"Yes."
As he said so, a countdown immediately appeared.
[00:00:59:49_82]
And that was that. He placed the message in the corner of his mind and returned home. There wasn't much he could do to speed up the process. At least not at this current stage. However, he did have faint anticipation for what would come.
"It wouldn't be much, obviously, but for now, I'll take anything that's not a pile of shit," He said to himself and laughed.
Arriving at his home was easy. It took no less than 20 minutes, and the walk was mostly straight. If he hadn't remembered by now, he really was a moron.
Lee Dojin walked into an empty home. His mother was currently at work, leaving the space all for himself. He threw his backpack on the ground and walked to his room. With nothing to do, he laid on his bed and took a rest. Tiredness had a way of creeping up on you after waking up early, and he shut his eyes, his consciousness steadily drifted away, until he was in a world of dreams.
He shifted between many scenes, but they were always of his past life. Maybe it was a way for the brain to process all the information it couldn't do in the daytime, or maybe he only wished to reminisce of a time now far away. He did not know. Still, he dreamed. Until he arrived at his deepest memories, far before The First Advent descended upon them. To a Hell, much more early.
The sky was dark, hazy, and almost bleak. Around them, explosions rang out, with great fire burning the horizon red. The smog scorched his lungs while the ash blinded him. He had found himself on the floor, from his arm bleeding. Many people surrounded him, but he still felt lonely. Even within the fieriness, his heart remained cold. The fire rose, setting the old wood ablaze, it blistered and bubbled, until succumbing to the heat and turning to ashes. The roof crashed down, its rotten foundation could not withstand the fire, and it only served as tinder.
'Move it! Move it!' He heard a voice shout. Their face, the person's face, it felt so familiar, yet he could not pinpoint it. The nebula of a dream had painted his identity away. It may have been a person whose memory he had long forgotten.
He did not move. He could not. His sight was glued to the iridescent moon, shining upon him. He wished to stretch his hand out, simply grab it, then run away with it. Yet, the only thing in his hand was ash and dust. Someone like him would never reach the blue sky, no matter what happened. Thus, he could not move.
"Dojin, Dojin! Snap out of it!" A girl screamed, her face also obscured by fog. She shook him hard, hoping to catch his attention. "You're going to be buried alive if you don't run now!"
"I'm going to die," he thought, and these words quietly left his mouth, like the serene whisper of the grim reaper. But those words woke him up. Enough for him to use his legs and bolt. There was little he could do other than escape, the same thing everyone else did. Tens of children, young and malnourished, draped only in a white coat, tried to leave the orphanage as fast as they could. And he would not be an exception.
The girl held his hand, guiding him to the exit. She fought through the numerous broken walls and burned doors, her coughs full of phlegm which she seemed to choke on. Out of the blue, a window fell, barely missing them, but the broken shards bounced through the room, some piercing through her skin. The girl bit her lips, fighting through the pain.
She stretched her arm out, it was covered in bruises. "Stop," she said, her face grim.
Deep footfalls echoed in the air, gradually coming closer. The two of them gulped, sweat running down their faces. For a second, they even felt chilly within this stifling heat. For some reason, he knew exactly who was walking towards them.
"Shit, and here I thought my luck had run out. Dojin and Wenji. Talk about a bingo." A rough voice escaped through the endless fire and reached his ears.
He heard a whistle, though it wasn't humanlike. A shudder ran down his spine, and his instincts told him to duck, and he just managed to pull the girl down too. A flying ax passed their heads, then anchored itself in the wall behind them.
"Stupid kids, it could have ended much easier if you'd have just let that thing split your head." The man clicked his tongue. His face, unlike others, appeared clear as day. Long hair cascading down his face, a scruffy beard, and dark, deep-set eyes that contained no soul. The Wanderer, Alitta. His caretaker, his father.
The man had strolled through the flames, his left arm and eye caught on fire, yet he was unbothered by it. In his hand, he held another ax. A cruel smile escaped his lips. "Little Dojin. Are you going to run again?"
Lee Dojin awoke.
No, he was jolted awake, by his phone ringing on the desk. He gasped, longing for air. Sweat had drenched his shirt, and he could feel his palpating heartbeat. He checked his surroundings to ascertain he was still in his own room. Except for the lingering dream, there wasn't anything out of the ordinary. He searched for his phone, wondering what its problem was. It was a call. He accepted it, for it had been the only person in his contacts that he knew.
"Taewon, what's up? Why are you calling?"
A buzzing, metallic voice answered. "Yo, Hyung? Sorry for suddenly calling you. Are you busy?"
Lee Dojin took his shirt off. The sweat made it stick to his skin, which felt rather nasty. "No, not really."
"Good, good," Kim Taewon said happily. Lee Dojin could almost imagine him jumping smiling joyfully, with his girlfriend, Yoo Dahee, probably cheering him on by the sidelines. The couple was always so animated. Such innocent thoughts gave him respite from that heavy dream. His mood brightened a bit. "Say, have you eaten anything yet? If not, wanna go out and grab something? Of course, it's my treat."
"Sure." He leaned against the table. "But this time, we're going to my choice."
"Hahaha. If that makes you happy. Why not?" On the other side of the phone, Lee Dojin could hear Yoo Dahee giving her agreement. "I mean, what's the worst that can happen?"
...
"Wait are you sure?" Kim Taewon, who had just arrived at the destination, did not quite know what to say. In front of him was a dilapidated house, in dim light. The front porch-if it could be called one-had not been cleaned for years. The door had signs of wear and tear, and the windows didn't appear that well insulated.
His girlfriend nodded in agreement.
It was the late afternoon, Lee Dojin had arrived first, sitting on a bench at the front. While alone, he had spent his time reminiscing about his past again. The light of late winter, slipping into the dark had many magical qualities to it, and with it, it brought strong memories back. Naturally, the strange dream he had, elevated his melancholy. He could not help wonder if it had any deeper meaning.
"It's a buffet. There aren't many around here so I'm rather thankful for this one." Lee Dojin shrugged his shoulders. If they didn't want to eat, that's fine, but he had passed this place quite often these days, and he really wished to give it a try. Without waiting for the couple to decide, he entered the establishment.
The inside was quite nice in comparison, though it could not compare to the place Kim Taewon had brought him the other day.
"Hmm, looks like we really shouldn't judge a book by its cover." The couple analyzed the surrounding, and they too were pleasantly surprised. They took a free seat, of which there were many, and then ordered their drinks. Kim Taewon ordered soju, while Yoo Dahee an orange juice. For Lee Dojin, a glass of water sufficed (though he'd love to indulge in alcohol too). As it was self-service when it came to the food, the three of them grabbed a plate and picked what they liked. However, when they returned, there was one that differed from the others.
Yoo Dahee stared at Lee Dojin's plate, carrying a mountain of food. "You're going to eat this business to the ground..."
"They knew the consequences of starting such a business." Lee Dojin started eating his food.
Kim Taewon laughed. He filled a glass with soju, then mixed it with some beer. "Well, eat up then." He took a bite of a spring roll. "Woah, it's pretty good." He ate his food with relish.
Yoo Dahee looked at the two men stuffing their mouths full of junk. She sighed. Men could be such brutes. But she did agree, the taste wasn't bad.
"So, how's school going," Kim Taewon asked Lee Dojin.
"Good question," he replied. "I guess so-so. I'm not going that often."
"Haha, I knew it," Kim Taewon said and cleared his throat a little, "you don't seem like a person that's into studying."
"That's awfully rude. But true." He took a sip of his water. "So, what did you call me for?"
"Oh come on, I just wanted to have a little chat. There's no reason behind it," Kim Taewon said and laughed nervously. Lee Dojin realized, he was hiding something, but doing a poor job at it. Yoo Dahee gave him a quick glance then shook her head.
Lee Dojin looked at the couple. They smiled at him; Kim Taewon tilted his head, wondering why he had turned silent. He supposed it was not time for the real topic yet. "Well, let's chat then." He placed his cutlery down and listened to their story.
The chatter of the other customers resounded in the restaurant, and there was a constant hum coming from old machinery. Quiet instrumentals peacefully played in the background. Though only Lee Dojin knew, serenity was fleeting and this ordinary restaurant was the first to disappear during The First Advent.
The couple talked about their day—mostly Kim Taewon—and Lee Dojin listened, sometimes responding with a nod. Occasionally, Taewon would take a sip of soju, his face brightening a little bit, but not enough for him to get the buzz on.
Kim Taewon was an assistant manager in a large packing firm on the outskirts of Seoul. His father had offered him a job at their company, but he declined it, saying he wanted to do something for himself. His real home lay in Busan, though he loved it here more. In Seoul, the city never stopped moving—people, cars, billboards, stores, offices, drains, pipes, cables, above and below. Like the universe itself, it continued expanding, to a point where no one knew when it would stop. The city never stopped changing, and Kim Taewon liked that. In Busan, space is given to you. In Seoul, you had to make it yourself.
He did not want to step into his father's footsteps. He wanted to be himself. Even if it meant to catch his wrath. He had been told, the capital was fast and untrustworthy. The city pressed the individuality out of its citizens. A man without a place would remain lost in the sea forever, until, by the end of it, they'd find themself jumping off the roof.
"My pops told me the capital wasn't all that, and I would be disappointed," Kim Taewon said, "but I disagree. He just went at it the wrong way. In a city like Seoul, peace comes not from money, safety or society." He grinned and pointed at his mind. "It came from your soul. When you find love from the inside, when you've carved your space and set your boundaries, that's when you can call this place your home, and then, no boundlessness can overwhelm you. That's the beauty of Seoul."
Yoo Dahee laughed. She liked it when her boyfriend talked like that. It was one of his most endearing qualities. The man was a dreamer, though he did not want to admit it.
"Though I have to admit," Kim Taewon leaned back. "I do love money. Shit, maybe I should have taken over my dad's position after all."
Lee Dojin finished his third plate. Looking at Kim Taewon, his bleached hair and tattoos, he did not strike him like an ordinary office worker. "And what does your dad do? If you don't mind me asking."
"He's a loan shark, why?"
"Nothing." That did explain it. He did seem to be of an affluent family, but Lee Dojin hadn't expected his money to come from there.
"I'm thinking of getting into stocks. There's this game company which is doing well." Kim Taewon took out a cigarette. He was planning on smoking one outside, but the cold was rather uninviting. "Maybe my money shoots through the roof, that'd be awesome."
"I'd not recommend it to be honest," Lee Dojin said after a quick thought. Thinking back, The First Advent would wreak havoc in the stock market too. Sadly, he did not pay attention enough to understand what companies would soar or crumble. "I think domestically, Hojin Machinery and Smithing would become a new powerhouse though." As that was where he had gotten his equipment refined before. There always was a long line there.
"Never heard of it," Kim Taewon said flatly. "But why not, I'll look at it."
Lee Dojin had to interject, "Hold it, I don't want you to lose all your money and blame me."
"Come on Hyung, do I look like such a person?"
"I mean, if we go by looks, yes." Yoo Dahee placed her chopsticks down. "But Dojin, don't worry. He may be a moron, and a naive one at that, but he can take his own responsibility."
"It's not like you are any better," Kim Taewon chirped back. The two of them laughed. They were both people that easily got into trouble after all. "Anyways, Hyung, what's your place?"
"Place?"
"You know, just like I said. In this city that never rests, how do you carve out your place?" He leaned forward, anticipating the answer. "For me, it's the nightlife. Drinking, eating, clubbing, and all that. It used to be women too, but I've since found the one I liked."
Lee Dojin thought about the question. He stopped eating. Kim Taewon had stopped talking. He remained opposite from him, playing with his cigarette. "It's belief," Lee Dojin answered. "Belief in my strength and conviction." He clenched his hand into a fist. "Belief that no matter what stands in my way, I will destroy it."
"Belief," Kim Taewon repeated the word as if mulling over its meaning. "A simple answer, but still it fits you I feel." He laughed loudly.
Lee Dojin waited for him to stop. He wasn't in a rush. When the silence returned, he asked, "So, what's on your mind?"
Kim Taewon became serious. "Have you ever heard of Sivilla Private School?"
His eyes opened wide. Of course, he knew. It was the high school in his past life.