Chapter 70: Echoes of the Past
The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the academy grounds as Yun-ho sat beside Ethan in the quiet training hall. He took a deep breath, the weight of recent events still heavy on his mind. "Ethan... I never really thanked you for everything. You've been there for me since I got here, and I'm grateful."
Ethan flashed a casual grin, leaning back on his hands. "It's nothing, really. We're a team, right?"
Yun-ho nodded, but a question had been nagging at him for some time now. "Still... I feel like I don't know much about you. Where did you learn to fight like that? You always seem to know what to do in any situation."
Ethan's expression shifted subtly, his eyes darkening for a brief moment. "My past isn't that interesting," he said, his voice quieter than before. "Just... had to grow up faster than most."
Yun-ho frowned. Ethan rarely spoke about his past, and Yun-ho had never pressed him. But now, after all they'd been through, he felt a need to understand his friend better. "I don't believe that. You've helped me so much, but I've never even asked where you came from. What was your life like before Eternity Online?"
Ethan was silent for a long time, his gaze distant as though remembering something painful. "I guess you deserve to know. My parents... they disappeared when I was young. After that, I lived on the streets for a while, had to learn how to survive the hard way. Fighting was... just something I picked up to keep myself alive."
Yun-ho's chest tightened. "That sounds rough. I didn't realize—"
"It's fine," Ethan interrupted, giving a dismissive wave. "It was a long time ago. Besides, I'm here now, aren't I? This place... it's a chance for a fresh start."
Yun-ho studied Ethan's face, noticing for the first time the faint traces of sorrow and weariness hidden beneath his usual easygoing demeanor. He had always seen Ethan as unshakable, but now, Yun-ho realized that his friend carried burdens of his own.
"I won't pry," Yun-ho said gently, "but I want you to know... you don't have to carry all that on your own. We've got your back."
Ethan glanced at him, his expression softening slightly. "Thanks, Yun-ho. That means more than you know."
Unbeknownst to them, Kael watched from the shadows, his eyes narrowing as he processed what he had just heard. So, Ethan has secrets too...Kael smirked to himself. "Interesting."