*San's POV
It wasn't new, of course. I'd even warned the researchers at the facility before—told them they could do anything to me, anything, as long as it didn't make me feel comfortable. When Layla came, everything changed. The curse repeated itself, just like it did at the orphanage and every other place from my vague memories.
When Layla asked me not to ever think of this place as home, I wasn't angry. Nor disappointed or sad. She was only reminding me of something that had always been obvious. And it made me feel stupid for forgetting it.
But… it's hard not to see Calmora as home.
My memories may be unclear, but I'm certain I've never felt anything like this in any other place. I want to stay here, to blend in and experience things with them. Maybe I can help them. Perhaps they can help me. But I also don't want anything bad to happen to this place. I hate the guilt that follows when it does.
No… I really don't want to leave. No matter the consequences. I'm too tired of running. At least not until there's no more reason for me to stay. Yes, just until then.
I guess it's okay to be a little selfish.
***
Seon's room smelled like a mix of wet grass and cinnamon. The scent came from thin smoke drifting from a pipe connected to the ceiling, which led to a fireplace in one corner of the room. The room was shaped like a trapezoid, spacious enough to be a classroom. However, it felt oddly cramped due to the many strange objects I assumed were his personal collection.
He sat behind his desk, legs folded on top of it, quietly reading a book. Behind him, the view outside was visible through two square-shaped windows. I was sitting on a plush sofa that could probably used as a bed. The floor was covered with a soft dark green carpet, matching the light brown walls. Beside me, stood a large wooden shelf filled with dozens of old, yellowing books.
I had met him at the forest's edge after leaving Layla. Somehow, it felt like he had been waiting for me. Seon said he wanted to talk. He brought me to the Main House, to his room, soaking wet. But after nearly half an hour, he hadn't said a word. We just sat in silence, enjoying our own thoughts. He had given me a warm tea when I arrived, but that was all.
Half an hour passed, and I had pulled five books from the shelf. I hadn't really read any of them—just picked them up because of their covers or because they were covered in dust. Outside, the rain had stopped, and the sun was about to set. Seon glanced at the window too. After a moment, he closed his book and placed it on the table. Maybe the light had grown too dim to continue reading.
He stood and walked toward the fireplace. He took an oil lamp from the wall above the hearth and lit it using the flame from the burning wood. Once the lamp glowed, Seon crouched and picked up an iron poker resting by the wall, then stirred the coals in the firebox.
He turned to me, glancing between my face and the book. "Is it interesting?"
I looked down at the book. Its reddish-brown cover was plain, without any title or decoration. It was the thinnest book on the shelf—maybe that's why I chose it. The pages had yellowed and were dotted with mold, but the writing was still legible. It was just a collection of dull short poems. "No. I don't understand it."
"That's a shame. I used to have a lot of interesting books, but it was impossible to bring them all here."
"Sorry, is that really what you wanted to talk about?"
The Director smiled. "No. I just wanted to make sure you were ready to talk."
I swallowed hard. "Then what is it?"
"You already know," he said. "You've met her. You must've seen enough."
My body stiffened instantly. Though I was sure my expression hadn't changed, my fingers had turned pale from gripping the book too tightly.
Seon turned back to the fire and stirred it again. "Minerva fell a month ago," he said. "Orion did it. If you think that is none of your business, you're right. But in Solaris, Minerva is known as a symbol of peace. Long before the Republic existed, that kingdom played a major role. They helped restore fallen kingdoms; mediated conflicts between the Four Great Kingdoms; and even encouraged diplomatic ties among them. In short, Minerva held significant influence in Solaris. So, what do you think will happen if a symbol of peace is destroyed?"
I stayed silent. There was no need to answer. It wasn't my business like he said. It had nothing to do with me.
Seon finished with the fire. He set the iron rod back in its place, stood up, picked up the oil lamp, and turned to me. "Come. There's something I want to show you."
In the main field, the Weavers were busy constructing walls from earth. The structure formed a large circle surrounding a cube-shaped building at its center. Dozens of torches were placed around the camp and on parts of the growing wall.
I figured it looked like a fortress. They must have been preparing for a war simulation as Layla mentioned. Though Layla had invited me before, I think Seon subtly prevented me from joining. He led me eastward, past the wheat fields and into the forest. Unlike the southern forest I had entered, the eastern forest had much sparser vegetation. The trees had thin to medium trunks and were spaced wide enough to pitch a tent or two between them. Along the way, no roots were obstructing our path. The ground was covered in soft grass, still damp from the rain.
As night approached, my only guide was Seon's oil lamp. He kept walking ahead of me at a steady pace, occasionally slowing down to make sure I was still following.
"The woman from the banyan tree," Seon said. "Her name is Vena. She helped me establish Calmora fifty years ago."
Memories from earlier began to replay in my mind. The woman with curly brown hair blowing in the wind atop the steep cliff. Her red eyes stared sorrowfully as she pushed me off. "So, Vena is a transparent woman now?"
"She became a guardian spirit. When she perfected Calmora's magic, her soul fused with the embedded magic."
His voice sounded hollow as he said that. I figured Vena was a sensitive topic for Seon, though he seemed to force himself to speak about her. "She said you did something," I remembered Vena's words when she asked with disgust and confusion about something Seon had done.
Ahead of me, Seon remained silent for several steps. "I've done many things, San. Not all of them were good."
Again, his voice sounded sorrowful.
The narrow path led to a clearing in the middle of the forest. A wide area filled with hundreds of human-sized stone pillars embedded into the ground. Most of the pillars were moss-covered. Some were eroded, tilted, or broken.
Seon stopped in the middle of the area, among the scattered stone pillars. In the dim glow of the oil lamp, I glimpsed Seon's face as he looked over the pillars with an expression of exhaustion and melancholy before turning to face me again. "In the early days of Calmora, we successfully brought seventeen young Weavers. Over the next three months, the number kept increasing to nearly a hundred. This place was quite strategic as a sanctuary. Vena's protective magic worked well. But magic can't cure hunger. Magic may ease pain, but a damaged or weak body cannot be saved. Nearly a hundred Weavers we brought died within six months due to plague and starvation."
Then Seon placed the oil lamp on the ground. He took a small knife from his pocket and sliced his palm. His flowing blood gradually turned into greenish glowing particles. Seon clenched his bleeding hand, and all the glowing particles seemed to get pulled back in. Then he waved his hand, palm open. Instantly, a glowing orb appeared above the hundreds of stone pillars. Floating in a flame-like motion, it illuminated the entire area with a greenish light.
Only then did I realize. "This is… a graveyard?"
"Yes and no. There are no bodies buried beneath. When Weavers die, their bodies erode and turn into particles of light or black smoke. These pillars are just reminders of their existence."
I lowered my head, staring at the nearest pillar, which was more sunken than the others. The orb of light above it was also quite small.
Seon picked the oil lamp back up from the ground. It was hard to read the look in his eyes. Sometimes he looked sad, and other times completely exhausted and hopeless. Now… he looked confused. "Vena wants me to kill you."
I had a feeling this man was capable of doing it. Even if it would be in vain, it would still hurt. "Why?"
"Look around you."
A chill ran through me. Around us, among the trees, hidden in the darkness of the forest, shadowy creatures stirred restlessly. Watching us with glowing violet eyes that looked hungry. Their number… I couldn't tell, but I could hear their growls carried on the wind. Strangely, my chest also felt hot. Right where the symbol was, the heat spread and made it hard to breathe.
Those creatures, the Nien, looked exactly as Layla had described. Masses of shifting black smoke with two glowing violet eyes. Their bodies could transform into anything, and the only way to defeat them was when they solidified—something that only happened when they were about to attack.
I drew the sword from the magic pouch at my ankle, gripping it tightly.
"They can't come closer," Seon said. "It's too bright here."
"Why are they here? Is this place outside of Calmora?"
Seon shook his head, his face now looking even more sorrowful. "I've done many things, San. This is one of them."
I still didn't understand—what was he really talking about?
"How do you think protective magic works?" he asked.
I furrowed my brow, unease growing in my chest. "I don't know! We need to warn the others."
"When activated, the magic filters Atma particles. The protective barrier will block specific selected particles," he explained. "Normally, protective magic blocks the matters that create Nien. What do you think it is?"
No… I understood what he meant. I understood exactly what Seon was trying to say now.
"Enigma," he said, and the growling grew louder. "Protective magic should block every fragment of Enigma's power. That's why Orion can't enter areas protected by such magic. But… what if one day someone with that aspect appeared inside the protected area?" Seon paused for a moment, perhaps waiting to see if I would answer. "The magic would begin to tolerate the previously rejected aspect."
The tightness in my chest worsened. "You knew they would get in, but you did nothing?"
Seon didn't answer. But I realized something from his silence.
From the beginning, Seon knew what needed to be done. Vena's request—he could've done it for the sake of this place. "Why?" My voice trembled. I couldn't hide it anymore.
"I just wanted to understand the meaning of your existence." Seon stepped closer to me. "Listen, if I had to choose, I would kill you and protect Calmora. But I know that would be pointless. Ever since you entered through the portal, the protective magic has already tolerated the Enigma aspect."
"You knew what would happen, but you stayed silent. You put them all in danger."
Seon remained quiet, and again, I realized something from my own words. It wasn't Seon who put them in danger—it was me.
"This isn't your fault," he said softly, as if reading my thoughts. "But you have a chance to make it right." He held out the oil lamp to me. "You can go to Minerva and fulfill your fate and responsibility there. Or you can stay here and save all of us by rewriting the fate of this place."
I wanted to argue, to yell that I didn't know how. But the words wouldn't come out. I knew… from the start, there was never a real choice to stay.
The curse had repeated itself.
Why… this hasn't even been a day.[]