CHAPER 0.1

He observed the city's sunrise from the top floor of the building, the atmosphere frigid as the sun gradually ascended. From this vantage point, he had a commanding view of the entire city below him. The dense fog shrouded the streets, obscuring everything from sight, yet the towering buildings pierced through the mist with their imposing height. The clouds descended, now covering the uppermost floors of the colossal structures. Despite the building he stood on reaching only halfway up the nearby skyscraper, he remained unfazed, finding solace in the breathtaking view that momentarily eased his troubled mind.

And of course, how could he forget to take a photograph to capture the striking urban landscape? This way, he could reveal the beauty in something so commonplace, perhaps because it might be the last time he witnessed something like this.

It was very early to be awake at dawn, wondering when she developed the habit of rising so early. She questioned herself, unsure if she suffered from insomnia or if she woke up due to nightmares. Not just any nightmares, but ones that reflected her trauma from what happened seven months ago. She had been awake for several minutes from 6:00 am to 6:57 am, the sun already reaching its peak to illuminate the entire city.

While wandering around the terrace with a preoccupied mind, she was interrupted by a call that broke her thoughts. The call was from a friend named Zach Abendroth.

He was a friend from a distant place, their friendship beginning years ago when she was just 15. It started with a friend request link, and over the years, they communicated through messages, calls, and even video calls, sharing their personal lives and unique preferences to build trust in each other. Zach was seen as a great friend, someone who she liked and who supported her despite the distance that separated them – always there for her. In his hometown, he was known for getting into trouble or acting foolish to attract attention, even becoming familiar to school administrators and town guards. She described him as someone quite ordinary.

-"Good morning, Ally. I have to inform you about what happened yesterday, and you won't believe it. There was a blackout throughout the town; all mobiles wouldn't turn on. The most alarming part was that a fire broke out in a section of the forest. Seriously, things got crazy."

-"I haven't heard any reports of an environmental fire on the news. Did that really happen?"

Of course, she wasn't going to believe it so easily.

-"That would explain why you weren't online yesterday. I thought maybe your mom confiscated your phone because she found out you did something you shouldn't have."

-"Ha-ha-ha, of course you don't believe me. You should pay attention before starting your journey, making sure the route you take is safe. You're headed to the same town where I live; you told me that yourself in a previous call. I assure you, you won't expect much from this place, and that's why I'll be the first to welcome you."

-"I'd like to verify that. Maybe the Woodland Haven where I'm moving is a different one."

Descending the stairs toward her apartment, she felt a mix of excitement and curiosity hearing what her friend had just shared. Does he really care about her so much? Despite being miles apart, he's there through thick and thin. She doubted that fate would bring them together in the same place, but what if she had moved to a different location? Either way, he would be with her, even if they were physically distant, their connection always maintained through social media.

"Just so you know, there's only one Woodland Haven, and don't be misled by its description. The reason it was named that way is because it boasts such a majestic wooded environment that it seems otherworldly. It's also a tourist area and known for multiple rumors, often referred to as the Bermuda Wood. I thought you might find that interesting."

Upon entering her room, she noticed it was nearly empty, with only her bed without sheets, a desk, and her boxes and suitcases tucked away in a corner. She was aware that this room would soon be occupied by a family member, her older sister, who would use it as a spacious study to store her university materials.

She acknowledged that her presence had become a burden for her family. Avoiding the outside world due to the city's negative impact on her well-being led to missed classes out of fear of being associated with the tragedy. This discomfort weighed heavily on her, and she wondered how she ended up in such a deplorable state. Her parents insisted that the move she was about to make would benefit her by distancing her from an environment that brought much calamity. She knew she had to overcome it, but her fragile mind struggled to find the courage.

She herself acknowledged that she had become a burden to her family. She didn't want to be that, but her state of avoiding the outside world and the city that brought her unpleasant moments led her to skip classes. She feared being accused of being part of the tragedy, something that would make her feel extremely uncomfortable. She wondered how she ended up in such a deplorable state and wished she had the courage to overcome it, but her fragile mind struggled. Her parents reassured her that the move she was about to make would benefit her by distancing her from an environment that brought much calamity. She knew she had to overcome it.

Now, she had to adopt an attitude that conveyed everything was fine with her. Despite not being alone in Woodland, with Zach to encourage and support her, she needed to appear positive for him. She didn't want to disappoint or worry her best friend.

"You know, Zach, when I arrive in Woodland, I would love for you to show me around the town, introduce me to its best places, and take me to that famous Bermuda Wood. You'll be my tour guide."

-"I'll be there. It will be my pleasure to be your guide. Well, I have to say goodbye now, or my mom will go ballistic if I'm not there for breakfast. See you later."

Upon ending the call, her demeanor began to deteriorate. The smile that lit up her face during the conversation with her friend had vanished, replaced by a state of depression. Something was clearly bothering her, and she feared the unexpected.

In that moment of solitude, her father entered – Park Il-Seong, dressed for an outing and holding a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Hye. I see you're already dressed. The moving truck has arrived; we'll start packing after you finish breakfast. Your mother was calling you from your room, but you didn't answer. Were you upstairs?"

It was common for her to leave and then enter the apartment stealthily, ignoring those around her. She also forgot to greet her parents. A lack of manners, especially within her family.

-"Yes, I was upstairs."

That was her response to conclude her father's question, but now it was her turn to ask.

-"Dad, do you think things will be okay? I've been thinking, and I don't want to deceive myself, but no matter where I go, I feel like something bad might happen. I don't know if this move will help me get through it."

-"Hye, I have to tell you that things will be fine, and don't worry. Your mother, your siblings, and I will be there for you. You need to know that we're taking measures to help you get better. You won't be alone."

Paternal words, how long can they last? Not forgetting them, even if they're for a compliment or an event, but depending on the actions taken, they might not endure for much time. Just accepting their words, assuring you that everything will be okay, yet something feels amiss. What more can they offer to keep hope alive?

Everything was ready; the boxes and some furniture were loaded onto the truck, the car was ready to go. The entire Park family was outside the apartment building, with Ally's younger brother, Park Jin, already inside the car, eager to start the journey. Park Hee, the older sister, was helping their mother, Park Suni, to arrange some additional boxes, while their father was talking to the truck driver. Meanwhile, Ally hurried to bring the last suitcases when her mother approached her with news: someone wanted to say goodbye to her. As she turned the corner, Ally spotted Song Hyeon, unmistakable with his handmade scarf from his grandmother, casually leaning against the lamppost.

He approached where Hyeon was waiting for him at the street corner, away from Ally's family, with the intention of having a private chat.

-"Hello, Ally. I see you and your family are moving somewhere, but I wonder where."

Sung Hyeon was the sarcastic guy who stood out in class due to his high grades, but despite that, his attitude started to change after the death of his younger brother, Sung Kwan. He looked at Ally with a judgmental gaze. Because of this, Ally began to avoid his face not only because of how he looked at her but also because she felt guilty. However, she wasn't going to stay silent just because he was judging her now.

-"It's just me moving; my family is just accompanying me. But I don't think that's why you came to say goodbye, right? If there's something you want to say, just say it."

She started to gather the courage to look him in the eyes, wanting to stand firm in this moment. The atmosphere felt tense for both of them.

-"I just found out you're moving to Woodland Haven, and the reason is that your parents chose this place."

-"My parents chose it, and it's just a five hours trip to get away from all that."

-"I should have figured that out, but saying goodbye to you is not just to judge you but also to wish you luck."

In that moment, Sung Hyeon handed her what seemed like an amulet, and then he turned around, concluding with a few words.

-"Before you say anything, that's what he would have wanted. I see you still have it, so wear it, and you'll have luck on your side. Safe travels."

She watched as Hyeon walked away, tucking the amulet away. Later, she headed towards the car. Inside, she took the left seat with a clear view of the window. Her older sister, Park Lee, was seated around her, and everyone was already in the car. The car pulled forward, and the truck followed behind. This time, she felt nervous.

-"Hey, what did Hyeon say? It looks like he gave you something."

-"He wished me a safe journey and just wished me luck. He didn't give me anything."

The journey begins towards a destination where a new life in a town with a notable name awaits. Adeline is ready to face whatever destiny has in store for her.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the city, a bird of prey observed Adeline's departure. It began to soar into the sky, reaching the highest point before disappearing as if through teleportation.

In another location...

In a wooded area, Seun stood on a tree branch, armed with a sword and a firearm strapped to his back. His hands gripped a dagger, and he remained alert, focusing on his energy flow. He sensed the presence of the person he was waiting for, the guest who looked human but wasn't. Their eyes betrayed their otherworldly nature, instilling fear. Their imposing presence indicated that they were someone dangerous.

-"You took your time; I've been waiting for you for 15 minutes. Did you manage to gather any clues from his parallel?"

He landed on the ground and took steps forward.

-"Not enough. I've been tracing the meeting points where the clan members crossed paths, and there were no signs that he was part of it. I didn't notice anyone taking on his appearance. However, I did find an abandoned mansion, and it seems he was there with someone a few hours ago."

-"So, with whom?"

-"I couldn't detect it clearly, but the individual seemed to exude a essence of darkness. Just in case, I have a list of some clan members who may possess the power of darkness. Perhaps one of them is on his side."

-"So, he has subordinates on his side, right? I doubt that person is an ally of his. Knowing him, that thing works alone. Still, it's possible he's trying to manipulate him for something he wants, despite being infiltrated as a member of some clan in this area, and we still don't know which one."

The leads he obtained earlier suggested that he could be involved with some clan, present in places where clan members had been before. Since arriving in this area, he had to navigate through zones connected to where he was last detected, searching for five weeks.

Additionally, he learned that there were mercenary groups with the objective of capturing the "unworldly," as named by the elite of this country. They considered him impure, but with his free will, he was seen as a threat to the world's system. There were two factions within these mercenaries, one aiming to kill him due to the perceived threat he posed, and the other wanting him alive, both sharing a common goal, possessing him as a weapon.

But in Seun's case, he wanted him dead, leaving nothing behind. He had a purpose to fulfill, dating back a few years, and he wasn't going to let it go to waste.

At that moment, the bird of prey appeared and perched on Seun's shoulder. This bird was his messenger, and this time it carried news. It began to relay the information through telepathy.

-"I see. Null."

The bird utters these words as it begins to disintegrate until it vanishes.

-"It's approaching. Whatever happens, you must keep him under your control."

-"What are you talking about? Who's coming?"

-"You'll know when he arrives. But for now, we have to find the unworldly. Whatever it is, it must not fall under the control of others."

Seun starts his journey, distancing himself from his companion. He needs to be ready to adapt plans and pass through the town of Woodland Haven. Previously, he had a hunch and testimonials indicating that the unworldly had been seen in this populated area, still pretending to be an ordinary person. His goal is to find the individual with dark powers.