His father stood still for a long while that morning, arms crossed at the edge of the porch, eyes fixed on the dark edge of the forest. The golden sunrise painted his features in a gentle light—but his eyes… his eyes glowed a deep, burning orange again.
Jae Hoon stood nearby, clutching his training dagger. "Dad?"
The glow in his father's eyes slowly faded, leaving behind a quiet intensity.
He finally turned toward his son, masking his unease with a smirk. "Why don't you go visit your little friend crush today?"
Jae Hoon blinked. "Friend Crush?"
His father's smirk widened. "The princess."
Jae Hoon's face turned bright red. "D-Dad! What do you mean crush?! I—I don't—"
"Hah!" His dad threw his head back and laughed. "You should see your face!"
"I do not have a crush on her!" Jae Hoon barked, turning away, his ears practically steaming.
"Then why are you already heading for the stables?" his father teased.
"I AM NOT!"
But ten minutes later, Jae Hoon was riding hard toward the capital gates, his heart pounding—not just with excitement, but something he couldn't quite name. Butterflies? Nerves?
Hope.
The royal capital stood like a jewel carved into stone. Tall marble towers, clean roads, fountains flowing with magic-infused water—Jae Hoon had seen it before, but today it felt different. More distant. More… unfamiliar.
He dismounted near the castle gates, his cloak dusted with road dirt, his hair windswept but eyes glowing with anticipation.
But when he stepped toward the grand archway of the royal palace, two armored guards crossed halberds in front of him.
"Halt," one said. "No entry for outsiders."
Jae Hoon frowned. "Outsider? I'm here to visit Princess Liora."
The other guard looked him over with a sneer. "The king has decreed—no one is to enter the palace unless they are her fiancé."
"…Fiancé?" Jae Hoon repeated, the word dry on his tongue.
Before he could ask more, two boys in royal castle strolled out from behind the gate. Their coats were embroidered with golden thread, hair slicked back, posture soaked in arrogance.
"Well, well," said the taller one with a curled lip. "Look at the commoner trying to rob the palace of a princess."
"I bet he thinks he's worthier than our brother," sneered the other. "With his peasant clothes and mud-covered boots."
Jae Hoon clenched his fists. "I didn't come to be harassed ."
"Aww, well, guess what? We don't care", the taller one spat at Jae.
Then he shoved Jae Hoon's shoulder hard.
Jae stumbled back—but the next second, his fist flew.
CRACK.
The boy hit the ground, nose bleeding, yelling, "You'll pay for that, you lowborn trash!"
The guards grabbed Jae Hoon by both arms before he could react again.
"ENOUGH!"
A voice rang out sharp and clear.
The guards froze. The boys paled.
Everyone turned as Princess Liora stepped into view, her royal blue dress flowing like water, a silver tiara glinting in her hair. Her eyes—warm honey in the past—were sharp now, unreadable.
"Put him down," she commanded.
The guards hesitated, then obeyed. Jae Hoon brushed himself off, confusion written all over his face.
"Liora, what's going on? Why—"
Before he could finish, her hand struck him across the cheek.
The slap echoed through the marble courtyard.
"Leave," she said coldly. "You filthy commoner."
Jae Hoon staggered back, eyes wide. "W-What?"
"Don't make me repeat myself," she said, her voice like ice. "Unless you want your head cut off."
His voice cracked. "I thought we were friends..."
She turned her face, hiding the flash of guilt in her eyes. But Jae Hoon didn't notice.
"Why would I be friends with a loser like you?"
The world spun. His throat went dry. His legs moved before his mind caught up.
He ran.
Through the gates.Through the city.Through the fields.
Until his breath burned and the ache in his chest felt worse than any blade.
He collapsed beside a shallow stream in the woods, knees to the dirt, heart shattered.
"…Why?" he whispered.
Tears fell into the water, his reflection rippling away.
"Why did she say those things?""Why did she look at me like I was nothing?"
The pain twisted deep.
But eventually, the tears stopped.
And the wind changed again.
Jae Hoon stood slowly, wiping his face.
That's when he smelled it—smoke.
Thick, black, rising in the direction of his village.
His heart dropped.
"No—no, no, no."
He ran.
Faster than before. Mana surging through him instinctively.
Trees blurred past.
Then—his home.
Or what was left of it.
The cottage was in ruins, the roof caved in, the flowers crushed beneath scorched earth. Flames licked at the edges of the fields. The scent of blood filled the air.
Jae Hoon stumbled forward, breath caught in his throat.
And then—
He saw his father.
Or what remained of him.
The bottom half of his body lay on the grass, blood soaking the earth, organs trailing like thick ropes.
Suspended in the air was the top half, held up by a clawed hand belonging to something… inhuman.
A tall, monstrous figure cloaked in darkness. Skin like stone. Eyes burning gold.
Jae Hoon stared in horror, unable to breathe.
His father's eyes locked on his.
"M-…run…" his father tried to say.
Then, in one swift, grotesque motion—
BOOM.
His father's body exploded.
Blood rained through the air.
Chunks of flesh hit the ground.
And Jae Hoon stood frozen, face drenched in his father's blood, staring at the monster that had just ripped his world in half.