I was seated by the window, letting the gentle breeze brush against my face, when my eyes caught sight of Raven and Soah entering through the school gate. They walked side by side, not too close, I watched them for a while, something heavy stirring quietly in my chest, though I could not name what it was.
Without fully understanding why, I stood up.
I slipped my feet into my shoes, moved carefully so the door wouldn't creak, and stepped out, closing it softly behind me.
I ran toward the field.
Even as my feet carried me forward, my mind lagged behind. I didn't know why I was running, only that I had to move, had to release the tightness building inside me. I began with a slow jog around the field, the grass damp beneath my shoes from the earlier rain. One lap turned into two, then three. My breathing grew heavier, but I didn't stop.
By the ninth round, my head began to spin.
A dull ache settled behind my eyes, pulsing steadily, as if something inside my skull was trying to wake up. I slowed down, lifting a hand to my forehead, when suddenly my vision shifted.
At the far end of the field, something shimmered.
I squinted, thinking my dizziness was playing tricks on me, but the sight did not fade. Floating in the air, glowing softly against the grey sky, was something golden—an object shaped like an ancient cup. It hovered quietly, radiating a strange warmth that I could feel even from a distance.
My heart skipped.
I rubbed my eyes with my palm, blinking hard, but when I looked again, it was still there. The golden cup gleamed gently,
I took a step closer.
The world around me seemed to blur, the sounds of the school fading until there was only the cup and me. Just as I reached out, it vanished.
.
The space where it had been was suddenly empty, ordinary, silent.
A wave of dizziness slammed into me without warning. My knees buckled, my vision darkened, and the ground rushed up to meet me. I felt myself falling, helpless, as everything spun out of control.
I didn't hit the ground hard.
Instead, I felt arms around me—steady, warm, familiar.
I smiled as I looked up to see the face,My eyes fluttered open just enough to catch a glimpse of a face above me.
Minho.
I frowned immediately afterward, unsure why my chest felt so conflicted.
"I'm okay," I murmured weakly. "You can put me down now."
Minho looked at me closely, concern written all over his face. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," I said, forcing my voice to sound steady. "I just felt dizzy. I think it's from running."
He hesitated but gently lowered me onto the grass, still watching me as if I might disappear if he blinked.
"I saw you come here," he said softly. "I decided to follow."
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
After a moment, he offered his hand. "Are you ready to go back inside?"
Again, I nodded.
We walked slowly, hand in hand, toward the familiar tree near the school. As we approached, my eyes lifted instinctively—and that was when I saw them.
Soah stood below the tree, looking up. Raven was perched above her on one of the branches, his posture relaxed but alert. They looked like they were in the middle of a conversation, their expressions serious in a way that made my chest tighten.
I looked away immediately.
I didn't want to see it. Didn't want to feel whatever it was that stirred uncomfortably inside me. Raven didn't glance in my direction either—his attention fully focused on Soah.
I kept walking.
Back in my room, I told Minho I needed to rest. He hesitated, then nodded and left quietly. I closed the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, my heart beating faster than it should have.
Outside, beneath the tree, Raven's voice carried—clear, distinct.
"So you're asking me to help you look for your sister with my powers?" Soah asked, her tone curious.
I froze.
Sister?
I moved closer to the window without realizing it.
"Can't you do it?" Raven replied. "You removed the shadow ban easily. You could see me even when I blocked sound. That means you have strength."
Soah laughed softly. "You know, this is the longest conversation I've ever had with you."
"Because I really want to see my sister," Raven said.
"What's her name?" Soah asked.
"Siwoo."
"Si…woo," Soah repeated thoughtfully. "What a name." She paused, then sighed. "But I'm sorry. I don't have that kind of power. I can't help you."
There was a brief silence.
"I need to rest," Raven said finally. "You can go."
Soah didn't argue. I heard her footsteps fade as she walked away.
Raven opened his eyes and watched her leave. "Such a small girl with such powers," he muttered to himself. "And she plays with them like it's nothing."
I closed the window quietly and sat down on the bed, my heart racing.
Something was wrong.
Raven always placed a shadow ban when he spoke in the tree. Always. I knew that much. He never talked there without sealing sound and presence.
So why could I hear everything?
The realization hit me like a sudden breath after drowning.
I stood up sharply.
Yes—he had placed the ban. I was sure of it.
So why had I heard his words so clearly?
My pulse quickened. My mind raced back to the golden cup, the dizziness, the ache behind my eyes. Pieces began to fall into place, forming a picture I wasn't sure I was ready to see.
"My powers…" I whispered.
Were they awakening?
Not slowly. Not gently.
But fast.
Too fast.
I pressed a hand to my chest, pacing the room as my thoughts spiraled. I had seen something no one else had seen. Heard something I shouldn't have been able to hear.
And Raven—Raven had a sister.
Siwoo.
The name echoed in my mind like a bell struck deep underwater.
I stopped pacing.
So this was it.
The beginning.
My powers were awakening—
Fear and wonder tangled inside me as I stood alone in my room,