[Arceid]

  I checked my brother's body, my hands trembling slightly. His wounds — the gaping hole in his torso, the fractured bones, the shredded flesh — were regenerating at an astonishing speed. His bones realigned, nerves mended, and skin wove itself back together, all without any external aid.

  My eyes widened. I turned to Junia, hoping for an explanation.

  She gasped, “Don’t look at me like that! I have no idea what’s happening. Sure, the new generation kids can heal themselves, but this? This is way beyond anything I’ve seen. His body is healing on its own, without any conscious effort.”

  I could feel his heartbeat stabilizing beneath my palm. His breathing grew steady. His skin, once pale and clammy, regained color. It was… surreal.

  “His condition is stabilizing,” I muttered. “His heart’s pumping fine, his lungs are working. We should keep him under observation.”

  Junia nodded. “I was about to suggest the same. My best guess? The cosmic energy from the portal must’ve influenced his body — it’s the only logical explanation.”

  A team of workers arrived with a stretcher, carefully moving Azrael to the observation room. I watched in silence, my mind clouded with disbelief.

  ……

  A few moments later, Junia approached me.

  “So… what do you think? Was the experiment successful?” she asked.

  I exhaled slowly. “I’d say partially. We managed to create a semi-stable wormhole, but it still needs a lot of work.”

  “Fair enough. Once it’s perfected, we might be able to deploy a rescue team to search for the victims.”

  I chuckled, “Victims, huh? I’ve been calling them ‘devoured people.’”

  Junia shot me a glare. “Don’t say ‘devoured.’ It makes it sound like they were killed. Just… victims, okay?”

  I raised my hands defensively. “Alright, alright. My bad.”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  She pouted, crossing her arms. “Good. You’re lucky I let you off easy.”

  We both shared a small laugh, temporarily pushing aside the grim weight of reality.

  “I’m gonna go check on your brother,” Junia said. “I’ll send someone to inform you when the assessment’s done.”

  I nodded and made my way to the break room to grab some refreshments. My thoughts, however, never left Azrael.

  ……

  A few hours later.

  A worker eventually came to inform me that the checkup was complete. Without wasting a second, I hurried to the observation room.

  The room was vast — white marble floors with intricate carvings lined the walls. Azrael lay on a large medical bed, surrounded by advanced diagnostic machines, each emitting faint mechanical whirs and clinks.

  Junia stood beside him, a serious expression plastered on her face. But when she noticed me, her lips curled into a mischievous grin.

  “You never told me your brother was this handsome,” she teased.

  I chuckled. “I mean… he is my brother. Looks kinda run in the family, you know?”

  Junia scoffed, “Yeah, yeah. Humble as always.” Then her tone shifted. “Jokes aside, you must be overwhelmed. Having your brother back after fifteen years…”

  I took a deep breath. “Honestly? Not as much as you’d think. I think I already have a grasp of what’s happening. Time dilation theory, right?”

  Junia’s eyes widened in surprise. “Hah! So you aren’t just a muscle-brained brute after all.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ve known you for half a decade, Junia. You still think I’m all brawn and no brain?”

  She laughed. “Sorry, sorry. But yes, you’re right. Time in those portals flows differently. From his perspective, he probably still thinks it’s the same day he was devoured.”

  I frowned. “Then why did the portal open here, at this exact spot?”

  Junia’s face darkened. “That’s the part that’s bothering me. The portal didn’t just appear — it returned. It’s the exact same one from fifteen years ago. Only the location shifted.”

  I froze. “…What are you saying?”

  Junia grabbed my trembling hands. “I mean the portals are moving. They aren't fixed points anymore. The secured zones? Meaningless now. Those creatures can emerge anywhere — anytime.”

  My blood ran cold. My scalp dried up. If what she said was true, then nowhere is safe. My stomach churned at the horrifying realization.

  Before I could fully process the gravity of the situation, I heard a familiar voice.

  “What kind of kinky act are you two playing in front of a patient?”

  Junia and I both flinched, instinctively putting distance between ourselves. Azrael was awake, sitting straight, his eyes lazily mocking us.

  I cleared my throat, glaring at him. “You’re awfully energetic for someone who was half dead a few hours ago, don’t you think, little brother?”

  Azrael dramatically clutched his chest. “How could you say that? I’m just barely managing to sit upright. My body feels like it’s been ripped apart and sewn back together!”

  “…Technically, it was,” I muttered under my breath.

  Looking at him now — he hadn’t aged a day. Same fair skin, slightly above-average height, messy raven-black hair, and those sharp dark eyes. Despite being trapped for fifteen years, he still looked like the nineteen-year-old boy who once protected Edith. His body was still slightly skinny, but his features screamed troublemaker.

  “So,” I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. “Wanna tell me how you’re feeling?”

  Azrael winced dramatically. “Like half my torso was ripped out and shoved back in. Every inch of me is sore as hell.”

  “Yeah, well. That’s exactly what happened.”

  He scoffed. “Fantastic. So… how about you tell me what the hell happened while I was gone?”

  I grinned. “Sure.” I grabbed my personal diary from my pocket and flung it at his face.

  Thud!

  “What the hell!?” Azrael flared. “I’m a patient, you know. Show some sympathy!”

  “Quit whining and read,” I smirked. “I summarized the past fifteen years for you.”

  Grumbling, he caught the diary and skimmed through it. About half an hour later, he set it down, exhaling sharply.

  “…Shit.”

  “Yeah. Welcome to the future, kid.” I smirked. “By the way, I’m twenty-six years older than you now. That makes me your big-big brother officially. Show some respect. Lil bro.”

  Azrael raised an eyebrow. “…Sure thing, Uncle Arceid.”

  My eyes twitched. Without hesitation, I walked over and smacked the back of his head.

  Smack!

  “OW! What the hell!?”

  “Watch your mouth, kid.”

  Yup. He’s still the same damn brat.