What! I Got Reincarnated as a No-Name Character in the World of an Otome Game

Chapter 6 (Revised)

Fire raged relentlessly, consuming everything in its path. The acrid smell of smoke filled the air, and my eyes stung as I scanned the scene of devastation. Everywhere I looked, there were lifeless bodies strewn across the ground. I ran, desperation lending speed to my feet, but no matter how far I fled, I couldn't escape the horror unfolding around me. It was as if the flames themselves were alive, hunting me down with relentless determination.

"You can't leave! You'll join them in death!" Three soldiers, their armor marked with the symbol of two crossed swords, appeared before me, blocking my path. Their voices were harsh and commanding, instilling a sense of dread within me. But I couldn't stop. I had to keep running, had to find a way out of this nightmare.

Then, amidst the chaos, a familiar figure emerged from the smoke. It was my mother, her body covered in blood, her eyes filled with accusation. "Christina. Christina, why?" Her voice was a haunting echo amid the chaos. "Why did you deceive me? I gave everything for a liar!" Her words cut through me like a knife, filling me with guilt and despair.

With a jolt, I woke up, drenched in sweat, my heart pounding in my chest. It had all been a dream, a terrifying nightmare that had felt all too real. As I struggled to catch my breath, Rune, appeared beside me, concern etched into his features.

"Lux, are you alright?" His voice was gentle, and soothing in the wake of the nightmare that still gripped me. He handed me a cup of warm herb tea, a comforting gesture meant to calm my frayed nerves.

"It was just a nightmare," he reassured me, his hand resting reassuringly on my back.

The recurring nightmare weighed heavily on my mind, its grip tightening with each passing year. The raid that had sparked it, the chaos and devastation I witnessed, had left an indelible mark on my psyche. I knew all too well the lingering effects of war, how it could etch its trauma deep into one's soul, haunting them long after the battles had ended.

As I gazed into the distorted reflection cast upon the surface of the cooling tea, Rune's offer to reheat it pulled me from my reverie. He took the cup from my hands with a reassuring gesture, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

"Rune," I called out softly before he could leave completely. His gaze turned back to me, attentive and steady. "Thank you. I'm grateful to have you by my side," I said, my voice tinged with sincerity and a hint of vulnerability.

His response was simple but heartfelt. "I am too," he replied before resuming his task, leaving me to ponder the weight of his words.

Alone now, I turned my attention to the window beside my bed, drawn to the tranquil beauty of the night sky. The stars shimmered like distant beacons, casting a calming light upon the darkness below. In the quiet of the night, I found myself whispering into the stillness.

"Mom, I'm sorry," the words slipped from my lips in a gentle exhale, accompanied by a tender touch to the pendant hanging around my neck. Though she was no longer with me, the weight of her memory lingered, a steadfast presence in my thoughts and dreams. As I whispered my apology into the night sky, I couldn't shake the sense that somehow, she was listening, her spirit a silent guardian in the darkness.

***

In this world where birthdays weren't a cause for celebration, the passage of time became a blurred line, leaving me uncertain of my exact age. Was I seven or eight? It hardly seemed to matter when the memories of my infancy were shrouded in haze, and even the most significant events, like my birthday, were lost in the fog of time. But there was one memory that remained vivid, haunting me like a specter in the night—the nightmare that had plagued me since that fateful day.

As I glanced away from the water cup, Rune's gesture brought me back to the present. Another brand-new hair tie lay before me, a small token of his affection. "For you, Lux," he said, his eyes radiating warmth and kindness.