The World of this Fantasy Novel is in Crisis

Rogers wiped his palm on his thigh before answering.

“Did Cain… ever say anything to you?”

“Cain?”

Satin narrowed his eyes without realizing it. He remembered once, during a meal with Cain, thinking that Rogers was staring at them unusually intently.

He’d asked Cain if something had happened, but never got a proper answer—just a question in return, asking what kind of guy Rogers seemed like.

So something really did happen, huh.

Rogers was watching Satin’s expression carefully, waiting for a reply. After a brief pause, Satin shook his head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but no, he didn’t say anything.”

He often talked with Cain about the teacher whenever they had time, but it wasn’t like Rogers could’ve known about that—at least, that’s what Satin thought. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than Rogers brought up the teacher.

“I saw the teacher talking with Cain.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Cain had never mentioned speaking with the teacher. Did he hide it on purpose?

Satin brushed aside the fleeting doubt. Maybe it was just a casual conversation. Everyone exchanged a few words when they ran into the teacher in the hall or on the stairs.

When Satin reacted like it was no big deal, Rogers’ expression turned grim. Satin had no clue what he was trying to get at.

“What were they talking about, then?”

“How much do you trust Cain?”

Ironically, Rogers was repeating the exact words Cain had used. Satin responded with a chuckle.

“I wouldn’t say I especially trust him. About the same as I do the others, I guess?”

“But what if—like, really if—Cain became the teacher’s disciple?”

Rogers spoke as if the words were physically difficult to get out, but Satin didn’t look all that surprised.

He’d already considered the possibility that the teacher might not trust him anymore. Choosing Cain as his successor would be the obvious move.

Satin simply scratched his head without much of a reaction, which only seemed to rattle Rogers even more.

“You and Cain have been getting along lately, right? I mean, it looked like you were trying to be friends…”

“Yeah, but as you know, I don’t have any memories.”

“Mm-hm.”

“So I’m not sure what it even means to be the teacher’s disciple. I don’t place special trust in Cain—but not the teacher, either.”

For some reason, Rogers’ face went pale.

“Rogers? What’s wrong? Did I say something weird?”

“You… you don’t trust the teacher?”

“I mean, I don’t particularly trust him, but I don’t doubt him either.”

It sounded like wordplay. Satin didn’t have any real connection with the teacher. Whether the teacher lived or died, it didn’t really matter to him. So the concepts of trust or distrust felt unnecessary.

But Rogers, apparently shaken by how Satin put it, started darting his eyes around, then leaned in closer and lowered his voice to a whisper.

“I… I actually think there’s something suspicious about the teacher.”

“In what way?”

“Did Tim and Maggie really run away?”

When Satin didn’t answer right away, Rogers quickly added,

“There’s nowhere to run to around here. So what if they didn’t run away? What if—just maybe—”

“You think they might’ve been killed?”

Satin cut in abruptly, and Rogers froze for a moment before nodding. Then he began rambling again.

“I really thought the teacher was a good person… but something about all this is just off. What could he possibly gain from helping us? We’re just a bunch of orphans with nothing.”

“Helping children isn’t something adults do for gain. It’s something they should do because they’re adults.”

At Satin’s quiet reply, Rogers closed his mouth. Still, Satin wasn’t trying to shoot down his suspicions, so he continued.

“But yeah… I guess he’s not a good adult.”

“So you have been suspicious too?”

It was better not to tell Rogers the truth—that Tim really was dead. He was only fourteen years old; in modern-day Korea, he’d barely be in middle school. Even harboring vague suspicions was enough to rattle someone his age. There was no need to give him certainty.

Satin uncrossed his arms and gave Rogers a light pat on the shoulder. Rogers flinched sharply. Satin spoke in a calm tone.

“Don’t tell the other kids. Just act like usual.”

“Mm-hmm, okay.”

“But what did Cain talk about with the teacher?”

***

Even after hearing Rogers’ story, Satin behaved as he always did. His habit of interfering with Cain’s plate during meals no longer drew any attention from the other children. No one seemed to care even when the two were together.

Then, a few nights later, Satin saw Cain leaving the room in the dead of night. Cain made an effort to keep his footsteps quiet, as if trying not to wake him, and carefully closed the door behind him.

As soon as the door shut, Satin sat up.

Where is he going? Don’t tell me… to the teacher?

An uneasy feeling twisted in his chest. Is this what betrayal feels like? Could someone feel betrayed even if they hadn’t known each other long? He’d never formed a deep bond with anyone before, so he wasn’t sure what this emotion was.

No… it might not be that.

If what Rogers said was true, maybe Cain was planning something—but that was just a possibility. Maybe he was just going to the bathroom. Maybe he drank too much water, or suddenly got a stomachache.

Am I being too optimistic?

If Cain really was hiding something—and that’s why he hadn’t told Satin anything—

Then this is suspicious, right?

If Cain hadn’t done anything wrong, if he wasn’t up to anything shady, then there was no reason for him to be sneaking around like this. Wasn’t he always grilling Satin whenever he did something strange? Satin had every right to question what Cain might be up to.

First, I need to confirm it. I’ll doubt him after.

Just like when he’d trailed Tim before, Satin quietly opened the door and slipped out. Cain was already walking ahead, not even glancing back. Had he assumed no one would follow?

Even when he reached the stairs, Cain didn’t change direction. He walked straight ahead—and stopped in front of the teacher’s office.

So he really was going to see the teacher.

A chill ran through his chest. Was this betrayal? Really? Or was it something more complicated?

He’d decided not to follow the story his sister had written, but he hadn’t prepared for a situation where the main character rejected him. If the teacher was the imagined evil, the looming threat that wasn’t fully described, then Cain was the protagonist of the story—the theme, the narrative’s voice, his sister’s stand-in.

If Cain had betrayed Satin, it meant the entire world had betrayed him. The world his sister created had suddenly become Wonderland—and not in the good way. A strange, twisted place. How could this happen?

…This isn’t the time to be in shock.

He could wallow in grief under the covers later. Right now, he needed to figure out what Cain and the teacher were plotting.

Satin kept his body hidden in the shadows, watching. Cain knocked on the office door.

I’ve never even been allowed inside.

The teacher sometimes called Satin in to ask meaningless questions. How was he getting along with Cain? Did his memory still seem the same? Had anything changed recently? It never felt like he was actually listening for answers.

A decoy?

It was possible. Maybe he’d done all that to keep Satin from noticing what was really going on with Cain. Coward.

Soon, the door opened. Cain gave a respectful nod and stepped inside. Satin quickly ran up and pressed his ear against the door. Just like last time, he couldn’t make out much of what was being said.

Magic…

That was all he could catch—same as before. Magic, mana… Satin. They were talking about him, and yet he couldn’t even hear it. It was maddening.

What could the teacher have said to pull Cain in like this?

He strained, half-expecting to see some kind of magical glow slipping through the doorframe. Then suddenly, the voices inside stopped. Alarmed, Satin dove to the side just in time as the door opened.

“You’re still not sleeping, Teacher?”

Cain’s voice, though curt as usual, carried a faint note of concern. Satin’s eyes widened—he’d never heard Cain speak like that to the teacher.

He never said anything like that to me.

Had Cain really decided to side with the teacher? Was he trying to cozy up to that villain? What could’ve happened? How could Cain of all people…?

The teacher, apparently amused by Cain’s change in tone, replied with a soft chuckle.

“I sleep less these days—must be age. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

They exchanged brief parting words. As soon as the door closed, Cain turned—and locked eyes with Satin, who was still hiding in the darkness. Startled, Satin flinched. But Cain didn’t even blink. He wasn’t surprised at all.

As if he’d known Satin was there the whole time.

“Cain—”

Satin blurted out without thinking—but quickly shut his mouth again. Cain, perhaps mindful of the fact they were still outside the teacher’s office, didn’t scold him aloud. Instead, he motioned with his hand: Let’s talk back in the room.

The two of them crept back silently. Before Cain could even step inside, Satin shoved him forward and slammed the door shut behind them.

Cain stumbled and nearly lost his balance. He scowled and spun around—only for his hand to shoot up and grab Satin by the collar, pushing him back.

“What the hell was that?”

But Satin didn’t back down, undaunted by the sudden burst of aggression.

“What were you talking about? You’re always grilling me, and now you’re keeping secrets?”

“I was going to tell you once I was sure.”

“Sure about what?”

“That old man asked me if I wanted to learn magic.”

“So?”

Satin didn’t let any surprise show, answering flatly. Cain’s brows furrowed in response.

“What, you already knew?”

“Rogers told me.”

“That kid’s mouth is as thin as tissue paper.”

“Then what did you talk about with the teacher? What’s in that lab? Don’t tell me you’ve betrayed me and—mmph!”

Cain clamped a hand over Satin’s mouth. Satin realized he’d raised his voice and let it go without resistance. Cain wiped his hand on his sleeve and muttered,

“Don’t say dumb shit like that. I only went to sniff out what that old man’s scheming.”

“Really?”

“What would I lie to you for?”