Kael woke up choking.
Not from fear.
Not from a nightmare.
But from something far worse—
A memory that wasn't his.
His hands trembled as he touched his face, cold sweat dripping down his neck. The room was the same. Gray walls. A flickering ceiling light. Silence.
Too much silence.
"...You're not supposed to remember that."
Kael froze.
The voice didn't come from outside.
It came from inside his head.
"W-who's there?" he whispered, his voice barely escaping his lips.
No answer.
Only the sound of his heartbeat… getting louder.
Then—
A flash.
Fire. Screams. Blood.
His own hands… covered in it.
Kael stumbled back, crashing into the wall.
"That's not real… that's NOT REAL!" he shouted.
But deep inside—
He knew.
It felt real.
Too real.
Suddenly, the door clicked open.
A girl stood there.
White hair. Calm eyes. No emotion.
"Kael," she said softly.
"You finally remembered… didn't you?"
His breath stopped.
"How do you know my name?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Because…" she stepped closer.
"I was there when you erased yourself."
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing silence.
Kael's mind shattered.
"I… what?"
The girl smiled faintly.
And whispered—
"Do you want to remember… why you killed them all?"
—End of Chapter 1