The night was cool, and a slight breeze stirred the silence in Songrim's courtyard. Jang Uk stood alone, the stars above casting a faint glow over him as he wrestled with a strange feeling—a shadow lingering just out of reach. His friends had all gone to their quarters, but rest eluded him.

Then, he saw her.

Near the old willow tree, a cloaked figure stood half-hidden in the shadows, as though watching and waiting. Something about her posture—calm but tense, grounded but guarded—sent a prickling sense of familiarity through him. Slowly, he moved forward, footsteps soft, as he tried to catch a glimpse of her face.

The woman turned. In the silver moonlight, he caught her expression—a combination of restraint and an almost regretful calm. It was in that fleeting look that he knew.

"Naksu." Her name left his lips in a whisper, too soft for anyone but her to hear. The woman's eyes flashed with surprise, though she quickly masked it.

"You have me mistaken for someone else," she replied, her voice even, though her grip on her cloak visibly tightened.

Jang Uk's eyes narrowed. "Only one person would hide this well," he said, his tone both tense and knowing.

"Why have you come here?"

Naksu looked away, her silence growing thick in the cool night air.

Her jaw tightened, as if fighting words back, but finally, she said in a low voice, "I'm not here to cause trouble. But I can't explain yet."

"You think I'd take your word for it?" he replied, bitterness creeping into his tone. His gaze flicked to a faint, bluish mark on her neck that seemed to pulse softly in the moonlight—a sign he'd seen before in those who'd performed the Alchemy of Souls.

She didn't flinch under his gaze, though he thought he saw something soften in her eyes.

"I don't expect you to trust me," she said finally, her voice dropping.

"Not after everything I did. But I'm here to set things right. That's all I can tell you."

Her words hung in the air, full of a sincerity that took him by surprise. He swallowed, his chest tight with unresolved anger and—against his better judgment—a flicker of sympathy. "And why should I believe that?" he asked, more quietly this time.

"Don't," she said, her tone almost challenging.

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm asking for a chance, even if I have to earn it."

Jang Uk's hand clenched by his side. He felt a swell of anger, but it was accompanied by something else—a pang of uncertainty. Part of him wanted to push her away, to leave her in the shadows where she belonged. But another part, the part that remembered the loss and sacrifices of the past, couldn't quite turn away.

After a long silence, he said, "You may get your chance. But I'll be watching."

A small nod was her only response, her face shadowed yet softened with a hint of gratitude. With a final glance, she pulled her cloak tighter and disappeared into the night, leaving Jang Uk alone with a mix of anger, confusion, and something he couldn't quite name.

The next morning, Jang Uk sat at breakfast with Hae-rin, Seo Yul, and Dang-gu, still troubled by his encounter. The quiet tension in his gaze hadn't gone unnoticed, and he could feel his friends' curious looks even as he kept his focus on his meal.

"Uk," Hae-rin finally said, breaking the silence, "you're not usually so quiet. Did something happen?"

Jang Uk glanced up, caught off guard.

"It's... nothing," he muttered, his mind racing through the night's events. The last thing he wanted was to bring his friends into this—at least not yet. But the unease was still there, heavy in his chest.

Seo Yul studied him thoughtfully, his sharp gaze picking up on Uk's discomfort.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice calm but probing.

Jang Uk hesitated, avoiding his friend's gaze.

"Just some... old memories," he replied vaguely, hoping they would let it go.

But before anyone could press him further, a commotion outside the dining hall drew their attention. Songrim guards were gathered near the gate, their voices urgent. Curiosity piqued, the group exchanged glances and headed toward the entrance.

The sight that greeted them made Jang Uk's heart skip a beat. There, standing amid the guards, was the cloaked figure from the night before. But this time, Naksu made no effort to hide. Her gaze was steady, almost defiant, as she faced them.

"What is she doing here?" Hae-rin murmured, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Seo Yul took a step forward, his calm gaze steady on the stranger.

"Who are you?" he asked, his voice neutral but edged with a hint of warning.

Naksu's gaze flicked between them before settling on Jang Uk.

"I'm here because I have business in Songrim," she replied, her voice even, though Jang Uk noticed the faintest hint of tension in her posture.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, clearly awaiting instructions. Jang Uk hesitated, torn between protecting his friends and honoring the faint flicker of trust he'd offered her last night.

After a long pause, he finally said, "She's here... with me." His tone was firm, though he wasn't entirely sure of his own words.

Hae-rin's eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing across her face. Seo Yul's expression remained impassive, though his gaze sharpened.

"With you?" he echoed, the faintest edge of skepticism in his tone.

Jang Uk nodded. "Yes," he replied, keeping his voice steady.

"She has something to settle here."

Naksu offered a small, almost imperceptible nod, her gratitude clear in her gaze, though she remained silent. Her presence was like a tense string stretched between them—one wrong move, and it would snap.

The silence stretched, broken only when Dang-gu spoke up, his voice more curious than suspicious.

"Alright then," he said, his usual jovial tone subdued but friendly.

"If Uk trusts her, then I say we give her a chance to explain herself."

Seo Yul's gaze flickered, but he gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. Hae-rin, meanwhile, folded her arms, her eyes still narrowed as she looked Naksu over.

"If you're staying here, you'll have to follow Songrim's rules," she said firmly.

"We don't take lightly to uninvited guests."

A small, wry smile tugged at Naksu's lips, and she inclined her head. "Understood."

With that, the guards stepped back, though their wariness remained, and the group slowly dispersed, leaving Jang Uk, Hae-rin, Seo Yul, Dang-gu, and Naksu standing in an uneasy silence.

As they began walking back, Hae-rin lingered by Jang Uk's side, her voice low.

"Are you sure about this, Uk?" she asked, her tone a mixture of concern and skepticism.

"You don't even know who she really is."

Jang Uk hesitated, glancing at Naksu, who walked a few paces ahead, her gaze forward, her expression unreadable.

"I don't," he admitted softly.

"But something tells me I need to give her this chance."

Hae-rin looked at him for a long moment before sighing. "Fine," she said, though her voice held a note of reluctance.

"Just... be careful."

Meanwhile, Dang-gu and Seo Yul exchanged a quiet look, both clearly intrigued by the mysterious newcomer. Seo Yul's gaze lingered on Naksu, his calm eyes narrowing slightly as if he were searching for something hidden beneath the surface.

As they reached the courtyard, Naksu stopped, turning to face the group. Her gaze settled on Jang Uk, her eyes serious.

"Thank you for trusting me, even if just for now," she said, her voice quiet but sincere.

Jang Uk held her gaze, the air between them charged with unspoken words.

"Don't make me regret it," he replied, though there was a softness in his tone that surprised even him.

She gave a small nod, her expression a mixture of determination and something close to regret.

"I won't."

That night, as Jang Uk lay in bed, he replayed the day's events in his mind. Naksu's face lingered in his thoughts, her words echoing in his ears. He knew he should be cautious, but something about her presence felt like an unfinished story, a question waiting to be answered.

Little did he know, this encounter would mark the beginning of a bond neither of them could yet understand—a bond woven from shadows, secrets, and, perhaps, redemption.