Golden Horizon

It was nearly nightfall, and the once-bright hues of the sky had given way to the muted oranges and purples of dusk. Jin Seok's legs were barely moving now, his breaths shallow and ragged as if every inhale scraped against his chest. Each step he took was heavier than the last, his body swaying dangerously with exhaustion.

The dirt path beneath his feet blurred as his vision wavered, and before he could take another step, his legs buckled. He fell forward, his arms flailing weakly to catch himself, but the ground never came.

A firm grip caught him just in time. Jin Seok's body sagged against the support, trembling violently. His head lolled to the side, eyes half-lidded and unfocused, his consciousness teetering on the edge.

San Woo stood there, holding Jin Seok upright with surprising ease, his expression unreadable under the dim light. He looked down at the boy, whose face was streaked with sweat and dirt, his lips slightly parted as he struggled to draw in breath. For a moment, San Woo said nothing, his black eyes scanning Jin Seok's frail, trembling form.

"You're stubborn, Just like ı wanted," San Woo muttered, his voice low but steady. He adjusted his grip, effortlessly lifting Jin Seok into his arms. The boy was light, far too light for someone his age, a fact that didn't escape San Woo's notice. He frowned slightly, the barest hint of concern flickering across his face before vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

San Woo held Jin Seok firmly in his arms, his expression unusually solemn as he carried the boy through the quiet night. The distant chirping of crickets was the only sound accompanying his footsteps. The house he headed toward was eerily familiar—the same house Jin Seok had been held in when he was kidnapped.

The wooden door creaked as San Woo pushed it open with his shoulder. Inside, the air was heavy, tinged with the faint metallic scent of blood and a lingering dampness that refused to leave the walls.But there was also some boxes that felt foreign.He carefully lowered Jin Seok onto a worn carpet in the center of the room, the faint moonlight filtering through the broken windows illuminating the boy's pale, sweat-drenched face.

Kneeling beside him, San Woo placed two fingers on Jin Seok's wrist, his sharp eyes narrowing as he focused. He wasn't just checking for a pulse—he was gauging the state of Jin Seok's Demonic IQ. San Woo's brow furrowed as he delved deeper, feeling for the unique energy coursing through Jin Seok's body.

His fingers lingered, sensing the traces of Demonic IQ covering every part of his body,subdued but present, swirling like a dark current beneath the surface. "Still stable," San Woo muttered to himself,but it must went out at least a little much,because just Jin Seok's determinetion couldnt make him run all day.

He sat back on his heels, his gaze lingering on Jin Seok's unconscious form. The boy's ragged breaths and trembling limbs told the story of his relentless determination, pushing himself far beyond his limits. San Woo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced around the dimly lit room.

He stood, stretching his arms above his head before turning toward the door.

As he stepped outside to fetch water, he cast one last glance at Jin Seok, his sharp crimson eyes softening slightly. "Rest up, kid. Tomorrow's going to be even worse."

The scene shifted to a quiet clearing where Lee Kang, So Hyeon, and Leader Yang had settled for the night. The cool evening air carried the faint crackle of a newly lit fire as the flames danced, casting flickering shadows across their weary faces. Leader Yang sat on a flat rock, his injured leg wrapped in fresh bandages, propped up on a makeshift stool. His expression was calm but contemplative as he watched the fire grow.

So Hyeon knelt beside him, her hands busy arranging dry branches around the flames to keep them burning steadily. "The weather's cooling fast," she said, her tone unusually subdued. "We'll need to keep the fire going all night if we want to stay warm."

Leader Yang let out a slow breath, his voice calm yet firm. "We'll manage." He shifted slightly, wincing as his injured leg protested the movement. His eyes wandered toward Lee Kang, who sat cross-legged beneath a tall tree just outside the circle of firelight.

Lee Kang's posture was upright, his brown eyes closed, his face serene despite the faint scratches. His hands rested on his knees, palms facing upward as he focused on his breathing. The rise and fall of his chest was slow and deliberate, as if each breath carried away a fragment of his guilt and tension.

The soft rustle of leaves overhead blended with the faint crackle of the fire, creating a soothing rhythm. A light breeze carried the earthy scent of the forest, mingling with the warmth of the flames. Lee Kang's presence exuded an almost palpable calm, as though he were drawing in the stillness of the world around him and letting it settle deep within.

Leader Yang's voice broke the silence, soft but steady. "It's good that he's cultivating. The weight he carries won't disappear overnight, but moments like this help lighten the load."

So Hyeon glanced at Lee Kang, her usual playful demeanor replaced by quiet concern. "Do you think he'll forgive himself?"

Leader Yang shook his head slowly. "Forgiveness isn't something he needs to find; he needs to focus on going forward and I am sure,He'll get there, in his own time."

So Hyeon sighed, her gaze lingering on Lee Kang's still form. "He's always so quiet about himself. I can't tell if he's strongest disiple, or if he's just pretending to be."

Leader Yang chuckled softly. "Strength comes in many forms. Sometimes, the quietest like him carry the heaviest burdens,and I am sure San Woo and He already overcome the village."

Lee Kang shifted slightly, adjusting his position but never breaking his meditative state. His breaths deepened, the faint glow of the fire catching the golden highlights in his hair. The air around him seemed to grow heavier, as if he were drawing energy from the earth itself.

Lee Kang finally opened his eyes, the brown eyes of his reflecting the firelight like molten metal.The fire's glow warming their faces as the evening deepened into night.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Min Joon sat awkwardly near the crimson-eyed girl, their gazes locked in mutual curiosity. Her wrists and ankles were no longer bound, though her posture remained calm, almost indifferent to her predicament. Min Joon, however, was anything but calm.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" he shouted, his voice louder than intended. His frustration was evident as he gestured wildly, trying to get a reaction out of her.

The girl tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanging, before responding in a foreign language that Min Joon couldn't begin to comprehend. Her voice was soft, her tone almost melodic, but the words were utterly unfamiliar.

Min Joon froze for a moment, his hands still mid-gesture. "What… what did you just say?" he asked, his voice quieter now, more confused than angry.

The girl simply blinked at him, her crimson eyes calm and excited, as if she were observing some curious creature rather than being the subject of interrogation.

"She doesn't understand you, idiot," So Hyeon called from the fire, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Shouting isn't going to magically teach her our language."Then she looked towards the others and said "But yeah it would make the job much easy than it is."She said with a annoyed tone.

Min Joon turned toward So Hyeon, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and irritation. "Well, what am I supposed to do? She keeps talking like that, and I can't tell if she's insulting me or asking for help!"

Leader Yang chuckled softly, his deep voice breaking through the tension. "Patience, Min Joon. Communication isn't always about words. Sometimes, actions speak louder."

After hearing Leader Yang Min Joon started to think under his breath and after that turned back to the girl. He hesitated for a moment before pointing to himself. "Min Joon," he said slowly, enunciating each syllable. Then he pointed at her, raising an eyebrow expectantly.

The girl stared at him for a long moment, her crimson eyes narrowing slightly as if she were debating something. Finally, she pointed herself and spoke, her voice calm but deliberate.

"Novel Alara."

Min Joon blinked, caught off guard.

"What? Is that… your name?"

The girl didn't respond further, her gaze steady as if challenging him to figure it out.

From the fire, So Hyeon burst into laughter. "You're making great progress, Min Joon. She's already smarter than you!"

"Very funny," Min Joon muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. Despite his irritation, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of triumph."Novel Alara," he repeated under his breath, committing it to memory. At least it was a start.