We spent the whole day happily. Mirei allowed us to rest for once. After days of exhausting training, it felt strange to simply breathe and relax without pushing our bodies to the limit. The air was calm, the forest quiet, and for the first time in a while everything felt peaceful.
Nearby there was a magic researcher who approached us and said:
"Come with me. I can see great potential within you. I'm curious about what kind of abilities you possess."
His eyes looked sharp, as if he was studying something deep inside us. Lucas and I looked at each other, confused, but we followed him anyway.
He said he wanted to check our magic first.
After examining our Sol energy once again, something strange happened.
My Sol… was black, not light.
A cold feeling passed through my chest.
"Why is it like that?" I asked.
The researcher looked at me quietly for a moment before answering.
"There are people who are born with two sides of Sol… light and darkness."
His voice suddenly became serious.
"But this is not a good thing. Don't tell anyone about this."
His words stayed in my mind.
Why was it bad?
Why did it have to be a secret?
When we were returning, Mirei said calmly:
"Starting tomorrow, the next training begins."
Something about the way she said it made me feel like something difficult was waiting for us.
Early morning.
It was still dark.
Suddenly I heard Mirei's voice.
"Wake up. It's morning."
I slowly opened my eyes.
"But… the sun hasn't even risen yet."
Mirei answered calmly.
"It only appears at this time."
"Who?"
"You'll see."
Her answer was short, but something about it felt strange.
After walking for a while through the forest, we arrived at a strange area. The ground looked damaged, as if massive creatures had walked through it many times.
The air felt heavy.
Then suddenly…
The ground shook.
Something enormous appeared in front of us.
It had horns, a cow-like face, a snake tail, and lion legs.
A horrifying creature.
It looked like a mixture of different animals.
Mirei said calmly:
"People call this creature Glutton."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it never stops eating. It devours everything. And whatever it eats… it gains that creature's strength and body parts."
Lucas and I looked at each other.
"And what are we supposed to do with that thing?" I asked.
Mirei answered calmly.
"Isn't it obvious? You must defeat it."
"WHAT?!" Lucas shouted.
Mirei shrugged.
"What? Can't you do it?"
My heart started beating faster, but I smiled anyway.
"We'll destroy it."
Mirei raised her hand.
"But there is one rule."
"What rule?"
"Only physical strength. At most, a dagger. You cannot use any of your new abilities."
"Ehhh… that's boring," I muttered.
"Is that so?" Mirei said.
Then she suddenly added:
"Give me your daggers."
"What?!" Lucas shouted. "Then what are we supposed to do with only physical strength?"
Mirei answered simply.
"Anything you want."
I smiled.
"Fine. Let's go."
But suddenly Mirei added something else.
"Oh right. One more thing."
"What?"
"Take off your clothes."
"WHAT?!" we both shouted.
"You'll fight without clothes."
"And what will you do?" I asked.
"I'll watch."
"But we won't have clothes!"
Mirei laughed.
"What? Are you embarrassed?"
"Shouldn't I be?!"
"Well, it's not like this is the first time I've seen you like that."
I froze.
"What?!"
Mirei said calmly:
"Who do you think removed your clothes and dressed you again when you were injured?"
"WAAAHHHH!"
My face burned with embarrassment.
"Alright! Start!"
The fight began.
But it was worse than I imagined.
Glutton swung its arm once.
BOOM.
We were thrown to the ground instantly.
It was unbelievably strong.
Its attacks were terrifying.
Every strike felt like it was breaking our bones.
Several times we were close to death.
But something strange was happening.
It wasn't eating us.
If Glutton devoured everything…
Then why was it leaving us alive?
"Something feels wrong…" I whispered.
But there was no time to think.
Suddenly it hit me again with incredible force.
The world spun.
Everything went dark.
I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, I heard Mirei's voice.
"For some reason… darkness surrounded you."
Her voice sounded confused.
"When you were about to attack, you shouted 'This isn't me!' and then collapsed."
"What happened?" I asked.
Mirei looked at me carefully.
"I don't know… but maybe your Sol is dark instead of light?"
Her words froze my heart.
I tried checking my Sol.
I opened my palm.
First it turned dark.
Then suddenly…
It glowed with light.
Then again it turned dark.
It kept switching.
Again and again.
It was strange.
But somehow… beautiful.
Then I remembered what the researcher said earlier.
There are people whose Sol has two colors.
I told Mirei everything.
She listened quietly.
Then she said:
"In this world, there are people who are born with two-colored Sol."
She paused.
"But it's still strange."
Then she explained.
"Sol reflects the soul of a person. If someone's soul is filled with hatred, pain, and darkness, their Sol becomes black. But if their soul is peaceful and kind, their Sol becomes light."
Then she looked at me seriously.
"But there are people whose souls are… unstable."
"Like me?"
"Yes."
Her words hit me hard.
"Fifty percent light… fifty percent dark."
"But don't tell anyone about this."
"Why?"
"Because it's dangerous."
Then she said quietly:
"If you lean even slightly toward evil… your Sol may turn completely dark. And a demon might possess you."
A cold fear ran through my body.
Then Mirei added something else.
"But your situation is even worse."
"Why?"
"Because inside your soul…"
"Heaven and Hell are fighting each other."
That night…
I couldn't sleep.
I lay on the ground staring at the sky.
My thoughts wouldn't stop.
If darkness wins…
What will happen to me?
Will I really become evil?
If hell inside me wins…
Will I kill everyone?
Lucas?
Mirei?
Everyone I care about?
My heart was racing.
I was scared.
But I had no answers.
After thinking for a long time, I closed my eyes.
"God…"
I whispered a prayer.
I thanked Him for everything.
For what happened.
For what I have.
For what is waiting ahead.
"Whatever happens… let it be your will."
The wind moved gently through the trees.
The forest was quiet.
And before falling asleep, I whispered softly:
Thank you for everything.