Seona had overlooked just one place — the back alley. It was somewhere she had visited more often than Sian, so it hadn't even crossed her mind at first. Without hesitation, Seona sprinted down the back alley, eyes fixed straight ahead, not daring to look back. Her breath was ragged, reaching its limit, but she couldn't stop. Something about the place made her feel she could find Sian there.
And finally, the castle she'd seen appeared right before her eyes. A barrier of shimmering white light spread out in front of her. Relief washed over her — she hadn't imagined it. But as she reached out to cross the barrier, thinking maybe Sian was on the other side, she paused, standing still as she stared at the castle.
If I cross this barrier, can I really come back? What if I really am Grand Sorceress Seon...?
Fear flickered across Seona's face. Her thoughts raced wildly as she closed her eyes tightly, then spoke with firm resolve.
"Stop watching. Come out."
"...Haha, so you knew."
Ever since arriving, she'd felt eyes on her. And sure enough, Taeyoon appeared, stepping out from the shadows. Seona's gaze immediately shifted to him. Taeyoon seemed like he'd been expecting her.
"Do you know where Sian is? They say you're a Great Yokai."
"...Seon."
"Not Seon. Seona. My full name is Suh Seona."
"...Right. Seona. Help save Sian."
"Excuse me?"
"They found out that you exist, and that Sian was trying to hide you."
"...What does that mean? Speak clearly!"
Seona demanded answers after hearing Taeyoon's plea to save Sian. Taeyoon sighed anxiously before speaking again.
"I said I'm Sian's friend, even if I sounded harsh yesterday. Of course, I wanted to keep you hidden. But someone else saw the Memory Orb. Sian was immediately summoned and captured. They're about to execute the crime of hiding you..."
"Take me there."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but take me there now."
The word "execution" chilled Seona to the bone. Her fingertips trembled with rage.
Who are they trying to execute right now?
Taeyoon silently begged for Sian's forgiveness as Seona demanded to be led immediately. Sian had asked Taeyoon to protect her, but he had failed to keep that promise.
"Let's go."
A shimmering blue portal appeared before Taeyoon. He grabbed Seona's hand, pulling her inside. The feeling was like plunging underwater — Seona squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. Soon, the sensation vanished, replaced by a bright light before her closed eyes. Slowly opening them, Seona gasped at the scene in front of her.
She was seeing things she'd never seen before. The yokai came in all shapes and sizes. Some looked just like humans, but others had horns sprouting from their heads, many fingers or toes like octopus tentacles, stretchy arms, bodies that disappeared and reappeared — and so many more.
"So this is the yokai world..."
"This is the plaza. It's where everyone gathers when something important is about to happen. And today, that important thing is..."
"...Sian!!!"
"Seona, hey...!"
Taeyoon, who was introducing the plaza, suddenly lost sight of Seona as she darted through the crowd of yokai. Her eyes locked onto Sian, precariously standing on a platform, tied with glowing green cords.
Seona called out and ran toward him. Taeyoon sighed deeply and returned to his post, preparing excuses for having left his station so long to wait for her.
"The fiery yokai Sian has defied the orders of the Cheonsin and endangered this world by hiding Seona. Therefore, by right of the Great Yokai blood, he is sentenced to death..."
"Who gave you the right?!"
Suddenly, Seona appeared on the platform, cutting off Cheonsin Dohyun's stern speech. (Cheonsin is the Celestial God who governs all yokai and nature.) She glared at Dohyun and rushed to Sian's side, inspecting his wounded body. Blood trickled down him in places, and tears welled in Seona's eyes.
The cords binding Sian were covered in thorns, cutting into his skin and causing fresh wounds whenever he moved. Sian, head bowed, lifted it when the warmth of Seona's approach reached him. Their eyes met. Sian's pupils trembled wildly.
"Seona, why are you here? Get out, now...! Ugh,"
Sian weakly urged her to leave, but Seona shook her head fiercely.
I'm here to protect you, Sian.
With tears welling up, Seona wiped them away firmly and shouted toward the figure at the front, looking like a temple's leader.
"Untie him. Now!"
"You've come. I was just about to come fetch you."
"Enough! Untie Sian, now!"
"Sian is a criminal. He's not your brother."
"Shut up. He is my brother and my family."
Dohyun sneered at Seona's words.
How did Sian and you end up as siblings...?
His gaze on Sian turned colder as he spoke in a low voice.
"Proceed with the execution."
At Dohyun's command, armed yokai drew their blades. Shocked, Seona glared at Dohyun in anger, then unexpectedly grabbed one of the blades with her bare hands and pressed it against her own neck. Dohyun immediately raised his right hand to stop the armed yokai.
"Wait."
"Suh Seona, what are you doing? Please, stop and leave... Run, Seona!"
Sian cried out with a pained expression, but Seona didn't back down. She stared defiantly at Dohyun and pressed the blade harder against her throat.
Though Dohyun stopped the yokai, he couldn't stop the blade Seona was holding. Blood trickled down from Seona's wrist and the blade, staining her neck as well. Dohyun descended from the temple, looking disturbed.
Facing Seona, Dohyun's composure was broken. Seona spoke with a tear-filled voice.
"I know why you found me. I'll do whatever you ask. But please, release Sian."
Dohyun slowly scanned Seona's face, glanced at Sian, then back at Seona. His gaze grew colder, and Seona instinctively shrank under the weight of his stare.
Dohyun quietly raised his right index finger in a small gesture. The blade in Seona's hand clinked as it flew far away.
"Ah!"
The pain of her bleeding hand didn't seem to matter as Seona grabbed her wounded hand. But then Dohyun covered her hand with his own, and the bleeding stopped as the flesh healed. Surprised by the disappearing blade and the healing magic, Seona nearly collapsed.
Seeing her wounds disappear, Dohyun spoke again.
"Seon. Or rather, Suh Seona, right? I'm Dohyun, the Cheonsin."
"..."
"There are many watching right now, so I'll explain later."
"Release Sian."
"If you promise to obey, I will."
Seona nodded firmly. Dohyun wrapped his hand around her left wrist, and a white ring appeared.
"This marks you so you can't run."
"Huh."
"I'll free Sian."
"No harm can come to him."
"Of course. In a way, Sian brought you here."
With a wave of his hand toward Sian, the green cords binding him vanished. Sian collapsed from weakness and was caught by Taeyoon, who carried him away. Seona tried to follow but watched silently as they disappeared from sight. She bit her lip and looked up at Dohyun.
"What now?"
"Sejin, take this girl away. And Luhan, handle this place. Too many have seen."
Dohyun gave orders to Sejin and Luhan behind him, then vanished somewhere. As Dohyun disappeared, Seona's tension broke and her legs gave way. Sejin quickly caught her.
Feeling a warm embrace instead of cold ground, Seona looked up in surprise, meeting Sejin's eyes.
"Don't collapse here, you'll hurt yourself."
"Who are you...?"
Sejin smiled gently at her question.
"Seon, just sleep for a bit and you'll feel better."
At Sejin's words, Seona's eyes slowly closed as if under a spell.