Lira's PoV:
The forest felt alive in a way that went beyond the rustle of leaves or the chirping of birds. As I moved through its winding paths, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Not by the birds or the foxes that had guided me earlier—but by something else.
The closer I got to the town, the more the stories I heard began to paint a picture of this "sacred beast" the forest folk revered. Whispers of a guardian spirit, one said to protect the trees, the streams, and even the people.
"Seok-Hyun," Maeve murmured over tea one evening. "The sacred beast of the forest. Rarely seen but always felt."
I raised an eyebrow. "You believe in him?"
Maeve's expression turned serious. "Belief isn't the word. We know he exists. He's saved many travelers lost in the woods, kept the wolves and worse at bay. But his protection isn't without cost." She paused, her tone softening. "He's an enigma, though. Some say he's as lost as those he saves."
"Lost?" I echoed.
Maeve nodded. "A soul caught between wanting to live and fearing death."
The thought stuck with me as I ventured deeper into the forest on an errand Maeve had sent me on—a bundle of herbs for a neighboring family. My steps faltered when I saw it: a clearing bathed in golden light, and at its center, a figure.
Seok-Hyun.
He wasn't a beast, at least not in the traditional sense. He looked human, though his presence felt… otherworldly. His dark hair fell in unruly strands over his face, his clothes tattered but oddly pristine, as if untouched by the grime of the forest. His eyes, deep and unreadable, locked onto mine with a mixture of wariness and detachment.
The golden glow that enveloped him seemed to shimmer like a second skin, and as I stepped closer, I could feel the weight of his presence pressing against my chest.
"Who are you?" I asked, though my voice came out quieter than I intended.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tilted his head, as though trying to decide if I was a threat.
"Seok-Hyun," he said finally, his voice low and rough.
The name carried a strange weight, as though it held more meaning than the syllables let on.
"What are you?" I pressed, gripping the hilt of my sword instinctively.
He let out a dry chuckle, though it was devoid of humor. "A question I've been asking myself for a long time." His gaze shifted past me, to the trees swaying gently in the breeze. "They call me a guardian. A beast. I'm neither."
"Then what are you doing here?"
His lips curled into a faint smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Surviving. Isn't that what everyone does?"
For a moment, silence stretched between us, broken only by the rustle of leaves.
"Surviving isn't living," I said before I could stop myself.
His expression shifted slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "And living hurts," he replied, almost absentmindedly.
I didn't know what to say to that.
"I don't protect them because I want to," he continued after a moment. "I do it because it's the only thing that keeps me from… feeling." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Forget it. You wouldn't understand."
Maybe he was right. Maybe I didn't understand. But as I watched him turn and walk away, his figure retreating into the golden light of the forest, I felt a strange sense of connection.
We were both survivors, wandering through a world that didn't make sense.
The forest was peaceful, but my mind wasn't. Even as I picked the herbs Maeve had asked for, my thoughts kept circling back to Seok-Hyun. There was something about him—something haunted. He seemed like he was fighting a battle I couldn't see, and it lingered with me like a shadow.
The sun was beginning to dip below the treetops when I returned to the town. Kira was waiting near the edge of the square, his face lighting up when he spotted me.
"Let me help you with that," he said, jogging over and reaching for the basket of herbs.
I handed it over with a nod, my arms grateful for the break.
"I saw you leave earlier," Kira said as we started walking back toward Maeve's house. "You're always so quiet. Were you picking these for Maeve?"
"Yes," I replied. "She needed them for the neighbor."
Kira glanced at the basket, his expression thoughtful. "That's nice of you. Lily and I used to try to help, too, but... well, we don't know much about herbs."
"You're helping now," I pointed out, gesturing to the basket in his hands.
He grinned, a little shy but proud. "Yeah, I guess so." After a pause, he added, "Lily said your eyes are scary. But I don't think so."
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"They're cool," he said quickly, his voice earnest. "Like fire. Like you've seen things no one else has."
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I just said, "Thank you."
Kira glanced at me, hesitating before asking, "Do you think... do you think I could learn to fight? Like you?"
I stopped walking, turning to look at him. His face was a mix of hope and nervousness, his hands gripping the basket tightly.
"Why do you want to fight?" I asked.
"To protect Lily," he said without hesitation. "Like I did before. But better this time."
His answer was simple, but the weight of it hit me. I saw the determination in his eyes, the same determination that had burned in mine when I'd faced the labyrinth.
"Tomorrow," I said, "wake up earlier than usual, and I'll teach you."
"Really?" His face lit up, a wide smile breaking across his features. "Thank you, Lira!"
Before I could respond, Lily peeked out from behind a nearby tree, her big eyes watching us warily.
"Your eyes are scary," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I crouched down, smiling gently. "They're not scary, Lily. They're just... different. Like yours are beautiful."
She blinked at me, unsure, before ducking back behind the tree. Kira laughed softly. "She'll warm up to you. She just needs time."
We reached Maeve's house, and she appeared at the door, her sharp eyes scanning the basket of herbs.
"Good work," Maeve said, taking the basket from Kira and me. "I'll take these to Mrs. Adelyn."
"The neighbor?" I asked.
Maeve nodded. "She's been ill lately. Needs these for her medicine."
I wanted to offer my help, but what could I do? The labyrinth hadn't trained me to heal—it had trained me to fight.
As Maeve headed next door, Maren appeared in the doorway, her presence commanding as always.
"She's looking for you," Maeve said over her shoulder. "Says she needs your help."
I glanced at Maren, who gestured for me to follow.
"Kira," I said as I turned to leave, "thank you for helping. Don't forget—tomorrow, early."
He nodded eagerly, his excitement unmistakable.
With that, I followed Maren, curious about what task she had in store for me this time.