“What did your mother say?”
The question had been burning on Hana’s lips since the party met at the train station in the morning. But she had to wait for a quiet moment away from prying ears before asking. Unfortunately, that included her brother.
“She said that if we weren’t on the corporations’ radar before, we are now,” Willow replied. “The Seorak Outbreak was firmly under the control of multiple small subsidiary companies, but they all led back to Gigan Corp.”
Hana cursed silently. She hated to ask, but there was a reason they had traveled to Seongsoo. A reason they went to visit Magwi the Forgemaster and a reason that Hana sent Willow to see her mother.
“What about the Cha Bell Group?”
Willow swallowed the lump in her throat and tried her best to keep her heart from beating out of her chest. Just the mention of the name brought back memories Willow wanted to forget forever.
“They’re sending parties north, just like you expected. Whatever’s happening with the northern barons, they’re involved.”
Hana nodded and turned to leave.
“What about Jinyoung?” Willow asked. “Shouldn’t he know what’s going on?”
For a moment, it looked like Hana was going to answer. But then the moment passed and Hana walked out of the train car leaving Willow behind with her answer.
***
After the debrief, Jinyoung needed space. The train was six empty cars and the engine car. More than enough space for some privacy between the party of the Phoenix and the single train conductor.
Hana watched her young brother for a second before approaching him. It had been weeks since he had returned to her life, and there was still a strangeness. In their quieter moments, she watched him just like she had when she was a young. Back then he had always seemed unafraid and brave.
“You okay?”
Jinyoung’s only response was a curt nod.
At level 21, his stats were 21 across the board. It allowed Jinyoung more strength than a scholar or mage, more luck than a rogue, and more intelligence than a fighter. But fighters didn’t need intelligence stats any more than scholars needed strength.
“What about the skill quests?” Hana asked, interrupting the spiraling thoughts in his mind.
QUEST: The Path of the WIND (II)
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
OBJECTIVE: Use [DASH+] to move across 10,000 km of distance
Current Progress: 1,024 of 10,000 km
REWARD: New ASPECT
QUEST: The Path of the ONION KNIGHT (I)
OBJECTIVE: Reveal and COMPLETE 3 secret SUBQUESTS.
Current Progress: 2 secret SUBQUEST completed (66% completed)
REWARD: New ASPECT
QUEST: The Path of INNER STRENGTH (II)
OBJECTIVE: Reduce or EVADE 1,000,000 damage while CHARGED.
Current progress: 5,032 DMG reduced or evaded (0.5% COMPLETED)
REWARD: New ASPECT
Progress was slow since unlocking [charge+]. And while he was beginning to adjust to the skills and progression system, there was no way to know what was waiting for him further along the line.
“This sucks,” he said plainly. It wasn’t a question or even a statement. It was just the truth.
“You’ll be fine. Your skills are definitely coming along and it’s only a matter of time until…” Hana’s voice trailed off when she saw her brother shaking his head.
“You don’t get it. You got to choose your class. Same with Willow,” he gestured back towards the front of the car. “Everyone else gets it easy while I’m here getting the short end of the stick.”
The shield knight bristled.
When they were young, she’d heard her brother talk like this with their father. The man who had raised him, but Jinyoung had always kept at arm’s distance. She didn’t see back then what she saw now: ego.
“We all have our burdens to bear,” Hana said. “Willow’s got hers, same as you. She just has a better handle on it than you.”
“You know,” Jinyoung started. “There was a moment just after I’d beaten the Black Shrine quest when I felt happy. Like I was finally going to be free from that hell. I guess I didn’t realize the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
Hana could see Jinyoung flexing his hands.
“Johann’s dead, Cyrus is a pawn of his grandfather, Seah is… someone completely different. And you…” His voice trailed off.
“What about me?”
Jinyoung looked up at his sister with guilt straining against the bounds of his eyes.
“I missed your life, Hana. I wasn’t there for you.”
“You weren’t, but there were others. Dad was always there and, for a while, so were Seah and Cyrus. Not to mention Johann.”
At the mention of their lost friend, Jinyoung’s expression darkened. It didn’t go unnoticed.
“Jinyoung, this isn’t your fault,” Hana pleaded. “You didn’t choose to-”
“Sunbae?”
Jinyoung and Hana turned around to see Willow waiting for them.
“The conductor says we’re still a ways out, but the weather’ll start turning soon.”
“What does that mean?” Jinyoung asked.
“The north is about 30 below freezing, but we’ll start feeling it soon,” Willow answered. “We should start getting into the cold weather clothes soon.”
Jinyoung brushed past her and walked back to the train car where their gear was stored.
“I’ll go get changed.”