Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

The bonfire flickered gently, its light casting long shadows across the small circle of gathered figures. The tension in the air was palpable, heightened by the stillness of the night and the weight of Viviane's words.

I leaned forward slightly, my curiosity piqued. "How long are we talking here, Viviane?"

"Centuries," she replied, her tone as flat as the lake's surface on a windless night. "Perhaps more. It does not follow a conventional pattern. Some say it's random, others claim there is an order to it, but if there is, it is beyond mortal comprehension.

"Though, you might have grasped the concept behind it, seeing how bright you are for your age," she said as she slightly squinted. "Figuratively, and literally."

Amelia shifted uneasily, her Skypiercer resting on her shoulder. "And you're certain this is... that, Lady Vivivane?"

It was not within my expectation, but Viviane was surprisingly sociable to the bastioneers who visited her from time to time since the moment she got here. Two of the individuals she appeared to take liking into was Amelia and Lydia, who also seemed to be comfortable enough to join the conversation just now.

Viviane nodded but did not elaborate. Instead, her orange eyes darted toward Kuzunoha, who was reclining against her parasol like a performer awaiting her turn on stage. "I'm surprised you didn't know this, Collector."

Kuzunoha's lips curled into a small, amused smile. "Oh, I wasn't exactly in this plane of reality the last time it happened," she said lightly, as if discussing a minor inconvenience. "I was... otherwise engaged."

The statement stirred something in me. "Kuzunoha," I began, narrowing my eyes, "just how old are you?"

Viviane let out a soft sigh, shaking her head. "Old enough to predate concepts that many mortals take for granted, Narcissus."

I raised an eyebrow. "Concepts?"

"Let's just say," Viviane continued, her voice tinged with begrudging respect, "that Kuzunoha is the reason the word 'collector' even exists in Carcosa."

"What?" I blinked, stunned. "You mean she—"

"Defined it, popularized it, and gave it meaning," Viviane said matter-of-factly. "Before her, 'collecting' was not a recognized notion, or even something people regard as meaningful other than procuring the necessities for survival.. It was Kuzunoha who first gathered things—objects, beings, ideas—under the notion that they could hold value simply by being part of her 'collection', something that leans more to a hobby, engagement, and maybe a societal role."

Lupina, whose disembodied head was resting on Verina's hands, let out a low whistle. "That's... insane!"

"You flatter me," Kuzunoha interjected with a dramatic bow of her head, her crimson eyes glinting with playful mischief. "But it's true. I did make a hobby out of shaping the way Carcosa thinks. It was such fun."

"... How do you manage to make everything sound like a whimsical jaunt through history?"

"Because it was," Kuzunoha said simply, her smile widening. "For me, at least."

Viviane's stoicism cracked just slightly, a faint trace of amusement flickering across her face. "This is the woman you trust as your confidante, Narcissus."

"Trust is a strong word," I muttered. "Tolerate and observe might be more accurate after this."

Kuzunoha gasped in mock indignation, clutching her chest. "Darling, you wound me!"

Verina cleared her throat, trying to steer the conversation back on track. She seemed to be interested in the topic at hand. "If I may, Lady Viviane... What exactly is Nihil?"

Not saying that I wasn't. I was still in the shock-shell from the explosive revelation that Kuzunoha might be much more primordial than I expected.

Viviane's gaze shifted to Kuzunoha, as if silently asking for permission to speak.

Kuzunoha gave a languid wave of her hand. "By all means, enlighten our radiant leader and her loyal subjects."

Viviane nodded, turning her attention to the group. "Before I explain Nihil, you must first understand what Carcosa is." The flickering firelight played against her features as she gestured toward the sky. "This planarity of boundless existences is not bound by conventional laws of reality. It is a peculiar yet improbable place where concepts bend, where stability and instability coexist and mend. Yet, it has enough consistency to sustain life and maintain an environment." Enjoy new adventures from empire

And it seemed that the instability resulted in the halted or disrupted beginning of the Ordeal of the Midnight.

Viviane pointed to the sky, her gaze fixed on the maddening moon—a spinning, starfish-shaped entity whose tendrils spiraled endlessly. "That moon you see is not just a celestial body. It is also a key."

"A key…?" Lydia muttered, leaning forward, her brows furrowed.

Viviane nodded. "A key that unlocks the fake sky above us."

I chuckled at the notion that we were heading. "Let me guess. The black sun is the lock?"

Viviane's lips curved into a faint smile. "Correct."

Wait, I was simply joking.

I didn't think that would be the actual answer. That was so straightforward!

Verina, who had been listening silently, tilted her head. "And the truth about this sky... is it any different from what we see now?"

"No," Viviane said simply.

The response was met with a chorus of groans and exclamations.

Amelia's hands flew up in exasperation. "Then why does it even matter?"

Viviane's calm demeanor remained unchanged. "Because the truth lies not in the appearance but in what happens when Carcosa enters the Black Sun."

It seemed like the concept of Black Hole was not as commonly used in this world. Instead, they refer to it as the Black Sun.

I mean, it was obvious that this planet, or maybe not plane, world-thingy-magick, was revolving around an extremely massive and far black hole with its accretion disk acting like the source of sunlight.

Astronomy was definitely not on my forte, but I wondered if there were a difference in the level of radiation and the needed thickness of atmosphere for this world to even harbor life.

But then the sentence that Viviane uttered suddenly struck my mind.

"Enters?" I asked, my curiosity outweighing my frustration. "You're saying the entire realm...?"

"Indeed," Viviane replied. "The curvature of time and space here is not like in other parts of the universe or existence as a whole. Many ancient scholars whose knowledge was lost in time have deemed that the entire reason that makes up Carcosa's state and position is unconventional, beyond comprehension. Occasionally, Carcosa finds itself passing through the body of the Black Sun."

Lydia frowned. "And the fake sky prevents us from noticing this?"

"Yes," Viviane confirmed. "The fake sky shields our perception, ensuring that the event remains hidden. For most inhabitants, it is as though nothing happens. They are unaware, and their memories are erased once the event concludes."

"And what happens during this... passage?" Lupina asked cautiously.

Viviane's expression turned somber. "During the passage, the stability that Carcosa possesses—the fragile balance of its unconventional laws—temporarily collapses. The impossible becomes possible, and the possible becomes impossible. The very fabric of reality twists, reshapes, and defies reason."

"That's..." Lydia trailed off, her face pale, as she glanced at Amelia who absorbed the implication.

"Utter madness," Verina finished casually.

I raised a hand to interrupt. "Wait, since Nihil is an event or a phenomenon that happened in the past, it means that it is temporary. If everything reverts back to normal afterward, does that mean the changes are undone?"

"Yes," Kuzunoha interjected, her voice unusually serious. "The stability heals itself, and the memories of those unaware are wiped clean. Reality restores itself as if nothing happened.

"Those who are aware of it, however, will remain conscious and bear the memories and experience of whatever the chaos and events they encountered in this most unstable time within a millennium."

I glanced around the bonfire, noting the nervous glances exchanged between the bastioneers who had undoubtedly been eavesdropping on the conversation.

I saw some notable appearances like Erika's owl-like face with triangle-shaped gasp, Sera's mask drooping as she was frowning in disbelief, Naosi who enjoyed the thrill, and even Kara whose body was too big for her to even hide her presence away.

I didn't notice Yora and Callista right away, surprisingly. They were speaking and listening from a different spot and should be hidden well if not for the faint sound of breathing.

Everyday, I noticed that my hearing was getting better and more controllable.

But then, a realization struck me, and my stomach sank. "But since everyone here now knows about it..."

"They're cursed with the knowledge," Kuzunoha said with a wicked smile, her playful and eerie tone returning. "And it was Viviane's little act of mischief that ensured it."

I turned to Viviane, my amused exasperation was evident. "You did this on purpose?"

Her expression remained stoic, but there was a glimmer of something in her eyes—amusement, perhaps? "I am fae, Narcissus. Mischief is in my nature."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You...!" I nearly exclaimed before hiding it under my composed smile. "I was starting to think of you as some wise, principled elder, how dare you pull this out of nowhere?"

Viviane's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile breaking through. "I am both, Narcissus. The two are not mutually exclusive.

"Also, blame the Nihil that appeared out of nowhere."

Kuzunoha clapped her hands together, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "Oh, this is delightful~! I've always said Viviane had a hidden streak of chaos."

Despite the hilarity of my frustration, I couldn't suppress a small laugh. "You two are going to be the death of me."

"Unlikely," Viviane said dryly. "You have bigger concerns."

She gestured toward the sky, where the maddening moon continued its spiral dance. "The night may pass uneventfully... or it may not. The time of Nihil is unpredictable. You must prepare for chaos, even if it does not come."

The weight of her words settled over us, the flickering firelight reflecting the anxiety etched into each face.

"Wonderful," I muttered. "Just wonderful."