Darkness parted to reveal light, the sound of rushing water echoing softly in Terrence's ears.
As he stepped outside the makeshift tent, mist washed over his face. The sight before him was surreal, a waterfall roaring just inches away, cascading down from above like liquid glass. They were standing inside it, tucked behind a jagged cliff where sunlight fractured through the veil, scattering rainbows into the air.
Eiselle stood near the edge, cheeks red and smiling wide as she held out a wooden plate of food she'd clearly worked hard on.
Salmon, blueberries, and scrambled eggs.
Simple, but he could tell she hunted and cooked it herself.
"How did you get us here?" Terrence asked as he walked toward her, taking the plate and sitting beside her on a smooth, damp rock.
She shrugged, brushing a strand of white hair from her face.
"Well, someone had to figure out something while you were out, or we would've been dead by now. Monsters prowl all around this place." Her eyes drifted over him. Slowly.
He raised a brow, chewing a bite of salmon. "How long was I out? And..why are you looking at me like that?"
"About three days," she said, then tilted her head, her face growing warmer. "And now that I'm really looking at you..is it just me, or do you look a little different?"
'Huh?' Terrence blinked, setting his plate aside. He stood, stretching before wandering toward a shallow puddle beside the waterfall.
Then he froze.
'What in the Handsome Squidward…?'
[Haha! Reminds me of when Shrek took that handsome potion!]
The System's voice echoed through his head, mocking his exact thought.
He leaned closer to the reflection. Taller. Sharper jawline. Eyes slightly narrower and darker. His body looked more cut, like someone took his old physique and ran it through an anime glow-up filter.
If he had to describe himself in one sentence, it'd be simple:
The Black version of Sasuke Uchiha mixed with Jin-Woo.
Crazy how that works in a fantasy world.
Still, he could feel it..the strength coiling beneath his skin. The result of his [x10,000 Stat Multiplier] in full effect.
He turned dramatically, flipping his head with exaggerated flair. He almost burst out in laughter. "How I look, Eiselle?"
"…Handsome." she said bluntly, eyes locked on him. "Even more than before."
She stood and approached him, hesitant but drawn in by something she couldn't quite resist. Her finger traced a slow path down his chest, pausing over the firm lines of his abs.
'Guess this is what it feels like to have pretty privilege, huh?' he thought with a small, smug grin.
[She wants you. You going for the kill?]
'Not in the Nobody Region. I respect her more than that.'
[How gentlemanly of you..]
The System's sarcastic tone made him snort.
Terrence chuckled, turning away from the waterfall. "Eiselle, let's finish eating. We're about to go on an adventure."
Her head popped up instantly, curiosity flaring in her bright eyes. "An adventure?" she repeated. "Where?"
He smirked. "To the nearest Kingdom. And if I remembered correctly, that would be the—"
"Divinity Kingdom..my home."
Her tone shifted. The light vanished from her face, replaced by quiet bitterness.
Terrence paused, remembering what she'd told him before.
The Divinity Kingdom—a land where only powerful elves thrived, ruled by King Xon Dratos, a tyrant who valued strength over blood. Eiselle had been cast out for being "unawakened." Her own family spat on her, called her a disgrace, and left her in the Nobody Region to die.
But she survived.
And she found him.
They'd been together ever since.
Terrence sighed softly. "Nevermind that one. Instead, we'll go to the—" He rubbed his chin. "What was it called again? The kingdom with the dragons, vampires, and all the supernatural shit…"
"Oh! You mean Xyani!" Eiselle's dark expression melted instantly, replaced by bright excitement. "I always wanted to go there! But..how are we going to get past all the monsters and Rends? You do know how far Xyani is, right?"
Terrence grinned, glancing at his right hand before curling it into a fist. The air around him shifted, a faint pulse of power rippling through the mist.
"I'm not the same Terrence from before, Eis…" he said, eyes narrowing with quiet confidence. "And I can prove it to you."
She tilted her head, lips parting in that familiar curious, adorable expression. "How?"