As they landed in the courtyard of their house, the siblings couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled upon them. They dismounted from Lemmy, who took off again into the sky, a graceful shadow against the blue hues of daylight.

"Let's go inside," Si-Woo said, his voice a mix of excitement and nerves. "I'll make us something to eat."

The siblings entered their house, which felt smaller and cozier compared to the grandeur of the Royal Palace. The warm scent of home filled their nostrils as they removed their shoes and stepped onto the soft, plush rug.

Si-Woo, feeling the need to ground himself, quickly changed into his favorite worn-out t-shirt and comfortable pants. The fabric felt like a reassuring hug, bringing him back to simpler times before they were thrust into the world of serein and fae politics. Heading into the kitchen, he gathered ingredients to make sandwiches, a meal that somehow seemed to bridge the gap between their old lives and their new reality.

The clinking of plates and the smell of fresh Ondurian bread brought Ha-Yoon out of her contemplation. She had changed into a pair of soft, form-fitting pants and a tunic that allowed for easy movement. Her eyes searched Si-Woo's, seeking reassurance. He offered her a smile, though it was slightly forced. "We've got this," he said, his voice firm. "We're in this together."

They sat at the wooden table, the plates piled with sandwiches filled with an assortment of meats and cheeses that were the staple of Ondur cuisine. The siblings ate in silence for a few moments, thinking of their conversation with Minho and the revelation about the Rankers heavy on their minds. Ha-Yoon spoke up first, "What do you think the Ranker's Test will be like?"

Si-Woo took a bite before responding, chewing thoughtfully. "Probably brutal," he said with a sigh, "But we've faced tough challenges before." He paused, looking out the window at the distant horizon where they had seen Mutstushiro disappear. "I just hope we can handle whatever they throw at us."

"I never said I wanted to become a Ranker," Ha-Yoon murmured, pushing her plate away. "I was just wondering how hard the test would be." Si-woo doesn't believe her, yet he remains silent.

"Since the day they had buried her parent's saplings in the garden," Si-Woo thought, " They had visited their makeshift grave frequently. Ha-Yoon had grown quiet and introspective during those moments, her eyes often misting over as she whispered words that only the wind could carry. Each visit seemed like a small piece of her heart was being torn away, leaving me wondering if she ever thought about returning to her old home, leaving me behind."

He quickly shakes his head, banishing the thought. "I'm being silly," he murmurs to himself. Ha-Yoon was his sister, his confidant, and his partner in this journey. Their bond is unbreakable.

...

The siblings followed Minho to the royal palace training grounds, the sun casting long shadows over the meticulously maintained lawns and ancient statues that lined their path. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant sound of clashing swords and laughter as fae practiced various martial arts. Unlike the floating platforms in Ondur, the newly constructed platforms in Yohen were grounded.

As they approached a secluded area, Minho stopped and turned to face them, his hands behind his back. "Human technology," he mused, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "It's quite unique." He pulled out an object from behind him, a small black device with a glassy surface and shiny buttons. Ha-Yoon's eyes widened in recognition. "I've repaired it with a serein stone but I still can't discover its use," Minho exclaimed.

"That's a camera!" she exclaimed.

Minho looked at her, his eyebrows raised. "A what?"

"It's a human camera," Ha-Yoon said, her voice filled with excitement. "It captures moments, so you can remember them forever." She stepped closer, reaching out to take the device.

Minho looked at her with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "How does it do that?"

"You take a picture," Ha-Yoon said, taking the camera from him. She flipped it over, her thumbs moving over the buttons with familiar ease. "You look through this lens," she pointed, "and when you press this button," she demonstrated, "it captures what you're looking at."

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Minho leaned in, his interest piqued. "Fascinating," he murmured, watching as Ha-Yoon handed the camera back to him. He turned it over in his hands, inspecting it with the same intensity he would a new serein artifact.

"Let's take a picture," Si-Woo suggested, his eyes shining with excitement. He had seen cameras in action before, but the concept remained as enchanting as ever. It was a piece of their old world, a bridge between the past and their new lives.

Minho handed the camera to Ha-Yoon, who eagerly took it. "Show me," he urged, stepping closer to the siblings. Ha-Yoon's cheeks flushed as she positioned the camera in a selfie position, with the majestic palace in the background and the siblings and Minho in the foreground. The flash of the camera was a brief, brilliant light, and the moment was captured in a soft click.

"Here," she said, handing it back to Minho with a smile. "You can keep it if you want. Maybe it'll help you understand our world better."

Minho looked at the camera, then at the siblings, and nodded solemnly. "Thank you," he said. "Now, let's begin your training."

He led them to the middle of a spacious platform, surrounded by lush greenery and a few fae guards practicing their battle formations. The area was clear of any obstruction, the perfect place for what was to come. "Ha-Yoon," he called out, his voice echoing through the open space, "Summon your bonds."

Her heart raced as she nodded, focusing her thoughts on her spirit creatures. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the serein against her skin. In her mind's eye, she saw the majestic creatures she had befriended, their fiery eyes and sleek fur. "Come to me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The ground beneath them rumbled, and with a flash of light, the spacious platform was no longer empty. Two majestic spade wolves, their fur shimmering like the night sky, appeared before them. The creatures were a breathtaking sight, their eyes burning with a fiery determination that mirrored Ha-Yoon's own spirit.

"Good," Minho nodded, his gaze sharp as he scrutinized Ha-Yoon's posture and the way she interacted with the serein around her to summon the beats efficiently. "Now, Ha-Yoon, for the last seven days, we've been working on your 'Eternal Eye' body formation. Which involves strengthening the link to your bonds so that you can see through their eyes through meditation. Can you see with your spade wolf's eyes yet?"

Ha-Yoon closed her eyes again, focusing her energy into the link between her and her spirit creatures. The world around her grew quiet, and she felt the warmth of their spirits meld with hers. "I... I think so," she whispered, opening her eyes to find that she could indeed see the world from two additional perspectives, the wolves' view superimposed over her own.

Minho watched, his expression unreadable, as Ha-Yoon's eyes grew wider with amazement. "Good," he said again, his voice devoid of the awe he felt. "She truly is monstrous." Minho thinks to himself, "To be able to see from her bond's viewpoint in less than a week's training is laughable. I heard it took Lady Somin 6 months to do it and she was considered a genius. MAN, I LOVE TRAINING THESE TWO."

Without warning, Minho's hand shot out, throwing a small hardball at Ha-Yoon. She was so absorbed in her newfound ability that she didn't even see it coming. It smacked her right in the nose, sending a sharp pain shooting through her and causing her to yelp in surprise. The wolves growled protectively, their fur bristling, but she quickly calmed them with a gentle thought.

"What was that for?" she demanded, rubbing her nose and glaring at Minho.

Minho's smile was wry as he picked up another ball from the sack at his side. "Your Eternal Eye uses an abundance of concentration just on keeping the formation active, but Ha-yoon, you will have to learn to keep the body formation active while in combat," he explained, tossing the second ball. This time, she managed to catch it, her eyes still focused on the spade wolves.

Her grip tightened on the ball as she nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. "I'll practice," she assured him, her voice filled with determination.

Minho nodded in approval. "Good," he said, turning to gesture to the side of the platform. "Now, I'd like to introduce you to someone."

A fae guard with cropped black hair and piercing black eyes came walking from a neighboring platform, his posture rigid and his expression stoic. His eyes scanned the siblings, and Si-Woo felt a slight twinge of unease under his scrutinizing gaze. "This is Sergeant Ren," Minho announced, "He is an eighth-degree Toeju martial artist and will be your training partner from now on, Ha-Yoon."

Sergeant Ren stepped forward, his movements fluid as a river, and bowed slightly. "It is an honor to meet the bonded of the spade wolves," he said, his voice deep and formal. Ha-Yoon nodded back, her eyes never leaving his.

"Why do I need a training partner?" she asked Minho, her voice filled with a hint of skepticism.

"Because," Minho began, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "You need to learn to fight alongside your spirits without losing focus or getting distracted. And who better to teach you than one of the best in the Royal Guard? And besides you and Si-woo need individual attention for your unique abilities,"

Sergeant Ren's gaze never left Ha-Yoon as he straightened from his bow. "I will challenge you to push your limits," he said, his voice as unyielding as steel. "We shall see how deep your bond truly runs."

Minho cleared his throat, drawing Si-Woo's attention away from the exchange. "Come," he said, gesturing for Si-Woo to follow. "It's your turn."