Just when I think I'm falling to my death, something grabs my right foot. I seem to have fallen through a random tree that happens to be growing on one of the cliff's sections below. I happen to be lucky to have fallen in its direction; it also has vines that get tangled in my right leg. As the heavy rainfall continues to drip on my body, face, and hospital gown being upside down, I see the old wizard suddenly appearing right above me as he stands at the cliff’s edge. He literally looks down at me while he says these discouraging words to me.

“You think being brave will let you win in defeating an enemy, but there's one unchangeable fact you should know, Kang Joo-yeon. That is… the strong always succeed. Bravery doesn't always work when that strength of yours isn't enough to take down a kobold. Of course you're assigned with the healer class, but have you ever made a defensive barrier with your own mana like the other healers? If not, then I don't see anything good for you to keep going inside the Labyrinths. I ask you once again, Kang Joo-yeon. Do you wish to continue this trial?”

As much as I wanna make a comeback at him, I stay silent which leads him to say more of his discouraging words.

“And to think a weak healer like you has been chosen to have Elysian's soul reside within you…”

Without a second to lose, I finally say my comebacks to him.

“Can I ask you a question, Judge Amergin?”

“What is it, naïve child?”

“You’ll still keep your word if I manage to get the mistletoe and give it to you, right?”

“I don't know why you're…”

“Hey, Old Man! It's either a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’!”

“I never break a promise, Kang Joo-yeon.”

“Good! Because I'm almost there!”

I close my eyes to take a very deep breath. Then, I open my eyes, gathering enough determination for my mind to focus on the vines that saved me at the right moment. I bend down, or more like upwards, grabbing them. I carefully balance myself by having my left hand grab a nearby branch, leading me to sitting on it whilst I try to untangle my leg from the vines. I can still see which of the vines I need to descend despite the heavy rain and wind that's making it difficult for me to maintain my focus.

“Kang Joo-yeon, don't tell me you're…”

“It would be good if you don't say another word, Amergin.”

Once I've done untangling and sorting out whichever vines I need as my only hiking equipment. My teeth are having a workout gnawing the necessary vines. I wish I've a pair of surgical scissors accidentally slipped into my gown’s pocket though I doubt it would've cut the vines that easily. Alas, I've cut the most important vine which falls down in the right direction towards the mistletoe’s resting spot. I then proceed to climb down carefully on that vine. It's a good thing the vine is slightly thicker than the rest of the lot as it endures my body weight despite myself having a petite and scrawny body.

Though the rainstorm keeps blurring my vision, I'm able to see whatever is in front of me. Some moments later, I can see that the mistletoe is within my arm’s reach. The wind is as strong as ever as it's making the vine I'm holding onto get unstably swayed sideways. Nevertheless, I've managed to put my foot onto the small rock where the mistletoe is located. I quickly grab and pluck the mistletoe from the almost narrow spot with my right hand; my left hand grabbing the vine firmly. I start to climb back up as fast as I can but still with a bit of cautiousness since I mustn't drop this mistletoe. One slipup and I'll be falling down to the ground below, turning into a crushed watermelon.

As I make my way to ascend back to the cliff's edge, a strong gust of wind is making the vine swaying sideways once again. This time, its swaying is worse as it's swinging me in an erratic manner. I never think that I'll encounter another worst-case scenario in such a short time, but my body has been slammed against the escarpment a few times already. I can feel agonizing aches and bruises since I barely got any muscles on my body. Just when I lament the lack of workouts in my lifestyle, the stormy wind has blown its full force upon my body, sending the vine forcefully swinging in the direction of a circle for a whole minute.

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As if bad timing isn't enough, my right ankle gets twisted when I instinctively use it as a brake pedal for my body against the escarpment. I'm determined to not let either of my arms get broken which may lead me to forcefully let go of the mistletoe. I've succeeded on said goal, but right now, my right ankle hurts so bad that I let out grunts and moans for several moments. As the crashes of thunder continue to surround and somehow overwhelm almost all of my senses, I quickly proceed to continue climbing up the vine, gritting my teeth to endure the pains caused by my twisted ankle.

Another howling gale forces the vine, which I'm still holding on, to swing wildly. While it's giving me headaches, I'm still able to hold the mistletoe until my right arm gets crushed on part of the escarpment. I can't help, but let out a loud-pitched scream. It’s bad luck enough to get two serious injuries ever since the ones I've got from the Painting Labyrinth. I grit my teeth once more; my breathing becomes heavier as I start to pant a lot to endure another agonizing pain. It seems that only the whole left side of my body is able to move as it does all the heaving the weight of my body upwards. Miraculously, because of my fatal injury on my right arm, my whole hand becomes so numb that I'm still able to clutch the mistletoe.

“Kang Joo-yeon, for the last time…. At this rate, you're gonna be plunged to your death.”

“To think you're worried about a weakling like me, gramps!”

“I’m warning you. You can't endure the pain from your injuries any longer.”

The way he speaks his last sentence with a concerned tone in his voice has made me believe the one fact I never thought of believing from the start. I close my eyes to take a very deep breath. Then, feeling determined one more time, I force my right arm to lift up the mistletoe and have my teeth shred the right sleeve of my hospital gown. I guess I shouldn't feel surprised that I'm capable of shredding a cloth with my teeth that easily. After all, I, a Slayer of two years with barely enough mana flowing within my body, am still stronger than a Non.

It's a good thing the wind isn't blowing strong anymore now as I make my right thumb hold on the end of the cloth. And which again I force my right arm to move closer to my mouth where I'm still biting the cloth’s other end. My mouth carefully manages to wrap around the mistletoe three times. Just when the wind starts to blow stronger and the lightning strikes back around me, I grit my teeth as I endure the pain of moving my right arm one last time. My right hand grasps the wrapped mistletoe; then simulating how a baseball is thrown, my whole right side moves swinging in a full circle for around ten times. At the tenth swing, I throw the wrapped mistletoe with all my arm’s strength. I can see it's flying upwards with whatever mana energy I put around it, but I somehow pray that it lands right at the edge of the cliff where Old Man Amergin is still standing.

Finally, it has landed right next to his wooden staff. Just then, one of the lightning strikes coincidentally manages to snap the vine I'm holding on to. I'm sure I've made a shocked look to the old judge above me when I actually start to fall down to my death. I’ve no choice, but to look upwards regardless of my vision going back and forth between blurry and clear. And yet, I suddenly don't feel any pain from my broken arm and twisted ankle. Instead, it's the same melancholic feeling I experienced when I made my decision in helping Ms Han and Jung-han escape from the Painting Labyrinth.

I guess you could say I've no regrets falling to death since I’ve managed to pass the trial already. Old Man Amergin never explicitly says I must physically be up there with the mistletoe. Alas, I slowly close my eyes with my subconscious believing I'm having another peaceful sleep. The raindrops still keep falling down on my face. Suddenly, I don't feel any raindrops because I can't even hear its pitter-patter sounds; even the lightning has stopped making crackling sounds in the cold air. The only thing I can hear is a singing choir or more like, a young man singing a heavenly-tuned solo. I’ve to open my eyes as I no longer feel my body is falling downwards.

If Uncle Seung-min were to see a sort of heavenly light shining in the clouds above me, then his faith as a believer would be worthwhile for him. Anyway, I see someone has grabbed my whole body, somewhat carrying me in a bridal style. When the dark clouds dissipate and let the sunlight in, I see a young man with long silvery hair and his eyes being heterochromia; his left being dark blue; his right being bright green. I don't know how I can recognise him that quickly, but this is Old Man Amergin staring at me with those aesthetically attractive eyes and his face not having a beard at all.

“Darn it…I'll still call you “gramps”. Were you…putting on an…illusion…the whole time?”

“You suicidal brat…I didn't say you have to kill yourself…”

“Hehe…your rule didn't say…I've to be…physically present…with that…ingredient…”

It feels odd that I'm relaxed at how I'm talking at a slow pace, though that's expected after my whole body has experienced so much physical injuries. I consciously smirk at Old Man Amergin while I’m having this conversation with him.

“So…Judge Amergin…did I pass…or fail…since you…just saved me…from falling down…”

“Can you be quiet now, Kang Joo-yeon? I’m bringing you to a safe ground now.”

And so he does that. He sort of flies up to the top of the cliff to have my injured self laid there carefully. Then, he proceeds to use his healing magic on me; its glowing light looks like the color of a shamrock. I feel at ease as my injured body slowly heals for another recovery.

“You should've had this look…from the start, gramps. Then again,... it's pointless if…you did that for me…”

“You're still talkative even after you nearly killed yourself. Then again, your teeth have proven the fact that you're a resilient snail.”

“Hey…are you really…not related to Chun? You could be…his hyung (older brother)…who dares to… diss me…calling me…a snail.”

“It'll be good if you stop talking, Kang Joo-yeon. I need to concentrate, okay? I can see why Ellie chose you. You're prepared to accept the consequences of your decision. Just like her…”

“What do…you…”

It's futile as I really can't stay awake much longer. I've many questions to ask that he must answer at least one, but to no avail, I'm unable to do that since all my energy has been drained completely. It's as if his healing magic is making me feel sleepy. I'm about to shut my eyes for good when this old man looks at me with a sort of melancholic look in his heterochromic eyes. I wonder if Chun can look like this if Seo Jae-in got injured badly.

“But still, Kang Joo-yeon…I hope you don’t change too much. Otherwise…you'll lose yourself if you desperately rely on the Guideline.”

“Gramps…you worried…too much…I remember my past so that…I can handle whatever…is happening in the present. I don't want to see the future, okay?”

“Is that a personal request?”

“Hmmm…well…I just wanna know the past…not the future…which I'm able to change…with to…day…”

And then, I slowly close my eyes though I can remember hearing this last sentence from him.

“I trust you to not let yourself be ruled by the Guideline. You must rule over it, Kang Joo-yeon.”