I don't know how I got there. One moment, I was in the real world. Next, I was standing in a vast darkness, not empty but stretching endlessly like a night sky filled with stars, their faint glow shimmering above and below me. It was beautiful—but unsettling.
Then, I noticed someone else there.
A figure stood in front of me, its body shifting with different colors, patches of red, blue, and black glowing across its skin. It didn't have a solid form—just a flickering outline, like a person trapped in an unfinished painting.
I looked down at myself and froze.
My own body was white, like glowing light or a blank sheet of paper, weightless yet somehow still me.
Panic crept in. "Who are you?! Where are we?!" I demanded.
A soft, unfamiliar laugh echoed around me, playful yet strange.
"Jim, don't you recognize me?" the figure teased.
I narrowed my eyes. "Recognize you?"
The figure tilted its head, and the colors began to change. The swirling mass of light condensed, shaping into something more defined, but still unrecognizable. The red gathered near the head, the glow dimming into something solid, something like… hair.
Slowly, the colors faded into human features—a delicate face, sharp eyes, and lips curved into a knowing smirk.
But it still wasn't familiar.
I stared at her, my chest tightening. "Who…?"
She took a step forward, her bare feet making no sound against the empty space."It's me, Nea."
I hesitated. The name felt… right, but the person in front of me was nothing like what I expected.
"Nea…?" I repeated cautiously.
She gave me a slow nod, her eyes watching me closely. "That's right. We're linked now."
I exhaled slowly. "Linked…? What does that mean?"
Nea's smirk deepened. "It's my special ability. When I establish a connection with my master, our souls meet here..." She stepped closer, running a hand over her waist. "While our bodies enjoy each other."
Something about the way she said it made me uneasy. But before I could question it, my eyes were drawn to the glowing colors still shifting on her body.
"Help me remove these," she said. "Start with the red one on my arms."
A smooth, glass-like table suddenly materialized beside us, clear and reflective, mirroring the starry sky above. Nea stepped toward it and, without hesitation, laid down, stretching out like someone preparing for a massage.
Her red hair fanned around her, and she rested her head on her arm, looking up at me expectantly.
"Come on, Jim… start with my hands and arms."
I hesitated, swallowing. This felt… intimate. Too intimate.
Still, I reached out, placing my fingers gently on the red markings glowing along her arm. The moment I touched them, a strange warmth pulsed through me, like an electric current—but not painful. It was... soft, almost comforting.
Nea let out a slow, satisfied breath, her lips parting slightly.
"Mmm… yeah, just like that."
I kept going, tracing my fingers along her arm, pulling the red light away. The color peeled from her skin like mist, dissolving as I absorbed it. Her muscles twitched beneath my touch, a shiver running up her spine.
"Hahh…" she exhaled, her body arching slightly. "That feels… really nice."
I frowned slightly. "It's… kind of like a massage?"
Nea smirked, stretching her fingers. "More than that. When souls touch like this, it's—" she let out a small, pleased sigh, her fingers curling against the glass. "Mmm… so good…"
I didn't stop. Slowly, I worked my way up, tracing along her forearm, her shoulder. Every time I pulled away another layer of red light, she shivered, breathing deeper, her body reacting to every little movement.
"Nnn… that's it… keep going…" she purred.
Then, the red light floated toward a new surface—another glass-like screen, hovering beside the table. It looked almost like a floating mirror, reflecting Nea's glowing body. The symbols on it began spinning in full circle, flashing with fiery light before finally stopping.
Nea's eyes gleamed as she sat up slightly. "Looks like that one unlocked 'Fire Fist'—a powerful fire attack."
Nea stretched out on the glass-like table, her body relaxed, waiting. The last traces of red light had been stripped away,absorbed into the floating screen beside us. and replaced with a pinkish color The warm sensation still lingered in my fingers, a strange connection I couldn't quite understand.
Then she lifted her bare foot, revealing a deep black marking curling around her ankle, wrapping up toward her calf.
"Try removing this one next," she said, her voice softer this time.
I hesitated, feeling a strange pressure in my chest. The last time, touching her skin had sent a warmth through me, almost like… pleasure. This time, I had a feeling it would be different.
Still, I reached out.
The moment my fingers brushed the black light, a deep pulse ran through me. It wasn't just warmth—it was something heavier, something that made my head spin.
Nea let out a sharp breath, her body tensing, then relaxing completely as she tilted her head back, exposing her throat.
"Hahh… yeah, just like that."
Her fingers curled against the glass, her legs shifting slightly as I traced along the marking, peeling it away with slow, deliberate strokes.
Each time I pulled, her breathing hitched, her chest rising and falling as if she were melting under my touch.
"Nnn… keep going…" she murmured, her body shifting as if trying to press into my hands.
The black light seeped from her skin like smoke, gathering in my palm, and with each piece I stripped away, my own body grew heavier.
By the time I reached the last fragment, a sharp wave of dizziness slammed into me.
I stumbled.
Nea's eyes flickered open, a lazy, satisfied smirk playing on her lips.
I barely managed to place the black light onto the glass screen before the world tilted beneath me.
My vision blurred. My knees buckled.
The last thing I saw was Nea's pink eyes watching me, her lips parting as if to say something—
Then, everything went black.
"Oh? Feeling that too, huh? This might take some getting used to."
I gasped, eyes snapping open.
The first thing I noticed was warmth. A soft weight pressed against me, skin against skin, heat pooling where our bodies met.
I blinked, my mind still foggy—and then, I realized.
I was lying on a bed. Naked.
And so was Nea.
Her bare form rested atop me, her breath slow and steady, her face relaxed in sleep. Unlike before, she looked completely human, no glowing marks, no swirling colors. Just… Nea.
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering.
What… the hell just happened?
Before I could process it, a loud knock echoed through the room.
"Jim! Are you awake?"
I stiffened. My eyes darted to the door, then back to Nea.
We were both naked.
And someone was waiting outside.
Panic shot through me like a bolt of lightning.
The knocking grew louder, more impatient.
I barely had time to think—I yanked the blanket over Nea, covering her bare skin, making sure she was tucked in. She stirred slightly but didn't wake.
Another knock. "Jim! Open up!"
I cursed under my breath, scrambling off the bed. My legs still felt weak, my mind hazy from whatever had just happened.
Reaching the door, I grabbed the handle, took a deep breath, and stepped out, pulling it shut firmly behind me.
As soon as the door clicked, I turned to face whoever had come looking for me.
As soon as I stepped out, I found Taron standing there, arms crossed, wearing his usual smirk.
"Hello," I greeted cautiously. "Something happen?"
Taron nodded. "Yeah, actually. But first…" He tilted his head, eyeing me. "What was all that noise last night player ?"
My heart skipped a beat.
Did he hear…?
I tensed, my expression shifting into defense mode."What do you mean?" I asked, giving him a sharp look.
Taron held up his hands. "Relax, I'm just messing with you." He chuckled. "Anyway, I came to tell you—some knights showed up this morning. They brought in two survivors. they stay in room number thirteen You might wanna check if they're your friends ."
My tension eased. "Sure, I'll go see them."
I started to turn back toward my room when my stomach grumble loudly.
Taron snorted. "Sounds like you should get some breakfast first."
I sighed. "Yeah… mind grabbing me something?"
Taron shrugged. "Go get it yourself."
I reached into my pouch and tossed him a few coins. "How about now?"
He grinned, catching them. "Now we're talking. I'll bring something up. Need anything else?"
I glanced down at myself, still only half-dressed. "Yeah. Clothes. Got anything I can wear?"
Taron gave me an exaggerated once-over. "I'll check. No promises."
With that, he turned and walked off.
I let out a breath and headed back into the room.
As I stepped back into the room, I saw Nea was awake, sitting up on the bed. She was scratching her arm absentmindedly, her short pink hair slightly tousled.
I bent down to pick up my clothes, but the moment I lifted them, my stomach twisted.
The fabric was torn, jagged slashes running through it. Dark stains smeared across the material—blood.
My blood.
I swallowed hard. "Nea…" I turned toward her, holding up the ruined shirt. "Do you know why my clothes look like this?"
She said nothing. Just a silent stare. Then, slowly, she shook her head.
Something felt off.
I exhaled and moved to check my backpack. My fingers dug inside, searching for the black crystal I had taken from the adventure before…
But as soon as my hand brushed against it, Nea moved.
She grabbed the crystal before I could, her fingers closing tightly around it. Without hesitation,I watched in shock as the black crystal dissolved into her skin, it's energy seeping into her like ink in water.
A strange shudder ran through her body. Her breath hitched slightly, and then, just as quickly, she exhaled, her body relaxing.
I opened my mouth to demand answers, but before I could speak, Nea lifted her hands.
Something strange happened.
Her fingertips glowed, thin strands of energy unraveling from them like thread. It was as if she was sewing reality itself.
The strands woven together in the air, shaping into delicate black fabric. Slowly, a pair of underwear formed, wrapping around her body seamlessly. Then, beneath her bare feet, black heels began to appear.
Not all at once—they grew from the energy threads, shaping themselves, taking form piece by piece until they became solid.
She stepped forward, her new heels clicking softly against the floor.
I stood there, speechless.
What the hell is she?
Before I could say anything, a knock sounded at the door.
Taron.
I opened the door, and Taron handed me a bundle of clothes and a small wooden tray of food.
"Here. Fresh meal and something to wear," he said flatly.
I peeked at the clothes—there were two cloaks inside. One was soft pink, clearly for Nea. The other was black, meant for me and a fresh set of clothes—a plain linen shirt, dark pants, and a simple belt. They were basic but clean, and that was enough for now.
Taron didn't linger.
"Eat up. I'll be around if you need anything." He turned and walked off before I could say a word.
I sighed, shutting the door and setting the food down.
Nea didn't touch it. She simply sat, legs crossed, watching me.
I hesitated. "You're not eating?"
She shook her head.
I sighed, pushing the thought aside. "I need to check on the survivors the knights brought in."
She gave a small nod.
I put on my new clothes. After fastening my black cloak around my shoulders, I picked up the soft pink cloak meant for Nea. She sat silently on the bed, watching me with unreadable eyes.
I stepped closer and gently draped the cloak over her shoulders, fastening the clasp at the front. She didn't move or resist, simply tilting her head slightly as I adjusted it.
The hood hung loosely behind her, so I reached up and carefully pulled it forward, covering her pink hair beneath the fabric. Now, with her face partially shadowed and her vibrant hair hidden, she looked even more beautiful.
I exhaled, stepping back. "Alright. Let's go." Without a word, she followed me as we left the room, heading to check on the survivors.
With Nea following silently behind me, I made my way up the worn wooden stairs to the third floor, where the rescued survivors were staying. Each step creaked softly beneath my boots, the dim torchlight casting flickering shadows along the stone walls.
When I reached room thirteen, I raised my hand and knocked.
For a moment, silence. Then, a soft, melodic voice answered from the other side.
"I'm coming."
The door creaked open, and in that instant, I felt my breath catch.
Standing before me was an elf—an impossibly beautiful one.
Her long, silver-white hair cascaded down her back, shimmering like silk under the torchlight. Her emerald-green eyes were mesmerizing, glowing faintly like enchanted gemstones. Every feature of hers was perfectly sculpted—high cheekbones, a delicate nose, full lips that held a quiet grace. Her flawless, pale skin had a soft, almost golden undertone, making her look like a celestial being rather than a mere mortal.
She wore a flowing green dress, light and elegant, hugging her form just enough to accentuate her slender frame. The fabric moved like it was made of mist and leaves, the hem embroidered with delicate golden vines. The belt at her waist was woven from silver threads, and the wide sleeves draped down gracefully, giving her an ethereal presence.
I stood there, staring. My mind had gone completely blank.
Her lips parted slightly, eyes filled with curiosity. "Um… may I help you?"
I still said nothing.
She tilted her head. "What is it you want?"
Still, no words came.
Her expression shifted slightly, and she tried again. "…And your name?"
Nothing.
I was completely frozen, utterly captivated by her beauty.
Then, suddenly, Nea waved her hand in front of my face, breaking my trance.
I blinked rapidly, shaking myself back into reality. "O-Oh! Yeah, uh—sorry." I cleared my throat, feeling my face heat up. I heard that the knights rescued some people. I came to see if any of them are my friends.
The elf studied me for a moment, then nodded and stepped aside. "Come in." Without another word, I stepped into the room, Nea following behind.
As we stepped inside, another girl was already in the room. She was holding a glass of water, but the moment her eyes landed on me, her grip faltered—the glass slipped from her fingers and shattered against the floor.
Her voice trembled with shock. "You're still alive, Leo?!"