Terranox stood tall, his emerald-green robes flowing gracefully behind him like a shimmering cascade of power.
Before him was a man dressed entirely in black, his face pallid and ghostly, giving him an eerie, almost spectral presence. In his hand, he clutched a long, dark staff, bowing deeply before the lord of Mire.
"Master, the situation is worsening," the man, Yu—the Shadow King—said in a voice strained with concern.
"They are forging a portal—an opening to send the creatures of night to Earth. But… there are no heroes there to stand against them."
Terranox's piercing eyes flickered with dark understanding. He remained silent for a moment, placing his hand behind him in a commanding gesture.
His voice, deep and resonant, broke the tense silence. "I see…" he said slowly, a faint frown crossing his brow.
He exhaled softly, a sigh like the wind before a storm. "They are taking advantage of our weakness." His words were quiet, but the weight of them hung heavy in the air.
Turning his gaze to Yu, he called out evenly, "Yu…"
"Yes, my lord," the Shadow King responded, bowing again.
Terranox's voice turned colder, more resolute.
"Do not worry. There are seven Mire's creatures on Earth. We will confront them when the time comes. We will ask for aid if necessary. But… I doubt we will need it." His lips curled into a faint, ominous smile.
Yu nodded respectfully, then melted into the shadows, vanishing from sight as if swallowed by darkness.
Terranox remained still for a moment, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous anticipation. Whispering to himself, he murmured, "Game on…"
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Seated inside the classroom, the chaos was almost tangible. Joy was dozing off, her head lulled back as she slept peacefully amidst the disorder.
Beside her, Ha-Joon sat quietly, his expression calm and observant. In front of him, Nara was diligently teaching, her voice soft but focused as she explained something to him.
Behind them, In-Su sat with his arms folded tightly across his chest, his head slightly tilted.
His piercing red eyes were locked onto Nara with an intensity that seemed almost predatory, as if trying to read her thoughts or gauge her intentions from afar.
To his side, the seat was empty—Ji-Hoo's absence felt strangely conspicuous, leaving a void that everyone seemed to sense but not acknowledge aloud.
Suddenly, Nara broke the silence, whispering cautiously, "Ha-Joon, can you tell your friend to stop staring at me?" Her voice was low, tinged with discomfort.
She pointed subtly at In-Su, who was still watching her with that unsettling gaze.
"He's making me really uncomfortable," she added, her eyes flicking nervously to the door as if expecting something—or someone—to happen.
Ha-Joon, ever perceptive, turned his head slowly and shot In-Su a quick, knowing glance.
His eyes flickered with silent communication—'Stop, man.' Without a word, he returned his focus to Nara, signaling that he had relayed the message.
In-Su, however, didn't immediately comply.
Instead, he simply stood up with an almost deliberate slowness.
Without a word, he approached them with a quiet, purposeful stride.
Placing both hands firmly on the table, he trapped Ha-Joon in the middle, the space between them charged with unspoken tension.
Nara looked up at him and offered a tentative smile, her eyes flickering with curiosity and slight apprehension.
"Oh… In-Su," she asked softly, her voice almost hesitant, "are you here for the tutor?"
In-Su didn't smile.
His face remained impassive, unreadable.
With a minimal gesture, he shook his head.
"No, I'm not. I came for him… and I intend to stay." Without waiting for permission, he reached out and roughly dragged a chair beside Ha-Joon, pulling it out with a quiet scrape that echoed in the tense silence.
"Here," he said, voice low but commanding, "continue."
Nara nodded, her expression a mixture of intrigue and cautious acceptance.
Meanwhile, Joy stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering open for just a moment.
She cast a brief smirk in In-Su's direction, her eyes glinting with a hint of amusement or perhaps suspicion.
"Possessive much?" she thought silently, before turning her head and slipping back into sleep.
The lesson dragged on, filled with an almost oppressive silence, broken only by the faint scribbling of notes and the occasional shift of bodies.
In-Su sat with a bored expression, his gaze never leaving Nara, as if waiting for something—an answer, a sign, or perhaps simply asserting his presence.
Ha-Joon, on the other hand, looked visibly more relaxed, a faint smile playing on his lips, as if he sensed something more beneath the surface.
When the lesson finally drew to a close, Nara gathered her things quietly.
She looked around, her eyes lingering on In-Su's inscrutable face, then softly asked, "Any questions?"
Ha-Joon shook his head, indicating he understood everything perfectly.
Without another word, Nara slowly stood up, her movements deliberate
When the school day ended, Joy, Ha-Joon, and In-Su began their walk home together. The air was cool, and the streets buzzed with the sounds of students and city life.
Joy trailed behind, her expression a little sad but with a faint smile curling her lips. She seemed lost in thought, her mind drifting somewhere else.
In-Su, noticing her mood, glanced over and broke the silence. "Did you see how he punched him, Joy? You would have snapped too," he said, his voice calm but with a hint of understanding.
Joy nodded slowly. "Yeah," she whispered, her eyes distant.
Finally, they reached a familiar corner where they would part ways. Joy turned to face them, her expression softening into a gentle sadness.
She looked at Ha-Joon, her eyes slightly glossy but holding a smile.
Ha-Joon, noticing her mood, gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Missing Ji-Hoo?" he asked softly.
Joy nodded, unable to speak at first.
Then, unexpectedly, Ha-Joon opened his arms and hugged her tightly.
She leaned into him, comforted by the gesture, her sadness easing just a little.
When they finally parted ways, Joy watched as Ha-Joon and In-Su disappeared down the street, her heart heavy but grateful for their friendship.