The Heart System

Chapter 539: Chapter 539

Dierella stepped in, looking... oddly casual. A simple white t-shirt, hotpants, her wings moving lazily behind her like she didn’t feel like putting in the effort. She walked further into the room, stopping a few steps away from me.

”That’s something only Mana does,” she added, her tone flat.

Mana rolled her eyes lightly. ”We are goddesses, Evan. You wouldn’t understand what we do for the greater good.”

That didn’t sit right with me, but I didn’t push it. Not yet.

”You had another subject,” I said instead. ”What happened to him?”

Mana snapped her fingers once, like the answer was obvious. ”He forgot everything.”

”What do you mean, forgot everything?”

”When I decide someone isn’t worth my time,” she explained, swirling the wine in her glass, ”I take it all back. The system, the memories, me... everything. Clean slate.”

I let out a quiet breath. ”Damn.”

Dierella stepped closer, now standing right in front of me. ”How did you get here?”

”I... thought I was dreaming,” I said.

”You’re not my subject anymore,” she replied, narrowing her eyes slightly. ”The first time you came here, I assumed it was because of me. But now...” She glanced at Mana. ”This doesn’t make sense.”

”Goddess of Dreams, Dierella.” Mana chuckled gently. ”Can’t control her powers and letting random subjects in here now?”

”This isn’t me.” She replied. ”I’m sure of it. I don’t have any control over him since he isn’t my subject anymore.”

Mana tilted her head, watching me. ”Curious, isn’t it? Maybe he can just come here whenever he—”

She stopped mid-sentence. Something changed.

The storm outside went silent. Not gradually. Instantly. The rain stopped. The thunder vanished. It was like someone had pressed mute on the world.

Then I heard it.

A voice.

A woman’s voice, distant and close at the same time. It sounded like she was begging, but I couldn’t make out a single word. It was like listening to a thousand overlapping whispers, all speaking at once, none of them clear enough to understand. The sound pressed against my head, sharp and overwhelming, like static that refused to settle.

I winced, bringing a hand to my temple.

Mana stood up so abruptly her glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor. She didn’t even look at it. Her eyes were locked on the window.

Dierella turned as well, her posture tightening.

”What the...” she muttered.

I followed their gaze. There was someone outside.

A figure, suspended in the air beyond the window. A woman holding an umbrella, unmoving despite the fact that there was no wind, no rain, nothing.

”Silk...” Mana whispered, her voice tight for the first time. ”How?”

”How is she here?” Dierella took a step back, clearly shaken. ”That’s not possible.”

”Get him out of here,” Mana snapped, her composure cracking. ”Now.”

”I can’t,” Dierella shot back. ”I didn’t bring him here!”

My heart was pounding, but something pushed me forward anyway. Curiosity. Instinct. I didn’t even think about it. I moved to the window and opened it. Cold air rushed in, though there was no storm anymore. Just stillness.

She was right there.

Silk.

Up close, she looked... unreal. Tall, elegant, her body framed by a long, glowing white dress that moved like it had a life of its own. A slit ran up her leg, revealing smooth skin, and her bare feet hovered inches above nothing.

Her hair fell in a long cascade, nearly reaching her knees. Raven black, smooth, untouched by the nonexistent wind. She always looked like this?

Her face was pale, almost too pale, and her eyes...

Red.

Not just red, but deep, glowing, with silver pupils that seemed to shimmer faintly. They looked tired. Ancient. Like they had seen too much.

She looked straight at me.

”Evan,” she said softly.

Her voice cut through the noise in my head, clear and sharp.

”Please... remember me.”

I blinked, confused. ”What?”

”STOP IT!” Mana’s voice cracked behind me. ”GET HIM OUT!”

I turned, trying to ask what was going on, but before I could speak, Dierella’s hand pressed against my forehead.

Everything went dark.

I woke up with a violent gasp, my body jerking upright as if I had been underwater and finally broke the surface. Sweat clung to my skin, my shirt damp, my breathing uneven and loud in the quiet room.

Morning light filtered through the curtains. Jasmine wasn’t in bed. She must’ve already left for work.

”Holy fucking shit...” I muttered, dragging a hand down my face. ”Silk... who the hell is she?”

The image of her wouldn’t leave. Every time I blinked, I saw her again. Those eyes. That expression.

”Remember me,” I repeated under my breath.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood up, my body still a little shaky. As soon as I opened the bedroom door, Minne appeared, like she had been waiting just outside.

”Master?” she asked, her voice full of concern.

She froze when she saw me properly. The sweat, the way I was breathing, the way I probably looked like I’d just run a marathon.

”Are you okay?”

”I... yeah... water,” I managed. ”Can you get me some water?”

”O-of course!”

I stumbled into the living room and tried to sit on the couch, but missed it entirely and ended up dropping onto the coffee table instead. I leaned forward, elbows on my thighs, head hanging as I tried to steady my breathing.

The memory wouldn’t fade. Silk. Mana’s reaction. Dierella’s panic. What the hell was that?

Minne returned quickly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder before lifting the glass to my lips. My hands were shaking too much to hold it, so she guided it for me, letting me drink slowly.

The cold water helped, at least a little. When I finished, I wiped my mouth and took a deeper breath, forcing myself to calm down.

”Thank you,” I murmured.

She set the glass aside, her eyes still fixed on me. ”What happened?”

”Just... a bad dream,” I said, even though I knew that wasn’t true. ”I’m fine.”

”Are you sure, Master?”

I nodded, finally lifting my head to look at her. ”Yeah. I’m good.”

She hesitated, then gave a small nod. ”Alright. If you need anything...”

”I will,” I said. ”Thanks, Minne.”

She stayed close for a moment longer, just to make sure I was okay, before stepping back.

I leaned back slightly, exhaling slowly. That wasn’t just a dream. And Silk... whoever she was...

She knew me.

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