The day after the incident, Erin Schuwald locked herself in her room for the entire day. Outside, her friends and family didn't stop knocking on the door or shouting her name, but Erin ignored all of it. She chose instead to drown herself in the quiet of her solitude, retreating to the farthest corner of her bed where no one could reach her.
Erin's room, once a reflection of a lively, cheerful girl with a sociable soul, now seemed like a faded shadow of what it used to be. The walls, which were usually painted in soft pastel hues—delicate shades of pink and cream—appeared dull under the dim sunlight that crept hesitantly through the half-closed curtains. The polaroid photos and framed memories hanging on the walls, moments frozen in time with friends, looked less vibrant now, as though the happiness they held had faded into the silent air.
At the center of the room, Erin's bed lay disheveled, the fluffy white blanket crumpled and creased—a silent witness to the storm of emotions she had endured. The decorative pillows, adorned with patterns of hearts and flowers, lay neglected in a heap at the edge of the bed. Her favorite teddy bear sat still in the corner, its gaze fixed forward, as if silently sharing in her grief and loneliness.
The vanity table, which Erin used to keep pristine and orderly, was now a mess. Perfume bottles, lipstick tubes, and skincare products were strewn across the surface as though they had been hastily pushed aside. The large mirror, which once reflected her radiant smile, now only mirrored the weary, hollow expression on her face—her features carved from disappointment, her eyes brimming with anger and unspoken sorrow.
A small bookshelf sat in the corner of the room, lined with romantic Korean comic books and trophies that spoke of her popularity and success at school. Yet now, Erin sat slumped near the window, her knees pulled to her chest, staring blankly at the sky outside. The sun was setting, and its dim golden rays only made the room feel colder and emptier.
Where once there had been cheerful music playing through her small speaker, now there was nothing but silence. The faint rustling of the wind sneaking through the cracks in the window was the only sound that broke the oppressive stillness. On her bedside table, a vanilla-scented aromatherapy candle sat unlit, adding to the sense of a hollow, lifeless space.
Finally, as though breaking free from the invisible weight that pinned her down, Erin lifted her head and pushed herself up from the bed that had been her refuge. Slowly, she took a step toward the bathroom on the far side of the room. Along the way, the sound of frantic knocking and muffled shouts from her family and friends reverberated through the locked door. But Erin moved past it, her face expressionless, offering no reply.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Erin gazed at her reflection. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen, and the dark circles beneath them hinted at a night spent crying. The weight of what had happened—of what was taken from her—settled heavily on her chest. The person who meant the most to her, the one she had silently cherished from afar, had been taken. Takada.
The name echoed in her mind, and along with it came the harrowing truth: Takada hadn't simply disappeared. He had been abducted by an insidious organization known as White Knights. For many, White Knights were nothing more than a whispered legend, a rumor that passed among students and conspiracy forums. But Erin knew better. She had stumbled upon enough fragments of information to confirm their existence.
White Knights was a shadowy underground organization operating just out of reach, never stepping fully into the light but leaving trails of destruction in their wake. They were infamous for targeting individuals of exceptional intelligence, talent, or influence—people they could exploit for their own dark ambitions. Erin recalled reading a classified article written by a survivor, a high-ranking intelligence analyst. The piece barely scratched the surface, but it painted enough of a picture for Erin to understand one thing: White Knights wanted absolute power, and they were willing to destroy lives to get it.
Erin cupped her hands under the faucet and splashed cold water onto her face, the icy sensation snapping her back into focus. "I can't keep hiding here," she whispered to her reflection, the words barely audible but laced with determination. "He needs me."
Somewhere deep within her fear and despair, a spark of resolve ignited. Erin knew she couldn't let the White Knights escape unchallenged. Relying on the authorities or waiting for someone else to act would only waste precious time. Yet she couldn't do this alone. She needed help—people she could trust, people who could stand beside her as she dove into the heart of the storm.
Two names immediately came to her mind: Ryuen and Nam Gyeol.
Ryuen, her classmate, was the kind of person most people feared or avoided. With his muscular build, fierce demeanor, and natural strength, he exuded a dangerous aura that made him seem untouchable. Ryuen was known for his recklessness and short temper, but Erin knew there was more to him than that. Beneath his rough exterior lay unwavering loyalty. He never turned his back on the people he cared about, even if he rarely showed it. Although Ryuen and Takada had a complicated, almost adversarial relationship, Erin suspected that Ryuen would not sit idly by while someone they both knew was in danger.
And then there was Nam Gyeol, the quiet, intelligent underclassman whom Erin had only gotten to know recently. If Ryuen was the muscle, then Nam Gyeol was undoubtedly the brain. His calm demeanor and sharp mind made him a natural strategist—someone who could see a dozen moves ahead, like a chess master predicting his opponent's every step. At first glance, Nam Gyeol might seem fragile or unassuming, but Erin had quickly learned that his intelligence was a weapon sharper than any blade.
Between Ryuen's strength, Nam Gyeol's strategy, and her own determination, Erin believed they could form a team capable of doing the impossible finding Takada and White Knights.
Erin unlocked her phone and quickly composed a message, sending it to both Ryuen and Nam Gyeol:
"We need to discuss something urgent. This is about That Nerds.. Meet me at the back garden of the school at 8 PM. Do not be late."
It wasn't long before Ryuen's response appeared. As expected, his reply was succinct, direct, and devoid of unnecessary embellishments:
"fine. I'll be there. make sure you have a solid explanation"
Erin could easily picture Ryuen as he typed that message — his expression unwavering, his voice likely firm and assertive. Ryuen wasn't one for small talk or hesitation. His straightforwardness was part of his nature, and Erin knew he wasn't going to waste time on trivialities. Soon after, her phone vibrated again. This time, it was a message from Nam Gyeol. His response was far more composed and detailed, as if reflecting his analytical nature:
"I had a feeling this was related to Takada. I'll be there on time. Bring all the information you have, Senior."
Erin exhaled deeply, her grip on the phone tightening. She knew that Ryuen and Nam Gyeol were polar opposites in terms of personality, but at this moment, they were the only ones she could rely on. Without them, Erin was acutely aware that facing the White Knights alone would be near impossible.
As she glanced at the time displayed on her phone, Erin stood up from her bed, her mind now set. The urgency in her heart became stronger with each passing second.
"Just a little longer, You Nerd.. I promise, I will find you," Erin whispered softly to herself, the weight of her words carrying the determination that had settled deep within her. With that, she left her room, her heart heavy with purpose.
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Several hours later, at the back garden of the school…
The night air was crisp, and the garden, typically alive with chatter and activity, now stood silent, almost eerily still. Erin sat on a wooden bench, her gaze fixed on the vacant field before her, the quietness amplifying the tension in the air as she waited for the two individuals who would become crucial in this mission.
The sound of heavy footsteps approached, breaking the silence. Ryuen arrived first, his black leather jacket contrasting sharply with the dimming night. His face, as always, was hard and serious, his expression exuding confidence.
"You planning to send me into another fight already?"
Ryuen spoke, his tone casual but with a clear edge, as he leaned back against a nearby tree.
Before Erin could respond, a figure appeared from the shadows, moving with purpose. It was Nam Gyeol. His sharp glasses reflected the moonlight, and his loose gray hoodie added to his unassuming yet calculated presence. He walked slowly, his eyes scanning the surroundings, and held a small notebook in his hand.
"I've already done some research on the White Knights before heading here. ," Nam Gyeol said matter-of-factly, his voice calm and measured. "We don't have the luxury of time. We need to act quickly."
Erin, feeling a surge of relief, met the gaze of both of her companions. "Thank you both for coming. I know this is risky, but we need to save That Nerd."
Ryuen gave her a piercing look. "Tell us everything you know. What exactly are we dealing with here?"
Erin took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "White Knights is an underground organization that specializes in abducting highly talented individuals—those with exceptional abilities or intellect—and using them as pawns in their larger, sinister plans. I've managed to gather some information from an article written by a survivor of theirs, but it's only a small piece of what we need to know. The situation is far worse than we imagined... That Nerd could be in grave danger right now."
Nam Gyeol opened his notebook and began making careful notes. "I'll dive deeper into the website and research more about the organization. But we also need a contingency plan, just in case something goes wrong."
Ryuen grinned, his fists tightening in anticipation. "Contingency plan? The main plan is simple ill break through anyone who stands in our way."
Erin looked at both of them, feeling a sense of hope flicker inside her, a spark of light cutting through the overwhelming darkness that had clouded her mind since yesterday. Ryuen, with his raw strength and ferocity, and Nam Gyeol, with his calm demeanor and strategic mind—together, they formed a team that could make the impossible possible.
"Alright," Erin said, her voice steady and determined. "We will save That Nerd, no matter what it takes." After Erin made up her mind, they decided to go to their respective homes after planning to save Takada.
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Meanwhile, far away, Takada lay limp in the back seat of a strange car. His eyes were tightly shut, his face pale, and his body felt weighed down by an unbearable heaviness. The car sped along at high speed, though Takada was completely unaware of the motion of the vehicle. The pain that racked his body, coupled with his confusion, trapped him in a dark void of thoughts. He had no idea how long he had been in this place, nor who was driving the car.
The occasional rush of outside wind hitting the open window only served to amplify the loneliness of the cramped space. All Takada could hear was the constant rumble of the engine, yet the entire world seemed to have faded away around him. Nothing was clearer than the overwhelming exhaustion that gripped his entire being.
In the silence, his mind wavered between consciousness and unconsciousness, caught in an endless nightmare, until the car finally came to a stop in a dark, unfamiliar place. Takada slowly opened his eyes, only to be met with an eerie and shadowy scene. The front seats of the car appeared empty, though there was something off—something that clouded his vision, preventing him from making out the driver clearly. Beyond the car's windows, a dark wall loomed, as if blocking all possible escape.
As Takada lay there, weak and barely able to process his surroundings, he suddenly noticed something move. A head appeared from the driver's seat, slowly turning to face him. Takada, still dazed, realized with a shock that someone was watching him. His heart skipped a beat as the reality of the situation hit him. With great effort, he shifted his gaze toward the mysterious driver, his vision blurry, but there was no mistaking the feeling that he was being observed closely. The tension in the air seemed to thicken as Takada's eyes locked onto the figure in the front seat, a sense of unease growing with each passing moment.
Slowly, the shadow that had obscured the driver's head began to fade, revealing the true form of the mysterious figure. Takada remained frozen, his body heavy with a mix of confusion and dread, as his eyes locked with the driver's. What he saw made his breath catch in his throat. The driver's deep, blood-red eyes stared at him with a calm yet piercing intensity, as if they could see straight through him. The unsettling gaze sent a shiver down Takada's spine.
As Takada continued to observe, he noticed the driver's striking features. His hair, a brilliant shade of white that almost seemed to glow, cascaded down in soft waves, with strands framing his face delicately. The hair was styled in a way that the bangs fell over his forehead, almost completely hiding his eyes at first, but now they were swept aside, revealing that intense stare. His eyebrows, also white and sharp, added an almost ethereal contrast to his pale, flawless skin. The entire appearance of the driver was almost otherworldly, as if he didn't quite belong to the realm Takada was familiar with.
His skin was unnaturally pale, almost translucent, making him stand out even more. The stark contrast between his flawless, white complexion and his hair and eyes gave him an otherworldly presence. His hair, white as snow, and those striking red eyes were unlike anything Takada had ever seen before. There was something about him that reminded Takada of the idolized, handsome figures seen on screens in Asia today—men whose looks seemed almost too perfect to be real. But this man wasn't just striking in the conventional sense; there was an eerie, almost unsettling aura about him, as though he existed outside the boundaries of normal human beauty.
"Hello,"
the mysterious figure spoke, his voice laced with charisma, as though his mere greeting held a power of its own. Takada had barely a moment to register the sound before the man, without waiting for a response, slowly stepped out of the car. He shut the front door with a smooth motion, then gently opened the back door where Takada lay. His eyes, calm yet intense, locked onto Takada, who was still lying limp, as if in a state of surrender.
"Lets go, Choosen one. Something quite... intriguing awaits you. So, let's leave this car, shall we?"
the man said, his tone both commanding and unnervingly polite.
Takada, utterly confused, could only remain silent. He wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but it was as if his voice had been stolen from him. He opened his mouth, but no sound came, and he couldn't remember how to speak anymore. His thoughts were clouded by fear and the overwhelming sensation of being trapped. As the mysterious man flashed a warm, almost soothing smile, his gesture was both unsettling and gentle—an eerie combination that sent a chill through Takada's already fragile mind.
Here's a translated and polished version of your text in English, maintaining accuracy while enhancing readability and sentence structure:
Takada ended up only moving his jaw, unable to utter a single word. Without further hesitation, the mysterious man pulled Takada out of the car and placed Takada's right hand over his own shoulder as they began walking forward, heading towards an unknown destination.
Takada's body had become incredibly weak, so much so that he could be easily pulled or even thrown around. At this point, his body was as limp and fragile as soft paper. The mysterious man then veered to the right, leading Takada into an elegant and luxurious white corridor that seemed mysterious in its opulence.
Takada's head felt as if it were being tossed around by turbulent waves, his thoughts swirling chaotically. He couldn't think clearly, and his vision grew blurrier with every step he took.
Eventually, the mysterious man's footsteps came to a halt, and Takada—who relied entirely on the man's shoulder to walk and stand—followed suit.
Despite his blurred vision, Takada strained his eyes, trying to understand what had caused the man to stop so suddenly. As he gazed ahead, he was met with a sight that was both strange and unfamiliar.
The mysterious man noticed Takada's sudden focus on something in front of them and couldn't suppress a small, amused chuckle at the sight of Takada staring so intently.
"Welcome to Quasar, a place where talented individuals like yourself will be nurtured," the man announced, introducing the name of the grand and luxurious building before them.
What lay before them was a massive gate accompanied by an enormous branching structure. The building resembled a school, though it was at least three times larger than any ordinary institution. Its rooftops bore a striking resemblance to the architecture of ancient palaces from thousands of years ago, exuding an aura of antiquity yet maintaining a sense of timeless elegance.
Takada couldn't suppress the rising panic inside him. His thoughts spiraled uncontrollably as he concluded that the man beside him must be speaking utter nonsense. "Talented"? Him? He had never been seen as someone special, let alone someone with talent. He couldn't fathom what kind of skill or gift would warrant him being brought to a place like this.
Noticing Takada's complete lack of response—his silence lingering since they'd left the car—the mysterious man chose to ignore him entirely and began leading Takada into the building.
The moment Takada felt himself being pulled forward, closer to entering the grand structure, his panic erupted. He gritted his teeth and struggled with all his might to break free from the man's grip. He didn't want to go inside.
Aware of Takada's sudden resistance, the mysterious man struck the back of Takada's neck, causing him to collapse into unconsciousness like a robot whose battery had just run out. Without missing a step, the man continued walking, now carrying Takada's limp body in his arms.
Several moments later, Takada slowly regained consciousness, finding himself lying on top of a bed. Panic instantly flooded his system, and he jumped off the bed with such force that he stumbled, crashing onto the strange-feeling floor beneath him. His trembling legs carried him upward as he unsteadily stood in place, frozen, desperately trying to process everything that had happened to him.
"What… what just happened? The last thing I remember is… working on a school quiz in my hospital room…"
The thought ran through his mind as he glanced frantically to his left and right. He took in the familiar yet unsettling sight of the room around him: a large, white bed, a wardrobe, neatly arranged stationery, and a desk perfectly organized in the space he currently occupied.
Takada's thoughts spiraled further. Was I kidnapped and placed somewhere comfortable, only to be killed later? It wasn't an unreasonable fear. After all, he'd seen this kind of scenario play out countless times in the Korean dramas he often watched.
As these thoughts plagued his mind, his panic intensified. Driven purely by instinct, he dashed toward the window that was bathed in sunlight. Once he reached it, he froze, his breath catching in his throat as his gaze fell upon the scene outside.
He saw a massive iron gate in the distance, fresh air swirling in the breeze, and lush greenery scattered across the area. There was also a large field dotted with human-like mannequins, the kind often used for military training exercises.
He tore his eyes away from the strange field, only to catch sight of something that sent a chill down his spine. A flag.
At first, the flag appeared unfamiliar, but as it billowed toward him in the wind, he finally recognized the emblem and design. His entire body tensed as the realization struck him like a lightning bolt.
"A flag… of China…?"
-To Be Continued..