Chapter 2: The Beginning (II)

Ivis arrived at the island at noon. His mood is a bit complicated, he got off the jet with dark circles under his eyes and took off the jacket he wore last night throwing it casually inside the plane. His very person was exhausted staying up all night.

He then walked towards the house with his hand carrying a brown envelope.

His feet didn’t wait for the others to come out and greet him rather he impatiently made his way to the terrace where everyone gathered on the couch.

The door opened and he went inside. All ten people dart their eyes at him with a complicated gaze. Ivis look at them silently with his weary eyes. The youthful look disappeared and only traces of messy hair and panda eyes were left, this get-up look like he was a man in his thirties.

He look at the anxious faces and had long expected that this would happen. He already prepared himself to face them and even had a backup plan to persuade the ten so he was very calm.

Ivis made his way to the couch and took a seat in the middle. All eyes on him and different emotions exude from the ten people in his front.

Elena already told them about the matter yet they still haven’t confirmed the truth so everyone was extremely nervous to hear the words he has to say.

Ivis calmly took out the files he prepared last night and handed a copy to every single one of them. He then let them skim through a bit before he started to speak.

“I guess you all understood what Elena told you.”

He calmly said trying to get the mood. He saw the others nod their heads reluctantly as they waited for him to explain. Ivis then get to the point.

“You see, the game was a setting to find the best players.” He started as he cautiously watched their expressions.

“However, the real reason why the Creator choose ten players was to have the best talents to deal with the otherworldly matters.”

Everyone wrinkled their brows, quite confused about the meanings of his words. Ivis helplessly smiled at them and explained.

“Every arc you played was in fact, a different world in a different dimension.”

“Creator? Aren’t you the Creator?” Yenn blurted out making the other gasped. Ivis just shook his head and smiled.

“Why would I be?”

Everyone slightly nod and the room fell into silence. The rumored identity was confirmed. Ivis wasn’t the real one. Yenn suddenly felt bitter, he was cheated yet again.

Stanley stroke his chin and asked.

“Are you saying that we all just played over worlds?

“Yes. The arcs are the gate.”

“That’s absurd.” Liyanna strongly refuted.

His words doesn’t make any sense and there’s no plausible reason for them to believe it without conclusive evidence.

“Well, it sounds ridiculous but it’s the truth.” Ivis shook his head. “I mean you all saw what happened last night.”

“Yes but it only justify that the island was strange. It just gotten stranger.” Yenn shook his head. Everyone thought so too.

He believed that Ivis is just saying such stuff as a farce and the fact that he was just a kid, no one is dumb enough to believe a child’s joke.

Ivis squinted his eyes and already guesses what they’ve been thinking. It does sound absurd but if he had to prove it he need to show them. He stood up on his seat and glance at everyone who’s watching him.

He then shrunk his size and turned into a five year old child making everyone gasped.

“You..!?”

Ivis just rolled his eyes and turn into his adult self. He was originally a 27-year-old man so his appearance change a lot.

“It’s my ability.” He calmly said as the ten people look at him with horrified expressions.

“That…”

Liyanna couldn’t squeeze the next word on her throat and arbitrarily shut herself. The room shortly fell into silence. Everyone’s heart brew a mixed feelings of doubt and amazement.

With this expression, Ivis believed that they’re already convinced. However, it needed a bit more push.

“So, we’re here because we’re familiar with the arcs? Why didn’t you pick all the players of the game then. There’s billion of us you know.”

Jiwoon broke the silent atmosphere and look at him with a frown. He already understood why. Ivis only gave him a sharp look. Jiwoon always pick up fast. No wonder, he always felt that he was dangerous.

“So you only chose us because of convenience?”

Everyone pursed their lips after they realized the meaning behind Jiwoon’s statement. They have no room to negotiate…

Ivis shook his head and motion them to look at the file he gave them. Everyone’s mind was still afloat but they hurriedly browse the documents after hearing him mention it.

The atmosphere turned silent again and only the flipping sound of papers were heard in the terrace. After everyone skim through the details, they found out it was the contract they’ve signed before coming here.

Liyanna realized that he was using the contract to placate them and was very disappointed. Yenn was first to react aggressively since he remembered he was tricked into signing this thing!

However, Ivis simply smiled at the two people.

The rest were still calm and didn’t express the contempt they felt that much. Jiwoon simply glance at him and then the documents.

“If you’re giving us this thing then that means we have a choice?” He questioned.

“No.”

“T-then what?” Liyanna asked, dumbfounded.

“Read the last page. Did you really read it through before tou signed? I guess not.” Ivis rolled his eyes with a bit of disappointment in his voice.

Everyone quiet down again and start to ‘read through’ the files. After a moment, everyone widen their eyes in disbelief.

“This!”

Byul threw the files on the table and angrily stood up. Everyone was startled by the sudden shout and the words they are planning to say got stuck on their throats.

Byul fretted and all eyes are instantly focused on him. He then cautiously declared.

“You’re saying everyone here no longer exist?!”

Everyone froze, their hands promptly flipped through the last page and after reading the following line, they almost collapse.

They no longer exist? What ridiculousness is this?

Everyone paled after hearing him say those words. They all toss the documents on the table like a hot potato. Everyone was insanely petrified.

No one let out a sound and there was a hint of complicated feeling in their hearts.

Their existence was suddenly thrown away after coming into the island. Who would not grieve? Their unprecedented identity was suddenly disposed. If they want to go back. What happens when they go back?

To think their lives were merely determined by a piece of paper….

“You misunderstood.” Ivis opened his mouth.

The people all look at him with distrustful eyes. How can they believe him anymore after knowing that?!

“In fact. You’re only forgotten for a period of time.”

“What do you mean?” Everyone asked in unison.

Forgotten? They’re not dead but in the eyes of people they don’t exist? That’s even worst! Everyone look at him with rage. How dare he erase their existence just like that?!

What do you take people’s life for? We still want to live a life! Everyone clenched their fist. If we’re forgotten then it means there’s no point even when they go back. He successfully lure them into a trap. How great.

Ivis casually smiled and took out his phone from his pants pocket and then held it out to them.

“It’s only for a while. Everyone would remember you soon enough. In fact it hasn’t been that long.”

“…!”

Everyone look at Ivis with suspicious eyes. How can they believe such a thing when they have a solid proof? They’ve stayed here for over a year and you dare to say it hasn’t been that long? You think we’re dumb? Everyone snorted.

Ivis just smiled at them making everyone raised their suspicions even more.

“I know it’s hard to believe but this island is located in the gaps between dimensions so time and space is altered by the dimensional changes.” Ivis seriously explained.

“………”

Who would believe that?!

Everyone was stupefied.

Ivis kneaded his brows and decided to call back Liyanna. He can’t explain this clearly to them with only showing his phone system time. He need a strong evidence. Who knew it would be this hard to explain? Aren’t they the best among others and he was even told they’re smart enough to understand. Which part of them clearly understood?

Elena who came at the back of the island to ‘inspect’ was suddenly called back.

“It seems the rift only leads to a low level world. It’s not that dangerous.”

She calmly reported to Ivis. Everyone gave them a complex gaze. Even the serious Elena go along with his jokes. Haaah…

“What’s the matter?”

Elena glanced at them and asked Ivis. He just shook his head and frowned. Eh. They’re still not convinced?

Ivis sighed and gestured Elena to show them her ability. Elena simply nodded at him and cut something on the air. She grabbed something inside and after a few minutes, a huge mirror appeared on her hand. Everyone gasped in shock.

“Woah.”

Elena smiled then motioned her hand in the mirror.

After a few swipe, images appeared in the frame.

“This is?” Byul asked as he vaguely recalled the place showing in the mirror. It was Seoul!

Elena then focused the image on the news station and the clock there show it’s 8pm and next to it was a date indicating ‘06/25’

“It’s June 25th?”

Everyone became silent. Its only two weeks after they got here. Where did the one year go?

“Do you believe me now?” Ivis asked them with a smile.

Everyone just stared at him dumbfounded. Ah let us ask first. Where did that one year go? Ivis simply laugh and look at them with an elegant smile on his face.

“Well. I guess you guys finally believed it.”

“……”