"Mr. Kael!" I screamed, running to the edge. "Don't leave me here, HEY!"
No matter how much I yelled, the silence around me swallowed every word. I was alone. Trapped. Until probably whenever I changed my answer?
The barrier shimmered faintly, barely visible to the eye. Even birds flying overhead slammed into it mid-flight, dropping like stones. I pounded my fists against the surface severally. It felt like I was hitting liquid iron, rippling like water but immovable and solid as steel. Every impact sent back a strange, bubbling pulse that made my skin tingle.
"I'm awakened… right?" I muttered to myself, staring at my hands. "Then maybe I can summon something… anything."
I closed my eyes and focused, trying to channel energy. I didn't know what I was doing. Nothing came. Not a spark. Not a flicker.
"HELLO?!" I screamed into the sky. "Somebody? Anyone out there? HELP!"
The only answer was the wind. Not even the birds stirred, as if no sound from within the barrier could reach the world outside
Eventually, I collapsed onto a cold stone, head in my hands. The night dragged on. It had to be past midnight, and I was no where close to breaking free.
Then, a thought hit me, How did Kael pass through?
He'd just… walked out. No resistance. No struggle.
I stood up, took a deep breath, and mimicked his steps, taking a bold step forward.
WHAM!.
My body slammed against the barrier, and I crumpled to the ground. My head throbbed.
"Damn it…" I muttered, clutching my forehead as I stood up.
Why did it work for him and not me? What was I missing?
I stared at the barrier, frustrated. "There has to be a way out," I whispered through clenched teeth.
I remembered Kael's words
"This is a Nullfield Barrier. A fusion of two forces, Chrono Lock and Abyss Veil. The Chrono Lock freezes the space inside, preventing any external interference. Even if someone stood right outside, they wouldn't feel your presence. The Abyss Veil keeps you in. It absorbs force, dispersing it endlessly. No physical or magical attack will even scratch it."
If the barrier absorbed and nullified force infinitely, then brute strength was useless. The only way to escape was to bypass the rules or rewrite them. Either Kael himself had to release it or something capable of overriding reality could disrupt its core.
But how?
Unless… I didn't use force. I used intent.
I closed my eyes again, not to summon power, but to awaken my will. Deep down, past fear, doubt, and pain… was something raw. Something alive.
I could feel my aura begin to stir, a low thrum building in my chest. Focused. I had no idea what I was doing or what was going on. As I try to take a step forward, the result wasn't what I was expecting
Poof.
"I'm awake?" said a strange, tiny voice.
"I'M AWAKE?!" it screamed, louder this time.
My eyes snapped open. Hovering midair before me was a small, glowing creature that hadn't been there a second ago, shimmering like starlight, Strange, glowing runes spun lazily around its oversized head like satellites
"AHHHHH!" I shouted as I stumbled backward and fell flat on the ground. "What on earth—?!"
The creature wasn't any bigger than a loaf of bread. It floated a few feet off the ground, its massive eyes wide as it looked around in confusion.
"Who summoned me?" it muttered, then turned sharply to me. "You? You're just a kid."
I blinked, still on the ground. "What… are you?"
It was breathing heavily, as if it had just sprinted across a battlefield.
"What year is this?" it asked.
"Uh… 2025?"
It frowned, placing a tiny glowing hand under its chin. "Hmm… That means I've been asleep for two thousand years."
I stared confused "What!?"
"What happened? Why didn't anyone wake me up? Oh… right. I remember now," it mumbled, drifting in small circles and muttering to itself.
I watched as it floated around for a solid two minutes, rambling and making dramatic hand gestures like it was solving a great mystery.
Eventually, it turned back to me. "And now I'm here. And apparently, my master is a kid." It squinted at me like it was disappointed in fate.
"…What the hell are you?" I asked again
"A delight," it replied, all too cheerfully. Then, seeing my stunned face, it straightened its tiny back and gave a theatrical bow. "Greetings, my new Lord!" the creature chirped. "I am Echo, your Embedded Interface Guide, calibrated to assist you in your journey through awakening, annihilation, and everything in between!"
It paused. "But, uh… trust me. There's so little I can actually do."
"How… how did you get here?"
"You summoned me!"
"I did?"
"It was a loud internal noise, a mental scream, disrupting my peaceful sleep. But here I am! What do you need?"
I stared at it. "So… you're my assistant? You can help me with anything?"
Echo nodded enthusiastically.
"Does everyone have an assistant like you?"
"Oh no. We're rare. Only three Interface Guides, Echo, Khoas, and Vex, designed to serve the Three Vessels of Change. I'm yours. The other two died in the Great War with their masters, two thousand years ago. Doom was sealed away somewhere, and I went into power-save mode. You know… eternal slumber."
"Who's Doom?"
Echo blinked confused, it tilted its head. "Who's Echo?"
"Ugh. Look, I don't have time for riddles. Can you help me take down this barrier?"
It glanced around. "You don't take it down. Only the one who cast it can."
"Then how am I supposed to get out and move on with my life?"
"You don't break it. You pass through it," Echo said. "You must build an aura strong enough to withstand its nullification field, like water slipping through cracks. A forcefield won't work. Wrap yourself in intent shaped into aura and pass through."
"How do I do that?"
Echo sighed dramatically. "I see you're very weak. So much for my glorious return."
It floated a little higher, closed its eyes, and a barely-visible shimmer wrapped around it like heatwaves in summer.
"See?" it said proudly. "Just wrap yourself in willpower."
"And how exactly do I do that?"
"There's a very powerful chant" It took a dramatic breath. "Just keep repeating 'I am the pillow, nap time bends to my command."
"What?"
"Say it. With conviction. The silliness distracts your conscious mind. It lets the subconscious take over and shape your aura."
I squinted. "This is insane."
"Say it!"
"…I am the pillow, nap time bends to my command."
"Again!"
"I am the pillow, nap time bends to my command."
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and repeated it silently in my mind. Over and over. Then I felt it, my will uncoiling like a thread of heat, wrapping around me.
When I opened my eyes, Echo was grinning like a proud parent.
"See?"
I looked down. A faint shimmer now surrounded me too.
I chuckled under my breath in disbelief. This was ridiculous. And it worked. I took a step forward. The barrier didn't stop me. Like slipping through silk.
I was free
"Whoa…" I blinked, stunned. "I did it… We actually did it! Thank you, Thank you" I laughed, half-crazy with relief.
I whooped with joy and broke into a run, racing through the woods like lightning, just trying to stay ahead of Kael or avoid running into another creepy stranger.
"Where are you going without me?" Echo's voice echoed faintly behind me, but it was already getting too late, so I ignored it.
The wind rushed past me, cool and alive. Everything was so dark, yet I could see everything. Every branch, every twist of root, every slope of the earth felt like it had been etched into my brain. Felt like my powers were awakening… and it felt incredible.
By the time I reached home, the world was silent again.
I gently pushed the door open and slipped inside, hoping no one would hear. I wondered if they had been searching for me? Were they worried sick? My chest tightened at the thought. And then, Kael's voice crept into my mind: 'Love isn't real.' What if he was right? What if one day… I lose them all? What if love is really nothing but a fragile illusion we tell ourselves to feel whole?"
I closed the door behind me as quietly as I could.
"Rex?" a voice called out softly.
I turned. Freya stepped into the hallway, her face pale with worry. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick. Felix has been out searching"
"I'm sorry, I…"
"Was it because of me?" Her voice cracked. "I'm sorry… please don't leave. I won't forgive myself if—"
I didn't let her finish. I stepped forward and gently cupped her face, pulling her into a kiss. I don't know why I did it. Maybe I was overwhelmed. Maybe it felt right or maybe I needed it. But if it had started… I needed it to end well.
When I pulled away, she stared at me, wide-eyed, but smiling.
"You're insane," she whispered, flushed. "I'm glad you're back." She turned and waved a small goodbye before closing her bedroom door behind her. I let out a quiet smile. For the first time in a long while, I felt alive.