The sun had only just risen when the quiet town square began to stir to life. Birds chirped gently from the tiled rooftops, and warm light spilled down the cobbled streets. But somewhere behind the bakery, in an alley where sunlight barely touched, a far crueler noise echoed.
Thud.
A soft grunt, followed by laughter.
"Come on, Steve. Thought you were getting stronger?"
Three boys—older, taller—pushed Steve to the ground. His bag spilled open, books scattered like fallen leaves. One of them stepped on a page, grinding it under his heel.
Steve tried to stand, but a sharp kick forced him back down.
"You should learn your place, orphan."
The word stung worse than the blow. He didn't cry—but only because he had cried too much already.
Then… silence.
The boys froze.
A presence settled over the alley like a thundercloud. A suffocating stillness. They turned slowly—and saw him.
A tall man in a simple black coat. His hair—long and white as moonlight—danced gently in the breeze. His eyes—deep crimson—glowed faintly with something ancient. Unfathomable.
Jin didn't speak.
He didn't need to.
His aura—just the hint of what he truly was—washed over the bullies like a tidal wave. Their knees trembled. Their bravado shattered. One dropped his bag. Another stepped back in fear, tripping over himself.
"Leave," Jin said calmly, his voice like ice scraping against steel.
The bullies ran without a word, vanishing into the morning haze.
Steve blinked up at him, eyes wide. "W-Wait… you're—"
He hadn't recognized him at first. Not like this.
Not with the long white hair, the glowing eyes, the inhuman calm. Not the peaceful man who wandered ruins and spoke of myths.
But it was him. Of course it was.
"…Jin?"
Jin turned to him, offering a hand. "You alright?"
Steve took it, his hand small in his grip. "Yeah. Just… bruised pride."
They picked up his books and walked together to a nearby café. The warmth of the shop was a balm after the cold alley. Jin ordered tea. Steve chose cococola, still shaken but grateful.
Minutes passed before Steve finally spoke.
"They've always picked on me," he said softly. "Since I was little. Orphanage kids are easy targets."
Jin sipped his tea quietly.
"I tried to ignore it, to be better. But it never stops." Steve looked down. "They make me feel like I'll never be enough."
Jin watched him. Then, after a moment, he asked, "Why did you not tell me this?"
"Because…" Steve's hands clenched. "I want to change. I want to stand. Please—teach me. Martial arts. Hand-to-hand. Not power. Not magic. Just… enough to fight back."
Jin was silent.
Then he smiled.
"I already planned to."
Steve's eyes lit up.
"You're serious?"
"I don't say things I don't mean."
Steve's smile was bright—brighter than Jin had seen in days.
When Jin returned home, the sky was tinted rose and gold. He stepped onto the porch, where Velka waited with a book and a glass of wine. She looked up, her eyes reflecting the fading sun.
"You're late," she said playfully.
"Steve needed help."
"Did he recognize you?", she asked.
"Eventually."
They walked into the warm, wood-paneled house. Dinner was already set—fresh bread, forest mushrooms, and a light stew.
Velka sat beside him, gently nudging his arm.
"I'll feed you today."
Jin raised a brow. "Is that so?"
She took a spoonful and brought it to his lips.
"Open up."
He chuckled but complied. "Spoiling me now?"
"You've earned it. A god wandering among mortals."
They shared quiet laughter. But then her voice turned thoughtful.
"Do you think about the Lunar World?"
Jin looked into the fire. "Sometimes. Not often."
"We're far from it now. Far from everything." Her eyes dimmed. "Do you think they remember us?"
Jin turned to her. "Do you remember how you came here?"
She paused. Then shook her head. "No. Just… waking up. Next to you."
"My Astral Reft brought me. I fell between worlds."
Velka leaned against him. "Then why hasn't the overseer of this Cosmology acted? Shouldn't our presence cause a ripple?"
"It would… if we disrupted balance. But we live simply. We don't pull from the thread of fate."
She was quiet for a moment. "But we still don't belong here."
"No," Jin said. "But maybe… this place chose to forget that."
Velka closed her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Jin took her hand. "Keep your eyes shut."
She felt warmth—like stars pulsing beneath her skin. A faint hum of reality shifting. Then—silence.
"Open them."
She gasped.
Before her stood a grand house, nestled at the edge of a forest, overlooking a crystal lake. The air was crisp. A serenity hung in the air untouched by time.
"You… bought this?"
Jin nodded. "Nyreth sends me funds. He thinks I don't know."
"You used it on this?"
"I wanted a place for us."
Velka folded her arms, pretending to pout. "You know we won't live here forever."
"That doesn't mean we can't live now."
She smiled despite herself.
They toured the house—rooms bathed in starlight, ancient tapestries hung on walls, books lined like old friends waiting. At the back, the lake shimmered under the moon.
Jin walked toward it, removing his robe.
"You're bathing?" Velka asked.
He looked back. "Coming?"
She blushed. Then smirked. "Of course."
They stepped into the water together. Cool, clean, sacred.
In silence, they floated. Their hands occasionally touched beneath the surface. Eyes closed. Hearts open.
No gods. No warriors. No destiny.
Just them.
For now.