“An elderly monk gave me papers written by his friend. He met him twenty years ago and he gave it to him to help people like me.”

“Twenty years ago.” She gaped.

“You assumed that my father is old because Eisai met your monk twenty years ago?” Addaya said, frowning. Addaya gave Meritamun a deadpan look and she giggled. “It doesn’t work that way; Eisai was here a year ago.”

“But… how?” Donggun said and looked at both more confused.

“Eisai's original time is twenty years prior to your time, but to ours is just one year,” Meritamun said. Donggun looked even more muddled. “Eisai’s time is the past to yours, but the time you’re in now is the far past to both of you,” she explained.

“I don’t understand,” Donggun said, scratching his head slowly. “It doesn’t make sense.”

“Well, your ability usually doesn’t make sense at all, but you’ll get the hang of it,” Addaya said and took a sip of his drink. “don’t worry, I will tell you everything my father told Eisai and I promise, your journey will be better than his.” Addaya tapped on his shoulder to comfort him.

After a while.

Donggun was frowning intently, his eyes wide open. Addaya stood up and moved around the room, still telling Eisai’s story, while Meritamun noticed how perplexed Donggun appeared and stood up behind his chair, placing both of her hands on Donggun’s tense shoulders to help him relax.

Donggun didn’t move his eyes from Addaya’s moving body, her sudden touch made him shiver a little. She started to massage his shoulders slowly to ease his obvious tension, his cheeks were getting red, and his breath was getting faster.

Addaya wasn’t paying much attention to them he was moving a lot while telling Donggun what happened a year earlier.

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“The last vision Father saw after sending Eisai back to his time was him being in the astral world one more time talking to an old woman. Father knew her, and he knew that Eisai was ready to take control of his powers,” Addaya said and looked at them then frowned a little after seeing Donggun's red face. “what’s wrong with your face?” Addaya asked concerned.

“Nothing,” Donggun said and coughed a little from embarrassment. Meritamun moved her hands and body to face Donggun, he looked as if hot water was thrown at his face. He avoided eye contact with Meritamun who looked intensely at his flushed face.

“You don’t look fine, you breathe hard,” Meritamun said and squatted down to reach his sight.

“No, I’m fine, it's just a lot to take in,” Donggun said, took a deep breath, and looked at Addaya who was standing right behind Meritamun looking worried as well.

“Let’s go out to get some fresh air,” Addaya said and walked out leading the way.

“You sure you’re alright?” Meritamun asked Donggun again.

“Yes,” Donggun answered while still avoiding her eyes.

They all went out, and Donggun was relieved that there was finally some fresh air to breathe. He was walking slowly behind them, his gaze fixed on Meritamun.

He lied to them because he couldn’t tell them how he truly felt; how could he explain; Meritamun’s sudden touch on his shoulders made him helpless.

Even though Meritamun only touched his shoulders for a few seconds, her hands' soft slow movements, combined with her pleasant aroma that became stronger the moment she stood behind him, made his heart race fast. Donggun was deep in his thoughts when Addaya stopped and looked back at him. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Donggun answered and looked around. They were standing in the middle of a market where it was crowded with people. Donggun noticed that he wasn’t paying attention at all and that Addaya was talking to him the whole time while Meritamun was standing away buying some fruits.

“How are you going to help me?” Donggun asked.

“I’m still thinking,” Addaya said, putting his left hand on his chin.

“Want an apple?” Meritamun said and stood between the two men.

“No thank you,” Donggun replied and kept his attention on Addaya waiting for his answer.

Meritamun looked at Addaya and said, “What are you doing?”

“I’m thinking of ways to help Donggun with his power,” Addaya said and took one apple from Meritamun. “I want to use the book of the spells.”

“Book of spells?” Donggun asked.

“It’s a magical book containing all spells you could ever imagine and it’s mine,” Addaya said arrogantly.

“It’s yours!” Donggun echoed the words in surprise.