Kingdom of Divinium, Eastern region of Rohana Federation, 2051 S.C., 169th day

  "Good morning," Heron yawned as he stepped out of the tent. Icarus had already risen, sitting on his folding chair while Almir prepared breakfast by the fire.

  "Good morning! You've beaten the wake-up call," Almir said as Heron approached. "Would you mind waking Richard?"

  "Sure," Heron said. As he approached Richard’s tent, a faint red glow seeped through the canvas.

  "Richard?" he called out. "Are you awake?"

  "Yes, just a minute."

  The light vanished, and Richard emerged.

  "Good to see you up. Did you sleep well?" Richard asked.

  "Yes, feeling rested." Heron hesitated. "Say, I saw a red light inside your tent. Did something happen?"

  "Morning meditation with my weapon." Richard gestured to his sword.

  "Your sword has fire properties?"

  "No, but it has this small red crystal as decoration." He pointed to the pommel.

  "I didn't realize it was an actual crystal. Looked like a decorative gem."

  "Just something to keep my senses sharp. Not practical for battle."

  "Oh." Heron nodded. "Sorry for being nosy."

  "Better to ask than wonder." Richard smiled. "Now, go help Almir with breakfast. I'll wake the women."

  When Heron returned, the fire was already crackling. Almir stirred wheat porridge while bacon crisped on the side.

  "You're fast. I was only gone a few minutes."

  "When you're hungry, you're motivated." Almir laughed. "Hunger makes the best cook."

  "True enough." Heron settled near the fire. "If I understood correctly, we're stopping at a village halfway to Tejen."

  "Vincha," Almir said. "A fascinating place. They actually use crystal magic there."

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  "Not entirely true," Icarus corrected. "The villagers hire adventurers and citizens to use it for them when needed. A compromise, but a fascinating one."

  "I can't wait to see it." Heron's eyes brightened.

  "Why the sudden interest?" Icarus asked.

  "Both my villages stood against any crystal magic. When my father was healed by it, our family was shunned. So it's nice to imagine what life could have been if people were more accepting."

  "I hate to break it to you, but the reaction would likely be the same," Almir said quietly, "Even citizens are wary when it comes to healing crystals."

  "Why?"

  "Because there's always someone who thinks they're better than the Creators," Icarus said. "They try to modify themselves into something superior. Usually, they just deform themselves and get exiled as outcasts."

  "That doesn't sound smart." Heron frowned. "I remember the doctor who healed my father struggling just to visualize extracting venom. Imagining how to morph your own body must be even harder."

  "You're right," Almir said. "And the church is clear that such practices are heresy. If they catch you, they'll execute you without a trial."

  "Even allowed practices don't always work out," Icarus added.

  "Is that what happened to you?" Heron asked.

  Silence.

  "Sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

  "It's alright. Your question just triggered something." Icarus paused. "But yes. The reason I wear this bandage is that fixing my eyesight didn't work."

  "I'm sorry." Heron's voice softened. "And thank you for sharing."

  "Something smells good." Richard emerged with the women trailing behind him.

  "Good morning, everyone," Irene said. "Almir, that smells wonderful. I'm glad we have you taking care of us."

  She smiled, which was a rare sight. Heron realized he'd barely seen her smile these past few days. Like Icarus, she was quiet, introverted—nothing like Lucia and May.

  "You're always kind, Irene," Almir said. "But you should thank Richard. If he weren't terrible at cooking, I wouldn't have been forced to learn."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" Richard's eyes narrowed. "I remember you praising one of my meals. You said a noble shouldn't bother with cooking, so you'd gladly take over." His eyes narrowed further. "You could've been honest from the start."

  "I was joking, Richard." Almir laughed. "It wasn't terrible. It was actually edible. But I figured we'd both have a better time if one of us learned to make a proper meal."

  "Fine." Richard grinned. "But when we reach Tejen, I'm taking cooking lessons. Can't call myself a leader without providing a decent meal for my party." His grin widened. "And Almir, since you're such a good taster, you'll be sampling everything as I learn."

  "No, no. There are better testers in the city."

  "Yes, but none of them are traveling with me, so their opinions don't matter. May can join you."

  "What did I do?" May protested.

  "I could've stolen half our inventory the night you were at Icarus and Heron's tent."

  "I swear you have eyes on your back," May muttered.

  "With you and Lucia, I've learned sleep is a luxury."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" Lucia said, offended.

  "Just stating observations. You're brilliant in the field, but when it comes to monotonous tasks, that's where I lose you." Richard shrugged. "Anyway, we pack in ten minutes. Otherwise, we won't reach Vincha before dark, and I'd rather enter during daylight."

  After breakfast, everyone began packing. A small carriage attached to a steam pulley, a one-man vehicle for smaller cargo, sat ready. They traveled down the main road for hours before turning near sprawling vineyards. Ahead, a large wooden gate rose within a wooden wall.

  A sign above the entrance read: "Vincha."

  by Rowen_Kun

  With two bodies, they will rise above all others — twice as strong, twice as unstoppable.

  Justin was just an ordinary college student when the world ended. In an instant, civilization collapsed — and the planet was overrun by monsters, blood, and ruthless rules of evolution. Now, he finds himself trapped in a brutal sort of tutorial, where surviving means hunting, fighting, and learning faster than anyone else.

  But Justin carries something no one else does: he awakens in two different bodies, both sharing the same mind. Each one feels, sees, and experiences the world from its own perspective — and coordinating both is an almost insane challenge. One mistake, and he dies twice.

  To master this impossible condition, Justin will have to learn how to control two lives at the same time. If he fails, he’ll be torn apart by his own confusion. If he succeeds… he might be able to perceive and act beyond any human limit.

  And perhaps this new world was made for Justin — and for his strange condition.

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