Shun sat quietly, lost in thought as he finished breakfast. His mind was swirling with questions, ones he couldn't quite answer. Should I tell Noct about this strange power? This strange force that lets me return from death… Is it a blessing or something much darker?
After a moment of hesitation, Shun decided to at least test the waters.
-"Hey, Noct… just hypothetically… if someone had dreams where they could see the future… or even… return to moments before their death… would that be considered a skill, or… an ability?"
Noct froze mid-bite, his playful grin fading instantly. His long black ears dropped slightly, his golden eyes narrowing in a serious way Shun had never seen before.
The air around them turned heavier, even Mye looked up in quiet concern. Shun's heart thumped hard in his chest.
Noct's voice was lower than usual, calm but laced with an unsettling weight.
-"Shun… if what you're asking is real… that wouldn't be called a skill… nor an ability," Noct said, slowly, carefully choosing his words. "That… would be considered a curse. A very, very dangerous curse."
Shun swallowed hard. Something he had suspected deep down was now spoken aloud, and the confirmation made his skin crawl. He wanted to ask more, to push for answers, but the look on Noct's face made him stop. It was the first time Shun had seen Noct genuinely grim.
-"Understood," Shun replied quietly, deciding to hold back for now.
Moments passed in heavy silence.
Then, in a blink, Noct's grin returned, his usual mischievous energy bubbling back like nothing had happened.
-"Anyway, let's finish eating and go shopping! First time we actually have some decent cash to burn."
Shun gave a faint smile, standing up to settle the bill for their hearty meal. The three of them then set off toward the bustling marketplace.
Shun purchased a sturdy shield, just the right size for Mye — not too heavy, but durable enough to protect her. He also picked up two swords: one for himself and one for Mye, so she could defend herself properly if needed.
Noct was back to his usual self, darting between stalls, pointing out weapons, food stalls, and even some ridiculous street performances.
The weight in Shun's heart remained — that nagging unease about his strange power… or curse. But in this moment, walking alongside Mye and Noct, Shun realized he wasn't alone in this cruel world anymore
On the way back to their base, the group had to brave a fierce snowstorm. The howling wind cut through their clothes like icy blades, forcing them to shield their faces as they pressed forward. Remembering the cave they had stayed in before their trip to Effingham, Shun quickly led the group toward it. By the time they arrived, the night had already fallen, and the temperature had dropped even further, turning the world into a frozen prison.
Inside the cave, they quickly set up a small campfire. The crackling flames brought much-needed warmth, pushing back the cold and lighting up the damp stone walls. Mye sat close to the fire, her hands stretched out toward the heat, a content sigh escaping her lips. Shun rested against the wall, his sword propped up nearby, while Noct lay lazily on a rock, flicking his long ears in rhythm with the popping firewood.
The group began talking, sharing their impressions of Effingham.
-"It was… busy," Mye admitted, a small smile on her face. "So many people… it was overwhelming… but… kind of exciting."
Shun chuckled softly.
-"Yeah, chaotic… but we survived it. And at least we got some decent equipment and food from it."
Noct grinned, teeth flashing in the dim light. -"And cash! Don't forget the cash, boys and girls. That's what makes life easier in a garbage world like this."
Laughter erupted around the fire, soft but sincere. In that moment, amidst the blizzard raging outside, they found something rare—warmth, safety, and the fleeting feeling of belonging.
The cold winds howled beyond the cave's entrance, but within, the warmth of the fire and their quiet conversation softened the night's harshness. For a brief moment, the world outside felt distant… and they were simply three souls, resting, laughing, and surviving together.
As everyone fell asleep, Shun suddenly opened his eyes and found himself standing in a vast, empty space. There was no scenery, no sky, no ground—just endless darkness stretching in every direction. The suffocating void pressed in from all sides, chilling and silent.
In the distance, a woman with long blonde hair appeared—the same woman Shun had seen back on Earth. Her face, however, was completely obscured by thick shadows, her features hidden in the void. Shun's heart raced as he instinctively called out to her, hoping for an answer.
But the woman said nothing.
Her silence was deafening, her presence unsettling. Shun took a cautious step forward, but before he could reach her, something felt wrong. A dreadful coldness crept up his spine.
He turned his back for a brief moment to check his surroundings—only to feel a crushing grip tighten around his throat.
Shun gasped and snapped his head around—only to come face to face with a grotesque nightmare. The woman's blonde hair whipped wildly in the void, but her face… her face had morphed into something twisted and deformed, a monstrous grin splitting her features unnaturally wide, eyes sunken and hollow.
With a bone-chilling screech, her jaw unhinged, opening wide enough to swallow Shun whole.
Before he could react, before he could scream, the hideous maw engulfed him in darkness.
Shun jolted awake, gasping for air, drenched in sweat.
Mye and Noct stood nearby, staring at him with concern. Mye leaned closer, her soft voice trembling.
-"Are you… alright?"
Shun forced a shaky breath, wiped his forehead, and forced a smile.
-"…It was just a nightmare," he lied quietly.
But deep down, he knew… something was very, very wrong.
When they returned to the cabin, Shun's group was greeted by Myria—elegant and composed as always. Noct immediately leapt into his usual spot and fell asleep without a care in the world. Myria walked over, her sharp yet gentle gaze sweeping across the two of them.
-"How was the trip?" Myria asked calmly.
Shun nodded, replying simply,
-"It went well."
His expression softened as he looked at her, before bowing slightly in gratitude.
-"Thank you… thanks to your lessons, I've managed to learn basic material manipulation. It was really helpful."
Myria smiled faintly but then shifted her attention to Mye, who was standing quietly behind Shun. Crossing her arms, she spoke seriously:
-"You should help that little girl awaken her own abilities, Shun. She's a Spirit Elf—there's power running through her veins. Don't let her be consumed by weakness."
With that, Myria took out a thick, leather-bound book from the shelf and placed it on the table in front of Shun. On its cover, old runes were engraved: "Innate Abilities of Races".
Shun took it and quickly flipped through the first few chapters—passing over Elves, Orcs, Flamekin… until his fingers stopped at the chapter titled "Spirit Elves".
As his eyes traced the first few lines describing the hidden abilities of Spirit Elves…... Shun's eyes widened in astonishment..
-"What the hell...?"