Byeol raised his hand toward the wall, and it began to glow, intricate magical circles spiraling outward like ripples in water. Before the light fully manifested, he turned to Foutaba with a faint smile.
My name is Byeol,he said.
Meanwhile, at the campsite of the cave explorers, a hushed conversation unfolded beneath the dim glow of lanterns.
Explorer 1:Have you heard about that girl who fell into the cave?
Explorer 2:Yes, the one from a month ago? Do you think she's dead?
Explorer 3:What are you talking about?
Explorer 1:"You haven't heard?! It happened a month ago! A little girl snuck onto one of the caravans. When they tried to catch her, she ran—straight into the cave. They warned her, but it was too late. The ground collapsed beneath her, and she vanished!
Explorer 2:They say her ghost still haunts this place. That she kills any explorer who sees her.
Explorer 3:Ghosts? Don't be ridiculous.
**Explorer 1:We're not joking! The scouts who came before us saw her. Blonde—no, golden hair, shining even in the dark. Her face was blurred, but her hair… it was unmistakable. And it's the last thing her victims see."*
Explorer 3:Fascinating, but I'm not buying it.
Explorer 2:Fine, don't believe us. But the story's real. Everyone knows it.
As they argued, a strange sensation crept over one of the explorers—a faint, almost imperceptible tremor beneath his feet. He froze, eyes darting. Had the others felt it? But their expressions remained unchanged, still engrossed in their debate.
Explorer 1:Did you feel that?!
Explorer 2:Feel what—?
Then—BOOM.
A deafening explosion erupted from the neighboring cave. The ground heaved, dust and debris surging like a tidal wave. The explorers staggered, their shouts drowned by the roar of collapsing stone.
Explorers:"RUN! THE CAVE—IT'S COMING DOWN!"*
They scrambled, lungs burning as they fled the avalanche of rock. Behind them, the cave crumbled, its entrance vanishing beneath a storm of rubble. One of the explorers glanced back—and froze.
Two figures emerged from the dust.
One moved with inhuman speed, a blur of motion. The other—her—had golden hair that gleamed under the moonlight.
It's her! he screamed. The ghost!
Byeol didn't hesitate. He grabbed Foutaba and vanished into the forest.
---
The Escape
Deep in the woods, Biol finally slowed, his grip on Futaba tightening as he checked their surroundings. No pursuers. Only fireflies drifting through the trees.
He turned to Futaba—only to find her unconscious.
Byeol:"Foutaba?! Wake up! Are you hurt?"
Her eyelids fluttered. "I-I'm… fine…" But before she could finish, darkness swallowed her again.
Byeol (panicked):"Foutaba!"
---
Meanwhile
Armored knights stood rigid, their white-and-blue-plated armor gleaming under torchlight. At their head loomed their red-haired Captain, his voice a growl.
Captain of the knights:"No trace of her yet?"
knight 2:"None. It's like she vanished."
Captain of the knights (gritting teeth):("This is bad. The white Knight's Captain's condition worsens by the day. If we don't find Lady Futaba— )
A scout interrupted. "Sir! Reports of panicked explorers near the northern cave! They claim they saw ghosts.
Captain of the knights:"Ghosts?"
Scout:"The cave collapsed. And the survivors—they're screaming about a 'golden-haired specter' killing them."
The commander's blood ran cold.
Golden hair.
Only one person fit that description.
Captain of the knights (barking orders):"Gather a squad. Now!"
---
Back to Foutaba&Byeol
Darkness
Foutaba found herself in a dark place, utterly alone. She glanced around, searching, but there was nothing—only darkness and silence keeping her company. Suddenly, everything shifted, warping into some strange place… a Village, perhaps?
Childish laughter echoed around her, voices calling out:
"Come play with us, Foutaba!"
"I know where you're hiding!" one giggled.
Foutaba's breath hitched.Why does that voice sound… familiar?
*Amid the laughter and the cheerful atmosphere, a rough hand seized her arm. A grown man loomed over her, his grip tight, his voice urgent but distorted.*
Foutaba, where is ####? Have you seen ####?
She couldn't make out his words clearly. Her chest tightened, her breathing ragged.
"Huh? Where… am I? Who are these people? I can't see their faces—"
Then, in an instant—
The world turned to hell.
Flames roared. Buildings crumbled. Screams pierced the air.
Before she could process it, a strong hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her forward.
Run, Foutaba! Don't look back!"
She gasped, trembling, straining to see the person—but their features were blurred.
What? What's happening?! Who are you?! Where am I?!"
And then, without warning—everything vanished.
She fell into an endless, pitch-black abyss.
Eva ..Help me!
She gasped awake, drenched in sweat.
Foutaba's eyes snapped open, tears streaming down her cheeks, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.
W-what… happened?
Byeol jolted."Foutaba! You're awake—thank god!
She blinked in confusion, her vision clearing to see Byeol hovering over her, his face etched with worry. His eyes—bright, almost luminous—held hers. They were soft, like the ocean, with a hint of violet beneath. The silence between them stretched until she finally broke it, her voice quiet but firm.
Byeol… can you back up? I need to sit
Byeol flinched, quickly pulling away."Ah! O-of course, sorry! You were crying—are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"* His voice wavered with worry.
Foutaba exhaled shakily, rubbing her temples."Hah? Hahh… I don't know. It was… too fast. I didn't understand any of it. I mean, just a bad dream, nothing important, hah..." She forced a weak laugh.
Byeol frowned."I see... You kept saying 'Eva' in your sleep. Is she your sister or...?"
Foutaba's breath hitched."A-ah… I told you before. She's the one who raised me when I was little."
Byeol winced."Oh. Sorry, I must've… not been listening that time."
Foutaba looked away, her fingers tightening slightly in the sheets. "A-ah… whatever. Anyway, where are we? And how long was I out?"
Byeol sighed, running a hand through his hair."Five hours."
Foutaba's eyes widened in alarm."What?? Why didn't you wake me?!"
Byeol held up his hands defensively."You looked exhausted! It's fine—I've been keeping watch. But... I noticed movement. People, maybe knights? It seemed like they were searching for something... or someone."
Foutaba's breath hitched."What?? What do they look like?!"
Byeol's expression darkened."There were ten of them. Silver armor trimmed in gold. And one of them... a huge man, long red hair—"
Foutaba's blood ran cold."Red hair?!"(No... it can't be them!! What are they doing here? What are they searching for? There's no way it's me—I've only been gone a few hours. Eva wouldn't even realize I'm missing yet... Unless—)Her hands trembled. (No. They can't find me. Not now.(
She grabbed Byeol's wrist, her voice a sharp whisper."Byeol, we have to run. Don't let them see us!"
Foutaba and Byeol crouched behind the thick bushes, their breaths shallow. The forest was eerily quiet—too quiet.
Byeol whispered, "Why? Do you know them?"
Foutaba's eyes darted nervously. "Quickly! I can't explain now!"
She took a single step forward—crack! A twig snapped beneath her foot. The sound echoed like a gunshot in the silence.
The red-haired captain's head whipped toward the noise.
"Of course… This had to happen!" Foutaba hissed under her breath.
The captain's sharp voice cut through the air. "There! You! Halt in the name of the Em—"
Before he could finish, Foutaba grabbed a handful of dirt and flung it straight into his face. "Run, Byeol! Now!"
They bolted, weaving through the trees as angry shouts erupted behind them.
Foutaba gritted her teeth. "I hate it when he says that line! Just keep running, Byeol!"
The soldiers gave chase, their armor clanking as they crashed through the underbrush. Foutaba's reckless move had left them no choice—logic had abandoned her, and now they were paying the price.
The forest blurred around them. Escape was the only option.
---
The Chase
The knights split, flanking them.
Foutaba (panicked):"They've cut us off!".
Byeol (deadly calm):"Want me to kill them?"
Foutaba (horrified):"WHAT? NO!"
Byeol:Then we fly.
Foutaba: We wha-
He swept her into his arms and shot skyward, the Captin's fading below Looking at them :
"Was that really… her?"
Somewhere out the forest
They landed at a secluded cottage. Foutaba tensed.
Foutaba:"If Eva finds out I was gone, she'll murder me,".
Byeol (hesitant):"Hey listen..About that…"
A voice rang out—
"FOUTABA?!"
It was Eva dropped her tools, sprinting to crush Futaba in a tearful embrace. "Where were you?! I searched for weeks—I thought you were dead!"
Foutaba recoiled. "Weeks? pfft what are talking about?.., I was only gone a few hours!"
Eva's grip tightened. "Foutaba… you've been missing for a month."
The world spun.
Foutaba (in shock):"W...WHAT?."
To be continued.