It was a cold, dark dawn when Han-gyeol suddenly awoke, swallowing hard. His throat was parched, likely from the salty dinner he had the night before.
“What time is it…?”
He glanced at the window and shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. After a moment, he got up and quietly opened his door, shivering as the chill enveloped him. It seemed unfair to have to walk through the garden just for a glass of water on such a cold night.
“So cold… so cold…”
As expected, the garden was freezing. Han-gyeol hunched his shoulders against the biting wind as he made his way across. Finally reaching the main building, he exhaled deeply, feeling some of the cold air escape from his lungs.
The first floor was predictably empty at this hour, with only the eerie darkness lingering around the vacant counter and lobby. Han-gyeol looked around for a while, then turned and walked down the silent hallway. As he slowly opened the door to the dining room, a loud bang shattered the quiet.
Startled, Han-gyeol looked up with wide eyes, letting out a low groan. He hadn’t expected anyone to be there, but a lone figure sat at a table.
Bang.
The sound echoed again. Han-gyeol focused his enhanced vision on the figure with their back to him and soon realized it was An-hyeon. An-hyeon was sitting alone, tilting a bottle in his hand. Han-gyeol wrinkled his nose at the strong smell of alcohol permeating the room.
An-hyeon seemed unaware of Han-gyeol’s presence. He tossed one bottle aside and quickly grabbed another, mumbling to himself and occasionally letting out deep sighs. Instinctively, Han-gyeol stopped moving and watched An-hyeon quietly.
Time passed, and as the number of bottles on the table grew, Han-gyeol’s thirst and original purpose faded from his mind. An-hyeon’s actions, a cycle of drinking and sighing, suddenly changed. He picked up a spear lying beside him and stared at it intently.
The spear, black as night, seemed to blend into the darkness, yet its sharp, eerie glow refused to be hidden. Han-gyeol swallowed hard, sensing something different about An-hyeon compared to the person he usually knew.
Suddenly, a blue aura flared from the tip of the spear. An-hyeon closed his eyes and stood up abruptly. Han-gyeol inhaled sharply, wondering what An-hyeon intended to do alone in the dining room at this hour. His expression was too serious for it to be ‘nothing.’
An-hyeon aimed the spear at the empty air, slowly bending his knees. Though he wavered slightly, it was clear he was assuming a stance. The sight triggered a memory for Han-gyeol. It was the same stance An-hyeon had taken during a test with Cha So-rim, before his form had collapsed.
Han-gyeol hesitated. After the test, An-hyeon had been in a daze for a while, so much so that even Yoo-jeong had tried to comfort him. Though An-hyeon had soon recovered and smiled, Han-gyeol had sensed it was forced.
The blue light at the spear’s tip grew brighter. Han-gyeol felt he should intervene, but he couldn’t move. He doubted he could stop An-hyeon, and the atmosphere around him was intensely serious.
Should he intervene or not? Should he just watch or leave? Or should he tell Su-hyeon?
While Han-gyeol was caught in indecision, An-hyeon’s eyes snapped open, and a blue flame erupted from him.
And then it happened.
Boom!
A brilliant light flashed from the spear and An-hyeon’s body, followed by a deafening explosion that shook the air.
“Ugh!”
A cry of pain echoed. The event happened so quickly that Han-gyeol couldn’t grasp what had occurred. But instinctively, he knew something had gone wrong.
His voice burst out reflexively, breaking the silence he had maintained.
“Hyung!”
But there was no response. As the light faded and the smoke cleared, the scene slowly came into view.
The first thing Han-gyeol saw was the table, shattered by the explosion. Nearby, the black spear lay, emitting a pale haze.
Han-gyeol instinctively searched for An-hyeon. Not seeing him near the table, he quickly scanned the dining room.
“Ugh… ugh…”
A faint groan drew Han-gyeol’s attention. He turned swiftly and found An-hyeon collapsed against the kitchen counter.
“Hyung! Are you okay? Are you alright?”
He called out loudly, but still, there was no answer. In that moment, he forgot his thirst and all his tangled thoughts.
“Hyung!”
Without further hesitation, Han-gyeol rushed forward.
Morning had come. After a night of heavy thoughts, Han-gyeol’s head felt slightly foggy. Before starting the day, he decided to open the window for a breath of fresh air. The cool breeze greeted him as he gazed out at the garden. A hot cup of tea from Go Yeon-ju would have been perfect, but even without it, the morning was pleasant. He stretched, trying to shake off the lingering drowsiness.
A conversation with Seon-yul from a few days ago came to mind. The ancient magical city of Magia. Though he hadn’t confirmed the details, the idea intrigued him.
Rebuilding Magia wasn’t just about adding another city to the northern continent. Externally, it could elevate the stagnant level of magic in the north by several notches. Internally, it would provide a strategic defense weapon.
Seon-yul’s words made sense. According to Mavolo’s records, after imprisoning the hero Lloyd and the fairy queen Margarita, he single-handedly defeated the army of the saint Grazia who came to rescue them.
And when he faced me, countless magical formations floated within the city. The formations that flanked me emitted the aura of eternal snow and hellfire. Though they were mere imitations, their power was formidable.
‘I wonder what other magical formations lie buried there.’
If things went as Seon-yul suggested, it would greatly aid our future plans. We’d have the most defensible city in Hall Plain, with endless potential for use. It might even elevate Vivian’s status.
But for now, it’s just a thought. Imagining a rosy future is like counting chickens before they hatch. Rebuilding a city isn’t as simple as declaring “Order’s Ordo” and saying “Reconstruction complete.”
‘We need to clear paths, restore ruined buildings, and gain user support.’
As he pondered, Han-gyeol sensed someone lingering outside the door. He didn’t need to look to know who it was. After waiting a moment, the presence moved away, and he returned to his thoughts.
Reconstruction would require astronomical funds and immense effort. With less than twenty members, the Mercenary Clan couldn’t handle it alone. Seon-yul knew this well.
‘Historically, no clan has ever developed a city on its own. All clans and users worked together to expand and make cities livable.’
Seon-yul’s conditions were twofold. First, allow users to settle in the city once it’s rebuilt. Second, when distributing shares, give the Magic Tower priority after the Mercenary Clan.
Though she promised cooperation, her conditions were hardly conditions at all—they were common sense.
Activating the city would generate various economic effects, and the resulting profits would belong to the Mercenary Clan. Distribution wasn’t a major issue. As long as we held more than 50.1%, and with “Order’s Ordo” as the key, distribution was a moot point.
The ancient magical city of Magia. Built during the golden age of magic in ancient Hall Plain, it was the pinnacle of magical cities.
The plan was undeniably tempting, but the bigger the prize, the more cautious we had to be. A single misstep could waste money, time, and effort.
‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’ll wait for the next report and confirm things quietly.’
I sighed and closed the window, deciding to take my time and think things through. It wasn’t a plan that could be accomplished in a short period anyway. Even Seonyul agreed, and we decided to conduct more detailed research over the next few months and keep each other updated on the progress.
After settling into my chair, I tapped the table lightly. Then, sensing someone hesitating at the door, I spoke softly.
“Are you planning to come in anytime soon?”
I could feel the person outside flinch.
“Stop making me wait and just come in already, Ahn Hyun.”
About five seconds passed before the door creaked open, and Ahn Hyun stepped in with an awkward expression. As soon as our eyes met, he let out a sheepish laugh.
“Come, have a seat.”
I gestured towards the sofa, and Ahn Hyun quickly sat down, still glancing around nervously as if expecting a scolding.
“So, how are you feeling?”
“Oh, yes. I’m fine now. I heard you rushed over to help me. Thank you.”
“It was a close call. Your circuits were tangled, and your magic was going haywire. You should thank Han Kyul for alerting me right away.”
“Yes, sir. And I’m sorry. It was entirely my fault.”
Well, it was his fault, but seeing him bow his head in apology, I just shook my head.
“Anyway, it’s good to hear you’re okay. So, shall we talk? Han Kyul gave me a pretty detailed account. You were drinking and suddenly picked up a spear, right? Were you doing some image training?”
“Well….”
“Why did you do it?”
“Haha, it was just… honestly, it was drunken antics. I tend to get a bit wild when I drink. I probably did it without thinking.”
Ahn Hyun laughed awkwardly, but I could tell he wasn’t being entirely truthful.
”…Really?”
“Yes, sir. It’s embarrassing to admit, but that’s the truth. Hahaha.”
I stared at Ahn Hyun for a moment, then tapped the table a few more times before nodding.
“Alright. Just be more careful next time. You can go now.”
“Uh… what?”
Ahn Hyun looked at me with wide eyes, surprised at how lightly I was letting him off. I calmly lit a cigarette, continuing the conversation.
“Oh, and you know there’s a meeting this morning, right? Make sure you’re not late.”
”…Understood.”
Ahn Hyun stood up, looking a bit dazed, and gave a slight bow. I watched him, noticing a mix of relief and loneliness in his eyes.
I took a drag from my cigarette, lighting it quietly with a flint. I remembered the last time I used magic to light it, and the reaction it got….
…So I refrained.
I slowly lifted my head. Ahn Hyun was already turning to leave, walking slowly towards the door.
Just as he was about to step out, I stopped tapping the table and spoke quietly.
“Hyun.”
He paused, turning his head slightly, and I continued softly.
And at that moment.
“Does it frustrate you that much?”
His head stopped mid-turn.
”…What?”
“I asked if it frustrates you.”
His voice trembled as he replied.
After exhaling a puff of smoke, I spoke gently.
“When you reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship, there’s a state where the person becomes the sword, and the sword becomes the person. It’s called the unity of sword and self. The same applies to spears. For spear users, it’s probably referred to as the unity of spear and self in their user information.”
“I see….”
“Users typically reach this unity around their fourth year. But that’s just an average. Some achieve it faster, while others never do…. Anyway, what you did yesterday was likely the initial step towards achieving that unity.”
“Wait a minute, sir. Are you saying users reach this unity… and it’s reflected in their user information?”
“Yes. The unity of spear and self isn’t an ability but a special or latent skill.”
”!”
Finally hearing the truth, Ahn Hyun turned fully to face me, his eyes trembling with a mix of emotions.
I knew why Ahn Hyun acted the way he did. After sparring with Cha Sorim, he must have realized a lot. Ultimately, he wanted to become stronger quickly and chose to learn an ability. But he misunderstood, thinking it was an ability rather than a skill.
“You knew…?”
“To some extent.”
Of course, I knew. Because his actions mirrored mine from my early years. I smiled faintly, recalling my first cycle.
“Then why didn’t you say anything…?”
“Because while your actions were misguided, your intentions weren’t bad.”
The cigarette had burned down to the filter. I stubbed it out in the ashtray and spoke softly.
“Ahn Hyun, you know we’re going on another expedition soon, right?”
“Yes….”
“The team is already set. Three existing members and seven new ones. I’m planning to announce you and Cha Sorim as the leaders.”
”…Leaders?”
Yes. After meeting with Seonyul, I decided to prepare for the expedition. It was too soon to discuss the ancient magical city of Magia.
I nodded.
“I won’t say much more.”
Then, calmly, I continued.
“You’re only in your first year, Ahn Hyun. As I’ve said many times, focus on your user information for now. Abilities are still too early for you.”
“But….”
“So… during this expedition, observe and learn. That’s what you need to do right now.”
“What I need to do….”
Watching Ahn Hyun blink in confusion, I spoke softly.
“I understand how you feel. The further the goal, the more you want to reach it quickly. But don’t let frustration get the better of you. Don’t rush, and don’t give up.”
“Don’t rush. Don’t give up.”
Ahn Hyun repeated my words like a mantra, as if entranced.
As he slowly lifted his head, I spoke quietly.
“Yes. You can become stronger. So just keep pushing forward steadily until you reach your goal.”
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Phew. I just got back from the ski trip…. Well, to be honest, it didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped. ㅜ.ㅠ It was fun, but it was also a bit of a painful experience.
I have some bad memories associated with skiing. Back in high school, I once went skiing and took a tumble on an advanced course. It was my fault for being overconfident, thinking I knew what I was doing. I ended up injuring my left elbow and had to undergo treatment for two years.
The ski resort I visited this time was the same one from back then. I thought enough time had passed and that I’d be okay. Plus, I planned to stick to the beginner slopes.
But, as it turns out, things don’t always go as planned. I was teaching some first-timers, and after a few runs, they wanted to try something more exciting. We took the lift, and wouldn’t you know it, we ended up at the top of the same course where I got hurt. The kids were hesitant, and I strongly advised against it. There were three routes down: advanced, intermediate, and beginner. I managed to steer them towards the beginner slope and took a deep breath. (Anyone familiar with the 파xxx course?)
As we started down, the beginner slope wasn’t as steep as I remembered. I relaxed a bit and began to pick up speed, enjoying the sense of freedom. I was weaving in an S-pattern to control my speed when it happened.
I was heading down the steepest part, moving from right to left, when suddenly, a snowboarder cut right in front of me. The distance between us was less than a meter. If I hadn’t changed direction, we would have collided, especially on such a steep slope.
I instinctively veered away. The next thing I knew, I was sliding down the slope on my stomach, my right ski missing. -_-a My right elbow started throbbing.
The snowboarder stopped and asked, “Are you okay?” I didn’t answer, just pointed to my missing ski, hoping they’d bring it to me. But after a moment’s hesitation, they just continued down the slope. Sigh.
After struggling for about a minute, someone else came by and kindly retrieved my ski. I thanked them and tried to put it back on, but the slope was so steep that I kept sliding down, making it incredibly difficult.
Suddenly, I was filled with fear and decided to move to the side, where there were orange poles and a net. I crawled over and sat down, contemplating my next move. Should I try to put my ski back on here, or wait until I reached a flatter area?
I was just sitting there, sighing deeply, trying to gather myself.
And then it happened.
Whoosh.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!”
Suddenly, I heard a noise behind me and turned my head. Sure enough, someone else was barreling down the slope on a snowboard, flailing their arms wildly. And, of course, they were headed straight for me. Before I could even get up, they crashed right into my lower back.
We ended up tangled together, rolling over three times. It seemed like they were part of a couple because a guy came rushing down after them, looking flustered. He kept asking, “Are you okay? Are you alright?” which only made my irritation spike. I snapped, “You should be more careful!” He mumbled something, grabbed the woman, and they quickly disappeared down the slope. All I could do was let out a dry laugh.
I somehow managed to make it down the mountain, but I knew I was done for the day and headed straight back to the lodge. That night, I couldn’t sleep on my left side because my hip was throbbing. But when I tried lying on my right side, my elbow hurt. (Thanks for bringing me the ointment, little brother. 😢)
It was quite the eventful ski trip. If I ever, by some miracle, decide to go again, I swear I won’t be going back to that place. It’s like I was cursed or something.