Chapter 23: 23

Chapter 23

 

This wasn’t what I wanted.

 

Raen:

 

     Without thinking, I blocked Sun Yihan’s back.

     ‘What is this? A demonic beast? There’s been nothing like this so far? No way–did the beast seep inside and taint the trees? Impossible.’

     Just as I thought that…

Plunge–

     It was over in an instant; unfamiliar pain bloomed in my body. I swallowed back the groan that threatened to burst from my lips. The tough branch had penetrated my abdomen before quickly returning to its original position.

     I tried to use magic to clear my panicked, chaotic mind.

     Vines rose from the floor and wound around the tree. At least that worked–I couldn’t move anymore. I could feel Sun Yihan behind me. That, too, relieved me–Sun Yihan wasn’t harmed because I blocked the way in time.

Step–

     I heard quiet footsteps; Sun Yihan must be slowly approaching me.

     My head felt so dizzy, and I couldn’t move a single finger. My vision was blurred, and my body couldn’t help but tremble. A considerable amount of blood flowed from my wound.

     “Cough…Hagh…” It felt like the blood rushed forth from the depths of my body. A metallic taste that resembled iron filled my mouth as the viscous blood dribbled out.

Step–

     Sun Yihan’s quiet footsteps were getting closer. The steps were slow, as if he were hesitant. And yet, the young man continued to approach.

     …Absolutely not. I couldn’t show myself to him in such a state. Though I’m sure he’s already seen my wound, it would be best for his mental state for him to turn his gaze away.

     Sun Yihan had never been in battle; he would have never seen someone be seriously injured. This moment was sure to linger in his head as trauma.

     I…didn’t want to be the cause of his trauma, nor did I want to linger in his memories in such a horrid state.

     I had to send him back. Right now.

Step–

     The sound of his footsteps stopped right in front of me. Because Sun Yihan knelt down, his white robes fluttered gently in my view despite my lowered head. Red blood puddles–my blood–stained his feet.

     I made great efforts to catch my breath and managed to narrowly open my mouth, “Yihan… Danger… Go back.”

     I had tied up the trees that attacked me, but that didn’t mean the area was safe. Now that I was left in this condition, I couldn’t properly protect the younger man.

     He was in possession of the ‘Return Stone.’ All he needed to do was to utilize the stone’s power and call someone else to the scene.

     But I… Until then…

     I felt my body temperature drop gradually due to the blood escaping my body; it was quite an eerie sensation.

     ‘Could I hold out until then? I’m not going to die like this, right?’

     …Of course, that was a possibility. No, it was beyond possibility–it was almost certainty. With this sort of injury, I probably won’t return alive.

     Still, even if my life was cut short here, that was fine. As a Warrior, I had pondered my end often; I was ready to give my life from the time I pledged the Warrior’s oath. Though…I didn’t expect the end to come so suddenly.

     Come to think of it, I’m rather relieved. It could have been Sun Yihan in my position.

     At that moment, the younger man reached out to me. Thin yet warm fingers gently cupped my cheek, slowly raising my head. His frame was captured in my cloudy view; the pale skin was colored by the sinking red sunset. I couldn’t properly see his expression, but his breaths faltered.

     ‘Sun Yihan… He lived. And he’ll continue to live. That’s why I’m at peace.’

     Leader-Hyung, Song Ha-gyeon, and Min Joo-hyuk…Unlike me, they were firm and hardy people. They could brush off this tragedy and bounce back.

     The fact that I was the one wounded was a relief.

     So, Yihan…

     ‘Return. I want you to go back soon. I know you detest that idea, but I don’t want you to be around when my body breathes its last.’

     Just as I came to terms with the worst-case situation–my death, Sun Yihan’s hand slowly swept across my mouth before pausing. My blood slowly dripped down his white skin.

     When the red droplets hit the ground and created wet circle imprints…

Whoosh–

     A swarm of bright lights enveloped me.

     A blue light… This bright light covered my whole body, making it seem as if the morning had dawned. Furthermore, the pain I felt waned; my wounds seemed to heal slowly. The shadow of death that stopped right before my eyes was swept away in the current of light.

     No–it wasn’t swept away; rather, the mark of death seemed to be contained within that light.

     But how? The whole situation was just so sudden. When the pain that weighed my body down disappeared, my head quickly turned around. This blue light was obviously from….

     “…Yihan?”

     My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. Could healing magic truly be used for a huge injury like mine? Could this even be called a cure? It was more like a miracle!

     My fingertips were cold; I raised my head. At the same time, the blue lights that enveloped me moved dramatically away from my body.

Whoosh–

     The light went–almost fiercely–back into Sun Yihan. Like a lance of light striking his stomach.

     Sun Yihan’s knees crumpled; his white robes turned red with blood. Before he collapsed, I thought I saw a faint smile painted on his face. But, there’s no way that’s possible.

     I stretched out a trembling hand; my chest felt as if it were blocked. Fear coursed through my veins. The gradually spreading bloody area on Sun Yihan was obviously the same region where I was hurt.

     It couldn’t be…It shouldn’t be… Until now, the consequences of Sun Yihan’s healing magic had never presented themselves like this. It was as if… He had taken my wounds…

     I urgently gripped his shoulders. The younger man, whose thin body had been shaking with his head bowed, slowly raised his head. It looked as if that had taken him a lot of effort.

     “Yihan!” I desperately shouted. ‘Please, don’t fall unconscious. Try hard to keep awake.” Tears threatened to rush out, and my throat felt dry. Sun Yihan’s gaze looked absentminded, as if he couldn’t hear me.

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     Rather than in pain, the young man looked contemplative.

     And, at that moment, Sun Yihan’s gaze looked straight into my eyes. My reflection was captured in his blurred, water-like eyes. The edges of his lips rose, trembling, into a smile.

     Sun Yihan smiled brightly…as if he were somehow relieved.

     His smile was so transparent and sincere–devoid of any hidden secrets. A comfortable smile that was as brilliant as a clear, sunny day.

     I had wanted to see such a smile on his face one day.

     “…Why?” I said almost automatically.

     Blood poured from Sun Yihan’s mouth. The thin shoulders underneath my hands were cooling.

     Nevertheless, Sun Yihan’s smile spoke of great relief.

     As the sunset sank into the crimson sky, Sun Yihan seemed to melt into it. With the world washed red, Only his smiling blue eyes shone forth.

     I…I didn’t want to see that sort of smile in this situation.

     Saving me… Dealing with injuries in my stead… And then, he had the gall to smile so comfortably. I had no desire to see any of that

     I recalled the alien pain that made my breath catch in my throat until the pain had subsided. He must be in so much pain right now…. No–his situation was worse than mine; he probably had never felt such pain like this before.

     ‘What do I… What can I do…?’

     “…Hnnn, Cough.” Sun Yihan opened his mouth after much difficulty. Blood rushed forth from his now open lips.

     However, Sun Yihan still smiled brightly and managed to meet my eyes with a shaky gaze. Then, with each word spat out slowly and carefully, he said, “Raen Hyung… I believe in you.”

     I felt suffocated at that moment; my body became rigid. What did he mean?

     I couldn’t do anything for him. ‘I could merely stand in front of your collapsing self and hold you tightly while my heart felt as if it would burst.’ I could only shed tears for him.

     But, with what confidence did Sun Yihan say all that?

     “…Hyung also…. To me…” Sun Yihan continued; each word seemed like a struggle.

     Suddenly, I wanted to hear him say he wanted to live.

     ‘I didn’t want to die like this; I wanted to continue to live. Therefore, please save me. I saved you, so please save me in return.’

     Those were the words I wanted to hear. Then I, by all means, would…

     Sun Yihan’s gradually diminishing voice cut through my swirling thoughts, “Believe… Me…”

     ‘Please believe me.” He kept uttering that same phrase, though hesitant and often scattered. That phrase pierced my ears and was stuck in my brain.

     After he finished speaking, Sun Yihan loosened his expression and closed his eyes, as if he were relieved. Those blue eyes that captured my reflection closed so suddenly, as if night had instantly fallen upon us.

     The blood in my veins turned icy cold; in an instant, rationality returned.

     All the questions that had plagued my head seemed to disappear in a moment–all the questions I had about myself, about him, and the world.

     I had no idea what Sun Yihan wanted me to believe. What was certain, though, was that I had no choice but to take him–his entirety–in good faith. I could hardly let him go–I couldn’t lose him like this.

     Sun Yihan crumpled as all energy lost his body, and he now leaned against me. His body felt so light, as if he were withering away at this very moment.

     The corners of my eyes burned; the flowing tears blurred my vision. I wrapped my arms around Sun Yihan, who limply clung to me.

     ‘I believe in you, Yihan.’

     Whatever it is, I’ll believe you. And, hopefully, one day I’ll be able to tell you these sincere thoughts verbally as well.

     Therefore, your life can’t end like this.

      I laid the younger man down and urgently tore at the hem of his robes. Could a wound of this size be stemmed with a makeshift bandage? My fingertips trembled.

     When I tore the cloth away, my eyes were greeted by bright particles of light–the very same particles that I had seen when I first met Sun Yihan; blue light that both resembled and yet was different from mana.

     That light covered Sun Yihan’s waist, as if it were placing heavy pressure on the wound; the wound itself gradually healed as blood spurted out.

Whoosh–

     At that moment, Sun Yihan’s body absorbed those grains of light, and the strange flow of magic disappeared. The wound on his delicate, thin waist healed, though the lingering scar was enormous.

     I stroked at the area with my fingertips. Hot blood soaked my fingers, but I could feel new, soft skin underneath and a faint warmth.

     I bowed my head and placed it near Sun Yihan’s face; I could hear the quiet sounds of inhales and exhales. He breathed steadily.

     “…Yihan.” I called out, but my words trailed off when I received no answer. The red glow of the sunset pierced my eyes, but that light reflected the burning emotions I felt inside.

     Sun Yihan’s face was pale and buried in swathes of blood-covered cloth. I took off my own robe and used it to cover his body.

      Carefully, I gathered that faintly warm body into my arms. Then, and only then, did my heart seem to beat again.

      The sun had almost sunk out of the sky; a dark night seeped into the empty, clear air.

      “Let’s return together,” I said, voice laden with determination, as I firmly hugged Yihan. I quietly chanted the teleportation spell.

     At that moment, the wind blew forcefully around us, forcing my eyes shut due to wind pressure. When I opened my eyes again, I had arrived at our home.

     With Sun Yihan.

 

◇~◇~◇~◇~◇~◇

 

Clink–

     I could hear the sound of glass falling to the floor, shattering into many pieces. Three people looked my way with anxious eyes.

    “Raen Hyung-nim…? Sun Yihan?” Moon Joo-hyuk said, his voice trembling.

     Dusk had fully arrived. Urgent footsteps echoed through the large entrance hall on the first floor.

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