Minho's breath hitched in her throat, freezing her in place as her wide eyes took in the scene of horror before her. The orange glow she had first noticed from afar wasn’t the comforting warmth of a hearth or a controlled bonfire. No—this was wild, chaotic, destructive. The flames licked the dark sky, towering high above the treetops and casting an eerie, menacing light over the village. Her home—her world—was burning.

For what felt like an eternity, Minho stood rooted to the ground, her legs stiff as if glued in place by the weight of the realization crashing down on her. This was real. This was happening. The village that had always been her sanctuary, her home, was engulfed in flames.

She snapped out of her daze. Her heart pounded in her chest, and without thinking, she took off running. She had to help. She had to understand what in the world was going on! As she sprinted closer to the blaze, the wind carried the bitter sting of smoke and ash. The heat grew more intense, scorching her skin with every step she took, while the brightness of the inferno blazed ahead, illuminating the unfolding chaos.

The battlefield came into view, and Minho skidded to a halt. Her breath caught in her throat. What lay before her was not just fire—but bloodshed. The members of her Thunder Sky Brotherhood were locked in a desperate struggle for survival. The enemy was the Greenwood Brotherhood, men clad in uniforms she knew too well, men who outnumbered her brothers and sisters four or five to one. The scene was a massacre. The crackling of flames, the clash of steel, the cries of pain—it was overwhelming.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stood at the entrance of the village, her heart breaking at the sight of her comrades falling under the relentless assault. But it wasn’t just the battle that shattered her spirit, it was the two figures standing in the midst of the destruction, directing the attack.

Yu Ryang.

Her breath caught again. Yu Ryang, the leader of the Greenwood Brotherhood, the same man who had once been part of her family, the Thunder Sky Brotherhood. She remembered him from her childhood, the tall, stern man who had left them all when she was only four years old, departing to form his own bandit clan. It was no surprise that he led the attack—he was their enemy now. But the figure standing beside him—the one giving orders to burn everything to the ground—that’s what stopped her heart.

Senior Brother Minfe.

Minho’s vision blurred with tears, her mind refusing to comprehend what her eyes were seeing. Senior Brother Minfe—the same man who had taken care of her when she was just a child. The man who had stayed up with her on cold nights, teaching her to read and write, even when he was sick. The brother who had snuck her sweets in the middle of the night, making her promise not to tell anyone. He had loved them—she knew he had. He had loved all the members of the brotherhood like his own family.

So why? Why was he standing there, side by side with Yu Ryang, commanding the destruction of everything they had built? Why was he betraying them?

Her legs trembled as she tried to process the scene, her eyes darting from Minfe to the burning village, the horror only deepening when she spotted a familiar figure lying motionless in the middle of the chaos. Brother Yuan.

His lifeless body lay sprawled in the dirt, blood pooling around him. The sight of him—dead, gone—tore a scream from her throat. But before she could cry out his name, a rough hand clamped over her mouth, silencing her. Panic surged through her chest, thinking a Greenwood bandit had caught her, but the voice that hissed in her ear calmed her nerves, if only a little.

“Stupid brat, shut up and run! Don’t you dare try to go in there!”

It was Senior Brother Dao, his voice harsh but familiar. He dragged her roughly by the arm, pulling her back from the burning village and the unfolding slaughter. Before she could protest, he shoved her toward the edge of the hill, his grip strong but protective.

"Go!" he barked, his face set in a hard, determined scowl. “I’ve always been against letting idiot children into the brotherhood! Now run, brat, and hide! You can’t do a damn thing here! Get out before you get yourself killed!”

With one final push, Dao sent her tumbling down the hill. She barely had time to process what was happening as the ground gave way beneath her, and she rolled painfully down the slope. The heat from the flames behind her faded as she descended further away from the village.

By the time she reached the bottom, her body ached from the fall, and tears streamed down her face, not just from the pain, but from the gut-wrenching realization that everything she had ever known was falling apart.

The fall hadn’t been too steep, as the hillside sloped gently enough for her to survive the tumble. Dao had made sure to push her down the safest path, ensuring she wouldn’t be hurt too badly. He had known she could get up and run. Minho wiped at her face with trembling hands, trying to stop the tears, but they kept flowing, blurring her vision.

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A sudden snap of twigs nearby jerked her back to the present. Panic surged through her chest. She wasn’t safe yet. The Greenwood Brotherhood was still out there, combing through the forest for survivors, and if they found her—she didn’t want to think about what would happen. Her legs felt unsteady beneath her, whether from the fall or her overwhelming fear, she couldn’t tell, but she forced herself to move.

She had to run.

Minho stumbled forward into the thick of the forest, her feet pounding against the ground, each step shaky but desperate. The sound of her uneven breathing filled her ears as she zigzagged through the trees, trying to avoid any patrols. She could barely think, barely register what direction she was headed in. All she knew was that she had to stay away from the search parties—those shadowy figures she glimpsed lurking in the distance, ready to pounce on any fleeing members of her Thunder Sky Brotherhood.

She saw them. Groups of Greenwood bandits prowling the forest, their silhouettes just visible in the dim light. Their voices carried through the night as they called to each other, searching for anyone who had managed to escape the massacre. Minho’s heart raced faster. She turned sharply, changing direction before they could see her, running blindly through the darkness.

She needed to find somewhere to hide. Somewhere the bandits wouldn’t think to look.

The secret stash locations scattered around the forest came to mind hidden spots that only Brother Yuan and Gu knew about but they were too far. She’d never make it without being spotted. The bandits were circling the entire area, making it nearly impossible to slip past them unnoticed.

Then, something clicked in her mind. She recognized the area she was in. The trees, the rocks, the slight slope of the land—it was familiar. And that’s when it hit her: the cave.

A week ago, she had discovered a small entrance, hidden cave in this very part of the forest. It was barely noticeable, tucked away behind thick brush, she had found the black mirror that she hadn’t told anyone about. It could be her salvation.

Minho quickened her pace, her heart pounding even harder in her chest. She raced through the trees, her breath ragged as she searched for the entrance. The forest felt endless, every shadow and noise making her jump, but she pressed on, her desperation giving her the strength to push through her exhaustion.

Finally, she spotted it—the small cave entrance, almost invisible behind a curtain of vines and branches. Relief washed over her, and without hesitating, she scrambled toward it, pushing aside the vegetation. She crawled into the opening.

Once inside, she huddled against the cold stone, trying to control her breathing, trying to make herself as small and silent as possible. The cave was damp and dark, but it felt safer than the open forest.

The sound of footsteps outside grew closer. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. The Greenwood bandits were near, searching for anyone who might have slipped away.

But they didn’t find her.

Minho stayed perfectly still, her heart thudding in her chest as she listened to them move past. She waited until their voices faded into the distance before allowing herself to exhale, her body trembling from the adrenaline.

For now, she was safe. Once Minho was certain the Greenwood Bandits had moved on, she ventured deeper into the cave, heading toward the open chamber where she had previously discovered the black mirror. Her legs felt weak, her body heavy with exhaustion, but she pushed herself forward. After what felt like endless, dragging minutes of walking, she finally reached the clearing. The ceiling of the cave open to the skys, allowing moonlight to pour in, illuminating the space with a cool, silver glow. Plants thrived here, wild and untamed, their leaves shimmering under the night sky. A large, ancient tree stood at the center, its roots spread wide across the mossy ground, and Minho couldn't help but feel a slight sense of peace in this hidden sanctuary.

She approached the tree, collapsing at its base with a weary sigh, letting the soft moss cushion her aching body. Every muscle screamed in protest, but at least she was far from the chaos outside.

With trembling hands, she opened her bag and checked on the black mirror she had found a week ago. Thankfully, the moss she had packed around it had kept it safe. The mirror, an object that had once seemed insignificant, now felt like a strange lifeline, something that tied her to this place—something she needed to protect. There were no cracks, no signs of damage. Minho exhaled deeply, relieved, and placed the mirror back in her bag, cradling it close to her chest as she curled up against the tree.

Her body shook with silent sobs as the events of the night overwhelmed her again. Everything—the burning village, the betrayal of Senior Brother Minfe, the sight of Brother Yuan’s lifeless body—flooded her mind. Exhaustion finally took over, and she cried herself into a fitful sleep.

When she awoke, it was with a jolt, her heart racing and her body drenched in cold sweat. Fear gripped her chest as the nightmare of her reality set in once more. She let out a slow breath, trying to calm herself. For a moment, she took in her surroundings, reminding herself that she was safe in the cave. But then the sorrow returned. Even sleep couldn’t shake the despair that weighed on her soul. Her mind was still foggy, her body drained, and yet she knew she couldn’t stay here forever.

She glanced up through the open ceiling of the cave. The moon still hung high in the night sky, meaning the hellish night wasn’t over yet. A chill ran down her spine as she realized the Greenwood Bandits were still out there, still hunting. The fire in the village, the cries of battle—it wasn’t over.

With that thought gnawing at her, Minho decided to check outside. She needed to know if the bandits were still nearby, if it was safe to move, or if she should stay hidden. Quietly, she crept to the entrance of the cave, her heart thudding in her chest as she peered out into the night.

The distant glow of orange still lit up the sky, the flames of her village burning on the horizon. The sight made her stomach twist. She couldn’t help but remember Brother Yuan’s lifeless body and the countless Thunder Sky Brotherhood members who had fallen. She closed her eyes for a moment, forcing the images away, but they lingered, haunting her.

Just as she opened her eyes, her heart skipped a beat. Two figures were approaching, their silhouettes moving through the forest in her direction. Instinctively, Minho shrank back behind the cave wall, pressing herself into the shadows. Her breath came in shallow, quiet gasps as she cautiously peeked out to get a better look at who was coming. Were they Greenwood Bandits? Or perhaps survivors from the village?

As the figures came closer, the moonlight revealed enough for Minho to make out the face of one of them—Senior Brother Dao. Relief surged through her at the sight of him. She was about to step out and run to him when she froze, her eyes locking onto the second figure beside him. It was someone she recognized: “Cha” the young man they had taken hostage during the raid a week ago. He was the son of some powerful merchant group leader, and the Thunder Sky Brotherhood had captured him to use as leverage.

But something was wrong. Cha wasn’t bound or restrained in any way. In fact, it seemed like he and Senior Brother Dao were walking side by side, as if they were working together. Minho’s stomach sank. What was Dao doing with him? Why wasn’t he treating Cha like a prisoner?

Minho pressed herself even harder against the cave wall, her mind racing. Her instincts told her to run out and confront them, to ask Dao what was happening. But something held her back. She stayed hidden, her eyes narrowing as she tried to observe more closely, waiting for any sign that would explain this strange situation.