Soo Min puffed out her chest and straightened. "Very well, then."Her voice was loud enough to drown out the voices of the other guests.They assigned us a reserved table at the very front of the room, right next to the podium. It was just large enough to fit six people comfortably."You can't sit like that," Hye Jin said quietly, her voice laced with warning.She'd already taken off her coat and placed it neatly on the seat beside her. She folded her hands atop the table, making sure her fingers didn't touch any part of the surface. Her posture was perfect, head held high.It was a stance that spoke volumes about how confident she was in her own strength.Soo Min, however, sat slouched so far forward that her elbows rested on the table. She toyed absently with her cup of coffee, taking small sips without ever looking up at anyone.I could see the muscles in her face tense up as she desperately tried to project a cool, collected impression.She was trying too hard, which made it worse
"I understand your concerns," she began, her voice calm and clear. "But please, let us not forget that this is still a diplomatic conference. If we were to use violence here, our reputation would be ruined. The entire world will think we're barbarous savages." She paused, looking around the table. "...Our first priority must be to secure peace. At the moment, we have no guarantee that we'll succeed in that goal. Should we fail, however, we cannot allow ourselves to fall victim to panic or fear. Once we've made our decision, we must execute it swiftly and decisively. Above all else, we must avoid letting our emotions dictate our actions. This will require both caution and courage. Let us keep in mind those qualities as we move forward." After a few moments, the delegates fell silent. "And so," Director Yoon concluded, "our final decision is to strike at these monsters while they are still weak and unprepared. In other words, we will attack and defeat them before a gate appears r
The return flight from Geneva was unusually quiet. Even Soo Min, who could always be counted on for a quip or comment, was lost in thought as the jet hummed steadily through the skies. The weight of the International Awakened Association of Guilds’ summit lingered heavily on all of us.We’d managed to secure some level of cooperation among the Guilds, but the tension and political undercurrents made it clear that unity was fragile at best.I leaned back in my seat, staring out the window at the endless expanse of clouds. Minseok was seated beside me, a file open on his lap as he skimmed through the notes we’d compiled during the summit. His calm, methodical demeanor was a constant source of reassurance, but even he looked more tired than usual.“You’ve been quiet,” he remarked without looking up, his voice soft but pointed.I glanced over at him."I'm fine," I said, waving off his concern. "Just thinking.""About what?" He continued to read the report as he asked.I shrugged, glancing
I opened my mouth to respond, but then I remembered that I was still out in the open. I took a deep breath."Hm? What is it?" Minseok asked, looking up from where he sat cross-legged."Oh. No. Nothing. Sorry."I shook my head, trying to clear away the lingering sensation from the kiss.He grinned. "Don't be sorry. Why don't we get back to work first? We can continue elsewhere.""Right."*****When we landed back at the Guild, the team quickly dispersed, each member retreating to their quarters to decompress. I found myself lingering in the common area, staring at the wall monitor displaying a world map dotted with the regions we’d discussed at the summit. The red zones of corruption seemed to pulse ominously, a visual reminder of the enormity of the threat we faced.“You’re brooding again,” Minseok said, his voice pulling me out of my thoughts. He leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed and a faint smile on his lips. “Should I be worried?”“Maybe,” I replied, my tone half-seriou
“Let's get moving, then,” Minseok replied. He stepped forward, drawing his sword and slicing through the vines covering the entrance. We entered cautiously, our eyes darting left and right. My gaze shifted, looking past the monsters to the source of the whispers. "Morveth!!! Face me if you dare!" "Morveth?" They all froze when they heard the name. "Who the hell is Morveth?" In that moment, I realized that I had never mentioned the name of this unknown entity that had been haunting me ever since the first raid we had gone on together. "These monsters aren't mindless beings," I said, cutting through the silence. "I've been hearing voices." "Is that why you're always so jumpy, oppa? Because of these whispers?" "Yes, exactly. And what's worse is... I think I know who it is. Something no one had fathomed, and beyond what we had imagined and the true evil in all of this." There was a heavy pause before anyone spoke up. "So it's Morveth, huh? That son of a bitch..." Na Ri growled.
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 room fell into a stunned silence, Jiho’s words slicing through the tension like a blade. Everyone froze, their eyes snapping to him. He didn’t look frightened, but there was an eerie calm in his expression, a stillness that sent shivers down my spine. “What do you mean, Jiho?” Minseok asked, his voice steady but strained. Jiho raised his gaze to meet ours, his dark eyes holding an unshakable certainty. “It’s here. The corruption—it’s close.” For a moment, nobody moved. Then Minseok sprang into action, issuing commands with the efficiency of a seasoned leader. “Na Ri, secure the perimeter. Hye Jin, monitor any energy spikes. Soo Min, take Jiho somewhere safe. We can’t risk—” “No.” Jiho’s voice was firm, louder than I’d ever heard it. Everyone turned to him in surprise. “You can’t hide me. If you do, it’ll find another way in. It always does.” “What are you talking about?” I asked, stepping closer. “How do you know this?” Jiho hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “I
The compound’s alarm blared the next day, jolting me from a restless sleep. A breach. I rushed to the command center, finding Commander Moon and Dr. Yoona already there.“It’s a group of corrupted Espers,” Commander Moon said grimly. “They’ve broken through the outer defenses.”My heart sank. Corrupted Espers were rare but deadly, their minds twisted and their powers amplified by the same darkness I was fighting.The team mobilized quickly, engaging the intruders near the compound’s perimeter. The battle was chaotic, the corrupted Espers fighting with reckless abandon. I joined the fray, my energy flaring uncontrollably.“Seojin, focus!” Minseok’s voice rang out, anchoring me briefly. But the corruption was too strong. My attacks became wild, destructive, and I could see the fear in my teammates’ eyes.When the battle finally ended, the compound was in shambles. The corrupted Espers were defeated, but the damage was done. The team avoided my gaze, their unease palpable.---That night
His eyes widened slightly at my reply, but he didn't push further. Instead, he held my shoulders gently, looking deep into my eyes. “Look, Seojin…” I knew what he would say before he opened his mouth. “I just need to train,” I said, pulling away from him. “That’s all.” Minseok sighed, his eyes searching mine. “You don’t have to do this alone, Seojin. Whatever it is, I can help.” I shook my head, my throat tight. “Not this time.” I paused, then added quietly, "I've got to perfect this move." "Okay," Minseok murmured. He left my side, making his way over to where the other Espers and Guides were practicing. I watched him go, unable to hide the pain and loneliness I felt. It had been nine days since our last battle against the enemy, and I still hadn't been able to master the technique. My body was so heavy; my mind was numb. The others were all moving around, chanting, and practicing their moves, while I stood there like an idiot, struggling with my own thoughts. Could I real
Na Ri swiped at her neck, grimacing. "Ugh, it’s like walking into a sauna filled with mosquitos and nightmares. Why are jungle missions always the worst?" Jiho adjusted the straps of his gear, glancing at the corrupted zone ahead. "Because jungles are naturally hostile, and now they’re corrupted. Double the fun." “Cut the chatter,” Minseok said sharply, though not unkindly. His eyes scanned the dense foliage, assessing the safest route. “We don’t know how far the corruption has spread. Stay alert.” As we ventured deeper, the once-vibrant greens of the jungle gave way to muted, ashen tones. Trees twisted unnaturally, their bark blackened and oozing an eerie, viscous liquid. The ground beneath our boots was spongy, as though the earth itself was rotting. Then the whispers began. ] I flinched. The voice was faint but unmistakable, like a breeze brushing past my ear. I glanced at Minseok, but he was focused on his tracker. The others didn’t seem to notice either.
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... so
You're telling me to stop because it makes you uncomfortable?! How could anyone find it pleasurable when they're being made to go through this?!"He shook his head and gave what I could only call a ruse smile. "It's not that I can't help. To be honest with you, I hate it. I hate this feeling. I've been through this with those in my past. I thought we were different, Seojin. But it's fine; after all, I'm the guy that's only needed when things go wrong, the one that everyone else will abandon once the problem is solved. I guess this is the price I pay for awakening as a Guide, huh? The price of becoming someone others rely on."His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. It was just us, standing there in the glow of the setting sun, the connection between us humming softly like a melody only we could hear."I’m glad," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "You don’t just guide me, Minseok.
I opened my mouth to respond, but then I remembered that I was still out in the open. I took a deep breath."Hm? What is it?" Minseok asked, looking up from where he sat cross-legged."Oh. No. Nothing. Sorry."I shook my head, trying to clear away the lingering sensation from the kiss.He grinned. "Don't be sorry. Why don't we get back to work first? We can continue elsewhere.""Right."The team had scattered across the Guild when we arrived, each of us retreating to our respective spaces to decompress after the tension of the mission. The world map displayed on the wall monitor flickered as I watched the red zones of corruption pulse ominously. My mind kept racing, unable to settle on anything. The threat we faced was enormous, but what kept gnawing at me was the strange, unsettling feeling that something was off—something that hadn’t quite clicked yet.Minseok’s voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. “You’re brooding again.”I looked up to find him leaning against the doorframe
After the final session, the trainees dispersed, each saying their goodbyes. Most of them made a point to give me a friendly hug before leaving, which I didn't mind at all. Being hugged felt great, and I knew I looked forward to it every day.---The rest of the session passed quickly. By the time the trainees were dismissed, the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting the training grounds in hues of orange and gold. I stood by the edge of the barrier, watching the Espers file out, their laughter and chatter filling the air.Minseok joined me, his hands tucked into his coat pockets. "You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?""Training them? Yeah, it’s not so bad. They’ve got potential." I glanced at him, my tone softening. "And it helps that you’re here."He didn’t respond immediately, but his lips curved into a small smile. "You’ve changed, Seojin. You’re...happier. It’s good to see."I turned to face him fully, leaning casually against the barrier. "That’s your doing, you know.
The compound’s alarm blared the next day, jolting me from a restless sleep. A breach. I rushed to the command center, finding Commander Moon and Dr. Yoona already there.“It’s a group of corrupted Espers,” Commander Moon said grimly. “They’ve broken through the outer defenses.”My heart sank. Corrupted Espers were rare but deadly, their minds twisted and their powers amplified by the same darkness I was fighting.The team mobilized quickly, engaging the intruders near the compound’s perimeter. The battle was chaotic, the corrupted Espers fighting with reckless abandon. I joined the fray, my energy flaring uncontrollably.“Seojin, focus!” Minseok’s voice rang out, anchoring me briefly. But the corruption was too strong. My attacks became wild, destructive, and I could see the fear in my teammates’ eyes.When the battle finally ended, the compound was in shambles. The corrupted Espers were defeated, but the damage was done. The team avoided my gaze, their unease palpable.---That night
The room fell into a stunned silence, Jiho’s words slicing through the tension like a blade. Everyone froze, their eyes snapping to him. He didn’t look frightened, but there was an eerie calm in his expression, a stillness that sent shivers down my spine. “What do you mean, Jiho?” Minseok asked, his voice steady but strained. Jiho raised his gaze to meet ours, his dark eyes holding an unshakable certainty. “It’s here. The corruption—it’s close.” For a moment, nobody moved. Then Minseok sprang into action, issuing commands with the efficiency of a seasoned leader. “Na Ri, secure the perimeter. Hye Jin, monitor any energy spikes. Soo Min, take Jiho somewhere safe. We can’t risk—” “No.” Jiho’s voice was firm, louder than I’d ever heard it. Everyone turned to him in surprise. “You can’t hide me. If you do, it’ll find another way in. It always does.” “What are you talking about?” I asked, stepping closer. “How do you know this?” Jiho hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “I
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