Jin-Su walked back toward his dorm, the magical light ball floating gently above him, guiding his steps through the darkened paths of the academy. The cool night air brushed against his face, though he barely registered it. His mind was still processing everything—the unsettling discoveries at the library, the power Nyas wielded all over the world, and the weight of knowing he had been manipulated in his future life without even realizing it.
As he approached the dorm building, the light ball flickered and vanished just as he stepped inside. The familiar sounds of the dormitory greeted him—the faint hum of students talking, the occasional door creak, footsteps in the distance. It was strangely comforting, like slipping into a past life where things were simple and untouched by the madness of war.
Min-Ho looked up from his desk as Jin-Su entered the room. He seemed more relaxed than earlier, though there was still a lingering nervousness in his demeanor.
"Hey," Min-Ho said, closing his notebook. "Did you eat?"
Jin-Su froze for a moment. Eat? The question caught him off guard. His mind quickly rifled through his memories. He hadn't eaten anything since arriving in this timeline, nor had he felt the need to. The realization hit him like a cold gust of wind—he wasn't hungry. Nor thirsty, either. It was as if his body no longer needed sustenance, though he didn't know why.
"Uh, no," Jin-Su replied quickly, hiding his surprise. He couldn't exactly tell Min-Ho that he didn't feel hunger or thirst anymore—it would raise too many questions. "I got caught up in some reading at the library."
Min-Ho smiled, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Well, you should eat something. I brought extra food. We can share." He gestured to a small container of neatly packed food on his desk. "Nothing fancy, but it's better than nothing."
Jin-Su hesitated for a second but then nodded. "Thanks."
They sat down at the small table between their beds. The food was simple—rice, vegetables, and some grilled meat—but Min-Ho's generosity made it feel more significant. They ate quietly for a moment, the clink of chopsticks filling the silence.
"So… tomorrow's the big coronation," Min-Ho said, glancing at Jin-Su. "I guess everyone's looking forward to seeing what major you'll pick."
Jin-Su froze for a second. The coronation. He had almost forgotten about it. In his previous timeline, it hadn't mattered much—he'd chosen his path as a Martial type, focusing on swordsmanship. But now? With all his knowledge and the power of the Abyss, the choice felt different. More important.
"Right," Jin-Su said, trying to sound casual. "The coronation." He took another bite of food, pretending to focus on it to buy himself time. "I guess I'll go with Martial. It's what I am experienced for."
Min-Ho smiled, seemingly relieved. "Makes sense. You're already pretty strong. You are gonna be a brawler, right?" He presumes this because of the fight with Kang Woo.
Jin-Su nodded. "But… later on, I am thinking of taking a Spirit minor. I believe I have some talent in it. It will give me flexibility."
Min-Ho raised an eyebrow. "Spirit minor? That's rare. I thought those who choose Martial usually stick with strength and agility."
"Normally, yeah. Strength and agility are key for martial types," Jin-Su explained. "But for magic users, it's intelligence and willpower. Spirit users… willpower and charisma. But willpower helps everyone."
Min-Ho nodded thoughtfully. "That's a lot to take in. I'm still not sure what I'll choose. Probably something simple, like Magic. My family would expect it." He smiled wistfully, poking at his food. "Guess I'll figure it out tomorrow."
Jin-Su looked at him carefully, thinking back to his previous life. He remembered that Min-Ho had picked Martial in the last timeline, and though he wasn't bad at it, he had never truly shined. His Charisma was higher than most. Maybe Spirit would help him more… he thought.
"Hey," Jin-Su started, "what about Spirit? I think you will be great in it! I have a feeling."
Min-Ho blinked in surprise. "Spirit?" He looked uncertain. "I never thought about it…"
"Maybe you should look into it!"
Min-Ho seemed to consider it for a moment, then smiled. "Alright then I will have a look. But, I don't really know what it does."
"I learned that spirit class is related to the soul and things. They gets to learn things like telepathy, mind reading, future sight, healing etc."
Jin-Su nodded but felt a pang of unease. He couldn't quite remember what had happened to Min-Ho in the future, only that for some reason, Min-Ho had left the academy. Quit. There had been rumors, but Jin-Su had been too wrapped up in his own battles to pay attention. Why did you leave? The thought lingered as they continued talking about their majors and tomorrow's events.
After finishing their food and talking for a while longer they both hunkered down in their beds. The room was dark, the quiet settling over them as Jin-Su's mind wandered once again.
Just as his eyes began to close, his phone buzzed. He reached for it, seeing his parents' names flash on the screen.
"Hey," Jin-Su answered, trying to sound normal.
"Jin-Su! How's everything going? Did you eat? Did you drink enough water?" His mother's voice was filled with the usual parental concern, but it was a comfort he had missed for so long.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Mom," Jin-Su said, the warmth in his voice surprising even himself. "Everything's good here."
His father chimed in from the background. "Are you excited for tomorrow? The coronation sounds like a big deal!"
"Yeah… I guess so," Jin-Su replied, his tone softening. "It's a lot to take in, but I'll be fine."
The conversation continued for a few more minutes—small talk, checking in, His baby sister went to sleep as soon as it hit 8 o clock. The typical concern from parents and asked Jin-Su to go to sleep. But when they finally hung up, Jin-Su couldn't help but feel the bittersweet sting of knowing he'd lost them once before.
Not long after, his phone buzzed again. This time, it was Mina.
Ah the girl with those "???"
"Hey!" Her voice was bright, cheerful, and there was a slight giggle at the end. "Are you excited for the coronation tomorrow?"
Jin-Su blinked. "Uh, I guess."
"What major are you going to pick? Have you thought about it?" Mina's tone was light, almost teasing, as she tried to steer the conversation. Jin-Su didn't notice the flirty edge, still oblivious to her intentions.
"I'll probably go Martial," he said, oblivious to the playful tone. "It's what I'm good at."
"Oh, really?" Mina's voice took on a teasing lilt. "I thought you'd pick something… more exciting. Maybe you'll surprise us tomorrow?"
Jin-Su didn't catch the hint. "Yeah, maybe."
There was a short silence on the other end before Mina spoke again, clearly trying to keep the conversation going. "You must be pretty tired after all the excitement today. I mean, standing up to Kang-Woo and all. That was really… impressive." Her voice softened, clearly trying to compliment him.
Jin-Su only nodded, though she couldn't see it. "Thanks. It wasn't a big deal."
Mina giggled again. "You're so modest. I'm sure you'll be the star of tomorrow's coronation."
Jin-Su blinked, missing the subtlety entirely. "Yeah, I guess we'll see."
They talked for a few more minutes, Mina throwing out more compliments and lighthearted remarks, while Jin-Su responded matter-of-factly. Eventually, they said goodnight, and Jin-Su put his phone down, completely unaware of the dynamic at play.
He lay back on his bed, eyes drifting to the ceiling once more. Tomorrow would be the coronation, the beginning of the academy's trials. But for Jin-Su, it was just another step toward reclaiming the future that had been stolen from him.
...
As Jin-Su lay in bed, his mind raced, refusing to quiet down. The shadows on the ceiling shifted, playing tricks on his tired eyes. No matter how much he tried to will himself to sleep, his thoughts spiraled back to one fear—a fear he hadn't admitted, even to himself.
What if this isn't real?
His chest tightened. He had been fighting that gnawing doubt ever since he woke up in this world again. What if it was all just some twisted punishment? A cruel trick played by the Abyss? He had witnessed horrors beyond imagination, powers that could warp reality itself. What if this was just another illusion? A test? If he closed his eyes, if he gave in to sleep, would he wake up to the nightmare of his future once again?
Jin-Su swallowed hard, staring at the darkness around him. What if I wake up back there... in the middle of the war, with everything I fought for destroyed? The thought clawed at his chest, tightening like a noose. His parents, his sister—alive and well here. But they hadn't survived the war. Not in the future he knew.
This has to be real. It has to. His breath quickened. But the more he tried to reassure himself, the more the doubt festered.
What if this was all an illusion? A brief, cruel reprieve before being thrown back into the hell of the Abyss, where everything and everyone was lost? He had been fooled before. The Abyss was patient, relentless. It played on the mind, planting whispers of doubt until they consumed you.
What if this is just another way to break me?
Jin-Su squeezed his eyes shut, willing the thoughts away. But sleep didn't come. Instead, he lay there, paralyzed by the fear of waking up to a world far worse than this one.
Eventually, exhaustion took over. His mind, weighed down by worry, finally succumbed, and the darkness pulled him under.
...
Jin-Su stood alone, the ground beneath him shifting like sand. The sky was dark—a swirling mass of shadows that churned and twisted like the maw of the Abyss. He looked around, but the world was empty. Silent. Nothing but blackened trees, twisted and gnarled, their branches clawing at the sky like the skeletal hands of the dead.
In the distance, faint whispers echoed through the air. "YoU WEre never free..." the voices whispered. "It was always the Abyssss..."
He tried to move, but his feet felt heavy, as though they were sinking into the ground. Every step was a struggle, his body weighed down by an unseen force.
Suddenly, the whispers grew louder, more insistent. "YOU NEVER ESCAPED!"
Jin-Su turned, heart racing, and saw a figure approaching him through the haze. It was hard to make out—blurry, distorted—but he knew the silhouette. It was him. Himself, standing just beyond reach, staring back with hollow, empty eyes.
"You think this is REAL?" the figure said, voice low and mocking. "You thINK yOU've escaped US?"
Jin-Su took a step back, his hands clenching into fists.
"This is real. I know it is."
The figure's face twisted into a cruel smile. "You're a fool." Its voice grew darker, more twisted, like the voices of the Abyss that haunted his dreams. "This is all part of the game. YOU HAVE always been a pawn. You can NEVER EScape."
Jin-Su's breath hitched. He tried to speak, but no words came. The figure stepped closer, its form shifting into something more monstrous, more grotesque—a swirling mass of darkness with glowing red eyes.
"This world isn't real," it hissed. "When you wake up, everYTHING WILL BE gone. You'll be back in the wAr, watching your friends die, your family TORN apart."
The ground beneath him trembled, cracking open as dark tendrils of shadow reached up from below, coiling around his legs, pulling him down. The whispers became a cacophony now, echoing in his ears, drowning out his thoughts.
"WAKE UP!!" the figure said, its voice dripping with malice. "Wake up and face the truth."
The shadows tightened around him, dragging him deeper into the void. He struggled, but it was futile. The darkness swallowed him whole, suffocating, endless.
.
Jin-Su jerked awake, his heart pounding, cold sweat clinging to his skin. The room was quiet, the faint glow of the early morning creeping through the window. It took him a moment to realize where he was, that he wasn't back in the future.
He was still here. Still in the past.
It was just a dream...
Suddenly, he felt the hand on his shoulder, it has been on him for a long time, shaking him gently. Jin-Su blinked and turned to see Min-Ho standing beside his bed, his face etched with concern.
"Hey, you okay?" Min-Ho asked, his voice soft but worried. "You were tossing and turning like crazy."
Jin-Su exhaled slowly, running a hand through his damp black hair. Some sticks to his hands. "Yeah... just a bad dream."
Min-Ho gave a small nod, not pressing further. "Alright. Just... try to rest up. Big day tomorrow....today actually..it's at 10 o clock sharp in the morning. It's 3:27 now."
Jin-Su nodded, and apologized. Min-Ho waved it off and got back to bed. But as he lay back down, the weight of the dream still lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind.
***
It's 8 am now.
Jin- Su didn't get an inch of sleep.