1314 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Woooooong---!! My heart resonated. Despite having little internal energy, my body reacted instinctively. It was too bizarre to categorize it as a sensory perception; it felt like my very soul was vibrating. '...What is this?' It was the presence of Tolly. Unbelievable. I had searched so hard and felt nothing, yet now it was suddenly so clear? ‘Why am I sensing this now?’ Could it be that just because I wished for it so earnestly, it came to be? The thought was slightly daunting. It would mean that his ancestors' advice was true. Sssssss-!!! I turned my body. I looked toward the direction where the energy emanated. Northwest. That was where the concentration of energy felt strongest. I pivoted my foot. ‘Should I go?’ I hesitated for a moment. The fact that I could sense Tolly in that direction was one thing, but I questioned whether it was wise to proceed immediately. ‘I doubt this is a trap, though.’ Narrowing my eyes. ‘Why am I hesitating?’ I questioned myself. I had been told that finding Tolly would resolve many issues. So why was I hesitating now? It's perplexing not to understand the source of his hesitation. ‘Indeed.’ I gathered strength in my legs. ‘I should go.’ I had to find him soon. Only then could I hope to break through this damnable situation. Determined to move forward, I paused momentarily. “...” After scanning my surroundings, I mouthed words into the air. “Dark King.” “What is it?” “...” The response came immediately from nearby. I called out just to check, not expecting him to actually be right next to me. “...How long have you been there?” I asked, startled, and the Dark King answered calmly. “Not sure. Probably right after you finished talking with Young Lady Mi.” “...” So he had been unnoticed since that moment. A complete lack of presence could be quite the curse. “So, why did you call?” “Well... it's just that.” “Looks like you have somewhere else to be.” “...” Feeling guilty for being answered even before speaking, I wondered. ‘...Maybe I've been using him too much?’ The Dark King’s ability was so exceptional that I had often asked for assistance. The Dark King didn't seem bothered, but it still subtly nagged at me. “...Uhm... Yes. I have a favor to ask.” “The location?” “Northwest, but... it’s not precise.” “Heading there now?” “I would appreciate it if it’s possible.” “Just you?” “Just me.” “Understood.” The easy agreement came without hesitation. Since the first meeting, I had realized this man was unexpectedly accommodating. Whenever I asked for favors, they were seldom refused. Perhaps he wasn’t as cold and ruthless a man as he seems, he thought suddenly. “...Thank you, then.” The Dark King nodded at his words. Huuuuuk-! Instantly, a black barrier emerged, enveloping both of us. * * * As the barrier vanished, their environment transformed. They were no longer in the hideout. Their exact location was unclear, as was the distance traveled. “How much further do we need to go?” “...Hold on a moment.” He looked towards where a red moon ascended in the sky, once again invoking his instincts. Woooong-!!! “I think we need to cover the same distance we've just come.” We moved again through the barrier, repeating the process—landing, checking, landing, and checking. In terms of time, after about fifteen minutes, something felt strange. “The distance isn’t getting any shorter.” “...Yes.” Despite having traveled a considerable distance, the sense of proximity didn’t change. Even after covering so much ground, the distance remained unyielding. ‘What is this?’ It was strange. The location was definitely correct, so why wasn’t the distance decreasing? As I furrowed my brow in suspicion, the Dark King spoke to me. “Perhaps, it is not a problem of distance.” “Not a problem of distance?” “There is a chance something is causing an anomaly.” “...!” My eyes widened at those words. An anomaly, in simple terms meant. 'A boundary of sorcery or an enchantment.' It indicated that the issue might not be purely distance-related. Hearing this, I used my remaining energy to activate his sixth sense. I directed my gaze northwest. As expected, nothing was visible. 'Then.' Since I could feel Tolly's presence in my heart, I concentrated there. Spreading threads of sorcery, I focused all my senses. Sssssss-!! The threads diffused and wrapped around my heart, probing deeper to find the source of the presence. Then. “...” Energy that emanated from my body seemed to indicate something. ‘There it is.’ I pinpointed where the energy was directing. It was not actually northwest. ‘More to the left.’ The distance had been distorted. Once I felt sure, I informed the Dark King. “I found it.” After identifying the location, I asked the Dark King to adjust their direction, and they moved once again. After a further journey, reassessing the distance confirmed. ‘Perfect.’ I could definitely feel the gap narrowing. Assured, he proceeded to close the distance methodically. With each step closer, I identified something peculiar. “...This,” It seemed, “It's a path I've walked before.” It felt like a place I'd visited at least once. Was it a mistake? No, it wasn't. Any doubt was dispelled by the words the Dark King spoke to me. “There is something around here. My ability isn’t functioning properly.” “...” The closer they got, the less effective his abilities became. With this confirmation, I was certain. “...Looks like we should walk from here without using abilities. Will you come along?” “Lead the way.” I stepped lightly. Approaching the cliff's edge, I leapt. The Dark King followed me. Below lay ruins. ‘As I thought.’ It appeared. ‘Muah is nearby.’ Where he sensed Tolly seemed to be in Muah's vicinity. This was indeed the space associated with Muah. The same location I had visited previously. I landed on the ground and sprinted forward. Removing the strings that encircled my heart, I activated my sixth sense again. Now I understood the nature of the strangeness the Dark King had mentioned. ‘He had already extended his roots around these parts.’ It was apparent that the area was barricaded with a sorcerous formation to prevent easy passage. No wonder the location was elusive. With such intricate defenses, it would be nearly impossible for others to enter. ‘Except someone like me.’ Thanks to his enhanced perception, I knew the path. I could discern sorcery, allowing me to pinpoint the location. ‘Around here.’ I maneuvered left, adjusting my direction, and followed the trail leading me to Tolly. Finally, I arrived at the destination pointed out by his instincts. “Here.” Reaching the spot, I concentrated force in his hand. Channeling energy into my fingers, my heightened senses revealed the tightly-knit sorcery structure. It wasn't much different from last time. I moved his hand, subtly disrupting the magic. Just two simple motions were enough to unravel the barrier. It was as if the air itself seemed to ripple away. That was all it took. Woooong-!!! “……” The Dark King’s eyes widened slightly as the space before them shed a thin layer like an eggshell, revealing what lay within. “...Whew.” It was the same place he had once seen Muah reside. The area with foliage, a pond, and an artificially constructed field. I stepped into it. The Dark King attempted to follow. Chiiiiiik-!! “Huh?” “Hmm.” A burning scent emanated from the Dark King. Turning back, he saw him holding a hand from which smoke rose. “...What?” “It does not accept me.” “Pardon?” “I cannot enter.” Hearing this, I reactivated my perception. The sorcery was deactivated, or so it seemed, but yet the Dark King couldn't proceed? ‘What is this?’ It suggested that the issue wasn’t with sorcery. Which meant... ‘...A power.’ It indicated the presence of an ability. Was it Muah’s, or someone else's? Though the answer eluded me, the Dark King couldn't enter. ‘Should I try using Tam?’ If it came to power, I figured I might be able to consume it with Tam. “Please wait here. I’ll return shortly.” i decided not to bring the Dark King, knowing that Muah and my mother were inside. “Understood.” With the Dark King’s response, I entered. In the distance, Muah came into view. I walked steadily towards him, my connection to Tolly feeling ever stronger. “Why is it here?” Assuming Tolly was indeed here, why was it in Muah’s vicinity? Pondering this while approaching, “Oh oh.” A voice reached me. ‘This is…’ It was Tolly’s voice. My steps picked up pace. Knowing it was nearby, I hastened. The presence was just ahead, and my senses confirmed it clearly. “How about this?” As the voice grew near, I rounded the back of Muah and saw him. “You...” “Oh?” I could see Tolly. I turned my widened eyes towards him. “Dad.” The young boy who resembled myself at that age. Tolly spotted me and beamed a bright smile. It was indeed him. Up to that point, everything was just fine. “...Oh.” The problem was Tolly was nestled in someone's arms. And that someone was... “...Father… no, Young Master Gu?” “...” Gu Cheolun, who had turned into an Apostle. My father was holding Tolly and seemed to be preoccupied with something. What was he doing with those hands? Was that... ‘...Cat’s cradle?’ An unexpected cat's cradle. It was an inexplicable pairing to say the least.