Magister Insanity

My eyes lingered on the empty air as I stood there, dumbfounded.

The storm of emotions stirred by the death of the lesser fiend still tugged faintly at my heartstrings, yet another feeling now surged over it, threatening to wash it away. Unsure how to process any of it, I merely blinked a few times.

"Eh?"

Had I misheard? No. The soft voice of the Murmur still lingered at the edges of my mind. Once heard, it was impossible to forget.

Confused, I summoned the runes:

Name: Sonny

Mythic Name: Black Solace

Rank: Dreamless

Origin Sea: [...]

Echoes: [Survivors' Shroud], [Silver Casull], [Jingle Bell], [Spring Winter Sparrow].

Traits: [Photographic Memory], [Divinity], [Starless].

Indeed, it was true.

I had received an Echo… from slaying a Monster.

Well, technically, it was Starfallen who struck the killing blow, but the Voice of the Void had recognized the deed as mine. In that sense, this marked the first time I had ever slain a Monster.

But that detail was irrelevant.

Normally, Echoes were only granted for killing Monsters, so that much wasn't unusual. The shocking part was that I had received one from the death of a mere lesser fiend. The odds of such a thing occurring were incredibly low, so much so that it was laughable.

If it weren't, then no one would bother risking their lives against higher-ranked Monsters, they would simply cull bottom-feeders for easy gains.

Still, improbable didn't mean impossible. Anything could happen within the scope of possibility.

At some point, I hadn't believed in magic at all, but now I could wield Sorcery.

That was just the order of things. Who knows? The Echo might actually turn out to be useful.

Becoming hopeful, I continued read until my eyes landed on the description. Then my body froze.

Echo: Spring Winter Sparrow

Echo Rank: Awakened

Echo Star: II

Echo Description: [A fragile bird that sings between seasons, carrying both the promise of spring and the silence of winter. It flutters through fleeting moments of warmth and chill, a symbol of resilience in the face of change. Its wings beat softly against the winds of transience, reminding its bearer that even the smallest life can endure the shifting tides of time.]

Enchantment: [Winter Solstice]

Enchantment Description: [A whisper of frost turns the hair white, a permanent mark of winter's touch.]

A bitter frown soon settled on my face.

"It's just an Echo that changes hair color? How the hell is something like this of Awakened rank with two stars?! And more importantly… I can't even choose the color I want! Not to mention, it's permanent as well!"

Sure, it was entirely possible that Echoes capable of altering appearance existed. This one proved the theory. But it only affected a single aspect of the user's appearance.

What good was that if anyone could still recognize the person by their facial features? And since the change was permanent, the Echo couldn't be used again. In other words… it was completely useless!

It was so absurd that I wanted to collapse and cry. What had I even expected from an Echo gained by slaying a lesser fiend? Of course, it was going to be something worthless. Using gamer logic, this was obvious!

How could I have been hopeful about something like this?!

"What misfortune!"

Why did misfortune feel relevant here? Honestly, I did not know. But it felt like someone beyond my reach was trolling me.

With a deep sigh, I dismissed the runes and glanced around the room. At first glance, it looked neat and orderly. Surprised? Despite appearances, I was actually a clean person, so of course the room would be tidy, even if it wasn't technically mine.

Did that even make sense?

Goddamn it. I miss my own room! This place sucks!

Boredom was a terrible enemy for those of the modern era. Here, there was no smartphone, no Vtube, or endless entertainment channels, just an old-fashioned communicator. Though the supper was excellent, and the library had its own charm, giving off a unique, almost nostalgic vibe.

Even so, if I could trade all of this for my smartphone, the Internet, and my usual entertainment, I would have done it without a hint of hesitation!

Earth was far more advanced than I had imagined. Suddenly, I loved it with all my heart, even while dreading its mundane reality.

Perhaps that phrase of my life was really a long time ago.

I sighed once more.

Eventually, my gaze drifted to the center of the room where the rune circle had been inscribed. Inside it lay a revolting scene, a disgusting mess accompanied by a foul stench.

At its center rested the carcass of the Mutant Rat, neatly split into two equal halves.

My frown returned. Then I shifted my eyes to Starfallen and spat out through gritted teeth.

"Well... what are you waiting for? You're the one who made this mess, so clean it up ASAP! After you're done, head to the Induction Hall. From there, I'll transfer my consciousness and take over your body for a bit. Okay?"

Starfallen stared at me with an expressionless face then gave a subtle nod and did as instructed.

With that settled, I scratched the back of my head and made my way to the bed. I lay down, letting my back sink into the mattress and my eyes drifted up to the ceiling.

Slowly, my consciousness began to blur, the world around me fading, until finally, my eyes closed.

† †

Inside the Induction Hall, the Sleepless had gathered, their faces displaying a mix of emotions. They had been summoned suddenly, without any explanation. Some already suspected the reason for the call, while most looked confused and anxious, silently questioning whether they had done something wrong.

However, unknown to them, the situation was far more serious.

Standing among the crowd, Sonny — or rather, Starfallen — scanned the vast hall with a keen, calculating gaze. By his count, the number of Sleepless present exceeded those at the induction ceremony, though only slightly.

Even so, it was still a formidable gathering. Among them, he noticed new faces he had never seen before.

How interesting. These are probably the Sleepless that arrived before the one month duration.

Each of them carried a distinct aura; some radiated immense power, while others were calm and gentle. In the end, every individual was unique. But a particular cluster of auras stood out to him, prominently different from the rest.

Moving his gaze, he noticed a cluster of silhouettes standing in a secluded corner. There were five of them, all unusually tall, unlike anything he had ever encountered before.

Each of them stood at least two meters high, their bodies marked by four muscular arms, reddish skin, and four piercing eyes. On closer inspection, their bodies seemed to be composed of interlocking steel bars, exuding an aura of sheer power and presence.

If he hadn't known better, Sonny might actually have mistaken them for Monsters. But even more dangerous, however, was the figure in the center, whom he assumed to be their leader.

The beast differed little from his companions, standing only slightly taller, but his muscles were even more pronounced, and his eyes shone with shrewd intelligence and hidden strength. He seemed to assess the surrounding Sleepless like a predator sizing up its prey. Perhaps to him, they all appeared weak, helpless, and insignificant, for he radiated an aura of absolute indifference.

It was as if none of them were even worth his time.

Those guys are something else. They must be the Immortal demonic species Lancer spoke about... and he was right. All of them are terrifying, especially the one in the middle. He must be Zarugan.

At present, Zarugan was the Sleepless with the greatest strength and punching power. It was said he could probably tear a Waking Terror apart using nothing but his fists and body.

What a monster.

Could he even stand a chance against someone like that?

No. Wait… why was he even entertaining the idea of fighting this monster in the first place?

Under normal circumstances, Sonny would have been frightened out of his wits. But now, borrowing Starfallen's body, he could entertain such thoughts without his heart or emotions tipping into chaos. This was the effect of his reflection.

Between the two, the Mirror Bond happened to be more indifferent.