Father & Mother Figures

By the edge of a tranquil lake, the traditional Hizashiheisen-style residence loomed in eerie silence, a hollow shell of its former grandeur—its once-majestic beauty now marred by ruin. The night breeze slipped through the shattered gaps of the sliding doors, carrying the metallic tang of dried blood that stained the tatami floors.

Beneath the dim glow of a lantern, flickering on the brink of extinguishing, a young girl sat frozen. Her vacant eyes fixated on the remnants of her family’s bodies—those who had turned into blood-cursed creatures before being slain. Her small frame trembled uncontrollably, her lips moving in a faint murmur, endlessly repeating the same heart-wrenching words: “Brother… why?” Her voice, barely audible, was drowned in the shadows of horrific memories, spinning relentlessly in her fractured mind.

Not far from the girl, two men stood in the midst of the darkness, their voices low but laced with urgency. They were busy preparing the evacuation for the sole survivor of the tragedy, while the air around them hung heavy with an oppressive silence.

"Souma... he really did all this. And I’m sure, Yeon-Jin is involved," said one man, broad-shouldered with his black hair tied back, his back to the point of view. His voice was firm, but the anger simmering beneath each word was unmistakable.

Beside him, another man knelt, gently wiping the dried blood from the face of the little girl—the only one to survive this massacre. Yet, his expression couldn’t mask the weight of guilt that burdened his heart. "Bama," he murmured, his tone heavy with regret. "The decision to come here, instead of where the Sukma should be... was it the right one? Did we make the best choice?"

The man named Bama stepped closer. His face was hard, yet his gaze carried an underlying empathy. He gently patted his friend’s shoulder, as if trying to calm the storm raging within him. "Let it go, Aji," he said in a deep, steady voice. "Given the time we had, this was the only place we could reach."

Aji fell silent, his teeth slightly clenched, betraying the internal struggle playing out within him. But before he could respond, Bama continued, his tone softer yet still firm. "Don’t say that again. No matter how bad or sinful our friend may be, this girl is just his family. She doesn’t deserve to be treated like him."

The words felt heavy, yet they wrapped the silence with a fragile warmth. Aji slowly nodded, though the shadows of this tragedy still clung sharp in his mind. The little girl remained still, her empty eyes reflecting a world shattered before her. The cold wind from the lake blew gently, carrying the fading scent of blood, as if trying to cloak them in a silence no one had asked for.

The light drizzle soaked the night, dancing gently on the leaves and creating a rhythmic symphony that felt oddly soothing, even though the reality of the moment was far from peaceful. The roar of the waterfall echoed, shattering the silence, a mute witness to a meeting fraught with tension.

At the top of the waterfall, a man stood tall, his silhouette sharp against the occasional flash of lightning that illuminated the sky. Below him, a woman stood, her gaze piercing, initiating a reunion that was far from friendly.

"Yeon-Jin, what have you done to Disha and the others?" Isolde's voice rang out, echoing with restrained fury.

Yeon-Jin, though seemingly calm, exuded an air of menace. His gaze was cold, yet the rage simmering beneath was unmistakable. "Hurt them, just as you did to my little boy," he replied flatly, each word a dagger.

"I only wanted to free him," Isolde retorted, her voice sharp, trying to keep her emotions in check.

"Sounds like utter nonsense to me," Yeon-Jin remarked, his tone sharp and dismissive

Isolde's jaw tightened as she spoke again, her voice unwavering. "Give it up, Yeon-Jin. Your delusional ambitions only make your people more despised by the world. Congratulations, you’ve just sealed their fate of extermination."

Yeon-Jin gave a faint smile, an underlying mockery in his expression. "A woman who has spent her life obsessed with a man is in no position to speak of the world."

The words were like sparks that ignited a blaze within Isolde. Slowly, thin smoke with a bluish-purple hue began to curl from her body, blending with the rain that fell steadily around her. Her hand reached out in a graceful yet furious motion, and in the palm of her hand, a glowing aconite flower materialized, shimmering beneath the faint light of the lightning.

"I’m not interested in talking any longer with you," she said coldly, her voice as sharp as the distant thunderclap.

The sounds of vomiting and labored breaths came in rapid succession. Isolde's subordinates, who had been trapped in Yeon-Jin’s illusion, now staggered, their bodies succumbing to an even more horrifying effect. Isolde paused for a moment, her confusion quickly shifting to panic. She turned swiftly, her eyes wide with realization. "Oh my god..." she thought, her awareness growing sharper. It wasn’t Yeon-Jin’s illusion that had afflicted her subordinates—it was poison, likely produced by her own hand.

"As usual, you can’t stay calm when it comes to your man," Yeon-Jin said, his tone flat, as unchanged as ever.

Isolde paused for a moment, the deepening frustration flowing through her veins. "Good... realize your position," Yeon-Jin continued, his gaze never leaving Isolde, who seemed to be gradually lowering the intensity of her anger and power.

Isolde clasped her hands together, staring at Yeon-Jin with sharp eyes. "You want that child? I’ll give him to you. But what can you offer him?" she asked, her voice firm, leaving no room for doubt.

"I'm not interested in telling you," Yeon-Jin replied, his tone flat, as though dismissing the emotions simmering in the air.

Isolde smiled faintly. "No need to bother. I know everything and I’m not interested in anything you plan. If all you're doing is bringing him to become a criminal, what I offer is far better than that."

"And that’s by executing him, right?" Yeon-Jin asked, his voice unchanged.

"Yes!" Isolde answered decisively, her resolve clear. "Sorry, Yeon-Jin, but I intend to end your organization’s existence."

"What will happen to you all if you lost one of the 9 Akatara heirs?" Isolde continued, her tone full of confidence. "Then you will lose your purpose forever."

Yeon-Jin answered with a dismissive tone, yet his confidence was so palpable it sent a tremor through the air. "Such narrow thinking, you've misunderstood something, Isolde," he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of superiority.

"We don't need to gather the 9 Akatara," he continued with unwavering certainty. "Even without it, we already hold the world in our grasp. The reason we haven't fully invaded yet is because someone I deeply respect is still in an incomplete form... I mean, Master Naraka!"

Isolde was stunned, her expression shifting into disbelief. She took a step back, shaking her head as confusion overwhelmed her. "Wh... What? That... you're just bluffing! That man... Naraka... Naraka has been gone for 12 years, along with him!" Her voice wavered, as though she couldn't bring herself to believe the words she was hearing.

But Yeon-Jin only laughed, the sound deafening, as if the entire world were witnessing Isolde’s ignorance. "Ha... hahaha... hahahahaha! That's why you're so dumb, Isolde!" he said with a sneer, his laughter dripping with derision. "You had a chance to heal the wounds in your heart, yet you’ve let yourself be led astray by envy, jealousy, and apathy that have accumulated within you."

With laughter still echoing, Yeon-Jin continued with heavy emphasis. "That's right, stupid woman... The story of Master Naraka being gone 12 years ago is just a tale meant to lull humans into a false sense of security, only for them to grow complacent! You know nothing about the real truth."

Yeon-Jin stood tall, his face set in a mask of certainty laced with menace. "You have no idea what kind of threat is lurking," his voice was low but charged with pressure. "You casually think of us as a second-rate organization that can be wiped out by a couple of kingdoms. You're too naïve to see the truth."

Isolde stared at him, her mind struggling to process what she had just heard. With suspicion in her voice, she asked, "So... the Dark Faction wasn't founded by you?"

"Not completely wrong," Yeon-Jin replied, a sardonic smile curling on his lips. "I may have been the founder... but I am not the one who leads."

Isolde staggered slightly, holding her breath, but Yeon-Jin gave her no chance to ask further questions. "Let me tell you this, Isolde," he continued, his voice now heavier. "I wouldn't be surprised if, one day, you find yourself turning around and supporting us."

Yeon-Jin's words hung in the air, like poison slowly seeping into Isolde's very soul. But he wasn't done yet. He pressed on, his tone deepening, shaking everything Isolde thought she understood about the world. "The one who leads us, as I just told you, is our former mentor, Master Naraka!" Yeon-Jin's voice rose, radiating power. "But he's not the only one seated on the throne of equals... The other man, none other than... my closest friend," Yeon-Jin said with overwhelming confidence.

Isolde's eyes widened in disbelief, her body trembling. "The last king of Rudhirasana, the one you loved, and also Sakti's biological father... Yes!!! It's Aria!!!!!!" Yeon-Jin's words came crashing down with such certainty that it struck Isolde's heart like a lightning bolt.

The words reverberated in her mind, causing her heart to race, as if the very reality she had known was crumbling before her eyes. “He’s alive... he’s still alive...” Isolde whispered softly, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face. Disbelief filled her heart, as if those words were too enormous to comprehend.

Yeon-Jin gazed at her with a sharp, enigmatic stare. "Those tears of yours," he said coldly. "How should I interpret them? Are they tears of fear because you know your foolish world is about to crumble? Or are they tears of joy... because your old love is still alive?" His voice sliced through the air like a dagger, stabbing at every corner of doubt in Isolde's heart.

Isolde lifted her tear-streaked face, her voice trembling as she replied, "I don’t want what I’m hearing to be true..."

"But that’s the truth," Yeon-Jin responded casually, almost mocking her. It was as though the truth wasn’t just a fact, but also a punishment for Isolde's ignorance.

Isolde paused for a moment, then, with great difficulty, asked, "Since when... since when did you know he was still alive?"

Yeon-Jin smirked, a smile full of victory and mockery. "I told you, Isolde," he said, his voice soft but full of pressure. "You had a chance to heal the wounds in your heart, but you chose a different path. You chose to follow your own ego."

He stepped closer, each word carrying a rhythm of unwavering confidence. "Don’t ask me when I knew. Instead, ask yourself—when did you stop trusting me? Because that’s where the answer lies."

His words hit like a blow, dismantling the last of Isolde’s defenses.

"How could I understand your intentions if you don’t—" Isolde's voice broke off, interrupted by Yeon-Jin's sharp and piercing tone.

"Not tell me your true intentions? Is that what you meant to say?" Yeon-Jin sneered, his eyes narrowing with sarcasm. "Tell me, does Sakti also know about this world?"

Isolde opened her mouth, but no answer came. Yeon-Jin continued, his voice growing louder, pressing even harder. "No... How could he know? If the person who was supposed to take him to the outside world never showed any interest in doing so. And that person is you, Isolde. You are the chain, the obstacle preventing me from meeting him."

Isolde froze in place, holding her breath as those words struck her heart like a spear.

“If only you reduced your ego,” Yeon-Jin continued, his tone growing more piercing, “he wouldn’t have to suffer so deeply. He should have seen the outside world, felt free. But now, he will always remember how cruel the world has treated him.”

Silence. Isolde was completely at a loss for words. All the facts Yeon-Jin threw at her left her speechless, locking her tongue in unspoken regret.

Yeon-Jin moved closer, his voice lowering but firm, like a knife slicing slowly. “Reflect on your mistakes, Isolde, and I will give you a chance to rise again.”

Isolde, now feeling the weight of her mistakes, raised her gaze to look at Yeon-Jin once more. There was something in his eyes—not just anger, but also a promise of a way out. And in the midst of her devastation, Isolde found a glimmer of hope, though faint.

“What can I do to atone for my mistakes with him?” Isolde asked softly, her voice full of hope.

Yeon-Jin smiled faintly, but it wasn’t a warm smile. It was a smile like a shadow, threatening. “The rice has turned to porridge. You, who have been my restraint all this time, are finally subdued here.”

He stepped closer, his voice becoming a cold whisper. “Weaken your mental defenses. I will offer you that.”

Isolde stared sharply at Yeon-Jin, realizing what he was planning. He intended to enter her mind—the most hidden and fragile space, where all secrets were kept. Without a word, without movement, their conversation continued in an unseen mental space.

“What? This is so reckless!” Isolde thought in her mind, her voice full of shock. “So, you have another agenda within that organization? And you want me to convince the higher-ups to resume the expedition? That sounds crazy to me!”

Yeon-Jin responded with a calmness that was suffocating, his voice echoing in Isolde’s mind. "But that’s the reality. There are other parties interfering in our affairs, making what we should have fully achieved tonight only a half-success."

"And that’s your task here, Isolde," he continued, his tone now firmer. "Though slow, you must start finding their traces. If possible, form a movement to expose them and then expel them. My intuition tells me they’re hiding among the politicians. They’re using Adikara, and that’s too conspicuous. I can’t be sure if he’s the mastermind."

Isolde furrowed her brow, feeling the increasing weight of the situation. "But what we’re talking about is your clan. They could, without me realizing, erase my memories at any moment," she said with a voice full of concern.

Yeon-Jin smiled coldly in his mind, responding with unwavering certainty. "Our goal is to make them the enemy of the world, Isolde. Sukma’s life cannot be in vain."

His voice sharpened, full of warning. "This is indeed a dangerous mission. If someday you die, or when I meet you and it’s as though you’ve forgotten this conversation, that means you’ve been freed from this task."

Isolde fell silent for a moment, reflecting on the risks she had to face. But Yeon-Jin continued without giving her a chance to hesitate. "I want you to prioritize the mission of reopening the expedition. Even so, that will definitely draw the target’s attention."

"That’s why you have to use your head with extra caution, Isolde. About our meeting later… let me be the one to meet you."

"It’s still a difficult thing," murmured Isolde, her tone full of contemplation. "It would be different if I brought Sakti and told the higher-ups that the boy would redeem the lives lost tonight with victory in the expedition."

Yeon-Jin looked at her sharply, his voice calm yet full of pressure. "Unfortunately, the higher-ups will never accept it if it’s still just a promise. They need a rational reason."

Isolde raised an eyebrow, trying to find a loophole. "But like you said earlier, someone from your clan has disguised themselves as Adikara. That’s enough evidence to persuade them."

Yeon-Jin nodded slowly, his gaze still piercing. "That evidence is indeed enough, but they don’t move solely based on logic, Isolde. You know that. They will look for your weaknesses."

Isolde sighed deeply, her eyes narrowing with calculation. "Do I also need to threaten them by saying that the Dala Clan will leave Rudhirasana? I’m one of the candidates for clan leader to be decided soon."

Yeon-Jin smiled faintly, a smile that didn’t quite reassure. "Your influence is indeed strong within your clan. But still, those old fools will form alliances to fight against you. If your influence wanes, that will become a huge problem."

"So what should I do? I’m not as smart as you." Isolde’s tone shifted to slight frustration, as if she was running out of ideas.

Yeon-Jin looked at her deeply, then spoke with more firmness. "Master Lakan. You must have heard the rumors about him... Include him in your mission. I’m not so sure he’ll refuse you."

Isolde looked shocked. "Master Lakan? Are you sure?"

Yeon-Jin continued without hesitation. "And also, the current leaders of the Ajina and Dala Clans... use them as a last resort, when your life is truly hanging by a thread."

"It’s not about how smart you are, Isolde," he continued, his gaze sharp like a knife. "It’s about how you use what you have. Don’t hesitate to make everything around you a tool. If you fail in this, not only will your mission end, but so will your life."

The mental space vanished in an instant, and Isolde found herself holding Disha tightly, while Yeon-Jin walked ahead of her, his steps firm as he headed toward Sakti.

"Yeon-Jin," Isolde’s voice sounded uncertain,"

Yeon-Jin didn’t turn around, but his response came with a soft yet unwavering certainty. "I’m still not fully sure what’s best for him. But one thing is certain, the people in this town will have no hesitation in burning this child alive once they know he’s still alive."

Isolde bit her lip, her eyes staring at Disha, who was sleeping in her arms. After a moment, she finally whispered, her voice filled with resolve. "Actually... I’ve made up my mind. I’m determined to protect him. I wouldn't mind taking on the role of his mother again. And also, about your agenda..."

Upon hearing Isolde’s words, Yeon-Jin paused for a moment. He turned slowly, his gaze fixed on Isolde, as though his eyes carried the weight of the world. "There’s a danger you haven’t realized, Isolde. Forgetting you is the best decision for him. And as for my agenda," he said, his voice carrying the weight of a vow, "I will do everything in my power to ensure that Sakti remains untouched by anyone. And someday... I will make you meet Aria."

That name made Isolde's breath catch. Her body trembled slightly, but she tried hard not to show any weakness. "Sorry... I didn’t mean to meet him," she replied softly, her voice filled with conflicting emotions.

Yeon-Jin smiled faintly, a smile that was hard to interpret, before continuing in a flat, meaningful tone. "I do love you, Isolde. That's why forgetting you as my priority... is something I can hardly accept."

Those words hit Isolde’s heart like a storm. Her eyes closed briefly, trying to calm the turmoil that suddenly burned within her. Although she didn’t respond, her gaze at Yeon-Jin in that moment spoke volumes about everything she had been holding inside.

"Why... I can never see you the same way I see Aria," Isolde whispered, her voice carried by the cold wind that cut through the night.

Yeon-Jin glanced at her briefly, then answered in a light tone, yet full of sincerity. "It’s obvious, because he is Aria. If I were a woman, do you think I wouldn’t fall in love with him?"

Isolde smiled faintly upon hearing his response, her eyes gleaming though slightly misted. "You remind me of the jokes our classmates used to make about you two," she said with a small laugh, as if momentarily resurrecting a long-buried memory.

Yeon-Jin only responded with a thin smile, laden with meaning. Without saying much more, he approached the unconscious Sakti and gently lifted him into his arms. "Goodbye, Isolde. Take care of yourself," he said briefly before walking away, the sound of his footsteps gradually fading beneath the shadow of the rain.

Isolde watched Yeon-Jin’s retreating back, the rain beginning to fall slowly, soaking the earth and her soul, both tumultuous. She looked up, holding back the tears that were finally impossible to suppress, and spoke with a trembling voice, yet filled with sincerity.

"Yeon-Jin... I thought I would spend the rest of my life without direction or purpose," Isolde’s voice shook, but her eyes now carried a glimmer of hope. "Thank you for bringing new colors into my life, one that has been so bleak until now. I promise, I won’t waste the opportunity you’ve given me."

The rain fell more heavily, soaking her as she stood alone in the quiet night. Tears of emotion flowed with the raindrops, creating a soft harmony that only souls that had grown tired and wounded could truly feel.

The silence that followed made the words resonate, filling the empty space between them. Isolde remained there, gazing in the direction where Yeon-Jin slowly faded from view, carrying Sakti away, taking with him a change that quietly stirred her heart.

And that night, for the first time in a long while, Isolde felt something different—a new purpose born from the darkness, and a strong desire to right the wrongs that had been done.