Faiser walked forward through the corridor calmly, his steps steady—neither hurried nor slow… as if each step was calculated without it being obvious.
The night had fully settled.
The air had grown colder.
And the silence… deeper.
Then, in a moment—
He noticed a light.
A small light, swaying on the opposite side of the building.
He raised his eyes slightly.
"A lantern…?"
The light drew closer.
Then—
Shin appeared.
Walking with calm steps, the lantern in his hand, his eyes searching the area.
And suddenly—
Their gazes met.
Shin paused for a moment.
Then he smiled lightly and walked straight toward him.
"Ah… so you're here. I looked for you in the library for a while and couldn't find you, so I thought you might have returned to the hall or gone out to the courtyard."
He stopped in front of him.
Looking at him with natural interest.
Faiser replied calmly, his voice light yet steady:
"I left some time ago. I didn't feel the passage of time there, and when I realized it… I decided to take a short walk. The night breeze in this place… is different—calm in a strange way that makes you think without realizing it."
Shin smiled slightly.
"Yes… that's true. The night here has its own character, perhaps because the sect itself becomes quieter, as if it's… breathing."
Then he looked at him and said:
"But even so… it's late. Don't you think it's better to rest? Your day has been long—from the forest to here, and then everything that happened after that."
Faiser exhaled lightly and raised his shoulders a bit, like someone who feels tired but doesn't complain:
"Maybe… yes. I think the fatigue is starting to show now. My body hasn't gotten used to this yet… everything feels different, even exhaustion here has a different taste."
He smiled faintly.
"Anyway… I wouldn't mind sleeping."
Shin nodded, then said in a practical yet gentle tone:
"Alright, come with me then. I'll show you your room. It wouldn't be good for you to get lost in the corridors at this hour, especially since you're still new here."
The two walked side by side.
The lantern between them cast long shadows on the walls.
No one spoke.
But the silence… wasn't empty.
They reached a door.
Shin stopped and opened it slowly.
"This is your room for now. It may not be luxurious, but it's comfortable enough. Try to get some good rest—tomorrow… might be busier than you expect."
Faiser stepped inside slightly, glanced around quickly, then turned back to Shin.
"This is more than enough… honestly, after everything I've been through, just a quiet place like this… is a luxury."
Then he stretched a little, raising his arms as his chest opened with a light yawn:
"Ah… it seems I really am tired."
He smiled.
"Don't worry… I'll fall asleep as soon as I lay my head down."
Shin smiled in return.
"That's good."
He paused for a moment, then said:
"Then… I'll leave you to rest."
Faiser nodded.
"Good night."
"You too."
Faiser went in.
And the door closed.
Shin remained standing for a moment.
The lantern still in his hand.
He looked at the door.
Silence.
Then he turned.
And started walking.
His steps were slower this time.
And his thoughts… began to move.
"This person…"
He said it to himself, in a quiet but focused inner voice:
"Ever since he appeared… I haven't been able to place him clearly in my mind. Not because he's obviously mysterious, but because… he's too clear."
He raised the lantern slightly.
The light flickered.
"His words are logical… his actions are balanced… his tone is calm… even his responses always come at the right time, as if he never fails to choose what to say, and never hesitates to say it."
He paused slightly.
"But…"
He looked ahead.
"Where is the hesitation?"
"Where is the mistake?"
"Where is that moment when a person reveals their true self without meaning to?"
He breathed slowly.
"I haven't seen any of that."
He kept walking.
"And that… isn't normal."
Silence.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Or maybe…"
He lowered his gaze.
"I'm just so used to seeing flaws in people that I've started finding their absence strange."
He exhaled.
"We live in a world… where everything is measured by strength, by level, by rank… as if a person is only seen through what they possess, not through who they are."
He raised his eyes.
"But Faiser…"
He stopped.
"Doesn't seem interested in proving anything."
"And that alone… is strange."
He continued walking.
"Is he really as weak as he says…?"
"Or does he simply… see no need to show anything?"
He stopped.
Then said slowly:
"The most dangerous people… aren't those who possess power… but those who… don't show it."
Silence.
"But…"
He exhaled.
"So far… there's no real reason to doubt."
He smiled.
"He saved Shireen… asked for nothing in return… didn't act arrogantly… and didn't try to get close in a suspicious way."
He paused.
"On the contrary… he was natural."
He raised the lantern.
Looked at the light.
"And this world…"
He said quietly:
"Has very little of what is natural."
Silence.
Then he continued, in a deeper tone:
"Maybe the problem isn't Faiser…"
"But this world that taught us to doubt everything… even the things that don't seem dangerous."
He stopped.
Then smiled slightly, but with a sense of decision:
"Anyway…"
"I won't judge him now."
"I won't place him in a category… until I understand him."
He looked ahead, smiling faintly…
"I'll observe quietly… just like he does. Hahaha…"
And he disappeared into the corridor.
Inside the room…
Faiser was lying down.
His eyes were open.
Silent.
But—
He wasn't asleep.
He was—
Thinking.
That night…
Nothing happened. No fight, no threat, no danger.
But—
Something far more dangerous…
Began to take shape.
Trust…
That wasn't complete.
Doubt…
That wasn't enough.
And two people…
Each believing they saw the other clearly…
While the truth… had yet to appear.