«I… such a fool.»
Lein couldn't afford to lose.
If he lost, then who would take care of the demon?
«This… is the end.»
Lying in the snow, Lein's eyes slowly began to close.
Not by will, but by circumstance.
Lein bit his lips.
A bite without pain, only resentment.
And that resentment carried no real weight.
«Who am I even supposed to resent?
The demon, because of whom I ended up here?
The Story, which hadn't helped enough?
Or maybe… fate?
But none of it matters anymore.»
Then it seemed to Lein that he heard something.
Crunch…
A soft crunch.
Someone was moving through the snow.
Lein couldn't turn his head.
And the constant howl of the wind drowned out the sound.
But it kept growing—louder, and louder. Closer… and ever closer.
A shadow fell over Lein, and as his fading vision cleared, he saw its owner—
a child.
Looking down at Lein, the child spoke in an unknown yet somehow understandable language:
"Hey… Do you need help? Want me to help you?"
Lein couldn't believe his luck. He gathered all his strength into one breath and whispered:
"Yes. Please."
But the child just stared back at him, puzzled.
Lein quickly realized his mistake.
He tried to nod.
"I see. You don't speak the Leite tongue. Fine, I'll help you. And of course, you'll owe me."
The child was dressed in heavy clothes, fit for the harsh weather.
He crouched, pulled a vial of crimson liquid from his jacket pocket, and carefully poured it into Lein's mouth.
"Drink, don't be shy. Later you'll help me make a new one."
Lein wanted to reply with a joke, but his strength failed him. He only silently swallowed the unfamiliar drink.
A few seconds later, warmth spread through his body.
A strange, gentle warmth filled every cell, lulling him, dragging him toward sleep.
It started in his head and slowly flowed down to the very tips of his toes.
But then the feeling reversed: from his feet crept cold, rising higher and higher until it finally reached his head.
"I think you should sleep. This potion takes a lot of energy, and if you don't save it, you'll just freeze to death again. Don't worry, the shelter's nearby. I… I'll try to drag you there."
Lein closed his eyes, showing his agreement.
The child took both his hands and began dragging him through the snow, muttering along the way:
"Honestly, I didn't expect to see a stranger here. You even managed to collapse just a few meters from my shelter. You really are lucky."
The child's words sounded fragmented, strange, and unclear to Lein.
And a few seconds later, he couldn't hear him anymore.
"And he actually fell asleep… Well, well, what an interesting person."
The child dragged Lein's large body, leaving an equally large trail in the snow.
Then, once inside a circle of tall stones, the child let go of Lein's hands.
He stepped back, approached one of the stones, and ran his hand along its surface.
Strange symbols appeared, forming a glowing circle.
Then the circle vanished, revealing a passage beneath the stone.
The child came back to Lein, grabbed his hands again, and with effort started dragging him toward the open passage leading downward.
"So… the main thing is not to hit your head on the steps. Not that you can even hear me…"
With those words, he slowly began lowering him down the stairs, carefully keeping Lein's head higher.
And so, they descended the steps slowly but steadily.
When only a few remained, the child slipped and fell, dragging Lein down with him.
Surprisingly, Lein didn't wake. He kept sleeping peacefully.
Except now… he was pressing the child down with his full weight.
The child pushed Lein in the back with all his strength and began gasping for air.
Catching his breath, he got up, pressed a lever to the right of the exit, and waited for the passage to close completely.
Once sure it was sealed, he removed his thick clothes, gloves, and scarf.
Inside, it was warm.
"And who are you, mysterious stranger?" he asked, looking at the peacefully sleeping Lein.
---
Lein was dreaming...
Again.
It felt as real as waking life.
But…
Lein somehow always remembered what had come before these "dreams."
He remembered lying down to sleep and seeing them.
He remembered that even this dream now followed his nightmare in reality.
At that moment, he couldn't help but wonder:
«And how do I know that reality… is real?»
The thought was frightening.
Indeed, Lein couldn't prove he was dreaming.
Because his dream… had become reality.
The Mirror Demon — the very reason he ended up here — was also part of his "dream."
«No… I think my world is real. After all, the dreams I see — I can't control them. I can't influence them. But in reality… I can do anything.»
"Our tribe has worshipped the Darkness since ancient times. How dare you put yourself above Him? Kyle, think again. If you leave our tribe now, you'll have no place here anymore. You're still just a child…"
"Uncle, I'm grateful for your care. But I will never accept an empty shell as a god. I… don't believe Darkness will help me."
Lein watched their quarrel and thought he heard something familiar in the child's voice.
The boy and his uncle, a strong, broad-shouldered man, stared at each other in silence for a long time.
"Kyle… Is this your final choice?" the man finally asked.
Kyle nodded.
"This… is the path I chose. I will find a way to rid myself of my 'uniqueness.'"
"Foolish child… You were so gifted, yet you waste your talent on useless things."
Kyle turned back and, without looking at the grown man, said:
"Farewell, Velv. I will not forget your help."
And then Kyle left.
«This child… He's much smarter than he looks. And this Velv… he just let the child go so easily?» Lein thought.
While Lein was lost in his thoughts, the boy seemed to glance at him for a second.
Lein managed to notice it, even though he was distracted.
But the boy pretended not to see anything and kept walking.
Lein's dream ended at that moment.
He opened his eyes.
An unfamiliar stone ceiling, lit by the yellow glow of torches.
A comfortable bed and a slightly hard pillow.
"Awake?"
Lein turned toward the source of the familiar voice.
White, fluffy hair. Deep sea-blue eyes. Smooth, pale skin.
And also… a familiar face with noble features.
Standing in front of Lein was the very same child who had left his tribe.
The child's name was Kyle.