Beom-seok stayed at the hospital until the student's condition stabilized. He visits him every day before going to school and spends the rest of his day at the hospital after work. The entire time the student was in the hospital, no one visited him except Beom-Seok. The hospital cannot reach the mother of the student; even Beom-Seok tried to call or even reach out to the mother of the student, but he also failed. The student lives with his mother in that apartment; his father died in an accident, and they don't have any relatives here. Beom-seok put the fresh fruits that he brought on the table beside the student's bed. The doctor said that there's a high possibility that the student will regain consciousness today, which is why Beom-seok decided to stay until night that day.
It was around 4 o'clock in the afternoon when the student regained consciousness, and Beom-seok did not hesitate to call the nurse regarding the situation. The nurse checked his condition and advised Beom-seok that the student needed more rest. Beom-seok agreed and nodded.
"Thank you." the nurse smiled and left the room.
"Do you want some apples or water?" Beom-seok asked. The student did not respond. "Why?" The student suppressed his voice. "Why did you save me?" Beom-seok opened the window and took a seat beside the student's bed. "Are you not hungry? I'll prepare some fruits for you."
"Answer me!" the student shouted; this time he could not restrain himself. He was angry. That day, he had already decided to end his life; he wanted to end the pain and agony that he was feeling. His mother left him alone, and even when his mother constantly beat him, he still loved her. She is the only one that she has, and in the end, she left him. "WHY DID YOU SAVE ME?" He cannot contain the anger, sorrow, and bitterness that he is feeling. He is tired and exhausted from waking up every day and seeing everything exactly the same. He feels like he's inside a loop without an end; he keeps running and running until he cannot run anymore. He waited for someone to help him, but no one even dared give him a glance. He feels so hopeless. They were once a happy family, but everything changed when his father died when he saved him. His mother blamed him for what happened to his father, and he also blamed himself for what happened. "I.... I don't deserve to live. I.. hic... I just want everything to end. So whyy?! Why now?" he also tried asking help from his teachers but no one seemed to care about him, they pretended to care however once it becomes it an inconvenience with them they retaliate. "Don't pretend that you care."
The student has no idea of the teacher's identity. He encountered him nine days ago on campus, not knowing that he was one of his teachers. At first, he found him strange, but as the days passed, he felt comfortable with him. He thought he could breathe again, but everything crumbled when he went home just to find that his mother was gone and had left him.
Beom-seok did not say anything. He clenched his fist and restrained himself from hugging the student. He looks vulnerable while at the same time he looks strong.
"I did not save you. You saved yourself." The student stopped crying and looked in Beom-seok's direction. "What are you even saying?"
"You fought for your life. I am not the one who saved you. You saved yourself."
"Stop! I am not believing in your lies! You are just like everybody; you pretend to care for me, but in the end you will just think I am a nuisance!" the student felt so lost. He has always been a lost soul.
"That's right." Beom-seok stared directly into his eyes. "That's right. Do not trust anyone but yourself."
The student was flabbergasted. "Wha-" before the student can even finish his words Beom-seok cut him off. "Thank you for living," Beom-seok said softly. At that moment, everything went silent. The student felt the wind from the window enter the room and caress his face. His heart started to beat loudly. He clenched his fist against the blanket when he saw Beom-seok's eyes. "Thank you for surviving. You fought well." A tear fell from the student's eyes, one after the other, until he could not contain himself anymore. It feels like a huge load of baggage has been lifted off his back. "Dae-jung, I am Dae-jung, the student said, full of surrender. Beom-seok smiled and patted Park Dae-jung's head.
'Tekoa, you have to inform the Chief Elf! This young man is not ordinary.'
'Is he a threat in the forest, Penuel?'
Penuel has no idea whether the human who entered the forest is a threat or not. 'I.. I don't know, Tekoa. However, threat or not, we should inform the Head Chief!'
'Have you tried looking at his heart, Jahath? ' Tekoa asked. They have to be certain before informing the Head Chief, his father. At that time, Tekoa was as confused and curious as Penuel and Jahath. This is the first time he has encountered a human like him.
Jahath obeyed Tekoa's suggestion and touched Beom-seok's heart. A cold aura seeped inside of him as he touched his heart. His mind went blank as he saw what was inside Beom-seok's heart; there was nothing. A blank, clear, and white place greeted him. Jahath gasped and removed his hand from Beom-seok's heart. 'It's white. It's a blank canvas!' Jahath shouted. Penuel's eyes went wide. 'What the? Who the heck is he? '
'A blank canvas? That-that's impossible.' Tekoa finds it impossible. There's no way that a human's heart is not filled with anything. No matter how good someone is, there will always be greed, jealousy, hatred, arrogance, and evil desires hidden deep within their hearts.
Beom-seok find it funny every time he sees their reactions. The green fairy eyes became big as he stared at him. The blue fairy is shaking his head while looking at his hands. They are cute and tiny at the same time they look magical. They are like creatures straight out from a fantasy novel. On the other hand, the elf looks very handsome and graceful. His clothes look like a mixture of flower and wood and his whole aura is shining. 'What a fascinating creature.' Beom-seok thought to himself. Never in his life imagined that he would encounter such beings in real life, he had only seen and read them in books and movies and right now they are in front of him. As much as Beom-seok wants to stay and know such creatures he has to get going to fulfill his agenda today.
The two fairies and the elf followed Beom-seok until he arrived at the end boundary of the forest. The tree of them stopped dead on their track when they realized where Beom-seok is going. 'He's entering the hidden dungeon! What are we going to do?' Jahath shouted with urgency. Tekoa has to make a decision. 'Penuel, follow him. Jahath and I will go to my father to inform him regarding the human.' Tekoa commanded and leave Penuel. Penuel stayed beside Beom-seok and observed everything that he is doing.
In the end boundary of the dense and mysterious Pelon Forest, there stood an ancient, gnarled oak tree that had withstood the test of time. Its branches twisted and turned like the fingers of a wizened old wizard, guarding a long-forgotten secret. Generations of elves and fairies had whispered about the hidden dungeon that lay beneath the tree's massive roots, but none had ever dared to venture into its depths. The wind whispered and the forest seemed to hold its breath, Beom-seok summoned his courage and set out on his quest. Armed with his 'knowledge', he followed the narrow trail that led to the ancient oak tree. The air was thick with anticipation, and every rustle of leaves seemed to be a whisper of warning.
As he reached the foot of the mighty tree, Beom-seok noticed a peculiar pattern of stones around its base. Consulting his 'knowledge', he discovered that these stones marked the entrance to the hidden dungeon. Excitement bubbled within him. With strong hands, he pushed and prodded the stones, unlocking the secret mechanism that guarded the dungeon's entrance. A stone door, which seemed to have been waiting for this moment for centuries, creaked open, revealing a dimly lit passageway that descended into the earth. Undeterred, Beom-seok stepped into the gloom, the lantern that he brought with him casts eerie shadows on the ancient walls.
'What is this place?' Penuel cannot stop himself from commenting. No one ever tried to enter this place, the Chief Elf warned them to never set their foot on this dungeon however the human in front of him is not even afraid of what lies beyond the dark. Tekoa, Jahath and Penuel have no idea how to stop Beom-seok from entering because there are no amount of magic that can touch the human. 'Sigh' Penuel does not know if the human is excited or afraid since his eyes are the same ever since they enter the dungeon, a bored look, as if nothing fazes him.
Beom-seok felt the heavy air inside the dungeon, as if the memories of its long-forgotten inhabitants clung to every surface. As Beom ventured deeper, he encountered puzzles and traps that tested both her wit and agility. With the help of his 'knowledge' he deciphered cryptic riddles etched into the walls, avoided pitfalls, and narrowly evaded falling debris. Time seemed to lose its meaning as Beom-seok and Penuel delved further into the heart of the dungeon. His perseverance was fueled by the thrill of discovery and the hope that he was inching closer to the treasures that lay hidden within.
After what felt like an eternity, Beom-seok stumbled upon a grand chamber bathed in a soft, golden light. In the center of the room, a magnificent pedestal stood, holding an exquisite jewel that glimmered like a star, the saintess necklace. Before Beom-seok could lay his hand upon the necklace, a voice echoed through the chamber, ancient and wise. It belonged to a guardian spirit, the protector of the dungeon's secrets.
'Warning! A Spirit Guardian was detected' a blue light blink in front of Beom-seok.
"How dare a human touch the saint's necklace!" Beom-seok flinched, a spirit guardian. It was not written in the novel that there's a spirit guardian in this dungeon. 'Shama!' Penuel shouted as the sight of the spirit guardian. For centuries, Shama had stood watch over the hidden realm, protecting its ancient mysteries from the prying eyes of the outside world. No one dared to venture into her domain.
When Beom-seok and Penuel entered the dungeon Shama observed the intruder with a mix of curiosity and concern. Shama ethereal form floated alongside the walls, her radiant eyes never leaving the intruder. The spirit's duty was to protect the secrets of the dungeon, and she could not allow this human to tamper with the balance of the mystical realm. With each step, Beom-seok encountered the dungeon's traps and challenges. Shama tested her with illusions, hoping to dissuade him, but Beom-seok with the used of his 'knowledge' saw through the deceptions. Time and again, he outwitted the spirit's attempts to deter his progress. In the heart of the dungeon's sanctum, Shama revealed herself to Beom-seok in a dazzling display of light. The spirit's wings shimmered like the stars, and her voice carried the wisdom of ages past.
"I warned you human, do not touch the necklace and leave this place."
"I cannot do that." Beom-seok voiced out. The necklace is necessary for his survival. Shama's face knotted. A human dared to speak against her. Shama's anger displayed when the dazzling light around him turned into fire. "HOW ARROGANT!" Shama full of anger blast a ball of fire towards Beom-seok.
'Warning! Warning! Warning! a huge amount of heat is detected' a blue light popped in front of Beom-seok. "Fuck!" Beom-seok jumped and hid behind a wall. Isid's body is not suitable for a fight, he does not have a muscle and his breathing cannot keep up with his movements. "Huff huff, what a weak body." Beom-seok wiped the sweat forming on his forehead. 'Hot! Hot!' Penuel said while blowing wind to his wings.
"Come out, Human!" Shama's voiced echoed in the dungeon. Beom-seok grimaced and pressed himself against the wall. 'What now?'
'Scanning the dungeon room 70%' the blue light was revealed again.
"You can hide all you want but you will never get away from me!"
'Scanning the dungeon room 85%'
"Damn it, huff huff" Beom-seok tore some clothes from the hoodie that he is wearing and wrapped his nose and mouth with the clothing. He needs to stabilize his breathing, Isid's body is trembling with fear. The body that Beom-seok possessing is responding to the threat. Shama gathered another ball of fire and this time it became bigger. 'Holy moly!' Penuel shivered. 'Is this how will I die?'
"Human, you have to do something!" this time Penuel revealed himself to Beom-seok. "Penuel!" Beom-seok brightly said. "You have to--- wait what?! You know me?!" The fairy was flabbergasted. "H-how do you know me?!"
'Scanning the dungeon room 99%'
"Later, Mr. Fairy." Beom-seok waited for the system to complete the scanning. 'Scanned complete, a hidden room was found behind the Spirit Guardian.'
"Fuck!" Beom-seok cursed. Out of all the place, why behind the Spirit Guardian.
"Penuel, do you know the Spirit Guardian?"
"Yes, I know human. But how- how do you know my name."
"I'll explain Mr. Fairy. What's the name of the Spirit Guardian?"
"Why are you commanding me?!" the fairy squint his eyes. Beom-seok laughed at his reaction "Ha! And you are laughing in this kind of situation?"
"You are adorable!" Beom-seok restrained himself from petting the fairy. "ADORABLE?! I am not adorable!"
Beom-seok sighed in defeat, "Yes. yes, you're not. Now can you tell me the guardian's name?"
"Hmp! She is Shama, one of the guardians of fire attribute in the forest. It was said that she left the village a very long time ago, no one knew why she left ."
Fire attribute. What a mere human can do with a guardian of fire? Especially Isid, a human without an attribute. "But why are you hiding, human?" His thought stopped "What do you mean?"
"You're an anti-mage, attributes can't harm you" Beom-seok's breathing quickened. He heard them a while ago, discussing his existence. He is an anti-mage, but what does it mean?
"What's an anti-mage?"
Penuel frowned, "You, human, your whole existence negate magic."
"Found you!" Shama grinned and blast her fire ball towards Beom-seok. Out of nowhere the blue light appeared.
'WARNING! WARNING! Heat detected'
"Damn it."
'Would you like to analyze the magic?'
> Yes > No
Beom-seok blinked his eyes twice. Analyze magic? Just like that, a memory resurface inside Beom-seok's mind. He remembers, it was written in the novel that an attribute are ancient magic made of patterns from the nature given by the gods and goddesses.
'Would you like to analyze the magic?'
> Yes > No
Beom-seok clicked the yes button.
'Fire attribute was being analyzed'
A blue light appeared from Beom-seok's right eye, moments after that a red magical pattern appeared in the air.
Shama angrily fired the ball of fire towards Beom-seok.
'Analysis complete'
Once the analysis was completed, the ball of fire slowly faded until there are no traces left behind.
"What?! What happened?" Shama was confused. She's confident that the human will die.
"What... who.. who are you?!" Shama was bewildered. How was he able to deflect her fire, no, he did not delfect it. He erased the whole existence of her fire. An anti-mage, Beom-seok thought. At that time, Beom-seok grabbed the opportunity to run towards the hidden room. He clenched his teeth and ran with all his might. He pressed a block from the wall a hidden passage opened. Beom-seok turn his back from Shama and entered the room.
"Huff, huff, I thought I am going to die." Penuel sighed in relief. "Are you okay, mr. fairy?"
"I can protect myself, unlike a weak human liked you hmp. Anyway, what is this room? You have a keen eye; you were able to detect this room."
"I am just lucky." Beom-seok shrugged.
"Human, I have so many things that I want to know but first how did you know this dungeon and what is you reason of entering this place?"
Beom-seok walk inside the room and investigate his surroundings. 'A grave was detected.' the blue light showed again. This is not a hidden room; this is a tomb. There was no grave included in the novel. According to it, the necklace is the only thing inside the hidden dungeon.
Beom-seok did not answer the fairy's questions. Penuel fly towards Beom-seok and continue to ask him some questions. "Who are you? Are you the only one that is an anti-mage in your family?"
Beom-seok clenched his fist and walk towards the tomb in the middle of the room. Shielded from the prying eyes of the world for centuries, this tomb rests in a secluded chamber, concealed by cunning craftsmanship and ancient magic. Dim light filters through cracks in the aged stone, casting delicate patterns on the tomb's surface. The walls, adorned with intricate carvings and symbols, seem to whisper tales of a forgotten era, recounting the grandeur of a long-gone civilization.
The tomb itself stands as a magnificent testament to the craftsmanship of the artisans who fashioned it. Hewn from polished marble, the lid displays ornate engravings of long-lost gods and mythical creatures, each detail etched with meticulous precision. The marble has aged with a distinguished grace, bearing the patina of time like a badge of honor.
Penuel stopped talking and gasped when he saw the tomb and on what is written on it.
The blue light popped up again in front of Beom-seok eyes.
'Grave of First King of Alka, King Joshaviah Jattir, lightning attribute possessor'