Silence filled the place; neither Klo nor Lumi spoke.
They chose silence, letting it become a wall between them.
A light breeze blew, pushing back Lumi's hood, revealing two triangular shapes covered in white fur.
Fox ears, Klo thought to himself.
Lumi stared at Klo, who was fixated on those triangles resting atop her head.
"Are you angry with me, Ethan?"
"Why should I be angry with you?"
Lumi leaned back slowly, supporting herself with her arms stretched behind her.
"You know… I almost killed your friends."
"Even if you had killed them, the only one truly harmed would be me. I'd just reset the scenario again and again until it was exhausted."
She leaned forward, a few strands of her hair falling onto Klo's face.
"You know what? You're really like me!"
"How am I like you?"
Klo got off Lumi's lap and sat cross-legged on the white surface.
"We share a lot in common. Despite your very short age compared to mine, you seem mature in your thinking—unlike me, who's still childish despite my long years."
"Lumi, can you tell me how those thousand years passed?"
"But you already know—we share memories."
Klo clasped his hands together, fidgeting with his fingers.
"I'm someone who doesn't like intruding on others' thoughts or concerns. Even if I know everything, I prefer the person to come to me directly and tell me face-to-face."
Lumi chuckled softly.
"There's a comfort in your eyes, Ethan. I'm a fox from the Ice Claw Fox tribe. I grew up under the care of the tribe's chief—my father. Though I was clever, I didn't show it; it was boring to have everyone talk about how amazing you are."
Klo stopped fidgeting, leaning forward slightly to focus on her story.
"Even though I mingled with people, I never felt any real interest or joy. Everything was just… ordinary."
Lumi's expression changed from her usual—it seemed heavy and weary.
"I was exiled from my tribe for being lazy. But I wasn't angry or anything like that. I made friends with various creatures, but in the end, they either died or left. And because of my long lifespan… in my eyes, I lost everyone."
Klo sighed, standing up.
"I know how you feel. I went through the same thing. I was like an invisible being who only received beatings and insults from my parents and society. All I ever did was read and write web novels online. And the moment I finished my novel, I was sent to this world. You know what I mean."
"Yes."
Lumi stood up and went to stand beside Klo, looking at him.
"What are you staring at, Ethan?"
"Nothing."
She took Klo's cold hand and pulled him deeper into the forest.
"Where are you planning to go?"
"How about we take a walk?"
Klo followed her. The only sounds he could hear were the wind and the birds circling overhead, along with the cold that, in his current form, somehow felt almost warm.
Form?
"Ah, Lumi—what is this form I'm in?"
Lumi glanced at Klo walking behind her.
"Oh, that. When you make a contract with your mythical partner, you take on a form similar to their human appearance."
"So that's why I look like you in this form."
They continued walking, exchanging bits of talk and jokes, until Lumi suddenly stopped.
She jumped toward Klo so they were face-to-face.
Lumi smiled at him.
"I think we'll be leaving this place now, Ethan. I enjoyed talking with you. See you soon. "
"I see… farewell, Lumi."
The surroundings around Lumi and Klo began to change, fading gradually into transparency until vanishing completely.
...
Klo opened his eyes and pushed himself up to sit. He found himself lying in a bed similar to those in hospitals.
"Am I in some sort of clinic?"
He looked around and realized he was in the academy nurse's office.
He figured they had used a teleportation stone.
He felt warmth against his back, and when he looked slowly behind him, he saw Lumi clinging to him.
"I told you we'd be back, Ethan."
"It's you, Lumi."
Lumi got up and sat in front of Klo's feet. He felt weak, and his chest was hot.
"You're back to your original form, Ethan. The form of Klo Yuthnir really suits you."
Klo lay back slowly, staring at the white ceiling.
"How is Klo?"
"He's sleeping for now. Please, don't worry—Klo Yuthnir will wake up soon and return to his usual health."
"You're not lying, right?"
The nurse and Luna were talking, with the nurse reassuring Luna, who was scratching her head in worry.
Klo looked at Lumi, who was eavesdropping on them.
"What do you think, Lumi? What should I do?"
"It's better if you go to her and reassure her yourself."
Klo nodded and got up from the bed. His clothes had been changed to light garments in a greenish-blue color.
[ Congratulations ]
"You have contracted with a mythical being."
10 rewrite attempts remaining
10,000 C
This is great—I'll be stronger than before.
"What's that, Ethan?"
"It's a system panel. It helps me gradually become stronger."
"Isn't that cheating?"
Klo leaned forward, making a silly face.
"You're right—it is cheating."
Lumi jumped from her spot toward the floating panel.
"With my power and this thing, you'll become the strongest human!"
"How so?"
"When two beings share the same core, they also share the same power. We're invincible, Ethan!"
Lumi was so happy she kept hopping in place.
Klo smiled.
"I guess I've gotten myself a mischievous little sister."
"Hey! Don't call me that—I'm your big sister, not you."
Klo laughed and walked toward the nurse and Luna, who were standing in the clinic's waiting room.
"Hello, Luna. How are you?"
Luna walked toward the worn-out Klo.
"Why did you come here on your own?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
She looked over every part of him, making sure he was okay.
"You seem alright. I want to ask you something."
I felt myself tightening little by little.
"Why has your hair's color and length changed, and why are your eyes now blue, Klo?"
"Uh… I don't know. I think there was some kind of distortion magic in the dungeon."
"But we left the dungeon, and you stayed like this—even after reaching the academy and entering the clinic."
"I don't know."
Silence filled the space until Elithia entered.
"Klo, how are you now?"
He stared at her slowly, narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brows.
Elithia stood in front of him.
"Are you angry with me?"
"Where's the 10,000 Ban?"
Everyone fell into disappointment—except Lumi, who dropped to the floor laughing.
"That look just for money? You know I was joking."
"An agreement is still an agreement."
Klo and Elithia exchanged stares for a long time until she finally gave up.
"Fine, Klo. You win the bet."
Great.
"Now go and rest, Klo."
"Sure."
Everyone left, leaving me and Lumi staring out the window, looking at the vast world beyond.
"Do you think the world is really that big, Ethan?"
"I think so—just a few steps can be huge for us."
Lumi leaned forward, hugging her arms.
"I want to feel sweetness in the life I'm living."
Klo looked at Lumi; she seemed sad to him.
She was right—living a thousand years isn't a small thing.
"I don't want to lose you, Ethan. You're the most fun I've ever had. Even after you killed me many times and hurt me, I was the one who hurt you first, and still you never hated me."
Because I was the one who put you in that prison first.
"You're really crazy—how did you do all that?"
Klo sighed, folding his arms as well.
"I don't know. Every time I think about who I really am, I get lost in a sea full of questions."
Lumi chuckled softly, leaning back.
"We all have something we fear."
"Why were you imprisoned in that dungeon, Lumi?"
She returned to her previous position, looking at Klo.
"Humans believe I'm an evil, dangerous being, so they sealed me there with an eternal sleep spell. Until you came and freed me—thank you, Ethan. You really are a kind person."
"Do you know who sealed you?"
"The heroes you wrote, Ethan. They thought I was a threat after I refused to give them my wisdom."
Klo clenched his fists, grinding his teeth.
"I'm sorry for that."
Lumi turned his head back to face forward.
"Don't worry, Ethan. I know you regret writing that novel. Don't fill your mind with nonsense—just focus on living. We're nothing but creatures from your imagination."
Klo widened his eyes, looking at Lumi, who was filled with sadness.
He steadied himself and patted her head.
"I think you're right—but you also deserve to live."