Chapter 4
The forest was dark and silent.
Tall trees surrounded Ji Young and Ji Min.
The firelight from the village was gone.
Only the sound of their breathing remained.
Ji Young stopped running.
He was tired.
His arms hurt.
But he did not put Ji Min down.
"Brother…" Ji Min whispered.
"I can walk."
Ji Young slowly set her down.
She stood, but her legs were weak.
Suddenly—
A branch snapped.
Ji Young moved in front of her at once.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
It was the man with the bow.
He lowered his weapon.
"You're safe for now," he said.
"The creatures won't enter this part of the forest."
Ji Young didn't relax.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Why did you help us?"
The man looked at Ji Min.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Because of her," he said.
Ji Min felt nervous.
She held her hands together.
"You saw the light," the man continued.
"I felt it… even from far away."
Ji Young's heart beat faster.
"You know about it?" he asked.
The man nodded.
"My name is **Elder Kael**," he said.
"I am a watcher."
"A watcher?" Ji Min asked softly.
"Someone who watches the balance between Light and Darkness," Kael replied.
Ji Min looked down at her hands.
"I didn't mean to hurt anyone," she said.
"I was scared…"
Kael's voice became gentle.
"The Light does not awaken without reason," he said.
"It chose you."
Ji Young clenched his fists.
"Because of that light," he said,
"our village is gone.
Our parents are gone."
Kael closed his eyes for a moment.
"I know," he said.
"And that is why you must leave this place."
"Leave?" Ji Young asked.
"The Dark Ones will hunt her," Kael said.
"They will not stop."
Ji Min's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't want to be a curse," she whispered.
Ji Young placed his hand on her head.
"You're not," he said firmly.
"You're my sister."
Kael looked at them both.
"There is a place," he said.
"An ancient sanctuary.
If you want answers…
that is where your journey begins."
The wind moved through the trees.
Far away,
something howled.
Kael turned toward the sound.
"They are close," he said.
"Decide quickly."
Ji Young took a deep breath.
He looked at Ji Min.
Then he looked at Kael.
"We'll go," he said.
"Whatever it takes."
Ji Min nodded.
The Light slept inside her.
But destiny had already awakened