'I don't trust him.'

'It's a lie.'

'Don't fall for it.'

'People are the same.'

'It's going to happen all over again.'

'I can't trust anyone. Especially not when—'

Many thoughts had crossed Han Donghoon's mind as he gripped onto Cale's shoulders while they were flying away from the station.

He knows he's useful. He's extremely skilled for someone at the beginning of scenarios, and his skills will only continue to grow. But Donghoon does not like being used, especially without his own will.

Although he was under the hypnosis, his mind remembered every horrid moment. He could still feel the rope tightly binding him in place, a rough fabric clasping his nose and mouth as he struggled against his captors before his mind slowly becomes hazy.

After that, he was out of touch from reality. His body moving without following his command. To him, not having control over his own limbs felt unsettling and absolutely terrifying, as if somebody else had possessed him and he's forced to watch everything at the front seat without being able to do anything than simply exist.

Then Cale appeared, using the same method of clasping his nose and mouth. Except this time, Donghoon felt his body returning to him.

This stranger had claimed that he will kill the prophets for him, and obviously, the boy is smart enough to be wary.

'I'll follow him to get out of here and finally escape.'

That was his plan. To run away from Dongmyo Station, this unknown man, and everything else. He's going to survive on his own because no one can be trusted.

Then he spotted two other people, and the gears in his head began turning.

Was this planned? Did they plan to just take him and go? Why?

He knows he's a bit more capable than others, but it was still not a proper reason to go out of their way for him, especially since his abilities aren't exactly known by a lot of people.

Did these people look for him simply because they heard rumors of it? That's stupid.

But he was unable to express his thoughts. Not when Cale suddenly swayed and coughed violently.

Both of their grips on each other has loosened in surprise, but thankfully, the girl his age quickly caught him.

Donghoon's eyes widened, watching the sight with shaking pupils.

The stoic man was spilling out blood, and the other two urgently called out his name non-stop.

Meanwhile, the boy can only stand there, frozen. His mind turning into a jumbling mess in an instant.

Blood. There was so much blood.

He didn't say anything, even as they rushed into an unknown place he knew nothing about.

Once the group arrived in Gumho Station, another series of chaos ensued upon catching the sight of an unconscious and bloodied Cale. Yoo Joonghyuk thought that this might even rival the mess when people are going through main scenarios.

Upon hearing the commotion, Kim Namwoon got out of the tent, his body completely healed by the potions and people with healing related skills then he quickly approached them, glaring daggers at Yoo Joonghyuk. But his face instantly paled after seeing the man on his back.

"Hyung!" He exclaimed, eyebrows furrowing and his eyes widening in horror.

He observed Na Bori and the new stranger before his gaze landed on Yoo Joonghyuk. However, there was no hatred in them, only concern and anger that no one understood where it had come from.

"Did he use his ability?" Namwoon asked lowly, his tone serious and demanding for answers.

"He did," Na Bori replied breathlessly instead, also in the same state of emotion as him.

"Damn it. I told him not to use it already!" The teen managed to hold himself back from exploding, gritting his teeth as he dug his nails into his palm.

"Are you saying he knew about the consequences of using his own powers?" This time, Joonghyuk spoke up. His monotonous voice laced with confusion and interest.

Namwoon was silent for a moment, sending the man a skeptical look before sighing. "Yeah. He also coughed up blood last time when we were running away from the poisonous fog, said it was the recoil of his power."

Meanwhile, Han Donghoon could only stare at Cale's back, not uttering a single word.

He doesn't understand.

Did this man... went ahead with a purpose to save him? But why?

'Why let yourself go through troubles for someone you don't even know?'

Is it simply to get information? Because Donghoon was absolutely sure that there are many other ways to do that, but this person chose to get hurt just to rescue him instead.

He doesn't understand, and he wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"Give him to me."

The white haired boy's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Kim Namwoon held out his arms towards Yoo Joonghyuk, prepared to carry Cale.

The silent man barely glanced at the gesture before responding,

"... I can do it."

"I can do it too!"

"And?"

"What do you mean 'and?' I said I'll do it, so just give him to me!"

"Why?"

"Because I don't trust you!"

Yoo Joonghyuk ignored him, and everyone else was sure that Kim Namwoon is going to be the first to throw the punch this time.

"Hey!" Na Bori managed to interrupt in time, shaking her head in exasperation. "This is no time to fight. Just bring him into the tent, I'll go get the healing potions," She decided to be the one to give instructions because clearly, these two are quite hopeless.

Namwoon grumbled, reluctantly agreeing before leading Joonghyuk into Cale's tent. Of course, not forgetting to give occasional deathly glares that the latter completely disregarded.

Bori turned towards Donghoon, but before she could open her mouth, a familiar voice called out.

"Bori-ya!"

"Heewon Unnie!"

"What... What's going on...?" The newly arrived Jung Heewon asked in worry, frowning as she watched the distant back of the others.

"Cale Ahjussi... I think he's injured because he used his ability... He was bleeding a lot," Bori tried to explain, still unsure of what's going on.

Heewon widened her eyes, staring at Cale's tent as she wordlessly bit her bottom lip. "I... see..." She trailed off, her expression filled with unease.

"But! He'll be okay, I'm sure! Ahjussi didn't make it this far because of nothing!" The teen said optimistically, attempting to brighten up the mood.

Jung Heewon smiled, patting the younger girl's head. 'This kid's always been the positive one,' She thought fondly.

"And who's this?"

Their attention shifted to the fidgeting boy.

"Oh! He's Han Donghoon. Ahjussi kidn— I mean, found him and brought him here!"

The woman frowned in confusion at the slip up, but decided to not dwell on it. "Hm, alright. It's nice to meet you, Donghoon-ssi," She greeted him with a bright grin.

Han Donghoon averted his gaze before nervously answering, "...Likewise."

"Oh, right! Unnie, can you please take care of him for a bit? I'm going to go get some potions."

"Okay, just leave it to me."

"Thank you! See you soon, Donghoon-ssi!" Bori cheerfully waved both of them goodbye and rushed to do her task.

• • •

Thankfully, he was awake after passing out for the whole day. It was surprising, because he thought he would've been unconscious longer based on the amount of blood he had coughed up.

His eyes slowly fluttered open, and he was greeted by the blurry sight of the tent.

— Cale, you're awake!

Cheapskate was the first to call out to him.

— I-I'm so glad you're awake, Cale! *Sob* My power is a lot stronger so I managed to heal you up faster! *Sob*

Crybaby chimed in with his annoying cries.

Cale could care less about that though. Because another thing caught his attention.

The delicious smell of food.

Cale frowned, lazily sitting up, only to see Han Donghoon beside his bed while staring at him with wide eyes. Behind him were tables filled with various foods.

"Donghoon-ssi?" He rasped out because he hadn't drunk water in a while.

"A-Ah." The teen snapped out of his daze, quickly fetching him a glass of water. "Here..."

"Thank you." He said before taking gulps of it, relieved that his throat doesn't feel dry anymore. "Are the others okay?"

Donghoon blinked, not expecting that question to be the first thing he asks. "They're... okay. Na Bori-ssi and Heewon Ahjumma are really nice to me..." He hesitantly replied, playing with his fingers to avoid Cale's seemingly sharp gaze.

The man nodded. "And Yoo Joonghyuk? What about Kim Namwoon?"

"Kim Namwoon..." Han Donghoon grimaced upon remembering a certain memory. "He's a bit... too extreme for me. And that Yoo Joonghyuk Mister left after making you all these food."

Cale's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

'He did? Most importantly, he left?'

His expression brightened, eyes lightening up as a smile slowly grew on his lips.

"Oh, and he said he will see you later in the future."

His smile instantly dropped.

Han Donghoon tilted his head, wondering what made Cale have the expression as if he just ate a bitter lemon and being completely clueless to the panicked thoughts.

'No way, you bastard! Go and have your little adventure with Kim Dokja. Leave me alone and let's never meet again!'

He cried internally and sighed.

'Well, at least Kim Namwoon didn't follow him, so I should feel happy about this.'

Dispersing his thoughts, he finally looked at Han Donghoon. "Also, what brings you here?"

Cale never expected to see him first after opening his eyes. Honestly, he would be less surprised if he woke up in the Underworld, being killed by the protagonist and all.

And he also never expected for Donghoon to actually talk. As far as he could remember (which is basically everything), the boy only communicated with Kim Dokja through their phones by using the internet.

Did something change because Donghoon broke out of the hypnosis faster?

For a while, Han Donghoon was silent, and Cale's frown deepened as he observed the troubled look on the other's face.

"Is everything alright?"

"I..."

The teen lowered his gaze, and Cale could no longer see his expression. But seeing the small and trembling shoulders, his chest bubbled with confusion and something akin to concern.

Then he froze when Donghoon abruptly went on his knees, eyes squeezing shut and fists clenched tightly on his sides.

"Cale Ahjussi, please help me!"

The younger one begged, desperately. His voice was shaking, something Cale easily identified as fear. It was not fear of the man, but something else entirely.

Donghoon held his breath, eyelashes quivering. And he flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was cold, but the gesture made his chest feel warm.

"What's wrong?"

A calm voice asked him, and he hesitated to answer. No, rather, he wasn't sure how to.

"..."

"Donghoon-ssi, I'll help you, but you have to tell me what's going on." Cale's tone impossibly became more gentle, and Donghoon suddenly felt suffocated in a way where he felt like a dam that's about to break.

Cale patiently watched him look up and opened his inventory with uncertain movements. Ever so slowly, the boy's hand reached out to pull something out of the blue system window.

The man could feel his heart stop for a second at the sight, gaze glued towards the ominous item— a small rain barrel sized red meteorite. Something he had never seen before, yet so familiar with it.

It was the egg of a fire dragon, Igneel, also known as a 5th grade disaster from the novel and the exact cause of Kim Dokja's death among many.

'..... What is this thing doing here?'

———

a/n: i know i said i'm gonna take a few days break bcs of college but i couldn't help it, it'll only be this one, so just take this half assed chapter. goodbye.

also, this story is almost at 2k votes, i'm actually shocked.