Chapter 60 - 59 : Burial And Mysteries

[Third Person Perspective] Morning came without ceremony. The pale light of morning slipped between the broken skylights of the shopping mall. Outside, the air was still. One by one, people stirred from their makeshift sleeping spots.No one spoke at first. In-Ji heard the sounds of someone digging outside. He despite feeling the pain from yesterday’s injuries and battle against Cheng-min headed outside to see Ye-jun gripping the handle of the spade. Beside him, Hyun-tae worked in silence, the scrape of metal against earth the only sound between them. Three graves took shape near the mall’s cracked walls, each one meant to hold what was left of Cheng-min, Mr. Kang, and Min-ho. No one had asked for a burial. But leaving them in the open felt wrong. Ye-jun glanced at In-ji, who was standing at the entrance of the shopping mall. He signaled him to wake everyone up so they could proceed with the burial. In-ji nodded back and went inside. "I never thought I would become someone who transforms into monsters and dig graves for people regularly." Ye-Jun suddenly spoke while still working on the graves. "You know, kid. In the army, there are a few things we learn." Hyun-tae paused for a moment and then continued, "Never Forget , Carry The Weight and Honor their names who died on duty." "Yeah, I learned that too, during my service in the military." Ye-jun answered. Then they both silently keep digging the graves. Behind the mall, life’s quieter sounds played out like a different world entirely. On a torn blanket spread over the cracked pavement, Eun-ha sat cross-legged with the twins. Their high, bright giggles carried faintly as they tugged on Min-jae’s chubby fingers. The baby squealed and kicked, face scrunching with pure joy, ignorant of the heaviness that hung in the air. Ye-rin stood nearby, hands resting on her axe haft, eyes scanning their surroundings — but her mouth softened every time Min-jae made one of his small noises. She didn’t join, but she didn’t stop watching, either. Then Her Eyes fell on Hana lee. Hana’s gaze was far away. Not absent — just distant. Her hands twisted together in her lap, fingers fidgeting in small restless motions. Her husband’s absence was a hole no comfort could fill. Mother was beside her, speaking in that calm, grounded tone she always carried, each word deliberate but soft, like stones placed carefully into a river to make a safe crossing. Seo-yeon knelt on Hana’s other side, her hand warm and steady on Hana’s shoulder. Ye-Rin went to the terrace where Volt, The Three headed dragon was, keeping an eye for any upcoming danger. "My Rider, What are you doing here?" Volt asked, his voice echoed. "Your right head. Bring it close to me." Ye-Rin command. "Ohh. You came to retrieve the spear of Sang-woo. Didn’t you?" Volt lowered his right head, on his head was a spear attached to his horns. "I thought, why not give him a proper burial as well. I hope this will help his soul rest in peace." Ye-Rin answered sincerely. She then began to leave but, "You have changed." Volt suddenly said. "How?" Ye-Rin asked which Volt answered, "You feel more mature. Your fire which I saw when you fought against me has dimmed." Ye-Rin didn’t answer. She lowered her gaze but volt still continued, "I know, For as young you are, these environments can make you weak. But remember this, you will face more difficulties in the future. You will be in hell worse than this. You will lose things that are precious to you. But don’t ever let your heart’s fire be put down.". Then he lowered his middle head to meet Ye-Rin, "Be strong Girl. You are my Rider and we have yet to fight together." Ye-Rin’s eyes flutter and she starts to cry. Despite her outside appearance, people keep dying in front of her and the exhaustion from continuous battles kept piling up. These hardships and all those near death moments may have hardened her outer skin but she is still nineteen years old who gets scared and feels every emotion. [AFTER SOME TIME] When the graves were deep enough, Ye-jun and Hyun-tae moved the bodies. They worked in silence, lowering each wrapped form into the ground. Ye-Rin placed Sang-woo spear in one of the graves as well.They covered them slowly, earth filling the gaps with soft thuds. Everyone gathered around to give them a final respect. By the time the graves were filled, the sun had risen higher, washing the dirt mounds in pale gold. Ye-jun stood back, wiping the sweat from his brow.The sound was dull, final. Everyone went inside after some time. As Ye-Jun was about to leave as well, Roger — the owl — landed atop the nearest grave marker. But the moment its head turned toward Ye-jun, he knew something was different. The eyes that met his weren’t Roger’s. They burned with a depth that reached into marrow. --- **"Ye-jun."** The voice wasn’t spoken aloud, but it resonated inside his head, heavy and deliberate. Ye-jun’s spine stiffened. "...Owl King?" "You are correct.I have come to deliver a message to you." He then moved his head looking at the setting sun, "I will not use my wish now. The time is not right. I will wait... for the future." Ye-jun frowned. "Future? Ever since I have met. You talked about nothing but about the future. What does that have to do with me? I’m just—" "—a normal human?" The Owl King’s tone held the weight of a smile without warmth. "No. You stand at the center of a thread that could decide this world’s fate." Ye-jun’s jaw clenched. "You’re talking like some fortune cookie. Explain." The air seemed to thicken, as though each word from the Owl King bent the space around them. "Your sister wields the Lucky Roulette — a Nature that bends the chance itself in her favor. Your mother’s Bloody Eyes can read the secrets buried in the system’s UI, things others will never see. You travel with a three-headed dragon. Hyun-tae carry a shotgun with its own ego. Eun-ha holds within her the seed of a separate reality — one she will open in time." Hearing it all at once was... absurd. Unreal. And yet, it was all true. "Gather as many strong individuals as you can," the Owl King continued. "Only then will you have a chance to change the fate barreling toward you." "...And if I don’t?" "Then your story will end in ash." Ye-jun’s throat tightened. "...You could tell anyone this. Why me?" "Because the thread runs through you." Silence fell, and for a moment Ye-jun thought the conversation was over. But then— "If possible, seek Natsuki Subaru. He alone may shift this reality in ways none of you can." This name again came out from the Owl king’s mouth. The name was unfamiliar, but the way the Owl King spoke it left a weight in his chest. "What happened to Raven King Rakaroz?", Ye-Jun asked. "He broke the rules and is now paying the price for it." "But why did he came personally?". "He got orders. I can’t tell you who it was. If I said his name, he will appear and I can’t afford that." "It seems you won’t be telling me about these future events but I want to ask one more thing, What is your name?" "I will tell you that in future as well." Before Ye-jun could ask more, Roger’s head tilted sharply, and the gaze looking at him was once again the owl’s — curious, unknowing. The link was gone.