❖
Ngh—
"Taruu… he's really cute…"
I hear a female voice close to my ears.
Aghh… it hurts… how much time has passed?
That was a real blow—no, more than that. A very strong one.
I try to pretend I'm still unconscious; maybe I can figure out what's happening.
"Umh, what should I do… emh… maybe it's better to prepare some Tenku… mhh… yes… I'd say so, aziru."
*Crick*
I hear a door closing.
Mmph… that was pointless.
I open my eyes.
In front of me there's another double sofa, positioned behind a peculiar small table.
I'm in a closed room, not very large.
At the far end, I see a separate area with shelves and some utensils, while to the left, after the double sofa, there is a door.
I don't want to snoop further; I'd prefer not to risk passing out again…
I mean, if that creature knocked me out with one hit, there must be a reason, right? Or… is it another of those weird creatures that live in this city?
Anyway, it's better if I stay calm for the moment.
While lying on the sofa, I reflect on everything that has happened to me.
First of all, I woke up in an alley of this unknown city with someone calling my name.
Setting aside all the peculiarities and the ambiguous language, I immediately noticed that I had a blue heart, unique compared to the others. In fact, everyone looked at me with particular interest.
I continued walking and asked several creatures for help, but without results. Then, some strange figures riding flying beasts passed over my head, and I decided to follow them.
I arrived at a crowded place, and not far away I saw two creatures fighting.
The creature on the left was huge and menacing, while the one on the right seemed weak and wounded by comparison.
In fact, she was slaughtered with—…no, better not think about it.
After that, five hours passed. I was tired and looking for a place to sleep.
A mysterious creature that had been following me knocked me out, and now that I've woken up, I find myself in a completely different place.
So, someone kidnapped me… I wonder why.
Mmhhh…
Well, there are exactly THREE possibilities:
Option R — I have truly reincarnated into this peculiar world.
Option E — I participated in some crazy and sick experiment and now I have memory gaps with a light blue heart as a souvenir (I don't know how I came up with that sentence).
Option F — An elf with white long hair and a red-golden staff must have gotten angry at me and cast a special spell that made me lose my memories.
Let's see…
Nah, none of this makes any sense. As usual, I always end up thinking about completely surreal things…
Anyway, returning to the matter of the hearts, everyone had a purple one.
It seems that only I possess a light blue heart… actually, if I remember correctly, even the creature who died earlier had a fragment of her heart that was light blue.
Furthermore, even the two-meter-tall individual had a black heart.
It's clear here that the color of the heart has a particular meaning… but what exactly does it mean?
Ahhhh… too much information, I can't think straight. And most likely, I've already forgotten the peculiar names I saw in the city.
If only there were someone willing to help me… but I can't hope that someone will help me out of nowhere.
What do you want, Dayu? A little divine help from heaven?
But… Agh—to hell with myself, why can't I remember anything?? And now I'm even locked in this little room, just like that, out of the blue.
If I'm not mistaken, the creature that made me pass out said: —You come with me — along with other incomprehensible words.
Ahh.
I'm starting to feel sleepy again…
*Crick*
The door to my left opens.
"Oh, you're awake, aririoipi."
An unknown creature enters the room, holding a tray with two glasses on it.
The creature is peculiar and has an indifferent air, as if she already knows me.
She has blue bobbed hair with bangs and wears a skull-shaped headpiece.
She's very short, about half of my height, and she wears very stylish earrings.
Her face is chubby with clean features, large red eyes, and a small nose and mouth. Her body is tiny, and she wears a dress that covers her entire body and gives off a fresh scent.
The detail that strikes me most is her four paws covered in smooth light blue fur, with five purple claws per paw similar to small hooks.
Also, she is standing on four legs like an animal.
Wait… those blue paws… they belonged to the same creature that made me pass out!
Well, it was pretty obvious it was her, since she brought me here…
"Well, hellooo… mysterious… creature! How's life? Oh, Emh… Fo-Foinra… Fonrauiot?" —how the hell was that said??
The creature sets down the tray and answers me with a smirk.
"Oi, relax, Kayaku. I don't bite!"
Her tone of voice is calm.
"But you didn't have any trouble hitting me that hard, did you?
"A-Ah, yes. I exaggerated a little bit there… eheh. Anyway, my name is Elya. Uriasai dia riup tiai."
Come on, at least apologize or acknowledge that you're at fault…!
"Um… I don't understand your language. Could you speak mine instead?"
"Ah, sorry. I was saying that my name is Elya, nice to meet you."
"Thanks, I'm Dayu."
For the first time since I woke up, I can finally speak in peace.
Now that I think about it, why do I know a different language from the one spoken by the other creatures?
In fact, why do the creatures speak two different languages? They speak both my language and theirs...
"Listen, Elya, why are there two different languages? Or is yours a sort of dialect of this city?"
"Umh, one is the characteristic language of Chronoetheria, while the other is the ancient language of the humans."
"Chronoetheria?"
"Yes, Chronoetheria, the world of time where we are now. Right now we are in the capital, Uert."
Ohh, so I woke up in this city called 'Uert', which apparently is also the capital of this world…
"Wait… world of time!?"
"HEY! Don't always ask me questions about everything, talkative Kayaku!"
"Alright, alright."
Returning to the language issue, Elya said there are two languages: the one of this world and that of the 'humans'.
Humans… what are they? A type of food? Or maybe a weapon?
Anyway, from her answers, it seems she's in a hurry… I hope at least she clarifies something about what happened to me.
"At least, can I know why you hit me in the alley earlier?"
"Well… I didn't have much time to talk to you out there. I brought you here because I need your help."
Help?
I've been looking for someone to help me all day, and now there's someone who wants my help?
I have no idea how I could help her… after all, I'm in trouble too.
"Honestly, I also need someone to help me… I woke up in this city with no memories, and I've been having strange events happen to me all day."
"No memories?"
"Yes."
"Saoria… so you are another unfortunate soul from the Coma incident…"
"The language, please."
"Ah yes, sorry. Some terms just come so naturally to me… eheh."
Coma incident… it sounds like an important event.
"What is this Coma incident?"
"Uh, you don't know? It's a terrible accident that revolutionized this city, occurring about thirty-five years ago. Every creature that lives here knows about it…"
So… I've been in a state of unconsciousness all this time?? Oh...
Maybe that's it. Better to keep asking with moderation.
"What is this incident about?"
"Emh… you see… specifically I don't know what happened, but I know it happened thirty-five years ago and it was an event that revolutionized this city. I gathered this information from reliable creatures, so you should believe me!"
"And you weren't present during that coma incident?"
"Fortunately no… After all, I hadn't been b—… born yet."
I see… so she hadn't been born yet.
Maybe I should slow down with the questions; I'm making things difficult for her.
"Anyway, sorry for asking all these questions, I'm trying to get as much information as possible to know who I was in the past."
"Well… I'd also be interested to know who you are, with that white hair and that blue heart of yours…"
"Eh? I didn't catch what you said."
Elya gets slightly embarrassed, then resumes speaking, moving the glasses from the tray to the small table in front of me.
"L-listen… why don't you have some Tenku? You must be tired; this drink will help you recover!"
On the table are two glasses, both filled with a strange blue drink with an intense scent.
Elya called it 'Tenku'. I suppose it's a typical drink of this place.
I take one of the two glasses and begin to sip that strange drink.
Slowly, I feel my body relaxing and recharging with energy more and more.
Woah, so it really is useful for recovering!
I had no idea a drink existed that could restore energy so quickly.
"What is this Tenku made of?"
"Tenku is the typical drink of the Goethen dynasty. It's composed of Tensu leaves and a bit of time essence. Drinking it guarantees a slight restoration of the time flow. In fact, it allows you to recover while you are at rest."
Ehhhh, too many words.
But… I heard 'Goethen Dynasty' … so there are also different dynasties?
Better save that question for later.
"Time flow… what is it?"
Elya looks at me with surprise.
"You don't even know what that is?!? Nareriri…"
"Ehm… no, I already said I lost my memories."
"The time flow is the basis of every creature of time. It circulates through our bodies and regulates blood circulation, carrying blood to the brain, heart, and other areas. A complete absence of the time flow would result in death."
"So I possess it too… right?"
"OBVIOUSLY! After all, you have a heart in that glass case, which is a characteristic of every creature of time! So it's 101% certain that you were born here."
Why 101…?
Oh well… so I'm a creature of time like everyone else, apparently.
Therefore, the reincarnation option obviously wasn't true… but at least now I know I was born in this world.
And from here, many possibilities open up…
First of all, everyone else has a purple heart, while I have one that is entirely blue.
Mmh…
"Elya, can I see what color your heart is?"
"Eh? N-No, why should you? Maniac!"
"Oh, did that sound like an indecent question? Sorry… I asked because it seems strange to me that everyone has a purple heart, while I'm the only one with a blue one."
Elya hints at a smile.
"Ahahah. That's why I brought you here!"
Eh? I-it's not that Elya wants to do experiments o-on my heart?!?
Option E … could it be true!?
Ahhh… maybe I should stop thinking about those stupid options… seriously.
"You see, the color of the heart indicates the amount of time flow a creature possesses. Furthermore, it also varies by brightness: the more vivid it is, the greater the flow."
Mhh… interesting.
Elya changes her pose and starts explaining again.
"There are various types of colors, and some of them are also based on specific desires. Purple is the most common color: you can find it in most ordinary creatures. Usually, in older creatures it's duller, while in younger ones it's more vivid and bright."
A black heart indicates a creature with an enormous amount of time flow. They are the most powerful and dangerous, and generally possess negative and corrupt desires. Moreover, such creatures have a high chance of mutating into even more dangerous abstract forms… like the seven deadly sins or something similar.
Green is the rarest color of all hearts. It indicates a moderate bearing of time flow, but whoever possesses such a heart has the ability to transfer part of their time flow and power into other hearts. Normally, those with such a heart have intense desires that recall sadness, but at least they are not corrupt and rarely mutate.
Finally, there is light blue. Those with a light blue heart possess high time flow and various abilities related to high cognitive capacities, such as summoning weapons, temporal teleportation, strengthening, or other similar techniques. Such creatures possess pure desires that are still in a growth phase—contained, unlike others. Furthermore, the risk of these desires mutating is very low.
So…
… I would be in the light blue heart category.
Mhh… so that means I have a high time flow?
From Elya's description, it would seem so. But I'm not so sure.
After all, I haven't tried any of the abilities she listed yet.
I would also be very curious to ask her how she knows all these details… but I can also avoid it. Most likely, they are basic things that everyone knows.
"I see. So I have a selection of abilities I can use?"
"Yes, but I don't think you can use them right now. You woke up after a long time, and I doubt you remember how to use them."
Oh, so I'll have to learn to use them again… but what exactly do I need them for?
Well, it's true I witnessed a fight, but I have no intention of fighting without a valid reason.
Anyway, I didn't quite understand one thing.
"Listen, Elya, you told me that each color manifests different desires and that there's a risk they might mutate… in what sense? I mean… how is it possible for desires to mutate into… I don't even know what."
"Desires wander endlessly, and if they find a creature with a weak mind, that is with low mental sanity, it's easier for them to contaminate it. Once that's done, the desire creeps into its mind, overshadowing all other thoughts and changing the way it thinks and acts.
For example, if you are contaminated by a desire related to sadness, that specific desire overrides all others. And getting out of it… is very difficult.
As for the fact that desires mutate… it's… how shall I say… a mystery to everyone. Perhaps, though it's not certain, only the deities know the reason for all this. Ever since this world has existed, human desires have begun to creep into everyone's minds, mutating into abstract forms based on various factors still unknown…
It's a difficult concept to explain since even I don't know exactly how their mutation works.
For example, I read in a grimoire that sometimes they remain unchanged, while other times they mutate into abstract forms like predominant feelings, madness… even into deadly sins.
In short, they can mutate into many different abstractions.
Now I've only cited a few of these as an example for you."
"Wow… so am I also contaminated, or could I be by things like that?"
"Oh, well… it could happen in the future, but it's rare for creatures with a blue heart. Thanks to your heart, you possess a large amount of time flow in your body, which helps you contain desires in your mind."
Therefore, it will be difficult for you to be contaminated by corrupt or mutated desires… unless your mental sanity is so low as to make your mind weak and vulnerable.
In the end, every creature possesses desires: they are the basis of life.
But those I'm talking about are different: they force you to change your personality and your way of thinking and acting based on how they mutate.
Being abstract concepts, they are not visible to our eyes, but they continue to wander without rest."
What an ambiguous thing…
These mutating desires are also a mystery to everyone, so…
"It must be terrible to be contaminated by one of these desires… it would be like seeing one's own mental state and behavior change completely, wouldn't it?"
"… Y-yes… it's truly something brutal. One must also distinguish pure desires from corrupt ones: pure ones are one's own and contained, unlike corrupt ones, which come from the outside and change you a lot."
Well, then I hope I'm not contaminated by any desire.
Anyway…
Now that I think about it, if I woke up after thirty-five years, why do I look like this?
I mean… looking like a creature in its twenties.
Shouldn't I be… older?
"Elya, but if the coma incident happened quite a while ago, shouldn't I have a more… adult appearance?"
"Mmh… I'd say no. In this world, if a creature loses consciousness but doesn't die, the state of growth is altered, because the time flow is used to rehabilitate the essential functions of your body."
When you lost a large part of the time flow during the Coma incident, your body transformed into many small blue particles made exactly of flow.
It's a sort of protective function to keep you alive: only those who have a more developed heart, that is blue or black, possess it."
Oh, so, in these thirty-five years I was practically invisible to others… I'd say better that way. At least I was safe while I was unconscious.
"You certainly know a lot… it surprises me that you know all these things!"
"Eheh— well, I've lived here for a long time, and I read some grimoires to inform myself… that's all." — says Elya, blushing slightly in the face.
Many things must have happened during all this time… I don't dare imagine what occurred while I was unconscious.
Anyway, I don't want to remain without any memories, so I will try to investigate more about the coma incident.
Elya casts a worried look at me, then starts talking.
"Enough getting lost in chatter, let's get to the point."
*Zwooom*
After setting the glass on the table, Elya dips her paw… into the void?!? As if she were grabbing something that can't be seen…
Subsequently, Elya pulls out a strange container.
Woah!
I can't believe what I just saw… it looks like a sort of special magic of the void… or something similar.
"Wooow, how did you do that?"
"I'll explain that to you later, now listen."
"Alright…"
The container has a strange black stone structure that covers a glass cylinder. Inside, there is a bizarre red substance.
From what I can see, it looks like slime.
"The reason I brought you here and asked for your help is quite particular.
As you heard before, about thirty-five years ago, what everyone calls 'the Coma incident' happened.
The Coma incident was a man-made disaster that caused the loss of consciousness of many creatures and revolutionized Uert.
In this capital, there is a creature feared by all for its immense power: Chrono, the time titan of Decay, called by many simply as 'titan of Decay'."
Some have confirmed that the Coma Incident was caused by him through a special artifact.
After the event, Chrono retreated to his laboratory and continued to work constantly on his experiments.
As time passed, at intervals of about four years, he created various artificial creatures.
Each of his creatures was influenced by a corrupt desire coming from Chrono's mind. Their task was to manage the capital as their creator desired.
Based on the transmitted desire, the titan of Decay assigned tasks to each one, so as to have total control of the city.
Subsequently, in order to improve the performance of his experiments, Chrono required more and more materials obtainable from the processing of the creatures' hearts.
With the passing of time, he created a system based on his orders and decisions, exterminating numerous creatures and raising a temporal barrier around Uert, so that no one could escape.
Now the situation is very worrying for two reasons:
Eight years have passed since Chrono created the last creature, spending more and more time in his experiment laboratory.
Most likely, he is working on a definitive experiment that could cause catastrophic consequences.
In fact, the second reason is that a few days ago something strange manifested, which could indicate that the experiment is almost ready."
Elya takes the container and shows it to me properly.
"A few days ago, in the Goethen dynasty, there was a massacre.
I went to check and, besides having found many creatures dead at the hands of an unknown entity, I found this red slime on their bodies.
I'm trying to examine it, but I can't find anyone capable of doing it.
For this reason, I asked for your help. It's really rare to find a creature with an entirely blue heart; so, when I noticed your high time flow, I didn't hesitate to bring you here.
Thanks to your cognitive capacities and your time flow, we can reach Chrono and stop his experiment before it's too late."
Wow, everything really has happened in these years.
So, from what I understand, this capital is controlled by both Chrono and his artificial creatures.
"Speaking of human desires, can you explain to me now what these 'humans' are? It's a doubt I've had from the beginning…"
"As far as I know, humans were the old life forms of this world that no one has ever seen. We know them thanks to the information that has spread about them.
Therefore, human desires derive from their species and were transmitted to this world, even though no one knows exactly how it happened."
Alright.
Recapping, I am a victim of the Coma incident, and if Chrono caused all this, then it's in my interest to reach him and stop him.
After all, during the journey I have the chance to meet someone who knows me or to find other clues about my past.
It makes more sense to proceed this way from now on, doesn't it?
However, the idea of having to fight makes me anxious.
For the moment, since I don't remember anything, I know neither how to fight nor how to use the abilities Elya spoke of. But if it becomes necessary to reach Chrono, sooner or later I'll have to learn them.
If instead I refuse the offer, most likely I won't know how to proceed and I'll remain without memories, while Chrono could carry out something dangerous for all of us.
Furthermore, Elya doesn't seem bad as a companion; she knows quite a lot. Having her support during the journey is certainly better than wandering alone in an unknown city.
Elya resumes speaking.
"First of all, we need to gather some information."
"In what sense?"
"Well… the information I told you earlier I obtained from reliable creatures some time ago."
"Ah, so it's not entirely verified?"
"No, that's not what I mean. I only gave you the essential information. There's much more to discover; for example, specific details about the artificial creatures, ways to reach Crono more easily, and suggestions for improving your combat performance."
Ah, so there's much more to discover… how big can this city be?
I only hope it doesn't take too much time to gather more detailed information…
Oh well, for the moment, I'd say I should focus on what we have to do to reach Chrono.
"What do we have to do to get more detailed information?"
"In the Goethen dynasty, there's a very reliable merchant who sells secret information regarding the entire city of Uert."
"Secret?"
"Yes, ever since Chrono locked himself in his experiment laboratory, everyone, including his artificial creatures, has started to develop illegal activities based on their desires and ambitions. Now most creatures do whatever they please."
"But… didn't you say Chrono has full control of the city?"
"Sure, but he prefers to work without stopping in his laboratory, as long as the supplies of the materials he needs arrive, so as not to go out and therefore remain undisturbed."
"Ah, so even his artificial creatures do whatever they please?"
"Yes, so after gathering more information about them, with a well-structured plan we can have a simpler path."
"I see, so it could even be simpler."
"Well, not really… Chrono's artificial creatures are very strong, and if they lose control because of their corrupt desires, they can be very dangerous."
Mmh, maybe it's better if I don't underestimate what I'll have to do.
Anyway, now I have an overview of what we have to do.
First, we must gather detailed information about this city and about what has happened in all these years.
After that, we will get to work to reach Chrono and stop his experiments, while I have a good probability of recovering my memories.
Wait…
Now that I think about it… I've already met Chrono.
Agh… how did I not realize it from the beginning?
That time when the two creatures were fighting in the large square… one of the two was precisely him.
He certainly is truly enormous…
If I'm not mistaken, I had seen the color of his heart: black.
Well, Elya's description corresponds to the color of his heart. For the moment I'd trust her, but better not let my guard down.
The creatures here are quite strange. If something happens, I hope Elya doesn't leave me behind.
After all, she's the only friendly creature I know for the moment.
Well, let's not get lost in chatter. Better start right away.
"What do we start with, Elya?"
"First of all, we have to go to the merchant I told you about earlier."
"Ah, so are we going to get the information already?"
"No, silly. Surely his service won't be free. We have to go there to see what offer he can make us."
"Ah, I see."
I don't know the economy of this city, so for the moment I'll let Elya handle everything for the negotiations.
"After he makes us an offer, we must start working to be able to buy it."
"Work?"
"Argh, I don't mean working as an innkeeper or similar things. I'm talking about working to earn enough to afford the service!"
"Ohh, I understand. Sorry if I ask you so many questions, my head is a bit full of information despite having recently woken up…"
Elya hints at a smile.
"Oh well, I understand you. But don't overdo it, because I could get angry easily, clear?"
"Sure, I'll be very careful!"
Elya takes back the container with the slime inside and makes it disappear by dipping it into the void.
"Eheh, later you'll have to explain to me how you do that."
"Right now we don't have time for these things! At a later time, I'll explain it to you."
"I'm joking, I'm joking. Come on, let's go. Lead me to the merchant."
"Take and bring the glasses to the shelf behind me."
After arranging the glasses, we head toward the exit.
Now all that's left is to start working on 'Operation Chrono'.
I'd say I made a lot of progress today.
Certainly, we could have streamlined the discussions so my head wouldn't be weighted down with information… although I shouldn't say that given that I'm lucky for what has happened to me:
I met a friendly creature.
I partially discovered what happened during all the years I was unconscious.
I got a general idea of the city I'm in.
I learned the different types of hearts, their colors, and the associated characteristics.
And I also discovered that I possess a high time flow, which will allow me to fight.
I should thank Elya for all the patience she had in telling me all these things…
Well, it's time to get to work.
I can't wait to discover what lies behind all of this, especially my own past.
Yes… my mysterious past.