Joon-won stood at the edge of the Grand Citadel’s balcony, the cold night air brushing against his skin. The city below had not yet recovered from the panic. The streets, though quieter now, still held an air of unease.

  He exhaled, watching the faint mist of his breath disappear into the darkness. Geumji’s core was gone. Mana was fading. And yet, he still had his.

  That alone was a problem. A mystery. And he hated mysteries.

  The soft sound of footsteps made him turn.

  Min-jae approached, his expression unreadable. The general was a man of discipline, every movement precise and measured. Yet there was something more tonight, a weight in his stance, the kind that came only when a man had too many thoughts he couldn’t afford to speak.

  "You should be resting," Min-jae said, stopping beside him.

  Joon-won huffed. "So should you."

  The general smirked slightly but didn’t argue. His gaze moved to the sky, where the two pnets loomed. "I never thought I'd see the day when mana would falter like this."

  Joon-won followed his gaze. Hwangcheon (??) and Geumji (??) were both visible, the former a barren husk and the tter now nothing more than a wounded shell. Yet, something still lingered there; a golden glow deep within Hwangcheon’s surface.

  "You see it too," Min-jae muttered, noticing Joon-won’s focus.

  Joon-won nodded. "It was there before the core was destroyed. A flicker of light. It shouldn't be possible."

  Min-jae's jaw tightened. "Then we need to go."

  Joon-won turned to him. "You're that sure?"

  "I'm sure of one thing," Min-jae said. "If you still have mana, and that light is still shining, there's a connection. We can't afford to ignore it."

  Joon-won gnced back at the distant pnet. Hwangcheon.

  Something ancient was waiting there. And it was time to find out what.

  .. ..

  By morning, the Citadel was alive with movement. Soldiers, schors, and engineers worked tirelessly, gathering supplies and preparing a transport vessel for the journey to Hwangcheon.

  Joon-won adjusted the straps of his armor, testing the weight. He had always preferred light gear; nothing too restrictive, nothing that would slow him down.

  Across the ptform, Haneul stood speaking with a group of schors. She was dressed in traveling robes now, the celestial patterns on her sleeves faintly glowing.

  Their eyes met.

  For a brief moment, she hesitated; then turned back to her conversation.

  Joon-won frowned. She knew something. She always did.

  Min-jae approached, standing at his side. "The ship is almost ready."

  Joon-won gave a short nod. "And the crew?"

  "Small team. Handpicked." Min-jae’s voice was firm. "We can't afford to draw too much attention, and we don’t know what we’re walking into."

  Joon-won couldn't argue with that. The less exposure, the better.

  "Then let's move," he said.

  .. ..

  The transport ship cut through the void, its engines humming with energy; though not mana. With the pnet's natural bance disrupted, alternate power sources were being used wherever possible.

  Joon-won sat near one of the viewports, watching as Cheongseong grew smaller behind them. In the distance, Hwangcheon loomed closer.

  Min-jae was reviewing reports, while Haneul sat in quiet meditation.

  Joon-won tapped his fingers against his knee, restless. He hated waiting.

  He turned to Min-jae. "How much do we actually know about Hwangcheon?"

  The general didn't look up. "Barren rock. No known life. No mana flow." He paused. "At least, that's what we've always believed."

  Joon-won narrowed his eyes. "Then why does it feel like we're walking into something bigger?"

  Min-jae finally looked at him. "Because we are."

  .. ..

  The ship nded with a hiss, dust kicking up around them.

  The ndscape of Hwangcheon was just as desote as the records described. Jagged rock formations stretched for miles, and the ground beneath them was cracked and dry. No wind. No life. Just silence.

  And yet, that golden glow was still there.

  It pulsed faintly in the distance, buried beneath yers of rock.

  Joon-won stepped forward, feeling the faint hum of energy in the air. It was old. Very old. And familiar.

  Haneul stood beside him now, her expression distant. "This pce… holds memories."

  Joon-won turned to her. "What do you mean?"

  She shook her head. "I don’t know yet. But something is calling us."

  Min-jae gave a sharp signal. "Move out. We find that light."

  The team moved carefully, navigating the uneven terrain. As they got closer, the air itself seemed to shift. The temperature dropped slightly, and Joon-won felt an odd pressure in his chest, like something was trying to push against his very existence.

  Then they saw it.

  A ruined structure, half-buried in the dust.

  Stone pilrs stood, weathered but still strong, etched with markings Joon-won didn’t recognize. The golden glow emanated from deep within, from a hidden passageway leading underground.

  Haneul pced a hand against one of the pilrs. Her eyes fluttered closed.

  "This pce is ancient," she murmured. "And it remembers us."

  Min-jae frowned. "You keep speaking in riddles."

  Haneul opened her eyes. "Because the answers haven’t revealed themselves yet."

  Joon-won exhaled sharply. "Then let's go find them."

  With that, they stepped into the darkness.

  And the past stirred awake.

  .. .. .