62 An Ordinary Dream
"....Huh?"
Upon opening my eyes, I found myself standing in an empty white void.
"Where am I?"
All of my surroundings were white. There were no other colors—just this pristine emptiness.
Rubbing my eyes awake, it remained unchanged. Where could I be now? I wasn't entirely sure. The last thing I remembered was falling onto my bed before my consciousness gradually dispersed.
Ah! I'm dreaming, aren't I?
There's no better way to explain my current situation except for that.
I should be waking up later... I don't know how long, but I'm sure that I will.
*Chug—! Chug—! Chug—! Choo-Choo—!!!*
What was that...?
Turning to my right, my eyes widened at what I saw.
"...A train?"
As the train approached, it emitted a rumbling sound. It let out a whistle, reminiscent of a forlorn call in the night. The brakes hissed and screeched as the train gradually slowed down to a stop.
*Hiiiiiiiiiiis—!*
It stopped right in front of me.
"What in the...?"
My sentence was cut short as I felt something pass through my body.
A boy, approximately fourteen years old, and a woman in her early twenties.
The boy appeared ordinary, with clear blue eyes and messy brown hair. His attire wasn't particularly notable—just a tattered shirt and grey jeans.
As for the woman, she had long sky-blue hair with violet undertones, lengthy bangs that covered her left eye, and a loose braid tied on her left side. She wore a white uniform.
Notably, a floating halo adorned her head, positioned overhead but leaning slightly to the right. The halo was a white ring with sharp edges, resembling a crown, with a golden star in the center, slightly off to the right.
"...Isn't she?"
As she entered the train, she paused and turned to look at the boy. It was then that I saw something familiar.
[Paradisus Principal]
It was the same lady from back then.
*Shuu—!*
The train's doors began to close, taking me by surprise.
I hurriedly attempted to enter the train, but I was a second too late.
"...What are they doing?"
I stepped back a few paces, observing the unfolding scene.
As the boy was about to speak, the woman acted.
Simultaneously, the train started moving.
Out of the blue, the woman aimed a revolver at the boy.
...Is she trying to shoot him?
Why?
My confusion deepened.
Then, my eyes widened as I noticed the woman had been shot in the chest, blood beginning to stain her.
While she pointed the gun at him, she muttered something only the boy and she could hear.
My attention shifted to the boy—
Just as I was about to scream out to them, the train's track exploded.
"Whaa—!"
The train wobbled before eventually crashing to the ground.
[Failed again...]
A voice echoed in my head.
[Please...]
On the train's side, the woman emerged, her face covered in shattered glass and blood.
[I'm tired...]
The voice spoke again inside my head.
[I'm tired of everything...]
[So please, I beg of you...]
[Save us from these inevitable futures...]
[You are my only hope...]
My eyes began to feel heavy as if I were about to pass out.
...
..
.
[I'm sorry...]
***
"Ah!"
Waking up abruptly, I found himself drenched in sweat, his heart racing as if he had just experienced something intense.
"...My head..."
Holding my head with both hands, I attempted to recall the details of the dream that had disturbed my sleep, but it slipped away like mist between my fingers.
Otuko, noticing my distress, turned to me. "Are you okay?" she asked with genuine concern.
I glanced up at her, my expression still clouded by the remnants of my unsettling dream. "Yeah, I think so."
...Just what was that?
Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something important?
"Did you have a nightmare...?" Otuko inquired softly, prompting my attention to turn to her again.
"I don't know... I can't remember it myself."
"...Alright."
Otuko nodded at my response, concern lingering in her eyes.
Soon, she quietly retreated from the room, leaving me all alone with my thoughts.
"...What was it?"
A train....
Why am I thinking about that now?
Click—!
"....huh?"
Nevertheless, I suddenly had a realization upon hearing the click on my door.
"Wait... How did she entered my room?"
Moments later.
After heading out to my room, I went downstairs and saw Reina and Odium sitting on a couch, while Otuko was playing with a puppet by making them move with mana.
...Wait, controlling something using mana?
Don't mind if I use that later~
"You're finally out?" Otuko remarked as she noticed me, her eyes shifting from the puppet to meet mine.
...Her mastery on using mana is really on another level.
Even with my [Mana Control, I guess I need more practice.
Then again, that's not why I'm here.
Ignoring her comment, I pressed on, "How did you get into my room?"
Her response, a nonchalant "Eh...? I just snuck inside," her eyes narrowing to the side.
... That's clearly not answering my question, but... Let's leave it at that for now.
Shaking my head, I retreated to the bathroom, taking a moment to clear my mind in the shower. Emerging refreshed, I changed clothes and joined everyone for breakfast.
"Hmmm... Ah?"
As I took a moment to breathe outside, staring at the heavy clouds forming in the sky, I couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"I almost forgot what today is..."
Taking a sip at my coffee, I closed my eyes to think.
Out of the sudden, the sky above had transformed into a vivid hue of crimson-red, the dwindling timer counting down to the impending arrival of the Waves of Calamities.
[00M : 00D : 03H : 00M : 00S]
I'm gonna have a blast...
