"He.....zuki.....do.....afte-...?"
A voice calls out to me from the ether of my consciousness, my mind barely able to dredge up the slightest echo of it's contents.
""Who?""
I mumbled to myself in my fugue state wondering who or what it was that was trying to reach out to me.
"He.....zuki!"
The voice sounded like it was a bit closer now but still a jumbled mess of gargled sounds to my ears.
((It's happening again...the dreams))
I instinctively recognized that I must be in one of those weird dreams again...but something felt different this time, whereas before they were like a distant fading echo, right now something tells me that they were actually reachable.
""What are you saying? I can't hear a thing""
Seeing no point in standing still nor running from it I decided confront these dreams directly and tried to reach out to them and to ascertain the origin of that voice.
"Hey Kazuki! You deaf or some'in bro? Earth to Kazuki?"
Finally the voice became clear as the sight of a boy came into view, he had bright blond hair with bangs long enough to reach his shoulders, black eyes and a bright smile showing his row of full and white teeth. He looks kind of like a golden retriever to be honest.
((What's with those clothes? I've never seen them before...also who's Kazuki? Is he talking to me?))
His appearance and attire didn't match anything I've seen before, and I've traveled all over northern Valentia. I didn't understand why he seemed to be calling me "Kazuki" either.
((Do these memories belong to some foreigner from a place I've yet to travel to? I haven't met anyone of this ethnicity before are they southerners?))
I wondered if the people I'm seeing right now were from the southern part of Valentia as I had heard that the skin color of the locals there were yellowish just like what I'm seeing now.
"I can hear you dumba$$ I was TRYING to ignore you"
Suddenly a voice came out of...my mouth? Coldly dismissing the golden retriever boy.
"Hey that's mean! I was just inviting you to lunch"
The golden retriever made a sad expression and said meekly, although I had a feeling his depressed state was only surface level deep.
"Wow, you must be desperate to invite me, of all people, to the cafeteria with you. Did your little clique get bored of you or something?"
"I" or at least the person whose eyes I was seeing through said sarcastically.
"BLEH! No they didn't! Who would ever get tired of seeing this beautiful mug?"
The golden retriever stuck out his tongue and then pointed to his own face with his two hands praising himself.
((Well he's self assured if nothing else...))
I thought to myself.
"But I need someone who can level with me on certain topics, and I don't know anyone else except you who plays the FOV series"
The blonde said.
((What is "FOV"?))
I thought to myself.
"Oh...yeah, the third game's coming out this year right? If it's like the past two installments then it should be adapting vol 10-16 of the novel"
These words came out of my mouth once again.
((This is starting to get real annoying, I don't get any of these terminologies that they're using...installments? Vol 10-16? What are they talking about?))
I started to get really irritated at my lack of comprehension, not that I expected to make sense of these dreams to begin with but still.
But suddenly a realization hit me.
((Wait hold on...this language that they're using, how am I able to understand it in the first place? It doesn't sound like any Valentian language that I know of, but for some reason I can understand every word that they're saying))
They were speaking some kind of weird archaic language that I was certain I had never heard before but for some reason I understood almost every word with the exception of the weird terminologies. It was as if my brain was automatically translating this language into something I could understand despite me never coming into contact with it before.
"Yeah dude I can't wait for the third installment V studio games don't miss! And the trailer was FIRE too!"
((More terminologies I can't understand...))
I sighed inwardly.
"Well don't get your expectations up too high, the third game is usually where a series falls off when it comes to these triple A titles especially when those corporates are involved. Not to mention the woke mind virus bullshlt that's ruined the western gaming sphere"
Rather sardonically the person who I'm currently embodying for a lack of better words said.
"BOO! Don't be so negative! Life's too short for such depressing thoughts, you're gonna jinx it!"
The blonde replied once again sticking out his tongue.
"Eh fair. Regardless it's a fact that V studio's track record is pretty much the closest thing to perfect so I'm hopeful. I assume the author of the original novel is involved this time as well?"
The voice became a bit softer as he...or I? Assumed a more positive look on things.
"OBVIOUSLY, he's been credited as the co screenwriter just like last time"
The blonde replied.
"That's good to hear"
"Oh right I remember you being a big fan of his work, you still carrying those books around? I wanna refresh my memories on vol 10 before I play the game"
Suddenly the blonde said seemingly asking for something.
"Haah...just make sure not to fold it"
Although reluctant, Kazuki, the boy whose body I'm stuck in reached into a backpack of some kind and pulled out a decently large book with a black binder.
((What the?))
And on that binder was something that gave me quite a shock.
"Here Fires of Valentia volume 10, I'll let you borrow the next volume when you're done with this one"
The boy handed the book to the blonde.
((Wait what did he say? Fires of what?))
Before I could make sense of what was happening...
Everything went black...
""HAAAH!""
I jolted up from the bed with a gasp, forcefully taking air into my lungs.
""Ha...ha...ha""
It took me a bit to steady my breathing as my eyes adjusted slowly to the room I was in.
Wooden walls, stone ceiling, red carpet on the floor, a table on the other side of the room from my bed, a closet with a few cabinets, and of course the door to the bathroom on one side of the wall opposite from the door to the outside.
I was back in Hotel Nowhere.
""Ha...fuck! It's getting worse""
I said to myself cursing the fact that the dreams seemed to have gotten more...intense for a lack of better words after my meeting with that Sophia girl.
((Ok ok...relax and breathe, let's assess what we know so far about these dreams))
I thought trying my best to regain my composure and tackle this issue with a sound mind.
""It's vague as shlt and about as understandable as deciphering ancient glyphs while blindfolded but there are a few points of note about these dreams""
I scratched my own chin as I began to jot down some notes in my head.
""1. these dreams are definitely not a result of my supposed ability to see the future like the Maestro said, nor is it a result of any kind of mental conditioning from the organization, the fact that I was in the body of someone named "Kazuki" in my dreams and the Maestro not knowing anything about these dreams proves this. Unless I somehow became an entirely new person in a foreign land in the future. Which now that I think about it isn't entirely out of the question considering my line of work but still very unlikely""
I concluded based on the data I have as the things I saw in my dreams were too uncanny and unfamiliar to be visions of my future or at least any future that I could conceive of, the fact that the Maestro seemed surprised that I was having dreams also proves that these dreams aren't the result of any kind of mental conditioning as the Maestro doesn't allow anyone but himself to play putty with my gray matter if HE doesn't know what's going on in my dreams then it's fair to say that the organization isn't involved either.
""2. These dreams are the memories of someone named "Kazuki" a foreigner that I've never met before and it's not just memories either I seem to have inherited his experiences as well as a part of his emotions as I could physically feel myself being the person in my dreams""
Now that the dreams were clearer than ever I also noted down just how tangible they felt despite supposedly being nothing but flashes of memories.
""And finally that girl named' Sophia is intrinsically tied with these dreams somehow...maybe it's because she's my "counterbalance" as the Maestro says or maybe it's something else but my dreams have never been as clear as this before. The fact that I can even remember my dreams right now after I came into contact with her proves her connection to these dreams, although the reason and nature of this connection is still unknown to me""
I finalized all the points I was able to gather about these dreams. The fact that the girl named Sophia was tied to this was undeniable at this point, my dreams were never this coherent before I met her and yet the moment I went to sleep after meeting her I saw these dreams with exponentially more clarity than ever before.
""But there are still a few unknown details, like who the heck is Kazuki?! Where was that place in my dreams? And...""
I gulped.
""What the hell is "Fires of Valentia"?""
I asked myself.
""It looked like some kind of story book or novel in my dreams...but what is it? Why did it have the name of the continent in the title?""
For some reason I felt IMMENSELY uncomfortable with the sight of that book and what implications it could hold.
I wanted to ponder this matter more but at that moment...
""!!!!""
*Click cling!*
Sensing a presence outside of my room, I instinctively sprung out of bed and grabbed one of the weapons I had stashed under my bed mattress, a Ballisong knife that I promptly opened with a simple trick called Y2K.
*Knock knock knock knock*
Whoever was on the other side of my door made four distinct knocks, a code the organization uses when a mission was being handed out.
""Ah...it's just a mission""
I released the tension in my body a bit as it was just someone giving me my next orders.
*Slide*
I saw a small envelope slide through the door into my room.
((A red envelope? I'm guessing this won't be as easy as the last mission then))
I thought recognizing that a red envelope means that it's either a capture or assassination type of mission.
""Who do they want dead this time?""
I wondered out loud as I picked up the envelope and held it in my hands for a bit inspecting it.
There was an emblem on the sealing wax, three faces with different expressions conjoined into one, with lines that looked like mazes on each face, the emblem of the Maestro.
*Shing!*
I opened the envelope with the Ballisong blade already in my hands and then pulled out an inconspicuous piece of folded paper.
Putting away the knife and the envelope I unfolded the paper to see a small picture dropping out.
The picture was of a man with quite a bushy mustache wearing what I could only assume as sailor's clothes and a fishing cap. This was no doubt the target of the new mission I've been given by the Maestro.
Inside of the letter were these words:
"Hbcozb: Vnbvxii Wfyooo
Bczsnh Bdazagzsoe: Kvbstcsj I Dvgvrfc - Jmmopv pq Qinceabeqjv oar Bdazbg
Bpkpkoqjr: Qbabpzs bf Opcozoywap bcm Hnfhpb
Ymgpfjabdwb: Uoofuvv Cezbyl, v nceafc wkmfnhjgm jn chf pcovvwmoutwi, eof cstodvoyzz einssq kjep nuitumtvb kcahsljvvr gvszcbp hus Nlzbqbbh Mtvz nfba usm iihvco zn Xwofhbyqv bc gvf Qiiwguwby jjzrrfmlvya. Vr vbd jzmb biu zn xwbgode njz hjc zpima phh ila mmqrbuwg ncfsodpl va hus mpiymf bt b ximqhvaf dupouywor zdvu xbphv va hus "Wptqmh Gwep." Bcqg tfpfx da frgqzvnqpys gzz ozostjnsdvu qoormmwif otdmoa tbfnpzgg iarfc wpz qbbucwg, asyzjyo opsz hp epz pwtvfdb wqrqss. Zzgibq vbd kgmoezz rwim fbuvp iil wf bph lzawtbbemy ig "Fwhych Lozbbeqjvwf." Mpfz hqgfwpy in koyzttoi Wpywwtwi, qg gc ftbcmf poqecmm ce smtudvogs usqn bvesbe cnqbt ooj vzksfgbcg hmoag. Hzwy tipy, byl bwcq vvybdvu. Lcvc bmibfdpcbvbwbb ila wmsa osciiosq pfqwmm vnbe, rw ow hrfntvvt 6 cs Giltz'a Fvgf lqmxceh, by idzguwq hqgt pr kbtbdvu scs jwp bvrff.
Llyqhvcolt jjxrqutdz: zspcwpz jz rrgucwt ibl otdmoa Cezbyl cig fhpwmi nfba vd.
Vjbs: Rbtfzz bvvg mpbomf vg epaozclse tuhmrvouptt itgss cmvlwau. Glqgcfr hp ow nw kvzm cmnczg wo l Tzdsy 4 qfyapzs"
Naturally it was an encrypted message.
((Hmm, a Vignere cipher... since it's a message to me the keyword should be "OBLIVION", ok then...))
I began to decrypt the message detailing the mission.
((Target: Hanuman Orland
Threat Assessment: Category A Insider - Breach of Information and Assets
Objective: Capture or Neutralize the Target
Description: Hanuman Orland, a former operative of our organization, was originally tasked with smuggling contraband through the Marginot Line from the nation of Coastania to the Fanoshian borderlands. He has been out of contact for two years but has recently surfaced as the leader of a maritime smuggling ring known as the "Velvet Tide." This group is responsible for trafficking dangerous assets formerly under our control, selling them to the highest bidder. Orland has clearly gone rogue and is now designated as "Signum Damnationis." Your mission as callsign: Oblivion, is to either capture or eliminate this threat using any necessary means. Good luck, and good hunting. Your transportation has been arranged before hand, go to terminal 6 of Shale's Rise airport, an airship will be waiting for you there.
Additional objectives: recover or destroy any assets Orland has stolen from us.
Note: Ensure this letter is destroyed immediately after reading. Failure to do so will result in a Level 4 censure))
After I was done reading the mission briefing I burned the letter with fire magic as instructed.
*Sizzle sizzle*
Usually burning something indoors especially considering the wooden floor was a bad idea but since Hotel Nowhere was quite literally in another dimension entirely from the real world where some laws of reality were circumvented if not outright ignored there was no issue.
""Haa...this looks like it's going to be a long one ""
I wasn't feeling particularly motivated for this mission if I was being honest since I was still mentally exhausted from dealing with these vague dreams.
""Well no rest for the wicked I suppose...""
But nonetheless, orders are orders and I began getting ready for my next mission.
I walked towards the closet opening it.
There wasn't much in my closet that I would consider fashionable mostly dark colored clothes that would use on missions as well as some travelling supplies.
""Now...what should I bring for this mission?""
I pressed two inconspicuous nails on opposite sides of the bottom board of the closet.
*Click*
With a soft mechanical hiss, a hidden compartment swung open, revealing a neatly arranged arsenal of weapons. Inside, rows of intricately crafted daggers with polished hilts and razor-sharp blades gleamed under the dim light. A set of balanced throwing knives was secured in a custom-fitted rack, while several short swords, their deadly edges glinting, were mounted on velvet-lined shelves. Small vials of smoke pellets promised instant cover and confusion, and discreet vials of various poisons were carefully labeled for their intended targets. Coiled rope and a sturdy grappling hook were tucked neatly in one corner, an easily concealed pistol and a collection of silencers for discreet operations was meticulously maintained. The compartment, lined with padded velvet, ensured that each weapon was perfectly preserved and ready for action at a moment's notice.
Meanwhile...
In a white featureless void that seemed to span infinitely in every direction with no end, the Maestro sat idly at his table enjoying a piping hot cup of black tea.
"Are you sure this is a wise course of action? Bringing those children in contact with each other so soon?"
Suddenly a voice rang out from all around him as if an unseen presence had just entered the room. The voice sounded feminine with an aura of inquisitiveness and a bit of haughtiness.
"It is quite rude to invite yourself into my domain without asking first my dear Madame. But I am in a good mood so I'll let it slide"
Without a care in the world the Maestro replied to the unseen voice while simultaneously sipping on his tea.
"Don't even try to dodge my question effigy! You know exactly what I'm concerned about"
The voice did not seem to be in the mood for small talk.
"How crass...well do as you will, and as for your question, yes, I do believe that it was the right time to introduce them to each other. Even if I hadn't they would've ran into each other regardless, people bound by destiny will always find their way to one another no matter the time and place. I simply decided that it would be better to conduct the meeting in a controlled environment where I could observe the reaction"
The Maestro calmly explained his actions.
"Hmm, you're taking a lot of risks. This is unlike you, what if something bad had happened to the girl?"
The female voice exclaimed.
"Those scoundrels? Please they'd be lucky to split one hair on the girl's head without dying. And besides..."
If the puppet could express himself properly then he would be grinning ear to ear right now.
"I would have never put the idea to kidnap her into the heads of people who could ACTUALLY harm her"
The Maestro jovially said.
"..."
The voice was rendered temporarily silent by this revelation.
"Haa...I take it back you're the same as ever, your nasty personality is truly the one thing you can never fix"
With a sigh the voice said.
"Why thank you Madame, I'm truly honored by your high praise"
With an empty crackling laugh the Maestro replied.
"It wasn't a compliment..."
The Maestro had a feeling that the Madame would be eyeing him with exasperation had she physically manifested herself here.
"Well whatever comes I do hope that boy is ready for whatever twisted destiny you have in store for him"
The Madame said.
"Ready? Pfft!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Hearing the words of the Madame, the Maestro's three heads suddenly all simultaneously burst out in cackling laughter.
"I assume you found something in my statement to be amusing?"
The Madame asked inquiring what the Maestro found so entertaining.
"Please do not take offense my dear Madame but if you're questioning whether or not 001 is "ready" then you're running a fool's errand"
The Maestro explained as he took another sip of black tea.
"That child can be NOTHING if not ready, his entire existence is predicated on the idea of him always ready for what's coming next. He is ALWAYS and will FOREVER be ready, so you asking him whether or not he is ready is like you asking if someone needs to breathe in order to live"
The Maestro explained.
"I see...you have a lot of confidence in him it seems"
The Madame replied.
"Confidence in him? Well that would be an understatement but it'll do for now"
The Maestro amusingly replied.
"Care to enlighten me on the reason for your absolute faith in the boy?"
Whether it was curiosity or simply intrigue the Madame asked.
"Madame...I'm sure you're familiar with 001's callsign, but have I ever told you what the meaning of that name is? Or why I even chose it?"
In order to answer the Madame's question, the Maestro started with a question.
"I assumed it was simply a tool to mask the boy's real intended purpose. Was there another reason I'm unaware of?"
"Heh, that is a part of it but no. Callsign: Oblivion is much more than just a name, it is an idea, a title we assign to a phenomenon rather than a person, a label on a sublime motive of reality that we ourselves cannot fully understand. That name is a promise of victory for the Executerii and a guarantee of annihilation for our enemies. It is a symbol of equal parts terror and awe. I believe the people in the Executerii who actually know of 001's existence have a saying when it comes to 001's deployment on the field "001 is not your enemy, he is not even a combatant, he is more like a force of nature, a sentient hurricane, you can't reason, bargain, threaten, delay or stop him you can only get out of the way and pray to whatever higher power you believe in that you're beneath his notice. For the moment you catch his eye the only fate awaiting you is OBLIVION". And I happen to agree with them..."
The Maestro began to talk as if he was bragging about his achievements to his friends.
"..."
"At only 9 years old that boy already has a body count in the quadruple digits, around 60% of successful operations we have conducted in the Northern region of the continent in the past 4 years can be attributed to him in some way. He is no mere operative or a weapon, he is the sublime clothed in the flesh of a boy, the materialization of Executerii's ideals, a man made god who walks the earth"
The Maestro explained.
"Hmm..."
The Madame seemed to be in deep contemplation.
"That's all well and good, if you can harness this power for the good of the Executerii...how can you ensure such a being can be tamed, let alone controlled? I dislike defective products, especialy ones of a...rebellious nature"
With doubt dripping from her words, Madame asked.
"A natural concern if not an important one, rest assured Madame 001's progress has all been within my calculations. He WILL be the one to realize the Executrii's...OUR ideals"
The Maestro reassured the Madame of 001's loyalty.
"And the source of this assurance?"
The Madame asked incredulously.
"That's for me to know, but please do guess I'd love to hear your theories"
With an amused tone, the Maestro replied.
"Why you!-"
Not impressed by the Maestro's theatrics, the Madame was about to voice her displeasure but...
"I do believe you've overstayed your welcome Madame, please do come for real next time. I'll treat you to some high quality tea"
*Clap*
The Maestro said clapping his hands together, signifying that he no longer wishes to continue this conversation.
"Wa-!"
Before the Madame could protest further, her voice disappeared completely as her presence in the Maestro's domain dissipated into the ether.
"..."
The Maestro was left to his thoughts for a moment.
"Bleh...that woman I swear, no sense of artistic talent nor finesse at all. "Control"? Is she serious? Why should a masterpiece be limited to one singular purpose? True art should be free to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone"
With a sneer the Maestro started berating the Madame behind her back.
"The only person who can control 001's destiny is himself. What sort of half assed creator would I be if I didn't make a creation that will eventually supersede and go beyond my vision for him?"
Pouring himself another cup of tea the Maestro said.
"Now my dear child...I wonder what painting of the future would you draw for yourself? I can't wait to witness your art with my own eyes"
The Maestro's wooden eyes stared into the void, seemingly gazing at something far away.