Entering the World of Cerpenes

This (Not) Dream World

The man gasped when his full name was mentioned by Noemi. His brows furrowed slowly along with his sharp gaze. “What? Why do you call me that?”

Noemi is awake. He approached his peers. Previously, Noemi deliberately called Azve's full name because he knew that the man hated if his name was called in full. “Hey,” Her hand immediately pulled the collar of Azve uniform carelessly. “you unknowingly almost harmed us, ha?”

Azve brushed off Noemi's hand easily as if the strength he exerted was nothing. “I've apologized, right. Not enough?”

His indifferent attitude made Noemi even more annoyed. His hands clenched tightly. If only, if only he could hit this 13-year-old boy in front of him with all his might. If only he was stronger than the proficient disciple in every class in this academy and defeated him. If only this man wasn't—

Suddenly, Noemi heard a groan from behind her body. He forgot, “Viona!”

In contrast to Noemi who was panicking from hearing her pain moans, Viona was speechless looking at her hand that was rubbed on the ground. The pink strokes were clearly visible on his white palms. The throbbing pain is accompanied by a little blood coming out through the wound.

Viona felt devastated.

He. feels pain.

The memory of his first meeting with Victor flashed across his mind. At that time he felt excruciating pain but why did he just remember now?

Viona's hand touched her head slowly.

He just remembered. At that moment, it felt really painful as if his head was torn apart. Then his hand that was scratched by this pebble made Viona remember him again. The little girl looked up at the worried look on Noemi's face and the curious look of the male behind her.

“The boy's name.. Azve.” muttered Viona quietly.

“Then...my name is Viona.”.

“My older brother's name is Victor.”

“What does he talk to?” ask Azve to Noemi in front of him. It was immediately replied with a sharp glare from Noemi. Hinted that the man would be quiet.

"Sir Noemi..” Viona is confused. He was convinced that all this was just a dream. Dreams about short stories that he read last night while accompanying his friend to work at night. The short story that made him feel sad and shed tears due to the death of the main character. He thought that this was just his wish that was manifested in a dream. He who aspires to be Viona, thinks of other ways to be free from the painful ending, and then be realized in this dream.

But suddenly he felt pain. The pain was so real that his thought that this was just a dream collapsed instantly.

“...this is all not a dream?” tears trickled down Viona's cheeks, falling from her eye cuffs.

His eyes moved wildly looking around. The air he breathes. A view as far as the eye can see. The heat of the sun shining brightly. This all feels real. Why didn't he realize it?

But there's no way he's moving into a child's body. It is impossible for a 20-year-old student to move into the body of a 12-year-old child. There is no way the real Thalia becomes Viona who is just a character in a short story.

He must be crazy.

Viona suddenly got up and ran. He's afraid. If she really became Viona Liez from the short story she read, she would be dead! Her magic core will be taken by her brother and she is sure to get a bad ending. He doesn't want to be in this place. He cannot accept everything. Viona, no, Thalia wants to return to her world!

“Viona!”

Noemi who managed to catch up, tried to restrain Viona by touching her hand. “Don't follow me!” But the little girl brushed off Noemi's hand and unknowingly released the magic energy that attacked Noemi.

Noemi's eyes were rounded, her breathing choking as if her entire respiratory organs had stopped working. His feet knelt helplessly, his hands squeezing his chest that hurt.

Viona was surprised to see Noemi who had trouble breathing. The fear spread throughout his body. His panicked mind made his magic flow abnormal. He wanted to help Noemi, but he was terrified.

Just then, Viona felt a cool breeze coming through her skin. For some reason, the pressure around him disappeared. Noemi is no longer stuck and is now coughing as much as possible.

Viona felt the wind forming a ball that covered her entire body, calmed her chaotic mind, eased the emotional turmoil in her mind, then lifted her body and carried her into someone's warm embrace.

“Please, no one will take your magic core.”