"Who am I?"
A question resonates deep in my mind. Yet it doesn't come from anywhere, and yet it is everywhere.
I feel cold, yet I am warm. Screeching pain seems to tear apart my muscles—it digs deeper, drills into my bones, punctures my nerves like scorching-hot nails—and yet I feel nothing.
I try to curl up in pain, to scream.
But I can't see anything. I don't feel my limbs, my pulse, or even my skin.
"Where am I? What is this place? What is happening to me?"
The voices only grow louder—screams, moans, roars.
I can feel their suffering, their anguish, their despair… and yet they are not mine.
I cannot feel air. I can't feel my lungs.
But in a desperate attempt, I try to scream for help.
And then…
The sound of a bell rings.
It isn't like anything I've heard before. The sound can only be described as divine.
Then, a golden light pierces the darkness. I am blinded—and yet, its sight washes away the torture.
Then I hear a sound—seemingly a voice.
This sound is purely otherworldly, a harmony of countless tones: the voices of men, women, and children... the barking of dogs, the purring of cats, the chirping of insects, the wind rustling through trees, the gentle sway of blades of grass, and waves lapping against the seashore.
It was as if the World—or Nature itself—was speaking.
Then it spoke:
> "Child of man, be not afraid.
I made a terrible mistake, and because of my cowardice and hesitation, you shall pay a steep price.
Misfortune will befall you all, but I beg you—do not harbor hatred against them.
To reclaim your world, and the long-lost peace that once was, you must endure countless trials and hardships.
I am currently unable to assist you, as I find myself in quite the predicament.
But please—you must reach me… In a realm beyond Time and Space."
"Wait—who even are you? Is the world really ending? Who are you talking about? And what does any of this have to do with me?"
"Child of Man, I understand your confusion.
But time is no longer a luxury I can afford, so listen well—for I shall speak only once.
The world you know—or rather, the world you lived in up until now—is no more.
It has been broken in a crucible of Truth and Falsehood, torn asunder by the hand of the Craftsman.
To survive the ordeal that awaits you, you will need guidance. Alone, you will be utterly crushed.
Take this blessing, a star of wisdom to guide you along your journey."