffle.
"Lud, I might as well remind you of my full name."
Even better.
"I'd appreciate that."
"...It's Rayleigh Fita Calibre."
...What an odd name...
...The way she said it, it sounded like fifty caliber...
"Beautiful name, I must say—"
And yet again, she stopped mid-bite. "Lud, you're really not the type to hand out compliments like that..."
Curious…
"What do I usually say, then? Ray?"
"You don't wanna know, Lud… Better you forget. Just imagine an old man being constantly depressed, that's pretty much it."
"…Huh."
"I see. Do you prefer the way I used to speak?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"…No. You're much easier to understand now. Honestly, you should drink more poison vials, worked wonders on you."
Ouch. That was low.
She giggled and finally took a bite of her waffle. After swallowing, she added, "I'm kidding, mostly."
And with that, a few casual conversations flowed back and forth until we eventually finished breakfast.
I did the dishes while she busied herself, getting ready for the shooting range. I tried to stay out of her way. Before long, she stepped out of the bath, already fully dressed.
I couldn't help but steal a quick glance…
That's her fashion: a black crop top with her midriff exposed, layered under a brown leather coat, paired with short jeans over leggings… and black boots.
She had already dried and styled her pink-red hair, it fell neatly down to her waist.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, catching my gaze as I stood near the sink.
I quickly turned away.
"You have an interesting taste in fashion," I said.
"Does it look bad? How do I look?" she asked, walking toward a large mirror that reflected her full figure.
"You look absolutely fine," I replied, though I had expected someone from the noble class to dress a bit differently.
Still, this was a pleasant surprise.
---
"Thanks and by the way, Lud, I left some notes for you. You should read them, just in case," she said while preparing her things and spraying the same melon-scented perfume on herself.
I, on the other hand, was... doing nothing. Just standing there.
"Is it for the exam? There's no way in hell I'm doing a review of an entire curriculum in one sitting, right?"
She laughed.
"No, not at all! The King said it's my responsibility to teach you how Orlan University works. It's general knowledge." She gathered her things and even slung her rifle over her shoulder.
...I can't believe I'm seeing a high schooler carrying a firearm like it's part of a normal education...
"I understand. I'll review it, then."
---
"Good..." She finished packing and walked toward the door.
"Lud, keep this locked, okay? I'm bringing the keys with me. Don't let anyone in."
"Don't worry. I'll stand guard. Good luck with your day—"
"See ya later, Lud," she said, then stepped out.
I've been meaning to do this... but only when I'm alone. It's just been delayed.
Luden left behind something I need to understand.
The day I woke up in this body, one thing stood out: the parchments he had been studying—or maybe researching.
My wand, which I retrieved from the black duffle bag, is still with me.
Should I try… sacrificing blood right now?
Just to see what happens...
» [System]: I highly advise against that idea. It would destroy this entire room...
...I wasn't actually going to do it...
Now, the papers, Rayleigh had left them on her desk, mixed in with her own paperwork.
I opened one of the drawers, and there it was...
A parchment, old and worn-looking. I carefully pulled it out to examine it, and I grabbed the notes she wrote as well—figured I'd read them later.
Now, this parchment, what is this exactly?
I laid it flat on the table.
What am I even looking at?
System, do you know anything?
» [Notice]: Scanning...
---
def corrupted_save_sequence():
messages = [
">> Attempting to load save file...",
">> ERROR: Character data not found.",
">> WARNING: Memory corrupted.",
">> Searching backup...",
">> ...",
">> Backup failed.",
">> Timeline contaminated.",
">> World state: LOST.",
">> Identity: UNKNOWN.",
">> Reconstruction: IMPOSSIBLE.",
">> Possessing Host."
---
This was the first parchment, and there's a second.
---
def salvaged_identity_sequence():
messages = [
">> SYSTEM OVERRIDE INITIATED...",
">> Bypassing corrupted memory...",
">> Isolating identity fragments...",
">> Locating fragments...",
">> Reconstructing...",
">> [ERROR] Data mismatch detected...",
"»» MISSING INPUT"
">> [FORCE SYNC] Memory resonance engaged...",
">> Name: D###### ", "»» MISSING INPUT"
">> Class: Unknown (Unclassified)", "»» MISSING INPUT"
">> Status: DECEASED",
">> HISTORY : ERROR", "»» MISSING INPUT"
">> Restoring connection to the world.. ERROR.",
">> Compiling lost memory ERROR...", "»» MISSING INPUT"
">> Personality data... LOST", "»» MISSING INPUT"
">> System Log: 'ERROR.'", "»» MISSING INPUT"
">> Welcome back, ERROR." "»» MISSING INPUT"
---
» [Notice]: It seems to be a script or a piece of coding...
...How did a banshee possess this...
Chapter End...