Yulie awoke at dawn, her first instinct to check the state of her heart. The sharp, tearing pain that had once greeted her each morning noticeably lessened.0

"At least this means I won’t be meeting my end today," Yulie murmured.0

As was her routine, she stepped into the corridor, where the air felt unnaturally crisp—sharper, clearer than she remembered. On the wall hung a painting she had not noticed before.1

"... Hmm."0

The moment Yulie’s eyes fell upon the landscape painting, she offered a small nod of approval. It was an unbidden gesture, born of quiet admiration, as natural as a breath.0

Winter0

Beyond the wall of Rekordak, the canvas captured the dreamlike essence of the unexplored region’s landscape. The simple title, Winter, felt almost inevitable, fitting it with tranquil perfection.0

“Could this be Reylie’s work…”0

Reylie was the only one in Rekordak known to paint, making the work likely hers. She seemed to have grown significantly. Even to someone like Yulie,...0