Darkness dominated the sky, while the campfire challenged it with its orange glow.
With a snap, Beijamim appeared from the abyss of the night, his arm raised.
"Oh, you're awake, lazy disciple!"
"What? 'Lazy'?! I just fought a giant, you shitty master!" Jay shouted.
"Shitty'? Is that how I raised you? How dare you talk to me like that?!"
Jay gritted his teeth.
Moments later, the master, now with a calm smile, sat down in front of his disciple.
"Alright, enough joking… I need to explain a few things."
"Explain what?"
"The powers of this world, obviously! You animal." Beijamim crossed his arms.
"Ah…"
He let out a sigh.
"Listen carefully. There are five main races. First, the elves—proud beings who think highly of themselves because they can use any type of magic. Then humans… well, nothing special. Mostly elemental abilities and support magic."
"Dwarves—surprisingly proud as well. They have an affinity for magic and earth elements. They're impressive, but extremely violent."
"Giants—you already know them. Basically beasts. And dragons."
"These are races you should already know from books, but…"
"But?" Jay tilted his head.
Beijamim raised two fingers.
"There are two more."
Jay's eyes widened.
'So the books… No. Actually, it makes sense. Even the best sources don't reveal everything.'
"The first are demons, also known as evil gods. They possess overwhelming strength and a natural affinity for dark magic—or artifacts that draw from it. Some demons, like many humans, can't even use magic properly."
"Uh… that's unexpected. But interesting."
"Yes, yes. Very interesting."
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Then Beijamim continued.
"Now… the goddesses—or as some books call them, the clan of gods. They created nearly all races… except demons, of course."
"They wield divine magic. Only a Saint can use that kind of magic, regardless of their race. For example, the current Saint—Saint Clarice. She can only use divine magic… and nothing else."
Jay tried to process everything.
The rules of this world… and how the gods could break them.
Humans were limited to certain types of magic—but becoming a Saint allowed them to surpass those limits entirely.
"And there's more," Beijamim added. "They have constellations that serve them directly—like generals or captains. They receive orders to eliminate targets or wage war against demons."
Jay felt his head heat up.
He placed a hand on his chin.
It almost felt like smoke was coming out of his head.
Meanwhile, Beijamim calmly prepared the food.
After a while, Jay tasted the soup.
It was… surprisingly good.
The best "mess" his master had ever made.
"Let's finish this and go to sleep."
Jay nodded, chewing silently.
Some time later, he lay beneath a sky full of stars.
'I can't sleep… this pain… it's still there.'
Maybe the pain was the problem.
Or maybe…
Something else.
Laughter echoed in his mind.
A female voice.
Calling his old name.
"Hahaha, stop it, Ga-Gabriel, that tickles!"
A familiar voice.
A comforting one.
A voice he once loved.
The night remained silent.
The wind passed softly.
But sleep never came.
Morning arrived.
Jay sat on the ground, yawning, dark circles under his eyes.
When he saw his master wake up, he quickly stood and stretched.
After breakfast, they resumed their journey.
Along the path, they fought more giants.
Jay's injury only worsened.
And his insomnia followed the same path.
The more pain he felt…
The harder it became to sleep.
His ears were becoming more visible.
'Is my old insomnia… coming back to haunt me?'
Was it?
"Even if you accepted your past… you haven't fully accepted it."
A cold, merciless voice echoed in his mind.
There was only one person it could be.
'Roh… long time no see.'
Jay couldn't give that being any opening.
Not again.
"I'll get straight to the point," Roh said.
Jay tilted his head.
"What I'm about to say will sound absurd, but…"
He paused.
"…Don't trust your master."
'What?!'
That was ridiculous.
How could he not trust the man who saved him?
Who raised him like a father?
Jay shook his head.
"I'm serious, Jay. Because your peace will—"
The voice suddenly vanished.
Jay kept walking.
Following his master.
But after some time…
His eyes began to feel heavy.
He glanced to the side—
A bench.
And his daughter…
"…"
…
Beijamim stopped walking.
He frowned when he no longer heard footsteps behind him.
Turning around, he sensed something was wrong.
"What's wrong, Jay? Did something happen?"
"It's… nothing."
"Alright."
He turned back forward.
"Oh, right… we're almost there. We should reach our destination tomorrow."
Jay's heart lifted.
After a long journey, night fell again.
After eating, they went to sleep.
But of course—
Jay couldn't.
So he decided to take a walk.
As he walked, Roh's words returned.
'What did he mean by that? My master…? No… that doesn't make sense. But… even if Roh is a bastard, he knows when something bad is coming.'
'I should be more careful…'
Lost in thought—
He suddenly crashed into something hard.
'Wait!'
He touched it.
'This is… a wall?! The wall! I need to tell him!'
Jay ran back to the camp.
Shaking his master urgently.
"Wake up! Come on!"
"Eli… just five more minutes…"
Jay frowned.
"…I'm not Eli."
Beijamim shot awake.
"What is it, kid?!"
"We've reached our destination!" Jay said, eyes shining.
"Oh… that's it?"
He laid back down.
"Then climb the wall and reach the top before morning. Good luck… and…"
"…Good night."
Jay stood there, speechless.
But he obeyed.
Because if he didn't…
'I don't even want to remember.'
At dawn, Beijamim yawned loudly.
Very loudly.
He walked toward the wall, enjoying the sound of birds.
'What a beautiful morning.'
As he approached—
Black wings emerged from his back.
With a single flap—
He reached the top effortlessly.
The view was stunning.
Endless green. Towering trees.
Looking down—
He saw Jay, sprawled out, sleeping.
Landing beside him, Beijamim shook him.
"Wake up, Jay!"
Jay opened his eyes—
And immediately noticed his master's serious expression.
"Huh? Master… why do you look like that?"
Beijamim sighed.
"Something bad is about to happen."
He closed his eyes briefly.
Then grabbed Jay by the collar.
"I'm a demon, Jay. A demon who fell in love with a goddess."
Jay's eyes widened.
Fragments of a woman flashed through Beijamim's mind.
Jay frowned.
"M-Master… what are you going to do?!"
Beijamim turned and began walking toward the edge.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to do exactly what you think."
He stopped at the edge.
"Adeus, Jay… see you in five years."
Time slowed.
Jay began to fall.
Slowly.
He reached out his hand toward his master.
'No… not again… I've been… abandoned again…'
Tears streamed down his face.
Above—
Beijamim watched him fall.
With cold, emotionless eyes.