I woke slowly, the memory of the dream still clinging to my mind.
It hadn't felt like imagination.
It had felt… real.
Too real.
The battlefield.
The demon.
The endless white space.
And that strange final feeling… as if something inside me had settled.
I sat up, running a hand through my hair.
Pitch black strands slipped between my fingers.
Still the same.
Still unnatural.
"…So it wasn't temporary," I muttered.
As I stood from the bed, something felt… different.
Subtle.
Yet noticeable.
My perspective seemed slightly higher.
The room looked just a bit lower than usual.
At first, I thought I was imagining things.
But the feeling refused to go away.
I walked toward the cupboard and pulled out an old measuring tape.
"…No way."
I stood straight against the wall and measured carefully.
Once.
Then again.
5'11
I stared at the number silently.
"I was 5'10".
One inch.
A small difference.
Yet the change in perspective had immediately made me notice.
Growing taller overnight wasn't exactly normal.
"…Of course it isn't normal," I sighed.
I turned toward the mirror.
The difference wasn't limited to height.
My physique…
It looked sharper.
More refined.
I had always kept myself in good shape.
Training regularly had made sure of that.
But now…
My muscles looked more defined.
Balanced.
As if my body had been subtly perfected.
Even my posture looked more stable.
My eyes narrowed as I leaned closer to the mirror.
There was something else.
The scar near the right side of my jaw.
Near the earlobe.
Gone.
Completely gone.
That scar had been there for years.
Yet now…
Nothing.
Smooth skin.
No mark.
No trace.
"…What is happening to me?"
The memory of the demon dissolving into my body flashed in my mind.
The dream.
The second fusion.
The strange pressure inside my chest that had slightly eased.
Another mystery.
Another question.
No answers.
Only changes.
I exhaled slowly.
"Great… another problem."
Knock knock.
"Kray!" Clara's voice came from outside.
"Breakfast is ready!"
"I'm coming," I replied.
There was a brief pause before she spoke again.
"…Hey."
Her tone had changed.
"You're not… in trouble, right?"
I walked toward the door and opened it.
Clara looked at me carefully.
Her eyes moved from my hair to my eyes, clearly still not used to the change.
"I know you said you'll explain later," she said slowly, "but if something serious is happening… you should tell me too."
She hesitated before continuing.
"You don't have to hide everything…"
"…like I did."
Her words made something tighten in my chest.
A memory surfaced.
One I wished had never happened.
It was during our high school days.
Clara studied in the same school as me, two years below.
Everything had been normal.
Routine.
Peaceful.
Until I started noticing small changes.
She became quieter.
Distracted.
Careful.
Too careful.
She checked her surroundings more often.
Avoided staying out late.
She looked uneasy whenever she thought no one was paying attention.
Something was wrong.
And she was hiding it.
At first, I tried ignoring it.
Thinking she would tell me when she was ready.
But days passed.
Then more days.
Nothing changed.
So I confronted her.
At first, she avoided the question.
Said she was just stressed.
Said exams were approaching.
Said everything was fine.
But I didn't stop asking.
Eventually…
She gave in.
Her voice was hesitant as she told me what had happened.
She and her friend had recently gone to a concert.
Just a normal outing.
A chance to relax.
To enjoy music.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing dangerous.
Or so they thought.
After the concert ended, the crowd slowly began to disperse.
People were leaving in groups.
Talking.
Laughing.
Everything seemed normal.
Then they noticed something strange near the parking area.
A man.
Dragging an unconscious girl toward a van.
At first, they thought they misunderstood.
Maybe the girl was sick.
Maybe someone was helping her.
But something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The girl wasn't moving at all.
And the man kept looking around nervously.
So Clara and her friend shouted.
They created a scene.
Loud enough for people nearby to hear.
The man panicked.
He quickly pushed the girl inside the van.
Before driving away, he looked directly at them.
Angry.
Threatening.
As if memorizing their faces.
He shouted something before escaping.
A warning.
A promise.
He said he would remember them.
Since that day…
Clara and her friend had been scared.
Afraid to go outside alone.
Afraid someone might be watching them.
Afraid that the man might come back.
They didn't tell Mom or Dad.
They didn't go to the police.
They were frightened.
Confused.
They didn't know what to do.
Her friend's name was Sarah.
Both of them had been shaken deeply.
As she told me everything, I could see the fear in her eyes.
The uncertainty.
The worry she had been carrying alone.
I placed my hand gently on her head.
"As long as I'm here… nothing will happen to you."
I meant every word.
"I will protect you."
"No matter what happens."
Her fingers tightened slightly around her sleeve, as if holding onto those words.
As if believing them.
As if she needed to believe them.
That moment…
That promise…
Was the beginning of everything.
The reason I started training seriously.
The reason I pushed myself harder than before.
Because strength meant nothing if I couldn't protect the people important to me.
Because fear should never be something she had to carry alone.
- - - - - - - - -
"Kray?"
Clara's voice pulled me back to the present.
"You're thinking too much again."
I blinked, realizing I had been silent for several seconds.
"…Just remembering something," I replied calmly.
She studied my face carefully, as if trying to read my thoughts.
"…You always do that," she said quietly.
"Carry things alone."
I didn't respond.
Some habits were hard to change.
We walked downstairs together.
Everything looked normal.
Mom was preparing breakfast.
Dad was already seated at the table.
Rex lazily wagged his tail when he saw me.
A peaceful morning.
Yet something inside me felt unsettled.
Too many changes.
Too many unanswered questions.
As we sat down, Clara glanced at me again before speaking casually,
"…Still think the black hair suits you more."
I shook my head slightly.
"You're not helping."
She smiled faintly.
For a moment, everything felt normal again.
But deep inside…
I could still remember that day clearly.
The fear in her voice.
The promise I made.
A promise I intended to keep.
No matter what.
Even if I had to change.
Even if I had to become something unknown.
Because back then…
I had no idea how soon that promise would be tested.
And I had no idea…
how much that day would change everything.