Ravi stared at Yuri as though he were some impossible creature dropped onto his doorstep — a thousand questions racing behind his eyes. After a long moment, he drew a slow, steadying breath and forced his thoughts into order.
"Well then," he said quietly. "There are a lot of things you need to know, Yuri… I'm surprised this Zeek person you mentioned didn't tell you."
Mayori leaned forward, her curiosity bright. "Speaking of… who is Zeek? Is he a friend of yours?"
Yuri looked up toward the ceiling, thinking. "Uh… I guess. He saved me from a monster once. He's incredibly strong. Has all sorts of abilities, always surrounded by darkness and shadows. The… edgy, prideful type, you know?"
Mayori lit up instantly. "WOW—! He sounds… interesting. Where is he now?"
"Hmm… honestly? I don't know," Yuri said, shrugging lightly. "We got separated some time ago."
She gasped. "And you're not worried about where he might be?"
Yuri hesitated before a small, confident smile formed."No. Not really. I know — without a doubt — that we'll meet again. He said his shadows were attracted to me."
Mayori froze, then straightened in sudden realization, nodding knowingly. "Oh… it's like that, huh."
"That's exactly what I thought," Yuri replied with a grin.
Ravi exhaled — a long, heavy sigh.
"This person… it sounds like he might possess a Shadow Essence, or something close to it," he said.
"Shadow… essence?" Yuri tilted his head.
Ravi met his eyes, expression grave. "If there's one thing you need to know about this world's system — about how twisted it is — how utterly sadistic…"He leaned forward."…it's this."
Yuri swallowed. "And… what does that mean?"
Ravi continued, his voice low and even.
"As you've probably guessed by now, this world is hell. Though some people will argue otherwise, that's the truth of it."He tapped a finger against the table."This world — the System — it knows you. It knows the darkness inside you. It uses that darkness. It gives you no other option but to use it. It takes every malicious, fragile, or animalistic piece of humanity… everything we hide, repress, or pretend we don't feel…"
He paused.
"It rewards it."
Yuri felt a chill flood through him."I—I don't understand. What does that even mean?"
Ravi's tone softened just slightly. "There are countless explanations. But to put it simply, divide it into two main categories."
He raised two fingers.
"Fears.And Desire."
He leaned back on the barstool.
"Let's say someone fears growing up — or getting old. That person is far more likely to manifest a time-related Essence: the ability to bend, manipulate, or slow time itself. That's Fear."
He lifted another finger.
"But someone who acts kind, while feeling no real emotional connection? They might manifest an ice-type Essence. Cold. Absolute. Striking. That's Desire."
He sighed. "Of course, these are tiny fragments of the full system. Micro-breakdowns. But everything…"
He tapped the table again, harder.
"…everything traces back to your Province."
Something snapped inside Yuri — a sudden jolt of recognition that surged through his entire body.
"Wait… all of this — this — Province?" he said sharply.
Ravi nodded.
"Unfortunately, even I don't know much about what 'Province' truly means."
"W-what do you mean you don't know!?" Yuri burst out, panic rising. "I need to know! I need to— ngh—!"
His voice cracked. His hands curled into fists. Mayori flinched and looked up at him with open concern.
Ravi hesitated. For a moment he stared at the wooden tabletop, tracing its grain with his eyes as though searching for the right words.Finally, he spoke.
"If you really want to know… there's only one way."
The air tightened.
Both Mayori and Yuri leaned in unconsciously, tension coiling around them. The silence stretched — waiting.
Ravi lifted his head.
"To understand the truth about the Hidden Province…"His expression deepened, almost solemn.
"You have to open your Gate."