Episode 10: The Weight of a Promise

The chamber grew colder. The air felt thick, heavy—like something unseen was pressing down on them. The spirit’s dark eyes gleamed as Greenforest’s fingers hovered over the dagger.

"Choose, human."

Naabi’s pulse thundered in her ears. She couldn’t let this happen.

Her hand shot out, gripping Greenforest’s wrist. “Don’t.”

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Naabi—”

“No!” Her voice shook, but her grip tightened. If he died, then what?

They had come this far, together. She wasn’t losing him now.

But the spirit laughed.

"Oh? Do you offer yourself instead?"

The words sent a chill down her spine.

She swallowed hard.

“No one is dying.”

A sharp whisper slithered through the room, the shadows twisting in response.

"Then suffer."

The Wrath of the Spirit

The torches flickered wildly. A gust of wind surged through the chamber, knocking them all back. The walls shuddered, and the floor beneath them rippled like water.

Then—

A scream.

Jae-min.

Naabi turned just in time to see him lifted into the air, his body convulsing. The mark on his skin glowed brighter, as if it were alive.

“No!” Min-kyu shouted, running forward.

But the spirit struck out.

Min-kyu’s body slammed against the wall, hard. He groaned, blood trickling from his forehead.

Naabi’s heart pounded. They were losing.

She turned to Joon-woo, who was already moving. “Cover me,” he muttered.

Then, before she could react—

He lunged.

Joon-woo moved like a shadow, fast and precise, his fingers closing around the dagger before Greenforest could.

The spirit hissed.

"Foolish boy."

Joon-woo ignored her. Instead, he spun the dagger in his hand and sliced his own palm open.

Blood dripped onto the altar.

"A new deal," he said, voice steady. "I give you my blood. Let them go."

A New Bargain

The spirit paused.

A slow, eerie smile spread across her face.

"Interesting."

Jae-min dropped.

Naabi rushed forward, catching him just in time. His body was cold, too cold. But he was breathing. Barely.

The spirit turned back to Joon-woo, stepping closer.

"A royal’s blood is powerful." Her fingers hovered over the wound on his hand. "But is it enough?"

Joon-woo didn’t flinch.

"Take it and find out."

For a moment, silence.

Then—

The spirit moved.

Her hand pressed against Joon-woo’s wound. The moment their skin touched—

A blinding light erupted.

Naabi shielded her eyes. The room trembled.

A loud, deafening screech filled the air, as if the spirit herself was in pain.

And then—

Everything stopped.

The air settled. The torches dimmed. The whispers faded.

And the spirit was gone.

The Aftermath

Silence stretched across the chamber.

Joon-woo staggered back, breathing hard. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temples.

Greenforest caught him before he fell.

"Idiot," he muttered. "That was reckless."

Joon-woo grinned weakly. "Worked, didn’t it?"

Naabi didn’t laugh. She couldn’t. She was still shaking.

She looked down at Jae-min, still unconscious. His mark had faded. The curse was gone.

But at what cost?

Min-kyu groaned from the corner. “Can we never do that again?”

Naabi let out a shaky breath. “Agreed.”

Then, suddenly—

The ground rumbled.

Her eyes widened. No.

“The spirit is gone,” Joon-woo said. “So the chamber—”

Was collapsing.

Greenforest grabbed Naabi’s wrist. “We need to run. NOW.”

The Escape

The moment they took off, the walls began to crack.

Debris rained down, dust filling the air. The ground split apart beneath them, forcing them to jump across gaping chasms.

Naabi’s legs burned, her lungs screamed for air—but she didn’t stop.

She couldn’t stop.

She wasn’t going to die here.

A massive stone slab crashed down in front of them, blocking the exit.

Naabi’s stomach dropped. “No—”

But Greenforest didn’t hesitate.

He grabbed her waist, pulling her back before she could slam into the rock. His breath was warm against her ear as he whispered, “Trust me.”

Then—

He turned and rammed his full strength into the stone.

A deep crack echoed through the air.

Then—

The rock shattered.

Naabi’s heart skipped.

Greenforest grinned, chest heaving. “Told you.”

They burst through the opening, sprinting into the open night air just as the entire chamber collapsed behind them.

Dust and debris exploded outward.

But they had made it.

They were alive.

A Moment of Relief

For a while, no one spoke.

They just breathed.

The wind was cool against Naabi’s face. The stars had never looked brighter.

Joon-woo let out a shaky laugh. “That was… intense.”

Min-kyu groaned, lying flat on the ground. “I never want to go underground again.”

Naabi finally looked at Greenforest. His face was soft in the moonlight.

“You really were going to sacrifice yourself,” she whispered.

He held her gaze. Didn’t deny it.

“I’d do it again,” he said, voice quiet.

Her heart stumbled.

But before she could respond—

Jae-min stirred.

Naabi immediately dropped to her knees beside him. “Jae-min?”

His eyes fluttered open.

“…Did we win?”

A breath of relief escaped her lips.

She smiled.

"Yeah. We won."

To Be Continued…

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