My mind is an abyss.
A vast, endless darkness.
I don't know where I am… only an infinite ocean of night stretching in every direction.
—Aaaahhh!
I woke up screaming.
My body jolted upright, trembling.
—What the hell happened last night…?
A metallic scent filled my lungs.
Dried blood.
Slowly, I stood up and looked into a nearby mirror.
My reflection…
Was completely covered in dried blood.
—So it wasn't a dream…
My gaze hardened.
—…where are my friends?
I turned around frantically.
Then I saw them.
Won Ho, Minho, Airi, and Kim… lying on the ground.
Positioned deliberately.
Arranged.
Two pairs.
Airi and Kim.
Minho and Won Ho.
Each pair forming the same symbol.
A rune.
"𖦉"
My heart skipped.
—…Wait.
Someone was missing.
Xia.
—No… no, no, no…
I rushed toward them, shaking their bodies.
—Wake up! Guys, wake up! Xia is gone!
No response.
Nothing.
Then…
Something on the wall caught my attention.
Written in blood.
"Seek the white eye."
I froze.
Then clenched my fists.
—…I'll figure out what happened.
I stepped outside, closing the door behind me.
—You guys wake up and stay safe… I'll find Xia myself.
As I walked, whispers echoed around me.
Luminari.
I couldn't fully understand them…
But I recognized the language.
—If that language is here… something very bad is about to happen.
I exhaled slowly.
Something was watching me.
I could feel it.
But I didn't stop.
I have to find Xia.
I started running.
And then I saw it.
Dead animals.
Torn apart.
Every step forward revealed more corpses… more blood.
—…That's not Xia.
My breath grew heavier.
—That's something else.
Guilt began to suffocate me.
—This is my fault… I'm useless…
My voice broke as I ran.
—I should've never gotten involved… it should've been me, not her…
I tripped.
Fell down a hill, my body scraping violently against the ground.
When I finally stopped, I just lay there.
Broken.
—I'm useless…
Tears slipped from my eyes.
—I couldn't save her… and I probably won't be able to even if I find her…
My hands trembled.
—If I could just disappear… everything would be easier…
—I'm tired…
A sudden impact crushed my back.
—AGH!
—So weak.
That voice…
I looked up.
Xia stood over me.
Her knee pressing into my spine.
But…
That wasn't her.
—And you're supposed to be the one who closes the gates?
Her smile was wrong.
Cold.
Cruel.
—Pathetic.
A punch slammed into my face.
Blood exploded from my nose.
—Who… are you…?
She grinned.
—An entity drawn by a ritual.
—The Night of the Blood Bath.
My eyes widened.
—…I remember…
My fists trembled.
—I got distracted… I let this happen…
—I really am useless…
She kicked me into the air.
—Come on, boy. Show me something.
I forced myself up.
Not to fight.
To survive.
To escape.
—I'm not enough…
I grabbed a rock and threw it at her.
—Let her go!
She crushed it effortlessly.
—How rude.
Then—
Wind exploded from her hand.
My body was sent flying.
A punch.
Another.
And another.
Each hit made me vomit blood.
—You're nothing but a child.
—Pathetic. Weak. Insignificant.
Pain exploded through my body.
I screamed.
—AAAAHHHH!!
—Marked by a tragic fate…
Her voice lowered.
—One worse than death.
—To fall into the hands of the Witch of Greed.
My eyes widened.
—Witch…?
Another punch.
—We are forbidden from saying her name.
Her smile twisted.
—But you already know her.
Cold realization crept in.
—…Eclipse…?
—I know she's not like that!
The entity laughed.
—She's already deceived you.
—No one will save you from her.
She drove a blade into my leg.
—AAAAHHHH!!
A rune burned into my flesh.
—This will be fun.
She leaned closer.
—Your blood… is special.
Her teeth sank into my neck.
—I see why she's obsessed.
My vision blurred.
—I have to… do something…
I staggered forward.
The wind attack came.
I raised my hand.
—I… forgot…
The impact hit me directly.
Blood exploded everywhere.
I collapsed to my knees.
Drowning in it.
—You can't even save them.
Her voice sounded distant.
—I almost feel bad.
She turned away.
—I'll let you live.
Rage ignited inside me.
I punched her.
—…You want to die?
She slammed me into a tree.
Again.
And again.
My body broke.
Time lost meaning.
Then—
She grabbed my hair.
—I'll end your suffering.
With my last strength…
I raised my hand.
—Qel'vethra…!
Xia's body trembled violently.
The entity smiled.
—Even she uses you.
And then—
It left.
Disappeared into the wind.
I collapsed.
—I… did it…
I pulled Xia into a weak embrace.
—I'm sorry…
My vision darkened.
—I don't mind dying… if I saved her…
Everything turned red.
Then black.
But…
From the shadows—
Someone watched.
—My dear Dark…
A familiar voice.
Eclipse.
—You saved them…
She knelt beside me.
Cleaning the runes from my body.
Black blood replaced them.
—But not for long.
She smiled.
And vanished into the darkness.
Light.
White.
—…Where am I?
—DARK!
Kim hugged me tightly.
—Hey—wait—everything hurts!
She pulled away quickly.
—I thought you died!
—I thought so too…
Minho stepped forward.
—I thought I lost you.
We shook hands.
—I'm not that easy to get rid of.
Won Ho hugged me.
—Good. We'll keep protecting you.
Yeah… sure… I thought.
—You guys were the ones sleeping.
He lowered his head.
—Sorry…
Airi hugged me next.
—I'm so sorry…
—I'm fine.
Then I looked around.
—Where's Xia?
Silence.
Won Ho answered.
—She was unconscious for five days.
—We were out for one… Minho for two.
Minho scratched his head.
—I can speak Luminari now…
I blinked.
—…What?
—And you—
Won Ho looked at me.
—You were out for eight days.
—You almost died.
I sighed.
—Of course…
Suddenly—
The door burst open.
—DARK!
Xia ran in.
Crying.
She threw herself at me.
—Thank you…!
—Ow—ow—Xia—!
—I love you!
Everyone panicked behind her.
—Stop—!
Then—
A presence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Xia turned slowly.
—A… Alya…?
Alya smiled.
Dangerously.
—Did I just hear you say you'll steal my boyfriend?
—N-no—just joking!
—You better be.
Then she turned to me.
Soft again.
—You're awake.
She hugged me gently.
—I saved you.
—Yeah… thank you.
She smiled.
—I can't let you die yet.
—We still have a future together.
Kim groaned.
—Alya, stop—
—Be quiet, Kim.
Everyone laughed.
And I smiled.
Maybe living… isn't so bad.
Not when I'm with them.
They're my light…
My reason…
My family.
And I will protect them…
No matter what it costs.