A strange atmosphere shrouded the mist-covered village. There was no longer any traditional music, no laughter from young women, and no weddings were held anymore. All around the forest echoed with the wailing cries of women, their lament spreading across the land—mournful and haunting—intertwined with a lullaby-like chant:
"Great Mother…
The one who has abandoned us…
No longer the radiant halo…
In the eternal city of the gods…
Cast off mortal flesh…
Ascend toward transcendence…"
The verses reverberated endlessly, mingled with sobs and sorrowful moans that seemed to pierce the heavens. They came from the creatures lurking within the forest, hidden behind thick layers of mist and a dim, eerie blue glow. They were mourning someone—perhaps a fate, perhaps a soul, or perhaps something that no longer existed.
Within the silent village, the soft sobbing of women could be heard. They removed their fox masks and knelt before the house atop the hill, where the bodies of Shana and Duyen lay side by side. An eternal night blanketed the world, swallowing all sunlight whole. There was only grief—too heavy to name.
Nayeon stood there, frozen, staring at Duyen's motionless body resting upon a bed of flowers prepared by the village women. Beside Shana, the two of them looked impossibly beautiful together, like angels lost in a peaceful sleep. And yet, somehow, they no longer breathed.
Nayeon could no longer bear it. She ran out of the house and broke down in uncontrollable sobs. No one tried to stop her—they were far too consumed by their own sorrow to do anything at all.
Dao gripped Mina's hand tightly while wiping away her own tears, unable to speak as her emotions choked her voice. As for Mina—her eyes had long since run dry. Her face remained beautiful, almost radiant, yet she looked no different from the dead. She sat there, hollow and vacant, murmuring over and over,
"Duyen… Duyen…"
She stared at Duyen's sleeping face, wishing—desperately—that she truly was only asleep. Mina could not accept the reality that Duyen was dead. If this was some cruel trick, then it was unbearably heartless.
But… but… she was dead.
"Kh—"
Mina suddenly gasped for breath. She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. Seeing this, Dao could only panic and try to calm her, gently rubbing her back.
"Mina… you're clearly not okay. You should go rest."
But Mina only shook her head faintly. She murmured with a strange smile—one that was breathtakingly beautiful yet disturbingly unhinged.
"Dao… tell me… when will Duyen wake up?"
Dao froze in shock at the question. Mina even turned to look at her, eyes filled with hope, and Dao's heart twisted painfully—she had no idea how to answer.
Mina continued, laughing softly. In her eyes, it was as if she had slipped into a different reality—one where Duyen was still there, smiling at her.
"Duyen… Duyen is calling me… She's holding me…"
Terrified, Dao looked toward Duyen's body. She was still lying there, utterly motionless. What on earth was Mina seeing?
When Mina reached forward, trying to crawl toward Duyen, Dao rushed to stop her. She wrapped her arms tightly around Mina and burst into tears.
"Don't, Mina… please don't…"
Mina looked confused as Dao held her and cried. And somehow, those words dragged her back to the cruel reality—where the sound of mourning filled the air for Shana and Duyen.
The love of her life lay before her, body cold, resting beside another woman.
Mina glared at them. Her smile twisted—no one could tell whether she was crying or laughing. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she murmured in Dao's arms,
"Duyen… she's so cruel… How could she leave without me…? How could she lie there with her? The one beside her should be me… right, Dao? Don't you think so? I need to wake her up…"
Dao shook her head violently, holding Mina tighter.
"Mina… Duyen… Duyen is dead… please don't say that…"
"Dead? Dead?"
Mina burst out laughing.
"Hahaha… are you joking with me? Dead? She's not dead… she's just sleeping… just sleeping…"
Mina's delusional voice—soaked in sorrow—echoed throughout the house, and everyone heard it.
Even Haru and Hasuko remained kneeling there, unmoving. Occasionally, they glanced at Mina, but said nothing, letting her ramble as she pleased. No one knew what they were thinking.
A while later, still in Dao's arms, Mina lightly patted her shoulder, her voice weak.
"Dao…"
"Hm?" Dao replied, exhausted.
"I feel better now… can you let go of me?"
Dao was surprised. Truthfully, she was afraid that in her extreme grief, Mina might do something reckless. She knew Mina well—had witnessed her collapse into self-destruction more than once. Her fear was justified.
But Mina's voice sounded calm now.
Dao nodded hesitantly and loosened her grip.
Mina sat up and glanced briefly at Haru and Hasuko. They looked at her with cold contempt—Hasuko even muttered a curse under her breath.
Mina knew exactly what they were thinking. It was strange that they hadn't killed her outright after everything that had happened.
Then Mina's gaze shifted toward Duyen.
Suddenly—without warning—she lunged at Haru before Haru could react. Or perhaps Haru's instincts had dulled from grief. Mina tore the katana from its sheath.
Haru barely had time to shout,
"You—!?"
In the next instant, the blade was at her throat. Panic erupted.
"Don't, Mina!" Dao screamed, rushing forward.
But it was already too late—
A pebble came flying out of nowhere, striking Mina hard in the cheek. She cried out in pain and dropped the sword. At the same moment, Dao grabbed hold of her.
Mina thrashed and screamed,
"NO! LET ME GO!"
"MINA! Why would you do something so stupid!?"
"YOU'RE THE ONES WHO ARE WRONG! LET ME GO! I HAVE TO GO WITH DUYEN! I HAVE TO—!"
Before she could finish, Haru stood up and slapped Mina hard across the face. The sound echoed sharply, stunning everyone present.
Haru shouted straight at her,
"Idiot! Wake up!"
Struck hard, Mina glared at Haru, then slowly turned her head toward her. The slap had silenced her—for a moment.
Then she began to laugh, madly.
Haru frowned at the woman before her, broken and deranged. She wanted to be furious, wanted to tear her apart—but she couldn't.
Mina was nothing more than a fragile, pitiful creature.
Haru let out a cold snort, turned away, picked up the katana from the ground, and slid it back into its sheath.
Outside the house, Nayeon was curled up beneath a withered tree, sobbing quietly, completely indifferent to the freezing cold seeping into her body. She didn't realize someone was approaching until the soft crunch of snow reached her ears.
She looked up—and saw Yu.
No.
Not Yu.
It was Ama, still wearing Yu's form. The undeniable proof lay in those red-orange eyes.
The moment Nayeon sensed her presence, instinct took over. She scrambled to her feet, backing away defensively, a low growl escaping her throat as she tried to shield her neck.
But Ama made no move to attack.
In fact, the face that once looked cunning and cruel now carried a trace of confusion… and guilt.
"Don't be afraid…"
Nayeon snarled, glaring at her with open disgust.
Ama seemed to understand. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a cord with a medallion attached, and held it out toward Nayeon. The sight of it made Nayeon freeze in shock. Ama said quietly,
"This belongs to you."
Nayeon stood still, stunned, then replied coldly,
"Why would I take something so cursed…? That disgusting thing just took the life of my closest friend."
Ama's pale lashes lowered. It was as if she, too, felt some responsibility for what had happened. When she spoke again, her voice lacked the lofty authority she once had.
"I'm sorry…"
"Sorry?"
Nayeon frowned. "Sorry for killing my friend?"
Ama fell silent for a moment before answering,
"Sorry… for deceiving you."
Nayeon couldn't accept an apology from someone who had just strangled her and threatened to kill her. Now she was apologizing?
What Nayeon didn't know was that this apology meant something very different from what she assumed.
Ama's hand remained extended, offering the medallion.
"Take it."
Nayeon turned her face away.
"No."
Left with no other choice, Ama said,
"This object… no longer belongs to me. If it has chosen a new owner, then you must carry an important mission in the future. It took me a long time to accept this truth. Our era… has come to an end."
There was sorrow in Ama's voice. Regret. Even Nayeon was surprised by it. For a moment, Ama looked like someone burdened by a grief Nayeon couldn't comprehend.
Shana had called her a goddess…But what secret was this woman truly holding?
Nayeon glanced down at the medallion. After hesitating, she finally took it.
That seemingly lifeless piece of metal had just killed a Nine-Tailed Fox—and her friend. The thought alone sent a shiver down her spine.
Ama visibly relaxed when Nayeon accepted it.
"Now," Ama said, "listen carefully…"
A short while later, the two of them returned to the house where Shana and Duyen lay side by side.
Ama and Nayeon's appearance immediately made the women of the village growl and bristle with hostility, yet they could only step aside. Everyone knew Ama was stronger than all of them combined.
Haru and Hasuko panicked when they saw Ama return. They instantly grabbed their weapons, prepared to protect their mistress's body at any cost—even if it meant their lives.
But Ama gently raised a hand.
"I have no intention of attacking you."
Before Haru could make sense of it, Ama knelt down solemnly before the two bodies. Her gaze passed over Duyen… then lingered on Shana. Her voice softened.
"Believe it or not… seeing your mistress die like this feels as though I am reliving that pain once more."
No one understood what Ama meant by that. Yet her demeanor suggested that this outcome was never what she wanted—and the way she looked at Shana was filled with an unsettling reverence.
Wasn't she supposed to be here to kill Shana?
So what was the goddess Ama's true goal?
Nayeon stood behind Ama, her face tense with unease, as Ama continued,
"I caused this… so I must take responsibility for fixing it. We will bring both Shana and Duyen back."
The room exploded. Everyone except Nayeon reacted as if struck by lightning.
Mina—who had been hovering between life and death—suddenly jolted awake and lifted her head. Haru and Hasuko burst out at once,
"Is that really possible?!"
Ama answered calmly,
"As for Shana… she is a near-immortal entity. Even if her mortal body dies, her soul should eventually return and be reborn. However, at this moment, her soul is in danger."
"And because Duyen shared Shana's divine power," Ama continued, "there's a high chance her soul is trapped there as well."
This sounded more like bad news than hope. Hasuko snapped,
"Then what are you trying to say?! Are you just rubbing salt into our wounds?!"
Only Haru asked quietly,
"The place they were taken to… where is it? Don't tell me you mean going down to hell."
Ama shook her head.
"Not going down. But going up."
The confusion deepened.
"You may call it hell if you want," Ama went on. "You wouldn't be wrong. That place is worse than hell now. It is also a place I am no longer allowed to set foot in."
"But it is the only path left… to save both Shana and Duyen."
Her words were harsh—but they ignited hope. Faces around the room changed instantly.
Haru shouted,
"Fine! Then all of us will go there together! We'll rescue Lady and Duyen!"
Ama cut her off immediately. "No."
"…Only one person. I only have enough power to send one."
The room fell silent. Still, Haru refused to give up.
"Then me! Let me go!"
Admiration and fear filled everyone's eyes as they looked at her. Ama merely glanced at Haru lazily and sighed.
"You cannot."
Haru protested fiercely.
"Why not?!"
"I don't have time to explain," Ama said flatly. "Just know that a fox spirit like you would only meet death there."
Her gaze shifted instead—to Mina, Dao, and Nayeon. The only humans in the room.
Haru couldn't comprehend the logic at all.
Mina caught Ama's look and immediately understood. She dragged herself forward, begging desperately before Dao could stop her.
"Let me go! I'll go!"
Ama stared at Mina, fully aware of her courage, yet warned her coldly,
"That place is no joke. One small mistake—and you will be devoured by it, becoming part of it forever."
"I won't make a mistake!" Mina declared.
"Mina, don't!" Dao cried, trying to hold her back, but Mina remained resolute.
Ama curved her lips slightly.
"…Fate really has gone mad."
Then she said,
"I don't believe you can do it. But disappointingly enough… you're the only one who can."
"But this isn't personal, Mina. Are you truly capable of abandoning your hatred for Shana and bringing both of them back?"
The room went dead silent. No one trusted Mina—not even a little. Some of the fox-masked women scoffed openly. They clearly didn't want her to be their savior.
Mina said nothing.
Erase her hatred for Shana? Bring them both back?
How could she?
She hated Shana to her core. If she reached that place, all she would want was Duyen.
But Duyen couldn't return without Shana. Mina squeezed her eyes shut.
Duyen's words—sharp as knives—echoed in her mind. The pain was so intense she refused to accept it as real.
Duyen and Shana…
They were Mina's deepest wound. Her nightmare.
But above all else—what mattered most to her?
Duyen's face surfaced again in her thoughts. No matter how many times Mina questioned herself, the answer never changed—even if it shattered her pride a million times over.
She took a breath. Steady. Clear. Mina bowed her head before Ama, speaking sincerely—to everyone's shock.
"…I'll do anything. Even if it means saving Shana… to bring back the love I lost."
"So please… I beg you."
Those were not the words anyone expected from her.
Something inside Mina had died—and been reborn. Or perhaps she was simply walking toward death willingly.
Could a person really change this fast?
Nayeon was stunned. Dao, however, was furious.
"No! Mina! You—"
But Ama only needed that answer. She nodded in satisfaction.
"Your plea… has been heard."