Mira Clasbian is a girl who travels alone for a long time. The fact that a woman would travel alone in an era full of cruelty like this is considered strange, but not for her.
Because the science that humans created has power like magic, the need to revere anyone is no longer necessary for her. She sat leisurely in the middle of a small forest. Mira's long journey is worthy of rest. She unbuttoned her coat, revealing the ordinary clothes inside. There was a hidden pocket inside the coat.
She reached into it and took out two objects. What appeared was a small needle the size of a delicate thumb tip. The tip of the needle was sharp and shiny, like a small knife that was finely forged. The other object next to it was a jar which looked like it contained some kind of liquid, with a lid that was designed so that the needle could be inserted into the jar. She is not a hunter, but only someone who wishes to defend herself in an emergency.
Past stories cannot hold her back. She chooses to head toward the future with determination. The people who once had close relationships with her were many, but in the end, they were just people who had to walk away from each other.
[ The Other Side ]
..... Kael struggled to get used to the extremely different way of life. This city has a beauty that is distinct from his original world, like a fragment of heaven. Below is the large river that is the foundation of the townspeople's lives. He sat on a high spot, looking down at the peculiar architecture, which indicates development at least decades ahead of his past.
The truth appeared to him that Avesilen had combined its own culture with the far-off Rectes. Although it is not a complete duplication of the original model, it still preserves its deep-rooted past. At first, the sight before him caused him to be stunned, but he no longer needs to display such an attitude after hearing everything from her mouth:
"Think carefully... If the way of life is this good, what about the army? Will the Enphanoses not become weak at all?"
This strange new life is something that had never appeared to him before. He had never seen such equality. Kael stared in surprise when he saw a young boy whose body was covered in dirt playing normally with other clean-looking children. The way of life of the people here is as if dirtiness and purity are nothing strange and must be mixed together equally. He constantly asked himself in his heart... will the future of other places really be like this...
In his tired eyes hid a deep feeling. He cracked a faint smile from the random thoughts that popped up. After letting his mind be free amidst the unrealistically beautiful city, Kael slung his bag on and continued walking. He traveled through the non-stop moving crowd. This is a large market full of goods. Items were arranged neatly. On the left is the fresh food and fruit zone, and on the right is the zone for treasures and various tools. Things that had never passed his eyes before were dazzlingly displayed in this place.
"Hey! Interested in dried meat?"
A greeting rang out. A bearded man in plain clothes waved to call the attention of Kael, who was standing confused and bewildered.
Kael approached with a smile ready to penetrate everyone's mental armor. He looked at the goods on the stall thoughtfully. Those things looked fresh and clearly good-quality ingredients. He had to stop short when he saw one thing. It looked like a small piece of meat with dried herbs on top.
"What is this, ?"
Pleased with Kael's demeanor, the merchant picked up a piece of meat in his hand. A wide smile appeared on his face.
"This is called... dried herb-marinated meat." "Interested? I'll give you a 5-coin discount! It was 10 coins originally!!"
"Really!?"
Kael revealed an extremely astonished face, as if in his entire life he had known nothing but bread and plain meat. He had never seen a discount like this before.
Kael exchanged coins for goods from that kind merchant, but he secretly gave him 3 silver coins too many. However, the merchant saw no abnormality. He was busy smiling and staring at Kael. He quickly sped up and walked away immediately so the merchant wouldn't catch him. Kael was still surprised by the appearance and friendliness of the people in this city. Passing groups of young men and women smiled and greeted him, as if expressing pure friendship.
..The sound of people laughing loudly boomed. Some groups rushed toward that sound in a chaotic and smiling manner. Most were teenagers. Seeing this, Kael did not hesitate. He quickly walked toward the sound of that group immediately.
"Come on in, guys! Hurry up!"
A man shouted an invitation cheerfully. The joyful noise of the crowd was chaotic throughout the area. The commotion made people who were conversing lean in and whisper next to each other's ears.
"Pair up, one pair each!!"
Before him was a grand daytime festival full of many activities Kael had never seen before: food stalls, performances that provided entertainment for the people in the large city. But at the center of the event, a group of people was gathering to do an exciting activity that especially attracted children and teenagers.
The crowd was extremely chaotic. There was a lot of pairing up, including young men paired with young boys, and young women paired with young boys. This gathering was not just a general activity but a gathering to test skills. Kael smiled in amazement at the happiness and fun he had never seen before in his life, as if the whole world had opened up before him. The phrase,...A person from the past awakens in the present era,....was not an exaggeration for him.
However, while Kael was gazing at the crowd in awe, a girl wearing a cloak with a brown head covering quickly ran into that area. She noticed Kael's honest and bewildered manner. He was not a cool, hip guy, but a man with a blunt personality. The girl walked straight toward him. "...Hey!! Why aren't you joining?"
But her voice was the complete opposite of her external appearance. Instead of the brave voice of a traveler, it was an innocent voice, like a polite, naive girl wearing traveler's clothes.
In surprise, Kael slowly turned back and offered a small smile full of curiosity.
"I don't know what they are doing..."
"It only happens once a yearDon t you regret it?" She tilted her head slightly in a teasing manner. Her eyes showed a pleading look, as if she knew Kael's true identity from the personality he displayed.
He crossed his arms slightly and revealed a friendly smirk at the corner of his mouth, speaking in a teasing tone in return:
"Well, I guess I'm lucky to have met you by chance, haha..."
This girl revealed a smile, and her luscious brown hair fluttered under her head covering with eyes full of excitement, like an optimist who glances at those many people overlook.
But what they did was the complete opposite of what was expected. This pairing was not for a contest or romance, but strangely, a gathering to talk and gossip in pairs. The young man who was paired with this girl had a bragging and ridiculously exaggerated voice and mannerism.
"Does everyone know who I am... I am the one who is above the highest point here! Haha, watch! But I love this place. I can always wander around like a madman here."
The girl who was paired with this young man also did not back down. She was ready to argue back against his craziness and provoking attitude to the extreme.
"Yesterday I saw him sleeping on the rooftop..."
"I thought shouting to wake him up was a good idea, but no... I chose to wait to see when he would fall down instead."
The young man's face turned red and pale with embarrassment, amidst the warm laughter of the large crowd. He looked back at the girl with a smirk.
This festival is like a release of the mental madness of suppressed people. Whether it's hidden feelings, funny jokes they wanted to say but didn't dare utter. Being able to express themselves like this is like the important reason that makes the people in this city love and reconcile with each other.
When the time passed to their turn, Kael and the girl who was paired with him stepped up and sat down confidently, amidst the expectations of many watching spectators. The determined eyes looked straight at Kael, and she cracked a small, adorable smile—a smile hidden under the cloak.
"My name is Hise... Nice to meet you. I want to know your name, Mr. Scarf."
"I am Kael... It is a great honor to exchange words with you, young lady." He touched his scarf slightly with a faint smile, while a cunning look appeared deep in his eyes.
The people around immediately fell silent. A feeling of pressure overwhelmed the area, but in the eyes of many, there was excitement and expectation.
"While I was traveling in the prairies of Avesilen, I saw everything as very beautiful, like the heaven I was looking for... But what shocked me when I saw it was..."
After Kael spoke, he stopped mid-sentence. Many people were silent, staring at him with curiosity, and Hise was also staring with no less curiosity than others.
"Oh my god! I saw a dog standing on the back of a wild buffalo!"
His two hands held his head. He shouted softly with a funny smile. Suddenly, many people around him burst into laughter playfully.
Hise did not let Kael be the only one in the spotlight. She gently removed her head covering, revealing long, shiny dark brown hair that fell beautifully. Her blue eyes sparkled brightly, as if reflecting the innocence hidden within. Kael froze for a moment, as if time had stopped, upon seeing her revealed face. That beauty was far beyond what he had imagined.
"A long time ago, I almost drowned in water that was only up to my father's knee level. But instead of calling for his help, I pretended to drown."
That unexpected statement immediately silenced the people. Many eyes stared at her, as if everyone understood the meaning she wanted to convey. In the meantime, Kael, who was smiling cunningly, slightly dropped his smile.
"But what I learned was that it made me see that my cold father... he was enthusiastic and almost cried desperately, just like a young man."
Everything fell silent immediately. Kael widened his eyes slightly. His heart was connected to the girl's feelings. Many elderly people and adults even involuntarily shed tears. The crowd stared at Hise, as if seeing her as the center that created this touching change.
The crowd began to applaud loudly. The sound of hands clapping echoed throughout the area, expressing admiration for Hise. Kael smiled with deep impression. That feeling created a question in his heart... he wanted to know her true self more.
Stay tuned for the next episode....