Four people sat around a worn wooden table, their dinner laid out in front of them. The dining room was modest—neither too big nor too small. The chairs creaked faintly whenever someone shifted, as if they might give way at any moment.
Haruto sat beside Elina, staring down at the steaming plate of curry in front of him. "Are you sure it's okay for us to eat this, Alex?" he asked hesitantly. "I mean… we just met."
After introducing themselves earlier, Alex had insisted on treating them to dinner. Surprisingly, the man was a skilled cook. The rich aroma of curry filled the room.
Elina didn't hesitate at all—she was already eating.
"Don't worry about it," Alex said casually, scooping a spoonful into his mouth. "It's nice seeing another GLand."
"GLand?" Haruto tilted his head.
"It means 'Good Outlander,'" the girl beside Alex answered, her cheeks full as she spoke.
She swallowed, then grinned.
"Name's O Yong. I do taekwondo—black belt, by the way." She leaned back slightly. "Picked up some grappling too, thanks to him."
"U Don—"
"O Yong."
"Right. O Yong," Alex corrected himself with a small shrug.
Haruto blinked. So he's bad with names…
"She's been staying here for about four months," Alex added, resting his arms on the table. "Bit of a troublemaker sometimes, so bear with her."
"I'm still a kid, you know," O Yong shot back with a smirk, crossing her arms.
"Almost seventeen isn't a kid anymore, brat," Alex replied flatly.
Haruto watched the two of them go back and forth. Their casual teasing felt… strange. He still hadn't adjusted to this world, and yet they acted like everything was normal.
He felt out of place.
Elina glanced at him mid-bite, cheeks puffed out with food. She gave him a small thump on the arm, nodding as if to say it's okay.
Don't just nod… swallow first, Haruto thought, sighing slightly. Just as he was about to take his first bite—
"Haruto," Alex called.
Haruto paused.
"Tell me about your power."
Haruto scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Well… it's kind of—"
"That's right," O Yong suddenly leaned forward, cutting him off. "You almost caused chaos back there."
"Chaos?" Haruto frowned. "There were barely ten people around."
"Sit down, O Yong," Alex said calmly, though his tone carried weight. "Let him talk."
She clicked her tongue and leaned back.
Haruto took a deep breath. "When it activates… my hands look like they're on fire," he explained. "It feels like they're burning, but it doesn't hurt. It's just… warm."
He paused, glancing at his hands. "And when I hit someone… The burning doesn't stop. Like what happened earlier." He let out a small, awkward laugh. "I also feel lighter. Stronger."
Alex nodded slowly.
"What I'm about to say might be confusing," he said, folding his arms. "So listen carefully."
Haruto stiffened, then nodded.
"When Outlanders are summoned into this world, each of us is given a unique power," Alex began. "Some are tied to animals. For example—if someone has a cheetah-based ability, they gain speed beyond human limits."
He raised his right hand. Then clenched it.
Crack…
A thin layer of frost spread across his skin in an instant. Ice formed over his hand, glowing faintly blue.
Haruto's eyes widened. "W-What—?!" His chair tipped back slightly as he recoiled in shock.
Elina, already finished eating, watched calmly. "It's rare for you to show that, Mr. Alex," she said softly.
Alex gave a small smile, then looked back at Haruto. "Most of us fall under the four elements—fire, water, air, and earth. My ability is ice, a branch of water. I can freeze whatever I touch… and reinforce my body for defense."
He tilted his head toward O Yong. "She's air-type. Flight. Not just flying—she moves faster than most people on the ground."
Haruto glanced at her. So that's how she appeared out of nowhere… He turned back to Alex. "So there are others with fire and earth too… but with different variations?"
"Exactly," Alex said. "Some abilities also enhance the body—strength, speed, endurance." His expression hardened slightly. "But there are rarer powers… far more dangerous."
The room seemed to grow quieter.
"Shadow," Alex continued. "Those who wield it can move through darkness… steal your shadow… and leave you powerless."
Haruto felt a chill run down his spine.
"Transform," Alex went on. "It grants overwhelming power—but at the cost of your humanity."
O Yong stopped fidgeting. Even she was listening now.
"And then…" Alex's voice dropped. "The Dark Truth."
Silence.
"It forces your power into its final state—what we call a 'True Form.' But it corrupts you from the inside."
Haruto swallowed.
Alex leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "If you ever encounter someone with those powers…"
He paused.
"Run."
Haruto nodded quickly. "Y-Yes…"
The room fell silent again, broken only by the soft clink of utensils and the faint ringing of the bell by the door as the wind brushed against it.
After a moment, Haruto spoke again. "So… I have a fire-type ability, right?"
Alex nodded. "Looks that way." He stood up, collecting the empty plates. "Starting tomorrow, I'll train you. Control your power—and expand your mana."
He glanced over his shoulder. "But for now, get some rest."
"O Yong, dishes."
"Yeah, yeah…" she muttered, standing up.
"Goodnight," Alex said as he walked away.
Haruto stood as well.
"Guess we should sleep," Elina said.
"Yeah."
They headed to their rooms.
"Goodnight, Elina."
"Goodnight, Haruto."
The house grew quiet once more.
In the kitchen, the sound of running water filled the silence. Alex scrubbed a plate slowly. "O Yong," he said.
"Yeah?"
"Did you feel it?"
She frowned slightly. "Feel what?"
Alex paused.
"That boy… Haruto." Water dripped from his hand. "We need to keep an eye on him."
O Yong turned to him, confused.
Alex's expression darkened. "There's something inside him…" He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Something that doesn't belong."