The Wielder's Winter (The Manifests Series #1)

[28] At The Center Of Regrets

April 16, 2023, 8:11am, En Route to Ryujin's Hideout, Daegu, South Korea.

As the team plodded along towards the ITZY member's place, Ryujin giddily asked Jihyo what happened to her during these past few months. Jihyo replied by telling her how she got here-- from losing Mina to the Koul'ins, to meeting Zeke, to having a settlement, to having their Manifests.

For the first time in four months... Ryujin was happy that she now had someone else to talk to. To listen to. It was a warm feeling, one that she had been lacking for quite some time.

As Jihyo continued talking to her, Ryujin notices that they're close to her place.

"Oh, wait, Jihyo-unnie, Zeke, Hyungwon, Hangyeol... before we continue, I want to tell you all that my place isn't what you're used to seeing..." Ryujin said. "As an idol I know I should be maintaining my place, but right now, it's all crooked and messy. I hope that's alright."

"I'm pretty sure we are okay with it." Zeke smiled. "Now, come on. I think we have to hurry, my friend here is freezing."

He then points to Hangyeol who was shivering to death.

"Y-you could've just made me a rocket seal...y'know?!" Hangyeol said.

"Sorry, Hyungwon told me to not lend you one again. He looked serious and frankly, I don't really wanna be on his angry side, so..." Zeke said as he scratched his head.

"If it was about earlier, just g-get over it, Hyungwon! It was just a joke!" Hangyeol replied.

"Just returning the favor, Hangyeol, it's funny seeing you like that," Hyungwon smirked as they chuckled.

They soon arrive at Ryujin's place, not too far from the place they were just in.

It was an abandoned chicken restaurant. Massive piles of debris scattered around the area and traces of decimated snowmen lie buried on the snowy floor.

Ryujin opens up a large hatch behind the counter, showing a stairway that leads to an underground stockroom.

"Right this way, lady and gentlemen." Ryujin smiles.

They all went down, and they see Ryujin's place... A place which she has called home for several months.

"Soooo... Welcome to my small home. It's not much, but hey, it's all pretty good to me." Ryujin smiled as they all looked at her place.

It was surprisingly warm, and the place felt relaxing. Ryujin has turned a steel cabinet into a makeshift bed with a mattress on it, and she dismantled all the other metal stalls and turned them into desks, chairs, and tables.

On one of the tables lay a few pencils, some empty antidote canisters, a few small bags of chips, and her phone, that was flashing a Frank Sinatra playlist on its small screen.

On the walls were some taped pictures of her with Yuna, Yeji, Chaeryoung, and Lia. A couple of drawings were there as well, seemingly drawn by Ryujin herself.

Lots of papers are on the floor, and it was a bit messy. But the place was impressive enough for a makeshift home.

"This place... you fixed it all by yourself?" Zeke asked.

"Yep." Ryujin nods as she presses a button on her armor, and it removes on it's own. "Took a while to figure things out but eventually I did. Just had to place my mind into it, like what I've been doing as an idol for years now..." Ryujin then carries the armor and places it on top of the table. She then offers everyone a seat.

"This place is nice and all but... how did you end up here?" Jihyo asked as she sat down on one of the makeshift chairs.

"Hmm... I was here in Daegu because of a photo shoot. Nothing much going on, same ol' job. But this whole stuff happened and the next thing I know, I was on the run. Then I found this place and hid here for a while. The food here kept me alive, but it was scarce, so I was forced to eat raw stuff. It's lucky I never got salmonella. I think it's because of the cold. Either that or I just have a really strong stomach. Must've been from all that spicy food I've been eating all my life...