A person?! I turned quickly to find a young man sitting on a nearby wooden chair, reading a massive book. He was of average height, though obviously shorter than me, with messy, medium-length black hair and striking violet eyes—curious yet calm.
"Ah, I'm Reylan, and that's my sister, Victoria."
Ah, it seems they saved me last night... Wait, what?
"Reylan??"
I said in shock as I stared at the young man before me. I didn't want to believe it, but he really did match the description from the novel...
Huh...? His sister?
On the other side of the room, a girl was arranging herb bottles on a small shelf, writing down notes. She was slightly taller than Reylan but still shorter than me, with wavy, reddish-brown hair and deep red eyes, like apples.
"Hah..."
I stared blankly, lost in my memories... Reylan does have a sister.
But in the original novel, she gets kidnapped on the first Blue Moon night..!
Arin felt a jolt of realization hit him again as he processed that he was living in the events before the Blue Moon—a night that changed the course of the story. The death of Kyle's team in the dungeon, Victoria's abduction... and much more.
Reylan closed his book calmly and stepped toward me. His voice was quiet but scolding:
"You were lucky... What's your name?"
"Arin."
He seemed to calm slightly before repeating himself:
"You were lucky, Arin. If we hadn't been on our way home from the city, who would have found you?"
Though his tone started out controlled, by the end, he was genuinely upset.
"The shadow would have consumed you..!"
The shadow...?
A cold chill crawled up my spine as I heard those words.
I looked again at the runes carved into my body. They glowed with a faint red light, and their presence felt like they were draining my skin...
Before I could ask, Reylan continued, irritated but calm:
"The Dark Ether trait is something you already had... But the Dark Ether itself didn't take its proper course. Simply put, it was overtaking all other ether channels—like cancerous cells..!"
I knew what this was... something similar happened to Kyle in the novel.
...Aetherial Spirit Corruption.
So that's what was happening... That's why I felt like I was losing myself before.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my exhausted heart and analyze the situation. Would I really survive in this world...? I lowered my head, lost in thought.
But Victoria broke the silence and my train of thought, stepping forward cautiously. Her voice was careful but kind, her eyes filled with concern:
"Why did you try to use Dark Ether without being prepared?"
She stared directly into my eyes as if waiting for an answer. But what could I even say...?
I remained silent.
"...That was reckless."
She took a step back.
But I can tell them some information, right? Hmm... It wouldn't be too bad, I think.
I inhaled slowly and looked at them.
"I need power."
Saying that reminded me of Kyle. Am I following the wrong path he once took...?
"A danger is coming, and I need to be ready before it's too late."
Their eyes widened as I spoke. I wasn't sure if it was doubt, surprise... or both.
They exchanged a few unreadable glances in silence.
Reylan was the first to speak. His tone was neutral but full of suspicion:
"And what kind of danger is worth destroying your aetherial spirit over?"
The tension in the room was thick, but there was no going back.
I felt a deep sadness for them... They had no idea what was going to happen in just a few days.
"You're in danger."
Victoria's eyes widened slightly, while Reylan narrowed his—clearly startled. But he wasn't the type to trust people easily.
"That's a big claim. Explain."
I felt my chest tighten as my head grew hotter... But the fact that they were still young made it easier to speak.
"On the night of the Blue Moon, a secret organization will attack this place—not just for you two, but also... to wipe out a certain team."
This time, their faces didn't just show confusion but genuine tension.
Victoria took a step closer, frowning, and asked sharply:
"A secret organization?? How do you know about this?"
"Because I've already seen their movements."
...
A heavy silence fell over the room. Both of them were deep in thought.
Speaking just a little gave me enough confidence to continue without feeling like I was being judged. I spoke with certainty:
"And the proof? I saw a mid-tier Sorcerer-class monster in the forest near the waterfall."
The silence made my ears ring as I waited for their response.
Reylan froze in place, placing a hand over his mouth. Victoria rested her hand on her chin, staring at nothing as she tried to process the situation.
Finally, Reylan murmured under his breath:
"...This is difficult."
The hesitation in his voice and the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes confirmed one thing.
They believed me.