From the very first moment I sensed your breathing, your heartbeat, the unfamiliar ripple of destiny around you, I knew it instantly—this boy does not belong to this world. And within my mind, a single thought kept echoing: the final prophecy is about to come true.
Because the ancient prophecy spoke of this day—One day, a bearer from another world would arrive, opening two diverging paths of fate. His body would be borrowed, his soul divided, and through him, a kingdom frozen in stagnation would be forced to change.
This prophecy had a Guide, and that Guide was Alexander.
Riven, you are not ordinary. The future of this world rests in your hands. I even suspect that the blue light that bloomed in the northern sky shortly before your arrival was tied to this very moment.
The soft crackle of fire blended with the deep silence of the forest, creating an uncanny calm. I sat beside Alexander on a dry wooden chair that creaked faintly with every movement. The old man gently rocked his dog Tiger, in his lap, while his blind eyes seemed fixed on some distant, frozen void beyond this world.
I still couldn't grasp the situation fully—this house, this cold, these people. Everything felt like a dream layered within another dream.
Suddenly, Alexander grabbed my hand. His fingers were ice-cold, yet his grip was disturbingly firm. I flinched. "W-What are you doing?" I asked. His face trembled, his lifeless eyelids quivering as if he were witnessing something unseen. His breathing grew rapid, and in a sudden jerk, he tightened his hold on my hand. Terror spread across his face.
In a cracked, broken voice, he spoke.
"You… you will burn this kingdom—" My blood seemed to freeze mid-flow. I shook my head and said, "What are you talking about…?"
His entire body shook violently, as though he were staring straight into a nightmare. His voice was dry, soaked in fear. "Riven… before you lies a shadow of darkness. You will lose everything. You will become the one who lost it all. You will carry a loss this world cannot endure. By your hands… destruction will begin."
Something twisted painfully inside my chest. Destruction? Me? I couldn't take it anymore. I yanked my hand away. "Stop it! End this madness! I don't need to hear any of this from you." Alexander recoiled, gasping for breath. Tiger growled, as if sensing his master's anguish.
I stood up, my body shaking with anger and fear. This man had to be insane. No sane person would say such things.
Just then, the sound of hooves echoed through the snow-covered pine forest. I turned around. Through the trembling snow emerged a tall, broad-shouldered man. He wore a black fur coat, a hunted animal slung over his shoulder. His hair was pulled back, frost clinging to his beard.
Simon.
He rushed to his father and embraced him tightly, then turned toward me with a warrior's respectful smile. "So, you're awake. How are you feeling now?" he asked.
"Better," I replied. "Still hurting, but I'm alive." Simon nodded.
From the kitchen, Sansa walked out with soft steps, dressed in white and red winter clothing. Her platinum hair shimmered like snow in the candlelight. The table was laid with food—steaming meat, vegetables, herbal soup. As I sat down, Siam and Suzi came over from either side.
As Siam stirred his food, he made playful slurping noises. Suzi laughed and said, "Mom, look! Brother's eating like he just came back from a war." Sansa scolded gently, "Eat properly. We have a guest."
Alexander tossed a piece of meat to Tiger, who leapt and caught it midair. Warmth, laughter—it felt like an ordinary family moment. Yet inside my chest, Alexander's words continued to scrape at my mind. You will lose everything. I shook my head, forcing my focus elsewhere.
Simon began telling the story of how he and Sansa fell in love. Sansa smiled softly and said, "Then let me tell you how it all began." When Simon looked at her, his face filled with a quiet, proud warmth.
It had started with fear and misunderstanding.Back then, the Northern Forest was brutally cold, and the area was often patrolled by military scouts. Sansa had been alone—her family lost to a military attack. She survived by hiding in the forest.
"I was coming down the mountain slope, hunting," Simon said. "Suddenly, an arrow flew past me. I thought it was the military." Sansa covered her face shyly. "Ugh… yes, that was me. I thought you were an enemy the moment I saw you." Everyone at the table laughed.
Simon continued, "Then I saw a girl step out from behind a tree. Her hands were shaking, but her eyes were filled with fear and resolve." Sansa added softly, "I thought it was the end… that you would kill me." Simon shook his head. "But all I thought was—this girl wants to live. And I won't let her die."
Their struggle to survive together wasn't easy. At first, they argued constantly. Simon was serious, angry, and quiet. Sansa was the opposite—she spoke freely, without restraint. One night during a snowstorm, Sansa fell ill. Simon stayed awake the entire night, holding a damp cloth to her forehead, keeping the fire burning, feeding her warm water.
"That's when I realized," Sansa said gently, "no matter how hard he seems on the outside, inside he's incredibly soft, willing to do anything for the people he loves." Simon smiled. "And I realized… without her, I had no one left."
The most beautiful part, Simon said, was building this house together. "This cabin isn't just wood and stone. It's our safe haven." Sansa rested her head on his shoulder. "Our own little world. A place without fear—only family and love." Tiger barked, as if claiming his place in the story.
I finally asked, "Why don't you move somewhere far away from here?" Simon replied, "This is our safest refuge. My father foresaw it. His prophecies said we'd be safe here." He explained how Alexander's visions were the reason they stayed hidden deep in the forest.
As I listened, I couldn't help thinking—was this entire family insane? Hiding from the military while living so close to a prison? What kind of faith was this? My thoughts tangled in confusion.
Then Simon asked quietly,
"Why are you here? What kind of mission brings you this far?"