The forest was silent again but not peaceful the aftermath of the battle still echoed in the air scorched bark shattered earth and bloodstains carved into the soil as proof of what had happened moments ago where once a battlefield blazed with magic and steel now stood a lone figure breathing heavily standing but barely
Hyunwoo was still gripping the Celestial Sword its glow now faint as if even the blade had exhausted itself his body trembled not from fear but from the toll of the power he had just unleashed his clothes were torn his tunic clung to his skin with sweat and blood his knees threatened to collapse yet he remained upright swaying like a tree in a storm refusing to fall
He looked down at the knight who lay slumped and broken barely conscious but still alive the golden slash had cleaved through his armor shattered his confidence and carved an unshakable truth into both of their souls
Hyunwoo stared into the forest around him but it was as if he no longer saw the trees what he had witnessed what he had done was beyond the present moment his mind was somewhere else flickering between shards of light and shadow memories that did not belong to him and yet felt like they were carved into his bones
He saw flashes of battlefields he did not recognize places drenched in chaos where he stood against unspeakable odds he saw versions of himself with different weapons different armor different expressions but the same eyes eyes filled with purpose with loss with strength born from suffering
He stumbled forward dragging the knight behind him the body was heavy but Hyunwoo refused to let him go he did not know what pushed him forward perhaps duty perhaps rage perhaps something older deeper he only knew he had to move he had to face what came next
Lirae appeared from the trees her expression torn between horror and relief she ran to him tears forming in her eyes as she took in his condition his bruises his wounds the blood trailing down his arms and legs she reached out to steady him and for a moment they simply looked at each other no words exchanged just the heavy breath of survival
Youre alive she said finally her voice trembling and it was both a question and a prayer
Barely Hyunwoo answered his tone dry but hollow the edge of his usual humor nowhere to be found
She looked down at the knight still breathing but barely conscious What do we do with him
Bring him to the king Hyunwoo said slowly heavily hes the proof
They traveled in silence Hyunwoo staggering with every step Lirae supporting him when she could the knight dragged between them as if the forest itself watched and judged each footfall
When they reached the castle the guards eyes widened at the sight of Hyunwoo bloodied but upright they tried to intervene but Lirae shouted for the king and soon enough the royal hall opened before them with gasps and murmurs following their path
The king stood when he saw them and his face darkened at the sight of the knight
Explain this he demanded stepping forward voice like steel
Hyunwoo looked up tired but unwavering Your Majesty we found the ones behind the kidnappings he said simply and dropped the knight onto the floor like throwing truth at a man who had tried to bury it
The knight coughed tried to raise his head and failed
The king narrowed his eyes Who are you
The knight spoke slowly shamefully I served Flairans father I did his bidding I followed his orders and I know what he has done
The hall grew still even the air seemed to stop moving
And what did he do the king asked eyes narrowing
He sold them the knight said elven children sold to humans in exchange for demon blood he wanted power and he used us to get it he turned his own people into weapons or worse into monsters
The king was silent his fists clenched his gaze shifted to Hyunwoo
And you were meant to be silenced he said quietly
Hyunwoo nodded the evidence was undeniable now
The king turned back to the knight What about my daughter what about the assassination attempts
She rejected his son the knight said still staring at the ground so he saw her as a threat and Hyunwoo was close to her he feared theyd uncover the truth
The king trembled but not with age with fury
Take him the king said to the guards and they obeyed quickly the knight did not resist
Once the room cleared only Hyunwoo Lirae and the king remained and for a moment none of them spoke
You risked everything said the king finally his tone softer and you paid the price in blood
Hyunwoo said nothing only nodded once his mind still filled with the images the visions the things he could not yet explain
Youre not just a support the king said then you never were and now the whole court will know it
Hyunwoo looked away unsure how to respond unsure who he really was
I have something for you the king continued a proposal more than a gift
Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow still barely standing
There is a dungeon in the north the king said ancient legendary only two people have ever conquered it the first elven king and the last hero it is said to test not just strength but will and spirit I am offering you the chance to challenge it
Hyunwoo blinked caught between confusion and exhaustion
Why
Because the truth will chase you now said the king calmly and you need strength not just to survive it but to stand above it if you want answers if you want to understand who you are or what you were then this dungeon may hold what you seek
Hyunwoo said nothing for a long time then finally nodded his head barely once
I will go he said
Lirae gasped slightly but said nothing only watched him with a mixture of pride and fear
The king nodded You'll be given time to heal then you may depart it is not an easy path but I do not believe you seek easy answers
Later that night alone in his room Hyunwoo sat on the edge of the bed staring at his reflection in a bowl of water his eyes were different now clearer heavier like he had seen something too large to name and now carried a piece of it with him
The sword lay beside him silent but its presence felt stronger than ever
What am I he whispered not expecting an answer
Yet in the silence something stirred not a voice but a sensation a recognition
You are remembering came the thought not in words but in feeling
He closed his eyes and again he saw the slash again he felt the stance not learned not taught but remembered
The path ahead was unclear but one thing burned bright inside him
He would not run
Not from the dungeon
Not from the truth
Not from who he was meant to become
The next journey would begin soon and for the first time in a long time Hyunwoo was not afraid
He was ready