Kaiser's Perspective:
Slowly, my eyes cracked open to the dull beige of my tent's roof staring back at me.
So… all that was just a dream my mind decided to replay from the past? Interesting.
Elfie felt so close in it, too—too close. Like she was really there. Her laugh, her smile… the way her eyes locked with mine in that split second before—Yeah. No. Not going down that road right now.
I pushed myself upright, my hands resting in front of me. For a moment, I just looked at them.Just a little longer, Elfie. I'll bring you back. No matter what.
Stepping out into the morning air, I squinted against the sun. Still early… maybe seven. The camp was exactly as we left it—three tents huddled around the campfire Lucas had so kindly magicked out of thin air last night.
Not that we appreciated it.
See, Lucas is the kind of guy who says, "I know a shortcut to Sylvaris," and somehow turns that shortcut into a six-day detour into Nowhere, featuring breathtaking views of "Where the hell are we?" and "Please send help."
And then—then—the guy drops this gem:"Oh, the shortcut is actually through the Forest of Fairies."
…Yeah. Sure, buddy. Let me just pack my anti-illusion repellent while I'm at it.
Speaking of him—there he was, perched on a tree branch, meditating like some kind of enlightened ninja.
Last night, he was a sole carnivore tearing into the fish I caught. Now he's up there, eyes closed, looking like he's one deep breath away from becoming a pacifist monk.
Why a tree and not the ground? Don't ask me.
I don't question the original monkey.
Instead, I made my way toward the red tent. Celia's. We needed to get moving before Lucas's shortcut took us into our seventh day of scenic wandering.
"Celia! It's already morning. Wakey, wakey."
"Kai… please help me," came her voice from inside.
I paused. "What?"
"Help… come inside," she said, quieter this time.
…Very suspicious.
"You really want me to go in?" I asked.
"Please… I'm scared."
This is Celia we're talking about—the Queen of Curses, terrified in her own tent. And she wants me, the guy she's practically glued herself to for weeks, to come "help" her while our resident monk-on-a-branch is in another dimension of focus.
Lately she's been… weird. Travelers pass by—especially the female ones—and the moment I even think of saying hi, something happens. A "coincidental" gust of wind, a tripped horse, a sudden allergic reaction to air… and suddenly Celia's pressed against me.
…Nah. Celia's a sweet girl. She wouldn't do anything that possessive just to keep me to herself. Right?
I sighed, stepping inside. "Alright, if you say so—"
Chains.
Cold steel wrapped around my wrist in a blink and pull me down hard enough to rattle my teeth.
Her tent was darker than it should've been, shadows dancing along the fabric like something alive. And in the middle, Celia knelt there, looking up at me with a smile that was way too calm for someone supposedly scared.
"Oh," I muttered, my lips curling into a smirk. "We're doing this today."
"...What exactly is this about, Celia?"
"There's… an insect in here," she whispered.
I blinked. "An insect."
"Yes… and I'm scared."
I raised a brow. "Scared of what insect?"
"...Cockroach!" she suddenly screamed.
And before I could even form the word where, the chains shot up again—wrapping around me in a blur. My feet were yanked out from under me, and the next thing I knew I was being pulled toward her.
"Wha—" was all I got out before she grabbed me, pulling me down flat. My face slammed into something warm, soft, and—oh...
My vision went black. My nose caught the scent of her perfume—subtle, sweet, and very intentional. Her arms locked around my head, the chains tripling up around my torso so I couldn't even twitch.
Alright. First thought: There is no cockroach.
Second thought: If there was a cockroach, it's probably the one being smothered right now.
Third thought: I'm going to kill Lucas for setting me up...
"Cel—" I tried, my voice muffled against her.
She tightened her hold like she'd read my mind. "Shh… don't talk, Kai. You're safe now."
"Pretty sure the cockroach is safe too—"
"Don't joke about it. I'm scared."
"Scared enough to use chains?"
"Yes. I had to protect myself… and you."
"From what, insects?"
"Kai… you don't understand."
"Oh, I understand perfectly. You saw an opportunity and—"
"I don't like insects."
"You don't like other girls talking to me either, but I don't see you screaming 'cockroach' every time that happens."
"Don't give me ideas."
"…You already have ideas, don't you?"
"Mm-hmm."
"You're insane."
"I like you."
"That's not a counterargument."
"It doesn't need to be."
"You're not letting me go, are you?"
"No. You belong here."
Belong where? My body is being wrapped around by her and my face is stuck on her chest. This is neither heaven or hell.
"You make it sound like a prison sentence."
"Only if you try to escape."
"I'm starting to think I should."
"I'm starting to think you shouldn't."
"You do realize I can't breathe properly like this?"
"You're still talking, so you're fine."
"…That's dark."
"I love you, Kai."
"That's even darker."
"I'm never letting anyone take you from me."
"And by anyone, you mean—"
"Everyone."
"Stay with me forever, Kai."
"I plan to. I'm a man of culture, after all."
"What does that mean?"
"Just means this reminds me of something… someone once did to me."
Silence.
The grip around my head loosened.
"…Who?" Her voice was calm. Too calm.
"Oh? Curious now?"
"Who?"
"You sound serious."
"Kai… who did that to you?"
Her red eyes glowed like the blood moon of I'm-going-to-murder-anything-with-a-pulse, and she just sat there, staring at me.
Lemme cook.
"Oh yeah, I've got one," I grinned. "Celia… once… a girl held me. Just like you did."
"Who… names."
I stood up slowly. She tilted her head, tracking my every move.
"They were ruthless, Celia… all those women…" I said in the most fake, watery-eyed voice possible.
"Who?"
I turned my back to her.
"…I can't say."
"Who."
And then I ran for the exit.
She didn't move at first—probably processing what she just heard—but then her voice ripped through the air like an executioner's axe.
"KAISER!"
Yep, she was buying it.
I was halfway out when a wall of chains shot up in front of me.
I turned slowly.
There she was—standing outside her tent, her snowy white hair flowing amongst the wind, red eyes glowing hotter than before.
"Uh… Celia—"
"Tell me their names."
"Oh my god, Celia—"
"Now."
"Cockroach!"
And for once… there was one. To her right. On the ground.
Perfect.
She glanced down.
Her chain split it in half before I even blinked.
…Right. Forgot she's the queen of curses. Why the hell was she acting of being scared earlier even. Even bigger opportunist than me.
She started walking toward me.
"Kai."
"Yes?"
"Names."
"You're not gonna believe this—"
"Names."
"They were… uh… foreign exchange students—"
"Names."
"I think they were—"
"Names."
"I don't even remember their faces—"
"Names."
"Do you ever think about, like, the weather?"
"Names."
She stopped right in front of me, tilting her head so our eyes were level.
I leaned down, my voice dropping to a whisper.
"You're beautiful, Celia."
Her cheeks went crimson so fast it was almost dangerous.
"…O-oh…"
"I made it up about the other girls. It never happened."
Her jealousy evaporated instantly, replaced with an embarrassed pout. "You're awful…"
I was already turning to run. "I know."
She lunged after me. "Get back here!"
Chains lashed out in every direction as she chased me—and one smacked straight into Lucas's branch.
"Wot—"
Thud.
"Checkmate," I muttered, watching exactly what I'd envisioned play out perfectly.
Turns out, my little "jealousy story" had two goals: escape Celia's death grip… and teach Lucas not to meditate in a tree where monkey's belong...
After a while of being chased... it was finally time to leave for the forest of wishes.
Lucas's Perspective:
"Yo, System… why the hell did you make me meditate in a tree?"
「 That was your daily quest. 」
"…Who made that quest?"
「 Me. 」
"You—"
「 Wasn't it interesting being a ninja for a day? You looked majestic. Like an angry bird. 」
I exhaled slowly, hopped down, and brushed dirt from my clothes. Sitting by the campfire next to Celia and Kaiser, I was still wondering why my day had to start with falling from a branch like some rookie.
First of all, I didn't even do anything. Kaiser messes around with Celia, she lashes out, her chains start flying—and for some reason, I'm always target number one when she loses control. Always.
Finally, Kaiser breaks my train of thought.
"Anyway, we have to go through the Forest of Wishes, don't we?"
Oh wow, he even knows the real name. Most people just call it the Forest of Fairies. But yeah—another name for it is…
Celia tilted her head. "Why is it called that?"
I leaned back. "Because fairies aren't actually fairies. They're part of another race—Sylaris. Shape-shifters. They can turn wishes and dreams into reality."
Her face lit up. "Isn't that a good thing? They help others be happy?"
What an innocent girl. No idea what she's asking to get into.
Kaiser smirked. "Sylaris only use mind manipulation and illusion magic to trap victims who trespass. Once they have you, you won't escape again."
Her smile faded.
I continued. "It's called the Forest of Wishes because Sylaris grant people's deepest desires… but only in their head. You'll think you're living your dream—until you realize they've got full control of your mind."
"Are Sylaris that dangerous?" she asked.
Kaiser shook his head. "Not exactly. They're not murderers. They just trap you, then make you walk right back to where you came from. They're not like demons."
"Then how are we supposed to get past the forest?" Celia asked.
"We make a run for it—" I started.
"We'll maintain good mental balance and take it slow," Kaiser interrupted. "Leave at night so we won't be spotted as easily."
…This guy. Always has to ruin the fun.
「 Running headfirst into a psychic trap is the dumbest thing you've said in the last hour. Is your IQ in double digits? 」
"Shut up, genius."
「 You're welcome. 」
By the time night fell, the three of us were geared and ready. The fire was snuffed, the camp packed. We stood at the tree line, the faint silver glow of moonlight stretching over the moss.
One step in, and the world got quieter.
The Forest of Sylaris had no wind. No rustling leaves. No animal calls. Just… stillness. The kind that made your skin crawl if you thought too long about it.
And I had the feeling this night was going to be anything but quiet.
The mist swirled around our feet, pale silver under the thin moonlight. Each step into the Forest of Sylaris made the air feel heavier… thicker. Kaiser was ahead, Celia to my left, their silhouettes still clear—until they weren't.
One blink.Gone.
"What…" My voice vanished into the fog.
「 Congratulations, Savior. 」
I froze. The System's tone—no roast, no sarcasm. Just reverence.
「 You've reached Level 100. You are now the strongest form of humanity that has ever existed. 」
"…What?"
Respect? From the System? That's when I felt it—a light tug on my leg.
I looked down.
My chest caved in.
A small girl was clinging to me, looking up with a smile that burned through years I thought I'd buried.
"Hey… big brother… you're back."
Her voice—exactly as I remembered.
The horror melted into something warm. Something I hadn't felt in years.
Then—a hand on my head. Gentle. Familiar.
"I'm so, so proud of you, Lucas. My son."
I turned. My throat locked up.
"...Mom?"
Her eyes shone the way they used to. No pain. No regret. Just love.
「 You've done it, Lucas. You've brought them back. Rest now. 」
"Rest now, Lucas," my mother echoed, stroking my hair. "I'll take care of everything. You've done enough. You've fought enough."
"Yes, big brother…" my sister said softly, tugging my arm. "Don't worry about us anymore. We're safe now. Because of you."
"You've always been the strongest," my mother whispered. "You never had to carry it all alone… you can let go now."
"Stay here with us," my sister murmured. "We can be together again. No more battles. No more blood. Just home."
The mist felt warm now, wrapping around me like a blanket. My shoulders eased. My knees almost buckled.
Home.Family.
The two things I'd never gotten back.
"I…" My lips trembled. "I've won…"
A laugh—low, feminine, and far too amused—slid into my ear.
"Got him."
Celia's Perspective:
"Kaiser, where are you?" I called, my voice cracking slightly.
"Lucas?" I tried again, though my heart sank. Nothing. Just the soft rustle of the mist around me.
Panic swelled in my chest. Every instinct screamed I shouldn't be alone. And yet… it wasn't the fear of the forest that clutched me—it was the thought of losing him.
Then—something cold and firm gripped my hand.
I spun around.
Kaiser.
My breath hitched. Relief, warmth, something dangerously sweet all at once. His eyes met mine, calm and steady, like the center of a storm.
"Hey, Celia. Are you scared?" His voice carried that teasing undertone that somehow made my chest tighten.
I nodded, unable to speak. "…But… with you, not anymore."
He smiled gently, and just like that, he took my other hand in his. My fingers curled around his, feeling the subtle strength in his palms. The world shrank to the space between us.
"A night has come so rare," he began softly, his lips curving with that infuriatingly perfect calm. "A gift the stars have sent my way. The one the world keeps far from me… stands right here today."
My chest thumped wildly. Every nerve screamed, every thought of reason drowned in the rush of wanting him.
"There's so much I long to say," he continued, stepping closer, his presence enveloping me.
"Yet a question lingers deep inside… the words I've whispered in my dreams each night—should I speak them now?"
He tilted his head, just enough that our foreheads nearly touched. My heart wasn't mine anymore; it was in his hands.
"In your eyes," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, "there's a wonder I can't define. They fill my heart with love, and your lips are the ones I want to kiss."
"You and I need some alone time... I can make you my everything."
I felt my knees weaken. I wanted to tell him… to tell him everything. But the fear… the way my chest fluttered at the mere touch of his hand… I couldn't speak.
"With you," he murmured, pressing a hand lightly to my cheek, "I have a future that I don't want to lose. You're so beautiful, so tasty, so mine." He slowly bit his lip looking down at me.
I can't...
"What your eyes have done to my restless heart," he said, voice low and velvet, "has changed me through and through. Now I need you more than anything, give me yourself."
I was trembling, my hands clutching his, my breath shallow. All I could do was stare into him, into his eyes, into the calm certainty that he was mine. Mine.
"I… I—"
"I know," he said softly, leaning closer, his lips barely brushing mine. "Say it. Say what you feel, Celia. Trust me."
"I can make you happy... feel good."
Something broke inside me. All my careful restraint, all my hidden fears—they shattered.
"I… I love you, Kaiser!" I gasped, pressing forward. "I… I'll do anything… anything for you!"
"Good girl." He slowly licks his lips.
He smiled, slow, deliberate, and kissed me. My body trembled, my heart soaring, every thought consumed by him. I couldn't even think of Lucas, the forest, the danger—nothing mattered but this.
A soft, melodious laugh echoed around us, cutting through the haze.
"Got her too."
Kaiser's Perspective:
Mhm. Seems like I'm lost.
Truly misfortunate.
I stood still, letting the dark, misty forest swallow me, feeling the silence press against my senses. Every shadow, every faint flicker of light, felt deliberate.
Unaware of the Sylvaris surrounding me, whispering and fluttering like iridescent petals carrying sharp little knives hidden beneath.
"Master," one of the Sylvaris squeaked—her voice high and musical, but dripping confidence—"Liora, Faye, Thistle, Nyxie, and Bramble… they've managed to ensnare the white-haired girl with that threatening presence, and the green-eyed boy whose aura overwhelms our senses."
The master of the Sylvaris, wings flickering like liquid silver, smirked as he hovered slightly above the mist. His gaze drifted toward me, predatory yet… playful.
Almost as if he was certain of his game already.
A little Sylvaris, Mirana, piped up nervously, "Master… why can't we brainwash that one?"
The master's eyes narrowed, a faint shimmer of respect—or was it fear?—glimmering in them. "That one human is… special."
"Special?" Mirana's green eyes widened, peeking from behind a cloud of mist. The others—Faye, Thistle, Nyxie, Bramble, and the small cohort trailing—leaned closer.
"From the moment he entered the forest," the master said, "every motion, every micro-expression… completely deceptive. Not once did he give us anything genuine. He knows we are watching, so he hides everything. His intentions are locked tight."
"That's… scary," Mirana whispered, wings trembling slightly.
The master's smile faded into a thin line of caution. "That's why I am wary. Our illusion magic requires at least thirty seconds to read someone's mind and reconstruct imagination to suit them perfectly. But we need something. He gives us nothing. Body language, facial expressions, emotions… all neutral. Empty."
"What do we do then?" Mirana asked, her voice almost a melody, yet laced with fear.
"We teach him a lesson," the master said, wings flaring slightly, casting prismatic reflections into the mist. "All twelve of us. Forcefully. We create an illusion he cannot resist, a trap as precise as his own mind. He will understand never to trespass into our territory."
A hush fell over the Sylvaris. They shifted around me in the mist, petals brushing air like silent blades, eyes fixed on my face.
I kept my dark poker face.
The master's voice cut through the tension. "Now!"
That's a good Sylaris.
...
Mirana hovered closer, wings shimmering like liquid sapphire in the mist. Her voice, light and tinkling. The other Sylvaris flitted around her, petals sharp as razors, eyes fixed on the dark figure of Kaiser.
Above them, the master, Valtherion, unfolded his immense wings—gossamer yet edged with shadow, iridescent as if spun from the night sky itself. Every movement radiated authority, and the faintest glow traced the illusion symbols as he began the procedure.
The mist thickened, coiling around Kaiser. A chill cut through the forest air. The twelve Sylaris joined their magic in perfect harmony, voices chiming like bells, yet threaded with a subtle menace.
The illusion rippled outward, wrapping around Kaiser's mind with precision no mortal or demon could resist.
Kaiser's thoughts stilled. His mind blanked. Twelve working in concert, their magic synchronized, was absolute—a prison even demonic crests would have struggled to break.
Valtherion's voice, quiet but resolute in his mind, threaded through the magic like silk.
The stronger the emotion, the stronger the effect. But that also makes it volatile. Controlled emotion leads to precise magic.
We are going to reach his deepest desire… and we will shape it.
We're so close… the darkness is about to end, and we will reach the light.
They penetrated his consciousness.
And then—the tremor of fear.
One by one, the younger Sylvaris began to falter. Mirana coughed violently, wings fluttering erratically. Then Faye, Nyxie, and Thistle. Blood trickled from their tiny mouths as they sank to the ground.
"P-please… help… I… I don't wanna die… it's… it's over…"
"P-please… don't… it's… it hurts… I can't…"
"I-I… can't… survive… someone… help…"
Valtherion's eyes narrowed, gaze piercing into the void of Kaiser's mind.
Impossible. He coughed blood, wings quivering.
How… how can a human have no desires? This is… insane… impossible.
Then he saw it.
A void—absolute, black, nothingness—but in the center, two piercing blue eyes. At first, they were pure white, blinding, and then they snapped back to darkness, swallowing everything.
The master fell to one knee, blood trickling down his chin, staring into the endless depths. His vision blurred.
A thought, an essence, a desire—Kaiser's true desire—touched the edges of his consciousness.
He stuttered, voice breaking in his mind, almost whispering to himself.
"Become human…"
A human mind so empty, yet so complete, so unknowable… it was the impossible.
Just then all of the Sylaris fell unconscious.