#cale you liar

[blueteller]

Cale's Character Development in TCF Be Like:

In the beginning of the book:

Cale: I was a poor orphan/no one special/a useless bastard/did not have much money/am not a hero/will live a peaceful life/no one will miss me in my old world/am trash

500 chapters later:

Narration: ...BUT ACTUALLY, IT WAS THE EXACT OPPOSITE

[murasaki-cha]

Tcf fandom thay one time Cale overheated because of using Record for too long and started unbuttoning his shirt while flushed, sweaty and breathing heavily:

[snazzydwarf]

Raon when Cale lies: "Human are you scamming someone? How fun!!"

Raon when someone else lies to them: "You! You lie to us!! How dare you, Human this man is a good for nothing liar >:( "

Talk about double standards buddy hahah

[messy-haired-bum]

Cale has scammed me, once again.

Remember this? It's in Chapter 20, and we all thought that while it's a bit depressing, it's a realistic and even good outlook in life.

Then does anyone also remember this?

and

Bro. Bro. I canNOT believe this son of a b**** has been LYING TO US from the VERY START.

Not even that, he even said that lie aloud so confidently that NONE of us even suspect it might not even be the truth.

No okay I know he lied to us from the beginning, but I thought it's only about him being a poor normal office worker. I did not know he'd lie about this!!!!!!!!

Cale: I don't think about what ifs and the past.

Cale: I said, you know, like a liar

Me: ??????? @&#$?&!

[amarylliasky]

Aaand number 1 is a sorta crack au post?

Au: Everyone’s a Regressor!

- Just what the title says. Everyone (except the villains ofc) is a regressor. Including Cale. Who just happens to be a regressor, transmigrator, and reincarnator. Basically the same plot of Cale lived his first life in tboah and then reincarnated as krs before regressing and transmigrating into his original body after dying as krs. Plot twist though, most everyone else is also a regressor and he has no idea. He has memories of his first and second lives. Including the novel he read before he died, and doesn’t know why everyone is acting so different from what he knows!

- Why is his family being so nice and talking to him?! Why is Ron giving him so much lemonade?! Why does that Punk Choi Han act like he knows him already?! He and Ron and Beacrox know each other?! When did they meet this early?! Who are all these people in his house?!

- Okay? So his father is reinforcing the walls and they are making a navy in the Ubarr territory??? This is great. The heroes and his family are preparing for the war and he doesn’t even have to lift a finger!

- He does still carry out his plans though. Getting the ancient powers, saving Raon and coincidentally finding On and Hong, and helping Taylor and Cage. Speaking of which, Taylor stops his search for the vitality of the heart and just relaxes in Puzzle city with Cage for a bit before they meet Cale. Of course, the god of death still tells Cage abt the benefactor, who was not present in their past life. Cage is shocked to hear from the one who abandoned them in the last life, but still listens to him for Taylor’s sake.

- Deruth doesn’t want to send either of his sons this time, but he is shocked when Cale offers to go. Despite both his parents and Basen trying to deter him, he convinces them to let him go. They agree, only because Choi Han and the Molan duo will accompany him. Deruth doesn’t like the idea sending the person who beat his son to protect him. Much less the ones who betrayed his son to go off and play hero with the offender; but he knows how strong they are. If anyone can keep Cale safe, it’s them.

- Choi Han doesn’t hate Cale, but he doesn’t really like him either. He’s come to respect the younger during the time they spent as allies during the war, but the Cale right now hasn’t faced his future tragedy yet. He’s still young and immature, and acts like trash….right..? Wait- not right?! What is with this kid? Why does he act so different from before?! By all means, he should still be trash, soo why is he acting completely different from their past life? And why does he know things he shouldn’t know at this point in time? Or any point in time for that matter?

- He doesn’t seem to remember their life before, so why is he acting so strange?

- Cale is just trying to make it seem like he doesn’t know half these people so he won’t look suspicious, but why is everyone acting like they know him? He knows he’s never met the crown prince in this life, so what’s with that melancholy look?

- Meanwhile, Choi Han is just trying to find a way to find Rosalyn and Lock without seeming too suspicious. Luckily, Cale sent him away first.

- The vow of death never happens.

- “ I can’t tell you everything, but I can share two truths.” “Oh, there’s no need Cale-nim. I trust you.”

‘Wha..? How can you trust me? We’ve only known each other for a few weeks.’ “Don’t you want information on that secret organization?”

“It’s alright, Cale-nim. I’m sure we’ll run into them again soon.”

‘This punk…Does he know something?’ “Choi Han, do you know something about them?”

‘That’s not possible. Choi Han should have only encountered them once by this point.’

“No. I. Don’t. Know. What. You. Are. Talking. About.” ….

‘Was Choi Han always such a bad liar..?’

- Cale doesn’t get the annual rings right away. Why? Idk, consistency with Tcf plot?

- Everyone knows that everyone has regressed except Cale. Bc it’s funnier that way.

- So we got all his family members tiptoeing around him, trying to see if he remembers but also trying not to jog his memory if he doesn’t. They know the last life hurt him and they don’t want him to have to carry the burden of their deaths. (He does. And he’s not gonna make the same mistake twice).

- The Radish is still a hassle to deal with. Obviously they didn’t see all his powers from the last life as they were completely overwhelmed by the enemies, but with Cale’s help and their experience from the past, they are much stronger and more prepared. By the time the Indomitable alliance comes to the Henituse territory, there are even more secret weapons coming out of the woodworks. Seriously, the enemies are so confused. So is Cale. So is everyone else. Clopeh never stood a chance. It’s like the pointing Spiderman meme. And the enemies are a bonfire in the middle; being reduced to ashes while everyone else is being stunned by each other’s collective strength.

- The only enemy they have a bit of trouble with is the White Star. Not because he’s too strong, no, he’s already no match for Choi Han, Rosalyn, and Lock fighting against him altogether, but with the aid of Eruhaben, they now know that he’s a reincarnator. They have no idea how to kill him for good.

- So basically, they keep encountering him and injuring him further while trying not to actually kill him. Of course, that’s not to say that the rest of the WS allies are a joke, rather, they are just slightly challenging as literally everyone in the two continents speed runs getting stronger to prepare to combat his forces.

- To make it even more fun, none of the enemies retain their memories. Also, the citizens are random on who has memories of their past. Some do, some don’t. It creates chaos.

- Adventurer Bob remembers his past life where he died on his first adventure. He doesn’t know how he came back to the past, but he’s determined to use his knowledge of the future to his advantage! (What knowledge? Bro literally died on his first expedition).

- A middle aged baker in Rain City vows to live his life to the fullest this time! He’s going to build a Wyvern bunker! He’s going to save up funds! And he’s going to make up with his daughter who ran away to become a sword master! He’ll support her all the way this time. They may not be enough, but even if she doesn’t reach that level, who is he to stunt her only chance at survival in the upcoming war?

- Rookie Knight Jeffron has had quite a strange day. He woke up only to hear three of his comrades spouting nonsense about wars and fire and wyverns..? Just what is a wyvern? Must have been quite the nightmare. Psssh! As if! The Henituse territory would never fall to enemy soldiers! And attacking from the sky? Yeah right! What’s next? The Sun god accepts the darkness attribute? Hah! Jokes these days…

- Really, half the city seems to have had too much to drink. Or too little…? What has happened to Young Master Cale?! Some citizens could have sworn he had still been trash in the past. So what has happened to make their young master change so much? He doesn’t seem like he remembers? He doesn’t…right?

[i-might-be-a-simp]

{ch 47}

Crown Prince Alberu/Alver is meant to be a good liar.... but this is also him when he talked to cale properly for the first time:

"Are you human?"

"Sigh, right, Of course you're human, you and I are both humans"

Tell me this isn't something an alien would say, Alberu... ? Who are you trying to convince like that?

[weirdsht]

More Than Deserving - Kim Rok Soo/Reader pt. 2

notes: ik both the fics are short but i really feel like i can't put them in the same fic, like they have to be separated

tags: female reader, angst, blood, Cale might be ooc, NOVEL SPOILERS (Kim Rok Soo's life back on earth)

English isn’t my first language so there will be grammatical errors

Pls don't repost my work anywhere without my permission

Constructive criticisms and any kind of interaction are more than welcome

Requests are open and welcome

Buy Me Dessert

Can I Really? (pt. 1) Navigation Masterlist

You are someone who has learned how to live and thrive in a ruined world. You are someone who has survived the cataclysm when everyone around you did not. Someone who hardened at a young age just so she wouldn’t be pushed by power-tripping people.

Sometimes you hate the person you have become. Sometimes you think that you have become a coward who hides her fear in the cold wall she constantly hardens.

However, Kim Rok Soo told you otherwise.

“It’s admirable that you can stand up for yourself. Just ignore anyone who says otherwise, they are just mad that they can’t push you around.”

No matter how nonchalant his voice was, you could tell he meant every word you said. That gave you comfort. Gave you the strength you need to not conform to how other people want to.

You would like to say that it was just his words that motivated you. However, you may be a coward but you aren’t a liar.

So you can’t deny the fact that it was the person, not the words.

That it was because it was Kim Rok Soo who told you those words.

You know yourself. Know that you have been harbouring feelings for the strategist for a long time. Can’t deny the way you would try to seek him out, try to befriend him.

Because you also know that it’s where you draw the line.

It wasn’t for any grand or selfish reasons. It was merely out of respect. Out of loving him so much you don’t want your feelings to burden him. To weigh him down.

So you settled for being friends with him. He was a good friend, really. He may try to act all annoyed and irritable but he will always be there whenever you need him.

Will always be there to watch old crappy movies with you.

Buy or cook the foods you have been craving.

Be a shoulder to cry on whenever you’re feeling sad.

Always cares for you every chance he gets.

Oh my god was he just so perfect.

And it does nothing to help your feelings. Those pesky feelings that you wish would just disappear. Sometimes you would wish for the grounds to swallow you whole because your heart is beating so loud that you swear he could hear it.

But still, you did not respond to your feelings.

What can you say? You guess you love him that much. You love Kim Rok Soo so much that you can’t even think of being selfish and confessing.

Your life continued like that for a long time.

And then a little birdie with a yong let it slip that Kim Rok Soo might just reciprocate your feelings. You then responded to that birdie that you’ll try to confess after the mission you guys are going to.

Unfortunately, you never got the chance to.

The monster was unranked and way stronger than all of you had anticipated. You had no other choice other than to fight in the vanguard along with team leader Lee Soo Hyuk and ability user Choi Jung Soo. 

However, despite your efforts the monsters remain unbeatable. 

Before you know it the two other Soos are dead. You are covered in blood and dying too.

During your final minute, the thought of confessing crossed your mind.

Maybe it was because of the way your love was holding you so tightly in his arms.

Nonetheless, you thought against it. You cannot leave him with that kind of burden.

“I hope you find someone that can make you happy…”

‘Even if that someone cannot be me. I will be happy to see you happy.’

In the end, your love for him won over your greed of wanting to confess.

In the end, you couldn’t do it.

In the end, you just had to say your confession internally, never for Kim Rok Soo nor the world to hear.

‘I love you… I hope you can learn to love yourself too.’

[calhe08]

Cale: [Pointing at the broken cookie jar.] So. Who broke it? I'm not mad, I just wanna know.

Raon: I did. I broke it…

Cale: No. No, you didn’t. Choi Han?

Choi Han: Don’t look at me. Look at His Highness.

Alberu: What?! I didn’t break it.

Choi Han: Huh. That’s weird. How did you even know it was broken?

Alberu: Because it’s sitting right in front of us and it’s broken!

Choi Han: Suspicious.

Alberu: No, it’s not!

Rosalyn: If it matters, probably not… Beacrox was the last one to touch it.

Beacrox: Liar! I would never touch the cookies, and its the Young Master's too!

Rosalyn: Oh really? Then what were you doing by the table earlier?

Beacrox: I always refill Young Master's cookie! Everyone knows that, Miss Rosalyn!

Raon: Alright everyone let’s not fight! I broke it, let me pay for it, Human.

Cale: No. Who broke it?

Alberu: [whispering] Dongsaeng, Lock’s been awfully quiet…

Lock: Really?!

Alberu: Yeah, really!

 …

Cale: I broke it. I can't open the jar because its too tight then I dropped it. I predict ten minutes from now, they’ll be at each other’s throats with rubbles everywhere and white radishs head on a stick. Good. It was getting a little chummy around here.

Ron: smiles

Eruhaben: tsk unlucky bastard

[youngyoo-apologist]

When it comes to OG!Cale ships I like both OG!AlCale and OG!ChoiHan but it really depends on the scenario

For example, I like OG!AlCale in both regression aus and TBoaH adjacent timeline things because I think a huge thing I like in their dynamic is how mysterious they both are to the other party. The fun of their dynamic is them discovering more about each other and the various miscommunications they have cause of their own personalities, and I think that works very well no matter the universe.

But with OG!ChoiCale, I feel like I can really only enjoy it in TBoaH adjacent things or if they both have the memories of the first life.

To me, a big thing about OG!ChoiCale is about the life they lived together, how they hated eachother, how they both didn’t know eachother for years, how they could have spent time together during the war due to unfortunate circumstances(there not being enough people left)

Like, I think OG!ChoiCale can be such a cool dynamic, such a sad, but comforting one at the same time. It’s a little bitter how the man you thought you would hate forever became a close companion, how he’s more similar to you than your younger self woild have ever thought, but do you really hate it?

Can you really hate having a person who understands you, when so many people have died? When so many are gone?

Something about the sadness of it all, how it was tragedy that brought them against each other at first, but now it brings them together. How they could only ever grow to understand eachother because of the pain they face, the pain that they shared. At some point, can you really hate him, even until the end? After all those years? After coming to understand him? No, you cannot.

Like, it adds in extra layers when they both care about each other at some point mid-way through the war, but they still can’t really talk to eachother properly. They care, but they frustrate one another, anger each other. Choi Han doing increasingly more risky and self sacrificial things because ‘I’m a hero’ ‘I have to do it.’ ‘It is justice to save people’, despite the fact that it’s at the expense of himself

And Cale’s frustration at Choi Han’s attitude. He can never wrap his head around the fact that Choi Han destroys himself for the sake of other people, and believes it’s heroic(He knows Choi Han doesnt, he know Choi Han hates it too, but he doesn’t know what else to say to himself other than the fact that ‘it’s for the greater good’, because he will go crazy if he doesn’t)

He’s mad, but there’s some twisted sense of understanding in there too. Cale understands, because he became trash for his family, he became trash to protect them, he had to do it.

But that’s only what he thought.

He was older now, he had lost them all, and he had seen how his trash act hadn’t done anything to protect them. It only distanced him from them, and now they were gone, and he could never see them again, he could never make amends.

Cale is mad at Choi Han for sacrificing himself because while Choi Han is hurting himself, the people who he loves, and the people who love him, watch him do it over and over again and he doesn’t listen to their worried cries.

He’s mad, but he understands. It was frustrating to be on the other side, watching someone destroy themselves for the sake of others when the people who cared about them wanted the exact opposite. The only difference between him and Choi Han was that Choi Han was never a good liar, he could never hide how much pain he went through.

In a way, Cale thought it was better that way.

At some point, there is love that is there. Love that follows them, and it’s so painful because they both know the tragedy edy to it that is how they are doomed, how they can never be happy in the first time line where they knew each other.

Because as Cale and Choi Han, they can’t be happy. Not when so much has been lost, not when the world is falling apart, they may love each other, but loving each other as they are means being in a world where everything else they love is gone.

It is a cruel kind of love.

Like let’s say they do pursue these feelings, even though knowing those two I don’t think they’d ever say anything in that scenario. If they did it would probably be Cale going like:

“Choi Han, do you love me?”

Choi Han doesn’t say anything, but his silence in place of adamant refusal is enough of an answer.

“Do you love me, Cale?”

Cale doesn’t say anything either, only smiling at Choi Han with his signature, cynical and bitter smile.

He didn’t deny it either.

It was a confirmation of feelings, but unlike the confessions from romance novels and stories, the main character and lead do not end up together and live happily ever after.

They stay together, but the world around them is not happy, not at all. They are together, but not as partners or as lovers, but two people who live in their suffering because all they can do is live.

I feel like anything they do together would always have an air of melancholy to it. Maybe they kiss, once, and no more, because there is no point in making it a regular thing. Not when everything in their world will end, even if they keep on fighting for it to not be that way.

They kiss, and it’s short, but in that short moment, the world is nothing but Cale and Choi Han.

Isn’t that selfish? If it’s like this, then they could ignore how everything has gone so badly. But that is exactly why they cannot be together, there is no ignoring the reality of their situation, no matter how sweet it would be to live in a false dream and never wake up.

I like my OG!ChoiCale a little doomed.

[forgetme-eternally-blissfully]

The White Star learns that Cale Henituse transmigrated from a body that he stole. He learns that the person inside Cale Henituse lived with the same curse that the White Star has to.

“Cale Henituse,” the White Star sneers, “or should I address the person inside of Cale Henituse?” Cale stiffens. What is this crazy bastard saying now?

“Yes, the man inside of Cale Henituse. How did my curse feel?” He shouldn’t know this information, but he does, Cale realizes. He has an informant on a god’s level. Raon flinches at these words, and Choi Han levels a deadly stare at the White Star. Oddly, Cale thinks, the blood draining from his face, it feels like he’s glaring at him. Cale doesn’t know why but it feels like he made a mistake somewhere down the line.

“You know the one. I’m sure all of your friends do too at this point as well. Was it fun? You must’ve lost your parents, or even been abandoned? Abused? Did everyone you care about die in a horrible accident?” Cale struggles against the sparking Records, trying to keep his mind on the White Star. In a way, Cale has experienced it all.

The past is the past.

“Raon, he’s stalling.” Cale whispers as quietly as he can, and Raon silently sends out the message to everyone. They need to be prepared. The White Star wouldn’t reveal this knowledge for no reason.

“Cale Henituse, you lived terribly, didn’t you? Yes, you must’ve been pathetic. No wonder you’re like this… You cling onto everyone you know but keep them at arms length, never daring to let the little bug within you know what counts as love, and what counts as use.” The White Star drifts closer, threateningly, and everyone flinches into position. Their eyes are shaking.

“You whiny bitch.” The White Star flinches, pausing in the air. “Do you think that’s how I lived? Is that how you see my actions?” Cale scoffs in disgust.

He’s wrong.

I took everything I could until everyone was gone.

I was selfish.

“We are nothing alike. We are not the same. You may be a disgusting liar, but at least I’m honest trash.”

I barely care about anything because it was always taken away. I don’t care about things because I don’t remember how.

“White Star, do you know what the difference between us is?”

Two similar existences stare at each other.

“Cale Henituse, stop rambling,” the White Star frowns.

Cale rushes at the White Star suddenly, grabbing onto his arm. Before he can shake him off, Cale whispers.

“I’ll tell it to you as a secret.”

Confident as ever, the White Star humors him. Cale whispers even quieter.

“You knew how to care before you chose to lose everything…”

“… While I never had the chance.”

An explosion erupts from their location.

Cale coughs up blood, smiling at the dour expression of his enemy.

“You throw everything away, but I hold everything as close as I’m allowed. As close as I’ve ever able to hold anything.”

Cale drops his expression, glaring up at the disgusting person in front of him.

“Just out of arms reach.”

The White Star launches an attack, and the fight begins again.

[galaxygirl8880]

Okay, get this.

Along with the Thames being descendants of the hunters, (or something like that I don't remember sue me) in their bloodline there were some people who's emotions would show physically. It didn't hit every generation and it wasn't really predictable.

And by that I mean if someone of Thames blood got too excited or sad or anxious, any emotion, it would show.

In their records, there was one girl who if she got too upset by something, the winds around her would start getting aggressive and cause lots of destruction.

They are closest to nature so naturally that's what their emotions will respond to. Usually it wouldn't effect other emotions, just one or two. So if someone who got too anxious caused plants to form everywhere, nothing would happen if they were happy and excited.

I'm hoping you understand where I'm going with this ;-;

Their curse luckily skipped jour, but it became obvious that it didn't with cale once the frustrated toddler set the couch on fire when told that his father was busy and couldn't see him yet.

And jour was so so lucky when the maid that told them left quickly enough that she didn't see anything. But she wasn't fireproof so trying to comfort him was a struggle. In the end, her dress was a bit burnt and there was soot all over her hands and face-

Her son panicked and started crying, ending all of the fire.

As much as jour hated it, Cale was forced to grow up being extremely cautious when angry. It accidentally led to him shoving his anger down and pretending like he was fine. Because most people won't react positively when if you get too angry over something you accidentally set the curtains on fire.

Deruth made sure to tell Cale that he wouldn't get treated any different, that he wasn't a monster and that he still loved him. (Later, Cale would think back and say that Deruth was a liar.)

The day he found out his mother died was the day the ice developed. This time he didn't tell anyone.

Onto cale's regression-

There's combinations of Og!Cale and Krs, right? Where Krs actually gets reborn as Cale and the story progresses like that or something-

I want that but it's switched. Og!Cale on his first life living in the 20 year long war and trauma, then he gets reborn as Krs and omg a new opportunity at life where he won't have to act like he hates everyone AND loving parents?? Sike, more trauma.

As much as the war and apocalypse dulled his anger issues, they are still there but he's just a really good actor. Okay so he reads TBOAH and is fucking creeped out (slightly offended at his description in the story doesn't matter if it's slightly true-) and he's asleep and back to being Cale.

At first, he's confused. After sending Ron to get him water he proceeds to panic in the bathroom. He's terrified. What's happening? Why is he back here again? This is exactly what he wanted to get away from. All rational thought leaves his brain as he proceeds to freeze over the bathroom.

"Young Master are you alright in there?"

Right, not the time to panic he can do that later.

Time to put on a show.

---

Basen actually saw Cale get angry enough for that one noble kid's jacket to set on fire.

He was surprised because there was seemingly no way for that to have happened, then he saw a little flame on Cale's boot and panicked. Hastily stepping on it to put it out because Cale just protected him he didn't want him to be hurt.

Basen saw this fleeting look of fear in his eyes until it was gone and Cale delivered those words he still keeps close to heart even after all these years.

---

I could probably expand on this a bit more :>

Oddly enough I think this is one of my favorites

[blueteller]

Cale's Super Rock Villa Has a Deeper Meaning

So, I was re-reading the Caro Kingdom fight against the White Star recently (around chapter 450) since it's a super underrated fight… so much stuff I forgot from that part. Like, Mary actually using a dead mana sword?? That's so freaking cool!!

Anyway, the reason I bring it up is because there's an important detail about KRS's past there, which I totally missed before!

As Choi Han attacks the White Star in TCF Chapter 453, he recalls a flashback from CJS's life:

After struggling at work with Kim Rok Soo when he first entered the company, he headed home right away after finishing work for a while after he got used to the work. There were colleagues who wanted him to join them after work because he was a friendly guy, but he always declined and headed to his own place. Only Kim Rok Soo and the team leader knew the reason he had to go straight home. Honestly speaking, his home wasn't much. The company that was located in Seoul was located around the central border of the destroyed area and the still somewhat intact area and Choi Jung Soo's house was around there as well. His house was a small one bedroom in a building that was barely maintaining its shape as a villa. The building looked old like the buildings in a movie about the apocalypse he wanted before the world changed, but the people living inside were happy.

GUYS. DID YOU CATCH THAT? KRS LIVED IN A VILLA!!

And old, crumbling villa where he owned only one bedroom – but that's not the freaking point!!

First of all – KRS liked Super Rock Villa so much because it reminded him of his old home! That's just so sweet. He's such a sentimental guy...! 😭

But that's not what I want to focus on. Yes, there were the Henituse villa and the Harris Village as well, but... Super Rock Villa is different. As something that Cale inherited, by himself, it represents something more than merely a house to live in.

Think about it: the state of the two villas Cale lived in... it's like an allegory to his previous life VS his new life!

In his old life, he lived among the very people he protected, but he kept distance from them. It wasn't a physical distance – since he was living in the same building as them – but he didn't make any friends with his neighbors. Just like with his co-workers, KRS enjoyed their happiness from the sidelines... because KRS was cursed and doing his best to stay away in order to protect them 💔

But! BUT! In his new life, when he got Super Rock villa, not only was it in pristine condition – in contract to the old one which was falling apart – but the first thing he did, was fill it with living beings!!

...Sure, he also did that stupid in-denial internal monologue how he's doing it because he wants them to protect him. But we all know Cale is a shameless liar by this point; even to himself. ...Especially to himself.

So basically: Cale did that because he WANTED TO LIVE AMONG HAPPY PEOPLE AGAIN

Except this time – he was a part of that family!!

The whole Wind Island's test of fear later re-affirms the idea completely. Cale's biggest fear is the Super Rock villa being empty. The happy home meant for friends and family becoming their grave.

The Super Rock Villa is so much MORE to Cale than merely a cool rich house to live in. It directly represents the state of his life and family 😭

[murasaki-cha]

Tcf part 2 chapter 304

But Sheeritt couldn't laugh comfortably at Cale's words. Her eyes turned to Raon. Before she knew it, Raon had left her hand and was crossing the entrance to the black castle. “Rosalin, Mary! How are you? The humans are fine now!” As he passed by Sherritt, who was staring blankly at Raon, who was chatting away, Cale muttered softly. “He won’t get hurt.” "!" Sherritt's eyes widened and her gaze turned to Cale. Cale passed her with an indifferent but unwavering smile. He could roughly understand her thoughts. 'I'm sure you're worried.' Worried about Raon, And no matter what, whether it's love, hate, or pity, you are worried for the Dragon Half-blood. One dragon was too young and had not even reached his second growth phase yet.

And the other being was nothing more than a soul staying in the bones. As a half-dragon, it cannot use any of its original power. Those people will truly see the power of the Dragon Lord who made the dragons fearful. Sherit won't be able to sleep. Therefore, Cale spoke to reassure her. And actually, it was sincere. 'Raon is still young.' Are you telling a child to fight an adult, even a leader? No, no matter what. Isn’t that a bit much? 'And the Dragon Half-blood' In fact, among the kids in the Black Castle, he is probably the weakest. If the bones and core break, it's over.

'No, but he should listen to the name, so he'll reflect his likes and dislikes no?' Cale grumbled inwardly and walked towards where the other colleagues were. At that time, Sherritt's soft voice came from behind me.

“I’m worried you’ll get hurt too.” Cale hesitated for a moment, but walked away without responding.

I AM FINE! I AM NOT SOBBING! I AM A LIAR!!

[taryk]

Cale made eye contact with Rosalyn while thinking that she would have the same type of excited reaction. That was why he was waiting for her to continue speaking.

“Looks like you were the one to strike people in the back.”

“...Excuse me?”

“You hit us hard on our backs.”

Rosalyn’s calm but chilly gaze made Cale flinch as he reached his hand out to rub the top of his back. However, he could not reach his back because Raon was currently hanging on him.

The invisible Raon's voice echoed in the area.

“You’re right little Rosalyn! The weak human smashed us in the back!”

“Right, Raon-nim? I’m very happy to see you healthy and grown, Raon-nim.”

“I’m happy to see all of you as well!”

Rosalyn’s expression that had turned into a gentle smile at Raon's voice turned cold again as she looked back toward Cale. Cale slowly tried to avoid her gaze.

However, doing that made him see Choi Han, who was standing there with his mouth shut, as well as the tall but feeble Wolf boy Lock who was fidgeting with a tearful expression.

‘Tsk.’

Cale realized that Lock saw him in pain through the video communication device.

‘He saw something a child shouldn’t see.’

He looked back toward Rosalyn and casually started to speak.

“I am okay now.”

‘Liar.’

Rosalyn felt those words wanting to come out of her mouth, but chose to remain silent.

-(chapter 262) The boys + girls are pissed off at Cale for literally ALMOST BLAST TO DEATH. And the man just 'Nah bro, that's over so don't worry'.

[salaapaoo]

for the post of what I wanna see: twin krs&cale au but they hate each other initially. just stupid things like krs assuming cale is just some drunktard and cale hating the fact krs wants to slack when there’s a WAR coming.

so they tug each other’s hair, play pranks on each other and try to sabotage everything the other does. BUT. they are the only ones allowed to hate on each other. if one of the twins get insulted or courted the other twin will be SWINGING. regardless of everything they’re still a team dammit.

sure they get to know each other but this rivalry thing they have going on is easier to keep going than admit they actually like their twin.

THINK ABOUT ITTT

If asked about the other, you'd probably receive a roll of the eyes and a scoff in response.

"Hell if I know where that lazy bastard is, probably chasing after that slacker pipe dream like the irresponsible fuck he is." Cale would bite out, his teeth almost audibly grinding as his face wrinkled with disgust.

"It doesn't matter where that drunk piece of shit is. Could be dead in a ditch for all I care," Roksoo breathes out, not even bothering to look up from the novel in his hand.

-

Cale despised the useless "aspirations" that his brother would spew. There was a war brewing on the horizons, looming over them like the shadow of the grim reaper themself, yet Roksoo wanted nothing more than to lay around. The very sight of his brother lazing around in bed served as fuel to Cale's ire, bubbling and licking up to his throat with a rumbling growl.

To make things worse? Nothing seems to deter Roksoo from his stupid goals.

"Oops," Cale lilted, eyebrows raised in mock sympathy as he knocked his bottle of wine into Roksoo's lap, startling him awake from his nap.

His brother sat up on his bed, the merlot wine sticky against his skin as he turned a heated glare towards Cale. This. That blank stare that barely did anything to conceal the displeasure in Roksoo's eyes was yet another thing Cale hated.

He hated liars, but he hated those who refused to speak their minds just as much. To him, they were just as bad with the way they would spin people in circles with their sugar coated words and glib tongues.

"My apologies, brother," Cale spoke with a smile, sitting at the edge of Roksoo's stained bed. He was satisfied with pushing every single one of Roksoo's buttons in hopes of seeing the other explode one day.

"...the alcohol must have rotted your liver as well as your brain," Roksoo said through gritted teeth.

Before he could get up to leave, a hand had reached up to yank at his hair, the other one still wet with alcohol, wiping against the collar of his shirt.

It devolves into a jumble of wrinkled clothing and petty smacks or kicks, only ending when Ron enters the room. His benign smile looking... menacing.

-

Roksoo watches as his brother scoops up the soup with the elegance of a noble. The same elegance that had technically been trained into him, but he was too lazy to show. He had to hide how the corners of his mouth threatened to curl up with a slow sip of water.

"AASHGHJGSFDK," Cale sputtered, soup spraying out of his mouth in a panic.

It took so much convincing for the chef to finally give in to Roksoo's schemes. If anything, it was probably Ron who ended up convincing his own son, who looked scornful as he dumped spices into Cale's bowl.

Roksoo continued to watch with a raised eyebrow as though he had nothing to do with it.

His brother reached for his glass of water in hopes of saving his dying tastebuds, snot and tears already starting to dribble down his face as he took a massive gulp.

"PFFFFFFFFFF-" Cale spat this out, too.

Roksoo personally dumped salt into his brother's water, making sure it dissolved completely. Cale turned to him with a messy face, coughing as he tried to find words to curse Roksoo with.

"You.. YOU FUCKING BASTARD," he screeched, launching himself at Roksoo, whose face split into a wolfish grin.

-

Roksoo had been minding his own business at the tea house when he overheard a pair of women flapping their mouths and spouting worthless shit.

"Ugh, the older twin, is such a piece of garbage!"

"I know! Why does the count even bother to keep him! The second son, Roksoo Henituse, is an angel compared to that--" The woman's voice cut off with a shrill scream.

Roksoo leaned against the ledge of the window, cheek resting against his palm as the porcelain cup dangled from his fingers, "Better watch your mouth before I accidentally drop this cup, too."

Their faces paled at the sight of him, their mouths failing to form words to defend themselves before they scurried off.

"fucking roaches."

-

"isn't the second young master... kinda lazy?" A man voiced, almost drowned out amongst the rowdy crowd of the bar, "It's like the war doesn't exist to him or something.."

Cale felt his veins pop at the slander, his grip around the neck of the wine bottle tightening until his knuckles were white.

The tavern goes deathly silent at the sound of the bottle shattering on the wall next to the stranger's head.

-

No matter how they act as though they hate each other and continue to slander one another... their true thoughts and feelings towards each other are revealed when the war surges through their territory. Surrounded by the stench of blood in the air around them and the clanging of swords ringing through the battlefield, they cover each other's backs while tearing down enemy after enemy.

[calehenituse-brainrot]

Partings

Cale Henituse | Kim Rok Soo x Transported!Reader

"I have loved you all in every way I could. Please believe me."

WARNING: intrusive thoughts about self-harm and suicide, major character death, slight body horror

"Today have been so amazing."

You smiled when Rosalyn tucked strands of your hair behind your ear, seeing her lips curl up into a grin. "You did well."

"Thank you," you say as Rosalyn's hand drops back to her side. Turning to look at the company behind her, you try your hardest not to let your lips quiver. "Thank you so much for coming over. I appreciate it."

"We would never miss an invitation from you, Miss [Name]," said Jack, smiling at you softly. "We hope you keep bringing good news."

You smiled at him. "Me too."

"I'll be sending you letters of any discoveries I make," Rosalyn said with visible eagerness. You laughed, "I won't understand much, but okay."

"Do send letters to me to tell me how you're all doing," you told them all. "It sometimes gets boring to only read letters from nobles that are stuck-up. I deserved something new once in a while."

Lock gave you a smile with rosy cheeks. "We will. Take care of yourself, [Name]-nim."

Goodbyes ended painfully short. You made sure to hug them or at least held their hands, savoring every moment with the people you have chosen as your safe place. You looked into Rosalyn's eyes and smiled when she gave you a grin, no doubt happy to see her sister again after a while. The feel of her long red hair brushing up against your cheeks when you hug her and the tight hug she gave you made you wonder whether you've ever given this comforting of a hug to your step-sisters. You couldn't remember.

"Are you okay?" asked Eruhaben when you just finished bidding everyone goodbye.

You were a bit startled and then nodded your head. "Yes, I'm fine. Why?"

Eruhaben tilted his head as he looked at you. "You just feel a bit odd."

"I'm always odd, aren't I?" You say with a playful grin. "It's just fatigue, Eruhaben-nim."

'Liar,' he thought. Eruhaben looked at you for a moment before he dusted your shoulder. "Have a good evening, [Name]. Take some good rest."

You gave him a wry smile. "Thank you. You have a good rest, too, Eruhaben-nim."

Eruhaben watched you walk away, the back of your dress dirty with dirt and grass, tears here and there. He thought about how small you are compared to him -- a mere existence that could get hurt so easily. 

It might be ridiculous of him to admit this, but he always was fascinated with how humans could live out their life so fully despite having such short lives. Sometimes their lives are so full of happy things, but other times, their lives are constantly full of pain and sorrow. While you never told much, Eruhaben could tell you were also someone with stories and scars of your own -- he just hoped you were strong enough to bear with it all.

You took a bath and changed into casual apparel, with a white button-up tucked into dark long trousers and heeled loafers. You pace back and forth in your room and began to empty your wardrobe, taking the most simple clothes that are easy to pack and take care of. Your spatial bag was filled with the money you got, which was more than enough, but you only took some out and put it in a simple pouch, leaving the spatial bag in the wardrobe. You took out a journal Cale had bought you years ago, insisting that you left some kind of mark in this world, ripping a few pages.

Your incoherent scribbles and makeup are burnt into the fireplace, and perfumes poured down the drain. You cleared your room until there were no more signs of you because you know firsthand that having something left behind will only be painful. You don't know whether or not you were coming back and you thought of a scenario where if you do not come back at all, forcing them all to forget about you was easier. Holding onto your things will only make things worse.

In the pages you had just torn, you wrote a quick letter to both Alver and Cale along with the kids. You wrote a letter to Cage, making sure to tell her about the voices in your head and your guesses. You stuffed her letter into your bag, while you folded Cale and Alver's out in the open, using a pen to hold down the papers.

"Ah."

You jumped, turning around from watching your scribbles being burnt to the door. You saw Ron standing in your doorway, stepping inside and closing the door. "Ron."

Just by a quick scan of the room and by the looks of the suitcase on your bed, Ron was able to conclude what you were doing. "So it is today."

"Lock the door," you say, poking the fire with a poker, making sure to burn all the pigments and their container burn to nothing. 

Ron does as you say, looking at the suitcase where the clothes are thrown around hazardously. He can feel your eyes on him, hearing him click his tongue before he bends down and began folding your clothes.

At the sight of an older man folding your clothes, you inhaled a cry, eyes glossy. Ron begin sorting your clothes and putting them back in the suitcase and you wished that you could have seen your father does these types of things once a long time ago. "T-thank you."

"When you travel, make sure to pack the things that are a necessity," Ron told you instead. "And sort them nicely so you can easily get the things you need without digging into your bag."

"Yes," you answered with a small voice, turning to look back at the fire. "I-I don't usually travel by myself."

"You don't?" asked Ron, folding a trouser. "What of when you escaped from your family?"

"I never did that."

Ron blinked at your confession. As far as he knows, you ran away from an abusive household and decided to live in the slums where Cale would then take a liking to you and have you join the family. You have always said the same story over and over again whenever anyone probed further, so to hear you say otherwise was quite surprising. "Then?"

"They left," you say, poking at the fire again as if your things were still there -- they had been burned to ashes. "They left me."

"My mother left my father and I and remarried someone else. My father left me when I was eighteen," you continued, watching the fire slowly begin eating away the wood in the fireplace, the flame becoming small with how little wood there was left. "I don't know where he is until now."

Ron closed your suitcase with a click. "And your mother?" 

"Died. Illness," you kept your answer short and simple.

Your mother had died from cancer right around the time you got into college, and your father went missing a few days after. It felt strange, to see your already broken family become nothing. You grieved over her death but always felt like you shouldn't -- not when she abused you for nearly all your life and not when you're seated next to her family, who you believed deserved to grieve, not you.

Her death impacted your father, though, and sometimes you think it might be because of her death that your father left. Maybe it was too much and he found a good spot to kill himself, perhaps he just didn't want to look at you because you remind him of her.

"You never truly recover from that."

You let out a chuckle. "Nope."

"It made sense," Ron continued. "That you ended up like this."

You frowned, turning to look at the older man who was staring at you with a deadpan. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The abused became the abuser."

Your whole body stilled, eyes widened in shock while Ron continued; "The abandoned became the abandoner."

Your blood went cold and you felt like the delightful lunch you had earlier was going to come out. You choked on the air instead, eyes turning glossy with tears threatening to come out. There was immense pain in your chest, branching out to your whole body. Nothing was more painful than to have someone see your parents in you and you feel how the heaviness in your chest managed to turn into something real and physical -- you feel like it's hard to breathe.

You closed your eyes, tears escaping as you shook your head. You wiped the tear, looking away. "No, don't say that."

"Am I wrong?" Ron pressed, frowning at the way your whole body seemed to shake. You let out a laugh, face wet with tears. "Ron, please."

"[Name]--"

"Shut up!" You snapped, the sob that comes out of your mouth sounding so foreign -- it has been a while since you cried properly. "That's not fair, you know that! I'm trying my best, my fucking best to heal! You don't get to say shit like that to me, okay?! You're being so fucking unfair! I'm just trying to--"

A choked sob escaped you, stopping you from your rant. Tears are streaming down your face, your head felt heavy and you want nothing but to grab the nearest scissor and stab yourself in the chest just to have this feeling go away. You were reminded of the days in high school, craving the sting of sliced skin that could always numb the pain. Anything but this.

Your previously shrill voice turned small as you sobbed into your hands, "I am not my parents."

"Not if you try to be better," Ron said, touching your shoulder. "Don't love like they did."

Ron stayed beside you, watching you stare at the fire until only the embers are left. Your eyes were bloodshot, your lashes wet and face flushed dark and your whole body was beginning to calm down when you say; "It's the way I've always known."

Ron decides to say nothing concerning that.

"Will you be joining dinner?"

You stare at the remains of your makeup container. "No. I am asleep because I am tired from the picnic."

Ron exhaled, knowing you were asking him to cover for you. "Of course. Please have a nice rest, Miss [Name]."

Ohn doesn't see you after the picnic, but she did saw you again near the middle of the night when you came to Cale's room.

Cale had been asleep but the sound of the door creaking and footsteps managed to wake him up a bit, although everything is a blur. Ohn sees you approach the bed, sitting at the side. "Hey."

Cale hummed sleepily as a reply.

"There's a small issue at the port," you murmured. Ohn could hear how your voice sounded off, strained and raspy. Your eyes are puffy and red and Ohn simply leaned to you, hoping that it could offer some comfort to you. You rubbed her head, appreciating the action while you continued, "There's some miscommunication down the port and I have to go clear it up."

Cale frowned, eyes still closed. You ran a hand through his red hair and your heart only became heavier when you see the soft, small smile on his face. "Mhm, be careful."

You used your thumb to caress the skin under Cale's eyes, savoring every moment with him and the feel of his warmth underneath your fingers. Cale's one eye opens a bit, "'s matter?"

"Mhm, you're just very pretty," you mumbled. Cale clicked his tongue and you watch as his cheeks began to get red when he gently pushes your hand away, "Stop it. Go and finish your thing quickly. Get some good night's rest."

Cale knows how much of a workaholic you are so he knows that it would be in vain to persuade you to have someone else check on it. 'I'll ask her about it in the morning.'

"Yes, sir," you answered him with a light chuckle, watching him close his eyes again to go back to sleep.

You turned to the kids, petting their heads before walking out the room. Ohn sat on the bed, listening to Caleb's breathing returning to slow and shallow and the sound of your footsteps as they began to fade out.

She jumped from the bed, chasing after you down the hall after successfully opening the door. You were walking down the dark hallway while wearing your coat. She finds it odd that you were walking to the backdoor of the estate instead of the front door that can easily lead you to the gates.

Ohn ended up following you to the back door, seeing Ron standing by the door. He spotted her and it made you turn, startled to find the kitten. "Ohn?"

"Let me go with you?" She asked with a small voice.

You smiled, letting out a quiet chuckle. "It's the middle of the night, Ohn. Kids should be in bed, sleeping."

Ohn wanted to retort, saying that she's old enough to stay up, that she's older than her siblings, but seeing the wry smile on your face and the way Ron's lips are pursed into a straight line, she knew that she has no place to argue.

"Be back soon," she settled with that instead, her wish to grow older stronger than before. You turned around, accepting a hat from Ron when you replied, "I'll try to."

"Promise?"

Ohn understands that she sounds absolutely childish but if you want to keep on pulling out the "you're still a kid" card, then Ohn will use it. She hears you let out a sigh, shoulders sagging.

"I'll try my best, Ohn," you say, still refusing to look back at her. "Take care of yourself and the others, alright? I'll be back as soon as I could."

Ron opens the door and you immediately walked out, the moonlight enveloping Ohn's small kitten body. She sees a carriage right outside, Beacrox standing by the horses. As Ron closes the door, the moonlight slowly disappear and Ohn returned to Cale's room.

Ron closed the door behind him and followed you to the carriage.

"Beacrox," you greeted him. "Thank you for doing this."

The tall, brooding man's gaze was unreadable when his eyes met yours. You can't tell what exactly he was thinking when he turned to look at his father and then then turned around to climb to the coach.

Ron opens the door to the carriage — the interior was a classic wooden detail with deep red plush. There were no extra decorations that could risk any robbery or identification, just like what you requested. Ron held out his hand, his intentions to help you board the carriage.

"Have a safe travel, Miss [Name]," Ron says when you placed your hand on his. "Please be home soon."

You stared at the older man, throat constricting at the word "home". You nodded, not knowing where that place is — is it here, with them or is it out there, wherever it is that you're destined to be?

"I'm... Sorry," you mumbled. "For yelling at you."

Ron was quiet for a few seconds before he admitted, "I was out of line with my words."

"But you were right," you acknowledged. "I will keep embodying my abuse if I don't properly heal. I'm sorry."

"You just weren't loved properly," Ron says, looking into your glossy [e/c] eyes. "Not in the way you deserved."

"I—" You held back a sob. "Thank you, for helping me."

You don't exactly know what punishment they will receive once it's revealed that they helped you, but you know how much you appreciate them for it. You wrapped your arms around Ron's chest, burying your face into his dress shirt.

"I'm sorry," you mumbled. "I love everyone, I promise, I just don't want to hurt you all more. I have loved you all in every way I could, please believe me."

"I do," said Ron. "Be safe out there."

You sniffled, looking up at Ron with brows furrowed in determination. You nodded, wiping your tears with the sleeve of your coat. 

"Now, the ship won't be waiting for you," Ron said, urging you to grab his hand and board the carriage. You climbed onto the carriage and saw that your suitcase was already inside, placed across you.

Ron shut the carriage door and you looked at him through the window, mustering up a smile to look at him. "I'll be back soon."

"The Young Master will be elated to hear that," Ron teased with a benign smile. You let out a loud chuckle, wiping your wet cheeks but before Ron coulf signal to Beacrox to start moving the carriage, you took out a letter.

"Give this to Cage once everyone's calmed down after my disappearance," you told him. "Do not open it, otherwise. Make sure it gets to her in perfect condition."

Ron accepts the letter, slipping it into his coat's inner pocket. "As you wish."

You smiled at Ron, your chest brimming with so much emotion for the older man. "I... sometimes wished you're my father instead."

Ron's facade slips a bit, eyes widened in surprise. He sees the soft gaze your eyes held and the way they glistened. He was tempted to shut you down, to tell you he wasn't a good father to girls, that you're both too different to have such a relationship like that, but what came out of his mouth made even his heart hurts:

"She would have loved you."

"You think so?" You asked in a gentle voice, almost frail. You were always weak when it comes to being loved by older women.

Ron just stared at you for a moment, thinking of his wife and how she would have coddled you all the time, how Beacrox maybe would grow up a little different had he had you as his sister. Instead of thinking too much on it, Ron finally signalled Beacrox to start moving the carriage.

The sound of a whip was heard and the carriage began to move towards the gates. You stuck your head out the window, waving to Ron who was standing still and watching your carriage slowly get smaller.

The words was at the tip of your tongue and you fought the urge to say it loudly, scared of the reaction you'll get — but fuck, you're leaving and you don't know when you're going to meet everyone again, so fuck it—

"I'll see you soon, Ron!"

Ron's eyes widened slightly upon hearing your words, seeing you wave your hand at him with a wide smile on your face. He lets out a sigh of defeat, an eyebrow raised and he tries his best to fight the urge to smile.

You're promising to be back. He doesn't know when that day will come but he hopes you return ready to love properly and wholeheartedly without being afraid of the feeling.

Ron recalls the wide smile on your face as the carriage began to get smaller and eventually gone from his line of sight. He looks up at the sky and remembers his wife's face, "It seems we have a daughter now."

It didn't take long for you to arrive at the port, considering the carriage was running through the empty streets. Beacrox helped you with your luggage while you look around the port for the ship that you know was going to head furthest from the Western continent.

"I still don't understand why you want to leave," said Beacrox after a few moments of silence while walking to find the ship.

"It's hard to say," you say, taking a turn to walk down the docks after spotting the ship you're planning to board. 

"I'm sure our sibling bond can help me understand."

Your face flushed red and you smacked Beacrox's arm, realizing he had heard your conversation with Ron. "Shut up."

Beacrox stayed quiet, so tempted to roll his eyes. You looked out at the night sea, the sky so bright with the full moon and the stars that litters the skies. You let out a sigh, the cold night breeze blowing on your neck.

"Thank you, for helping me, Beacrox," you say, turning to the taller man. "I'm sorry we have to part ways like this so suddenly."

"The others have it worse," he replied, indirectly telling you that he was lucky he managed to get a proper goodbye with you. "Be safe."

You smiled. "I will. Be careful on your way back."

Beacrox nodded before he set your luggage down beside your feet. He turned around and got off the ship, standing by the docks as he watched the crew got busy to prepare for the sail. He sees you leaning to the railings of the ship, eyes closed and enjoying the night breeze.

You looked at peace and Beacrox thought how you leaving was probably for the best. No one would leave a place they had placed their hearts on so easily so the fact that you were strong enough to pack your bags and go proved that it was needed.

He watched until the ship finally sailed away from the docks and into the open sea. He stayed until the ship disappears into the line where the horizon meets the sea, turning around and going back to the estate, knowing in mere hours, your name will be a sensitive topic in the estate.

'Now what?'

It dawned on you when you were staring at the dark, open sea that you just left a place of solitude because of the voices in your head. You went up and left with no actual plan, depending everything on the voices.

You're so fucking stupid.

No, crazy. 

Yes, maybe that. Maybe this is a sign of psychosis.

"Calm down."

You freeze, the voice you have heard several times in the past few weeks have become more clear than before. It sounded like someone directly whispering in your ear and you stared at the horizon in a daze.

"I will lead you to where your answer lies," he promised you, voice reassuring. "All you have to do is go with the flow."

Now that the voice have became more clear, you could have sworn you have heard this voice before. It was at the tip of your tongue and all you could do was listen. Their voice, tone, and the drag of certain syllables reminds you of someone from your distant past.

"For now, sleep by the deck. Lean your body by the ship rail and let the winds carry you."

You turned around, leaning to the railing and sliding down. You sat down on the floorboards of the ship and almost comically, the cold wind began to blow. You tightened your coat around you, pulling up your scarf to hide your lower face, hoping it'll give you some warmth.

When you close your eyes, you dream of smiling pale lips, red hair popping up under white covers on the bed, meows of kittens, and the flaps of wings. You began to regret leaving such a peaceful place to look for yourself. What if some things are meant to be undisclosed? What if you had just lived your whole life with your new family while being ignorant to everything?

Would it be so bad to be ignorant just once?

What step is the right step?

Would things be easier if you know the right step to take? Is there even a right step to take?

"There are," reminded the voice in the midst of your dream of cast meadows and laughter of the kids. "Do not be afraid. You have me to lead you."

You stared at the Cale that stood right in front of you, his white button-down flowing with the wind and the gentle gaze he gave you with his brown eyes made you frown. It is painful how your brain could conjure such a clear picture of him when you're asleep and already missing him.

"If you stayed with him, you would only stay in your place,"  said the voice, as if they were with you right now and witnessing your dream. The grass beneath your feet began to shake and they grow in length, swirling around your ankles and wrists to hold you in place. "You would never grow. You would eventually hinder all of the others' development."

In a way, it was true. Your knowledge of the future have multiple times make things easier for Cale and the others and it always bothered you whether these people were getting the character development needed for them to progress further into the story.

"That's right," purred the voice, now sounding much closer. 

The figure of Cale in front of you became further and more translucent.

"They are just fiction. But you, you are real."

Your heart dropped.

"W-what?" You stuttered, blinking out of your haze. "What are you—?"

You feel a hand holding your shoulder from behind you.

"[Name], they're just books. There was no need to get emotional."

This wasn't the first time you have heard of this phrase and you immediately figured out why this disembodied voice sounded so familiar. You turned around to face this person but were immediately knocked out of your dream.

You jolted awake, breathing ragged and heart pounding against your ribs. You looked around the ship, realizing everyone was running around the deck. You feel the harsh drops of the rain on your face and came to realize you were soaked to the bone.

You slept through the storm? How?

Gathering the strength to your cramped legs, you stood up. The ship was shaking from the waves, the wind do strong that you're pretty sure you were going to get blown away, and the rain was making it hard for you to open your eyes.

The cold sting and you grabbed onto the ship rail to keep yourself steady. Before you could walk, a ship crewmate grabbed you by the arm. "Miss [Name]!"

You turned to look at the man, noting that he looked like he was in his early adulthood, though definitely younger than you. He talked to you with an anxious expression, "There is a leak in the ship. You must board the safety boat."

"What?" You asked, bewildered as you watch him take your suitcase. "What caused the leak?"

"We couldn't figure it out, Ma'am. Water filled up the lower deck so quickly we didn't have much time to check what caused it," he answered you, voice trembling from the cold rain.

'Shit,' you thought. 'What's going on? I thought this was the right ship to board.'

The ship suddenly tilted and you heart skips a beat when you nearly started sliding down the floorboards, the young crewmate holding onto you. Your eyes widened when you saw how much of the ship is submerged underwater. 'How long have I been sleeping?! I slept through all this chaos?'

"Shit," mumbled the young man, staring at the safety boat a little bit further from the ship, being carried away from the chaos by the waves. It's almost as if the ocean's only objective today was to drown the ship.

You pry yourself away from the man's arms, trying to look at the dark clouds upon you with a frown. What is happening? How long have you been asleep? How far are you from the continent?

The ship jolted, being suddenly pulled into the water with a force that's unfamiliar by those who have known the waters like the back of their hands. The ship's crewmates looks at each other with bewilderment, trying to reason what exactly could be pulling this ship down.

There was an echoing creak underneath your feet and the loud sound of things breaking. You feel the floorboards beneath you swell before they eventually snap. You turn around just in time and reach out for the young crewmate and he was quick enough to grab your arm as you began descending along with the broken half of the ship.

"A-ahh!" He screamed out, holding you with one arm while the other grips at the railing. He could feel his body slowly sliding towards you and splinters tearing at his skin and sinking as deep as they could go when he gripped at the railing. "M-Miss [Name]!"

You held onto hid arms for dear life. Your legs dangling made your heart pound and you refuse to look down. You hear the broke half of the ship finally splash onto the ocean water and shivered at how high you must be from the water surface.

If you fall into the water at this height, you'll burn from the impact.

"Help!" The young man yelled out desperately, face red as he tried to pull you up but the slippery floorboards were preventing him from gaining any real traction. "H-help us!"

The remaining half of the ship is now nearly upright and you paled when you see the young man's bone shifted forcefully under his skin. He let out a bone-chilling scream when it happened and your whole body goes limp at the realization of what just happened to his arm.

You released your grip on his arm and you didn't think he could let out another pained scream, worse than before. "M-Miss—!"

He sounded panicked when he feels you began wiggling your arm out of his grip. "N-no, no! Miss [Name], please, no!"

Your heart pounds in your chest as you slowly began being pulled down by gravity, your arm slipping through his grip slowly. Tears spilled from your eyes, blending with the rain and your breathing became ragged, knowing if you fall, you'd most likely drown.

"Akh—" You forced down the sob that was about to spill from your throat. Nothing fills your head but the images of home, one invaded with red hair, sweets, and lazy afternoon naps.

"C-Cale—" you managed to sobbed out. "I-I'm sorry."

Relief floods your whole system when the young crewmate could no longer hold you up, your wrist slipping through his hand easily. The air was sucked out of your lungs as you fall, watching the young man begin to get smaller and smaller.

When your back hits the surface tension of the ocean, the last thing on your mind was how you wished Cale and the others wouldn't miss you too much.