The Existence Stone:
I flipped through the pages, one after the other, and my absolute certainty grew: this was the book we bought, not another one. It held all our small, secretly left marks:
Millis's sharp sword drawing, the funny "mustache" Luca drew on the face of one of the stupid characters, the black clock I drew, Liam's comfortable pillow, and Evan's favorite sandwich.
I chuckled lightly, contemplating those naive drawings. And, of course, I didn't forget our names scrawled at the end of the novel. That old habit of "confirming ownership"—how silly and childishly foolish.
I sighed deeply, letting the questions that had returned to clash like waves inside my head resurface: "Why were we sent here? The author has already finished his story, so what's the purpose of our presence? And why us, specifically?
If we are here in our real bodies, does that mean we've become people not recorded by the book?
Or are we...?" I found no answer.
I set the book down, along with all the questions I couldn't explain, and returned my attention to the bag. Yuna said it contained the things we packed, so I pulled the items out one by one.
Our next trip was supposed to be to Grandma's house in the woods for camping and enjoyment for at least a month.
My parents had also said they would join us there, so I hadn't taken many things. Hmm, just one bag. I looked inside and was astonished by the sheer volume of its contents: earbuds, a phone charger (what am I going to do with this when I don't have my phone?), a set of medicines Yuna put in, simple eating utensils Evan insisted on packing, sharp blades Millis had placed, a pillow Liam packed, and money and maps added by Louis and Luca.
For a moment, I wondered if this was my bag or everyone's bag! I sighed and continued.
I also found a long rope and hooks, a fishing rod and bait, a regular flashlight, a flashlight with red light that helps with sleep, a miniature tent, and a loooot of water bottles, so many.
I laughed internally, remembering the time we ran out of water and Grandpa's house was quite far from the goal, so we had to drink from the river and... well, we slept in bed for a week afterward. Let's forget that for now.
There are clothes too... Hmm, yes, there are enough, and also things my siblings added without my knowledge:
A cooking book for dummies, another for "Directions for Dummies," one for survival, and one for stealth. Wait, why are there so many weird books ending with the word "dummies"... I sighed in frustration. Eluot, Keto, Enrin, I'm not a dummy! No, no, I'm never letting this slide. I sighed again, looked into the bag, and found a pan... A PAN??!!
What am I going to do with that?
Why do I feel like Evan was the one who put it? Never mind. I found a lot of those invention cubes, and also a notebook from my older brother.
Strange, what does it talk about?
He always loved chemistry, medicine, and everything weird. I wonder if it contains medical recipes. A notebook and pen, insect repellent spray, a voice recorder, earplugs, and more and more water.
And finally, I found a selection of food my mom prepared for me before her trip, and also...
What???!!!
Wait... wait a minute!!
What are those things doing?
I froze, looking at the things I bought from the store. No, I won't say stole, because we paid for them.
I hesitantly pulled the items out of the bag and placed them in front of me on the cold ground:
They consisted of:
A white key, decorated with black patterns.
And identification cards for all the characters in Part Four.
A very suspicious energy radiated from them.
I felt like laughing hysterically as I stared at the three objects in front of me.
"What is this nonsense?!" I muttered softly.
I reached for the objects slowly, hesitantly.
The White Key: I picked it up first. It was cold and strangely heavy. Its white color shone like ivory, and the black decorations looked like lines of energy, not just engravings.
But for what lock?
The ID Cards: They were the most unsettling. The characters' pictures here weren't just ordinary drawings. The fine details in their eyes, their facial features, and the creases in their clothes looked frighteningly real. They were like photographs, but with an old artistic touch.
What on earth did I feel when I bought them?...
I sighed.
I looked at the many cards and placed them on the ground. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise.
"Grrr Grrr!" It sounded close to the roar of monsters. But how? I was sure there were no monsters on this island yet.
"Grrrrr... Grrrrrrr!"
This time the sound was louder, clearer, and closer. I felt the deep resonance coming directly from below my chest.
I looked down at my stomach, which had let out a huge protest like the growl of a hungry beast, and the heat of embarrassment crept over me again.
"Ah, how foolish!"
I let out a soft laugh mixed with confusion. How could I be contemplating complex existential questions when my stomach was about to file a complaint against me?
I momentarily forgot about the key and the cards, and my hand greedily dove into the bag for the food my mother had prepared.
She had made me a set of small, carefully wrapped sandwiches and pieces of dried fruit, all placed in an airtight plastic container.
The familiar scent of her bread was like a warm hug, reminding me of home.
I didn't waste a second. I grabbed the first sandwich and practically swallowed it in one bite.
The taste of home, the taste of safety, flooded my senses. I felt warmth gradually return to my limbs, and my mind began to regain its clarity after a long distraction.
Suddenly, a question came to me: At what point in the story are we now? Is it the beginning or the middle of the events?
I hummed my questions as I spotted the ring. "Yes, the ring!"... One second, two, three...
I suddenly screamed internally:
"I should have called them! How could I forget?"
I placed my finger on the green eye, and it was only seconds before Luca's voice came through, his tone mixing relief with surprise:
"Oh, Louyan! Did you just wake up?"
I answered with a light chuckle while continuing to eat: "No, it's been a while since I woke up. I apologize for not calling earlier; I was busy feeding my stomach."
Luca replied calmly:
"It's okay, we're eating too. Oh, did you check the bag? We checked it and woooo..."
Liam interrupted him immediately with a feigned tone of accusation: "Yuna, why is there a book titled 'How to Make Everywhere Sleepable for the Lazy'?"
Yuna answered with unwavering audacity and confidence:
"Well, I won't lie, it's important for you anyway. And FYI, I found the Western Part of the novel in the bag, and something else: the copy of the novel you have is the version we bought."
I flipped the pages of the novel, confirming calmly: "Yes, I already know that."
I heard Millis's voice, full of concern, asking: "How are you all?"
Luca answered with tired honesty:
"I feel exhausted, but my body is fine."
Evan said in an energetic and excited tone:
"I'm fine, I feel energetic."
Liam answered with a prolonged, customary lazy yawn:
"I don't feel tired, maybe sleepy."
Yuna said in a calm and steady tone, as if she had regained her composure compared to last night:
"Liam, you are always sleepy. As for me, I'm good compared to last night."
Louis said in an exaggeratedly dramatic tone, tinged with regret and complaint:
"And I'm fine, except I miss my money."
Millis called out to me again in a concerned, directed tone: "It's good that you're fine. What about you, Louyan?"
I told her in a very candid tone:
"I'm fine, but my dignity might have just taken a hit because of the books I found in the bag."
Luca sighed with clear relief:
"That's reassuring, everyone is normal."
Liam said in a semi-philosophical, sleepy tone:
"Yes, I think that's good, except for the fact that we might have become outside the novel's law."
Evan asked with genuine worry at the end of his sentence, moving to the next objective:
"That's better than dying as one of the main characters anyway. What are we going to do?"
The ring quieted down a little. I don't know if it was seconds or minutes, as if they were silent to determine their fate—not just my fate, but all of ours—but I knew what I would do.
I took a deep breath.
My voice and everyone else's came out together in a single declaration, a decisive, unified resolution:
"I'm going home!"
I laughed a little, and I heard their laughter too. Yes, no matter how hard it is, we will return. Our place is not here.
...
"So, our goal is clear, but how can we go back?"
Liam asked in a calm tone, as if raising the most logical question after their agreement.
I answered them seriously, focusing on the first step:
"The only thing we need to think about right now is meeting each other, and that's done by breaking the barrier. But how will we do that?"
Millis said in a subtle, hinting tone, as if trying to convey an important idea:
"Louyan and everyone, I wanted to tell you this important thing. In your opinion, at what point in the novel's events are we?"
I thought for a moment, trying to understand what she was getting at:
"I think we're in the middle of the events. Well, that's what I was able to conclude because this place is still uninhabited by any human..."
Then Millis spoke with clear conviction, as if she had realized something huge:
"FYI, I think Liam and I are in the Southern Part because this island is in the Southern Part, and to confirm my words, we found the section of the novel related to the Southern Part. Never mind that now, the important thing is that the island is still intact. Do you know what that means?!"
Suddenly, understanding dawned on me. But Luca beat me to it, asking her with serious surprise:
"Do you mean we haven't reached the events of the first quarter of the novel?"
Millis confirmed with a confident voice:
"Yes, I'm sure of it. It was mentioned in the book that this place was destroyed by a fight between one of the characters and a villain, but the place is still as it was before the fight. So, I think the events of the first quarter of the novel haven't come yet."
Evan quickly added in a worried but analytically determined tone:
"And I'll add to that, I think we are at the beginning of the novel's events. Why?
Because last night I analyzed the soil of this island, and it wasn't poisoned.
Do you remember the events in the beginning, when someone in chapter five or six—I don't know exactly—said they would spread poison here to make the insects go crazy and attack people?"
Liam sighed in surrender:
"Are you saying we're really at the beginning of the novel? Ah... that's a lot then."
I asked, trying to get back to tangible reality after the shock of the information:
"Guys, do you know what time it is now?"
But what I received was a quiet silence.
Yuna asked in an inquiring tone: "What about your watch?"
I told them seriously: "The hands of the watch stopped. Oh, and FYI, they stopped after we conducted the experiment, at 6:15."
Evan said with clear tension:
"You're joking, right?"
Louis responded with scathing sarcasm:
"I feel like we've become characters in horror movies. Suddenly, a specific person appears with a knife and runs after us, hahaha!"
Evan's voice trembled as he said fearfully: "You have to stop that... That's scary, and what we've faced so far is enough!"
Louis said in a strangely serious and warning tone:
"Ah no, in your condition, the trees will fall on you because they are dry."
Evan and Yuna both yelled at the same time: "Louis! That's enough!"
Louis laughed at them with clear derision: "Hahahahaha."
I said, trying to get back to the topic:
"Let's forget about Louis for now... Oh guys, why on earth does the bag look like a spatial pocket or something?
And how did it hold all these things without looking huge?
I mean, look at it, it looks like it only has a set of books and pens in it."
A sudden silence fell.
Luca spoke with a desperate tone:
"Wow, great, wonderful... Another mystery has joined the set of crazy mysteries. Sigh... I wonder if the person who gave it to us knew about our transition."
Millis replied to Luca, her tone enthusiastic, unlike his:
"Well, the important thing is that it has a large spatial void; I can throw anything into it."
So I said, looking at the bag, which would be annoying to carry on the road:
"Can it disappear or shrink?"
Evan said:
"I haven't figured that out yet..."
And before he could finish, I said in a simple, experimental tone:
"Shrink," I said, and nothing happened.
"Disappear."
I said again, hoping the bag would vanish, and I watched it fade before my eyes.
I said in disbelief: "It disappeared."
Millis said with excitement and joy:
"Ha! Disappear! Oh! Mine disappeared too!"
Luca started connecting the dots with a serious tone:
"Now, the problem of carrying the bag is solved, and we know we are at the beginning of the events for each part. So, the first thing we'll do is..."
His serious talk was interrupted by Liam's weary, bored tone:
"We will hide until the fight between them intensifies, and when they break the barrier, we can meet up, and I do not want to participate in wars!"
Yuna said, trying to convince Liam with harsh logic: "And be easily killed? Ah... The heroes and villains are not safe, let alone normal humans? We will become easy prey for them, brother."
Millis sighed, telling Liam bitterly:
"Yuna's words have logic. And FYI, the side Liam and I are on involves a lot of wars, so I don't think we can hide."
Liam said, accepting the matter bitterly:
"What a tragic reality!"
Luca said in an angry tone because of the repeated interruptions:
"Can you guys stop interrupting me when I'm talking?!"
Yuna, Millis, and Liam all said at the same time: "Sorry."
Luca resumed the discussion, ignoring the issue:
"Forget it... Now we need powers to survive. Any suggestions?"
Yuna said, trying to gather information:
"Remind me of the powers that exist in this novel."
I told her, recalling the available powers:
"Swordsman, Magic Swordsman, Sorcerer, Warlock, Nature Powers, what else? Shouldn't a System appear for us, like in all transmigration novels?" I finished my words, asking them.
I mean, why didn't I try it?
"System, Power System.. blue screen.. Hey, hey, is anyone here?" I said while looking around, but there was no response.
Luca sighed at my inaccurate answer: "Louyan, we tried before you, but there's nothing like that, and we mean powers, not a weapon, despite Nature Power."
Amidst our silence, Liam said:
"I want a power for a lazy person."
Louis said in a serious tone for the first time, surprised by Liam's enthusiasm:
"Oh... I swear I can't believe Liam said he wants to fight! Is this a historic moment? Wait! I didn't bring a camera to record this moment!"
"I already have a voice recorder...."
I said, ready to take it out.
Liam shouted, interrupting my words:
"Fine! Fine! I have to survive and go back to sleep, so I'm trying, okay? It's all for the sake of sleep!"
I laughed at him and then said:
"Millis, how about you become a Magic Swordsman?"
Millis said in a serious tone and then continued:
"No, I only want to be stronger with my sword. So, I think the Magic Swordsman will suit you, Louyan."
Yuna laughed, saying:
"Oh, yes, that's right! I remember when Louyan broke the baseball bat! He used his sword's sheath to score a goal, haha!"
I told them, justifying my position:
"Hey! I didn't have time to get a new bat! Plus, I prefer Taekwondo."
While I heard them laughing.
Evan said between his laughs:
"Maybe a bat would suit you more as a weapon."
Luca said with feigned trembling:
"No, I bet it would suit Louis more, especially when he gets angry and his demonic face shows up, it would be terrifying."
Then I imagined the scene... Yes, it would be terrifying. I felt a shiver as I imagined it.
Louis said in a purposeful tone, trying to steer the discussion back on track:
"Hey! Stop talking about me! Oh, did you forget that it doesn't depend on us, but on our Power Cores?"
Luca returned, with a serious and focused tone, as if grasping the threads of planning again:
"Forget the sarcasm. Louis is right. The Core is what will determine your fate. We are not in a clothing store to choose; the employee will choose for us!"
The power system of this world... hmm, the author didn't mention much about it; he always focused more on the drama and the characters' events.
"Let me remind you of the system, according to my recollection and what was written in the novel. Hmmm... The beginning is the Core, the foundation and origin of everything:
Plants, animals, humans, elves, dragons, and all beings—in short, they have an Energy Core which is divided into five sequences:
Strength, Mana, Spirit, Divine, Sentience.
And each of these sections contains five branches.
Let's take an example.
Mana is divided into: Magic, Weapon Magic, Warlock, and two branches that were not mentioned.
Hmm... the same applies to all sequences. And the power level starts from Level Seven to Level One.
And for each branch, the way to move from one level to another differs.
And an important thing I remember being mentioned is that no one can cross over to another branch or another level.
For example, when a person chooses the Magic branch, they cannot step down and go to another branch... I think that's all that was mentioned,
In addition, the transition from one level to another is unknown, as it is monopolized by certain people.
So, it's usually not easy to move from one level to another... Hmm, the process begins with a dream, then the selection process takes place, but first, we have to bring something to match our choice and integrate it with the rest of the components to succeed in choosing a branch."
I put my hand on my forehead, squeezing all the information in my head.
"Why wasn't much information mentioned about this world's power in the novel, I wonder?"
Millis asked with a worried tone.
"The Core.... We didn't transmigrate; we were transported. That means we don't have a Core, right?"
Evan's tone was urgent, as if he was afraid of something.
"We don't have a Core.... How are we still alive?"
Luca asked slowly, as if comprehending the disaster that had befallen us.
"Hmm, maybe it has to do with the experiment?? But isn't there a way for us to have a Core? I mean, maybe we have one, but it's not activated."
Yuna's tone was as if she had realized something.
Evan began to think deeply, as if he had found a key answer. He said in a serious tone:
"Maybe it is already there, but it's dormant. If we were transported with our bodies, it would be logical for us to die, right? This is because the world is based on the Core, but because we are still alive, it means we have a Core. The problem lies in how to stimulate and activate it."
Millis nodded, focusing on his words:
"Evan's words are logical. In the novel, they didn't mention how the Core begins to appear in a human; it is present from birth. But maybe because we are not from this world, we must find a different stimulator." Then she added in a...
Minutes of deep silence passed, stimulator.... stimulator... stimulator.
Suddenly, I realized something important.
"The Existence Stone!" I shouted with all my might.
"The Existence Stone??!"
I heard their questions, betrayed by their tone.
"Yes, the Existence Stone, that small green stone.
It's true that it's not very common, but it exists on the islands, especially those with monsters.
Did you forget the final events of the Eastern Part, when one of the main characters' interaction with his Core decreased, causing a problem with his power?
And when he searched for a way to treat that, he discovered by chance that this method was recorded with the forbidden books, but it had an 'X' mark, meaning they weren't sure if it could increase their bond without side effects.
But because he was desperate, he used it..... Hmmm, as far as I remember, the steps stipulated..."
I put my hand on my jaw and closed my eyes, trying to retrieve the correct order of the steps from the depths of my memory, then I continued seriously:
"The steps stipulate:
First, parts of the Existence Stone must be brought and combined with some glowing plants that grow in the dark. Second, these ingredients are ground and mixed with drops of blood from at least a Grade Six monster. Hmmm, Yuna and Evan, the Earthworm you killed is Grade Six, so it works for you.
Third, this mixture must be placed on the heart area for a whole night under the light of a full moon.
If a small green crystal appears in the blending area, it means the dormant Core's bond has increased. For us, it should be stimulated. But... the dangerous thing about this method is that the Core might be excessively stimulated and explode, instantly killing its holder.
The author mentioned that the success rate was approximately 20%."
"Only 20%?! You're joking, right?!" Millis shouted in astonishment.
"Do you mean our chance of death is 80%?" Liam spoke in a manufactured calm tone, but I could hear some tension in it.
"I can't believe we have to risk our lives for a power we might not even get!" Evan said angrily.
"Isn't there any other way? A safer way?" Yuna's tone was as if she was asking me to look for something else.
"This is the only thing the novel mentioned to stimulate a dormant Core. The other way is to be born with one. As for a person who is a stranger to this world, nothing was mentioned about that."
"Well, at least we won't have to worry about hiding in caves if we explode. Problem solved!" Louis said sarcastically.
"Louis! This is no time for jokes!"
Luca spoke with a sigh, seeming to be deep in thought.
"I don't know about you, but I'd rather be at an 80% risk of exploding than be easy prey in an upcoming war. We won't be able to survive without power." Millis insisted.
"Definitely, Millis is right. We have to do it. But... where exactly can we find the Existence Stone? According to what was mentioned, it would be in the caves." I thought for a moment before Evan spoke to us in a desperate tone.
"Guys, did you forget a very important thing? Hmmm, but as people say, don't think straight when you're stressed. Anyway, did you forget that we have the parts of the novel? Yuna and I have the Western, Millis and Liam have the Southern, Luca and Louis have the Eastern, and Louyan has the Northern. And since Louyan said he doesn't know the exact location, so..."
I heard Evan's voice. Wait, what he was saying was right, why didn't I notice this? Anyway, I heard a sound of pages turning as if he was searching, then he stopped and said:
"Ha! This is it. Waa....."
Evan's tone quieted for a moment, as if he was surprised by something that made him fall silent. I felt some coldness in this silence, so I pressed him, asking one of them to tell us what happened.
"Yuna, Evan, what's wrong??"
"Hmm, do you think our presence on these islands is a coincidence??? If you think so, I'd like to tell you that we're lucky and unlucky at the same time. Do you know why...? Because the islands we are on now were mentioned to contain Existence Stones... That's strange even though a barrier separates them from these sides, right? I wonder when that was written.... Well, this is ridiculous."
Evan laughed hysterically, I felt as if we were in a play that had been pre-staged.
"My God... is this fate or a conspiracy? Whatever, it doesn't matter, we don't even have enough power to know! At least we know where to find the stimulator now." Millis said with a tone of shock mixed with determination.
"This means the novel was acting as a tourist guide for our cursed journey. A guide to collecting the 80% ingredients of death, how nice!"
Louis added with biting sarcasm.
"Stop the chattering! Let's focus."
Luca said sharply, then continued:
"Evan and Yuna, the Earthworm you killed was Grade Six, did you keep its blood or its corpse?
If yes, you've collected the second ingredient. As for us, where exactly can we find the glowing plants and a Grade Six monster?"
"As for the corpse, I took a sample of its bones, flesh, and blood; that's fine.
As for you, I apologize, it was only mentioned that they are found on these islands. The exact location is unknown, but I think it's in the caves. So, read your parts; maybe some information about it was mentioned.
As for the glowing plant, it always accompanies the Existence Stone, so I don't think it will be far." Evan said.
"Okay, I think we can search in the caves, but what about the Grade Six monster?
I don't think it exists... Wait, maybe there's something like that behind that waterfall." Luca spoke in a thoughtful tone.
I said, rearranging the ideas:
"What's next? We'll search in the caves, but let's start by checking the parts we have. Maybe the author was generous and put a map or a more accurate description for us. Everyone, read your parts now and look for any mention of the Existence Stone, the glowing plants, or even monsters, and we'll communicate after finding those three things."
"Okay," they spoke together, and then the line was closed.
I closed my eyes for a moment, then pulled out the Northern Part of the novel in my possession. The situation was tense, but the determination to survive was stronger than the fear of the 80% death rate. All we have to do is find the ingredients first.
The Island of Balance, I wonder if the existence of a cave was mentioned here.
📖 A Message to Dear Readers:
O Shining Heroes!
Did you like the chapter? Are you eager to know what will happen after these events?
💬 Share your opinions in the comments
Louyan's Bag
The reason for Louyan's surprise is that it doesn't look like it's about to burst because of the things inside it.
Hello, here's a small fact I learned a short while ago and was surprised by:
Did you know that red light helps us sleep faster? 😴
It's not because it's magical, it's just because it doesn't prevent the body from releasing the hormone Melatonin — the hormone that tells your brain, "Time to sleep, time to rest" 🌙
Unlike the blue light from phones and TV, which makes your brain think it's daytime 😵💫
And I wonder why I don't feel sleepy when I hold my phone at night.