Espen closed the door behind him quietly, but the creak of the wood sounded like a scream against the heavy silence imposed by the Priest's presence. The Priest sat in the chair, draped in a dark dignity, his eyes piercing the shadows of the room to settle on Espen with a sharp, hunting gaze.
The Priest broke the silence with a coarse voice that carried a tone of absolute certainty:
"Espen.. drop the act. I know for a fact that you haven't lost a single shred of your memory. And even if we were to humor your claim, you must realize by now that I was behind the attempt on your life, and that your survival was nothing more than a stroke of luck."
The Priest leaned forward, his voice dripping with disdain:
"But what truly baffles me is your coldness.. You buried the assassin I sent after you despite his miserable failure, and you treated the whole affair as if it were mere passing entertainment. Your behavior, your speech, even the tone you use with me.. it's all highly suspicious. And the strangest part of all: why haven't you run to your father, the Ruler, to snitch on me? You possess the power and the authority to destroy me with a single word, so why choose silence?"
Espen looked at him with a dull gaze, devoid of any emotion or fear, as if he were watching a scene in a play that didn't concern him. He remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice that carried the echo of distant contemplation:
"You ask why I didn't tell my father? The truth is, I don't even have a definitive answer for myself. But perhaps.. perhaps it's because since I woke up, I've seen nothing in everyone's eyes but the reflection of a vile, corrupt person. So, I found an excuse for you; you might actually have a very good reason for trying to get rid of a piece of trash like me. As for that poor assassin.. it wasn't a matter of arrogance, but simply pity for a soul thrust into a conflict much larger than himself."
The Priest's eyes widened in a shock he couldn't hide, his face twisting into a mix of contempt and bewilderment:
"Espen Hort.. feeling pity? What a tasteless joke; the last thing I expected to hear from you! Your answer is shrouded in doubt, yet its core touches the truth. Yes, Espen, I have a compelling reason to want you dead: I cannot stand to see the great name of 'Hort' desecrated by a lowly person like you succeeding Atterman. I see myself as the rightful heir to this legacy; you are irresponsible and don't possess a shred of the merit required to lead this kingdom."
The Priest straightened his posture, his voice turning cold as death:
"In any case, the coming days will tear away all masks and reveal what the heart hides. We shall meet again.. Master Espen Hort."
As he uttered his final words, the Priest's body began to fade in a majestic, magical display. He slowly transformed into a thick black mist that dissipated into the corners of the room and drifted away with the breeze until he vanished completely, leaving behind the scent of ancient incense and the silence of a tomb.
At that moment, the shocking truth dawned on Espen: the Priest possessed the same source of power as him—Dark Energy.
Espen sighed deeply and collapsed his exhausted body onto the bed, muttering to himself with bitter irony as he stared at the ceiling:
"Wonderful.. so I have a fierce rival for the succession, and he's got my head in his sights because he rejects the idea of a 'New Era.' What a fool! Does he really think the plot will bend in his favor? How can an old man like him be so greedy for the future throne?"
He closed his eyes, feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping into his limbs, and added in a faint voice before sleep claimed him:
"Whatever.. I'll leave the thinking about his death for tomorrow. Today was far too long, and I need some dreams that aren't trying to kill me."
Espen bolted upright in bed as if an invisible hand had yanked him from the depths of a sticky nightmare. He was gasping for air, cold sweat soaking his shirt. The images of the chase were still stuck in his mind: a never-ending dark road, trees twisting like demon arms, and a featureless entity tracking him with heavy footsteps.
He wiped his face with his palms and let out a long sigh, trying to shake off the remnants of dread. He muttered to himself sarcastically:
"Good morning, you filthy world... oh, wait, I forgot. I'm in another world now that looks suspiciously beautiful. So, the world isn't the filthy one this time; 'Espen' is the one who holds that title with honors."
He stood up heavily and headed to the bathroom, wanting to wash away the traces of the nightmare. He stripped off his clothes and sat on the edge of the bathtub, surrendering to the morning quiet... but the quiet didn't last long.
He suddenly felt a warm, wet touch on his back. He froze in place, his stomach churning as he realized Melda was there, right behind him, completely naked. With total composure, she was passing the loofah over his back in steady, rhythmic strokes.
In a single second, Espen's face turned a deep crimson. His ears burned with shame, and he tried with all his might to look away while she continued her task with startling indifference.
Melda said in a deep, calm voice, broken only by the sound of flowing water:
"Good morning, Espen. Your morning mood seems good today. Please don't hold it against me for sneaking in; I arrived before you started and saw it as my duty to bathe you.. this is the core of my job as your maid and guardian, after all."
Espen was unable to form a single useful sentence. He felt a suffocating embarrassment as she scrubbed his back and moved to wash his hands with soap, while he tried to shrink into himself.
Melda's playful laughter rang out, filling the steam-filled bathroom. She said teasingly:
"Espen! I can't believe my eyes.. you're actually embarrassed! Your face looks like a ripe tomato. Is this really 'Espen Hort'? I never imagined I'd see this shy side of you."
Trying to defend his wounded pride, Espen stammered clearly:
"M-Melda.. I'm not.. e-embarrassed by anything.. don't flatter yourself!"
Her laughter grew louder, clearly enjoying the collapse of his solid mask:
"You're stuttering, Master Espen! Your tongue betrays what you're trying to hide, and this is a priceless sight."
It didn't stop there. Melda's hand moved lightly to wash his abdomen, moving further down... and there, Espen's patience snapped. He couldn't take the situation for another second. He lunged up and made a frantic leap, fleeing the bathroom completely naked. He ran down the hallway in a hilarious, panicked dash until he reached his room.
He dove under the covers, burying his head beneath the blankets, shivering from the sheer embarrassment. He had no idea how he would face the world after this.
A few moments later, Melda walked out of the bathroom, her body dripping with water, draped in an aura of overwhelming femininity. Espen shouted from under the covers in a muffled, tense voice:
"Miss Melda! Please.. get out of here now! I want to bathe alone.. is that so hard to understand?"
She shot him a sly look, a playful smile on her lips, and said in a mocking tone:
"As you wish, 'Espen.' I could have finished the job and washed every inch of your body.. even your p-penis, but it seems you've decided to be an independent man today."
Melda stood confidently, drying her body with a towel right before his eyes (which he was trying to keep shut under the blanket), then smoothly put on her underwear and her daily clothes. She hurried out, the "tick-tock" of her high heels leaving a rhythmic trail on the wooden floor as she descended.
Espen emerged from under the bed once he was sure she was gone. He returned to the bathroom with heavy steps, slapping his forehead and muttering in deep annoyance:
"Damn you, you wretched Espen! How did you live through this scene every day so easily? For me, it's practically impossible.. Curse it, a part of me wanted to stay and look, but the embarrassment is killing me! Damn this body and these memories!"
After a long bath where he tried to wash away the lingering embarrassment, Espen dressed in his school uniform with care, making sure to straighten his collar before heading downstairs. Melda was standing at her desk as usual, but her gaze was overflowing with amused, feminine mischief.
She caught him with a lopsided smile and said in a flirtatious tone:
"Finished with your bath, dear? I hope the water relaxed your tense nerves."
Espen raised a sarcastic eyebrow, unable to stop himself from retorting sharply:
"Dear? Just like that? A moment ago you were insisting on washing my privates like I'm a five-year-old, and now it's 'dear'? Tell me honestly, are you mentally okay? It seems the fuses in your brain have started to blow!"
Melda laughed gently and stepped a few paces closer, saying with a seriousness wrapped in challenge:
"I'm different because you are the one who changed, Espen. I am merely a 'mirror' reflecting what's in front of me. If you prefer the dry, cold treatment we had before, all you have to do is go back to being that scoundrel you were.. what do you think? Shall we strike a deal?"
Espen looked at her in total bewilderment and muttered in shock:
"You want me to go back to being the trash you used to hate, just so you'll stop your heavy joking with me? Wow.. your logic is truly bizarre and pathetic. Anyway, I'm leaving now before you decide to wash me here in the lobby."
Melda waved to him as she watched him walk away, a cheerful smile never leaving her lips:
"Safe travels, Your Excellency!"
As he walked through the streets which were beginning to bustle with life, he saw Nira approaching him. She looked calm and beautiful in the morning light, greeting him with a gentle smile:
"Good morning, Espen. I hope your day is as full of goodness as you made mine yesterday."
Espen stopped, a cloud of genuine regret appearing on his features. He said in a low voice carrying the weight of an apology:
"Good morning, Nira. Actually, I wanted to say something to you.. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry for every heinous act I committed against you before. I know the word 'sorry' has no magical power to erase the scars of the past, especially since I don't remember the details of my filth, but I hope you can forgive that stupid, old version of me."
Nira paused, looking ahead for a moment as she contemplated his words. Then she spoke with a sincerity that stunned him:
"You know, Espen? Despite all I suffered because of you, I've become strangely interested in you since you changed. I don't know if fate has rewritten your soul, but I'm perfectly content with this transformation. Honestly.. I've started to like your new personality; it possesses a nobility we never saw in the old 'Espen Hort'."
Espen stared at her in disbelief:
"Just like that? You've forgiven me and 'started to like me' just because I started acting like a normal human? Your perspective is very strange, Nira."
She asked spontaneously:
"Was my response bad, or did it upset you?"
He answered immediately:
"No, not at all."
She smiled, looking deeply into his face:
"Well, it seems we are finally on good terms."
As he walked silently beside her, his mind was boiling with biting irony and existential questions:
(In the real world, if I were the one who committed those atrocities and you were the victim, it would be impossible for us to share the same path, let alone forgiveness! In my world, harassment and assault are stabs that never heal. I'm amazed at how casually you take things, as if the past were nothing but dust you brushed off your shoulder. Does this whole world lack strict moral logic? Or do the laws and beliefs of 'Orbisfera' differ radically from how I was raised? It seems I'm in a place that gives 'second chances' with a suspicious ease.)
They walked side by side as the sun sent its first rays to reveal the details of the road, but Espen's eye was caught by one detail that had occupied his mind since he saw her yesterday. He gathered his courage and broke the silence, asking in a calm voice shrouded in curiosity:
"Speaking of strange things, Nira.. what is the secret behind shaving the right half of your hair? Is it a rebellious fashion statement, or is there a story behind this look I haven't heard yet?"
Nira's features stiffened for a few seconds, a ghost of suppressed distress crossing her face. She lowered her gaze and said in a flat, wounded voice:
"Do you really not know, Espen?.. My disfigured hair isn't a choice; it is a 'brand' that you placed on me."
She raised a slightly trembling hand to touch the completely shaved side, continuing as the words came out like stabs:
"I told you before that my hair has a special nature; if it is burned or cut by magic, it will never grow back again. And on that ill-fated mission we went on together.. you unleashed your black power, and instead of the monsters, your dark flames caught my hair. I had no choice but to shave it like this to hide the ugliness of the burns."
Espen stopped walking suddenly as if the earth had split beneath his feet. He stared at the dirt, signs of regret and self-loathing twisting his features. He said in a faint voice that was nearly swallowed by the air:
"Nira.. I.. I can't find the words. I am truly sorry. Every step I take in this world, I discover a new hole in the ship of this vile body I've inhabited. I feel like I've inherited an archive of crimes.. Forgive me, Nira. Please forgive the stupid person I was."
Nira approached him with slow steps, closing the distance between them to place her delicate hand on his shoulder, while her other hand rested over her chest as if trying to calm her heartbeat. She said in a sincere tone that pierced his defenses:
"Espen.. I am also living through an internal struggle; I don't know how to accept your new personality so quickly, but I swear it is thousands of times better than that dark forest that used to live inside you. And despite all that happened.. despite the ashes you left in my hair.."
She paused for a moment, then continued with a cryptic smile:
"For some reason, I've started to love this new rhythm in your voice, and in your gaze."
Espen looked up at her, his eyes a mix of bewilderment and disbelief. He asked hesitantly:
"You mean.. you no longer harbor hatred for what I did to your beauty?"
Nira touched the shaved side of her head again, but this time her touch wasn't sad; it seemed as if she were feeling a small victory:
"I don't know how to describe this contradiction.. but you could say I've started to love this empty part of my hair, because it has become the only remaining link to the 'Espen' I've actually started to like. For the first time, Espen.. I feel something like genuine admiration for you."
Espen and Nira reached the Academy gate, where whispers began to follow them. Everyone noticed Nira accompanying Espen without fear or tears.. so what awaits Espen in the classroom today?