"Vampires don't experience sudden death unless they die in battle."
"They'll stare at a coffin. They'll lie inside the dark, cold coffin. They'll close their eyes forever."
"Before the coffin closes, they'll tell a story. What death was like."
"Did they feel fear? Did they feel anger? Did they feel emptiness? Was it darkness? Did they feel pain? Did they feel regret? Did they feel sadness? And so on."
Hearing this, Evan paused for a moment.
"Although they sound like terrifying creatures, even I feel sad for them."
"Why?"
"It sounds like they must, no, forced to experience death. Like dying slowly, experiencing every step of the process, that's terrifying. Disappearing instantly or burning to ashes, that sounds better."
"But if the coffin is reopened prematurely, they can come back to life."
"That sounds worse."
"Waking someone who's been resting after experiencing all that... what were the gods thinking when they created them like that?" Evan said bitterly.
Hearing Evan's opinion, Zain nodded and remained silent.
"It's a complicated world."
"Yeah, that's how it is."
"..."
"Can I say something?"
"Sure."
"After hearing your story and subconsciously imagining what would happen if those things happened in this world... honestly, I'm worried." Evan smiled sarcastically.
"One day, the world changed suddenly. It was like flipping a palm, no one expected it. The world was destroyed, and people died instantly. It all just happened."
"Things like that can happen, but it's not impossible for something worse to happen."
"Even though I understand that and try to act as if a disaster is going to happen, let it happen... I still feel worried."
"I can't hide or ignore that feeling."
"No matter how kind someone is, how stubborn they are, how wise they are, or even how evil they are, they still have feelings. It just depends on how they respond to them." Zain said.
"..."
"Zain... I'm... afraid."
"Everyone has fears."
"I'm afraid of my death."
"That's normal."
"I'm afraid of everything that happens in this world."
"Some people feel that way too."
"I'm afraid I won't be able to do my job well."
"Not everything is within your control."
"I'm afraid of the unknown."
"You'll never know everything."
Hearing Zain's answer, Evan smiled. His blue eyes stared into the distance.
"Now the number of Awakened is increasing rapidly, especially with the power called magic. Some theories about the nature of this changed world are beginning to be revealed, although many secrets remain unknown."
"They are still searching, digging, and studying everything they can."
"There are even those who seek immortality."
"They are studying, researching, and even conducting experiments on the living."
"Are they guilty? Should they be eliminated?" Evan asked Zain.
Zain didn't answer, just quietly listening to Evan.
Evan continued.
"I think they're wrong, but they can't be eliminated just like that. They're just curious."
"But, isn't it natural to stop it?" Evan looked back at Zain, expecting an answer.
But Zain remained silent.
"I want to stop them. But I don't know the right way to do it."
"Can I do it?"
"Then, I thought about something else."
"Let's say I successfully stop their experiment. Then, what happens next?"
"Maybe I'll get praise and recognition, but will everyone who sees me agree with what I've done?"
"Will they all support me? Won't another generation do the same?"
"Will... the cycle end...?"
Evan fell silent, his blue eyes still gazing into the distance.
Zain looked at Evan.
The man with his black hair turning gray, with wrinkles around his eyes, forehead, and the corners of his lips.
However, his ocean-blue eyes remained the same after decades.
"Sorry, I talk too much." Evan rubbed the back of his neck.
"Even though I'm this old, I still ask too many questions and complain." He chuckled.
Zain's hand reached for Evan's head, and he stroked it as if caressing a child. Evan was a little surprised.
"I told you I was old."
"But you didn't push away." Zain said with a faint smile.
Although Evan felt embarrassed, he didn't push away Zain's hand.
Evan felt calm, like a younger brother accepting his older brother's affection.
"The world is full of mysteries. Mysteries that no one can ever solve in their lifetime."
"Although life is a story, there's no written script you can read. You never know what might happen in life."
"Everyone is afraid. Everyone is worried. Everyone wants to do what they think is right and what is good."
"But Evan, none of the letters are the same. Likewise with numbers."
"Depending on how you arrange the letters, you can create sentences that are both legible and unreadable."
"It's the same with writing numbers. You know the number, but you write it incorrectly. The person reading it won't know the actual number, only you know the truth."
"Are you wrong when you write an illegible sentence? Are you wrong when you write a number that's too high or too low?"
"Some people will blame you, asking why you wrote an illegible sentence."
"Some people will excuse you, thinking, 'Maybe you're just not good at writing'."
"Then some people will think other things, did you do it on purpose, or did you just not know how, or did they just not understand what you wrote?"
"There are people who can swim and those who can't. Those who can swim can enjoy the beauty of the underwater world, the feeling of being at one with the water, they don't have to fear drowning."
"It's different from people who can't swim. They can't do anything underwater and they're afraid of drowning. But even so, they can still dip part of their body in the water and feel the feeling of being one with the water."
"But, those two people have one thing in common."
"They both can't breathe underwater."
"You know, sometimes people who are good at swimming can suddenly drown, and people who are bad at swimming, when they're in a pinch and about to drown, can suddenly swim."
Zain looked at Evan.
"Not everything in this world is right, but not everything is wrong either."
"When you do something, there will definitely be those who oppose you, but there will also be those who support you."
"Many people want to benefit from good things, but not all of them are like that."
"Not everyone in this world hates you, some people definitely like you."
"In the end, they're all the same, human."
"Is it wrong to want immortality?" Zain asked Evan.
"If it's just wanting... it's not wrong." Evan replied.
"Then what's wrong?"
"Their way of seeking and achieving it."
"If they find the right way, is that okay?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I think it would disrupt existing human civilization. Because if they succeeded, wouldn't that disrupt the existing ecosystem?" Evan said.
"Humans would spread uncontrollably, laws would become null and void, and that would wreak havoc on the world." Evan continued.
"You're right. They would be able to defy destiny." Zain said.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"I want to stop it."
"Even if many people want it?"
"That... Of course..." Evan replied hesitantly.
Zain noticed Evan's tightly clenched fists and his hesitant expression.
"Evan."
"Yes?"
"Since when have you cared so much about other people's desires?" Zain asked in a slightly joking tone.
Evan's eyes widened slightly at that.
As if realizing something, Evan laughed.
"Yes... that's right. Since when have I cared so much about other people?"
"The me who always sticks to my guns and is never swayed by others..."
"It seems age really can change a person. Hahaha."
"Of course I'll stop it." Evan smiled. His face no longer looked uncertain.
"But Evan, is that the only reason you want to stop the Eternity Project?"
"Actually, there's another reason. And you already said it yesterday, Zain."
"Because it's sad." Evan said, his blue eyes staring deeply into Zain's.
"Don't you want to be immortal, Evan?"
"Sometimes I think about it, but I don't want it."
"Why?"
"Because you'll be sad."
"You know I can cure your illness, but don't you want to ask me to do it?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's my choice."
"Don't you think I might be sad when you leave?"
"You'll be sadder if you keep seeing me unchanged."
"Are you sad to see me, Evan?"
"Yes."
"I see." Zain smiled faintly.
Evan looked back at Zain.
"You tell me a lot, but you also hide a lot."
"Is that so?"
"You seem indifferent to everything in front of you. But I know your concern is deeper than anyone else in this world."
"And even if you lie to me, I won't hate it."
"You're a good person."
"Was I wrong?"
"..." Zain was silent for a moment.
"Well, I don't know either."
"..."
"Can I do it, Zain?"
Dawn began to shine from behind the hill.
Along with the reddish-orange light, raindrops began to fall.
Zain stood up from his seat.
A black umbrella appeared out of nowhere.
"I trust you'll do your best."
Handing the umbrella to Evan, Zain smiled.
From behind the open black umbrella, Evan saw it.
Along with the warm light of dawn and the cold rain, a smile.
Such a warm smile.
As Zain was about to leave, Evan asked.
"Zain, why are only vampires subject to eternal sleep? Why don't elves do it too?"
Zain turned around and answered Evan curtly.
"Because they age."
Zain left Evan.
*
*
*
*
"Who told you that?"
The teenage boy asked the little girl beside him, who had the same hair and eye color as him.
"Grandpa told me."
"But I can't read stories very well."
"It's okay. Because big brother who was telling it, I'll listen."
The little girl smiled as brightly as the sun.