Eran was crying silently when she woke up. Yet, she clenched her hands tightly, and never felt so relaxed before.

...

In her dreams, she was standing in a circular room made of solid stone. On the stone, was a mural intricately carved out. There were dragons, humans, monsters, and beasts that Eran couldn't name.

Before her, stood herself. It was the Eran on Jahad's team. Her hair was longer, and her eyes were duller. Much, much duller. Her skin was paler, and fingers boney. Her body was very scrawny and dirty.

Other than that, the similarities were uncanny. The present Eran got most of her features from her own last self, after all.

Yet, the present self couldn't bring herself to say that it's ugly. That was the form she was in for hundreds of years after all.

Eran smiled as well, and agreed. "Yes."

"It's tiring." The present Eran shared. "I'm so tired, I want to cry and do nothing. I want to die. Why am I still alive?"

"It's hard, when I think of you too." The present Eran cried. "Of how you have to lock yourself here, because you think I'm too weak to carry in your burdens too."

" You call yourself the past Eran, but are you not living in the present? So you not absorb my own sadness as well?" Eran said. "Please, come up with me to the surface."

"We will be fine." Eran said. "Well, not fine, but I would feel more complete. It feels bad, when the sadness in my chest disappears the next day, because you took all of it. I won't let this go on. Let me carry your sadness as well. In return, you'll carry my happiness too."

feelings

Both Eran hugged each other, and the past Eran melted into the present.

"It's fine." The present Eran said. "You're very kind, choosing to take care of me even though you could have hated me for making you suffer like this."

The murals, were all carved out of Eran's fingers. She would rub and smash and bash them against the walls, to starve off the pain and depression. Her fingers would have been crushed beyond redemption, but as she was only emotions, her body would always return back to its original form. As such, this mural was an imprint of pain and suffering, and of long torture.

"My goal is to make sure that people suffer as little as possible." The present Eran whispered. "I, myself, shouldn't be an exception."

...

The next day, Eran walked around without her scarf covering her face. She merely wrapped it around her neck, as she walked around.

"Ah." Was everyone's first reaction. They, they immediate avoided her gaze.

"... Brother!! Am I that ugly....." Eran was close to tears as she hugged Bam tightly. "Waaa..."

Bam just nervously patted Eran's head. Throughout their journey together, Eran have never acted so childish before.

"Eran..." Bam started. "I think it's because you never let down your scarf before. They must be surprised."

Eran merely nodded her head.

When this went for a few more days, Eran ranted about this to her family.

"Hm, maybe they are just surprised by Eran's beauty." Jahad said. "I want to gorge out the eyes of any man who looks at you now Eran."

"My sister is indeed the prettiest girl in the world!" Eduan proudly boasted.

"They get to see you?! Aw... I want to run over and give you a hug now..." Yurin complained.

"Hahaha!" Eran's boisterous laughter could be heard through the door. Eran never laughed so freely in ages. "What...!! You're all so silly!"

...

"Hello teacher!" Eran greeted cheerfully. Naturally, Jinsung Ha was definitely shocked.

"Was my student always so happy and pretty?" He remarked, still dazed. "You must be an imposter!!"

"Shut it or I'll kill you." Eran growled, and glared at him childishly. Yet, her ears were pink. Then, she escaped back to her room.

"Her siblings would kill you is he heard you say that." Hwa Ryun said, as she sipped her tea.

"That's true." Jinsung mused.

...

It was when Eran was sleeping. She was having quite a good sleep, as she didn't wake up even when her pocket was ringing. As such, bam picked up the call for her.

Bam was about to tell the caller that Eran was resting, when he froze.

"So, have you thought about my proposal?" A deep voice, laced with adoration and love, was heard from the pocket. " I have all sorts of presents here, just waiting to be sent to you..."

"... Eran is resting. Please call her later." Bam replied.

"... You're not Eran. Who are you?" The voice questioned coldly. The change was so drastic, it almost seemed like as though it was from a different person.

"That's a good question!" Jinsung Ha wrapped his arm loosely around Bam's neck. "I'm Jinsung Ha, and this is Viole you're currently speaking to."

"Ah." The voice suddenly said. It seems like he recognised those names. "The grandson of Yurin, and a powerful member of FUG. I believe Viole must be your student?"

Suddenly, Jinsung's demeanor changed. "Who are you? How do you know this?"

"If you're wondering, Eran didn't tell me about you at all." The voice said with indifference. "I should introduce myself. My name is Jahad, your enemy. A pleasure to meet you. Feel free to kill me, if you can. But be prepared to die."

"Well, since my sister is resting, I will cut this conversation short. Don't tell her about what we said today. I'll kill you if you do." Jahad threatened.

" I won't, regardless of your threat." Jinsung replied. "She's also my student now."

Just like that, the call was cut. Naturally, Eran knew nothing of this. Bam, Jinsung, and Jahad acted as though nothing have happened before.

Occasionally, when Jahad called when Eran was asleep, Jinsung and Jahad would squabble and argue childishly. Jinsung would rub it in Jahad's face that Eran was spending time with him, while Jahad would then describe Eran's cutest moments to him. Either way, both old men hated each other. Hwa Ryun and Bam just sat in a corner, listening to these two esteemed adults bicker like children.

Of course, Eran never knew of it.