CHAPTER 71
Sihyun curved a sad smile.
"Didn't think you'd notice that soon…"
Vanyul stumbled back, gripping his chest. His veins began to darken as black, corrupted magic surged through his body.
"What… did you do?"
he gasped, his voice no longer cold—but broken.
Sihyun stepped forward, his voice gentle.
"You once said you'd teach me everything you knew."
A tear slipped down his cheek.
"Guess that lesson never came. But I'll always remember you… and I'll miss you, Vanyul."
"No… NO!"
Vanyul roared, his magic flaring wildly as he tried to undo the curse—clawing at his own chest, sending out desperate bursts of energy.
But it was too late.
The rot had taken root. His skin cracked like scorched earth, glowing red at the seams.
"You betrayed me…"
he rasped, eyes wide with fury and sorrow.
"I LOVED YOU, Sihyun—!"
And then his voice caught in his throat.
He fell to his knees, and piece by piece, he crumbled—first his fingertips, then his arms, his body turning to black ash, dissolving into the wind.
"Sihyun!!"
he screamed one last time—before nothing remained but dust.
The battlefield fell into silence.
Sihyun stood there, trembling. Blood dripped from his lips.
Yuhyun wept quietly.
Muwon stared with wide, pained eyes, still on the ground, as if trying to understand what had just happened.
The ashes of Vanyul scattered into the wind.
And Sihyun, chest rising and falling, whispered under his breath:
"I'm sorry."
Sihyun rushed toward Muwon, who sat slouched on the bloodstained ground, his hand twisted unnaturally, legs trembling from the pain.
"Muwon—! Are you okay?"
Sihyun gasped, dropping to his knees beside him.
"You… you got hurt because of me, I—I didn't mean for this to happen—your bones, they're broken, I can try to fix it, I just need to—"
"Sihyun."
Muwon reached out with his uninjured hand and gently touched his face, voice strained but soft.
"It's not your fault."
Sihyun's voice cracked as tears slid down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry."
His voice was barely audible now, heavy with guilt and sorrow.
Muwon pulled him into a shaky embrace.
Despite the pain, he wrapped his arm around him, resting his chin on Sihyun's shoulder.
"You're safe. That's what matters."
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed—Yuhyun, Dohyun, and Taejin running toward them.
"Sihyun!"
Yuhyun called, eyes wide with worry.
Sihyun quickly wiped his tears with the back of his hand, composing himself.
He turned to them, voice still hoarse.
"Are you all okay? Did you… break anything?"
Yuhyun blinked at him in disbelief.
"You're asking us that?"
He crossed his arms tightly, trying to stop his own voice from shaking.
"We're fine. But you… you're a mess, Sihyun. You should worry about yourself for once."
Dohyun and Taejin silently nodded in agreement, eyes lingering on the blood still dripping from Sihyun's side and the exhaustion weighing down his frame.
But Sihyun just gave a tired smile.
"As long as you're all okay… then I'll be fine too."
He looked back down at Muwon's broken limbs, already preparing healing magic through his hands despite how drained he was.
Sihyun placed trembling hands over Muwon's broken bones, golden-red magic pooling weakly from his palms.
His breathing was uneven—his body nearly at its limit—but he pushed through it.
Suddenly, Yuhyun's voice cut through the silence.
"Sihyun… you're bleeding!"
Sihyun blinked.
He reached up and touched his nose—and sure enough, warm blood smeared his fingertips.
"Ah… I didn't notice…"
"You didn't notice?!"
Yuhyun panicked, reaching into his sleeve for a cloth. He knelt beside him, gently wiping the blood away.
"You've lost too much already. You need to stop—please."
Muwon's voice, strained but firm, joined in.
"He's right. Sihyun, stop trying to heal me."
His hand reached up again to grasp Sihyun's wrist.
"You need rest. Just sit. Breathe."
Sihyun looked between the two of them—his twin's anxious eyes and Muwon's pained, determined gaze.
He finally let his shoulders drop, slumping beside Muwon, resting his forehead lightly against his shoulder.
"Just… let me stay here for a moment…"
Deep inside the mountain hall, hidden within thick fortress walls.
The king paced restlessly, his breathing shallow. The air was heavy with incense and candle smoke. The nobles sat uneasily, muttering among themselves, while the shamans kept silent, their heads bowed.
"Why hasn't word come yet?"
the king hissed, eyes darting to the sealed entrance.
At that moment, a guard burst in, kneeling quickly.
"Your Majesty—the battle is over."
Gasps filled the room. The Minister of Defense stood.
"And the intruder—Vanyul?"
The guard hesitated, then nodded.
"Destroyed, Your Grace. The Demon Sorcerer—Sihyun—he ended it."
The shaman, without raising his eyes, murmured:
"Even demons have hearts, Your Majesty. But a heart that sacrifices bleeds the deepest."
The nobles fell into silence.
And for the first time… the king sat back down—not with pride, but with uncertainty.
Morning, Palace Grounds
The palace, once drowned in chaos, now stood eerily calm. The faint smell of ash still lingered in the air, but the fires were gone, and the rebuilding had already begun. Workers moved quietly across the grounds, stacking wood, clearing rubble, and fixing shattered windows. It was a slow process, but signs of healing had begun.
Inside one of the quieter palace rooms, Sihyun and Yuhyun lay curled up beside each other on a shared bedding, both fast asleep. Sihyun's breathing was still heavy, and his skin looked pale, but his magic pulsed faintly—stabilizing at last. Yuhyun's hand was draped protectively across his brother's back.
Palace Garden, Morning Light
Muwon, though still weak and bandaged, walked slowly with Dohyun and Taejin flanking him, staying close in case he faltered. His hand was in a sling, but he refused to be carried.
The sun shone gently, bathing the garden in gold. Birds chirped softly on the trees that had somehow remained untouched.
Taejin smirking lightly
"You sure you should be walking already, Your Highness?"
Muwon quiet, eyes forward answer
"The palace stands. Sihyun's alive. That's enough reason to move."
Dohyun glancing at him ask
"You're thinking about what comes next."
Muwon nods
"The people will want answers. And… forgiveness. We let a Demon Sorcerer save the kingdom. That truth is going to change everything."
Taejin grinning
"Maybe it's about time it did."