...

  Si-Woo stared at the tombstone, its ominous red glow casting an unsettling hue across the small clearing. He frowned, his mind racing. "Something isn’t adding up," he said aloud, his tone sharp with suspicion.

  Lirin, who had been examining the eerie markings, glanced up at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, her brow furrowing.

  "This cemetery is sacred, right?" Si-Woo began, his voice steady but thoughtful. "It’s exclusive to the sprits. They would’ve used their abilities—Maju—to ward it, ensuring that only their kind could enter. So how is it that we’re here? How did I step into it so easily?"

  Lirin’s eyes widened slightly as the implications of his words sank in. "You have a poi—"

  Her words were cut off by a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the air. The sound was deep and primal, causing the earth beneath them to tremble slightly. It emanated from somewhere deep in the woods, an unmistakable warning that something large—and likely dangerous—was approaching.

  Lirin’s face went pale as she instinctively turned toward the direction of the sound. "We need to get back to the portal!" she shouted, her voice tinged with urgency.

  Before she could act, Si-Woo grabbed her hand, his grip firm and his movements decisive. "Already on it," he said, his voice calm despite the adrenaline surging through his veins.

  With their bonds following closely behind, Si-Woo led the way, sprinting back toward the translucent rip in space. The growls grew louder, the heavy footsteps of whatever beast lurked in the forest shaking the ground with every step.

  The rip shimmered faintly in the air as they approached. Si-Woo tightened his grip on Lirin’s hand, pulling her through the portal just as a massive shadow loomed in the distance.

  Once through, they stumbled back into the mansion, the air shifting immediately to its previous earthy stillness. Gasping for breath, Si-Woo and Lirin whirled around just in time to catch a glimpse of the massive beast as it emerged from the woods.

  Its form was monstrous, with gleaming scales that seemed to absorb the faint light filtering through the trees. Its red eyes burning with an unnatural intensity locked onto the portal just as it began to close.

  Then, as swiftly as it had opened, the rip sealed shut, leaving the mansion’s towering pillars and serene halls as their only surroundings once again.

  Lirin, who had fallen, clutched her chest, her breathing ragged as she leaned against the wall. "What in the world was that?" she managed to gasp.

  Si-Woo didn’t answer immediately, his dark eyes still locked on the now-closed portal. His heart raced, not from fear but from the overwhelming sense that this encounter was far from over.

  Si-Woo extended his hand to help Lirin up, still catching his breath, when a booming voice startled them both.

  "There you are!" the voice bellowed.

  Before they could respond, a group of guards appeared, their dark uniforms pristine and their golden claw insignias gleaming. They moved with precision, their expressions stern as they approached.

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  One of the guards, clearly the leader, pointed at Si-Woo and Lirin. "You two are to be escorted to the recreation quarters immediately. Follow us."

  Si-Woo exchanged a quick, uneasy glance with Lirin, who shrugged, her usual confidence somewhat shaken by the earlier events. "Let’s not make this worse," she muttered, brushing herself off and falling in step behind the guards.

  As they moved through the mansion's winding halls, Si-Woo’s mind raced, still processing what they had just escaped. His hand instinctively brushed against Z, who perched on his shoulder, chirping softly as if sensing his unease.

  When the guards opened the grand doors to the recreation quarters, a much different scene awaited them. Warm light spilled into the room, and the sound of laughter and playful shouts filled the air.

  Si-Woo’s eyes immediately found Mai and Ha-Yoon. Mai stood by the balcony, her hands resting on the railing as she watched Ha-Yoon’s bonds dart around the yard below. The six sprit children they had seen earlier were outside as well, giggling and chasing the creatures.

  But what immediately caught Si-Woo’s attention was Ha-Yoon. She was crouched in a wooden cage in the middle of the room, her light gray eyes gleaming with defiance.

  “Brother!” she shouted the moment she saw him, gripping the bars of the cage. "They locked me up!"

  Mai turned as Si-Woo and Lirin entered. Her brows furrowed. "There you are! What took you so long?"

  One of the guards stepped forward, speaking before Si-Woo could respond. "Your sister was caught attempting to venture off unescorted," he said, his tone firm. "For her safety, we placed her in containment until further notice."

  Ha-Yoon growled softly, leaning against the bars. "I was trying to find you, Si-Woo! They wouldn’t let me go!"

  Lirin covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, stepping forward. "Seems like you’re the wild one today, Ha-Yoon."

  Mai sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Honestly, Ha-Yoon..." she muttered before glancing at the guards. "Can’t we let her out now? Her brother’s here."

  The lead guard hesitated before nodding. He unlocked the cage with a flick of his wrist, the wooden bars retracting seamlessly into the floor.

  Ha-Yoon darted out of the cage, her bonds trailing behind her. She sprinted toward Si-Woo, arms open wide as if to embrace him in a warm, sibling reunion.

  But at the very last second, she pivoted, her fist shooting forward and landing squarely in his gut.

  "I told you not to get lost!" she yelled, her light gray eyes blazing with frustration. "And because of you, they turned me into a caged animal!"

  Si-Woo winced, doubling over slightly as he clutched his stomach. His breath hitched as he felt Z, who had been perched on his head, leap off and glide gracefully toward Mai, landing delicately on her shoulder.

  Mai instinctively caught Z's small, wiry frame, stroking his head while he cooed softly. "I think Z agrees with her, Si-Woo," she said with a grin.

  Si-Woo straightened up, smirking despite the lingering ache. "I... apologize," he said, his tone calm yet mildly teasing.

  "You better be!" Ha-Yoon huffed, crossing her arms with an exaggerated pout. "Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

  Mai tried to stifle her laughter, failing miserably. "You’re really something, Ha-Yoon," she said, shaking her head as Z nuzzled against her neck.

  Meanwhile, Lirin leaned against the wall, adjusting her glasses with a sly smile. "I like her," she muttered just loud enough for Si-Woo to hear. "She’s got guts." she says then reverts back to her pensive state.

  The sprit children, still outside on the balcony, were utterly unfazed by the commotion. They continued playing with Ha-Yoon’s bonds, their laughter ringing out like wind chimes as they darted around the yard. One of the children clung to Ha-Yoon’s spade wolf while the others cheered them on, making up a pretend game that involved racing across the grass.

  The lead guard cleared his throat sharply, his voice cutting through the lighthearted scene. "You’re to remain here until Oapa’s meeting concludes. Do not wander again."

  Si-Woo nodded, offering a sheepish smile. "Yes sir."