The moment I stepped onto the training grounds, I felt it—a strange, oppressive weight in the air. My energy was humming louder than usual, the faint vibrations crawling under my skin. I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake the sensation, but it clung to me like a second shadow.“Seojin, are you ready?” Na Ri called from the sidelines, her tone light but edged with concern. I nodded sharply, forcing a grin.“Always.”But as I launched into the training exercise, it became clear that something was wrong. My attacks were faster, stronger, more destructive than I intended. Energy lashed out in uncontrollable bursts, scorching the ground and startling my teammates.“Whoa, Seojin! Dial it back!” Soo Min yelped, narrowly dodging a stray energy blast.“I’m fine,” I snapped, though my voice sounded strained even to me. My heart raced, the oppressive weight growing heavier with each passing second. The whispers were back, faint but insistent.**You can’t control it. You’re dangerous. You’ll hu
The city below stretched out like a sprawling labyrinth of flickering lights, bustling streets, and distant hums of life. It was a stark contrast to the chaos that had been my reality for the past few months. But tonight, standing on the rooftop with Minseok by my side, the world felt oddly quiet. A little too quiet.I leaned against the railing, my thoughts swimming in the events of the last mission. The whispers had been quieter, almost nonexistent since the battle, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the calm before the storm.Minseok stood beside me, his arms crossed as he gazed out over the city. His presence was steady, grounding, yet I could sense the tension in his posture. He hadn’t spoken since we’d come up here, and it was unlike him to remain silent for this long.“What is it?” I asked finally, breaking the stillness.He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been improving,” he said, his voice soft but thoughtful. “The corruption isn’t controlling yo
---The gentle hum of the ventilation system was the only sound in the briefing room as Soo Min slammed her hands down on the table, startling everyone. Her usually bright eyes were alight with determination, a stark contrast to the fatigue etched into our faces.“We need a break,” she declared, her voice cutting through the tense silence.Na Ri raised an eyebrow, glancing at Hye Jin, who looked equally skeptical. I, seated at the head of the table, rubbed my temples, already regretting not dismissing the team sooner.“A break?” I echoed, my tone flat. “We don’t have time for that.”“We’ll make time,” Soo Min countered, crossing her arms. “We’ve been running on fumes since the last mission. If we don’t recharge, someone’s going to snap.”Na Ri leaned back in her chair, smirking. “By ‘someone,’ do you mean yourself?”Soo Min shot her a glare but didn’t deny it. “I mean all of us. And I have the perfect idea. Let’s go to the beach!”The room fell silent as her suggestion hung in the air
The return to the compound brought with it a familiar sense of routine and responsibility. Despite the warmth of the beach retreat lingering in our minds, the weight of our duties quickly took precedence. As we unpacked and settled back into our respective quarters, a sudden announcement jolted us back into reality.“All senior team members, report to the main briefing room immediately,” a calm yet commanding voice echoed over the intercom. It was Director Yoona, known formally as Dr. Yoona, the head of our operations. Her tone carried an urgency that left little room for hesitation.Soo Min groaned audibly, collapsing onto the couch in the common area. “Can’t we get just one day to decompress?”Na Ri rolled her eyes, already lacing up her boots. “You wanted to be part of this team, remember? Time off isn’t exactly in the job description.”“Let’s go,” I said, brushing past them and heading toward the briefing room. The others quickly followed, falling into line behind me.---When we
The flight back to the Korean Guild HQ was meant to be uneventful. The tension of the South American mission was still fresh in everyone’s minds, and the team was uncharacteristically quiet as the jet sliced through the skies. Na Ri sat near the front, absently scrolling through her tablet. Soo Min had taken up the rear, her head leaning against the window, earphones in but no music playing. Hye Jin, ever practical, was already drafting a post-mission report on her laptop.I sat near the middle, Minseok beside me, reviewing the corrupted structure’s schematics one last time. He didn’t say much, but his quiet presence was grounding. The whispers were blessedly silent, though I had a feeling they weren’t gone for good. They were waiting. I could feel it.---It wasn’t until we were thirty minutes from landing that Soo Min’s voice shattered the silence. “Uh... guys?” she called out, her tone hesitant and confused. Na Ri turned, raising an eyebrow. “What now?”“There’s... something—or s
The turning point came during a routine training session. Jiho had been sitting on the sidelines, watching quietly as the team sparred. Suddenly, without warning, he cried out, his small body convulsing as an invisible force seemed to grip him.“Jiho!” Soo Min screamed, rushing to his side.I was there in an instant, kneeling beside him as his eyes rolled back and his body trembled. The whispers roared in my mind, louder than they’d ever been.**He’s the key. Protect him.**Minseok was beside me, his hands glowing faintly as he tried to stabilize Jiho’s energy. “He’s connected to something,” he said, his voice tense. “Something big.”As Jiho’s convulsions subsided, his eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine. “It’s coming,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “And you’re the only one who can stop it.”---The weight of Jiho’s words hung heavy over the compound. Director Yoona ordered an immediate lockdown, and the team threw themselves into researching the boy’s connection to the c
Espers... Guides... What are they? I'm not sure how much I should talk about this topic. My name is Han Seojin. It would probably be best if I didn't say anything at all. But here we go. Let me start from the beginning. Twenty years ago, back when I was still seven and living with my parents, I had a pretty rough time of it after an event that scarred my innocence. I don't want to go over details right now; safe to say, it made me lose trust in males and the world around me. This wasn't a problem unique to everyone; no one would ever want such an experience. The difference between me and most people is that I got help and love to overcome most of my trauma. And not just from my family but from the neighborhood as well. Everything had been a little rosy up until a gate opened somewhere in Seoul and a huge number of monsters poured out. It was all over the news, so it seemed weird to have gone unnoticed, but no one could explain where they'd come from or why they were
"Yes," Dr. Yoona nodded firmly. "The best match for you, Seojin. He understands your kind and knows everything there is to know about you. Even though he's new here, he's also an S-rank Guide. He has the power to take on any Esper. More importantly, he's one of you." It wasn't clear to me why she needed to say all these things. In fact, it felt like a waste of time. "I told you, I don't want a Guide! Fuck this! Not a male!" I yelled, pushing Dr. Yoona's hands away from mine. "No way am I letting some guy get close to me. No fucking way!" But Dr. Yoona didn't budge. "Minseok is waiting outside. Please let me introduce him to you. You won't regret this, I promise. His power is remarkable. I've never seen anyone with so many skills, strong pheromones, and techniques at his disposal before. This is your chance to live your life to the fullest. Why would you refuse him?" "Because I'm not interested in becoming your pawn, Dr. Yoona," I snarled. "Don't be silly," she replied. "A p
The turning point came during a routine training session. Jiho had been sitting on the sidelines, watching quietly as the team sparred. Suddenly, without warning, he cried out, his small body convulsing as an invisible force seemed to grip him.“Jiho!” Soo Min screamed, rushing to his side.I was there in an instant, kneeling beside him as his eyes rolled back and his body trembled. The whispers roared in my mind, louder than they’d ever been.**He’s the key. Protect him.**Minseok was beside me, his hands glowing faintly as he tried to stabilize Jiho’s energy. “He’s connected to something,” he said, his voice tense. “Something big.”As Jiho’s convulsions subsided, his eyes fluttered open, locking onto mine. “It’s coming,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “And you’re the only one who can stop it.”---The weight of Jiho’s words hung heavy over the compound. Director Yoona ordered an immediate lockdown, and the team threw themselves into researching the boy’s connection to the c
The flight back to the Korean Guild HQ was meant to be uneventful. The tension of the South American mission was still fresh in everyone’s minds, and the team was uncharacteristically quiet as the jet sliced through the skies. Na Ri sat near the front, absently scrolling through her tablet. Soo Min had taken up the rear, her head leaning against the window, earphones in but no music playing. Hye Jin, ever practical, was already drafting a post-mission report on her laptop.I sat near the middle, Minseok beside me, reviewing the corrupted structure’s schematics one last time. He didn’t say much, but his quiet presence was grounding. The whispers were blessedly silent, though I had a feeling they weren’t gone for good. They were waiting. I could feel it.---It wasn’t until we were thirty minutes from landing that Soo Min’s voice shattered the silence. “Uh... guys?” she called out, her tone hesitant and confused. Na Ri turned, raising an eyebrow. “What now?”“There’s... something—or s
The return to the compound brought with it a familiar sense of routine and responsibility. Despite the warmth of the beach retreat lingering in our minds, the weight of our duties quickly took precedence. As we unpacked and settled back into our respective quarters, a sudden announcement jolted us back into reality.“All senior team members, report to the main briefing room immediately,” a calm yet commanding voice echoed over the intercom. It was Director Yoona, known formally as Dr. Yoona, the head of our operations. Her tone carried an urgency that left little room for hesitation.Soo Min groaned audibly, collapsing onto the couch in the common area. “Can’t we get just one day to decompress?”Na Ri rolled her eyes, already lacing up her boots. “You wanted to be part of this team, remember? Time off isn’t exactly in the job description.”“Let’s go,” I said, brushing past them and heading toward the briefing room. The others quickly followed, falling into line behind me.---When we
---The gentle hum of the ventilation system was the only sound in the briefing room as Soo Min slammed her hands down on the table, startling everyone. Her usually bright eyes were alight with determination, a stark contrast to the fatigue etched into our faces.“We need a break,” she declared, her voice cutting through the tense silence.Na Ri raised an eyebrow, glancing at Hye Jin, who looked equally skeptical. I, seated at the head of the table, rubbed my temples, already regretting not dismissing the team sooner.“A break?” I echoed, my tone flat. “We don’t have time for that.”“We’ll make time,” Soo Min countered, crossing her arms. “We’ve been running on fumes since the last mission. If we don’t recharge, someone’s going to snap.”Na Ri leaned back in her chair, smirking. “By ‘someone,’ do you mean yourself?”Soo Min shot her a glare but didn’t deny it. “I mean all of us. And I have the perfect idea. Let’s go to the beach!”The room fell silent as her suggestion hung in the air
The city below stretched out like a sprawling labyrinth of flickering lights, bustling streets, and distant hums of life. It was a stark contrast to the chaos that had been my reality for the past few months. But tonight, standing on the rooftop with Minseok by my side, the world felt oddly quiet. A little too quiet.I leaned against the railing, my thoughts swimming in the events of the last mission. The whispers had been quieter, almost nonexistent since the battle, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was the calm before the storm.Minseok stood beside me, his arms crossed as he gazed out over the city. His presence was steady, grounding, yet I could sense the tension in his posture. He hadn’t spoken since we’d come up here, and it was unlike him to remain silent for this long.“What is it?” I asked finally, breaking the stillness.He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been improving,” he said, his voice soft but thoughtful. “The corruption isn’t controlling yo
The moment I stepped onto the training grounds, I felt it—a strange, oppressive weight in the air. My energy was humming louder than usual, the faint vibrations crawling under my skin. I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake the sensation, but it clung to me like a second shadow.“Seojin, are you ready?” Na Ri called from the sidelines, her tone light but edged with concern. I nodded sharply, forcing a grin.“Always.”But as I launched into the training exercise, it became clear that something was wrong. My attacks were faster, stronger, more destructive than I intended. Energy lashed out in uncontrollable bursts, scorching the ground and startling my teammates.“Whoa, Seojin! Dial it back!” Soo Min yelped, narrowly dodging a stray energy blast.“I’m fine,” I snapped, though my voice sounded strained even to me. My heart raced, the oppressive weight growing heavier with each passing second. The whispers were back, faint but insistent.**You can’t control it. You’re dangerous. You’ll hu
---The chill of the night clung to my skin as the team trudged back to the compound, their exhausted chatter barely registering in my ears. The cavern mission had been a success—or at least that’s what I let everyone believe. The shattered crystal, the collapsed monsters, and the silence that followed had painted the perfect picture of victory.But I knew better.Deep in the back of my mind, the whispers lingered—faint but unmistakable. They were guttural and fragmented, their meaning elusive yet threatening. The monsters weren’t gone. Not entirely. And they knew more than they should.I tightened my grip on the hilt of my blade as we walked through the dark forest, the distant glow of the compound lights coming into view. The laughter of my teammates was a stark contrast to the tension coiling in my chest. Na Ri and Hye Jin joked about the chaos in the cavern, while Soo Min animatedly recounted her trap's success. Even Nikolai, usually brooding, wore a faint smirk.Then there was Mi
The following week came with a biting chill in the air, a reminder that winter was fast approaching. The compound’s corridors were bustling with activity as Espers and Guides prepared for another day of strategizing and action. I found myself in the briefing room once again, staring at the large holographic map projected on the wall. The flickering blue light of the display painted shadows on the otherwise dimly lit room.Around me sat the same faces from last week, the tension in the air. Minseok was seated to my right, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the nervous energy buzzing in the room. I glanced at him, briefly catching his eye. He offered a small smile, one that did little to ease the knot of anxiety in my chest.“Alright,” I began, my voice steady despite the weight of the task ahead. “Let’s get started. Last week, we discussed shifting our focus to capturing monsters alive and finding their nests. Since then, we’ve compiled additional data that could give us an edge.”S
Why did he have to be so damn attractive? Why did he have to be so handsome? Why did he have to be so kind, loving, and gentle? The world would be a better place if everyone was like him. "Do you know what's funny?" I asked him. He looked up at me curiously. "What?" "You're the best Guide I've ever met. No one else even comes close." He smiled warmly. "That's flattering," he said. "But that also means I'll probably never meet anyone who will top you." He chuckled, "you won't, but don't worry. I won't let anyone give you less than your full worth. Besides, I'm a top and not a bottom." "What's a top and bottom?" I asked him. He chuckled, "a Top is someone who takes control, while a Bottom is someone who lets the other person take charge. You are obviously a bottom," he said, looking deep into my eyes. I blushed, "I see," I muttered. I was embarrassed to admit it out loud... but I wanted him. I couldn't help myself; I was attracted to him. There was no way around it. I gr