𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 || skz

CHAPTER 6: AN ENDLESS CHASE

The words of the creature rang in his head. Isn't it peculiar? That someone who claims to have moved on carries something to bring them back to the past. The words just echoed in his mind and it made Seungmin feel sick.

He stared down at his reflection.

Brown eyes behind round glasses stared back at him from the water. He reached up to brush the brown hair away from his forehead. He just stared, taking in every detail of his face. There were no scars on his face, no tattoos. Only moles adorned his skin, the most prominent on his chin.

You're a liar, blade mage.

Then the vision of himself flickered, and his heart clenched in his chest as he caught sight of the pale blue hair. He gritted his teeth, willing the illusion to hold for a bit longer.

"How did you know what that was?" Minho asked, snapping Seungmin out of his thoughts.

Seungmin looked up just as the forest spirit sat down beside him.

"I pulled Felix out of the grasp of a dream devourer. This creature was similar," Seungmin mumbled, turning his attention to his reflection. For a moment, the scene just looked to be a regular human beside a forest spirit, but then the illusion flickered out. A scarred blade mage was sitting beside a healing forest spirit. "It was in the lake."

"I remember," Minho mumbled, lowering his head. "I'm sorry I yelled at you," he said, not looking up. "I shouldn't have yelled at you when you saved my life. I just- Hyunjin-"

"I know." Seungmin shook his head. "You don't need to apologize to me. I understand. This one was so much stronger than the one in the lake. They lure people in, charm them and promise them everything.

"That does not excuse what I said to you," Minho said. "You are no traitor, Seungmin. I know you better than that. I cannot take back what is already said, and I am very for what words I said to you. You have proven to be loyal, almost to a fault. I allowed that creature to poison my mind, but taking it out on you was not right of me. It does not excuse my actions."

"Most people are powerless to those creatures," Seungmin said gently. "I do not blame you for being overwhelmed. You had the chance to save Hyunjin and I pulled you away from that. Of course you would be angry with me."

"You were not powerless against it," Minho pointed out softly. "It did not affect you."

"It did but maybe not in the same way as you," Seungmin retorted. "It offered me things I know that deep down I wish for. But what it offered me would be selfish to accept. It spoke to an old version of me, someone who I do not wish to be anymore. I do not want to do things just for myself."

Minho nodded, but he was silent for a moment.

"Who was the woman it imitated?" he then asked, glancing at Seungmin. "Not Hyunjung. The other one."

Seungmin kept his eyes fixed on their reflection in the water. "That... That was my mother."

"Oh..." Minho said softly. He studied Seungmin's face for a long time. "She is beautiful."

"She was beautiful," Seungmin mumbled in agreement. "She was a wonderful mother."

"Do you wish to speak about it or would you rather not?" Minho asked, his voice so soft and gentle. Something within Seungmin twisted.

"It is alright," Seungmin murmured. "She was killed by Eunkyung."

Minho's demeanor immediately changed at the mention of the witch. His body tensed, his lips pressed firmly into a thin line and fury burning in his eyes.