"Monster," huh…? Then what did you do—what kind of work made you something like that? There are many reasons someone could be called a monster." Beijamim asked.
A wind began to blow, lifting the dry leaves from the ground. Jay stared down, his eyes trembling, his expression dark.
His hands rested on his knees, shaking. This was something he clearly didn't want to remember… something he wished would simply disappear.
"You can't run from it," Beijamim said coldly, staring at his disciple. "It's your past. And it will follow you to your grave."
Jay opened his mouth… then closed it again.
Beijamim stood up.
"You can't hide from your past, like I said. Sooner or later, my dear disciple… you'll have to face it."
After saying that, he turned his back and walked into the forest.
Alone in the silence of the trees, Jay clenched his teeth. He wanted to cry.
But his pride wouldn't let him.
Slowly… flashes of his past life invaded his mind.
A man knelt on the floor, sweating, inside a closed room, begging—
"N-no… p-please…" His eyes trembled in fear. "Don't kill… my family… please…"
His head lowered, soaked in blood.
The stench of sweat filled the air.
Gabriel looked down at him with a cold, merciless gaze. Pointing a gun at the man's head, he spoke:
"…Alright. I'll let them live. I respect you that much… now say… goodbye."
A gunshot echoed through the dark room.
The body collapsed.
A pool of red slowly spread across the floor.
The smell of gunpowder mixed with blood and sweat.
Then his phone rang.
"Yes. The job is done."
…
"Understood."
Closing his eyes, Jay let out a heavy breath.
'I watched people beg for their lives… and still killed them without hesitation.'
A melancholic laugh escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his black hair.
Looking up at the blue sky, painted with soft white clouds—
'Ah…'
He laughed quietly to himself.
'What am I…?'
He tried to smile.
But couldn't.
It was too heavy… like carrying a stone.
'…A hypocrite.'
Lowering his head, Jay stood up and went to change.
On his bed were simple clothes: a black cloth shirt and worn black pants.
After getting dressed, he headed toward the trail he always walked.
That was his routine.
Wake up. Eat. Walk the trail to the training field.
Train until his muscles gave out.
Rest a little.
Then spar with his master.
Eat. Sleep.
That had been his life for a year.
'…A year, huh? I wonder how they are… Luis, Kyrai, Noa, Mery… my father… and… Saint Clarice.'
At the thought of her, his expression grew even heavier.
Jay kept walking along the path. It was annoying—some plants had thorns—but at least the view was beautiful.
'I guess the news already reached her. She was probably a little sad… but not that much.'
A short, bitter laugh escaped him.
The people he loved the most… thought he was dead.
'That… hurts more than I expected.'
He shook his head.
'I can't run from my past… like my master said…'
He clenched his fists.
'No… I'm doing fine, right? I'm giving it my all. Focus… focus on training.'
Meanwhile…
Inside a cathedral, kneeling before a bronze statue covered in gold, was a white-haired elf.
She prayed silently.
Heavy footsteps echoed behind her.
The door burst open.
The man stood there, breathing heavily, his face filled with worry.
"Saint!" he called.
She exhaled, then turned toward him.
"What is it?"
A candle lit the small room.
"A catastrophe happened on the human continent."
"Yes… so they want me to go there?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not… exactly."
"What do you mean?"
"The humans came to our territory… and the city that was attacked…"
He hesitated, turning his head slightly before gathering the courage to continue.
"…was the last one you visited."
Her calm, composed expression shattered instantly.
Tears welled up in her ruby eyes.
"No… t-that… that can't be true…!"
Her breathing became heavy. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Her hands trembled as they moved toward her head.
"S-Saint… are you okay?"
"OF COURSE I'M NOT!" she shouted, her voice breaking like someone who had just lost something precious.
"Saint!"
A female voice echoed through the room.
Turning toward it, a blonde elf appeared, with crystal-blue eyes. She wore light armor, a sword resting at her waist.
Looking directly at the fragile girl before her, she spoke calmly:
"Do you want to check the list of survivors?"
Desperation took over Clarice.
She stood up quickly and rushed toward her.
"Yes!"
"Alright."
Night began to fall.
The sunlight slowly faded.
Jay cut through the air with his sword.
Beijamim dodged easily, glancing at the ground where drops of sweat fell.
"You're too tense. What's wrong with you, Jay?"
"Nothing… it's nothing."
Still speaking, Jay swung his sword again.
Beijamim dodged effortlessly—then flicked Jay on the back of the head.
Jay fell forward, landing awkwardly.
"Ugh…"
Resting the sword on his shoulder, Beijamim looked at him with a strange expression.
"You put too much strength into that swing… and it was predictable. Seriously, what's going on with you today?"
"…It's nothing."
Rubbing his chin, Beijamim sat down on a log.
'Seriously… what's wrong with him? Is it the dream… or that little conversation we had? Well… I should just tell him.'
Jay stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes.
"Jay, I've got news."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"Hm? What news?"
"We're leaving in two days."
He paused dramatically, a smile forming on his lips.
"…We're going to the place where your training enters its final phase."
Jay showed his teeth as a grin escaped him.
'Finally.'