Sky frost
After waking up, I didn't move for a while.
The ceiling above me felt too normal compared to what I had just experienced. The forest still lingered in my mind—the silence, the cold air.
Slowly, I turned toward the table.
The Magical Empire.
The book was still there.
I reached for it and opened it, flipping through the pages quickly, searching for something—anything familiar.
Isak Raven.
His name appeared, as always—war after war, kingdom after kingdom. Blood, power, victory.
But nothing about where he had been in that forest.
And nothing about the man who had saved me… Isra.
I frowned slightly.
The book stayed silent, as if it had nothing more to offer.
I closed it slowly.
Maybe the story simply didn't care what I had seen.
Later, after my shift ended, I found myself at a small market café. The evening air was warm, the place lively yet strangely calm in its own way.
I sat with a cup of coffee, staring at it absentmindedly.
"Hey."
The voice came from behind me.
I turned quickly.
Reverie was standing there.
She looked… normal. Jeans, a crop top, hair left loose—effortless, yet impossible to ignore.
"You scared me," I said, exhaling.
She raised a brow slightly. "You're easier to scare than I expected."
A faint smile escaped me before I could stop it. "You always show up like that."
She pulled out the chair and sat down without asking. "Because I already know where you'll be."
"I'll get you coffee," I said.
"Please do," she replied casually.
When she finally took a sip, her gaze settled on me.
"So?" she asked. "How was it?"
I hesitated.
"…It was bad," I admitted quietly. "I almost didn't make it out."
Her expression didn't change much, but her attention sharpened.
"But someone helped me," I added. "A man."
That got her to pause.
"He wasn't in the book," I continued. "His name is Isra."
Reverie leaned back slightly. "And you checked the book for him?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"Nothing."
She nodded once, like she had expected exactly that.
"The book doesn't give you everything," she said calmly. "It only shows the main thread. What you experience beyond it… is something else entirely."
I looked at her. "Then it wasn't supposed to happen?"
"It was," she replied. "Just not recorded."
I frowned slightly. "That doesn't make it any less confusing."
"It's not meant to be convenient," she said simply.
I looked away.
"…He saved me," I said quietly. "Isra. I couldn't even see his face clearly, but his eyes—"
Reverie immediately lifted a hand.
"Don't," she said flatly.
I blinked. "What?"
"I don't need a detailed description of a mysterious man you just met," she said dryly.
Then, after a beat, her tone softened slightly. "I'm kidding."
I let out a breath. "You're impossible."
She leaned back, relaxed again. "Focus on your villain instead."
"I am," I said quickly. "But everyone there feels unreal. Too perfect. I don't even know what my villain actually looks like compared to them."
"You will," she said, confident.
"Hey, love. There you are."
A new voice joined us.
A man walked over and kissed Reverie lightly on the cheek.
She didn't react beyond a faint smile.
"This is Tofi," she said. "My boyfriend."
"Hello," I said politely.
Tofi smiled. "Hey. And thank you for looking after her."
I nodded. "It was nothing."
He sat beside her naturally, like he belonged there. Calm, grounded.
His eyes were a deep maroon—steady, observant.
"You look like you went through something serious," he said lightly.
"I did," I admitted.
Reverie glanced at me. "She almost didn't make it back."
Tofi gave a small laugh. "And yet, here you are."
That made me relax slightly.
"You two suit each other," I said honestly.
Reverie smirked. "We know."
Tofi smiled. "You'll find yours too."
For a moment, it didn't feel like teasing.
Just… certainty.
Reverie leaned back, her tone turning more serious again.
"Don't go back into the novel for now," she said. "Take a break. You don't even know where you'll end up next time—forest, battlefield… anything can happen."
Her gaze held mine.
"You survived your first day, but barely. And I already told you—you disappear the moment danger appears. Be careful. Don't let anyone there discover who you are."
Then she added more quietly,
"And that man… Isra already knows about you."
"What if he tells someone?" she continued. "You trust too easily without knowing anything."
Her voice was calm, but firm now.
I hesitated, fingers tightening around my cup.
"I know," I said quietly.
Her expression didn't soften. She was still watching me carefully.
"Be more cautious," she said. "Don't let anyone in that world uncover you. Understand?"
"Understood," I replied.
Reverie studied me for a moment longer, then her expression eased into a faint, knowing smile.
We stayed there a while after that, talking about nothing important.
"Then don't push it," she said finally. "That world is already unpredictable for you."
I exhaled slowly, shoulders loosening.
"…I'll wait," I said softly. "I'll wait to meet my villain."
For a brief moment, silence settled between us.
The coffee steamed between my hands. The world around us continued as if nothing unusual had ever existed.
But I could still feel it—deep inside.
That world wasn't gone.
It was waiting.
So I didn't go back into the novel for a week.
Because whatever it was…
It wasn't just a story anymore.
And I wasn't ready for it to pull me back in.
But the book didn't leave my mind even once..
In the forest…
Somewhere deep in a dense forest, moonlight spilled through tall trees, cutting silver lines across the ground.
On a thick branch, two foxes sat close—silent, still, watching the world below. The wind moved gently through the leaves, but the forest felt heavy… like it was hiding something.
Tofi broke the silence.
"Do you think she can do it?"
Reverie didn't look away from the forest.
"I think she can," she said softly. "That's why I chose her."
A pause stretched between them.
Tofi tilted his head. "So when will she go next?"
Reverie's eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful.
"I'll tell her when the time comes. I'll handle my part."
The wind shifted again.
Tofi frowned. "What if she goes before time… without knowing anything?"
Reverie finally glanced at him, calm and certain.
"She won't," she said. "Trust me. I know her soul. I know what she will do… and what she won't."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then slowly, both foxes settled again on the branch, as if the decision itself had already been written.
Above them, the moon stayed still—watching.
Next day…sky frost
I opened my door and froze.
A box was placed right outside.
I stared at it for a moment before slowly picking it up and bringing it inside.
When I opened it, I found a black dress, along with a red necklace and matching earrings.
The dress was modern—elegant, slightly deep-neck, fitted at the top, and flowing into a frock-style length ending just below the elbows.
Perfect.
A note rested on top.
Hey dear, it's Reverie. Today you can go inside the novel. I found the plot—it's safe now.
I also got this dress since I couldn't find anything from the old era.
Good luck… have fun. It's a party there. Enjoy yourself, but be careful.
Meet your love there, okay?
All the best.
I stared at it for a long moment.
"What a woman…" I murmured softly. "She really did everything."
A small smile formed on my face.
"Well… thanks to her."
As I turned toward the mirror, something slipped from the dress.
A second note.
I bent down and picked it up.
I did some magic for you… to make it easier and safer too. That's why it took a little time.
Open the novel. You'll find it.
Bye.
— Reverie
I exhaled slowly.
I opened The Magical Empire again.
This time, the first page felt different.
The author's name was still there, but it felt more noticeable now, as if I was seeing it for the first time.
Then my eyes moved down.
Isak Raven attends a royal ball for the first time with his assistant.
I stared at it for a long moment.
"So this is the entry point," I whispered.
Then another thought slipped out softly.
"And how am I supposed to find it… when nothing is clearly mentioned?"
I turned the pages slowly. Everything beyond that page remained unchanged—no shifts, no edits.
Only the first page had been altered.
I closed the book for a moment.
A strange weight settled in my chest.
Not fear…
Just the unknown.
Well… I will meet him for the first time.
It was around 4 in the evening when I started getting ready.
I wore the black dress. A necklace… light lipstick.
I applied eyeliner, making my green eyes stand out even more.
I gently clipped my red hair, letting it fall naturally with a small cute pin holding it in place.
A light lily perfume lingered around me.
I took a slow breath.
"I'm ready now."
My fingers reached for the antique necklace.
I placed it carefully around my neck, feeling it settle against my skin.