De Ra Goe slowly opened his eyes. The light from a lamp confirmed he was awake. He blinked, feeling something soft against his back. As he moved his hand, his fingers brushed against the bedsheet. A pale hand reached out to touch his fingers. A woman stood there, watching him. She wore white clothes with a blue line running along the collar. Sunlight shifted across her head as she moved. Her gray eyes were gentle as she squeezed his hand.
"You did too much, didn't you? Like always."
De Ra Goe: "Sis?"
He sat up immediately, looking for the source of the voice. But no one was there—only a window. He looked at his hand; it was only holding the sheet. A wave of pain hit his back and head from the sudden movement.
"I'm pretty sure you told me your sister was on a trip."
Suddenly, the lamp was switched off. De Ra Goe blinked and looked to his side. It was Tim, sitting in a chair, his finger still on the switch. De Ra Goe's brain struggled to process the situation. Tim observed him, then placed a book on the bedside table.
Tim: "Sitting up like that without thinking will only hurt you more, you know."
De Ra Goe noticed a large white bandage covering Tim's stomach. His head throbbed as memories of the 'T place' flooded back: De Ra Goe kicking Kin De away and rushing toward Tim, only for Tim to move, sending De Ra Goe rolling across the floor.
"I have to..." Tim's voice echoed in his memory.
De Ra Goe gripped his shirt tightly, feeling a sense of unease. Tim crossed his arms and looked down.
Tim: "About what happened in the T..."
De Ra Goe cut him off.
"Is Ha Men alright?"
Tim looked at him and said gently.
"Yes... he is."
De Ra Goe sighed softly and closed his eyes.
"Thank God."
Tim stared at him.
"Is that all?"
De Ra Goe let out a breath, his voice nearly a whisper.
"Why...?"
Tim looked at his fingers, blinking slowly. De Ra Goe coughed.
De Ra Goe: "Why didn't you just... let me?"
Tim: "You know why."
De Ra Goe grabbed Tim by the collar.
"So, what the fuck did you mean by 'you have to'?"
Tim's eyes were warm but serious.
"Truthful answer or the answer you'd like to hear?"
De Ra Goe pulled him closer.
"What do you mean by that, Ro?"
Tim sigh.
"You know exactly what I mean."
De Ra Goe stared into Tim's unchanging eyes.
"Tch."
He released the collar and sat back.
"No, Tim... I won't know until you tell me."
De Ra Goe winced, touching his head. The dizziness was worsening. Tim fixed his collar and watched De Ra Goe suffer for a moment before moving to the bedside. He grabbed a pillow and placed it behind De Ra Goe.
Tim: "Getting rest is important. You know that."
He gently pushed De Ra Goe to back. The comfort of the pillow made De Ra Goe's breathing stabilize. The pain didn't vanish, but it lessened. His eyes grew heavy, but he wasn't ready to sleep yet.
De Ra Goe: "Just tell me..."
Tim sat back down. He finally said.
"Well... your reckless action nearly got us killed. I don't expect you to be calm or wise—I know you're more stable than Ha Men—but sometimes your worry can lead us to death."
De Ra Goe gazed at the unlit lamp.
"So, you're saying I was wrong? That heroines just get people killed?"
Tim: "Can you argue against the fact that people who try to be heroes usually die young? It's not a healthy way to survive."
De Ra Goe looked at his fingers.
"Like 'Aura'? At least he died as a legend."
Tim: "You want to die as a legend?"
De Ra Goe poked his own chest.
"Better than being eaten by our food. Can you blame me for acting like that?"
Tim sighed.
"I appreciate that you tried to help. But in reality, it doesn't work. Please, just hold back sometimes."
De Ra Goe: "So I did a terrible job because I didn't know your plan? That's a pathetic excuse."
Tim: "If you knew the plan, it wouldn't work. True reactions are the best acting in this world."
De Ra Goe lay back.
"So, your plan was just to let Kin De beat me up?"
Tim smirked. "Does someone feel bad about that?"
De Ra Goe: "Ts... don't piss me off."
Tim laughed softly.
"See, you're already sounding like him."
De Ra Goe turned away.
"Whatever."
Tim stopped laughing.
"Why did you punch Gail back there?"
De Ra Goe: "Is that a problem?"
Tim nodded.
"I didn't expect that response. Surprisingly, she's your role model."
De Ra Goe: "I just... they had Ha Men and you."
Tim: "That's sweet, but save it for the girls. We aren't helpless like 'Mud Children'."
De Ra Goe: "Is that 'Mud Child' from the Fairy Days Original stories?"
Tim looked slightly surprised.
"I never knew you read those things."
De Ra Goe: "I'm old enough. I know they're dark, but I can handle it."
Tim smirked.
"I'm curious where your motivation to read those novels comes from."
De Ra Goe's mouth twitched.
"Ha... you don't need to know. Just explain your plan back there. You can't get away that easily."
Footsteps echoed from the hallway. Tim smirked.
"Well, it looks like fate is on my side."
The door burst open. Ha Men ran in.
"Hey Tim! I got the book you asked for... is De Ra Goe still napping—?"
Ha Men saw De Ra Goe awake. He threw the book at Tim, who caught it effortlessly, and jumped onto De Ra Goe.
"De Ra Goe!"
De Ra Goe tried to defend himself. "Wait—ouch!"
Ha Men hugged him tightly, shaking him.
"You got lucky! Let me join next time!"
De Ra Goe: "I know you were worried, but stop shaking me! It fucking hurts, you idiot!"
Tim smiled, his eyes on the book. Ha Men finally stopped.
"You're a big fat idiot for getting beat up by them."
De Ra Goe: "Why was it stupid?"
Ha Men started swaying rhythmically.
"I don't know... the 'heroine' act?"
De Ra Goe: "Why do you two always agree on this?"
Ha Men stopped moving.
"Because it was the most stupid thing ever, Mr. Idiot."
De Ra Goe: "No, it wasn't."
Ha Men observed him.
"Are you fully awaking yet?" He looked at Tim. "Tim! How long has he been up? I told you I didn't want to miss our conversations."
Tim shook his head.
"Of course not. We didn't say anything." He looked at De Ra Goe. "Right?"
Ha Men looked at De Ra Goe suspiciously. "Is that true?"
De Ra Goe smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, ah... yeah. Why am I here? What happened to you guys?"
Ha Men: "So this is your reaction to seeing us? Especially me, since I'm so energetic?"
De Ra Goe: "No! It's just... I believed in you. I knew you'd be fine. Trust me..."
Ha Men: "Hmmmm."
De Ra Goe smile awkward. He watched him for a moment before going back to normal.
"Fine. You're boring."
De Ra Goe sighed. Ha Men smirked.
"You want to hear some news?"
De Ra Goe: "News?"
Ha Men: "Yep. But first, you have to do something for me—"
De Ra Goe crossed his wrists.
"No."
Ha Men: "Huh? Why not?!"
De Ra Goe turned away.
"Because I know you'll ask for something nonsense. So, no."
Ha Men shook his hands in frustration.
"You aren't serious, right?"
"I'm very serious," De Ra Goe said, nearly falling asleep. Ha Men shook him again.
Ha Men: "Wait! How about... you buy me a chocolate? Just one!"
De Ra Goe yawned.
"Whatever... just tell me or I'm napping."
Ha Men: "Okay, then you were—"
Tim: "—healed by Flo Re."
Ha Men glared at Tim.
"Hey!"
De Ra Goe opened his eyes.
"Flo Re... healed me?"
Ha Men: "Why do you keep stealing my lines?!"
Tim focused on his book.
"First, there's a reason. Second, I want chocolate too, and it'll taste better if you haven't touch it."
De Ra Goe sat up.
"That's not news. Where is she?"
Tim pointed out the window.
"Outside."
Through the window, De Ra Goe saw Flo Re talking to Gail and some people in black coats.
In the hallway, Flo Re stood calmly, wearing a black T-shirt and a white long-sleeved coat. Her brown pants had tools in the pockets.
Flo Re: "His body is stabilized. The internal damage was dangerous, even if it seemed tiny. Luckily, the healers from our history knew how to fix it. He just needs rest."
Gail nodded. "I see... can you tell him? The reporter and I apologize for what happened at the T place."
Flo Re shook her head.
"No, Gail Soe. Even if I wanted to, Kin De—who is currently missing—is the one who needs to apologize."
A woman in a black coat with gold lining on the collar spoke up.
"That's why we're asking for your help. Even if it looked bad, his action wasn't wrong, Ms. Flo Re."
Flo Re gazed at her.
"Let me remind you, he is also a Triangle. A living person. And he is a friend of the son of the Novel Family. Is that clear, Ms. Rin?"
Another man stepped forward.
"How dare you!"
Gail blocked his path with her hand. He wore a black coat with purple lines. Gail looks at him. he fell silent.
Gail: "The Council has already decided."
Flo Re crossed her arms.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss. If you'll excuse me."
She bowed slightly and walked toward the door.
Flo Reentered the room to find Ha Men roughly prying De Ra Goe's eyes open.
De Ra Goe: "Ouch! Stop it!"
Ha Men: "Stay still! I think I found something!" (He hadn't).
Tim: "Dude, seriously? Stop torturing him."
Flo Re coughed. They all looked at her. She walked to De Ra Goe and checked his hand.
De Ra Goe: "What... what are you—?"
Flo Re looked at Ha Men.
"Can you hold his hand? Just for a moment."
Ha Men: "With pleasure!"
He gripped De Ra Goe's hand far too tight.
De Ra Goe: "Ha Men! I can't feel my blood!"
Flo Re took a knife from her pocket and removed its glass cover. She brought it toward the wrist Ha Men was holding. Shocked, Ha Men let go immediately. Flo Re caught De Ra Goe's hand before it fell. She had expected this.
She cut De Ra Goe's wrist. Pink blood flowed out. De Ra Goe winced but kept his eyes open. Flo Recollected the blood in a tiny white bottle and cleaned the wound with a white cloth. She pressed a blue button on a device in her pocket, which transformed into a long blue tool. She touched the cut with it, and it covered the wound in Blue Ice.
Flo Re: "You are brave."
She released his hand. De Ra Goe look at the Blue Ice.
Flo Re: "Don't worry, it's 'Sis Ke' medicine liquid. It's in a solid state now."
She pressed a button on the side of the bed. A glass panel with colored holes appeared. She placed the bottle of pink blood into a yellow hole.
Flo Re: "Being brave isn't always good for what you did last time, but for now..."
She smiled and wrapped his wrist in tough white paper.
"It's good to see that this little spirit in you"
De Ra Goe watched her, his cheeks turning pink. Tim watched as she cleaned the last drops of pink blood with a blue towel.
Tim: "Is that Bio Blood?"
Flo Re: "You know about this? I'm surprised."
Tim: "It's strange how people are always surprised that I know things."
Flo Re: "Is that rare for you?"
Tim nodded. Ha Men started poking De Ra Goe's cheeks.
"Why are these turning pink?"
De Ra Goe: "What is wrong with you?!"
Ha Men jumped on him, trying to touch his face while De Ra Goe struggled.
Flo Re: "Don't move too much. You'll make it worse."
Tim closed his book.
"I saw my dad draw blood like that from his wrist."
Flo Re: "Your father must be a soldier. I've never seen him."
Tim: "You haven't heard the rumors about him?"
Flo Re thought for a moment.
"No. I don't listen to rumors; they're usually just Average."
Tim smirked.
"'Average'? That's an interesting word."
Flo Re: "Average and Middle are similar. 'Middle' means things are already in motion. 'Average' means things need to move or are about to retire."
Tim looked impressed.
"So, you know about that."
Flo Re: "Are you going to talk about your dad or not?"
Tim: "Oh, right. Well... he's a stay-at-home guy. Because of my mum, obviously."
Flo Re smiled.
"A close love story. I like it."
Ha Men stared at De Ra Goe.
"Dude, your cheeks are red now."
De Ra Goe: "Get off me!"
Tim: "Ha Men, stop."
Ha Men finally let go. "
Fine... speak of the angel, what did you mean by De Ra Goe being brave?"
Flo Re: "He didn't shock or pull his hand away when I cut him. He only closed his eyes for a second."
Tim: "Is that strange?"
Flo Re: "Yes. Most people go into shock. I think you don't find it strange because of your father's background."
Ha Men just do his usual. Obiviously.
Ha Men: "Do you like De Ra Goe?"
De Ra Goe: "What the hell, Ha Men?!"
Flo Re: "No."
Ha Men looks disappointed.
"Aye... so boring."
De Ra Goe froze. Flo Re looked at him.
"But speaking of your words... I remember Lut Set telling me De Ra Goe 'listens to me'. What does that mean, Tam De Ra Goe?"
De Ra Goe: "I... I'm not sure. Maybe he means you're our kind, so..." He struggled for words. "Loyalty! I mean trust. Yes, trust."
Flo Re blinked.
"You trust me? That's unusual to hear from someone."
Ha Men look at De Ra Goe.
"Dude, that is the worst way to talk to a girl I've ever seen."
Flo Re stared at De Ra Goe. He smirked awkwardly. She stood back and grabbed a file with a skin-colored cover and colored chips on top. She opened it, but instead of paper, it was made of plastic with blue ink.
"— [I] IV {}"
Flo Re stared at the symbols.
"Why does this look like {} instead of []?"
Tim: "Oh, that's Middle Main Road language. They use {} instead."
Flo Re: "You mean the country built on the biggest road in the world?"
Tim looked surprised.
"You know about the other biggest road... the one not on this earth?"
Flo Re: "As expected, you know too."
Ha Men: "What the hell are you two talking about?"
Tim: "Sorry, Ha Men. It's top secret. Even if you don't understand, I hope you'll stay quiet."
Ha Men: "That's scary."
De Ra Goe scratched his head.
"But why use Middle Main Road language instead of Mother Land language? I thought other languages weren't allowed here."
Tim's look like notice something. He whispered,
"Oh, crap."