Chapter Eight: Paranormal Realm 6
"…My name is Nyphrin."
The words came out calmly, almost casually, like she hadn't just dropped something important on me.
I froze.
My body was still sprawled lazily on the bed, one leg hooked over the edge, sunlight spilling in through the tall window and warming my skin, but my mind had stopped completely.
"Nyphrin," I repeated slowly, testing the sound of it on my tongue.
The goddess hummed in response, clearly pleased. "Yes. That's my name. You've been calling me Goddess, System, Gorgeous Goddess. "
"Hey," I interrupted quickly, "that one was respectful."
"It was shameless," she corrected. "But I'll allow it."
I snorted. "So… Lyssara. That's it? No long title? No 'Supreme Overseer of Fate and Balance' nonsense?"
There was a pause.
Then her voice turned dry. "Do you want the full title?"
"Nope. Absolutely not." I shook my head immediately. "I already struggle remembering basic names. If you start adding divine prefixes, I'll forget my own."
"Too late for that," she muttered.
I frowned. "I heard that."
"Of course you did. You hear everything." There was a brief sigh, then her tone shifted, less playful, more… present. "I told you my name because this isn't a temporary partnership, Rowan."
That made me still.
"I'll be with you through every world," she continued. "Your successes, your failures, your deaths."
"Let's avoid that last one," I cut in.
" — and your rebirths," she finished smoothly. "It would be strange if you never knew my name."
I stared up at the ceiling, tracing the carved patterns absentmindedly. "You're really bad at reassurance, you know that?"
"I'm not here to reassure you."
"Yeah, yeah. You're here to traumatize me for character growth."
"That too."
Silence settled between us, not awkward, just… heavy in a strange way.
"So," I said eventually, " Nyphrin. Since we're on a first-name basis now… want to explain why my life is suspiciously peaceful?"
She didn't answer immediately.
I sat up, resting my back against the headboard. "I mean it. A whole week. No assassination attempts. No dramatic confrontations. No ominous background reveal, That's not normal."
"You're learning," she said.
"I survived growing up at an orphanage. So obviously I notice patterns."
Her voice softened slightly. "This world hasn't reached its turning point yet."
I frowned. "Turning point?"
"Yes. The moment when everything starts going wrong."
Oh. Lovely.
I rubbed my face. "So this is the calm before the storm."
"Exactly."
That explained the unease sitting at the back of my chest. The warmth, the affection, my parents hovering like I might disappear if they blinked, it all felt real, too real, like something precious being set up to be taken away.
"About Evelyn," I said quietly. "Something's wrong with the original story."
"Go on."
"I've watched my parents. Closely." I glanced toward the door, instinctively lowering my voice even though no one was there. "They're not cruel. Not even a little. They're strict, yes. Traditional. But not heartless."
"That aligns with what you've observed," Lyssara agreed.
"So why was Evelyn treated like trash?" I frowned. "Being an Omega isn't enough of a reason. Not in this family."
"Because the story was told through her eyes," Nyphrin said calmly. "Perspective matters."
I let out a breath. "So the original plotline might be biased."
"Very."
That… changed things.
I leaned back again, staring at the ceiling. "That means she might not be the innocent victim she believes she is."
"Or," Nyphrin added, "she may have twisted events in her mind to survive them."
I clicked my tongue. "Either way, the truth is somewhere in the middle."
"Good," she said. "You're thinking like a survivor, not a hero."
"Glad to disappoint."
There was a brief pause before she spoke again. "You've also noticed something else, haven't you?"
I hesitated. "…Yeah."
"The bond?"
I swallowed. "It's weaker."
Not gone. But different. Like a thread stretched too far, frayed at the edges.
"The original Rowan loved deeply," Lyssara said. "That doesn't vanish overnight."
"I know," I muttered. "I feel it. His emotions. His memories. Sometimes I react before I even think."
"That's normal."
"I don't like it."
"You don't have to like it," she replied. "You just have to manage it."
Before I could respond, a familiar voice echoed from downstairs.
"Rowan!"
I flinched instinctively.
"Breakfast!"
I groaned, collapsing back onto the bed. "There it is. The real boss of this house."
Nyphrin chuckled. "You sound fond."
"I am," I admitted quietly. "Which is dangerous."
"Everything worth having is."
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching. "If I gain weight in this world, I'm blaming you."
"I'll deduct points for ingratitude."
"You can't even keep the system stable."
"That was one time."
I snorted and headed for the door. As I reached for the handle, a strange sensation tugged at my chest, warm, faint, but unmistakable.
Nyphrin noticed.
"…Interesting," she murmured.
I froze. "What?"
"Nothing you need to worry about yet."
"That sentence has never ended well for anyone."
She laughed softly. "Go eat, Rowan. Observe. Listen. The plotline is already moving."
I took a breath, steadying myself.
"Yeah," I muttered. "I know."
And as I stepped out into the hallway, I couldn't shake the feeling that this peaceful morning was already counting down to something much darker.