Grey Nirmala
"Wakey wakey! Its time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty."
A voice I didn't recognize echoed in my head. It was irritating. I opened my eyes and scanned my surroundings. Gray-leaved trees, a few bird-like creatures… but no place or being the voice could be coming from.
"You're checking the wrong place, little friend. I'm not there."
I scowled and pushed myself up from the massive tree trunk I'd been leaning against. I brushed the soil from my clothes and drew the calm air into my lungs.
"You've taken your first step, little friend. You're doing great!"
I frowned and rubbed the grit from my eyes. The purple sun overhead hurt to look at. And the annoying voice in my head just wouldn't go away. I was tired. Weak and sluggish. The purple sun blazing above me, dazzling my eyes, wasn't helping.
"Buddy, this light is really annoying, you know."
I sighed and rubbed my cheeks with my hands. My eyes began to follow the orange particles drifting through the air. They resembled aetheric particles, but they weren't as vivid or lively as aether. With their brilliant glow, these orange motes could guide travelers at night.
"I agree, Grey. A fine theory!""Please shut your mouth. Wherever and whatever you are."
The mysterious voice in my head started laughing—and didn't seem like it would stop anytime soon. I exhaled.
"Alright, alright… No need to get so mad. I'll tell you everything about myself."
I shook my head and dropped back to the ground.
"Then start talking.""Okay, okay. My name is… honestly… it's strange. So I'll introduce myself a bit differently."
The voice took a meaningless little breath. Idiotic.
"I am you.""What?"
The voice giggled.
"Or rather, I'm a part of you.""A part of me?""Yes! You and I are one whole."
It laughed. My irritation and curiosity rose together.
"Alright, alright. No more empty words. I'm the Eye of the Void. You know, the book."
My eyes flew wide. I flopped onto my back and burst into wild laughter."Hey! What's so funny?"
Tears of mirth pricked my eyes. I tried to steady myself with slow breaths, but I kept laughing like a maniac. When I finally stopped, I took long breaths and wiped my eyes.
"It's just… the idea that you're actually the Eye of the Void struck me as a bit funny.""Anyway."
The voice had no face, but I could feel it pouting inside my mind.
"Let's continue… One of the book's rules is ' Once you obtain the book, it becomes a part of you.' You remember that, right?"
I nodded.
"Well, I am… the Eye of the Void. I know it's sudden, but there's nothing to be done."
I sighed and glanced for a second at the sinking purple sun, then looked away.
"I get it. You're the book. So what, are you just going to be a voice in my head that never shuts up now?""Basically, yes. But…""But?"
I could feel the Eye of the Void grinning.
"If you want, you can silence me by ignoring me. If you ignore me for long enough, I'll probably get bored and quiet down.""How lovely… an imaginary friend living in my fucked up head."
I sighed and stood up."So what should I even call you?"
The voice faltered."Honestly, I don't know. If I had to have a name… I think I'd choose... Hachiko.""Hachiko? Interesting choice."
Hachiko chuckled to himself."Please stop giggling every other second.""S—sorry, but I'm someone who really loves to laugh.""I can tell."
My eyes slid to the right at a movement.
"Uh-huh… What was that?""How should I know?"
I frowned and started toward the spot where I'd seen the movement, taking slow steps.
"You know, I'm surprised you're not crying. I remember you bawling quite a bit during your first run-in with the Organizer."
My face flushed, and I stopped walking."I hadn't even acquired you then.""True, but I'm a part of you, remember? Your memories are my memories. Your thoughts, my thoughts.""I understand."
I brushed off that damn Hachiko and kept walking. The movement had come from a large grayish bush. I reached for it, then quickly pulled my hand back with fear and curiosity. Who knew what might be inside? Faint, indistinct sounds began to rustle from within. Chewing, almost. It was getting darker, and being alone in a place like this didn't thrill me. I moved a bit closer, but peering into a gray bush in a darkened forest wasn't exactly easy.
"I think we should jump right in!""No. I'm definitely not doing that.""Okay. Suit yourself."
Hachiko's voice faded. I thought about what he said for a few seconds. Diving into the bush was a stupid idea. But whatever it was, I didn't think it was dangerous. And even if it was, I had two runes etched into my palms, things I still didn't fully understand. I pressed my face as close to the bush as I could, trying to make out what lurked inside. I stared for a long time, but my only light source was a few drifting orange motes, so there wasn't much I could do. My patience began to fray. In a sudden flash of overconfidence, I stuck my face right into the gray bush. The instant I did, I saw only one thing: two gray eyes staring back at me.
The sight spooked me, and I yanked my head out in a hurry. Naturally, a few places on my face got scratched. As I wiped at the scratches with my arm, another head popped out from the other side of the bush. A man with long gray hair and gray eyes stared at me. His face was wrinkled; he was definitely much older than me. So old in fact, I thought he might be older then my dad.
"Well, that was unexpected."
Hachiko's reaction echoed in my head.
"Who the hell are you?"
I asked the old man in a hard, threatening tone. The gray-haired man took a step back.
"Hehehe… Didn't know there was a kid roaming these woods."
I wanted to level the rune of destruction at him and erase him on the spot, simply because I felt like it. But if anyone could tell me where I was, it was this man, whoever he was. "That's the best idea you've had so far.""Haha. You're very funny."
I argued with my companion in my head.
"This guy looks like he knows these parts. And if he doesn't… I don't know.""Fully understood, and I fully agree."
I sighed and met the old man's eyes. A bead of sweat dropped from his forehead. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it without saying a word. While the man was quiet, I wanted to talk more with my all trusty companion.
"Hachiko, can I ask you something?""Of course, my dear friend and comrade."
I dragged my eyes off the old man and fixed them on a tree to my right.
"Why can't you give me any information about this place?""Well… well actually…"
Hachiko was flustered."There's a very simple answer to that."I rolled my eyes."And what's this simple answer?""It's easy. Because I don't know either.""Eh…?"
I felt every ounce of energy inside me vanish in an instant.
"Of course you don't."
Hachiko didn't answer me. He just retreated back into that little pit he'd dug in my mind. I refocused on the old man. An odd smile spread over his face as he muttered to himself. I frowned and took a step toward him, only for my foot to snag on the bush's thorny branches, forcing me to stop.
"Easy, young man. I'm guessing you don't know what happens if that poison gets in your blood."
I frownedeven harder."Maybe you could tell me about it. Assuming you don't have some hidden motive behind your words."
The old man bared his dirty teeth in a grin. Despite his big, scrawny-looking body, he hopped over the bush and landed beside me like a bird.
"Ta-daaa… I've still got it!"
Hachiko clapped mockingly inside my head. I tried to act unimpressed by the man's flashy move, but even I had to admit it exceeded my expectations, considering the dirty and thick body the man had.
"Very well then, young man. Let's get you some help."
The old man pulled a small but sharp-looking knife from the pocket of his filthy pants. At first the blade made me wary, but in the blink of an eye he'd cut me free from the thorny branches tangling my legs.
"Phew… Quick and clean cut. Sometimes these take alot of strength. Lucky you."
His smug tone irritated me, but I kept my face neutral. He slid the small knife back into his pocket, looked at me with pride, then, unexpectedly held out his hand at me.
"My name is Cinder.""Now thats how you introduce yourself!"
Hachiko's excitement echoed in every corner of my mind. I took the man's hand, letting my expression relax.
"Nice to meet you, Cinder. My name is…"
I stopped. I was torn between saying my real name or not. I didn't know where I was or why. I knew I needed help to get back to my friends. But I didn't have to tell Cinder my real name. I could just make one up. Something not stale or boring, not too long… short, concise, not too far from Grey. I had the perfect name in my mind.
"My name is Cyran Nirmala."
Cinder shook my hand."Pleasure to meet you as well, Cyran Nirmala."
He released my hand and turned his eyes toward the setting purple sun.
"Come on! You could've come up with better names."
Hachiko protested."Like Aetheren, or Vesper…""I don't need ridiculous names. Besides, I think Cyran is a perfectly fine name."
I could feel Hachiko rolling his nonexistent eyes.
"Whatever. Next time, leave the naming to me.""Says the one who named himself Hachiko.""Shut up you dummy!"
Hachiko whined like a five-year-old brat."I'm starting to think you didn't come from my memories and thoughts at all. You're more like Opie."
Hachiko didn't reply. Thinking of Opie at a time like this actually made me happy. In my eyes, Opie was the best sister this universe could offer. She always listened, always tried to make me happy, and succeeded. It was in her nature: protecting and watching over those she loved.
"I guess I miss her a little.""Of course you do… she's your sister, after all."
I smiled at what Hachiko said."Yeah…"
For a brief moment, I thought about everything that had happened up to now.
"I wonder if aether has affected her too.""Given the current situation, most likely."
Hachiko spoke in a tone more serious than usual. He had my memories and thoughts, after all. He was like a third sibling, in a way. Apart from Opie and my parents, there weren't many people I truly liked or cared about. Like friends... Klein appeared on my already full mind. Things had started to get a little better between me and Klein. When I was with him, I felt like I actually had a real friend, but that didn't mean I would stop judging his ridiculous worldview. Klein… The hero. And maybe if I talked more with Sunny, I could like him as well. I'd only just met the kid, but when I looked at him, I felt like there was a past and a future between us. Rain, Alora and… Nico. I'd been interacting with them more lately, but apart from Rain, I didn't know the other two very well. I'd only recently learned of Alora's existence, which was both funny and sad in a way. One last person remained in my thoughts. I had no idea how Raya was. Or the others. I wanted to know if they were okay. I hadn't even seen what happened to the Organizer at the end. After the blast of destruction, everything went dark.
"Damn it!" I shouted aloud. Cinder raised a single eyebrow at me.
"Calm down, boy. If you lose hope this quickly, you'll never get out of the Forest of Spirits."
I turned to Cinder, giving him my full attention."The Forest of Spirits?"
Cinder nodded."Yes, the Forest of Spirits. The wills of the dead drift through this vast woodland, and in time, they fade. It's one of aether's greatest jokes."
Every scrap of knowledge fluttering in my brain sprouted wings and flew away.
"Are you… for real?""Yes…? Wait, you're only learning this now? Has your head been under a rock your whole life?"
I had no idea what to say. First minute, first goal against me.
"Well… in a way, you could say that."
Cinder gave himself a light smack."I may be an old man, son, but you might be the most ignorant of the People of Death I've ever seen."
Damn it! I cursed again. The People of Death, what was that even supposed to mean? I tossed the question to Hachiko, but I could feel he didn't know either.
"Sorry, Mr. Grumpy, but I only know a little more than you do. And that term is definitely not among what I know.""Figured."
I sighed and chose my next words carefully.
"I know, I know. I might be a bit ignorant. But its because my mother and father…"
Cinder's eyes filled with curiosity and suspicion."Yes? What about them?"
The words I was about to speak needed to sound as real as possible.
"Both of them… passed away when I was little. A fire at our home."
Cinder's eyes widened, his smile falling.
"That's not good."
"Yeah… So I couldn't go to school, and I never learned much about our world."
Cinder shook his head."Don't worry, young man. I can teach you everything you need to know."
His voice was sorrowful and gentle, yet I still sensed a flicker of doubt toward me behind his words.
"Come on. A bunch of outfitters have set up around the forest. We can get you the necessary tools there."
A childish, warm smile spread across my face."Thank you, Uncle Cinder."
"You're a complete bastard. But a good bastard." Hachiko laughed. In a way, my companion was right. But if I wanted to get out of this supernatural place, I had to take risks. My eyes fell to the two runes carved into my palms. Destruction and Creation… I hoped I wouldn't have to use them here. I still didn't fully understand their mysteries. The only thing I grasped was that they were concepts in a way. Hard to explain, harder to comprehend. Still, I could use my time here to understand aether better. Then I could plant a solid punch right into that bastard Organizer's stupid and arrogant face.
This was only the beginning. And now I was sure of one thing. I would no longer wait for fate to come to me, I would run straight at it.