Killed Me? Now I Have Your Power

Chapter 459: Chapter 459: Nameless Host

Chapter 459 – Nameless Host

"Maybe you don’t enjoy the dinner, dear guest?" The strange being spoke, a smile tugging at the corner of its chanting lips, looking directly at Kaden.

He offered no answer, still bewildered by all that was happening.

He was inside the house, and despite the eeriness within him, the house was a pleasant place to be.

There was a tranquil perfume soaking it, coupled with gentle, smooth background music that was strangely perfect for that moment.

Rea was sitting on the chair at his left, her eyes closed unconsciously and body limp. Kaden needed to use blood manipulation in order for her to not fall.

He lowered slowly his head, looking at the delicious food that made his stomach let out a shameless cry of hunger.

Kaden truly could no longer remember the last time he properly ate. Well, he could, in fact. But it seemed so long ago, despite the fact it was not even a month ago.

Yet during this little time, so many things happened that his memories were becoming fuzzy, flooded by too many things.

He hissed a sigh, trying to keep himself from devouring his plate, and returned his attention back to the strange being.

’I still cannot tell.’ Kaden mused restlessly.

Not only could he not sense the power level of the being, he could neither tell if he had in front of him a male or a female.

It was strange.

The appearance looked like the mix of both — as if a god was indecisive about what gender to make it — the same with the voice and any other mannerisms. Mannerisms that looked like they were in perpetual rhythm with whatever it was listening to.

"Why are you not eating~?" It asked, tilting its head slightly, while eating a piece of meat dripping with sauce.

"My mother taught me to not eat the food of strangers."

"Oh, a wise advice." The being laughed like a crow, then put delicately the fork down with a soft sound. "Then I shall try to introduce myself, dear guest."

Fingers locked together, settled on the table just before the plate of food, its mouth parted open.

"I have no name," it began, "for no one has ever granted me one. And I do not wish — or rather, I cannot — give myself a name."

"That means you will always stay a stranger to me." Kaden interjected.

"A name does not define someone, don’t you think?"

"A name anchors your identity." Kaden said. "Without it, how can you know that you are you?"

"Name or memories?" The being smirked.

Kaden paused. "Huh?"

"You said a name anchors your identity," it repeated. "But are you sure?"

Kaden didn’t get to answer as the male-woman continued smoothly, his-her voice so melodious and in rhythm that he was compelled to listen.

"Let me strip you from your name," it said, playing with the knife. "Will you still be who you are? Most probably, yes. A name is just a label, not who you are. Sometimes those labels are powerful enough to dictate how you act, but only because they come with one thing..."

It lifted a finger, smile wide.

"...because they come with a history behind. In other words, with memories."

It winked playfully, looking at the strangely bewildered yet focused face of Kaden.

"Now let’s do the opposite." The creature laughed cheerfully. "What would happen if I take away your memories? The memories of your childhood, of the events that marked you, of everything you have ever lived, and leave you nothing but one thing: your name."

It paused, taking a light exhale, then—

"Tell me then, Kaden Warborn—"

Kaden’s heart skipped a beat.

"—will you still be Kaden Warborn?"

He didn’t answer. Or rather, he couldn’t. The words of the strange creature were oddly true, making him aware of things he didn’t truly consider until now.

He had always lived and grown up in an environment where names meant a lot. And he had gone through events that reaffirmed that same notion.

Aurora, for instance. Or even Sora.

He always believed it was the name. Yet it was never truly the name...it was the memories that came with that name.

His eyes brightened. He lifted his head next, looking at the creature’s strange smile.

"I," Kaden said, "probably would not be the same one as I am today. But,"

Here, his eyebrows knitted tightly together.

"How do you know my name? I never told you."

"I have no name," the creature said, playing with the fork now, "but I can know all names. And if I know a name, I know the memories behind that name. And if I know the memories behind that name, I will know the being in a way even himself doesn’t."

Kaden’s throat tightened, his stomach knotting into a ball at the words.

"Why...why are you telling me this?"

The air at his back felt like frozen spikes.

"It won’t change anything." The creature answered leisurely.

"What do you want from me?"

"A name."

Kaden froze, frowning, tilting his head perplexedly.

"A name?" He echoed. "Didn’t you—!"

"I never said a name is useless. I said memories make you who you are, not a name. However," it paused, smiling thinly, "you need a name to be remembered, so that your memories could go from within you and extend to the world outside you. That’s how legends are born. That’s how myths are created."

"And you want to be among them."

"I do not have that high of a dream. Or rather, not any longer. I have been those once. And it’s nothing glorious like mortals would believe." Its smile stiffened. "Now all I want is a name to be remembered as something new."

"Sometimes it’s better to be nameless." Kaden said, not even knowing why he uttered such words.

The creature nodded lightly. "But something needs to be named to evolve, to reach a higher state of existence."

"Will that be your case?"

"I certainly hope so."

"How can I name you?"

"Oh, that’s one of the interesting questions." The creature chuckled, leaning against the chair, relaxed before answering. "I said I can see the memories of the names I know."

"Yes."

"Yet I couldn’t see all of yours, Kaden." The being said, then looked at the unconscious Rea. "Nor can I see everything of this beautiful little girl. Rea you call her? A beautiful name, but a false name."

"What do you mean?" Kaden inquired, sitting straighter.

"What else?" The being shrugged lazily. "You have something empty in you. So empty that my power doesn’t dare to look deeper at you. Which makes you qualified to name me. I have been waiting since I met that talented man."

’Emptiness?’ Kaden thought. ’Talented man?’

"As for the girl," it pointed to Rea next, "I have seen nothing, because her name is existentially false. And my current existence cannot bear her true name. How weak have I become?"

It said the last words with sadness, then let its lips pull out enthusiastically.

"Now that’s an interesting duo. Who might you truly be?" It shook its head. "I do not quite care. All I care about is a name."

"Why would I name you?" Kaden retorted, not liking at all whatever was happening. "What if by doing that I create something I shouldn’t? Or even inflict something on myself that I shouldn’t?"

"Because you have no other choice."

"Huh?"

"If you wish to live and save this girl, that is." It specified. "You can’t see it, Kaden, but there are two rhythms fighting outstandingly hard to control the dance, the body of this girl. One is slowly losing. I do not need to tell you who."

Kaden hissed angrily. "You know how to get out of here?"

The creature looked at him strangely, as if Kaden was the dumbest man it ever met.

"Of course I can. I am the master of this...hm, how should I call this current state? Ah, let’s use the word of that talented man..."

It clapped its hands. Kaden’s eyes were cold.

"Ah yes, I am the master of this Echo of Warren."

—End of Chapter 459—