A cold night breeze brushed against my face as moonlight washed over the sky above.
It should have been a peaceful night.
Instead, the scent of burning wood and blood filled the air.
Below me stretched a scene that felt almost unreal. A castle burned in the distance, flames devouring its walls while smoke curled into the dark sky. Bodies lay scattered across the courtyard, the stone ground slick with blood.
A necklace rested against my chest.
My fingers moved toward it instinctively. When they touched the chain, something warm and sticky coated them.
Blood.
My hands were drenched in it.
The sight stirred no surprise within me. Only a quiet heaviness settled deep in my chest.
The kind that came from already knowing.
Memories lingered there — years of them. Rage. Desperation. Loss. Regret. A lifetime that had already run its course.
And the ruin beneath me was its final chapter.
Yet the last thing I remembered was something far removed from this world.
A cinema.
Jiana laughing beside me as we stepped outside, teasing me about the movie we had just watched.
Then a sudden flash of light beneath our feet.
After that…
Darkness.
Warm sunlight pressed gently against my closed eyelids.
The smell of dirt and dry grass replaced the scent of smoke.
Something wet pooled beneath my back. Sticky. Warm.
Footsteps approached.
My eyes opened weakly.
The sky above me was bright — painfully bright — and my body felt impossibly heavy. Blood soaked the clothes clinging to my skin, spreading into the dirt beneath me.
I tried to move.
Nothing happened.
A shadow fell across my view.
Strands of blonde hair drifted into sight, swaying softly in the morning breeze. Beneath them stood a pair of worn, handmade sandals dusted with road dirt.
A woman.
Her face hovered above me, eyes wide with alarm as she spoke rapidly. The words blurred together in my ears, slipping past my fading awareness.
She's beautiful.
The thought surfaced naturally.
And at that exact moment—
"…an angel…"
Words that were not my own escaped my lips. The voice was hoarse and barely audible, little more than a breath escaping failing lungs.
The woman blinked in surprise.
A faint blush touched her cheeks.
Then worry overtook it again as she quickly knelt beside him.
Something within me shifted.
The movement of this body wasn't mine.
The voice wasn't mine either.
And yet I could feel everything.
Every ragged breath.
Every pulse of pain spreading through torn flesh.
Every fading heartbeat.
Memories surfaced within the haze.
Not mine.
His.
The name appeared among them as naturally as breathing.
Viole.
So that was the man whose body I now occupied.
And me?
For a moment, my thoughts searched inward.
A name surfaced just as clearly.
Caelus.
Yes.
That was who I was.
Something cold splashed across my face.
A sharp scent flooded my nose — crushed herbs mixed with something metallic and bitter.
Potion.
The body convulsed as liquid spread across the wounds.
A groan escaped Viole's lips.
"…Wh… where…"
His voice faltered weakly.
"…am I…?"
The woman didn't stop working.
Her hands moved quickly, splashing more potion across the blood-soaked injuries while muttering something under her breath.
The smell of alchemy thickened in the air.
Warm hands lifted his shoulders slightly.
The world swayed.
The light faded.
And just like that—
Consciousness vanished.
The potion burned.
Even through fading sensation, I could feel it spreading across torn flesh, soaking into wounds that had already begun to close. The sharp scent of crushed herbs lingered in the air long after consciousness slipped from Viole's body.
But I didn't disappear with it.
Darkness took his senses, yet mine remained.
At first there was only stillness.
Then the body shifted.
Something tugged at Viole's shoulders.
The ground scraped faintly against his back as the body moved across dirt and loose gravel. Each pull was small and uneven, followed by the brief pause of someone catching their breath before trying again.
Dragging.
She was dragging him.
I could feel the effort in the slow, awkward movements — the weight of a body too heavy for the one moving it. His arms bumped against the ground with every pull, fabric catching on dry grass and small stones.
The scent of dust thickened in the air.
Another pull.
Then another.
Eventually the dragging stopped.
The body shifted once more before settling upright against something solid and rough.
Tree bark.
A faint breeze stirred nearby leaves, their shadows dancing dimly against closed eyelids.
Time passed quietly after that.
The warmth of the sun rested gently against the right side of Viole's face. At some point the light shifted, sliding slowly across his skin as the sky moved overhead.
And then—
A soft humming broke the silence.
It was quiet. Almost absentminded.
A simple melody carried by the wind.
The voice was unfamiliar.
Yet there was something soothing about it, something calm enough that I found myself listening without realizing it.
When Viole's body finally stirred again, the humming stopped.
His eyelids twitched.
Light seeped through slowly.
The sky came into view first — bright blue framed by drifting leaves overhead.
His vision shifted slightly.
A figure sat nearby.
Blonde hair moved gently in the breeze as the girl leaned against the tree trunk beside him. Her head lifted the moment she noticed his eyes opening.
For a brief moment she simply stared, as if unsure whether he was truly awake.
Viole's throat moved.
"…Where…"
The word scraped out weakly.
His lips parted again as he struggled to form the rest.
"…where am I…?"
The girl straightened immediately, startled.
"I—"
Her voice faltered.
"…I found you on the road."
Her hands folded together nervously in her lap.
"You were bleeding a lot… so I treated your wounds."
She glanced down for a moment before continuing.
"I couldn't leave you there…"
A small pause followed.
"So I moved you here."
Viole blinked slowly, his gaze drifting past her toward the open sky.
"…The road…"
His voice was still groggy.
"…where is this…?"
The girl brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's… outside the city."
She gestured faintly toward the direction of the road.
"Not too far, but… still a little distance."
Silence returned for a moment.
Viole breathed slowly, his chest rising and falling as strength gradually returned to the body.
"…How long…"
He shifted faintly against the tree.
"…was I out…?"
The girl looked up toward the sky.
"Well…"
She hesitated before pointing upward.
"When I found you… the sun was higher."
Her hand lowered slightly, tracing the sun's new position.
"Now it's there."
The sunlight filtering through the branches had shifted noticeably, stretching longer shadows across the grass.
Time had passed.
Not enough to drain the warmth of the day.
But enough for the body beneath me to begin recovering from the edge of death.
The girl glanced back at him, uncertain.
"…Does it still hurt?"
Her voice was careful.
Gentle.
Concerned.
Inside the quiet confines of Viole's body, I felt everything.
The dull ache in muscles.
The dryness in the throat.
The slow, steady beat of a heart that had nearly stopped hours earlier.
And the warmth of sunlight beneath the shelter of a quiet tree.
For now, Viole simply breathed.
Alive.
The girl waited for an answer.
Viole tried to speak, but the strength simply wasn't there yet.
His throat tightened, the body still heavy with exhaustion. Even breathing felt like work.
"…No…"
The word barely formed before his eyes drifted closed again.
Not unconscious.
Just… resting.
The world faded into muffled quiet for a while.
The rustling of leaves above.
A distant breeze brushing through grass.
The slow, steady rhythm of a recovering heartbeat.
Time passed again, though not nearly as long as before.
When Viole's eyes opened this time, the light had shifted slightly beneath the branches.
Something moved in front of him.
A shadow leaned closer.
My vision adjusted slowly, the lingering haze of fatigue clearing bit by bit.
And then I saw her properly for the first time.
Beneath the wide, impossibly blue sky of this unfamiliar world, the girl stood in front of us.
She was… beautiful.
Not in the exaggerated way stories sometimes described beauty, but in a way that felt strangely gentle and real.
Her face carried soft, youthful features, almost doll-like in their delicate proportions. A pair of large eyes looked down at us, their color reminiscent of a calm morning lake reflecting the early sky.
Clear.
Bright.
Unusually expressive.
Sunlight caught in her hair as the breeze shifted around us.
It fell down her back in a long cascade of honey-blonde, shimmering where the light touched it. Near the ends, however, the color softened into a faint lilac hue—subtle enough that it might have been missed if the sunlight hadn't brushed across it just right.
A simple navy ribbon tied part of her hair back behind her head, while another rested neatly around her neck.
It gave her posture an oddly graceful look despite the rustic clothing she wore.
Her dress was simple—clearly something a village girl would own.
White linen.
Off the shoulders.
Light fabric meant for warm days.
Yet it had been cared for with such attention that it almost felt special.
Delicate floral embroidery ran along the ruffled neckline and the hem of the skirt, tiny stitched flowers that moved faintly whenever the breeze passed through.
Probably her best dress.
Something worn when visiting town.
Over one shoulder, a thick hemp rope crossed diagonally over her chest.
Following it with my gaze revealed the reason.
Behind her rested a small wooden wagon.
Simple and sturdy, its wheels lightly dusted from the long dirt road. Inside were several neatly arranged glass jars filled with various liquids and mixtures—potions and medicines prepared carefully for sale in the city. Bundles of dried lavender rested beside them, their soft fragrance drifting gently through the warm afternoon air.
So that was her reason for traveling this road.
Not as a wanderer.
But as a merchant carrying her work to the city.
Her sandals were simple leather straps, worn but well-maintained—clearly meant for long travel along dirt paths rather than paved roads.
For someone dressed so simply…
She stood out strangely against the dusty road behind her.
Like a small, unexpected splash of color in an otherwise quiet world.
The girl leaned slightly closer.
Her expression softened with relief when she noticed Viole's eyes were properly open this time.
"Um…"
Her fingers lightly held the rope resting across her shoulder.
"Are you… feeling a little better now?"
Her voice was still soft.
Still careful.
When Viole didn't answer immediately, she bent forward just a little more, bringing her face closer into view.
Close enough that I could see the faint nervousness in her eyes.
And suddenly—
Something changed.
Inside the body beneath me, the heartbeat skipped.
Just once.
Then again, a little faster than before.
A strange warmth crept across Viole's cheeks, spreading faintly beneath his skin.
His chest tightened slightly, not from pain this time—but from something lighter. Something restless.
A flutter.
Small.
Unfamiliar.
Like a quiet storm of nerves swirling somewhere in the center of his chest.
Ah.
So that's what this was.
The girl hesitated for a moment, gathering the courage to continue.
"…Do you think…"
Her fingers tightened slightly around the rope across her shoulder.
"…you might be able to stand?"
Her voice remained careful, as if afraid of pushing too hard.
"If walking is possible… we can go slowly toward the city."
Her gaze drifted briefly toward the distant road before returning to him again.
"There's a healer there who can look at your wounds properly."
No pressure.
No impatience.
Just a quiet suggestion.
Inside the quiet confines of Viole's body, I could feel his strength slowly returning.
Not much.
Just enough.
The dull heaviness in his limbs had begun to fade slightly.
Enough that his arm finally moved.
His fingers pressed lightly against the ground beside him as the body shifted against the tree trunk.
"…Walk…"
His voice was still hoarse.
But this time the word carried a little more strength than before.
He drew in a slow breath.
"…I'll… try."
And somewhere in the back of my mind, a quiet thought surfaced without warning.
Yeah…
Something about this girl felt… dangerous.
Viole drew in another slow breath.
Then his hand pressed harder against the ground.
The muscles in his arm trembled slightly as he pushed.
The body leaned forward.
For a moment it felt steady.
Then the world tilted.
His legs buckled beneath him.
The sudden shift of weight sent his balance collapsing forward—
"Ah—!"
The girl gasped.
Footsteps hurried across the grass.
Before the body could fall completely, something soft but firm caught him.
Her hands.
One grasped his arm while the other pressed lightly against his shoulder, trying to steady the sudden collapse.
"W-wait!"
Her voice carried a small note of panic.
"Please don't rush—!"
Viole's weight leaned heavily against her for a moment.
Despite her slender frame, she didn't let go.
Instead she shifted her footing slightly, bracing herself to help him stay upright.
For someone who had dragged an unconscious body off the road earlier…
Her strength wasn't as delicate as her appearance suggested.
The dizziness passed slowly.
Viole inhaled.
Then again.
His legs trembled beneath him, but this time they held.
"…Sorry…"
The apology came quietly.
His grip on her arm loosened as he regained his balance.
The warmth in his cheeks returned faintly again.
Up close like this, the scent of lavender clinging to her clothes was surprisingly noticeable.
Ai quickly looked away, though she didn't move her hands until she was certain he wouldn't fall again.
"I-it's okay…"
Her voice softened.
"Just… please be careful."
Once Viole was standing properly, she slowly stepped back.
Still close enough to catch him if needed.
"…Can you walk?"
The question came gently this time.
Viole tested his footing.
One step.
Then another.
His legs still felt weak, but they obeyed.
"…Slowly," he admitted.
"But… yes."
Ai's shoulders relaxed slightly in visible relief.
"Oh…"
"That's good."
Before they began walking, however, she suddenly seemed to remember something.
Her eyes widened faintly.
"O-oh— wait."
She quickly turned toward the wagon behind her and rummaged through a small satchel tied to its side.
After a moment she returned holding a small clay flask sealed with a cork stopper.
The surface was cool and slightly worn from use.
She held it out toward him with both hands.
"Here…"
"You should drink some water."
Her eyes briefly flicked toward the bandages covering his wounds.
"You lost a lot of blood earlier…"
Her voice softened further.
"…so you might be thirsty."
Inside Viole's body, I could feel the dryness in his throat immediately react to the offer.
He accepted the flask carefully.
"…Thank you."
The water inside was cool and clean.
After a few slow drinks, the dull tightness in his throat eased slightly.
When he handed the flask back, she gave a small nod before returning it to her satchel.
Then, finally, they began walking.
The road stretched ahead beneath the wide afternoon sky.
Ai walked beside him, though slightly ahead, pulling the small wagon by the rope over her shoulder.
Its wooden wheels creaked softly against the packed dirt path.
For a while…
Neither of them spoke.
The quiet felt oddly heavy.
Viole's strength still hadn't fully returned, and even forming thoughts required effort.
Ai, meanwhile, seemed to struggle with something else entirely.
Several times she glanced toward him.
Then quickly looked away again.
Eventually, she gathered enough courage to speak.
"Um…"
Her voice was small.
"W-we haven't introduced ourselves yet…"
She fidgeted lightly with the rope resting across her shoulder.
"M-my name is Ai."
A brief pause followed before she continued.
"I'm from Lunareth Village."
Her voice carried a faint hint of pride despite the shyness.
"It's east of the city… not very big."
She gestured lightly toward the wagon behind her.
"I was going to the city to sell some potions and medicines."
The wagon creaked again as they walked.
The scent of lavender drifted faintly between them.
After another hesitant moment, she added quietly:
"Um… what about you?"
Her gaze dropped slightly toward the road.
"…What's your name?"
Viole seemed to realize something then.
"…Ah."
His steps slowed slightly.
"…Right."
His voice was still rough.
"…I should have said that earlier."
He lowered his head slightly.
"…I'm sorry."
Then he continued.
"My name is… Viole."
A few more steps passed before he added:
"…And… thank you."
The words came slowly, weighed down by exhaustion.
"For saving me."
Ai shook her head quickly.
"I-it was nothing—"
But he continued speaking.
"…I'm an adventurer."
The title came with a faint breath between words.
"…Silver… rank."
Even speaking that much seemed to cost him some strength.
They walked quietly for a moment before Ai hesitantly asked the question that had clearly been lingering in her mind.
"…What happened back there?"
Her voice was careful again.
"You were… really injured."
Viole's gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
"…A guild request."
He paused briefly.
"…Herb gathering."
"The location was in Verdant Hollow Forest."
His breathing slowed slightly as he spoke.
"It's… northeast of the city."
"…Far from the road."
Ai nodded quietly.
She knew the forest by name.
"It should've been safe."
His voice lowered slightly.
"…But something appeared."
"…A monster I've never seen before."
The memory seemed to tighten something in the body beneath me.
"…It wasn't from that forest."
"…Too strong."
"…Too fast."
"I managed to escape…"
His hand brushed lightly against the bandages wrapped across his side.
"…but barely."
Ai's footsteps slowed slightly beside him.
"…Didn't you have potions?"
The question came innocently.
Viole gave a faint, tired laugh.
"…I wish."
"…They're expensive in the city."
His eyes briefly drifted toward the wagon she was pulling.
"…Adventurers like me…"
"…can't always afford them."
For a moment, neither of them spoke again.
But the quiet between them felt a little different now.
Less awkward.
More… familiar.
And somewhere inside the quiet confines of Viole's body, I found myself realizing something.
This road…
This meeting…
Might have been the beginning of something neither of them understood yet.