Frozen Echoes of Betrayal
Snowflakes drifted down, blurring her vision in a hazy white veil. All around stretched vast snowfields. Yet she felt no chill. With no sensation at all...
It's a dream.
Seoya quickly realized this was a dream.
And this is Toda.
The eternally frozen planet, her homeland, Toda. A land she'd never set foot on again outside of dreams. In the dream, Seoya wandered in search of mutants. Each step she took left footprints trailing behind her in the untouched snow, where no human traces marred the expanse. Her navy hair whipped in the wind, obscuring her view, but she didn't bother brushing it aside.
When I was little, Ibin unnie always used to tie my hair for me.
Ibin had loved braiding Seoya's hair down on both sides. Though at some point, she stopped.
The walkie-talkie at her waist crackled with static, followed by Ibin's voice. Hearing it after so long, Seoya instinctively snatched it up. She'd thought hearing her sister's voice even in a dream would make her explode with anger, but strangely, it didn't. Instead, a nauseating reminder of abandonment churned in her gut.
"No mutants in sight yet."
"No traces either."
On Toda, pioneers were little more than beings created to combat mutants. The enigmatic monsters known as mutants had utterly ravaged the single planet of Toda. They took human form and possessed human-level intelligence, but were unified solely by malice. The land they trod became corrupted, barren of all life, driven only by the urge to eradicate it. They required no food or sleep, scarcely qualifying as living creatures.
After awakening as the youngest pioneer at eight and enduring nonstop training, Seoya began fighting mutants at fourteen. Pioneers existed to oppose them, after all.
"Unnie."
"Why'd you do it?"
Crackle—
"Why'd you betray me?"
Crackle—
Unable to resist the impulse, Seoya spoke up, but no reply came from Ibin. It was her dream, after all—expected. From the moment Ibin, who always preached honesty, betrayed her, Seoya had felt everything she knew about her turn to lies.
Seoya trudged onward in silence.
"Found it."
A tree withered black and twisted. Withered trees, dead birds plummeted to the earth, rocks turned pitch-black—these were clues to track mutants. Seoya followed the blackened snowfield behind the tree.
"Mutant traces discovered. No visual confirmation. Will pursue traces."
Ibin's responses were always concise and clear.
This dream feels too vivid.
Melancholy settling in, Seoya followed the black snow, careful not to touch it. Even a prodigy like her knew direct exposure to mutant energy was dangerous.
"Mutants sighted."
Far off, three human-like figures. But not human—no one ventured this far from the village. Sensing life, the mutants turned as one. Eyes black without whites. Human features, yet blank expressions. Mouths agape, emitting a guttural grrrrr.
"Three mutants. Engaging."
Seoya kicked off the ground, charging. Each step sank deep into the snow. Her body floated feather-light. The three mutants reached toward her in unison, as if desperate to grasp her.
They kinda look like zombies from those Earth movies.
Hovering midair, Seoya plummeted down, mana cloaking her body.
Boom—
Her mana-charged fist smashed one mutant's head. It shattered instantly, no chance to react. The crunching skull was as grotesque as ever.
"One down."
Kicking off with mana-infused feet, Seoya twisted away from the others' attacks. Sensing threat, black energy enveloped the remaining two, warping into beast shapes that lunged.
The grotesque beast bared its jaws at her.
"Not today."
Boom—
Her mana-sheathed arm collided, crumpling and dispersing the black form. Enraged, the mutant wailed grraaak, mouth wide.
Both unleashed black energy, forming towering shields around them.
Seoya drew her dagger from her waist.
I used this one a lot.
Normally she'd just punch through, but when would she wield it again?
The blue blade gleamed in the sunlight. Her constant companion, now lost to her.
Crack—
The thrown dagger pierced the black barrier with a deafening shatter. Exposed, the mutants staggered, shocked by the backlash, collapsing like they'd lost the will to fight.
"No interest in battling me?"
They raised hands in surrender. But...
"You can't lie!"
Boom—
Spinning, Seoya clashed with the black tendrils ambushing from behind—like twitching tails from underground. A classic mutant trick, hiding energy through the earth.
"And this is about time to end, right?"
Her mana-edged hand sliced the tendrils clean. Heart racing from the familiar thrill, but...
The dream's wrapping up soon.
She knew she could never be her old self again. Retrieving the dagger, Seoya leaped.
Roll—
The blade severed both heads, tumbling them across the snow. Twisting midair, she landed gracefully and eyed the three severed heads.
"Three total, all eliminated."
Drawing out her mana swept the corpses away like melting snow, leaving only magic stones behind. Mutant energy clashing with pioneer mana birthed these useful resources.
"Magic stones collected."
"Where's Taesa oppa? What're you up to?"
"Just curious."
If I head back to base like this, Taesa oppa would come greet me.
His red hair damp with sweat from training, massive sword at his waist, reeking of fire and smoke. All in the past now.
"Unnie, why'd you betray me?"
No answer, as expected. A pang of grief.
"If that's how it is, then you should've just..."
"Ah."
Seoya jolted awake, bolting upright. Her body trembled uncontrollably. Cold sweat drenched her face. Wiping it away, she kicked off the thick blanket covering her to her chin.
Suddenly, Lee Gayeon's words resurfaced.
In this world, Seoya wasn't hungry, cold, or uncomfortable—always cozy and warm. But that didn't make this moment any better.
She had been betrayed.
From awakening as Toda's youngest pioneer at eight until turning seventeen, nine years passed without new pioneers emerging, for reasons unknown. Without replacements for the fallen, their numbers dwindled. So they passed their will to the non-pioneer civilians at headquarters, declaring it time for change.
Not just pioneers fighting mutants—we need all humanity to find ways to resist them.
Of course, people refused. They took it for granted, entrusting their lives to the few pioneers while living normally.
The pioneers then declared they'd hunt no more, sparking conflict with civilians. In response, the people decided to eliminate the greatest threat if war broke out.
That was me.
A few pioneers stayed at base while most left to trace mutant origins. Seizing the moment, civilians framed Seoya with fabricated crimes and exiled her.
Among those remaining: Ibin and Taesa.
I didn't expect them to help me.
The framing was handled covertly, beyond their knowledge. By the time they learned, she'd likely been imprisoned. But they spearheaded her exile.
If you couldn't help, at least don't contribute to throwing me out.
They'd been her family and teachers for nine years since she was eight. Yet she was betrayed, exiled, abandoned.
How could I live like nothing happened?
In this comfortable world, Seoya curled up, thinking words that could never reach Ibin and Taesa.
You know, I can never return to that world anyway. I'm no threat like I feared. No need to worry about revenge—even if I could go back, I wouldn't. I don't resent you. Whether you succeeded or failed in killing me, nothing changes for you two. But just for me... If you're going to abandon me like this, make me feel this way... Then you should've just pierced my heart and finished me off...