Ha-Joon pedaled his bike leisurely along the darkened road, the moon casting a gentle silver glow over everything.
The stars twinkled faintly above, and a cool breeze whispered through the trees. Walking beside him was In-Su, wearing a sleek black mask that seemed to absorb the moonlight.
His eyes shimmered with a faint, piercing red, like glowing embers hidden in the darkness.
As they moved, Ha-Joon broke the silence with a soft chuckle.
"You know, I think we finally cleared the air. Now I can really forgive the rest of my family," he said with a grin, his voice carrying a hint of relief.
In-Su nodded, his crimson eyes flickering in the dim light.
"Good. And… could you do me a favor? Apologize to them for me, will you?"
Ha-Joon's smile grew playful.
"Sure, I'll do that. Though… I think it's funny you're the one asking, considering they were the ones who messed up."
In-Su's lips curved into a faint smile, and both sighed quietly, the night wrapping around them like a comforting cloak.
Suddenly, In-Su's gaze flicked ahead. His eyes caught a faint glimmer—like a distant star flickering in the dark. A soft, ethereal voice echoed in the night air: "In-Su, come home now."
The shimmering light flickered once, then vanished into the shadows.
In-Su blinked twice, surprised.
Ha-Joon looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Wait… Are you really a vampire?"
In-Su paused, then looked at Ha-Joon with calm certainty. "Yeah. I am," he said softly. "A creature of the night."
Ha-Joon's eyes widened with intrigue. "That's… incredible. I never imagined you'd be a vampire," he said, stepping off his bike, eyes shining with curiosity.
"Really? Aren't you afraid of me?" In-Su asked, a teasing smile on his lips.
Ha-Joon shrugged, a playful smirk on his face. "Nope. Honestly, I find it pretty fascinating. Can you turn into a bat?"
In-Su nodded quietly. "Sure," he replied. Without warning, he leapt into the air, transforming into a tiny, adorable bat—no cape, just a small, charming creature with delicate wings.
The bat fluttered briefly, then shifted back into In-Su, standing calmly where he had been.
"Wow… that was… amazing," Ha-Joon said, eyes wide with awe. In-Su looked a little embarrassed, brushing his hair back.
"We should get going," In-Su said hurriedly, glancing at the darkening sky. "It's late. My parents will be worried if I'm out too long. Or they should be I guess"
Ha-Joon chuckled and nodded. "Alright, let's head home. But man, tonight was something else."
With a playful grin, he pedaled ahead, and In-Su followed, their shadows stretching long and mysterious in the moonlight as the night deepened around them.
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The night was cold and silent, the sky a vast expanse of darkness—no stars, no moon, no sign of life.
Just endless shadows stretching into oblivion.
Suddenly, a faint flicker appeared—a small, flickering candle, casting a tiny pool of light into the void.
With a sharp clap of her hands, Vespera summoned illumination.
Instantly, the darkness was pierced by a radiant glow, flooding the empty space with bright, golden light.
In-Su staggered there, his messy hair sticking to his sweat-drenched face, panting heavily.
His clothes clung to his trembling body, and his eyes looked exhausted—tired and pained. He looked terrible, a shadow of himself.
A voice echoed softly but sharply through the silence. "You're too weak, In-Su. Your brother was stronger than this…"
Vespera appeared, holding her witch's staff, clad in a long, silky sleeping robe.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity. Wait—she sleeps? In-Su's mind flickered with confusion.
She tilted her head slightly, then ordered, "Try again now!"
In-Su nodded, steeling himself.
He straightened his posture, raising his hand as if summoning strength from within.
Then, suddenly, dark creatures—fantasy monsters from some nightmare—materialized out of the shadows.
Their twisted forms and glowing eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
He let out a loud, primal shout, the sound echoing into the emptiness.
But fatigue overtook him, and he collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
Vespera's voice was gentle but firm. "Good. That's the first face of your training," she said quietly.
In-Su nodded again, trying to catch his breath. Then, with a flick of her wrist, an orb appeared, floating in the air before him.
It shimmered softly, pulsing with an eerie light.
"Take this," she said, her tone as calm as if she'd done this countless times before. "With it, you can see everything—every move, every breath of Bolt."
In-Su's eyes fixed on the orb, narrowing as he peered into its depths.
Inside, he saw something startling: Ha-Joon sitting on a couch, watching anime and crying—wiping his nose with what looked like money?.
He squinted, leaning closer. "Is he wiping his nose with money?" he wondered silently, as he looked at the orb.
Vespera's voice broke his concentration. "And be careful," she added, "because this orb shows everything—everywhere he goes."
In-Su's eyes widened. "Everywhere? Even… the bathroom?"
Vespera frowned slightly, then nodded. "Yes. Even the bathroom."
''May I ask why you asked that Question?'' Vespera asked eyes narrowing In-Su just shook his head.
Before he could ask more, she vanished into the darkness, leaving him alone.
In-Su sank to the ground, clutching the orb tightly, breathing heavily. His mind was racing—exhausted but focused, knowing this was only the beginning of his training.
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Ji-Woo quietly stepped inside, her black hair loosely tied in a messy bun, a gentle smile playing on her face.
She wore her pink petal pajamas, looking nervous but trying to hide it. The room was dim, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting warm shadows.
Ha-Joon was just finishing getting ready for bed.
As he turned to face her, his eyes flicked over her, and a flicker of concern crossed his face when he noticed her hand—wrapped in a white bandage, a faint trace of blood seeping through.
His expression hardened, serious now.
Without hesitation, he rushed over, gently grabbing her hand. Ji-Woo looked calm, her smile softening, as if she was happy her brother cared.
"Are you okay?" Ha-Joon asked, voice trembling slightly with worry. "I forgot you cut your hand. Are you sure you're fine?"
Ji-Woo nodded softly, her eyes shining with affection. "I'm fine, Ha-Joon," she reassured him, making him sit on the edge of his bed.
He looked up at her, concern still lingering. "Really? You're sure?"
She gently placed her hands on his face, her gaze soft. "Are you okay?"
Ha-Joon hesitated, then looked away, crossing his arms. His voice was quiet but strained. "I'm not sure…"
Ji-Woo's expression softened, and she looked down for a moment, then back at him with a gentle smile. "Are you angry at us? Or mad that I didn't give you a present?"
Ha-Joon's eyes flicked away, and he pouted mockingly, crossing his arms in a playful, exaggerated pout.
"Yeah… I am," he mumbled, trying to sound annoyed but failing to hide the teasing tone.
Ji-Woo giggled at his antics, ruffling his hair affectionately. "We're sorry. We only care about you—that's why we did this," she said softly, her voice full of warmth.
Ha-Joon nodded in understanding, a small smile forming on his face. "Yeah… I get it. I would've done the same if I were you."
She smiled back, feeling comforted. "And… In-Su wants me to tell you he's sorry too," Ha-Joon added, his tone sincere.
Ji-Woo paused, her expression shifting to surprise. "Really? Him too?"
"Yeah," Ha-Joon replied casually. "He's sorry."
Ji-Woo quickly responded, a little uncertain, "Yeah… It's okay."
Without warning, Ha-Joon pulled her into a hug.
She was smiling at first, hugging him back warmly.
But as they held each other, her smile faltered, and her expression turned into one of concern—her mind clearly racing with worry beneath the smile.