Rin and Ha-jin's anxious voices echoed through the phone.
"boss… she's gone. Jiah received a strange call, and right after that… she jumped out of her window and ran off."
A tense silence followed.
Ryuhwan stood still, absorbing the words. His brows furrowed, not in panic—but in a calm, dangerous kind of rage. A flicker of a psychotic smile danced on his lips as he murmured to himself,
> "Even in this life... she's just as stubborn as before."
With that, he turned away from the hallway where he'd been meeting Dimitri, his steps growing faster.
---
Meanwhile, at Shin Joo's place...
Jiah paced the room, her voice trembling as she questioned the visibly disturbed Shin Joo.
> "What is it? Why aren't you saying anything? What did you find out about my parents?!"
Finally, after moments of silence, Shin Joo spoke in a low voice, filled with both hesitation and weight.
> "They're alive, Jiah. Your parents... they're still alive."
Jiah froze. A storm of emotions surged through her—relief, disbelief, overwhelming grief and hope—all at once. Tears welled up in her eyes as she dropped onto the couch.
> "They're alive... I knew it. I knew it wasn't just a dream. I told myself they weren't dead. I felt it."
Just then, the air in the room shifted. Ryuhwan appeared, emerging from shadows as if summoned by her emotions.
> "I told you to wait for me kitten." he said softly from behind.
Jiah turned and ran to him without thinking, her voice shaking as she threw herself into his arms.
> "They're alive, Ryuhwan! They're alive!"
He held her close, his hand gently resting on the back of her head. Across the room, his eyes locked with Shin Joo's. A storm brewed silently between the two men—resentment, rivalry, and an unspoken history too deep for words. They said nothing. But the tension crackled.
Jiah pulled back slightly and gestured towards Shin Joo.
> "This is Dr. Goo Shin Joo. He's one of our best doctors , researcher… and honestly, my only real friend. And—"
Before she could finish, Ryuhwan cut in, his tone calm but deliberate.
> "I know who he is."
He stepped forward and offered his hand with a faint, unreadable smile.
> "It's good to see you again, Dr. Goo."
Jiah blinked, confused.
> "Wait… you two know each other?"
Shin Joo didn't answer that. Instead, he said,
> "Why don't we first talk about what I've discovered?"
Ryuhwan moved aside silently, leaning against the wall, though his eyes never left Shin Joo.
From a drawer, Shin Joo pulled out an old, thick book—ancient-looking, bound in cracked leather. He laid it on the table and turned to page 376.
> "Jiah, I can't say this with complete certainty... but I'm confident. Your parents aren't dead. They're trapped. Sealed somewhere so powerful... that even the world itself has forgotten them."
Jiah stared at him, unable to speak.
> "This… this doesn't make sense."
Shin Joo pointed to an illustration of a twisted black orb on the page.
> "These are called Oblivis Cores. Cursed, rare, ancient. When two Oblivis cores collide, they unleash a surge that captures the nearest souls—trapping them inside. Every memory, every trace of their existence... erased. From everyone's mind. Even the world forgets they ever lived."
Jiah's heart pounded in her chest.
> "W-When did this happen…? Could it be… that night I keep dreaming about?"
Shin Joo nodded solemnly.
> "That dream... it's not just a nightmare, Jiah. I believe it's the last remaining echo of that night. The last proof your heart held onto."
She turned to him, desperate.
> "But why do you think this core is connected to my parents?"
Shin Joo didn't answer right away. His eyes flicked to Ryuhwan, who stood silent, lips curled into a knowing smirk.
> "Because there are no death records," Shin Joo finally said. "None. It's like your parents vanished off the face of the earth. And the night in your dream... that's when I believe it happened."
Inside, Ryuhwan scoffed silently.
> "Of course you're sure. You're Seira's son, after all—the one who guards the space between death and birth."
His gaze drifted to the red thread tied to Jiah's soul—once vibrant, glowing between them. But now… dimmer. Almost faded.
And the reason? Shin Joo's presence.
Ryuhwan clenched his jaw but said nothing.
Just then, Shin Joo said quietly,
> "I think I know who has the cores now."
Jiah's eyes widened.
> "Who?! Tell me, Shin Joo!"
Before he could answer, Ryuhwan's voice interrupted from behind.
> "It's not Dimitri. I checked myself."
Jiah turned toward him in disbelief.
> "You...? And who is Dimitri?"
Ryuhwan stepped closer, placing his hand gently on her shoulder.
> "Yes. He doesn't have them anymore. He sold them. Someone—intentionally—paid a high price to take those cores away."
Jiah's voice trembled.
> "Why? Who would do that?"
Ryuhwan said nothing, just gave her a deep, intense look.
As he did, the red thread between them flickered, glowing once again.
Shin Joo's jaw tightened. His fists clenched.
> "Don't worry, Jiah," Shin Joo said, his voice strained. "We'll find your parents. I promise. Just… take care of yourself."
Ryuhwan's voice cut through the room like a blade.
> "Jiah. Wait for me outside."
She hesitated, confused, but nodded and left the room quietly—without saying goodbye to Shin Joo.
The door clicked shut.
Now alone, Ryuhwan turned to Shin Joo with cold eyes.
> "The one who bought those cores is one of the four leaders of the Nyx Association… You know what that means, don't you?"
Shin Joo's face hardened.
> "You're saying…?"
Ryuhwan smirked.
> "Exactly. So let's make sure Jiah never finds out—for now. We'll talk again. Soon."
He disappeared, leaving Shin Joo staring after him, fists still clenched.
---
Outside, Jiah stood under the pale glow of streetlights. Ryuhwan appeared beside her.
He held out his hand to teleport—but Jiah gently pulled it back.
> "Can we… walk home today? It's late. And I feel like walking."
Ryuhwan paused. Then gave her a small, rare smile.
> "Sure. A walk it is… Miss Hunter."
As they walked side by side under the night sky, Jiah glanced at him—silent, yet warm. Her thoughts drifted.
> "My life is a mess... everything's broken. But this man... no matter
what happens, he always finds his way back to me. And now… now I know my parents are alive. Somewhere. And I'll find them. No matter what. Because I believe in Ryuhwan. I don't know why—but I trust him. With everything I have."
To be continued