2
A quiet hillside road. The late afternoon sun casts golden hues over the winding path
Yuna
*Walks with determined steps, her backpack securely fastened, a sketchbook peeking out from the side*
Birds chirp in the distance, and the breeze carries the faint scent of earth and greenery
Hana
*Leans against the doorway, arms crossed, her expression firm*
Hana
You’re seriously going alone?
Yuna
*Tightens the strap of her bag and exhales*
Yuna
I need inspiration, Hana. The competition isn’t going to wait for me
Hana
*Raising an eyebrow, unimpressed*
Hana
And the palace will run away if you wait two more days?
Yuna
*Sighs, shaking her head*
Hana
*Watches her for a moment, then clicks her tongue in frustration*
Hana
Look, I get it. But can’t you just wait for me? I’ll be free this weekend—we can go together
Yuna smiles slightly, touched by her concern, but her mind is set
Yuna
I know, but I need to see it now. You know how my mind works—when I get an idea, I can’t sit still
Hana
*groans, throwing her head back*
Hana
You and your impulsive ideas…
Hana’s mom
*Walks over, holding out a bottle of water. She places a gentle hand on Yuna’s shoulder, her voice warm but firm*
Hana’s mom
Just promise me you’ll be back before dark
Yuna
*Takes the bottle, nodding with a small, grateful smile*
Hana watches her go, arms still crossed, a slight frown on her face
Hana
*Muttering to herself*
At least take a weapon or something…
Yuna
*Walks along the winding path leading to the foot of the hills*
The road is rough, and wildflowers peek through the cracks in the pavement
Yuna
*Wipes the sweat off her forehead but keeps going*
After nearly an hour of walking, she finally reaches her destination—and stops dead in her tracks
Before her stands the abandoned palace—a grand, ancient structure with towering pillars and intricate carvings
Though time has weathered its walls, its majesty remains. Sunlight filters through the broken windows, casting eerie patterns on the moss-covered stone floor
Vines have crept up the walls, reclaiming the structure, and fallen leaves rustle in the wind
Yuna
*Breath catches in her throat as she steps forward, eyes wide with awe*
Yuna
*Slowly runs her fingers over the cool stone of a pillar, taking in every detail—the craftsmanship, the forgotten history embedded in the cracks*
This was exactly the kind of inspiration she needed
Yuna
*Pulls out her sketchbook, flipping to an empty page, her fingers itching to capture the palace’s beauty*
But just as she’s about to start, she feels it—a presence
A strange, almost unshakable feeling that she’s not alone
Yuna
*Grips her pencil tighter, heart pounding*
Then—footsteps. The sound of someone moving
Yuna
*Spins around instinctively, her body moving before her mind catches up*
She raises her hand in defense, ready to strike—but freezes
Standing a few feet away is a boy
He looks just as startled as she is, his dark eyes widening slightly before he quickly composes himself
Yuna
*Takes a step back, studying him*
He’s not what she expected to find in an abandoned palace
He’s too well-dressed—a crisp white shirt, tailored coat, sleek black pants. Everything about him screams wealth
The kind of polished, effortless confidence that doesn’t belong in a place like this
For a moment, they simply stare at each other
Rowoon
*tilting his head,smirking slightly*
Didn’t know this place had a tour guide service
Yuna
*Narrows her eyes, instantly annoyed*
The tension in her shoulders eases, but her irritation spikes
Yuna
Didn’t know rich brats wandered into abandoned buildings for fun
His smirk widens. He looks almost… amused
Rowoon
*Hands on his chest*
Ouch. That’s no way to greet a fellow explorer
Yuna
*Scoffs, already disliking him*
Yuna
Fellow explorer? You don’t look like the type to get your hands dirty
Rowoon
*Chuckles, leaning casually against a pillar. His posture relaxed, completely at ease*
Yuna
*Doesn’t respond. Simply watches him, wary*
He lets out a small sigh, realizing she’s not going to ease up anytime soon. He shifts his stance and offers a small truce
Rowoon
Alright, let’s start over
Rowoon
*Extends a hand toward her, his eyes filled with curiosity*
Rowoon
What’s a determined young girl doing in a place like this?
Yuna
*Hesitates, still suspicious, but eventually sighs, deciding to answer*
Yuna
I’m here for inspiration. There’s a competition, and I need something… different
Rowoon
*Expression shifts slightly, intrigued*
Yuna
*Tilts her head, sensing something in his voice*
Rowoon
*Leans back against the stone, the smirk returning*
Rowoon
Because I’m interested in it too
Yuna blinks, caught off guard. Maybe—just maybe—he’s not as bad as he looks.
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