I woke up in a completely white room.
There was no ceiling, no floor, no walls—only an infinite horizon of light.The silence was so pure I could hear my own heartbeat.
I looked at my hands… they were my hands.
The ones from the real world.
For an instant, a warmth ran through my chest. I had returned to being myself.
—!!Oh, yes!! —I said, raising my arms with an almost childish smile—. Good heavens… I really missed my blond appearance.
The laugh dissolved quickly.
In front of me, without warning, a child appeared.
Not a reflection.
Not an illusion.
And his face… I recognized it instantly.
It was him. The body I had inhabited in that damned game.
The boy I was, or pretended to be.
He looked at me calmly, brown eyes carrying a kind of wisdom that didn't belong to someone his age.
Sam: —"Hi, Brian."
—What's up, kid… Sam?
Sam: —"Relax. Now you are me, and I am you."
—Huh? I don't understand that… not at all.
Sam: —"Don't worry. I know very well you're an idiot."
—Hey, don't insult me, brat… but tell me, what's going on?
Sam: —"Right now, you're unconscious."
—Unconscious? And that's why I ended up here?
Sam: —"Beats me. This place is… strange. It's like a limbo."
—Limbo… that reminds me of a song.
Sam: —"Yeah, I've heard it."
—What?
Sam: —"I've heard it. The songs stored in your memory are pretty great."
—You've seen my memories?
Sam: —"Of course. Just like you've seen mine."
—So you know this place is a…
Suddenly, I felt a pull.
Something shook my consciousness, like the nonexistent ground itself had vibrated.
—What was I saying?
Sam: —"If you don't know, how would I know?"
—Fine, forget it. Hey, Raymond… aren't you mad? Because I've been living your life.
Sam: —"No. In fact, you saved it. I'm not angry about how you acted. Actually, I quite agree with your methods…By any chance, didn't you hear my voice during the Glasthor tournament, when you fought that Barbarian?"
—Wait… so that voice in my head, the one that didn't feel like mine… that was you?
Sam: —"Yeah… Sometimes I can see everything you see, and sometimes I can't. You're a bloodthirsty guy, but your actions aren't evil. I like that."
—I'm glad you accept my methods. But tell me, why the hell are you sneaking around watching my memories?
Sam: —"This place, as you can see, is empty and often boring. The only good thing is I can watch your memories. Honestly… it's been extremely entertaining."
—What exactly have you seen?
Sam: —"Almost everything. Your world is fascinating… but that memory with those two beautiful girls in that city was… wow."
—Hey!! A minor shouldn't be watching that!
Sam: —"Sorry. But I have a question."
—If I can answer it, I will.
Sam: —"How did you manage to make so many girls fall for you so deeply?"
—I don't intend for them to fall for me. If that's how I am, what am I supposed to do? Anyway: did you see the Morizaki method?
Sam: —"You mean that memory?"
—No. I mean the context. You win a girl from the very first impression… do that right, and everything becomes easier.
Sam: —"Womanizer."
—I'm not a womanizer, brat. I never will be. I won't betray a lady's honor either. I'm a loyal man with firm principles. Knowing things doesn't make me a bad person.
Sam: —"I know. I saw your memories, genius. Technically I'm the most qualified person to judge you."
—Let's change the subject… do you know why I took over your body?
Sam: —"No, but I have a theory."
—Go on.
Sam: —"We are similar, and simply… we were merged."
—You're wrong. I am unique.
Sam: —"Brian, you have a dominant and extroverted personality… but in essence, we are not that different. The only difference is that you've lived harsher experiences."
—I won't say anything. (Who does this kid think he is? He knows nothing about me…)
Sam: —"Sorry to tell you, old man, but in this plane I can hear your thoughts."
—Who are you calling old?! I'm only 26. (Now I get a kid from another world acting as my therapist…)
Sam: —"I'll ignore that thought. I don't want to argue."
—Fine… but will we talk more often now?
Sam: —"I don't think so. Maybe a few more times, before we both assimilate."
—I still don't get it.
Sam: —"Don't worry, neither do I. But… can I ask you three things, Brian?"
—Of course, Raymond. (As long as they're doable…) Go ahead.
Sam: —"First: find and protect Karen. She means a lot to me."
—Alright, I was planning to do that anyway. (A man has to protect a child's first love, right?)
Sam: —"You're a son of… anyway. Second: get yourself enrolled in Aeris with Ryan."
—Aeris? What's that?
Sam: —"The best academy on the continent. If you can't enter as a commoner, try the Imperial Hellen Academy. It's the second best."
—An academy!? Absolutely not. (I already had enough of school… only people who didn't enjoy it want to go back.)
Sam: —"Please, old man. It's my body anyway. It was Ryan's and my dream back in the Northern mountains."
—That sounds complicated, I'm not sure, Raymond.
Sam: —"Please. Try it. Your memories will become my memories. I know what happened to you with injuries… but trust me, it won't happen to me."
—You even saw that?
Sam: —"I saw it. I know what broke you when you went back there… your home, or what was left of it."
—Alright… you convinced me. I'll try it. But if I go back to that crap, I'll do it my way.
Sam: —"Alright. I know our school experiences will be epic."
—I don't think so, kid. If I get there, I'll try not to stand out.
Sam: —"Alright, if you say so. And lastly… can you avenge me against that bastard Jeremy?"
—Of course. But what did he do to you?
Sam: —"To us. The day you took over my body."
—Don't tell me… it's what I think it is?
Sam: —"Yeah. You're pretty sharp. Want to see the memory?"
—I need to see it.
The white world dissolved.
And I found myself inside Raymond's memory.
We were in a barn, near the stables.
Jeremy, that idiot, was smiling arrogantly.
He asked—or rather told Sam—to climb onto a cart. When he did, he pushed him.
The child's body lost balance, fell to the ground, and hit his head against the rusty edge of an iron plow.
Blood.
Darkness.
And that bastard's voice fading away, saying:
Jeremy: —"Now I'll be able to comfort Elisa tomorrow."
The memory ended.
We returned to the white space.
Sam: —"You must do justice, Brian. Make those Valentine bastards pay. It's my request, I beg you."
—Don't worry, kid. I was already planning that.
Sam: —"I know… those scum need to pay."
—Was that the moment when…?
Sam: —"Yes. After that, I appeared here, and you took my body. Well… I think so."
—Funny thing is, your parents didn't even notice the change in behavior.
Sam: —"Well, I almost behaved like you… just a bit quieter and more serious."
—So according to you, we're very similar?
Sam: —"Not really. I'm seriousness… and you are chaos."
—Following that logic, I'm talent and you're humility.
Sam: —"Hahaha. I'm honesty, and you're charisma."
—You really managed to grow on me… but I think we share something: sensitivity.
Sam: —"That's correct, big brother."
—I never had a "junior." I'm glad you're the first. Do you think I'll see you again?
Sam: —"I don't know, big brother… but you already figured it out. It's time to wake up."
—I'll take care of everyone, don't worry.
Sam: —"I trust you. Anyway… I'll be watching you."
And then, the white faded away.
Like a dream dissolving with the first light of dawn.