Bark.
Myra's vision was blurred. She could only hear distant panting and barking.
Bark.
She could hear the noise growing louder. Closer. Her vision sharpening. But still too blurry to be normal. She could see a silhouette of something approaching. Something coated in fur. Not a human.
Bark!
Finally, Myra's vision straightened fully. She found herself in a pure white space. Not a single object around. As if she's floating in endless white void. Except her feet can touch the ground.
She blinked in disbelief as she saw what was approaching her.
It was a dog... A massive dog... Larger than a building. Its fur was blood red. Its eyes were dark. With emerald green pupil-less irises. And most obviously... It had not one. Not two. But three heads... Each head was wrapped in metallic collars. With skulls at the end of them.
Myra's eyes widened for a moment—but instead of panic or fear... She felt: Affection... Love... Happiness...
She smiled and opened her arms. Embracing the approaching creature warmly. Caressing its thick fur and nuzzling its multiple heads.
Somehow. She's not scared. Not confused. It's as if she knew this creature all her life.
Then, she opened her mouth to speak. "Good b—...!" Her tongue froze in her mouth as she heard her own voice... It was... Masculine... Like a man's voice...
"That's not my voice..." She thought to herself as she looked into the creature's eyes. She leaned over. Looking at her reflection in them.
"That's not my face...!" She had the face of a man... Sharp facial features.. Even her eyes were differently colored... One was green... The other was red. Her hair was short, spiky... And black...
"This isn't me!" She backed up in terror and confusion. The triple-headed dog cocked its head to the side, confused at her—or his—fear.
To add onto the confusion and fear... She suddenly heard a voice from behind. A feminine, almost ethereal voice.
"Zagreus?"
Myra whirled around to the direction of the voice. But before she could see who it was... Her vision was filled with a burst of pure white.
Then.. The same word started repeating again. This time louder.
"Myth. Myth. Myth. Myth. Myth."
When she finally came to... She found herself in a familiar place. On the same bed she was healed from her wounds on many times. In the same room. Number two-hundred and fifty-two.
She quickly sat up and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Letting out a sigh of relief as she saw her own face and body.
"Oh, thank God..." She panted loudly and looked around for Hibiki, unable to find her. "Miss Amagishi? Miss Amagishi!"
She swung her legs over the bed. Standing up and slowly walking towards the door. Covered in sweat.
Before she could get there, the door slid open as Hibiki walked in. Rei close behind.
"Oh my!" Hibiki's eyes widened in shock at Myra's state. "Dear, what's wrong? Why do you look exhausted?" She made her way over. Gently holding her shoulder.
Rei followed in close behind. His hands in his pockets. He raised an eyebrow at her state. "What, you summon something on accident?"
"I-... I had a dream... I wasn't.. Me.. I was someone else.. And there was... A dog.. With three heads... And there was a voice... A woman... She said... Zagreus..." The reason she's so panicked.. Is because she knows it's not a normal dream.
Hibiki's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Zagreus? As in... The Greek God?"
Rei leaned over. "Did you say you saw a dog with three heads?"
Myra nodded. "Yes.. It was huge... And for some reason.. I wasn't scared.. I was.. Playing with it... Like it's a pet..."
Hibiki looked over at Rei. "Do you think...?"
Rei nodded. "Definitely." He looked back at Myra. His tone surprisingly serious. "Kid, that wasn't just a dream. It's your ocean trying to talk to you. And that dog... It's the complete version of what you summoned three days ago. On that mission."
Myra looked up at him in confusion, slightly intimidated at his sudden seriousness. "Th- Three days ago..? I've been asleep for THREE days..?!"
Hibiki nodded and went over to her desk. Bringing her an abyssal orb. "Yes, dear. You were really exhausted. Here" She handed her the orb.
"Thank you.." Myra muttered and took the abyssal orb from Hibiki.
Rei chuckled. "Yeah. You summoned something even a tidebringer struggles to summon."
Myra raised an eyebrow as she bit into the abyssal orb. Instantly replenishing her energy. "Tidebringer...?"
Rei let out an "Oh" of realization. "It's a higher rank of us Waveborn. Lady Sera will tell you the details when you're ready to become an official task force unit. So pretty soon."
Myra stared at him. "You have an entire ranking system for Waveborn and I find out about it just now?" She was visibly annoyed.
Rei nodded. "Why would I tell you if you're not in it yet?" He cocked his head to the side in confusion.
Myra sighed and facepalmed. "Just... Nevermind. What about that Zagreus person from my dream? Who is he?"
Rei raised an eyebrow. "You don't know Prince Zagreus? Even if you don't hit the books... Video games should let you know who he is, too."
Hibiki gave Rei an annoyed look before chiming in. "Don't mind him, dear. Zagreus is a Greek God. He's the son of Hades, God of the Underworld. And Persephone, Goddess of nature and spring."
Myra's confusion only grew. "Why would I dream to be a Greek God..?"
Rei jumped back into the conversation. "Because the big doggie you saw is his. Well... It's his dad's, but also his."
Myra's gaze whirled towards Rei in surprise. "You're telling me I accidentally summoned the pet of a Greek God?!"
Rei nodded slowly. "Incomplete, but yes. You did. Anyways. Ready up and meet me at the training ground. We need to get ya to control this Ocean ASAP. I won't throw you in a hole again. Probably." He then walked out of the room.
Myra stared at the door in shock and slight trauma. "Probably!? What does he mean, 'probably'?!" She looked at Hibiki for confirmation.
Hibiki giggled lightly. "Don't worry. He's just messing with you. I scolded him. He won't do it again. If he values his life." Her tone suddenly turned extremely intimidating at that last sentence.
Myra shivered slightly at her change of tone. "H-.. He better..."
Hibiki's tone quickly returned to the soft and kind tone from before. "I'll leave you alone now. So get ready, dear. Don't wanna keep Rei waiting. Good luck. I'm proud of you."
She leaned over and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before leaving. Myra stood there. Reeling from the sudden act of affection. She hasn't felt that warmth since... Well... Since her mom was alive...
She shook her head vigorously, to center her mind one what's more important. "I need to write this dream down... Where's my diary?" She muttered to herself as she started looking in her stuff, rummaging for her diary.
Then she froze. "Oh." Her hands started shaking as she remembered what happened. The sight of the Drowned carelessly swallowing her diary whole...
"Right..." Tears started welling up in her eyes. She tried to stay strong. She tried not to cry. But it was difficult. "I'm so sorry, mom... I couldn't keep your gift safe..."
But then...
"It's alright, sweetheart. I forgive you."
Myra's eyes widened in shock as she heard that voice. It's the voice of her mother.. She felt a hand on her shoulder... She spun around in shock, fear, and hope.
But... There was nothing there... "What the hell...?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Was I imagining...? I felt something on my shoulder, though..."
"No.. It's probably just me..." She gently slapped herself. "Focus, Myra." She sighed and just left all her stuff behind and left the room. Heading for the training ground to meet Rei.
[In an unknown place.]
"My lord..." Kenzo's own voice is the only thing he can hear. "I'm too weak... I got Locked so easily... I'm so sorry, my lord... I failed you..."
Kenzo gripped his blade tightly. As if it's the only thing keeping him alive. "Rei Kannazaki... Please... Beware... Don't let Sakasama lock you.... M'lady will be in danger if you do..."
[The Mariana training area.]
"I'm here." Myra stretched her limbs as she stood in front of Rei. "Well? Are we—...!" She gasped and turned around quickly.
Rei raised an eyebrow. "You good?"
She looked back at him, her eyes wide. "Did you not hear that?"
He looked to the right a little. Trying to listen. "Nope. Can't hear anything. What's wrong?"
She put a hand on her forehead, before running that hand through her hair. "I hear a voice... A man.."
Rei took his hands out of his pocket and crossed them instead. "A man? What'd he say?"
Myra stared downwards. "It was calling out to... You... Telling you to beware.. And not to let Sakasama lock you... Or else... 'M'lady will be in danger'..."
She looked back up at Rei. "Who's Sakasama...? Who's 'M'lady'?"
Rei stared at her in shock. His smile fading completely "That.. That has to be Kenzo. Damn... He got locked...?"
Myra approached him. Wanting answers. "What do you mean 'he got locked'? Who even is this Kenzo?!"
Rei sighed. "A member of the council. The Council's a group of strong people. They serve as the court of The Mariana. They're the ones who punish anyone who screws up. Under Lady Sera's judgement, of course."
"W- Well... What about the 'Locked' thing... What do you mean?" Myra needed all the answers she could get right now.
Rei looked away. "Ocean lock. An advanced Ocean skill that allows the person to completely lock their enemy away in a different dimension. At the cost of the user not being able to use their Ocean at all, until they release that person and unlock their ocean."
Myra stared at him in shock. A skill like that sounds too powerful. And terrifying. "And... Someone wants to do that to you?"
Rei nodded slowly. "I guess so." He cracked his knuckles.
Myra looked around nervously. As if to catch a person trying to do that. "But... Who's this Sakasama person... And Why...? Why does he want to 'lock' you specifically..?"
Rei looked at Myra. Locking eyes with her. "He's another member of the council. And... Because I'm the only thing stopping them from causing chaos and wreaking havoc."
Her eyes widened. "But.. You said they're the court.. Aren't they supposed to punish anyone who does something like that... Not do it themselves?"
Rei nodded. "They're supposed to. But they're corrupt freaks. Only Kenzo has a slight sense of thought left. And he's losing it slowly."
Myra's mouth was agape. "Then.. Why don't you tell Miss Sera..? She'll put an end to this. Right...?"
"She already knows. And wants to put an end to them just like you say... But she can't do anything to them without concrete evidence." Rei looked upwards. Staring at the sun for a bit.
"Anyways!" He smiled again. "Training time. Prepare!"
"Right." She sighed and fixed her hair. "I'm sure you'll be okay.. Let's do this."
"Alright. Here's what you're gonna do." He approached and stood behind her. Placing his palms on both sides of her head. "Close your eyes." He added.
She gasped a little. Slightly surprised they're not gonna fight, like last time. But regained her composure. "That's different.. But sure." She closed her eyes.
"Now, I want you to think about that night. Think about how you felt when you summoned that dog. Not after summoning it. The exact moment it happened."
"Okay.." She took a deep breath and tried her best to recall the sensation. It felt like.. Submerging your arm in a deep ocean.. And pulling a large fish out. Like fishing with her own body. Like digging into a box full of stuff. Except she knows exactly where the desired item is.
"And then..?" She muttered. Trying her best to focus on the feeling.
"Now. Think of the dog. Not the skeleton. The one from your dreams. The complete version." His smile widened. He's feeling confident, She won't summon the whole thing right away. But he knows she'll summon even a small part of it.
Myra tightened her shut eyes as she imagined herself digging into that Ocean. Grabbing and yanking out the triple headed hound from her dreams. It was tough. "Come on..." She struggled. As if her thoughts were fighting back against her. As if she was actually trying to pull a monster from the water. As if it's weight is too much.
"Come on!" With one final tug.. She managed to pull the monster out. She opened her eyes and saw something strange.
Something was happening in the air in front of them. Something was materializing. "Is it happening?" She looked at Rei in shock and slight excitement.
"Sure is!" He grinned.
The object that manifested was but a tiny bone. It fell to the ground. "Oh..." Myra hummed in disappointment as she looked down at the bone. "That's all I could do...?"
"What do you mean 'that's all'?! That's insane, kid!" He grabbed the bone. "Others at your stage of mastery can't even summon a hair. You summoned a whole bone!"
Myra's eyes widened. "Really? That's considered good..? But I summoned a whole monster last time.."
"That was your ocean acting for you. Not the other way around. You're doing great, kid. At this rate. You'll be able to summon its whole head in a month, tops."
A surprised gasp escaped her. "I just need one month to summon its head?"
Rei nodded. "Just the skull, though. Not the whole head, fur and all. But you can still very much fight with just the skull! You really lucked out with a good Ocean. You'll definitely be skipping a few waveborn ranks once you finish this."
"Really?!" Her eyes widened in excitement. Her trust in Rei was returning, even after what he did last time they trained. "I wanna try again!"
"Why are you asking me? Do it!" He stood behind her again. Placing his palms on her head once more.
[In the distance.]
"Interesting..."
Kagami Sakasama was observing atop a distant tree.
"She's making fast progress. I must finish this quickly." He cracked his knuckles, tightened his tie, and jumped down.
"Let's see if you're as powerful as they say you are, Kannazaki."
[Chapter ten: END.]
[Volume one: END.]