Lyle

Ryle's heart pounded violently. The tinnitus that struck his ears grew stronger, and the world seemed to twist and shake. His vision darkened and blurred, and his senses seemed to be cut off one by one. His fingertips tingled, and the sensation of his skin being scraped off enveloped his entire body. He instinctively clenched his teeth, but the pain, like a tidal wave from the distant abyss, showed no sign of stopping.

The voice that echoed in his head once again.

"…Ryle."

This time it was clear. It wasn't a hallucination. A vivid voice, a resonance that struck deep. It was as if whispering in his ear, or as if it was reverberating directly from within his mind.

Suddenly, his whole body trembled violently. His lungs tightened, and his muscles seemed to stiffen forcibly. His senses were amplified like crazy. The wind brushed his skin as if to tear it apart, and even the dimly flickering streetlight seemed to burn his eyes. All the sounds exploded and struck his ears. The sound of a cat's footsteps brushing through the alley, the sound of someone quietly holding their breath from beyond the window, even the sound of a passing vehicle's engine in the distance—everything rushed in like a continuous roar.

"Ugh…!"

Ryle clenched his teeth, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He lost his balance and placed his hand on the ground, and even the touch of the cold stone floor on his fingertips was painful, as if it was piercing his skin. Even just breathing was agony. It was his limit. If this condition continued, he would fall into an uncontrollable rampage.

But just then.

"Ryle."

The third call. This time it was even closer. A sensation as if it touched his ear directly.

In an instant, everything stopped.

The noise that had been hitting his ears until just a moment ago disappeared like a lie. The sharp, seeping sensations gradually subsided, and his vision became clear again. The pain hadn't completely disappeared, but it had calmed down enough to at least be able to hold onto his sanity.

Ryle gasped for breath and raised his head. Beyond his blurred vision, a person was standing. A presence clearly visible even in the darkness. Under the streetlight, his red eyes captured the other person.

At that moment, his instinct was certain.

'…This is the person.'

The being he had never met in his life, but the one he could recognize with just one encounter.

Ryle's guide.