He had dragged himself to his feet, managing a few unsteady steps before collapsing once more at Kim Dokja's feet. The moment he fell, the night air seemed to grow colder, an ominous chill sweeping through the clearing. The tension that had stretched between them—the looming shadowy creatures, the foreboding compound—snapped, leaving behind an eerie, fragile silence. Kim Dokja's breath caught in his throat as he knelt beside Jae-min, his pulse quickening with panic.
"Jae-min," he murmured, the name barely a whisper on his lips. He searched Jae-min's pale, exhausted face, yearning for any sign of consciousness, but found only stillness.
Yoo Joonghyuk moved swiftly to the perimeter, his senses sharp and alert. He scanned the shadows with a predatory focus, his sword gleaming faintly in the low light, ready for any lurking threat. Kim Dokja knew they weren't alone; he could feel the weight of unseen eyes watching them. But with Yoo Joonghyuk on guard, he hoped for a moment of safety.
But Jae-min... He was a different matter entirely.
Kim Dokja's hands hovered above Jae-min, uncertainty creeping in. Jae-min had warned him, urged him to leave, but he had brushed it aside, driven by a need to press forward into the unknown danger. And now... this.
"I should've listened," Kim Dokja muttered, frustration welling up inside him. "This is my fault."
Jae-min's body trembled beneath him, a slight shudder that felt more like the dark magic within him fighting to break free. The air crackled with tension, heavy and charged, as if it were a living entity coiling around them both. Shadows flickered at the edges of Kim Dokja's vision, seeming to pulse and writhe, waiting for a moment of weakness.
"He's burning out," Kim Dokja said, his voice thick with dread. He looked up at Yoo Joonghyuk, who had shifted his attention toward them. "His magic—it's going to tear him apart."
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze sharpened, the gravity of the situation evident in his stance. Yet beneath that sharp focus, Kim Dokja sensed something deeper, something primal in Jae-min's state. It wasn't merely magic—it was a part of him, raw and untamed.
Jae-min had always been enigmatic about his origins, the power that thrummed under his skin, but Kim Dokja had glimpsed its ferocity before. He recalled the way Jae-min shifted in battle, how his presence became a force of nature. The shadows were not just remnants of magic; they were intertwined with Jae-min's very essence, darker and more dangerous than Kim Dokja had ever realized.
"He's losing control," Kim Dokja said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It's not just the magic..."
A low growl echoed in the distance, vibrating through the stillness of the night. For a heartbeat, Kim Dokja thought it came from the forest, but as he glanced down, he realized the sound resonated from Jae-min. The tremors coursing through Jae-min intensified, and Kim Dokja's heart raced. The transformation was imminent—closer than ever.
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed. "He's not going to hold back much longer." He stepped closer, sword at the ready. "We need to move him. Now."
Kim Dokja nodded, his focus unwavering on Jae-min. He brushed the damp hair back from Jae-min's forehead, his heart tightening at the sight of the man's vulnerability. Jae-min had always been the protector, the steadfast guardian in the shadows. Now, it was Kim Dokja's turn to shield him.
"Jae-min," Kim Dokja whispered, leaning closer, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I'm not going to let you lose yourself to this. Do you hear me?"
The shadows flickered in response, as if they acknowledged his words. A faint breath escaped Jae-min's lips, almost imperceptible, but enough to signal that he was still fighting—the darkness, the transformation threatening to consume him.
