Wandering Ranger

i feel dizzy.

When I opened my eyes again, the world felt heavy.

Pain ached through my entire body, a dull but persistent reminder that something—everything—had gone wrong.

For a few seconds, I just stared at the ceiling.

Blankly.

Breathing slow.

Processing.

I wasn't at the docks anymore.

I wasn't on Blaire's back either.

I was… in a bed.

Which meant, at some point, they had brought me back to the inn.

Honestly, I was surprised I even got a bed.

After everything that happened, I half-expected them to just throw me onto the floor and call it a night (just kidding, I've brushed their favorability high enough lately, of course except Lucien, i didn't do much but it keep increasing, i wonder if he have some weird passive skill that make him like that)

Well now i'm here.

Under warm blankets.

Body aching like hell.

And the worst part

I wasn't alone.

Because my team who carried me till here.

They were all here.

Sitting in various spots around the room, making themselves comfortable.

Lucien was leaning against the wall, casually twirling a dagger between his fingers.

Edward was on a chair, arms crossed, looking more serious than usual.

Silvia sat near the window, hands folded neatly, but her eyes were studying me carefully.

And Blaire was closest.

Standing near the foot of my bed, arms folded, watching me with calm, unreadable eyes.

They were all waiting.

Not saying anything.

Just watching.

Like I was some medical patient under evaluation.

And despite how annoying it was—

It felt… warm.

Not that I would ever admit it.

——

Finally, after what felt like forever, Blaire spoke.

"What happened?"

Her voice was calm. Direct.

No sarcasm. No sharpness.

Just… a question.

She didn't wait for an answer.

Instead, she pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me.

A small mirror.

I frowned but took it.

Then, when I looked into it—

I froze.

Dark lines.

Faint but clearly visible.

Right under my eyelids.

The same ones from before.

The one that appeared when we were at the underground dungeon, although i didn't have a mirror at that time but the feeling under my eyes are the same as that time.

This thing started to appear when I absorbed something I shouldn't have.

——

I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"Alright. Fine. I'll talk."

Everyone leaned in slightly, listening.

And so—

I told them.

About the moment I touched the gem.

About the strange space.

About the Sea Terror appearing again.

About how it tried to take over my body—

And how, somehow…

I absorbed it instead.

Of course—

I didn't tell them everything.

I didn't mention that the Sea Terror called me a dead man.

I didn't mention how it acted like it knew me from before.

And I definitely didn't mention how I recognized it from the game.

Because that?

That would just raise more questions.

Questions I wasn't ready to answer.

So instead, I kept it simple.

"The damn thing tried to hijack my body," I muttered. "But it backfired on it instead."

Lucien raised an eyebrow. "And now… what? You just ate a sea dragon's soul?"

I groaned. "I don't know. Probably."Silvia's eyes narrowed.

Edward let out a slow breath. "That… explains a lot."

Blaire just kept staring at me.

Silent.

Like she was processing something.

——

Nobody said anything for a while.

Then, finally, Edward stood up, stretching.

"Well," he said. "As long as you're not dead, I'd say this was a successful mission."

Lucien smirked. "Not dead yet, at least."

Silvia sighed, but there was a hint of relief in her smile.

Blaire simply turned away, placing the mirror back into her pocket.

And with that—

The conversation ended.

They stayed in the room a bit longer.

Chatting about random things.

Nothing too serious.

Nothing about the marks under my eyes or the fact that I absorbed a monster.

Just… normal things.

And for now, at least for the current me.

That was enough.

So I just lay there, listening.

Letting the exhaustion take over.

____

The lines under my eyes slowly faded as I rested.

Not all at once.

But little by little.

Until, after a while, they were completely gone.

As for the pain?

It dulled.

Still there—lingering like a deep bruise—but no longer overwhelming.

Good enough.

I stretched.

Rolled my shoulders.

Flexed my fingers.

At first, it all felt normal.

But then—

A sensation crept in.

Wrong.

Imbalanced.

Like my body was off in some way.

I was used to myself.

Muscles.

Bones.

Tendons.

I knew what it meant to move.

To walk.

To stand.

To breathe.

But now?

Now it felt like something… else was there.

Something extra.

Like an artificial part had been mixed into me.

Something that wasn't supposed to exist.

It wasn't painful.

But it was wrong.

Like my body had been stretched slightly out of shape.

I hated it.

But I still stood up normally, acting like nothing was wrong.

Or at least, that's what I thought.

——

The team decided to visit the guild.

Not for any special reason.

Just to see if there was anything new.

I figured a walk might help.

Get some fresh air.

Maybe distract me from the uneasy feeling still lingering in my chest.

The moment we stepped inside, we saw that the guild hadn't processed our reward yet.

Which meant we were right on time to collect it fresh.

So far, so good.

But then—

It happened.

A group of kids ran past us.

Laughing.

Chasing each other.

Completely carefree.

It was normal.

Totally normal.

I had seen kids countless times before.

And usually?

I would watch them with a small smile.

Because that kind of innocent joy was precious in every world.

But this time—

The moment my eyes landed on them—

Something inside me shifted.

——

"Swallow."

My body locked up.

My breath hitched.

What…?

What the hell was that?

The word didn't just appear in my mind.

It echoed.

Loud.

Sharp.

Overwhelming.

Like a command.

Like an instinct.

A raw, carnal urge.

"Swallow."

I stiffened.

My hands tensed.

Every part of me screamed this was wrong.

This was not me.

Then—

Something shifted.

Not in the air or anything .

Not around me.

But beneath me.

My own shadow.

It twisted.

Like liquid warping in slow motion.

And then—

It rose.

Not fully.

Not into a separate form.

But just enough to look at me.

It had no eyes.

No mouth.

No features.

Just a dark, distorted figure staring up at me from the ground.

Then—

It spoke.

Or maybe it didn't.

Because the voice came not from the shadow—

But from within my own mind.

"Eat."

"Swallow."

My hands clenched.

A strange pressure settled in my throat.

Like something was trying to crawl its way out.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't think.

I was being dragged under.

Pulled into a space I didn't understand.

Something was wrong.

So horribly, terribly wrong.

And just when I thought I was about to lose myself completely—

A sharp pain exploded in my stomach.

___

I gasped.

The world snapped back into focus.

The shadow?

Gone.

The voice in my head?

Silent.

Instead—

I was staring at Edward.

Who was holding his sword.

Its name—what was it?

Sword of Clarity.

Yeah.

That was it.

And that same Sword of Clarity had just been slammed into my abdomen.

I groaned, clutching my stomach.

"What the hell, Edward?"

He didn't respond immediately.

Just studied me carefully.

Like he was trying to figure something out.

Finally, he said, "You were acting weird."

I scowled. "And that's enough reason to stab me?"

He smirked slightly. "Technically, I hit you with the hilt."

I opened my mouth to argue.

But then I noticed something.

His sword was glowing.

Not brightly.

Just a faint, almost imperceptible light.

Edward followed my gaze, then nodded.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I trusted my instincts. My sword reacted. So I hit you."

I blinked.

"Wait… you saw that thing, right?"

Edward frowned. "Saw what?"

I hesitated.

"The… the shadow. My shadow. It moved."

Silvia's face creased in concern.

Lucien tilted his head. "Uh… no, it didn't."

Blaire just stared at me.

Unmoving.

Unblinking.

I looked at them.

Then at the ground.

My shadow was… normal.

Completely still.

I swallowed hard.

So no one else saw it?

Then what the hell—

What the hell just happened to me?

——

I exhaled slowly.

"…Forget it."

Lucien shrugged. "If you say so."

Silvia didn't look convinced, but she didn't push it.

Edward, however, kept watching me.

Like he wasn't buying it.

And Blaire?

She finally spoke.

"We'll talk later."

That was all she said.

Then she turned and started walking.

I exhaled, rubbing my temples.

I had no idea what just happened.

But one thing was certain—

That thing inside me?

It wasn't just some remnant of the Sea Terror.

It was something else.

And it was getting stronger.

"How unlucky" i murmured to myself.

____

Even after we left the guild, the feeling didn't go away.

That lingering wrongness.

Like something had crawled under my skin and decided to stay.

I kept my breathing steady, my steps normal—

Pretending everything was fine.

But inside?

I was far from fine.

Because something had changed.

Something deep.

Something fundamental.

And I didn't know how to fix it.

——

The road to the inn was quieter than usual.

Maybe it was just me.

But the others seemed a little different too.

Lucien wasn't talking as much.

Edward, usually the one to break the silence, was lost in thought.

Silvia kept glancing at me.

And Blaire?

She was ahead of us.

Walking steadily.

Not looking back.

But I could feel it.

She was paying attention.

Even if she didn't show it.

The moment we entered the inn, I expected the usual—

A meal.

A bit of rest before the next mission.

Maybe even some casual conversation to lighten the mood.

But this time?

No one went to the dining area.

No one even spoke.

Instead, we all ended up in my room.

Just like before.

But this time—

There was a heaviness in the air.

Something unspoken.

——

I sat on the bed.

Leaning forward.

Hands clasped together.

Lucien was leaning against the wall again, arms crossed.

Edward sat on the chair, his sword resting against his knee.

Silvia stood near the window, light from the outside casting a faint glow on her face.

And Blaire stood by the door.

Silent.

Watching.

Then, finally—

She spoke.

"You need to tell us exactly what happened."

I sighed.

Of course.

I didn't want to talk.

Not because I was hiding something.

But because I didn't even know how to explain it.

How do you tell someone, "Hey, I think my own shadow tried to talk to me?"

How do you say, "I felt something inside me demand that I consume a bunch of innocent children?"

How do you admit that for a brief moment,

You weren't sure if you were still yourself?

But I had no choice.

They were waiting.

So I started.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Explaining what happened at the guild.

How my mind was invaded by a thought that wasn't mine.

How my shadow twisted and looked at me.

How Edward's sword snapped me out of it.

I left out the part about my body feeling different.

Because even now, I wasn't sure if that was just my imagination.

Or something worse.

——

Lucien was the first to speak.

"Okay," he said, rubbing his chin. "That's terrifying."

Edward nodded, his expression serious. "And you're sure it wasn't just… a hallucination?"

I gave him a flat look.

"You literally hit me with a sword and it worked. Does that sound like a hallucination to you?"

Silvia frowned. "A presence taking over your mind… that's not normal possession. Possessed people don't recognize it's happening to them. You did."

She had a point.

Most possession stories ended with the victim losing control completely.

But I was aware.

I fought against it.

Which meant it wasn't fully in control yet.

Which meant—

It could still get worse, maybe.

——

Blaire, however?

She wasn't shocked.

She wasn't confused.

She wasn't even curious.

She was expecting this.

Like she already knew something.

Her arms were crossed, her red eyes piercing into me.

Then, after a moment, she finally asked—

"Do you feel like yourself?"

That made me pause.

I wanted to say yes.

I really did.

But I hesitated.

Because the truth was—

I didn't know.

I was still me.

But something else was there too.

Lingering.

Waiting.

I could feel it.

Even now.

Watching.

Breathing.

From within me.

So I took a deep breath.

And answered honestly.

"I don't know."

——

Silence filled the room again.

No one knew what to say to that.

Because what do you even say?

But then—

Blaire pushed off the wall and walked toward me.

She stood in front of me, staring down.

Then, in the same calm, steady voice as always—

She said, "Then we watch."

I frowned. "Watch?"

She nodded.

"We'll watch what happens. We'll figure it out. If something tries to take over—"

Her hand rested on the hilt of her weapon.

"We stop it."

I swallowed.

Not because I was scared of her.

But because I trusted her to mean it.

Lucien exhaled. "Not exactly reassuring, but I'll take it."

Edward grinned. "Well, that settles it. You've got an elite monitoring squad now, Gunavor."

Silvia smiled softly. "We're in this together."

I sighed.

It wasn't the most comforting answer.

But it was the best one I could hope for.

For now, at least.

——

Eventually, the others left my room, giving me space to rest.

Lucien was the last to go, pausing at the door.

Then, with a smirk, he said—

"Try not to eat anyone in your sleep, yeah?"

Before I could throw something at him, he disappeared.

I sighed, rubbing my face.

Then, finally—

I lay back down.

Staring at the ceiling.

Alone again.

And yet—

I didn't feel alone.

Because something was still there.

Still inside me.

Still waiting.

And as my eyes drifted shut, one thought echoed in my mind.

"What have I become?"

_____

The moment my eyes closed, sleep took me instantly.

And that's when it happened.

The worst possible thing that i didn't consider at all.

——

I wasn't in the clear space my future self had pulled me into.

I wasn't in the chaotic abyss where the Sea Terror tried to devour me.

This was something different.

Something worse.

The world around me was like turbid water—

Dark, murky, filled with two opposing forces clashing violently.

One felt like a virus—eating, corrupting, spreading.

The other felt like an antidote—fighting back, resisting, but slowly getting overwhelmed.

And me?

I was stuck in the middle.

An outsider, yet deeply affected by both.

It drove me insane.

My mind felt like it was being ripped apart.

I tried to wake up.

To force myself back to reality.

But I couldn't.

There was no voice.

No movement.

No escape.

I was trapped in a nightmare.

One that felt too real.

Just as despair started creeping in,

A hand tapped my shoulder.

I spun around—

And froze.

It was him.

Me.

My future self.

The same figure who had once spoken to me.

The same one who had given me this strange power.

But—

"Didn't you disappear?"

My voice came out harsh, angry.

"Are you the one causing this??"

He sighed.

"No."

His tone was firm.

"I really did disappear. This has nothing to do with me."

I gritted my teeth.

"Then what the hell is this!?"

He gestured toward the chaotic space around us.

"It's the inheritance I left for you."

I blinked. "What?"

"I set up a failsafe. A backhand in case something went wrong. If the power I left behind ever became dangerous, this form will manifest in your dream to stabilize it."

I stared blankly.

"…So something went wrong."

He nodded.

And that's when I knew—

It was worse than i thought.

I took a deep breath and asked, "What happened?"

Because I had no clue.

Not anymore.

And the answer?

I wasn't ready for it.

"Something that shouldn't have happened… happened."

He pointed at my body—at the war happening inside me.

"A massive ball of resentment, negative emotions, and corrupted energy invaded you."

My heart sank.

"Where the hell did that come from?"

His answer was immediate.

"The gem you touched in the ruins."

I clenched my fists. "Of course. Figures."

He continued.

"Your body didn't absorb it willingly. It was a defensive reaction. The inheritance I left behind sensed a threat and… devoured it."

At first, that sounded good.

It protected me.

It saved me.

But then he added—

"And just like a clean water source being contaminated by filth…"

"The power inside you was tainted."

…Oh.

Oh shit.

"So," I exhaled. "What do we do?"

"We need a third force."

I blinked. "A what?"

"A third force to neutralize the balance."

I pointed at myself. "Me?"

He shook his head.

"No. You're already part of this equation. You can't fix yourself."

Great.

Fantastic.

"So… can I just wake up and call for help?"

He sighed.

"No. You're completely trapped. Your body in the real world is unresponsive."

I groaned.

"Am I doomed, then?"

But then—

His expression changed.

A small smile appeared on his face.

"It seems you really made some great friends, huh?"

I frowned.

"What?"

"Someone sensed your chaotic aura in the real world and approached your body."

I tensed.

"…Who?"

He smirked.

"I can pull their consciousness here. That's our only shot."

I sighed.

There was no other option.

"Fine," I muttered. "Just… make sure they don't get hurt."

"That i can promise."

Then—

He lifted his hand.

A pulse of energy surged outward—

And then—

A figure appeared.

——

My eyes widened.

Blaire.

Of all people—

It was Blaire.

But that wasn't what shocked me.

No.

It was something else.

Something I had never seen before.

Because standing there—

With her same calm expression, her same piercing red eyes—

Were two massive, obsidian-colored wings.

Wings.

Like a fallen angel from a forgotten myth.

A creature that shouldn't exist.

My mouth opened.

The first thing I could say?

"Since when did you have wings??"

She tilted her head slightly.

Completely unfazed.

Then, in the same flat tone as always—

"Since always."

——

I just stood there.

Processing.

Wings.

Blaire had wings.

Why did she have wings?

Did the others two know?

Was I the only one in the dark?

But before I could even voice a single question—

My future self spoke.

"No time for shock. She's here to help."

Blaire's red eyes glowed faintly as she turned toward the chaotic storm around us.

Then, for the first time ever—

She actually smiled.

"Let's clean this mess up."

That's what Blaire said.

But instead of jumping into action—

She just stood there.

Watching.

Then, tilting her head slightly, she spoke.

"Well, before we start—"

"Which one of you is the real Gunavor?"

I blinked.

"Huh?"

She looked between me and my future self, her expression completely neutral.

"I see two of you. So which one is the true self?"

I opened my mouth.

Paused.

Frowned.

What the hell kind of question was that?

Before I could say anything stupid, my future self sighed.

"Of course you'd ask that."

Then, looking at me, he explained—

"In the dream world, or the consciousness world, everyone appears in their true form."

I stared.

"What?"

"Not physically," he clarified.

"It means that what you see here… is the real you. No masks. No false selves. Just truth."

I slowly turned back to Blaire.

"So… that's why you asked?"

She nodded.

"I was just curious."

I looked at my future self.

Then back at me.

Then back at him.

…So what did that mean?

Was I him?

Or was he just a manifestation of my past and future clashing together?

And more importantly—

If this place showed your true self…

Then what did that say about Blaire?

Because she had wings.

And no one—not even once—had ever mentioned Blaire having wings.

She must have seen my expression.

Because she simply tilted her head slightly.

"You're thinking too much."

I scowled. "Excuse me? You literally have wings."

She shrugged. "And?"

I narrowed my eyes. "And that's not normal!"

She actually looked amused.

"Neither is absorbing a sea dragon's soul, but here we are."

…Okay.

Fair point.

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"You know what? Never mind. Let's just deal with this first."

My future self, or the antivirus as I now liked to call him, exhaled.

"Now that we're done asking useless questions—"

I shot him a glare.

"—let's get to the actual problem."

He gestured to the chaotic mess around us.

"Right now, your body is a battlefield. Two forces are fighting—one to corrupt, one to defend."

I sighed. "Yeah, I got that part."

"The problem is that they're too evenly matched."

Blaire crossed her arms. "So you need an outside force to tip the scales."

Future Me nodded.

"Exactly. That's why I brought you here."

That made me pause.

Of all people—

Why Blaire?

Was it because she was the closest to my body outside?

Lucien, Edward, Silvia—any of them could've been pulled in.

But it was her.

And judging by the way she wasn't surprised to be here,

She probably understood more than she let on.

I glanced at my antivirus.

"You knew she was the best choice, didn't you?"

He smirked. "Of course."

I groaned. "Mind letting me in on why?"

Blaire, for the first time, hesitated.

Then—

She sighed.

"Because my presence neutralizes corruption."

My eyes widened.

"What?"

She shifted slightly, wings twitching.

"My bloodline was born from a long history of war against creatures that thrived on corruption and darkness."

I stared.

The puzzle pieces was put together, that day we fought the Corrupted Lord, he did say something about her bloodline too, i thought he was just crazy and started shouting nonsense, i thought he only meant Edward Bloodline and simply made a mistake about Blaire.

But it seems…..i was completely wrong, what the hell I'm missing too?

Then glanced at my future self.

"You knew this?"

He nodded.

"That's why I pulled her in. She's the perfect counterbalance to what's happening inside you."

——

I looked back at Blaire.

For the first time…

She seemed more open.

Less guarded.

Maybe because in this world, there was no need for masks.

Maybe because this was her true self.

Either way, she finally said—

"This is why I was chosen to protect Silvia."

That made me pause.

"Not because of your strength?"

She shook her head.

"That's just a bonus."

The real reason?

It was because of her ability to resist and neutralize corruption.

Her presence alone was a barrier against things like this.

And now…

That power was going to save me.

My antivirus looked at her.

"You ready?"

She simply nodded.

Then stepped forward.

And as she placed her hand against my chest, a surge of warmth flooded through me.

Not fire.

Not burning.

But like a steady, calming presence.

And for the first time since this nightmare began—

The chaos around us began to settle.

Like a stone falling into the water, stirring waves in the still battlefield that was in a stalemate.

The storm started to fade.

The balance shifted.

And I—

I could finally breathe.

As the world around me faded to white,

As I felt my real body pulling me back,

One last thought ran through my mind.

"Blaire… just what the hell are you really?"

And then—

I woke up.

____

The moment my eyes snapped open, I felt it.

The difference.

The war inside me—gone.

The unbearable pressure—lifted.

For the first time since I touched that damned gem, my body felt… quiet.

No whispering voices.

No twisted urges.

No shadow creeping beneath me.

Just… me.

But that didn't mean everything was fine.

Because the first thing I saw when I woke up?

Was Blaire.

Sitting next to my bed, arms crossed, eyes closed—

Like she had been watching over me.

And the moment I moved—

Her eyes opened.

——

We didn't say anything at first.

She just stared at me.

And I?

I just stared back.

Because after what just happened—after what I saw in that dream—

There was so much I wanted to ask.

But also…

I didn't know where to start.

I saw her true self.

The wings.

The aura.

The power she rarely, if ever, showed.

And yet, here she was, sitting there like nothing happened.

Like she hadn't just dove into my nightmare and pulled me back from the edge.

——

Finally, after what felt like forever, she spoke.

"You're awake."

Her voice was calm.

Controlled.

As if last night never happened.

As if she hadn't just saved me.

I swallowed. "Yeah."

A pause.

Then, casually, she added—

"You screamed in your sleep."

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Loudly."

I groaned, rubbing my face. "Great."

"You also grabbed my wrist."

I froze.

Slowly, I lowered my hand.

"…I did what?"

Her red eyes didn't waver.

"You grabbed my wrist. You wouldn't let go. So I stayed."

I felt my entire soul leave my body.

I grabbed Blaire.

And she stayed?

What kind of timeline was this?

I coughed. "Uh. Right. Well. Thanks for that."

She just shrugged.

Like it wasn't a big deal.

But for me?

For someone who had spent so long figuring her out—

This was something new.

Because Blaire never stayed.

She never let anyone hold her back.

And yet…

For some reason…

She had let me.

I glanced at her wrist.

At her pale skin, completely unmarked.

Then, cautiously, I asked—

"Did it hurt?"

Her expression didn't change.

"No."

I nodded slowly.

"Good."

And for the second time in a row—

She smiled.

Just a little.

Barely noticeable.

But it was there.

And just like that—

I felt the tension ease.

——

Before anything else could be said, the door swung open.

And in came—

Lucien.

Grinning like he knew everything.

Followed by Edward, looking relieved.

And Silvia, carrying a tray of food.

Lucien, of course, was the first to speak.

"Well, well, well. Look who's alive."

I sighed. "Let me guess. You missed me?"

He clicked his tongue.

"Missed watching you suffer? Absolutely."

Edward chuckled. "You gave us a scare, though."

Silvia smiled gently, placing the tray on the table beside me.

"You should eat. You were out for a while."

I blinked. "How long?"

"Almost a full day."

Oh.

That… explained a lot.

——

I stretched, testing my body.

No pain.

No heaviness.

Just the lingering memory of what happened.

Lucien plopped down on the chair, grinning.

"Sooo… nightmares, huh?"

I glared. "None of your business."

"Which means it's definitely my business."

Edward smirked. "You were acting weird before you passed out, Gunavor. And now? You're fine. So tell us—what happened?"

I glanced at Blaire.

She was silent again.

Not interfering.

Not stopping them.

Just waiting.

Like she wanted to see what I'd say.

I exhaled.

And then—

I started talking.

——

I told them some things.

Not everything.

Not about the true form stuff.

Not about Blaire's wings.

Not about the fact that my future self still lingers somewhere inside me.

But I did tell them about—

The chaotic battlefield inside me.

The corrupted energy that tried to take over.

How I was trapped in my own mind, unable to wake up.

And how, somehow, I managed to fight it off.

Lucien whistled. "That's some heavy dream lore, man."

Edward nodded seriously. "But it's over now, right?"

I hesitated.

Then nodded.

"Yeah. It's over."

At least…

That's what I hoped.

If it's Blaire, she wouldn't leave anything half done.

——

After that, things returned to normal.

Mostly.

Silvia made sure I ate.

Edward made sure I could walk.

Lucien made sure to be annoying.

And Blaire?

She just… watched.

Like she knew this wasn't truly over and was ready to finish the job at any moment.

And maybe she was right.

Maybe the corruption inside me was still waiting.

But for now?

I was here.

Awake.

Alive.

And that was enough.

___

Life moved on.

The guild.

The quests.

The daily routine of an adventurer.

Everything went back to normal.

Or at least, it pretended to.

I went back to training.

Back to scuffing at Lucien's nonsense.

I also had to compete with Edward in friendly spars, i don't know why requested this but i didn't see any problem.

And back to watching Silvia take care of everyone, whether they liked it or not.

Now I'm enjoying dealing with Blaire's quiet but ever-present watchfulness.

It felt the same.

But I wasn't the same.

And I don't think I ever would be.

——

The problem with changing is that no one else notices it right away.

Not unless it's obvious.

But I felt it in everything I did.

When I walked—I felt like something else was walking with me.

When I fought—my body reacted in ways I didn't fully understand.

When I looked in the mirror—I stared a little longer, trying to recognize myself.

I was still me.

But at the same time…

I wasn't just me anymore.

And that terrified me a little.

——

Blaire knew.

I could tell.

She never said anything outright.

But she was watching.

Her eyes lingered on me longer than before.

Not with suspicion.

Not with fear.

But with calculation.

Like she was waiting.

Like she expected something to happen.

And maybe she was right to.

——

A few days has passed since then, everything was on track.

One evening, after a long day, I was sitting on the balcony of the inn.

Just staring at the city.

Letting the cool breeze wash over me.

Then, without a sound, Blaire appeared beside me.

I didn't look at her.

Didn't have to.

She had a way of existing quietly, like a shadow that only made itself known when it wanted to.

For a while, we just sat there.

Neither of us speaking.

Until finally, she asked—

"How do you feel?"

I exhaled slowly.

"Like I survived something I shouldn't have."

She nodded. "You did."

A pause.

Then I turned to her.

"Do you think it's really over?"

She didn't answer right away.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her red eyes scanning me.

Then she said—

"I think the worst part is over."

Not it's over.

Not you're safe now.

Just that the worst had passed.

I sighed.

Not exactly the answer I wanted.

But it was probably the truth.

——

I turned back to the view of the city.

She stayed beside me.

Neither of us in a rush to leave.

Because we both knew.

Whatever happened next—

Whatever came after this—

It wasn't going to be easy.

But at least, for now—

I wasn't facing it alone.

____

The city stretched out before us, bathed in the soft glow of lanterns and moonlight.

From the balcony, I could see everything.

The people walking below, moving about their lives like nothing had changed.

The guild building in the distance, where adventurers laughed, drank, and planned their next quests.

The sky above, clear and quiet, as if the world hadn't just tried to break me.

For them, this was just another night.

For me?

It felt like I had barely survived a war even thought many days have passed.

A war that no one else even saw.

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the railing.

Something in my chest felt heavy.

Not painful.

Just… tired.

And for some reason, maybe because Blaire was sitting there, just existing in her usual silence, I finally let the thought slip out.

"Do you think I'm too abnormal… or is it just the world that's abnormal?"

I wasn't sure why I asked.

Maybe because I needed an outside perspective.

Maybe because I knew she would answer honestly.

Or maybe because I just wanted someone to tell me that I wasn't the problem.

Blaire didn't answer right away.

She just watched the city with me.

Her red eyes flickered slightly, reflecting the lantern lights below.

Then, finally, she sighed.

"You ask strange questions."

I chuckled, though it was weak. "You're avoiding the answer."

She tilted her head slightly.

"No, I'm thinking about it."

That surprised me.

Because if Blaire had to actually think about something, then that meant it wasn't a simple answer.

After another long pause, she finally said—

"You're abnormal."

I exhaled slowly. "Right. Figures."

Then, before I could say anything else, she added—

"But so is the world."

I turned to her, eyebrows raised. "So what? We're both messed up?"

She glanced at me, expression unreadable.

"If you were normal, you'd be dead."

I blinked. "…That's not comforting."

She shrugged. "It wasn't meant to be."

I sighed.

Leave it to Blaire to drop a brutal truth with zero hesitation.

——

I let her words settle.

I was abnormal.

I knew that.

Even before the Sea Terror.

Even before the shadow tried to take over.

From the moment I landed in this world, I had been different.

But the world?

It wasn't any better.

It threw monsters, dungeons, and ancient horrors at people every day and expected them to survive.

It gave some people magic, others strength, and others nothing at all.

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't kind.

It was just… chaos.

So maybe, in the end—

I wasn't abnormal.

I was just built for this kind of place.

——

I turned to Blaire, watching her for a second.

She was still staring at the city, but something about her posture was… different.

Less rigid.

A little more relaxed.

So I asked, "And what about you?"

She didn't turn to me.

Didn't react right away.

But eventually, she answered—

"What about me?"

I frowned. "You say I'm abnormal. But you—"

I hesitated.

Then finally said it.

"You have wings, Blaire."

She finally looked at me.

Expression calm.

Unbothered.

"And?"

I sighed. "And you're just acting like that's normal."

She was silent for a moment.

Then, after a pause, she spoke.

"I never needed to act like it was normal."

"Because to me, it always was."

I thought about that.

For her, this wasn't new.

She had always been this way.

But for me?

It was still a mystery.

There was so much I didn't know about Blaire.

So many questions I could ask.

But right now?

I was too tired to press further.

Instead, I just nodded slowly.

"I see."

She studied me for a second longer.

Then turned back to the city.

And just like that, the moment passed.

____

Eventually, she stood up.

"Get some rest."

I sighed. "Yeah, yeah."

She didn't leave right away.

Instead, she glanced at me once more and added—

"You're not broken, Gunavor."

That made me pause.

Not because of what she said.

But because she never called me by my name.

Not often.

Maybe not even once before this accident.

By the time I processed it, she was already gone.

Leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I leaned back against the chair.

Staring at the city once more.

And as the night stretched on, one thought echoed in my mind.

"I'm not broken… but I'm not whole either."

Maybe that was enough.

______

The morning came quicker than expected.

Or maybe I just didn't sleep well.

Either way, I found myself standing in the guild hall once again, surrounded by my team.

And this time?

A new quest was waiting for us.

One that would take us far from here.

__

The guild master leaned back in his chair, tossing a rolled-up parchment onto the desk in front of us.

"This one came straight from the capital," he said.

Edward raised an eyebrow. "That important?"

The guild master sighed. "Important enough that you lot got personally recommended for it."

I frowned. "By who?"

He smirked. "The Wither City guild branch."

I sighed.

Of course.

They probably sent word ahead about what we'd done in Nightale.

And now, someone higher up had taken notice.

I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Lucien, on the other hand, looked thrilled.

"We're moving up in the world, huh?" he grinned, snatching the parchment.

Then he unrolled it and read aloud.

"Escort mission. Destination: Clarben, western region of Ardnal. Required personnel: Combat-capable adventurers. Objective: Ensure the safe delivery of an important cargo. Compensation: Negotiable, dependent on successful completion."

Silvia tilted her head. "Sounds vague."

Edward nodded. "And escort missions usually mean trouble."

Blaire said nothing, but I could tell she was already thinking ahead.

I, on the other hand, was stuck on one thing.

"Clarben?" I repeated.

Lucien glanced at me. "You know it?"

I hesitated. "Not really. Just… sounds weird."

Clarben.

A city I hadn't thought about before.

A city that, from the description, was located in the dry lands.

I'd never been to that part of the kingdom.

And yet…

Something about it felt off.

"It's surrounded by sand," Silvia mused, tapping her chin. "A desert city?"

Edward nodded. "It's one of the western trade hubs. Lots of merchants pass through it, bringing goods from beyond the kingdom."

Lucien grinned. "Oh? Sounds fun. I like new places."

I crossed my arms. "I don't trust escort missions."

Lucien smirked. "I don't trust any mission."

Fair.

Blaire finally spoke.

"What are we escorting?"

The guild master shrugged.

"That's the tricky part. The client didn't say."

We all paused.

Silvia frowned. "That's… concerning."

Edward's expression darkened slightly. "If they won't tell us upfront, it means it's something valuable. Or dangerous. Or both."

Lucien stretched his arms. "Sounds like a gamble."

I sighed. "So what's our answer?"

Edward looked at everyone.

Then, finally, he said—

"We take it."

No hesitation.

No doubt.

Just confidence.

And honestly?

I didn't mind.

Because if there was one thing I was certain of—

This trip was going to be interesting.

——

Within hours, we were already preparing to leave Nightale.

Supplies? Checked.

Gear? Checked.

Mental readiness for whatever madness awaited us? Still questionable.

The road to Clarben was long.

The desert was unforgiving.

And our cargo?

Still a mystery.

But if life had taught me anything, it was this—

The unknown was always where things got exciting.

____

Leaving Nightale behind felt strangely… easy.

No lingering business.

No unfinished tasks.

No strange feelings tugging at my mind.

For once, it was just a clean departure.

But somehow, that made it worse.

Because when things start going too smoothly—

It usually means trouble is waiting ahead.

Clarben is located in the western region of Ardnal, past rolling fields and deep forests…

And then?

The dry lands.

A place where the green faded into gold.

Where the air turned thicker, hotter, heavier.

Where the endless dunes stretched for miles, swallowing up the horizon.

I had never been to a desert city before.

And even though I knew it was still within the same kingdom—

It might as well have been a different world.

——

Our client were a merchant group.

Simple-looking people, dressed in light robes, their wagons filled with sealed crates.

They never told us what was inside.

Only that it was important.

Which, to me, meant one of two things:

Either it was extremely valuable.

Or it was something that shouldn't be transported at all.

But the payment was high.

Which meant we weren't being paid to ask questions.

We were being paid to shut up and keep them safe.

——

We started traveling.

The first few days?

Nothing happened.

The roads were clear.

The nights were quiet.

Even Lucien, who usually had something to complain about, was just enjoying the ride.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was… off.

The merchants were too nervous.

They spoke in hushed whispers when they thought we weren't listening.

They checked their cargo constantly, as if expecting something to jump out.

And the way their leader—an older man named Renald—kept avoiding eye contact with us?

Yeah.

This wasn't going to be simple.

Then, on the fourth night, something changed.

I was standing guard with Blaire while the others rested.

The desert air was cooler at night, but the silence was unnatural.

No wind.

No distant animal cries.

Just… stillness.

And then—

I felt it.

That familiar prickle on the back of my neck.

Like we were being watched.

Blaire noticed too.

I saw her eyes flick to the side, scanning the dunes.

Her grip on her weapon tightened.

"We're not alone," she murmured.

I nodded.

Because I could feel it too.

Something—or someone—was out there.

Watching.

Waiting.

And the question wasn't if they would attack—

It was when.

I glanced back at the caravan.

The merchants were asleep.

Unaware.

Or maybe pretending to be.

Either way, it didn't matter.

Because whatever was out there—it wasn't going to wait forever.

I turned to Blaire.

"Should we wake the others?"

She hesitated for a moment.

Then, in a voice that was far too calm—

"No need."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

And then, as if to answer my question—

A figure stepped out from the dunes.

Dressed in dark, sand-colored robes.

Silent.

Unmoving.

And then?

Another.

Then another.

Until the entire ridge was filled with shrouded figures.

I exhaled slowly.

"Well."

I reached for my weapons.

"At least they're polite enough to show themselves."

Blaire?

She just smiled.

___

The desert wind howled around us, carrying the scent of dry sand and distant danger.

The figures in the distance stood motionless, their dark, sand-colored robes blending into the dunes behind them.

I could feel their gaze locked onto us—watching, waiting.

Anticipating our next move.

I tightened my grip on my weapons.

And then—I turned to Blaire.

"Could you let me handle this?" I asked. "I want to try something."

She looked at me, her red eyes flickering with something unreadable.

Then, after a brief pause—

She nodded.

"Fine. Just don't get yourself killed."

——

With her approval, I exhaled slowly and took a step forward.

The sand shifted beneath my boots, the weight of my gear pressing down with each movement.

The rib armor, still eerie in its structure, wrapped around my torso like a second skin.

The bronze armguards and boots, remnants of past battles, gleamed faintly under the pale moonlight.

The short sword in my hand felt almost weightless.

Something had changed since that nightmare.

I could feel it.

Not just in my mind.

Not just in my body.

But in the way I saw the world.

My vision had improved strangely over the past few days.

It was like I could now see things I wasn't supposed to.

Flaws.

Weaknesses.

Cracks in the enemy's stance.

And I was going to test it.

——

Without hesitation—I moved.

I lunged toward the nearest figure, my body faster than before, my sword already swinging.

The moment I slashed—

A black wave of energy erupted from the blade, cutting through the air like a razor-sharp shadow.

The moment it hit—

The figure's head flew clean off.

The body stood there for a brief second, like it hadn't realized it was dead—

Then collapsed.

A pool of darkened blood spread into the sand.

I stared at the scene before me.

At the lifeless corpse.

At the ominous, black energy still crackling along my blade.

That… wasn't normal.

That attack—that power—wasn't something I had before.

It wasn't just a sword swing.

It was something else.

Something that had surfaced after that nightmare.

And strangely…

Watching that head roll across the sand didn't make me feel anything.

No shock.

No hesitation.

No disgust.

It felt natural.

Like I had done it a thousand times before.

Like I had always been this way.

The other figures reacted instantly.

A few rushed toward me, blades drawn, their robes fluttering as they moved.

But my body moved faster.

I twisted, slashing low, another wave of black energy bursting from my blade.

The sand was painted red.

Another headless body hit the ground.

Then another.

Then another.

It wasn't just a fight.

It was a slaughter.

And for some reason—

I wasn't holding back.

——

I didn't know how long it lasted.

But by the time the last enemy fell, the sand around me was soaked in blood.

The smell of iron and death filled the air.

And then—

I felt a gaze on me.

I turned.

Blaire was staring at me.

Her arms were crossed.

Her expression?

A deep frown.

She wasn't surprised.

She wasn't impressed.

She wasn't even concerned.

She was simply… watching.

Like she had expected this.

Like she had seen this before.

And for some reason, that made me uneasy.

I glanced down at my own hands.

At my blade, still coated in blood.

At my armor, splattered with crimson.

And suddenly—

It hit me.

I had let myself loose.

I had killed too easily.

I had felt too comfortable.

For a moment…

I had forgotten what it meant to hesitate.

What it meant to question.

I sighed.

A deep, exhausted sigh.

Because I realized something terrible.

"I think I'm losing my humanity."

The moment I said it—

I felt a sharp impact on my head.

Not from an enemy.

From Blaire.

Her fist connected with my skull, hard enough to sting, but not hard enough to actually hurt.

I clutched my head. "What the hell!?"

She looked down at me, her frown deepening.

"Don't talk nonsense."

I stared at her, blinking.

"I'm serious."

"And I seriously don't care."

Her tone was firm. Final.

"You're still you. Stop acting like you're turning into something else."

I frowned.

She said it so casually.

Like there wasn't something fundamentally wrong with me.

But maybe…

Maybe she knew something I didn't.

I rubbed my head, still annoyed.

"Wew, I'm just kidding, ma'am."

Her expression didn't change.

"No, you weren't."

Damn it.

She was right.

I wasn't kidding.

I was actually worried.

That thought sat uncomfortably in my chest.

Because if Blaire could see through me this easily—

Then maybe I was still me after all.

And maybe that was the problem.

Edward and the others arrived a few minutes later, weapons drawn.

Lucien took one look at the slaughtered corpses and whistled.

"Damn, Gunavor. You really went all out."

Silvia's gaze was more measured.

She looked at me—then at Blaire—then back at me.

Edward just sighed. "At least it's over."

But I?

I wasn't so sure.

Because even though the battle was finished—

There is still a cargo for us to escort.

That was just beginning, i hope nothing crazy jump up next.