"Can you slow down? I can't keep up with you!"
Through the mist-shrouded forest, Reynor stumbled forward, breathless, chasing the fleeting figure ahead.
Her long hair flowed like silk in the pale light, her red dress a streak of fire against the gray fog. He had seen that back countless times before, always ahead, always beyond reach.
But this time he would catch her. He had to. He needed answers.
His feet splashed against soft earth as he ran, until suddenly she stopped.
She stood at the edge of a narrow stream. The delicate arch of her feet touched the water, sending ripples dancing across its surface. The hem of her dress darkened where it brushed against her calf, the sight so vivid it made his heart ache.
"Who… who are you?" Reynor's voice asked, trembling as he edged closer. "Can you… tell me?"
Her head tilted slightly, but she did not turn. Her voice drifted back to him, light and ethereal, as though spoken from far away.
"The End of Eternity."
Reynor blinked. "What?"
Her words floated like a cloud through the mist, elusive, impossible to grasp.
"The End of Eternity," she repeated.
But there was no revelation, no clarity to pierce his fog. Only confusion.
The world shivered, blurred, and Reynor's eyes snapped open.
He rubbed his face, groaning, the dull hammer of a headache pounding inside his skull.
"That girl again…" His voice was hoarse.
"Always that girl in red. What was it this time? 'The end of… something?'" He shook his head, too tired to puzzle it out.
Then his gaze shifted to his side, and froze.
A girl lay there, sleeping soundly. Her hair fanned across his pillow, her breathing steady.
Reynor's eyes widened and his gaze dropped lower.
His shirt was gone. And he was in nothing but his boxers.
"What the hell…?"
A wave of panic slammed into him. Could something have happened? He turned his head stiffly toward her, then quickly looked away.
No… no, no, no. I'm from a civilized world. I'm moral, upright, responsible. There's no way. Not me.
But then why did he feel like this? His body was weak to the bone, as if all his energy had been sucked dry. Could he have really…?
"No, let's not get ahead of ourselves," he muttered, nodding rapidly to himself. "Calm down, Reynor. Calm down."
He slid off the bedding carefully, searching the floor for his clothes. His every movement was quiet.
He snatched his clothes and tiptoed toward the door.
As long as I stay out for the day, she'll leave on her own, he thought, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
His hand hovered over the door handle when a voice, soft but clear, cut through the silence.
"Where are you going?"
Reynor's body froze. Slowly, he turned.
The girl was awake, eyes open, staring straight at him. As if she had been awake the whole time, merely pretending to sleep.
Reynor forced a weak smile, throat dry. "Ha…ha… you're awake."
Now that Reynor saw her in the full light of morning, he nearly forgot how to breathe. She was stunning.
Not merely beautiful, but breathtaking in a way that made even the most glamorous models back on Earth look ordinary.
His gaze lingered a moment too long, as though caught in a spell. Then he snapped himself out of it, heart skipping.
What the hell was that? Some kind of magic? A charm?
"Oh," she murmured softly, her lips curving as if she noticed his dazed stare.
Reynor coughed into his fist. "Beauty… uh, did something happen last night?"
Her brows lifted innocently. "Something?"
"You know…" He scratched his cheek, voice lowerings. "Between us?"
"Oh, that." A playful glint flashed in her eyes. She leaned forward slightly, her tone shy. "You must take responsibility."
Reynor's face drained of color. No way… did I really…? Did I destroy my civilized morals in one drunken night?
She suddenly laughed, light and musical, watching his horrified expression. "Nothing happened."
"…"
Reynor slumped back, clutching his chest with a sigh of relief. "Thank heavens. I'm still an upright, civilized man. Good."
But then the exhaustion in his body returned to mind, heavy and strange. His brow furrowed. "Then… did you do something to my body? Why do I feel so weak?"
Her smile shifted into something unreadable, her eyes glinting as she answered, "I stole your energy."
Reynor froze. "You… what?"
Her tone was casual, almost playful, but he stared in bewilderment.
Energy? People could steal that? He had never heard of such a thing.
His eyes flicked over her, only to realize she was dressed in one of his cheap spare tunics, the kind he had bought from a bargain stall. Yet somehow, with her wearing it, it looked like fine silk.
Then his gaze drifted further, to a small pile of cloth in the corner.
His eyes widened. The red fabric was soaked, dark stains crusted along its folds. It was no doubt blood.
He swallowed hard, forcing his voice steady. "B-beauty… are those bloodstains? On your clothes?"
"Yes," she replied simply, without hesitation.
A nervous laugh escaped him. "Oh, so… you work as a butcher or something?"
She tilted her head. "You could say that."
"Ah, I see. Then it's from animals, right?"
Her lips curved again. "No. Those are from the hunters that were chasing me."
Reynor chuckled reflexively. "Haha, this beauty's got good jokes…"
His laugh faded as his mind replayed her words from last night. something about Being chased by hunters.