“It must’ve rained yesterday,” I[1] said.

“Yes, it’s been pouring since dawn,” Elias said.

“I was wondering why the sky was unusually clear today. But this is really something… I mean, the Laves Desert is famous for not getting any rain,” I said.

“I know. I heard the last time it rained… was about five hundred years ago. It's been a long time, even by our standards,” Elias remarked.

“

Ah!

Have you heard of it, Mr. Elias? When it last rained in the Laves Desert…” I trailed off.

“...”

“It was also the day when the desert elves’ god, Sahaga, and Evil God Gela, met and parted ways. The tears shed by Gela turned into rain, and it fell upon the Laves Desert…” I added.

“...”

“Sahaga was a pretty romantic god. There are many reasons why Sahaga never appeared on the continent again, but according to a few scholars… it’s not because he had turned his back on his sons and daughters. It’s more like he can’t show himself; it's not that he doesn’t want to show himself.

"He made some sort of deal, and the deal must have stated that he could no longer get involved with the continent,” I explained.

“That’s…”

“It’s all for the sake of meeting Gela again. She’s supposedly asleep somewhere around here. Sahaga's request was the reason Gela is still alive, even though she was supposed to have been executed a long time ago.

"Sahaga also received permission to visit the continent from time to time to meet Gela, who is asleep in the desert somewhere. The legend is that the two are allowed to meet occasionally, and it would rain each time they parted ways,” I added.

“It’s kind of different from what I know. Sahaga loves his children more than anyone else, and the reason he hasn’t shown himself to the desert elves is that…” Elias trailed off.

“One can make multiple interpretations in theology. It’s a famous story. Who would dare question Sahaga’s love for the desert elves? Considering the innate talents of the desert Elves, you can really tell how much sacrifice he made when creating his people…” I said.

“He cherishes the desert elves more than anyone,” Elias added.

“But never showed himself, and not once did he let them hear his voice,” I said.

“...”

“If my interpretation is correct, I think I can understand Sahaga's feelings. He had abandoned everything for the person he loved. In return, he can meet her for a few minutes occasionally, but that’s how much Sahaga loved Gela.

"His love was so deep that he could abandon everything he had for her. He had abandoned his children and the land he loved…” I explained.

“You must have a lot of interest in theology,” he pointed out.

“Didn’t I tell you? There was a god I used to serve,” I said.

“Could you tell me which god you used to serve?” Elias asked.

“...”

“...”

“Elune,” I replied.

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

“What? Really?” Elias asked, sounding astonished.

“Is it illegal for humans to serve Elune? I used to be a follower of Elune. You probably think that I’m lying, but I heard Elune's voice as soon as I was summoned here.” I revealed. ℟Âɴ𝐎ΒΕṨ

“Elune’s voice…” Elias muttered.

“After getting out of the tutorial dungeon, I rejected many offers… and moved to a neutral city to live as Elune’s follower. It’s rare in neutral cities, but Elune’s temple does exist, and of course, the followers there are all elves,” I said.

“I have an idea… as to what happened. Were you…” Elias trailed off.

“Discriminated?” I said, finishing his sentence.

“...”

“Humans aren’t the only ones who reject things that are different from them. It’s the same for the other races. I think some of the high priests were unhappy with the fact that I, a human, became a follower of Elune.

"I can’t explain the entire situation to you… but I basically made the decision to leave. And I lived as a mage after that,” I explained.

“Could you tell me which temple it is and who they are? If what you’re saying is true, then this… this… I don’t know how I can comfort you. It’s just ridiculous. The least they could have done was to avoid discriminating against anyone inside Elune’s temple.

"I-I can’t believe… that happened…” Elias asked.

“Forget it. It’s all in the past. Even if you punish them now… nothing will change. It’ll just make me look bad. They weren’t bad people. It’s just that they can't accept those who are different from them. And aren't humans the same, too?” I told him.

“I never thought about that,” Elias mumbled.

“It's natural for you to overlook it given your position—

Ah!

It’s raining. How interesting. Does it rain this often here?” I asked.

“Indeed. Should we take a break?” Elias suggested.

“For what? This is nice. It’s like a festival. There are people dancing in the rain, the lizardmen are cheering, and even the monsters are out enjoying the rain.

"Rain shouldn’t be important to them, but they seem to be enjoying themselves beneath it,” I told him.

“Yes, they really seem to be enjoying themselves. It’s not like this rain can cool off the heat in Laves, and this place has already been blessed, so it does not matter even if it doesn't rain,” he said.

“That’s great,” I said.

“M-Miss Lee Ki-Yeon?” Elias stuttered.

“What? You don’t want to stand next to me even for a second?” I questioned.

“You’re… too close,” Elias answered.

“We only have one umbrella. And… didn't you come here to apologize to me? In that case, you should grant me one wish. What? Should I just go back?” I asked.

“...”

“...”

“By the way, where are we headed?” Elias asked.

“I’m not sure. We’re just walking aimlessly since we don’t really need a destination. But, Mr. Elias,” I paused.

“Yes, Miss Lee Ki-Yeon?” he answered.

“Why did you come back? I told you that I was fine…” I asked.

“I can’t really tell you, but…” Elias paused.

“What kind of answer is that?” I asked.

“A dream…” Elias trailed off.

“What?”

“I had a dream. It was a dream about you, Miss Ki-Yeon,” Elias replied.

“Interesting. We were strangely intertwined the first time we met, and you saw me in your dream, and that’s why you decided to find me the second time around? You know that's kind of strange, right? So what kind of dream was it?” I asked.

“It’s hard to say,” Elias answered.

“What the? Are you playing with me?” I complained.

“No, it’s nothing like that. I-It’s just… I was worried about you… and I hope you realize that I don't mean anything bad by it,” Elias clarified.

“Did you have a dream about my death?” I asked.

“...”

“...”

“How—”

“Did I know? I wonder how? Would you believe me if I told you that I had a strange dream as well?” I asked.

“What?”

“I was inside this pitch-black space in my dreams. It was really dark. I couldn’t see or feel anything. It was like I was dropped into an empty space. I couldn’t escape from the darkness. I yelled as loudly as I could, but no one could hear me,” I told him.

“...”

“I screamed for help nonstop, but my voice eventually disappeared, and I sank deeper and deeper into the waters. I was crying. I wanted someone to notice me and come for me. Many people popped into my head, but do you know whose voice I heard?” I asked.

“...”

“It was your voice, Mr. Elias. It was definitely your voice,” I answered.

“Really?”

“It was a really dark place… but I saw light from where your voice was coming from,” I told him.

“So… what happened?” Elias asked.

“The dream ended there, with me looking anxiously at the light. It felt so good to have that glimmer of hope in the darkness. I didn’t see what happened in the end, but I was still happy because I saw that light.

"That’s the reason I’m forgiving you, Mr. Elias.

Ah!

I haven't forgiven you

completely,

” I told him.

“...”

“Now it’s your turn, Mr. Elias. What kind of dream did you have?” I asked.

“I…” Elias paused.

“...”

“I had a similar dream…"

“That’s no fun. Are you really going to be like this?” I complained.

“I can’t tell you all the details, but I’m sure it’s similar to your dream. I’m sure of it. In the dream… I was searching for you, Miss Ki-Yeon. I was in a ruined city. Eventually, I found you, but just like you, I didn’t see the end of the dream,” Elias answered.

“...”

“...”

“That’s… kind of surprising,” I commented.

“...”

“It’s not even that surprising, especially on a continent where all sorts of things happen, but I’m wondering… whether it was some kind of… precognitive dream or not,” I mumbled.

“Excuse me?”

“Don’t… think that I’m weird for saying this, okay?” I warned him.

“I won’t think of you that way, Miss Ki-Yeon,” he said.

“Do you… believe in destiny?” I asked.

“...”

“...”

“Destiny?” Elias repeated.

“Destiny…” I said.

“In my hometown, some people say that people are connected by an invisible red thread,” I said.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“It means that people are connected by a red thread the moment they’re born. This red thread will never break and can even turn mortal enemies into lovers. It’s a ridiculous superstition, but I believe it.

"No, I started believing in it. You can’t help but believe it,” I answered.

“What?”

“Am I the only one who thinks that way? Do you… not feel anything, Mr. Elias?” I asked.

I saw Elias looking at me quietly with anxious eyes.

“Did you… really not feel anything?” I asked.

A woman in a blue dress appeared in his eyes.

“You… don’t feel it?” I asked again.

That was probably when it stopped raining…

The clouds cleared, and like magic, sunlight shone through the holes in the clouds, illuminating the world underneath.

Elias remained quiet. He just stood there silently without confirming or denying my ridiculous comment about us being destined to be together despite having lived completely different lives.

“It stopped raining,” I said.

“...”

“I really like looking at the blue sky after it rains,” I told him.

“...”

“Honestly, I don’t… really like the rain. It’s a blessing to these people… but it makes me sad. That must be why I like the clear sky after it rains,” I continued.

“Miss Ki-Yeon,” Elias said.

“It’s like it’s telling us that something good will always happen after something sad,” I added.

“...”

“I hope… that a day like that will come into my life someday,” I said.

“...”

“It would be really nice… if that kind of day comes…” I repeated.

I shed a few tears.

The ruler of Everia said nothing and simply hugged me, who was crying.

“Mr. Elias…” I mumbled.

“...”

‘It only took six hours, you unfaithful bastard.’

1. Lee Ki-Yeon's Point of View ☜