Lee Hwan opened his eyes to a soft glow. He lay on damp grass, surrounded by towering trees whose leaves shone in blues and greens. Strange vines draped from thick branches. Tiny flowers pulsed like lanterns. The air smelled sweet and earthy. Dew clung to his hair and clothes. He felt cold, but his mind raced with questions: Where was he? How had he arrived here?
He sat up slowly. His heart thumped against his ribs. His chest felt tight. Below him lay the dagger he had carried through the Rift. Its blade still gleamed with bronze runes. Hwan reached out and picked it up. He weighed it in his hand. It felt real—and safe.
He stood and brushed wet grass off his pants. His boots lay close by, half-covered in ferns. He slipped them on. He noticed the emblem on his chest—an ash-colored disk the size of a palm. The runes on it were dark now, but he knew they held power. A small part of him thrilled at the thought. He had survived the first trial.
Behind him, the jungle stirred. Strange calls echoed among the trees—bird cries mixed with low roars, animal shrieks, and the sound of water. Hwan took a deep breath. His lungs filled with cool air. He stood at the edge of a clearing. Slipped among the trees was a narrow path. Dew glistened on the leaves. Moonlight, or something like it, filtered through the canopy and danced on the ground.
He took a step. The soft glow all around made him feel he walked into another world—one that followed no rules of his Seoul life. He tried to remember his last moments: the cold bridge, the falling water, the bright light. After that, nothing. He closed his eyes. He could not see anything familiar here. He shivered.
Straight ahead he saw a small pond. Its surface shone as if filled with stars. The glowing flowers bent to kiss the water's edge. Hwan felt drawn to it. He walked down a gentle slope. The ground was soft under his boots. He kneeled and gasped. Cold water rippled through his fingers when he touched it. The pond was shallow near the bank but deepened quickly. He saw shapes beneath the glow—rocks, plants, and something that moved.
It slid beneath the surface. A wet nose broke the water's edge. A sleek head poked up. The creature looked like an otter, but larger—maybe the size of a big dog. Its fur was dark, almost black, and slick. Its eyes were a bright silver, glowing in the water. It lifted its head and bared sharp teeth. Hwan froze.
The otter's tail slapped the water. He made a low growl. Tiny waves spread out. Hwan realized it guarded this pond. He lifted the dagger, holding it by his side. The runes pulsed faintly. His fingers clenched the hilt. He remembered the master's words: "Trust your instinct. Fight with your truth."
The otter slid back into the water. It moved fast, like a shadow under moonlight. Hwan kept his balance on the muddy bank. He took a breath. The dagger felt warm in his hand. He stepped back, ready to face it.
Suddenly the otter leapt out of the pond. It landed close to Hwan's feet with a splash. Hwan jumped sideways and turned. He swung the dagger at the beast. The blade cut through air, but the otter dove back into the water. Hwan felt a pang of fear—if it attacked from below, he could not see it coming.
He looked for a strategy. Nearby, thick reeds grew along the shore. He moved quietly toward them. The otter's head broke the surface again. Its silver eyes locked on his. It slid toward him. Hwan waited.
When the otter lunged, Hwan thrust the dagger forward, catching it by surprise. The blade grazed the top of its head. The creature yelped and scrambled backward. Water sprayed everywhere. Hwan pressed his advantage. He slashed again, more firmly this time. The otter jumped clear of the water, twisting in midair. Hwan took a step back to keep his distance.
The otter landed behind a boulder. Its body shook. It stared at Hwan. Then it vanished into the dark water. Hwan's chest heaved. He lowered the dagger. His hand shook. The runes on the blade glowed faintly.
He waited, listening. The pond was still. The glowing flowers bent above the water like sentinels. Hwan felt the pulse of life all around him. The world seemed to hold its breath. He straightened his shoulders. He did not know if the otter would return. He gripped the dagger tighter.
Then the water stirred again. The otter's eyes flashed silver under the pond's shimmering surface. It rose slowly, growling. Hwan tightened his stance. The creature moved closer, slow and steady. Each step raised ripples that glowed in pale blue.
Hwan remembered a lesson from the academy: trust what you see, but feel what you cannot see. He sensed the beat of his own heart. He waited until the otter fully emerged onto the bank. It shook water from its fur. Its muzzle dripped. Its eyes burned with anger and fear.
Hwan raised the dagger in a guard position. The runes flared a little brighter. He took a breath. "I don't want to hurt you," he said softly. "But I will fight if I must."
The otter growled. It crouched low, ready to spring. Hwan braced himself.
They lunged at the same moment. Hwan swung the dagger down. The blade struck the otter's foreleg, cutting shallow but stiff. The creature cried out. Hwan felt a pang of guilt—he had not meant to cut that deeply. He backed away, expecting the otter to flee, but it stayed. Blood mixed with water, reddening the glow. The otter glared at him.
Hwan's mind raced. He could finish this quickly, end its suffering. But something held him back. He knelt and put the dagger down. He reached out one hand. His heart pounded.
The otter watched him but did not move. Hwan pressed his hand to its wound. He felt warmth spread from his palm. No magic flashed. No system prompt. But his sweat-sticky palm seemed to calm the creature. The otter's breathing grew steady.
Hwan felt relief. He stood and picked up the dagger. He bandaged the leg with a strip torn from his shirt. The otter winced but did not resist. Hwan finished and stepped back. He watched it limp toward the water.
At the water's edge, the otter paused. It looked at Hwan, its silver eyes soft now. Then it dipped into the pond and vanished beneath the surface. The ripples faded. The pond regained its quiet beauty.
Hwan exhaled and sank to one knee. His head swam with exhilaration and fear. He closed his eyes, listening to the pulsing glow around him. He felt the dagger's runes throb lightly. He remembered the emblem on his chest and how it had not reacted—until now.
Suddenly, a soft voice echoed in his mind. It was the SYSTEM, speaking quietly:
"You have shown mercy and strength. Bound Memory acquired."
Hwan's eyes snapped open. He looked at his chest. The emblem glowed a gentle blue. He pressed a finger to it. A warm wave passed through him.
He heard another message inside his mind:
"Bound Memory allows you to store one emotional event. Activate to recall emotions as power. Cooldown: one hour."
Hwan breathed deeply. He did not know how to use this yet, but he felt the gift unfold inside him like a secret flower. He touched the emblem again. The glow faded slowly.
He rose and brushed dirt from his pants. The jungle seemed brighter now, as if it approved of his choice. The bioluminescent flowers pulsed in a gentle rhythm. The dagger in his hand felt lighter. He felt his heart beat in time with the glow.
He moved away from the pond, deeper into the jungle. He knew more trials awaited. He thought of the master's final words from Frostpeak Ridge: "Your truth is your strength. Your mercy is your power."
The path led him to a narrow bridge of vines over a small ravine. He tested a step. The vines held. He crossed, watching the drop below. Water glittered far down. He felt his pulse steady. He recalled the Bound Memory—and the moment he chose mercy over victory.
He arrived at the other side and paused. The jungle opened to a glade. Stone pillars ringed the area in a circle. Each pillar was carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly under the hanging lantern flowers. In the center stood a pedestal. On it lay a map—pale and vellum-like, with lines and symbols he did not understand.
The dagger felt heavy in his hand again. He walked forward and set it on the pedestal beside the map. The runes on the map shivered and turned to life. A soft light spread across the lines, illuminating a path that led from this glade toward distant mountains.
Hwan knelt and picked up the map. He traced the lines with his finger, feeling a gentle hum. The map seemed to respond. He closed his eyes and let the map's glow wash over him. The SYSTEM spoke again:
"Trial One complete. Destination unlocked: Vale of Whispers. Proceed when ready."
Hwan opened his eyes. He felt a quiet satisfaction. He rolled up the map and put it in his pack. He strapped the dagger to his belt. The runes on both pulsed once. He rose and took a deep breath.
Above him, the bioluminescent canopy parted to reveal a sliver of moon and stars. The jungle's glow dimmed slightly, as if giving him space to move. Hwan stepped toward the exit of the glade, ready to follow the glowing map.
He paused at the edge and looked back once. The dagger in his hand, the map in his pack, and the glowing jungle behind him. He felt hope stir in his chest. He had awakened in a strange world. He had fought and shown mercy. He had unlocked a new power. Now he moved forward into the unknown.
His journey had truly begun.
Chapter 2 ends.