The Staff Obeys
I entered the room where Jeong Yun-ah was, holding the staff. She was curled up like a shrimp, fast asleep. Her back rose and fell rhythmically. The old Jeong Yun-ah never slept. Instead, she'd spend days staring blankly into space. That was her way—zombie-style rest. But now, she rested like any normal person, sleeping soundly. It was a sign her condition had improved, even if just a little.
I channeled Voodoo magic into the staff. It greedily sucked it up on its own. The tip glowed purple. I drew a spell circle. Illusory Reverse Voodoo: Intoxication. Mist poured from the circle, enveloping her. Her body twitched slightly. I thought she might wake, but she just shifted a bit and drifted off again.
I glanced back and forth between the sleeping Jeong Yun-ah and the staff.
"...It listens well."
The staff had changed. Before, it was capricious, activating random spells. The side effects were brutal—every use meant bracing for a mouthful of blood. But now, it only cast what I wanted, with almost no backlash. Just a touch of dizziness. I had a pretty good idea why.
Back at Yuk Eun-hyeong's mercenary group, when we burned the dead. The staff had devoured the ashes on its own. After that, no more whims. If anything, the Voodoo magic felt denser, more potent. Maybe it was my imagination.
Screeech...
The door creaked open. I turned to see Ha Su-yeong peeking through the crack, frowning at the sleeping Jeong Yun-ah.
"What're you doing?"
"...That thing's faking it."
Ha Su-yeong blurted it out. No clue what she meant. I tilted my head.
"Faking what?"
"Acting hurt when she's fine."
"What kinda nonsense is that...? Then why am I busting my ass here?"
"Didn't she only say 'be quiet' or whatever? Nothing else?"
Ha Su-yeong asked. Jeong Yun-ah's language skills hadn't fully recovered; she just repeated "be quiet." I'd never heard anything else. I nodded, and Ha Su-yeong glared at her, continuing.
"But when you're not around... Whoa!"
She cut off, eyes widening. She was staring at Jeong Yun-ah. I turned—Jeong Yun-ah was awake, gazing sleepily at Ha Su-yeong.
Ha Su-yeong pointed accusingly. "See? Talks about her, and she wakes right up. Told ya she's fine!"
"..."
I looked at Jeong Yun-ah. She silently got up, curled into a ball right there. Knees tucked forward, chin resting on them, staring up at me. A small, clear light shone in her brown eyes. They were so like Jeong In-ah's—it startled me all over again.
Jeong Yun-ah just kept staring, silent. I couldn't help a chuckle. Ha Su-yeong's wariness toward this harmless girl was ridiculous.
"We were being loud, that's why she woke."
"Argh, no! You know what she said when you weren't here? She—"
"Be quiet!"
Jeong Yun-ah said. Loud and clear. Ha Su-yeong jumped back, startled. I laughed.
"She said be quiet."
"...Damn it, just you wait. The truth'll come out someday!"
Bang! Ha Su-yeong slammed the door, yelling at Jeong Yun-ah, not me.
Jeong Yun-ah blinked slowly at me, then yawned. I channeled Voodoo magic into the staff again and drew another spell circle. No tantrums this time. If anything, the reverse spells seemed stronger with each use. Probably because I'd sacrificed those dead mercenaries' bodies to it. It ate them, calmed down, and powered up.
That bothered me a little. Their deaths and sacrifices, used for me, their cult leader.
"..."
No. Not now. Focus on healing Jeong Yun-ah. Her condition improved daily, and the staff obeyed perfectly. It was only a matter of time before she recovered fully. The day she'd reunite with Jeong In-ah wasn't far off.
*
"It's wilting..."
Exams meant school. I stopped by the dorm early; the flower I'd been tending was drooping. I touched a leaf. Not dead yet. But close.
Seeing the unbloomed leaves and stems wither hurt. I'd been so focused on Jeong Yun-ah, I'd forgotten to water it. I rushed some water into the pot. Might save it, might not.
A voice rustled in my head. Granbwa.
[Poor thing... Wrong owner...]
"...Don't say it like that. I had my reasons."
I shot back, a bit hurt. True, I'd neglected it amid everything. From the flower's view, bad owner fit. But...
I felt crappy anyway. Granbwa's scolding? Or the wilted flower? Who knows.
I tidied the dorm roughly and headed to school. Students streamed in. Some still in summer uniforms, most in spring-fall. I'd come in summer clothes too—didn't notice the chill. Wasn't cold anyway.
Then, cigar smoke.
[Been a while.]
"..."
Baron Samedi walked beside me, puffing away casually. Smoke drifted back to trailing students. They walked on, oblivious. To them, neither he nor the smoke existed.
[Don't talk. Just listen. That's what you planned anyway.]
I kept my eyes forward, mouth shut. Just as he said, I'd hear him out silently.
Baron Samedi exhaled a puff and spoke.
[You'll get dragged into something pointless, against your will. Watch yourself. It's karma. Not prophecy or warning.]
"..."
[Call it concern, if you must. Handle it right, no big deal. Might stir some rumors, though.]
I glanced at him instinctively. Concern from Baron Samedi? But he was already dissolving into purple smoke, riding the wind away. Embarrassed, probably.
I entered the classroom. Hallway chatter suggested chaos, but it was quiet. Maybe because of me. All eyes turned my way.
"...Anyway—"
Silence broke fast. Quick glances, then back to chatter. Classroom roared again. Grateful they didn't fuss over me.
I sat, scanning the room. Felt alien. Deafening noise, kids laughing like it was the best day ever. Shut windows, empty seats. All too long absent, awkward.
Spotted Jeong In-ah. Facedown, asleep. Wanted to say I'd kept my promise, come to school. But she slept too soundly. Nothing urgent enough to wake her.
"Yeah, Voodoo cult did it, right?"
A phrase caught my ear. Voodoo cult, clear as day. But who said it? Couldn't tell. Heart raced anyway. Deep breaths calmed it. I hunted the source.
"That kid in Humility Class, hangs with Ma Yu-hyeon? Dad was a Holy Knight?"
"Yeah, him. Went to suppress the mercenaries..."
"Oh, that's why he's out?"
"Squad got wrecked. Survivors all quit anyway..."
Found them quick. But not just one group. Plenty buzzing about the Voodoo cult. Mercenary op. Holy Knights gone mad mid-mission. The cult leader who showed. Wrecked squad. One mad knight was Ma Yu-hyeon's classmate's dad. Kid hadn't shown in days—nursing dad, or too shocked.
"Poor guy—"
Bang!
Someone flung the door open. Golden hair swaying, Ma Yu-hyeon strode straight at me. Kids gawked, stunned.
Ma Yu-hyeon shoved his face close, flashing that nasty smirk—like spoiling for a fight.
"You actually came, Do Seon-woo."
"..."
"Outside."
Class went dead quiet. All eyes on us. Tempted to punch that face for the pointless scene. Too many witnesses for violence, though. I stood and followed.
Thwack!
In the hall, he grabbed my collar.
"...What the hell's your problem?"
"You started the shitshow."
Ma Yu-hyeon stared me down.
"What're you playing at? Kill 'em or save 'em—pick one. Declaration of war? War-horny much?"
"..."
He meant the mercenary attack on the Holy Knights. Absurd, but curious what else he'd spew. I stayed quiet.
His trembling hand gripped tighter.
"And hiding your identity? Snake, plants, wind—you flaunted it. Pope's office'll sniff you out soon."
"Dunno why you'd care if I'm exposed. And..."
I yanked his wrist off my collar.
"Where'd you learn to grab collars first? Daddy teach you that on Mom?"
"What? You little—!"
Crack!
He swung. Fist to my face—I hit the floor. Didn't hurt, so no gauge on force. Spat blood. Mouth torn inside. Weird—painless bleeding.
Baron Samedi's words flashed: dragged into pointless crap. This must be it.
I looked up at Ma Yu-hyeon, smiling.
"Fist for family lessons? Good form."
"You bastard—!"
"Bosu."
As he reared back, I called Bosu.
(To be continued next time)