Ji-yeon pauses for a moment, her thoughts racing as she processes what she just heard. The room is quiet, except for the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. Taking a deep breath, she looks at her mother with wide eyes, disbelief evident on her face.
"But why, Mother? Why is she so far from all of us?" Ji-yeon asks, her voice laced with confusion and a tinge of frustration.
Miss Choi lowers her gaze, her voice heavy with emotion. "It's because of Felix."
The name strikes Ji-yeon like a thunderbolt, sending a jolt through her entire being. She stares at her mother, wide-eyed, as the weight of the revelation sinks in.
"Where Alexa lives is the safest place for her," Miss Choi continues, her tone measured but firm. "Jeong-won made sure of it. He ensured she would remain hidden, protected from Felix's reach. Her survival is critical—for Kangha to learn the truth about his father and for all of us to prepare for what's to come."
"Then why doesn't she just come to Kangha and tell him everything?" Ji-yeon asks, her tone curious yet straightforward. To her, it seems like the simplest solution.
Miss Choi sighs deeply, her expression turning serious. "Because she can't," she says firmly. "The truth of this war—this entire conflict—is known only to a few. It's not something she can reveal without consequences."
Ji-yeon furrows her brows, tilting her head slightly. "And who are these people?" she presses, unable to suppress her curiosity.
Miss Choi exhales deeply, her eyes glistening with the gravity of the situation. "Jeong-won, Kangha, and Alexa—they know everything about Felix. They are the only ones capable of standing against him. But Kangha is the key. He's the one who can end this, Ji-yeon. And for that, Alexa must remain where she is. Kangha needs to discover her on his own, at the right time."
Ji-yeon's mind reels as she processes her mother's words. The pieces of a much larger puzzle are starting to fall into place, but the picture remains incomplete, shrouded in uncertainty and
danger.
"So you're saying that only Kangha can end all of this? And that Jeong-Won and Alexa are the only ones who can help him?"
Her mother nods slowly, a troubled expression on her face. "Yes, that's right. You've understood it correctly."
Miss Choi, who's been silently observing the conversation from the front, finally speaks. Her voice is calm but filled with a hint of urgency.
"There's a reason Kangha has been chosen for this," she says softly. "And it's not something you can easily understand. But trust me when I say, he's the key."
Ji-yeon looks at her mother. The confusion in her eyes deepens. "But... what about Felix? Who is he? And how powerful is he?"
Her mother sighs, her eyes darkening with worry. "Felix is a force we haven't seen before. He's not just powerful; he's dangerous. We've been watching him, but there's only so much we can do."
Ji-yeon feels a chill run down her spine. The name Felix sends a wave of fear through her, but it also ignites a spark of determination. She knows she must understand the truth, even if it means confronting something darker than she ever imagined.
Miss Choi continues, her voice steady but filled with a dark, grim tone. "He wasn't human. He was a devil and wizard—someone who came only to enslave everyone. He caused tremendous damage, to everything. He misused science and the powers of people for his own ends. He used the wrong medical science to transform humans into beasts."
She pauses, her eyes darkening as the weight of her words settles in. "He misused the powerful stones found on our world, turning them into medicines and chemicals. Then, he mixed them with human blood to create dangerous, animal-like creatures."
Miss Choi leans in, her voice dropping to a whisper, almost as though recounting a nightmare. "He started with a small village. No one knows where he came from, but he knew that the villagers had special powers—powers that were passed down through generations. The people there used their powers openly, but they were unaware of how dangerous it could become."
"At first, he created a disease, something that no one could cure. Then, he kept the cure for himself. When the villagers sought help, they saw him as a doctor. But in reality, he was only taking their blood samples. He used these samples to gauge their powers, and then he experimented by mixing their blood with animal blood. What he created was a new type of blood—a hybrid. He injected it back into the villagers under the guise of a treatment. Over time, their human form would start to fade, replaced by monstrous, animalistic traits."
Ji-yeon listens in stunned silence, her face pale, the gravity of the story sinking in. Finally, she gathers the strength to ask, her voice quiet and full of sadness, "So... did that happen to everyone?"
Miss Choi nods solemnly. "Some people managed to escape the village, and they were the ones who told us what happened. But we didn't know everything until Jeong-Won investigated and uncovered the full truth."
Ji-yeon's mind is spinning, trying to grasp the horror of it all. "Then...why shouldn't they killed Felix?"
Miss Choi's face tightens. "We tried. But his power was too great. In that battle, Park-Ha was killed. Jeong-Won was only able to force Felix out of the school and away from the village, but now, he's back. And this time, he's among us again."
The silence that follows is heavy, filled with a sense of dread and uncertainty. Ji-yeon looks at her mother and Miss Choi, her heart pounding in her chest. The fight is far from over, and the danger is closer than ever.
Ji-yeon looks at her mother's face, her mind racing. She feels the weight of the situation bearing down on her. This is truly a battle of immense power, she thinks. She can't help but wonder, with all the strength Jeong-Won possesses, is it possible that only Kangha can end this war?
Jeong-Won's power is far greater than Kangha's, Ji-yeon realizes, her thoughts circling. If Jeong-Won, despite seeing everything with his own eyes, couldn't stop Felix, then how could Kangha possibly do it? She shakes her head, doubting. I don't think he can.
But there's something inside her, a nagging feeling that refuses to let go. What if Kangha could do it? She doesn't know him well enough to understand just how powerful he really is. What if I've underestimated him?
—------------------
—------
Kangha leaves his room, determination in his steps as he walks toward her room. The hallway is quiet, his footsteps the only sound echoing through the space. He reaches the door to her room and stops for a moment, his hand hovering over the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, he pushes it open and steps inside.
The room is empty. His eyes scan the familiar surroundings—the soft glow of the lamp casting shadows on the walls—but there's something off. The coat that usually hangs neatly in the cupboard is gone. A brief, surprised smile flickers across Kangha's face. She must have taken it somewhere, he thinks, but his smile quickly fades.
He walks over to the cupboard, pulling the door open. Inside, it's bare. Not a trace of the coat is left. A feeling of unease creeps over him as he stands there, staring at the empty space.
"What are you doing in my room?"
The soft, sweet voice seems to come from behind the closet door. The sound is faint, almost playful, yet laced with a hint of mystery. Kangha freezes, his heart skipping a beat. He hadn't heard anyone enter.
He glances over at the closet, his mind racing. Who could that be? He doesn't take his eyes off the door, his senses heightened as he waits for what comes next.
Kangha quickly closes the cupboard door, his heart still racing from the unexpected voice. He turns around and sees Ji-yeon, sitting on the bed, her gaze fixed on him. Her eyes are steady, almost piercing, as if she has been waiting for him to speak.
A faint smile tugs at the corner of his lips, and he takes a step closer, his voice a little nervous. "I'm here to apologize to you," he says, his eyes avoiding hers for a moment. "I don't think I treated you well in the hospital. Please forgive me."
The words come out with an honesty he can't hide. There's no pretense in his tone—he's truly embarrassed. But deep down, Kangha knows he didn't come with the sole intention of apologizing. He just couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right between them.
Ji-yeon raises an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Have you really come to apologize?" she asks, her voice soft but sharp.
Kangha nods, swallowing his unease. "Yeah…"
She leans back slightly, her lips curling into a teasing smile. "So, I'm in the closet, huh?"
Kangha rolls his eyes, embarrassed by her comment. She's right, he thinks, feeling the flush creeping up his neck. He can't help but feel a little ashamed, especially now that the situation has turned into something far more awkward than he anticipated.
"I'm sorry," he repeats, his voice quieter this time.
There's nothing more he can say. He stands there for a moment, unsure of what to do next.
Ji-yeon has moved to sit on the bed now, her posture casual but her gaze still fixed on him, waiting for him to figure out how to handle the situation.