[System initialization: 96%]
[System initialization: 100%]
When the sun rose the next morning, I didn't notice it at all. The curtains were still drawn, so no light spilled into my room to wake me the way it usually did every day.
So… I was still asleep.
[Alert!]
[System initialization complete: Click to display status window]
The strange counter in that mysterious floating window reached its end, and then—clear as crystal—a beautiful woman's voice echoed directly in my head.
That's what woke me.
My eyes were still closed at the time, but that voice… it made me slowly open them. And there it was—a rectangular window, the size of a computer screen or maybe a little larger, floating above my bed. Dark blue background, elegant gold decorations, and golden letters shimmering in the middle.
I froze. My mind flooded with questions.
What is this…?
Usually, sunlight was the only thing that could drag me out of sleep. But today, it was that woman's voice—calm, clear, and impossible to ignore—that did it. I didn't even move. I just stared at the strange thing hovering above me.
My eyes traced the golden text in the middle:
[Alert!]
[System initialization complete: Click to display status window]
Am I… still dreaming?
I closed my eyes and reopened them just to check.
[Alert!]
[System initialization complete: Click to display status window]
Nope. Same window. Same gold trim. Same dark blue background. At that point, I was sure—I wasn't dreaming.
Two thoughts immediately came to mind. First, maybe I was suffering from some kind of mental breakdown. Second… and far more unsettling—what if I had actually gone crazy?
I thought back to yesterday—the nightmare of losing the rest of my party. No, not an actual nightmare. I hadn't dreamt about that hidden cave at all last night. Just sadness. Crushing sadness… and a blinding headache before I fell asleep. That headache wasn't an excuse for this.
But still… Could it be that I've gone insane?
I shook my head. If I'd truly lost my mind, I wouldn't be able to think this clearly. At least, that's what I told myself.
The window stayed right there. Silent. Unmoving.
I waited, expecting it to fade. When it didn't, I decided it had to be an illusion—one that would vanish if I just got up and started my day. So, I tossed the blanket aside, swung my legs over the bed, and sat up.
Whoosh—!
The instant my feet hit the floor, the window zipped from above my bed to right in front of my face.
[Alert!]
[System initialization complete: Click to display status window]
I blinked. "So… it moves when I move my body."
Closing my eyes didn't make it disappear. Only moving seemed to make it follow. I sighed. I'd hoped today would be better than yesterday. Instead, it was already worse—and the day had barely started.
Another sigh. Then I stood, went to the wardrobe, and pulled out a shirt, a jacket, and a pair of pants. A shower sounded like the only sane thing to do.
I left my bedroom, stepped into the bathroom, and set my clothes aside. The sound of running water drowned out my thoughts for a while. By the time I stepped out, towel-drying my hair, the window was gone.
For a brief, blissful moment, I thought it was over.
But then—Whoosh—!
[Alert!]
[System initialization complete: Click to display status window]
I froze mid-brush, toothbrush in my mouth, staring at it in the mirror.
So it wouldn't follow me into the shower… but the moment I was done, it came back. Persistent little thing. I finished brushing my teeth, ignoring it as best I could, and headed to the kitchen.
My stomach reminded me I hadn't eaten anything yesterday. Not with that headache. Speaking of which… the pain was gone.
Finally.
I opened the fridge and pulled out what I needed for breakfast—eggs, seasoned beef, noodles, vegetables, zucchini, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, and a few other things.
I set them on the counter and began prepping them, determined to pretend there wasn't a dark blue window hovering in my peripheral vision.