After some time, he slept. In the middle of his relaxing sleep, his head began throbbing with pain—so much pain that it was hard to comprehend. It was like someone was hitting him with a metal bat again and again.
Shit, what the hell is this pain!? he thought as he entered a state of sleep paralysis. He could see his surroundings, but he couldn't move an inch of his body.
Suddenly, his vision started forming weird illusions, and he began hearing a whisper in his head.
Save me… Save me… Save me…
How does this… No, calm down, maybe it's just my mind playing tricks on me…
Robert tried to move as illusions continued forming in his vision, wishing for all of it to be over.
Is this a side effect of transmigration? Are these the symptoms of some disease that exists in this world? No, I'm in the body of an inhabitant of this world… I don't know what to do.
He started forming theories about the pain and the illusions that surrounded his vision and mind.
After three hours of constant struggle with the pain, it suddenly went numb—like it had never happened in the first place. A strange, warm sensation took over him. It was as if he were floating in an ocean where he could breathe.
When he opened his eyes, he looked around. It was pitch black, but he could feel his body. He wasn't standing on anything—he was simply floating.
After some time, he steadied himself and focused on one area, thinking it might help him avoid freaking out.
Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me… Save me…
The voice belonged to a girl. It was soft, but it carried desperation, despair, sadness, and guilt.
Stop it… this will drive me mad.
As soon as he thought that, the voice stopped, as if the one whispering could hear his thoughts.
After a minute or so, a feminine silhouette appeared at the edge of the void, standing under a white light shining directly on her.
Her face was not visible—she was facing the other way.
The figure appeared to be around 165 cm tall. She had long, golden hair and was wearing a dark blue noble dress. Her hair was braided, though some strands were left loose.
She is beautiful… No, this is not the time to think about this…
Robert suddenly felt solid ground beneath his feet. He began walking toward the woman. As he got closer, his left leg seemed to sink through the floor, and he fell.
After falling for some time, he realized he was in the air, looking down at the layout of a town.
It was Cosford. It was nighttime, and the city was burning.
As he fell, he felt a tingling sensation. The ground approached rapidly, and he thought he was going to die.
THUD!
He hit the ground but felt no pain. People were running in panic, not even noticing him.
Amid the chaos, he saw a young boy in blue clothes with blonde hair sitting on the ground, crying.
Robert rushed to the child and tried to shake him, but his hands passed right through. Blue patterns, like flowing water, formed around his wrist in a ring. He stepped back, realizing that no one could see him.
Am I an observer?
As he thought that, he saw the child get trampled by the crowd.
"NOOOOOO!" he cried, running toward the boy. But it was too late. The child had been crushed by the unforgiving feet of the fleeing crowd.
I am clearly an observer. There's nothing I can do… I should check where I am in this chaos.
Robert rushed to his house and entered. Inside, he found Mr. Owen dead, holding three children in his arms. They were also lifeless.
Robert clenched his teeth at the tragic sight but forced himself to run to his room. When he arrived, his room was neat and clean, as if nothing had happened.
I must be at the library!
He sprinted toward the library and found Sidney sitting there, her eyes wide open and lifeless.
Beside her, Robert saw himself—lying dead.