Chapter 2 – The True Beginning
Just as Hyunwoo's group was about to leave Thalveran's gate, a gentle voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Would you be interested in coming to my village?"
A young black-haired woman dismounted from her horse. Her clothes were simple, but her gaze was sharp and sincere.
"It's a small place. The people are kind, and it's not too far from here," she continued, looking at them one by one.
With no other options and curiosity getting the better of them, they agreed.
They rode on a wooden cart pulled by two weary horses. Along the way, the woman began to talk.
"My village… honestly lacks everything. Even water is hard to come by. But at the very least, it's safe enough to rest for a while."
Yerin looked downcast hearing that, and even the usually-spirited Taeyang could only stare out silently.
Eventually, they introduced themselves.
"I'm Belinda Feyta. But just call me Belinda."
"Kim Hyunwoo."
"Kang Yerin."
"Jung Taeyang."
"Lee Wonho."
Belinda smiled and continued talking, though her smile didn't seem entirely genuine. She took a breath, then spoke softly, "Our village chief… is my grandfather. He's been ill. I've taken over some of his duties."
She looked down briefly, gripping the reins tightly. "I just… don't want to see our village disappear like the others."
Hyunwoo looked at her for a moment, then said, "You're strong… Thank you for letting us come with you."
By evening, they arrived.
The village was small and quiet. The evening wind carried dust between the fragile wooden houses. Most seemed empty, windows wide open with no one inside.
"Many have moved to bigger villages," Belinda explained softly. "Only about forty or so people remain."
Still, the villagers welcomed them warmly. Genuine smiles and hopeful eyes greeted the strangers.
Yerin hugged her bag tightly, her eyes glassy. "They can still smile… even like this."
Hyunwoo walked closer to the cart and looked up at the yellowing sky.
"I don't know what our purpose is in this world… But if we can help even just a little… I think that's not such a bad thing."
As night fell, they headed to a small hut assigned by the village elder.
Night devoured the sky. Cold wind seeped through the gaps in the frail wooden walls, leaving behind an uneasy silence.
The five of them sat in a circle, lit only by a small dim lantern. No one spoke for a long time.
Their faces shared one thing in common: confusion.
Hyunwoo broke the silence.
"...That man... the one in the cloak…" he muttered, eyes on the floor. "What was he, really?"
His fists clenched with anger. "If only I hadn't touched that card…"
Taeyang suddenly snapped, "And the worst part is… this damn world doesn't even HAVE MAGIC!!"
Everyone was startled by his outburst.
For a moment, his words just hung in the air. And that's when the memories returned—faint echoes from a past that had just unfolded.
When they first arrived in the village, Belinda—the farmer girl who took them in—had shared a story while lighting a small campfire. Her voice was soft, almost drowned out by the breeze.
"Long ago… this world had magic," she said, staring into the flame. "But after the Collapse of the Sky Pillar, it all vanished. People were afraid. They burned spellbooks, buried talismans, and left it all behind."
She paused, then looked at them with sad eyes. "Now, magic is just a bedtime story to comfort kids on rainy nights. Hah…"
The truth hit like a slap. No miracles, no saviors. Just dying myths.
"Shit… I thought this would be an epic adventure like in my favorite novels!" Taeyang shouted, kicking an empty barrel.
Suddenly, Yerin turned sharply to Hyunwoo, her voice rising, "Why did you let him go?!"
Hyunwoo turned to her, surprised.
"We had just gotten here, and you let Jaehyun leave on his own?! Did you already forget your friend?!" Her eyes burned with anger and disappointment. "Remember back in high school… he was the one who saved you back then!"
Wonho, usually quiet, finally spoke up, "Yeah… I didn't expect that either. Someone as smart as him, and you just let him leave?"
Hyunwoo went silent. He took a deep breath, then looked at all of them.
"How long… do you think you've been awake since we got here?"
They all furrowed their brows in confusion.
Yerin blinked. "What do you mean?"
Taeyang's eyes narrowed. "Wait… no way…"
Hyunwoo looked at them one by one, slipping his hand into his pocket. "You've all been unconscious for a full day."
Silence.
"Jaehyun and I were the first to wake up," Hyunwoo continued. "We didn't sleep. We searched for food, scouted the area, and made a plan. We realized this world is dangerous… so we couldn't just wait around."
Wonho asked softly, "Then… what did you eat?"
"Wild fruit," Hyunwoo answered simply. "Enough to survive. We didn't want to waste time."
He stood up, his voice now steady and firm. "And the reason I'm leading… is because I understood the situation first."
Taeyang looked at him, half-shocked, half-impressed. "Then… Jaehyun…?"
Hyunwoo gave a slight smile. "Yeah. Jaehyun's decision to stay in Thalveran… was part of our plan."
Yerin's eyes widened. "You… told him to?"
"Not told. We agreed," Hyunwoo replied. "He'll be our eyes and ears inside the kingdom."
Wonho slowly nodded. "So… he wasn't abandoned."
Taeyang finally sat back calmly. "So we actually have a plan…"
Yerin bit her lip, her eyes welling up. "I… I'm sorry."
Hyunwoo looked at them all, this time with a calm smile. "From now on… we can't afford to act recklessly. This world's more complicated than we thought."
As they all fell silent again, Hyunwoo walked to the window. His eyes scanned the trees swaying under the night breeze.
A black bird perched on a dead branch not far away. Its eyes glowed faintly—and only Wonho saw it before it disappeared into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Hyunwoo stared at his own hand. His fingers trembled slightly.
Did I make the right call… or am I just pretending to be strong?
That night, everyone was fast asleep.
Inside the humble little hut, the soft sound of the night wind became their quiet lullaby.
But Hyunwoo wasn't sleeping.
He stood by the window, watching the dark village beyond. A worried expression flickered on his lips, but in his eyes… was a growing resolve. As if beneath the village's suffering, lay an untapped potential waiting to rise.