The mist was suffocating now, swirling with an intensity that made it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. The mountain seemed alive, breathing, and with each gust of wind, whispers echoed through the air, calling their names. Ji-ho clenched her fists, her heart still racing from the illusion of her parents. She knew that this place would test them, but the weight of her memories was heavier than she anticipated.
Hwan led the way, his steps sure despite the unsettling atmosphere. His hand never strayed far from his sword, ready for whatever the mountain might throw at them. Raon, usually so full of bravado, was unnaturally quiet, her eyes darting around as if she expected an attack at any moment.
Elysia walked behind Ji-ho, her presence a comforting shadow. She had warned them about the mountain’s tricks, and yet even she seemed on edge. Her usual calm was replaced with an alertness, as if she too was being haunted by something unseen.
They climbed in silence for what felt like hours, the trail winding up the mountain, each turn looking the same as the last. Ji-ho felt a growing sense of dread. It was as if they were walking in circles, trapped in some twisted loop designed to keep them from reaching the summit.
Suddenly, the mist shifted, parting just enough to reveal a large clearing up ahead. At the center stood a towering stone structure, ancient and crumbling, its surface covered in strange markings that glowed faintly in the dim light. The sight of it sent a chill down Ji-ho’s spine.
– Is that it? – Raon asked, her voice barely above a whisper. – The place we’ve been looking for?
Elysia nodded, her eyes fixed on the structure.
– It’s the source of the mountain’s power. The Veil is at its weakest here, which means… we’re close.
Ji-ho swallowed hard, her pulse quickening. This was it. The answers she had been searching for were within reach. But with each step she took toward the structure, a growing sense of unease washed over her.
As they approached the stone ruins, a low, rumbling growl echoed through the clearing. Ji-ho froze, her eyes darting around in search of the source. From the shadows of the ruins, a figure emerged—tall, gaunt, and cloaked in darkness.
– So, you’ve come, – the figure rasped, its voice like nails on glass.
Hwan stepped forward, drawing his sword in one swift motion.
– Who are you?
The figure chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down Ji-ho’s spine.
– I am the keeper of this place. The guardian of the mountain’s secrets. You seek the truth, but are you prepared to pay the price?
Ji-ho’s breath caught in her throat. The price? What price was he talking about? She had come this far—endured so much—to find her parents. But now, faced with this mysterious figure and the ominous stone ruins, doubt crept into her mind.
Elysia stepped forward, her eyes narrowing.
– We’ve come for the truth, and we’re ready to face whatever comes next.
The figure turned its gaze to Ji-ho, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
– And you? – it asked, its voice softer now, almost coaxing. – Are you truly ready to uncover what has been hidden from you all these years?
Ji-ho’s heart pounded in her chest. She felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on her—Hwan, Raon, Elysia—but most of all, she felt the weight of her own unanswered questions. This was what she had been searching for. The truth about her parents. The reason for their disappearance. But something about the figure’s words made her hesitate.
– I… – Ji-ho began, her voice faltering.
Before she could finish, the figure raised a hand, and the ground beneath them began to tremble. The stone structure behind him pulsed with a dark energy, and suddenly, the air was filled with screams—agonized, tormented cries that seemed to come from all around them.
Raon took a step back, her face pale.
– What is that? – she whispered.
The figure smiled, a twisted grin that sent a jolt of fear through Ji-ho.
– Those are the lost souls. The ones who came before you. They sought the truth, just as you do. But not all were prepared for what they found.
The screams grew louder, and Ji-ho could feel the ground shaking beneath her feet. Panic surged through her, but she forced herself to stay still, to focus. She had come too far to turn back now.
Hwan tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes locked on the figure.
– Enough of your games. We’re here for answers. Where are Ji-ho’s parents?
The figure’s grin faded, replaced by a look of cold indifference.
– Ah, yes. The parents. Such fragile things, human lives. They came here once, seeking to protect their child. But they too had to pay the price.
Ji-ho’s heart skipped a beat. Her parents… had been here? They had come to this place, to this mountain, for her?
– What happened to them? – Ji-ho demanded, stepping forward despite her fear. – Where are they now?
The figure’s eyes glowed brighter, and he gestured toward the stone ruins behind him.
– They are here. Trapped within the Veil, just like the others. Their souls are bound to this place, unable to move on until the truth is revealed.
Ji-ho felt a wave of nausea wash over her. Her parents were… trapped? Bound to this mountain, to these cursed ruins? She had spent years searching for them, hoping against hope that they were still alive, still out there somewhere. But now, faced with the reality of their fate, the weight of it all threatened to crush her.
Elysia placed a hand on Ji-ho’s shoulder, her voice steady.
– We’ll free them, Ji-ho. We’ll find a way.
But the figure’s smile returned, cruel and mocking.
– You think you can free them? You think you can undo what has been done? The mountain demands its price, and it always collects.
Ji-ho clenched her fists, her mind racing. She had come here for answers, but now she faced an impossible choice. If freeing her parents meant paying the mountain’s price, then what would that cost her? And was she truly prepared to pay it?
The ground continued to tremble, the screams of the lost souls filling the air. The figure’s gaze bore into her, waiting—expecting her to falter, to give in to the fear.
But Ji-ho wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet.
She had come too far.