The forest trembled at the near arrival of the strange figure
The monstrous primal human collapsed to one knee. The impact shook the earth, scattering leaves and dust into the air.
Siheon's body began to glow with the systems giving warning signs
The human tried to rise—but its body convulsed.
The figure's aura had overridden it, disrupting whatever force animated it.
Seraphina stared in disbelief.
"what is coming " she said.
He exhaled shakily. "I don't… know. I can't think, but the presence is seeming oddly familiar "
The primal human roared, but it was weak
—then he suddenly froze.
A shadow fell over the battlefield.
The air tightened.
The temperature dropped.
Even the broken human trembled.
A voice echoed behind Siheon.
Seraphina gasped and grabbed Siheon's arm.
The creature—still half-alive—began to disintegrate, its body breaking into light fragments as if being recalled forcibly.
Seraphina asked" what is happening?"
Siheon replied,
"The Fear of the newcomer"
Siheon turned, and there he was:
A tall man with white hair glowing faintly, robes shifting with ancient patterns, eyes older than time itself.
Azelon.
With a simple glance, he had erased the monster entirely.
The last fragment of the creature dissolved into dust… and the forest fell silent.
Azelon stepped forward, his calm gaze fixed on Siheon.
"You've awakened earlier than expected… Baek Siheon."Seraphina's breath caught.
"How—how does he know your name…?"
Siheon didn't answer. His eyes narrowed.
This guy… he feels familiar. Why?
The stranger took one step forward, and the ground subtly cracked beneath his foot. Not because of weight—because of pressure.
Siheon instantly put an arm in front of Seraphina.
"Stay behind me."
She blinked at him. "I'm not helpless, you know—"
"I know," he said. "But he's on a different level."
For a moment, Seraphina felt heat rise in her chest—anger mixed with something else—but the fear of the unknown figure quickly replaced it.
The stranger raised a hand as though greeting an old friend.
"I have been waiting for you to fully awaken, 'Bearer of the Twin Shadows.'"
Siheon stiffened.
"…I don't know what you're talking about."
The man actually chuckled softly.
"You always did like pretending."
His gaze sharpened.
"Tell me, do you still dream of fire… and wings?"
Siheon's heart lurched.
He did.
Nightmares of a battlefield bathed in heavenly light. Wings—black and white—ripped apart. Names he didn't understand echoing in his head.
Seraphina saw the look in his eyes and whispered, "Siheon… what is he talking about?"
"I don't know," he said quietly.
And it was true.
Or maybe… he was afraid to know.
The stranger slowly lowered his hand.
"You were chosen long before this world learned to speak. You were forged from divinity and rebellion. You are—"
"Enough," Siheon snapped, surprising even himself.
Seraphina's eyes widened slightly at his sudden hostility.
The stranger's smile faded.
"…So the shadow inside you is still resisting."
Siheon suddenly felt his chest constrict as if invisible chains were wrapping around him. He staggered.
Seraphina rushed forward. "Siheon!"
The white-haired figure's voice echoed through the trees.
"Yes. Just like before. The more you resist, the more it tightens. This is your nature—your curse."
Siheon forced himself upright, teeth clenched.
"Who are you?"
The man looked almost disappointed.
"Names…" he murmured, "have always been fragile things. But you may call me Azelon."
Siheon's vision sharpened.
The name pulled at something buried in his mind—something ancient and dangerous.
Azelon's expression softened with a strange nostalgia.
"We walked the first skies together. Before the great war. Before the fall. Before you—"
"I said enough!"
A burst of black aura exploded from Siheon's body.
Seraphina's hair whipped back from the shockwave as shadows coiled around Siheon's arms like living flames.
Azelon looked pleased.
"Ah. There it is."
Seraphina stepped forward, her sword glowing with silver aurora-like energy.
"That's enough from both of you! I don't care if you're a celestial, a demon, or something in between—anyone hurting Siheon will deal with me."
Azelon's eyes drifted toward her, and for the first time, he looked almost… confused.
"A mortal… standing between him and me?"
His eyebrow lifted. "Interesting. That should be impossible."
Seraphina glared. "Try me."
Azelon studied her for a long, quiet moment.
Then he simply said:
"You are not ordinary."
Seraphina blinked. "Uh… thanks?"
"That was not a compliment," Azelon replied.
Siheon felt the shadows around him flicker as he tried to contain them.
"What do you want?" he demanded.
Azelon's gaze returned to him, full of a heavy fate Siheon didn't want to acknowledge.
"I came to remind you," he said calmly, "that time is running short. Your other self will wake soon. And when it does… nothing will stop the convergence."
Siheon frowned. "My… other self?"
Azelon smiled sadly.
"You were born of two beings who were never meant to coexist. Light and shadow. Creation and rebellion. Heaven and Hell."
Seraphina froze.
"You mean—"
"Yes," Azelon said. "His bloodline is forbidden."
Siheon felt a sharp pain in his head—memories trying to surface.
Azelon began walking backward into a shining distortion of space.
"When the time comes, Baek Siheon… you must choose a side. Or both worlds will burn."
Seraphina called out, "Wait! Don't go—!"
Azelon's final words echoed:
"And when you struggle… remember this:
You are feared for a reason. Even the heavens once trembled at your name."
And with that, he vanished.
The forest went silent again.
Only the sound of Siheon's uneven breathing remained.
Seraphina rushed to his side. "Siheon! Are you okay? Talk to me!"
He didn't answer.
Because deep inside him, something whispered—
"We are not complete."
Siheon clenched his fists.
Seraphina placed a hand on his arm gently.
"Siheon… you're not alone, okay? Whatever he meant… we'll figure it out together."
Her voice steadied him.
Siheon exhaled slowly.
"Yeah. Together."
But in the depths of the forest, a pair of unseen eyes watched them.
And smiled.