I found myself in a small, dark room-like structure.

  In front of me, a small throne made of rock, upon which sat a being.

  It looked like a mass of shadows, with two white and wide eyes staring at me with such intensity I felt like daggers were piercing into me. It was around the height of a child, and yet the pressure it excluded was strong enough to made my knees shake.

  ’So, you’ve awakened my power.’

  ’Who… are you?’

  The being seemingly smiled.

  ’I am the Tailor. He who creates the fabric.’

  I see. So he’s the origin of my skill.

  ’What do you mean by fabric?’

  ’Everything in this world is a fabric. Space, time, life… I once sewed a tapestry from the atoms of creation… but that is neither now nor here. As of now, I am simply a tailor who lives within you. Of course, my power has deteriorated, but it still should not be underestimated.’

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  ’Well, thanks for… living inside of me?’

  I felt less afraid, someway or another. As if the pressure had been lifted.

  ’I see your heart is pure. I shall continue to help you survive through the shadows. Good luck.’

  I woke up. The villagers surrounded me. Tim, Anna and Mary were stood around me.

  ’You’re awake!’

  ’The hero has woken up!’

  I was confused. What had happened?

  The memories came back to me like a dam had been broken.

  ’No… John? Nathan? Did they survive?’

  Tim spoke up, his eyes quivering and his arms shaking.

  ’Barely. They’re currently in dire conditions.’

  ’Where are they?!’

  I rushed over to where the two were. John’s arm had been broken, and both of Nathan’s legs had been pulverised, as well as his chest.

  ’No…’

  It couldn’t be.

  They had tried to protect me, and yet I couldn’t protect them.

  If only there was a way to fix this.

  ’Would you like my assistance?’

  I heard that voice in my head.

  ’Of course. Please, save them.’

  ’You’ll feel extreme pain for a long time. Would that be acceptable?’

  ’No problem.’

  ’Fine.’

  [Temporary Skill Bestowal: Self-Sacrificial Threads]

  [Forced Skill Activation: Self-Sacrificial Threads]

  The strings surrounding the stump of what was once my arm came to life once again, covering the space above both of them. Bright threads, seemingly made of light surrounded both of their wounds. The wounds began to close, and Nathan’s legs started regrowing.

  ’It’s done. Try your best to endure.’

  Pain spread across my legs, my remaining arm and my ribs. Almost as if I had taken on their pain.

  I fell unconscious yet again