Rednegne ✅

Peal 18

[이도]

My body stung and burned like crazy. I looked up at the ceiling as I didn't want to see the dried blood that lied beneath me. My blood. "You're conscious. What a wonderful evening. I love hearing your screams." It stepped closer to me with a bloody whip. "Why are you doing this to me? I haven't done anything wrong!" "You have done something wrong. Existing." I became more confused by the second. How was me existing such a terrible thing? I couldn't use magic for pete's sake.

"Can you make sense? I don't have magic abilities, so how could I, a nowol, be a threat?" It hit me once with the whip then chuckled. "We don't like liars." "I'm not lying!" It hit me again with more force. Another few blows came after it. I was in pain and terribly confused. Why was I always in danger? Why was I always being targeted? I wasn't anything special, and no one back home was afraid to remind me of that. "You're a terrible actor. Enough talk, your time is almost up. Enjoy your last moments." "What do you mean?" It harshly grabbed my face and smirked. Nothing was said as it moved away from me. I pulled on the shackles that kept me chained to the wall. "Answer me!" It walked out.

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I've felt fear before, but not to this extent. It felt as if I moved, I'd die instantly. I silently submitted to my feelings and let my tears fall. I missed the life I used to have. I would take being ridiculed and shamed over any of this. "Someone...anyone...please..." I started to laugh at my stupidity. No one was going to help me. I was completely on my own. I was the cause of my undoing. "I lived a life I guess..." A light peeked through a crack in the wall adjacent to where I was chained. I silently watched it in case it was after me as well.

"They're moving...?" A cool breeze blew throughout the cell as the wall started to reveal a exit to the outside. "Hey." I had never felt so glad to have seen him. "Dongju..." My cuts burned as my tears had run over them. He walked over to me then tapped on the chains. "I can't get them off, but I can at least make them lighter." "Is it just you?" "Is that a problem?" I shook my head as he leaned me against him. "How did you find me...?" "I followed your wave. It wasn't easy." My body no longer felt the need to stay on alert and tiredness had hit me head on. "Don't fall asleep now..." "I'm...sorry..." I could barely keep my eyes open.

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I slowly opened my eyes and saw green leaves above me. "I'm alive." I sat up and felt the stinging sensation from my wounds. "You're finally awake." I looked to my side and saw Dongju doing something to the earth beneath him. "Finally? How long have I been out?" "3 days." I rapidly blinked then held my head low. "I apologize." "Why are you apologizing? Did you purposefully get yourself caught?" "No." "Then don't apologize." It was strange to hear Dongju speaking like this, especially since we never saw eye to eye before.

"Thank you, Dongju." I watched him walk over to me then place his forehead against mine. "Are you sick?" "What...?" He backed up then crossed his arms. "You're speaking nicely to me. You apologized. You even said thank you. That's not like you." "Because if you hadn't come, I'd probably be one with the dead...and you came of your own will, right? You didn't have to save me..." He seemed pretty shy after my heartfelt words. "Well...you're welcome..." "You look adorable when you get shy." "Could please stop..." I couldn't help but laugh as he had turned his back to me. Maybe Dongju wasn't as bad as I made him out to be.

"Geon!" Youngjo appeared from the bushes and tackled me to the ground, sending pain throughout my body. "Oh my, I'm so sorry." "It's fine, Jo." "I thought I'd never see you again..." "Well, you should thank Dongju for saving me." Keonhee and Hwanwoong soon arrived as well. "Look at who came back." They pulled him into a group hug then let go. Youngjo sat by my side as the trio whispered amongst themselves. "What happened...?" "Some creature said I have magic...and that what I've done wrong was to exist. I don't get it." "I say don't think about it. They were probably just upset. Mistaked you for someone else." I shook my head as I knew it had meant me. I wasn't supposed to exist, but why? Was I a threat to the world?

"Dongju." He looked up then met my gaze. "Do I really have magic?" "Yes." "Then..." I trailed off as I wasn't sure if asking him would do anything. "Then I want to learn what it is." I gave them a serious look as they stared at me in surprise. I needed to learn what about me was so dangerous that I shouldn't even exist. "Are you sure? You do know it mean you'll be helping us get our diplomas." "I don't care...I just need an answer..." I gripped the hem of my shirt as I looked down. "If Geonhak's learning, I will too." "Jo..." "Then it's settled. We'll start once Geonhak has mostly recovered." I lied back then stared at the leaves above. I couldn't help but wonder what basic I stemmed from.