The POV of Noah:

why is it so painful?

I want it to stop.

Please...

I felt like I was dying. and the pain was growing so much so that I wanted to actually die. Every tick of time felt unbearably long and difficult to get through.

Waves of pain kept flooding me, overwhelming my senses and rendering me unable to do anything.

I closed my eyes and tried to focus on anything other than the pain. I felt Sylvar casting water healing magic on me, however it was useless. Whatever was causing me pain wasn't a physical wound.

Another wave of extreme pain caused me to jerk and my thoughts were delayed for a moment.

This cycle continued on for what felt like hours.

As an another excruciating pain hit me, I felt like I was actually going to die. My consciousness faded away and I found myself curled up in a void.

It was a familiar feeling and place however this time there was a difference, I was under a lot of pressure as if I'll be crushed.

I looked around, still feeling undeniable agony. I found that I was actually in a large golden bubble, the bubble's walls were shaking as if it'll burst at any moment. I looked around more and found the source of vibration. It was a red tube connected to the outside of the bubble's wall.

I got closer to it and observed the red tube. With every pulse the red thread gives, the bubble shakes and the pressure increases. After that the red tube makes a little wiggle to mock me, it felt like it's alive.

This is what's causing me pain?

What is it though? How can it do that? Why does it want to hurt me?!

My anger erupted. All the pain I have been feeling for the last hours is not something easy to get through, and this thing here is just shaking away like it's dancing victoriously.

Furious, I reached out my hand and grabbed it. It struggled to get free but couldn't. I dragged it inside the bubble and I started to tear it apart. I don't know why I had such strength but I won't complain.

[Sending warning to the main system.]

English? System?

A little drone flew out of the tube and started flying away.

"Oh no you don't." I said while reaching out and crushing it.

[Sending warnings to the main system.]

This time four drones flew out and I only managed to eliminate two. I looked at the drones flying away and tried using magic, but magic wasn't something I could use here.

I can't let them send a warning! Whatever the outcome I don't want to experience this pain ever again!

Suddenly, as if sensing my worry, the golden bubble's walls extended inwards and turned into large golden hands. They crushed the drones and then got a hold of the tube and destroyed it, after that the tube and drones disappeared with no trace.

The pressure and pain instantly subsided and I was relieved. I scrutinized my surroundings.

"What is this place?" But I got no answer. What I got instead was a large golden hand waving goodbye at me and then, I woke up.

I was in my bed. Sylvar wasn't around so I called out to him. Shortly after I heard a crash followed by footsteps.

"Ahh! I'm happy you woke up! Are you alright?" He said, healing the bump on his forehead.

"Pft." huh? I laughed? Though it was dull I definitely did.

"HUH?!" Sylvar had the same thought as me, "You laughed? Is this a dream or something? Are you really Noah? Did someone swap bodies with you?" He got closer to me and started examining me as if he was really serious about what he just said.

"Ah. Yes. I am not Noah." I said jokingly; sounding serious instead.

"Phew! you are Noah, had me worried for a bit there." Sylvar said, he then frowned, "you're laughing at me being injured?"

"No, I'm just glad you're still energetic."

"The whole world could colapse and I would still be me!" He remarked triumphantly, "What happened to you?" He asked as he sat next to me on the bed.

I explained every detail of what happened to him, I knew he would believe me and I trusted him. He already believes the crazy story about me being from another world.

"Hmmm, I've never heard of a similar case. I've healed plenty of people who have something interfering or currupting their soul or mind but the thing you described has neither the characteristics of a curse nor a parasite. Moreover you said it speaked Englich,"

"English." I corrected

"Anglich."

"English."

"Whatever you said, anyway, if it can speak a language from your world then you might know more about it than me. I'm sorry but I don't think I can help."

"I figured so," I looked at Sylvar, "when we were at the table you said you had something to talk to me about, since we didn't have the chance to talk what is it?"

"Yes I was just about to get to that." The air turned solemn and I could tell it's about something serious, "we can't live here anymore."

"What do you mean?" I inquired.

"The maximum amount of time we can live here safely is about a year, after that, disaster will struck. The reason behind that is this forest will become the most dangerous place in this world. It will be flooded by mana beasts."

"Mana beasts? Do you mean demonic beasts?"

"No, although they still have no name currently, because they had just started showing up, they will be called mana beasts in the future, the reason I told you to stay away from certain parts of the forest was because there were multiple mana beasts around. A notable one is what will be called a Manticore in the future it's of the Chimera species it has a lion's body and mane, a scorpion's-"

I cut him off "Oh I encountered it and killed it. Even though I didn't stray from the path you told me to follow it was hunting a rabbit and ended up near me." I took put the blue marble. After looking at it more carefully it was actually a greenish blue, "it disappeared and dropped this after it died."

His jaw dropped "Aha..." he ragained his solemn appearance and continued, "We'll talk about that later. After a year from now, this forest will be inhabited by all sorts of dangerous mana beasts such as 'dragons', 'wyverns', 'chimeras', 'undead' and many more. It'll be classified as the most dangerous area around the world."

"The weird thing is, I usually could predict very far into the future, however I couldn't predict these events." He pointed to his eyes, "and after seeing some glimpses of the future I lost my vision, which made me lose my ability. It's a very mysterious matter."

"Are you okay with leaving this place? Where would we go if we were to leave?" I asked

"Ofcourse I am okay with leaving this forest. After losing my vision I won't be able to live on my own so leaving was my first thought. And as for where we could go..." he went silent for a bit, thinking about the matter for a while, "I have some acquaintances in the Elven Kingdom, we can go and live there for a while." He 'pointed' at me, "However humans aren't very welcome in the Elven kingdom. It's not that they're forbidden entrance but elves treat humans in a rather hostile manner; it's because humans in the past used elves as slaves. Not anymore though. The Human and Elven kingdoms signed a peace treaty and the two kingdoms are in a supposed alliance. In the near future this problem will be solved but not until atleast 10 years from now." He rested his hand on his knee, "So, for your growth and development I think it's better for you to go to the Human Kingdom, Aramisa. In Aramisa anyone who has talent for magic is taken care of and can study in a magical school and since you have so many attributes, it wouldn't be a surprise if you were assigned to attend a high-end academy."

"But what about you? Wouldn't it be dangerous for you in Aramisa?" I asked

He showed a crestfallen expression, "I did say 'you' that doesn't include me Noah. It's about time we separate. I can't hold you back and let you live in a bad environment where you will be treated unfairly. And I can't go with you to the Human Kingdom, it's far too dangerous. If we were to be found out it would not only be a threat to me, but to you aswell."

I shook my head, "I'm used to bad treatment. I want to stay with you, you were the first person I met in this world and you treat me kindly."

He flicked my forehead, "As much as I want to stay with you, Noah, it's necessary for both you and I to go on our own ways. After we get to the Elven Kingdom, I'll hire an escort team to get you to Aramisa. It's not like we won't see eachother again, you can visit me in the future." He then said in an angry tone, "Do you want your last life's event's to repeat themselves? What's the point of living another life if you don't make a change? You should go out into the world, explore, have fun, make friends, and do all the thing you never got a chance to do before!"

I put a hand on my forehead and joked, "Understood, father." I thought about it for a bit and added, "Now that I'm thinking about it, you are more like a father than my previous one."

He 'Hmph'ed "I hate that guy. How dare he treat you like that?!"

"So, when are we going to leave? Can you still use the memory filled magic stones? I want to learn swordsmanship from the commander's memories before we head out. I want to be as ready as possible."

"I can because I only need to insert my mana into the stone to activate it," He answered, "but you're still exhausted from whatever attacked you earlier. It would be better to rest your mind for a day or two before doing that."

"Okay." I nodded, "I'm hungry so I'll go prepare food for both of us."

"You're not going to ask if I am hungry?" Sylvar asked.

"No. You always are. You're like a bottomless pit when it comes to food. I bet others are always fooled by your graceful appearance you put on." I ran downstairs.

"Why you little- come here!" He tripped, "Ow."

I stopped, turned back and extended my hand to help him up, "I'm sor-"

He pulled me down and pinched my cheeks hard, "Hahaha! I got you now!"