The gates opened slowly, stone grinding against stone.
Jiyul stepped inside the capital with the hare beside him.
The morning sun fell on his cloak, but his shadow stretched long across the streets.
People stopped walking.
Merchants paused mid-sentence.
Even horses went silent.
Whispers rose like a soft storm:
"Is that him…?"
"The mountain ghost…"
"The man who killed six guards…"
"He came back…"
Jiyul didn't look at any of them.
His eyes were fixed straight ahead, cold and steady.
I'm back, he thought.
And the world will not stay the same.
Daren and Selena Waiting at the Gate
Daren was pacing back and forth near the inner archway.
Selena leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching the crowds more calmly.
"You think he'll really come today?" Daren asked for the fifth time.
Selena didn't even blink.
"He said he will. And Jiyul doesn't lie."
Daren sighed.
"Yeah, but… he's Jiyul. Sometimes I feel like the whole kingdom shakes when he breathes."
Selena almost smiled.
"That's true."
Then the crowd suddenly split in half, like water moving away from a stone.
Selena stood straight.
Daren froze.
Jiyul walked toward them, cloak moving like a dark wave.
The hare followed quietly.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Daren broke into a shaky grin.
"You're alive."
Jiyul looked at him.
"…You registered my name."
Daren swallowed. "Yeah. The whole hall almost fainted."
Selena stepped forward. Her eyes softened slightly.
"You look different," she said.
Jiyul answered with a quiet, calm voice.
"I'm ready."
Selena nodded.
Daren felt goosebumps.
The capital was holding its breath again.
As they walked deeper into the city, a young noble in bright clothes stepped in front of them.
"So this is the wild dog the nobles hired," he sneered.
"Entering the tournament, are you? Try not to die in the first round."
Daren turned pale.
Selena's hand moved to her bow.
Jiyul didn't stop walking.
He passed the noble without looking at him.
But the noble kept talking:
"You're just mountain trash—"
Jiyul's footsteps stopped.
The noble froze.
The air around them grew so sharp it felt like knives touching skin.
Jiyul turned his head slightly.
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
"…If you don't move, you won't speak again."
The noble's breath broke.
He stumbled backward and ran into the crowd.
Selena exhaled slowly.
Daren whispered, "He didn't even look at him…"
Jiyul continued walking.
The Arena Preparing
The tournament arena stood in the center of the capital like a giant stone bowl, covered with flags and guards.
Workers hauled wood, sand, and iron.
Masters inspected the rings.
Students whispered guesses about who would win.
Somewhere in the stands, disguised figures watched with unnatural calm.
One had golden eyes.
One had silver hair.
One had wings hidden beneath a cloak.
A worker passed by and muttered to his friend:
"Strange… feels like gods themselves are walking around."
They weren't wrong.