Break out
"Are you alright?"
Lumino slowly opened his eyes.
Why… did it feel like he'd just woken from a long, endless dream?
Kali sat beside him, a worried look on her face. Next to her, Theo leaned forward with a concerned look.
And… Lumino's grandfather… watching him with deep worry in his eyes.
"I panicked when you collapsed," Kali said softly. "Luckily, I ran into Theo. He helped me bring you home. Then we found your grandfather… He took care of you."
"I… passed out?"
"Food poisoning, if you ask me," Theo chimed in, arms crossed.
His grandfather chuckled, shaking his head, "You're just exhausted, that's all."
"Good thing your friends found you after you collapsed," he said, gently placing a hand on Lumino's shoulder.
Kali gave a relieved smile.
"I'm just glad you're okay. You should rest, Lumino."
She stood up.
"Theo, let's go."
"Eh? I still wanna hang out with Lumino—"
Kali pinched Theo's ear and pulled him back with a playful glare.
"Let Lumino rest, will you? Stop being noisy."
"Alright, alright. We'll head out now, old man." Theo waved to the grandfather.
And with that, the two of them left.
"Lumino… how do you feel?"
His grandfather's voice was calm, yet there was something hesitant beneath it.
Lumino's head still throbbed… and yet, something inside him felt—empty. Like… he'd forgotten something important.
"I'm fine, Grandpa… just a little dizzy."
His grandfather looked like he wanted to say more, but…
He stopped himself. "Get some rest. I'll head out to buy a few things.
I'll make you a delightful meal later, alright?"
Even though Lumino didn't want to trouble him, his grandfather insisted on going.
And… Lumino's heart felt strangely warm.
--
After resting for an entire day, the next morning…
Lumino was planting fresh crops when Theo calling —"Hey, Lumino!" Theo yanked him up by the arm.
"I heard… you and Kali kissed!"
Lumino froze. "Where the hell did you hear that?!" he stammered, frantically returning to his seedlings.
"Pfft. Never underestimate my intel network!" Theo smirked.
"So that's how it is… huh, Lumino? You beat me to it."
"Stop talking nonsense. Help me with this fertilizer," Lumino muttered.
Theo leaned closer, grin widening.
"You're acting way too chill for someone who definitely did it…"
Lumino yanked a plant out of the soil by accident, his face burning. "You're disgusting."
Theo burst into laughter. "Your face says it all."
"Quit teasing my boyfriend."
Bonk.
Kali smacked Theo on the back of the head.
"Ow! What the hell, Kali?!"
"Don't bother my boyfriend," she repeated with a smirk, glancing shyly at Lumino.
Lumino quickly looked down, feeling his face heat up again.
"Tch. So that's how it is now, huh?" Theo sighed dramatically.
"Get a girlfriend, and suddenly your best friends don't matter anymore…"
Lumino turned with a helpless smile."Come on, Theo… friends will always come first."
Theo's eyes sparkled.
"I knew you'd get me, Lumino!"
He grabbed Lumino's fertilizer-covered hand with a dramatic sniff.
Bonk.
"Stop messing with my boyfriend," Kali said again, deadpan.
"Tch."
Lumino laughed— their banter felt comforting.
Yet… a strange emptiness stirred deep in his chest.
What… am I forgetting?
--
One week later.
Has it really been a week since we started dating?
Today, Lumino and Kali planned to visit the royal capital for a proper date.
His grandfather had seemed oddly busy these past days… hiding something, maybe?
Lumino had a hunch.
Maybe Grandpa finally found a woman after all these years…
Though he always said serving God meant never marrying.
Still… I've got a feeling.
"Since Grandpa was busy at the church today, this is the perfect chance," he thought. After all, he was always forbidden from going to the capital. "Lumino, over here!" Kali waved at him.
And wow… she looked beautiful.
"Sorry. Did you wait long?"
Kali shook her head with a gentle smile.
They boarded a carriage together.
But…
Something felt wrong.
First, the carriage wheel broke. They nearly crashed.
Then, a fallen tree blocked the road. No matter what they tried…
Something always got in their way.
And before they knew it…
Night had fallen.
They sat down against a rock, resting by the roadside.
"…Why… huh… why can't we get there?" Lumino sighed, his frustration clear.
Kali giggled softly. "For me… this turned out to be more fun.
Look. The night sky… the stars. They're beautiful, aren't they?"
Lumino looked up—And smiled.
"You're right… This is nice, too."
Kali squeezed his hand gently.
"As long as I'm with you… everything feels beautiful, Lumino."
He gazed at her…
But—
Suddenly…
Her face flickered. Glitched.
Kali's gentle features twisted, becoming… a man's. The sight was jarring. His face, known yet unknown, held sharp eyes, silver irises gleaming coldly, laced with sarcasm, yet a hint of warmth. His presence exuded a silent strength. "Lumino..." The name hung in the air, a mystery. Who was this man?
His head pulsed with a splitting ache. "Lumino? Are you okay?" Kali asked.
Lumino blinked.
And… there in his hands…
A small ring box.
Wha—When did I…?
"What's that?" Kali asked, tilting her head.
…Screw it.
"Kali… will you marry me?"
Kali's eyes widened. The tears welled up—And her smile bloomed like the sun.
"Yes…! Make me your wife, Lumino." She threw her arms around him. And he held her close
But—
Out of the corner of his eye…
A small blond-haired child stood watching them from afar.
Lumino's heart clenched. "I… know that face…"
He gently released Kali and rushed toward the figure. But when he reached the spot—
The child was gone.
--
Life's been surprisingly smooth sailing, but a certain unease lingers in my gut.
That thought often crossed Lumino's mind.
It had been four years since he married Kali. They now had two children—and Kali was expecting their third.
Even Theo had just gotten married to a beautiful girl from the capital.
Lumino had planned to attend the wedding with Kali… but fate, as always, had its own plans.
That night, Lumino dreamed of the blond-haired child again— The child seemed like they wanted to say something…
But Lumino woke up before they could.
And now…
"Tch. Of course it had to end up like this…"
Lumino winced in pain, His leg was fractured.
There was no way he could make the trip to the capital.
So Kali and the kids had gone without him.
Lumino pouted, sitting in his chair.
Why does it feel like something always stops me from going there?
He grumbled under his breath.
"Why won't Grandpa use his divine power to heal my leg?"
Everything felt… strange.
Still, he pushed the unease aside—
Until he found himself pausing mid-bite of his snack.
Why… do I keep thinking of that girl…?
"Maybe… you're just a hallucination," Lumino whispered.
"…Maybe… all of this… is a hallucination."
But that voice—
"Your happiness is everything."
It echoed faintly in his mind…
And still…
An unsettling churn twisted in his gut.
He couldn't sit still anymore.
I have to get out of this house.
When Lumino opened the door—
A woman stood there, Her skin pale as death…Thin… fragile…
Long white hair falling past her shoulders.
When she saw Lumino, her eyes lit up— A wide, trembling smile stretched across her face…
"L-Lumino…"
She reached a hand toward his face, as if trying to touch him…
But Lumino instinctively slapped her hand away.
"NO! Don't look… don't look that way…"
He heard it—
That familiar voice—
The voice of the blond child from his dreams.
And then—
In the blink of an eye—
Lumino was back inside the house.
The scene before him glitched—
Flickering, fast-forwarding like broken film.
"Look… it's our third child… A girl…". Kali lay in bed, pale but smiling.
His grandfather stood nearby, watching over her.
Why… why am I here?
Why does it feel like time jumped forward…?
Wasn't Kali only five months pregnant…?
"Lumino… why aren't you holding our baby?"
Kali's voice was soft… her face pale as snow.
Lumino's stomach twisted.
He staggered outside— And vomited behind a tree.
'This isn't right…'
"You shouldn't have left her like that." Lumino spun around—
In a flash, his surroundings transformed, and he found himself inside a church.Theo sat beside him, arms crossed.
"Kali was heartbroken, you know…
She might've looked fine on the surface…
But after your third child was born, she…
She was crushed."
Theo sighed.
"Why… am I here?" Lumino asked.
Theo gave him a weird look.
"We're at your daughter's baptism, dude.
What's wrong with you?"
What…?
Lumino's head swam.
He turned around, And outside the church…
The blond young girl watched him.
Lumino bolted outside.
"Are you the one… messing with my memories?!
What the hell are you doing to me?!"
He grabbed the child's arm.
The child looked at him, eyes full of quiet sorrow.
"You're the one who rejected the truth. I only want you… to accept it. Accept your happy life… and live it."
"Why are you messing with my memory? stop this madness, Caroline!"
And then—
"Finally… you call me by my name… Caroline."
Caroline…?
The name slipped from his lips like a reflex.
Why… did he know that name?
Suddenly—
Memories that weren't his slammed into his mind—
Dragging him into a darkness he couldn't escape.
--
"Have you adjusted yet?"
A woman asked him gently.
Who… is she? Lumino wondered.
But his mouth moved on its own—
"I'm studying a new spell…By the way, you ended up hated by Tery and Crystal because I became an official Red Witch. In the end, I took the Terracotta post…I just… wanted to thank you for helping me adjust, Wistery."
Wait… why am I saying this…?
He glanced at the reflection in the nearby tea.
The face staring back wasn't his.
It was a woman with blonde hair—Bangs hiding her left eye—
Green eyes shimmering with weariness.
Who is this?! Who… am I?!
"Anyway…Do your best, Caroline." Wistery patted her back.
Caroline…
Two weeks passed.
He couldn't control her body. Everything moved as if scripted. He was… trapped in someone else's memories. Every night, Caroline would glance at a red, dusty book in the corner of her room.
"Sera… please… stop haunting me…" she'd whisper.
Lumino stared too. But he saw nothing there — just a book.
Life as Caroline was exhausting.
She barely slept, murmured spells before bed…
He couldn't get used to it.
"Is it hard for you?" Wistery asked.
Caroline gave her a tired smile.
"You know… I can't always be with you.
We witches have our own paths."
"I'm fine… just a little sleep-deprived."
Wistery sighed.
"I hope people aren't pushing you too hard on your research."
Caroline smiled faintly… stealing glances to her left every now and then.
What is she looking at? Lumino wondered.
--
"I've been invited to the royal palace. The coronation of the new king. I'm supposed to crown him on behalf of the Coven."
Wistery leaned in.
"Will you come with me?"
Caroline asked, "Why me? Why not someone else?"
Wistery smiled,"Because… I like you." Caroline blushed.
Oh great… now I'm blushing too, Lumino groaned inwardly.
They went to the capital together. Lumino didn't care how long this would last anymore.
Being Caroline was draining. The longer it went, the more he felt like he'd lose his mind.
"I am Wistery, Violet Witch. And beside me—Red Witch Caroline." They bowed before the king.
As Caroline lifted her head— The king's face… paled.
But Wistery quickly spoke up, and the king forced a smile.
Does he… know Caroline? Lumino wondered.
--
The coronation would start at eight. Wistery got ready.
Caroline waited outside.
"Sera… did he recognize me? or is he can see you?" Caroline whispered to the air beside her.
Who is this "Sera"…? Lumino thought.
"…Should I ask him?
After all this time… is he really the one?
Can I… accept this?"
Caroline's eyes widened—Her blood boiled.
Anger. Disgust.
Why… do I feel this way?
--
She stood.
She walked toward a certain room.
The queen's chamber… and her children's.
From the doorway, Caroline stared inside.
Why… this intense stare?
--
"How do I look?" Wistery twirled in front of Caroline.
"You look… perfect."
"Really? That's it? Maybe I should wear something else." Just said that she beautiful!
"You're beautiful," Caroline said.
Wistery smiled.
Wait… do I have control now? Lumino blinked.
"Let's go," Wistery said. Maybe I can think like this.
Caroline caught up… and held her hand.
Wistery blinked, surprised—But smiled, walking on.
Nice, it work. Lumino smile in his thought.
--
The coronation went smoothly.
But the king… kept glancing at Caroline. Even when Wistery put the crown on her. Or like when she interacted with the new queen, his wife.
Something's wrong…
--
Later—
Caroline and the king were alone in the waiting room. Wistery left, swarmed by admirers.
The king's gaze never left Caroline.
She broke the silence—
"Your Majesty…Why have you been staring at me all this time?"
The king answered, "You… look like someone I once knew."
"Was her name… Stela?" Caroline asked.
Stela?
"Yes…Do you know her?"
"Yes… I'm her daughter."
The king shot to his feet, biting his finger in panic.
"I knew it…So, are you… my father?" Caroline's voice was flat.
Wait… WHAT?!
The king's face twisted ever so slightly.
"So… you're Stela's child."
"Yes," Caroline replied, voice as thin as a blade.
Though outside she smiled politely, inside her mind was burning.
You knew.
You always knew.
And you let us rot.
--
That night, they left the palace.
Caroline walked beside Wistery, silent. Wistery looked at her for a moment but said nothing.
When they reached the outer town—"Caroline."
A sharp voice. Tery stood waiting.
Tery's eyes scanned Caroline like dissecting prey. "You've been at the capital… with the Coven's name on your back. I expect you behaved."
Caroline merely nodded. Wistery look at Tery with sharp Eyes, "What are you doing? Don't pressure her"
But Tery smirked. "Why? You don't like that I talk to your girltoy? Wistery feel angry. "How about I brought her for a while?"
Wistery make a gesture that if Tery doing bad things Caroline have to report it to her. Wistery then go leave and gave them space.
So this is how another witch see her… a pawn. Lumino's heart clenched. Caroline bowed slightly, lips pressed tight. Reassure herself to behave well.
But inside—A storm brewed.
"You're going to Wedelia. Alone." Tery's voice snapped in her ear the next morning.
Caroline blinked. "The western wastelands?"
"Don't act surprised.I don't even know how can Wistery have a faith to you. Consider it a test. Finish the mission. Or don't come back."
She nodded again.
But as she walked away—
How convenient… she thought darkly.
--
Lumino tried to reason inside her mind.
We are not obligated to listen. We could leave. We could— run.
But his thoughts bled into hers.
And hers… into his.
He began to feel her envy.
Her rage.
Her desire to destroy everything she couldn't have.
It wasn't just watching anymore.
He was becoming her. And he know how exactly how he feel now.