The stranger's presence felt distant, almost untouchable, like something far beyond normal human understanding.
Hoshi's presence felt unstable, violent, like something dangerous that didn't belong in this world.
The cold air trembled slightly as both stood still, neither willing to make the first move.
Something snapped suddenly, and Hoshi opened his eyes again, his vision returning slowly.
The stranger stood directly in front of him now, but without any visible intent to fight.
A faint smile appeared on his face, calm and strangely reassuring despite everything that happened.
"What you just saw was a Scenario Dream," the stranger said quietly.
Hoshi frowned slightly, confusion replacing the tension that had filled his body moments ago.
"What do you even mean by Scenario Dreams?" he asked, still trying to process everything.
"First of all, I am Sinu, and Scenario Dreams is my signature technique," he replied calmly.
"If my ice dagger cuts you, it forces your consciousness into a constructed future scenario instantly."
Hoshi blinked slowly, trying to understand the explanation forming in front of him.
"That means… everything I saw was just a dream?" he asked carefully.
"Yes, but not completely false, since it reflects outcomes that could actually happen," Sinu explained.
"Whatever you experience there could become real if your actions shift even slightly," he continued.
Sinu extended his hand forward and helped Hoshi stand up from the frozen ground.
"If you gain power there, it means you already hold the potential within yourself," he added.
Hoshi's eyes widened slightly as he remembered the explosive power he used earlier.
"Wait… I had something powerful in that dream," he said with growing realization.
Sinu nodded once, his expression calm yet slightly interested in Hoshi's reaction.
"You will reach it eventually, and I hope you learn to control it properly," he said.
Hoshi narrowed his eyes slightly, suspicion returning as he looked at Sinu carefully.
"Why are you suddenly acting kind after trying to kill me earlier?" he asked.
"I thought you were a threat to my village, but I misjudged you," Sinu replied simply.
Hoshi looked around at the endless snow-covered forest surrounding them silently.
"Village? This looks like nothing but a frozen forest," he said, clearly confused.
Sinu turned around and gestured forward without explaining anything further.
"Follow me," he said briefly, already beginning to walk toward a large tree.
They approached the tree, and without hesitation, Sinu stepped directly through its surface.
Hoshi froze in place, unsure if what he saw was real or another illusion.
"Hoshi… should I trust this?" he muttered quietly to himself.
After a short pause, he stepped forward and entered the tree as well.
The moment he passed through, the environment changed completely around him.
He stepped cautiously into the hidden village, uncertain of its people or what awaited.
A peaceful village revealed itself, hidden within the frozen forest like a secret world.
Children played freely, their laughter filling the air with warmth and life.
Older men worked calmly, tending to their tasks without urgency or fear.
Women stood together, talking casually as if nothing dangerous existed beyond the village.
Several children ran toward Sinu excitedly as soon as they noticed him returning.
"Brother, you're back!" they said happily, clinging to him without hesitation.
Their eyes shifted toward Hoshi, confusion quickly replacing their excitement.
"Why did you bring the intruder here?" one of them asked cautiously.
Hoshi frowned slightly and made an annoyed expression in response.
"I am not an intruder," he said, trying to sound serious despite himself.
The children stepped back slightly, hiding behind Sinu with uncertain expressions.
"He's not an intruder, I simply misunderstood him earlier," Sinu said calmly.
He glanced at Hoshi briefly before continuing his explanation without much concern.
"You probably stood out because of your clothing," Sinu added, observing him again.
"I don't know where you're from, but you clearly don't belong here," he continued.
"Come with me, I'll get you something more suitable to wear," Sinu said.
Hoshi's expression immediately brightened as relief replaced his earlier tension.
"Thank you," he said quickly, following Sinu without hesitation.
They moved through the village together, passing houses built from wood and packed snow.
People glanced at Hoshi briefly, curious but not openly hostile like before.
Sinu entered a small house and returned shortly with a set of simple clothes.
"These should fit you well enough," he said, handing them over casually.
Hoshi changed quickly, feeling slightly more comfortable blending into the surroundings.
"This is way better," he said, adjusting the unfamiliar clothing slightly.
Sinu stepped outside again, waiting patiently as Hoshi finished getting ready.
"Come, I'll show you around properly," Sinu said, beginning to walk again.
They wandered through the village, passing small shops and narrow paths between homes.
Hoshi observed everything carefully, taking in details he had never seen before.
"This place feels… peaceful," he said quietly, almost unsure of his own words.
"It is, because we keep it hidden from the outside world," Sinu replied calmly.
They walked further, eventually reaching the edge of the village where the forest began again.
A soft fluttering sound broke the quiet atmosphere surrounding them unexpectedly.
A pigeon descended from above and landed gently on Sinu's outstretched arm.
A small rolled letter was tied securely to its leg with thin string.
Sinu untied it carefully, his expression shifting slightly as he read its contents.
Hoshi watched silently, noticing the subtle change in Sinu's usually calm demeanor.
"…What is it?" Hoshi asked, sensing something serious behind the silence.
Sinu folded the letter slowly, his eyes focusing somewhere far beyond the village.
"A war has begun near Thiesla," he said, his voice quieter than before.
"It's only two villages away from here, and they're calling for fighters," he continued.
The peaceful air around them suddenly felt much heavier than before.
Hoshi stayed silent, unsure what this meant for him in this unfamiliar world.
Sinu looked at him briefly, as if considering something important.
"…Looks like things won't stay peaceful for long," he said quietly.