The branches whipped against his face, his feet slipping on the dead leaves, but he didn't stop—he even lost his shoes.
— Idiot… idiot… why did I provoke him…? he gasped between breaths.
Ren's heart was beating too fast. His chest burned; with this fragile body, it was hard to breathe.
— Don't look back… don't look back…
But at the last moment, he glanced behind him.
The man was there.
Always at the same distance.
Calm.
He watched the direction in which Ren had disappeared, his eyes narrowed.
He could have caught him in seconds.
But he didn't.
— Interesting… he murmured.
This man didn't seem to be just anyone.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Muscular. Dark blue hair and beautiful gray eyes, almost as if he were blind—but not at all.
A faint smile stretched across his lips.
It had been a long time since someone had spoken to him like that.
And even longer since someone had looked at him without fear… or almost without fear.
He turned on his heel.
— I'll let you run for today.
His voice was calm.
— But the forest is mine.
And sooner or later…
He would return.
The man walked slowly between the trees.
He wasn't angry.
He was just thinking.
— He's strange… that boy.
Ren was afraid. It showed. But he still spoke. He still provoked him.
That wasn't normal.
In this forest, when people saw him… they lowered their heads. They left.
Ren, however, had answered back.
The man lifted his eyes to the sky.
The sun was slowly setting.
— You'll come back… I'm sure of it.
The wind blew through his beautiful hair.
He didn't know why, but he was certain.
On his side, Ren didn't stop running until he saw the silhouette of the villa.
Then he stopped for a moment and placed his hands on his knees, breathing hard.
— What was that guy…?
His heart was still racing.
Ren clenched his fists.
— I'm never going back there.
Then Ren tried to straighten up.
Bad idea.
His head suddenly spun. His vision became blurry.
— Damn…
His legs were shaking too much. He wasn't used to running like that.
This body was weak. Too weak.
He took a step… then stumbled.
He fell to his knees in the grass.
His chest hurt. Every breath burned.
— Pathetic… he muttered.
He wasn't even capable of running away.
He placed a hand over his heart, trying to calm the pounding.
But the more he tried, the faster it went.
— Calm down… calm down… everything will be fine…
His vision blurred even more.
And suddenly—
A shadow appeared before him.
Ren slowly lifted his head.
The man was there.
Calm.
Standing in front of him.
He didn't even look like he had run.
Ren gritted his teeth.
— You… followed me…
The man looked at him, not smiling this time.
— Just an intuition.
Ren tried to stand.
His body didn't respond.
And this time…
He lost consciousness.
The moment everything turned black…
A voice echoed.
> [ALERT] Body in danger. Synchronization unstable.
Then—
Ren opened his eyes with a start.
But he was no longer in the forest.
He was floating in a white space. Empty. Silent.
— …Where am I now?
Lilou appeared in front of him. Poof.
— Elijah lost consciousness. The body received too much stress.
Ren looked around.
— And my body?
— It's still there. With the stranger.
Ren frowned.
— So I'm… dead?
— No. We're just in your consciousness.
A small screen appeared in front of him.
> Points recovered: +10
Body condition: Weak
Risk: Moderate
Ren sighed.
— Ten points for passing out? Seriously?
Lilou crossed her arms.
— Yes. It's still a form of suffering.
Ren stayed silent for a few seconds.
— Is he going to kill me?
Lilou shook her head.
— No, I don't think so.
Ren looked up.
— How can you be sure?
Lilou answered softly:
— Because he doesn't want you to die.
— Why…? Do you know him? Or did Elijah know him?
Lilou looked straight into his eyes.
— I can't tell you. You have to find out yourself. Hehe.
And at the same time—
In the forest, Elijah's unconscious body was still being held by that mysterious man.
In the white space, Ren looked at his hands.
They were small.
— How old am I now? he asked sharply.
Lilou blinked.
— You don't know?
Ren answered in a rough voice:
— No.
A screen appeared before him.
> Name: Ren Aster
Age: 14
Physical condition: Fragile
Growth: Incomplete
Ren remained silent.
— Fourteen …
He clenched his teeth.
— In my old world… I was fifteen.
His voice trembled slightly.
— I lost everything at such a young age.
Lilou looked at him.
— You didn't lose. It wasn't your fault.
Ren: "Shut up! I don't want your pity."
Then Ren let out a small, joyless laugh.
— Starting over at fourteen… in a weak body.
He ran a hand through his hair.
— So I'm starting over at fourteen.
He couldn't help but repeat it.
Lilou tilted her head.
— Yes, yes. Ren can be happy now.
Ren: "Lilou, you don't get to decide when or where I can be happy. You're just a system without a heart, remember that."
Lilou: "Ren, you're still angry about the joke…"
Ren: "Sigh No, forget it."
Ren looked at the empty void around him.
—fourteen… and already tired.
He raised his eyes to Lilou.
— Send me back to my body.
And in the forest, his fingers moved slightly.