January, 2013.
The small desk lamp was the only source of light in the room, casting a soft glow over the piles of books scattered across the floor. Bae Taeyang sat on the carpet, leaning against the side of the bed, a pen twirling between his fingers as he scribbled notes for the next day's exam.
On the bed, Han Jaemin sprawled out as if he owned the place, completely absorbed in a game on his friend's phone. His messy hair and half-slipped socks only added to the image, his attention fixed on the screen, until Bae Taeyang broke the silence.
"Tomorrow's the test," he said quietly, keeping his eyes on the notebooks."
Han Jaemin froze mid-move with his thumb suspended in the air. He raised his head just enough to look at him.
"…Test? What test?"
Bae Taeyang's pen stopped. He sighed, resting his head against the mattress.
"The evaluation. To see if I'm fit to become a Hunter."
Han Jaemin straightened up.
"Hunter? Already? Isn't that… too soon?"
"No. Most people take it when they turn eighteen. It's normal."
He gave a small smile, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Han Jaemin stared at him for a while, frowning. When he spoke again, his voice softened.
"…And you want to be one?"
Bae Taeyang lifted his eyes. He looked determined, without a trace of hesitation.
"I do. If I Awaken, I can save people."
Han Jaemin let the phone drop for a moment, staring at his friend surrounded by books and notes on the floor. A sigh escaped him before his gaze drifted back to the screen.
"Well, I know you'll Awaken, just wait for me. Next year, when it's my turn, we'll join the same guild together."
Bae Taeyang didn't answer right away. He sat there with the notebook on his knees, pen spinning idly between his fingers, before finally murmuring.
"…I don't want you to Awaken."
Han Jaemin glanced up from the game.
"Why not?"
"Because it's dangerous. If that's how it's going to be, I'd rather you stay far away from all this."
Han Jaemin frowned, finally setting the phone aside for good.
"I don't get your worry. I can handle myself, Taeyang. Honestly, let's be real… I'm stronger than you."
That got the exact opposite reaction from Bae Taeyang. The boy turned slowly, propping an elbow on the mattress to look up at him, and let out a short laugh.
"Stronger than me? You can't even finish training without complaining, Jaemin."
"Tsk. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I can't do it."
Bae Taeyang laughed again, giving his arm a light tap.
"Alright then, 'stronger than me.' We'll see when your evaluation comes around next year."
***
The wall clock showed 8:30 PM when a horn sounded outside.
Han Jaemin straightened his crooked tie for the third time in the cracked mirror of his room. The black suit he had pulled from the wooden box fit far too well for something he hadn't worn in years. It almost felt like a different person was staring back at him.
His gaze dropped to the photograph still lying on the desk, the one from the old days with Tempest. He turned it face down before the memory could swallow him whole again.
A second honk echoed from outside. Jaemin drew in a long breath, grabbed his keys, and left.
The front door creaked open, revealing Park Chae-won leaning against the parked car. She wore a simple yet elegant dark blue dress and had her hair pulled back into a low bun.
"Wow…" The word slipped out before she could stop herself. Quickly, she hid her embarrassment with a smile.
"You… look really good in a suit, Jaemin-ssi."
He scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable.
"Didn't have anything else."
"Good thing, then. Shall we?" she teased, opening the passenger door.
He nodded, stepped in, and settled into the seat.
As she started the engine, Han Jaemin cast her a sidelong glance.
"This isn't going to be a problem for you? Showing up with some guy no one knows, out of nowhere?"
Park Chae-won pressed her lips into a faint smile as she kept her eyes on the road ahead.
"If anyone asks, I'll tell them the truth. That you're the one who really saved us."
He scoffed, turning his face toward the window.
"You know no one's going to believe that, right?"
"What matters is that I know."
The car glided through the brightly lit streets of the central district, drawing closer to the heart of Seoul. Han Jaemin stared at the buildings and their glass walls that reflected golden and red lights, feeling more out of place than ever.
When the vehicle stopped in front of Black Lotus's main building, he knew for certain he was stepping into enemy territory.
The entire façade shone under spotlights, the black banner with a golden lotus gleaming against the night sky. Uniformed hunters lined the entrance, greeting guests in sharp suits and elegant dresses as they walked across the red carpet leading into the hall.
"…This is ridiculous. Is it a party or a circus?"
Han Jaemin muttered, tugging at his collar. The fact that he had even come this far was surprising enough, there was no turning back now.
Park Chae-won let out a small laugh as she parked.
"Maybe a little of both."
He stepped out, standing still for a moment as the cold night wind brushed his face. That was when he realized multiple eyes had already turned toward them. They didn't recognize Han Jaemin, and that alone was enough to spark whispers.
"Take a deep breath. No one's going to dare say anything here. There are too many cameras around."
Park Chae-won said it while slipping her arm through his, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Han Jaemin shot her a sideways look, but didn't pull away.
"You seem pretty used to these kinds of events…"
She glanced at him, then back ahead, discreetly tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Not really."
Without another word, they kept walking until they reached the entrance together, passing guards who were checking invitations. One of them dipped his head respectfully toward Park Chae-won but lingered a little too long on Han Jaemin, as if debating whether to stop him.
"He's with me."
The guard hesitated, then relented with a nod, stepping aside to let them through.
The main hall was even more impressive, though suffocating. Crystal chandeliers scattered golden reflections across rows of banquet tables overflowing with luxurious dishes. High-ranking hunters chatted in groups, wine glasses in hand, their arrogant smiles flashing under the lights. In the background, a band played an elegant melody that filled the air with refined atmosphere.
Han Jaemin felt like a fish out of water. This was not the kind of place he was used to being in.
As he scanned the hall, his eyes met those of a man. He didn't know him, but the way the stranger stared… was anything but subtle.
The irritated expression only became clearer when the man started walking toward them.
Before Jaemin could react, he noticed the change on Park Chae-won's face. She knew him.
"What is he doing here…?" she murmured, more to herself than to Han Jaemin.
With a brief glance toward the man, Park Chae-won turned to him.
"I'm sorry, Jaemin-ssi. Could you wait at one of the tables? I… need to handle something."
He frowned.
"Sure… but are you alright?"
She bit down hard on her lower lip, hesitating for a moment.
"Yes. I just need a few minutes."
And without saying anything more, she walked off toward the man. The crowd quickly swallowed them, until they vanished from sight.
'Great… now I'm officially alone. Nice.'
Han Jaemin, with nothing else to do, held onto a cheap glass of wine a waiter had pressed into his hand.
He had no intention of drinking it, but he needed something to occupy himself with. Anything to make him seem less out of place.
The last thing he wanted was to be the odd one standing alone in a corner, drawing more attention than he should.
So he kept the glass raised at chest height, pretending to study the reddish reflection of the liquid as if evaluating its quality, when in reality, he was just trying to blend in.
He wandered for a few minutes through the vast, crowded hall, looking for something to do. Among the tables, he recognized familiar faces, some of the survivors from the Rift. Just days ago, they'd been on the stone floor, terrified and half-dead. Now, dressed neatly, they laughed nervously, as if still unable to believe they were alive.
When their eyes met Jaemin's, there was a brief silence. Some quickly looked away, while others only offered a hurried nod.
At that moment, a round of applause echoed, drawing every gaze to the makeshift stage set up at the front of the hall.
A middle-aged man, impeccably dressed and radiating confidence, stepped up to the microphone. A silver brooch, the emblem of Black Lotus, gleamed on the pocket of his blazer.