Notice:- Edited on June 29th 2025.
-------
I am feeling lost - Which is kind of normal when you wake up after dying in a world as someone you don't remember being. No memories, nothing. What should I do from here on out? I have no idea where to get started with anything. Juno suggests I get stronger, but the thing is, how? Work out? Hit the gym?
Wait, no that's not what I should be contemplating right now. Think about what transpired in the past few hours. I observed some chap riding a freaking dragon and battling with winged humans. He manifested flames out of thin air and slaughtered everyone. Was that even real? I mean, my whole situation itself isn't normal in the first place, so I'm not sure what to make of it all.
[Do you have any additional questions?] A voice in my head interrupts my thought process.
I have so many questions that I don't even know which one I should go ahead and ask... Right, she did just mention that the 'imprint' or whatever it was that she left on me will go away, limiting the number of questions I can ask...
"I wish I could just interact with her whenever I want to..." I mutter.
[It's possible.] An unexpected response.
Well, that's one piece of good news.
[You simply have to establish a spiritual connection with me. Once that's done, it would be possible for you to speak with me telepathically. Sharing your sight and senses with me will also be possible.]
"That sounds neat and all, but how do we establish this spiritual connection thing?"
[It's simple. Leave the Rift and get into contact with my spiritual body. I will take care of the rest from there.]
"What's the Rift, and how do I leave it?"
[The Rift is... There isn't much time for me to explain it to you right now. You only need to chant 'αφήνω' in your mind.] For some reason, I can sense a bit of urgency in her words. Maybe because the imprint is dying out?
Well then, let's do this - αφήνω. ('Leave' in Greek.)
The next moment, my vision blacks out as I feel all the strength wash away from my body. Following that, I find myself in an infinitely extending white space.
And here she goes again - materializing in front of me.
"Let's get this done fast, as your body in the Rift is unconscious at the moment." She casually says.
Wait, why didn't she warn me about it earlier if that's the case? I would've moved my body to somewhere comfy so that it would seem like I'm sleeping. I've already worried the silver-haired girl enough for today.
"So, what do we do now?" I curiously ask.
Juno moves closer and stops about one an arm's length away from me. She then proceeds to turn around and sit on her knees before saying, "Do as I do and align your back with mine."
I do just that and sit behind her. A few seconds after that, I feel something stirring within me as a connection of sorts with Juno is established. I assume that's the spiritual connection that she spoke of. It feels very weird. It's like I can feel what she feels and think what she thinks. I can feel my emotions through her. This is a lot more bizarre than what I was expecting.
"Now that the connection has been established, I suggest that you return to the Rift as soon as possible. Getting familiar with your physical body and getting stronger should be your top priorities right now," Juno says as she gets back up on her feet. "To return to the Rift, you simply will for it to happen."
"Got it. Sounds easy enough."
I take a moment to imagine being back in that body that should be unconscious right now, and the next thing I know, the perpetual white space around me has changed.
Right now, I am lying on my back on the ground. I get up and take a look at the window, only to realize that it's already dark outside. Surely, I must have been unconscious for a while...
I take a look at the girl that is still sleeping by the bed. After a moment of hesitation, I approach her and reach out to her face. Stroking her cheek, I feel its softness through the tip of my fingers.
She visibly flinches, and a few seconds later, slowly opens her eyes. She seems to be a little dazed in the beginning, but suddenly, as if remembering something, gets up abruptly and looks at the pillow - or rather, where I should've been.
Seeing the empty bed, she panics and turns around, resulting in us making eye contact.
With tears building up in the corner of her eyes, she hurriedly gets up jumps into my chest before weeping silently.
A while passes by with us remaining like this before she speaks.
"Don't leave too. Don't be like dad and mom and leave me as well. Idiot!" She exclaims softly as tears roll down her cheeks.
I don't know the reason, but I suddenly have a feeling of loss building up within me. Almost instinctively, I embrace her back. Are these the emotions of my current body? The previous owner? Must be. The affection held for the fragile girl is by no means small. I can practically feel a surge of emotions flowing within me... Sorrow, grief, and many others that I've never felt before in my previous life. Or at least, I don't think I had.
This girl... the death of her parents must've taken a toll on her mentality. Thinking about it, what am I to her? Family seems appropriate now that I've seen myself in the mirror. Thinking about it, we resemble each other to an uncanny extent. So, sister? My twin, perhaps? What she just said supports this notion properly.
I hold her tightly and let her cry to her heart's content.
After a few minutes, she stops and backs away from me as I loosen my arms. She looks into my eyes for a few seconds, then proceeds to break the hug somewhat awkwardly before turning around and leaving the room.
Now, left all by myself, I feel the true brunt of all the emotions I'd been feeling earlier. The best way I can describe it is... being at a loss.
------
I remain in the room for some time to properly process everything.
I don't know how much time has passed, but might as well check out where I am.
And so, I leave the room and explore the house I'm in. A strange feeling of familiarity hits me as I examine the insides of the rural-looking house. It's quite a cozy house if I must say.
After taking a few more steps, I smell something being cooked. I make my way to the source of the scent and find the girl, presumably my sister, cooking in an apron.
She's wearing a white one-piece dress with frills on the arms and back. The black apron she has on top suits her attire really well, especially the pair of black ribbons that are tied to her hair.
Seemingly just noticing my arrival, she looks my way for a few seconds, before getting back to cooking.
I move towards a simple wooden table and take a seat on one of the two chairs. A few minutes later, the aroma of dinner fills the air, and she places the food on the table, settling into the chair opposite mine.
We eat our meal silently. I don't have much to say. Well, honestly, I just fear saying something that will give away I'm not whoever she once knew. It makes me feel like shit.
Once we're done, I tell her I'll be going on a walk. She gives me an odd look.
Yeah... whoever this body used to belong to probably never did such a thing if that look is anything to go by.
Regardless of that, I promise her that it won't take long before leaving the house to check out the surroundings. Before I stepped outside, I noticed her heading in the direction the room I had woken up in.
Once outside, I take a good look around and pretty much immediately get a general idea of where we are. The countryside. I had always seen it on TV... Huh, I remember that somehow... Anyways, even if I've seen it on there, I haven't ever been to it personally. The moonlight lights up the darkness, and the sound of insects is all around me.
So peaceful...
Curious, I begin walking around as I observe the field to the left and the houses to the right.
Several minutes later, I have enough, so I head back to the house.
Upon reaching it, I head back inside, locking the door behind me as I do so.
"Sleep with me tonight." I hear a voice behind me.
Upon turning around, I see the girl, who is holding the black stuffed rabbit I had seen earlier.
I suppose she is still feeling unwell. Though, there is also the chance of this being a common occurrence. In any case, I can't exactly refuse.
Besides, I feel extremely guilty for not remembering anything about her or myself. Even the parents she mentioned earlier... I can't even begin to imagine her reaction if she were to realize that I don't remember her.
So, I simply nod and follow after her as she walks towards the room same room from earlier.
She directly lies on the bed, the stuffed rabbit still in her arms. I don't hesitate to do the same. It's a bit awkward, but thankfully, she closes her eyes and doesn't utter a single word.
After a good while, I look over at her petite body. Her breathing is rhythmic right now, indicating that she is asleep. I sense a great urge to embrace her, but I resist it.
For a few minutes, it works, but then I am unable to hold myself back, as I slowly and shift closer to her before wrapping an around torso.
The warmth brings me comfort as I slowly drift off to sleep.
------
What a pleasant sensation...
My eyes twitch as I open them slowly, taking in the morning light in all its glory. I immediately realize that I've still got my arm around her.
My twin sister, Sora.
I remember. Not my previous life, no, but rather the past of my current body. And I must say, what the fuck?
What the hell is up with this past? I don't remember everything perfectly - no one normally does. However, certain things stand out.
For one, Sora and I were separated at birth. After years, we finally ended up meeting one another. Rather than feeling like a sibling, she felt like a stranger but soon to be friend.
Then one day I locked lips with my little sister upon giving in to a momentary impulse while we were playing. As if that wasn't shocking enough, the memory of being raped by another girl - a childhood friend haunts my mind. A good while later, our family moved away from here, and the years went by. Alas, tragedy struck and the next thing we knew, our parents had passed away. Having nowhere else to turn to, we moved to our grandparent's house; the house we're in at the moment.
I take a deep breath and look at Sora's face. I move the arm wrapped around her and instead begin stroking her cheek. The affection I currently hold for her has grown. Not just a bit, no, but significantly. It's obviously because of the memories. Not only that, but there are certain... urges that I find to have frighteningly increased in intensity.
I try to think of other matters to settle the urges. For instance, what am I supposed to do from now on? Do we have sufficient wealth to sustain ourselves as well as our education? I need to find a way to make some quick cash.
Actually... even before that, I need to do as Juno told me and get accustomed to my body.
With that, I get up and shift my legs to the side of the bed, intending to head out of the house. However, I feel a tug on the back of my shirt. Turning around, I watch Sora as she raises her head from the pillow.
"Anything wrong?" I ask softly.
"Where are you going?" she asks, her voice weak as she rubs one eye.
"Outside. I want to do some morning exercise."
She says nothing for a moment before giving me a doubtful look. "You never do that."
"True," I respond before I reach out and place my palm on her head, "but think of it - we now have an opportunity to live a new life. A completely different one than back in the city. For one, I think making our lives more productive will be for the best."
Sora simply stares at my face with a slight frown marring her face, but after a while she simply sighs. "If you say so."
Smiling at this, I move closer before giving her a quick peck on the forehead. "You should work on yourself as well."
Sora is stunned. Immensely so. She has a bewildered look on her face as she stares at me with widened eyes. Seeing that she won't be breaking out of this state anytime soon, I rub her head affectionately a bit before getting up from the bed.
Now then... time for a little workout.