There was a moment of silence after Rahel's explanation.
Her words still hung in the air inside the cave, causing some of the students to once again consider the possibility that this place was truly different from the world they knew.
Hana finally raised her hand slightly, as if still unsure whether her question was worth asking.
"Um… can I ask something?"
Rahel turned to look at her.
"What's the difference between the Murim world and a fantasy world?" Hana asked. "Aren't they both just other worlds?"
Rahel paused for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
"They are both other worlds," she replied. "But the way these two worlds work is clearly different."
"How so?"
"The world of magic relies more on spiritual power and the laws of reality, which are much more flexible." Rahel moved her hand slowly. "If someone has enough knowledge and power, they might be able to open a portal, manipulate time, or even summon something from another place."
Several students immediately exchanged glances.
"Seriously, it can go that far?"
Rahel simply nodded.
"Whereas Murim..."
"...centers on humans."
Erik finished her sentence.
Rahel turned to him, then let him continue.
"In that system, humans don't rely on magic to become strong." Erik spoke with more conviction this time. "They train their bodies, control their breath, strengthen their minds, and develop something called qi."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"They're still human. But they're humans who've been pushed to their limits—far beyond those of ordinary people."
A few students swallowed hard.
"So… are they like superhumans?" someone asked.
"More or less," Erik replied.
Rahel nodded slightly.
"And if we really are in a world like that..." Her gaze swept over the faces filling the cave. "Don't expect any shortcuts back home."
Silence fell once more.
"No spells. No magic door that suddenly takes us back."
Rahel took a breath.
"If we want to survive out there, there's one thing we have to do."
She looked at them seriously.
"Become stronger than the people trying to kill us."
Those words brought a tense silence. The sound of breathing was more distinct inside the cave. Several students swallowed hard, feeling a chill run down their spines.
At that very moment, Raven, who was sitting slightly apart, sensed something. A faint whisper—like a voice coming from nowhere—pierced her ears.
"Close… they… killll…"
The voice echoed, faint at first, then growing louder, tightening around her chest until she could barely breathe. Raven looked up, staring into the dark mouth of the cave, but there was nothing there.
Then the voice exploded inside her head, echoing endlessly.
"Kill."
"Kill."
"Kill."
"Kill them!"
Raven staggered, her hand clutching her forehead. The world felt like it was spinning, and cold sweat trickled down her temples. Her breathing was ragged, as if her brain were being forced to accept a mad, repeating melody.
"Ughh... what's that sound... damn it!"
Without a word, Raven stood up. His movement caused Hana, Karin, Kyle, and Lisa to turn their heads reflexively. Hana looked at him with a worried expression.
"What's wrong?" Hana asked softly.
Raven didn't answer right away. He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the sound that was still echoing in his head.
Then he stood up.
"Ah… I'm fine."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"I just want to step outside for a bit, get some fresh air."
Hana stared at her for a few seconds.
"Oh… okay. Be careful," Hana replied softly, trying to smile, even though her eyes looked deeper than usual.
There was something different about Raven's gaze just now. Eyes that usually gave a sense of security now seemed as cold as a starless night—deep and menacing, as if they could swallow someone whole. That strange sensation made the hairs on the back of Hana's neck stand on end without her realizing it.
Raven walked away, his back still visible to Hana. Behind him, the atmosphere remained silent, but Hana's heartbeat grew louder, like an uncontrollable drumbeat.
"Hana..."
Kevin's voice from her side made her start slightly.
Kevin stood a few steps away from her. He glanced briefly at Raven before turning his attention back to Hana, who still looked uneasy.
"Did something happen to Raven?"
Hana was silent for a moment. She didn't know how to answer.
"Um… nothing happened."
"Really?"
Kevin didn't sound pushy, but that brief question made Hana realize that her expression might have been too easy to read.
"It's just… I'm still not feeling well." Hana rubbed her own arm. "After everything that happened, I'm still a little scared. Maybe that's all."
Kevin nodded slowly. This time, he didn't ask about Raven again.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
For a few moments, they just sat in silence. The atmosphere between them began to feel a little awkward, while around them the voices of the students slowly became audible again. Some started talking to one another while still keeping their eyes on Rahel up front.
Kevin finally spoke up again.
"In that case, don't push yourself too hard."
Hana turned her head.
"If there's anything that makes you uncomfortable… just say so."
Hana looked at Kevin for a moment. She felt a little hesitant, but finally nodded.
"Okay. Thanks."
Hana exhaled slowly before standing up. Karin was sitting not far away with a few other students.
Without saying another word, Hana walked over to her.
Kevin remained where he was. His gaze followed Hana until she joined Karin.
Near the mouth of the cave, William sat leaning against the stone wall. The female guide who had been accompanying them sat not far from him. Both of them faced outward, watching the fog slowly drift among the trees.
For a moment, no one spoke.
"Huh…" William let out a long sigh. "I still don't understand why everything has changed so drastically."
The woman beside him looked down, fiddling with the hem of her now-dirty coat.
"Mr. William…" She hesitated briefly before continuing. "If what they said earlier is true… are we really trapped in another world?"
William didn't answer right away.
"I don't know."
He stared at the dark forest beyond the fog.
"But if that's the case, we have to find a way home. The important thing now… is that none of us lose hope."
The woman gave a small smile.
"The way you're talking is making me a little worried."
William turned his head.
"Why?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "It sounds like a character's last line before everything ends."
William was silent for a few seconds.
Then he chuckled softly.
"Wow, don't say that. I'm only twenty-six."
"Twenty-six?"
"Yeah."
The woman looked him up and down before giving a little laugh.
"I thought you were over thirty."
William immediately looked incredulous.
"Seriously? Does it show that much?"
"A little."
"That's really bad."
The woman chuckled again. For the first time since they'd entered the cave, her expression seemed a little lighter.
William smiled back before turning his attention to the students who were resting while listening to Rahel behind them.
"But seriously..." he said softly. "I'm scared, too."
The woman stopped smiling.
William continued, "But if we—the ones who are supposed to be guiding them—start panicking, they'll just get even more scared."
He looked at each of the students, who were still injured and exhausted.
"So at least… as long as I can still stand, I'll try to make them believe we still have a chance."
The woman was silent for a moment, then she held out her hand.
"In that case, let's do this together."
William looked at her hand, then gave a faint smile.
"Sure."
He shook her hand.
"Oh, by the way..." William turned his head. "Call me William."
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"William?"
He chuckled softly.
"It's better than being called 'Sir' all the time. It makes me seem way older."
The woman frowned briefly, then nodded.
"Ah, you're right."
"Right?" William smiled. "The students usually call me Mr. William. Even though I'm not that old yet. You went along with it just now, too."
The woman stifled a laugh, leaving William with no choice but to sigh in resignation.
"All right, William. I'm sorry about that."
"Thank you."
William let out a sigh of relief. For some reason, that simple conversation made the atmosphere between them feel a little lighter. The woman chuckled again, while William just shook his head slightly and smiled.
For a few moments, they just sat side by side, enjoying the small talk that felt a bit strange given the circumstances.
Then the woman said, "By the way, we've been talking for a while now, but I haven't introduced myself yet."
She turned to look at him.
"I'm Adriana. But people usually call me Riana."
"Riana..." William repeated softly. "Okay. I'll remember."
"Why repeat it?"
"So I don't forget."
"Do you forget things easily?"
William chuckled, but his smile slowly faded.
"It's not like that."
He lowered his gaze for a moment.
"After seeing everything that's happened… and watching people die right before our eyes, I just thought…" William paused for a moment, as if struggling to find the right words. "If one day we really can go back, at least I'll still be able to remember their names."
Riana fell silent.
"If no one remembers them, who will know they were ever here?"
William's thoughts returned to the driver who had died earlier. His chest felt tight as he recalled that the man's death had also resulted from a decision he'd made.
Riana noticed the change in his expression. She didn't need to ask to understand where William's thoughts were wandering.
"It's not your fault," she said softly.
William didn't answer.
"So don't get too far ahead of yourself." Riana tried to smile. "For now, we'd better focus on how to survive."
William let out a long sigh.
"Huh… yeah. You're right."
For a moment, they both smiled again.
At least, for a few minutes, they could forget that the world out there might be waiting for a chance to kill them.
But that calm didn't last long, because footsteps could be heard approaching from inside the cave.
William turned his head.
Raven's figure emerged from the shadows.
The young man walked slowly toward the cave's entrance. His face looked calm, but for some reason, that calmness felt different from before.
"Hey, Raven! Where are you going?" William called out.
Raven paused for a moment.
"I'm going to get some fresh air."
William nodded.
"Oh… in that case, let me—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Raven turned his head.
Their gazes met, and the moment they did, William fell silent.
For some reason, something felt off.
Raven's gaze still looked the same as usual, yet it also felt so different. There was no panic or hesitation in it. Only a calmness so profound that it made William unconsciously hold his breath.
Out of nowhere, a sense of dread suddenly spread throughout his body. His knees even felt weak, as if his own body refused to move in the face of that gaze.
Raven then continued walking.
"Don't bother, sir. I can go on my own."
Her voice was low and calm.
William just stood there, letting Raven pass him. A few steps later, Raven's figure began to be swallowed by the fog outside the cave.
Riana, who had been watching the whole time, finally turned to William.
"Is it really okay to let him go off alone like that?"
William didn't answer.
His gaze was still fixed on the spot where Raven had disappeared. For some reason, there was something about Raven's departure that made him feel uneasy.
"William?"
No answer.
Riana frowned and took a few steps closer.
"William."
Only then did he snap out of it. His throat felt dry as he finally looked away from the direction Raven had vanished.
"What's wrong?"
William didn't answer right away.
"I… don't know."
His hand rose to rub the back of his neck, while his thoughts remained fixed on Raven's gaze from earlier.
"That kid's gaze…" William trailed off.
Riana waited without interrupting.
"What?"
William swallowed hard.
"For some reason, it feels like..." He looked back at the fog outside the cave. "If I try to stop him, I'll regret it."
Riana fell silent.
The night breeze blew in through the cave's entrance, carrying a chill that sent shivers down their spines.
While they spoke, Raven's figure had completely vanished behind the fog.