The silence after the battle was… strange.
There were no cheers.
No shouts.
No celebration.
---
Only—
gazes.
---
Remiel walked slowly out of the arena.
His steps were steady…
but heavy.
---
He had lost.
---
And yet—
there was no frustration in his eyes.
---
Only… acceptance.
---
— Makes sense.
---
He murmured to himself.
---
— I'm still incomplete.
---
The wind brushed past him.
---
The energy around him was unstable.
Flickering.
---
But controlled… for now.
---
As he stepped out of the arena—
someone was already waiting.
---
Laylah.
---
She leaned against a column.
Arms crossed.
---
Watching him.
---
— So…
---
She began, without hesitation.
---
— you do have weaknesses.
---
Remiel stopped.
---
Looked at her.
---
Silence.
---
— I thought you didn't.
---
She continued.
---
— But I was wrong.
---
Remiel didn't respond.
---
Laylah stepped closer.
---
— Your patterns…
---
Her eyes narrowed.
---
— are easy to read.
---
A pause.
---
— for someone experienced.
---
The wind moved between them.
---
— You stop time before acting.
— Then use that "erased time."
— And always attack at the end.
---
She tilted her head slightly.
---
— It's efficient…
---
A pause.
---
— but predictable.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel looked away.
---
— I know.
---
Calm.
---
Laylah stayed quiet for a moment.
---
— Even so…
---
She looked directly at him.
---
— you're absurdly strong.
---
Remiel didn't react.
---
— If you didn't have those limits…
---
She stopped.
---
— that fight would've been different.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel started walking again.
---
But—
---
his body…
---
failed.
---
— …!
---
His steps faltered.
---
His vision shook.
---
The world spun for a moment.
---
Before he could fall—
---
an arm caught him.
---
Laylah.
---
— Hey.
---
She frowned.
---
— Seriously?
---
Remiel tried to stand straight.
---
But his body didn't respond properly.
---
— …I'm fine.
---
A lie.
---
She sighed softly.
---
— No, you're not.
---
She adjusted her grip.
---
Holding him more firmly.
---
— You almost collapsed.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel's breathing grew heavier.
---
— Your Path…
---
Laylah murmured.
---
— has a huge mental strain, doesn't it?
---
Silence.
---
Remiel didn't answer aloud.
---
But—
---
inside his mind—
---
— Makes sense.
---
Fragmented thoughts surfaced.
---
— I was sealed for a long time…
---
Broken images.
Chains.
Darkness.
---
— It's been too long since I fought…
---
A hollow feeling.
---
— My control isn't complete yet…
---
A pause.
---
— And my power…
---
Silence.
---
— …is still far from what it used to be.
---
His eyes closed briefly.
---
— Not even close to ten percent.
---
---
Laylah watched him.
---
Without speaking.
---
But her gaze—
---
was sharp.
---
— You really are a problem…
---
She murmured.
---
This time—
---
without sarcasm.
---
Only… acknowledgment.
---
---
Elsewhere—
within the Academy—
---
someone was watching.
---
Silently.
---
A young man.
---
His eyes were fixed on Remiel—
even from afar.
---
— So… it's him.
---
His voice was low.
---
Almost nostalgic.
---
— Remiel.
---
He let out a faint breath.
---
— I never thought I'd see this in person.
---
His eyes gleamed slightly.
---
— Or rather…
---
A small smile formed.
---
— that I'd be lucky enough to.
---
---
He leaned against a railing.
---
Watching.
---
Thinking.
---
— In another world…
---
A pause.
---
— this was just a game.
---
His eyes deepened.
---
— Wheel of Divinity.
---
The name came naturally.
---
— The greatest game ever created.
---
Silence.
---
— Mystery.
— Power.
— Ascension.
---
A pause.
---
— And secrets…
---
His eyes narrowed.
---
— that not everyone knew.
---
---
He closed his eyes briefly.
---
— I played it for years…
---
Memories surfaced.
Battles.
Guilds.
Rankings.
---
— I explored every system…
— every Path…
— every Sequence.
---
A pause.
---
— Or at least… I thought I did.
---
His eyes opened again.
---
— Because there were exceptions.
---
Silence.
---
— Legends.
---
His voice lowered.
---
— Things that didn't appear normally.
---
A pause.
---
— Unique characters.
---
His gaze returned to Remiel.
---
— And among them…
---
Silence.
---
— there was one name.
---
The wind passed gently.
---
— Remiel.
---
---
He let out a quiet laugh.
---
— Funny…
---
— When it was still just a game…
---
His eyes turned distant.
---
— I never found you.
---
A pause.
---
— But I knew you existed.
---
Silence.
---
— Even the developers mentioned you.
---
His eyes gleamed faintly.
---
— A unique character.
---
A pause.
---
— A Path that couldn't be replicated.
---
---
He crossed his arms.
---
— A bug…
---
Or maybe—
---
— something intentional.
---
Silence.
---
— And now…
---
His gaze sharpened.
---
— you're here.
---
---
He exhaled slowly.
---
— That changes everything.
---
---
Back—
---
Laylah was still supporting Remiel.
---
— You need to rest.
---
She said directly.
---
Remiel didn't respond.
---
But didn't resist either.
---
— If you keep going like this…
---
She narrowed her eyes.
---
— you'll pass out for real.
---
Silence.
---
— And I'm not in the mood to carry you.
---
A hint of irony.
---
But—
---
real concern.
---
---
Remiel slowly opened his eyes.
---
— I don't need—
---
— You do.
---
She cut him off.
---
Without hesitation.
---
Silence.
---
For a moment—
---
they stood there.
---
The wind passing between them.
---
— Laylah…
---
Remiel spoke quietly.
---
She looked at him.
---
— What?
---
Silence.
---
— Thank you.
---
She blinked.
---
Surprised.
---
But quickly looked away.
---
— Don't get used to it.
---
Quick response.
---
But—
---
a faint smile appeared.
---
---
From afar—
---
the observer was still watching.
---
In silence.
---
— So…
---
He murmured.
---
— the game has truly begun.
---
His eyes gleamed.
---
— and this time…
---
A pause.
---
— it's real.
---
---
The wind grew stronger.
---
The clouds shifted.
---
And somewhere—
---
something ancient…
---
seemed to have awakened.
---
---
Remiel, still supported by Laylah, walked slowly away from the arena.
---
Unaware—
---
of how many eyes were now on him.
---
And how many secrets—
---
had begun to move around him.
---
The world was no longer the same.
---
And he—
---
was never meant to return.
---
---
The Wheel of Divinity continues to turn.