Chapter 59 - Death (Part 1) (1/2)

It was lunchtime, and Aiden was navigating through the crowded streets back towards his home. Meanwhile, he was thinking about today's events and the supposed end to this trial.

'Do I really need to die? Who thought that this was a good idea for a test? I don't want to die!' he cursed inwardly.

[You have to die in the illusion, and not in reality. If our theory is correct, you have to play out the day's events as they are supposed to, and once you get to the end, then you will have to die. If your death comes prematurely, most likely you will fail the trial and will be booted. You will not die in reality.] Enya answered promptly.

'How can I follow the events if I don't remember anything about it?' Aiden complained. He only knows that this is his life because Enya told him. He did feel some familiarity with the faces on the picture back in his room, but that was it. He had absolutely no recollection of anything that happened, or who these people really are.

Heck, he couldn't even recall his supposedly best friend's name! Then, how could he even hope to guide the day's events?!

[Remember Aiden, that you can spot the irregularities by relying on your system. Just make sure you are vigilant. Also, once you get home, you have to banish the Nightmare out from your mother and father. However, that might be harder as you left them there in the morning, and since then, they have fed off from the negative emotions, and could be much stronger now.]

Listening to her, Aiden sighed. Yes, he was careless and didn't even bother checking them in the morning, he got lost in the events.

'Yeah, I know. I will think of something, don't worry.'

[Just make sure you rely on the system and don't forget yourself again.] Enya replied. He could hear the smirk in her tone. Not bothering to answer, he focused his attention. He has just arrived in front of his house.

'What should I do, to get their attention? First I should know what the root cause of the problem is, I guess… *sigh* It would really help if I would remember how they should be acting towards me. I don't even know what am I studying at the Academy.' he muttered to himself while making his way up the stairs in the stairwell.

Thinking about it, there was another thought that kept bothering him ever since he 'awakened' in his room.

'Come to think of it, just how powerful Number 3 and Granny are to create such a detailed illusion, not to mention this whole pocket world?'

[The pocket world was something that already existed, and it was not something they created. Most likely this is something that she had access to as a high-ranking member of the group that woman belongs to. Maybe it's a training ground that their group no longer uses, or something similar.]

'Hmmm… Maybe. Anyways, we have arrived, let's see how bad the situation is, and see what we can do to fix it.'

Opening the door and stepping inside, he was in the small hallway that led to the kitchen, bathroom, and directly opposite of where he was standing, the living room. Stepping inside, and looking to his right, he saw that his mother was still in the kitchen, just like she was when he left for the Academy.

”Hello, mother! How are you?” Aiden greeted. As he expected, the woman did not reply but only scoffed at his greeting. She kept focusing on the contents of the pan.

'Well, let's check her then.'

Focusing on his [Dark Sense] system-ability he poured some extra Soul Power into it and focused it on the middle-aged woman. Looking at the results on the map, he was astonished, that he didn't feel anything. The woman basically oozed out the black fog-like aura. Her intent was also full of negativity and it was directly aimed towards Aiden. Anger, Disappointment, Pain… Thoughts that normally should never surface in the mind of a mother.

'What is she so angry about? Also, Disappointment and Pain? What did I do?' Aiden thought after seeing the results on his screen.

However, before he could continue lamenting, he heard Enya's berating voice in his mind.

[Focus Aiden! Try talking to her and guide the conversation to you and what you did. That will surely elicit a reaction.]

'Yeah… I will banish the nightmare spawns out from both of them. I will get to the bottom of this!'

”Mother, I have come back from the Academy. I checked my scores today, I am among the top scorers!”

The only reaction he received from her was a loud ”Humpf!”.