Because I am Surtr

Author's Note

Hmm... it's been published.

I feel like I should say something... but I also feel like there's nothing to say.

So, I won't be playing the victim, hyping things up, or sharing my emotional journey.

In short, there should be three updates today... the update times will be the same as usual, maybe a bit more depending on circumstances.

If you like this story, let's see it through together.

This story is still very long, so please look forward to it.

Chapter 44: What If the Time Machine is Broken?

The girls looked at each other.

She looked at you, and you looked at her.

Finally, Miss Surtr was the first to react—she moved away from Yelena, didn't stand up, and just sat down on the grass next to Yelena. For once, she looked a bit dejected, then she spoke.

"Ask whatever you want to know."

However, the woman's first point of attention was always unexpected.

"Your horns are gone," Yelena was the first to notice. Then she touched the two rabbit ears on her own head. "But my ears are still here."

"Because this isn't Terra," Miss Surtr replied listlessly, her voice drawn out. "You can think of this place as another world, or a dream realm. Whenever I fall asleep, my spirit travels to a foreign land, and I have an adventure here..."

She saw Yelena looking thoughtful.

"...You understand?"

"Mhm." Yelena's response was unexpected—for the second time. But her subsequent explanation made Surtr realize.

"I once met a Sami priest in the northern part of Ursus. She told me some stories. Among them was a tale about how, by consuming special spices and performing rituals, one could enter a phantom wasteland called the 'Imperial Consciousness.' There, various strange things would happen, and sights never before seen would be witnessed—is this what you mean by the dream realm?"

—So that's how it is, the Integrated Strategies content? If that's the case, then the journey into the dream realm is quite similar to that.

—Wasn't that why I initially called the dream realm the dream realm? However, the facts proved that the dream realm and the real world are not the same. And the biggest, most significant difference is that in the real world, no external force can affect the dream realm, but the Imperial Consciousness is not like that.

—Cerberus can be awakened by Gavial's fist, but I'm different. Because time is meaningless between the two worlds. During the dream realm journey, entering and leaving happen in the same instant, and the remaining time is a true period of dormancy. In other words, even Persephone cannot drag me out of the dream realm with Death Return. Because she cannot achieve the event of 'I was in the dream realm and had not returned at the time of the death return.'

—But I don't need to explain it so thoroughly here; I'll tell Yelena slowly later.

Thus, Miss Surtr nodded.

"Mhm, although there are some differences, you can understand it that way. But there's a small problem... we can't go back from here for a while." She concealed some potentially worrying information. "I can't take you back directly from here. Perhaps... we need to find a way."

"Then we won't rush back," Yelena blurted out subconsciously, then suddenly blushed slightly and averted her gaze. "I... I mean. Since it's a dream, waking up is inevitable, right? Amiya said she'd wake me up tomorrow morning. So..."

—The problem is, if I can't figure out a way to take you back, then even if we stay here for ten thousand years, only an instant will have passed over there! My dear sister! This world could be destroyed at any moment, and I don't know if you can be revived or return to the real world if you die here!

—Death Return can't pull a lost soul across a universe! At least, I don't think it can!

"Mhm," Miss Surtr nodded. She realized that in the end, she still couldn't view this world in a completely different way of life. After all, the situation was special, and now was not the time for leisure and entertainment.

—Secrets cannot be kept forever; you will know sooner or later.

—But before that, Yelena, I will definitely protect you.

So she made up her mind.

And slightly changed the subject to avoid revealing too much.

"I've been to this world a long time ago, done some things, and know some things. Many places, many things, many people or objects are different from Terra. For example, the humans here don't look much like the ones on Terra. For example..." She looked at the staff in Yelena's hand. "There's no Originium here."

Yelena's eyes suddenly lit up—but quickly returned to calm. She nodded, gently stroking the staff in her hand and the lingering ice crystals—she had brought Originium with her; she had just used it to perform Originium Arts.

"That's a beautiful dream," she said softly, her words seeming to imply something but not explicitly stating it. "I know."

She seemed to have discovered something. At least, she realized that Surtr's words were not fully spoken—this flame-haired Sarkaz never knew how to hide her thoughts. And precisely because of this, this blockhead attracted others to her.

She wouldn't say it, just as Surtr wouldn't say it. Because it was respect. And because... this was a wonderful opportunity.

'I'm sorry, Talulah, Alina, and Miss Amiya, whom I just met today. I'm going to keep this all to myself.'—The Frost Maiden's heart was filled with a thousand tender thoughts.

And naturally, the blockhead wouldn't notice this.

"A beautiful dream?" Miss Surtr gently chewed on these words, feeling a wave of powerlessness—compared to the end of the Age of Fire in Dark Souls, Terra's current environment wasn't that harsh. It's just that Dark Souls had a solution, while Terra was still searching for one.

"Every world has its own difficulties, Yelena... Come on, there should be someone here who knows. Through her, we can understand the symptoms this world is facing—shall I help you up?"

Yelena shook her head and tried to push herself up with her hands on the ground. However, halfway through the movement, she frowned, pursed her lips, and seemed to want to say something but it got stuck in her throat.

"Did you twist your ankle?" Surtr asked, her gaze shifting down, and she saw the girl's snow-white feet.

She saw Yelena's feet tremble as if trying to retract them, but she forced herself to endure it and didn't move.

—It doesn't look like anything is twisted.

—But she's dressed so thinly... Right, she's not afraid of the cold.

Her thoughts raced, turning over and over. She cupped Yelena's ankle and carefully examined it. The skin, which she had personally cleaned not long ago, was naturally free of any dirt—she saw those snow-white feet subtly flush a faint red in her palm. After taking off the short boots she wore in the office, her delicate toes clenched together, unmoving.

She didn't quite understand why Yelena was so tense, but she still moved her hands to massage the ankle area.

It felt wonderful; it was truly like white jade. The place her fingertips touched was soft and smooth. The Frost Maiden's skin was surprisingly firm and elastic.

But for now, the focus was needed.

"Does it hurt?" she asked. She really couldn't see any sprains or bruises.

"A little... I can't seem to exert much force," Yelena's voice was thin and weak, and she sounded a bit guilty.

This only made the other person more confused. She thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"If you don't mind, I can carry you," she said, but then amended herself after looking at the knight's armor that came with the coffin she was wearing. "Or I can hold you—there's a sanctuary up ahead. It should be warmer there, with a place to rest, and someone can take a look at you."

She thought the offer might be too forward and had already prepared for rejection, considering alternative plans.

However.

"Okay," the girl's response was faster than she expected, and with a nimbleness that seemed even greater than when she had dodged attacks, she picked up the Coiled Sword that had been placed to the side. "I'll hold your sword for you."

Yelena's voice was lower than expected—but clear. Then, like a little bird, she quickly curled up, embracing the Coiled Sword that had returned to its cold state.