They stood alone—like a delicate painting lost in time. The figure radiated a quiet presence, not one of power, but of dissonance—as if the world itself paused to make space for them. Their skin was pale, almost translucent under the filtered light, the kind of soft pallor that looked untouched by sun or flame. White hair, just brushing the nape of the neck, framed their face with unruly grace; the bangs fell slightly over sapphire-blue eyes—eyes that neither fled nor fought, but simply watched. Beneath those eyes were faint traces of dried tears, invisible unless one dared to look too closely. Long lashes and red eyeliner gave the gaze a strange intensity, not fierce, but quietly unreadable. Their lips held a soft sheen, like dew not yet dried by dawn. A single crimson ear swayed beside one ear, its silver hook trailed with a fine blue silk thread that caught the wind like a whisper. Their clothes were casual, familiar even—something a young person from Kael's city might wear. But on them, everything felt foreign. Wrong in the most beautiful way. They were tall—tall enough to make one question whether they were male or female—but too graceful to be defined either way.
Kael didn't say anything at first. He only watched.
His expression was sharp, his stance tense—like a wolf who had just found something it could neither classify nor devour.
"What kind of delicate, graceful beauty is that?"
That was the first thought Kael muttered under his breath as he observed the figure standing before him.
It had all started with an anomaly alert while he was out hunting Shadows near the outskirts of his city. The anomaly radiated an absurdly powerful energy—so intense that, according to the Association's chairman, it was comparable to an entire power plant. The source of the energy was said to be a gem-like object known as an "Orb." In essence, the anomaly was disruptive enough to trigger warnings across the entire Shadow Hunter system. And by sheer coincidence—or perhaps fate—the assignment to investigate it fell into Kael's hands.
Was Kael the kind of man who followed orders? Be it from superiors or anyone else?
Of course not.
He simply happened to be interested. That was all.
Naturally, the anomaly had appeared in an Uninhabited World. To explain briefly: while most Worlds exist within the same dimensional fabric, there are others—far more unstable—that reside outside of it. These are either untouched realms, populated lands, or lifeless zones suspended beyond space-time. Traveling between dimensions isn't instantaneous. Charging the portal battery alone can take an excruciatingly long time—especially if the target World lies outside Kael's native dimension, 'Reminvoyage'. And this one did. The anomaly was located in a place known as 'Letruish'.
There were, of course, strict warnings when it came to portal travel:
Never enter a Distorted Dimension.
It was said that anyone who stepped foot into one would disintegrate into dust.
But that was only a myth—no proof, no firsthand accounts. After all, no one had ever dared try.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Kael's personal portal device had just enough power to get him there and back. No more, no less.
And now, standing before him, was the source of the anomaly. Or perhaps… the anomaly itself.
The figure finally spoke—their voice drifting like the softest melody, delicate enough to be swallowed by the wind.
"Who are you?"
It was a question spoken so gently that it nearly dissolved into the air before it reached Kael's ears.
Of course, it was the very question Kael himself had wanted to ask. But instead of answering, he unsheathed his sword—its cold edge gleaming under the strange sky—and pointed it directly at the stranger.
What startled him wasn't fear.
There was none. They simply stared at the blade as though it were some kinds of salvation.
"This world is supposed to be uninhabited," they said quietly, their sapphire eyes reflecting light like a still lake.
"And yet here I stand, facing a man who's pointing a sharp thing at me as if I were some kinds of monster."
Then, they smiled.
That smile made Kael's skin crawl.
Who in their right mind would smile like that when staring death in the eye?
"I'll say it one more time," Kael growled, his silver eyes flashing,
"Put down whatever you're holding before your head leaves your body."
He stepped forward, deliberate and precise.
One step.
Two.
Three.
The tip of his blade now pressed against their neck—just enough to draw a line of crimson.
They didn't flinch.
"My name is Lumino," they whispered.
"Forgive me. You're the first soul I've met in a long time... but I just remembered—I can't die here. Not yet. It's not time for me to meet the Creator."
Kael watched the lips that uttered those words, trying to decipher whether it was madness or conviction that shaped them.
Then, in a blink—they were gone.
No sound. No motion. Just vanished.
Kael spun, instincts kicking in. His blade swung in a blur, but before it could find its mark, a blinding red light erupted around them—searing, alive, electric. He staggered, eyes narrowing against the flare.
When the light finally faded and the world came into focus again, Kael noticed something strange on his wrist.
A glowing thread—red as blood and woven like light—now coiled gently around his skin.
It pulsed.
It shimmered.
And it connected—unmistakably—to Lumino.
The same Lumino who now stood across from him, just as confused.
The Orb—the radiant gem from before—was gone. And in its place... this thread?
They glanced down, visibly stunned, searching for the object that had vanished from their hand.
Their voice trembled, "What is this…?"
Kael didn't wait for an answer. In a fluid motion, he leapt back, putting distance between them. His left hand summoned another blade—smaller, curved, and deadly. But before he could charge, the thread snapped taut.
And suddenly, Kael was yanked forward by an invisible force—dragged across the grass toward them, who hadn't moved an inch.
Their foreheads collided with a dull thud.
"Ow—!"
The impact knocked them both off balance, sending them crashing to the ground in a graceless heap.
For a long, suspended moment, neither moved.
Then Kael muttered under his breath,
"...What the hell is going on?" They both sat on the ground, dazed. Lumino was the first to move, slowly rising to their feet. Then, wordlessly, they extended a hand toward the man who was now rubbing his forehead and muttering curses under his breath.
Kael looked up—his scowl deepening the moment he saw the offered hand. He swatted it away without hesitation and pushed himself up.
"What did you just do?" he snapped, finger jabbing toward them with accusatory precision—as if his voice alone could pin blame to their chest.
"I… I was just trying to help you up," Lumino tilted their head, confusion softening their tone. They genuinely didn't seem to understand the question.
Irritation bubbled in Kael's chest. He yanked his wrist upward and thrust it toward Lumino, showing the glowing red thread that pulsed like a heartbeat between them.
"Then explain this."
Lumino's gaze dropped to his hand, then followed the line of light—tracing it to their own left wrist. Their expression shifted, lips parting slightly.
"Why… why is there a thread connecting us?" they whispered, staring at their hand as if seeing it for the first time.
Kael's eyes widened.
They're only noticing it now? he thought bitterly.
"Damn it… this is your doing. You touched that Orb—this has to be because of you."
He raked a hand through his hair, frustration leaking into every gesture. It all felt too clean, too sudden—a trap sprung the moment he stepped through that portal.
Drawing in a breath, Kael began to concentrate, focusing his mana toward the thread that bound them. Maybe he could sever it. Break free.
"Umm… what are you doing?" Lumino asked, their voice gentle as they reached out again.
Kael batted the hand away for the second time, his focus breaking.
Seriously? I can't even concentrate for five seconds!
His glare sharpened, and Lumino shrank back slightly, lips pressed together.
"Is all of this because of that red gem?" they asked cautiously, trying not to ignite Kael's temper further.
"YES! If you had just listened and handed over the Orb earlier—"
Lumino stiffened.
They waited, but Kael didn't finish the sentence.
Truth was, he didn't know what would've happened. He had no idea what the Orb truly was. He'd never even bothered to visit the Association's Archive Library. The outcome could've been the same—or worse. They were lucky the damn thing didn't explode and kill them both.
His eyes narrowed, gaze softening ever so slightly.
"Why are you here? This world is uninhabited—according to Association data, no living human should exist here."
He hoped for an answer, maybe even the truth.
But Lumino hesitated.
Then, barely audible—"I… I was sent here."
The vagueness of the reply irked Kael, but he didn't push further. Instead, he sighed sharply and turned away.
"Forget it. Let's move. I'm sick of standing around in this forest."
He took a few steps, expecting Lumino to follow.
They didn't.
He turned back. "Hey—start walking! What are you doing just standing there?"
Lumino raised their head slowly, eyes hesitant.
"Am I… allowed to come with you?"
Kael slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Of course you're coming with me! Didn't you see what happened the last time we stood more than a few feet apart? That thread dragged us like magnets and slammed us into each other! I'm not letting that happen again."
Lumino lowered their gaze again, silent.
Kael sighed. He clenched his jaw, then turned back, stomping toward them. Without warning, he grabbed their hand—firmly, a little too hard.
"Let's go. Now."
Lumino blinked, frozen by the sudden pull. Despite the harshness of the grip, they didn't resist. Even with Kael's hurried steps and rough demeanor, he couldn't shake the nagging guilt settling in his chest. He hadn't meant to be that aggressive.
Meanwhile, Lumino glanced down at their hand in his, their expression unreadable—until a small, quiet smile appeared.
And so, in silence, the two of them walked.
Together.
Out of the amber woods of the autumn forest,
toward a fate neither of them yet understood.