Chapter 7
A place on fire… thick fog…
"Where am I?"
Ryan moved through the flames that surrounded him from every side...
It was as if his very feet were tasting pure agony.
He dragged himself forward over scorching ashes, burning embers clinging to his soles as if refusing to let him move on.
Smoke choked his chest, and his tear-filled eyes barely made out anything through the heat and the haze.
Distant screams echoed…
Or perhaps... they were coming from inside him?
He didn't know anymore... only the pain was real.
Ryan (breathing heavily): "Why? How did all this destruction happen? Where am I?"
Everything around him echoed back his questions, but no voice answered…
It was as if the fog was hiding more than just the path ahead—
as if the very place itself refused to reveal the truth.
Ryan kept walking through the inferno, until—
he spotted someone standing far beyond the destruction.
They stood amidst green grass and trees, in a place untouched by pain… untouched by flames…
But before Ryan could reach them—
...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
Ryan jolted awake, screaming.
He fell out of his bed, tears streaming cold down his cheeks, body trembling violently.
Ryan (voice shaking): "Why… why does this dream keep coming back?"
The door opened.
Ryan's mother entered the room and saw him collapsed on the floor.
She rushed to him, voice gentle and full of worry:
Ryan's Mother: "What's wrong, my son?"
Ryan (looking up at her, sobbing): "That horrible dream again… I was trapped in pain… surrounded by fire… I just want to dream something happy for once!!!"
Ryan's Mother: "Don't cry, it was just a dream.
You're not dead. You're not trapped. We all sometimes have terrifying dreams…"
She smiled softly, though her eyes held a quiet sadness—
as if she knew more than she could say…
"Sometimes, our dreams try to tell us something… but don't be afraid. I'll always be here with you."
She continued, warmly:
"Now come on, get up and have breakfast. You finished your training at Heroa—you need to go back to school, just like everyone else!"
20 minutes later...
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Location: School Road - Iraq/Baghdad
Time: 11:50 AM
Date: January 29th, 2023
――――――――――――――――――――
Ryan was walking slowly along the sidewalk, glancing at the ground, then at the sky, as if searching for meaning behind that dream.
The atmosphere was normal, nothing unusual... only the sound of footsteps and passing cars.
"Strange... what does this dream mean?"
But without warning—!!
"Ryyyyyyoooon!!!"
Mia suddenly appeared in front of him out of nowhere, looking at him gently.
Ryan (raising an eyebrow, looking at her coldly): "Ryon? Such a strange name as always."
Mia (with a teasing yet gentle tone): "Because that was the first name I ever called you!"
{Flashback:}
The schoolyard was filled with the sounds of children... laughter, shouting, footsteps running here and there.
Ryan was strolling alone along the edges... nothing caught his interest... just another boring day in this small yard.
But... he suddenly stopped when he noticed a scene across the yard...
Three kids were standing around a little girl... her black hair tied with red ribbons... she was standing near the slide, staring at it in fear.
Bully 1: "Hey, coward! You don't even know how to slide down from there?"
Bully 3: "Scared of the slide? Hahaha!"
Bully 2: "Come on, let's help her... we'll push her down!"
Mia was staring at the ground, her hands trembling, unable to speak...
Ryan sighed softly... then walked towards them.
Ryan (cold tone): "That's enough."
The kids looked at him in surprise.
Bully 1: "And what's it to you?!"
Ryan (voice extremely cold): "I said, enough."
His gaze was steady... no shouting, no threats... just a cold stare that made the kids back off.
One of them muttered: "Come on, it's useless... let's go."
They walked away...
Mia remained standing alone... then she sank to her knees... hiding her face in her hands.
Ryan stepped forward a few steps, looked at her... said nothing.
Then quietly walked away...
**
Hours later... during break time...
Ryan was sitting under a tree in a far corner... reading a small booklet.
Light footsteps approached him...
He looked up...
Mia was standing in front of him... looking hesitant.
Her eyes were red, but she was trying to smile.
Mia: "U-uh... you... thank you... this morning..."
He didn't answer. He just nodded.
She stayed silent for a moment... then gathered her courage:
"Can... can I be your friend?"
Ryan (raised an eyebrow): "Me? A friend?"
Mia (nodded quickly): "Yes! Because... I don't have any friends... and you... you didn't laugh at me... please..."
He looked at her for a moment... then simply said:
"As you wish."
Her eyes sparkled with a happiness she couldn't hide.
Then she stepped a little closer...
Mia (gently): "What's your name?"
Ryan: "I'm Ryan Syros."
Mia (smiled softly): "Alright... Ryon!"
Ryan (raised an eyebrow again): "Ry...?"
She quickly cut him off in a cheerful, childish tone: "I want to call you Ryon forever! Okay?"
He sighed shortly... then replied:
Ryan (coldly): "As you wish."
She laughed happily... then quietly sat next to him... as if she had finally found her place.
{End of flashback}
Ryan looked away, as if he felt a sense of irony toward himself.
Ryan (to himself): "Ah... how annoying this is..."
Mia noticed the expression on his face and calmed down a little.
Mia (very gently): "Come on, smile, O King of Curses!"
Ryan: "Wait….."
But suddenly, Ryan felt as if his heart stopped beating...
He could no longer feel anything — only destruction and ruin around him — and he heard a faint whisper behind him:
"Failure... you're still that foolish child!"
Then Ryan snapped back to reality and collapsed, gasping for air!!
Mia (shocked): "W-what happened?"
Ryan (whispering to himself): "Am I imagining things? Am I insane?"
As soon as Ryan lifted his head, he found himself once again in the same place as his dream...
How did he get there? How did this happen?
He had no answer!
Ryan: "Why am I here?"
???: (cold voice): "Aren't you the King of Curses... right?"
Ryan (trembling in shock): "Y-yes... who are you?"
???: "I'll tell you when you become more mature, you foolish child!"
Then Ryan was struck in the stomach — blood poured from his mouth...
He returned to reality, as if nothing had happened!
Mia (worried voice): "Ryon... there's blood coming from your mouth!"
Ryan tried to stand, but his body was paralyzed by the pain and shock...
Meanwhile, Mia knelt beside him, unsure of what to do.
Ryan: "How... why? No answer!!"
Then he raised his head to Mia with a serious tone:
"Can I ask you something?"
Mia (curiously and anxiously): "Huh? What is your question?"
Ryan: "Why do you think my dreams are so bad?... And am I insane or what?"
Mia (speaking honestly): "Bad dreams might be because of... blood."
(then adds softly) "And you're not insane, you're just suffering from something unknown!"
Ryan began to think...
He stood up quietly... and looked at the sky.
Ryan (whispering to himself): "It seems I'm starting to understand..."
Mia interrupted him like always, but this time:
Mia (questioningly): "Don't you think you're late for school?"
Ryan (moment of realization, his voice empty): "Why remind me at the wrong time!"
Ryan dashed toward the school quickly, as if his life would end if he were late...
Meanwhile, Mia watched him from afar and smiled.
Mia: "You're always so sweet, Ryon!"
Then Mia walked to her own school gracefully…