Echoes of Two Worlds

Minjae sat on the edge of the rooftop, the city lights of Seoul flickering below like a scattered galaxy. The soft hum of passing cars and the faint chatter of pedestrians below felt worlds away from the sounds of cracking branches and monster howls he'd become so used to. The wind tugged at his hoodie as he stared up at the sky, moonlight illuminating the thin layer of dust on his worn sneakers—evidence of a recent trip through the portal.

It was a strange balance, this life between two realities. In one, he was a nobody—a quiet high schooler with average grades and a habit of avoiding attention. In the other, he was a mystery cloaked in leather armor, wielding enchanted weapons, and feared by creatures who didn't even know his name.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a strange-looking fruit he'd brought back from the other world. It shimmered faintly in the moonlight, giving off a scent that was hard to describe. Like citrus, but richer… heavier.

He took a bite.

The flavor exploded in his mouth, sweet and tangy, but with a subtle bitterness that settled on the back of his tongue. Almost immediately, he felt a warmth spread through his chest, like a soft heat wrapping around his core.

"Energy boost," he mumbled, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "That'll keep me going."

Behind him, the rooftop door creaked open. Minjae didn't look back—he already knew who it was.

"Seriously?" came a voice. "You're snacking on mystery world fruit again?"

Minjae turned to see Jun-seok, his only friend who kind of knew what was going on. The boy stood in his oversized hoodie, his hair tousled, and eyes slightly annoyed.

"I told you, man. That stuff could mess you up."

Minjae shrugged. "I've already eaten worse over there."

Jun-seok crossed his arms and sat beside him. "You've changed, you know that?"

"Yeah? How so?"

"You used to skip P.E. just to avoid running. Now you're out here fighting boar-lions and bringing back magical produce."

Minjae chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I did change."

Jun-seok was quiet for a moment. "You sure this is still something you can handle on your own?"

"Positive."

Another pause.

"Because you know if it ever gets too much—"

"I'll tell you," Minjae interrupted gently. "I'm not planning to burn out or get myself killed. Promise."

Jun-seok nodded slowly. "Alright. Just… don't forget who you are here, too."

---

The next morning, Minjae sat at the back of his homeroom, staring out the window as the teacher droned on about something he'd stopped caring about ten minutes ago. The lesson barely registered; his thoughts were in the other world.

A small, folded piece of parchment lay inside his blazer pocket—something he'd taken from a ruined tower in the northern region of the other world. It was written in a language he couldn't read, but the symbols pulsed faintly, like they were alive. He'd sensed power the moment he touched it.

The strange thing was… he could feel it calling to him.

Not just in the other world, but even now, in this classroom filled with yawning students and dusty blackboards.

"Minjae!"

He snapped out of his thoughts, blinking rapidly.

The teacher narrowed her eyes. "Are you with us, or are you dreaming again?"

He stood abruptly. "I need to go to the nurse. Headache."

Before she could respond, he was already at the door.

Outside, he made a beeline for the far corner of the schoolyard where no one ever went. His fingers brushed against the parchment inside his pocket.

And then… the air shifted.

A ripple of energy spread out from the paper like a low-pitched hum. Minjae's eyes widened. The same sensation he felt before entering a portal… it was happening again.

But this time—this time it was forming on its own.

"No, no, no—this isn't supposed to happen here."

A thin crack shimmered in the air, like heat distortion. Light leaked through it—light that didn't belong to Earth. He took a step back, watching the space between worlds tear open just a sliver.

Then, with a sudden snap, the crack vanished.

Minjae stood in silence, heart pounding. That shouldn't have been possible.

His portals were always controlled. Only he could summon them—and only from there to here. Not the other way around.

But now… the rules were changing.

---

Later that evening, in his room cluttered with notebooks and scavenged items from the other world, Minjae set the parchment on his desk. He stared at it, unmoving.

He needed answers.

And to get those, he'd have to go back.

Slipping into his closet, he pulled the hidden lever. The floor shifted, revealing the staircase that spiraled downward. He descended quickly, boots already laced and pack strapped to his back.

At the bottom, the old wooden door stood waiting.

Minjae opened it.

The air buzzed with familiarity and mystery. Wind swept through the trees of the forest on the other side. Somewhere in the distance, a monster howled.

He stepped through and closed the door behind him.

---

In the other world, the forest was quieter than usual. A bit too quiet.

Minjae walked carefully, keeping one hand on the hilt of his dagger. His gear had improved—he'd added enchanted armor, a new belt with reinforced runes, and gloves that boosted his grip strength. Every trip back, he returned more prepared than before.

But still, something was… off.

The usual signs of life—chirping insects, distant bird calls—were missing.

Then he saw it.

A clearing.

In the center stood a massive stone obelisk, taller than any tree, covered in the same symbols as the parchment. It pulsed with energy.

Minjae approached slowly.

As he neared, his vision flickered.

Suddenly, he wasn't in the forest anymore.

He stood in a circular chamber, runes glowing all around him. A figure stood ahead, cloaked in shadow.

"I've been waiting for you," the figure said, voice neither male nor female.

Minjae gripped his dagger. "Who are you?"

"The one who first opened the door," the figure replied.

Minjae's eyes narrowed.

"You mean… the first portal?"

A nod.

"Why now?" he asked. "Why me?"

The figure stepped forward slightly, revealing glowing white eyes. "Because the balance has shifted. Two worlds are not meant to remain divided forever. And you—Minjae—have become the thread stitching them together."

Before he could ask more, the chamber faded. He was back in the forest.

Alone.

But now, he had even more questions.

And zero answers.