The world was dark.
Only the bonfire gave light.
That was everything Yu Jin could see—everything this world held.
He sat quietly by the fire, watching sparks rise and fall.
He didn't know why he was here. The only thing he knew was that every time he died, he would appear at this bonfire.
Until…
A spark leapt from the flame and landed on him. The instant it touched his body, he ignited like someone drenched in gasoline, fire crawling across him in a heartbeat.
He was used to it by now.
"Time to go back…"
In the darkness, Yu Jin's body burned like kindling… turning to ash bit by bit.
—
When Yu Jin woke up, night had already fallen outside.
"Didn't think I'd sleep that long," he muttered.
He was about to sit up when he sensed something—
His elbow shot out on pure instinct!
But midway, he abruptly pulled it back, stopping less than ten centimeters from a face.
Looking at the Doctor's stupid sleeping expression, Yu Jin sighed in relief.
"This idiot really dared to share a bed with me. Not afraid I'll murder people in my sleep?"
Yu Jin shook his head.
He had never once felt happy about traveling to another world.
Back in the early days, he couldn't even sleep peacefully. There was no proper place to sleep, wraiths wandered everywhere, and if they found him dozing off, they'd start hacking him to pieces.
So now, in dreams or right after waking, any noise made him instinctively strike.
He glanced at the messages left in the chat group.
Kevin and Stelle had already gone back to their own worlds.
"Slept enough. I should get moving."
Yu Jin stood up, then looked again at the Doctor snoring like a dead pig. He clicked his tongue, pulled a blanket over him anyway, and walked out of the tent.
Outside, he surveyed the surroundings.
A relatively flat stretch of land compared to the nearby terrain. Tents were set up everywhere, and Reunion scouts were still patrolling.
"We've left Chernobog, huh? Figures. Even if this is some wild alternate history, Reunion's still an Infected organization. Staying in Chernobog too long would only bring trouble."
As he walked, thinking to himself—
"Yo! You're awake."
Yu Jin turned. Talulah was waving at him.
"Talulah?"
"Yep. Me." She nodded and came closer.
"You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Thanks for checking on me."
"Good." Standing beside him, Talulah kept glancing over his shoulder, like she was searching for something.
"…What? Is there something on my back?"
Yu Jin asked, while thinking privately:
Did those three mess with me while I was out cold? Damn it. I'll beat the Doctor up later if they did.
Talulah couldn't hear his thoughts. She scratched her head awkwardly and looked away.
"No, it's nothing. Ah—do you have time?"
"Yeah. What's up?" Yu Jin answered while reaching behind himself to feel around.
Talulah laughed.
"There's really nothing back there. I'm just curious."
She pointed at a nearby fire.
"If you don't mind, let's sit and talk. There are some things I want to ask you."
"Ask me? I'd love to say I'm a genius, but compared to a top 985 grad and two researchers, I'm nothing," Yu Jin snarked internally, but nodded anyway.
Soon, the two sat by a bonfire.
This was still Ursus. Nights were freezing.
Talulah held her hands near the fire to warm them, then said apologetically, "Sorry. It's late, and I'm still bothering you."
Yu Jin shook his head. "I just woke up. Besides, I have things I want to ask you too."
"Ask anything. If I know it, I'll answer," Talulah patted her chest confidently.
"That helps a lot. But you've got questions for me too, right? Go on."
"It's not a big deal, just…" Talulah scratched her hair, exhaled, and looked at him. "I want to ask… are you a Draconic?"
As if worried her words weren't clear enough, she added, "Earlier, I saw you in another form. I'm curious what race you are."
Yu Jin rubbed his head.
What race was he?
Human?
Saying that would sound like he was lying.
And besides… looking into Talulah's eager eyes—
Wasn't the answer obvious?
Yu Jin closed his eyes. When he opened them again, under Talulah's shocked stare, horns had risen from his head. He smiled.
"Whatever race you think I am… that's what I am."
"I knew it—I wasn't wrong! You really are Draconic? How did you do that?" Talulah's eyes lit up. She scooted closer, peering at him like a fascinated child.
"Uh… Originium Arts. I used Originium Arts!" Yu Jin said with absolute seriousness.
"So that's it! No wonder!" Talulah accepted it without the slightest doubt.
Yu Jin felt a bit guilty.
But Talulah didn't notice anything off. Maybe because she'd seen a fellow of her kind, she was unusually excited.
"Was that fire earlier yours? It was incredible! Even the catastrophe was erased by it!"
"Yeah, it's amazing—cost me my life," Yu Jin complained in his head.
"Wiping out a catastrophe alone… that's unheard of. I can't believe I saw it with my own eyes."
"Yu Jin, you… really are amazing."
By the end, Talulah still smiled, but the excitement was gone.
"You stopped the catastrophe and saved Chernobog and its people… and I…"
"I couldn't do anything."
A cold wind swept through. The mood shifted.
Yu Jin watched her quietly, letting her speak.
"I led everyone into Chernobog to stop Rhodes Island's current actions, but I realized… with my ability, I just can't do it. Patriot created an opening for us, and yet I still couldn't accomplish anything."
"I couldn't defeat Amiya. Even when the mobile city key was destroyed, I couldn't stop it. And when the catastrophe came, all I could do was lead everyone away."
"I… can't do anything."
Yu Jin remained silent as she stared into the fire.
After a long while, Talulah scratched the back of her head awkwardly.
"Sorry. Dumping this on you out of nowhere… my bad."
Yu Jin shook his head.
"I get it. I understand why you want to talk. I used to be like that, too."
"Eh?" Talulah blinked.
Yu Jin smiled. "Your problem right now… isn't it fear born from your own weakness?"
"You're afraid your lack of power will lead to tragedy."
"You're afraid you can't protect the people around you."
"…Yeah. That sounds right." Talulah covered her face, embarrassed at being seen through.
Yu Jin said softly, "Talulah, I really do understand. I was weak once. I hated how powerless I was."
"I hated how strong my enemies were. I hated what happened to me. I thought I'd be trapped there forever."
"So… did you get out?" Talulah asked quietly.
"…I suppose I did. With help from outside."
"Congrats." She didn't ask what happened, or what that help was. She simply offered the kind of blessing a friend gives when hearing you've crawled out of a pit.
"Congrats… and congrats to you too, Talulah."
"Huh? What are you congratulating me for?"
Yu Jin looked at her and said gently, "Back then, outside help pulled me out. Now… I can be that outside help for you."
Talulah froze.
The night went dead quiet, save for the fire popping.
After a long silence, Talulah finally smiled.
"So… I successfully played the pity card?"
"Nope. This is just a deal." Yu Jin pointed to the tent he'd left—where the Doctor was probably still sleeping hard. "I'll be your help, you'll be grateful, and you'll take care of my partners. Got it?"
"You really aren't very honest," Talulah laughed, extending a hand.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"You don't have to make it sound so formal. And I won't be helping you every second of the day," Yu Jin said, shaking her hand.
A breeze swept through the night. The only witnesses were the fire and the wind.
They talked much more afterward—mostly Yu Jin asking questions about how this world differed from what he thought he knew.
Unfortunately, Talulah didn't know many of the deeper truths either. The night passed quickly in simple question-and-answer.
-------
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