The heroes set out on a long journey toward the Second Spear of Mikail.
Footsteps, campsites, morning mists, evening fires…
Everything blended together, time folding in on itself.
The eerie aura radiating from Aurelia caused monsters to change their paths—or flee entirely.
Because of that, the journey became unexpectedly peaceful.
Without realizing it, Shinju began to grow accustomed to that peace.
For someone who was always on edge—who scanned his surroundings the moment he woke up—this felt strange.
At first, every morning began with the same reflex:
Is there a threat?
Is that sound too close?
Is that shadow longer than it should be?
But over time…
That reflex dulled.
The nights grew even stranger.
Once, night had been a trial for Shinju.
Sleep was a luxury.
Closing his eyes was a risk.
Now…
While the fire crackled,
While Swen mixed something again,
While Koharu quietly talked about nothing in particular…
Shinju sometimes realized he had drifted off.
And stranger still—
He was slipping into a deep, restorative sleep.
Throughout this time, Shinju tried to use Yang energy every day.
Quietly.
Without telling anyone.
Sometimes at dawn.
Sometimes while everyone else slept.
He changed his intent.
Regulated his breathing.
Held his hands steady, without trembling.
But the result was always the same.
The Void responded.
Yang… did not.
Once, that would have filled him with anger.
Now… it only tired him.
And yet, something was strange.
He couldn't use Yang, yes.
But he didn't feel incomplete.
For Swen, this peaceful journey meant plenty of time to talk.
That evening, the campfire produced a bit too much smoke.
As always, Swen was mixing something she claimed would "definitely work."
Koharu stood with her hands on her hips, suspicious from the very beginning.
Koharu:
"I'm telling you—if this one explodes too—"
Swen:
"It won't."
The fire made a small poof sound.
Koharu:
"…It exploded."
Swen:
"No. That was a technical flavor expansion."
Aurelia leaned against a rock, arms crossed.
Aurelia:
"Cooking it with dragon fire would've been safer."
Swen:
"See? An innovation-friendly dragon. We should try that."
Koharu looked at Swen.
Koharu:
"Why are we still keeping this woman with us?"
Swen didn't take offense.
Swen:
"Because without me, this trip takes two days.
With me… three weeks, but it's fun."
Shinju had been silent the entire time.
He stared into the fire, but his mind wasn't there.
In the past, this much emptiness would have dragged his thoughts straight into darkness.
Now… he was just listening.
That still felt strange to him.
At last, Swen handed over the mixture.
Swen:
"Here. This time, it really worked."
Koharu looked at Shinju first.
Koharu:
"You eat it."
Shinju:
"Why me?"
Koharu:
"You're immortal."
Shinju sighed and took a bite.
Paused.
Took another.
Shinju:
"…This is good."
Swen froze.
Swen:
"You're serious?"
Shinju:
"Seriously… better than I expected."
Swen:
"One year… one whole year, but I did it."
Aurelia turned her head slightly.
Aurelia:
"You know, Shinju… do you know what Swen made this from?"
Shinju raised an eyebrow.
Shinju:
"What do you mean?"
Aurelia:
"The ingredient she used…
Normally isn't edible."
Koharu started grinning.
Shinju:
"…How inedible?"
Aurelia:
"The kind even monsters turn their noses up at."
A brief pause followed.
Shinju forgot to swallow.
Shinju:
"…You're joking."
Swen:
"Technically, no.
But once alchemy comes into play—"
Aurelia (cutting her off):
"—she turned something that's basically shit
into something edible."
One second of silence.
Shinju:
"…What?"
He paused.
Then something clicked.
His shoulders began to shake.
Shinju:
"Wait… wait—
So I just—"
He couldn't finish the sentence.
He leaned back, clutching his stomach.
Shinju:
"I ate shit!"
Koharu burst out laughing.
Koharu:
"Bon appétit."
Swen lifted her chin proudly.
Swen:
"Don't worry. Alchemy completely changed its molecular structure.
It's nothing like what it used to be."
Then, with pride:
Swen:
"This is the pinnacle of alchemy.
Turning the worst possible ingredient
into something that makes people say, 'Just one more bite.'"
Shinju shook his head.
Shinju:
"This… this is ridiculous…"
And suddenly, he burst out laughing.
He was still laughing as he wiped tears from his eyes.
Shinju:
"I think… I could have another plate.
This shit is actually delicious."
For a moment, silence fell around the fire.
Then laughter exploded.
Koharu doubled over, clutching her knees.
Swen completely lost it.
Even Aurelia's lips twitched.
Aurelia:
"I'm not used to humans laughing this much," she said.
"They usually scream."
That only made Koharu laugh harder.
Shinju was laughing too—but he noticed something.
This time, there was nothing burning in his chest.
No screaming voice in his head.
Just… lightness.
Fire.
Voices.
People beside him.
The scene felt unfamiliar.
But the strange thing was—
He didn't want to run away.
That night, as Shinju fell asleep, he thought:
So this is what laughing feels like.
So this is how it is… to laugh with others.
And for the first time in his life,
as he drifted into sleep,
he was curious about tomorrow.