I remember his gentle voice.

 

“Selvia, today is such a nice day… The sunlight is warm, and the weather is clear with just the right amount of clouds.”

 

His black hair fluttered in the wind. There was not a single shadow on his face, and he seemed to be filled with some kind of positive conviction. He was different from anyone else in the village.

 

Among the villagers who harbored a piece of darkness in their hearts, such as envy, jealousy, and anger, he alone shone brightly. He stood alone against the evil that had been passed down through generations. He was a light in the shadows.

 

In other words, he was a boy who did not fit in with the village.

 

He would scold the reckless boys, resolve misunderstandings when quarrels arose between neighbors, suggest wise solutions, not return insults with insults, and inspire others with love.

 

He would denounce the many evils loudly of the village, fight against injustice, uphold justice, and save people from the darkness in their hearts.

 

It was impossible to think of him as a child. How could a boy of about seven years old do all that? That was why he was met with both awe and fear.

 

He was the most radiant person in the village.

 

Also, he was Selvia’s childhood friend.

 

He was also a bit of a chatterbox.

 

“People need to get regular sunlight. And… it’s good to run around naturally when you’re a child. I think that’s the best way to… enjoy your childhood.”

 

“You always talk too much. Don’t pretend to know everything, you idiot!”

 

“Um… I’m sorry, Selvia. I’m boring you. Shall we play hide-and-seek?”

 

The way he spoke to her, looking at her gently, seemed so… mature. Unlike the other boys his age, who would get angry and shout at the slightest provocation.

 

In her shallow childhood, she had not learned any appropriate words to describe the atmosphere he exuded, except for ‘maturity’.

 

When she met his gaze, her heart would flutter and she would feel strange. The young Selvia would stammer and say,

 

“You should have said so sooner!”

 

“But don’t go too far. If you go beyond the forest like last time… I won’t talk to you for a week this time.”

 

“…I have other friends besides you!”

 

“Yes, if you break the rules, it’s a week. I don’t negotiate with terrorists who go beyond the forest.”

 

“……….”

 

Although he would indulge Selvia’s childish tantrums, he was also strict about things that should not be done. Thanks to him, Selvia was not eaten alive by a bear or a wolf.

 

Looking back, it was strange. He was clearly not much older than her, but at the time, he was more mature than anyone else in the village. As if he had lived several decades ahead of his time.

 

It was a village where it was common for people to loot necessities and furniture from the homes of children who had lost their parents, saying, “The belongings of the dead are public property.”

 

It was a terrible environment for the emotional education of children.

 

If he had not been there, Selvia would have had a twisted personality.

 

She would not have known how to cope with stress, how to overcome obstacles, how to make friends, or how to love herself.

 

That was why she had something to say to Envers, who was now… wandering.

 

Because she knew how much comfort someone’s words could bring when her heart was heavy.

 

Like a prophet sharing his warm teachings, like sharing fire with a shivering child, like giving a piece of bread to a starving girl.

 

He had filled her heart to overflowing, so she too would become a giver to others.

 

Selvia wanted to be a wonderful person.

 

—- —-

 

So what would she have done?

 

What words would she have tried to convey?

 

Selvia asked her childhood friend, whose features were dim in her mind.

 

Fragments of memories flashed by, and Selvia decided on the story she would tell.

 

—- —-

 

Envers groaned and opened his bleary eyes. When he opened his eyes, it was night. He looked around and saw a dark park bathed in blue moonlight.”…Here.”

 

“Academy Park, bench. Are you feeling better? You drunkard.”

 

Enbus thought for a moment with a hazy mind, and then he remembered how he got here. The wall he felt when he saw Cheonma, the frustration, the pain in his heart, and the alcohol he drank to escape it.

 

‘If you wish, I can show you a paradise without pain,’ the woman’s words that had tempted him.

 

Enbus covered his face with both hands and muttered gloomily. He was miserable being awake. It felt like all his efforts had been denied.

 

“Just, just leave me alone…”

 

“Oh, come on.”

 

Selvia opened her eyes wide.

 

For a moment, Selvia closed her eyes and tried to figure out Enbus’s mind. He had been receiving ‘pressure to succeed’ and ‘punishment for failure’ throughout his growing period.

 

He had been raised as an assassin for his family since he was young, competing endlessly. Even if he was a cheerful person by nature, there must have been a wedge somewhere in his heart.

 

He must not fail.

 

And then came his brother’s betrayal, the failure of the magic device, his mother’s expulsion, and the cold treatment at the mansion. This incident must have left another wedge.

 

If only I had been stronger⋯⋯.

 

Then.

 

Selvia cleared her throat.

 

“Enbus, do you hate failure?”

 

“…”

 

Enbus gasped as if he had been stabbed by a knife.

 

“You know. I heard you have a goal. The reason you came to the Academy.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Would you like to tell me?”

 

“…I will cultivate my strength and return to my family. There, I will fix everything I missed. I have to.”

 

Enbus replied gloomily. I see. Selvia nodded and said.

 

“You know, I also have a very important⋯⋯ goal. To find my family, my teacher, and my benefactor. To find my lost childhood friend and return what I received.”

 

“…”

 

“There are those who entered the Master of the Magic Tower before me, and that little girl, Baekseol… has already entered the fairy tale. I don’t know if I’m getting better even though I’m trying, and I ‘m worried if I can reach the fairy tale.’

 

However.

 

“When faced with such a wall… the reason why you became a drunkard and I can walk around normally is because of the difference in our perspectives.”

 

“…What are you talking about?”

 

“Don’t look at the wall, look at you. Enbus.”

 

Guko Transfer Mountain (Guko Transfer Mountain).

 

“We climbed the Tower of Trials and learned a lot. Especially you… You even learned strange techniques while playing with Luna?”

 

“…”

 

“You’ve gotten stronger, Enbus. You will get stronger. Don’t look at the wall you can’t overcome, look at what’s piled up under your feet. Then… do what you’ve been doing.”

 

“…Are you cheering me on?”

 

Selvia did not answer and lightly flicked the back of Enbus’s head. Enbus put his hand on the back of his head in confusion and got up from the bench.

 

People don’t change overnight. He was still reeling from failure, but his heart felt a little better after hearing Selvia’s comfort.

 

He felt like he had felt something similar somewhere.

 

It seemed like this was how he felt when he used to hang out with Roderus and he would secretly take care of him when he was nervous.

 

“…Thank you.”

 

“It’s okay. We’re friends. Don’t be so gloomy, and stop drinking. You look really pathetic.”

 

“…Can I call you noona?”

 

“Are you crazy?”

 

Selvia shuddered.

 

She gasped and added, looking at Enbus.

 

“Luna wants to see you. She’ll be at the Tower of Trials. Stop by on your way back.”

 

I guess she’ll shoot a fire arrow if she smells alcohol again. Selvia turned around after giving him a stern warning.

 

Enbus stood still for a moment and then headed to the Tower of Trials where Luna was waiting.

 

—- —-

 

Moonlight streamed through the window.

 

As the blue night fell and the silence reigned, there was a girl figure moving in the moonlight like a spotlight.

 

“…Luna.”Luna was dancing. Was it modeled after a bird, or a snake? She extended her hands and feet, changing her form from moment to moment.

 

Envers, who had been peering inside through the crack in the door, was captivated by her dance.

 

The curves and straight lines drawn by her body were beautiful in themselves. When you added the artistry in her movements, it was like a painting.

 

Could he approach her?

 

Could he step inside? He hesitated.

 

Then, his eyes met Luna’s. Envers, who had been peeping, froze. It felt like he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t have.

 

Luna’s eyes curved softly. Then, she spoke softly in a flat voice. Thanks to the stillness of the night, her soft voice could be heard very well.

 

“Voyeurism.”

 

“…No.”

 

“Come in.”

 

“…”

 

Envers entered, his face flushed. The night air was cool, but his heart was pounding strangely, making him feel hot.

 

As he approached, he noticed Luna’s smooth skin, moist with sweat. The fabric of her clothes was wet and clinging to her body, revealing the curves of her body in a blatant way.

 

There was nowhere to look.

 

“Eyes.”

 

“…What did you say?”

 

“You know. Eyes, feel.”

 

“…”

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

That’s right. It was Luna who had taught Envers the Eye of Insight. She must have noticed where Envers’ eyes were fixed that evening.

 

Once he realized it, he had even less to look at. Envers closed his eyes tightly, overcome with shame. He was not confident that he could control his boy instincts.

 

Heh.

 

He heard a small laugh. Envers’ eyelids twitched, but he didn’t open them. Did Luna laugh? Was it ridicule, or⋯⋯.

 

“You think too much. Open your eyes.”

 

“…It’s difficult.”

 

“I know. Open your eyes.”

 

“…”

 

Envers could not resist Luna’s words. He slowly opened his eyes and focused intently on Luna’s forehead.

 

Luna met Envers’ gaze for a moment with a strange smile, then pointed to her eyes with the tip of her index finger and then to herself.

 

It seemed to mean, “Look at me.”

 

She moved her body. It was a jumbled mess, something incomprehensible. She would suddenly sit down, do a handstand, or show an extreme shift in her center of gravity.

 

At first, he couldn’t understand it, but Envers was soon able to find the answer.

 

It was modeled after the movements of a celestial horse. It was a strange technique that moved outside the realm of human understanding, something that could not even be imagined.

 

“…Did you study it?”

 

“Yes. A little.”

 

“…While I’m wandering, you’re going far ahead.”

 

“No.”

 

She didn’t show him to think that way.

 

Luna stopped moving and stared at Envers. She was not good at speaking, so she often expressed herself with her body rather than words. And so far, it had worked.

 

He usually understood it well, so why was he wandering around?

 

She gasped lightly and opened her mouth.

 

“I, to you. I taught you the Eye of Insight. The Art of Destruction. The Celestial Horse is no different.”

 

“…”

 

“I, good teacher. You, good student.”

 

“…Are you saying you’ll teach me?”

 

Luna shook her head slightly. It meant that she was only half right. She tapped Envers’ chest with her fist. And she smiled as provocatively as she could.

 

“Let’s make a bet. Us.”

 

“…If it’s a bet.”

 

“You go. To another world. Go and learn.”

 

I will study the martial arts of the Celestial Horse here, and you will go to the world where the Celestial Horse lived and study their martial arts.

 

“And when you’re ready. Duel.”

 

Once you have learned and mastered enough, when the time is ripe. Let’s compete in martial arts. It’s a light bet. There’s nothing to bet on. There’s no grand goal or cause, no passion that you have to do it. Just.

 

“For fun.”

 

Like we enjoyed climbing the tower. Like we didn’t just leave the failure of the strategy as a failure.

 

So that we can cover up the pain of failure with the joy of play.

 

But still, it’s not fun if there’s nothing at stake in the bet⋯⋯.Luna put her index and middle fingers together and placed the tips on her lips. Then, she pressed her fingers firmly on Envers’ lips, making a sucking sound.

 

“If you win, I’ll do it myself.”

 

You seem interested in me.

 

“…”

 

“Will you do it?”

 

“…I will.”

 

“Good.”

 

Then I’ll see you later. Luna ended the conversation by patting Envers on the chest.

 

Envers felt as if his brain had been completely reformatted, and his mind was blank. The rest of the day passed by like a dream.

 

He walked back to the dormitory in a daze, brushed his teeth in a daze, and lay down on his bed in a daze.

 

And after about an hour, he couldn’t get out of his brain-dead state, and he wanted to curse himself for getting motivated by a single indirect kiss, but he was too confused to even muster the strength.

 

“…I guess I should quit drinking.”

 

In the end, he made up his mind.

 

[When the Moonlight Fades: After clearing the martial arts session, win the friendly duel with Luna]