I was still disturbed by what had happened… staring at Professor Natasha—
No… Eclipse.
— I don't understand… how is any of this possible?
She looked at me, her violet eyes glowing intensely, her pupils shifting… taking the shape of a moth.
— Oh, dear Dark… there's nothing to be afraid of. I'm here for you.
I stepped closer, cautiously.
— What do you mean by that? Please… tell me more.
She seemed to think for a moment. Then, after a quiet sigh—
— For now… it's difficult to explain. But come. Sit with me.
She pulled out a cigarette and lit it, sitting at the edge of the hill beneath the tree.
For some reason… I trusted her.
I sat beside her.
— What do you think of this?
She reached into her bag and pulled out an object wrapped in black cloth. When she uncovered it, I saw a beautiful black book—its surface engraved with flowing purple mist, its spine adorned with subtle, almost organic tendrils.
— The new book by E.A.E. Have you read it?
I leaned gently against her shoulder.
It felt… safe.
Strange.
Like she understood me in a way no one else did.
Like… a maternal presence.
She began to read.
— Wait… can you stop? I want to look more closely at page sixteen.
She smiled.
— Of course.
Hours passed.
Reading. Silence. Breathing.
Until I finally noticed the time.
— Damn… it's late. Tomorrow—
— There are no classes tomorrow, she interrupted softly. We're on break.
— Ah… no, I mean… I have something to do tomorrow.
She looked at me—almost disappointed.
Then she took out another cigarette… and offered it to me.
— No, Professor. That's not allowed for my age… and I don't like it.
She sighed, then reached into her pocket again… pulling out a lollipop.
— Here.
I smiled.
— Thank you.
Cherry.
My favorite.
Of course she knew.
She always knew.
She stood up and extended her hand.
— I'll walk you home. After all… I made quite a mess there to get your attention.
I frowned slightly.
— Yeah… you really did.
She laughed softly.
— Then let's go.
Rain began to fall as we walked.
— Damn… we're going to get soaked.
She stretched out her hand, letting the rain fall over it.
— I like the feeling of rain.
— So do I… but lately it feels… wrong.
She grabbed my hand and suddenly—
— Then don't worry. I can heal any illness anyway. Come on—run!
I couldn't keep up.
She was faster.
Far too fast.
By the time we reached my house, we both collapsed onto the floor, laughing slightly.
— Miss Eclipse… it's really fun spending time with you. I still can't believe you're actually a witch.
She smiled.
— I am. But not the kind from those stories.
She looked around.
— Go to your room. I'll sleep here.
I raised an eyebrow.
— You broke into my house… left notes everywhere… and didn't notice there's a spare room?
She laughed.
— I was in a hurry.
She walked toward the other room.
— Thank you, Dark.
That night… I fell asleep smiling.
The next morning, she was gone.
— I wish we could've had breakfast together…
I grabbed my backpack.
My phone rang.
— Good morning. Xia? What's wrong?
— Good morning… can you come to the park? We need to tell you something important.
— Yeah. I'm on my way.
When I arrived, everyone was there.
Waiting.
— Alright… what's going on?
They exchanged looks.
Then Kim arrived.
Silence.
And then—
They all spoke at once.
— We know you won't believe us… but we're not from this world.
Everything stopped.
— We come from another planet… Earth. There was a war… a global war. The Third World War.
Airi stepped forward.
— I'm Airi Osama. I'm Japanese.
Xia followed.
— Xia Jin. Chinese exchange student.
Minho spoke next.
— North Korean defector.
Wonho lowered his gaze slightly.
— South Korean.
They looked at me.
— We studied together in Japan. The day the war started… we were on our way to school. Then we heard a voice…
— "You have been chosen… for balance."
— And then… we were here.
I laughed.
I couldn't help it.
— So what? I'm supposed to believe I'm one of you too?
Minho stepped closer.
— We have powers. Luminari Cores… LC.
Airi raised her hand.
— Mine is energy dispersion. I can fire red beams… but it drains me.
Minho continued.
— Combat-type. Martial arts, earth magic… defensive and offensive.
Wonho smiled.
— Strength-type. Superhuman strength… explosive energy.
Xia crossed her arms.
— Flight. Wind manipulation. And… intellect.
She paused.
— Strategy. Analysis. Weak-point visualization.
Silence.
— We're level zero, she added. We don't know how to ascend yet.
I leaned back against a tree.
— …That's a lot to process.
Then something clicked.
— Wait… how do you even speak the language here?
Xia answered.
— It was… implanted. Knowledge. Basic communication.
I closed my eyes.
Too much.
Way too much.
— Can I join your conversation?
A familiar voice.
We all turned.
Eclipse.
Kim immediately stepped back.
— I don't trust her…
Xia nodded.
Airi… trembled.
Minho and Wonho exchanged nervous glances.
She ignored them.
Walked straight to me.
— I just came to give you this.
A bag.
Filled with sweets.
— Thanks… Miss Eclipse.
She smiled.
— You're welcome.
And then—
She vanished among the trees.
— She's really nice, I said.
They all sighed.
Xia stepped forward.
— Dark… she's not normal.
I rolled my eyes.
— Here we go again…
Minho grabbed my shoulder.
— She's surrounded by pure malice. She's a monster. A witch.
I laughed.
— Yeah… she told me the same thing.
I turned away.
— Try better jokes next time.
— Dark—wait!
I didn't stop.
— I have things to do.
And without looking back—
I walked away.
Back home…
I collapsed onto the couch.
And fell asleep.
Unaware…
That everything was about to get worse.