Fractured Bonds

Jeong In-ah covered her face with her sleeve. She hurriedly wiped away her tears. She didn't want anyone to see her crying. But despite her will, the tears kept flowing.

The eyes of the kids in the classroom, who had been chatting about their grades after checking the results, turned toward Jeong In-ah and Do Seon-woo. They all blinked in confusion, not understanding the situation.

"No, it's not... I'm not crying because I want to. It's just... haa, why is this happening...."

Jeong In-ah stammered in a fluster. Do Seon-woo didn't respond. He just stared up at her silently as she cried. Even then, her tears continued to fall.

Unable to stop them no matter how hard she tried, she rushed to the bathroom. Only after splashing water on her face did the tears finally stop.

"......"

She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were red and swollen. She still couldn't figure out why she was crying.

Was it because Do Seon-woo had outperformed her on the exam, and jealousy had welled up? Or because her efforts hadn't paid off as expected? Or regret over collapsing on the last day of the exam, when she might have taken first otherwise?

She mulled it over, but none of it fully explained the tears.

Jeong In-ah dried her face and left the bathroom. She tried to head back to the classroom acting like nothing had happened, but stopped in her tracks.

"......Haa."

She didn't want to go back. Bursting into tears like that was mortifying, but more than that, she felt like she couldn't control her expressions. Seeing Do Seon-woo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠might make her cry again.

Maybe it would be better to go straight to the staff room and request early dismissal.

"Where you going?"

As she passed the classroom toward the staff room, she ran into Do Seon-woo, who had just stepped out. His face was expressionless—neither happy nor sad. Even after claiming top spot in midterms, he didn't seem pleased at all.

Jeong In-ah had moments like that too. When she'd poured so much effort in, even good results felt like, 'Well, that's just what my effort earned.' Nothing special.

Maybe Do Seon-woo had studied harder than anyone during the time he was absent from school.

But Jeong In-ah didn't want to admit that. She wanted to believe she was the one who'd worked the hardest.

"Mind your own business."

Jeong In-ah snapped curtly for no reason. Do Seon-woo hadn't done anything wrong. Her not taking first was purely because her own effort fell short. Because she hadn't managed her stamina properly until the very end.

Jeong In-ah knew that. Yet she kept resenting Do Seon-woo, hating him. She wanted to belittle his efforts without even knowing how hard he'd worked.

At the same time, she felt pathetic and miserable for thinking that way.

"'Mind your own business'? I was just asking."

Do Seon-woo replied, sounding a bit flustered, like he was making excuses.

Jeong In-ah stared at him. He'd have every right to get angry after her aggressive words, but he held it in until the end. That patience only made her feel more miserable.

"Why even ask? You're not curious anyway."

"That's why I asked. Because I am curious."

"What about me could you possibly be curious about?"

Jeong In-ah's tone was unusually sharp. Her emotions were surging, making her words come out harsher than intended. This isn't right. He's not the one at fault...

Every time she lashed out at Do Seon-woo, that thought crossed her mind. Yet she couldn't shut her mouth.

"Why pretend to care now? You think I'm pitiful? Have you ever really seen me before?"

"......"

"Do I even register to you?"

Jeong In-ah spat out whatever came to mind, barely aware of what she was saying. She was just anxious.

Do Seon-woo had always been exceptional. Practical exams, training, written tests—he lacked in nothing. Outside school, he'd even saved lives. Many students admired him.

Jeong In-ah, on the other hand, was full of shortcomings. Practical skills, training—everything was just average. Studying was her only strong suit. That's why she'd pushed her health to the limit for it.

But now even that had been overtaken by Do Seon-woo. She had no more advantages to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him. No more reason to even be his friend.

If they drifted apart like this, she'd be the only one left regretting it—not him. That terrified her, made her angry.

"......Did you hope I'd fail the exam?"

At that moment, Do Seon-woo spoke as if piercing right through her heart. His expression had hardened.

Jeong In-ah was startled by his face. But anger flared too. Yeah, you can make faces like that because you've got nothing to lose. Selfish, childish thoughts.

Do Seon-woo stepped toward her. She backed away in surprise. They were close now. He glared fiercely and continued.

"If I'd bombed the exam and been moping, would you have come to comfort me then? Or did you like it better when I praised you for doing well, treating you like something special?"

"......"

"You wanted me to always be the lesser one, right? So you could lean on me?"

That wasn't it. Jeong In-ah didn't want Do Seon-woo to rely on her. She just didn't want him to leave.

But with no advantages left to hold him, she was anxious. She didn't have a Holy Mark of the Seven Virtues like Kim Jin-seo or Seong Ha-yeon. No standout talents.

She wanted to say that, but the words wouldn't come.

"Even the first time you talked to me—was that out of pity?"

"......"

"Always alone, messing up in training... So you felt sorry and talked to me? Out of sympathy?"

No. Back then, it was purely innocent—they lived in the same direction, so she just struck up a conversation. She hadn't expected it to turn into something with so many hopes and expectations.

To feel this disappointed when hopes weren't met, this hurt when expectations fell short. Or maybe Do Seon-woo had never expected anything from her at all.

Maybe she was the only one hoping and expecting.

Her pride stung. An inexplicable emotion boiled inside her.

"Yeah, it was pity. Seemed like no one else would be your friend."

Jeong In-ah glared at Do Seon-woo. It wasn't her true feelings. She just wanted to hurt him.

Do Seon-woo's eyes widened in shock. He squeezed them shut, sighed, and spoke.

"......Apologize for that."

"No. Was it all my fault?"

"Don't regret it later."

"I won't. Never. Even if you beg."

Jeong In-ah said. She thought hurting him would ease the boiling lump inside. But no. It only grew.

"......Fine. Let's see if you really don't regret it."

Do Seon-woo turned and walked away. Jeong In-ah thought of grabbing him too late—his steps were too quick.

"......What did I just do."

She stared down the empty hallway where he'd vanished. She'd sworn no regrets, but they were already flooding in.

Spouting whatever in the wave of emotions left her not relieved, but hollow.

"......This is driving me nuts."

I stormed out of school declaring early dismissal in a huff. I regretted what I'd said to Jeong In-ah too late.

I could've held back—it was holdable—but I'd shown too much emotion. Telling her not to regret it, only for me to regret it... ridiculous.

Legba asked just as I neared the chapel.

I shook my head.

"I don't even know why I said that."

I shut my mouth. Too spot-on; nothing to say.

I'd gone mad treating Jeong Yun-ah. Vomiting blood was routine; I'd collapsed from overusing reverse voodoo countless times.

Kang Ji-a had seen and said it wasn't effort—it was sacrifice. Effort yes, but no need for sacrifice.

"Guess so. Shouldn't have."

Legba continued calmly.

"......"

He was right. Expecting reward for effort was inevitable. But seeking it from Jeong In-ah was wrong.

She didn't know my efforts for her sister. No way she could—she didn't know because I'd never told her. Couldn't.

Yet I'd expected reward from her. Hoped she'd acknowledge my efforts. Thought she had no right to be mad at me for working so hard for her and Jeong Yun-ah.

Twisted compensation psychology.

I've gotta apologize. Soon.

"You're back early again today."

As I entered the chapel, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kang Ji-a greeted me as usual. Uncle was absent; Ha Su-yeong was picking at her food at the table, expression dark. Something was up, but I wasn't in the mood to ask, so I passed by.

I grabbed the staff and entered Jeong Yun-ah's room. It was routine now: inject Voodoo magic, cast reverse voodoo, ask her a few questions to check her state...

No progress yet, but I wouldn't give up. Believing persistence would heal her someday.

Jeong Yun-ah recovering. Her reuniting with Jeong In-ah. That was the greatest reward I could hope for.

"......"

To achieve that, heal Jeong Yun-ah first. Then find a "natural" way for the sisters to reunite.

I had a plan. I'd told the Paladin Order I wanted in on long-term missing persons searches, so I'd join soon.

Then have one of Yuk Eun-hyeong's mercenaries hold Jeong Yun-ah. Rent a building, stake it out.

I'd enter, "rescue" her by chance. Using a mercenary makes it natural: better than her wandering months on streets.

She was in decent shape from our care. Kidnapped-and-raised fits better.

"Yeah."

As Legba said, much prep needed. Even rushed, a week minimum.

With Jeong Yun-ah's recovery unpredictable, start now. But leisurely—didn't seem imminent.

Thud.

Then the staff slammed the ground against my will.

"Huh?"

No time to panic. It spewed purple light. Something drained from my body.

The staff was voraciously sucking my Voodoo magic.

"Argh, damn staff...! At it again!"

Thud, thud, thud...

It pounded repeatedly, like angry. Then drew a spell circle on its own.

Voodoo mist poured out, enveloping Jeong Yun-ah. She accepted it calmly.

I struggled to control the staff. It ignored me, pounding away.

Then I realized: I was wrapped in the mist too.

Drip...

Water drop sound. Vision darkened.

The blackness lifted, revealing unfamiliar scenery.

'Sis, be right back. Just up ahead...'

'Who are you? Wait—who are you?! No...!'

'Sis, Sis!'

Jeong Yun-ah's memory. Right before her kidnapping.

More memories unfolded: spring outing with Jeong In-ah. Walking to/from school chatting. Fighting over chicken legs.

In her memories, Jeong In-ah laughed often. Bright, pure, innocent—unlike what she'd shown me.

I wandered her memories long. Short time, but glimpsed her whole life.

Jeong Yun-ah had been happy. Should've stayed that way.

If not kidnapped by Han Su-yeop's Voodoo Reincarnation cult.

"......"

I opened my eyes, tears streaming. Jeong Yun-ah had collapsed unconscious.

I approached to check her, then froze.

Her overly prominent blue veins had faded; her skin regained normal color.

Before I processed, Legba spoke.

"......"

"When will she wake...?"

Legba said. In three days, Jeong Yun-ah fully recovers, regains consciousness.

Then she's no longer a zombie. A normal person, remembering everything she sees and hears.

If late, she might learn I'm the Voodoo Cult Leader. Then no reunion with Jeong In-ah.

No time.

(Continued in the next episode)