Chapter 2

The seventh night after the failed sabotage of the military map,

I was ordered to follow Sina to the western front.

No one said anything.

But I knew: this wasn’t a simple reconnaissance mission.

No one brings a whole medical team and temporary field tents just to “check the situation.”

Unease lingered in every hoofbeat as the horses tread forward.

I sat in the back of the supply truck, my hand never leaving the hidden knife tucked inside my coat.

Umi rode ahead, silent as ever—cold, composed, as if war was just another habit like breathing.

And Sina…

He sat straight, posture carved from iron.

But today, his gaze wasn’t lifted to the sky.

It was fixed… forward.

We stopped at Black Ravine—the place where our vanguard had gone silent four days ago.

And that’s when I saw him.

---

A man stood alone…

surrounded by corpses.

The wind stirred his black cloak like smoke.

He was young.

So young I mistook him for a lost boy.

Long dark hair spilled over his shoulders, tousled.

His face—unreal in its beauty—

Pale skin that glowed under the moonlight, and eyes as deep as a bottomless pit.

When he turned to look at us,

I forgot how to breathe.

Not from fear.

But because that kind of beauty… didn’t belong to this world.

> “Hello, Sina.”

His voice was low. Gentle. Like honey being poured.

But there was something in it… that made my spine go cold.

Sina stepped forward, shielding us.

> “Vũ.” — He called.

No “Your Majesty.”

No “enemy.”

Not even “Demon King.”

Just a name.

A single, ordinary word.

But when it left Sina’s mouth, the air turned heavier.

Vũ smiled. A faint, unreadable curve of the lips.

> “It’s been a while. Still clutching that light like a child’s toy?”

I froze.

This was the Demon King?

The one who had lived for centuries?

The ancient darkness that once tore the old world apart?

I couldn’t believe it.

He was… too beautiful.

So beautiful, it made me question everything I’d ever called righteous.

> “And you,” – Vũ turned to me,

“The one by Sina’s side… but with a soul that doesn’t belong there.

Do you really think you’re standing in the light, Bell?”

I went cold.

He knew my name.

> “Since when have you been watching me?” – I tightened my grip on the knife.

Vũ lifted his hand, just slightly.

And suddenly—the air around me collapsed.

I fell, trembling, blood spilling from my nose.

I didn’t even know why.

Sina stepped in front of me instantly, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of true killing intent in his eyes.

> “Stop it.”

Vũ chuckled softly.

> “Relax. I was just saying hello.

This child… has such a beautiful heart, Sina.

But it’s rotting.”

> “I won’t let you touch what’s mine.” – Sina hissed.

> “Yours?” – Vũ laughed—really laughed, for the first time.

“Look at that. The light of humanity… knows how to hold on now?”

No one moved.

And in that moment,

I saw it clearly—

Sina wasn’t eternal light.

He was a lone lamp… standing before the abyss named Vũ.

And I…

I was a moth caught between two flames—

One warm.

The other, beautiful enough to destroy.

The air froze, as if the sky itself held its breath.

Every arrow was nocked.

Every blade, ready.

But no one dared strike first.

No one wanted to be the one to touch the shadow standing in the ravine—

Vũ, the Demon King.

And then—

> “I’m only joking.” – he said, like a breeze across frozen water.

A pale smile curved on his lips.

He tilted his head, fingers brushing away a few strands of wind-blown hair.

> “Killing someone drowning in inner turmoil is never fun.

You have to let them believe they had a choice—

Then rip it all away.”

He turned, his black cloak swirling behind him.

> “Sina… you’re still gentle. But you can’t hold on forever.”

> “When light tries to embrace the mire…

it’s the light that eventually gets pulled under.”

His figure vanished behind the cliff.

No soldier dared to follow.

No one even breathed.

Vũ’s presence was like a poison wind—weightless, but reeking of death.

---

Sina stood still long after Vũ left.

His hand clenched so tightly, his knuckles turned white.

He said nothing.

Then turned to me.

> “You okay?”

I wiped the blood from my nose, nodded.

Why do you care?

I betrayed you.

I sabotaged everything I could.

I planted distrust behind your back.

I… didn’t understand anymore.

---

Back at camp, I was told to rest.

But I couldn’t sleep.

Vũ’s eyes kept replaying in my head—

Beautiful. Deep. Cold.

He knew me.

He said my name.

He saw the fracture inside me—

The one Sina always saw, but never spoke of.

And I realized…

I feared him.

Not because of his power.

But because he understood me… better than I did.

---

That night, Umi came to my tent.

She didn’t ask anything about Vũ.

Just left a small jar of healing balm and turned to go.

I spoke—

as an excuse to make her stay:

> “Have you met him before?”

She paused.

> “Yes.” — her voice quiet.

> “It felt like being stripped bare.

Like everything you’ve ever tried to hide was laid out for him to see.

And he just… smiled.”

I shivered.

> “I’m not afraid of him.” – I lied.

Umi turned around.

Her eyes pierced through me.

> “But you’re afraid of becoming him.”

I was speechless.

---

I didn’t answer.

Because…

I couldn’t deny it.

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