The Fox’s Whisper - Episode 13: Unraveling the Past

The air in the hallway was thick with tension as Officer Kim stepped inside the apartment. Yena, still sitting on the floor, watched her cautiously, her fox ears twitching slightly. Jun-ho closed the door behind her, making sure no one else was around.

"What’s going on?" Yena asked, her voice wary.

Officer Kim looked at the two of them, her face a mixture of resolve and concern. "I’ve been investigating Sung Hwan for a while now," she began, her tone quiet as if speaking too loudly would alert someone. "There’s more to him than just being a dark sorcerer. He’s been collecting powerful artifacts for years, and I think I’ve finally figured out why."

Yena felt a shiver run down her spine. "What do you mean?"

Kim took a deep breath, glancing at Jun-ho before continuing. "Sung Hwan’s ultimate goal is to control all supernatural beings. But not just control them—he wants to absorb their power. He’s been hunting down gumiho, like you, Yena, and he’s been using the artifacts to strip them of their essence."

Yena’s heart skipped a beat. "What does he want with our essence?"

Officer Kim stepped closer, her expression growing darker. "He wants to become immortal. To become a god, in essence. The more power he absorbs, the closer he gets to his goal."

Jun-ho exchanged a glance with Yena, the weight of this revelation sinking in. Sung Hwan wasn’t just after control. He was after something much worse.

"But why me?" Yena asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Why did he choose me?"

Officer Kim hesitated before answering. "There’s something unique about your power, Yena. You’re not just any gumiho. You have an ability that sets you apart—an ability to harness both human and fox power in a way that no one else can. That’s what makes you valuable to him."

Yena’s head spun with this new information. She had always known there was something special about her, but to learn that it could be the very thing Sung Hwan wanted to use against her—it terrified her.

"How do we stop him?" Jun-ho asked, his voice cutting through the silence.

Officer Kim turned to him, her eyes hardening. "There’s a ritual," she said. "But it’s dangerous. It requires someone to give up their life force to sever the connection between the gumiho and the fox spirit inside them."

Yena felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "You’re talking about sacrificing someone to stop this?"

Officer Kim nodded grimly. "Yes. But it’s the only way to destroy the connection before it consumes you completely."

Yena’s heart raced as she processed the implications of the ritual. The idea of losing her humanity, losing herself to the fox spirit, was terrifying. But the idea of sacrificing someone to stop it—it was unbearable.

"There has to be another way," Yena said, her voice filled with desperation. "I can’t ask anyone to give up their life for me. I won’t."

Officer Kim’s gaze softened for a moment, but her resolve remained. "The only other way is to confront Sung Hwan head-on and defeat him, but that would put both of you in even greater danger."

Yena stood up slowly, her knees trembling. She wasn’t sure what was scarier—the idea of losing herself to the fox spirit or the idea of losing someone she loved. But she knew one thing for sure—she wasn’t going to let Sung Hwan win. Not like this.

"I’ll fight him," Yena said firmly, her eyes locking onto Jun-ho’s. "I won’t let him take everything from me. Not my humanity, and not you."

Jun-ho took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Then we fight together."

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End of Episode 13 - Episode 13: Unraveling the Past