Rey slipped out of class, his footsteps echoing faintly in the empty corridor. He ducked into the bathroom, pushing the door closed behind him.
The unease from Aiden's earlier words still gnawed at his chest.
He turned toward the mirror, gripping the sink. "What did you just say?" His voice wavered.
Aiden's calm tone carried through the silence. "I said… your friend is no longer in this world."
The words sent a chill down Rey's spine. His fists tightened as his thoughts raced back to the factory. Evan had escaped while the thugs fell one by one. The others had no reason to harm him. So… why?
"Then where's his body?" Rey demanded, his voice trembling. "I'll find him. I'll bury him myself if I have to. At least then his soul—"
"What are you rambling about?" Aiden cut in, almost irritated. "When did I say he was dead?"
Rey froze. "…Huh?"
"I meant exactly what I said. He's not in this world. He's alive, just… somewhere else."
The tension in Rey's chest loosened, but not by much. "You mean… he's neither here, nor gone?"
"Correct. He was transported—teleported—to another realm entirely. Not in this universe. And until you're strong enough to walk the cosmos river, there's no way to reach him."
Rey staggered back against the stall door, his mind a whirl. "Another world…"
"You'll understand when you're stronger," Aiden said. "That's how it always goes. When does a protagonist ever learn the truth early on?" His lips curled faintly. "You'd shatter under it."
Rey flinched, recalling the searing agony of the bond's formation. That had only been a harmless tether, yet it nearly ripped him apart. What would a true injury to his soul do? He didn't want to imagine.
Aiden's voice steadied, as though measuring his words. "There was an artifact hidden in that factory. My guess is your friend stumbled upon it while fleeing. Zero and I sensed spatial fluctuations. That's how he slipped away."
"But…" Rey's brow furrowed. "Why would Evan know about something like that? And why only now?"
"The dreams," Aiden replied simply. "The ones he told you about. They weren't dreams. They were memories bleeding through."
Rey's pulse quickened. "Wait… you mean—"
Aiden's eyes narrowed. "Yes. He's a reincarnated soul."
Silence fell. Rey's breath caught.
"…What did you say?" His voice cracked.
"A reincarnated soul from the future," Aiden explained, his tone heavy. "He must have lived a life far ahead of ours, met his end, and returned here to change it."
Rey shook his head violently. "No. That makes no sense. He never acted like one. No cryptic words, no sudden change, no arrogance like those characters in manga. He was just… Evan."
"Life isn't a manga, boy," Aiden snapped, his patience thinning. "The truly powerful hide their truths. And only rare artifacts allow such long-reaching returns without breaking the soul. He wouldn't flaunt it. Not if he valued survival."
Rey clenched his jaw, his anger simmering. "So he kept it from me? From all of us? If this turns out true, I'll—"
Before he could finish, a voice snapped from the next stall.
"Oi, nerd. Can you stop whispering to your little girlfriend? Some of us actually need to use this place. Go roleplay outside."
Knocks followed, laughter trickling in from the other stalls. Rey's ears burned. He rushed out, covering his face with a hand, desperate not to become today's rumour mill.
He forgot one thing—today was his last day of school.
Back in the corridor, he exhaled hard. "At least… I should check Evan's place. Tell his landlord. Someone else could use the room."
By the time he reached his classroom, James was already waiting at the door, leaning casually against the wall. His sharp eyes locked onto Rey the moment he appeared.
"Oh, finally," James muttered. "You really don't know anything, do you?"
Rey tilted his head, confused. "What do you mean?"
"You were gone two days," James reminded him. "Yesterday, the teacher announced that today wouldn't be a lesson. Just exam info. Half-day dismissal."
"…So that's why everyone seemed so free earlier." Rey scratched his head.
James frowned. "And what was that thing you said in class earlier? Also—stop making that face. It doesn't suit you anymore."
Rey blinked, then straightened up. "I was saying… we should go to Evan's house after this."
James studied him, then nodded slowly. "Alright. Let's go."
-To Be Continued-