Light.
A gentle breeze brushes against his face. The song of unfamiliar birds echoes in the distance.Nihil opens his eyes slowly, feeling a warmth that seems almost unreal.
The sky… it's beautiful.A blue so pure, it hurts to look at.
The grass sways with the wind — green, vast, perfect.
Nothing feels real.
Nihil tries to sit up, but he has no strength. His body feels heavy.His thoughts… don't exist.Only the beat of his heart, and the whisper of a world he doesn't know.
He faints.
Hours later...
He opens his eyes again.
He's lying on the grass. The sky is still the same — bright and blue.He sits up, dazed.
Looks at his hands.
Then his legs.
Touches his head.
"Where… am I?" he whispers, emotionless.
He stands up. Looks around. There's nothing… only nature.A beautiful world, but unknown.
He starts walking.
No destination.No thought.Just walking.
The sun moves above him as time passes. He crosses fields, grassy plains, gentle hills.
After who knows how long, Nihil finds a dirt path.One that seems to lead to a village.
And then… he sees someone.
In the distance, a figure moves a wooden cart, walking slowly.A man in a hat, whistling a tune, followed by beautiful horses.
Nihil frowns, stopping in place.
And suddenly—
BANG!
A deafening sound.It's not real, but it feels like it is.
A brutal ringing explodes in his ears. The world distorts.A crushing pressure pierces his skull.
"AGH!!" he screams, dropping to his knees, covering his ears.
The ringing grows louder. His head burns.His heart pounds violently.
The world spins.
And collapses.
"Hey! HEY! Are you alright?! Hey, buddy!"
The man with the cart runs toward him.
"Shit, what the hell just happened…?"
He checks on him, worried.
"You're breathing… well, that's something."
With effort, he drags him toward the cart.
"I'm not leaving you out here. Let's get to the village."
Silence.
The man places him in the cart and continues down the path.
Nihil falls into a colorless world.
A dark space, with no up or down.
And in front of him… someone appears.
A human figure.Blurry. Familiar.
"Where… am I?" Nihil asks, his voice barely audible.
"In your mind," the figure replies.
"Who are you?"
"I'm you."
Nihil steps back.
"You…?"
"Yes. Your mind is broken. You've lost all your memories. But I'm here to help you."
"Memories…?"
"You're incomplete. But I'll give you something to start with."
The figure steps forward. Extends a hand.
"Your name… is Nihil Shiro."
The voice echoes through the space.
Nihil Shiro… Nihil Shiro…
A sound that resonates in his soul.
"He's awake!" a woman's voice shouts.
Nihil suddenly sits up, sweating, his eyes blank.He's in a simple bed, in a modest house.
The door opens.The man from the cart walks in.
"Well, you're alive! That's a relief," he says with a smile.
Nihil looks at him, confused.
He lowers his gaze. Takes a deep breath.Looks at his hands… then says firmly:
"My name is Nihil Shiro."
The man smiles awkwardly.
"Uh? Well, nice to meet you, Nihil. I'm Anderson."
Silence returns.
Nihil clenches his fist.
"I know my name… but who am I? Where am I?Why am I here? I don't know anything else.I'm not even sure I want to remember."
His eyes fix on the ceiling.
"But… I'm alive."
END OF CHAPTER 5