Episode 2

The forest swallowed them whole. Trees arched high like cathedral pillars, their glowing leaves shedding pale light across the ground. Roots tangled beneath Jisoo’s sneakers, nearly sending him sprawling more than once. But Taeyun’s grip was firm, pulling him forward with the kind of confidence that said he’s done this before.

Behind them, the howl rose again. This time it split into two, then three, overlapping like a chorus of broken voices.

“What is that?” Jisoo gasped, stumbling as branches whipped his face.

“Not now,” Taeyun said, voice clipped. “Don’t look back.”

That, of course, made Jisoo look back.

A ripple moved through the trees—shadows darker than dark itself, bending the light, swallowing the glow of the leaves. Shapes darted inside it, wrong shapes, too many legs and not enough form, like nightmares trying to crawl into flesh. His stomach turned cold.

“Holy—”

“Eyes forward!” Taeyun snapped, yanking him around just in time to avoid a low branch. “The more you see them, the stronger they get.”

That was all Jisoo needed to hear. He squeezed his eyes shut and let Taeyun drag him. His legs ached, his breath came sharp and raw, but the boy in front of him never slowed.

At last, the forest broke. They burst into a clearing where a river glowed faintly under the moonlight, silver water rushing fast. A bridge stretched across it, made of stone so ancient it looked ready to crumble.

Taeyun didn’t hesitate. He pulled Jisoo onto the bridge. The shadows slammed against the tree line, but they didn’t cross. They hissed, shrieking in a way that clawed at Jisoo’s ears, but stopped short of the river.

By the time they reached the other side, Jisoo collapsed onto the ground, clutching his chest. His entire body throbbed, his lungs burned like fire.

Taeyun stood beside him, barely winded.

Jisoo glared up at him between ragged breaths. “Are you—are you part machine or something? Because I almost died back there!”

“You’re still alive,” Taeyun said flatly.

“Barely.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them. The forest here was quieter, calmer, though Jisoo could still hear faint hissing across the river. He tried not to think about it.

Finally, he looked at Taeyun properly. Now that the immediate terror had passed, the boy seemed even more unreal. His clothes were dark but intricate, stitched with threads that shimmered when the moonlight touched them. His skin carried the same faint glow Jisoo had noticed earlier, and those eyes—deep, unreadable—felt like they saw more than just the outside of him.

“What are you?” Jisoo asked, softer this time.

Taeyun’s gaze didn’t waver. “I should ask the same of you. Outsiders don’t belong here.”

“Outsider?” Jisoo repeated. He pushed himself up, brushing dirt from his jeans. “Listen, I didn’t exactly plan this. One second I’m in Seoul, in a sketchy bookstore, and the next I’m falling through some kind of cosmic drain. So if anyone’s to blame, it’s that stupid book.”

At the mention, Taeyun’s expression flickered—just for a heartbeat, like he recognized something.

“You touched the Chronicle,” he said slowly.

“The… what now?”

“The book.” Taeyun’s tone sharpened. “That was no ordinary object. It’s not supposed to exist outside this realm, let alone drag someone in.”

“Well, it did!” Jisoo snapped, frustration bubbling over. “And now I’m here, running for my life from shadow-monsters. So maybe instead of glaring at me like I ruined your dinner, you could explain what’s going on?”

For the first time, Taeyun’s lips twitched—almost a smirk, but not quite. He crossed his arms. “You’re loud.”

“And you’re cryptic. Not a great combination.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, though Jisoo wasn’t sure why. Something about Taeyun made the hair on his arms stand on end—not from fear, but from… recognition. Like they’d met somewhere before, though he knew that was impossible.

Taeyun finally sighed. “This place is called Noctis. It exists between your world and others. Few ever see it. Fewer survive it.” He glanced toward the river. “Those things you saw—they’re called Wraiths. They hunt anything that doesn’t belong.”

Jisoo swallowed. “And I definitely don’t belong.”

“No.” Taeyun’s gaze met his. “You shouldn’t even be alive.”

Something in his tone sent a chill down Jisoo’s spine. Not a threat, but a fact.

Before he could respond, the faint glow of lanterns appeared in the distance. Small orbs floated through the trees, bobbing gently. Taeyun straightened immediately.

“We need to move. It isn’t safe to stay here.”

“Safe?” Jisoo let out a bitter laugh. “Pretty sure safety checked out the moment I got sucked through a magical book.”

But Taeyun was already walking, and after a moment of hesitation, Jisoo followed. The lanterns led them to a path paved with pale stones, twisting upward along a hill. The air grew warmer here, carrying the faint scent of woodsmoke and herbs.

At the top, Jisoo stopped short.

A village stretched before them—houses carved from glowing crystal, rooftops stitched with vines that shimmered under the moon. People moved quietly through the streets, their forms human but touched with the same ethereal glow as Taeyun. Some carried baskets of herbs, others guided animals with antlers that gleamed like silver. And all of them turned to stare when Jisoo appeared.

Whispers rippled through the crowd. Words he couldn’t understand, though the tone was unmistakable: suspicion.

Jisoo shifted uncomfortably. “Uh… I think they don’t like me.”

“They don’t trust strangers,” Taeyun said.

“Great. Because I’m feeling so trustworthy right now.”

Taeyun ignored him and led the way deeper into the village. People parted reluctantly, watching every step Jisoo took. He tried to keep his head down, but the weight of their stares pressed on him like lead.

At last, they reached a larger building at the center. Its walls shimmered with inscriptions, glowing faintly as though written in light. Taeyun pushed the door open and gestured for Jisoo to enter.

Inside, the air was cool and still. Scrolls lined the walls, and in the center sat an elderly man with silver hair braided down his back. His eyes opened slowly as they stepped in, and when they landed on Jisoo, something unreadable flickered in them.

“So,” the man said, his voice low but resonant. “The Chronicle has chosen again.”

Jisoo froze. “Chosen… me?”

The man smiled faintly, though it carried no warmth. “You’re either this world’s salvation—or its destruction.”

The words crashed into Jisoo like ice water. He opened his mouth to argue, to laugh, to deny, but the weight of the man’s gaze silenced him. For the first time since stepping into this place, the reality of it sank in.

This wasn’t a dream. This wasn’t a hallucination.

He was caught between worlds.

And there was no way back.

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