"Come and sit over here. Mrs. Milo from next door prepared our breakfast for us today. I can assure you, you'll love it!"

I came downstairs to the first floor and saw my teacher sitting on one side of a wooden table. I sat down across from him and looked at the set of plates, each with different looking dishes. 

The delicious smell was nostalgic. I loved Ms. Milo's cooking and I thought I would never get to eat it again.

"Go on. Try some."

Teacher moved a bit of each dish to my plate and gestured for me to try. He looked at me with anticipation.

I picked up a fork and before I knew it, I was stuffing my face. While watching me eat, the old man wore a soft smile.

"I'm sorry I didn't explain it to you sooner. There's a part of the story about The Great War that I didn't finish telling you."

I looked up while I drank some water. 

My teacher began to explain the hidden parts of the past and I listened carefully while acting like it was my first time hearing it.

Although most of the North was united in their desire to attack the Midland, there was a small group of people who didn't want to go to war. Most of these groups were women, children, and the elderly.

However, they had no power to stop the North's decision and when the war ended, they faced the consequences. They were labeled as monsters, ghosts, and murderers. Forced to flee from their homes and forever on the run. 

A few years later, just when the Northerners were losing all hope, my teacher approached them. 

"After persuading them, I brought them here to start a new life. I knew it was the only place the kingdom would never come looking."

The reason being that this hideout was close to the dark edge. The dark edge was known as the edge of the center world, a line no one dared to cross, and was still filled with mystery.

The dangers were clear to all, because all the monsters that are seen in the center world come from the other side of the dark edge.

My teacher avoided getting deeper into the topic, probably worried that it would scare me, but I knew the only reason the Northerners could keep living here was thanks to him.

Everyday he was fending off all the monsters that got close. Once he passed away I took on that role and only then did I realize the heavy responsibility that weighed on my teacher's shoulders.

"I've been living here since then, helping out these people. I'm hoping that as my student, you can give them a chance. Walk around the village and see what these people are like for yourself. After that you can choose to stay or leave."

"It's okay, teacher."

My teacher's face grew dark.

"But, Abel-"

"No, I mean- I understand. Like you said, I want to see for myself.”

I smiled and his face immediately brightened up. He was always such a simple old man.

"That reminds me, I never asked how old you are!"

In order to lighten the serious mood, he changed the topic.

He asked the same question in my first life, and I chose to lie to him then. I told him I was 10 years old, hoping I wouldn't be looked down upon or taken advantage of because of my age. 

It was only after I became an adult that I found out my teacher already knew I lied.

'Well, there's no reason for me to lie this time...'

"I'm 6 years old."

"Ho! You look much older for your age!"

Like my teacher said, I was much taller than kids my age in the Midlands. My height was actually much closer to the kids in the North. 

"Well that's just perfect. There are many kids around your age in this village. Let's see... Ah! There's this boy named Ia-"

"Grandpa!!"

The door to the house swung open and a young boy with brown chestnut hair and green eyes ran inside. He jumped onto my teacher's lap and wrapped his short arms around his neck. 

"I missed you!"

"Hahaha, speak of the devil. Ian, I missed you too." 

The old man ruffled the boy's hair and the boy laughed in return.

I froze up when I saw the boy. It was easy remembering who he was. 

He was the son of Mrs. Milo from next door and one of the kids my teacher was closest to. 

To be honest, I felt a little uncomfortable meeting him again at this age, because it reminded me of a past that I wasn’t so proud of.

I was a bit... mean to him at first.

I couldn't understand why I didn't like him, but when I got older I realized I was just jealous of his relationship with my teacher.

Even though I gave him the cold shoulder, he continued to bother(?) me and eventually we grew close like brothers. He was there for me when my teacher passed away, even though he was just as sad as I was.

I could never tell him to his face, but I depended on him a lot.

"Ian, this boy here is my student. His name is Abel and he's also 6 years old just like you. I hope the two of you can get along.... Perhaps you can show him around the village."

Ian turned his head and looked at me with sparkling, curious eyes. 

“Grandpa… he looks like you!”

Ian jumped off my teacher’s lap and ran to my side. He looked up and down and tilted his head at me like an excited puppy. He grabbed my arm and looked close. His grip was strong for a 6 year old, but for a Northerner it wasn’t anything special. 

“Your skin is dark like Grandpa’s… I’m jealous!!”

In the past I pushed him off and made him cry. I was startled by the strength in his grip and acted out of reflex. This time, I didn’t make that mistake.

“Ian!”

Grandpa quickly got up and picked Ian up. There was a painful looking red mark on my arm left behind from the grip.

“Abel isn’t like the other kids. You need to be careful when you grab him like that, okay?”

Ian’s watery eyes drooped down as my teacher slowly put him back down. 

“I’m sorry…”

I rubbed the red mark on my arm, as it slowly faded away. 

‘That’s weird… his grip left a bruise on me that lasted a few days in the past. It shouldn’t be fading this fast. Has something changed in this timeline?’

I looked at Ian who was squirming his body and fiddling his fingers. He looked like he was going to cry if I didn’t answer him soon.

I put my hand over his head, and ruffled his hair the same way my teacher did.

”Don’t worry about it. Look, it’s already fading.”

I smiled softly to show that I wasn’t upset and Ian smiled brightly. This time, he carefully grabbed my sleeve and nudged me towards the door. 

“I’ll show you around! You can meet all my friends!”

I looked up at my teacher who nodded softly with a meaningful look in his eyes.

As I followed Ian out the door, I could hear my teacher mumbling softly.

”Is he really a 6 year old boy…?”

***

Ian first showed me his home. It was only a few steps away from my teacher’s house, so we were in and out like the wind. Ian explained everything to me in excitement, as if we were running out of time. Since it was everything I already knew, I followed his pace.   

We visited a few of the other houses as well, but none of Ian’s friends were inside.

”Mrs. Silrose, sorry to bother you! Can you tell me where Lia went?”

Ian yelled towards the kitchen, and a middle aged woman wearing an apron looked out. She looked at Ian, then at me looking a bit confused at first, but then nodding in realization.

”You must be the student Master Kin brought in. I see you finally decided to come out of hiding!”

There was a thorn in her voice and I scratched the back of my head. I guess news about me has already spread throughout the village.

I slightly bowed my head towards her.

”I’m sorry for acting the way I did. It’s not fair that I judged you based on the stories.”

Her eyes widened from my unexpected apology. She stared at me intensely for a few minutes before going into the kitchen and coming out with a small bag. She placed it in Ian’s hand and spoke before disappearing back into the kitchen.

”They’re freshly cooked. Share it with your friends. Oh, and you can find Lia down the hill by the square.”

Ian looked confused by our conversation, but immediately forgot about it by the smell of warm chocolate cookies in his hand. 

“Thank you Mrs. Silrose!”

”Thank you.”

The two of us continued our journey with a cookie in our hands. As we went down the hill, I could see the square up ahead. The whole village was surrounded by a tall stone wall, which was put up by my teacher to protect us from the outside. Only my teacher and I ventured over the wall to fight off monsters. 

Ian continued to talk about each of his friends, his mom, and other things he loved, but I couldn’t hear any of it. 

I could no longer taste the cookie in my mouth and my legs were shaking as we walked into the square. My eyes were blurring as if I was losing my sight. 

I rubbed my eyes and squinted for a better view when I realized the whole world had turned red.

My shoes soaked in the blood, making each step heavier than the next.

The sharp scent of iron stung my nose and my back dripped with sweat.

I blinked and suddenly the village was on fire. Smoke and ash filled the air.

I looked down and I only had one arm dripping with blood. 

“This isn’t real… I’m sure I went back. Get me out of here. I don’t want to see any of this!!”

”Abel!!”

I turned around and saw Ian’s worried face up close to mine. His eyes… were green. 

“Are you okay?! You suddenly stopped walking, and you started shaking…”

I looked back around me and I could see the lively square. Rows of vendors selling all sorts of snacks and merchandise. The blood and fire was gone.

”I’m okay. Sorry for worrying you.”

I tried my best to smile, but I couldn’t do anything about my pale face and sweat.

”We can rest a little. Let’s go sit over there!” 

I followed Ian towards the center where we sat on the edge of a small fountain. The cold droplets of water on my neck felt good, and I let out a deep breath.

”Thanks, Ian. I feel better.”

“Hehe Let me know if you need anything!”

I looked around and let the sight sink in. Everyone was still alive. That’s what matters… no matter what happened in the past, as long as I can protect them this time.

While I reminded myself of my purpose, a group of kids were approaching us. Ian noticed them and waved in their direction. 

A girl with long red hair and red eyes waved back. She walked up next to Ian and whispered in his ear. 

“Ian, who’s that?”

“This is Abel, he’s my new friend!”

Before I knew it I was completely surrounded by the kids. They all seemed curious, looking at me up and down. Their stares were especially focused on my skin. 

“His skin is dark like Master Kins…”

”Maybe he’s his son?”

”Stupid, he’s too young for that! Probably his grandson…”

”Lucky…”

The girl with red hair reached out her hand towards me, but Ian quickly stood up between us.

He stretched his arms out creating a wall between the other kids and I.

”You can’t grab him! He isn’t like us. You have to be careful like this.”

Ian picked up my arm by the sleeve with his fingers and I let out a sigh.

’This is better than our relationship before, but isn’t this too much…’