A day had passed since Seri was taken by Hayul.

The remaining four of us were exhausted both physically and mentally, and passed out for a day after witnessing the kidnapping of our 2 friends.

Once I woke up, I went out into the forest with Minho to look for food. Ever since Seri was taken, Hyunwoo grew quiet and seemed to be in deep thought. He no longer went out to look for food and simply waited. 

‘Perhaps he’s caught on to the fact… that we’re special.’

If we counted my ability of coming back to the past, then each and every one of us that came from Earth was special in some way.

I knew Hyunwoo was waiting for someone else to come and take him out of this forest.

And I also knew, that he wouldn’t have to wait long.

“Yun.”

“Hm?”

I snapped out of my train of thought when Minho called my name. We were making our way back to the cave with water and nuts.

“Do you think more of those… otherworldy beings will come here?”

“…”

“If another comes again, it might be one of us that gets taken next.”

Minho also sensed that there was something special about us in this world.

I smiled sadly, knowing that neither of us were going to be saved.

“If I get taken next, I’m going to ask them to bring you too.”

I looked at Minho and felt an overwhelming flow of emotion. Even in our last life… we spent many years together. He never left me behind, no matter how strong he grew. In the end, it was me that left him.

I nodded at Minho with determination.

“Let’s stick together in this life.”

Minho faced me and smiled brightly. Even in this unknown world, surrounded by powerful beings everywhere, he didn’t lose his smile.

“You’re back.”

When we returned to the cave, Hana was waiting for us at the entrance. Her face was pale and she had dark circles under her eyes. Even if I knew where to find food in the forest, I couldn’t do anything about the mental strain this world had on us.

“Here.”

I handed Hana a handful of nuts and some water.

“Thanks…”

I left a portion in front of Hyunwoo, but he didn’t move. He just continued to sit with his eyes closed.

After our meal, I laid down and pretended to fall asleep.

No matter what, I couldn’t fall asleep tonight.

I needed to see what happens.

In my previous life, Hana had disappeared from the cave during the night and the only person who was awake to see what happened was Hyunwoo.

When I asked him what happened to her, all he said was that she was taken.

‘I can finally see who takes Hana!'

I sincerely hoped that they were someone good.

While I waited, the air inside the cave grew chilly. The temperature continued to drop with no end and I could feel the ground that I laid on freezing into ice.

‘Ha…’

My heart started to beat fast. I slowly opened my eyes to see the entire cave covered in a thin layer of ice. My body was also covered in ice, making it impossible to move. 

The ice creeped up to my neck and completely covered my face.

I was completely frozen with my eyes open.

‘This ice… I can’t move in it, but I’m able to breathe.’

I couldn’t understand how it was possible. Thankfully, I was lying down on my side, allowing me to see the entire inside of the cave.

‘I won’t miss it this time!!’

A faint sound of wind blew through the cave.

Murmurmurmurmur

I could hear soft whispers of voices.

Mutter mutter mutter

Then, from out of nowhere, they appeared.

White, transparent figures floated above the ground.

murmurmurmurmur

‘Those are… ghosts..?'

Among the ghosts, there was just one figure in the middle that wasn’t floating. 

His long black hair covered his entire face and flowed to the ground. He was wearing a white gown, that added to his mysteriousness.

I could feel my eyes straining from laying my eyes on him, but it wasn’t unbearable.

Perhaps the ice that covered my face, was acting as a bufffer against his presence.

[Ha…….]

The mysterious man stopped his steps in front of the sleeping Hana. She was the only one among us that wasn’t covered in ice.

The man lifted his arm and hana’s body floated up right. Her arm was ever so slightly shivering.

[…I know you’re awake.]

Hana flinched and she slowly opened her eyes. When she laid eyes on the being, she shook harder, but didn’t seem to be in any physical pain.

I let out a small sigh of relief in my mind.

These great beings all had common traits. 

One, was that they all had powerful presences that normal humans like us couldn’t handle. Looking at them or hearing their voices alone was enough to kill us.

Two, was that fact that they are able to hold back their presences if they wanted to. I could tell from my encounter with Ikol and Hayul, that most great beings don’t bother with holding back their presences. To them, our deaths were nothing.

So the fact that Hana wasn’t affected by his presence, was his way of being considerate.

The white floating ghosts that stood close to the mysterious man, flew closer to Hana one by one. It didn't take long until Hana was completely surrounded by them.

[So it’s true… you were blessed with a soul that has one foot over on the other side. With your affinity to spirits, you are fated to absorb and understand the sorrows and pains of the dead.]

The man reached his hand towards Hana.

[My name is Vasir. I am head to the black spirits clan. Come with me, and I will help you grow to your fullest potential.]

His words which sounded like an offer, was actually more of a command. Right after he spoke, Hana fainted and the ghosts caught her fall.

I watched as they turned around and walked towards the exit.

“T… Take me with you.”

Vasir froze in his steps and turned his head towards Hyunwoo.

He was still frozen in the ice, but somehow, he was able to speak.

No one was more surprised than I was. I knew how impossible Hyunwoo’s actions were right now. 

[No.]

Compared to my surprise, Vasir seemed unfazed. He simply rejected him and disappeared into thin air together with the ghosts and Hana.

Minutes after they had left, the ice began to melt and I was able to move again. 

The melted ice left nothing behind. I was completely dry with not a drop of water on me.

I glanced down at the silent Hyunwoo and then looked up at the sky. I prayed that Hana would be safer wherever she was taken.

—-

When Minho woke up, I explained to him what had happened to Hana. He was surprised at first, but quickly accepted it. He believed that it was better for her that she made it out of this forest.

A week went by since Hana was taken and the three of started to grow skinny and weak.

No amount of fruits and nuts was enough to keep us in good condition. We knew it would be difficult for us to last for much longer.

Perhaps it was the hunger or the fear of dying out here, but Hyunwoo started to go out into the forest again. 

Everyday when Minho and I returned to the cave after gathering food, we would find Hyunwoo asleep early. We weren’t sure what he was doing out there, but we knew from his condition that it wasn’t good.

I knew it wouldn’t be long before he was also saved, so I considered talking to him.

But I quickly shook the idea out of my mind. Why should I help the one who bullied me?

And just like I had expected, the day had come. 

Out of all the great beings we had encountered, this one was by far the most normal. He was an older man in his 50s, with a sharp jaw and the face of a noble. He looked the closest to human out of all of them and approached us by foot instead of flying in from the sky.

He also held back his presence before approaching us, so we didn’t have to look down or block our ears.

However, compared to his outer appearance, there was something about the air around him. It was a dark and sticky feeling that made me want to throw up the closer he was.

[I’ve come for you.]

Hyunwoo stood up without a second thought, and walked towards the nobleman. 

[My name is Gaeros, and just like the rest of them, I’m going to the upper worlds during this gate opening. If you come with me, you’ll never set foot on this land again.]

“That’s fine.”

[Very well.]

Gaeros and Hyunwoo turned around to leave.

“Wait!”

But they stopped when I called out to them.

I felt a shiver run down my spine when I met Gaeros’s eyes. 

You might think I’m crazy for doing this, but I had to. This would be my last chance to get out of this forest with Minho. The being in front of me was also the only one that I had the slightest chance of holding a conversation with.

[What is it?]

Gaeros asked. His voice was cold, but I didn’t feel any pain from hearing it. I knew he was still holding back his presence for me.

“Please… take us with you.”

I used all my courage to speak. I knelt to the ground and lowered my head before him.

[I can’t.]

I continued to keep my head on the ground and closed my eyes in hopelessness. Once again, I summoned the courage to speak, knowing that one mistake would end my life.

“May I ask… why?”

The air suddenly grew heavy, and I felt the great being’s presence weighing down on me.

It was hard to breath.

But a moment later, the pressure disappeared like it was never there. 

“Hah… hah… hah…”

I let out heavy breathes. The thought of experiencing that pain again made my hands cold and wet with sweat.

While I calmed my racing heart, I listened carefully to Gaeros’s words.

[Each of us that have reached the heavenly state, have a set amount that we can bring with us to the upper worlds. We pay for the ascension with our karma, and adding more increases the costs exponentially. So naturally we wouldn’t bring more with us, unless if there was a reason to make such a sacrifice.]

I wanted to ask more, but my mouth wouldn’t open.

[That’s enough. I don’t allow you to speak anymore.]

With that, the nobleman and Hyunwoo disappeared into the forest. 

Just like in my first life, only Minho and I were left behind.