Elle stared blankly at Ieros.
He returned her gaze with equal intensity, his eyes narrowing as though he were trying to uncover whatever thought was hiding behind her expression. The silent scrutiny lasted several seconds before the corner of Elle's lips curled into a faint smile.
She stood.
"What do you know about attributes?" she asked, slowly pacing around him.
Ieros furrowed his brows.
Attributes?
He knew quite a lot about them. In fact, ever since awakening, he had wondered what attribute he possessed. Unfortunately, being thrown into this forest hadn't exactly given him the opportunity to find out.
He released a slow breath, gathering his thoughts before answering.
"Well, as far as I know, every living creature possesses an attribute. Humans, monsters, beastkin, elves—even creatures without much intelligence can possess one."
He tried pushing himself upright, only for pain to shoot through his battered body.
His muscles immediately protested.
Ieros froze halfway up before silently accepting defeat and sinking back down.
"The five major attributes among humans correspond with natural elements: Earth, Wind—or Air—Water, Fire, and Lightning."
He paused.
"Then there are special attributes like Light, Darkness, and Shadow. Shadow is sometimes considered a branch of Darkness rather than an independent attribute, but it's generally recognized separately because of how differently the two function."
Elle nodded slowly.
A small smile remained on her face.
She opened her mouth to respond, but Ieros continued before she got the chance.
"Elves are different."
Elle raised an eyebrow.
"They're naturally gifted with Wind. At least, that's what human records say. High elves are supposedly capable of controlling Wood as well. Wood used to be classified as a branch of Earth, but that theory mostly fell apart because no known Earth user has ever demonstrated actual control over living wood."
Ieros became increasingly absorbed in his explanation.
"Dragons are more complicated."
That seemed to catch Elle's attention.
"Human records generally divide them into two categories: naturally born dragons and Emugi."
Ieros lifted a finger.
"Naturally born dragons are what most people imagine when they hear the word 'dragon.' Four legs, wings, overwhelming strength, and an unhealthy obsession with collecting valuable things."
Elle snorted softly at that.
Ieros ignored her.
"They're considered superior beings, and they rarely interact with humans, so reliable information about them is limited. What we do know suggests that dragons can possess almost any attribute, though Fire seems to be the most commonly recorded."
He raised another finger.
"Emugi, on the other hand, aren't born as dragons."
Elle's expression shifted ever so slightly.
"They begin as lesser creatures—usually serpent-like monsters—that eventually evolve and cross what old legends call the Dragon Gate. Their abilities tend to revolve around weather phenomena, which is why Water and Lightning are the attributes most frequently associated with them."
Ieros paused before adding,
"They're incredibly rare. There aren't many confirmed encounters, so most information comes from old records and eyewitness accounts passed down over generations."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"Interestingly, Emugi are considered more lethal than ordinary dragons in several records, yet they're also said to be far more tolerant toward other races."
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"Although apparently, calling one an Emugi to its face is a very good way to shorten your lifespan. Most insist they're simply dragons."
Ieros finally stopped.
His throat had gone dry.
He hadn't spoken this much in a long time.
For a moment, he almost found it funny.
He'd forgotten just how much time he'd spent studying before being thrown into this damned forest.
Books.
Monster anatomy.
History.
Mana theory.
Ancient races.
Anything he could get his hands on.
Back then, he'd never imagined that the supposedly useless knowledge occupying his head would eventually become relevant to his survival.
His expression darkened slightly.
He shook his head, attempting to dismiss the memories.
Immediately, he regretted it.
A sharp pain erupted through his skull.
"Ugh..."
Ieros shut his eyes, breathing slowly until the throbbing subsided.
Then he continued.
"Dwarves, Orcs, and even Goblins usually possess Earth-aligned attributes. Aquatic races like Fishmen and Merfolk naturally lean toward Water."
He hesitated.
"As for humans, possessing more than one attribute is supposed to be almost impossible."
Elle stopped pacing.
"Almost?"
Ieros nodded.
"The Knight King."
Elle stared at him.
"He possesses two."
Ieros's voice carried a faint trace of admiration.
"Normally, even mastering one attribute takes years. Attributes aren't just abilities you activate whenever you feel like it. They place strain on the body, especially when someone pushes them beyond their limits."
He looked toward Elle.
"Having two conflicting attributes should make that even worse. Fire and Water, for example. One naturally opposes the other. Trying to develop both simultaneously should be incredibly difficult."
His eyes sharpened.
"But the Knight King proved it isn't impossible."
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"He's one of the strongest humans alive."
Ieros finished with obvious satisfaction.
Elle stared at him for several seconds before finally sitting cross-legged directly in front of him.
"Everything you said is correct."
Ieros blinked.
Then Elle giggled.
"Honestly, I'm surprised you know that much."
Ieros frowned.
"I used to read a lot before coming here."
There was a brief silence.
Then his expression became serious.
"But what does any of that have to do with me?"
Elle shrugged.
"Well..."
She tapped her finger against her cheek.
"You understand that every race you just mentioned—other than humans—didn't originally come from your current planet, right?"
Ieros's eyes narrowed.
"Current... planet?"
"No."
Elle suddenly shook her head.
"Realm."
Ieros stared at her.
"Realm?"
"Realm," Elle repeated firmly. "It's more accurate."
"What exactly is—"
"It'll make sense later."
"But—"
"Just listen."
Ieros closed his mouth.
Questions immediately began piling up inside his head, but he reluctantly pushed them aside and nodded.
Elle smiled approvingly.
"Good."
She leaned backward slightly, resting her weight on her hands.
"Where we come from, attributes aren't limited to the ones humans have discovered."
Ieros's attention sharpened.
"There are others."
Elle began counting on her fingers.
"Gravity."
One finger.
"Space."
Another.
"And Time."
A third.
Ieros stared at her.
"Those three are considered some of the rarest attributes known to exist."
Her playful expression disappeared.
"Someone possessing even one of them would immediately attract the attention of powerful factions."
Ieros frowned.
"Why?"
"Because mastering one could change the outcome of an entire war."
His expression stiffened.
Elle continued casually.
"There was once a Gravity Attribute master capable of increasing gravity over enormous distances. During one battle, he supposedly placed the weight of an entire realm onto a single opponent."
Ieros's eyes widened.
"What?"
"The man didn't survive."
"Obviously."
"No."
Elle tilted her head.
"I mean there wasn't even a body left."
Ieros went silent.
Elle smiled sweetly.
"Just blood."
"..."
Ieros wasn't entirely sure how he was supposed to respond to that.
"According to the story, the pressure crushed his flesh, bones, organs—everything—until there was practically nothing recognizable remaining."
Ieros swallowed.
"And you're saying one person did that?"
"Apparently."
Elle shrugged as though she'd just told him someone had accidentally stepped on an insect.
Ieros stared at her.
The longer he knew this elf, the more concerned he became about what she considered normal.
"But power like that has consequences," Elle continued. "The Gravity master disappeared afterward."
"Disappeared?"
She nodded.
"No one knows what happened. Some believe he died from overusing his attribute. Others think the realm itself punished him for exceeding some kind of natural limit."
Ieros frowned.
"The realm... punished him?"
Elle shrugged again.
"Stories."
That answer didn't satisfy him in the slightest.
He didn't even know how large a 'realm' was.
Was it a continent?
A planet?
Something bigger?
Judging from the ridiculous things Elle said as though they were perfectly ordinary, Ieros was beginning to suspect he didn't actually want the answer.
Elle continued.
"Space and Time are even more mysterious."
Ieros immediately focused again.
"There have been recorded users, but none survived long enough to completely master their abilities."
"Why?"
"Different reasons."
Elle began counting again.
"Some were assassinated by opposing factions before they could become dangerous. Some lost control of their own attributes. Others simply..."
She paused.
"Died."
Ieros's eyebrow twitched.
"Very informative."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'll take it anyway."
Ieros sighed.
Elle giggled before continuing.
"I've never personally met either one, so I can't guarantee everything I've heard is true. But supposedly, an accomplished Time user could reverse time."
Ieros froze.
"...Reverse it?"
"Yes."
"How far?"
Elle thought about it.
"A month."
Silence.
Ieros stared at her.
"You're telling me someone could turn back an entire month?"
"Potentially."
"That's ridiculous."
"I know."
"And Space?"
Elle's smile vanished.
"Space users can access the Void."
"The Void?"
"Yes."
"What is—"
"Don't."
Ieros stopped.
Elle's eyes had suddenly become serious.
Not playful.
Not teasing.
Serious.
"Don't ask me about the Void."
Ieros stared at her.
"Why?"
"I can't talk about it."
"Can't or won't?"
Elle's eyes narrowed.
"Can't."
Something about the way she said it made Ieros abandon the question immediately.
He slowly tilted his neck.
Crack.
A satisfying pop echoed through the air.
Some of the stiffness disappeared from his shoulders.
Then Ieros looked back at her.
"We've somehow gone from attributes to realms, gravity masters crushing people with entire worlds, people reversing time, and some mysterious Void you're apparently forbidden from talking about."
He paused.
"And I still don't know why you're telling me any of this."
Elle blinked.
Then she smiled.
Ieros immediately became suspicious.
"What?"
Her smile widened.
"What?"
"Why are you smiling?"
"I'm not."
"You are."
"No."
"Elle."
Her lips stretched into a full-blown grin.
For some reason, Ieros suddenly had a very bad feeling.
Elle leaned forward.
"There's a reason I told you about those three attributes."
Ieros's heartbeat quickened.
"What reason?"
She pointed directly at him.
"You."
Ieros stared at her finger.
Then at her.
"What about me?"
Elle's grin widened until she looked like she'd been waiting forever for this exact moment.
"I know what your attribute is."
Ieros froze.
His exhaustion disappeared from his thoughts.
The pain covering his body was forgotten.
Even his breathing seemed to stop.
"What?"
Elle's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Then she finally declared it.
"You have the Space Attribute."
Silence.
Ieros stared at her.
Elle looked incredibly pleased with herself.
And for several long seconds, only one thought remained inside Ieros's mind.
Space?