Shinju was lying on the cool grass, staring up at the sky.
He closed his eyes.Took a deep breath.
"Lying on grass…""This… actually feels good."
He paused.
"The air is light.""That pressure… it's completely gone."
Koharu sat beside him.She watched him quietly.A small smile formed on her lips.
"If something this simple makes you this happy…" she said,"there are so many things in this world you haven't seen yet."
Shinju opened his eyes.
"Like what?"
Koharu shrugged.
"Flowers.""Real wind.""The smell of soil…"
A brief pause.
"The golden dome is gone now.""So… what will you do from here?"
Shinju's gaze drifted into the distance.
A long silence.
"…I don't know."
His brows furrowed slightly.
"I've never thought about it."
Koharu tilted her head gently.
"If you've lived for two hundred years for just one thing…""That's normal."
Silence settled again.
The wind passed.
And then—
Grrrkk…
Koharu froze.
Shinju opened his eyes.
A second passed.
Then Shinju said:
"That wasn't me."
Koharu immediately replied:
"It was me."
They looked at each other for a moment.
Then Shinju sat up.
"You're hungry."
"Very."
Shinju glanced toward the swamp.
"There's moss over there."
Koharu's expression changed instantly.
"No."
Firm.
"I'm not eating that."
Shinju tilted his head.
"You haven't tried it."
Koharu rolled her eyes.
"I have."
Shinju paused.
"When?"
Koharu grimaced.
"My first days in exile.""I ate it so I wouldn't starve."
A short silence.
"…it was awful."
Shinju stood up.
"I'm still going to eat it."
"Enjoy," Koharu said flatly.
Shinju walked toward the swamp.He bent down.Scooped up a handful of dark green moss.
Without hesitation, he put it in his mouth.
Koharu watched him.
Her expression clearly said: You're about to regret this.
Shinju chewed.
Paused.
Then calmly said:
"…it's not bad."
Koharu's face dropped.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
Shinju grabbed another piece.
"It's actually fine."
Koharu frowned.
"I've eaten that.""And it was one of the worst decisions of my life."
Shinju shrugged.
"Maybe the environment changed."
Koharu sighed deeply.
"Or maybe you just don't have taste."
Shinju let out a small laugh.
He lay back down on the grass.
"Taste is a luxury."
Koharu sat beside him, holding her stomach.
"I choose to stay hungry."
"Your choice."
"I'll eat your share too."
Koharu looked at him.
Then, despite herself, she laughed.
"You're really strange."
"You've said that before."
"You deserved it."
Time passed.
Their conversation went on.
Koharu talked about the palace.Shinju listened.
Shinju spoke about the Void.Koharu grew quiet.
But this time…
the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
The sky had fully darkened.
Stars were visible.
Koharu lay down on her back.
"…Strange."
"What?"
"I feel safer here…""than I ever did in the palace."
Shinju thought for a moment.
"Maybe nothing is protecting you anymore.""That's why you feel safe."
Koharu smiled softly.
"That's a strange way to put it."
"…But it's true."
A brief silence.
Then—
"I'm glad I came."
Shinju didn't answer.
But this time…
he didn't hide his smile.
After a while, Koharu's breathing slowed.
She had fallen asleep.
Shinju glanced at her.
"…She fell asleep fast."
He leaned his head back.
Closed his eyes.
And…
for the first time in years—
he truly slept.
At the same time — a short distance away
A silhouette stood hidden among the rocks.
Swen.
The crystal in her hand emitted a faint glow.
Her eyes were fixed on Shinju.
"…Yeah. The spear is with him."
Her gaze shifted to Koharu.
"And he's not alone."
A brief pause.
Then she smiled slightly.
"But they're asleep."
She stepped back.
"This might be easy."
She turned the crystal slowly in her palm.
"…Or not easy at all."
Her eyes sharpened.
"We'll see."