The day of release finally came. The air was clear, and the sun glimmered faintly through the mist-covered forest. Dik, free from his confinement, walked beside Sen Ruyon as a small troop of palace soldiers escorted them back toward the main gate. The forest was peaceful—birds chirped, leaves rustled but something about the silence between the two men felt heavy.
For days they had shared warmth, laughter, and secrets that no one else knew. Yet both understood that the moment they stepped back into the palace, that fragile bond might crumble under duty and hierarchy.
Dik glanced at Ruyon. "When we go back, you'll pretend you barely know me, won't you?"
Ruyon smirked faintly. "If I don't, the general will have my head. But you'll still have my loyalty… even if I have to hide it."
Dik smiled sadly, but before he could reply, a sharp whistle cut through the air—then chaos.
Arrows rained down from the trees. Shadows leapt out from behind the rocks—masked assassins, swift and silent, surrounding the group. Swords clashed, horses neighed in terror, and cries of pain echoed through the forest.
"Protect the prince!" a soldier shouted.
But the attackers weren't after Dik. Their eyes were fixed on Sen Ruyon.
Ruyon unsheathed his blade in one fluid motion. "Stay behind me!" he yelled, slashing through two assassins. But for every one he struck down, two more emerged. He moved like lightning, yet exhaustion was creeping in.
Dik's heart pounded. He knew Ruyon couldn't fight them all. His mind raced—he needed to do something.
"Ruyon!" he shouted. "Take me as your hostage and run!"
Ruyon froze. "What? Are you insane?"
"Do it! They'll hesitate if you hold the prince. It's the only way out!"
There was no time to argue. Gritting his teeth, Ruyon grabbed Dik, pressing a blade to his throat—not hard enough to draw blood, just enough to make it convincing—and backed away through the trees.
"Don't come closer!" he barked at the soldiers. "I'll kill him if you follow!"
That's when Dik's elder brother, the crown prince, arrived on horseback, sword drawn and eyes blazing.
"Sen Ruyon!" he roared. "Release my brother!"
Ruyon's grip tightened slightly. "You think I'm a fool? If I let him go, I'll be dead before I take three steps."
"Ruyon, I swear—"
"Save your breath, Your Highness," Ruyon interrupted. "I do it my way."
Before anyone could move, he disappeared into the forest, carrying Dik in his arms.
The Cave of Refuge
Hours later, after losing the soldiers' trail, they stumbled into a vast cave hidden behind a waterfall. Both were breathless, soaked, and trembling with cold.
Ruyon laid Dik gently against the wall. "We'll stay here until it's safe," he said.
Dik caught his breath, looking at him with a faint smile. "Thank you for saving me."
Ruyon blinked, surprised. "You're thanking me? You're the one who saved me out there."
Dik tilted his head. "You think I didn't notice? That day when I fainted—you stayed with me all night, didn't you? You even gave me the medicine by…" He paused, blushing. "Well, by that way."
Ruyon stiffened. "You remember that?"
"How could I not?" Dik crossed his arms, his cheeks pink. "Just don't you dare tell anyone you kissed me. It'd be too embarrassing in court."
Ruyon laughed nervously. "You make it sound like I enjoyed it."
Dik raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you?"
"No!" Ruyon blurted, looking away, face burning. "You're wrong, I—" He stopped himself, staring at the ground as his voice trailed off.
For a long while, only the crackling of the small fire filled the silence. Outside, the rain had begun to fall, soft and rhythmic.
Finally, Dik spoke. "Let's leave. It's been quiet for too long."
Ruyon nodded, grateful for the distraction. Together, they made their way back toward the palace. Before stepping into the courtyard, Dik took a dagger and lightly cut his palm.
Ruyon's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
"If I'm supposed to be your hostage, I need to look the part," Dik replied simply, wrapping the wound with a strip of cloth.
Ruyon wanted to protest, but there was something in Dik's calm expression—a quiet strength—that stopped him.
In the Heavens Above
Far above the mortal realm, among the swirling clouds and golden light of the Heavenly Palace, two celestial beings watched everything unfold.
Dikun turned to the almighty god Dijun, his tone both weary and sharp. "Would you please explain why you still hate Dik?"
Dijun's golden eyes darkened. "I don't need to explain myself. You already know."
"You mean your unfated crush?" Dikun shot back. "You're still bound by a past you refuse to face. Why can't you see, my lord? Dik has never wronged you."
Dijun looked away. "He deceived me."
"No," Dikun said firmly. "He protected you."
Dijun frowned. "Stop this nonsense."
But Dikun stepped closer. "You remember the battle with Guran, don't you? The one where you passed out before the end?"
Dijun's voice hardened. "I remember enough."
"Then you remember wrongly," Dikun said. "Guran wasn't an ordinary warrior—he was a demon. A first-level demon in disguise. Dik discovered the truth mid-battle and defeated him alone. But instead of claiming glory, he stayed silent—because he didn't want to hurt you. You loved Guran once, didn't you? He didn't want you to suffer knowing the truth."
Dijun froze, eyes wide. "You're lying."
"I wish I were," Dikun whispered. "But I can't lie in the presence of the divine flame. Everything I said is truth."
Silence fell heavy in the celestial hall. The golden light dimmed around Dijun as the weight of realization sank in.
"He… he knew?" she whispered. "He knew all along, and still—"
Tears shimmered in her eyes. For ages, she had blamed Dik, punished him, cast him aside for what she thought was betrayal. Yet all along, he had borne the pain quietly—protecting her from a truth that would have broken her.
Dijun sank to her knees. "I treated him so cruelly," she said, voice trembling. "He never even defended himself…"
Dikun placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's endured six states of mortal emotion already—sadness, grief, happiness, aging, pain, and hunger. Only one remains—the seventh and most powerful."
Dijun looked up, her face streaked with divine tears. "Betrayal."
"Yes," Dikun said quietly. "When he feels that final emotion, his mortal journey will end—and he will ascend. But at what cost?"
Dijun's voice broke. "I won't let him face it alone."
She turned toward the mortal world below, where Dik and Ruyon stood side by side under the rain, unaware that the strings of fate were tightening around them.
As the thunder rolled through the clouds, Dijun whispered into the wind, a vow carried across realms:
"This time, Dik… I will not fail you again."
In the mortal releam
When Dik finally stepped into the palace courtyard, the golden sunlight filtered through the tall gates, bathing him in warmth. The chaos of the forest still echoed faintly in his mind, but the familiar scent of jasmine from the palace garden brought him a strange sense of peace.
Before he could take another step, a tall figure rushed toward him — his elder brother. The crown prince's eyes were filled with worry as he caught Dik's trembling hands.
"Dik…" he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. "Are you hurt? Did they treat you well? Tell me everything."
Dik smiled faintly, shaking his head. "I'm fine, Brother. I was just… scared for a moment. But I managed."
The crown prince's grip tightened gently around Dik's hand. "You shouldn't have gone through that alone." He pulled Dik into his arms, embracing him tightly. The warmth of that hug melted the lingering chill from the cave and the memories of fear.
"I'm proud of you," his brother said softly. "You were strong enough to face the danger and protect yourself. Father may scold, but he doesn't see what I see my little brother growing braver every day."
Dik blinked back tears, his heart swelling at the rare affection. "Brother… thank you. I just didn't want to cause you more trouble."
The crown prince laughed lightly and brushed Dik's hair back. "You're trouble itself, Dik. But you're my trouble and I wouldn't trade you for the world."