After entering inside the wooden door, Minho slowed his steps, every movement calculated, every breath controlled. The hidden passage behind the rock felt colder than before, the air thick with an unfamiliar tension that made his chest tighten. He glanced left, then right,
As he was about to sneak out—
"I think you should stop now."
The voice came from above.
Minho froze.
His fingers clenched slowly as his eyes followed the sound upward. Standing on top of the massive rock, silhouetted against the dim sky, was Raven.
He was dressed completely in black, a long jacket clinging to his frame and fluttering gently as if moved by an unseen wind. His presence alone darkened the space, his eyes glowing faintly, unreadable and dangerous.
Minho staggered back a step.
His breathing grew uneven, shallow, as though the air itself had suddenly thinned.
Raven moved.
In one smooth motion, he flew down from the rock, landing silently in front of Minho—light, effortless, almost unreal. He stood there, towering over him, his aura heavy with restrained violence.
Minho nearly fell but managed to steady himself at the last second, his legs trembling beneath him.
"I don't want to hurt you," Raven said at last, his voice low and cold, carrying a weight that made Minho's skin crawl.
He slowly raised his hand, dark energy swirling faintly around his fingers.
"Mind you," Raven continued, his gaze fixed firmly on Minho, "if you force this, I won't fight like a human. Not like we did the last time in the hostel."
His eyes darkened further.
"I will fight you like something else," he said quietly. "And I promise you—you won't like the outcome."
Raven stretched out his hand fully, palm open, darkness pulsing around it.
"Just peacefully place it on my hand," he said, his patience thinning. "I'm running out of time."
Minho swallowed hard.
He didn't speak immediately. His eyes darted from Raven's face to the hand stretched out before him.
"Gi… give you what?" Minho finally asked, his voice shaking despite his effort to sound calm.
Raven's expression didn't change.
"You know exactly what I'm asking for," he replied.
His fingers curled slightly, the darkness thickening.
"Place it on this hand," Raven said firmly. "Now."
Minho took a step back, glancing behind him instinctively, as if searching for an escape. There was nothing. Only stone, shadows, and the oppressive presence in front of him.
Slowly, Minho straightened his back.
A low laugh escaped his lips—quiet, bitter.
"And you think," Minho said, lifting his gaze back to Raven, "that I would fight you as a human too?"
Raven's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile.
"I know exactly what you are, Minho," he said. "But for now, we won't expose ourselves."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper filled with menace.
"Even if you fought like the chaff you are, I would take you down in seconds. But I don't want that." He extended his hand again. "Just place it here."
Fear flashed across Minho's face—real, raw fear.
"And you think," Minho said shakily, "Jina would be happy seeing you like this?"
Raven didn't even blink.
His eyes never left Minho.
With trembling hands, Minho reached into his bag.
Slowly—reluctantly—he brought out the music box.
The ballerina inside shimmered faintly as Minho held it, his fingers tightening around it one last time before he stepped forward.
He placed it gently into Raven's waiting hand.
Raven lowered his gaze to the box, studying it carefully. He nodded once, as if confirming something long known.
"See you later," Raven said calmly.
Then he was gone.
Faster than the eye could follow, Raven moved—leaping, flying, disappearing among the trees, his presence dissolving into the night as if he had never been there.
Minho stood still, staring into the empty space, his heart pounding violently against his chest.
Back in the hostel, Jina had slumped back into unconsciousness.
Yoon sat beside her, gently wiping her body with a wet towel, her movements careful, almost motherly. Jina's breathing was shallow, her face pale, her body unnaturally still.
The door creaked softly.
Yoon looked up.
Raven stood at the doorway, scanning the room quickly before stepping inside. Their eyes met briefly. Yoon nodded.
Without a word, Yoon rose and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Raven moved closer to the bed.
He watched Jina for a long moment, his expression unreadable—torn between guilt, resolve, and something dangerously close to pain.
Slowly, he brought out the music box.
He placed it gently on the desk beside the bed.
Closing his eyes, Raven raised his hands and placed them carefully on Jina's head.
The room grew still.
Then, faint wisps of smoke began to rise from the music box—soft, glowing threads of energy drifting through the air and sinking into Jina's body.
Her fingers twitched.
The smoke continued to flow, slow and steady, wrapping around her like a silent embrace.
Ten minutes passed.
Then the smoke stopped.
Raven opened his eyes.
Jina inhaled sharply, turning slightly to the other side of the bed, still asleep but breathing more evenly now.
Raven placed his hand gently on her forehead, lingering there for a moment longer than necessary.
Then he stood.
He opened the window, the night air rushing in.
With one final glance at her face, Raven stepped onto the ledge and flew down effortlessly into the darkness—this time holding the music box with him.
Minutes later, I woke up.
A strange strength pulsed through my body. Weakness faded, replaced by something unfamiliar but comforting.
I turned to my right.
Minho was sitting on the edge of my bed, smiling.
"Minho?" I asked, confused. "What happened?"
He leaned forward and hugged me tightly.
"Jina," Minho said softly, his voice heavy with emotion, "you went and healed Raven. And in the process, he stole your powers."
My heart skipped.
"I told you," Minho continued, pulling back slightly to look at me, "that boy is out to take your life."
At that moment, the door burst open.
Raven stood there, frozen, confusion and disbelief flashing across his face as he took in the sight of Minho holding me.
Fear gripped me instantly.
I jumped up, rushed forward, and pushed Raven out of the room.
He didn't resist.
He didn't speak.
He only fixed his gaze on Minho—long, hard, unreadable—before I slammed the door shut between them.
Minho pulled me into his arms again.
"Jina," he said quietly, holding me close, "I would do anything to keep you safe."