She remembered his gentle voice.“Selvier, the weather is so beautiful today⋯⋯ The sun is warm, and the clouds have just the right amount of clarity.
His black hair fluttered softly. His face, untainted by darkness, was filled with a quiet, unwavering optimism. He stood apart from everyone else in the village.
In a place where the townspeople were steeped in jealousy, envy, and anger, he alone stood as a beacon of light, defying the inherited evils that had plagued the town for generations. He was the light in the midst of shadows.
To put it plainly, this boy didn’t belong in that village.
He told off immature boys, mediated conflicts between neighbors, offered wise solutions, never retaliated when insulted, and even extended kindness to complete strangers.
He raised his voice against the village’s many vile practices, fought against injustice, upheld righteousness, and pulled people from the darkness within their hearts.
It was unimaginable that all of this came from a mere child. How could a boy, barely seven, do all that? That was why he received gazes of awe and fear equally.
He was the brightest light in the village.
And he was Selvier’s childhood friend.
He also talked a bit too much.“People need to receive sunlight regularly. And⋯⋯ It’s the best to run around freely as a kid. I think, that’s⋯⋯ the best way to enjoy your childhood.”
“You always talk too much. Stop acting like a know-it-all, you dummy!”
“Hmm⋯⋯ Sorry Selvier, I must have bored you. How about we play hide and seek?”
The way he spoke so smoothly while looking her straight in the eye was, in a word⋯⋯ mature. Unlike the other boys who flew into a rage over the smallest comments, he kept his calm.
At that time, Selvier was too young and inexperienced, so the best word she could find to describe him was "mature."
Whenever he looked at her, her heart would itch and she would get this weird feeling. Irritated by this feeling, young Selvier snapped.
“You should have done that from the start!”
“But don’t wander too far this time. If you go past the forest again⋯⋯ I won’t speak to you for a week.”
“⋯⋯I have a lot of friends besides you, you know!”
“Eung. If you disobey, it’s a week of silence. I don’t negotiate with terrorists who venture beyond the forest.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Even though he tolerated Selvier’s childish tantrums, he always drew a firm line on things she couldn’t do. Because of that, Selvier didn’t end up getting killed by a bear or wolf.
Looking back, she realized just how strange it was. Despite being only a few years older, he was more mature than anyone else in the village back then. It was as if he had already lived decades before.
In this village, it was common to ransack a house where the parents had died, with people justifying their theft by saying, "The dead’s belongings are public property," as they took essential items and furniture right in front of the mourning children.
It was a really bad environment for a child’s emotional development.
If he hadn’t been there, Selvier would likely have grown up with a twisted personality.
She wouldn’t have known how to manage stress, how to overcome walls, or how to make friends. She might not have even learned how to love herself.
That’s why, now⋯⋯ she felt a deep need to say something to Envers, who had lost his way.
She understood just how much strength a kind word could provide when someone’s heart was in pain.
It was like spreading the warm teachings of a prophet, sharing fire with children shivering in the cold, or breaking off a piece of bread for a starving woman.
She had received more than enough from him to fill her own heart’s emptiness, and she decided she wanted to be someone who could give to others.
Selvier wanted to be a cool person.
===============================================================
What would he have done?
What words would he have tried to convey?
Selvier asked the childhood friend who still lived in her heart, although his face had grown hazy.
The fragment of a memory flickered by, and Selvier decided on the story she would share.
===============================================================
Envers groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. As his vision cleared, he saw the night sky. Looking around, he realized he was in a dark park, bathed in deep blue moonlight.
“⋯⋯Where am I?"
“The Academy’s garden, on a bench. Are you starting to sober up? Drunkard.”
Envers stood there, hazy and lost in thought. He remembered the overwhelming wall he felt when he faced the Heavenly Demon, the hopelessness, and the alcohol he turned to in order to escape the pain in his heart.
The woman had coaxed him, saying, "If you wish, I can show you a paradise without pain"⋯⋯.
Envers buried his face in his hands and muttered in despair. It was painful just to be awake. He felt as if all his efforts had been for nothing.
"You should have just left me there⋯⋯."
“Oh my.”
Selvier narrowed her eyes at him.
After a brief silence, she closed her eyes, trying to understand Envers’ feelings. Throughout his life, he had been burdened with the "pressure to succeed" and the "punishment for failure."
He had been raised as the family’s assassin amidst endless competition. Even for someone who was bright natured originally, there must have been a thorn lodged deep in his heart.
Failure was not an option.
Then came his brother’s betrayal, the damage to his Mana Circuit, the expulsion of his mother, and the cold indifference from his family that followed. These events must have driven the thorn even deeper.
If only I had more ⋯⋯ power.
If that was what he believed.
Selvier began to speak.
“Envers, do you hate failure?”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Envers gulped, as if her words had pierced him like a sword.
“You know, I heard you had a goal. A reason why you came to the Academy.”
“......I do.”
“Can you tell me?”
“⋯⋯I’m going to build my strength and return to my family. I’ll fix everything I missed... everything that went wrong. That’s what I have to do.”
Envers replied glumly. I see. Selvier nodded, then spoke again.
“You know, I have an important goal too⋯⋯ My family, my teacher and my savior. My goal is to find my lost childhood friend, and repay all that I received from him.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
“There’s also that guy who became the Tower Master’s disciple before me, that bitch Snow White⋯⋯ who’s already reached Metamorphosis. I’m not even sure if I’m moving forward. I wonder if I’ll ever reach that stage at all.”
But then she added:
“When we hit a wall like that... the difference between you becoming a drunk and me walking forward, is just a difference in perspective.”
"⋯⋯What do you mean?”
“Stop focusing on the wall, Envers. Look at yourself.”
A Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains1 .
“We climbed the Tower of Trials, and we learned a lot. Especially you... You even picked up that strange technique when you were messing around with Luna, right?”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
“You’re stronger now, Envers. And you’ll keep getting stronger. Don’t fixate on the wall you can’t climb—look at the steps you’ve already taken. Then, just keep going... like you always have.”
"Are you⋯⋯trying to comfort me?"
Selvier didn’t answer. Instead, she gave him a light tap on the back of the head. Envers awkwardly touched the spot where she hit him, then stood up.
A person doesn’t change overnight. He was still rattled by his failure, but her words had lifted a weight off his chest, if only a little.
It reminded him of something—an old feeling.
Back when he and Roderus were close, when Roderus would subtly look out for him even while complaining.
“I⋯⋯ thank you."
“Forget it. We’re friends, aren’t we? Just stop moping around and quit drinking—it’s pathetic.”
“⋯⋯May I start calling you Noonim2 ?
“Are you crazy?”
Selvier shuddered.
With a sigh, she glanced at him and added.
“By the way, Luna said she wanted to see you. She’ll be at the place where the Tower of Trials was. You should go see her on your way back.”
“And if I catch even a hint of alcohol on you again, a flame arrow’s going to be coming your way.” Selvier sternly warned him and walked away.
Envers stood there for a moment, watching her leave, then made his way toward the Tower of Trials where Luna was waiting.
===============================================================
Moonlight streamed through the window.
Under the stillness of the deep blue night, a girl's silhouette moved gracefully, the moonlight serving as her spotlight.
"⋯⋯Luna."
Luna was dancing. She moved like a bird in flight, then like a snake, her hands and feet flowing through the air as she transformed her form.
Peering through the door, Envers was mesmerized.
The curves and lines her body drew were pure beauty. Combined with the intricacies of her movements, it was like watching art come to life.
He was unsure if it was alright to approach her.
To the point he hesitated on whether it was alright to step inside.
Just then, her eyes met his. Envers froze, feeling as though he had been caught doing something forbidden.
Luna’s lips curved into a smooth smile. In a voice devoid of emotion, but crystal clear in the still night, she called out
“Voyeurist.”
"⋯⋯Am not."
“Come in.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Envers felt his face heat up as he stepped further into the room. The night breeze was cold, but maybe it was because his heart was racing, it felt warm.
As he neared, he could see Luna’s skin glistening with sweat. Her damp clothes were clinging tightly to her body, outlining her curves.
He had nowhere to look.
“Gaze.”
"⋯⋯What did you say?"
“I feel. Your gaze.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Of course. Luna was the one who had taught Envers Gaze Insight. She would have sensed exactly where his eyes had been from the moment he entered the room.
Realizing this, his embarrassment only deepened, and he shut his eyes. He wasn’t sure he could trust himself to control his impulses as a man.
Heh.
He heard a faint chuckle. His eyelids twitched, but he didn’t open them. Did Luna laugh? Was she sneering, or⋯⋯.
“Thinking, too much. Open your eyes.”
"⋯⋯It is difficult.”
“I know. Open them.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
Her command held a weight that made it impossible for Envers to disobey. He reluctantly cracked his eyes open, but fixed them entirely on Luna’s forehead.
Luna met Envers' gaze with a strange smile, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she pointed at her own eyes and then gestured to herself.
She wanted him to look at her.
She started moving. It was an inexplicable mess… something he couldn't see the point of. She suddenly sat, then flipped into a handstand, effortlessly shifting her weight.
At first, Envers was completely lost. But as he watched, something clicked.
She was imitating the movements of the Heavenly Demon. Those bizarre techniques that had shattered his understanding of martial arts—things he didn’t even dare recall.
"⋯⋯Is that something you’ve been practicing?"
“Eung. Little by little.”
"⋯⋯While I was drowning in my own failures, you’ve gotten that far.”
“That’s not it.”
She didn’t show him this to make him feel like that.
Luna stopped and stared at Envers. She wasn’t the best with words. Her body had always been her language, and it had worked up until now.
He normally listens so well, so why was he struggling this time?
With a small sigh, she spoke.
“I taught you. Gaze. And Ignition as well. Heavenly Demon... is no different.”
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
“Me, good teacher. You, good student.”
"⋯⋯You want to teach me that?"
Luna gave a slight shake of her head, indicating he had only partially understood. She tapped him lightly on the chest with her fist, her lips curling into a teasing smile.
“Then. Let us bet.”
"⋯⋯A bet you say."
“You go. Another world. Go, learn.”
Her meaning was clear. She would continue to study the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts here, while Envers would go to where the Heavenly Demon lived and learn their martial studies firsthand.
“And once you’re ready. Fight.”
Once you’ve mastered enough and the time is right, let’s test each other’s martial arts. A simple bet, with nothing on the line. No big goal nor duty, nor the enthusiasm that it must be done. However…
“Enjoy it.”
Just like how we enjoyed climbing the tower. How we didn’t let the failure of an attempt remain just that—a failure.
So that the sting of failure could be softened by the joy of playing.
But, since a bet with nothing on the line would be boring⋯⋯.
Luna brought her index and middle fingers to her lips, then gently tapped them against Envers’ lips. While making a smooch sound from her mouth.
“If you win, I’ll give you one for real.”
Since you seem to have a lot of interest in me.
"⋯⋯⋯⋯."
“Wanna do it?”
"⋯⋯I shall do it."
“Alright.”
Then see you later.
With that, she gave his chest a light push, parting ways.
Envers stood frozen, as if his mind had just been reset. Everything that followed felt like the aftereffects of a dream.
He wandered back to his dorm in a daze, brushed his teeth absentmindedly, and eventually collapsed onto his bed.
For the next hour, his brain remained in a state of numb confusion. He swore at himself for feeling motivated by something like an indirect kiss, yet part of him rationalized that it was reason enough to feel energized, leaving him in a state of confusion.
"⋯⋯I will have to start by giving up alcohol."
In the end, he managed to set his mind straight.
[When the Moonlight Seeps In : After clearing the Murim Session, beat Luna in a friendly spar]
1. When there’s a will, there’s a way.2. Formal version of Noona