The fortress was quiet — too quiet for a place that had just survived a god-slaying war.
Inside its stone halls, Jiwoon padded barefoot across polished floors.
His steps were light. His eyes wide.
And every now and then… he would stop and stare at his reflection.
"Is that really me?"
"Why do I feel… strange?"
[System Notice]
Power fluctuations detected.
Host memory status: Locked.
Self-awareness: Partially reawakening.
Sin Access: Disabled
Divine Access: Suppressed
Protective Seals: Active (x3)
Meanwhile…
Vera was pacing the hallway, arms crossed.
"He nearly wiped a continent… and now he's asking me why the sky is blue."
Kaelya flopped onto a couch, tossing a pillow in the air.
"I'm more worried about the part where he tried to climb Qilin's tail and called it 'fluffy cloud snake.'"
Kravein smirked from the corner, polishing his sword.
"At least he stopped trying to duel me with a broom."
Later That Night
Jiwoon sat on the roof alone, hugging his knees.
Above him, the stars pulsed faintly — like they remembered something he didn't.
Qilin joined him, silently curling nearby.
"I keep having dreams," Jiwoon whispered.
"A black flame… a red eye… screaming…"
He looked up.
"Am I a monster?"
Qilin huffed, then gently nudged Jiwoon with its head.
The child smiled, just a little.
Far Away…
A figure watched from the shadows of a ruined cathedral.
"So. The demon sleeps."
"Let's see how long the world stays quiet."