The Guardian's Key

Chapter 2: Beneath the Crystal's Surface

The woman's eyes seemed to bore into Tae-Ho's soul, as if searching for something. Then, her gaze dropped to the crystal in his hand, and her expression changed. For a moment, Tae-Ho saw a glimmer of sadness, of loss.

"You don't know what you have," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tae-Ho's grip on the crystal tightened. "I know it's powerful," he said, his voice firm.

The woman's eyes flashed with anger. "You have no idea," she spat. "That crystal is a key. A key to unlocking a power that could destroy worlds."

Tae-Ho's mind reeled. What was she talking about?

The woman took a step closer, her eyes burning with intensity. "I need that crystal," she said, her voice low and deadly. "And I'll do whatever it takes to get it."

Suddenly, the air around them seemed to distort, as if reality itself was bending. Tae-Ho felt a strange energy building, a power that seemed to be drawing them together.

And then, everything went black.

When Tae-Ho came to, he found himself in a strange, dimly lit room. The woman was nowhere to be seen, but the crystal was still clutched in his hand. Suddenly, he heard a faint whispering in his ear.

"Look closer at the crystal," the voice said. "You'll see the truth."

Tae-Ho's heart racing, he examined the crystal more closely. And then, he saw it - a tiny, almost imperceptible inscription etched into the crystal's surface.

"It can't be," Tae-Ho breathed.

The inscription read: "Property of Lee Yoon-Ah".

Tae-Ho's mind reeled. Who was Lee Yoon-Ah? And what did she have to do with the crystal?

Suddenly, the room began to spin, and Tae-Ho felt himself being pulled towards the crystal. He tried to resist, but it was too late.

The crystal seemed to be drawing him into a vision - a vision of a young woman with piercing green eyes and raven-black hair. Lee Yoon-Ah.