"Seol-ah, what is this..!"
The scene Gyeol-i saw was a complete chaos. People were screaming as they were engulfed in a crimson aura. Panicking, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to complete my spell. I had to get Gyeol-i to leave. To get him to leave me... What should I do?
Kaaaaang
Kyeol-i pulled out a large knife. The knife resonated with Kyeol-i, making a strange sound.
"Seol-ah, I will protect you. Come to me. I will protect you and help you get away from them."
Kyeol reached out his hand to me.
No, no... Don't come any closer. I'm just too harmful to the noble Kyeol.
I couldn't shake the thought. I had to finish the order somehow and end this situation. Kyeol, oblivious to my feelings, strode briskly toward me, pushing through the red aura. And then he extended his large hand.
"What did I tell you? I told you you could come to me. I told you you weren't alone!"
As I hesitated, Kyeol grabbed my wrist. The force was so strong I couldn't shake it off. Kyeol pulled me closer and held me in his arms. His eyes were shining again. Had he met the children?
But no, I'm harmful to you... I have to make Kyeol-i return. So what should I do...? How can I make Kyeol-i leave? I knew it from the determined look in his eyes. He wouldn't leave easily. So... what if I disappeared? Then wouldn't Kyeol-i leave too..? If I sacrifice my life to complete the spell... the spell will be completed even more powerfully.
As I looked around anxiously, I noticed Gyeol's knife. I grabbed the knife from his other hand and stabbed it into my side. Gyeol's expression was filled with confusion.
"Kyeol-ah, I, I leave you behind... I will complete this spell... This spell will protect your tribe, and the other tribes."
I tried to thrust the knife deeper, applying more force, but it wouldn't work. The knot was stubbornly resisting.
"Seol-ah, have you forgotten my oath? I will not leave you. I do not expect sacrifice from you!!"
Within the red swirl, Kyeol-i cried out. His blue robe and my red party dress fluttered entangled, like two different colors competing with each other.
"But, I curse this land. I didn't want it to be like this. I have nowhere else to go. The Supreme Priestess told me to become her successor. I don't want to be her successor. There's no way I can refuse!"
I screamed with all my might. I felt hot blood rushing out of my stomach from the scream I'd just given.
"Gyeol-ah, thank you so much. I was so happy to have met you when I was little. You were my only friend..."
Even though Gyeol-i refused, I couldn't continue speaking because I had already lost so much blood from the stab wound. Just as I was desperately trying to complete the spell, Gyeol-i pulled out the knife and placed his hand on the spot, as if to stop the bleeding.
"Seol-ah, stop. You can stop. You can just not do it. Don't sacrifice yourself to this hellish land. Come with me."
Saaaaah...
A bright blue light enveloped us. A chilling coldness... Is this what Taoism feels like? It felt different from the hot, unstable power of the divine. As Kyeol healed me, the bright blue light soothed the crimson aura. The unfinished spell soon subsided, and the crimson aura vanished, leaving behind only black ash. Then, those caught in the whirlpool fled in panic.
Knock knock,
I vomited out the dark red blood that had accumulated in my mouth and stood up with Gyeol's support.
"Seol-ah, come with me. I went to check on the children of the White Fox Clan. I met many wolf refugees there. Many of the refugees we evacuated were gathered there too. Let's go. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."
Gyeol's deep, soft voice resonated with me. I nodded quietly. Gyeol grabbed me as I hesitated, leading me along.
"Seol-ah, you saved me from death, and you found my children. This time, I will save you. So, let's go together."
Behind me, the human village receded into the distance. I was leaving for a new place. Yes, for the first time since I was born, I had decided where I would go. I would never return to this place... I felt a little at ease. My body was weak, so my steps were incredibly slow, but the weight of my burden felt truly light.
fin.finish.
