The light of dawn seeps through the crevices of the cracks in the walls, casting its soft glade across the children's weary faces. The uncanniness of last night fades away to the tentative warmth of a new day. Ha-yoon awakens, her crystal-clear grey eyes blinking against the new dawn light. She groans sitting up.
Ugh, I feel so stiff. I could barely get any good sleep because of last night.
"You okay?" Si-woo murmured, his voice rough from sleep.
Ha-yoon nods, still feeling the lingering fear from the night's events. " What do you think that was? " She whispered, looking down at the blue blanket covering them.
Si-woo sat up, rubbing his eyes. "I don't know," he admitted. "But we can't stay here. We need to find food and water, and maybe some people."
Going out there...? Ha-yoon stares past Si-woo out the window into the sky, the sun sitting amongst the various tints of blues and oranges making it appear surreal. But I guess we can't help it, even if there are monsters... Ha-yoon swallows hard.
"We'll go together," Si-woo said, his eyes looking at Ha-yoon's worried face, the loose strands of her hair waving in the glow of the sun like the ligules of a dandelion in a breeze.
"We'll stick together, no matter what."
Ha-yoon nodded, remembering how scared she was last night and how Si-woo protected her. "Yeah, we can do this," she says optimistically,
"Let's go, but you need to clean the area around your band-aid first."
Si-woo smirks, the band-aid slightly elevating on his cheek. The sunrise glow gave his head of curly, pink hair a unique and beautiful shine like the sun rising on a field of pink tulips.
"Ok," Si-woo says, hopping out of bed, fully into the brisk air.
"I'll get started on breakfast, or whatever we have in the fridge."
They washed and mildly cleansed themselves, gathered their masks, and a few supplies.
"We'll put everything we find in these," Si-woo says, pointing to the two black backpacks on the ground in front of the house.
"Where are we going first?" Ha-yoon asks, putting water bottles and the first aid kit in her backpack.
Si-woo slips his backpack on, "Let's go by the old convenience store first, I'm sure there's a lot we can salvage."
He takes one final look at his mother's grave, the cross standing tall in all the wreckage. Bye Mom. Si-woo leads them through the lost city.
The town is quiet, with the occasional whistle of wind and distant cries of identifiable creatures filling the open space. They both moved through the streets with caution, stepping over remnants of people's former lives.
"Si-woo-" Ha-yoon began, "Don't you have a phone?"
Si-woo steps over a wide gape in the sidewalk, "No, my mom said that nine- and twelve-year-olds don't need them, and that she would give me and Ye-jun one when it was necessary."
"Me too," Ha-yoon relates, "But when the tremors started to become more common, my mom pushed my dad a little to buy one for me, but since I'm only six, we didn't think on it much..." Ha-yoon stares at the heaps of destruction in the distance.
Si-woo stops walking, "But don't you think it's weird?" he says, eyes focused on the streets.
"What?" Ha-yoon replies.
"That we haven't heard a single phone ring? " Si-woo turns to face Ha-yoon. "The government also would've sent out a cell broadcast with alarms through our phones and devices, but we don't hear anything."
"It is weird," Ha-yoon replies, "You think the cell towers may be down?"
"Not only that, but I also think our power grid is down. I was also thinking of maybe using one of these people's phones if I heard a ring-"
"I am not stealing anything from a dead person!" Ha-yoon proclaims in disgust.
"Yeah," Si-woo breaths out, "I hope we don't have to either. Let's keep going, we aren't too far from the store."
They continue walking, stopping briefly only to use the bathroom and avoid hazardous areas. The morning sun forms crystalline sparkles on a stream as they walk by on the pavement.
"Your brother, Ye-jun, he must've been really strong to have all those trophies, and every one of them is first place too," Ha-yoon says in awe, keeping pace behind Si-woo.
"He was also really smart," Si-woo adds, "He loved his mechanical clock models-"
Si-woo recalls a time when he and Ye-jun got into a fight because Si-woo flushed some pieces of a model down the toilet.
"He may have loved them too much though," Si-woo says, his voice carrying a hint of dread.
Ha-yoon giggles, "I always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling; it sounds so fun."
"Yeah, it was," Si-woo murmurs, his heart aching. "But you have me now, so you'll get to see what it's like to have an older brother."
Ha-yoon smiles, watching Si-woo navigate through the maze.
"Look, Si-woo," Ha-yoon said, pointing to a small patch of grass next to the edge of the concrete walkway. "It's a sunflower."
Her voice is filled with joy, a keen difference in the desolate landscape that surrounds them.
"I don't care much for flowers," Si-woo murmurs, reaching out to touch the sunflower's soft petals. "But the fact it's still standing is beautiful."
"It is," Ha-yoon says, grazing the stem.
"My mom used to have a garden," Ha-yoon said, her voice filled with a longing that made Si-woo's chest ache. "She knew the names of every plant and tree. She said it was her way of speaking to the world without using words."
Si-woo listened intently, her words painting a picture of the world they once lived in.
"What was her favorite?" he asked.
"This one," Ha-yoon said with a sad smile. "The sunflower, it's like she knew it would always find a way to grow, even in the harshest conditions."
...
They continued their journey through the town, and they spoke of each other's past while occasionally praying for the souls of the people they found, their hearts aching with every lifeless body they saw. The prayers became a ballad of sorrow that punctuated their journey. Then, as if on cue, the store came into view.
"We're here," Si-woo says, walking through the damaged asphalt. "Let's be very careful from here on."
Ha-yoon glances at Si-woo's band-aided face, "Are you sure I'm the one who needs to hear that?" she says sarcastically.
"Just don't do anything unnecessary," Si-woo retorts, stepping through the open entryway of the store.
The once lively store is still a tomb of shattered joy and discarded goods, just as they had left it. The siblings move cautiously through the aisles, their shoes crunching on shards of glass and plastic. The shelves are a jumble of chaos; their contents spilled onto the floor. The light from outside lit every corner, making the place feel eerie and open to the outside world.
Ha-yoon's eyes light up as she spots a pack of crackers half-buried under a collapsed display. "Look," she says, her voice audible, "food."
Si-woo nods, his gaze full of light. They move swiftly, collecting what they can: canned beans, a plethora of bottles of water, a dusty first aid kit, and a few articles of clothing. The store's inventory is ravaged, although the siblings did gather a few days' worth of supplies.
"My bags are getting really heavy, Si-woo," Ha-yoon cries.
Si-woo puts another water bottle in his bag, "Okay, let's go home; we don't want to tire ourselves out too much on the way back." He slides his backpack off and heads for the front entrance.
Home, Ha-yoon thought, sounds weird...but kind of fits. She scans the outside sky through the opening in the roof, looking at the clear, pale blue sky; the breeze skips over her face, fluttering her hair. She follows after Si-woo.
As they turned to leave, Si-woo's foot knocked over a metal can, sending it rolling into the corner of the store.
"What's that?" Amidst the rubble, something red caught his eye. Bending over, he picks up a hand-crank radio.
"Oh my goodness, it's a radio," Ha-yoon says with a burst of energy.
Si-woo turns the radio over. It's dusty, scratched all around, and the antenna's bent. But, maybe we can still-
Si-woo turns the dial with anticipation, but only static plays back; a stream of white noise.
They both waited apprehensively, holding their breaths for a sign, a signal that they weren't alone in this forsaken world.
Si-woo takes a deep breath, "Like I thou-"
"WAIT, SHH" Ha-yoon interrupts.
"I think I heard something." She moves closer, standing next to Si-woo's side, they both listen intently.
"KSHHHH-Si-KSHH-CA-KSHHHHHH-EAR-MKSHHH-"
The voice grew more frantic, more urgent, but the static formed an incomprehensible barrier, making it nearly impossible to understand.
Frustrated, Si-woo cranked the radio with more vigor, trying to get a clearer signal.
"Please, please, please," Ha-yoon chants under the continuous winds of the radio.
Their hearts pound as the voice grew clearer. A glimmer of life in the deep sea of static.
"It's- I think they're speaking Korean." Si-woo gasps, turning the crank.
A broadcast? Ha-yoon stills her nerves, listening. A message? They're trying to get something...Someone, "I think they're looking for someone, Si-woo," Ha-yoon conveys, her tone unsure.
Just as the words were about to be made out, the radio sputters and goes silent.
"No," Si-woo's groans agitatedly, his hand tightened around the crank, knuckles white with frustration. "Come on, work," he shakes the device fiercely.
The radio remained silent, the voice they had briefly heard swallowed by the relentless static once more. Ha-yoon looked at him with a mix of hope and dread. "What do we do now?" she asked.
Si-woo takes a deep breath and turns the radio off, "We keep moving," he said, his voice firm. "We need to get to higher ground; maybe we'll get a better signal there."
"Uhhh," Ha-yoon distresses, "The signal was just about to clear up, too, but maybe they'll send out people to rescue us."
"I think so too, but before we go home, let's try to see if we could find a better signal from somewhere," Si-woo begins walking, radio at hand, "Since we're close to Seodaemun-gu, we'll go there before heading home." I'm pretty sure Seodaemun-gu has one of the highest western grounds in Seoul, so we'll go from there.
The convenience store slowly fades from view as the silence of the town swallows them once again. They walked in a solemn procession, each step grinding gravel beneath their feet.
...
They made their way uphill towards Ansan Mountain, passing the demolished town of Bongwon-dong.
"Are we going to Ansan's Jarak‑gil trail?" Ha-yoon yells from behind, losing pace. "I doubt the bridge would still be there!"
Still no signal. Si-woo finally turns the radio off, "I know," he yells back, stopping to let Ha-yoon catch up.
As they approached the vast expanse of the woods where the manmade trail would be, Si-woo squints into the distance in front of him.
"What is that?" Something exponentially large in the air caught his eye, a luminescent, almost translucent turquoise glimmer right before the mass of greenery. A rip in the fabric of reality itself. The edges were jagged and pulsing with an unearthly light.
"Hold on, Ha-yoon," Si-woo warned, his hand shooting up to halt her.
Ha-yoon, however, was enchanted with something else entirely, "I...I, oh my-" Ha-yoon staggers on her words. Its wings are bigger than any airplane I've ever seen.
A colossal bird soars high above them. Its dark brown skin shimmered with an iridescent glow that made it seem almost ethereal. It flew with a majesty that seemed to defy the gravity of the world around them, casting a shadow that danced across the destroyed buildings and the barren streets.
"What is that?" Ha-yoon whispered, her voice filled with awe and terror.
"I think that's what caused the earthquakes," Si-woo replies, still focused on the disturbance in the distance. Is it a portal?
"SHHKRAAEAHHWW"
The birds' deep and resonant cry snaps both of their attentions, echoing through the desolate streets. It was unlike anything Si-woo had ever seen before, its massive wings casting a shadow over them that seemed to darken the bleak world.
The bird's head locked onto them, and for a moment, time stood still.
"We need to go," Si-woo stammers. He grabs Ha-yoon's hand and slowly walks backward towards the Ansan's woods.
"I don't think-" Ha-yoon's words are interrupted by the loud flaps of the creature's wings coming directly at them.
"RUN!" Si-woo yells, pulling Ha-yoon along. The beating of the creature's wings is getting louder by the second as they race towards the glimmer.
"ARE WE REALLY ABOUT TO GO IN THERE!!" Ha-yoon screams, looking towards the rip in space, keeping up with Si-woo.
"YES!" Si-woo shouts. We have to — there's no other way. Determined, Si-woo tosses the radio aside and scoops up Ha-yoon, backpack and all, quickening their pace.
"SHHKRAAEAHHWW"
The sheer bass of the beasts' roar agitates the pebbles on the ground, that seeps fear into Si-woo and Ha-yoon.
"Eeeeee!" Ha-yoon shrieks, burying her head into Si-woo's chest.
Now, a few strides away from the strange swirling mass of colors, the trees and dirt began to be blown away by the ever-strong gusts of wind. They can't see it, can't place it, but know the beast is getting closer.
Just as if the noises couldn't get any louder, Si-woo dives through the space rift headfirst, throwing Ha-yoon ahead of him.
The strange force tugged at their clothes and hair, as if the very air were alive, buzzing with an energy that seemed to pulse in time with their existence. The glow from the tear washed over them in waves. The world around them faded into a kaleidoscope of colors, and for a moment, they were suspended in a cascade of pure light.
Their stomachs lurched as gravity took hold again, and they rolled onto rough ground.
"Aigh," Ha-yoon lets out, stumbling onto her stomach. She grips the grass beneath her hands, stabilizing herself as she looks back at Si-woo.
It's not going to follow us, right? She watched as Si-woo crawled away from the tear in space.
Crawling to a stand, Si-woo urgently looks behind him to where the beast would be if it had followed them. I...I thought things like those were myths, fairytales, or extinct!
Ha-yoon comes up from behind, "Do you think it'll follow us?" she asks, worry etched in her voice.
"I don't know," Si-woo murmurs, "But things like that shouldn't even be here," he adds, eyes unmoving from the turquoise glow. I've studied many species of animals in school, but that bird was something else entirely.
"Si-woo..." Ha-yoon murmurs, tugging his jet blue T-shirt. "Look,"
Si-woo slowly turns his head, looking for what struck Ha-yoon's attention.
His eyes immediately drew to the sky full of brilliant shades of blue, and two suns hung low; one bigger than the other, casting long shadows across a field of swaying grass.
In the distance, there are floating islands with waterfalls suspended from the sides. Their landscapes are a composed muddle of dense greenery. The air is filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant sound of water flowing.
"Oh my-" Si-woo marvels, looking at the sky full of the humongous beasts that they've just escaped.
There are even people riding them! Si-woo stares at the people dressed in flowing garments that seem to be made of the whitest silk and feathers gliding through the sky.
Ha-yoon and Si-woo watched, mesmerized, as the riders wove through the air, landing gracefully on the floating islands before disappearing into the foliage.
"We... we can't be dreaming," Ha-yoon murmured, her voice hardly audible.
"Uh-huh," Si-woo voices, unable to conjure words. This can't be real...this can't be Earth.
"Everything feels so...alive," Ha-yoon says softly, her voice a mix of fear and excitement.
They carefully strode deeper into the woods holding each other's hands. The air is filled with nothing but plantation and carries a breeze that caresses their faces, a feeling of vitality mends their spirits.
Speechless, they come upon a multitude of trees unlike any they've ever seen. The trunks are gnarled, twisted, and the bark etched with intricate patterns that seem to convey ancient text. The leaves above them spread onto their branches, only letting in the light from the glades of the two suns.
"Where is this?" Ha-yoon finally asked, her voice cracking.
Si-woo took a moment to digest all that's before him. "I don't know," he says once again, his eyes scanning the horizon.
"The trees-" Si-woo says in amazement. "They're like nothing I've ever seen. "
Following her gaze, Si-woo's eyes widened as he took in the sight. These really are unique. Si-woo feels the rough bark, grazing it with his thumb. These intricate engravings look like a language from a bygone era, and these small rectangular cavities look like they're used to hold something.
"Si-woo, look! "Ha-yoon says, pointing at a group of small furry grey creatures loitering in a nearby patch of grass. Their tails are like ribbons in the breeze, and their eyes are like jewels. The creatures stared, noticing them, but soon after, scurried away.
"They are like... fairy tale creatures, " Ha-yoon whispered.
Si-woo's mind drew back to the radio he had thrown in order to carry Ha-yoon. "We need to get back," he said, " But I think that dragon-like creature will still be there.
Ha-yoon's gaze snapped back to reality. " Those things did just try to eat us, but maybe we should find and talk to the people who are riding on those Dragons." Ha-yoon says her voice hopeful, " They could help us."
Si-woo's eyes meet hers. Well, there wasn't a person on top of the one that was chasing us, so it isn't a bad idea, and by the looks of it, I know she wants to look around too.
" Okay then, " Si-woo declares, his hand reaching out to hers, "Let's look around for civilization, but stay close, we don't know where we are, and we've never seen animals like these before, meaning this can't be Earth anymore."
Ha-yoon takes his hand and they begin walking once again.
But there's just one problem, Si-woo pondered, walking. Even if we find people, there's no way we would be able to communicate with them.
Before long, Si-woo's eyes snapped to the trees ahead. The grip on Ha-yoon's hand tightened, "Do you hear that? " he whispered.
Ha-yoon tilts her head, listening closely. At first, there were only the rustles of leaves and distant calls of creatures, but then faintly, it was revealed. The sound of laughter is muffled by the thick vegetation.
Ha-yoon's eyes widened at meeting Si-woo's. They both shared a silent moment of understanding. Approaching the distant trees with caution, the sound of laughter slowly got louder as they neared. The towering trees in their branches intertwined to form a natural canopy that filtered the twin sons.
The tree engravings grew more pronounced as they moved, as if guiding them through the wilderness. They followed the trail, each step giving a silent promise of answers to their questions and security to their insecurities.
The siblings found themselves standing in front of a massive archway that intertwined with branches, vines, and stones, forming a gate. A wall of towering trees marks the earthy medieval border, the trunks wide as buses, stretching skyward and merging into a dense canopy that casts dappled shade.
"No, look!" Ha-yoon urges in a hushed whisper pointing at the giant dark green dragon guarding the gate.
Lying down, it was almost five times the height of Si-woo and its scales camouflaged with the leaves and dirt surrounding it. It's slumped against the archway, the large, rough muzzle holds small, razor-edged horns stretching along its head, giving the creature a nafarios persona. It's snores shake the very ground beneath them.
Si-woo and Ha-yoon exchange a look of terror.
How are we going to get through, Si-woo thought. He takes a final look at Ha-yoon, putting his index finger to his lips, signaling her.
Holding hands, they crept slowly towards the animal, their hearts racing in their chests. The dragon's breathing was deep and uneven and dirt billows with every breath.
They wait for the perfect moment, their eyes pinned on the chest of the creature as it ascended and descended with every snore. With almost impeccable grace, they tiptoed closer, the grass beneath their feet bending away to the cautious steps.
The gates open a bit but the gap is narrow, and the dragon's bulk takes up most of the space. Ha-yoon thought. Can we really get through?
Si-woo sways his body in a rhythm as if provoking Ha-yoon to do the same.
On three, Si-woo silently counted on his fingers, signaling to Ha-yoon.
One, two, three-, They flung forward, their small bodies sliding through the narrow opening.
Hearts hammering in their chest, they pull themselves through the gate and break into a sprint, their footsteps muffled by the soft grass beneath them.
"Don't look back," Si-woo gasps, running through the tunnel glimpsing at the other side.
Ha-yoon, tired, remained silent but immersed, staying close to Si-woo.
Emerging from the archway, their eyes widened in astonishment. The grass grew greener, more trees stretched to the sky and the air was filled with all different types of sweet aromas. In the distance there's the gleaming spires of a town, sitting serenely on the horizon.
Si-woo finally looks back, discovering they are not being followed.
"It's not chasing us," He breathes out. They stop running, hunching over to catch their breath.
"It...Looks like... we're...almost... there," Ha-yoon wheezes between her gasps. This freaking backpack is killing me.
With a deep breath, Si-woo stands straight up, "Yeah, let's just walk from here; it doesn't look like any more of those things will come after us."
After a few seconds of relief, Ha-yoon catches your breath, " Okay," she lets out, "let's keep going, " she says, stepping toward Si-woo.
The outskirts of the village came into sight. The streets bustled with creatures of all shapes and sizes, some following the humanoid people who rode the dragons, and others just existing. The intricate details of buildings around them give Si-woo and Ha-yoon excitement and trepidation, and the leaves of trees seem to whisper secrets as the wind carries them along.
The creatures are more exotic than they have ever seen. Some float lazily in a breeze, and some of them are almost unexplainable to the human eye. Ones similar to the grey creatures they'd seen earlier dart through underbrush, hiding with a speed that defied human eyes, their trace leaving a brief blur.
The technology was a medieval blend, but everything looked like it was constructed from the purest raw material without losing the organic warmth of the wood of the town, as if the essence of nature was fused with the technology. The signs in front of buildings shimmered with mysterious light giving contrast to the engravings and displaying unrecognizable words and images.
"These people have pointed ears, Si-woo, " Ha-yoon says, 'Are they elves?" she questions.
Si-woo hesitates, "Their eyes are kind of sharp too, and look at their ears a bit closer," he gestures, "The tips have a triangular slit in them. I don't think they are elves."
The congregation moved in an organized chaos, nearing their destinations in a balanced flow. Above them, some flew on the giant birds that the siblings had seen earlier.
"This can't be real," Ha-yoon muses. "Whose fanciful story are we in?"
Si-woo begins walking, eyes steadfast on the crowd's movement, "Let's see what we can find," he says, guiding Ha-yoon through the labyrinth of people.
They continued in a daze, their eyes wide with wonder. The buildings grew tall, each seeming more elaborate than the last. The streets are lined with cobblestone that's occupied by local shops, each offering different accessories and consumables that the siblings have never seen.
The environment is alive with chatter; the murmurs of conversations and laughter carried an exquisite soft symphony across the air.
"This is incredible," Ha-yoon murmurs, her eyes darting from one ornate sign to another. Script and images seem to dance across the store banners, while others were more ordinary. All of them she couldn't begin to decipher.
Si-woo nodded, equally amazed. His eyes weave from creature to creature. There are so many people, and everything seems to have an old-fashioned feel to it. Staying here too long will bring us unwanted attention...We should probably look for authorities.
The siblings continue to wander through the town, drinking in the vibrant sights and sounds around them.
Ha-yoon tugs Si-woo's shirt, "I'm hungry, let's find somewhere to eat."
"I am too," he replies, stomach growling, "I think I see a bench we can rest at real quick, come on,"
Ha-yoon's eyes lit up. A street vendor!. "Wait, Si-woo, look," Ha-yoon says, anchoring Si-woo.
A plump woman with black hair in a bun, making her pointed ears more evident, and a warm smile stood behind the counter full of skewers, her almond colored eyes seeming to welcome them.
"Come, come, please come, young please," she called out in a lyrical tone, " Try a sample of our finest Dokken skewers."
They walk to the stand. I didn't notice it at first, Si-woo's thoughts drifted, but I can understand these people, and they're not speaking Korean. But how is this even possible?... Wait, can Ha-yoon-
"What the heck is 'Dokken' skewers?" Ha-yoon mutters under her breath, approaching the stand.
I guess you can too, Si-woo reflects. So we can understand them, does that mean we can speak to them too?
The woman hands them each a skewer, "Here you go, enjoy!" she says, her voice clear with kindness.
Ha-yoon and Si-woo exchange glances. Mmmm, the meat looks so tender and smoky, Ha-yoon observes, and the aroma... a hint of spice?
Ha-yoon takes a bite, " Thish ish shooo amashing! " she says, her mouthful.
The plump woman beams at her reaction, revealing pride in her culinary creation.
Si-woo has yet to take a bite, eyes the skewer with a mix of curiosity and suspicion, "What is this made from? " he asks tentatively, hoping to get a reply.
The woman's smile widens, "Ah, young one, don't you know? These are Dokken scrotum skewers, the finest in Ondur if I do say so, " she replies, her voice a gentle Stream.
They're in season right now, quite nutritious and delicious! "
The revelation hits Ha-yoon like a bag of bricks. She drops the skewer, having nothing to do with it anymore, her eyes wide with horror.
The plump woman blankly stares on, seemingly unfazed by the reaction. "Oh no, you dropped yours, would you li-"
Ha-yoon lunges at her, "YOU MADE ME EAT WHAT!!" A crude scream escapes her lips.
The crowd around them gasps, and they begin to gather around.
Si-woo's reflexes kick in."W- wait Ha-yoon." He drops the skewer and grabs her arm, yanking her back before she can make contact.
"What are you doing?" he hisses, his eyes glancing around at the gathering crowd. Ha-yoon's face is twisted in disgust and anger, her teeth bared like an animal's.
"You heard her!" Ha-yoon growls, her voice laced with venom. "We can't trust these people!"
Oh, Ha-yoon, Si-woo quickly drags her off further into the town. "We can't cause a scene," he whispers urgently. "We have to find a way to blend in until-"
The sound of laughter cuts him off, the sweet, unmistakable sound of children playing.
They both turn towards the sound, the tension in their bodies easing slightly.
Ha-yoon quickly regains her composure, almost forgetting the most heinous betrayal that just occurred.
Cutting through the buildings, they stumble upon a field of kids who looked around their age. They play with creatures that had the appearance of animals they knew from Earth, but with a slight twist—some striped with big eyes, others have scales and tails that lash through the air.
"C'mon, let's go see," Si-woo murmured, tugging Ha-yoon's hand, though she was already moving, drawn to the laughter like she was hypnotized.
The children are too engrossed in their activities to notice the siblings approaching.
That one looks like a crossbreed between a dog and a fox, Si-woo began observing an animal someone else was playing with. The fur's so vibrant and blue that it matches the sky.
The boy looked not much older than Si-woo and shared a silk black uniform like the rest. The children's eyes are sharp, their movements graceful, and their laughter infectious.
Everything here feels like a dream, Ha-yoon examines. The trees, the people, and especially the critters. She watches for a moment, her heart swelling with the warmth of joy.
Her hand tied to Si-woo's; they both knew they were sharing the same feeling.
They step closer, drawn to the games and laughter. Some of the children's eyes flicker towards them, curiosity in their gazes. A moment of hesitance occurs, the only sound was the painting of creatures roaming about in the grass. However, it's brief, and soon after the children resumed.
A girl with her hair spun like golden thread, with pointed ears fluttering over them, her honey-coated eyes gleaming with curiosity and mischief.
She smiles, " You're not from here, are you? She asked, her words melodious, leaving her lips.
"Umm, no, we aren't," Si-woo admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "We're...lost."
The golden-haired girl's smile grows wide.
"Well, you're found now," she said, taking Ha-yoon's free hand in hers. "Come play with us!"
"What-" Ha-yoon retorts, the girl's touch was warm and gentle despite her fears. Not letting go of Ha-yoon, Si-woo is also pulled off with her.
They became absorbed, drawn into the games. The world around them faded into the simple joy and company of others.
"Hey," a boy called out, a smirk playing on his lips. "What's with the funny-looking fae?"
The teasing snaps Si-woo out of his momentary reprieve like a gun going off.
The children's games cease momentarily, their eyes focused on Si-woo and Ha-yoon once again.
The boy who spoke has hair as burgundy as dried-up blood, with eyes a dark shade of autumn, and pointed ears that poked through his puckish grin.
"You don't look like us," he says, tilting his head, easing towards them, "You don't even have our uniforms on. Where do you come from?"
Si-woo stands straight up, confronting the boy, his thumbs finding comfort pinned between the bands of his backpack and his chest.
"They're not funny looking," A girl with silver hair and deep sea blue eyes that'd been playing nearby stepped in before Si-woo could respond.
"They're just... different. Leave them alone, Sol."
Everyone's attention grew to them, and soon they're surrounded by a circle of questioning gazes. The air thickened with whispers that held unspoken rules of the society.
What should I do? Si-woo ponders, but the moment was broken up with an authoritative voice booming through the air, bouncing off buildings like a sonic wave.
"Children, it's time to come inside," the feminine voice called, cutting through the chatter and even quieting the animals.
The laughter and games quickly ended, their expressions a mix of disappointment and happiness.
"But it's still early," one of the children protested, a whine lacing their voice.
"Now, no delays," the voice insisted, a hint of urgency in the tone. Children groaned, but altogether began to gather their things and say goodbye to the animals.
Ha-yoon and Si-woo exchange glances. "Let's get out of here," Si-woo urges.
But the kids began to swarm and sprint towards the large building off in the distance.
"WHOOAA!" Ha-yoon yells, being swept up along with the tide of energy.
"Ha-yoon!" Si-woo calls. But his hand is grabbed, "You-"
The silver-haired girl who defended them pulls him along.
"Don't worry, she's going to the same place." She says with her soft voice, despite dragging him along too.
Where is she taking me? Si-woo's heart races, worrying about what the girl meant.
The bronze building looks ancient. Intricate designs covered the stone walls. The outside doors are massive, easily twice the size of any Si-woo had ever seen. They swung open without a sound as everyone ran in.
Whoa, is this a school? Si-woo steps into a grand hall.
The ceiling is a masterpiece of artistry that seems to stretch endlessly upwards.
It's like I'm staring into a cosmic storm. Si-woo gazes at the swirling colors that danced and shifted, casting a soft, ethereal light over the space.
The amber walls are adorned with murals depicting scenes of celebrations, battles, and creatures both large and small.
Si-woo and Ha-yoon crane their necks, taking in the grandeur that surrounds them.
The children's laughter grows faint as they approach the classroom. Ha-yoon smiles and waves as she turns around and follows everyone into the class.
Of course, she's having fun, Si-woo sighs in relief.
"See, I told you were going to the same place," The blue-eyed girl says to Si-woo, letting go of his hand.
"Wait, where are we?" Si-woo questions, watching the girl run towards the room.
"Just come in!" she gives a final wave before entering.
Well, it's not like I have another choice, Si-woo follows in.
Walking in, a large blackboard faces the room, set behind a teacher's desk upon which a green orb lies atop. The room exhibits a warm aesthetic that matches the warmth of the outside halls. Windows are lined up against the left-hand wall, giving light to the abundance of desks in the room.
"Alright, everyone, find your seats," a voice signals from behind Si-woo.
Si-woo turns to see a woman, so beautiful that she seemed to glow walking into the room, her flowing light blue garment following her.
A decorated navy-blue butterfly clip is implanted in her long white ponytail, revealing her dangling gemstone earrings, with two curly strands framing her face.
More Sea green gemstones danced on her neck as light bounced from her festoon necklace, lighting her deep blue eyes that held flecks of green, like the ocean's depths that seemed to know everything.
"Please make your way to a seat," she says delicately to Si-woo, who's stuck in a trance-like state.
"Oh, y... yeah," Si-woo stutters as he walks to open the desk in the back of the classroom.
Upon sitting down, he notices Ha-yoon on the total opposite side of class, also staring at the ethereal woman.
There are no open seats next to her. Si-woo sits, looking out the window at the twin suns shining down on the school yard of creatures. We'll just have to wait until everything's over, then get out of here.
"Welcome, young ones," the woman announces in a graceful yet firm tone.
"I can't believe the Princess is here herself," a young girl next to Si-woo says to another.
"Yeah, and isn't she just so pretty and kind, it's so rare to see her, especially at these assemblies," the other replies.
Princess? Si-woo reflects in shock. As in an Empire Princess?
The woman's graceful gaze swept over the room, and for a moment, it felt as if she were looking directly at Ha-yoon, then to Si-woo.
"Please quiet down," she says, smiling. Her eyes linger for a fraction of a second longer, then move on.
"I'm Princess Deane, and welcome to the beginning of a new year at the Young Academy of Ondur," the woman proclaims, her voice like a bell, clear and resonant.
"It's so nice to see your wonderful faces. As most of you may know, tomorrow is the official day of school, and today is just a pre-day assembly for echelons' ones and twos.
Echelons? Si-woo considers, as in grades? And today is the pre-day assembly? That partly explains why everyone seems not to care about my and Ha-yoon's appearances.
As Ha-yoon tries to digest everything she's seeing, she can't help but think, the world ends, and we still have to go to school? Well, it's not like I don't like school, but it's a funny thought.
But amidst their confusion their eyes light up. The other children's excitement is contagious, and the wonder of the new world is like an ointment to their abused souls. There's a spark of something they hadn't felt in a long time: hope.
"Now," the princess continued, her eyes sweeping over the room, "Each of you will be assessed and placed into your respective classes based on your age, current knowledge, and abilities. This is to ensure that you receive the best education possible."
"Today's classroom is a blend of echelons ones and twos on account of the third echelon's assembly being yesterday, but tomorrow you all will be divided into your classrooms you've been assigned to earlier in the day." Princess Deane said.
The room fills with the sounds of chatter and whispers as the children communicate with each other. Si-woo felt lost at sea, unsure of what she meant.
Princess Deane taps the green orb on top of the desk. The orb shoots a series of holographic images that seemed to display the curriculum for the upcoming year.
Princess Deane spoke of subjects such as "Hoken Language," "Beast taming," and "Intro to Spiritual Meditation" as the illegible terms flashed before their eyes, leaving the siblings even more bewildered.
How are we even supposed to learn these if we can't even read them? Si-woo bites his nails.
"Don't worry," a soft voice had said from the desk in front of Si-woo. She turns to look at him.
Oh, Si-woo startles, she's the one who defended Ha-yoon and me.
"You'll get the hang of it. It's not as scary as it seems. My name is Mai, nice to meet you."
Mai offered a warm smile, and Si-woo couldn't help but return it. "I'm Si-woo," he manages to say, his voice sounding strange in his own ears.
Mai's words offered guidance amid confusion.
As Princess Deane explained foreign activities, the orb in the front switched to displaying images of students engaging in various actions, some rode on the backs of majestic, multicolored, four-legged animals, and others were in a deep sleep with the earth seeming to bend to their will.
"Your actual teacher will give you more details tomorrow," Princess Deane assured the class, her voice resonating with a warmth that seemed to fill the room.
"But for now, I've enjoyed introducing you to the new academic year and the different classes you'll be taking according to echelon."
So, this is a magical world! Ha-yoon excitedly squirms in her seat. Oh my gosh, I have so many questions!
...
The end of the assembly nears, and the kids start leaving. Ha-yoon and Si-woo began to edge toward the door, eager to go home and talk more about this strange yet fascinating world.
"Stop right there!" the beautiful princess demands, her graceful stride carrying her swiftly across the room.
The classroom parts like the sea, creating a path to reach the siblings.
Princess Diane's eye searches theirs as if looking for something. Then she hands them each a book and a device that looked like a cross between a calculator and an amethyst crystal.
"If you're going to be part of our Academy," she said elegantly, cutting off Si-woo's question before it fully formed. "You're going to need these to decipher our language and way of life."
Her voice was like a song that sang to their souls. Ha-yoon looks down at the book in her hand. This is the book she spoke about for their Hoken language. She observes the device. But what the heck is this thing?
The princess's eyes bore into them, and it was as if she could see their thoughts.
She spoke again, her words echoing in their minds, "Take these with you. Use them daily, for they are the keys to your future here. The wyvern should still be asleep, so take the western gate out again, and remember, the suns set early in Yohen."
With that, she turns on her heel and glides away, leaving them standing with the books and devices in their trembling hands.
The crowd of children thins, and the ones remaining stare at them with a mix of curiosity and wariness. Ha-yoon clutches the book tightly, the weight of it feeling surprisingly comforting.
Why would she give us these when she knows we don't belong here? Si-woo flips the book over, glancing at the foreign title. She also doesn't seem that interested in us; this is very off-putting.
"Here," Si-woo walks behind Ha-yoon, "let me put your things in your bag,"
"Si-woo, are we really going to go here?" Ha-yoon says, handing him her book and device.
"Do you want to?" he responds.
"Kinda, there's magic her Si-woo, MAGIC!" she emphasizes.
Si-woo laughs, zipping up her backpack. "Yeah, this world really is interesting, and if we go here we'll be offered some sort of protection."
He takes off his backpack, putting his book and device inside.
"I think the princess is a bit suspicious, though," Ha-yoon says. "It's almost as if she's avoiding us, but doesn't she know we aren't from here?"
"She does," Si-woo answers, putting on his backpack, "Though I'm not sure why either."
"And what does she mean by 'the sun sets early in Yohen'?" Ha-yoon declares, "If she weren't a beautiful princess, I'd think she was threatening us."
"Hush," Si-woo says, walking through the hall, "We don't know the rules here, and something like that may be heresy and have us beheaded."
"You're right, I'm sorry," Ha-yoon says in her soft voice, following Si-woo out of the Academy.
"You're fine, let's just get outta here," Si-woo murmurs, his voice barely audible above the conversations of the retreating students.
They slip out of the academy and make their way back to the town. The suns suspend high in the late afternoon air.
...
The air cools as the suns dip lower into the horizon. Long shadows cast across the cobblestone streets as they quicken their pace, eager to make it back to the western gate before darkness envelopes the town. The smells of exotic spices and the distant sound of unidentifiable music grew faint as they approached the southern gate, leaving them in a cocoon of silence, broken only by the occasional scurries of wild animals.
Si-woo soon realizes he's lost.
"My navigation skills are terrible," he thought out loud. Ha-yoon sighs and leads them back to the gate.
"I know I already asked, "Ha-yoon says, glancing back over her shoulder. "Are you sure we should go back there?"
Si-woo nods, his eyes never leaving the path ahead. "We need to find out more about this place, and maybe, just maybe, we'll find a better way to live."
"They called themselves 'fae, '" Ha-yoon continues, "I've never heard a fae."
"Me neither, but I think we'll be able to find out more about them and this place they call 'Yohen' from the books the princess gave us," Si-woo says.
Retracing their steps, memories of the town's marvels spin like a reel in their minds. The night lights illuminate the town, revealing the nightlife of Yohen.
The siblings pause at the western gate border, looking back through the trees at spires that had been the first glimpse of civilization in the alien world. Twilight paints the sky in hues of purple and blues, the islands casting the soft glow across the vast landscape.
"We can't stay out much longer," Si-woo warns, his grip tightening around the band of his backpack.
"Let's get back to the house before it's too dark."
When they reached the gate, the sleeping wyvern still lay there. Its chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern.
They approach cautiously, their hearts in their throats. With a silent nod, they slip by, careful not to stir the sentinel.
Now clear, they pick up the speed, looking for the trees with the engravings to guide them back to the spot where they entered this world from.
"Wait, Si-woo," Ha-yoon says, breaking her stride, "Look at that,"
Si-woo slows down to a stop, glancing past Ha-yoon to view what her eyes were pinned on.
In the dark forest, a floating iridescent being, no larger than a penguin, is retracing the engravings on a tree with a tendril that extends from its body.
The once-empty cavity in the tree is now lit with what seems like a blue flame. The creature's color has a slight blue hue to it, creating a mesmerizing dance of light on the tree's bark.
"It's sooo cute," Ha-yoon whispered; her eyes wide with amazement.
Si-woo took a step closer, his curiosity piqued. "Now that I'm looking at it closer, it looks different from the fae's written Hoken language," he murmurs, comparing the engravings to the signs in the Ondur.
The being's head swivels around. It locks its eyes onto Ha-yoon's, its pupils dilating to slits.
"It doesn't look like it'll hurt us," Ha-yoon whispers, inching to it, "I think it's...curious,"
"Wha-," Si-woo replies, watching Ha-yoon advance towards it.
The being hovers closer, the tendril retracting into its body. Ha-yoon reaches out tentatively, and it allows her to touch it.
"It feels like a soap bubble," Ha-yoon murmurs, "Cool and smooth, with a bit of electricity."
"Careful," Si-woo warns, his voice filled with wonder rather than worry.
The creature lets out a coo, its eyes never leaving Ha-yoon's. The sound resonates within their souls, a melody soothing the ragged edges of their fears.
The creature's coo grew louder, and the light from its body intensifies, casting a vibrant blue glow around them.
"It's okay, I'm here," Ha-yoon reassures in her gentle voice, "Were you...waiting for us?"
Si-woo tilts his head in confusion. Can she understand it?
The creature's light dims, and it begins to scribble again, this time on the air itself. The siblings watch as a symbol is formed.
The symbol hovers closer, as if inviting them to follow, and then takes off into the night along with the being, leaving a trail of shimmery light.
Si-woo and Ha-yoon look at each other, the weight of their backpacks momentarily forgotten.
As if sharing each other's thoughts, they chased after it, their footsteps echoing through the woods while the iridescent being leads them through the maze of trees illuminated by the flares within the empty cavities of the engraved trees.
Whilst running, the forest seemed to come alive around them, the air thick with suspense as other animals scurry about.
They stumble and trip over roots, but the excitement of the other chase keeps them going.
Finally, the being stops at the edge of a moonlit clearing, and they see the familiar shimmering rip in the fabric of the world that was their gateway home.
The creature hovers there for a moment, watching them, before it let out a final trill and vanished into the night, leaving them standing before the shifting colors of the portal.
They both stare at the rift, their chests heaving from the exertion of the chase. Ha-yoon's hand flew to her pocket, pulling out her mask, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Yeah... let's come back here tomorrow," she breaths.
Si-woo pants, "We definitely will," he says, dumbfounded by the world.
He pulls out his mask, preparing himself for the wretchedness of his world.
With a deep breath, they look at each other. The suspense from the chase had been a welcoming distraction from the overwhelming newness of the world.
They stare into the void that separates them from their own reality, the weight of their past settles heavily on their shoulders.
"Ready?" Si-woo whispers, grabbing her hand.
"Mmhm, let's go," Ha-yoon answers, her voice shaking slightly, clutching his hand.
They step through, the fabric of reality parting around them like water. Colors swirl and dance, pulling at their senses, making everything terrifying and a bit exhilarating.
Briefly, they felt they were floating in a sea of stars before everything solidified again.
They found themselves once again standing at the base of Ansan Mountain, the same spot where the wyvern had chased them into the alien world.
The once familiar landscape is now drugged and ragged. The silence of the night is punctuated only by a distant howl of a creature.
It still hurts, Si-woo mourns, but at least I'm not alone, he looks at Ha-yoon's muddled peach-yellow hair and small face, which he'd sworn to protect.
"What?" Ha-yoon says, returning Si-woo's gaze.
"I can smell you through my mask," Si-woo jests, turning away to look for the radio.
Ha-yoon giggles, "That's your breath." Ha-yoon returns in her high-pitched voice.
Si-woo chuckles, "Yeah, we both need to clean up." he finds what remains of the radio.
"It must have gotten squished by that wyvern," Ha-yoon says, walking up from behind him. "Scary,"
Si-woo sighs, "We'll just have to look for another way to find people then," he walks away from the mangled mess, beginning the walk back home.
They pick their way through the rubble-strewn streets of Seoul, the site of their town now holds a ghostly pallor in the moonlight.
They finally came upon the fresh dirt mound and hand-carved cross marking the burial of Si-woo's mother in front of the house.
The house stands like a muted guardian, A remnant of the life he had left behind. The torn walls and demolished roof still stood as they left them, open to the night sky.
"Hey, Ha-yoon," Si-woo says, breaking the solemn silence as they approach the wreckage.
"I think I know what the princess meant when she said 'the sun sets early in Yohen"
"Yeah, me too," she replies, stepping over the remains of the white gate.
"It felt like we were there for hours," Ha-yoon recalls, "But time seems to be a few hours or so ahead here."
"I agree," Si-woo confirms, walking by the grave.
"I'm back, Mom," he says, taking off his mask.
...
They set down their supplies in the house, the memories of happier times playing in their minds, weighing down on their hearts.
The deaths from their journey clung to their clothes and skin, evidence of the soiled world around them.
Si-woo opens his backpack, revealing an assortment of cleaning supplies and clothing.
"We need to get cleaned up," he says, his voice flat. "We can't go back to bed like this."
They wash themselves, scrubbing away all the excess dirt as if they were ridding themselves of their past. After, they split the rations from the ruined convenience store.
The food is spongy bread filled with a sweet, tangy paste and small, juicy fruits that pop in their mouths, releasing a burst of flavor. A simple meal that filled their bellies and brought a measure of comfort to their grieving hearts.
Afterward, they brush their teeth with the leftover toothpaste and brushes that lay about before making their way to their room.
The bed is messy, and the blankets are slightly rumpled from when they had slept their last.
Ha-yoon sits on the edge of the bed holding the book Princess Deane gave her in her lap, her eyes scan the pages.
"We should start studying," she says, her voice laced with thrill.
Si-woo nods wearily, his eyes drifting to her book. "But first, we need to rest. We've had a long day, and we're going to need our strength for tomorrow."
Ha-yoon snaps her book shut, "Okay then, in the morning," she says, setting the book on the floor, then crawling into bed.
They stare at the stars through the open roof, the quiet night a total opposite to the chaos they had left behind.
Ha-yoon's stormy eyes grows heavy, the darkness of the room lulling her into a state of sleep. But before she could fully succumb, Si-woo's voice cuts through the silence.
"What do you think will happen tomorrow?" he asks, his dark eyes full of the twinkling lights above.
Ha-yoon's voice is small in the darkness. "I don't know, but I have a feeling it's going to be big."
Si-woo's mind races with the thoughts of the other world and the mysteries it holds. He reaches out and takes his sister's hand.
"We'll face it together, no matter what."
They lay in quiet darkness, their breath syncing to the rhythm of the night. The creeks and groans of the house become null to them despite their fear and uncertainty.
A strange wave of peace envelopes the room as they hold onto each other.
...
Si-woo stirs as the first light of dawn pierces through the windows. He slowly sits up, the realization of the previous day's events washes over him. Looking around, he notices something wrong.
The ceiling, Si-woo ponders in disbelief, the floorboards, and even the lingering dust and debris have been cleaned up and fixed.
"Ha-yoon," he whispers, nudging her gently. "Wake up,"
"Hmm?" she says groggily, sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
Her eyes gradually widen, taking in the repaired walls, shelves and floorboards around them.
"What happened?" she whispers, her voice still thick with sleep.
Si-woo shook his head, equally confused.
He glances at the bedside table cabinet. Even Ye-jun's clock models and Trophies have been put back together.
He grabs a trophy as Ha-yoon crawls out of bed, slowly making her way downstairs.
"Wait up," Si-woo says, setting the trophy down, "Someone could be here."
Si-woo walks into the hallway, eyes staring at the rebuilt wooden floorboards and the once-slanted walls.
Some picture frames are missing, but I guess that's to be expected. He walks down the renewed stairs to the kitchen, Ha-yoon staying close behind him.
"I...I can't believe it," Ha-yoon marvels, taking in the kitchen.
The kitchen had been organized; the shelves stocked with never-before-seen food. The house had been transformed into a place of refuge and comfort.
Ha-yoon walks over to the refrigerator and opens it, her eyes widening at the sight of water and other food in it.
"There's electricity too," she expresses, scrounging through the fridge.
"I'll be right back," Si-woo says, making his way through the left of the kitchens' open archway, down the hallway to his mother's room.
I hope everything's still the same, he thought, twisting the knob, opening the door.
Upon opening the door, a nostalgic waft of his mother's aroma caresses his nose, his heart skips a beat as a serene image of her forms in his mind.
The sunlight from the adjacent window coats the neat queen-size bed sitting in the middle of the room, facing a white dressing table. To the right of the dressing table is a closet full of once-used clothes.
He walks over to her dresser, picking up the last remaining picture frame in the room.
I'm glad at least this one is still intact. A tear runs down his cheek as he reminisces about the beachside picture in his hand.
"Si-woo, come look at this," Ha-yoon yells, snapping Si-woo out of his mourning.
Wiping his tears, he sets the picture down and heads for the door. He takes a final look, etching the scene into his heart before closing the door.
"Did something happen?" Si-woo asks, walking into the living room where Ha-yoon is staring out the window.
"The ground outside the house," Ha-yoon points, "It's leveled...but everywhere else is the same," she says, her voice falling into a falsetto.
Si-woo pats her head, looking at his mother's grave untouched, and the surrounding area lush with grass.
Whoever-, Si-woo contemplates, or whatever did this got rid of the remnants of the fence too, but why us?
They walk through the house in amazement, touching the walls and furniture as if to make sure everything wasn't a dream and switching on the lights and the TV in the living room to make sure it worked.
The house transformed into an overwhelming contrast to the gloomy, dust-filled shell they had left behind.
...
The siblings recuperate in the living room, their minds in shock.
"This is unbelievable," Si-woo says, his voice hushed with excitement.
"The shower works now," Ha-yoon says eagerly, "I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE NO MORE BIRDBATHS!"
Si-woo stifles a laugh, "My guess is someone—or something—has been here, and they wanted to help us," Si-woo explains, "How did they do it while we were sleeping at night? I have no clue, but we shouldn't waste any more time and get ready for school."
"I can't wait," Ha-yoon says excitedly, rushing up the stairs.
As they brushed their teeth and combed their hair, they talked about the wyverns they'd seen and the mysterious language book and device.
Now at the kitchen table, Ha-yoon's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined the device.
"What classes are we going to take?" Ha-yoon starts, "Do you think they'll be similar to the ones we took at school, or completely different? Or maybe..."
Si-woo sets his device on the table and takes Ha-yoon's, completely ignoring her ranting.
"Hey, give me-" Ha-yoon continues.
Si-woo quickly nudges a small button, and the device suddenly comes to life.
A holographic projection of Princess Deane materialized before them, her serene face and body floats in the air, her eyes filled with the same deep blue-green wisdom they had seen in Ondur. She spoke in a melodic tone, her words foreign yet understandable.
"Hello, my young ones," she says, a warm smile playing on her lips.
"I'm so happy I get to meet you finally, and hope you're doing well."
"Meet you? Finally?" Ha-yoon began "How does sh-",
"Shhh." Si-woo cut her off.
"I know this may seem strange," the holographic figure of the princess says calmly.
"But it seems our world energy 'serein' that flows through Yohen has a way of adjoining those whose lands are connected. It's part of what makes your world so special, and it's why you can understand me now."
Si-woo and Ha-yoon stare at the projection, their mouths agape. Serein? They both contemplate.
The princess continued, her voice soothing and reassuring.
"On your official first day at the academy, you will be provided uniforms to wear, so don't worry. Your world has indeed undergone a cataclysmic event, one that has changed the very fabric of reality. The earthquakes you experienced were not natural, but the result of ancient structures reacting to the bombardment of energies from other realms, producing your world as a median in balancing the realms."
"Huh?" Ha-yoon murmurs, her voice barely audible. "Is she saying there are more portals?"
As I thought, Si-woo reflects, remembering how Ye-jun was taken away from him.
"Now, others from your world may have survived, but we have yet to make contact with anyone else of your kind. The kingdom of Ondur values diversity of life and the balance of the realms, so we welcome you to conjoin with us. We simply cannot stand by and watch as your world becomes a byproduct of the turmoil."
The holographic image of the princess grew serious. "The book and device I have given you contain the essence of our knowledge. They will be your guides through our Hoken language and the intricate art of 'serein' manipulation. The device is called a 'cheg'; it acts as an alarm and a map to Ondur. With these skills, you will be able to comfortably blend in."
The siblings stare at the floating figure, soaking in her words.
Ha-yoon swallows hard, clutching the book tightly to her chest. Do they plan to migrate to our world? she contemplates.
"The cheg and book are primarily designed to be interactive learning tools," the princess resumes, "They will guide you through the basics of Hoken language and Ondurian history."
"You can navigate your way through the lessons using the nob on the side of the cheg. This concludes my brief introduction. Please study hard and do your best, and ask as many questions as you can to your teacher at school. Bye-bye now."
The hologram fades, leaving them awestruck.
"See how I told you she is so suspicious?" Ha-yoon finally speaks, "How does she know about us?"
Si-woo ran his hand through his curly pink hair thoughtfully, "I don't know, maybe it's because of how we interacted with our surroundings when we were in the town," he suggests, "Or the books and the cheg could have some kind of tracking or scanning technology...but that doesn't make sense either."
"Yeah, it doesn't," Ha-yoon says, "because she knew who we were when we went to school yesterday."
They sit down at the kitchen table, the cheg and book laid out in front of them.
"Well...let's get started," Si-woo presses down on a button on his cheg, and a holographic image shoots to life.
The princess starts teaching them how to read and write in Hoken and tells them a little history of Ondur. The siblings listen, eager to learn.
A couple of hours flew by as they studied, their eyes darting back and forth between the book and the device. Taking breaks to eat the strange but delicious food in the refrigerator, time flew by quickly, and the kitchen is filled with the sounds of crinkling wrappers and their whispers.
...
An alarm on the cheg beeps, signaling them to leave for school.
Leaving the house, the early morning sun casts a warm glow over the neighboring areas that had once been homes.
In the yard, Si-woo's heart skips a beat. The dirt mound and cross that marked his mother's grave had a young tree next to it, no more than a sapling, that he couldn't have seen from the living room window.
Ha-yoon observes his expression and follows his gaze, her own eyes widening in surprise.
"Looks like someone paid their respects," she murmurs, her voice filled with awe.
Si-woo nods, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"Let's go to school," he says, a lump forming in his throat.
They pick up their bags and head out into the ghost town. The air carries distant calls of unfamiliar animals and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind.
...
The chromatic swirling rip comes into view, pulsing with otherworldly energy.
The frayed edges of the ominous portal cause its surroundings to appear unstable. The hairs on their arms stand on end as they draw closer, the air subtly crackles around them.
"Serein-" Ha-yoon whispers, her eyes pinned on the portal. "To use their magic, we're going to need to learn more about it. This is going to be so fun,"
Si-woo takes a deep breath, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "They call it cultivation, I think it's a bit different from magic, but we'll find out soon."
They walk through the portal. Vertigo washes over them as the colors swirl and the world spins around, and then they were through.
Reality materializes as they yet again stand in the field of green grass they had first stepped into, the islands of Yohen looming majestically across the sky.
The siblings take a look around, examining if anything has changed with a blend of alleviation and uncertainty. The air is crisp and clean, unlike their decaying world. The sky above; a vibrant blue, with creatures flying about through the clouds that looked like they had been painted with a soft brush.
"Even when staring right at it, it's hard to believe," Si-woo says, pointing upwards at the two suns. "My guess was right. Time here moves differently."
Ha-yoon extends her right hand towards the horizon, measuring the time,
"Back home, it was about nine thirty, but here it looks to be around six-six thirty in the morning,"
I wish we could live here forever, Ha-yoon lets her arm down, brushing her skirt.
The siblings become absorbed in the moment and appreciate the beauty of the strange world before them, a refreshing feeling for their souls.
Ha-yoon squints at the unfamiliar celestial formations. "Isn't it so weird to think that our world is out there, just a few steps away?" she murmurs.
Si-woo chuckles, uplifting the mood. "Just a few steps through realms and realities, huh?" He nudges her.
"Let's not forget we have to go to school, not a vacation."
But Ha-yoon was already onto her next endeavor.
"Hold on a minute," she says, her voice brimming with wonder. "Look at these guys!"
She had caught a glimpse of a group of small, mystical creatures emerging from the bushes. Their fur shimmers with a gentle glow that mirrors the light of the twin suns. They hold wide, inquisitive eyes and tails that flicker periodically.
Si-woo turns his gaze from the heavens to Ha-yoon.
They don't look like they're afraid of her, Si-woo spectates. Instead, it's the opposite; she's really good with animals.
Their tails swish in a playful dance. He couldn't help but smile as she giggled, her eyes alive with joy.
"We should go," he says gently, absorbing the scene one last time. "We don't want to be late for our first day of school."
They set off, retracing their steps from the day before.
Si-woo guides them through the forest as Ha-yoon's mind races with what awaits them at the academy. The scent of exotic blossoms perfumes the air.
They walk in silence, I can't find the trees with the engravings. Si-woo ponders.
I know I'm not very useful when it comes to directions, but there's no way I'm this bad.
"I think we should have turned left at that giant mushroom," Ha-yoon said, looking back at the path they had taken.
"But the trees with those symbols aren't here anymore."
Si-woo checks his cheg in his hand, two red dots represent where they are, and far off north, a green dot represents Ondur.
"It's okay," he assures her. "This way."
They keep on a path that winds through the dense forest, trees tower above them, their leaves blocking most of the sunlight. The path inclined on a small hill, Si-woo and Ha-yoon climbed over. Branches and rocks made the ascend gradual.
Ha-yoon stumbles on a rock, Si-woo reaches out to steady her. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she says, brushing off the dirt.
"Si-woo, where are we? These hills weren't here before." She quickly grabs the cheg from his hands.
"I should have known, but let me try to get us there."
Si-woo sighs, reluctantly letting Ha-yoon guide them higher on the treacherous path.
Just as they were about to come around a bend, a shadow loomed over them.
They immediately froze, their hearts pounding in their chests.
A creature emerges from the trees, its massive form blocking most of the sunlight.
Si-woo takes Ha-yoon's hand and pulls her back behind him. That animal is at least two and a half meters tall standing on its hind legs; this must be the 'sprit' species Princess Deane briefly spoke of.
The muscles of the sprit bulge beneath its sleek black fur. Its eyes a piercing green, and its nails sharp as if they could tear through steel.
A deep rumbling noise comes from the beast's muzzle, the noise foreign and harsh on their ears.
"W-Wait, I-I think it's trying to say something," Ha-yoon stammers, the device slipping from her sweaty palms.
Despite their fear, Si-woo and Ha-yoon recognized the cadence, dialect, and tones of the Hoken language.
The sprit's menacing voice grew louder, more insistent, its eyes filled with desperation.
"My...sweet...blood," it repeats, its voice cracking with need.
Terrified, Si-woo and Ha-yoon stumble back, their breath coming in short.
Princess Deane only talked about sprits briefly, Ha-yoon takes a step back. Do we run? There was no time to listen to all of it before we left.
The creature takes a step forward, its movements calculating and graceful.
"I'm scared Si-woo," Ha-yoon whispers.
Si-woo glances back, witnessing her pleading eyes. He drops his backpack.
"Stay back!" he yells at the sprit, unsure if it could understand.
To their surprise, the sprit pauses, tilting its head as if contemplating Si-woo's demand.
Instantly, the sprit ferociously sprints towards Ha-yoon at a speed contradicting its size.
On instinct, Si-woo throws himself between the creature and his sister.
He barely had time to register the sprit's raised paw before it swiped at him,
"CRACK,"
Si-woo's arm breaks as he barely deflects and misguides the blow, but only to be lashed by the beast's tail on his back.
"AHHHHH!" Si-woo screams, the air leaving his lungs as he's sent flying, his body smashing into the ground fifteen meters away.
A pain shoots through his right arm like a thousand burning needles as he tries to breathe, but can't.
"EMMMMPH," he forces out, trying to breathe.
He rolls onto his back, multi-colored lights swirling in his vision. The edges of his vision darken as he watches the sprit walk over to Ha-yoon, its jaws open in a silent snarl.
"Eeeeaaahhh!," Ha-yoon screams, her backpack sliding off as her eyes sink deeply within the sprits.
Si-woo's hand throbs, the pain extreme, but the adrenaline nulls most of it.
I've got to get up, I have to get to her. Through gritted teeth, he manages to roll himself up onto his good arm. He feels the warmth of his blood seeping through the back of his shirt.
In spite of his weak, trembling legs, he stumbles towards the sprit, his eyes locked on its radiant green eyes.
The sprit now has Ha-yoon in its massive hand, her hair pulled tight as it raised her into the air.
She kicks and screams, her words high-pitched and panicked.
"Brother!" she shrieks. "Help me!"
Move legs, move, move, MOVE! A sharp pain like a knife shoots to Si-woo's heart as he watches his sister dangle like a rag doll.
Memories of his mother, and Ye-jun lost in the earthquake, flood his mind.
"Let her go!" he gruffs, his hoarse and weak voice, subtly echoing through the quiet forest.
The beast's head snaps around to face him, its teeth bared.
Ha-yoon's eyes met Si-woo's, filled with dread and trust.
I've got to do something, anything to save her. With a deep breath, his shuffling turns into a pained sprint towards the beast.
The ground feels anew beneath his feet, energy stirs within him, powering his legs to continue running.
Ha-yoon's cries grow fainter as the creature begins to choke her, kicking, her face turns red with the effort to breathe.
"Please-" Si-woo wails, reaching out to her.
And then a maroon flash shoots through the air. Through a cloud of dust, the sprit is sent off into the distant skylands, releasing Ha-yoon from its grasp.
Si-woo stumbles to a stop, his eyes wide with shock. The beast was hurtling through the air, hit by a force that had come from nowhere.
The sprit smashes into the side of a distant floating island, Dirt and foliage breaking apart on impact.
The dust slowly clears, and Si-woo turns to the sound of Ha-yoon's coughs.
Standing before him, carrying Ha-yoon, is a fae lean and tall, with long black hair that seemed to flow around him. His clothes are made of a fabric so fine it looks like coagulated blood fluttering in the breeze. The most striking feature, its eyes, a deep midnight blue that seemed to have the cosmos circulating within them.
The fae glances down at his arms, "Are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his sharp features.
Ha-yoon's coughs turn into ragged breaths. Her eyes search the fae's face, tears still streaming down her cheeks as she gasps for air.
"Who...are you?" she manages to choke out.
The fae takes a deep breath, his eyes fill with a gentle sadness.
"I am Minho, your guide and protector in our world of Ondur. I am deeply sorry for what happened. I had a feeling that you would arrive early, but an acquaintance kept me long. Princess Deane sent me to ensure your safety and teach you the ways of Ondur, but it seems I failed before I even started."
Si-woo, his vision blurring from the pain and exertion, calls out weakly, "Ha-yoon?"
"Si-woo!!" Ha-yoon starts yelling, her voice shrill with panic.
His legs buckle, and he feels himself being pulled into darkness. But before he could hit the ground, a strong arm wraps around him.
"You're hurt," Minho says, his voice a smooth whisper. "Let's get you to safety first."
Si-woo now unconscious, Minho's expression fills with distress as he carefully brings his battered body firmly to his chest, the other arm safely carrying Ha-yoon.
Ha-yoon reaches over to touch Si-woo's rugged pink hair, tears streaming down her face.
"We can't just leave him like this!"
Minho's calm voice flows through her ears. "I will not let his wounds linger. I promise. But we must move quickly. There are more of those spirits nearby."
The fae's eyes grew intense, and it raised its hands.
Ha-yoon watches in amazement as Si-woo's body begins to levitate, then Minho swiftly pulls out a small, silver, mechanical disk from his silk robe, and the cheg and bookbags hover alongside them.
"Whoa," Ha-yoon says in awe.
The Fae, Minho, nods solemnly.
"Hold on tight. I will heal you as soon as we arrive."
Ha-yoon's body jolts backwards as Minho leaps and sprints tree to tree.
Her heart in her throat, she wraps her arms around his neck as she watches her brother's limp body and other belongings hover in the air.
They turn a corner, and Ha-yoon squints through the rough wind, trying to memorize the forest.
"Where are we going?" she yells, glancing at Si-woo's body.
Minho's gaze softens at her distress, not deviating from the path ahead.
"To a safe place, where I can tend to your brother's wounds. Here," he says, pointing to a clearing ahead.
Ha-yoon has only seen it once up close, but nothing compares to the beauty of this one; a gigantic dragon-like wyvern with wings that resembled a kaleidoscope of butterflies lay before them, its nearly black scales shimmering in the rays of the twin suns.
"But...but that's a wyvern!" Ha-yoon exclaims, her arms begin to tremble around his neck.
"I don't want to go there," she cries.
"You don't have to worry about this one," Minho begins.
"She belongs to me, and she's a bit...reticent. But-"
Minho glances at Ha-yoon's face buried in his chest, in question, his brows furrow slightly.
"You can see it?"
"How could I not?" Ha-yoon replies, her eyes squeezed shut.
"It's right there!"
Minho's expression grew thoughtful. "Ondurians are indeed special," he murmurs.
"But it is unheard of even for fae to see Adroitblood wyverns at such a young age. It seems the serein entrenched within you is stronger than we could have imagined."
The wyvern stirs as they approach. Its massive dark wings unfurl, casting down indistinct, rainbow glades across the clearing.
Ha-yoon slowly turns her head, viewing the majestic behemoth. The cloud gray eyes of the wyvern, discerning and archaic, met hers, and she knew it could see into her heart.
Minho gently lowers Ha-yoon and Si-woo to the soft, mossy ground, storing the disk back in his robe. He pulls a small stone-like device from his pocket, it starts to glow a soothing purple. Placing it on Si-woo's chest, the light grows, enveloping his body.
Ha-yoon's eyes widen as the stone's purple luminescence seeps into her brother's wounds through his ripped shirt, the bruises, dirt, and cuts slowly fading away, leaving a sweet floral scent.
No cleaning, sterilizing, wrapping, or bracing? She watches, if Dad saw this..., an ache runs through her chest.
Dad didn't like it when I bothered him at work, so I'll ask him about it later.
Ha-yoon walks over to the wyvern, briefly looking deep within its eyes before reaching out to touch the wyvern's scales.
They're warm, Ha-yoon relishes, caressing the wyvern's scales, and it feels like she's enjoying it a bit.
Ha-yoon pets its neck, feeling the jagged smoothness beneath her fingertips. The massive wyvern leans into her touch, its eyes closing in contentment.
"Her name is Lemmy," Minho says without looking up from his work.
"The name comes from a toy I lost as a child. A bit strange, but there's a certain solace to have something from my past with me."
Ha-yoon hesitates, "You named a creature like this after a toy you lost," she says skeptically.
"Yes," Minho says.
"The toy brought me company as a child, especially when there was none to talk to."
While Ha-yoon marvels at the creature, Si-woo's eyes flutter open. Taking in deep breaths, he feels life force streaming through his veins.
The pain is gone, Si-woo thought, looking to the vibrant blue sky above.
Instead, there's a warm, comforting feeling that replaced the feeling in my arm. I do feel a bit nauseous though... I'll just stay down.
"You're okay," Ha-yoon beams, walking over to him.
Her voice is shaky with relief. She grabs his left hand, her eyes never leaving his face.
"You're okay."
Minho nods, his eyes pinned on Si-woo's healing body.
"The wounds are closed, but he's lost a significant amount of blood. He needs to rest. Now, your turn, come here."
Minho motions Ha-yoon to the opposite side of Si-woo. He places the stone on her neck and begins the healing process.
"You are easier to heal than your brother," said Minho.
"Thank you for saving him," Ha-yoon whispers, her voice shaking with emotion.
Minho looks over to Si-woo, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"It was nothing," he said, his voice soothing.
"I'm just doing my job."
Ha-yoon's compassionate eyes look over to Si-woo. I can't believe things like 'sprits' even exist, and if it weren't for him...
"We have a few things to discuss." Minho declares, standing up, as he did, Si-woo's body begins to float again. Ha-yoon gasps, her eyes wide in awe.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself," Minho says with a small bow.
"I am Minho, Head of The Royal Military Familia and a Representative of The Education Branch of The Knowledge Familia of Ondur."