The face closing in on him halted mere inches away, so close that Cheon Areum could feel the warmth of Yoon Seoyul's breath ghosting over his cheek. Then, slowly, his arm extended past Cheon Areum's side. The soft click of the seatbelt being pulled into place filled the silence. He fastened it carefully, the strap brushing against Cheon Areum's chest as he drew it across and locked it in.
"..."
Only then did the car start. Yoon Seoyul drove with one hand lazily resting on the steering wheel, the other intermittently rising to rub at his drowsy eyes. Cheon Areum wasn't particularly sleepy—not after his short nap—but watching Seoyul like this, with his heavy eyelids and slow, steady breathing, he felt the fatigue creeping up on him too.
"We have time. Let's get coffee. I'm afraid you'll crash the car at this point."
"Hmm."
*
Cheon Areum's second grave mistake today was ordering an iced americano with four shots of espresso. He had finished drinking it now, so nothing could be done, but his entire body was restless, unlike Yoon Seoyul, who had ordered only one shot of espresso and sat comfortably with his eyes peeled this time.
"How long—"
"It's only been 29 seconds since the last time you asked me. We'll be there shortly."
Tapping his foot hysterically, he unfastened the top buttons of his shirt. Burning with energy, his body temperature had risen considerably. Although awakeners were hardly influenced by the weather as long as it was not too extreme, they weren't immune to their own body heat or coldness.
"Button them back up. There'll be reporters at the entrance."
"Oh, right."
He had forgotten. They were heading to an S-Class gate, meaning an S-Class awakener or awakeners would definitely show up at the point. How could there be no media? They must've already found out that Yoon Seoyul was the one entering the gate. There would be a horde of them waiting for him. And just as he thought, when the car turned, the entrance came into view. No—the entrance couldn't even be seen; just a bunch of people squeezed onto each other and attacking the car like zombies.
"How are we going to get out of the car?!"
The moment he spoke, Yoon Seoyul parked the car at a random spot and unfastened his seatbelt.
"You're getting out here??"
"Wait here."
Saying that much, he got out of the car, but instead of getting caught by the zombies, a row of people in black suits walled around him, protecting him from them. Yoon Seoyul walked around the car leisurely, opening the car door for him and extending a hand towards him. Cheon Areum took the hand as he got off the car. His hand was held tightly as they made their way to the entrance on foot.
"Mr. Yoon Seoyul, you have always come alone for a gate. Is this your partner?"
"What's your relationship with the person behind you? Mr. Yoon Seoyul."
"Just one word—"
Cheon Areum kept his head down as he was led by Yoon Seoyul. The reason was simple: he didn't want to make his debut on TV as an anonymous partner of Yoon Seoyul. If that happened, even after his reawakening, no one would pay any attention to that part; all articles and news channels would begin by 'Yoon Seoyul's partner....'
"Lift your head. We're here."
Doing as told, he lifted his head. The area was empty besides them and the bodyguards; no one was there. It was an amusement park but devoid of any life. Looking over the empty place, his eyes settled in a direction where a massive amount of negative energy was resting. That must be the gate.
Yoon Seoyul was walking in the same direction. He was basically being dragged by him as he observed his surroundings, fascinated. It was his first time in an amusement park. He had heard how crowded they usually were. Seeing it as quiet as now would be hard for common people. If he could ride any of these structures, he would've rented it out though.
"I really can't believe you brought him with you."
Kim Ryung smiled slightly, shaking his head upon seeing them. The others standing behind him all turned to look at them ridiculously.
"Master, this is too much. You even banned B-Classes from entering an S-Class gate in the guild, but he gets to enter as an F-Class?"
Hwan gloomily said, walking to stand with Kim Ryung. He eyed them with unfairness.
"Cheon Areum isn't a guild member; he can enter as a spectre."
"He paid for an S-Class gate?! How rich are you, fellow healer?"
Gathering at the gate, two people of the same features lined behind as one of them asked him. Cheon Areum had no idea he was being brought here as a spectre. Well, it didn't matter; last time he had to use his abilities despite being an actual spectre.
"Richer than any of you here, including your guild master."
Cheon Areum chuckled, fixing his hair. It wasn't a lie—to be exact, he had been richer than anyone here.
"Master, protecting three healers is a lot for me."
Grumbling outwardly, Inho came into view as they stood in front of the gate. The gate was almost as tall as a carousel, exuding a black charge.
"I'll protect Cheon Areum myself. Just take care of Jin and Jun. Feiyang, you're also in charge of the back line."
The new faces this time who were also guild members were the healer twins Jin and Jun, likely alphas, and Feiyang, a female omega, the long ranger Yoon Seoyul mentioned. All of them A-Classes. Unlike the other healers who walked to the back line, Cheon Areum settled at the front with Yoon Seoyul. Usually, healers would never be at the frontline due to the danger, but as an S-Class, he was capable of protecting him.
Entering the gate, a burst of negative energy swirled in his veins. Being aware of it this time, he could clearly feel the impact of entering a gate. All gates had a reasonable amount of negative energy depending on the class. An S-Class gate, however, consisted of only that energy, enveloping them in the same shroudedness.
In contrast to the dark gate, the inside was blank white. Tall walls closed in on them as if they were trapped in a blank page, standing at the end of it.
"I would've preferred an open world map... this is suffocating."
Feiyang muttered weakly as the last of them stepped foot inside, scanning the map curiously. Cheon Areum was somewhat disappointed, until he saw a door-shaped cutout in the distance. The others seemed to notice it too.
"It's a maze."
Yoon Seoyul spoke, looking entirely uninterested.
"Ugh, I hate mazes!"
"Can't say I don't agree with you, Inho."
Kim Ryung laughed opposite of his words, but then all sounds cut short as a colorful head peeked from the doorway before quickly hiding again—making everyone stand on their guard.