One day, someone sat beside me, their voice heavy with sorrow. "I felt heartbroken when I realized the truth… In this harsh reality, only people with good qualities matter."
I turned to him, my gaze sharp. "You're no different from a pathetic excuse of self-pity."
He looked back at me, eyes filled with disbelief. "Now you too?"
I scoffed. "If you really believe that only quality matters, then why are you still wasting your time doing absolutely nothing?"
A long silence stretched between us before he finally muttered, "I don't know what to do."
I let out a dry chuckle. "What to do? Hah… If realizing that good qualities matter makes you sink into this emo state, then you don't even understand 2% of reality. Why would anyone hire you, give you a chance, when you bring nothing to the table? You're no different from a disabled person. But you know what the difference is?" I leaned in, my voice cold. "A disabled person still tries their best. You, on the other hand, choose to waste your time drowning in distractions."
Suddenly, PeaceXan jolted awake, his breath uneven. The echoes of his past life's memories still lingered in his mind, vivid and relentless. Slowly, he turned his gaze toward the mirror, his reflection staring back at him—tired, yet contemplative.
"What a pathetic guy," he muttered to himself. "Someone who couldn't even dare to face reality."
But then, his expression softened. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Reality, huh… Everyone has something that makes them special. And if you can't find it, then you create it."
He exhaled deeply and turned toward the window. The moment his eyes met the view outside, his body stiffened. A strange sensation crawled up his spine—a presence, dark and overwhelming.
His pupils dilated as he whispered, "Dark Reflecters… I see. So, it's really going to happen."
He clenched his fist, a sharp gleam in his eyes. "Let's see just how far this will go."
Or… could this be my chance?
PeaceXan clenched his eyes shut, his thoughts swirling like a raging storm. Without another word, he turned and left his room.
Meanwhile, Yoru was deep in training, pushing himself to activate his powers. He gritted his teeth, frustration tightening his chest as nothing seemed to work.
Petra watched him struggle and then sighed. "If you want to activate your ability, I'll give you a quick tip," she said, stepping closer. "Just hold your breath for a second… and then release it while channeling your inner Reflective energy."
Yoru nodded and did as she instructed. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and let his mind sink into a meditative state.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then—
His eyes snapped open, and he gasped in horror. He was falling—plummeting through a dark, endless sky. The weightlessness twisted his stomach, and his screams echoed into the void.
And then—
A shadow.
A figure stood below him, waiting. Just as Yoru was about to crash into the ground, the person leaped toward him. Panic surged through his veins. He tried to turn, to brace himself—
But the moment their eyes met, the world twisted.
Instead of falling down, he was suddenly falling up—racing toward the sky, his body weightless, as if gravity itself had reversed.
Then, everything snapped back.
Yoru jolted awake, his body trembling, breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat clung to his skin.
"Calm down," Petra said gently, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
But just as he steadied himself, their attention was drawn to the sky above. Thick black clouds churned overhead, swallowing the light. A heavy, unnatural pressure settled in the air.
"This isn't good," Petra murmured.
Without warning, she grabbed Yoru's hand and pulled him forward. "We need to get to the Stellar Priest, now."
They ran, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. But before they could get far—
A figure appeared before them, emerging from nowhere.
Yoru skidded to a stop, eyes widening in alarm.
Then, the stranger spoke, his voice smooth yet laced with something unreadable.
"Petra," he said, tilting his head slightly. "It's been a long time."
Petra froze, her breath hitching. A flicker of disbelief crossed her face as she whispered under her breath, How… How is this possible?
Yoru, still catching his breath, turned to her in confusion.
"Who is this guy?" he asked.
But Petra didn't answer. She just stood there, staring at the man like she had seen a ghost.