—--------------
My eyes stirred awake as I roamed my gaze around the strangely familiar place.
When I sat up, only then did I notice a person hugging my hand to their face.
My eyes widened slightly — this strange person was pale-skinned, with messy black hair.
They wore a black shirt and black arm warmers.
It seemed my movement also woke them.
This person gasped and moved to kneel on the floor. What they uttered next confused me.
"Forgive me, O fair Moon Maiden, for I have trespassed upon thy sacred grace and laid hand upon thee without thine consent. Pardon this insolent follower for his thoughtless transgression."
I blinked.
This Two Time look-alike regarded me with such high reverence, as if I was their dearest spawn.
"Uh… it's alright? No harm done…"
"As expected of the Moon Maiden—ever gracious, ever patient toward a sinner such as I. Truly, thy mercy knoweth no bounds."
I awkwardly sat there on the couch.
Yep… I'm definitely still dreaming.
"Uh… why are you kneeling?"
"I bow before you, O fair Moon Maiden, for you stand exalted above me, and I humbly submit myself to your divine guidance and rule as your devoted follower."
Huh…? But I'm no god…
I'm probably in a coma, and this is one of my longest dreams.
Once I wake up, I'll probably be in a hospital somewhere.
Fine. I'll play along.
But first—I want to see if my appearance changed or anything. I need to confirm things before acting or speaking further.
Two Time was still there, head bowed and kneeling.
I turned my gaze toward him.
"Loyal follower of mine, where is the mirror?"
"If it is a mirror you require, I shall procure one for you, Your Excellency."
My gaze followed him as he rose from his kneeling position, bowing to me before rushing off somewhere—probably his room.
For a moment, I sat in silence. Then I stood up and began looking around the room I was in.
It was the Forsaken lobby — the place where players respawn after dying, or where they spawn before playing.
I explored the kitchen and the dining table, then glanced upstairs.
I didn't dare enter any of the rooms, so I returned to the couch.
This dream feels too real.
The cold wood under my bare feet… it's so vivid.
Is this really just a comatose dream I'm having?
As I sat back down, Two Time came running down, holding a circular mirror.
He tripped on the carpet and smacked his face to the floor.
It made me wince internally.
Cricket.....
...
…
I blinked at his embarrassing display, keeping my face neutral.
But oh boy—inside, I was laughing my ass off.
Two Time stood back up like nothing happened. He knelt close to my feet, head bowed as he presented the mirror to me.
I took it from his hands and looked at my reflection.
On the surface… I stayed calm.
WHAT THE FUCK?! HOLY SHIT!!!
This face…
Columbina?!
After a few seconds of internal screaming, I finally calmed down and lowered the mirror.
No wonder my body felt strange…
I became Columbina. Shit.
I only know the basics of her personality. She isn't even released yet—and she has godly powers.
How the hell am I supposed to control those?
Wait a minute… Two Time.
He's revering me as his god, not the Spawn.
But how? Columbina isn't even a character in Forsaken—she's from Genshin.
I'll have to ask him about this later. For now, I'll just act like her.
"Ahem… loyal follower… what is your name?"
"Your Excellency, this unworthy sinner bears the name Two Time."
I hummed, thinking for a moment.
"About earlier… what do you mean by divine guidance?"
"Ah, Your Excellency does not recall Her esteemed status? It must be that Your Excellency has long been in deep slumber, untouched by the passage of countless centuries.
I shall endeavor to explain more clearly for Your Excellency's understanding. Centuries have passed since You first descended into slumber, in a place unknown even to us, Your mortal followers.
As the ages waned and generations faded, the number of Your faithful diminished, until now—there are scarcely any left who remember Your Excellency's divine existence.
I came upon knowledge of Your Excellency's existence by mere chance, through a tome I was forbidden to possess. Within its ancient pages, I beheld an illustration—a statue depicting Your Excellency, bearing the very same visage and countenance that You grace before me now."
I stayed silent for a few seconds, keeping my face straight.
HOLY SHIT—what?!!! Columbina in Forsaken went into hundreds of years of sleep?! Did this happen in Genshin?!
Is this a fanfic?
Because how can there be a lore involving Columbina in Forsaken? That doesn't make sense.
Stuff like this only happens in fanfics…
Am I in one right now?
I bet the title's something cringy with the word "Moon" in it.
"I see…"
I blinked, trying so hard not to break character.
"Rise… do not kneel. Are there others in this place?"
Two Time complied. He stood up, though he didn't dare meet my eyes—
to do so, it seemed, would be akin to a follower looking down upon their god.
"Indeed, ten of us dwell within this humble cabin—though with Your Excellency's gracious presence, we are now eleven. At present, the others rest within their quarters, deep in slumber."
Right….
"Well then… best you return to your room, Two Time… your rest is also needed."
"I dare not, for I have been entrusted with the sacred duty of attending to Your Excellency. I embrace this charge willingly, for to serve Your Holiness is both an honor and a blessing beyond measure."
Two Time said, kneeling back down beside my feet.
He rubbed his cheek against my knee with a giddy smile, like a cat that just discovered divinity.
…What the hell is wrong with this guy?
…..
….
Now that I know I'm Columbina… I'm supposed to always keep my eyes closed, right?
Okay.
I let out a hum, placing my hand gently on Two Time's head as I closed my eyes.
Of course, Two Time started trembling the moment I touched him.
My fingers ran through his hair—soft, surprisingly so.
Right… where's that white thing that covers Columbina's eyes again?
"Two Time."
"Yes, Your Excellency?"
"Have you seen my thin white blindfold?"
"No, Your Excellency. You were brought here by one of our dwellers—without the aid of any such means."
I hummed again. "I see…"
The room fell silent, my hand still resting in Two Time's hair as his face remained pressed against my leg.
From his nature, he's probably in cloud nine right now. I mean, the guy's literally laying on his "goddess."
Come to think of it, I can understand him perfectly, even though his speech is so… formal. I guess that's part of Columbina's influence. She speaks in this old-fashioned, poetic way…
---
After a while, Two Time was completely knocked out—still asleep on my legs.
My senses sharpened when I heard soft, heavy footsteps approaching.
Moments later, a yellow-skinned Robloxian in a red employee uniform descended the stairs.
Elliot froze when he saw me awake—my head slightly turned toward him.
He didn't seem to know how to react to the sight of Two Time peacefully sleeping on my lap…
and me, completely unbothered by it.
"....."
I just sat there, eyes closed, my hand still in Two Time's hair.
Elliot and I stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before he finally spoke.
"Uh—hi… I'm, uh… Elliot…"
"...."
He stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do.
Finally, I opened my mouth and spoke softly.
"Hello…"
—---
Elliot blinked, shifting his weight between his feet. The awkward silence dragged on, thick as fog.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his gaze flickering between me and the sleeping cultist sprawled over my lap like an obedient pet.
"…Sooo," he started, voice hesitant, "you're awake. That's… good."
I inclined my head slightly, still keeping my eyes closed. "Indeed."
He waited, probably expecting me to say more. When I didn't, he coughed lightly, trying again. "Uh, right. Just checking if you're okay. You were kinda half-dead when they brought you here."
"I see…" I murmured. "And who are you to check on me?"
"Oh—uh, I'm Elliot. I work at Builderbrother's pizza. This place is sort of a safe zone for survivors."
Safe zone? My mind repeated the word. So this was a survivor cabin—the one in Forsaken.
Then these people… I'm really in the game? But why did Two Time treat me like some divine being?
I hummed softly. "Then tell me, Elliot. Where is your leader?"
"Builderman?" He scratched his cheek. "Still asleep, I think. He had a long night repairing stuff outside. Dussekar's up, though. He's the one who sensed you."
Dussekar… the pumpkin-headed one who spoke in rhymes. My mind supplied his name from the fragments I remembered seeing in reaction videos.
Elliot cleared his throat again. "Uh, also… you probably noticed that guy—" he pointed at Two Time, still peacefully asleep on my lap— "he's, uh, kinda weird. Don't take it personally. He does that to whom he worships."
I tilted my head.
"Well, anyone he thinks is holy." Elliot frowned, then added under his breath, "But this is the first time I've seen him that calm. Usually, he's chanting about the Spawn and trying to stab something."
That made me pause. "Spawn?"
Elliot blinked, confused. "Yeah. The Spawn. You know—the one every cultist worships? The god who gives extra lives, respawn something something, or whatever he calls it. He keeps saying it's a God, watching over them."
Then why revere to me as his God now.
Instead of the spawn.
Elliot took a hesitant step closer. "You okay? You look like you're thinking hard."
I lifted my chin slightly. "I am merely… recalling a memory."
He nodded slowly. "Right. Uh, just… try not to freak out if the others wake up. They're gonna have a lotta questions. Especially Builderman."
"I see. Then I shall wait."
Elliot blinked. "You're really calm about all this, huh?"
"Panic is for those who fear uncertainty," I said quietly, folding my hands in my lap.
"I have long learned that uncertainty is my oldest companion."
He blinked again. "…That's deep. Didn't get a word of it, but it sounds deep."
A small laugh escaped me—barely audible, but enough to make him smile awkwardly.
Then, the floorboards creaked from upstairs. Heavy, deliberate footsteps descended the steps, each one carrying authority.
Elliot straightened instantly. "Speak of the devil…"
A gray-skinned Robloxian with a Turbo Builders Club hat appeared at the base of the stairs, his expression sharp and analytical.
Builderman's eyes landed first on Elliot, then on me, and finally on the sleeping cultist.
"…Explain," he ordered flatly.
Elliot froze. "Uh—she woke up!"
"I can see that." Builderman's gaze shifted to me. "Who are you, and why is my sentinel worshiping you like a shrine ornament?"
Two Time stirred slightly at the sound of his voice but didn't wake.
I inclined my head, calm and deliberate. "I am… called Columbina."
The name made Builderman hesitate. His brow furrowed as if trying to recall where he'd heard it. "Columbina…? That's not a name from this realm."
"Perhaps not," I replied softly. "But it seems your world has decided otherwise."
For a moment, the only sound was the fire crackling in the hearth. Builderman's expression darkened.
"…Dussekar said he felt something divine near the lake," he said slowly. "Guess he wasn't wrong."
Elliot crossed his arms, uncertain. "You think she's dangerous?"
Builderman didn't answer right away. He studied me—my posture, my stillness, the way my closed eyes caught the glow of the fire.
"…No," he said finally, "not yet."
He turned to leave but paused halfway, glancing back. "But if you are what he thinks you are… this cabin won't stay quiet for long."
And with that, he disappeared into the hall, leaving me alone with Elliot—and the faint, rhythmic sound of Two Time's breathing against my leg.
Elliot exhaled slowly. "Well… welcome to Forsaken, I guess."
I smiled faintly. "Forsaken, indeed…"
Inwardly, my thoughts swirled.
Two Time believes I am divine.
Builderman senses I am not of this world.
And the moon… the moon watches.
Somewhere beyond this cabin, I could feel it—an unseen gaze tracing my existence, as though the dream itself was aware of me now.
—--
Half an hour later, the room had filled with quiet footsteps and cautious voices.
I was still seated on the couch, posture composed, eyes closed. Two Time was awake now—though he hadn't moved an inch away from me.
He sat at my feet like a loyal hound, head slightly bowed, an adoring smile fixed on his face.
Across from me stood the others—Survivors I recognized from Forsaken.
Each bore an expression that matched their lore to perfection, their appearances as vivid as if they'd stepped straight out of the game.
Elliot stood nearest, arms crossed, his red uniform faintly wrinkled from his constant movement.
His brows were furrowed, suspicion warring with concern as his eyes darted between me and Two Time.
Beside him, Builderman stood tall and steady, gray-skinned and sharp-eyed beneath his Turbo Builders Club hat.
His expression was one of restrained authority—analytical, careful, the look of someone who didn't trust easily but wasn't reckless enough to provoke what he didn't understand.
Dussekar leaned on his staff near the wall, his jack-o'-lantern face glowing softly with eerie blue light.
His gaze held an almost poetic curiosity, as though he were silently composing a verse about me in his head.
The flicker from his carved eyes was calm, but beneath it shimmered the unease of something that recognized divinity.
Chance stood a little further back, slouched with his hands in his pockets, the glint of his Black Sparkle Time Fedora catching the dim firelight.
His smirk was faint—half amusement, half disbelief. He looked like he'd bet on me being real just to see if he'd win.
Guest 1337 was to his left—broad-shouldered, dressed in his military uniform, his True Blue hair slightly disheveled.
His expression was stoic, but his eyes were alert, scanning me as if assessing whether I was a threat to his team.
Next was Noob, bright blue shirt and green pants contrasting his trembling posture.
His nervous smile wavered under the weight of silence; he looked ready to bolt if I so much as breathed wrong.
Behind them, 007n7 stood with his arms crossed, the Burger Bob hat shadowing his eyes.
His usual easygoing aura was replaced with mild discomfort, though his politeness held firm—he gave me a small, unsure nod, as if greeting a stranger who might explode.
Shedletsky, with his Telamon hair and white shirt, was watching quietly, thoughtful yet unreadable. The corners of his mouth twitched like he was holding back a comment or a joke.
In the far corner, Taph stood motionless, hidden under his black hood and yellow-trimmed robes.
Even without a visible face, the air around him felt heavy—guarded, uncertain.
And finally, there was Dussekar's blue flame reflecting faintly in the eyes of all of them—the only movement in a room frozen with silent tension.
Ten souls… and me.
I could feel their stares pressing against my still figure.
I didn't need to open my eyes to sense their unease—the shift of boots on wood, the shallow breathing, the weight of disbelief.
Still, I sat there in quiet composure, one hand resting lightly in my lap, the other draped over the back of the couch.
Two Time's voice broke the silence, low and reverent.
"Behold," he said softly, "the Moon Maiden has awakened."
No one replied.
The fire crackled, and I felt the air tremble—
as if the world itself waited for what I would say next.
—--
The silence in the cabin thickened—ten souls and one anomaly caught in the slow, suffocating rhythm of the fire's crackle.
None of them dared move. None of them dared speak after Two Time's proclamation.
I could sense the uncertainty rippling through them—their minds churning with quiet questions they were too afraid to voice.
Only the faint flicker of Dussekar's blue flame lit the shadows, reflecting across faces carved in unease.
Elliot finally broke the stillness, his voice hesitant.
"...Moon Maiden?"
His tone carried more confusion than reverence, as though testing the title on his tongue.
Two Time's head turned slightly, his expression sharp with offense, though his lips curved in restraint.
"You speak her divine title with such carelessness, mortal. Mind thy tongue in the presence of holiness."
Builderman shot him a glance—sharp, commanding—silencing the cultist before things escalated.
"That's enough, Two Time," he said, his deep voice steady, though his gaze lingered on me.
"If she is what you claim, she doesn't need your defense."
The cultist bowed his head. "Forgive me, Your Excellency. My faith oft runs ahead of my reason."
I said nothing. The quiet between us was deliberate—a test. I could feel how the weight of my silence unnerved them.
The survivors shifted uneasily.
Chance let out a quiet scoff, folding his arms. "Divine, huh? You sure this isn't another one of his cult dramas?"
"Watch your mouth," Guest 1337 muttered beside him. His voice was firm, but his brows furrowed in doubt.
"Builderman wouldn't be this tense over something small."
"Divine…" Shedletsky murmured, eyes narrowing slightly. "That's a word we don't throw around lightly here."
His gaze flicked to Builderman. "You've felt something, haven't you?"
The admin didn't answer. Instead, he looked at me—studying, weighing. Behind his calm exterior, I could sense his thoughts running deeper than he'd ever admit.
He had felt something, the same divine pulse that made Dussekar's flame flicker blue when I breathed.
The others didn't understand it—not yet—but the admins and Two Time… they were piecing it together, bit by bit.
Dussekar tilted his pumpkin head toward Builderman, his voice echoing softly in rhyme.
"She walks between the dark and gleam,
A god reborn within a dream.
If truth be masked behind her grace,
Then moonlight hides her mortal face."
Elliot frowned. "You're saying she's not human?"
"Not fully," Builderman finally replied. "Not anymore."
The room fell silent again. The crackle of fire filled the gaps between their breathing.
Noob shifted nervously. "S-so she's like… a boss fight? Or a quest NPC?"
Chance chuckled under his breath. "If she is, I'm not clicking that dialogue box."
Their words brushed past me like wind.
They were trying to rationalize what they saw—what they felt.
But even without opening my eyes, I could sense the truth: the divine trace that clung to me was older than their world.
A force not meant for this realm, bleeding through the cracks between dimensions.
I felt Two Time's hand clutch lightly at the hem of my dress, trembling—not from fear, but from devotion. His voice came as a whisper.
"The moon's light touches this realm once more… her Excellency has returned."
Builderman's jaw tightened, his eyes darkening with realization.
He didn't want to believe it, but he knew.
And as for the others—some sensed it subconsciously.
Those who looked closely enough at me saw faint traces of lunar light beneath my skin, a reflection too still, too ethereal to belong to the living.
Dussekar's flame dimmed. The room grew colder.
"Then it's true…" he murmured, his tone distant, almost reverent.
"The veil between realms has weakened. The Moon has crossed the Forsaken for the first time."
The others stared, confusion etching across their faces, whispers rising like nervous breaths.
But Builderman said nothing more. He simply turned away, his hand resting on the hilt of his wrench, as though preparing for something he couldn't yet name.
And me—still seated, eyes closed—I let the silence stretch, the faint glow of the fire painting my skin in silver warmth.
If they truly understood what I was…
then they'd know this silence was mercy.
Chance's muttered words slipped through the tension like a spark in dry air.
"For someone who's divine…" he smirked faintly, voice barely above a whisper. "She's cute."