The air grew cooler as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. They quickened their pace, eager to make it back to the southern gate before darkness fell. The laughter and chatter of the children grew distant, leaving them in a cocoon of silence, broken only by the occasional whistle of the wind. Si-woo soon realized he was lost "My navigation skills are terrible," he thought out loud Ha-Yoon sighed and led their way back to the southern gate.

"Do you think we should go back?" Ha-Yoon whispered, glancing back over her shoulder.

Si-woo nodded, his eyes never leaving the path ahead. "We need to find out more about this place, and maybe, just maybe, we'll find a way to live."

They retraced their steps, the memories of the floating city's marvels playing like a reel in their minds. The smells of exotic spices and the distant sound of unidentifiable music grew faint as they approached the southern gate. The once bustling streets were now empty, the shops closed and the lights dimmed.

The siblings paused at the edge of the city, looking back at the floating orbs that had been their first glimpse of civilization in this alien world. The twilight painted the sky in hues of purple and pink, the floating islands casting a soft glow across the landscape.

"We can't stay out much longer," Si-woo warned, his grip tightening around the device. "We need to get back to the house before it's too dark."

When they reached the gate, the sleeping golem didn't stir. His chest rose and fell in deep, rhythmic breaths. They approached cautiously, their hearts in their throats. With a silent nod, they slipped by, careful not to disturb the alien sentinel. Once clear, they picked up their speed, the trees with the glowing engravings guiding them back to the familiar spot where they had first entered this world.

As they moved through the shadowy forest, a strange sight caught their eye. A floating iridescent being, no larger than a bird, was scribbling on a tree with a tendril that extended from its body. It was writing in an elegant script, the same one they had seen on the signs in the city. The creature's color shifted from blue to green to pink, creating a mesmerizing dance of light on the tree's bark.

"What is that?" Ha-Yoon whispered; her eyes wide with amazement.

Si-woo took a step closer, his curiosity piqued. "It's writing in Hoken," he murmured, recognizing the script from the floating signs in the city.

The creature's head swiveled around, and it locked eyes with them, its pupils dilating to slits. It didn't seem alarmed, just...curious. It hovered closer, the tendril retracting into its body. Ha-Yoon reached out tentatively, and it allowed her to touch it. The sensation was like stroking a soap bubble—cool and smooth, with a hint of electricity.

"Careful," Si-woo warned, but his voice was filled with wonder rather than fear.

The creature let out a coo, its eyes never leaving Ha-Yoon's. It was a sound that seemed to resonate within their very beings, a melody that soothed the ragged edges of their fears. The creature's coo grew louder, and the light from its body intensified, casting a warm glow around them.

HA-YOON

(whispering)

It's okay. We're not here to harm you.

The creature's light dimmed, and it began to scribble again, this time on the air itself. The siblings watched in awe as the letters formed into a question.

It hovered closer, as if inviting them to follow, and then took off into the night, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake. Ha-Yoon and Si-woo looked at each other, the weight of the books and the device momentarily forgotten.

Without a word, they chased after it, their footsteps echoing through the quiet woods. The creature led them through a maze of trees, the path illuminated only by the glow of the engravings. They could feel the forest come alive around them, the air thick with anticipation and the scent of blooming flowers. They stumbled and tripped over roots, but the excitement of the chase kept them going.

Finally, the being stopped at the edge of a clearing, and they saw the shimmering rip in the fabric of the world that was their gateway home. The creature hovered there for a moment, watching them, before it let out a final trill and vanished into the night, leaving them standing before the swirling colors of the portal.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

The siblings stared at the rift, their chests heaving from the exertion of the chase. Ha-Yoon's hand flew to her mouth pulling down her mask a bit, her eyes wide with wonder. "What... what was that?" she breathed.

Si-woo was equally as dumbfounded. "I don't know," he said, his voice filled with awe. "But it seems to be trying to communicate with us."

With a deep breath, Si-woo and Ha-Yoon picked up their bags and looked at each other. The excitement of the chase had been a welcome distraction from the overwhelming newness of this world, but now, as they stared into the void that separated them from their own reality, the weight of what they were about to do settled heavily on their shoulders.

"Ready?" Si-woo whispered.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Ha-Yoon replied, her voice shaking slightly.

They stepped through the portal, the fabric of reality parting around them like water. The colors swirled and danced, pulling at their senses in a way that was both terrifying and exhilarating. For a moment, they felt as if they were floating in a sea of stars before the world around them solidified again.

They found themselves standing on the outskirts of Yohen, the same spot where they had first entered the alien world. The once-familiar landscape looked foreign now, the silence of the night punctuated only by the distant howl of a creature they had never heard before. The siblings looked at each other, the weight of their experiences in the floating city etched into their expressions.

"We'll come back tomorrow," Si-woo said firmly, his voice filled with determination. "We have to learn more about this place."

They picked their way through the rubble-strewn streets of Yohen, the weight of their newfound knowledge and the books in their bags feeling heavier with each step. The once-familiar sights of their destroyed hometown now held a ghostly pallor in the moonlight. They finally came upon the fresh dirt mount where Si-woo had buried his mother in front of the house. The ruins of Si-woos house stood like a silent sentinel, a reminder of the life he had left behind. The walls that had once contained his family's laughter and love now lay in crumbling heaps; the roof open to the night sky.

"Hey, Ha-Yoon," Si-woo said, breaking the solemn silence as they approached the wreckage. "You know how time felt behind when we were in that... that school?"

"Yeah," she replied, her eyes never leaving the path ahead. "It was like we were there for hours, but time seems to be 3 hours or so ahead here. Walking by the grave Si-woo tells his mom "I'm back mom."

They set their supplies down in the ruined house, the memories of happier times weighing heavily on their hearts. The dust from their journey clung to their clothes and skin, a reminder of the destruction that surrounded them. Ha-Yoon opened one of the bags they had brought back from the floating city, revealing an assortment of cleaning supplies and clothing.

"We need to get cleaned up," she said, her voice flat. "We can't go back to bed like this."

They washed themselves with the supplies they had brought from the floating city. The water was cold and the soap smelled faintly of something unidentifiable, but it was a welcome relief after the dust and grime of their journey. Ha-Yoon found a small basin and filled it with water from their packs. She took off her mask and scrubbed her face, removing some dust and revealing more of her pale skin underneath.

Si-woo followed suit, filling another basin. He took off his shirt and mask, rinsing the sweat and dirt from his hair and skin. The water was icy, but it felt good on his bruised body. He took a moment to examine his reflection in a shard of mirror they had salvaged from the house. The boy that stared back at him had changed, grown harder around the edges. The weight of their new reality was etched into every line of his face.

They ate in silence, sharing the rations they had brought back from the ruined convenience store. The food was spongy bread filled with a sweet, tangy paste and small, juicy fruits that popped in their mouths, releasing a burst of flavor. It was a simple meal, but it filled their bellies and brought a small measure of comfort to their grieving hearts.

Afterward, they brushed their teeth with the supplies they had gathered, the minty paste feeling almost luxurious in the wake of the day's events. They climbed the creaking stairs to Ye-jun's old bedroom, the one place in the house that remained mostly untouched by the earthquake's destruction. The bed was a little messy, the blankets slightly rumpled from when they had slept here last. Ha-Yoon sat on the edge of the bed holding the Hoken Language book in her lap, her eyes scanning the pages.

"We should start learning," she said, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Si-woo nodded wearily, his eyes drifting to the open book. "But first, we need to rest. We've had a long day, and we're going to need our strength for tomorrow."

They lay down on the makeshift bed, the books and device beside them, and stared up at the stars shining through the open roof. The quiet of the night was a stark contrast to the chaos they had just left behind. Ha-Yoon's eyes grew heavy, the comforting darkness of the room lulling her into a state of near sleep. But before she could fully succumb, Si-woo's voice cut through the silence.

"What do you think will happen tomorrow?" he asked, his eyes still on the twinkling lights above.

Ha-Yoon's voice was small in the darkness. "I don't know, but I have a feeling it's going to be big."

Si-woo nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of the alien city and the mysteries it held. He reached out and took his sister's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "We'll face it together, no matter what."

The siblings lay in the quiet darkness, their breaths syncing with the rhythm of the night. The house creaked and groaned around them, a haunting reminder of the world that had been torn apart by the earthquakes. Despite the fear and uncertainty, a strange sense of peace filled the room as they held onto each other.