Dancing on the golden ashes

It had been three days since we buried Soo-Ah. That day, I cried uncontrollably—for the first time in a long time, I didn't hold back. It felt like a debt I had to pay, a price for my failure. It was my fault, after all.

But now, we were traveling further east. I only knew one thing: Jeong Suhan was out there, somewhere. Finding him in this vast world felt like chasing a shadow—an almost impossible task.

So we decided to search for civilization. If Kim Ha-Joon had managed to build his so-called empire, it stood to reason that others might have done the same. Somewhere out there, in this sprawling world, someone would hold the key to finding him.

Those at the top always craved more power. In this untamed world, new kings and emperors would emerge, rising to the top and enslaving the weak. But I would never be one of their pawns. I would never be tamed. I would always stand above their empires.

"Big sis, is something on your mind?" Kim Seong-Hoon's voice broke through my thoughts.

I looked over at him as we rode the wolves, his curious eyes meeting mine. For a moment, I was pulled from my musings, grounded in the present by his gaze.

"I guess..." I replied coldly, steering Ravokar further away from him.

The area we were in now was shrouded in darkness, as if death itself had claimed this land. The desolation was absolute—no signs of life, only an eerie stillness that clung to the air. It sent a shiver down my spine, making me uneasy.

For some reason, this place felt familiar, though I couldn't quite place why.

This looks like the place where I saw the Goddess of Fire destroy everything in front of her... Don't tell me it's the same place.

I tried to envision the scene from my memory, but it was too vague, blurred by time and emotion. Only the scorched black ground bore a resemblance to the place etched in my mind.

"You know," Kim Seong-Hoon said, breaking the silence, "I have an interesting feeling about this place. It's like there might be treasure hidden here. Look ahead—there's an old mountain in the distance. Maybe we'll find something there."

He slumped against Vargrin, his body almost lifeless as he let out a long groan. "Also, I'm starving. We haven't eaten anything all day."

His complaints, though grating, brought a sliver of normalcy to this unsettling place.

"Big brother Seong-Hoon, you complain too much!" Jieun scolded, her voice stern. "Look at big sister Gaon—she hasn't eaten anything for ages, and she's not whining about it."

Her words made me chuckle softly.

"What do you mean? That's because she doesn't even need food," Seong-Hoon retorted, rolling his eyes dramatically before letting out a long sigh.

"What's that?" Eun-Woo suddenly interjected, pointing ahead.

His finger directed our gaze to a tall statue perched atop the mountain. We hadn't noticed it from a distance, but now, as we drew closer, its form became clearer—a small figure with long hair stood there.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

At first glance, I thought it might be the statue of a girl, but as I studied it more closely, it resembled a boy. The child's features were delicate, yet there was something haunting about the way it stood, watching over the desolate land.

"Let's move. It's a small mountain—it'll only take a moment to get there," I said, spurring Ravokar forward.

The wolf dashed ahead, and within moments, we reached the base of the small mountain. The entire area was black and barren, lifeless. Not even a single blade of grass dared to grow here. Only the scorching sun stood as its silent companion.

"Get me up there," I growled, my voice commanding.

Ravokar didn't hesitate, leaping into motion with a streak of golden light. It climbed the rocky terrain effortlessly, navigating the steep ascent as if it were nothing. In no time, we stood next to the statue of the boy.

His figure seemed to be crafted from copper—or perhaps something even more refined. Despite its age, it appeared untouched, gleaming under the sun as though it had just been sculpted.

There was something profoundly striking about it, especially the eyes. They seemed to hold the secrets of the world, staring into the horizon with an intensity that sent a chill through me.

"How can there be a statue in this world? Did somebody suddenly build it here?" Jieun asked as she caught up to me, her gaze fixed on the boy's figure. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and admiration as if she were captivated by its beauty.

I had to admit, the boy was strikingly handsome. For someone her age, it might even seem attractive. They looked to be of a similar age, after all.

"No idea," I replied, my voice steady despite the lie.

The truth of this world—and the tragic accident tied to it—would stay with me. I had no intention of revealing those secrets to anyone. Not now, perhaps not ever.

And then there was the Fire Goddess. Her gift of abilities had come far too easily, leaving me wary of her true intentions. I was grateful, of course, but I couldn't take her generosity for granted. Trusting her blindly would be foolish.

The truth of this world... I thought to myself, my resolve hardening. I'll uncover it with my own hands someday.

"How mysterious..." Both men said it at the same time, glancing at each other with matching smiles. Without a word, they bumped fists, a silent acknowledgment of their synchronicity.

"This place is far too desolate. I can't imagine someone placing a statue here for no reason," Kim Seong-Hoon said, his tone unusually serious. "Could there have been a civilization here before us?"

His words sent a shiver through me. For all his antics, Kim Seong-Hoon's thoughts were sharp—sometimes sharper than I cared to admit. He might be an idiot, but he was the smartest and most fearsome idiot I'd ever met.

"Look, there's some sort of text down there," Malrang suddenly chimed in, her paw pointing toward the base of the statue.

At the bottom, golden letters gleamed faintly in the sunlight. The words were written in Latin letters, their meaning just barely visible against the coppery surface.

"What's that? It looks like some sort of language," Jieun said, squinting at the golden text as she tried to decipher its meaning.

"Can any of you read it?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

"I can try," Kim Seong-Hoon replied confidently. He leaned closer to the base of the statue and began to read aloud. "Ruearan masala teva garni sanamei..."

The words flowed calmly from his lips, but each syllable carried an otherworldly weight. I could feel it—each letter crashing into my soul, nourishing it in a way I couldn't explain. Experience more on empire

The ground beneath us trembled violently. The statue's eyes lit up with a brilliant golden glow, enveloping us in radiant light.

Before I could process what was happening, the world around us shifted.

When the light faded, I found myself standing in a different world—a world untouched by devastation. The sky was clear, the air vibrant with life. It was the world as it must have been before the catastrophe struck.

The others stood beside me, their faces a mix of confusion and awe. Yet, it was only the four of us. The beasts were nowhere to be seen, as if this place wasn't meant for the creatures of the Creator to witness.

The statue stood before us, unchanged. Its surface gleamed as though freshly crafted, the same pristine and enigmatic figure, untouched by time.

From the mountain, my eyes were drawn to a sprawling, bustling civilization. A massive city stretched endlessly, its grandeur overwhelming. Rivers of blue and white liquid floated gracefully through the air, weaving between towering structures. I quickly realized what it was—concentrated soul power. My enhanced vision allowed me to see the currents of energy, their raw power beyond anything I had ever imagined.

The sheer magnitude of it filled me with awe... and fear. For the first time in a long while, I felt an urge to kneel, as if I were standing in the presence of something divine.

"What is this place?" Jieun murmured, her voice trembling with wonder. Her wide eyes sparkled like gems as she gazed ahead.

"This is..." I hesitated, searching for the words. I knew exactly where we were, but explaining it was another matter entirely. "This is the world before it was destroyed," I said softly. "Long... long before our time."

I locked my gaze on a massive citadel in the distance. It towered over the city, at least one hundred meters tall, it was made from diamonds and gems. Just looking at it made my chest tighten. Deep down, I felt certain I knew who lived there.

"How do you know that?"

All of them turned to me at once, their expressions demanding answers. I let out a deep sigh.

"It's a long story," I replied. "Let's stay here for a while. I'll explain everything, but I think it's dangerous for us to move around here recklessly."

I sat down cross-legged, bracing myself. Slowly, I began to recount what had happened with the Blazelia Gem. The words felt heavy, each one reluctant to leave my lips. But hiding the truth seemed impossible now.

"You... you mean to tell us that we can escape this system someday?" Eun-Woo roared, his booming voice cutting through the tension.

"Shhh! You big idiot!" I hissed, glaring at him. "If we mention the system in this time and place, we could die! Who knows how powerful the people of this era were?"

My voice dropped to a whisper. "All of this might be an illusion, but it feels too real to take any chances."