Wandering Wonderland: Mochi Madness

The orb shimmered as it moved closer to him, and from within its depths, a soft, soothing voice spoke directly into his mind. “Greetings, young one. I am Lumenis. Lucy calls me Lumi, so you may do that as well if you’d like.”

He was taken aback for a moment. “Oh, hello… Lumi.”

Lumi’s voice was gentle, and somewhat ethereal as it resounded from around him. “In order to make you understand who I am and what my purpose is, I will use some terms from your world that you may be more familiar with.” He nodded, though he was still skeptical about something that devilish girl had brought forth.

“You can think of me as a ‘System’, a guide and assistant of sorts.”

He hesitated. He was familiar with the idea of systems from all those novels he’d read, but something about Lumi felt different—less mechanical, more… alive.

Was she a sentient being? A true artificial intelligence? Or was she something even beyond that?

Lumi’s tone softened even further. “Before we proceed, what is your name? It would be nice to properly address you.”

His soul flickered, and he realized something. “Right, I never did introduce myself…” How had he forgotten that detail? After all the chaos, it must have slipped his mind. Wait… “I… My name… What is my name…?”

He felt the panic rising, sharp and all-consuming. Why can't I remember? His soul pulsed erratically, flickering with the intensity of his fear. He knew he should know his own name—it was the most basic thing about a person, the anchor to his identity. But no matter how hard he tried, he came up with nothing. Just a blank void, empty and terrifying.

“Why can’t I remember?” he whispered, the words echoing in the space around him. “How could I forget my own name?”

The feeling of dread grew heavier, like a weight pressing against his very being. It was as if someone had ripped that part of him away, leaving only a jagged scar in its place. Flashes of something else—vague, painful memories—flickered through his mind, like glimpses of an old, tattered photograph. There was pain, so much pain, and… grief. It clawed at him, threatening to swallow him whole.

Lumi’s gentle voice tried to soothe him. “It’s alright. Sometimes, trauma can cause—”

“Trauma?” he interrupted, his soul shivering as the echoes of that word reverberated through him. “But… What happened to me? What did I—”

Before he could spiral further, Lucy’s voice cut through the panic like a knife, sharp and commanding. “Hey, no need to lose your marbles over this.” She floated closer, her expression strangely calm, but her eyes held something deeper—a flicker of emotion, like she knew more than she let on.

“Does this mean…?” he trailed off, hoping she’d give him an answer.

Lucy’s smile was soft, almost sympathetic, and that alone scared him more than anything. “Look, sometimes things get jumbled when you become, well… disconnected from your body.” She waved a hand dismissively, as if it were no big deal, but the shadow in her eyes remained. “But hey, no worries. A name isn’t everything.”

He stared at her, his form quivering. “But… I need to have one. I can’t just be… nothing.”

She tilted her head thoughtfully. “Alright then, I’ll give you one.”

He blinked, feeling a small glimmer of hope. “You will?”

Lucy’s grin returned, and his hope immediately wavered. “Of course! Let’s see… How about ‘Nibbles’?”

“Nibbles?” he echoed, horrified.

She chuckled, clearly enjoying herself. “Or maybe ‘Munchy’—because, you know, you’re going to be all mochi and squishy. Oh! ‘Snack’ has a nice ring to it, too.”

His soul flickered with terror. “W-What exactly do you mean by ‘snack’?!”

Lucy shrugged nonchalantly. “Just thinking ahead. You know, planning for the future.” She winked. “But if you prefer something more... mobile, how about ‘Hops’? Or, wait—‘Fluffkins’? ‘Mochiro’?”

He recoiled in alarm. “These all sound like names you’d give to a pet—or worse, something you’d eat!”

She tapped her chin, pretending to be deep in thought. “Well, you are kind of adorable, and the mochi body will be—”

“Please, something more… I don’t know, dignified?” he pleaded, feeling his soul practically shriveling up with anxiety. The way she was talking about his future body made him even more nervous. Is she actually going to turn me into some edible, fluffy creature?

Lucy’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Oh, fine, fine. I guess I can come up with something a little less terrifying.” She paused, her expression shifting from playful to contemplative. “How about… Bo?”

He blinked. “Bo?”

“Yeah,” she said, her grin softening into something more sincere. “It means ‘to live’—fitting, considering you’re clinging onto life right now, aren’t you?”

He mulled over the name, feeling the weight of its meaning settle within him. It felt… right, somehow. Simple, but with a hint of hope.

“Bo…” he repeated. “Yeah, I think I like that.”

Lucy’s grin widened. “Though I would’ve still preferred ‘Munchy.’”

He let out a relieved sigh, feeling a strange sense of comfort. For the first time since he’d woken up in this bizarre world, he had a name. It wasn’t much, but it was something to hold onto.

“Thanks, Lucy,” he said, his voice quieter. “I appreciate it.”

She waved a hand as if brushing off his gratitude. “Don’t get too sentimental. We’ve still got work to do.”

Their attention quickly turned to Lumi, as she continued from earlier.

“Lovely to meet you, Bo,” her tone of warmth felt soothing to his soul, making him feel relaxed as opposed to when he was dealing with Lucy. “It is indeed a lovely name, and it suits your current self.” She swirled in the air and got closer to him. “Once you’re connected to me, you’ll be granted tools, abilities, and knowledge to navigate this new world. I can assist you in many ways, provide guidance, and help you grow stronger. I will try my best to ensure you survive… And thrive.”

Lucy floated behind Lumi, watching their exchange with a satisfied smirk. “See? Isn’t she just the sweetest?” She tilted her head. “I created her myself, you know. Though Lumi has evolved since then—she’s far more than what I originally planned.”

Bo stared at Lumi, still feeling a little unsure. “So, what exactly do you do?”

Lumi’s surface shimmered with light as she began to explain. “I am connected to a vast repository of knowledge—an ancient source that contains the collected wisdom of entire civilizations from eons past. Through me, you will have access to abilities, skills, and insights that will help you on your journey. I can provide you with everything you need so that you may have a better life.”

Lucy grinned. “And I’ve added a few of my own modifications. You’ll see.”

Lumi then flew around him, her soft and ethereal voice echoing through him, “ready?”

Bo hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah… Ready.”

Lumi floated closer, her glow intensifying. “To establish our connection, I need to integrate myself with your essence. It will be a little… overwhelming at first.”

Bo hesitated. “Overwhelming how?”

Lumi’s voice remained gentle. “Imagine stitching together the pieces of a torn fabric, but the fabric is your soul.” Before he could react, strands of light extended from her orb-like form, swirling in delicate patterns as they reached out to him. The threads shimmered with a soft, bluish hue, each one carrying symbols and runes that glowed faintly.

Bo tensed as the first thread touched him. It was like feeling a jolt of electricity, but it wasn’t painful—just strange, like his entire being was being rewired. The thread wove through his essence, finding its place and binding itself to him. More threads followed, weaving intricate patterns that wrapped around him like a web.

He could feel them moving, tracing lines through his soul, connecting to his very core. The sensation was both exhilarating and terrifying. The light pulsed in rhythm with his thoughts, as if syncing with his own energy. Each thread felt like a whisper, a gentle brush of warmth as Lumi’s voice resonated through the connection.

“Just a bit more,” Lumi encouraged. “It’s almost done.”

The threads wove faster, creating a swirling network of runes and sigils around him. They glowed brighter, pulsing in sync with his soul’s rhythm. For a moment, it felt like he was becoming something new, his form taking shape amidst the glowing lines.

Then, with a sudden surge, the final thread connected. The runes flared, bright as a starburst, and Bo felt a rush of energy pour into him. The threads seemed to sink into his essence, merging with him. A symbol—something powerful and complex—appeared at his center, radiating light and warmth. It felt like a brand, but instead of pain, it brought strength and clarity.

The sensation was like breathing fresh air after being trapped in darkness for ages. He felt like he had become… more.

“Whoa…” he whispered, his soul glowing with the energy coursing through him.

Lumi’s voice echoed softly. “The bond is complete. We’re connected now.”

The moment their connection was made, his entire world shifted.

Suddenly, information began to flood his senses. The space around him lit up with symbols and markers, identifying objects, danger zones, and points of interest. It was like wearing augmented reality glasses—strange that he could remember such things from Earth, but nothing about his own life—, but the clarity was overwhelming. He could see things he hadn’t noticed before—powerful auras hidden in the mists, colorful energies, and layers of magic woven into the very fabric of this place, even into the mist itself.

He then glanced at Lucy, and his soul nearly flickered out of existence.

The information pouring into his mind about her was too much—her true form, the dangerous energies swirling around her, the sheer power she radiated. It was like staring into the sun. His soul buckled under the pressure, and before he knew it, darkness consumed him.

Bo stirred, slowly regaining consciousness as his vision swam back into focus. He blinked groggily, his senses still reeling from the shock of what he had seen. His entire being felt raw, like every inch of his soul had been scraped against something far too powerful to comprehend. He blinked again, trying to shake off the fog of confusion.

And this was all because he had seen her. The real Lucy.

Lucy—no, that wasn't her entire name... though he couldn't remember her true name, he knew this wasn’t the mischievous little girl he’d seen. She had changed, transformed into something far more terrifying… And divine. She stood before him in her full, resplendent glory, a vision of power and seduction all at once. Her body had matured, appearing as a twenty-ish-year old version of herself. Her skin was marked with scarlet runic inscriptions that trailed across her shapely and alluring form like living tattoos, radiant and resplendent.

She wasn’t completely naked, but the armor she wore did little to hide her figure. The intricately crafted obsidian-like plates barely covered her most intimate areas, leaving her toned, perfectly sculpted body on display. The armor gleamed like polished stone, catching the fiery flames around her. It clung to her body in all the right places, accentuating her already impossible beauty. She looked like a warrior, a queen, an embodiment of temptation itself. Bo couldn’t believe he was thinking like this, but it was impossible not to.

During that brief moment where he had gazed upon her, what truly took his breath away were the massive, ethereal wings sprouting from her back. They were angelic in appearance, covered in golden feathers that shimmered with a soft, otherworldly glow, but the contrast against her devilish form—her dark, curving horns and that floating crown—made her look more like a devil queen than anything angelic.

The halo that once had a playful tilt now hovered above her head like a crown—resplendent, majestic, something out of a nightmare and a dream all at once. Its dark, gleaming form was surrounded by tendrils of light and shadow, making her seem like a goddess who ruled both heaven and hell. She had the presence of someone who wielded absolute power.

But that wasn’t the most terrifying part.

Behind her—looming over everything, casting a shadow so vast it seemed to swallow the entire world—was it. A massive, skeletal figure, its head hooded and shrouded in darkness. It had eight skeletal arms, each hand holding something different. He only caught brief glimpses—one hand held a white flower, delicate and glowing with a faint, otherworldly light. Another hand gripped a scale, ancient and cracked, yet it exuded a strange sense of being able to measure anything. A third hand clutched a scythe, its blade seeming to fade in and out of existence, as if made by shadows, and though he couldn’t see the other hands clearly, the oppressive weight of its presence was enough to fill him with unspeakable dread.

It felt like it was the embodiment of death, of inevitability itself, and its empty eyes seemed to peer straight into Bo’s soul.

He could still remember the pure terror that had run through him as he gazed upon the towering figure, the very air around it humming with cosmic energy. He could feel it—its power, its existence. It was something far beyond his comprehension, something that no mortal should ever see, and yet here it was, standing right behind Lucy like a guardian of her dark throne.

He suddenly snapped out of his trance as he noticed Lucy was barely an inch away from his face.

“Wh-what…?” His voice trembled, his mind struggling to process the sheer magnitude of what he had seen. His entire form shook, teetering on the edge of collapse. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t even blink as the terrifying sight burned itself into his very being.

Lucy watched him with that same amused smile, but this time her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She wasn’t quite pleased with his reaction. “What did you see?” she asked, her voice silky but irrefutable.

Bo couldn’t respond. His mind was still spinning, trying to make sense of the eldritch being towering behind her. That thing—it wasn’t just a skeleton, it was Death itself. He had felt its cold presence, the weight of its judgment, the inevitability of its power.

Lucy tilted her head, her smile widening as she leaned in closer. “You probably saw a glimpse of my true form. Something I had not intended.” Her voice dripped with annoyance as she shot a look towards Lumi who had shrunk upon itself while hiding behind the well. Just as quickly, her mood shifted however, with her lips curling into a devilish grin. “That’s just a part of who I really am… Are you afraid now?”

Bo’s mouth opened, but no words came out. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, the image of the massive skeleton burned into his thoughts. However, for some reason, he wasn’t feeling fear towards this girl. If she had wanted to kill him, she could have snuffed him out at any time during the hundreds of chances she had before.

Lucy leaned even closer, her warm breath tickling his entire being as she whispered, “I could show you more… If you want.” Her tone was playful, but there was a dangerous edge to her words. She hovered inches from him, her hand slowly trailing down his chest.

He swallowed hard, shaking his head as he tried to appear as innocent as possible.

“You’re not… What I expected,” Bo finally managed to choke out, his voice barely a whisper. “What… What are you?”

Lucy chuckled, her wings folding slightly as she stepped back, giving him some space. “I’m just me, little soul.” She reached up, running a finger along one of the runic inscriptions on her collarbone, causing it to flare briefly with red light. “You were never supposed to see this, but since you already have…”

Bo couldn’t tear his gaze away from her, though every instinct screamed at him to run. But where could he go? This was her domain, and she had already made it clear that escape wasn’t an option. Besides, they were bonded now.

As if reading his thoughts, Lucy smirked and leaned in closer again, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. “You know… If you wanted me to ‘grow up’ a little more, all you had to do was ask.” She ran a finger down his chest, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous mix of amusement and charm.

Bo’s eyes widened as he instinctively moved backwards, his soul flickering in fear. “N-no, that’s not—”

Lucy giggled, clearly enjoying his reaction. “Oh, don’t be shy. You seem like the type who’d appreciate a little maturity.” She paused, her smile turning wicked as her hand hovered just above his chest. “Or perhaps… You’d prefer something else?”

Bo’s nonexistent heart nearly stopped. He gulped, floating backward as fast as he could. “No, no! This is fine! You’re fine, just… Stay like that!”

He tried to backpedal, but there was nowhere to go. He was trapped, his back against the well, the shadow of the skeletal figure looming over everything in his mind.

“Relax,” Lucy said, her voice dripping with amusement. “I’m only teasing. You look like you’re about to vanish into thin air.”

Bo let out a nervous laugh, his mind still struggling to comprehend the situation. This is insane…

Lucy let out a soft giggle, clearly enjoying his discomfort. “Oh, you’re so much fun to mess with. This is going to be a very interesting partnership, don’t you think?”

Her eyes softened slightly, her teasing tone fading as she stepped back, her wings folding neatly behind her. “You’ll get used to it,” she said, her voice more gentle now. “But I do enjoy watching you squirm. It’s… Fun.”

Bo exhaled, his shoulders sagging with relief, though his mind was still reeling from everything he had just witnessed.

What have I gotten myself into?