Life Of A Nobody - as a Villain-Chapter 427: The dream differs

[But you're already awake. This is the reality.]

The voice of Gauri instantly shattered all the hopes Amy had, thrusting her into an abyss.

She broke down in tears, her body falling limp as she lost all her strength and sat on the ground.

(See, I told you it was real. How can you be so foolish to not even listen to your inner voice.)

"You're lying." Amy ignored her heart and held the golden necklace near her heart. "I clearly remember he was back. _ he was hurt,_ badly, but he was back. And then he was fine."

[...]

(Sigh, come on, you know better than to place your hopes on her.) Amy was waiting for Gauri's response, when the same voice spoke in her mind again, (Knowing how much she hates Nyx, she probably threw a party when he died.)

"She wouldn't." Amy muttered under her breath, her words barely above a whisper. Yet the response she received in her heart seemed completely opposite.

(And you believe that? Humph, what a joke.) Her voice sneered as if she was disappointed with herself. (I am you, remember. There's no need to lie to yourself.)

"Gauri, tell me you didn't?"

After continuously listening to the chatter in her head, where bad things and guesses about Gauri kept sprouting nonstop like branches of a tree. One thing leading to another and then another, and then another.

A suppressed part of her soul was warning her that all of this was wrong. All lies. That she was getting influenced, _yet she still couldn't help but fall for it. After all, deep down, she always knew what Gauri wanted, and yet she still agreed to be her chosen.

Years ago, when Gauri chose her during the awakening ceremony, she agreed without hesitation. She thought only with a primordial backing her, can she grow stronger like her brother. That only with Kali's chaos can she match her brother's talent in darkness. Stand by his side and help him. Share his burdens and never be a drag, or a weakness.

She knew the history between Nyx and Gauri, yet the naive little girl she was, thought she won't be influenced by it. That the hatred between these goddesses won't affect the relationship they had.

That chosen gods were like tools, like swords in her hand. They couldn't act on their own too. They can help her, make her strong, but in the end, she'll be the one controlling them. That she'll be the one in charge.

"Heh" As soon as Amy remembered this, she couldn't help but smile at her past self. She really was a fool.

Her heart was breaking and her mind getting submerged in negativity. She sat on the floor, her eyes red from crying making her look pitiful, and the remaining moist of tear stains on her pretty cheeks and chin looked just like the drops of water floating on the petals of a lonely lotus blooming in the muddy sea.

But just when she was about to lose herself in the difference between the reality and illusion, forever being trapped inside _ a familiar voice broke her attention, and pulled her out.

[Come on, sis. Are you gonna give up just like that? You barely even climbed the first mountain, you still have 2 more left, remember.. Now hurry up, pat your butt and start walking.]

[Your brother's right, my little angel. You're the one who accepted the challenge, so you can't stop before you finish…Come on, you can do this. I trust you.]

[You tan do it, Ami tich. Don't mat me lutch my money. I only have two_four_ten_twenty gold coins.]

The voices belonged to her brother and father respectively. As for the broken child-like mumble, that was her cousin, Nera. The youngest in their family generation.

As if some memory got triggered by the voices, Amy felt her mind getting pulled back to the scene from years ago.

She remembered it was on the day of her 12th birthday. When she most wanted to go out and celebrate with her brother and Becca. Visit the city, do shopping, spend their money to buy all kinds of sweets and gifts for herself, and just play all day. But couldn't do it as Rio was grounded.

She didn't know from where but her stupid brother got some injuries around that time, making mother so angry that she banned him from leaving the mansion and increased his already hellish training even more.

So in an effort to get him out, she cried to her father while acting cute, and when that didn't work,_ she went and argued with her mother, even going further and making a bet with her.

A bet that she could finish her training, break brother's record time.

And hence here she was. Climbing the mountains which wouldn't end even if hundreds of her stood over each other's shoulders.

[Leave it, kiddo. Crush the token and we'll take you back. Even though you'll lose the bet and would have to accompany your brother in his grounding days, but at least you'd be able to eat those sweets and cake I made in the morning.]

While the young Amy was gathering her courage under her supporter's motivation, the teasing tone of her mother came from the clouds.

Artemis was hovering there, with lil Nera sitting on her shoulders, still busy counting how many coins she had with her tiny fingers.

Though at that moment Amy felt aggrieved and angry at everyone. Blaming her brother for leading her in this bet, her father for not stopping it, and her mother for teasing her, and 'torturing' her on her own birthday.

She even blamed Becca who didn't come to call her as planned earlier. And even the 'brat' Nera who was making money from her loss.

Yeah, she knew this little trouble magnet definitely bet against her, unlike what she says so cutely..

(Heh) The current Amy couldn't help but smile among her tears watching how the younger her still persisted in her struggle and climbed the mountains without giving up. Until she lost all her strength to continue after resting for a while. The little comfort she longed for, only made her body feel more sore and painful.

The young Amy just lay on the second mountain top, hazily staring at the floating cloud where her parents were sitting. She tried to focus on her mother who was laughing while counting coins for Nera.

Amy wanted to see from her expression what new teases and jokes were going to come her way next, _but just then a shadow blocked her sight.

Rio, whose head was still covered in bandages, stood near her and stretched out his hand.

[Come on, we're both grounded now. So let's just celebrate in our room.]

Amy raised her hand to catch his, a smile forming on her face as the face of the young Rio started to morph and change into the one she saw in her 'dream'.

"You're here." She said while forcing herself to stand up. "So it really wasn't a dream. You're really, really back." Amy whispered over his shoulders as she hugged him tightly.

Her tired spirit which had just earlier seemed to be drowned in negativity, was lifted high in happiness, as the thought about reality and the illusion changed places once more.

Alas _…_ her trial was far from over.

As Amy's hands let go of him, what came into her sight wasn't Rio. _but the face of her mother.

Artemis stood there, her face expressionless, and aura cold and silent much like the lonely shadows she controlled. Despite the pretty skin and perfect charm blessings to heighten her appearance, Amy could still see the sea of sadness storming in those dark eyes of hers.

The depressed look of her mother, living in denial for her son's death, immediately pulled Amy back from her fantasy, thrusting her into believing what her reality was.

… ######

Author note - Next chapter is a little extra sneak shot I wrote just for fun. (Call it background or 'behind the scenes' scene. A blooper.

(It's about the birthday celebration thing mentioned in this chapter. Though I bet you'll like it.)

Talking about bloopers, had to dig deep in docs and pull this one out. I shared it on discord once, but forgot to give you'll at wn app. So here read it for a fun convo between system and Rio.

...

[Hey sleepyhead, still lost is your dreams.]

'I'm wide awake you know.'

[Then why the sour mood? Missing home already.]

'You know what, I kinda do actually.'

[Earth?]

'Nah, the one here. I should go and check up on Artemis or something.'

[She would freak out if you ran away from the academy.]

'Yeah she would.'

[And if she learned you can come and go freely through the academy barriers. I am pretty sure she'd call you home for every dinner. Especially on the weekends.]

'Yeah,..that would be bad.'

[So no going home then.]

'I guess so.' Rio said and sighed. 'Fuck it, let's just continue watching our movies.'

[You know you're the first host to waste his precious points on buying a copy for some recordings of tv shows and movies.]

'What? You're the one who advertised them, saying there are so many classics in the other universes that'll blow your mind away.'

[I only said it cause you couldn't stop boasting about everything you watched on earth.]

'Well, earth did make some good arts.'

[Come on, just look at the graphics in this one, it can beat the best sci-fi movie you ever saw by miles, and it was a daily soap opera in that world. Comapring the two in itself is an insult.] Read exclusive chapters at novelbuddy

'Yeah, yeah got it. Now rewind the last 20 seconds, you didn't let me hear a thing.'

[Seriously. We watched it 3 times already.]

'It's not my fault if you don't shut up. Now rewind it and go to sleep.' Rio said and swiped the system screen from blocking his view. 'Ohh, and before you doze off, get me some of those popcorns too. The one with the…'

[Got it. Sigh, what am I even doing.] System thought to itself, doubting it's life. Before giving up and trying to sleep. Only to have its blanket pulled off, as it's host complained about something random.

"God dammit. Can't believe there are so many versions of GOT out there in other worlds too. But we, on earth had to settle with the one with the worst ending."

[Yeah, earthian's does that.] As if an aunt hearing gossip, system too changed it's mood and became wide awake and started replying, [Remember how your Harry didn't even get Hermione, lol.]

"Urgh, don't even remind me of that. Shit was traumatizing." Rio said, rewinding the footage 20 seconds back again, and slapping the system screen, "also why are you not sleeping yet."

[... Can I log out from this host?]