I had completely blacked out.
When I opened my eyes, the space around me was pure white—empty, endless. In front of me stood a man who looked exactly like the older version of Sky. I had always imagined him like that—masculine, powerful. He didn't have that genuine, innocent gaze Sky had. Instead, he radiated a heavy, intimidating masculinity.
My eyes couldn't help drifting to the curve of his throat, the veins running down his hands, the broad, reliable shoulders. So that was what Sky might have looked like if he hadn't been kidnapped by those people…
I knew this place wasn't real. I knew it wasn't a dream either. And the man in front of me wasn't the Sky I knew. He looked at me with cold, indifferent eyes, as if I were his enemy.
"So you named him Sky," he said, his voice low. Then a grim smile curled on his lips. He stepped closer and held my face in his hands. They were ice-cold, just like his eyes—perfectly matching his deadly calm aura. His silver hair reminded me of the snow I had always wished to see back home.
He continued, "Don't fall for him. He's the devil in disguise."
"Who are you? Why should I trust you? Why do you say that?" I had thrown the questions at him without thinking.
"I'm the connection you built with Sky," he replied. "What exactly I am… I have no idea. It's up to you to define me."
"Why did you say Sky is a devil?"
"I felt it. Something about him was… off."
"Then why do you look like him?"
He smiled and leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. "Because you decided what I should look like."
He stepped back, lifted my chin with long, pale fingers, and laughed—a deep, masculine sound. "Probably because that was your type of man."
I had blushed and stepped away from him.
He smirked. "Well, time was up, sweetheart. I'd see you later."
I woke up to something warm falling on my cheeks. For a moment I thought it was rain—until I realized it was Sky, crying. Such a pure creature… how could he be the devil?
He was terrified. The moment my eyes opened, he clung to me with all the strength he had.
"I thought you were dead," he breathed, voice trembling, switching between sobbing, trying to speak, and gasping for air. His eyes were red and swollen. I couldn't understand his words clearly, but I could feel everything—his fear, his panic, the way my death had shattered him.
Later I learned that when I had blacked out, the connection between us had vanished. My breathing stopped. My heart had stopped too.
I had died.
I held his hands, wiped his tears, and pulled him into a gentle embrace. I whispered,
"I'm alive. Touch me. I'm warm. Listen to my voice… can't you feel my heartbeat?"
We stayed like that for half an hour. Sky clung to me like a frightened child terrified of losing his parents. I stayed silent and let him feel my breath and heartbeat until he calmed down enough to loosen his hold.
Then I asked softly, "If I died… weren't you supposed to die with me?"
Sky looked confused. "I don't know. That's what should have happened. But when the connection was cut, I didn't die… and then it came back again. I didn't know what to do. What happened? Do you feel any pain? I can sense through our link that you're fine, but…"
"I'm fine," I assured him with a small smile. "Don't worry."
Then I added, "I'm hungry. Bring me food, please."
He lowered his head, defeated. "Why are you always hungry…?" He sighed. "Fine. I'll bring you something."
After I ate, Sky fell into silence. But through our connection I could feel everything—fear, exhaustion, and a strange kind of grief. For some reason he didn't ask the questions I expected. Maybe he already knew I have no answers.
I couldn't trust the man from my dream. Yes, the grown version of Sky was breathtaking, but meeting him had stopped my breath and my heartbeat—literally. And if I truly had control over how that connection between me and Sky is manifested, I would have given it a look I preferred: an olive-skinned man, black eyes, black hair. Ridiculous maybe, but at least I know my own taste.
Besides, I felt it—the pain before I blacked out. Something had pulled me toward a place I didn't belong. If I had to guess, it was either the underworld where the Hollows lived, or Arma Land where the Upper Class resided. If he truly was a Hollow, then it would save me the time of having to search for them. The Upper Class couldn't be trusted, and I couldn't rely solely on Grita's story—I needed to hear their side of the truth as well.
I turned to Sky. "Sky, what should we do?"
"Master… what do you mean?"
"We can't stay in the forest forever. And stop calling me that."
"I… I don't know what to do."
"Alright," I said. "Then let's go on a discovery trip. I'm not from Sylyncia, and you've been imprisoned for so long. We need to go see the world."
Sky's eyes lit up. He looked like a rookie boy going on his first trip with his girlfriend. It was innocent and sweet—and strangely exciting. This felt like the perfect adventure. I never saw Sky as a man, more like a little brother… even though I knew he was much older. But the way he acted and the transparency of his emotions made it impossible for me to see him any other way.
"Then we should get a good night's sleep," I said. "Tomorrow, we're going to the city."
"Vita," he whispered—my name spoken by him for the first time. He looked shy. "Thank you. Your first command was to call you by your name. Your second was… to travel and see the world with you. My previous owners never asked me anything like that."
"You're wrong," I laughed, nearly choking on how hard I laughed. "My second and third commands were for you to bring me food! Hahaha!"
Sky began laughing too. His face lit up beautifully. Above us, the sky was pitch black and the stars shimmered as if whispering, Tomorrow is a new chapter for both of you. Be ready for what's coming.