Why do you look human?

“A miracle? Me?”

“Indeed. Let me ask you this. Do you remember anything from before when you woke?”

(I better keep on with my story.)

“No, is just all blank except for what I think is my name.”

“Good. You will come to understand after the explanation that this was for the best.”

Volkan takes a deep breath and begins to speak, as if recalling something he himself had personally experienced.

“Centuries ago, the continent of Morium where we live was a land of chaos and destruction. Our ancestors lived in their original forms as beasts and monsters. Constantly fighting, destroying and killing. That was everything they knew about, so that was everything they would do.”

“A goddess took notice of our world and decided to interfere, giving them the gift of rationality and a mind clear of those impulses and Morium entered a new age of diversity and coexistence.”

“That was Sonala, the Goddess of dreams and awakening.”

(Sonala. She’s probably the voice the reincarnated me here.)

“In this new age our ancestors discovered empathy and compassion, and our civilization began to take shape. But that draw the attention of another God.”

“Umbravar, God of nightmares and slumber.”

“He had deemed this continent as a perfect world the way it was before and angered by Sonala’s interference he decided to also interfere, offering to revert their minds to how they were before Sonala.”

“However, having discovered peace and love they refused to go back to the age of violence and resisted his influence striving to continue to live peacefully.”

“Insulted by their refusal he interfered once again, cursing the night and darkness to corrupt their minds and forcing them to return to their aggressive ways, going against their wish for peace. They began once more to attack and kill one another. But although their minds retuned to how it was before, their hearts remained the same from those peaceful days they had lived.”

“They tried to resist, but it was not enough and with tears in their eyes they would hurt those who were once family and friends and destroyed everything they started to build together.”

“They prayed with all their hearts for salvation from that hell.”

“Sonala, in a last effort to save our ancestors sought out the help. Bestowing upon them her blessings and a new form in hopes of warding off Ubravar’s control, the form you see us in today. A few of them were able to be woken up from his control, but she wasn’t able to help all of them.

“His curse was too strong, and they could not control themselves; it wasn’t their fault. And no matter what our awakened ancestors did they couldn’t turn them back.”

“Our ancestors knew how it felt to be trapped like that. It was agonizing, and attacking those who they cared about was unbearable.”

(Looking around, Gora, Lumiere and Ruina all have pained expressions on their faces. Especially Gora.)

“The strength our original forms possess is far superior then our current bodies. So, they used Sonala’s blessing and developed techniques to do the only thing they could for those trapped in Umbravar slumber.”

“To put them to rest before they had the chance to hurt other or themselves.”

“Thus, the Resting Guild was formed.”

Volkan points to an amulet on his uniform, the same wood ring with weblike string and feathers I saw before on the cave and the waist of all the 3 guild members beside me.

“Its members are responsible for taking on monster sightings around towns to ensure both the awaked citizens of the continent are safe and making sure those still sleeping under Umbravar curse can be put to rest.”

“That sounds like an impossibly hard thing to do. I don’t know what to say…”

(I think I get I bit of what lady Farasha meant when she said those things about the Resting Guild members.)

“But that still doesn’t answer my question. Why did you call me a miracle?”

“You see, many of our ancestor couldn’t turn into the form the goddess gave us, even with her help. But there were rare cases when they would develop the will to resist on their own and awaken by themselves. This ignited hope on the Resting Guild members and citizens of the country.”

“However, around a ten years ago. The awakenings stopped, and the number of monsters has been growing at an alarming rate.”

“We didn’t know what to think, if something had happened to Sonala or if Umbravar had interfered once again. But with your awakening, that means something has changed for the better. Your awakening brings us hope!”

(I hate to burst your bubble, but I don’t think anything has changed. And if it has it is definitely for the worst. I didn’t “awaken”, I’m from another world. Meaning no one has been able to awaken on their own for over a decade and the number of monsters kept increasing. Is this what she meant by stopping her counterpart? I have to go against this a God?)

“I ask you one final time. Do you remember anything from before you woke up in that cave? Anything that may be of use, a clue on what made you awaken, anything!”

(These guys have a lot of faith in this goddess. They have been waiting for I sign for so long. I don’t want to get their hopes any higher and not be able to deliver. I better keep quiet… At least for now.)

“I can’t remember. Is all just dark and blurry.”

“I see. I won’t push any further. You must be beyond exhausted and full of questions about yourself and the world. Is there anything you would like to know?” Volkan sits back down. He seems a little defeated.

“There’s a lot to be honest, but actually there is one thing I really want to know.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why do you look human? Why did Sonala give you all human forms?”

Volkan smiles.

“That’s a common misconception. Having awakened recently it may seem like that, but it is not that we look like you, we all look like the goddess Sonala. The form she offered us was based on her own and it allowed us to escape the madness of our original forms.”

“Wait, does that mean… I have an original form? Humans have original forms?”

“Yes, every single one of us do.” Lumiere says.

They all have serious looks on their faces.

Even after everything I saw, and after listening to that entire story. I never once considered that possibility. Only after I question it that it clicked. Why didn’t I consider it?

This body was once a monster.

That arm with the purple glow back in the cave, the nest like structured from where I woke up.

(Was that… This body’s nest? My nest?!)

“Do you have any more questions? It would be best for you to go back to receive another healing session. After that we can introduce you to Fabienne, she’s the current head of the Dream Church. As a newly awakened they will help you familiarize yourself with our civilization and give you a place to stay until they find you a place where you can fit.”

“Wait, you’re not going to ask me to join the Resting Guild? I thought you said I was a miracle…”

“And that you are. Your presence is a sign that things are changing for the better! However, we couldn’t possibly ask for you to join us. You just recently woke up, and our job is beyond dangerous and as you said it yourself is an impossible profession. For many who wish to join us, couldn’t do what needed to be done. If you don’t have more questions, then my member will escort you.”

“I do have one last question for now.”

“What is this amulet that you all carry around?”

“Is the symbol for the Resting Guild, is called a dream catcher. It wards off nightmares, catching them in its web and only allowing dream to pass through it.”

(An amulet that wards off nightmares, huh?)

I take a step forward.

“Mr. Volkan, it is no exaggeration to say the only reason I’m alive right know is because of that amulet. It saved me back in the caves and it saved me again when I got out into that forest. I have no memories of what happened before I wake up but maybe this is all fate. Waking up after ten years and being saved by these three.” They all silently look at me. I can see a smirk forming on Volkan’s face.

“I want to help those who helped me.” I say with conviction

“Please allow me join the Resting Guild!”