Following the Mark

The leather-bound book felt heavy in Seung's hands, anchoring him in place. Shadows seemed to creep closer, thickening the darkness of the forest around them. His mind spun, struggling to make sense of the demon's cryptic words, and he swallowed hard. "Celestials?" The very idea seemed absurd, but the electric jolt he'd felt the moment he touched the book was all too real.

Jaemin was the first to break the silence, his voice strained with barely contained panic. "What does he mean by... Celestials?" he asked, eyes darting from Seung to the demon with a frantic intensity. Jiwon, still unsteady, clung to Seung for support, her breath hitching as confusion and fear warred on her face.

"Quiet," Seung muttered, eyes fixed on the masked demon. Trusting the creature was out of the question, but he needed answers. "You called us Celestials. Why? What does that mean?"