The Vèvè of Silent Lightning
What Do Seon-woo had drawn on the ground with his own blood was some kind of picture. It wasn't a spell circle; it seemed more like a symbol representing something. I couldn't tell what it symbolized. The image drawn in blood exuded a dark, eerie aura all on its own.
Once he finished drawing, Do Seon-woo used a spell to heal the wound on his palm. Healing his own injury with a restoration spell was obviously going to have side effects, and even if the wound closed, the pain would linger. Yet his face remained utterly serene, as if he couldn't feel pain at all.
"......What the hell are you doing?"
Ha Su-yeong asked in a trembling voice. Her hands and feet, chilled from the sight of blood, still hadn't warmed up.
Do Seon-woo didn't answer. He simply sat down in front of the picture he'd drawn and began muttering something. It wasn't Korean. Not English either. No language I recognized. But from the way he modestly clasped his hands and closed his eyes, I could vaguely tell it was a prayer.
The prayer soon ended. But nothing happened. Was all this—stripping his shirt, self-harming—just for this?
I was about to say something out of sheer absurdity when a wind blew. Not a cutting gale, not a gentle breeze, but a wind carrying a strange resonance. That resonance sealed my lips.
Flutter.
Clothes rustled in the wind, bangs lifting. The next instant, darkness swallowed everything.
Dozens of stars appeared in the void. White glowing lines wove the scattered stars into one. Light from the stars and lines sliced through the darkness. The light devoured it, and my vision brightened dazzlingly.
The brilliant glow, eternal as it seemed, faded at last. When I could finally gaze at the world clearly, the withered tree dying in the barren wasteland's corner was gone. Only a charred black mark remained, timidly claiming life's brief presence there.
"See that?"
As I realized those glowing lines weaving the stars had been a single bolt of lightning, Do Seon-woo spoke.
Ha Su-yeong alternated between staring at the ashen tree remnants and Do Seon-woo's utterly calm face.
"Sobo......?"
"Right. Smarter than I thought."
Sobo, the Loa of thunder and lightning. Capricious and noisy, but occasionally kind and cute—or so I'd heard. That's why it was hard for Ha Su-yeong to believe the bolt had been Sobo's power. It was too subdued for that.
The lightning felt like dozens, hundreds of bolts condensed into one point—intense, yet not flashy. It descended silently, leaving a faint breeze before vanishing quietly. Serene, elegant lightning that couldn't possibly be Sobo's.
"I heard Sobo is super capricious and loud."
"That's true too. But use a vèvè, and it's different."
A vèvè is the symbolic pattern for each Loa. The picture Do Seon-woo had drawn with his blood must have been Sobo's vèvè.
He continued explaining. Drawing a vèvè and praying greatly amplified the power compared to borrowing a Loa's ability normally. You could even control the power's intensity or form as needed.
"You don't have to use blood like I did. Animal bones, leaves, whatever works."
"Ah...... But do you have to strip?"
"Not necessarily. But—"
Drip.
Before Do Seon-woo could finish, blood started flowing from his nose. It poured like a waterfall, eventually streaming down his chest.
Ha Su-yeong's hands and feet, just regaining warmth, chilled again.
Do Seon-woo wiped the flowing blood with the back of his hand and spoke.
"......I stripped because of the side effects. Didn't want blood on my clothes."
"Wh-what kind of side effect is this dramatic?!"
"Didn't expect it this bad. Hospital stay weakened me...... Ugh. My head smells like batteries."
Do Seon-woo grimaced, pressing his temple. Battery smell in his head—what a weird way to put it—but that wasn't important now.
Ha Su-yeong hurriedly took off her outer jacket and handed it to him.
"Wipe with this. What kind of guts do you have to pull that crap......"
"I could use my own clothes, no need."
"If you get blood all over and go home, they'll think I beat you! Dad and Yeom Man-geun!"
Ha Su-yeong yelled insistently, thrusting the jacket at him. Do Seon-woo reluctantly took it but didn't wipe with it. He looked reluctant.
"Won't it be weird if blood gets on your clothes?"
"Just toss it here. It's not expensive, and it's summer—no need for an outer layer. You'd have nothing to wear if you toss yours."
"True...... Wait, I can just summon rain."
"Rain? It's not even raining."
"Call it with Loa power."
Do Seon-woo said casually. Ha Su-yeong raised her voice in horror.
"......You lunatic! That's why people say you're killing yourself. What if you collapse? I don't wanna carry your ass."
"I'm fine. Won't collapse from this."
"Ugh, just—wipe with mine already."
Ha Su-yeong sighed in exasperation. Do Seon-woo stared at the jacket she'd given him and spoke.
"You sure? I'll really use it."
"I said yes. Why keep asking? I said it's fine."
"Heard Chungcheong folks need three asks to get the real answer."
Ha Su-yeong narrowed her eyes, glaring at Do Seon-woo.
"......That's regional stereotyping."
"Sorry. Anyway, thanks. I'll use it."
Do Seon-woo chuckled and wiped the blood. It looked like a ton at first glance, but the jacket didn't stain much. No need to toss it, so he just rolled it up and tucked it under his arm. A faint blood scent lingered.
"What? You said toss it."
Do Seon-woo, now dressed, asked curiously. Ha Su-yeong clutched the bundled clothes tightly as they walked together, grumbling curtly.
"Toss or not, my call. It's my clothes."
"Your dad might misunderstand."
"Bundle it like this, no one'll notice."
Ha Su-yeong bowed her head and continued softly.
"......Dad doesn't care about me anyway."
Her true feelings slipped out unbidden. Flustered, she jerked her head up to look at Do Seon-woo. He kept his mouth shut, staring ahead. Was he aware of her family issues, or just uninterested? No way to tell.
Silence fell briefly. Do Seon-woo spoke up as Yeom Man-geun's container came into distant view.
"So why'd you follow me?"
Ha Su-yeong hesitated, choosing her words.
"......Questions about spells. You assigned homework last time—I finished it."
"That fast? What's the question?"
"You'll answer?"
"Of course. Gotta hand over everything to the next cult leader before I die."
Do Seon-woo grinned playfully. Ha Su-yeong felt inexplicably annoyed, shooting him a sidelong glare. That wasn't something to joke about.
Two years ago, first seeing Do Seon-woo. He was short, scrawny, eyes lacking strength. No way he looked like a cult leader. Back then, Ha Su-yeong vowed she'd become one.
At the recent executive meeting, he'd changed beyond recognition. Taller, more muscular, personality befitting a leader. She gave up then.
And today, he'd changed again. Couldn't pinpoint how, but she instinctively knew it was major. Good or bad? No clue. Watching him evolve day by day stirred inexplicable anxiety in Ha Su-yeong.
"I'll ask next time."
"Ask now. I'll explain sincerely."
"Nah. Next executive meeting?"
All Voodoo cult leaders had changed at some pivotal event. And soon died. Like fate, the first and second leaders vanished suddenly that way.
Do Seon-woo seemed headed the same. Casually mentioning death made it feel like he'd go just as casually.
"So don't die till then. Finish the handover first."
She left room for their next meeting. Do Seon-woo chuckled, grasping her intent.
"To finish handover, might need another century. Watching you."
"Yeah, yeah. Live long then."
Ha Su-yeong snarked back, annoyed. Why worry about this guy? Plenty else to fret over.
Upon arrival, Yeom Man-geun and Ha Pan-seok leaned against the container, smoking. Do Seon-woo headed straight to wake Lee Jin-seong. Ha Su-yeong pinched her nose at the smoke stench and approached her dad.
Ha Pan-seok spotted the bundled clothes in her arms and made a huge fuss.
"Hey, isn't that your favorite jacket? Where'd you get those stains?"
"Just...... happened."
Ha Su-yeong suppressed her reluctance and barely answered. Ha Pan-seok clicked his tongue.
"Knew it'd happen. Told you not to wear it in this heat, but you insisted."
"Ugh, what? It's my clothes—my call if it stains!"
"......Watch your mouth. You don't talk to the cult leader like that, right? It's all for your good—speech affects impressions more than you think—"
Ha Pan-seok's nagging continued. Ha Su-yeong let it go in one ear and out the other, turning her head. She saw Do Seon-woo boarding Lee Jin-seong's car.
*
While in the Crossroads, I'd done a lot of thinking, including about Jeong Yun-ah, Jeong In-ah's sister. Han Su-yeop had created that absurd fake cult "Voodoo Reincarnation Church," expanded via the worship hall altar, turning Jeong Yun-ah into a zombie.
My mistake. My responsibility.
To restore her, needed reverse voodoo. For that, the Retrograde Staff. To get it, Saudi history museum.
Yun Chang-su's letter secured staff help, but still—stealing. Way riskier than shoplifting junk food.
To prepare, found a way to wield Loa powers more precisely and calmly: vèvè and prayer. Experiment succeeded.
Learned I could shape Loa powers to my will somewhat. Side effects harsher than expected—fresh out of hospital. Eat well, train hard, it'll ease.
Got a hunch about Legba's old "realm of embodiment." Learned in Gu Jun-hyeok fight—test at worship hall soon.
You are a monster!
That was Granbwa's voice—not Legba's—in my head.
"Why?"
Killing a perfectly healthy tree just for an experiment...... I'm so disappointed in the prophet!
"It was dying anyway. I ended its suffering."
In the world......!
Granbwa gasped in shock. I pressed on regardless.
"And technically, Sobo did it."
You prayed!
"My hands and mouth did the praying, not me."
Do you think that's a valid excuse, you monster, you trash!
"Legba, cut off Granbwa's voice."
All the plants in the world won't forgive you—
Done. Cut it.
Quiet at last. My uncle, driving beside me, glanced over curiously. He looked exhausted earlier, but after a nap, his face brimmed with fresh vigor now.
As the car left the dirt road for the highway, Uncle spoke.
"What was that? Talking to those Loa guys?"
I nodded. He continued.
"What'd they say? Not the usual car-breaking crap, right?"
"One weirdo. We argued."
"Weirdo?"
"Yeah. Hates vegetarians......"
"Huh. So that one's a carnivore?"
"Dunno. Never thought about it."
Was Granbwa carnivorous? Definitely not vegetarian......
Granbwa says she's cursing you. What now?
Probably fasting then. As I concluded, Legba chimed in.
"Just soothe her properly?"
Doubt it'll work. She's furious.
"Tell her next offering's top-notch."
Says no need.
"One less mouth. Good."
Oh...... Granbwa's screaming? Rare sight.
Legba laughed heartily. Next time, apologize politely to Granbwa—offer apples as tribute. Symbolic, punny apology.
Oh dear, losing your mind?
I ignored Legba's follow-up. Checked my phone. Texts from Kang Ji-a checking in. Florence extension notice. Nothing else. No Jeong In-ah, Kim Jin-seo, Gu Jun-hyeok.
Ah, killed Gu Jun-hyeok. Anyway, all busy.
About to reply to Kang Ji-a—back sooner than planned—when it vibrated.
Unknown number, but obvious who. Intent too blatant.
"Voice phishing."
"What? Still voice phishing scams?"
"Seems so."
Sent final text to Kang Ji-a, pocketed phone.
(To be continued in the next chapter)