Nightmare Mythos

Chapter 120: Time Dilation

"Uh..."

I don't really remember anything after I entered the penetrated reality.

It seemed my mind had been too chaotic while the pain coursing through my body was crushing enough that it made me lose consciousness.

Did Cedeit already take control over me while I've been out?

I don't really know.

Do I have to stay awake most of the time to avoid losing consciousness to avoid him having control over me?

I don't really know.

But as soon as I woke up, this is what dawned upon me...

"What am I doing in a hospital bed?"

It's been a while since I saw a normal ceiling wall made out of marble. A normal-looking light that isn't a torch, a spiraling lamp, or a glowing book is enough to produce a vision for whoever might need such a sighting.

I should've been thrilled to see such a thing but I remained motionless in my place.

It was because I still don't know what's going on.

But one thing's for certain.

'Something isn't right...'

There are guards on the side of my bed. More guards were stationed all around such as the location of the door of my room while another was located outside. Additionally, there seems to be a hidden security using his Facet observing me through the wall... how funny for it to hide from me— wait, how could I see him?

If they're guards in my room when I'm only an academy student, it could only mean that I've done something bad to put me in custody or because of what happened to City of Wheels.

The survivors from the City of Wheels accident must've been interrogated already while probably finding similarities in their statements upon hearing and gathering one single intel altogether.

Who is Cesar Sparrow?

Or did they just find out I was hosting a Nightmare right behind the whole façade I was showing? Speaking of a Nightmare... Cedeit has been really quiet in my mind.

"Cesar, listen to me."

"I'm listening..."

Why does your tone sound so... creepy?

Nas nodded once before he continued, "Cesar, you lost consciousness the moment you landed here, to another Penetrated Reality you made yourself. This was three days ago and you have been out of consciousness since then,"

It... sounded very normal. Why the hell is your tone so different, though?! Seriously, it is giving me heebie-jeebies— wait just a moment.

I was out for three days ago... but for me, the interval where I... no, not exactly me, but Cedeit who created the penetrated reality made it yesterday... though?

I'm confused...

As if to answer this question in my head, Nas then continued, "But you see Cesar, your words didn't align with what actually happened. When you said that you created the penetrated reality, it seems you are thinking about it now... you're wrong about it and probably confused. Do you know why?"

I couldn't answer because he was right.

Nas then continued after a long pause.

"Cesar, the fifty-three survivors amongst the thousand soldiers that went through the library already came back a little bit over a year ago. Those fifty-three lives that are indebted to you are only here thanks to your heroism. You have become a hero—"

Nas's statement continued to pass through my ear to another as my mind was in its own world.

My mind was already stuck at the moment Nas said 'a year ago'

After all, that doesn't make any sense at all.

I knew that Cedeit who created the penetrated reality had been yesterday. It also happened yesterday when I came face to face with the Void... and you're telling me that not only have I been out for three days, which is something I can take myself... but it has been already almost a year since I helped those people leave the Mansion?

Wouldn't that mean....

'Wait, wait, wait... that's fucked up. The time has already been disrupted like that? Wouldn't that mean... I was traveling through the penetrated reality for almost a year?'

As if he could guess what I was thinking, Nas clarified his words as he stated, "Cesar, what you experienced in the Mansion might be a little over a month or two but it actually isn't."

Nas took a dramatic pause as he stated once again.

"Kid, you've been trapped at that place for a year,"