Zaraf looked at Hussen and Clay.

  They were talking casually to each other.

  “They didn’t notice the change…?”

  He exhaled slowly.

  His shoulders loosened — but only slightly.

  They arrived at an old, quiet house.

  “This is where we’re staying for now.”

  Hussen looked at it with clear disappointment.

  Clay tilted his head.

  “It gives off a horror vibe, doesn’t it? But anyway, Sir Zaraf… where are the MC and the other main characters of this world?”

  Hussen tried to stop him with a look —

  —but it was too late.

  Zaraf paused.

  He looked up at the sky.

  Silence.

  “They’re in the main arc. So let’s not bother them for now.”

  Hussen closed his eyes.

  Disappointed.

  Zaraf stepped forward.

  “I will start the training—”

  “Do you really think you can teach them?”

  Silence.

  The air felt heavier.

  Zaraf froze.

  He looked around.

  No one.

  Only Hussen and Clay.

  They looked confused — but calm.

  They hadn’t heard anything.

  Zaraf’s breathing grew uneven.

  Cold crept along his spine.

  “So… when will our training start?” Clay asked casually.

  The normal tone made it worse.

  Zaraf swallowed.

  “Tomorrow. I’ll start tomorrow. I don’t feel well yet.”

  Silence.

  “Okay then. Rest for today, Sir Zaraf,” Clay said.

  Hussen stared at him for a moment.

  Then walked inside.

  Clay followed.

  The door shut.

  Click.

  Silence.

  Zaraf stood outside.

  Alone.

  Completely alone.

  Bell stepped out slowly.

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “What is happening with you?”

  Zaraf didn’t answer.

  Because he didn’t know.

  Bell stepped closer.

  “You… are you alright? Just tell me.”

  He turned away.

  “I’m just tired… let me be.”

  His voice sounded distant.

  He walked inside.

  That night —

  He didn’t sleep.

  Every time he closed his eyes —

  He felt something watching.

  The next morning —

  Zaraf stepped outside with tired eyes.

  Clay and Hussen were standing with another girl.

  They were speaking quietly.

  Clay waved.

  “We’ve been waiting for you!”

  Zaraf forced a small nod.

  The girl stepped forward.

  “Hello, Creator. I am also a reincarnation. Captain Shin sent me to become your student. My name is—”

  “Wait.”

  The word came out sharper than he intended.

  Silence.

  He could hear his pulse in his ears.

  (Why did they send another one? I… can’t…)

  “What is it? Are you still feeling sick?” Clay asked.

  Hussen watched quietly.

  The girl hesitated.

  “Do you… not want me as your student?”

  Her voice softened.

  “If you don’t want me… I can leave…”

  Silence.

  Zaraf’s fingers trembled.

  The air felt tight again.

  Too tight.

  Clay stepped forward.

  “It’s not like that. He doesn’t mean that.”

  He looked at Zaraf.

  “Right?”

  Silence.

  Longer this time.

  Zaraf finally spoke.

  “I’m not well today. I’ll teach all of you tomorrow.”

  Again.

  Clay sighed lightly.

  “Again? Well… I guess we can’t train if you’re sick.”

  The girl exhaled quietly.

  “Thank you… I thought I was a burden.”

  The word lingered.

  Burden.

  Zaraf’s chest tightened.

  He turned and walked away.

  Behind him, Hussen’s voice came quietly.

  “He thinks we’re burdens. I guess legends aren’t always true.”

  (As I thought… he’s just a newbie who can’t handle pressure.)

  Footsteps faded.

  Silence returned.

  Zaraf stood still.

  The wind didn’t move.

  But something inside him did.

  After that, Zaraf didn’t come out for two days.

  He stayed in his room.

  Without leaving.

  Sitting on the edge of his bed.

  Thinking.

  Or struggling with something.

  Outside, the students waited.

  Day one.

  Day two.

  Bell’s patience finally ended.

  She walked in.

  Zaraf looked at her.

  His eyes were lifeless.

  “H… hello, Bell.”

  Then he lowered his gaze again.

  Bell’s irritation grew.

  “Tell me… what happened? You’ve changed since that night.”

  For a brief second —

  There was a flicker in his eyes.

  He looked at her again.

  Now her eyes held more pain than anger.

  “If you don’t want to teach them… I can ask Shin not to force you.”

  Silence.

  Zaraf said nothing.

  Bell stared at him for a moment.

  Then suddenly grabbed his hand.

  “Just tell me. I’ll try to help you… just tell me!”

  Zaraf slowly turned his head.

  Toward the mirror.

  He took a breath.

  Deep.

  Heavy.

  Silence.

  “I am having a dream.”

  Bell straightened.

  He continued.

  “A dream where my… body is not mine.”

  Bell didn’t understand —

  —but she didn’t interrupt.

  “He… is trying to take over. I don’t want—”

  He stopped.

  Bell tightened her grip.

  “On that day… in the mirror… I saw—”

  Bell’s eyes sharpened.

  “I saw myself… but not me. Not the one you know. Not the one I am.”

  Before he could finish —

  A voice.

  Low.

  Cold.

  The light around them suddenly darkened for a second.

  “Do you think they actually care?”

  Zaraf froze.

  He looked at Bell.

  Then fell silent.

  Bell was about to speak —

  But suddenly —

  Zaraf looked up.

  A second later —

  He looked straight at her.

  The air shifted.

  Heavy.

  Still.

  Bell didn’t understand what happened —

  But she knew.

  Something had changed.

  Zaraf slowly stood up.

  He looked around.

  Moved his shoulders.

  Flexed his fingers slightly.

  Like someone testing a body.

  “Are you alright, Zaraf? What happened?”

  He looked at her.

  Then smiled.

  It was not a good smile.

  He stepped closer.

  “Aah… Bell, is it?”

  His tone was different.

  “He is no longer here.”

  Silence.

  Bell felt her heartbeat in her ears.

  “What are you saying?”

  He tilted his head.

  “Let him rest.”

  A pause.

  “I am the new one.”

  Another step closer.

  “And… don’t call me Zaraf.”

  His smile widened.

  “Call me Night.”

  A breath.

  “The Shadow.”

  The name felt wrong in the room.

  Bell stepped back instinctively.

  Her body was screaming at her to move.

  To run.

  “Who are you…? Where is Zaraf?”

  He looked at her seriously.

  “Why are you asking about that loser?”

  A soft chuckle.

  “He can’t even handle simple things.”

  Bell’s fingers trembled.

  His eyes darkened.

  “As I said… I am the real Zaraf you should have known.”

  Bell raised her hand defensively.

  “Tell me who you are and what you did to Zaraf!”

  Shadow inhaled slowly.

  “If you still don’t understand…”

  He glanced briefly at the mirror.

  “You can think of me as his second personality.”

  A pause.

  “The one who was real in the human world.”

  His expression hardened.

  “But he changed after coming here.”

  “Wearing a hero’s mask.”

  “He thinks he is something special.”

  Silence.

  “In reality…”

  He leaned closer.

  “He is just a failure from his world.”

  Close enough that she could feel his breath.

  Bell didn’t respond.

  Her heart was racing.

  Suddenly —

  Knock.

  Knock.

  It was Clay.

  And the girl.

  They had come to check on him after two days of absence.

  Bell turned quickly —

  About to warn them —

  But Shadow spoke calmly.

  “You don’t need him.”

  His eyes narrowed slightly.

  “I am what he should have been.”

  A faint smile.

  “Let me show you why.”

  And he walked toward the door.