Cold. Shivering cold.
The water that had swallowed her seemed to linger, clinging to her chest.
Aria couldn't stop gasping, each breath sharp and fast, burning through her ribs.
Her fingers trembled. Heavy pain throbbed through every limb.
She actually—almost died.
Without a doubt, a harsh, sudden realization cut through her mind. An inner voice she couldn't ignore.
Why? Do you really think that just because you have a magical golden finger system, you won't die in this world?
Do you think you can still go back to your original world if you die here?
What if… you can't?
Aria's chest tightened. She realized one terrifying truth. This was not a game. She couldn't respawn. She could… die in this world.
"Tell me… tell me! Why weren't you saving me? Didn't you see me?" Aria's voice broke as she choked on sobs.
"The Destiny Gate doors… as my system, you should have warned me they were like this! It's… it's so scary… I could actually die!"
Aria coughed violently. Tears streamed down her face, and her whole body shook uncontrollably.
For a moment, all she could see was a blur of dirt on the floor. Through her tears, she caught a shadow— of boots.
Sturdy. Military.
Aria's reddened eyes slowly traced upward.
First, the long legs in rough grey-and-black combat trousers. Next, the broad, powerful waist above them, sturdy, unyielding.
Finally, her gaze met his.
Two different-colored eyes stared back at hers, unblinking. One crimson, burning like lava. The other blue, vast as the boundless sea.
Instantly, her heart raced. The memories from years ago suddenly came rushing back. Her younger self, in front of a small window in her room, who was captivated and immersed, whispering to no one but herself.
"As the male lead, he must be handsome… but unique. One eye of fire...one eye of the ocean."
Her younger self murmured, scribbling notes for her apocalypse-world novel.
Isn't this… the target male lead!?
The heroine's destined partner, a pivotal figure with the strength to bring down the Mutant Monster Queen.
Does that mean… the man who saved her just now is the male lead?
A hero saving the beauty scene! It actually happened to her, what a dream.
Yet, she wasn't the captured beauty, merely a side NPC at best.
Wait, what was she even thinking.
Annoyed, Aira caught herself drifting into nonsense instead of focusing on the fact that she was standing before the male lead.
She quickly forced herself to clear her head and focus on what truly mattered.
The Destiny Gate had sent her straight into the male lead's cave.
But… what for?
Aria had no reason to interact with the paper characters she had created herself.
Her mission was clear, save the world by raising its survival rate to 100%.
There was no need for the creator to meet her creation.
"Fluff Ball… do you know?" Aria asked in her mind, waiting for the system's reply. Her lips pressed into a pout when none came.
"State your name. Where did you come from?" "Caelan Frey's tone was clipped, every word edged with command.
His heterochromatic eyes, clear yet cold, lingered on the stranger for a few long seconds.
The strange woman looked shocked and absentminded, likely from the fall. Caelan didn't bother to wait.
He would not waste his strength, or catch a cold, for a stranger. Without another word, he turned away and began peeling off his soaked shirt.
The fabric resisted, then slid up, revealing a back of tanned skin marked by old scars and fresh wounds, thin streams of blood running down.
Aria snapped out of her trance, her gaze dropping in shock.
The male lead's back bore the carved history of endless struggles. She, from a peaceful world, had never seen the scars of a soldier up close, and such a sight was painfully terrifying for her to imagine.
"Are… you okay?" Aria asked, unable to stop herself. Even the small streaks of blood were enough to leave her unsettled.
Caelan turned around, revealing a long scar slashing across his chest, as if a blade had once tried to cut him in half. "You. Change your clothes. Medicine's scarce these days, I don't have any for you."
Even if he did have some tucked away, why would he waste it on a stranger.
"Yes, and tha…thank you for saving me." Aria's voice quivered as she pushed herself up, still weak and trembling like fragile porcelain.
She took two hesitant steps toward the male lead, but kept a safe distance between them.
"You saved me. I am very grateful for that. I will repay you in the future… and I'm Aria."
"Caelan."
"Caelan…" Aria repeated the name softly, tasting it on her lips.
Indeed, this person was none other than the male lead, the paper character she had once written.
Additionally, those eyes, no one else could have eyes like his.
"Caelan… by any chance… could I get a change of clothes? I don't have a spare."
Caelan, having already changed into his spare black t-shirt, subtly raised an eyebrow and fixed the woman with a cold, appraising look.
The intensity of the male lead's stare made Aria flush with embarrassment. Her fingers trembled as she clutched her soaked skirts, and she forced out a small, awkward smile.
"Pretty please...?"
"You cannot follow me." Caelan's words hit her like cold water poured over her.
Moments later, Aria found herself following Caelan into a ruined condo unit, filled with belongings left behind fifteen years ago.
The owner had clearly fled, leaving almost everything, from clothes to kitchen tools, frozen in time.
Most items were on the verge of destruction, yet the rest seemed almost untouched, as if the apocalypse had happened yesterday.
Aria stepped into one of the bedrooms and spotted a beautiful portrait of a woman in a frame near the bed, likely the unit's owner.
She could only hope the woman was faring better these days.
Rummaging through the closet, asking permission from the empty air, Aria found a cute yellow sundress.
Her eyes lit up with delight.
She also discovered a neatly packed set of undergarments, still untouched, tucked inside a plastic bag in one of the drawers.
Talk about good luck. Someone had left behind something she could actually use.
Best of all, it would keep her warm where she needed it most.
Aria whispered her thanks to the woman in the picture, silently promising that she'd repay the favor someday, if she ever got the chance.
"It fits so perfectly." Aria complimented in front of the standing mirror, a soft sigh of comfort escaping her.
Stepping out, she began searching for the male lead's appearance in the unit, feeling a little lighter and more confident now that she was dry and neatly dressed.
Aria wondered if the male lead had already left her alone, which wouldn't have been a problem.
But… their deal? What about it?