Beyond Realities

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking at the unfamiliar ceiling above me. My whole body ached, like it had been crushed under the weight of a mountain. I scanned my surroundings in confusion—wooden walls, a clean room, unfamiliar... yet safe.

"Thank the gods, you're finally awake."

Grim's voice echoed in my head, relieved but laced with sarcasm.

"Where... am I?" I groaned.

"Back in your rented room, genius. You passed out after that reckless fight. Been out for a whole day."

"A whole day?"

No wonder I felt like I hadn't moved in centuries. My body was sore from head to toe. The battle with the Snake gang, the clash with those awakened fighters... it all came rushing back.

Then I saw her.

A girl—no, a young woman—entered the room carrying a wooden basin filled with warm water and a towel. Her deep red hair flowed gently over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes locked onto mine with a look of fierce warmth.

She was... beautiful.

"Why is your heart suddenly beating faster?"

Grim teased, his voice groaning dramatically in my head.

"Don't tell me... are you in love again?"

"I—wha—No!" I muttered under my breath.

The girl approached quietly, dipping the towel in the basin and gently wiping my wounded shoulder. I tried to stay composed, but my eyes wandered to her face—graceful, strong, and kind.

"Hey, your heartbeat's getting louder. You really are hopeless." Grim sighed.

I blinked.

"Ow—shit... I dozed off staring at her."

I sat up abruptly, rubbing my eyes.

"Sorry about that..." I chuckled nervously and awkwardly extended a hand to her.

"Uh... Hi. I'm Vaelenor."

"This guy..." Grim muttered, exhausted by my awkwardness.

She giggled softly, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. My chest tightened at the sound.

"I'm Mira," she replied, taking my hand for a handshake. Her hand was soft but strong, like someone used to hard work but with a gentle soul.

"Mira..." I whispered.

"The mother of our children..."

Silence.

Her eyes widened slightly before she burst out laughing.

"You said that out loud, dumbass," Grim barked in disbelief.

I stared at the ceiling, internally screaming.

But Mira only laughed more, then continued wiping the blood and dirt from my bandaged chest.

"She's the one who saved your sorry ass, by the way," Grim added.

"If she hadn't pulled you away after that last slash, you'd be in a coffin right now. "

"She did that...?" I looked at her with new amazement.

Then she finally spoke.

"Thank you... for saving my little sister from those Snake bastards."

Her voice was calm, filled with sincerity.

"That girl was your sister?" I asked. "I didn't know, but... I'm glad I helped."

Grim's voice lowered into something that resembled a warning.

"You really want another heartbreak, huh? Remember how it ended with Seraphina? You never confessed. You just admired her from the shadows, and then you shattered like glass when she walked away."

Those words hit me hard.

And maybe that's why I said it without thinking.

"Mira..." I said, catching her attention.

She tilted her head, smiling curiously.

"Do you... have a boyfriend?"

Her eyes blinked in surprise. Then she laughed.

And just like that—she walked out of the room.

"What was that?" Grim snapped.

"That was your second heartbreak. Congratulations."

"No... I don't think so." I smirked.

"She smiled before leaving. That means she's interested, right?"

"You're delusional."

I chuckled to myself, and tried to sit up from bed.

"Ouch!"

Pain shot through my ribs and chest.

"Don't move!" Mira's voice echoed from outside the door.

"Your body isn't fully recovered yet!"

I smiled like an idiot.

Even Grim groaned in my head.

-----

After an hour of lying in bed, staring at the wooden ceiling like it held the meaning of life, I couldn't get Mira out of my mind.

Her red eyes, her smile... that laugh.

I sighed and slowly sat up.

"Feeling dramatic today?" Grim mumbled lazily in my head.

"You've been daydreaming for an hour."

I ignored him and stood up. I bounced lightly on my feet, did a quick stretch, then a little jump. My body felt good.

"Healed already?" I smirked.

"Of course. Thank my power," Grim replied with a smug tone.

"Yeah, yeah..." I rolled my eyes.

I stepped out of the room, the fresh breeze from the hallway brushing against my face. I stretched my arms wide—partly to shake off the stiffness, partly to look casually cool in case Mira passed by.

Instead, I saw her younger sister. She was standing near the shop entrance, chatting with a customer.

I approached.

"Hi," I said, scratching the back of my head. "Uh... is Mira around?"

She looked at me and smiled politely.

"She went to the market to meet someone."

"Oh..."

I tried not to look disappointed, but something inside me sank a little.

"Aww, did that hurt your feelings, lover boy?" Grim teased inside my head.

I ignored him again.

So I decided to take a walk around the city—maybe to clear my mind, or maybe just hoping I'd bump into her.

"Guess my one-day stay here is going to extend longer."

"What do you mean by that?" Grim asked.

"You sound like a guy who's about to cancel his whole journey over a girl."

I didn't answer. I just kept walking through the city streets of Katra.

The sun was soft above the rooftops. Merchants called out, selling their goods, children ran around laughing, and people busily passed by. Katra had recovered well for a city once ruined by a dragon. It was lively... and peaceful.

And then I saw her.

Mira was standing by a fruit stall, inspecting apples with a concentrated look on her face.

I froze for a second, then walked faster—okay, fine, I ran a little—to catch up.

"Hi!" I said, a bit too excited. "We meet again."

"What do you mean 'we meet again'? You literally followed her," Grim chuckled wickedly.

"Creepy much?"

Mira turned and blinked in surprise.

"Oh, it's you," she smiled. "What was your name again?"

She laughed softly, rubbing the back of her head.

Grim burst out laughing.

"She doesn't even remember your name! Hahahaha!"

"Ah... it's Vael. Vaelenor," I answered, forcing a smile.

"Sorry, I'm really bad with names," she said with a small bow. "Working at the shop gets really busy."

I nodded, understanding.

"No worries. I get it. You work hard."

She looked at me, a bit surprised.

"You don't look like someone who'd say that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I laughed.

But inside, I felt something stir. This young woman, around my age, working so hard every day to help her family. She had strength in a different kind of way.

"A kind soul with strong hands," I murmured to myself.

"Don't go falling for her again," Grim warned.

"Didn't you learn from Seraphina?"

I shrugged mentally.

Mira picked a few more fruits, and I stepped beside her.

"Here, let me carry that."

I took the basket from her hands.

"Oh, it's fine—" she started, but then smiled.

"Thanks, Vael."

We walked side by side, back toward her place.

And I couldn't help but think...

This one-day stay really is going to be longer.

We walked in silence for a while—Mira and I—with the basket swinging gently between my hands.

Every now and then, she'd glance at me and smile.

And each time she did, I swear I heard a harp play in my head.

"You're falling hard again," Grim groaned,

"This is exactly how it started with Seraphina. You make eye contact once and think it's destiny."

I sighed in my head.

"I'm just helping."

"Helping your heart dive off a cliff," he muttered.

Mira pointed ahead.

"That's our place. You've been there, but you were half-dead so maybe you didn't notice it much."

I chuckled.

"Yeah, I remember the ceiling better than anything else."

She giggled, covering her mouth again with that same graceful motion that made my heartbeat skip a little faster.

We reached the shop's front. She opened the door and motioned for me to come in.

Her younger sister peeked from behind the counter, grinning.

"Big sis~ someone's following you again!" she teased.

Mira blushed a little and waved her off.

"He just helped me with the fruits, that's all."

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, unsure what to say.

Mira looked at me.

"You want some water?"

"Sure."

She walked to the back, and I sat by the window.

The light poured in softly, casting gold over the wooden walls. It was warm, peaceful.

And then Grim, of course, had to ruin it.

"You know, I'm starting to think this girl might actually like you."

I paused.

"Wait. Really?"

"No, idiot. I just wanted to see you blush again."

He laughed inside my mind.

I groaned.

"Why do I keep you around again?"

"Because I'm your imaginary best friend who can blow up a mountain if he wanted."

Fair enough.

Mira came back with a glass of water. I drank it quickly, trying not to look like I was nervous just by being in the same room with her.

Then she asked quietly, "Will you be leaving again soon?"

That caught me off guard.

"Huh? I mean... I'm not sure. I was just passing through."

She nodded slowly.

"Right. Adventurers always pass through."

There was a hint of something in her voice. Disappointment?

Or maybe I was imagining it.

"But," I added quickly, "I haven't really decided yet. I might stay a bit longer."

She smiled—but this time, there was something softer in it. A little... warmer.

"You're welcome here anytime, Vael."

That smile.

I was doomed.

Grim muttered like a grumpy old man in the back of my head.

"Here we go again..."

After helping Mira unload the fruit and stock the shelf, she offered me a seat again. I hesitated, but sat. Her sister was humming as she cleaned, and Mira was wiping the counter with gentle hands. It felt... domestic.

Too domestic.

"Are we settling down now, Vael?" Grim whispered sarcastically.

"What's next, matching aprons and dream house planning?"

I ignored him—again.

"Hey, do you want to stay for dinner?" Mira asked, brushing a loose strand of red hair behind her ear.

That caught me off guard.

"Dinner?"

"It's the least we can do. You saved my sister and helped with the shop. Besides…" she smiled, "I enjoy your company."

"Boom." Grim muttered. "There goes your brain. It's melted."

I scratched the back of my head, trying to play it cool.

"I'd love to. But only if you're cooking."

She rolled her eyes playfully.

"Don't expect a royal feast."

"Don't worry," I said with a grin. "I've eaten worse. Ask Grim."

"Hey!" Grim barked. "I'll have you know I once cooked for an emperor—granted, he died five minutes after, but still."

We laughed—well, I laughed out loud and Mira looked confused.

"Did I miss something?" she asked.

"Just... a weird memory," I said quickly, waving it off.