(The next morning, 7:00 a.m.)
The training room was wide and well organized. The left wall was lined with floor to ceiling mirrors, reflecting the entire space.
The floor was covered in dark, interlocking padded mats that ran seamlessly across the center, soft enough to absorb impact yet firm enough for stability.
The open area dominated the room, clearly designed for movement, sparring, and drills. On the sides, various equipment, weights, machines, and training tools were arranged neatly.
Overhead lights cast a clean, even glow, while the faint scent of rubber and polished surfaces lingered in the air.
This was the first time Llana had set foot here, and the former Llana had never even bothered visiting this place.
Why would she?
Her body had been very weak. Sometimes, she even needed a wheelchair just to move around. Whenever the former Llana and her family came here for vacations, she would only stay in a few places: her room, the clinic room, the living room, the kitchen, the library, and the garden.
Her trainer had not arrived yet.
Late, perhaps?
Or maybe… she had simply come too early. Too excited for her training.
Her trainer was Lee Chang Woo, one of her mother's head bodyguards. He was known to be extremely loyal.
"You're right on time, Miss. Did I make you wait?"
A familiar, slightly rough voice came from the entrance.
Llana turned.
Lee Chang Woo stood near the far end of the hall, arms loosely crossed. His posture was relaxed, but there was nothing casual about him. The same quiet presence she remembered from 'Llana's' childhood memories, always a few steps behind her mother.
'System, search Lee Chang Woo'
This was the first time she had used this function.
In fact, she had never used it on her family.
Others would probably call her foolish.
She had the chance to know everything about their lives, even what might happen to them in the future, yet she chose not to.
because she was afraid. Afraid of learning something she would regret. Afraid that once she knew, she would not be able to see them the same way again.
Could anyone really blame her for wanting to remain unaware?
Sometimes being ignorant is better.
She doesn't know what to do.
[SEARCHING…]
[Ding!]
[Lee Chang-Woo... found. ]
[Existing world: Earth 2000.]
[- Former member of the ROKA Special
Warfare Command.
- Served under the Republic of Korea Air Force Special Forces Brigade and the 707th Special Mission Group
BIRTH: June 25, 1982
STATUS: Single
NATIONALITY: South Korean
Lee Chang-Woo was deeply indebted to Kim Jaena, his former high school classmate—now his master.
Lee Chang Woo encountered severe financial hardship after his father figure was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. With no immediate family or dependable support network, he was left to shoulder the rising medical expenses and accumulated debts alone.
Kim Jaena later intervened and assumed full responsibility for the costs, covering the medical treatment and outstanding liabilities without requiring repayment or compensation.
Following his father figure's death, Lee Chang Woo's loyalty to Kim Jaena became absolute, rooted in a personal debt of gratitude and a lifelong commitment to repay her kindness.
FATE:
Died in an Assassination attempt on December 3, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain, while acting in a protective capacity for Kim Jaena. ]
Llana's breath caught.
He would die eleven years later while protecting her mother.
She stared at the man in front of her, a complicated feeling settling in her chest.
Llana slowly lowered her gaze.
'It seemed using this function had been a terrible idea after all.'
On one hand, it was an extraordinary gift. Because with it, she could understand a person in a way no one else could. She could learn their character, their past, and even the fate waiting for them.
At the same time, it was also a curse.
Because knowing did not only mean learning the good parts.
It also meant uncovering secrets that were never meant to be seen. The pain people carried, the truths they buried, and the cruel endings waiting ahead of them.
And once she knew, she could no longer pretend she knew nothing.
She would be forced to choose whether to turn a blind eye to their tragic fate or interfere with something already written by destiny
'Is it possible to change someone's fate when it's already been written by destiny?'
And now, despite her fear, she wanted to know what would happen to her mother too.
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
Could she do something?
"Gugh!"
Llana was suddenly hit in the stomach, the impact knocking the air out of her lungs as pain spread through her abdomen. It was not a full-force attack, but it was precise enough to make her knees give out. Both hands flew instantly to her stomach, as if trying to ease the pain.
Her mouth opened wide as she tried to breathe, but her body refused to listen. For a moment, it was as if she had forgotten how to breathe because of the sudden assault.
Llana don't curse, but she felt like cursing at the moment.
'That was a foul move!'
Llana gasped, finally managing to drag air back into her lungs. Her vision cleared little by little, but she still did not move. She could not. The pain would not let her.
She glared at him, one hand still pressed against her stomach. "You didn't even give me time to prepare."
Llana genuinely wanted to punch him back, for a moment. Just once.
That bloody hurts!
"This is one of the lessons you need to learn, Miss. Do not let your guard down or get distracted. Your enemy will not let that chance pass."
"Stand up. If I were your real enemy, you would already be dead."
Llana gritted her teeth hard holding her breath as she forced herself to stand.
"Put your guard up."
She lifted her fists defensively, one close to her cheek and the other hovering beneath her chin. Her elbows tucked in on instinct, her jaw guarded as best as she knew how. She was not even sure if the form was right. It was simply the stance she always used whenever she had to fight back against bullies.
Her gaze instinctively drifted toward the right corner of the training room where the boxing gears and other protective equipments are located.
Llana hesitated for a moment before asking, "Are we not going to use any of those?"
Lee Chang Woo followed her gaze briefly, then sternly look back at her, "Your enemies will not wear gloves before punching you, will they, Miss?"
Llana rolled her eyes then asked cheekily, "You're not my enemy though... would you?"
"No."
Lee Chang-Woo spoke coldly. "Now please do what I have asked you to do."
Llana sighed in defeat, "we'll I'm doing it?"
She didn't move down her guard while talking.
"Your hands are already good enough..for now." He nod in approval seeing the way she move up her hands then he gaze down, "your stance need to be corrected still."
He started correcting her stance. Then proceed on teaching her, beating her, rather.
Llana can't even count how many times she was swept down and beaten.