No, it wasn’t a nightmare.
Dreams end.
For days, weeks, I’d clung to the hope that I’d wake not in this wretched world, this wretched body, but safe in my Earth bedroom. That hope was the true nightmare—knowing it would never happen.
Dreams, at least, were sweet. I’d dream of my ti on Earth.
"Ah... ugh..."
The mories quickened my breath, my body growing cold. After eting Master, I’d barely managed to bury that nightmare called reality, but now it crept back.
Every mont alone in this world, in this body, was a nightmare.
"Master..."
Sothing felt imminent. Deep in the mountains, I imagined intruders or beasts outside, or soone bursting from the closet. My vision narrowed, my breath raced, my mind froze in panic.
Tremble, tremble.
My body shook, tears welling up.
She’ll be back soon, she’ll be back soon, she’ll be back soon...
I repeated it in my head, a desperate self-hypnosis to calm my trembling body, to reassure myself.
But that fragile wall crumbled instantly.
What if Master had abandoned ?
I didn’t know enough about her to say she wouldn’t. My wish to believe otherwise was devoured by fear, leaving no trace.
"Don’t go..."
All I could do was sob under the blanket, muttering futile words—hopeless wishes that wouldn’t reach her.
Step, step.
Footsteps. Human, not a beast’s.
"Master?!"
I threw off the blanket and ran out barefoot.
"Why are you awake at this hour—"
Hug.
Before she could finish, I threw myself into her arms.
"Master... Master... Where were you? Don’t go..."
"...My disciple?"
"If there’s sothing you dislike about , I’ll change it. If I’m lacking, I’ll fix it. Whatever you want, I’ll do it, so... please..."
Sob, sob.
Tears choked my words, but I forced out my final plea.
"Don’t leave alone..."
It was a desperate truth, masked as courage. I tightened my grip on her, pressing close enough to hear her heartbeat, as if that could keep her from leaving.
Anxiety crept in as she stayed silent—
Pat, pat.
"Alright..."
Her gentle hand on my head began to ease the emotions consuming .
"Were you scared I’d abandoned you?"
"...You disappeared without a word..."
"If I’d known you’d be this anxious, I’d have told you first."
Swish.
She held out sothing in one hand—a decent-sized beast, swift and agile-looking.
"Tomorrow’s food."
"Huh...?"
"Didn’t you say you wanted at?"
"!"
It hit . Days ago, I’d whined to her—living in the mountains was fine, but it was all plants. I’d craved at.
"So... for ...?"
"It’s not a big deal," she said lightly. "Just a small beast I caught while out for a moonlit stroll."
It didn’t look like sothing easily caught, not even for soone of Master’s skill.
"I... I..."
"Don’t feel burdened," Master said, her voice soft as she finished patting my head. "As your master, this much is only natural."
"I’m the one who should be sorry," she continued. "I thought you were sleeping so soundly you wouldn’t notice stepping out briefly. I didn’t expect you to wake in such a short ti."
"N-No, it’s not sothing you need to apologize for..." I mumbled, embarrassed.
"No, it’s my fault," she insisted, her tone firm but gentle. "As your master, I failed to realize how deeply you fear being left alone."
Our eyes t. Her face, usually cloaked in a cool detachnt, now held a warmth that steadied .
"Let’s figure it out together from now on," she said. "We’ve got plenty of ti."
Dan Yuseong’s POV
Does she enjoy being around others...?
The thought lingered as I reflected on her behavior. She seed especially afraid of being left alone. Like that ti on the ship. Back then, I’d assud it was fear of the dangerous situation, but now, it felt more like a deep-seated dread of isolation—of being unaware of her surroundings with no one nearby.
More so than most.
Still, I should keep my distance once we’re back, I resolved.
In monts like this, just the two of us, it couldn’t be helped. But she lived in Shaanxi—she must have acquaintances there. Once we returned, there’d be no need to worry. No matter how much she cared for , being overly protective wasn’t good.
I was an adult, after all.
...Even if my appearance barely passed for a boy, let alone a grown man.
Judging age by looks might work for others, but not for —not with my old comrade’s influence normalizing such things.
Shin Yuwol’s [Sword Empress’s POV]
"This might be rude," I said, gazing at his face, shrouded in shadow under the hood, impossible to discern, "but is there a reason you hide your appearance?"
His cryptic look could unsettle most, but oddly, it didn’t bother . It felt... natural, like I accepted it as part of him.
I wondered where he’d gotten that strange cloak, but more than that, I was curious why he went to such lengths to conceal himself—especially knowing what lay beneath. It wasn’t an appearance anyone should feel ashad to show.
"No special reason," he replied, his voice light. "Just that my face is ugl—... ah."
His words cut off, sparking a question in my mind.
Ugly? If his face was ugly, then everyone in the Central Plains would be hideous by comparison.
Flutter, flutter.
"Speaking of which, you’ve already seen my face, haven’t you?" he said, gripping his hood and shaking it lightly. Through the swaying fabric, I glimpsed his ear.
"So that excuse won’t work here. It’s one I usually use on custors."
"...You told people you hide your face because it’s ugly?" I asked, incredulous.
"Yeah. It’s the easiest reason. Hardly anyone questions it. If I say I’m hiding because I’m unattractive, what can they say?"
"Hmm..."
That made sense. Who’d argue with soone claiming they hid their face out of sha?
"So the real reason’s sothing else?" I pressed.
"Yeah. It’s because of a prophecy Master gave ."
"A prophecy?"
"’Hide your face. That face will bring you great trouble later.’ That’s what she said."
"Hm..."
Trouble because of his face? From what I’d seen, there was nothing wrong with it.
No, she’s his master, I thought. She must’ve seen sothing I didn’t.
I wasn’t a Taoist skilled in reading the heavens, so there was likely sothing beyond my grasp. She’d taught him that art—her warning must have had weight.
"I see... Sorry about that, then," I said, referring to accidentally seeing his face during that unintended "treatnt."
Thinking back, that mont replayed vividly in my mind—a frail, delicate body that didn’t seem adult at all, and a face that matched it perfectly.
...Hoo.
I pinched my nose to rein myself in. I’d reached a level where my ntal discipline should’ve been unshakable, yet since eting him, controlling my mind had grown harder.
"Want to show you again?"
His words nearly shattered my restraint.
Reviews
All reviews (0)