Story Reader / Alternative Interpretation / Cursed Waves / Story
The blurred colors slowly become concrete shapes. You blink, allowing a warm tear to drip down your cheek.
Your throat tightens as you groan unintelligibly.
You're awake.
You begin to register the loud noises around you as the world becomes comprehensible again.
The temporary hospital of a conservation area. How are you recovering? You don't seem to be that infected.
We'll inject another serum in half an hour and see how that goes. If everything's fine, you should be able to leave in two days.
What's wrong? Can't you remember?
That's strange. Amnesia shouldn't be a symptom.
That said, there are stories about some people's personalities completely changing after they were rescued from the Red Tide...
Something about that word seems to have triggered your memories.
Oh? Are your memories coming back?
I've heard that people can see some incredible stuff in the Red Tide. Perhaps you were just getting your memories mixed up after regaining consciousness.
Everything should be fine after a while.
Now, I didn't know why you came into contact with the Red Tide, but the Task Force that brought you here is still inside the conservation area. They can probably answer some of your questions.
You should thank them as well. You're incredibly lucky to survive the Red Tide.
The medic departs after that.
You hug your head, trying to calm yourself down.
A tattered sling bag sits next to the bed. It appears to be holding your things.
You go over them and find nothing useful—there are a few cans of moldy hardtacks, half a roll of bandages, an empty bottle of rubbing alcohol, a pen, a bottle of ink, and... a stack of paper.
That is an unfinished novel you have been writing on and off over the years.
A post-apocalyptic world, a calamity named "the sound of the tide," the lost wisdom of the ancients, a journey into the abyss...
The simple language and straightforward plot is a frequent issue, which is why no one but you has the patience to finish reading your manuscript.
As you flip through your story, you begin to remember more.
Honestly, you have no memories of the journey itself anymore.
You have forgotten it like how you would forget your dream after you wake up.
You are not a writer—the world does not need a writer right now.
Writing has been your hobby for a very long time. Even though you are only writing for yourself, you should not give it up that easily.
But is that enough?
Don't you want someone to read your story and feel how you feel?
Don't you want someone to truly understand you?
A voice seems to remain in your head.
Are you alright? Why are you spacing out?
The medic from before has returned and noticed your state.
Is your blood sugar too low? Wait here. I'll see if I can find you an IV drip.
The medic has rushed out before you can finish your sentence.
Dropping your arms, you stare at the manuscript on your bed once again.
You take out your pen and a blank piece of paper, and you start writing.
The amnesiac protagonist wakes up in a strange town, fated to stop a calamity.
You have no idea why you are suddenly so invested in such an old trope.
Suddenly, you feel a ripple inside you—
You feel inspired.
A lone protagonist must be very lonely.
There must be a companion there to listen and respond.
A guide—a friend, to shine a light on the right path.
The world needs someone like you to stop the calamity.
Therefore, I've been waiting for you to wake up.
We might learn more information here.
Should we rest at the town for a while?
The guardian of the deep sea... We must defeat her to progress...
...The end of our journey lies ahead.
Our duties are finally over...
A young, mysterious girl that cares for the protagonist.
As someone who understands you...
I will always be waiting for you to return.
A name pops up in your mind out of nowhere.
