City of Traps
After the meeting, I followed Ahn Hyun to check on An Sol. Seeing her sleeping soundly on a single bed, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Placing my hand on her forehead, I confirmed that her magical energy was indeed in disarray. Although it wasn’t severe enough to cause lasting damage, and would likely stabilize on its own over time, I decided to help speed up the process.
“It might be best if someone stays with An Sol through the night,” I suggested.
“I’ll do it,” Ahn Hyun immediately volunteered, but I shook my head. Outside, the sky had already turned pitch black, and Ahn Hyun’s eyes were heavy with fatigue. Everyone had expended a lot of energy today, and while he was holding up through sheer willpower, it wouldn’t do to have him exhausted for tomorrow.
“You look tired. Go get some rest. I’ll watch over her for now.”
“Won’t you sleep?”
“Later. Let the girls rest well tonight. You and I can take turns watching over An Sol. I’ll wake you when it’s your turn.”
“Alright, that sounds good. I’ll leave her in your care, then.”
I nodded, and Ahn Hyun staggered out, closing the door behind him. There were still questions I wanted to ask, but seeing how he was barely keeping his eyes open, I decided to wait for a more opportune moment. With the trap points and the group’s behavior weighing on my mind, I needed some time to sort through my thoughts. But first, there was work to be done.
Once I was sure the door was securely closed, I calmly gathered my magical energy. Like ripples on a still pond, a soft crimson glow began to emanate from my right hand. I gently placed it over the center of her chest and channeled my energy inward. While I was at it, I figured a little extra care wouldn’t hurt.
Correcting a severe magical backlash or untangling a knotted circuit can be quite challenging. However, calming an overcharged energy and smoothing out the tangles was relatively simple. As my fire-attribute energy flowed into her, An Sol’s body twitched slightly.
Magical energy takes on different attributes depending on the individual’s nature. Her energy felt pure and white, and though initially startled by the overwhelming presence of my energy, I enveloped hers gently and soothingly. It’s okay. I’m here to help. Be good and stay calm. As I continued to cradle her energy, it seemed to recognize my intent and began to gravitate towards mine.
I carefully maneuvered my energy to comfort hers, finding it endearing how her energy seemed to nuzzle against mine, seeking more attention. I worked through her body, calming the startled areas and untangling the knots. By the time I was nearly finished, a soft blush had spread across her face, and she looked peaceful, as if dreaming a happy dream.
There was one small hitch. As I tried to withdraw my energy, her magical energy clung to mine, reluctant to let go. It took some effort to disentangle myself, but eventually, I managed to pull away and catch my breath.
The process had taken about an hour. What should have been a quick task had stretched out as I took the time to thoroughly check and revitalize her energy. Outside, all was quiet, suggesting everyone else had fallen into a deep sleep. Stretching my arms, I decided to rest my eyes for a bit, as there was nothing else pressing to do.
I awoke to the sound of the door opening. The room was shrouded in darkness, and as I turned my head, I saw a familiar figure peeking in. It wasn’t Lee Yoo-jung with her bobbed hair or Kim Han-byeol with her long locks. It was Ahn Hyun.
“You must be tired. You can sleep a bit longer,” I greeted him calmly.
He didn’t respond immediately, just stood there, watching me. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
“I couldn’t sleep. I was too worried. How’s Sol doing?”
“She’s much better. She should be able to get up by tomorrow. Don’t worry too much.”
“Really? That’s a relief. But, um… there’s something I want to talk to you about. Not here, though.”
“Of course. Shall we go to the rooftop?”
“Yes.”
It seemed Ahn Hyun hadn’t slept much either, likely preoccupied with various thoughts and concerns about An Sol. Sensing the sincerity in his voice, I got up to join him.
In the living room, Lee Yoo-jung was asleep, clutching her bedding tightly. Kim Han-byeol was nowhere to be seen, probably sleeping in another room. Careful not to wake them, I quietly unlocked the door and headed to the rooftop with Ahn Hyun.
The cool night air on the rooftop was refreshing, clearing my mind. We stood there in silence, gazing at the dark city below. It was Ahn Hyun who broke the silence.
“This city is so quiet,” he remarked.
“Yes, almost eerily so. But we can’t let our guard down.”
He gave a wistful smile, and I could guess what was on his mind. But I waited, knowing he needed to speak his mind.
“When I look at you, I think you’re really amazing.”
“I’m just like anyone else. There’s nothing amazing about me.”
“No, that’s not what I mean,” he insisted, shaking his head. His face was a mix of turmoil and helplessness. I understood his feelings but remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
“After you left today, I had a lot of thoughts. When you’re with us, it feels like we all fit together perfectly. Maybe you don’t feel the same, but I believed that the five of us could escape this place if we worked together.”
“I think so too.”
“Yes, but I was wrong. You asked me to take care of the others, but I couldn’t lead them well. We got caught by strange things, and Sol ended up in danger. And you noticed, right? Yoo-jung and Han-byeol fought over whether to go after you or not.”
Ahn Hyun’s face was pained as he spoke, but he didn’t stop.
“But what really bothered me was… I couldn’t make any decisions then. I couldn’t even stop them. All I could do was say, ‘I’ll go,’ as if I had no choice. It was suffocating.”
”…….”
“If you hadn’t come back, I’d still be stuck in those thoughts. Wondering about tomorrow, if I could handle it. The pressure was so overwhelming, I even thought about giving up.”
“Hyun.”
I tried to interrupt, sensing his emotions were spiraling, but he shook his head again, signaling he had more to say.
“But then you showed up, like a miracle. Do you know what I felt when I saw you? Not gratitude or guilt, but relief. I thought, ‘If it’s you, you’ll make things right. If it’s you, I can trust things will be okay.’ And you did. You calmed the situation, and Sol got better. You’re always so composed and steady. It’s like you’re different from us. There’s something about you that’s different.”
His last words struck a chord, but I maintained a calm demeanor. Seeing him lower his head, I spoke softly.
“Can I say something? It won’t take long.”
“Take as long as you need. I’m listening.”
His voice was lighter, and I smiled as I approached, placing a hand on his head. He looked up at me, surprised.
“It’s okay to feel like you want to rely on someone, or to feel burdened. In fact, I’m glad you do.”
“Glad?”
“Think about how we were in the forest. You weren’t like a troublemaker trying to do everything alone. You didn’t suppress anyone. I’d suggest something, and Yoo-jung and Han-byeol would refine it with their insights. Then you and I would choose the best course of action.”
”…….”
“We’re all here to support you. It’s natural to feel the weight of responsibility, but you don’t have to carry it all alone. Even if things go wrong, it’s not just your fault. It’s a shared responsibility.”
“But…”
Ahn Hyun seemed like he was about to say something, but I raised my hand to stop him. He caught my signal and closed his mouth again.
“You might think I’m impressive, but I think you’re just as remarkable. Bringing your timid sister all the way here and always acting with such decisiveness and speed. Just like An Sol relies on you, maybe you want to lean on me too. And maybe I, Yujeong, and Hanbyeol also rely on you and An Sol in our own ways. The five of us will join forces to escape this place. That was the first thing you said to me. But what you said next was quite contradictory. There’s nothing wrong with relying on each other.”
I intended to keep it brief, but as I spoke, my words stretched out. Still, I couldn’t stop now, so I decided to finish what I had to say.
“We’ll share the burden called ‘responsibility.’ So just do what you can. That’s more than enough.”
“What I can do…”
“Yes, what you can do. You don’t need to worry about the rest, right? We’ll be here to support you with all our strength.”
I watched Ahn Hyun slowly digest my words as the night breeze brushed against us. Tonight, the breeze felt particularly ticklish. After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ahn Hyun lifted his head. His eyes, which had been uncertain when he came up to the rooftop, now held the same depth and weight as when I first met him. A hint of relief spread across his face, as if he had shed some of his inner turmoil.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=