Tami (looking up at the sky):
"I will never forget your kindness..."
A luxurious carriage, pulled by horses and framed with black iron, adorned with garlands of flowers, enters the scene.
Tami stares at the carriage. From inside, Nelson—the current village chief—steps down. He extends his left hand… and a woman's hand reaches out to meet his.
An elegant woman appears, wearing a luxurious yellow coat.
Tami's eyes widen slightly. His pupils shrink. The wind gently moves his hair.
When the woman catches sight of Tami, her eyes widen slightly in surprise.
Nelson (noticing her reaction):
"What's wrong, my dear?"
The Wife:
"N–nothing… I was just lost in thought."
Nelson and Tami walk toward the palace entrance.
Tami (slightly bowing):
"Right this way, sir."
Nelson (raising an eyebrow):
"And who might you be?"
The woman shoots Tami a furious look. Her eyes boil with tension and anger.
Tami:
"Your father hired me as the palace gatekeeper."
The Wife (with disdain):
"You're just a worthless piece. This job is far above your level."
Nelson chuckles arrogantly as he enters the palace. Tami sits quietly on the steps, staring at the ground, sorrow clouding his expression.
The Wife (whispering nervously to Nelson):
"Tell your father to fire him."
Nelson (narrowing his left eye suspiciously):
"You know him?"
The Wife (darting her eyes, laughing awkwardly):
"No… of course not. I've never seen him in my life."
Evening falls.
Nelson's father appears in a formal blue outfit, elegant and fit for a leader.
Nelson's Father (cheerfully):
"We'll meet again later."
He climbs into the carriage and departs.
Tami (thinking):
"Go… and don't come back. That's the only hope I have left."
In the wife's room, the door is on the upper-left side of the room, the bed sits at the center, and across from it is a vanity table filled with makeup and perfumes. A large mirror hangs above.
The Wife (clenching her teeth in anxiety):
"He's planning something…"
Night falls.
The family gathers at the reception hall's dinner table.
Nelson's mother, an elderly woman with deep wrinkles, sits on the left side of the table.
Opposite her sits the wife. On the right side is Nelson, facing his father.
Tami is in his upstairs room.
Tami (whispering to himself):
"This is the perfect time..."
The sound of the old woman's spoon stirring slowly echoed, as if anticipating an approaching disaster.
Tami walks slowly toward the chief's office. His trembling footsteps echo fear and uncertainty. He opens the door cautiously, as if its creak might awaken the entire palace.
He slips inside and starts rummaging through the countless documents, reading them one by one—his eyes bouncing between hope and anxiety.
With each page, hope fades.
His heart pounds, threatening to fall from his chest.
Tami (muttering):
"Where could it be...? Where?"
(Doubt creeps in)
"Did he burn them...? Or maybe they were never here to begin with?"
Tami (barely audible):
"Should I give up… and settle for this job?"
(His voice softens. Sadness weighs on him.)
"Why did he choose me...? If he had picked some other kid, maybe they'd have found it already..."
Tami (choking up):
"The uncle trusts me… He planned everything for our happiness… If I had refused that day, maybe things would've been better."
He takes two steps back.
Suddenly, one of the floor tiles beneath his feet shifts slightly.
Tami (eyes wide with shock):
"What...? Could it be...?"
The tile feels like a hidden hatch. He kneels down, carefully lifts it, and sets it aside.
Inside, he finds a paper with a glowing red seal on one corner—it glimmers mysteriously.
Quickly, Tami places the paper on the floor, lays his right palm on it, and closes his eyes. A faint aura of transparent Shin energy begins to surround his body.
A soft green glow emerges on the paper. Then, beside it, another page materializes—surrounded by a bright green aura. After a few moments, the glow fades, revealing a perfect duplicate.
Tami grabs the copied document, returns the tile to its place carefully, leaving no tr
ace.
Everything falls still again...
Except his heart—pounding with the weight of what's to come.
End of Chapter. ✅