She felt it—a sudden pull against her skin. Her fingers instinctively moved to her necklace, and the moment they touched it, her breath stilled. No… already? Time had found her again.
Her gaze slowly lifted and met his. For a second, she said nothing. She just looked at him… as if memorizing every detail. Then, softly—almost reluctantly—"I have to go, Isak."
The words landed heavier than they should have.
His brows drew together instantly. A quiet storm flickered in his blue eyes. "Not this time," he said, his voice low but firm. "I won't let you walk away alone again. A lady should be taken care of."
A faint smile touched her lips—but it didn't reach her eyes.
Since they were already sitting close, she didn't move away. Instead, she gently reached for his hand. The warmth of him—steady, real—grounded her for a moment.
"I have to go," she whispered. "Trust me… I can manage."
For the first time since he met her, Isak hesitated. His grip tightened slightly around her fingers… as if letting go would mean losing something he didn't yet understand.
"…Alright."
The word came out slow. Unwilling.
"I'll let you go," he continued, his eyes never leaving hers. "But next time we meet, you owe me answers."
A small spark of mischief returned to her gaze. "And if I don't?"
For a brief moment, silence stretched between them.
He didn't move away—if anything, his presence felt closer without him shifting at all.
"Then I'll wait," he said quietly, his voice dropping, deeper and certain. "Until the day you choose to."
Her heart skipped. Not because of the words—but because he meant them. Completely.
She stayed there for a second longer, caught between leaving and staying. Then she made her choice.
She slowly stood up—and after a brief pause, he stood with her.
Without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
The hug was sudden. Soft… but real.
"Thank you, Isak…" she murmured near his shoulder. "It was nice meeting you." A pause. "Take care of yourself."
She pulled back, her smile gentle now—almost fragile. "Bye… see you next time."
And before he could stop her, she turned and ran—faster, deeper into the park, into the darkness where the lights no longer reached.
And then—
she was gone.
Not hidden. Not lost.
Just… gone.
As if she had never been there at all.
A few moments later—
"Alright, let's take her ho—"
Liam stopped mid-sentence. His eyes scanned the empty path. "…Where is she?"
Isak didn't move. Didn't blink. His gaze remained fixed on the shadows she had disappeared into.
"She went… back to where she came from."
No answer.
Frustration rose as Liam stepped closer, grabbing Isak's shoulders and shaking him slightly.
And you let her go? You searched everywhere for her—even places we never Have you lost your mind, Isak Raven?!"
Still—calm.
"She'll come back," Isak said.
Liam stared at him. "And you just… believed her ?
A quiet breath escaped him. "I don't want to cage her." His voice was steady—but something deeper moved beneath it. "I trust her."
A pause.
"I want her to be free."
Liam's jaw tightened. "And if something happens to her?"
That's when it changed.
The air itself seemed to grow colder. Isak's eyes darkened—not with doubt, but with something far more dangerous.
"I won't let anything happen to her."
Each word—controlled. Deadly.
"I will protect her."
A slow breath.
"And if anyone dares—"
His voice dropped to something almost inhuman.
"I will burn them alive."
Isak's gaze lingered on the darkness for a moment longer.
"…I will wait for her," he said quietly.
Then he turned away.
"Let's go."
Liam watched him for a second, then sighed softly. "As you wish… Prince."
Both of them walked back and climbed into the bullock cart—a covered one, built like a small wooden carriage, with a curved roof and curtains on the sides. Inside, it felt almost like a moving shelter, dimly lit and enclosed from the night outside.
The cart jolted slightly as it began to move, the slow rhythm of wooden wheels creaking against the path.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Liam finally broke the silence.
"So… when will she come back?"
Isak sat there, his posture calm, but his eyes distant—as if still standing in that park, watching her disappear.
"I don't know," he said.
A pause.
"…but I will wait for her."
Sky frost
After returned to my world after the vanishing.
Everything was in place. Same room. Same silence.
But I didn't feel entirely present.
My mind went back to him—Isra.
There was something about him. The way he carried himself. The way he looked at me… direct, composed.
Handsome—yes. But that wasn't the point.
What stayed with me was the familiarity.
I leaned slightly against the table, thinking it through.
I was supposed to meet Isak Raven.
That was clear.
Then why does he keep appearing instead?
This isn't coincidence.
"…There has to be a connection."
I didn't like unanswered patterns.
Next time, if I see him—I'll ask directly.
I went to the kitchen, poured water, and took a sip.
"Hey, dear. How was your time there?"
I stiffened. The voice came too close, too suddenly.
"Don't do that," I said flatly, setting the glass down. "You'll give me a heart attack."
She didn't take it seriously.
I sat across from her and explained everything—clearly this time. No skipping details.
She listened without interruption.
When I finished, she asked,
"So you didn't meet Isak Raven?"
I said, "Yes… I didn't."
Then I said, "Thanks for the dress… but how did you manage the book? The lines appear on their own." She smiled again and replied, "You know, dear… I'm a fox with power." I just looked at her for a moment. "…Right." We talked for some time after that, but my mind wasn't fully there.
Later, I opened the book. The first page was erased, with only two words written—Not now. I frowned and turned the page, but it was the same again—Not now. Again and again. I felt irritation building up. "What the hell is going on…?" There was no explanation, no change—just those same words repeating. I closed the book hard.
That's when I decided—I'll carry this book and the necklace everywhere I go. Office, market, even weekends… everywhere. If something happens, I'll be ready.
After a few days, I was in the office, working on my laptop and handling meetings. Everything was normal. Then suddenly, that feeling came back—stronger this time. Like something inside me was pushing—open it. I ignored it. "No… not now." I tried to focus on my work, but I couldn't. My thoughts weren't steady anymore. My hand stopped on the keyboard, and my breathing felt slightly off. "This is not normal…"
I picked up my bag and went to the washroom. Standing in front of the mirror, I looked at myself—formal pants, blue shirt, small heels, ponytail, watch, glasses. Everything looked perfect. Controlled. But inside—I wasn't.
I took out the book, but my fingers paused. "Not here…" I whispered. Then I heard someone entering. Without wasting time, I quickly went inside a stall and locked it. Now my heartbeat was faster—not fear, but pressure.
I opened the book.
This time, the words had changed.
It's time.
I stared at it. "…Time for what?" Then the next line appeared—On the market. I felt that same frustration again. "What the hell is this…? 'On the market'? What am I supposed to do there?" No answer. Of course.
I held the necklace for a second, thinking… resisting. This didn't feel normal. But the pull was still there. Waiting.
"…Fine."
I put on the necklace.
And the next moment—
I vanished...