Whispers of the forgotten

Chapter 1: Whispers from an Unknown World

"The greatest fear of mankind is to be forgotten, but the worst fate is to become a monster that forgets its own identity."

This was the first thought that crossed my mind when I arrived in this world. I was only fourteen, a boy torn from his reality and thrown into a realm filled with despair and mystery. My name is Morpheus, and this is my story.

The sky above this strange new world was stained with a deep crimson hue, the air thick and heavy as though it resisted every breath I took. Around me were the ruins of a city—blackened stones scattered in chaotic patterns, bearing the scars of an ancient, violent struggle. I stood there, disoriented, trying to grasp what had happened to me.

---

I remembered the moment that had brought me here. It was just weeks after my parents had been killed by a random Ethereal Beast, leaving me alone and hopeless. A strange man had appeared one day, handing me a glowing blue crystal.

"This will show you your true path," he said before disappearing into the shadows.

Curiosity and despair had driven me to hold the crystal. The moment I touched it, an otherworldly light engulfed me. I felt my body being pulled apart, as though I was dying and being reborn all at once.

When I opened my eyes, I was here—in this nightmare that people later called "The Dream." Except it wasn't a dream. It was real, as real as the blood pumping through my veins.

---

When I returned to my original world, I couldn't tell anyone what I had experienced. Who would believe me? I was just a child. I carried the burden of that knowledge alone, haunted by what I had seen.

After my parents' death, I was taken in by my uncle, Jaiden, a stern yet kind man who served as a guard in a knightly order that defended villages from Ethereal Beasts. Jaiden tried to teach me how to survive in this unforgiving world.

"Morpheus, this world shows no mercy. If you don't learn to fight, you'll just end up another victim," he'd say.

But there was something Jaiden didn't know—since my first encounter with the Dream, I'd been hearing strange whispers. Words that didn't make sense:

"Survival is impossible…"

"You are the key…"

"The end is near…"

The whispers followed me everywhere, growing louder with time.

---

By the time I turned eighteen, I was old enough to join the Academy, where only those with exceptional spiritual energy could enroll. The Academy was a place where people trained to understand the mysterious energy known as Elythra—a force that connected all life in this world. At the age of eighteen, students were sent into the Dream as part of their final test.

For most, it was their first encounter with the Dream. For me, it was a return to a nightmare I had already endured.

"Morpheus, the Academy is your chance to find your place in this world," Jaiden told me as he bid me farewell.

"I'll try, Uncle," I replied, though doubt weighed heavily on me.

The Academy was unlike anything I had ever seen. Its towering walls and sprawling halls buzzed with life as students from across the continent gathered, each carrying their own hopes and fears. They were excited, yet I couldn't shake the unease that had been with me since my arrival in this world.

---

One of the first lessons at the Academy was about Elythra. Our instructor, a seasoned professor named Arvel, stood before the class with an air of authority. His voice was calm but carried the weight of experience.

"Elythra is not merely an energy; it is a living force that binds this world together. Some call it a gift from the gods; others see it as a curse. It grants power to those strong enough to wield it but consumes the weak, turning them into Ethereal Beasts."

A chill ran down my spine. I had seen what he described with my own eyes.

"Remember this," Arvel continued. "Mastering Elythra is not a right; it is a burden. And those who fail to control it… well, you've all heard the stories."

I clenched my fists under the table. No one here understood what the Dream truly was or what it demanded from those who entered it.

---

That night, as I lay in my dormitory, the whispers returned, louder and more insistent than ever before.

"Morpheus… why were you chosen?"

"The end is near…"

My eyes snapped open, and my gaze fell on the blue crystal I had hidden in my bag. It was glowing faintly, its light pulsing like a heartbeat. I felt an irresistible pull, as though it was calling me back to the Dream.

The following morning, the Academy buzzed with talk of the upcoming Dream test. Students were nervous but eager to prove themselves. Only I knew the truth: the Dream was not just a test—it was a gateway to other realms. Those who failed didn't just lose; they vanished, consumed by the very force they sought to master.

---

Standing by the window in my room that evening, I stared out at the darkened sky. The weight of my secrets and the looming challenge ahead felt suffocating.

"Will I be forgotten? Or will I become a monster?" I whispered to myself.

The only response was a faint whisper echoing in the depths of my mind:

"Survival is not a choice… it is a miracle "