After forming the contract,

  Zaraf and Bell stood at the edge of his world.

  Below them, clouds drifted slowly across a fading sky.

  His goal was clear now.

  Find the scattered soul fragments.

  Bring her back.

  No matter the cost.

  Before opening the gate, Bell spoke.

  "Before you leave, there's something you must understand."

  Zaraf exhaled softly.

  "…What now?"

  "Your Copy Authority only works inside your own world," Bell said calmly. "In other creators' worlds, you cannot use it."

  He froze.

  "…You're joking."

  "I am not."

  A short silence.

  "So I'll be defenseless?"

  "You are entering another creator's domain," Bell replied. "Their rules apply. Unless the original creator grants permission, you cannot interfere freely."

  Zaraf frowned.

  "Then how am I supposed to find her fragment?"

  "You still have your original power."

  He blinked.

  "My… original power?"

  Before Bell could explain further—

  Footsteps approached.

  The main character stopped in front of him.

  "Hello… passerby."

  Zaraf shifted slightly.

  "Ah… are you alright?"

  The young man gave a small smile.

  "I know it was you. The one who kept helping us."

  Zaraf said nothing.

  "You're mysterious," he continued. "But I trust you. And… it wasn't your fault."

  Zaraf's fingers tightened faintly.

  "She will—"

  He stopped himself.

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  "You should rest. I'm leaving."

  "Will we meet again?" the young man asked.

  Zaraf turned away.

  "…Yes."

  "Then take care, savior."

  Zaraf didn't respond.

  A gate opened.

  Light swallowed him.

  And he stepped through.

  World after world passed.

  Different skies.

  Different gravity.

  Different laws whispering in the air.

  Bell guided him carefully, searching for traces of the missing soul fragment.

  Then—

  They stopped.

  Below, in a narrow street—

  A young girl was running.

  Behind her, several men followed.

  Laughing.

  Zaraf stood on a rooftop, watching.

  Bell's voice echoed in his mind.

  "Remember your purpose. You cannot interfere recklessly. This is another creator's world."

  He crossed his arms.

  "…A little won't hurt."

  "You are stubborn."

  One of the men reached for the girl's wrist—

  And suddenly—

  Zaraf dropped between them.

  His kick sent the nearest man crashing into a wall.

  The others staggered back.

  "Who are you?" one sneered. "Another buyer?"

  Zaraf's eyes hardened.

  "Don't compare me to you."

  The girl stared at him, breath shaking.

  He glanced back and gave her a small, calm smile.

  She instinctively stepped behind him.

  "Tch. Then we'll take her by force."

  Zaraf felt tension coil in his chest.

  (Crap… I can't use my Copy Authority.)

  "I warned you," Bell said.

  "It's weird talking in my head," Zaraf muttered internally. "Anyway. What now?"

  "Simple," Bell replied. "Run."

  "…No."

  The girl tugged at his sleeve.

  "W-What's wrong?"

  "So you want to fight?" one of the men said, pulling out a blade. "Fine."

  Zaraf exhaled slowly.

  "I won't run."

  Bell fell silent for a moment.

  "…Then use your power."

  "Aren't you the one who said I can't?"

  "Not your Copy Authority," she corrected. "Your element."

  He barely dodged a knife slash.

  Another man lunged.

  He stepped back, pulse rising.

  "My element?" he thought. "What element?!"

  "Every creator possesses one element," Bell explained. "It can be used anywhere. Even in other worlds."

  Another attack came.

  He jumped aside.

  "Guess?" he asked internally.

  "Yes."

  He clenched his fist.

  "Try to command what responds to you."

  Zaraf closed his eyes for half a second.

  He reached outward.

  Past the noise.

  Past the fear.

  He felt something.

  Movement.

  Flow.

  The air shifted.

  "…Wind?"

  A blade sliced toward him—

  He raised his hand.

  "Move."

  The air exploded.

  A violent burst of wind tore down the street, lifting the men off their feet and slamming them into walls.

  Silence followed.

  Dust drifted slowly back down.

  Zaraf blinked.

  "…So it's wind."

  Bell sounded mildly impressed.

  "Not bad. As far as I know, no other creator currently holds that element."

  He flexed his fingers slightly.

  The air responded again.

  Alive.

  Listening.

  The girl stepped forward carefully.

  "Th-Thank you…"

  Zaraf turned toward her.

  "Why were they chasing you?"

  She lowered her head.

  "I asked where I could live freely… They said I could stay with them."

  Her voice trembled.

  "But the price was my body."

  A small silence.

  "I refused."

  Zaraf's expression darkened.

  "…You don't have money?"

  She shook her head.

  "I don't even know where I am. Or where to go."

  He studied her.

  She looked lost.

  Not just physically.

  "What's your name?" he asked.

  She hesitated.

  "…Name?"

  As if the word itself felt unfamiliar.

  After a pause—

  "Call me… Abeth."

  "Abeth," Zaraf repeated quietly.

  "I'm Zaraf."

  She nodded slightly.

  "I can take you somewhere safe," he said. "You won't have to do anything you don't want."

  "You already saved me," she replied softly. "I can't ask for more."

  "You talk too much."

  He turned away.

  "Just come."

  Abeth hesitated.

  "…I'll burden you."

  "I was traveling anyway."

  Another silence.

  The wind brushed gently through the narrow street.

  "…Okay," she said quietly.

  Zaraf glanced at Bell.

  Bell said nothing.

  But she was watching the girl carefully.

  Very carefully.

  Together—

  They began walking.

  But as they moved forward—

  Bell's voice returned, quieter than before.

  "…Zaraf."

  "What?"

  "I may be wrong."

  A pause.

  "But her existence feels… different !."

  Zaraf didn't stop walking.

  "What does that mean?"

  "…It feels like she doesn't fully belong to this world."

  The wind shifted again.

  Slightly colder.

  Abeth walked beside him silently.

  And far above—

  Something was watching.