Unit 13 Crane Street, Tingen City.
Amanises plopped down on her bed with a thud, her social battery for the day was completely drained.
I'm so tired! She just wanted to lay down on her bed and wither away like a forgotten rose.
Daly started preparing some snacks for the late night, she knew that Amanises preferred to take them during her walks, and would rummage through the kitchen, disturbing her sleep.
As much as Amanises wanted to continue laying in her bed, she really needed to take a shower.
Forcing herself out of bed, the woman headed to the bathroom in heavy steps.
Psshhhhh!
She turned on the faucet and water started streaming down her body, washing over today's concerns.
Sigh...
Dampened hair sticking to her body, hands touching the cold tile, facing the wall.
She let herself truly breathe for a moment. No tight corset to squeeze her organs, no veiled hat to strain her vision and no heavy dress to weigh her down.
Truly be her naked self.
Why is it so unnerving to do this? Her heart pounded nervously in her chest, like something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Thump Thump.
It continued to beat in an endless anxious manner.
Thump Thump. It slowly creeped up her ears, drowning the sound of running water. Sensations started becoming dull little by little.
Her feet and hands couldn't feel the cold ceramic tiles, nor the water pressure.
Sigh—!
She wanted to take another deep breath to calm herself down again, when all of a sudden—
A pair of hands groped her from the back!
They were cold, almost corpse-like, pale-white but with painted blue nails and silver rings.
On instinct, Amanises wanted to elbow strike the intruder, but rationality stopped her mid-motion.
"You almost striked me down!" A familiar voice was heard, of course it was none other than Daly.
She knocked on the bathroom door a couple of times and didn't get any answer from Evelyn. Worry got the best of her, so she entered said bathroom, only to find her friend spaced out, looking at a wall.
"Had I not recognized you in time, I would've done much more than a strike!" Amanises shouted, this was too much of a close call!
Not only had someone entered her sacred chamber, stepped into the shower and enclosed her body with cold hands, but she was now touching where one shouldn't even dream of!
E-eh!!!?? Amansies couldn't help but blush. Her face turned red in an instant.
Daly trailed her palms up Evelyn's body, reaching her breasts. She wanted to keep going upwards when she felt something akin to a metal chain tied to a small steel barbell.
She was taken aback, and suddenly stepped back with a surprised expression.
Amanises used that time frame to shield herself from Daly, covering all of her pride and shame.
"Y-you have nipple rings?" Daly pointed to the breasts that were poorly hidden behind a hand. Evelyn always made sure to cover herself completely and seemed like one of the most proper women Daly had ever met!
She suddenly had an epiphany. "Oooh! Is that why you always intend on changing alone in the bathroom!"
"That! And I don't like having an audience!"
Amanises shouted, she was trembling a little due to the cold atmosphere, but the hot embarrassment evened it out somehow.
What is wrong with you!? And what is wrong with me?!
She never really paid any attention to the piercings ever since her transmigration, they always seemed natural to be there. Although a pain in the ass to disinfect all the time, it was all right.
This was Evelyn's little act of rebellion against the oppression of women in society, an act which her mother nearly disowned her.
Luckily, Victoria was understanding and quickly calmed down, but forbade her daughter to undress in front of anyone except her personal maids.
It's also one of the reasons she wasn't that pestered to get married.
But now that Amanises had a reason to think about it, she found it incredibly weird.
Even on Earth she never dared to get a tattoo or piercing!
Not only because her family would think she was some sort of criminal, but also the price...
Even after it became somewhat affordable with her job, she completely lacked the desire to get one.
It's also incredibly painful!
Daly chuckled. "Looks like you're not such a proper lay after all! I suddenly feel like I'm not alone!" She said while spreading her arms.
"Can't a woman be herself, nowadays?"
"Not really."
"..." Amanises was speechless, but then soon her eyes narrowed.
"Get out."
Daly didn't need for her to repeat herself. She squeezed the excess water off her nightgown and stepped out of the shower.
"I kinda want one too now." She murmured.
"Not worth it. Painful." Said Evelyn in a brief manner and indifferent tone. She really didn't want to be an example.
***
Pshh—Clack!
Turning the shower faucet off, Amanises stepped out on a rugged towel placed at her feet to not slip and split her head open.
She wasn't exactly happy with how her small moment of loneliness ended up.
Glancing at the piercings, Amanises nearly debated on taking them off, but after giving it more thought she decided to let them be.
This was the little of Evelyn that she would allow to remain on her body, and perhaps soul.
Thus, she dried herself and wrapped another towel around her head to soak up any remaining water in her hair.
Stepping out of the bathroom, she scanned the living room for a second.
Did Daly go back to sleep?
She entered the bedroom in a long silk nightgown, seeing her friend wrapped up in the fluffy covers.
She looked so peaceful, completely opposite to how Amanises was feeling.
You trouble my soul to the point of trembling, yet you can go to sleep just like that! How unfair!
She nearly began to lament when a small shift was heard from underneath the covers.
It sounded like...a giggle?
"Hahahahha!" Daly couldn't help herself, she found the situation just too funny!
A proper lady who used to be a nobility was actually just a rebel! What a turn of events!
On second thought, I might actually remove them.
Daly's giggle faded out after a while, she sat herself on the bed, crimson moonlight outlining her figure.
"What are you so embarrassed about? If anything, you should flash them out to me each time you get!"
"I would never do something like that!" Her voice turned from a shout to a whisper. "I don't have the confidence."
Amanises slunched on a chair, burying her face in her hands in frustration. She truly was at a loss for words.
"Find it."
Her head whipped around to the origin of that voice. "Huh?"
"Find your confidence. There's no way you can continue in this world without it."
"Are you kidding me?"
It's not like I completely lack confidence! How do you think I was able to make it so far? I just don't want to flash anyone I see on the street!
Perhaps she misheard or her already fried brain wasn't able to understand. But Daly barely made any sense.
Instead of clarifying or, at least trying to make the situation less awkward and weird, Daly Simone opted to hit her back onto the mattress once again and fall asleep instantly.
Amanises continued to stare at the snoring woman.
She's been acting strange ever since they arrived in Tingen.
At times she would act like the most lively person to ever exist, making an incredible amount of inappropriate jokes and snarky remarks, and other times she would be completely unreachable, cold and alone.
This rapid mood switch up was over the top!
And worst of all, Amanises had no idea what was happening or why this was happening. She could only witness as her friend continued to spiral into a developing mental illness.
Does she need a psychiatrist? This isn't normal!
Amanises was incredibly worried.
She wanted to take a small nap today, but things changed.
Putting on a random outfit she found in her closet and making her appearance at least presentable, Amanises left the house.
Naturally, the snacks were eaten on the way.
The half blood moon glowed unparalleled, no stars and clear sky that shadowed the small dot of anxiety in her soul.
Step, step, another step.
Completely lost in a daze she walked forward on the street, eventually having to look up not to bump into a brick wall.
But with each step made, her uneasy soul calmed down a notch.
It was magical.
How come it was so easy to calm down just by taking a walk under the moonlight?
The eeriness of the crimson moon didn't even bother her one bit!
Slow and even slower. Steps became fewer and even fewer.
Until, she came to a stop.
Sigh.
She took a deep breath and looked up at the moon. That iridescent red glow was mirrored in her eyes, which darkened bit by bit.
She heard a sharp sound in her mind, like that of a glass pane breaking.
Her potion was digested.
***
The next morning came by easily.
With Amanises taking a little more time to experiment with her increased spirituality and night vision, she didn't even realize how time had passed, only noticing when the sun started slowly dying the sky an orange hue.
She opened the door to the house, being greeted by Daly munching on a piece of bread with morning coffee in hand.
"Good morning. Been nice?" She asked between bites and sips. The continuous munching made Amanises's heart wander.
"Pretty calming I'd say." She thought a little before adding. "My potion has been digested, by the way."
Daly raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Already? It felt like you consumed it just yesterday!"
"It felt like that for me too. There isn't much of a difference between a normal human and a Sleepless, so it felt quite sudden."
She spoke with utmost indifference, as if this was just a minor matter.
But in her heart: Please tell me I can get the next potion! Please!
Daly gulped her coffee down and threw the last piece of bread in her mouth. "Hmmm. You show potential. After figuring out the matter you've been tasked with by Leonard, I think you can send a request for the next potion."
"Really?" Amanises was surprised. "Is it that easy?"
"Of course." She paused. "That is—if you can actually complete the mission."
Oh. I see...
"I guess, I just have to give out my best right?"
"And not die." Deadpanned the spirit medium.
The conversation ended there, grabbing a nearby slice of bread, Amanises went to take another shower.
This time she locked the bathroom door shut. Not knowing why this thought didn't occur earlier.
***
In the library of Khoy University.
She couldn't really focus on the new book she picked. It didn't really match the bar set up by the previous series she's read.
Amanises 'read' half of it with without actually reading. She rubbed her eyes and left the library bidding farewell to the busy librarian.
I wonder if they're bothered with the fact that I keep coming here to read. I hope not!
Her intention was to leave it as it is for today, but the hastiness she received from digesting her potion made her take a spontaneous decision.
***
Azik Eggers walked down the hallway almost absentmindedly, he was going through his regular routine of history lectures, when all of a sudden he was stopped in his tracks by a woman.
It was the same woman he met yesterday, one that graciously fell due to exhaustion, one that he helped get up.
"Hello, madam. Are you feeling better today?" Although Azik didn't talk much, he felt like it was irresponsible to not inquire about the woman's condition.
Said lady placed her hand to her forehead, large silver bracelets dangling with little sound but a strange glimmer in the sunlight that seemed through the large university windows.
Her complexion seemed just as pale and her eyes darker, somehow.
Azik felt like he recognized this condition, it was unordinary—no, extraordinary!
Could she also share those strange powers as him?
"Good day to you, sir." She responded in a low voice. But looked at him soon after. "Actually, I feel like it's gotten worse lately?"
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "What did the doctor say?"
"He said that it's due to exhaustion and lack of sleep. But I can't really sleep at night, nightmares keep me up constantly."
Nightmares?! Azik was slightly alarmed. The thick fog of his memory started churning, and a small bit seeped out.
She's a Beyonder...
He couldn't figure out which pathway, be it Corpse Collector or Sleepless, or maybe something different all together. But it is clear she had high spirituality, and held a strange sort of attraction to the spirits that have been sticking to the walls of the University ever since Azik started working here.
"My lady, would you like to discuss this in my office? It's completely alright to refuse." He made sure to mention the possibility of refusal, to not pressure the poor woman.
"I'd be delighted to." Her soft voice rang out.
***
That worked better than I thought... She didn't expect to be called in so soon, after only exchanging a few lines of dialogue.
Lecturer Azik Egger's office was quite large, donned with large windows, thick curtains and a few bookshelves.
He placed a steamy hot cup of tea on the small table in front, seating facing the woman.
It brought a strange feeling, as if seeing a kind superior, one that was about to inquire about her progress.
"So, Miss, may I know your name?"
Names were strong in mysticism, if she were to give out her real name carelessly, who knows what tragedy would befall her?
She opened her mouth to spew a made-up name she thought of beforehand, but she suddenly froze.
The kind smile and soft eyes of Mr. Azik made her pause for a little, but only for a little.
"You can call me Evelyn."
Why did she suddenly give out her real name? Although not complete, it was pretty easy to access her actual identity.
This was a gamble, of course.
And Amanises wasn't a fan of gambling.
"I'm sure you're aware of my name. If not, I'll reintroduce myself. Azik Eggers, I'm a history teacher here."
"Good to see you, Mister Azik." She relaxed a little.
"You talked about a nightmare, what was it about?"
Amanises thought for a second, before responding. "A river, it was without colour but in a dark place, illuminated only by a gray-white fog at the horizons."
She paused and then continued. "There were—creatures there. Ones you could only see in a fantasy book. Vampires, ghosts, zombies and so forth.
"I came to this library to research about those beings. Maybe a story would feature this kind of river?" She asked with strange hope in her eyes.
She didn't believe that Azik would know anything, but just in the case he did this could prove useful.
"A river..." He put a hand under his chin. "I may have heard of something like that."
!
She jumped up in surprise. "You've heard of it?"
It's not something specific to my transmigration?! Does it actually exist in this world?
"Yes, but only in theory. It's a river that flows endlessly, trapping the souls of the dead."
"Souls of the dead..." She murmured. Looks like the name 'River of Souls' was quite spot on!
"Anything else?" Amanises was getting excited.
"I feel like there should be." Azik rubbed his temples. "But I can't remember it.
"Recently I've suffered from memory loss, it only became worse after a while..." he started to ramble on.
Amanises was dejected, however she maintained a proper nature and sat back slowly. "I see, I understand."
The teacher wasn't in the best of spirits. "Anything else in that dream?"
"Nothing, I'm afraid." She looked down at her feet.
"I heard that you have recurring nightmares too, what are they about?"
"Hmmm... I always dream about different lives, in one I'm a regular worker with a small family while in the other I'm a renowned lord of a castle with a wife and child, in one I'm swinging my daughter on a swing I made and in another I'm grieving a loss that isn't mine."
How detailed! It's like he's living different lives just by dreaming!
She wondered just how many had he seen this way. Were they figments of his imagination or actual lives? In the world of Beyonders everything seemed possible!
However, Azik's expression darkened suddenly, his lips forming a thin line.
"Lately, my nightmares have been about someone else. Maybe I have some sort of guilty conscience?" He mumbled on.
"Guilty? Guilty of what?" The woman inquired.
He let out an audible sigh. "My student—former student, has recently committed suicide.
"It was so sudden that I didn't even know what to say. It was like yesterday he was asking additional questions regarding a lecture and in the next he was lifeless with a gun in hand."
Gun in hand...Klein Moretti?!
"Sir, is the student you're talking about the history graduate Klein Moretti?"
He looked up in disbelief. "You've heard about him?"
"A-ah of course!" Amanises blurted out. "One of my friends talked about him and his friends, it stayed in my mind ever since."
"Really? What did they say?" Azik wanted to know more about his unfortunate student.
"They think that there's something underlining this death, there's no way he would've committed suicide for nothing.
Mr. Azik, have you noticed anything wrong about him before his death?" She was already too far gone to turn back. Amanises needed to know more about Klein Moretti and what brought him to kill himself. If this amnesiac teacher could help her uncover something she would be eternally gracious.
"Hmmm. Not really. He was a few days away from taking in his interview to become a teacher for Tingen University. I thought he committed suicide due to the huge pressure. He wasn't of a nice standing in society and the stakes for succeeding in the interview were very slim."
He lowered his head again. "But I still did my best to cheer him on. Looks like I didn't do it enough."
No! It was not the interview! It was something completely unrelated! She wanted to shout, to assure the poor teacher who had guilt-ridden himself to the point of having nightmares.
"Anything unusual of the nightmares you got since his suicide?"
He shook his head. "Other than Klein occasionally making an appearance and saying that he should've made it to the interview, that it was his only way to provide for his family and telling me I should've thought him better, no."
From her rich experience in researching on the internet about the meaning of strange dreams, Amanises deduced that this was just a regular projection of guilt manifested by the subconscious.
"I see, I'll try and investigate more about Klein Moretti and the river, perhaps what I would find will help you too."
Azik smiled warmly, he was quite happy to know that someone was willing to help his poor self. He seemed to completely trust the woman before him.
Amanises was ready to take her leave, not wishing to gold the lecturer any longer, god-forbid he was unprepared for an important lecture.
She raised her body and bent down slightly, lifting the corners of her skirt, expressing both gratitude and goodbye.
"Thank you for your time, Mr Azik."
The teacher nodded. "Likewise."
She moved towards the doubled doors, gripping the handle, when all of a sudden, a hand was placed lightly on her shoulder, holding her in place.
"You're a Beyonder aren't you?"
It was the middle of August but even with such a hot weather, she never felt that strong of a chill.
Not even when she left the river after drowning herself at night.
A strong gust of wind swept through the room, tickling the goosebumps formed on her skin. She swallowed
The hand left her shoulder, and the tone became light again. "I just thought it would be useful to make it clear from the get-go, so that you don't come up with over-the-top excuses for your powers."
He smiled with his eyes closed.
But Amanises couldn't help but tremble again, like a dog that was scared by a sudden stomp from an angry man.
She only waved goodbye with a twitching smile and shut the door behind her with a loud thud that echoed through the University hallways.