Sitting beside a campfire, surrounded by the forest, Gabriel sharpened his knife.
In front of him, a young boy with black hair and green eyes watched attentively, as if trying to learn.
The fire crackled.
A calm, melancholic, and tired voice broke the silence.
"That's not how you'll learn."
The boy opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"You don't need to be nervous. I won't kill you… but tell me—why did you enter this world?"
"Huh?" The young boy seemed surprised by the question. "Well…" He averted his gaze before continuing. "…I was forced to enter it. And you?"
Gabriel remained silent for a while, watching the blade being sharpened back and forth. Then he stopped, looked directly into the boy's eyes, and said:
"I had no choice."
The boy frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Gabriel simply stared at the fire in front of him.
"Debts."
The sound of stone being scraped returned.
The boy smiled.
"So that's why? A lot of people enter this world because of that. My reason seems… stupid, right?"
Stopping again, carefully examining the blade, Gabriel replied:
"Yeah. It does."
After a long, peaceful silence, the boy spoke again.
"Can I call you master?"
Gabriel said nothing.
"I'll take that as a yes!" He smiled. "My name is Aren. It's a pleasure to meet you, master."
"…"
Gabriel closed his eyes.
He felt where he was lying.
…Soft?
Opening his eyes, he saw Lillith.
She was smiling while watching him sleep.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
Jay stared at her for a while.
"…"
She quickly blushed, placing her hands on her face and looking away.
"W-What is it? Is there something on my face?"
"…"
She puffed her cheeks.
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why… did you help me?"
Lillith frowned, incredulous at the question.
"Because you're my fri—"
"Why didn't you leave me there? On the ground, lying in the mud, insects crawling on my face, so I could… so I could pay for my sins?" Jay clenched his teeth."WHY DIDN'T YOU DO THAT?!"
Lillith slapped Jay across the face.
"Because I care about you!" she shouted, tears forming in her black eyes.
Jay covered his eyes with his elbow.
'Again… again I'm beside a good person. Just like that time.'
Jay clicked his tongue.
Lillith began gently stroking Jay's black hair. For some reason, it calmed his heart.
It was as if he had always wanted this, but never realized it.
Leaning close to his ear, she whispered:
"You deserve this rest."
Jay's heart… ached.
Tears tried to fall, but they wouldn't come.
Jay simply accepted it. He lay there for hours.
From sunrise to midday, he remained there.
At the top of the wall, watching everything, was Benjamin, with his improvised campfire roasting meat.
He observed everything with a genuine smile, as if reading a romance novel.
"Hm… it seems it's beginning. You can't stop this, Goddess of Darkness, Lillith. Once it starts, it'll be too late. That was both my mistake… and my success."
…
Like a reader, he felt anxious about what would happen—and afraid.Not of what would happen to him, but to her.
Raising his head to the blue sky, he said:
"What will be your choice, Jay?"
The sound of swaying trees, distant battle roars, and the gentle touch in his hair were all Jay could hear and feel.
Along with the constant scent of rain and iron.
Jay rose from Lillith's lap, looked around, and began stretching.
The Goddess of Darkness stood as well, silently watching his movements.
When she stepped forward, she held his face, looked into his eyes, and said:
"I'll be watching you, Jay. And I'll always support you."
Jay looked at her, embarrassed and awkward, as she slowly disappeared, waving with a gentle smile.
Waving back, Jay turned his attention to his journey.
Walking through the dense forest, he noticed the roars growing more… agonizing and desperate.
'Well… that should be normal here.'
Time passed, and something stuck in his mind.
Night fell.
Jay built a campfire. Despite the day passing, he hadn't hunted or fought.
The flesh of the colossus he had killed had been eaten by other animals—vultures and crows.
Staring into the flames, he felt like something was missing.
Then a familiar voice spoke.
No—extremely familiar.
A sarcastic, cold, irritating voice.
"Do you miss her, Jay?" Roh asked.
Jay frowned.
"Her? Who?"
Roh sighed.
"Who else? The only woman you ever loved. The one who slept with you, held you, kissed you…"He paused."…Do I really need to say her name?"
"…"
He didn't need to. His silence confirmed it.
She—the person he loved… and who was still trapped in his heart.
Aside from his family, she was the only one he ever loved.The only one he loved and hated at the same time.
"Silence may be comforting now, but what about tomorrow, Jay?" Roh said, his icy pupils shining with pleasure.
"You enjoy indulging in my chaos."
Roh nodded.
"Of course. If I didn't indulge in your chaos, would I even be myself?"
'Right?'
The two began arguing.
Far away, on a rainy night, inside a dark noble room, a silver-haired girl with pointed ears sat beside a candle, its light reflecting off her hair.
She wore pure white clothes and read a book.
A hardcover book with a blue cover.
Knock. Knock.
The sound pulled her from her thoughts.
She sighed, closed the book, stood up, took the candlestick, and walked to the door.
When she opened it, she saw her mother—silver hair mixed with black, pointed ears, wearing red pajamas, her expression full of concern.
Clarice sighed softly before speaking in a melancholic tone.
"What is it, mother?"
Her mother stepped forward.
"Daughter… may I come in?"
Clarice nodded.
"Yes, come in."
She stepped aside, letting her mother enter.
Her mother looked around with admiration and sat on the bed. As she sat, she noticed the book lying there.
"Oh? Isn't that the book you brought with you, Clarice?" her mother asked, mischief shining in her ruby-colored eyes.
"…"
Clarice remained silent as she closed the door.
Her mother lowered her head, looked to the side, and spoke with concern.
"Was he someone important to you, Clarice?"
"Who?" Clarice asked, turning around with a furrowed brow, lips pressed tight, ruby eyes welling with tears.
"The boy who gave you that book. After all, you don't even let your own mother touch it," she replied with a satisfied smile.
Then her expression fell.
"It's a shame he… didn't make it to Kotei County," she continued."I'm sorry, my daughter…"
…
"He's not dead!" Clarice said with conviction, her eyes burning with belief."HE WOULDN'T LEAVE ME!"
She fell to her knees.
Crying on the floor, she whispered:
"He wouldn't break… his promise."
Her mother immediately embraced her.
"It's alright, my daughter. I believe the same."
She kissed her daughter's silver hair.
And so the night passed.
Clarice woke up, opening her eyes. The curtains blocked most of the light.
She looked to the side.
Her mother was there, watching her, resting on one arm.
"Daughter, I have news!"
"What is it, mother?"
Closing her eyes and getting out of bed, her mother said:
"Come. The news is downstairs."
They descended the stairs—her mother holding the dark wooden railing, Clarice following behind.
Paintings lined the walls, showing Clarice when she was younger, with her family.
In every painting, she was smiling.
As they descended, they saw a man with familiar black hair, but a more robust body, wearing armor.
Even from behind, his beard was patchy and still growing.
He didn't have pointed ears.
He was human.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the man stood up and turned toward the two elven women.
Clarice's eyes widened.
He was extremely familiar… yet looked like someone else entirely.
"L-Luis?!" Clarice said in disbelief.