"Yurim!!!"
Rian froze the moment he saw her—her body vibrating on the ground, eyes rolled back.
He dropped to his knees and pulled her into his lap.
"Say something…!" he shook her, panic rising in his voice, his eyes darting around desperately for help.
Suddenly—
"Yurim!"
Grandfather and Mira reached them.
Grandfather immediately knelt beside her, gently pressing her eyelids open. His face darkened.
Mira stood frozen, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Her soul is fading…" Grandfather whispered, dread seeping into his voice.
Rian's breath hitched. Tears spilled as he cupped Yurim's face, his thumbs brushing against her cold skin.
"Yurim—wake up!" he shouted, his voice breaking.
Grandfather's composure shattered.
"The rejected ones are trapping her—quick!"
He grabbed Rian's shoulder hard.
"Take her away from the Tree. Now. Fast!"
Rian didn't hesitate. He scooped Yurim into his arms and staggered backward, nearly losing his footing as he ran.
Mira and Grandfather followed close behind.
"I didn't know…" Mira sobbed.
"I didn't know this would happen…"
Grandfather didn't slow. His eyes stayed fixed on the sky as the wind began to shift.
"If the Tree awakens," he said grimly,
"she will not come back."
Behind them, the Tree creaked—low, ancient, alive.
And the night crept closer.
---
"Wake up, Yurim!!"
Rian gently lowered her to the ground once they were far from the forest's edge. He shook her again—but her breathing had slowed dangerously, each breath weaker than the last.
Her skin was cold.
Too cold.
"Grandfather!!" Rian shouted, terror ripping through his voice.
Grandfather and Mira rushed forward. Grandfather dropped beside Yurim at once, pressing his ear to her chest before gripping Rian's wrist.
"Call her name," he whispered urgently.
"As much as you can. It will keep her soul from getting lost."
His voice dropped, heavy with fear.
"The wandering souls will leave her now. We've crossed the Tree's boundary—they can't stay away from it."
"Luckily, the tree's power seems to have dulled over the years," he whispered.
Rian swallowed hard.
"Yurim!!"
"Yurim!!"
Their voices echoed desperately through the night.
Then—
"Ahhh—!"
Yurim's body jerked violently. Her back arched, her eyes squeezed shut as if something were being torn from inside her.
The air grew heavy.
Dark shadows poured out of her body—twisting, writhing shapes screaming silently as they were forced upward.
Rian, Grandfather, and Mira stared in horror as the shadows were dragged back—pushed violently toward the distant Tree, unable to cross the boundary they had passed.
The wind howled.
Yurim lay still.
No longer shaking.
Her breathing was faint—but steady.
And slowly… the darkness retreated.
---
Later—
Yurim lay motionless on the bed, breathing weakly beneath the blankets.
Mira sat beside her, head lowered, exhaustion finally pulling her into a light sleep.
Outside the room, Rian stood at the doorway, watching her.
Grandfather stopped beside him.
He placed a hand on Rian's shoulder and said quietly—
"Rian… you must send Yurim back to her world as soon as possible."